Getting Back on Track Using the Rice Diet

Sometimes my train just jumps the track.  It may be my household train, my finance train, or in this case my healthy eating train.  My train derailed in late July and I haven't got it completely on the track since.  In previous posts, I wrote about high school sports and the challenges that brought.  I've tried to get back on track after that but have not been completely successful....yet.

When I first began a WFPB diet with no meat, eggs, or dairy, I began on April 1, 2017 after a little over a year being vegetarian again.  My catalyst was a high blood pressure reading at my annual physical.  I researched and chose the Rice Diet, as practice by Dr. Kempner, due to the success it had shown with reducing blood pressure.  It was very successful with that and my blood pressure was normalized within two weeks.

I did not follow it to 100% perfection but I had great success with it for BP and for weight loss. I was pretty strict with it for two weeks and then transitioned to The Starch Solution.  I was able to lose about 12 pounds from April 1- May 30th.  Another 3 came off during the month of June.  Then vacations stalled the weight loss part as my diet varied even more.  Evening travel and time away from cooking, including junk food, brought back a few pounds, eight to be exact during eight weeks of  high school tennis season.  Water accounts for a chunk of that as I have not watched my salt intake as closely either. So now it's time for a big kick in the butt.

I love The Starch Solution, by Dr. McDougall, and that is sort of how I've been eating since mid-April.  Certainly rice was a part of that but it wasn't as restrictive as the Rice Diet.  Of course after July I added way too many processed foods/snacks which did not help me get back on track.  I realize that this is real life and this scenario is likely to happen again.  There will probably be times in the future where I dip too often into processed foods and veer away from a WFPB diet.

Therefore, November 6, 2017, tomorrow, I will go back to the strict Rice Diet again.  Simple starch and some fruit, no salt, and lots of water.  I was satisfied eating that way and I feel it really cleansed my palate and jump started my body to detox and helped me focused on making healthy food choices.  That is what I want again and why I am choosing something that had only positive outcomes for me. 

 I made a no-fat, vegan supper with lentil loaf, mashed potatoes, and peas.  Lots of fiber, lots of starch, and plenty of vitamins.  It was very good and the lentil loaf was a recipe from High-Carb Hannah.  Leftovers for the family are pictured below.  None for me, tomorrow, of course. Thought I would try out a recipe for Thanksgiving dinner.  I have a couple more to try before my final decision.

If anyone else is following, or would like to follow The Rice Diet, comment below.  Maybe we can buddy-up on this journey and help each other along.  I am thinking about doing a combination with Intermittent Fasting (IF), as I think there are big advantages to that also. 

Scale Keeps Moving Lower on WFPB Diet

This morning marks the end of my fifth week eating WFPB.  I've basically been eating a high-carb low-fat diet without animal products.  My reward for eating carbs, not counting calories, and not being perfect: a 12 pound weight loss in five weeks.  In addition, I have lots more energy, less muscle soreness, improved blood pressure, and I don't feel like I'm on a diet.  Plus, It is the best diet for the environment and it makes me super happy.

There has also been some residual affects.  My husband, whose blood pressure was worse than mine on the day I came home from the first doctor's appointment, went to the doctor this past week.  His blood pressure had come down from 166/107 to 146/86.  He is not eating just a WFPB diet.  He eats lunch meat sandwiches for lunch.  If we go out, he eats meat.  However, he is evidently benefiting from all of the meals at home that I make which are WFPB. We grilled Boca veggie burgers for supper and he commented that they were better than beef.  We have been eating them for almost a year and the All American Grillers are our favorite.

The energy I have gained from this way of eating is wonderful.  I have been able to accomplish so much more these last few weeks without migraines or debilitating fatigue.  I had some things to create for a party and in the past the stress of finding time to do that would have brought on some migraines.  This time, no problem getting things ready and even had additional items added on at the last minute.

What I really want now is for everyone to become informed about this way of eating.  I can imagine how much pain, discomfort, and money could be saved if people would give WFPB eating a try.  The online resources for meal ideas are great for those just stepping in to this way of eating.  I have always cooked so transitioning to meatless meals was easy, but I still like seeing what others are making and new combinations of ingredients.

I was able to share a bit of my short story and success this weekend with a few family members.  I seriously hope that I was able to get them a bit excited about it through my words and my appearance.  You never really know if the seeds you plant will grow.

By the way, I wore my new size 14 jeans to the party.  So very excited about going down a size. Today, I took 4 items from my closet to donate.  I definitely see more of that activity in my future.

Enjoying WFPB/Starch Solution Weightloss and More

To say that I am pleased seems to be an understatement.  I have been eating the WFPB/Starch Solution way since April 2nd.  Nineteen days and nine pounds gone.  Those are real pounds.  I have been drinking lots of water each day and have not put any back on.  I have not been perfect.  Some Belgian Easter cookies found their way into my cart the other day and I ate several of them.  That was just my major blunder this week.  I was tempted by a Scor bar in the store today but resisted.

How I feel is just as important as the weight loss.  Energy up to levels I can't remember. Sleeping better.  Less fibromyalgia pain.  I feel lighter and more flexible.  Current jeans zip very easily and are very loose a few hours later.  Another 10 pounds or less and I will try the next size down.  I feel calmer and clearer.  I don't feel deprived or that I am on a diet.  

I love eating this way.  It corresponds with my beliefs.  I am always working on removing hypocrisy from my life and this does that in the area of nutrition for me.  Blood pressure reading today: 121/79. I find my mood calmer and I am happier.  I always have something I can eat when I get hungry and it's food I enjoy.  

The first day I started I had a headache bordering on a migraine.  A week later, I had another headache that seemed like it was more from congestion.  A week later, swollen tonsils and an earache.  Seems like incremental detoxing to me.  Hopefully, the next weeks will not see any issues.

I keep meals simple. Here's an example:  Red and green lettuce, brown rice, black beans, homemade pico de gallo, roasted red peppers, green chile  So good; so simple.

I am ready to branch out a little and make some 'special' meals.  I plan to begin cooking every recipe in the Starch Solution.  Reading through them, they all seemed doable.  I like that they do not rely on a soy protein, seitan, or other fake foods or meat impostors.  I have been gathering ingredients and will sit down tomorrow to make a structured lists so I will have everything on hand for at least five of the recipes this week.  I'll posts pics and comments on the recipes when I prepare them.

I know each person has to find their own way of eating, exercising, and making self-improvements.  I feel I have found my way and WFPB is it.

Absolutely Loving Whole Foods Plant Based Results

Normally I'm not one to get too excited about diets.  Any of them work, at least for a while, if you follow them.  The problem is that I don't often like a plan well enough to follow it for more than a few days.  I did follow the Atkins diet for about 6 weeks back in 1998 and lost about twenty pounds, but I was nauseated most of the time. Also note that I had to have my gall bladder removed about 5 years later. In all honesty though, I'm very excited about following the Whole Foods Plant Based (WFPB) way of life.

As I've said in a previous post about a year ago, I decided to go back to being a vegetarian again after 17 years of having meat frequently in my diet.  I have had good results over the past year eating vegetarian.  I have less muscle pain from fibromyalgia, less frequent migraines, sleep a bit better although this area has been a struggle my whole life, and less digestive problems.  Fatigue, however, remained a significant problem.  After just a few hours being awake, I seriously could go back to sleep if given the chance.

On days when I was able to take a nap, it meant a 2-3 hour nap.  If I had less time then that, I wouldn't bother.  It was almost like being in a coma-like state.  I would become aware of things around me but could not bring myself to full consciousness.  I would feel better when I woke up but would be tired again a few hours later.  This seriously affected the quality of my life as I am most happy when doing something and accomplishing things I want/need to do.

I started eating WFPB on Sunday, April 2nd.  Since Monday, I have not needed a nap.  Yesterday evening, I walked about four miles on the golf course and my muscles were achy when I went to bed and I figured I would need a long nap today for muscle recovery.  It was a busy day and at about 5 p.m. I was able to finally think about a nap.  To my surprise, after less than an hour, I felt rested and ready to get up.  Wow!

In addition, I have quite a bit more energy than usual which is probably still less than "normal" people, but definitely a difference for me.  After five whole days of eating WFPB, I have lost a total of 8.4 pounds, four of which was definitely water weight.  I know this because on start day, April 2, I weighed four pounds more than 2 days previous and had eaten out both of the following days. Restaurant food is salt-ladened and I usually put on a few pounds after dining out.   Keep in mind that I only eat out 1-2 times per week and usually on Friday and/or Saturday.

My weigh-in showed a 5.5 pound weight loss since January 8th, and four of those pounds have been since March 8th which I can guarantee you came from this week as my scale is the same as theirs and I know I did not lose any before Sunday.

In addition to more energy, weight loss, and less nap time needed, I feel lighter, less full and overall so much better.  I'm so psyched as I think if 5 days makes me feel this good, what will a month, year, or lifetime do?  Psychologically, I feel so much better also because  how I am eating is a reflection of what I believe about food, medicine, illness, the environment, and stewardship over all God has given us.  Oh,yeah, my last blood pressure readings at the doctor's the last few days 131/84, and 119/74.  I have a follow-up appointment with my doctor for blood pressure in a week and a half and I can't wait as I know I'll have great pressures and even though I wouldn't take medicines anyway, we won't have to have that conversation.

The Momentum of Newness

New Year, new start, new goals, new me.  Beginnings are always exciting and teaching gave me two official new beginnings each year.  The traditional New Year was a time to start again and so was the new school year.  Things could be fresher, brighter, different, and better.

It is great to have these official new beginnings as we can share the commitment and excitement with others.  Really though, we can have new beginnings  anytime we choose such as any first of the month, first of the week, or even every morning.  In order to really get the feel of any new beginning we have to do the head work.

The head work involves setting intentions.  Actually saying what we're going to do; to have a plan.  Otherwise we just continue in our comfort zone and keep repeating the same behaviors.  We also have to work the plan or we will experience no success and end up giving up on the quest for fresher, brighter, different, and better.

New Year: New You.  Blah!! New Year: New Plan: New You!  Doable!  My plan specifically is to specifically tackle my environment, and my health.  My plan:  Donate at least one large black trash bag of stuff each month, complete the weekly tasks/zones from Flylady.net, complete 5 out of 7 things on my daily todo list, Walk a minimum of 8,000 steps per day, formally exercise 30 minutes at least 3 days per week, and stick to the Shred Revolution plan at least 4 out of 7 days.

I've completed my preparation steps.  I have plenty of trash bags and designated spot for collecting "stuff". I am signed up for the Flylady emails.  I have to do list/calendar paper.  A received a Fitbit from my husband for Christmas.  I have an elliptical machine and an assortment of exercise DVDs.  I have the Shred Revolution book and worked the plan for a couple weeks before the holidays began in November to become familiar with it and even lost a few pounds.

I will put in updates on all of this as I blog throughout this year.  So my action plan for my new beginning is ready and I am ready for action.  Oh, yeah, I have decided that my new beginning will start anew each day.  Lamentations 3:22-23; The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.