Whole Foods Lifestyle - Changes after switching to whole foods

Anyone else noticed any big changes after making the switch to whole foods? For me, it's definitely energy. I used to be so lethargic all the time, falling asleep in my office every afternoon. Now, I am so full of energy, all the time!

Anyone else noticed any big changes after making the switch to whole foods? For me, it's definitely energy. I used to be so lethargic all the time, falling asleep in my office every afternoon. Now, I am so full of energy, all the time!

Lots of changes... but the most important for me now is the change improved my mood and curbed my cravings for junk or not so good food. I'm a much more pleasant person to be around.... ah.. lets be a little vain ... it improved my skin too. :D

Well, I've lost some weight, I have more energy, and cravings for junk have subsided. It's easy for me to choose a varied, healthy diet when I'm not hooked on refined carbs and saturated fat.

I feel great from the inside out (as I posted before somewhere)! Eating this way makes me feel alive and like every part of my body is working the way it was intended to. I just feel great! I don't have that sickening overstuffed feeling after gorging on toxic foods. I have energy, clarity, focus, and like Jayde said, I am much more pleasant to be around. I don't get as stressed out being around my 1 & 5 year old girls all day long! I look forward to putting in the time and care to prepare and enjoy my meals, knowing that I am doing something awesome for my body! The rewards of such eating have already begun to show! And the numbers on the scale are going down, down, down!

Thanks Glory87 for inspiring me to look into SuperFoods in the first place!

Thanks Glory87 for inspiring me to look into SuperFoods in the first place!

Agreed - Glory, it was your posts about superfoods that got me interested in the books, too. :)

I look forward to feeding my family good, healthy foods, too! I also get a kick out of looking at my grocery cart in the grocery store ... thinking, "Wow, how healthy of me!" instead of wondering if the clerk suspects I'm going to eat all that ice cream myself.

I remember reading an article years ago that encouraged people to "eat their colors", which was basically the same concept ... choose a variety of colored vegetables every day to get well-rounded nutrition.

I have more energy and feel better - I am also feeling good mentally and spiritually about the choices I am making. :)

Certain foods now gross me out just thinking about them - chips, donuts, sugar laden goodies, fast food, demented food items such as yogurt in a squeeze tube! :lol:

I also find that whole grain items or whole wheat items taste better and are more filling - they seem to be more satisfying.

I remember reading an article years ago that encouraged people to "eat their colors", which was basically the same concept ... choose a variety of colored vegetables every day to get well-rounded nutrition.

Yeah - eating the rainbow :) Every now and then I like to play with it. It gets tough though, because of the relative lack of blue/purple foods.

Tomatoes, orange peppers, corn, romaine, blueberries, plums

Strawberries, sweet potatoes, yellow peppers, broccoli, beets, cherries

I've been gradually moving towards superfoods items over the past couple years or so without really knowing they were superfoods. So I haven't noticed any big changes.

Lately though I've noticed that I don't seem to require as much sleep as I used to. So I guess I do have more energy. My DF also seems to have more energy. Should I mention that he has lost weight without even trying just because he eats what I give him?

My DF also seems to have more energy. Should I mention that he has lost weight without even trying just because he eats what I give him?

My boyfriend at the time lost about 10 lbs, just by changing what we ate for dinner (he didn't make any other changes).

I agree with mauvaisroux ... I feel good mentally and spiritually about consuming products I know were ethically produced.

Oh, Nelie, I seem to be able to spring out of bed better lately, too! I hadn't attributed it to better eating ... I assumed the longer days were doing it, but maybe it is nutrition related.

And indigestion problems are nonexistent, for me, now.

Well, My mind is clearer and I have some higher standards for what I put into my mouth. "Fake food" tastes absolutely disgusting. I blogged about a Wendy's trip I had had for the first time in years and was HORRIFIED. I will admit- I am mystified at people's ignorance regarding the amount of processed foods that are a part of the standard american diet- especially when it comes to children. I'm working on this one.

My taste buds have changed. If I have planned poorly for my day, I will not eat whatever is there. I wait until I can put something good into my body. My tolerance for refined foods have changed. I notice immediate effects on my body when I don't eat the way I should. I do not have to be concerned about body fat. I am extrememly in tune to my body's processes and reactions to envronment- a very good thing. The list goes on and on.

For me, it has really changed the things I feel like eating. When I started trying to lose weight in April, I did it by just eating healthy foods and cutting junk. It turns out I was on to the superfoods thing without knowing it. I feel like my tastes and cravings have changed. I'm not denying myself goodies, it's just that fatty, processed junk doesn't seem like goodies anymore. I got the second book at the library. I was ecstatic to see the piece of chocolate I treat myself to each night was actually good for me. Yeah!

... "Fake food" tastes absolutely disgusting...

My taste buds have changed... My tolerance for refined foods have changed. I...

Hi Jen-

How long did it take for this change to happen for you? What were your eating habits like before? Did you eat a lot more "fake food" and refined and junk?

I'm asking because I'm working on changing over to eating this way, but I struggle with cravings and habits right now which tend to derail me. I am working on planning around them, and I know that will help, but I am also hoping/waiting for the day when the yucky stuff really starts to seem yucky most of the time.

I ultimately want to live a life where I can have a treat once in a while, but I would love it if the treat I wanted was healthy as well 95% of the time.

-Sara

I have to agree that my taste buds have changed as well. I remember about 5 years ago, it was hard for me to eat my veggies unless they were covered with cheese. I used to eat lots of fruit but veggies were a challenge. It took quite a few months before I learned to like veggies as a regular staple and a quite a few months after that to LOVE them and I wouldn't imagine a meal without them.

I remember the last time I had a dessert at a restaurant and I thought it was way too sweet and really wasn't worth it. I couldn't imagine me turning down dessert but I do. I would also buy food that I used to LOVE and realize that I no longer loved it. Anyway, it does take a while but your body will adjust. I never really realized it was happening until I would eat things that I really liked at one point and then realize that they didn't taste as good as I thought they did.

For me with the journey so far, I find that trying to fit as many super foods into my daily diet, I just don't have the room for other stuff. This weekend I went camping and on a family reunion. I ate more junk than I have in quite a while. I got sick to my stomach and could not sleep well. I had worse gas than I have had in quite some time and was just generally lethargic. I just can not beleive what a difference it has made in such a short time.

I remember about 5 years ago, it was hard for me to eat my veggies unless they were covered with cheese.

Ha, that was me as well. Actually, the comment I used to give was, "Oh, I don't eat anything green unless it is a hard candy shell!" LOL

I guess this, as almost everything, just takes time. :)

-Sara

I ultimately want to live a life where I can have a treat once in a while, but I would love it if the treat I wanted was healthy as well 95% of the time.

This is a wonderful goal to want happen. I find that when I medicate myself with overly processed foods that is what I crave without mercy like a switch has been turned on and I don't have the remote. But when I eat healthy foods, exercise, and actually taste what I am eating I do crave healthy foods. Even as "treats".

My two vices happen to be healthy... wine and dark chocolate... but I have to be vigilant about keeping them in their place. ;) Making them the exception and not the rule.

Hi Jen-

How long did it take for this change to happen for you? What were your eating habits like before? Did you eat a lot more "fake food" and refined and junk?

I'm asking because I'm working on changing over to eating this way, but I struggle with cravings and habits right now which tend to derail me. I am working on planning around them, and I know that will help, but I am also hoping/waiting for the day when the yucky stuff really starts to seem yucky most of the time.

I ultimately want to live a life where I can have a treat once in a while, but I would love it if the treat I wanted was healthy as well 95% of the time.

-Sara

Gosh I have to think back! I think it had a lot to do with the fact that I started to really look at labels. I've always loved veggies and fruit and lentils and what-not, but I was fooling myself on other things that I thought were healthy. I ate a lot of white pasta, a lot of bread, and a lot of frozen meal stuff. I never actually thought about the refined sugars that I was eating. When I cut them all out, I also moved over to a more raw style of eating. It must've taken about a month, maybe two. It's hard to say as I was so focused on just losing weight for so long. I was just explaining to a friend that it just sort of evolved into what it is now. It's quite gradual. Of course, before I never paid attention to my body so one day I would have a donut and wonder what my problem was an hour later. I had to start picking up on the signals.

Man. When DID it happen? I guess it just did.

My tastes have changed too! :yes: I think it happened over the course of about 3 or 4 months of clean eating.

I find that I don't like overly sweet or salty foods at all and can taste sugar in things like storebought pasta sauces - I never reallized they had sugar in them before until I started reading labels. Now I make my own sauce.

I use to eat microwave popcorn - now the smell makes my stomach turn, same with movie popcorn. I make air popped corn with a bit of butter and some chili or paprika seasoning.

I used to like donuts but now find them sickly sweet and unsatisfying as a snack.

I don't like milk chocolate anymore since I embraced the dark (chocolate) side :lol:

I no longer enjoy sour cream dips or toppings for potatoes. A plain baked potato with a teeny bit of real butter and some pepper do the trick now.

I can't eat chips as I find them too salty and oily.

I can't eat fast food or my body rebels and I feel sick after eating it.

Funny thing is that I don't miss any of those things at all - I really enjoy the food I'm eating and don't feel deprived of anything.

That's crazy, Mauvaisroux! I love popcorn, but cannot stand microwaved popcorn anymore. I recently began popping my own and it's one of my favorite snacks.

mauvaisroux, ditto to everything you just posted!

Rabbitt, I just left the Border's bookstore tonight and passed by a ColdStone Creamery Ice Cream shop. I wasn't even tempted AT ALL, because all I kept thinking about was my TREAT that was waiting for me at home: a soothing cup of Earl Grey tea, a creamy cup of Vanilla Soymilk, some sweet Rainier cherries and a rich square of Lindt's dark chocolate! These are my relaxing treats, after the kids are in bed and before I take my shower and go to bed. I make a ritual of it, you know? I enjoy each one of these slowly, and in their own right. I don't rush through them to get to devour the next thing.

It'll happen for you. The thing that really helps me is to take the time to enjoy my food. Savor the flavors of them, instead of scoffing them down in a matter of seconds! That dark chocolate...mmm mmm mmmmmmm

Oooh, the cherries are sooooo good right now. We've been munching on TONS of them. We keep thinking we're overbuying, and they are gone in a heartbeat.

Cherries and chocolate are yummy, too. Last night hubby cut up (pitted) a bunch and then shaved a little bit of nice dark chocolate on them... sooo good.

See, I like this stuff when I actually get to eating it. It is just not my habit/instinct. Maybe it never will be instinctual, I dunno. But I'm sure it can be my habit, helped by not having the cruddy stuff in the house.

Now if the baby would just stop kicking me and make her way out into the fresh air. hehe

-Sara

Cherries and chocolate are yummy, too. Last night hubby cut up (pitted) a bunch and then shaved a little bit of nice dark chocolate on them... sooo good.

Whoooooo hooooo! Gonna try that!

Now if the baby would just stop kicking me and make her way out into the fresh air. hehe

-Sara

I know exactly what you mean! With DD #1, it felt like she was tickling my bladder all the time! Nothing too painful, but just wierd! I miss that, though. :preg: Can't wait to do it again! Well, after I lose this weight, of course!

Sending birthday vibes your baby's way!!!!!!! :woo:

Like others here, I've been eating many of the "SuperFoods" for a while now, even prior to becoming familiar with the book. The biggest change I've noticed is just that I focus more on maximizing nutritional benefit by the food choices I make, rather than focusing primarily on weight loss.

That being said, I will still have the occasional donut/processed food/fast food if I listen to my body and that's what it really wants. I suppose my desire for these foods may diminish over time (I've had this happen w/ sugar in the past) but I believe there's still a place for them in my plan.

Another thing I like about superfoods/whole foods is that the focus is on getting as much nutrition in as possible, rather than skimming the less healthy stuff. It's a refreshing switch to an abundance mentality instead of the scarcity mentality, which is usually what's found in weight loss initiatives. Rather than say "I can't have this, and I can't have this", we're saying, "How can I get more? How can I squeeze some of that in?"

I love it. It's just what I needed at this point in my weight loss.

Rather than say "I can't have this, and I can't have this", we're saying, "How can I get more? How can I squeeze some of that in?"

So very true! I didn't even think of it that way until I read your post.

Another thing I like about superfoods/whole foods is that the focus is on getting as much nutrition in as possible, rather than skimming the less healthy stuff. It's a refreshing switch to an abundance mentality instead of the scarcity mentality, which is usually what's found in weight loss initiatives. Rather than say "I can't have this, and I can't have this", we're saying, "How can I get more? How can I squeeze some of that in?"

I love it. It's just what I needed at this point in my weight loss.

Yes, that was/is exactly how I felt! It was a huge switch to eating rather than NOT EATING. I love that - abundance mentality :) I might start a whole new spin off thread!!

I have to agree that my taste buds have changed as well. I remember about 5 years ago, it was hard for me to eat my veggies unless they were covered with cheese. I used to eat lots of fruit but veggies were a challenge. It took quite a few months before I learned to like veggies as a regular staple and a quite a few months after that to LOVE them and I wouldn't imagine a meal without them.

I remember the last time I had a dessert at a restaurant and I thought it was way too sweet and really wasn't worth it. I couldn't imagine me turning down dessert but I do. I would also buy food that I used to LOVE and realize that I no longer loved it. Anyway, it does take a while but your body will adjust. I never really realized it was happening until I would eat things that I really liked at one point and then realize that they didn't taste as good as I thought they did.

This is very true Nelie. Even though I just recently got on the whole foods/super foods kick, I found my taste buds changed dramatically after two year of living in Korea and eating more Korean food. Desserts are too sweet for me most of the time...(sometimes I still have something) but I much prefer fruit for dessert. BF loves to cut up fruit for us after dinner and we sit with little forks enjoying.

Dolly, Nelie ... I hope this happens to me. The word "too" is never paired with "sweet" or "rich" in my diet! Not yet, anyway. :)

Dolly, Nelie ... I hope this happens to me. The word "too" is never paired with "sweet" or "rich" in my diet! Not yet, anyway. :)

I second that ;) !

Don't worry, it'll happen! It is my dream that I will be able to buy products that are unsweetened and without added fat that contain whole foods. Could you imagine how much healthier we would be as a nation if we depended on whole foods rather than fast foods? If we reached for naturally sweet rather than super sweet?

Whole foods aren't glamourous, yet. Health food stores do pretty good but there is still some need for improvement. I would rather see no added sweeteners in cereals rather than having cane juice or other sweeteners.

I didn't even know you people were here! :o

This is what I've been doing for the last 7 weeks or so. I just decided to give up all processed food as well as salt, sugar, caffine and ibuprofin. It was an "all or nothing" pretty much for me as I was in a lot of pain. In addition to cutting out things, I added LOTS of water, cranberries, garlic, ginger, omega 3's and flax.

So along with the weight loss, the 2 biggies for me have been a reduction in pain and since the second week, NO CRAVINGS! :carrot:

I didn't even know you people were here! :o

Welcome, Karen! We're relatively new (just this week). I'm glad you found us!

Hi Karen! This forum is new and we are very excited about it. I've given up salt and sugar as well and I've lowered the amount of caffeine I drink. I actually gave it up but figured I could add it back in especially with all the health benefits of green and black tea.

Quote:
Originally Posted by phantastica
Dolly, Nelie ... I hope this happens to me. The word "too" is never paired with "sweet" or "rich" in my diet! Not yet, anyway.

Now see, I'm the opposite, esp with sweet. My mom used to make this dark chocolate silk pie dessert that was waaay too sweet, made my tongue do a funny curl and just didn't taste good to me. I've never been a big dessert person or a chocolate eater. A great dessert to me is a nice tart lemon meringue pie! :lol: Maybe it's because we grew up only having desserts on Sundays (when my grandparents came for dinner) or holidays. Otherwise, if you wanted something after dinner it was fruit. Not to say there weren't things like cakes and cookies in my home, because there certainly were, but the emphasis was not on having something sweet with/after every meal.

Oh, VERY cool! So glad you did! :bravo:

OH, I'm so glad this forum exists!! I'm so excited! :dancer:

I believe very strongly that the human body did not evolve to eat 90% of the...stuff...out there. Don't even get me started on HFCS, colorants, and preservatives! :lol: I strive to eat whole foods as much as I can, and to feed them to my husband as much as possible. I'm so glad this forum is here!! :)

wow, I LOVE this forum! As I am going along in my food journey I have been eating whole foods for the last year or so, ever since I bought the Superfoods book. Just tonight for dinner I had a portabello mushroom off the grill, sauteed onions, peppers, zucchini, squash, a baked potato and an ear of corn. They're not all superfoods but I feel really good about what I ate. Yesterday I had to eat out for dinner and I chose a Greek restaurant that makes a Vegetarian Dream Wrap. I feel a lot better eating whole foods instead of garbage foods. The fact that my son rented SuperSize Me this week really helped reinforce this!

Hey, I hadn't seen this forum either! But YES since I have switched the difference in my energy levels is amazing... I used to be soooooooo sleepy in the afternoons, lethargic, etc. Also now I find I my cravings are for healthful foods... yeeks last week I was craving CELERY so went and bought some! :) Who would'a thunk it? :rofl:

Thank you for joining us!

Idrial, a Vegetarian Dream Wrap? Yummy!

Misti, did you get a haircut??? CUUUUTE! I didn't recognize you!

Misti, did you get a haircut??? CUUUUTE! I didn't recognize you!

Yep, that's me! Thanks! I hardly recognize myself!! :)

Fabulous picture :) You look glamorous!!! Look at that dainty neck and those cheekbones!

Hi Misti! You look great! And what a difference a hair style can make...I didn't recognize you at first either!

Hey, are you guys still doing your Coast to Coast Challenge? Or is there a new one? I'm trying to get comfortable with this Super Foods thing and calorie counting, and then I'll revisit walking everyday!

**I'm so glad so many of us are here! I feel as if I have found my 'home' among other whole food/good nutrition appreciaters!**

Misti - I agree. You look terrific!! Isn't this a great new forum? I love it. :)

Misti -

Love the new avatar. You look GREAT!

I haven't read the Superfoods book yet (have requested it from the library) but for me the first steps on this journey were inspired by reading Marilu Henner's books. She emphasizes whole/organic foods, eliminating sugar and sugar substitutes, etc. I've been eating this way for about a month now and have lost about 10.5 lbs. since "the change." :lol:

Last weekend I attended a family birthday party and didn't plan well enough before going. I had asked the hostess what we were having and she said "chicken" but when I arrived I found that the "chicken" was actually chicken salad, served on white bread. "Vegetables" were sweet pickles, olives and cubes of cheese (I've been eliminating dairy) and dessert was birthday cake which I found way, way too sweet. I tried to eat very moderately. I sat down hungry, pushed away from the table still hungry, and still felt a tremendous desire for a nap afterwards and had indigestion to boot

Yesterday I was at Trader Joe's and was tempted by their beef tacquitos -- you would not believe how many of those I used to be able to chow down!! With lots of quacomole to go with it, of course. I made a quick mental deal with myself: if I still want them when I've lost 100 lbs., then I can have them -- one meal's worth. Whatever is left goes in the garbage. And I just trundled on down the aisle, smiling ...

Misti, you do look fabulous. I used to go for longer hair but ever since I switched to shorter hair, I haven't regretted it. I think it looks really good on you.

Donna, welcome. Although I haven't lost 10 lbs in the last month (I wish :) ), I have felt great from cutting out sugar and sugar substitutes and eating whole foods.

Misti- please don't take offense to this... I noticed that you are the same age as my father, but I don't believe it. You look like he could be YOUR father!
Great "do", by the way.

You know the BEST part about switching to whole foods? It's something I can LIVE with for the rest of my life! It's not something I go on for a while, then go back to my crappy way of eating.

It is TRULY a LIFESTYLE.

You know the BEST part about switching to whole foods? It's something I can LIVE with for the rest of my life! It's not something I go on for a while, then go back to my crappy way of eating.

It is TRULY a LIFESTYLE.

Fact! It's not a fad, and it can be applied anywhere in the world. :)

You got it, Jen. That's a great mantra. It's maintainable and sustainable. Too often, diets are structured around weightloss and only weightloss and spending any extended period of time on them does more harm than good.

Amen to that. I am loving this woe! :) I've had a few slips, but more and more my old foods are dropping off.

You want a chage.. here is one for you...

I ate a healthy breakfast at 6:30 am this morning. Things got really crazy at work a lot of physical labor required... so I was moving all day.. drinking water all day... suddenly when lunch time came volunteers arrived. They had already eaten but I hadn't.. nonetheless they were there to help me so I worked through lunch.. then I continued all afternoon. I walked in the door at home just before seven. Yes I was starving.. but I was also exhausted.. younger son has chips in the pantry, ice cream cake in the freezer, and gummy candy in a dish. He doesn't eat a lot of it.. and neither do we... that is why it is still there! From a 4th of July bbq we had... anyway... I'm standing in the kitchen ready to eat the sink.. and

I found myself eating the cut pinapple from the frig..
then running a bubble bath...
then 2 pork ribs that I shared with the dog
then a spoonful of hummus
.. then bringing a glass of wine and a piece of dark chocolate into the bath...

That was dinner #1. I am calm.. I am happy... I am pleased. In an hour or so I'll have some vegetable mandu soup (potstickers). And still feel great.

Go back a few months and show the video of me coming home so late with an empty stomach and a stressful day. It wasn't pretty! :devil:

This is a great change!

Changes?....

Last night we went out to eat and I really thought the lobster roll would be good but then I thought about the french fries and the cole slaw that came with it and it just did not appeal to me. (Last year I would of been all over it.)

Anyway I had the swordfish with asparagus and white whipped potatoes. Before that I had baked stuffed clams.
I also drank two beers.

I am not sure what it was but later about 9:30 ish my legs and feet felt like lead. I could barely move and I had no desire to? It was a combination of tired and moving boxes yesterday but I was down for the count. I think it was the potatoes and the beer. It just did not make me feel good. I have been slipping and eating whites here and there but I have been off of it for a few days and I think that with the combination of alcohol had a huge effect.

Just my thoughts....

Jayde -

I am impressed! Way to go!

Thanks, Breaking Free!

I made some decent restaurant choices the other night, too. I really wanted a ribs-and-shrimp combo, but I opted for the broiled shrimp. I couldn't resist the cheesy hashbrowns. Instead of getting soup, I got a spinach salad with bacon dressing on the side, and gave the eggs and croutons to DS. I ate too much bread and a quarter of my son's dessert, but I ate less than half of the shrimp and hashbrowns and promptly boxed it up for lunch the next day.

I'm glad I did, because when I logged everything into fitday I was again shocked at how many extra calories restaurant food packs in. And to think I would have easily polished that whole thing off (and maybe then some?) in prior days!

No dessert cravings! I've noticed that when I am not just around dessert, but actually serving it (to my DDs), I am NOT tempted in the least! Actually, I'm not tempted by any foods that I have no business eating!

Pizza! I took the night off from cooking, as DH was working his overnight shift and I was just too tired to cook. So, I bought a small plain pizza for my girls. I didn't want a single bite of it! The cheese would get stuck on my fingers and I would wipe it off, instead of eating it!

Ice cream! I just gave my girls one scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert (with chocolate jimmies) and I didn't want a single spoonful! I was too busy dreaming about the cup of lowfat strawberry yogurt that was waiting for me!

I really don't have food cravings anymore. Even when the supposed temptation is right in front of my face, on my fingertips even, I don't want it at all! It's not willpower either. It's sheer dislike for it!

Speaking of my girls, they are eating more and more SuperFoods each day! My 1 year old loves Kefir! They both love broccoli, carrots, turkey, chicken, fish, berries, nuts, etc! Just about ALL of the SuperFoods! My 5 year old didn't like beans at all. But she tried Olive Garden's Pasta e Fagiole (sp?) and loved it, beans and all! Now, I have to find a good recipe to imitate it at home.

So these are two big changes for me. No cravings and spreading the health with my very young children. Feels good! Feels real good!

I am not sure what changes occured in me if any, but I jsut feel great about having switched to wholefoods. I did that back in April. It just feels so great to know that I am showing my body more respect my giving it the best I can find. I am sure it has some kind of impact on me, but I can't say that I've noticed a dramatic change.

Crazy as it sounds, I'm walking differently. I find myself walking as if I am at goal. I feel that good inside! It doesn't matter what my outside looks like. I feel beautiful! It's hard to explain, but I just feel beautiful. And that is exactly how I am carrying myself these days...like I am a beautiful woman!

I can feel this healthy lifestyle really changing me from the inside out, mentally and physically.

Having decided I'm going to be healthy, I am amazed I am carrying it off. I went to my high school reunion Saturday. I had a healthy snack before I went. That was a good thing because the only choices I found there were a relish tray. Soooo, I ate lots of veggies, had one beer and then ice water. And I didn't feel bad. It was ok with me. I was hungry later before going on with friends for drinks so I got two pintos&cheese from taco bell. Not great but not terrible (did make me feel a little yucky later). At the bar I had club soda and lime. And I still didn't feel like I was missing out on anything. That is an accomplishment.

Good for you, Joyofsix! Even if it's baby steps, you are progressing toward your goal!

My August Exercise Goal: 180/500

I've been loving reading this thread. I'm still sneaking up on being full-bore whole foods, but it has been a long, slow, interesting sneak.

This one gets me, though. We went out to dinner last night, and out comes my chicken with a whole carrot as part of the sides. Now, I have never really liked many vegetables, and carrots are (were?) one I didn't like.

But it is a superfood, so, gosh, I'm going to give it a shot...

IT WAS SOOOOOOOOO YUMMY. I cannot believe how good it tasted. It probably had some butter on it, but I don't care at this point. I've never had a carrot that tasted good.

It is 6:15 am the next morning, and I'm still thinking about that carrot, and how excited I am that I loved it. I am hoping that maybe my tastebuds are FINALLY starting to change a bit. It would sure make it easier if my tastes could start to expand. Maybe I had to change mentally (I WANT to eat this, as opposed to I HAVE to eat this) in order for me to really start to like some of the good stuff.

-Sara

I've been loving reading this thread. I'm still sneaking up on being full-bore whole foods, but it has been a long, slow, interesting sneak.

This one gets me, though. We went out to dinner last night, and out comes my chicken with a whole carrot as part of the sides. Now, I have never really liked many vegetables, and carrots are (were?) one I didn't like.

But it is a superfood, so, gosh, I'm going to give it a shot...

IT WAS SOOOOOOOOO YUMMY. I cannot believe how good it tasted. It probably had some butter on it, but I don't care at this point. I've never had a carrot that tasted good.

It is 6:15 am the next morning, and I'm still thinking about that carrot, and how excited I am that I loved it. I am hoping that maybe my tastebuds are FINALLY starting to change a bit. It would sure make it easier if my tastes could start to expand. Maybe I had to change mentally (I WANT to eat this, as opposed to I HAVE to eat this) in order for me to really start to like some of the good stuff.

-Sara

AWESOME! A carrot, huh? :carrot: The simple things in life have amazing impacts on our lives don't they? That one, simple, delicious carrot may have been the extra boost into healthy eating that you needed! You have me wanting some carrots! I usually steam mine and then add a little butter, salt, pepper and parsley (for color). Simple, but so darn good!

Pardon me for stereotyping, Rabbitt, but don't rabbits typically like carrots? ;) That's awesome, I'm glad you tried them again and liked them!

Pardon me for stereotyping, Rabbitt, but don't rabbits typically like carrots? ;)

:lol:

Pardon me for stereotyping, Rabbitt, but don't rabbits typically like carrots? ;) That's awesome, I'm glad you tried them again and liked them!

:rofl: As my mom would say... "Smart Rear!"

Rabbit, Bunny, and 10,000 variations (Bun-Rah, Rodent of Power! hehe) are nicknames my hubby gave me 10 years ago when we first met. Maybe he was predicting the far away, finally arrived future?

-Sara

Gosh all, love this thread!! Have to agree with you all; when I lost last 20 lbs I literally drove home from work one day and said, wow, it's been X weeks since I drank soda, ate fast food, etc etc. It does kind of sneak up on your bc at some point it goes from being a chore to manage to just habit. Probably about 3 weeks to make that transition I would guess, and it was about 8 weeks that it dawned on me.

Misti - you are changing faster than I can keep up with you! Another great photo, beautiful girl!

I'm just continually amazed at how quickly our bodies change once we stop eating certain things - I'm only about a few weeks into this WOE as a real commitment, and while my head remembers all the not-so-good foods I used to enjoy, my body seems to have already forgotten, LOL!!

Case in point - we had dinner with the IL's last night. My MIL often cooks relatively healthy meals with lots of different veggies, so I wasn't too worried about dinner. Well, we get there and she has decided to make her version of beef stroganoff - namely, beef and onions cooked in straight cream. Sounds weird, but really is - well, was(once upon a time) - delicious! Rich, to be sure. Anyway - that's all there was. Stroganoff and rice, and green peas. Normally I would fill my plate with salad and other veggies so my smaller portion of the main entree wouldn't be as noticeable - no chance of that, so I got a big portion of peas, a smaller amount of rice, and a smaller amount still of the beef and made the best of it. I didn't feel bad about having the stroganoff as the rest of my day was more than fine, but I knew that I would feel better (mentally) if I didn't have too much. Little did I realize that I would wind up feeling like crap PHYSICALLY, even with the small portion I had!! I haven't experienced stomach pain and discomfort like I had last night in a looooong time - the food wasn't bad or anything, it was just much richer than anything I've eaten in a while. Add in the straight white rice, and it was just too much for my tummy to handle, I guess.

Anyway - it was an eye opener. I felt so rotten all night that I'll be surprised if stroganoff - or anything remotely as rich - ever sounds good to me again!! :dizzy: I'm finding that more and more now: I can look at certain foods that I used to enjoy, and think "yuck!" and not even be tempted by them. The heavy stuff and the processed stuff just doesn't have any appeal anymore :)

Anyway - it was an eye opener. I felt so rotten all night that I'll be surprised if stroganoff - or anything remotely as rich - ever sounds good to me again!!


Yep, that's how I felt after Taco Bell the other night. It was waaay too rich for me.

I make a great crimini mushroom strogonoff with low fat sour cream and morning star farm veggie crumbles. PM me if you want the recipe! I serve it over brown rice with a salad, love it!

Sugarlove--I completely understand about just not WANTING the other stuff. Example: hubby got caught at work and asked me to stop and bring him lunch. I ran by Chipotle and got him a bowl (beans, meat, salsa, cheese, sour cream) and a cheese quesadilla. Now, a few weeks ago I would have been sorely tempted to get a quesadilla of my own, and probably would have given in. But TODAY, I wasn't interested. Huh. Then I got to the office and had to wait a few minutes until he could run out and pick up his lunch, and I started fantasizing about what I would eat when I got home. It had been 5 hours since I last ate, so it was reasonable that I was fantasizing...but...about a BANANA? :lol: I swear it's true!

And the banana was yummy! Yum yum yum...very happy now. :)

Glory, PM coming your way!

I make a great crimini mushroom strogonoff with low fat sour cream and morning star farm veggie crumbles. PM me if you want the recipe! I serve it over brown rice with a salad, love it!

Ummm, don't keep this a secret....post it in the recipe thread!!!!!
SHARE WITH US!!!!!!

Oh, and trishn222 posted a delicious sounding stroganoff recipe too! It has fat free 'stuff', whole wheat pasta and ground turkey in it. Check the recipe thread for it. I'll be making some pretty soon!