My (Slightly Altered Version) LCHF Diet

For those who don't know, or would like to know, I am on a slightly altered version of the LCHF diet. If you haven't tried it yet, or if you are a skeptic, please try it for at least 2 weeks. That's the time it took me to notice a big change in how I felt physically and emotionally.

I have so much more energy, my joints don't constantly hurt, and I no longer consistently feel uncomfortably full/bloated or gassy.  I no longer have to run to Pepto-Bismol, several times a week, due to having nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, or diarrhea (sometimes all at once).   Those were symptoms I was unintentionally harming myself with, by my unhealthy eating habits. These changes were just the most drastic. With the new healthier eating, I have also, lost inches and lbs. I am feeling full and content for longer periods of time, and actually keeping within my daily calorie goal.

I personally consider it more of a lifestyle change since I plan to eat this healthy from now on. I have been overweight since I was 8, and coming from a low income family with 4 other siblings, we had to eat cheap. That meant a lot of burgers, pizza, spaghetti, and sandwiches. We are also Hispanic, so add a ton of rice, tortillas, and beans. There was little to no exercise taught or done. My mom was a little protective of us, so when we were allowed to play outside, it was only until the sun started to set. As soon as we heard her whistle (which was heard from two streets away) it was time to run back home! With eating all those carbs and little to no vegetables, for over 18 years, it made it VERY difficult to transition in to a new healthy lifestyle.

I look forward to this new lifestyle and what it has in store for me. I already feel better, emotionally and physically. Can’t wait to feel even better. Glad I will have you all to encourage me along on this quest.

-Madeline

From Depression to Determination

I got on the scale this morning and was elated to have finally reached my first goal weight. I think that this is too good to be true, so I weigh myself again. Down another 2 lbs. in 30 seconds. Immediately, I realize that I have been deceived. For the last couple weeks, I have been weighing myself on a rug, because it’s too cold for me on the bare floor.  This morning I found out that it was a mistake. I completely forgot the most important step on weighing yourself properly; which is to do so on a hard flat surface.  I felt so betrayed and discouraged. I wanted to scream or cry. I came to work feeling like a failure, and tired from an unrelated disruptive sleep.

Two cups of coffee, and a tasteless (due to depression, I’m sure) part of brownie later, I get kicked of my funk. From somewhere, determination springs, and not only will I get back up and start anew, but I will try harder. I enter a #dietbet, sign up for a local 5K, and I purchase my first #fluertyband for the run. That gives me about six and a half months to get in shape enough to run the entire 5K. This is of course after I complete my 4 week diet bet.

As soon as the empowerment came, it ended. I suddenly remember that I can’t even run to my car without having to catch my breath. Walking fast, also makes me breathe hard. The most cardio I can do is 30 minutes steady up and down 3.0-5.0 speed on the elliptical trainer. Looks like I got myself in a pickle. Nevertheless, I will put my big girl panties on (and I do mean BIG girl panties lol) and Git-R-Done! Back to feeling determined :)

On another completely different topic, I went bowling for the first time in over a year.  Two days later, and I am so sore. How out of shape do you have to be, to get sore from bowling? I’ve never heard of it, and I assume that I am one of the lucky few. I cannot regret going bowling, because even though I got sleepy 45 min into bowling, I had a great night with my family. 

-Madeline