Full and satisfied

Happy Wednesday! I hope you had a great start to your day, as I did with an hour and a half Vinyasa Flow yoga class. Much needed.
I'd like to take a moment to update everyone on my "new way of eating" that was surged by Eat to Live and I talked about here. I am not sure if it was a shift in my mindset due to reading this book or just what I have been eating (or more likely a combination of both), but I have had great results with the few changes I have made to my diet. For starters, I am snacking less, and when I do it's a piece of fruit or a kombucha drink (love those). I am full throughout the day. I work out in the morning, ususally having half of a banana, before the sweat session. Then I make a huge green smoothie and drink it at work. I tend to sip on this throughout the morning, finishing around 10 or 11 am. The morning green drink is a blend of coconut water, spinach or other greens, soaked then cooked beans (protein!), banana or pear or orange, sometimes various protein powders, and sometimes a few *Superfood powders. And really, I don't get hungry until 2:30 or 3 pm. And honestly, I'm not even thinking about food until then. Definitely a change. I tend to eat out of boredom, so feeling full and satisfied this long is great!

For lunch I have a salad, maybe with brown rice and beans (I know, kinda boring) jazzed up with nama shoyu (soy sauce's gluten-free, low sodium twin), or whatever veggie was not finished during the previous night's dinner. And then I go home, eat dinner, and in the past eat a raw dessert. Now, after dinner I either have a handful of carob chocolate chips, a piece of fruit, or nothing. Again, I feel full, satisfied, and the cravings I usually have are gone.

One of the biggest differences I see is the sugar cravings have diminished. I love sweets. I love raw sweets. And I like to eat. Not the best combination. I worked hard on not giving into cravings and slowly they went away. It's a great feeling to be a little more in control of cravings. And this is spoken from an eating disorder dropout. And proud of it!

Also, I've cut out meat, almost exclusively, for various reasons. I still eat it, but rarely. Reason one, my body has a hard time digesting them. I have much more success in the bathroom when I cut out meat. Trust me, this is a good thing. Reason two, Eat to Live goes into detail as to why you do not really need animal meat in your diet. There are many other places (plant foods) that provide tons of proteins and a large consumption of meat may be linked to cancer development. I'm not trying to be controversial here, that's just what the book states. And reason three, I just don't crave meat. It's not something I want or need so why eat it.

Anyway, the reason I'm telling you all of this is... well, just because I am happy with the way I am eating now. I am happy with the way my body feels and looks when I maintain a plant based diet, rich with greens, fruits, veggies, and whole complex carbs. Gluten and dairy free, of course. I have lost about 5 pounds, incredibly effortlessly, and my usual bloating and inflammation has subsided.

So, to end this rather long post of me, which I hope you don't mind me rambling on about, I would like to challenge you to forgo animal protein for 3 to 5 days. See how you feel. If you would like some suggestions on meals that provide LOADS of whole protein without the meat let me know! I'd be happy to share some great recipes and ideas. Cut out the meat, maybe cut out the dairy too (although that is a whole other topic and post).

*Superfoods:
Some of my favorite Superfoods are listed here (not in any particular order):

• Young coconut (water)  -one of the highest sources of electrolytes known to man, identical to human blood plasma, and known to relieving fevers, headaches, stomach upsets, diarrhea, dysentery, and strengthen the heart and restore energy to the ill. This is a staple in my diet and will forever be. Plus it tastes really really good
  
• Spirulina -with 3 times the protein of meat, spirulina contains over 60 percent complete protein, vitamins and minerals, such as B complex vitamins, vitamin E, carotenoids, iron, manganese, zinc, essential fatty acids such as gamma linolenic acid (only otherwise found in mother's milk), beta carotene and one of the few plant sources of vitamin B12
• Blue-green algae -highly bioavailable protein that is 80 percent assimilated in our bodies (compared to meat protein, which is 20 percent assimilated), and concentrated source of chlorophyll
• Bee pollen -rich in B vitamin complex, carotenes, and including vitamins C and E, two potent antioxidants. Some claim is helps with increasing energy, increasing libido, elimination of acne, aids indigestion, eliminating depression, improving blood pressure
• Goji berries -over 15 percent protein, 21 essential minerals, and 18 amino acids, as well as lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP). This is a nutrient-dense superfood in a class all its own
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Hemp seeds -about 30–35 percent of the weight of hempseed is hemp oil, an edible oil that contains about 80 percent essential fatty acids (EFAs); i.e.,omega-6, omega-3, omega-6, and omega-3. Hempseed also contains about 20 percent of a highly-digestible protein, where 1/3 is edestin and 2/3 are albumins. Its amino acid profile is close to "complete" when compared to more common sources of proteins such as meat, milk, eggs and soy (source).
  
• Chia Seeds -a powerhouse food, high in protein, fiber and the essential omega-3 fatty acid ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), as well as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, and zinc. When soaked in water, the chia seeds absorb 10-12 times there weight
• Raw cacao -natural, unprocessed, unadulterated state, raw cacao contains a huge variety of antioxidants, neurotransmitters (to make us feel good), essential minerals, and essential fats. Click below for more info on these powerhouse foods
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • raw cacao powder
  • raw cacao nibs  
  
  

• Maca -rich in sugar, proteins, starches, and important minerals, such as iron, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorous. Contains numerous trace minerals, such as, B vitamins, linoleic and oleic oils (essential fatty acids), and 18 amino acids, including 7 of the 9 essential amino acids. A product of a root vegetable, maca has been used for just a few symptoms, since the Incas:
  
• Increasing energy, stamina and endurance
• Enhancing libido and treating impotence
• Stimulating fertility in both sexes
• Supporting the immune system and adrenal function
• Reducing chronic fatigue
• Regulating and supporting the endocrine system

 

Although there are many other superfoods out there. These are just a few of the ones I consume on a regular basis.

Have a great day! And here's to your health!