Eating Clean - Do you do it?

[Dancind]

PracticallyPerfect, you describe it very well! Calm and in control, for the first time in my life. Hardly ever hungry, and when I do get hungry it's not the shaky kind. Means my blood sugar is regulated, I think.

The really amazing story is my daughter. She has overcome 20 years of stomach cramps, migraines, depression and mood swings by eating this way. She was a total space cadet kid, got put on ADHD meds etc. By mid school, we thought she might be bipolar (that was mostly the meds). Flunked out of college in spite of a highly gifted IQ. Now she is like a poster person (she's 22, not a kid) for clean eating and paleo. Even at about 70%, though never any gluten or soy, minimal dairy and sugar. Absolutely glowing, and you should see her skin! Energy for days, she even does cross fit. She does great at her job, just wish she would try going back to school. She says she will.

I really wish I had known this when she was little. I guess Moms always have something to feel guilty about.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Oh Diana - what a beautiful wonderful story about your daughter. I'm 36 now and wish for the life of me I knew that sugar was such a horrible awful thing. I remember drinking 6 cans of pepsi when I was growing up. I can't say I thought it was healthy, but I had no clue what all it did to your insides. I wish I had known then what I know now. I think I have come to a place of peace about my health getting so out of control. There were lots of things I was doing wrong that were my own fault, but lots of times I thought I was doing the right thing based on what doctors told me. They may be right for some, but weren't for me. I firmly believe in the concept of personal accountability, but I still say it's not totally 100% my fault that I got up to my highest weight. However, now I can say I can be 100% accountable for my results in the future b/c I know what works. And if I can be an inspiration to another person suffering with Hashimotos and PCOS, my journey is worth it. Best of luck to you and your daughter in the future.

 

[lauradis]

I stand corrected. Dr. Atkins did have a heart attack in April 2002, a year before his death.

Lets not forget that he was 72 years old and not over weight.

 

[lakelandgal70]

Congrats Lakelandgal! My biggest change was my mood. I think sugar was making me an irritable witch! It's amazing how much more calm I feel now. Eating 3 meals was a change for me as well, but I think it's the best thing for me. I have lots of fat on my body and I'm leptin resistant. Leptin is the satiety hormone. My brain doesn't receive the message that I've eaten....especially eating more frequent smaller meals. I know this for a fact for me b/c I did a fitness challenge for 10 weeks earlier this year and pretty much felt hungry most of the time. Now that I eat bigger less frequent meals I feel satisfied. Also my relationship with food has completely changed. I used to use food for comfort. Cheetos or a heath bar could "fix" anything. I know longer have those cravings. It's an amazing feeling to be free of cravings. best of luck to you on your journey. One of my favorite sites for recipes (I also love the bloggers way of writing) is www.paleomg.com

thanks practicallyperfect77! I have used some recipes from her site and loved it!

 

[lakelandgal70]

Look I don't think there is one lifestyle that is better than another. Whatever works for you works for you. I don't think that eating meat makes you less healthy than someone who is a vegetarian. Or vice versa. We are all trying to get through this thing called life as healthy as possible. I have no issues with anyone who thinks it is cruel to eat meat or anything animal based. That is your opinion.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Look I don't think there is one lifestyle that is better than another. Whatever works for you works for you. I don't think that eating meat makes you less healthy than someone who is a vegetarian. Or vice versa. We are all trying to get through this thing called life as healthy as possible. I have no issues with anyone who thinks it is cruel to eat meat or anything animal based. That is your opinion.

Like times a million.

 

[LSmith]

.

 

[Dancind]

Oh Diana - what a beautiful wonderful story about your daughter. I'm 36 now and wish for the life of me I knew that sugar was such a horrible awful thing. I remember drinking 6 cans of pepsi when I was growing up. I can't say I thought it was healthy, but I had no clue what all it did to your insides. I wish I had known then what I know now. I think I have come to a place of peace about my health getting so out of control. There were lots of things I was doing wrong that were my own fault, but lots of times I thought I was doing the right thing based on what doctors told me. They may be right for some, but weren't for me. I firmly believe in the concept of personal accountability, but I still say it's not totally 100% my fault that I got up to my highest weight. However, now I can say I can be 100% accountable for my results in the future b/c I know what works. And if I can be an inspiration to another person suffering with Hashimotos and PCOS, my journey is worth it. Best of luck to you and your daughter in the future.

Oh, me too. I was such a good low fat, whole grain eater! Until I weighed almost 200 pounds, had diabetes and could barely get out of bed. Not soda, but "low fat" candy was my weakness. I hate what I did to myself and my family. Got my Mom to switch to the low fat diet about 30 years ago, and 22 years ago she died of leukemia. There's a guilt trip for you.

It really isn't your fault, you know. We were eating the way we were told we should be eating. Took a long time to start hearing how bad sugar is for you, and then even longer to give it up.

When we started dating, I gave DH the hardest time about the chicken fried steak he made every weekend for his boys. One of two recipes he could cook, I think. He's highly amused that I now occasionally make grass fed tenderized steak, dipped in egg and dusted with gluten free flour, cooked in whatever healthy fat I have on hand. It lacks potatoes and gravy, but it's darned good!

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Oh, me too. I was such a good low fat, whole grain eater! Until I weighed almost 200 pounds, had diabetes and could barely get out of bed. Not soda, but "low fat" candy was my weakness. I hate what I did to myself and my family. Got my Mom to switch to the low fat diet about 30 years ago, and 22 years ago she died of leukemia. There's a guilt trip for you.

It really isn't your fault, you know. We were eating the way we were told we should be eating. Took a long time to start hearing how bad sugar is for you, and then even longer to give it up.

When we started dating, I gave DH the hardest time about the chicken fried steak he made every weekend for his boys. One of two recipes he could cook, I think. He's highly amused that I now occasionally make grass fed tenderized steak, dipped in egg and dusted with gluten free flour, cooked in whatever healthy fat I have on hand. It lacks potatoes and gravy, but it's darned good!

Oh my - those darn quilt trips can eat you alive. Mismanaged thyroid problems combined with eating the recommended low fat high grain diet got me up to 275. I'm now 225. Obviously still a ways to go, but I totally forgive myself and am at peace about my past. I refuse to let it make me feel less of a person. What's interesting is I switched from Pepsi to diet coke sometime around 2000 b/c I thought it was healthier. I really think the stupid aspartame and heaven only knows what other chemicals further deteriorated my thyroid and made my weight problem worse. Hindsight is always 20/20. Your steaks sound yummy! Have you ever tried coating in an almond and coconut flour mix? Not sure how that works, but I love my almond flour pancakes. Just a treat every now and then.

 

[LisaR]

Oh, me too. I was such a good low fat, whole grain eater! Until I weighed almost 200 pounds, had diabetes and could barely get out of bed. Not soda, but "low fat" candy was my weakness. I hate what I did to myself and my family. Got my Mom to switch to the low fat diet about 30 years ago, and 22 years ago she died of leukemia. There's a guilt trip for you.

It really isn't your fault, you know. We were eating the way we were told we should be eating. Took a long time to start hearing how bad sugar is for you, and then even longer to give it up.

When we started dating, I gave DH the hardest time about the chicken fried steak he made every weekend for his boys. One of two recipes he could cook, I think. He's highly amused that I now occasionally make grass fed tenderized steak, dipped in egg and dusted with gluten free flour, cooked in whatever healthy fat I have on hand. It lacks potatoes and gravy, but it's darned good!

What is low fat candy?

One of the terms I hate is the word low fat. I am a low fat eater. When most people think of that word, it conjures up images of low fat sour cream or low fat salad dressings. I wouldn't touch those types of products with a ten foot pole. I wouldn't buy anything with the word low fat written on the label. Of course, since I don't buy prepacked food, it isn't an issue. I get plenty of fat from the foods I eat without adding any extras to it.

Here is my son's story. At two, he developed his first anaphylactic reaction to cashews (there were more after that). From that point forward, he had hives almost every day of his life. Allergy testing was a joke. It pretty much claimed he was allergic to every food that existed! He began throwing up at the age of three and it increased to multiple times a week as he aged. We saw nutritionists, allergists, every specialist we could find, and even flew him to one of the top pediatric GI specialists in the country. He was poked, prodded, and tested for everything you can imagine. The whole time, my son was eating meat on a regular basis (always local and organic). While a lot of terms were thrown around and he was diagnosed with a few things, I later learned that they were a catch-all for, "We have no earthly idea what is wrong with him."

When nothing worked, we started following Feingold which basically gets rid of the junk (chemicals, dyes, preservatives). We saw an immediate improvement in my DS's hives and some other medical problems. The vomiting improved, but it still happened frequently and he was plagued with horrible stomachaches.

We tried other things like going completely gluten free for an entire year and saw zero improvement. We aren't gluten free anymore, but we rarely consume gluten now just because. We removed all the common allergens like dairy, egg, shellfish, etc. Nothing cured him.

Finally, we looked at the main thing he ate which was meat. The boy loved his meat! We went cold turkey, no pun intended. After years and years of vomiting, DS completely stopped having stomachaches and vomiting as soon as we removed the meat and he hasn't gotten sick even once since (just over four years). He never tested allergic to a single meat and we have had him tested a million times.

From that point forward, the hives, stomachache, and vomiting disappeared. Unfortunately, he does still have allergy and sinus issues so this hasn't been a cure-all, but we are working on fixing those problems.

Anyway, I feel everyone has to find what works for them, makes them feel the best, and is something they can and will stick with. I don't believe in moderation at all (a term that does not even have a definition when it comes to food). There are plenty of junk foods out there and if one chooses to eat them, that is fine, but the phrase "everything in moderation" is nothing more than an excuse to eat crap, IMO. I think common sense dictates that everyone should strive to eliminate chemicals, dyes, preservatives, fast food, junk food, soda, salt, and sugar from their diet. I believe everyone knows those things aren't good for them, but most are addicted and simply can't or won't give them up.

 

[Jeslynb]

I stand corrected. Dr. Atkins did have a heart attack in April 2002, a year before his death.

And Dr. Pritikin, the low-fat guru, died of cancer. Well, suicide related to his cancer. At age 69.

 

[KimR]

Look I don't think there is one lifestyle that is better than another. Whatever works for you works for you. I don't think that eating meat makes you less healthy than someone who is a vegetarian. Or vice versa. We are all trying to get through this thing called life as healthy as possible. I have no issues with anyone who thinks it is cruel to eat meat or anything animal based. That is your opinion.

Absolutely. I eat a low-fat high-carb diet which is contrary to most of the diet advice these days, yet I am skinny. I don't do it as part of any diet plan per se, I just try to eat healthy foods that I enjoy and that keep me feeling satisfied. I probably eat too much fruit and carbs yet my blood pressure and cholesterol are excellent and my dr told me to keep doing what I am doing because it is working for me.

 

[Jeslynb]

Anyway, I feel everyone has to find what works for them, makes them feel the best, and is something they can and will stick with. I don't believe in moderation at all (a term that does not even have a definition when it comes to food). There are plenty of junk foods out there and if one chooses to eat them, that is fine, but the phrase "everything in moderation" is nothing more than an excuse to eat crap, IMO. I think common sense dictates that everyone should strive to eliminate chemicals, dyes, preservatives, fast food, junk food, soda, salt, and sugar from their diet. I believe everyone knows those things aren't good for them, but most are addicted and simply can't or won't give them up.

+1

And so sorry about your son - thank goodness you found what was making him so sick.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

LisaR - glad to hear you found out what was causing your sons stomach issues and he is doing better. I personally believe that many health problems are caused by inflammation and that inflammation can be caused by a variety of different things. If you can remove the trigger, you'll get rid of the problem. Key is finding out what the trigger is. I agree with you on the term "low fat". Whenever I hear it, I think to myself these words "chemical $#XX storm" I know food manfacturers take fat out of food and add sugar and sodium along with a bunch chemicals. I also totally agree with your description on the term moderation too. I cringe when I hear it. I know for certain Nov 29 when I go to MK, I will be having a Dole Whip. It will not be in moderation. I will be choosing to eat crap food for the pure sake that I want to. I haven't had one in almost 2 years and I am willing to accept any ill side affects. Based on what has happened lately with reintroductions of certain foods, I probably won't like how the Dole Whips taste now. I know, I know....blasphemy.

 

[Dancind]

Ok, PracticallyPerfect, I'm going to call you P77. I was doing the vacation break thing. Two years ago we went to Food & Wine, and I took a break from my diet. Went to the French Regional Lunches, ate the bread, ate the desert on and on. By day 3, I could no longer walk around the park. My hips hurt so bad! And I looked about 8 months pregnant, that was so not pretty.

I don't think a Dole Whip is going to do that to you, but be cautious! Don't want to ruin your trip.

Re the steak. I use Bob's Red Mill, I think it is rice based. I do used almond meal sometimes, though it is pretty chewy. And my husband can detect coconut taste in foods from miles away, so I tend not to use it for cooking/baking too much.

LisaB, wow, glad you found out how to help your son. DD had hives too, and colic. Hers was from gluten, no doubt. Was he eating regular grocery store meat? Did you ever try grass fed, pastured? I have no doubt that there are people that are truly allergic to meat though, there's an allergy for everything.

And low fat candy is stuff like Runts, Sweet Tarts. Zero fat, tons of sugar, just like colas.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

P77 - I like. I for sure will not experiment at all with gluten....been there done that and nothing tastes good enough to feel that horrible. I imagine the sugar in the dole whip will cause me some bloat and major tiredness....that's what happened with a 1 1/2 inch square piece of scotcharoo. Thinking I'll be at WDW tho and the excitement will energize me enough. I get my fav gf flour online at julesglutenfree.com. I was (maybe still am) an avid baker and cookie snob. With that flour I can make cookies that rival any gluten filled one. However, now that I'm eating tons healthier (not just gf) I really don't bake all that much.

 

[Piper]

I do clean eating, but not whole 30. I avoid gluten and make my own bread (my bread machine has several gluten free recipes.) I also buy organic and very little canned (only black olives, ripe olives & pickles.)

I make everything from "scratch." I also eat grass-fed beef (which has a much better flavor than "regular beef," nitrate-free bacon, organic (non hormone) chicken and wild caught fish. My eggs are also cage-free and organic.

I do use minimal sugar and organic dairy products (grate my own cheese.) I also use Kosher salt because I am allergic to iodine.

I cannot stand long enough to even scramble an egg so I do most of this from my counter high stool with a back that sits in my kitchen. (My doctor ordered a power wheel chair that raised and lowered, but Medicare decided that I needed a cheaper version!) Transferring to the stool is a pain (literally) but it is worth it to know that I am eating better.