The REAL reason salad diets work
My health world has been a roller coaster the last few years. While investigating why I was feeling nauseous all the time (the last time we did this dance in '08), my doc recommended that I get my gallbladder removed. While the surgeon was in there, he discovered that my liver was "very fatty" and recommended a DRASTIC change in my habits - diet, exercise, the whole bit, and said I was in danger of DYING if I didn't make changes then. So, I did. Tom and I did a lot of exploring as far as meals go, and we finally settled into a regular menu of half a grilled chicken breast each, fried potatoes for Tom and some sort of fresh sauteed veggie for myself for dinner 4 nights a week. If you're thinking, holy crap, that's boring!, you're not the only one. Tom seems to be okay with monotony in his meals, but I've tried a couple of times to steer us in a different (but still healthy) direction. We've made lots of stews and Cristy's surprises, without a ton of luck. We're still working on it.
I got my blood work done about a month ago and found out that the hard work is FINALLY paying off! My triglycerides were in actual *normal* range, which they haven't been since I've been getting them checked. They started in the quadruple digits, and not low ones. Now, they are in low triples. Amazing, and gratifying, yes. My cholesterol was also in good shape, so I'm relieved about that.
BUT, in order to not go down the same path my dad did recently and need triple bypass surgery, I need to keep it up. So I am. Right before we found out my numbers from the blood work, I went to a specialist (an hour and a half away - the price of living in a small town nowadays), and I asked her how I can possibly get the number of veggie/fruit helpings required a day into my meals. I told her how I'm trying to do veggies for dinner, tuna with no creamy stuff for lunch and fruit for snacks, but how the heck could I fit 4-6 total servings of veggies in there?? I was already eating several times a day. She recommended a large salad for lunch. That would give me a few helpings there, and she suggested eating a fruit with breakfast. So, that's what I've been doing. I get LOTS of fresh produce every week for my lunches and occasionally vary some of the ingredients. I also make my own dressing with white vinegar and olive oil and spices, which has worked out really well.
The problem is... it takes me about an hour to MAKE the darn thing every day. And then about an hour to eat it. Who knew making a salad was so time-consuming? I set up tv trays around me (standing up to prepare everything would be murder on my back), the cutting board and bowl & chop away for what feels like forever, and then chew... and chew... and chew. I feel like half my day is taken up with lunch!
I know there are pre-mixed choices out there, but we're on a budget, and buying all of the fresh produce I need already takes up a huge amount of our grocery bill every week. Don't get me wrong - I feel really good about it, but wow, does it eat (ha!) away at my day. I know, I know, *first world problems... :) Just finished my salad for today (2:45pm - I started around 12:15). I'm going to go try to accomplish something ELSE now. :)
I got my blood work done about a month ago and found out that the hard work is FINALLY paying off! My triglycerides were in actual *normal* range, which they haven't been since I've been getting them checked. They started in the quadruple digits, and not low ones. Now, they are in low triples. Amazing, and gratifying, yes. My cholesterol was also in good shape, so I'm relieved about that.
BUT, in order to not go down the same path my dad did recently and need triple bypass surgery, I need to keep it up. So I am. Right before we found out my numbers from the blood work, I went to a specialist (an hour and a half away - the price of living in a small town nowadays), and I asked her how I can possibly get the number of veggie/fruit helpings required a day into my meals. I told her how I'm trying to do veggies for dinner, tuna with no creamy stuff for lunch and fruit for snacks, but how the heck could I fit 4-6 total servings of veggies in there?? I was already eating several times a day. She recommended a large salad for lunch. That would give me a few helpings there, and she suggested eating a fruit with breakfast. So, that's what I've been doing. I get LOTS of fresh produce every week for my lunches and occasionally vary some of the ingredients. I also make my own dressing with white vinegar and olive oil and spices, which has worked out really well.
The problem is... it takes me about an hour to MAKE the darn thing every day. And then about an hour to eat it. Who knew making a salad was so time-consuming? I set up tv trays around me (standing up to prepare everything would be murder on my back), the cutting board and bowl & chop away for what feels like forever, and then chew... and chew... and chew. I feel like half my day is taken up with lunch!
I know there are pre-mixed choices out there, but we're on a budget, and buying all of the fresh produce I need already takes up a huge amount of our grocery bill every week. Don't get me wrong - I feel really good about it, but wow, does it eat (ha!) away at my day. I know, I know, *first world problems... :) Just finished my salad for today (2:45pm - I started around 12:15). I'm going to go try to accomplish something ELSE now. :)