Fertilehealthy

Today is Day 4 of my Eat To Live program.  You’re probably wondering how it’s going.  So, here’s an little update.

I am loving every moment!

First of all, I’m losing a pound a day.  I know of course that it will slow down eventually, but for now I’m very happy with that trend.

The best part is that I don’t feel hungry or experience any cravings.  In fact, I’m not even eating all the food I’m supposed to eat every day simply because I am satisified all the time.  None of those awful, nagging, hollow feelings in the belly.  According to both Dr. Fuhrman and Mary-Ann Shearer, true hunger is felt in the mouth and back of the throat.   The rumbling-tummy feelings are caused by addictive foods.  In other words they are withdrawel symptoms.  The best way to get rid of those feelings is to stop eating those foods.  Trying to cut back will only keep the addiction alive (same as with smoking).

What I didn’t bargain on was experiencing an increase in energy so soon.  I really thought it would take longer to manifest.  I was up at 6am this morning!  Craig normally wakes me when he leaves for work at around 8am, so this is amazing.  I also find myself moving with a lot more purpose, instead of shuffling around.  I’d even go so far as to say that there’s a spring in my step.  That may or may not have something to do with the fact that my husband’s energy levels have also suddenly improved, making life around here rather… um… interesting. 

My digestive system is also loving the Eat To Live program.  I’ll use the words ”odorless”  and “copious” and leave it at that.

This morning I boldly went where I had never gone before.  I ate oatmeal.  Gasp!  There are two things I would never in the past put in my mouth (I mean food!). 

This was the first one:

A paste made from anchovies that is spread on toast or sandwiches.  May be a South African thing only.  Imagine being in a hot school bus on the way to an outing when one of your classmates opens his lunchbox and releases that odor…  Gag!  Fortunately no eating plan that I would ever adopt would even consider recommending fish paste.

The other was:

I have nothing against porridge.  I grew up on porridge.  Nice mieliepap (corn meal porridge).  With milk, butter and sugar.  But I could never even look at oatmeal… it just grossed me out.  Maybe the consistency.  I don’t know.  But this past year, I have heard so many endorsements from you, my oatmeal-eating fellow-bloggers, that when Dr. Fuhrman strongly suggested eating oatmeal as part of the Eat To Live plan, I decided to give it a try.  I bought it yesterday and this morning Craig and I had us some oatmeal with honey, banana and cinnamon.  And it was fine!  I’m sure I’ll come to love it, given more time and maybe more salt.

Unfortunately, I’m supposed to be cutting down on salt.  This is quite hard for me, because I like my food salty.  I’ve been using a sea-salt-and-herb mix for years, but I do use quite a bit of it, so I’m not sure where to go from here.  Any advice will be appreciated!  Even if the product is not available here in SA, I will be able to buy it when we move the USA next year.

Now for the other good news.  Our satellite decoder died yesterday and we are not replacing it.  We promptly cancelled our subscription.  Given the quality of the four public channels, we now consider ourselves without a TV.  Thank goodness the US presidential elections are over!  I will be able to watch the inaugeration at my parents’ house.

I realize that for some being without TV would be a disaster, but we’ve always known that we wouldn’t have a TV set in the house when we have kids (because we will be doing Waldorf education, where TV is not allowed).  Craig’s parents don’t have TV.  I didn’t have a set for years.  We’ll be fine.

What we may do though is to get a DVD contract, similar to Netflix (here called Pushplay).  This is much cheaper than the satellite subscription and, as you know, we’re all tightening our belts these days (and not from weight loss alone).  Since we love movies, but don’t like going to the cinema, this seems like a good option for us. 

But the best part is that we will be going walking in the evening after supper!  We normally eat just after 6pm and these days it gets dark only after 7:30pm.  So, some evenings, if the wind is not too strong, we can drive to the beach for a walk at Sea Point or Mouille Point, and other evenings we can walk on Rondebosch Common.  And Tuesdays and Sundays, when Craig is home all day, we will be walking the trails in Newlands Forest.  This will be in addition to me going to gym… (from next week).  I’m really pleased, because Craig works hard all day and needs to be outside getting some exercise.

And then, when we get home we can have a relaxing soak in the jacuzzi, read a little bit and go to bed.  I have it all planned.  I’m so efficient.  And modest.

Mouille Point with Signal Hill in the background.