Changing times, changing minds…
What is a mind if you can’t change it!
Just back from a short holiday which was spent visiting precious family and friends. It was an awesome time with not a photo to show, but loads of lovely visual memories to visit in the archives of my brain.
While visiting, I listened to my brother and SIL talking about Prof Tim Noakes’s new book Real Meal Revolution which is written with respected nutritionist Sally-Ann Creed, Jonno Proudfoot and David Grier. It would appear to be mostly Paleo, which is fast becoming the recognised diet of the day. A way of life really. Mark Sisson’s Primal (Grok on!) and all the low carb proponents, amongst whom there are numerous medical doctors who all have a similar take on turning the traditional food pyramid upside down.
Sally Fallon’s Eat Fat to Lose Fat is a must read for those who want to learn that coconut oil is a really healthy fat. Endocrinologist Dr Diana Schwarzbein’s 10 suggestions about food are as follows:
- Never skip a meal again (but only start eating after 10 am and finish around 7 – my note)
- Eat real, unprocessed foods
- Eat balanced meals
- Choose a protein as the main nutrient in your meal
- Add some healthy fats
- Add real carbohydrates
- Add non starchy vegetables
- Eat snacks
- Eat solid food
- Drink enough water
The oft maligned Dr Atkins’s diet if used correctly works like a charm (choose green vegetables over any man-made protein bars etc.). It’s getting round the thought of no bread that scares many because of the ease of using it for snacking and more.
This all boils down to fresh food. Meats and vegetables in their natural state, not processed. Simple really. At least that is how it looks on paper. Getting used to it and building a new lifestyle is another story. That is where discipline and commitment come in.
Even though the thought of giving up wheat rattles me (I truly love bread) I gave up sugar 3 months ago, following Sarah Wilson’s I Quit Sugar programme and found that to be relativity easy. I lost 10 kilos but managed to put on 4 by eating too many carbs I have decided to make the next 8 week programme the I Quit Wheat challenge. Maybe if I picture the bread crawling with worms it might help!
I am committed to this no wheat programme and I am sure that 8 weeks will have a significant effect on any digestive issues I may have. Psyllium husk is waiting if I encounter any constipation problems, which sometimes happens if too much protein is eaten and not enough vegetables.
The GAPS diet is another reasonably low carb diet worth reading as it treats autism as well as generally healing and sealing the gut. Bone broths are the one thing I have taken out of that regime and I will be endeavouring to have them regularly throughout the day. Thank goodness for slow cookers! What a wonderful way to make bone broths overnight.
The upshot of all of this is that I am taking my dieting along the low carb high fat course in phases. First the sugar gone and now the wheat. Add in the bone broths and green drinks. That’s it for now. The rest will come in stages as I feel it.
