DoingTheCaveman

Looking out from paper mountain & Why, why, why

Yay :) great to return to blogland.  After mopping up all the loose ends of moving house and the struggle to fight my way out from under paper mountain I've had a gum infection under my wisdom teeth.  This seems to happen every single time I move house and left me far too grumpy to blog -- Boohoo --  Isn't strange how stress seems to manifest itself in your mouth!!  Anyway, as things start to calm down and brain fog and grump induced by housemoving and toothache lifts justoofat has taken the pressure of a return blog topic out of my hands and laid down the challenge of listing all the reasons why we want to lose weight. 

Great timing as I'm at the gateway of a fresh start in more ways than one, albeit with a weight problem. This is a useful visualization exercise to conjure up each and every-time I pass the addictive cheesy pastries and donuts at the uni coffee shop.

So, WHY, WHY, WHY am I doing this ...  

Cosmetic and self-esteem:

1. Recognise and *connect* with the person I see in the mirror.
2. Not to be the ugly sister.
3. I used to be described as self-assured and I I no longer feel this way. Currently I even seem to have developed a minor stutter. Despite weight-loss confidence is at an all time low.
4. To shop in 'normal' places and not pay a premium for over-sized clothes. Goal reached!!
5. Have a tiny waist and one chin again.
6. To melt into a crowd and to take up less space.
7. Wear a swimsuit on a beach and feel comfortable.

Health

1. To wave off the diabetes and alleviate the symptoms of PCOS (as far as is possible). This is a goal where I feel is I am well on the way!
2. Not to have knee pain.
3. Visit the doctor and be confident in the knowledge that he/she will investigate any problem appropriately, in the same way that would investigate the same problem presented by someone of a normal weight.

Fitness & incentives:

1. Rain-forest canopy and zip-line trip. This is the kind of activity that inspires me to lose weight.
2. Tennis, yeah I'd like to return to playing tennis. Actually if I lost weight I'd like to beat my mum who at 62 is still an awesome tennis player.
3. Major one - go skiing again. Perhaps have a go at snowboarding as this hadn't been invented the last time I was able to ski.
4. Canoe in rapids.
5. Go hiking in the Alps and not worry about slowing down the group.
6. Try surfing or at least go on one of those banana rides!!!

Finally a secret reason I'll let you in on another time, maybe.

Although I'll proably think of loads more once I post this to sum it  up I want to feel healthy, fit, agile, nimble again, and not to be the ugly sister!

 

 Don't worry i will survive, sis pic used with permission!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

Oh what a year.

Has it been obvious I've been flagging of late.  I see my consultant on Tuesday and I think the thought of this has caused made me to struggle over the last couple of weeks, quietly sabotaging myself.  So instead of writing a load of c**p I read through my previous posts in order to remind myself why I'm observing this way of eating (WOE), and indeed the desperate point I came from.

The last year has been a journey I'd never expected, not only the weight-loss and my attitudes to food but also where I see myself going with life in general.

It has been an evolving process and there have been a few painful steps too.

# One :  Quite simply indignation that a doctor, who I'd never met before, was making assumptions, stereotyping and accusing me of seeking for a magic pill for weight-loss.

# Two : The anger and indignation snapped me out of my apathy, and possibly depression.

I knew, from being a fatigued lifetime dieter, that other dieting models didn't work for me.  When I wasn't overeating from the frustration of repeated failures I was eating a 'normal SUKD. When I saw my consultant I was just eating the reduced diet I'd been advised, so was fuming at his disbelief.  I left the consultant determined to prove him wrong, but what was I to do.  I felt that the only way left to me for weight loss was to completely stop eating! So for the first few days this is what I did.

# Three :  It was perfectly timed that following the week of *that* humiliating hospital appointment I should run into the paleo diet and the concept made simple sense to me.  I/we were getting fat because we were eating in a way that biologically we weren't designed for.  In other words, accepted 'normal' healthy eating was false and I was simply eating way more than my body required.

A lesson I've learnt over the past year is that there is something intrinsically wrong with the food pyramid and the advice provided doesn't necessarily come from health sources.  If you make a worldwide comparison, you can see that that but every country has its own food pyramid. Surely, the fact that there are so many variations highlights the fact that we are confused about what we should be eating.

# Four :  I started to eat paleo and my blood sugar readings normalised within a couple of weeks and the weight loss followed. 

# Five : As far as I could see, with the success so far, it was down the the chemical overload I/we were eating.  I went on a literature rampage, not difficult when you work in a university library - my appetite for periodicals and food related books became bigger than my appetite for food.  I was very, very annoyed - I'd been poisoned, manipulated by the food industry. I felt like a pawn in a mass conspiracy, a £ on legs.  I could have blogged (ranted) more, but for life getting in the way.

# Six :  Next I became a little over zealous and recruited myself into the food police.  I'd got my ship in order, but now everyone around me were, like madmen, munching questionable food, and boy my immediate family were in for a hard time :)

# Seven :  I've entered another phase now - a quite phase. I'm settling into this WOE and I'm still blogging and recording my progress and probably will be ranting some more, but offline I'm not advertising my diet as much and instead just getting quietly on with it.  It's easier to say that I'm gluten/dairy intolerant in social situations, but if I'm asked how I'm losing the weight paleo will get the credit.

This WOE though has opened up some new interests and lifestyle (basically naturapathy Vs allopathy, herbalism, permaculture and raw foodism etc). Last year I would have considered it all a little too alternative, despite being a Brightonian! 

So anyway when this post started it it was only meant to be a few short paragraphs to let you know that I was going to have a blog tidy up.  Refresh my own memory as to why as to why I'm on this journey and the posts that I consider to be the most representative of it in the sidebar. 

I know I have to step it up if I'm to shift my weight any further and for the next year, that of course has to be exercise.  I sometimes have to remind myself that, for me, it's not simply about weight loss, it's the fact that a year ago I did have the threat of insulin looming over me and that's (hopefully) a mere memory.  My journey is one about fighting a common and modern disease by stepping back in time.

RAW at the Earthship

Can you take me to the Earthship? 

Yes the driver did do a double take when I stepped into his taxi and gave this instruction on Saturday.

Time to come out. 

If you didn't realise my post last week nature is bountiful post was related to raw foodism and the fact that it has over the last 6 months become a significant element of my own paleo diet.

Indeed, it's becoming a dilemma as to which direction I'm ultimately going to take myself since, generally, those practising raw foodism tend to be raw vegans/vegetarians, whereas 'the paleo diet' has its obvious meat content.  There is, however, quite a bit of crossover such as foraging, not eating man made foods and, whilst foods on the 'paleo' menu food can be cooked, anything consumed should be edible even when raw.  So, you can see how surfing the web led me to the delights of raw foodism, and it was hard for me to ignore. 

The discovery excited me with its plethora of raw food recipes that take you out of the little cooked food box eg. how to make a cake without butter, sugar dairy or flour.

Although often viewed as quite an extreme and alternative lifestyle raw foodism, for me, is another cuisine, like French, Italian or Chinese.  Simply another way to manipulate food and extension to my diet of natural foods. 

A bonus for me is that living near Brighton, which has been the stomping ground for most of my life, I'm actually near the City which has been adopted as the raw food capital of the UK, and I didn't know.

So anyway to take my raw food 'uncooking' to the next level I'd booked up for a raw workshop to be held on Saturday which was unfortunately cancelled a couple of days before the event.  A little deflated, my motivation flagging and needing a boost I researched and quickly  found another workshop and was fortunate to book into it at the last minute.  This was led by one of the leading UK raw food promoters Jess Michael, and held at the exciting venue 'the Earthship'.

What an inspiring day in a fantastic setting with an absolutely delicious meal and tasters, expertly demonstrated by Jess.  Jess was vibrant and simply radiated good health.  Interesting to note that she'd originally come to raw foodism through illness, you certainly wouldn't know that now.

I walked up to the venue with a lady who's been practising raw foodism for a couple of years now.  She told me that her mother had been morbidly obese for most of her life but had been juice feasting since January and had lost 6 stone. The raw food fast and feasting reportedly can really speed up weight loss. My experience over the last few months is that when I've been predominently raw my weight loss has stopped and stabilised, although I may have been going about aspects the wrong way.  However, when I've been doing 'strict caveman' I've lost weight has returned, probably through the ketosis.  My taste preferences though I must admit are veg/raw.  I am convinced about the benefits of enzymes and vitamins by eating predominently raw, however I have been for a long time convinced about the protein/fat element in my paleo diet.

So where am I going with raw/paleo now. I'm not sure at this moment in time.   When did man discover fire?

As I travelled home a very young lamb was dashing across the field and I looked at his little face and thought to myself I don't think I can eat you anymore.

No decision to be made quite yet but raw food is here to stay.

I guess I still need a little practice with my photography skills!

Foraging in the kitchen

Although I returned from holiday without any diet damage I'm not doing March's progress this month.

Why?- because I've had a mini diet tumble this week. One large enough to make the scales an ominous no go zone.  I don't need them though, I *know* the damage has been done.  My clothes, which were wonderfully loose pre-holiday, in one week have tightened and my skin is inflamed and itchy.

Of course any binge has to have a trigger and this was no exception. 'The move'.  Yes I know, you thought that had happened months ago....

Well it's not on schedule and I'm preparing myself for disappointment regards my potential move to Devon. 

I'd left for hols having completed all the necessary paperwork and arrangements made for for the exchange to happen before my return.  But, what was in the letterbox on my return, yes a duplicate of the contract I'd previously signed.  Then to top it off I'm still feeling really rough - I've had the same continuous painful dry cough and can't even talk or sleep for persistent coughing.

The appearance of this contract and uncertainty has triggered a carb and salt hunt.   

The mission has been to get to all the things that are usually kept out of sight and mind.  Yes well generally things I shouldn't eat is hidden away and out of reach.  Acquiring them is purposely an expedition.

Picture this.  My apartment is Victorian and has 16 foot ceilings.  I have a hidy-hole cupboard knocked into the top of wall at the the far end of the kitchen work-surface, although you can't climb directly up without falling backwards because of the wall units.  So, anything I don't eat I like to keep of sight and hidden (by those nimbler than me) and so usually are safe from chubby fingers. 

But when you're determined and on a mission nothing's gonna stop you!

Anyway said expedition entails taking kitchen chair to the opposite end of 16 foot work space.  Here you can climb up without immediately confronting the wall units.  Remember to collect fish-slice or other long implement on route; climb on chair and then step up on to work-surface; on tiptoes balance along the edge of work-surface, using fingertips on the top of the panels for balance; sideways edge along stretch of work-surface; at half way point step across cooker; to avoid extractor lean backwards as you do so before continuing along the work-surface; take the fish-slice and insert under door of high cupboard that has no handle; prise open; stretch up and blindly rummage for goodies; once acquired grip bag of crisps between teeth and return via the same route; hanging onto the underside of cupboard, pray and *hopefully* step back onto chair and jump down. 

Mission accomplished.

 

 

With my character type being that of the half full bottle you could look at this (diet failure) another way - I am becoming more agile:)

February's progress

I've just arrived home and my face is tingling.

I walked along the seafront today and although it's a cold and windy day the sun was shinning.  When I had to turn back I didn't feel that I'd expended my excess energy so, following some inspiration from an individual this week, I decided to run.  Yes, as no one was around, wrapped up in my cashmere coat, scarf and gloves, I ran home.  It wan't a full out run but at a scouts pace.  I was surprised to find myself enjoying the experience, it's probably the first time as an adult I've run for the pure hell of it.  But, even this little run today, wiped out the bad memories of hockey and cross country running in the snow.

It also confirmed how far I still have to go and that I still have so much more weight than I can comfortably carry.

Anyway, back to the title of this entry - February's progress.  Apart from last week's diabetic news my weight's *still* the same.  Grrrrh.  To try and get the loss going again I'm going to try and step it up in March.  So, as well as endevouring to start exercising again, I'll be cutting back again on portion sizes and also cut on fruit sugars - I'll eat fruit if it's replacing a meal but otherwise I'm going to stop snacking on fruit.

Actually, It's a shame I don't have a camera at the moment since I'm sitting here lunching on a bright green concoction that I would previously have regarded with 'extreme' suspicion; a smoothie made from 200 gm spinach, 1 banana, 2 kiwi and 1/2 mango (4 portions).  Very tasty it is too.

Anyway to close, a good start to March and a plan.  Let's see it makes a difference and gets those scales moving down again.

***ONE INCH***

I________I

Here is an inch.

Measured my waist today and I'd lost another inch.

Looking back at a December entry (22nd) I had a 40" waist and the last time, a month or so ago, it was 39". 

Today it was 38". 

So I've almost lost 10" on my waist.  BUT those bloody scales still won't budge!!

The turtle will get there

OK, lets face it my weight loss over recent weeks has been a tad slow.  However, *this* journey isn't simply a measurement of weight - it's about both the external AND the internal.

So, I'm pleased to announce my exciting news ...

I am no longer diabetic - well that's what my doctor said today.   

I won't delude myself, I know that once you have that diabetic diagnosis it can never be shaken off, no matter how well it controlled.  However, today's Hb A1c (3 month average blood sugars) has finally taken me into the normal range for a non-diabetic... thanks to the caveman diet.

All other investigations and blood pressure were also completely normal :)

I have to say, this clinic visit was a little overwhelming.  The doctor and nurse seemed a little over excited and bombarded me with questions about diet, lifestyle and management. 

I know, to the outsider it's must seem so strange - abstaining from foods we've learnt to regard as natural and normal.  But, in reality so many *normal* foods are adapted into our diet and with catastrophic effect, as I well know. 

I am still a work in progress; I still have a great deal of weight to lose, general fitness to improve and lost time to catch up.

Today though, I've come a step closer to one of my goals - being off ALL medication.  Actually, I admitted to my doctor today that I have, over the last couple of months, been misbehaving with my medication and have been more or less off it anyway!  I don't recommend this.  Coming off drugs *should* be done under a doctor's supervision.  From today though, with my doctors blessing, I'm going to start weaning on half of what I was *sometimes* taking :) 

BTW.  I'm always compliant with the BP medication.  It's just that for a while I'd noted that whether or not I took medication made absolutely no difference to my blood sugar monitoring, hence the self-prescribed wean.

So... how is February shaping up??? - Justoofat

Thanks for the nudge, Jennifer.   It's been a while since I last updated but unfortunately February's not shaping up too well, although this there's still time for this to change.  I weighed earlier in the week and had gained a little weight (weighed in at 88.5 kilos/195 lb).  No negativity though, as AllHeart reminded me this week there's always some fluctuation.  Exercise, is becoming my bugbear -it's not happening.  Maybe I have SAD, I'm absolutely desperate for the hours to change, and to be able to go out for some warm evening walks - gym equipment is so uninspiring.

This week work has been toxic. In fact the last 2 days and absolutely ruined the week. If it wasn't for the imminent house move and mortgage requirements I'd be handing my notice next week.  I know it's risky, but for me so far these spontaneous moves have always proved to be better than staying put.

Anyway, with doom and gloom in the news this week with food prices I leave you with an inspiring little clip -- well I liked it -- so inspiring enjoy.

Decembers progress & handling Xmas

You may recall last month because of illness I'd had a marked loss and then re-gain shooting all the way back up to 14 stone 6 lb.  When I weighed in this morning I was initially disappointed, I was 13 stone 12 lb.  Then I looked back to November's entry and cheered up as I calculated that the loss was 8 lbs. Who wouldn't be satisfied with a plateux for December, but I lost and wasn't expecting to so it kind of makes up for the slow progress.

Handling Christmas eating Paleo:

There were some minor slip ups.  I have an advantage because I choose not to drink apart from at Christmas when I usually allow myself a single cream liquor (that's it's the only thing alcoholic beverage I miss), this year I forgot my treat! I did enjoy a couple ++  chocolate liquors.  This weekend I was at my parents with guests and there was a cheese board afterwards, OMG I haven't had cheese for months and I mustn't have it again, it's so moorish, so tasty - I found it really hard to stop. 

Christmas dinner itself was not too tricky on the Caveman diet.  My family are onboard with the diet and supporting it.  Everything was pretty much the same as usual - I could eat turkey, roast parsnips and vegetables, the stuffing was homemade with nothing packaged added and so was the gravy.  We didn't have chipolattas (I don't trust sausages/processed meat) and had cranberries just stewed cranberries without the sugar (for me only)!!!  Christmas pudding I did have.  I had featured this in and had decided that I would allow myself Christmas pud, although I'd planned to make a Caveman pudding (this didn't happen unfortunately).  The only other difference was that pudding was seperated from the meal so we had dinner in the afternoon and then desert for our evening meal (we'd usually have had a sandwich type of tea in the evening). 

Well it was a pleasant day but wasn't left feeling that I'd overdone the day.  Over the rest of the break I stayed on track, and when others were snacking on crisps and chocolate I roasted chestnuts in the fire, but with a little salt (and that's not Paleo).

The main point I'd say was that I handled the slip ups differently.  In the past when feeling guilty about deviating from a diet I'd try and fast in order to level out the damage and inevitably this leads to a binge.  This time I made a point of eating as usual.  The reasoning being that the slip ups were just 'empty calories' and if I didn't give myself something more nutritious any compensatory fast would lead to craving and then consuming the first thing that I saw.

Finally some shopping

As of yesterday I'm on my Christmas break and don't have to return until 7th January - YIPPEE.   By becoming Miss Antisocial  I've managed to get through the last couple of weeks with my diet unscathed. For me the this year the strategy I'm taking is avoidance - I want to step positively into 2008 without regret. 

Over the the last few weeks I've had some further comments about my weight loss - that I'm starting to look like 'me' again, and my face is leaner. 

Personally I feel that quite a bit of weight has gone from my back and shoulders. I have also starting to notice that my curves are reappearing.  So, although I'd decided to try and make do with my clothes until I'd lost a more weight necessity forced me to shop for some jeans today, only to find that I haven't dropped just one dress size but several.  Previously I was forced to wear 24/26 (UK) and sometimes even a 28.  Today however I was able to purchase jeans at 18/20.  They're still not the best fit, but this time it's not that they're too tight.  Instead I had to compromise with too much material in the legs for a snug fit at the waist.

Given today's changing sizes I've taken my measurements - shame I didn't do this from the start! Actually my waist measurement was done at the doctors Jan07 and it was 46 inches.   Today's measurements:

Waist 40",  hips 48", back 38", thigh 24", calf 17"

I'm thrilled there's nothing that makes a woman happier than a decreasing dress size!!