So, you mean NO processed foods?

This week has gone pretty well, minus the lack of fast food convenience. In reading the book, I learned that pretty much everything has some kind of wheat or corn flour or processed sugary something in it. Gone are the days of Oreos... But, hello 136.5 lbs! down 2.5lbs in one week! No exercise done except folding 2 weeks worth of laundry!
Someone asked me to give them the basics of the diet. Here are the key points:
Flour and whole grains used to be good for us, but around 50-60 years ago geneticists began modifying grains to be resistant to mold, fungus, bugs, drought and other things while at the same time giving a higher yield and shorter growing period. The result was a grain unrecognizable to our bodies. No more 6' tall amber waves of grain. Instead it is short, stubby stalks of yellow. Instead of nourishing our bodies, the author, a cardiologist, claims it raises our insulin levels and is stored as fat in our bellies. This all rings pretty true to me after reviewing what knowledge I retained from college nutrition classes. The shocker is that wheat is in almost everything processed! The author claims that wheat is addicting- which I can't really argue with seeing as how at 4:30pm my body is now requesting its daily packaged snack- and that is why manufacturers sneak it in everywhere. I was curious and started looking at labels. Sure enough, there it was. In gum, low carb frozen meals, seasonings, hamburger, just about everything.
My take away from this was no more fast food, boxed foods, and very little beans, sugar and other foods that are high on the glycemic index (a chart made to show you which foods raise your blood sugar the most). Dang!The first day of wheat belly I pretty much just ate eggs, but then I started flipping through recipes and have tried a few things. Most are on line, so I will link them. The first was just my recipe for tortilla soup minus the rice and corn chips- both high on the glycemic index. It was actually really good, and I didn't miss the rice and chips. Neither did the kids or the hubby.
I also tried the homemade flat bread with meat, cheese and veggies. Not my favorite because of the coconut oil, but I plan on trying it again with olive oil.

http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1900264

For breakfast or a midnight snack I have been eating this:

http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1868173

I add more cinnamon and use berries and vanilla almond milk. Pretty tasty if you like gooey hot cereal, which I do.

One brand I could not live without is

http://www.bobsredmill.com/

His brand has ground flax seed, coconut flour and chia seeds among many others that are allowed on Wheat Belly. LOVE him (you should read that as if I am singing it, because I am). AND, he's from Oregon. best place ever. Support Bob. He needs money for more blue hats and glasses.

I have eaten so many eggs and cheese, so I am interested to see how I weight in at the end of this diet. Then again, I am eating more like my Grandma did growing up, and she was 94lbs when she got married.

Some of the perks mentioned in the book are deeper sleep, requiring less sleep, and less hunger because processed grains are a hunger stimulant. I have to say, I have been feeling all three of these benefits in the past week. So far, so good.

Vegan Down, Wheat Belly Up

The vegan diet is done! HOOOORAY!! I have to say, it was possible to follow, but not my idea of a great weight loss plan. Mostly because I gained 2 lbs on it. My problem was that when I needed a snack instead of having string cheese or yogurt, I would eat an Oreo. If I fed my family meat for dinner, I would have an Oreo. You see where this is going... A lot of trips to Costco for that huge box of Oreos. Almost weekly. Yup. I know this is my own flaw, and if I would have grabbed some veggies or fruit I would have lost weight, but if a diet allowed Oreos, what would you do? I ate mine with dark chocolate almond milk. Precisely my problem.

I debated a lot about what to and what not to include in this post. My main debate centered around my weight. Do I reveal my real poundage or not? Will it offend people if I view my weight as high for me, but others see it as low? Will it open up the door to jokes by my much skinner sister who probably weighs less than me and is due to have a baby in a week? I decided to tell everyone what my number is, but mostly to use it as a reference point and a place of accountability for my next diet- The Wheat Belly. My number was 139.1 this morning. In all fairness, yesterday was Easter and binge doesn't even begin to describe my day. So, whether my number is a high one or a low one to others out there, just know that for me my body feels uncomfortable where it is. When I walk I feel that jiggle, when I go to sit on the floor it is harder for me to get down. I have a major tire around my jeans. When I got married I weighed 115lbs, so a 25 lb gain in 8 years is quite a jump for me. I have got to get some of this weight off, both for my mental and physical health. I know a lot of other people feel the same way about their bodies, and if you are wanting to join me on this next diet, feel free! I have read the first part of the book, and it is pretty convincing. There are some great recipes to go along with the restrictions!

Please join me! Add any comments below about advice and recipes- please no exercise advice, my body rejects that... okay, maybe a little exercise could help...