Blue Happy Living

The answer to that question might make a few of you frown.  When I was younger I ate what was put on the table and never questioned it.  If I did the choice was that or nothing.  I never had a weight problem but I was teased in school about being chubby.  I look back on pictures and think why in the world did you think you were fat.  I’ve always had heavier legs and a curvy plump butt although  my body had all over proportion.  Funny how as I get older I look back and wish I would have given that little girl a break, loved her more and tried to make her happier.  I was so busy trying to make everyone else happy and fit into what they thought I should look like. Sad how we are all so weighed down by what others think. 

By the time I got to the beginning of my health journey I was eating everything and anything I could get my hands on.  Food for me was comfort and I guess I needed a lot of comfort because I ate myself up to 303lbs.  After my first surgery there was so many restrictions with the Lap Band.  No rice, bread or pasta also no soda’s.  At first I was like I’m gonna die but slowly I figured out I could do it.  Later when I was revised to the sleeve from the band things changed.  I was told within reason I could eat rice, bread and pasta.  My thoughts were I’ve been 2 years without them why start now.  So I’ve never gone back to eating them, ever.  I really don’t miss them now but boy did I at first.  Once you get all that out of your system it’s really not a problem.

A year ago in January of 2016 I had a friend that notice I was struggling with joint pain at the gym.  That’s an understatement when I first got up in the morning I struggled to stand up straight and could barely walk.  All my joints hurt so bad almost like they had fussed together.  I mentioned it to my General Doctor her remarks was well you are over 50 now.  Okay so people over 50 can’t do anything about this problem.  My gym friend who is in the medical field told me that Cheese, Dairy in general could be the issue.  She told me to cut it out of my diet for a few weeks and see if it made a difference.  I did eat A LOT  of dairy because it had protein and that’s what I need a lot of.  I stopped dairy cold turkey that day.  The first week the pain was lighter, the second week I felt amazing with very little pain and by the third week I was feeling like me again with minimal pain.  Dairy can cause your joints to be inflamed and that is why for over a year now I’m dairy free. If you google foods that cause inflammatory dairy is at the top of the list.

So what do I eat if I have cut out all of these foods.  Well I have to get in a lot of protein so chicken and fish are top of my list.  I try to do them as many times a week as I can.  On Sunday we always over cook so that we have plenty to eat for lunch and dinner a few days. I drink at least 1 protein shake a day by Juice Plus.  This protein shake is gluten free, sugar free and high is protein.   I eat lots of veggies cooked, raw and steamed.  I’m lucky I have always liked veggies and Brussel sprouts are my favorite.   I eat fruit but never after 3pm because they are high in natural sugar.  When it comes to sugar if I want something sweet which is rare I eat Outshine Fruit Bars, no added sugar and only 30 calories.  I’m a very patterned person so eating the same foods all the time doesn’t bother me.  I have learned that food is to fuel me not please me. This is a picture of one of my meals. It’s a chicken thigh and 6 cauliflower tots, both baked. 

Do I cheat?  Yep I sure do it’s normal to want things we shouldn’t have.  I wish that when I was a teen someone would have told me that it’s okay to have special foods on the weekend and with friends.  Everything is within reason if we can control ourselves at other times.  I do love chips, but when I eat them I eat plain lays.  They are low in calorie and preservatives.  I love a cup cake and you bet if I go to Magnolia Bakery I’m having a cup cake.  I can only eat 1/2 of it at a time because of my tiny tummy.  I do eat the other 1/2 as soon as there is room.  I don’t eat milk chocolate because of the dairy but I do enjoy a high quality dark chocolate.

Other than that I try to eat less salt and eat good fats like avocados.  I’m not a red meat-eater but I do like a good lettuce wrapped burger ever so often.  My favorite place to eat is Panera Bread because they offer such a clean eating menu.  Dieting doesn’t have to be hard at all.  Have meat, veggies chocolate and cup cakes it all how you eat it and how often.  Most people like to ask me about pizza so I’ll tell you I DO NOT EAT PIZZA.  I haven’t had pizza in almost 5 years I really don’t miss it.  There are several things online that tell you how to make pizza with options that make it not so fatty.  I’ve never tried them they have cheese in them.

I hope that this has helped you in some way.  Really you have to find what works for you.  I have friends who have had the same surgery that eat everything and they are doing fine.  I also have friends that have dieted without surgery and they eat completely different from what I do and they have lost weight.  If something isn’t working for you move on to something else.  Count calories, macros, eat prepared meals or go to a weight loss program just do what works for you.  What ever you do make sure you give yourself grace we all make mistakes.  Start fresh the next day and get back on track. Soon you will find you are Blue Happy because you feel better in your own skin.