Ditch the Cans: I discovered that canned food may be convenient, it is much easier to use frozen veggies. I can also reduce the exposure to BPA chemicals found in the liner of most can food. I am now going to pursue preserving my own food. I may not be able to do all my food preserves but a little more is better than none at all.
Beauty Within: I discovered I use way too much dressing & sauces and by doing so I lose the actual flavor and texture of fruits and vegetables. I need to reveal the beauty of my food by slight enhancing and avoid overpowering my food. Did you know how sweet Cauliflower can taste?
Its So Sugar Sweet: I discovered I really don’t need sugar as much as I thought. I realized that I like creamer in my coffee more than sugar and can go without the sugar. I realized that I could reduce the amount of “refined sugar” and supplement more with agave and/or honey. If I do decided to use sugar I should look for sugar that is organic and unbleached or 100% beet sugar. Did you know that some sugar is processed by bone char or “natural charcoal” made from cow bones? Not only are you eating sugar with no nutritional value, lots of calories but also including cow bone? Yikes!
If I can’t eat it don’t use it: I discovered that there is a lot of chemicals out there! The chemicals I really don’t need in my body or on my body. I realized I could make my own products and feel better about what I am putting in or on my body. I now make my own baby powder, shaving cream, butter cream, deodorant, face toner and face scrub. I am on my way to looking at mouthwash, cleaning products and more! I may not be making 100% of my products but I will commit to making more each year. For the stuff I do not make I will pay more attention to the labels. If I can’t pronounce an ingredient and I can’t eat it- I will be definitely saying no thank you.
My thoughts are not I! I discovered that I was eating a lot from my mind than my body. Some days on the diet I was so hungry! I thought I was going to die and I thought I need a big meal. But I learned that I was far from dying and after 2 bites of food I was fine. It was all in my mind…I realized how much power and energy I was giving to my thoughts and that made me think how many times do I allow my thoughts to dictate my actions in my life? I am now more aware of those thoughts I don’t struggle to push them away I let them be and soon they float away and I go on with what I was doing. I wonder how much we all give up in order to entertain those negative thoughts…that will be for another blog some day.
Bread, Bread Don’t Go Away: I discovered I am really not that much of a bread person but after this diet I realized I would love to make my own bread, pizza etc… So I am now in research mode finding some good home made recipes. I don’t want to use a bread maker I really want to make it from scratch all the way. Keep you posted on any recipes I come across.
I Saw RAW: I discovered that I do need to eat more raw food. I am not converting to a raw diet but I am being more conscious of my daily intake of raw food.
Join My Breakfast Club: I discovered I don’t need to be in the breakfast club. Breakfast is whatever I want to make it, so if I want to eat steamed spinach, salad, or even soup! I don’t have to follow the normal protocol of eggs, pancakes, bacon etc… I can create my own club.
I’ve Gone Coconuts! : I discovered coconut oil is a great alternative to promote healthy cooking. Not only did I end up using less oil but the oil could reach a higher heat level. I also use it in my butter cream and deodorant. Now that’s multi tasking!
I Need A Drink! : I discovered that I do need to drink more, of course plain water. I found that the more I drank the better my complexion was, the less I ate, and I just felt better. I also created drinks that had no sugar but packed with great flavor. I made Watermelon juice, mint, cucumber and bit of cilantro juice and I didn’t need to add sugar to them at all.
Stomach Grumblings: I discovered a grumbling stomach is okay it’s way better than a grumbling spirit. I realized that grumbling over my life was causing more damage to my soul than a few grumbles from my stomach. I need to feed my soul as much as my stomach.
As you can see it has been such a discovery for me. Yes, I did lose a lot of weight, which is great but the process was so much more important for me. I was able to take 6 weeks and really spend time with my habits and yes, some habits were in need of a little TLC. I was not spending my energy in working out, nor was I in competition with anyone. I was able to just spend a lot of time with food and myself. I was able to learn
where I “lost” myself. I was able to devote all my energy to ME. I was not distracted with how many steps I took, how many minutes I spent on a treadmill. I was able to use my time to re-evaluate my eating habits and take note of when I used food to replace an emotion.
I now realize the important part of a diet is spending time with the inside, if you can discover the connection between your mind, body, and spirit. If you can lift the weight off your shoulders you will be able to easily shed the pounds of weight in your life.
I may keep this weight off and I may not but it does not matter because I now have learned how to connect with my mind, body, and spirit. Yes, some pounds have lifted but most importantly I am pounds lighter in spirit- I am now free to walk into something NEW. That is best part of my weight loss!
Ps. I lost a total of 27 pounds!
Planting Peacefulness,
Shelley
