Aw shucks, am I a hypocrite or what?
My last post I talked down about the "all or nothing" folks. I'm eating my words. Having grown tired of logging every morsel I put in my mouth (it's working alright, I just have better things to do with my time, turns out!), I'm throwing in the Weight Watchers towel for the MWL (McDougall Maximum Weight Loss program), which is the ultimate in strictness. The last couple of weeks I've noticed that I gravitated to mostly a MWL approach anyway (after all, fruits and vegetables are zero points on WW, thus incentivizing their consumption). I've done it before, it also works, in fact it works remarkably well. Lose the weight, never hungry (if you do it right and eat A LOT of vegetables), nutritionally sound, and you're not combating hunger pangs all day. That said...it means no tortillas, bread, pasta, smoothies, the list goes on. At least for the interim. I just want the weight GONE! I'm journaling my progress here, if you care to know more.
I'm glad I signed up for the online WW and did it for 2 months. I lost weight, and it created the transition period I needed to return to my old ways of eating. I gained greater awareness, and realized how important it is to be AWARE of what the foods I'm eating and why. I also learned that it really is possible to eat only 1/2 cup of ice cream or just one cookie.
One more thing. I have some pictures to share from a trip I took to Portland, OR. I went out to a few veg-friendly restaurants and had a marvelous time. More on that to come.
I actually love that you ranted about not being too strict with food choices last post, and this time you are adopting a strict diet approach haha. Honestly though, I love it because i think that is real life. At least for me. In many areas of my life, i can go from arguing one extreme one day, to another extreme the next day. I think you are smart, and you can argue a point well from either side....so well that you can thoroughly convince yourself one way or another. I am so similar, and it just makes me happy to see someone else who vacillates in their decisions sometimes. I think you are finding the right path from day to day, doing what you need to do in the moment, even if sometimes that means you need to do a 180.
ReplyDeleteWishing you the best!
lfwfv
"I also learned that it really is possible to eat only 1/2 cup of ice cream or just one cookie."
ReplyDeleteThis sentence made me laugh; mostly because it's a lesson I've learned too.
I know that it's possible to only eat a half cup of ice cream or just one cookie, but man, is it ever hard!!!
ReplyDeleteI know where you're coming from, I am still trying to lose the last few stubborn pounds of my baby weight. I've returned to my whole foods way of eating as well but I've developed this sweet tooth and I can't put down the chocolate! For me, I think I'm going to have to give it up for a while, that's the only way I can lose the taste for it. It's tough!!
But I have learned the same lesson, I have to be strict (which after while doesn't seem so strict) with what I eat or I tend to "wander" with my eating habits.
Thanks for your honesty!!
Why are you stressing? Your baby is only a few months old...you need the fat and calories. Besides, you still look better than most of us who haven't "just had a baby". And eat better. Keep feeding that baby, and don't worry about losing the weight so fast, it will come off...
ReplyDeleteI am trying so hard to eat more big salads----I was wondering what you are using as dressing? I saw in your food diaries that you listed balsamic vinegar with Mrs. Dash----is that what you are using every day?
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work!
Elizabeth
Elizabeth: i like basalmic vinegar--there are many types (white baslamic raspberry, golden basalmic, strawberry basil)--i like them all. I also like Mrs. Dash, any type, of which there are many. A little fresh lemon juice also works great too. Red wine vinegar works but is not my favorite. salsa or lots of fresh tomatoes and carrots add lots of flavor. i also like dulse flakes for flavor.
ReplyDeleteHi Janae. I haven't commented in a while (I've been traveling), so I just wanted to stop in and say hi again.
ReplyDeleteI agree that you are free to be as strict or as "loose" as you want with your diet. However, I also think that it can be dangerous, in our looks/weight-obsessed society, to put much thought or effort into weight loss. To me, the healthiest thing to do is to trust your appetite and your body, feed it the best you can and trust that you WILL return to the weight that is best for you. I think it is psychologically damaging to employ so much cognitive control over our appetites/food choices. Not in the sense that veganism is destructive, but that being very strict with it, for the purpose of weight loss, is. Sorry, I don't mean to sound judgemental, I just wish you health and happiness, physical and mental.
Thanks again for your honesty. I love reading about your journey.
-Cindy
Just a question: Ice cream is made from milk, so how does that fit in with your vegan lifestyle? Unless, of course, you mean one of the non-dairy, coconut milk or almond milk ice creams that I am wanting to try to make, since discovering that I am allergic to milk, and therefore an "almost-vegan" by a blessing of genetics. . . .
ReplyDeleteIce cream: There are many vegan versions that I eat (and like!). My favorite is SO Delicious brand. Everyone has their own preference. Try out a few brands to find one to your liking. I don't like the coconut brands I've tried, but I love a homemade version that I make from coconut milk. Currently, I've taken a brake from eating ice cream, but when I do, my favorites are usually ones I make myself using my Blendtec. Aside from the ethics of milk consumption (supporting factory farming and unethical practices), I just can't tolerate dairy foods either. Bad things happen when I have even a smidgen of milk, cheese, or dairy ice cream. A blessing, as I see it :)
ReplyDeleteDear WholeFoodsVeganMomma,
ReplyDeletefirst thing: I really like your website! It`s amazing how you manage your busy life with four children and a job - obviously you`ve got more energy than most other people :).
I have got a question apart from this post. Our little girl was born on january 19th. I have been breastfeeding her exclusively and last friday started to give her a little bit of pumpkin which she liked a lot. When will you start to give your little one different foods? We live in Germany and here it is recommended to start with veggies, then potatoes and meat (all mixed and made into a pap). I will not feed her any meat (they recommend rolled oats instead which I think are fine). One month later a milk and fruit pap is recommended. What can I use instead of cowmilk? Do you use any soy milk or rice milk during the first year? I am aware that you are a busy person, but when time allows for it, I would be very interested in a post about baby feeding (I already read the post about feeding the older ones). Thanks for being such an inspiration! RV
Anonymous:
ReplyDeleteRegarding feeding, I've found that like with many aspects of parenting, there is no "one size fits all." Some babies are ready to eat solid foods earlier or later than others.
I've tweeked my approach with each child, especially as I've gained more knowledge about the subject. It is possible for a baby to be exclusively breast fed until 12 months (no food) without any detriment to their health. Most food simply cannot compare in nutrient value to breast milk. Also, especially things like veggies and fruits are fairly low in calories so these foods aren't adding too much to the diet, at least calorie-wise.
Growing babies need plenty of calories to grow and function (nutrients, too!). Again, this is why breast milk is ideal. A good principle is to breast feed as much as your baby desires, for as long as you and they are willing.
When you introduce foods, I do think it's a good idea to keep a few things in mind: 1. stay away from gluten grains (introduce these and other possible allergens later) until your baby is at least 1 or preferably even later 2. Save nuts, seeds for over a year. Peanut butter, strawberries, citrus fruits, and tomatoes are also potential allergens. Some recommend 18 months-2 years, which I think is a good idea, to prevent future allergies in the child. 3. Mashed sweet potatoes, potatoes, squash, green beans, peas, and bananas are my favorite baby foods. Homemade pureed brown rice is also a favorite, and very easy to mix with the aforementioned foods. I do think it's a good idea to stick to non-sweet foods (other than mashed carrots, sweet potatoes), saving fruit for when they are a bit older (9-12 months). 4. There is no EXACT science on how to feed your baby. Keep it simple, don't introduce too many foods at once, and realize that the most important food for the first year is your milk!
Hope this helps, and good luck!
Wow, that was a quick response. Thank you :)!
ReplyDeleteOne more question: If I feed my baby that way, do I have to give her a vitamin B12 supplement yet? I myself am taking one. Right now she gets (as is recommended here in G.) vitamin D daily.
Thanks again and have a nice day!
Regarding B-12, if you are taking a daily supplement, she should be getting it in your milk. However, as she begins to rely more on solids, it wouldn't hurt to supplement her diet, 1-2 times a week with oral drops (a little goes a long way, especially considering that an ADULT'S RDA is 5 mcg a day, an infant would be much less).
ReplyDeleteAre you still there? I miss reading your blog!!
ReplyDelete"Regarding B-12, if you are taking a daily supplement, she should be getting it in your milk. However, as she begins to rely more on solids, it wouldn't hurt to supplement her diet, 1-2 times a week with oral drops (a little goes a long way, especially considering that an ADULT'S RDA is 5 mcg a day, an infant would be much less)."
ReplyDeleteVitamin b12 is very important in our health. Aside from milk meat and many more source of vitamin b12 i saw this spray http://products.mercola.com/vitamin-b12-spray/ and it was awesome, you can get vitamin b12 that you need for everyday living.