Tuesday, September 1, 2009

"Kicking the Habit"

The effects of high carbs... I had suspected that high carb meals wore me out, i.e., made me fatigued, and this week, I have proven it to myself.

With the temperatures cooling down and it being the weekend, I started to get back into having my oatmeal for breakfast. For my history with oatmeal, when I was a teen, I used to use an instant, flavored oatmeal, and add a couple of teaspoons of sugar. When I started the "Meryl Diet" first time around, I tried it without the additional sugar and found it to be too sweet! I wanted the advantages of oatmeal (fiber, filling, not a white flour product) so I went back to basics and used what I liked about the instant. I cooked the quick raw oats with water and added as flavorings my favorite, cut Macintosh apples and cinnamon, and honey for the sweetener and it was delicious! You can cater this to your tastes, of course to emulate your favorite oatmeal flavors. I used maple syrup one time, a low sugar version, and it was very good, but apples and cinnamon is definitely my favorite! I tried Splenda and missed the honey taste, so I stick with honey for oatmeal.

For lunch I have been sticking to variations of hard boiled eggs, chicken, turkey, fruit, and vegetables. Dinner pretty much the same thing. I did make tacos over the weekend which were rather good as well. For all these meals, I did not feel fatigued, or more fatigued after the meal than before.

The proof to me that the high carbs, or maybe it is not enough protein, veggies, and fruit to compete with the high simple carbs, was lunch today. After a walk with Madison, I had a sandwich: a couple of thin slices of cheese on whole wheat bread. About 15 minutes or so later, I was so tired, and it was definitely not from our 20 minute walk. It had to be the sandwich. Not the best solution, but I had four small pieces of Dove Dark Chocolate to wake me up, and sat on the couch with some diet root beer. The sugar and the rest helped get my brain going again...

First time I did the "Meryl Diet" I cut out all bread and pasta, not an easy thing to do since both taste so good and are inexpensive, but I did it, and I need to do it again. Nothing like proving things to yourself with experiences.

I hope to be able to keep up with this blog more regular than the time between this and the prior post. I have two PT jobs now plus trying to clear out the house from clutter and junk has consumed me, not to mention keeping myself on track with eating better, and trying to get in more exercise. I did lose 3 pounds!!! More on the way!

Take care, love and peace!