jennieblue Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 So here I am, taking an entirely different path. Here's the shortest version of my story I can manage. I've struggled with my weight my whole life, I've been an emotional eater and a food addict. I used my kids as my excuse for too long, i.e. "But I'm just going to have another baby, why bother?" After my 4th daughter was born I looked at some family photos and realized I didn't know who that was or how I got that way. In January of 2011 I went on Weight Watchers. I did the points thing. I did ok. I lost about 70 pounds. It really did change my life. I started researching food and nutrition and decided to go completely plant based, thinking that would really get me over my last hurdle. In may of 2012 I stopped all animal products. Some of it was for ethical reasons, I really don't like how factory farmed animals are treated, but a lot of it was because I thought I was doing the right thing for my health. I also made the decision to go to college (for the first time, at 38 years old) and study nutrition, because people kept telling me what an inspiration I was, but I didn't feel very inspiring as I still struggled daily with my food decisions, so I wanted to learn for myself so I could turn around and teach it to others. You know what happened when I went vegan? I gained 20 pounds back. I compensated for lack of meat with all kinds of hummus sandwiches, endless beans, pastas, baked goods, bread, carb carb carb.... I'm sure some of you can relate. For the last year I've had an almost endless stomach ache, headaches that will NOT go away, and other irritating digestive issues. I went back to the research and thought maybe wheat was my issue, so I quit that about a month and a half ago. It helped a lot, but didn't resolve the issues. I immediately started trying to figure out what I could substitute for wheat so I could still have my bread, baked goods, pastas, carbs carbs carbs carbs... anyone else know what I mean? Back to the research I went. My daughter takes karate at a cross fit box. I got talked into trying some cross fit classes, and I hear a lot of people there talking about paleo. But I made the right decision going vegan, didn't I? Obviously not, or I wouldn't be here, with my upset stomach, trying not to give up entirely on my weight and health as I head back to school. Emotional eating sucks. Being the only person in the household that's going to eat this way kind of sucks too, but baby steps, right? So here I am, embarking on my first Whole 30, and trying to change my life in a positive way again. I come here looking for a little support, as I'm not likely to get much at home for a while. It's frustrating, but mostly I don't blame him, I have tried every diet known to man in the 20 years we've known each other and I've been super excited and enthusiastic about every single one of them. I don't want to go on another diet. I want to live my life. I worry about my husband and I know this could help him too. Lifelong acne, a severely boated gut...but I have to help myself first. Here's to some new friends, some new adventures, and a tummy ache free future! Cheers, Jennie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewyrdwoman Posted August 8, 2013 Share Posted August 8, 2013 Jennie, congrats for starting -- I started 8/5 as well. I can relate to your quandary about vegan/vegetarian. I lived most of my adult life, including raising 2 sons, as a vegetarian, and at times, vegan. In my early 20s, I was even a fruitarian for about a year. We thought we were doing the right thing, homemade whole wheat bread, tofu, veggies & brown rice, lots & lots of beans & grains -- Diet for a Small Planet era, ya know? At various times and on various strict regimens, I've seen wonderful changes in myself and others, but how practical are such regimens if you want a life? In my opinion, here's the common thread -- the most dramatic results occur when dairy, beans & grains go away. As examples I've personally experienced -- raw vegan (ever eat raw beans or grains? yuk!) or Joe Cross's Reboot regimen, and of course, paleo. But I need something practical & sustainable long-term and paleo comes closest for me. One of the things that I like about what I've hear from folks like Whole9 and Robb Wolf is that this is approach is a template and a way to see/experience how your food affects YOU. I still have issues, but I don't expect decades worth of damage to vanish overnight. Seeing improvements while eating delicious food that doesn't require hours in the kitchen every single day works for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennieblue Posted August 8, 2013 Author Share Posted August 8, 2013 That's exactly it, I'm exhausted from being on "diets" all of my life. I'm done. I'm done with food being my enemy. I often joke that I'd rather be addicted to drugs because those you can just quit and never look back if you're strong enough and have the right support. I can't quit eating. This is all an experiment in what will work and be sustainable for me. I fell hard for all of the low fat, low sugar, low this, low that diets and all of the packaging and marketing that goes with them. I'm just...done. Day 4, I haven't tried to eat the faces off of any of my children yet. Let's see how the day goes! It's easier with buddies. I need more buddies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anita D Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Hi! Wow, your post about starting new diets and your husband shaking his head ran so true! A few months ago, I told him I was throwing away all of the diet books and just doing the balanced thing through weight watchers. As usual, he nodded and asked how he can support, since he does the majority of meal prep for us. Well, weight watchers has me losing and gaining the same 4 pounds ( and yes, some of that is "user" error!) you said you lost 70 pounds on weight watchers, wow! I discovered this program last night, and I'm going to begin today! A very close friend who has been vegan for 25 years, shocked all of us by going Paleo last month. She is eating meat. She is feeling better. Anyway, I certainly need accountability buddies as I've not stuck with any one way of eating for more than a few weeks in recent years. I wish you the best, and hope to be a friend in your corner as we do this!! Best to you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acp Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 That's exactly it, I'm exhausted from being on "diets" all of my life. I'm done. I'm done with food being my enemy. I often joke that I'd rather be addicted to drugs because those you can just quit and never look back if you're strong enough and have the right support. I can't quit eating. This is all an experiment in what will work and be sustainable for me. I fell hard for all of the low fat, low sugar, low this, low that diets and all of the packaging and marketing that goes with them. I'm just...done. Day 4, I haven't tried to eat the faces off of any of my children yet. Let's see how the day goes! It's easier with buddies. I need more buddies! Why don't you join one of the threads of people that started on Aug 5th? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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