Rethinking food
Recently I have been thinking a lot about the way I eat. Both Grant and I had put on quite a bit of weight over the holidays, and so we went back on the South Beach Diet in January. We also eliminated all alcohol from our diet for a month. The first week, I dropped about 9 pounds, then I stalled completely. Grant lost a little bit, but not nearly as much as either of us expected. It was frustrating, to say the least.
I know one of the reasons diets ultimately don't work is because you are starving your body and your body cleverly begins finding ways to store fat so it can survive. But honestly, the way we have been eating is not anywhere near a starvation diet. We eat loads of veggies, and a moderate amount of cheese, fruit and whole grains. We allow ourselves little chocolate treats. So what is going on?
I found myself looking at the Canadian Food Guide. The first thing that I really noticed was how little meat or meat alternatives were recommended. Both Grant and I easily eat twice that in any given day. We don't eat nearly as much of the recommended amount of grains. I think we are pretty dead on with our vegetables and fruits and our milk. So, I am considering limiting the amount of meat we are consuming. That means no more chicken bacon for breakfast. It means good bye to the cold cuts for lunch. It means that a "normal" serving of chicken, pork or beef at dinner is pretty much all the meat I can eat in one day. Heck, the piece of chicken I ate two nights ago and the lean piece of steak I had last night were twice the recommended serving size and they weren't all that big!
I am also consciously trying to eat more grains. I already do a pretty good job at breakfast; I either eat Fibre One Cereal or Nature's Path Organic Oatmeal. I am cooking brown basmati rice or whole wheat pasta more often at dinner. I am seriously thinking about trying to bake some of my own bread; I find the store-bought versions are really high in sugars and I don't trust how truly "whole" wheat they are.
I am not really expecting to lose weight this way, but I am starting to think that what I really need to be concentrating on is the health value of my diet. I need to make sure I am getting enough Calcium and Vitamin D in my diet. I am not getting any younger, I have to worry about bone density and that crap. I have to get my colon screened to make sure everything is working. I am peri-menopausal, although my symptoms so far have been minimal. And both Grant and I want to grow very, very old together.
I know one of the reasons diets ultimately don't work is because you are starving your body and your body cleverly begins finding ways to store fat so it can survive. But honestly, the way we have been eating is not anywhere near a starvation diet. We eat loads of veggies, and a moderate amount of cheese, fruit and whole grains. We allow ourselves little chocolate treats. So what is going on?
I found myself looking at the Canadian Food Guide. The first thing that I really noticed was how little meat or meat alternatives were recommended. Both Grant and I easily eat twice that in any given day. We don't eat nearly as much of the recommended amount of grains. I think we are pretty dead on with our vegetables and fruits and our milk. So, I am considering limiting the amount of meat we are consuming. That means no more chicken bacon for breakfast. It means good bye to the cold cuts for lunch. It means that a "normal" serving of chicken, pork or beef at dinner is pretty much all the meat I can eat in one day. Heck, the piece of chicken I ate two nights ago and the lean piece of steak I had last night were twice the recommended serving size and they weren't all that big!
I am also consciously trying to eat more grains. I already do a pretty good job at breakfast; I either eat Fibre One Cereal or Nature's Path Organic Oatmeal. I am cooking brown basmati rice or whole wheat pasta more often at dinner. I am seriously thinking about trying to bake some of my own bread; I find the store-bought versions are really high in sugars and I don't trust how truly "whole" wheat they are.
I am not really expecting to lose weight this way, but I am starting to think that what I really need to be concentrating on is the health value of my diet. I need to make sure I am getting enough Calcium and Vitamin D in my diet. I am not getting any younger, I have to worry about bone density and that crap. I have to get my colon screened to make sure everything is working. I am peri-menopausal, although my symptoms so far have been minimal. And both Grant and I want to grow very, very old together.
Labels: Now we're cooking, Rants and Observations
posted by allison | 10:30 AM
3 Comments:
Disclaimer: I don't usually leave comments for anyone on their entries about food and diet unless it's of the "Go you!" variety. I recognize that different things work for different people, and I don't even pretend like I believe the program I work for is the best thing for everyone.
I do want to say though, as someone who has been in charge of in-person monitoring of hundreds of people's weight losses (and gains) for almost four years, the thing that I've observed as being most effective for losing weight and keeping it off is the physical activity component.
All our participants change what they eat according to whatever is outlined with their health educators. They add fruits and vegetables, drink more water, reduce portion sizes, eat less meat, fewer carbs, whatever it takes. And those things certainly help them out, as does the record keeping and accountability.
But I've noticed that the people who make exercise a big focus - and who consistently meet or exceed 2,000 calories burned through physical activity per week - are the ones who lose more and who keep the weight off.
These aren't usually gym rats either. It's just people who make it a point to start out with simply walking to the grocery store or riding their bike to work. Then they build up from there. It's hard to fit in an hour or more of exercise every day and a huge commitment, but that seems to be the formula that works best for many people.
Anyway, it's possible you're already considering and/or working that angle along with the great food ideas you're incorporating. But I wanted to throw it out there if not.
Oh yes, I am working out. (Well, not this week, but let us not talk about this week. The past is the past, right?) Anyway, when I keep properly to my schedule, I am doing strength training twice a week and Pilates once a week. I try to do at least 15 minutes of aerobic exercise each time too, but it's the first thing to go when I am pressed for time. I know how important regular exercise is for maintaining or losing weight.
Hmmm, ask Jim about the book he is reading right now - on good food and feeling happy and, um, stuff.
I'm too tired to be commenting right now.
A good place to buy bread is key.
Based on my reading during pregnancy, nobody regardless of growing a beeb should eat deli meat.
And you're hot. But you already know this.
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