Lessons Learned from the Cleanse...

I did not make it the entire 90 days on the Candida Cleanse.  As I anticipated in my February blog, the upcoming trips made it difficult to stick to the plan.  That being said, it would have been difficult, but not impossible.  Had I truly felt it imperative to stick to it, I know I could have.  But I managed to accomplish what I needed to.  I lost 15 pounds (and still going), I have a ton of energy, I am having less digestive issues than I did before, the cold sore outbreaks that I spoke of in my January blog are now virtually non-existent, and I even feel like my creative juices are flowing better than they have in a long time.  I am feeling very healthy and very happy.  

Additionally, I see what I am doing as a realistic way to eat.  This is big.  I don't feel like a failure for having not made it 90 days because the things I have begun to identify about my thoughts and feelings about myself has changed.  The biggest thing that I recognized is self sabotage.  When I normally diet and restrict certain things, the first thing I focus on and crave is that which I have restricted and labeled as bad.  Before, I would "cheat" and I thought of it as a cheat against the diet, not against me.  If you have never dieted, this may be hard to understand.  By changing my diet because of my immediate health concerns, it became more about me and not so much that one food is bad.  Just that my body's reaction to the food is not healthy.  I also stopped focusing on some arbitrary number on a scale.  I am happy for the weight loss, but the fact that if I eat that, I will physically feel bad has been the switch that I needed to flip to be successful.

I think this is a benefit of an elimination diet.  Knowing that I was only eliminating certain foods for a small period of time made it easier to stick to the plan.  And our bodies are amazing machines.  Without getting into all the science that I have read about elimination diets, the basic premise is that within three weeks, the body begins to heal when foods that you may be sensitive to are eliminated.  As soon as those things are reintroduced, your body lets you know right away whether or not it can handle it.  And that is just what I have found out.  If I eat gluten, my stomach hurts.  If I now have too much sugar, my stomach hurts and I get gassy.  These are immediate responses and help me to realize that it's not cheating on a diet, it's avoiding something that my body is sensitive to, similar to someone with a food allergy.  Luckily for me, it's not as serious as a full food allergy, but thinking of it this way helps.  

Secondly, the thought process, at least for me, about cheating on a diet is that I am getting away with something.  But guess what?  I'm not.  And I am only hurting myself by eating foods that are detrimental to me.  And guess what else? I am important enough to not do that to myself.  That is the other really important thing that I have learned by participating in this cleanse and from participating in this journey with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.  I am important enough to make myself my first priority.  Again, for some of you this may be a no-brainer, but for others of you, you know exactly what I am talking about.  It's like when you are traveling on a plane and they go through the safety checklist prior to take off and they tell you that in the event of a loss of cabin pressure, masks will drop from the ceiling.  They ALWAYS instruct you to put yours on first and then help those around you that may need help.  They don't tell you to run around the plane depriving yourself of oxygen while putting the mask on others.  In part, I feel like that is what I have been doing.  Over my lifetime I have lost weight to look good in a prom dress, to look good in a bathing suit, to look good in a wedding dress, to be healthy for the baby while I was pregnant (which is important, but many women can make their health a priority for the baby, but not for themselves. Why is that?), or to look good for whatever the next major life event was about to happen that was going to involve a photographer so that I didn't look bad in pictures.  But what about eating healthy and losing weight because I am worth being healthy and feeling good just for me?  I am worth taking the time to realize that putting crap into my body does nothing but expel crap right back out.  And don't get me wrong, I don't mean to sound like a martyr.  It's not like I am looking for pity because I didn't make myself a priority.  If anything, I think I need a good swift kick in the backside! And I am just stating a fact that is true for many people.  Making eating right and exercising a priority is nothing to feel guilty about.

Lastly, what I learned from this cleanse is the 80/20 rule.  I make it a priority to avoid refined carbohydrates, added sugar, alcohol, and processed foods during the week.  On the weekend, I still try to avoid them, but allow myself the flexibility that things happen and if I am going out or want to have one of these items, I can.  If I try to remove them completely from my diet, I am setting myself up for failure.  I will eventually binge on it and sabotage all my efforts.  And I am worth the occasional treat.  As long as I keep "occasional", occasional! If I'm not honest with myself about the 20%, it won't work.

That's not to say that I have it all figured out and that I am now the model of good nutrition.  I still need to work things out.  But, I read labels and plan my snacks.  I make sure I have nuts to snack on and water to drink.  I plan out my daily meals as part of my schedule so that I am prepared.  Because getting hungry and not having the right foods conveniently available can set me off track very quickly.  But, I also know that I could eat a big ol' bowl of spaghetti in a heart beat and damn the consequences.  I know that although pasta is a food that gives me digestive issues, I love it.  I have moved to gluten free pasta to take care of the digestive issues, but I also know that I just feel better in general when I eat less refined carbohydrates and more lean protein, vegetables and healthy fats like avocados and green smoothies made with coconut milk, leafy greens and just a little added fruit.  I also know now that if I absolutely need a grain, whole grains like quinoa, wild rice, and millet are satisfying.  Here's the problem, spaghetti is my comfort food.  But here's the solution, knowing this, I have to work to keep it in the 20% part of the 80/20 equation.  If I try to remove it completely, I will set myself up for a round of self sabotage.  

I am continuing to try new things and come up with new recipes that have less refined carbohydrates.  And my kids and husband, bless them, that sometimes just want something easy and normal, have been fantastic about this whole thing.  Yes, I know that the zoodles (zucchini cut into noodle like strips with a spiralizer), are not really noodles, that you like the taste of white rice more than all of these crazy grains I have introduced you to, and that I haven't fooled you even with the brown rice! I know that you are not a fan of almond butter and have made great strides just changing to a better type of peanut butter, and that sometimes, you just want a Tasty Kake.  And that, for the kids at least, Pastelon, kind of a Puerto Rican lasagna, is a little over the top for you to try just yet.  I also know that some day you will look back on this, of course, who am I kidding, you already see it as your crazy mom taking you on another Hayward adventure! 

There is one area where we have found common ground and that is with smoothies.  I haven't convinced my kids to try a green smoothie yet, they just can't get past the color and flecks of green! We are making some great smoothies using plain yogurt, fruit and almond milk.  As well as smoothies with coconut milk, my favorite! So I am posting two smoothie recipes, my kids' favorite, Strawberry-Banana. (I mean, what kid wouldn't like that!?) And one of my favorites, Mom's Superfood Chocolate Smoothie.  Some of the ingredients in my recipe are a little uncommon and may not be found at a regular grocery store, but could be found online, or if you are local, go to Sonnewald's in Spring Grove.  I hope you enjoy them!

Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Serves 2
1 cup strawberries, cleaned and hulled
1 banana
3/4 cup Greek style, plain yogurt
1/4 cup unsweetened, vanilla Almond milk
1/2 cup ice
1 Tablespoon honey, maple syrup or agave nectar

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy! 

Mom's Superfood Chocolate Smoothie
Serves 2
1 banana

3/4 c coconut milk, unsweetened, full fat

1/2 c almond milk, unsweetened, vanilla

1 T goji berries

2 T cacao powder

1 cup kale leaves

1/2 cup ice

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy!