This Chickie

I did it!  My first success in a very very very long time.  Success in relation to my weight has been hard for me to come by so this is a big one for me. 

On March 11, 2008 I decided to say sayonara to sugar.  After experiences of feeling horrible after eating or binging on sugar products (lethargic, tired, not able to think, bloated, gas-y, HUGE) I decided that it was time to find out what it would feel like if I didn’t have sugar in my day.  When I mean sugar I refer to products where sugar is a major ingredient in the food item.  Certainly it’s inevitable to stay completely away from sugar because it’s still often an ingredient in foods that we eat (ketchup, dressings, sauces, restaurant food) because it’s an additive that makes food taste delicious.  And while I need to watch those types of foods, my main purpose in this detox was to get all the intentionally sugar processed foods (cakes, cookies, sweets, desserts, etc.) and that included anything that was full sugar, sugar free, sugar alcohol products; e.g. sweets.  Coming from eating chocolate or some form of it everyday at least once a day if not more, it just seemed like a good place to start.  Thankfully, on 3FC a thread was beginning and a couple of other people were also struggling in the same area as myself.  So, I jumped on the bandwagon and have found it quite easy to eliminate this food from my day. 14 days later…  I no longer crave sweets.  I can walk through a cereal aisle or bakery area and not think twice or be tempted by all that’s around me.  Of course, I’m still walking a thin line because I know if I popped anything in my mouth, that will be the end of my effort to rid this habit/addiction.  Best to stay away and JUST SAY “No, Thank You”.  All that said, sugar is still in my life but I”m focusing on natural sugar.  I still eat fruit (you get so much out of fruit in terms of nutrients, fiber, flavor, etc.).

 I’m no expert.  I’m grateful to have made it this far but I know there is so much more for me to concentrate on.  With this one thing under my belt and well on its way, I feel more energized to continue to gain my health.  So, I’m doing no sugar for 14 more days and this time I’ve included sweet drinks (that’s no problem for me since I don’t usually like them anyway… juice, sweet sodas, etc.) and diet soda (tough one!  I like Diet Coke).  I know I can make 14 days with no soda.  I did it with sugar, continue to do it, and just adding one more bit.  I believe I’m worth it.  (And, if I don’t I figure I”ll just keep saying that to myself and eventually I’ll believe it!).

1.16

I’ve started tracking again. I have a Franklin Planner and now they have unique inserts where you can keep track of your food and exercise. This system has been pretty good to keep me more regular with my tracking. I still struggle though. I’ve been pretty good about writing down what’s going into my mouth. I’d like to track the calories (or points) but there isn’t any room. I try to abbreviate but I find that to tough on some foods. I’m just glad that I’ve kept up with the tracking. Although, I’ll admit that sometimes I’ll miss 2-3 days and will go back to recall what I ate but by that time I’d forgotten. A lesson on keeping up with it so I don’t have to take the time to “forget”.

Instead of Mashed Potatoes try Mashed Cauliflower

1.  Steam cauliflower until tender.

2.  Add a bit of salt and white pepper to taste.  Butter is optional but if you want that extra treat.

3.  Mash all together and eat. 

4.  Delicious! 

5.  One cauliflower can feed about 4 people (depending on portion sizes).

Note:  The consistency is almost like mashed potatoes but don’t nervous if it’s a little bit more watery.  It’s just the water from the vegetable.

Did you know? 

Cauliflower is a vegetable that is many times overlooked. It is a member of the cruciferous family, a family which is known for containing nutrients that fight against several diseases.

In research done at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, lowered the occurance of  breast tumors in lab animals by almost 40%. Toxins that would normally damage the cells and turn cancerous, are swept out of the system by sulforaphane (found in cauliflower), preventing tumors before they begin. 13C (also found in Cauliflower) works in concert with the sulforaphane by acting as an anti-estrogen. Estrogen in high levels is known to foster tumor growth, especially in the breasts and the prostate glands. 13c helps to lower the estrogen count, thus lowering the chances of tumor growth.

Cauliflower also contains vitamin C and folate. Folate helps the blood work more efficiently and is often recommended for preventing anemia. Folate is also essential for proper tissue growth and not getting enough can make you succeptible to many diseases down the road such as cancer and heart disease. Vitamin C is considered an antioxident. When used alongside other antioxidents such as vitamin E and betacarotene, you can keep your immune system strong.

Three florets of cauliflower a day will provide you with 67% of your daily vitamin C requirement. When purchasing cauliflower, make sure the tops are white. If the floret has begun to spot brown or puple, it is past its nutritional peak. Serving the cauliflower raw will give you the highest nutritional benefits, however, if you must cook it, lightly steamed will also keep its cancer-fighting components intact.