Months before I started this lifestyle I gave up my very first item that was easy for me. I gave up soda. I never take anything at face value or believe anyone without verifying what others are trying to tell me. I always make sure to study it out. I learned that soda pop is one of the worst things you can consume. A 12 oz can of coca cola contains 39 grams of sugar. That is equivalent to 9 1/3 tsp. of sugar!! As much as 3 servings of frosted flakes! People who consume 1-2 cans of soda a day are at greater risk for diabetes, 85% greater risk for gout, and because sugar makes us gain weight we are at greater risk of developing heart disease. Okay, so what about diet soda? Are they any better? Not quite. Sugar substitutes trigger insulin, and then your body stores fat. It confuses our bodies. At the University of Texas scientists conducted a study on the effects of diet soda and found that 70% of people who drank Diet Soda had a greater percentage of fat storage in their waist lines. Participants who slurped down 2 or more diet sodas had a 500% greater increase. That is a lot!!! It's not just physical, but psychological because some may think that because they are consuming less calories and sugar, that they can eat more other fattening foods like pizza and burgers. Artificial sweeteners are also associated with migraine headaches, depression, bad teeth, bad for your bones. I could go on and on! If you give up soda and drink more water, you will lose weight! What do I drink in it's place? Water, lots and lots of water. At least 5 12 ounce portions a day. If I have fruit such as strawberries, I infuse it by placing strawberries in a water bottle with water over night. I also love fizz so I drink Kombucha that you can make yourself or buy it at the health food section in the store.The next thing we did as a family was have Meatless Mondays. I found recipes that I thought my family would enjoy, and gave that a try. Taco salads with beans and cheese and chips( no meat). Burrito bowls with rice, beans mixed with taco seasoning, tomatoes, rice, onions, stir fry with lots of veggies and rice. We did this for months, and my family liked doing it because it was something different, and fun!
As we adjusted to our new routine, I continued to read and study. My health wasn't great. I had blood pressure meds x 2, I take an aspirin everyday and probably will have to continue because of the DVT I had in my leg several years ago. I also have to take a anti depressant, and though I don't suffer from depression it controls my heart from beating out of sync. It may get better. I read everything that I could get my hands on concerning nutrition. For some reason there was just something that told me that I needed to change my diet. Years ago I thought that people who didn't consume meat were insane and I could never do that, Never ever ever say never. LOL As I read How Not to Die by Michael Greger, and other informative articles I realized what I needed to do. I also started to read labels on processed foods. High fructose corn syrup is in everything, salt, chemicals that I couldn't pronounce.
My children went off to college on New Years Day, and on the way home while talking to my husband in the car we decided we would go cold turkey. We would give up the processed foods including oils. We decided to give up meat, dairy and sugar. Really it wasn't hard for me as I was in the mind set, and had done the research that I needed to do to know that meat was causing diabetes. It's cell clogging so the insulin cannot work properly in our bodies. Same with all animal products. There are those including my family that don't agree and it's because of the way we have been raised that carbs are bad, and meat contains the protein that our bodies needs. This cannot be farther from the truth. Read the China Study, and it's explains that people in China ate rice for years and just recently have started to develop diabetes because the SAD (Standard American Diet) has begun in their country.
It takes a bit to get over the cravings. That comes in time. My suggestion is get all the junk out of your house. Rid your pantries of sugar and processed foods. If it isn't there you can't eat it. Save your money for fun things for your house. A new picture, toys for the kids etc. Don't go to fast food restaurants. They contain sugar and salt. They also trick our brains into wanting more. It's the pleasure centers of our brains (hipocampus) that is comforting and yummy. Stay clear, and take your kids to a movie or get out and exercise. Now we all give in once in a while, but just right back on to healthy eating. Your palate will change in about 3 weeks. I had ice cream the other night, and it didn't taste that good. Probably because I hadn't had it in a very long time.
Last but not least get a support group. There are quite a few on facebook. I belong to a few where I can ask questions and concerns. The people on these groups all have started somewhere, and it's a great resource. Also remember that this is not a diet! It's a lifestyle. If you keep this in mind, you will continue on.
My biggest decision to do this was to get healthy again. I wanted to get off of the pills, drop some weight and reverse my diabetes. The journey is long, but I know if I'm persistent the health problems will eventually get better, and I will live longer to see my kids and grandchildren grow up.
http://potatostrong.com/getting-started-starch-solution-beginners/
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