Lent Diet
So, some of you may know I'm pretty hard-core about Lent. I usually give up all warm-blooded meat, meaning I am pescovegetarian for 6 weeks a year. Even animal stocks or fats are unacceptable, everything is veggie. Dairy is OK, so I still eat eggs and cheese. Anyway, this year I decided that it was time to include myself in the sacrifice, not just God, so I gave up the blood for Him and refined sugar for myself.
Now THAT has been hard.
I expected weight loss to be a side effect. It seemed logical. It hasn't happened. I have been holding steady at the same weight I was on Fat Tuesday; however, when looking at my sugar diary this morning, I noticed a very pleasing side-effect...my mornign sugars have dropped DRAMATICALLY...almost 50 points. And my overall sugars seem to be dropping on average about 30 points. This means my A1Cs and my triglycerides are almost certainly going down, as I also expect my cholesterol to do so.
My whole body is reacting favorably. I sleep better, I have better digestive health, I am in a better mood. I do find I am hungry a LOT more often, but I also find I can eat a lot less in a sitting, so I find myself grazing all day on whole grains, fruit, and nuts. In fact, I eat rather a LOT of carbs still, but they're all uber-natural, whole, straight-from-the-earth varieties, so that seems to be the secret.
I have a killer sweet tooth, so living without refined sugar is an obvious need. I am trying to learn that I can get enough sweetness out of life from nature. But this seems to be indicating to me that I should also probably be largely vegetarian...not give up meat entirely, because cow is very tasty, and there are arguments for certain amino acids only found in nature in meat; there are also ethical arguments for supporting local, sustainable agriculture as a healthier alternative to either militant vegetarianism or factory farming. But my body seems to be telling me it likes fiber and natural carbs and does not need anywhere near the amount of protein I was previously giving to it.
I have considered a post-Lent taking-up, to follow the giving-up. I will put meat back into my diet, although I will try to be strict about leaving the refined sugar out, and I think I will take up a daily walk and see what happens to the waistline.
Anyone else want to consider a second 6-week healthy habit exercise?
Now THAT has been hard.
I expected weight loss to be a side effect. It seemed logical. It hasn't happened. I have been holding steady at the same weight I was on Fat Tuesday; however, when looking at my sugar diary this morning, I noticed a very pleasing side-effect...my mornign sugars have dropped DRAMATICALLY...almost 50 points. And my overall sugars seem to be dropping on average about 30 points. This means my A1Cs and my triglycerides are almost certainly going down, as I also expect my cholesterol to do so.
My whole body is reacting favorably. I sleep better, I have better digestive health, I am in a better mood. I do find I am hungry a LOT more often, but I also find I can eat a lot less in a sitting, so I find myself grazing all day on whole grains, fruit, and nuts. In fact, I eat rather a LOT of carbs still, but they're all uber-natural, whole, straight-from-the-earth varieties, so that seems to be the secret.
I have a killer sweet tooth, so living without refined sugar is an obvious need. I am trying to learn that I can get enough sweetness out of life from nature. But this seems to be indicating to me that I should also probably be largely vegetarian...not give up meat entirely, because cow is very tasty, and there are arguments for certain amino acids only found in nature in meat; there are also ethical arguments for supporting local, sustainable agriculture as a healthier alternative to either militant vegetarianism or factory farming. But my body seems to be telling me it likes fiber and natural carbs and does not need anywhere near the amount of protein I was previously giving to it.
I have considered a post-Lent taking-up, to follow the giving-up. I will put meat back into my diet, although I will try to be strict about leaving the refined sugar out, and I think I will take up a daily walk and see what happens to the waistline.
Anyone else want to consider a second 6-week healthy habit exercise?