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Sunday, December 23, 2012

Keeping Off Those Holiday Pounds And Then Some

I wanted to share with you some of my tips for weight loss and keeping off the holiday pounds.  I completely changed the way I ate about a year ago and it has made such a big difference in my life that I would like to share it with you and it kind of has a vintage twist to it:)   I do want to put in a disclaimer that this may not be for you and to consult a doctor about your health, if you feel the need too.

The vintage twist is to go back to the basics like our historic sisters ate.  I read the book Wheat Belly last year and my eyes kind of opened up and I realized it wasn't the amount of food I was eating (I wasn't a big eater just like most of you ladies who are struggling with those extra pounds) but what I was eating.   Dr. Davis is my hero:)

I had resolved myself to the fact that I'd always have all those extra pounds hanging on to my body as just a part of life and the aging process.   I certainly didn't want to starve but I learned it wasn't about starving yourself.   I don't want to be an infomercial.  I'm here to offer a few tips that I find successful for me.  I feel better now then I did twenty years ago and I wish I would have known how to eat twenty years ago.  I always thought it was about low fat and low calories but it's not.



There is a BIG misconception in "diet" and "weight loss".   It's really not the amount you are eating but what you are eating. Processed foods cause weight gain...even the low fat kind.   Pass by the store bought bread...it's totally processed even "whole wheat".

Here are a few of my favorite foods and ideas for weight loss...they do work...trust me:)  What is the number one thing you need to give up....wheat.  Try it for a couple weeks and see what happens!

I didn't put these into any particular order as they are all great tips that have helped me:


1.  Coconut Oil - this is a staple in our house.  Throw out the vegetable oil.

2.  Wheat - no more wheat it isn't the wheat of our historic sisters, the wheat of today is genetically engineered and our bodies can't digest it.  The wheat of the 50's is not the wheat of today.  Whole wheat is not good for you.  I know this is controversial but in my case it wasn't.  

3.  Dark Chocolate - eat away ladies, this is good for you and I find doesn't pack on the pounds.  Whenever I feel the sugar craving, I reach for the dark chocolate chips:)

4.  Butter - don't be afraid to use it....love it like our historic sisters did.  Not all fats are bad for you!  Get rid of the margarine it's full of chemicals which cause you to gain weight.  Remember it's the processed foods with chemicals that our bodies don't understand that pack the pounds on.

5  Organic Milk - I know this costs extra but it's worth the extra expense.  Regular milk has too many hormones in it.  Try to go organic on whatever you can!

6.  Tinned Coconut Milk - I live by this stuff.   It's thick.  It's creamy. I love it.  I dump it in my coffee with whipped cream and some sugar free syrup and I feel like I am in heaven.  I have this every day:)  It keeps me full and I'm getting some great nutrients from the coconut milk.  Not all fats are bad!!   This is good fat...just look at our historical polynesian women, they were beautiful and feasted on coconuts.   Another good fat is avocado...eat as much as you want!!  It's a big misconception that all fats are bad for you.  Transfats are bad for you....watch out for the store bought peanut butter, read the label.

7.  Almond Flour - If you have a nut allergy, this will most likely not be for you.  This is my substitute for regular flour and it makes the best desserts.  Yes, you can eat cookies, donuts (baked versions), and sweet things if they are made with almond flour but don't use sugar cane!  If you are interested in a great site for baking here's a couple of my favorites:

http://mariahealth.blogspot.com/

http://yourlighterside.com/

8.  Swerve and Just Like Sugar - I use these as a natural alternative to sugar.  But, I do use them sparingly.  Sugar cane is not a good item as it spikes your blood sugar levels causing you to want to eat more.  I also like to mix in a little bit of coconut sugar, it tastes like brown sugar.  I've heard mixed reviews on coconut sugar but I like to use it sparingly as it has a nice vanilla taste to it.

9.  Eggs - I've switched out the bran cereal for eggs in the morning.  I think if you even just do this one tip you will notice a difference.  Eggs do not effect your blood sugar.  You'll find you can go longer in the day without needing to eat. The key to weight loss is to maintain your blood sugar and to try to avoid spikes that happen with eating a lot of carbs.

10.  Meat and Veggies - It's okay to eat protein...eat salmon, meats (if you can grass fed), chicken, etc.  Try to avoid processed meats and go for the basic meats (just like our historical sisters).  Choose this over a big bowl of pasta.  Pasta will add the pounds! Protein help to keep you full and stable in your blood sugar.  I think this was the balance that was off for me.  I was eating way too many carbs and not enough protein and vegetables.  You'll also have to think about loosing the potatoes and maybe eating a salad or veggies instead:)  In today's society, our omega 3/6 balance is off.  We need more 3's and less


I hope some of these tips help you ladies and feel free to email me or comment and I can certainly help point you to some great books and links.   This isn't a "diet" it's a lifestyle change and if you'd like to become more healthy....you can do it:))

13 comments:

  1. Nice list! I agree with almost everything... of course, cutting out wheat entirely is not for everyone, but cutting back can help a lot (there's gluten in so many things, something I learned when we discovered my granddad had celiac!)... BUT! I'm completely opposed to sugar alternatives. They mess with your brain and metabolism, because your body gets confused about how to respond to "sweet" flavors. I think it's better to just use real sugars, especially less refined ones, sparingly... and your body can be weaned from its sweets obsession, and I say this as a girl who once had the world's worst sweet tooth.

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    1. Thanks for your comment Francis. I appreciate your insights!! I agree it's up to the individual. I chose to give up wheat and it's been a good thing for me. Also, I agree about sugar alternatives. You have to be careful. Splenda is not good. Did you know it was made in a lab? Artificial sweeteners are not good. Just Like Sugar is made directly from a chicory root so I feel safe using it. And again, I make sweet things but I don't make them everyday and apart of every meal. They are are a treat but I do find when I cook with almond flour that you don't want to eat as much and you feel quite full and don't feel the sugar crash of say going to Dunkin Donuts and indulging in a transfat donut:) Another thing I've found is that if you have to actually cook these things yourself you eat less of them lol. But, I think it's the fact that if I want carrot cake, cheese cake, chocolate cake, I can without any guilt or worry of gaining weight. I've also found that since I've given up wheat if I do eat even a little bit of it now....I don't feel good. So, I do think in some respects I was allergic to it. I say to people to give it a try and do what they think is best for them:) I think even cutting back on processed foods would be a win win.

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    2. I don't think whether or not the zero-calorie things are made in a lab makes a difference for the metabolic impact. I think there are a couple good articles about it from Science News, but the basic theory is that not actually giving your body sugars when it thinks it's getting them screws with your insulin, since your body gets geared up to have sugar happen and then has to switch gears. It's not an immediate feeling, like a sugar crash, but can build up over time... Anyway, something to keep in mind for the long run. And I SO agree about making things yourself... not only is there much more portion control, but you know exactly what's in them!

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  2. I agree that most of these are much better for the body, but I guess I'm just a picky person and have a block about trying them. I switched from white breads to whole wheat and personally I feel like it does digest better and keeps me feeling fuller longer, where as with most white breads I didn't have that full feeling and ended up reaching for a snack that wasn't healthy for me to quench my appetite.

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    1. I know that when I first gave up wheat I was surprised by just the amount of "water weight" I was carrying around. There are some people it doesn't effect with weight but it did directly effect me just not like celiacs. I think if you have to have grains trying the ancient grains is a good alternative:)

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  3. I had never heard of almond flour before this list, I love almonds so I'm really keen to try out some baking with that - I just need to find somewhere that stocks it :)

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    1. I hope you are able to fine some:) I have some great recipes if you need some ideas. Also, if you can get blanched almond flour vs unblanched this is better. It just the difference in fineness and also blanched does not include the darker outer layer making it a slight lighter color in appearance. I buy mine from Honeyville Flour. But, this is a US supplier. I've heard of Bob's Red Mill being overseas....your local health food store should carry some:)

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  4. Interesting list Joanna and I would love to investigate this more.

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  5. Terrific post, dear Joanna, thank you very much for sharing some of what has really worked for you in terms of a healthy eating plan. I've been eating quite similarly (in part by both medical circumstances and choice) for quite some time now, and can truly attest to how much of a difference it's made for me in terms of helping with some of my health problems and also giving me more energy on a day-to-day basis. To help combat his diabetes (and to loose weight), Tony recently started following a ketogenic diet (which encompasses some of these same principles) has already seen results in less than two weeks (his blood sugar levels have dropped dramatically, which we're both ecstatic about!).

    ♥ Jessica

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    1. Thank you Jessica. It is an interesting change. I hope Tony will be happy adjusting. I'm so happy to hear that his blood sugar levels have gotten better. I bet he will also notice a change in not getting sick as much too! If I can offer you any good recipes, just shoot me an email:) I look forward to hearing about his progress.

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  6. I agree with so much of this! Cutting out wheat, adding eggs for breakfast and organic milk are all observed in my diet!

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  7. Thanks for these diet tips! I need these for the new year's health resolution!

    www.afterflats.com

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  8. I really enjoyed this post! I have been following Dr. Davis's plan for several months--I feel so much better without the wheat!

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