Self-Care: Slow Carb, Invisalign, and More
The Slow Carb Diet
Five weeks ago Roy and I started the Slow Carb Diet as outlined in the book The Four Hour Body, or 4HB for short. Basically you avoid bread-y, starch-y carbs, dairy, fruit, alcohol, and sugar. Which means you mainly eat lean meat, fish, veggies, legumes/beans, eggs, and some nuts. When I talk to people about it, I say I'm not eating sugar or carbs, which is easier than saying the other list unless they ask for it. At times the diet seems restrictive, but it can be fun if you get a little creative.
Also, the caveat is that one day a week (usually the same day of the week, every week) is your "cheat day" where you eat whatever the hell you want. I mean, whatever. French fries, pizza, ice cream shakes, fruit, pancakes (all things I ate on my first cheat day). Then after your cheat day you go right back to the 4HB foods. This helps curb jumping ship and keeps your metabolism guessing (so you don't flat-line your progress with your new restrictions as they become an old hat, is the justification). If you have a huge craving during the week, you write down a note to yourself to have that thing on your cheat day (donuts are on my list right now). Pretty cool. I was more than ready to start eating clean again the next day after my cheat day, and I felt satisfied with what I had on it. I even drank my first milkshake in years. Normally I am paralysed by the thought of eating something with a lot of calories. I think this "cheat day" idea will actually help me to enjoy "sinful" foods a whole lot more since I'll allow myself to enjoy them without guilt.
A typical slow carb meal: veggies, fish, lentils and a little seasoning.
While I've been developing healthier habits over the years, this is by far the cleanest eating plan I've ever done. We're over a month in and we've both lost weight, and my allergies are less intense and I have more energy throughout the day. I'm planning to keep it up for at least another month, but I'm going to allow myself fruit, high-protein dairy, and some small amounts of carbs on my upcoming trip to San Francisco and LA.
We've managed to never break our diet (except on our once a week mandatory cheat day) for the past month, even when hosting out-of-town guests and taking them out to eat, during all of the Improvised Play Festival hangouts and after parties, and for me, while on set this week shooting. Craft services was pretty awesome as usual, but I ate none of the delicious-looking cookies, chocolates, soda, chips, crackers, fresh fruit, sandwiches, cheeses, or sea-salt caramels. When you're dead tired on set, you want a treat more than anything in the world. But I didn't do it. I am proud of myself.
I feel like I passed the ultimate food willpower test.
Parts of this I want to keep in my diet forever (way less sugar, minimal breads/pasta/rice more legumes/veggies/lean protein). Once I get to my personal body goals, I plan to level it out a bit and add back in some healthy fruits and dairy in the long term.
Roy and I are both headed toward 30 and 40 in 2 years, respectively. We want to be healthier, and the biggest hurdle is our eating habits. I've never had this strict of a diet before, but it's totally doable as long as you actually feed yourself (starving is no good and I'm NOT doing that). The only time it feels impossible is when I'm super hungry and I can't find any food I can eat. But now I carry little packs of almonds with me just in case.
----
Invisalign
A few weeks ago I finished up what was a ~six month Invisalign cosmetic dental treatment. I had braces in high school but didn't understand that I had to wear my retainer for the rest of my life in order for my results to stick. I had a permanent bottom retainer, so those stayed put, but over a decade my upper front teeth definitely moved. In fact, they kept moving more and more, even beginning to turn slightly in the beginning of last year. This def. freaked me out and was noticable in photos, etc. I had been thinking about Invisalign for about 3 years, and in a little bit of denial about how self conscious I had become about my teeth. Most people didn't notice, and that's fine, but they were crooked and I am so, so happy that they are straight now. This makes me feel so much better as I go into auditions and film shoots with a wide, bright smile. Plus, it was relatively painless for my wallet and mouth. Wearing the plastic trays at night doesn't bother me in the least and is easily doable for the rest of my life. Highly recommended.
before
(when in shadow, when it was especially noticable that one of my teeth was moving further back on its own)
after
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Trapeze Classes
I've been taking private trapeze classes at Sky Candy here in Austin and I love it. It's hard, it's fun, and it's making me stronger without me even thinking about it. I'm so busy trying to execute the moves and heave myself around this hanging bar in the air that I don't even think about the pain. (though it is painful, it's managable)
My goal for the year is to go at least once a week while I'm in town. And then at the end of the year, I'll see what's next based on how I feel. Totally low pressure.
Now all I need is to walk more and add in some fun cardio to complete a weekly exercise plan. Genuinely fun exercise is the name of the game. This is another thing I want to do weekly for the rest of my life.
---
2015 is about manifesting, embracing, and maintaining the best me that I can be. So far, it feels wonderful.
Five weeks ago Roy and I started the Slow Carb Diet as outlined in the book The Four Hour Body, or 4HB for short. Basically you avoid bread-y, starch-y carbs, dairy, fruit, alcohol, and sugar. Which means you mainly eat lean meat, fish, veggies, legumes/beans, eggs, and some nuts. When I talk to people about it, I say I'm not eating sugar or carbs, which is easier than saying the other list unless they ask for it. At times the diet seems restrictive, but it can be fun if you get a little creative.
Also, the caveat is that one day a week (usually the same day of the week, every week) is your "cheat day" where you eat whatever the hell you want. I mean, whatever. French fries, pizza, ice cream shakes, fruit, pancakes (all things I ate on my first cheat day). Then after your cheat day you go right back to the 4HB foods. This helps curb jumping ship and keeps your metabolism guessing (so you don't flat-line your progress with your new restrictions as they become an old hat, is the justification). If you have a huge craving during the week, you write down a note to yourself to have that thing on your cheat day (donuts are on my list right now). Pretty cool. I was more than ready to start eating clean again the next day after my cheat day, and I felt satisfied with what I had on it. I even drank my first milkshake in years. Normally I am paralysed by the thought of eating something with a lot of calories. I think this "cheat day" idea will actually help me to enjoy "sinful" foods a whole lot more since I'll allow myself to enjoy them without guilt.
A typical slow carb meal: veggies, fish, lentils and a little seasoning.
While I've been developing healthier habits over the years, this is by far the cleanest eating plan I've ever done. We're over a month in and we've both lost weight, and my allergies are less intense and I have more energy throughout the day. I'm planning to keep it up for at least another month, but I'm going to allow myself fruit, high-protein dairy, and some small amounts of carbs on my upcoming trip to San Francisco and LA.
We've managed to never break our diet (except on our once a week mandatory cheat day) for the past month, even when hosting out-of-town guests and taking them out to eat, during all of the Improvised Play Festival hangouts and after parties, and for me, while on set this week shooting. Craft services was pretty awesome as usual, but I ate none of the delicious-looking cookies, chocolates, soda, chips, crackers, fresh fruit, sandwiches, cheeses, or sea-salt caramels. When you're dead tired on set, you want a treat more than anything in the world. But I didn't do it. I am proud of myself.
I feel like I passed the ultimate food willpower test.
Parts of this I want to keep in my diet forever (way less sugar, minimal breads/pasta/rice more legumes/veggies/lean protein). Once I get to my personal body goals, I plan to level it out a bit and add back in some healthy fruits and dairy in the long term.
Roy and I are both headed toward 30 and 40 in 2 years, respectively. We want to be healthier, and the biggest hurdle is our eating habits. I've never had this strict of a diet before, but it's totally doable as long as you actually feed yourself (starving is no good and I'm NOT doing that). The only time it feels impossible is when I'm super hungry and I can't find any food I can eat. But now I carry little packs of almonds with me just in case.
----
Invisalign
A few weeks ago I finished up what was a ~six month Invisalign cosmetic dental treatment. I had braces in high school but didn't understand that I had to wear my retainer for the rest of my life in order for my results to stick. I had a permanent bottom retainer, so those stayed put, but over a decade my upper front teeth definitely moved. In fact, they kept moving more and more, even beginning to turn slightly in the beginning of last year. This def. freaked me out and was noticable in photos, etc. I had been thinking about Invisalign for about 3 years, and in a little bit of denial about how self conscious I had become about my teeth. Most people didn't notice, and that's fine, but they were crooked and I am so, so happy that they are straight now. This makes me feel so much better as I go into auditions and film shoots with a wide, bright smile. Plus, it was relatively painless for my wallet and mouth. Wearing the plastic trays at night doesn't bother me in the least and is easily doable for the rest of my life. Highly recommended.
before
(when in shadow, when it was especially noticable that one of my teeth was moving further back on its own)
after
-----
Trapeze Classes
I've been taking private trapeze classes at Sky Candy here in Austin and I love it. It's hard, it's fun, and it's making me stronger without me even thinking about it. I'm so busy trying to execute the moves and heave myself around this hanging bar in the air that I don't even think about the pain. (though it is painful, it's managable)
My goal for the year is to go at least once a week while I'm in town. And then at the end of the year, I'll see what's next based on how I feel. Totally low pressure.
Now all I need is to walk more and add in some fun cardio to complete a weekly exercise plan. Genuinely fun exercise is the name of the game. This is another thing I want to do weekly for the rest of my life.
---
2015 is about manifesting, embracing, and maintaining the best me that I can be. So far, it feels wonderful.