[chachaheels]

Rancid coconut oil (like any rancid fat) is to be avoided, because it is rancid and ultimately harmful to the body, not because it is a saturated fat. Saturated fats are absolutely vital to good health--but they have to be fresh and pure. Use an extra virgin, cold pressed coconut oil. It's so essential, and I don't know how anyone would lose weight, stimulate their metabolism (instead of encouraging it to shut down) and assimilate their nutrients from vegetables and proteins without it. I know this sounds contrary to what a lot of the conventional thinking dictates, but there is so much extensive, long term (as in 60 years' worth) research that supports its use as a beneficial and necessary fat it can't be ignored.

The cereal recipe:

Gail's Budwig Cream Meusli

5c. raw, regular rolled oat flakes
1/2c. sunflower seeds, ground (in a coffee grinder reserved for this purpose!)
1/2c. sesame seeds, ground
1/2c. flax seeds, ground
1/2c. soy lecithin granules (purchased from a store which kept them in a refrigerator)
1/2c. almonds or pumpkin seeds, ground in coffee grinder

combine ingredients in a large bowl. Store in a zip-lock bag in your freezer (the oil in ground seeds and nuts goes rancid very quickly and it must be kept cold).

You can use this mixture to prepare one serving of the "Budwig Cream"
1. Measure 1/3c. of above mixture into a cereal bowl. Add the juice from 1/2 a lemon and then enough filtered water or milk or almond milk or soy milk to dampen the mixture. let sit for 7 hours at room temperature in order to neutralize the phytic acid (this is the ingredient in all grains which keeps you from fully utilizing the nutrients in the grain--it ends up acting as an anti-nutrient).

Note: all grains contain phytic acid in the bran. Untreated phytic acid combines with calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc in the intestine and blocks their absorption. Soaking also neutralizes enzyme inhibitors. You need these minerals--especially the calcium--if you want to lose weight.

2. Into a food precessor, add
1 chopped apple
1/2 sliced banana
1 tb. fresh flax oil (stored in your freezer)
the soaked cereal/lemon juice/milk mixture you've made

Whirl in the food processor until smooth and creamy, transfer back into your cereal bowl, and enjoy!

Optional Ingredients:
1/2 tsp. calcium ascorbate (about 3000 mg. vitamin C)
1/2 tsp. ground ginger or cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla flavouring
1 tsp kelp (for iodine and minerals)
1 tsp spirulina (which will make the cream turn bright green)
1/2 tsp. liquid evening primrose oil

****my addition: here's where I'd put in the coconut oil!****

This is from Udo Erasmus' Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill book, which has some good suggestions (but is truly not the definitive book on fats...anyway, this tastes good whether you make it into a "creamy" cereal or not. Enjoy.

I've just found a recipe for a really good breakfast porridge, too--which can be made with oats or grains that people who can't eat wheats or glutens can eat. I'll post it if you want it...but it does get mixed with yogurt so if you're avoiding animal foods you may pass on it. Still: porridge is a fabulous vehicle for maple syrup, or dates, butter (if you're me!) and other good, rich stuff.

[_octinoxate]

Thanks for the info, chacha. I'm not currently cutting calories, but it may be that I have hypoglycemic tendencies in general, or maybe it's just b/c my blood sugar is low from not having eating for 12 hours by the time breakfast time rolls around..? I'll try your suggestions about adding (vegetarian) protein and fat. It's counter-intuitive in a way to eat the opposite of what I'm craving, but it does make sense in the end.

I thought coconut oil was to be avoided b/c of high saturated fat content... but is that coconut *milk*, perhaps?

I'd love your breakfast cereal recipe...

[chachaheels]

Well, Octi, yes I do believe there is something physiological going on.

This is a big thing to keep in mind: ALL cravings stem from a bona fide, real physiological need.

This is something that happens to a lot of people who cut out calories in an effort to lose weight--there is a difficulty getting the blood sugar levels to stay balanced. If you have any kind of issue with this balance, or if there is any hypoglycemic tendency (and with a history of anorexia there, I would expect this to be the case) then you're craving carbs and sugary foods, and just foods in particular, because your blood sugar level is low.

I would suggest adding 2 things to your breakfast: a serving of protein is absolutely necessary
and a serving of fat (a tablespoon of coconut oil, or a serving of butter. You can either cook your protein with it or put it on your carbohydrate serving, if you're eating some kind of bread). Coconut oil works for a lot of people cause they can take it in their tea or spread it on toast--but it's such a thyroid supportive fat and it's loaded with great nutrients that help you to feel nourished (plus its so helpful for joint pain too).

Limit the carb intake so that you aren't forcing your pancreas to flood your blood with insulin; too much sugar in the diet forces this to happen, and when the sugar in the blood is dealt with and there's still insulin in the system, then you'll start craving more sugar to try and rebalance things....and that sets up a cycle where you have to produce more and more insulin (and crave more and more carbs).

And the outcome from that can only be weight gain.

The protein helps to stabilize this and it keeps your insulin receptors from becoming resistant to the insulin you produce. The fat helps you to maximize the nutrients you actually absorb from your food and creats satiety--so you do not feel like you need to snack on anything else until lunch.

Do you eat meat products? Eggs? Cheese? Adding an egg, or a serving of fresh, sweet cheese (like a fresh ricotta cheese) can really make a huge difference. Some people like to eat a couple of rashers of bacon, or kippers, or that kind of thing (whatever you might like if you eat meat).
If you're a vegetarian or a vegan, you can make a breakfast cereal for yourself out of higher protein, whole grains, and add things like almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds or pepitas to the mixture for extra protein. Let me know--I have a great recipe for a breakfast cereal that has to soak first, but it tastes amazingly good. It's good if you're not a vegetarian or vegan either--it would give you more variety in the diet.

Either way--stable blood sugar and fewer cravings all around.

[mandolyn]

bwah! so stealing that one, catlady!

*tap tap tap*

mandi's baby steps:
- a doctor's appt on monday. including bloodwork and thyroid check. because it's been too damn long, and with my age and family history, i should know better.
- two seemingly sensible weight-loss/management books. i'm so not a "self-help" reader. but i'm desperate for ... something. willpower. inner strength. something to help me.
- trying to at least be mindful of the food choices i make.

yeah. that's about it. i'm not in the mode either. forget that it's been months on end of mode-less-ness.

/end broken record.

[crazyoldcatlady]

octinoxate, that's a fab username story, btw.

and to touch on what you said, about the "nothing's gonna change so why bother"...i am so in that mode right now. any time i've lost weight, it's not because i was actively trying to. anytime i do work out consistently and eat healthier, i just don't lose.

so basically, i'm just waiting to get an intestinal parasite to help move things along

[_octinoxate]

Hey chacha, yeah, for quite a while I've had this tendency to want to keep eating/snacking even after breakfast is officially over. Sometimes it happens with other meals as well, but I'd say most often with breakfast. It's not really that I'm still hungry, but just that I'm still craving stuff, usually carbs (sometimes sweets, sometimes just whole wheat bread or something like that). My eating patterns can get weird because I used to have an eating disorder, so I usually chalk it up to that... but are you thinking there's something physiological potentially going on with this one?

Sassy, I'm 100% willing to bet that your mom's behavior was about her own body and dissatisfaction with it. I wonder if she was maybe even looking to you to "model" some better attitude... on some level she wanted to find out how to combat those negative comments and feelings about when they're leveled at *her*, about her own body... ? And so she wanted to see how you deal with it? (not suggesting that she was doing any of this to you consciously, of course.) Great that she apologized, at any rate!

[sassygrrl]

Yay! I'm drinking more water. I know this is a little step in my mind, but a big one for me b/c I can't stand the taste of the stuff.

Also, trying to eat more veggies. I have had salad for lunch the last two days at work.... Going to also try eating a mid morning snack before lunch (because I always skip breakfast!).

My mother apologized in an email about her rude as fuck behavior, and also told me that she herself is trying to lose weight. Wonder if the fight was really about her unhappiness with her figure??

Hmmm.....

All groovy support to my favorite busties!!

[chachaheels]

Yay! Patience is something it seems we all have to learn the hard way. But it is the supreme way to avoid getting your ass kicked hard, so the education process will be worth it.

Octi, you mentioned something in your last post about feeling like you needed to munch all the time in the morning. Has that been a problem for long?

[_octinoxate]

Thanks for the support, chacha! And I'm glad my post was inpsiring. I am definitely trying to turn this setback into an opportunity, as you put it. In fact, last night I sat down and made up a list of things that I can learn/want to learn/ perhaps am supposed to learn from this whole experience. It's 2 pages long so far, and I'll still be adding to it... the latest one I came up with is PATIENCE!

I'm doing well so far: after I posted last night I went and hand-cycled and lifted, and this morning I already stretched/breathed and had a healthy breakfast (oatmeal with flax, bananas, and brown sugar, plus a peach. Yum.).

Raisin, I'm all about nurse practitioners right now. I love mine, and from what I hear (from chacha and others), there is a general pattern in which nurse practitioners spend more time with patients, work with patients instead of working on them, and are cheaper. You might want to look into it in your search for a new medical provider.

And for the record, I totally think housecleaning is a legit substitute for the gym.

My name, BTW, is basically meaningless. In truth, it's an active ingredient in sunblock. The only reason it's my user name is that when I first found BUST years ago, I wanted to post and created an account in haste, thinking I would use it that one time and never again... for a username, I just grabbed the nearest object that had text on it, which happened to be my sunblock! Little did I know that four years later...

[raisingirl]

Octi (I've always wondered, what does your name mean?), that's an ambitious plan and you're smart to do it bit by bit, not everything at once.

I really want to find a new doctor, but my only reason for doing so is because I hate going to the hospital on the few occasions when I do go (because that's where the doc's office is).

I didn't go to the gym this morning because I have a couple of hours of housecleaning to do.

I have nothing else to offer until I compose my master post which I shall repost every four months. I might be kidding.

[chachaheels]

Hey! That's good to hear and I want to wholeheartedly support you on your renewed commitments. I don't think there's too much there, as long as you are realistic about getting what you want done. Don't sweat it! It sounds to me like you'll be getting all the exercise you need, some motivation to put extra attention and time for yourself into your life, plus some good all around care from people who tell you things up front and honestly, so you can make the plans you need to make to get better. It doesn't sound at all like you'll be "out of commission" for the next little while: just approaching things slightly differently. You may come out a lot further ahead than you thought! And I hope that's the case.

Plus, your post's been inspiring. There are a few things I need to make sure I do for myself that I'm reminded about, just reading your plans. I love it when people turn what could be a set-back into an opportunity, and I need to be reminded to do the same when that stuff happens to me.

[_octinoxate]

Oh gosh, I hate to hear that so many other peoples' families pull that nonsense on them too. My mom, and at times my sister, have made those critical, hurtful comments to me at family events and I know how hard it is to remember that it's all about them and their own issues... but it's the truth! Once my mom lost some weight and also got to a happier place in her life (remarriage, etc. etc.), the critical attitude magically ceased. So there may be hope yet, ladies... and in the mean time, I totally second the notion that you have every right to sit out on events that will make you feel like crap.

SO! I am here to OFFICIALLY COMMIT to getting back to healthier habits. Today my acupuncturist/ nurse practitioner (who I now go to instead of my old doctors) told me that my knee injury will take 6 months to a year to fully heal. I believe her. The "8 weeks" that the docs said, in spring, turned out to be bullshit. So, now that I'm accepting the fact that I'm going to be significantly discapacitated for the (somewhat) long haul, I'm also deciding to cope with this better.

Until now, I've been resigning myself to gaining weight and getting out of shape, figuring that once I can be active again I can lose it and get fit and healthy again. (I've also been figuring that I'm heartbroken and will continue to be for a while, so I don't give a shit how my body looks because nobody will be seeing it in various states of undress... and, I've been feeling generally depressed and discouraged and in the mood to say "Fuck it!" to healthy decisions because they haven't gotten me where I want to be so far... anyone relate?)

But now, things are gonna change. I don't want to be totally sedentary for a fucking year, or have all the lovely effects that come with such a lifestyle: reduced energy, less restful sleep, higher blood pressure, weight gain, worse mood, and probably a whole host of other negative effects that slip my mind at the moment. The point is, the body is meant to MOVE. So even if half of my body is incapable of moving, I'm going to start using the other half more, and treating the whole thing better. I resolve to:

1. start using the hand cycle (what do they really call it?) at the gym at least 10 minutes, 3 times a week. (To increase later.)
2. keep weight lifting, at least 3 times a week.
3. stretch my legs every day.
4. do back stabilization exercises/ abs at least 3 times a week.
5. Get up and stretch and/or briefly meditate before breakfast/shower.
6. eat consciously, which means:
a. When I want to eat not out of hunger but for other reasons, I'll at least stop and take 3 deep conscious breaths before just grabbing snacks and compulsively eating. (Who knows, maybe that will actually stop me!)
b. I'll pay closer attention to my sugar intake. Realistically I won't cut out sugary products, but I'll try to have only one sweet thing per day.
c. I might switch to a matcha tea + 1 carb breakfast, instead of the random and excessive munching I do when I wake up.
d. I will eat at least two fresh/whole foods every day. (Buy more fruit!)
e. I will eat flax seed (for my knee inflammation) at least twice a week.
f. I will not consume any alcohol, at all. (This may sound extreme, but my consumption is already really minimal.)
g. I will decide which vitamins, supplements, and herbs I'm actually going to take and then be more regular about taking them.
7. Maybe most importantly, I will not beat myself up or fall into anorectic eating patterns or give up on my healthy resolutions if I mess up every once in a while. (Or all the time at first!)

Anyone want to join me in making at least one little tiny (but specific and doable) plan? Come on!

WHOA! Re-reading that, it's a lot to commit to. I think I'll take it bit by bit, starting with using the hand cycle 3x/wk and breathing/stretching first thing in the morning.

[chachaheels]

Oh, sixelacat, I was vegetarian for 13 years and every.single.family.meal. I ever attended was the exact same deal you write about: meat was put in food that was never cooked with meat in the history I shared with my parents, ever! Like, suddenly, they made dessert with meat or things like lard--foods I KNOW my mother never made that way in her life! Fuck, did not eating meat ever threaten them.

I remember being so naive as to actually give them answers when they'd ask me questions about being vegetarian "all of a sudden" (which they felt compelled to do at every one of our shared meals, up to and including year 13!). It got to the point where, if I'd actually accept an invitation, I would just bring my own food (which, let's just check out the significance of that in the context of "sharing food being symbolic of peace"). Some family members would then like what I brought, which created trouble...it was always some kind of disaster around that table. When I started to feel like the food, the conversation, and all the interaction taking place around me was calculated to either piss me off or silence me, I knew I was free never to attend again. I'd make quick visits during holidays if I felt like it, but I never ate with them anymore. Oh, yes, they whined; and oh, yes, I just said, "Sorry, I can't" and that was that.

I eat meat and fish now, and I still don't want to have meals with them unless certain conditions are met (we are not eating homecooked, or I cook the food, or I make the reservations at a restaurant which will look after everybody so we never cross that bullshit bridge at the dinner table now). Can you tell I'm still angry about this
stuff? A little? It's because I know it really wasn't about the food at all...that was just the excuse they used to play out their issues with me.

And then people wonder why it is that food and nutrition is such a loaded, emotion driven topic for so many of us, and why our relationships to food and to our bodies are so often self-destructive!

Ahem...well, maybe that was a little "off topic", but I felt like I had to get that off my chest so I can move on with what I'm supposed to be doing.

[maddy29]

I got up at 6:45 this morning and was on the weight machines at 8:00. Did some weights and 25 minutes on the treadmill, showered, and got to work right on time. YAY ME! The thing is, I have to go to bed at 9:30 to be able to wake up at 6:30. THat sorta sucks. I mean, I like going to bed, but that's pretty early.

But, I feel really good, am in a better mood today, feel more relaxed, and am just really proud that i did it. now i just have to keep doing it! i want to get so used to it that it's just a routine i hardly have to think about. but something tells me i'll always be trying to motivate myself....

i started a live journal community for a few of my friends that are trying to eat healthy and exercise, so we can post our progress or problems. i feel like i need all the help i can get. Also, it's a great way to chart my progress.

[sixelacat]

syb's right, that why I keep coming back to this thread, for the reminders and enthusiasm of others!

misspissed, some of my favorite Thanksgivings have been just me, parades, and John O'Hurley presenting dogs. I love to cook, and did a small roast duck with trimmings a couple of years ago, just for myself. Best, most restful holiday in ages. And that's what Thanksgiving's supposed to be about, to me anyway. I don't think we thank ourselves enough (okay, that sounds narcissistic, but you know what I mean, right?)

raisin, I was veg for *counts on fingers* I think 6, maybe 7 years, and your post reminded me of the family thanksgiving I actually went to after much haranguing by my folks (who knew I was veg). Every dish had meat in it. Greanbeans with bacon, mashed potatoes with same, turkey bits in the stuffing, everything. They never put meat in the sides when I was growing up! Passive-aggressive much? After that I've never felt bad doing exactly what I want on holidays....

And everyone keep posting about the morning gym visits! I'm working up to choosing a gym close to my job, which would mean going before work. I normally don't like mornings, but I know from past experience that my days will go better if I can establish that routine....I just need to buy a few more alarm clocks (I can sleep right through the 3 I already have )

[sybarite]

I think the repetition may also come from that fact that people are differently motivated so come in looking for tips at different times. Reading about everyone else's enthusiasm motivates me somewhat, especially after a summer spent guzzling wine and eating cheese and not doing tae bo.

I have found a new place that does tae bo classes though so I'm excited. I liked my old gym more, but their tae bo instructor has left so no joy there. I can't talk myself into a spin class or similar I'm afraid; they just don't seem like much fun. I need to bribe myself with an interesting class to get around my inherent laziness, and with autumn coming I need a strategy or two.

[misspissed]

hahah, raisin, yeah...i feel like i talk in circles regarding weight loss/becoming healthy, because there are only so many solutions to this problem, ya know?

i mean, we all know we should eat moderate portions of healthier food and exercise more. but sometimes good things need repeating.

i think i want to have a solo thanksgiving this year. would that be pathetic or what? just me, some TV Land reruns, and a lean cuisine turkey dinner.

[raisingirl]

Yeah, for clarification, I have done the friends-only Thanksgiving dinners. They have been really fun. I just think I would rather work, especially knowing the $ would go to fund my trip next summer.

This isn't a knock against anyone, so don't take it that way, but I seriously feel like I'm constantly repeating myself here, always talking in circles. Does anyone else feel this way? I should make a master post and then post it every four months, at least it would save my hands. Yes, walking is excellent. Any kind of movement, for that matter, is excellent if you're starting from zero (not saying that you are, Thereshegoes, just making a general statement here). But walking is always excellent.

[sassygrrl]

Definately contemplating not spending holidays with family. Both of them apologized, but it was still hard. I know they care about me, but I really don't want to do the holidays with them this year. Think I'll just hang out with some close friends. I did this a few years back, and really loved it. It was a bunch of friends who had fucked up dysfunctional families, and we drank a lot that night. It was a blast!


Thanks for all the busty love!



Also wanted to chime in with walking. I walk about a mile a day for work (being I don't drive). I also find it extremely therapeutic as well.... Especially, if I'm having a bad day.....

[thereshegoes]

thanks sybarite----good tip about the stomach pull.