![Picture](/uploads/4/6/1/1/46115245/3888591.jpg?321)
I had my first Nutrition consult today. Not gonna lie, I walked out a little overwhelmed as it was a lot to "take in". Over the years, I have discovered that I am not good with change (and when change does happen, I need to take it SLOWLY). While I am better than I use to be, I still have a LONG way to go. I think it's partially due to my need to "control" things (another habit I have discovered on this journey that I NEED to work on). I walked in knowing I needed changes, I knew I was going to be making changes, but when it comes, it REALLY hits hard. Hearing that I have to get ride of all my "comfort foods" (breads, treats, potatoes, greasy foods, etc) was hard, even though I KNEW it was coming. Right away I drove to my sisters house for a "bring me back to balance" chat, and after hearing her (I know my nutritionist said this too the first night as well as today, but sometimes I need to hear things a few times) say that I need to just try and make little changes at a time, that really helped. I am one that needs to plan things out before I do them and let it "sink in", so I think I was just caught off guard when I was given the foods to eat/not eat. I was right up front and honest in saying that I will NOT be giving up eating out, as I knew this is something I personally am not willing at this point in my journey to give up as it's always been a favourite part of my week (OK, some weeks it was a few more days than just one). I said I WON'T give up my "eating out time" BUT I would compromise by picking healthier choices while at the restaurants (This is likely part of me "feeling in control", but for now I feel it's what I need). When I walked out the first thing I wanted to do was cry.....I know, you would think someone just told me someone close to me was leaving or had passed away. It wasn't till tonight that I realized why I had these emotions. As I've mentioned before, food has always been my "go to" for comfort. When I was little I had my "blankey and thumb", and as I got older and had to get rid of that, I didn't know what else to turn to, so I am guessing this is when I chose food to be my comfort. I was never taught how to comfort myself without my blanket or food and I think it just hit me now, without my comfort food, what will I do?! I think I went into "panic mode". Looks like I have some "Soul Searching" to do, to find better options for soothing my Soul. I know a HUGE part of it is going to be to continue allowing the feelings to surface (as they seem to be doing as I write this blog, and as they come, I am asking them why I feel them......now I totally see why they told us to journal as I am really finding things release as I write), to allow my body and mind to FEEL the emotion and to silence my mind and see what is causing that emotion (man, it is so much easier just grabbing my "blankey" or "food" lol!). Sadly, so many of us don't know how to sooth our Souls without turning to things (whether it be food, drugs, liquor, etc), I really wish schools would teach this to kids, as it's a tool you will need for the rest of your life. I'm sensing when I bring my "Mindful Breathing" back into my daily routine that this will get much easier, but until that point, I will have my "celery sticks" on hand as a back up when FEELING my emotions.
It's going to an interesting few weeks as I "let go" of so many of my favourite foods, I KNOW it's not going to be easy (especially when my hubby and I go to the Caribbean on our vacation and there are so many yummy things there), I will have symptoms of withdrawl (I don't think my family is looking forward to this part!!!) and my emotions will be rising to the surface for healing now that they aren't being supressed, but it HAS to be done. We can only stuff of emotions so long before our body begins to suffer from it. It's time I start seeing what feeling good really feels like, not just living each day with IBS symptoms, pain and everything else. I KNEW this "journey" would be hard, but I also know it will be so worth it in the end. I am just thankful I have the support of everyone along the way.
Now to wait for my daily eating menus and get HEALTHY food on hand! (So I MAY have had a few "indulgences tonight" as a "goodbye" to my favourite foods - I think most will understand this, you know when you say you're gonna start a diet Monday so you eat everything in your house Fri, Sat and Sun, than you go on a diet, you stop doing it and repeat a few months/years later), I know it's not the wisest choice but it felt like the right choice tonight, I'm NOT gonna beat myself up over it like I would in the past (which only made me eat more as I wanted to cover up the sadness of failing) as that is giving my power away to it, I will accept what I did and release it knowing that each day will get better (and that sure felt healing saying that!).
***one interesting test she did today during the consult was testing my body to see which foods it was intolerant to (I felt like a human "pendulum" haha) - what a cool thing to find out, that's what I love about this program (all the testing to find out what's REALLY going on in our body)
Tips I have learned over the years (and today) to help me prepare for this HUGE change:
1. Pre plan your meals (especially when busy).....I learned this long ago, and did good the first couple weeks, but than tended to fall off track for one reason or another, so I really am pushing myself to stick to this now.
2. Pre Cut up all your veggies/lettuce as SOON as you get home from groceries (or set a day to do them) and have them on hand - I know when I did this in the past I tended to eat more as they were easily accessible. When I don't do this, they tend to sit in my crisper until garbage week and end up in the composter (so sad I know, I would always say I will change but it doesn't happen - NOW it will!)
3. Pre Cook your meat and freeze it so you can just thaw them and toss on salads (do the same with hard boiled eggs)
4. Have a "healthy" go to snack cupboard just for YOU (especially if your family isn't on board with you) so you wont have to look at the Junk in the house when you are craving something.
5. Always have healthy snacks in your purse for those last minute times when you need something so you don't turn to vending machines or drive thrus.
6. Pre count out portion sizes of nuts/seeds and place in containers for the day so you aren't tempted to grab extra when you are hungry
Some of my fav HEALTHY go to snacks:
1. Pears with Hemp Seeds or Chia Seeds
2. Apples with Organic Peanut Butter
3. Celery or Cucumbers with Sea Salt Sprinkled on it (in place of chips when craving salt)
It's going to an interesting few weeks as I "let go" of so many of my favourite foods, I KNOW it's not going to be easy (especially when my hubby and I go to the Caribbean on our vacation and there are so many yummy things there), I will have symptoms of withdrawl (I don't think my family is looking forward to this part!!!) and my emotions will be rising to the surface for healing now that they aren't being supressed, but it HAS to be done. We can only stuff of emotions so long before our body begins to suffer from it. It's time I start seeing what feeling good really feels like, not just living each day with IBS symptoms, pain and everything else. I KNEW this "journey" would be hard, but I also know it will be so worth it in the end. I am just thankful I have the support of everyone along the way.
Now to wait for my daily eating menus and get HEALTHY food on hand! (So I MAY have had a few "indulgences tonight" as a "goodbye" to my favourite foods - I think most will understand this, you know when you say you're gonna start a diet Monday so you eat everything in your house Fri, Sat and Sun, than you go on a diet, you stop doing it and repeat a few months/years later), I know it's not the wisest choice but it felt like the right choice tonight, I'm NOT gonna beat myself up over it like I would in the past (which only made me eat more as I wanted to cover up the sadness of failing) as that is giving my power away to it, I will accept what I did and release it knowing that each day will get better (and that sure felt healing saying that!).
***one interesting test she did today during the consult was testing my body to see which foods it was intolerant to (I felt like a human "pendulum" haha) - what a cool thing to find out, that's what I love about this program (all the testing to find out what's REALLY going on in our body)
Tips I have learned over the years (and today) to help me prepare for this HUGE change:
1. Pre plan your meals (especially when busy).....I learned this long ago, and did good the first couple weeks, but than tended to fall off track for one reason or another, so I really am pushing myself to stick to this now.
2. Pre Cut up all your veggies/lettuce as SOON as you get home from groceries (or set a day to do them) and have them on hand - I know when I did this in the past I tended to eat more as they were easily accessible. When I don't do this, they tend to sit in my crisper until garbage week and end up in the composter (so sad I know, I would always say I will change but it doesn't happen - NOW it will!)
3. Pre Cook your meat and freeze it so you can just thaw them and toss on salads (do the same with hard boiled eggs)
4. Have a "healthy" go to snack cupboard just for YOU (especially if your family isn't on board with you) so you wont have to look at the Junk in the house when you are craving something.
5. Always have healthy snacks in your purse for those last minute times when you need something so you don't turn to vending machines or drive thrus.
6. Pre count out portion sizes of nuts/seeds and place in containers for the day so you aren't tempted to grab extra when you are hungry
Some of my fav HEALTHY go to snacks:
1. Pears with Hemp Seeds or Chia Seeds
2. Apples with Organic Peanut Butter
3. Celery or Cucumbers with Sea Salt Sprinkled on it (in place of chips when craving salt)