(I've given up on 'Dear Diary")

Now that I'm rebuilding my food choices and quantities, I've focused in on several thoughts.

I wanted to bring my weight down. That was accompanied by a lot of whining and foot-stomping. I want, I need, I should, I can't, I won't.

What was missing was I wasn't willing.

I told OKM I couldn't give up milk in my coffee when I decided to start IF. I told myself  I still needed 2 pieces of pizza on pizza Friday. There was no problem with building my morning omelet with healthy veggies but did I need so many or so much? After all, they were healthy. There was a whole lot of "I can have another" in my mind. Should I have grabbed a cheese slice or two while building a sandwich?

A clear liquid diet helps you refocus. The thought of a reoccurrence of diverticulitis is a big motivator. 

I mostly gave up coffee and have lived to tell the tale. Occasionally I may have a few ounces black if it's fresh; I'm a coffee snob. I start and end my day with herbal teas.

So far nothing has bothered me and the thought of another bout keeps me honest. My illness was precipitated by a meal unlike any I normally eat; fried everything with meat. Never again is burned into my brain.

The most surprising thing I've found is I can live with less. Much less. We'll see where this leads.


Comments

  1. OneKidsMomMarch 3, 2023 at 6:44 AM

    Lessons taught by pain. May they stick for both of us! My excesses of February led to a recurrence of the heartburn that started me on IF to begin with. Amazingly, I just finished fast #3, the first two of which were "dirty" and last night's overnight "clean". What I'm amazed by is how quickly my body has bounced back to feeling better. Duh!

    What I'm trying to figure out is whether the digestive issues (belching, heartburn, sometimes constipation) are more related to things like the mechanics of eating (quickly, slowly, separated into meals or continuous), content (is dairy an issue... I never want to have to "give up" dairy... I love it and calcium is important for my osteopenia; or is wheat an issue... I seem to do better with less bread... potatoes seem to be OK) or let's be honest, volume.

    The experiment(s) of ONE continue, into the year.

    ReplyDelete
  2. OverworkedjanetMarch 3, 2023 at 7:16 AM

    Absolutely! I am astounded at how I am sated on so much less volume than I had been eating. However, that volume is not nutritionally stable, but when I add back it will be more sound. I'm still tracking because of the fiber counts and found I've been subsisting on a 900-1000 calorie diet. I am curious to see what will happen as I exchange my low fiber choices for high.

    ReplyDelete
  3. MorticiaAddamsMarch 3, 2023 at 9:36 AM

    Totally agree that diverticulitis is a great motivator. I am always tracking my fiber intake. It is just as important to me as my carb intake and that is very important for a diabetic. In fact, they are the chief nutrients I worry about meeting. I mostly drink water and decaffeinated or herbal decaffeinate tea. My gut will not tolerate coffee at all. It is like pouring boiling oil on my tender gut. I don't tolerate tons of fat either. I even have some problems eating things like BBQ sauce and tomato sauce which have a lot of acid. I don't tolerate a lot of sugar. I don't tolerate milk and cream. I know what foods are safe for me to eat and I concentrate on them. Add back fiber slowly, GF. My best tips are to drink lots of fluids as you increase fiber and to consider Keto Bread. I am not on a Keto diet but do use some select Keto products and they eliminate things that are a problem for me. Too much sugar. Too many calories. Keto Bread is very expensive but low calories, low carbs, and tons of fiber. I like Lewis Brand and they offer regular, Hawaiian, and cinnamon and have hamburger and hot dog buns too. I took a course challenge on Fiber and it is the only one that ever helped me. Yesterday I had almost 50 gms of fiber and tolerated it great. I don't normally have that much but I always met the minimum.

    ReplyDelete
  4. OverworkedjanetMarch 3, 2023 at 11:21 AM

    Thanks for the info. Your experience helps guide me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousMarch 4, 2023 at 7:32 AM

      Email any time you need help.

      Delete
  5. BarbMarch 3, 2023 at 11:29 AM

    Yes, honestly, there is nothing to me that tastes as good as being healthy feels!

    Good job. Yes, we can live on less! I’ve found that, too. Good luck!

    Hugs
    Barb
    1crazydog

    ReplyDelete
  6. OverworkedjanetMarch 4, 2023 at 2:48 PM

    Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  7. ValMarch 7, 2023 at 8:03 AM

    (My work computer lets me "be myself", even though I shouldn't be dawdling in cyberspace ;-)
    I, too, have a real problem with authority, even when it is my own!

    ReplyDelete

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