Thursday was a day of carbs. The entire week was carby, the worst kind too – white flour and sugar – and I knew that bad feeling would hit me soon.
It did. Thursday night I felt bloated, heavy, ugly, icky, lethargic, itchy, tired and moody. Not to mention my stretchy leggings were feeling snugger than they should.
I was cooking dinner and was almost done. I looked at the food which that day came from frozen boxes and as much as I like that brand of Halibut or the tater tots, I just didn’t feel like eating.
So I didn’t.
I tried to recall what I had eaten that day. Homemade turkey soup for lunch, and Rosemary seasalt crackers with cheese artichoke dip around 4pm. Plus breakfast, which probably wasn’t protein but carb heavy.
I decided at that moment that I would skip dinner.
Then, I contacted a friend who told me he’s been eating clean all January to counter the pigging out over Christmas and then he said this:
“Spring is just around the corner.”
Ok, so first of all, he’s local. Which means he’s as Canadian as I am and exposed to the same weather as me. Second of all, it’s January. Reliable, warm and sunny weather happening consistently that is expected in spring doesn’t typically happen until May(ish) up here in π¨π¦.
“Have you been outside recently,” I asked, directing him to the snow and ice out there. “Doesn’t feel like spring is coming…”
But he reminded me the official start of spring as per the calendar is March 20th which, given we are already at the end of January, isn’t really that far away.
Meh. I don’t like it when he’s right. ππ
Anyway. That evening was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I decided to begin a new focus of controlling my food intake by the least drastic method of weight management I was already familiar with and start immediately:
Intermittent Fasting.
Listen. This is a fantastically easy method of controlling what you endlessly put into your mouth all day. I mean, sure you’re allowed to eat what you want during the eating-window when you’re not fasting, as long as you stay away from the usual culprits: junk, carbs, sugar…(alcohol is considered a sugar).
We already eat mostly whole foods with the few exceptions the kids in lockdown seem to insist on. Chips or goldfish crackers, frozen meals like fish or chicken nuggets, candy or chocolate (which has reduced a lot since the holidays have moved on…). Sometimes you gotta choose your battles. Whatever.
For me, it’s the white carbs. Sometimes the sugar. If I quit that stuff, or significantly reduce those ingredients during my eating window, and aim for a minimum 12 hour fasting period, I feel better within two days.
By the way, there are rules and steps and proper methods to follow with Intermittent Fasting blah blah blah but I just adopt my own version to suit my lifestyle. My plan is heavily focused on two things:
- Length of fast overnight measured by consecutive hours of no food (12 hours or more)
- Eat whole foods but no/limited white carbs (flour/sugar)
My first fasting night from Thursday to Friday lasted 13 hours. π
This morning (Saturday), I checked my notes and realized I went 16 hours and 15 minutes overnight. This is a bit unusual for me, but, there’s a reason. My upper back really hurt and by 5 am I went to drug myself before going back to bed. Then I promptly slept till 9:45 am.
I am not a sleeper-in person…At all. I’m a morning person, getting up and staying up at 5 am is not unusual for me…
What I’m getting at is that Intermittent Fasting is already working its magic on me. I feel great, not foggy or lethargic or bloated. π
One more remark: the hardest part is to forgo coffee when I wake up. I take it with cream, and the dairy is considered food. If I could drink coffee black, I could have it (but it’s gross so I don’t).
So now the plan is herbal tea until a minimum of 12 hours of fasting has passed, then I’ll have my first coffee. I’m aiming to stretch it to 14-16 hours consistently. I’ve done it before, I can do it again.
Frankly, it’s not that hard to do as a currently non-employed SAHM in lockdown.
PS I’m beginning to think that coronavirus will be keeping us hostage for some time still. I saw something on twitter yesterday and I have yet to see a more accurate representation of this ongoing covid pandemic.
Caution: it’s a little mesmerizing:
So, here I am typing into my blog, about to start another writing stint. I took yesterday off and I am full of ideas for my ongoing story on the other blog. I hope to publish the next chapter by tonight.
Happy weekend! See you in the comments.
I’m the same with carbs, they honestly make me depressed. Ive found even just stopping snacking between meals and going 12 hours through the night without eating and I honestly feel like a new person. It also saves me a lot of money as I used to be a snack bar fiend!
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Yes, the snacking is killer…
I’ve never been a snacker myself but my whole family is and frankly, I have to leave the room. π
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I have my coffee. With just a serving of powdered creamer. I keep meaning to get back to weightloss then fall hard.
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I fell this weekend and today too. But we can always start again tomorrow. Good luck! I need it too, believe me… π
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This has been a helpful measure for my weight optimization! Thanks for writing about it!
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I hope it helps! My fasting isn’t consistently 14-16 hours but that’s my aim. I fall off at times…
Good luck.
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Intermittent Fasting is awesome and so easy. I usually do 16 hours and only eat when I feel hungry. Sometimes a need for carbs is undeniable and I donβt hold back π
Wonderful post β€οΈβ€οΈ
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Oh yes, the lasagna mom made…I had to hold myself back from gorging! But now that I’ve had some, I’m ok to not have some for a while. You know? π
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Lasagna is my weakness too. π
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Iβve got use to the 16 hour fasting diet. Have first food at 2pm. Feel less bloated on it.
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That’s awesome!
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All the best with the IF. But yes white carbs are not the best for our digestive system. Try whole carbs instead and little by little decrease your in take and you will feel so much better. I was brought up eating brown/whole carbs. And recently I have decided to quit eating anything “gluten” and I feel so much better, much light. Thanks for sharing.
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Yes, you’re right. The whole or complex carbs are so much better for us, and I do like their taste as well. I’m happy to munch on veggies and protein all day as well. Except… there was a slice of carrot cake today (Monday) after a long day of running errands. Sometimes, it happens.
Thank you for commenting!
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I was big on carbs last week too
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Intermittent fasting sounds like my kind of diet plan. That is, it’s easy to remember what I’m supposed to be doing, and I can do it with little inconvenience. Thanks for the idea.
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Good luck. π
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I have dabbled with IF on and off for the last 18 months. I found it really helped when my water intake and make me conscious of real hunger as opposed to emotional- or bored- eating. I don’t love the cravings I get though for junk. Missing out of my lovely morning coffee was hard to (I fasted from 8pm to noon next day). So now I just skip breakfast bc no time in am for work and used to it but will drink my coffee at around 9ish and try to finish eating a few hours before bed! Good luck!
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I agree about the snacking/craving vs hunger…
I only did 12 hours last night. That’s ok, I’ll stretch it out again tomorrow. π
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I need my coffee. I do Intermittent fasting and Cholè ting workout to eat what i want and not worry lol
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Does it work? Everyone has their own thing that works…π
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I do the intermittent fasting as well from time to time. Itβs a very easy way to diet…. but the no alcohol usually ruins it for me.
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Meh…I like my wine etc but I need to get rid of some of the bloating discomfort…so weekend wine is allowed I guess…
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I’m at the other end of the food thing. I have to force myself to eat at least once a day. Since March, and no school, I’ve lost 50 pounds. The first 20 were okay, but the other 30, not so much.
Ugh! I’m so OVER this pandemic.ππ€¦πΌββοΈ
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Oh my, be careful. Take care of yourself, your girls and grandson need you. β€οΈ
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The coffee alone makes it non-negotiable for me. Although, ever since being diagnosed with diabetes, I have avoided sugar like the plague and mostly stick to whole grains. Good luck!
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Couldn’t do it without the morning coffee, which, luckily, I take without cream and with just a touch of honey.
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glad to hear the intermittent fasting is working for you. I have heard other stories of success as well…
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I doubt it works as intended if you pig out on junk etc during the day… π
My method works for me and for that I am grateful.
Thanks for popping by, Jim. π
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i did not
eat
cannot tweet no more
so i wash empty
ninety minutes in the apse and nave
and i ate the whole baaag of chili fritoz
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π³π
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a little pity. wah wah and some sarcassim. goin t o see heaven suuuch inspiration.
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I wouldn’t last a day with any kind of diet that meant not having my tea when I got up.
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I can do it with chamomile…but if I had to exit the house for work, coffee would be non-negotiable. But, I don’t currently, so for now, this works.
What kind of tea?
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Orange pekoe, with lots of milk.
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