Yes, that is what I'm choosing to call it at the moment... "Eating Structure" ... You wonder, what is this?
Well since I'm not one to normally write about food, this post may be a little bit of a struggle for me. After all the stomach/asthma/overall-gunkyness that I have dealt with over the last few months, I decided it was time for a change. A big one! I've dealt with weird stomach/allergy/asthma issues for basically my whole life and it was time to take control of the situation.
I purchased a book that I had been eying on Amazon and got busy. The book is called "Crazy Sexy Diet" by Kris Carr and I HIGHLY recommend it! Now don't go thinking this is some sort of diet fad, I am NOT one to diet... and this book is NOT a diet book. It's about transforming your life by changing your eating habits. The main focus of the book is about learning what is in each piece of food you eat and how it will affect your body from consumption to poo. Yes, poo. (It is also discussed in the book.)
She defines it in her book as:
"a low-fat, vegetarian (or vegan) program that reduces inflammation and balances the pH of your gorgeous body with whole foods, low-glycemic fruits, raw veggies, alkalizing green drinks, and superpowered smoothies."
The book discusses how the Standard American Diet is leading to increases in disease and obesity! There have even been studies to suggest that the next generation will be the first generation to die younger than their parents. America needs to change, but more importantly... we need to take control of our health.
SO after getting through half the book, I looked at my lovingly supportive husband and said "That's it! Time to take control of my health!"
Kris' story is phenomenal and inspiring. A young, witty, social butterfly who was diagnosed with liver/lung cancer and beat the odds by taking control of her life with her diet. I don't want to go into too much detail about the book because I truly and honestly believe it is worth every penny and should be purchased immediately!
Anyways, my self-motivated little body got rid of the Standard American Diet and is now getting a Bachelors in a Veggie-licious lifestyle! That's right! I gave up all animal meats (except fish) and all dairy cold-turkey (no pun intended, well maybe).... EVEN EGGS!
Dairy?! No chicken? No cheese? This girl must be crazy!
Now listen, I am a cheese hoarding whore and a chocolate milk addict... but I did it! Cold-turkey! I now drink almond milk which is beyond delicious and fill most of my meals with veggies, wheats, fish, and fruits. I surprisingly LOVE the changes! I feel wonderful and can tell a difference in my overall mood/spirit/health!
It was difficult at first to find things I could eat (especially when in airports) but almost all restaurants have some sort of veggie alternative or fish plate.... not so hard once I learned to rearrange menu items.
I still drink alcohol/pop and eat chips or chocolate (hershey's syrup or bar) so it's not a super restrictive diet. BUT I'm putting so many healthy things in my body that those few processed things aren't terribly bad.
My Standard Day:
Breakfast - blueberry cereal with almond milk
Snack - green drink/whole grain granola bar
Dinner - raw veggie or baked salmon sushi
Snack - beer/dr.pepper/fruit/etc.
Green Drinks are heaven sent! They truly are! Here is the standard Green Drink Recipe a la Mr. J:
- half stalk of celery
- one tomato
- half lemon
- one cucumber
- one red pepper
- one green pepper
- one apple
- handful of spinach leaves
- half avocado (mixed in at the end with a hand mixer)
AND since most veggies have high protein, I am actually eating more healthy protein now then I was eating the Standard American Diet. But not exceeding the 50 grams of protein a day that ends up promoting the growth of cancer cells. ALSO, calcium is absorbed better when paired with lemon, so I'm getting more NATURAL calcium then when I drank four milks a day! Who knew?!
A little too much information... stop reading here if you wish...
BUT... I have also noticed an increase in the old sex drive! Crazy! I attribute it to the reduction in the amount of estrogen I am consuming. The book warns that this may be a side effect... well if that's what you call a "side-effect", bring it on baby!
Her book explains that:
60% to 80% of the estrogen we consume is from the dairy products we eat... since there is such a high demand for the products, they inject the cows with hormones to make them think they are always prego.... problem is, that most of those hormones are then transferred into our food. High estrogen counts are responsible for lower sperm count, earlier menstrual cycles, and later emotional development. It's crazy to think that there are so many anti-birthcontrol groups but no one stops to think about the amount we're ingesting from dairy foods. Or the amount of steroids we ingest from eating chicken, pork and beef that are laced with them to make them larger.
Now I know you're wanting to hear the draw backs... the please-don't-make-me-think-this-is-a-good-idea, you must have sprouted-horns-and-turned-green-with-red-eyes kind of draw back. Well I can tell you the negatives of the change:
Negative 1: I chose to eat half a mini bag of cheetos because this is not a diet so I still eat what sounds good. The effect of said bag of cheetos was a two hour experience in writhing pain/thought I had food poisoning and wanted to cry kind of event. Damn Cheetos! *on a lighter note, I did eat a brownie on Easter and was just fine. The Eating Structure is all about the moderation of crap so one brownie was not a big painful health set back :)
Negative 2: My pee smells due to access consumption of asparagus
That's all folks! Not too dang bad! I intend to slowly phase out the carbs and eat more raw veggies than cooked but it's all in good time. I currently cook the veggies only with a tad bit of olive oil or nothing at all... so it's not a bad place to start. And hey, if I ever get to a place where I feel worse then maybe I'll go back to the SAD (standard american diet).... but doubtful as of now.... I'm just having too much fun! :)
