In the past couple of years I have tried to better myself with the foods that I eat. It hasn't always been successful - as the past 4 months will attest - but I know what works for me and what doesn't.
At least I think I have learned that lesson.
The past few days I have been waking up with pain in one of my knees - the one I smashed down on a stair over 30 years ago. This pain has been coming and going for years, but recently it has become worse. It makes me limp. When I stand up after sitting for awhile I have to sloooowly stretch out the joint before I can move. I have also found that I now have pain in both of my hips and my lower back - predominately on one side. My back can also 'spasm' and when it does this I can't move.
I know I am obese. I know that part of my pain issues are related to being over weight. I also know that I should move a lot more than I do - walk the dog/s, swim, exercise, etc. As anyone who is over weight will tell you it is hard to get moving when just getting out of bed is an effort.
I have in the past done 20 days of a whole 30, I have tried to quit sugar using the IQS program, I have signed up for the paleo way too. All of these have taught me things.
Things like eating bread makes feel nauseous when I haven't had any for a while. That if I start to eat something high in carbs (think savoury flavoured biscuits) I will eat nearly the entire packet. Same goes for chocolate or lollies (candy).
Those programs have also taught me that I don't need to eat breakfast when I first get up in the morning. Today I did not eat until 2pm and wasn't all that hungry even then. Dinner last night was around 7.30pm so that was approx. a 19 hour fast. I can, and do, do this nearly every day. I have also learned that I need to be prepared with what is available to eat otherwise I will end up having toast.
The one big thing I have learnt is that by cutting back on bread, pasta, etc. the pain in my knee is diminished.
I can see the inflammation that is currently happening in my legs. I can see the bloating in my abdomen (my jeans don't lie). I think I may have figured out an easy (?) way for me to eat low carb, sugar free that will be sustainable. I am sure that doing so will help me battle the pain. It may even allow me to exercise more comfortably.
I need to ensure that the dinners are family friendly - or at least adaptable for me. So whilst they can have pasta with their bolognese sauce I will have steamed vege or sliced zucchini with mine. Hubby, who is diabetic and on cholesterol lowering drugs also, only believes what his doctor and dietitian tell him. He won't do any research into his ailments himself. And he definitely won't listen to me.
So with two meals a day I should, hopefully and with determination, improve my quality of life. If I lose a few pounds along the way that is a bonus. After all, I have quite a few to spare.
