OT - Appreciate the feedback on what works for you. I'm doing most of the same. I started off really looking for a way to reduce inflammation not lose weight as the first priority. My diet is similar.
1) Reduce sugar. Read every label. Avoid sugar substitutes. Use organic honey in place or white sugar in recipes when possible - hummingbirds need white sugar.
2) Reduce processed foods as much as possible
3) Eliminate soda
4) Virtually all eliminate dairy. Still do cheese once in a blue moon. Use unsweetened almond milk for smoothies.
5) Start every day off w/healthy smoothie so at least 1 good/clean meal a day regardless (plant based protein powder (no soy), pumpkin seeds, organic chocolate powder, olive oil (in place of peanut butter), almond milk, walnuts (better omega 3 vs omega 6 ratio vs most nuts), flax seeds, small amount of tumeric (awesome anti-inflammatory), spinach/arugula mix
6) Try to keep red meat to once a week. Use grass fed beef - no hormones or steroids as well.
7) Buying more free range chicken that's also no hormones, steroids, antibiotics
8) Starting to mix in some green shakes from time to time. - Best recipe so far is spinach, pear, mango, ice, 1/2 lime, celery, banana, apple optional
9) Reduce wine from 4-5 bottles per week to a few glasses at most per week.
10) Was cooking occasionally with olive oil - bad idea. Ok cold, but never for cooking. Use peanut (organic and coconut for cooking now).
11) Verify that my olive oil is actual olive oil, organic and cold pressed (same for coconut big taste difference too).
12) Cooking more at home in general. Even "healthy" places such as the indian places we frequent were using vegetable oil or canola and/or soy/mix. Nasty stuff.
13) Mixing in salmon once per week.
14) Agree almost never have desert.
Based on what I've read on Paleo grass fed butter is probably ok, but need to do more research. Surprisingly the science behind the best oils to cook with is still very much in doubt/debatable. AMHA still try to avoid all saturated fats, but Paleo says ok and most agree that coconut oil (organic cold pressed) is actually quite good.
My next step is to more detoxing. Want to take meat completely out for a week or two and help clean toxins. Can also do fasting or other methods. Love the Vitamix. Not just about what you eat but also how - easy to process/digest - another method of cleansing assuming you're eating clean.
Like you I'm no fan of cortisone. Long term issues I think will be greater especially with tendons from what I've read.
I do weigh myself often, but just between being hydrated or not can vary quite a bit so good to have ballpark but also good not to obsess.
This has been a process. Only really for last 8 months and it's been in increments. Best suggestion would be to take 1-2 bad things out and then add a few good and make it a habit. Doing it all at once would probably be too tough for most.
I can't say enough good things about Green Tea. Use white/black as well, but energy levels and hunger craving as great w/green tea. Can have breakfast and then drink tea in the morn and could probably eat lunch at 2+ every day without being really hungry.
Based on some of the new research cholesterol may not be as bad as we thought. Dr. Oz has had some guests on this. Not sure I buy in completely, but it's also along the lines of Paleo (how it's made/processed is key).
The tea varieties are more interesting than wine imo. Used to drink wine as I loved w/food. Some food you still need a good beer or red wine, but w/most of my indian food you can replace w/a good mint tea and it's excellent w/spicy food.
If you're still posting here will let you know how I'm doing at a year plus.
Next step ergo wise is to get a stand desk. Tend to work out now middle of the day before lunch so I get away from desk - force myself.
Thanks for the feedback. |
