Going Primal?

As some of you know, I have been following a book called the Carbohydrate Addict's LifeSpan Program for almost five years. I found the three guidelines of the program extremely easy and believe it is the perfect way of eating that I can follow for the rest of my life. I am close to losing 100 lbs. and I am really excited to be wearing a much smaller size than when I began.

Last year my husband bought us a book called Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health. After reading the book, I was ready to drop the wheat immediately. I had a little bit of difficulty at first, only because wheat is hidden in many other foods, but I became aware of the foods that include it and found no problem finding the same or similar foods without it. It has been over a year since I have intentionally consumed any wheat and I have found it is not a desired or necessary part of my diet.

I have been changing my eating habits since beginning my program and have always included the foods I want to eat. The changes have been good for me since, over time, I began to eat whole foods and my choices became healthier. I have been maintaining my weight the last year, even though my scale has been jumping up and down, and have been including my homemade dark chocolate almond bark made with coconut sugar, coconut oil, and special dark chocolate cocoa, on a regular basis. One of the guidelines of my program has me dividing my plate into thirds, I do this mentally, placing the same amount of protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates in each section. From the beginning of my weight loss journey, the most important guideline I felt I needed to follow was to keep my portions balanced, and it always worked.

The last few months, I have been trying to figure out why I have been unable to lose anymore weight. Sure, I have been losing weight, but it has been the same weight that would just show up on my scale overnight. Is it because I have been trying to get myself back on my six day a week exercise schedule and I am putting on muscle? Is it because I am eating too much? Is it because I have not given up my dark chocolate almond bark?

During my research, I stumbled upon the Primal Blueprint. I compared it to Paleo and found it was much easier for me to follow since I now drink full fat whipping cream in my coffee and I have always included cheese as part of my diet. Actually, I was close to eating primal anyway, with the exception of raw dairy and grass fed animals, so I cut most of the sugar out of my diet when I quit eating my dark chocolate almond clusters on a regular basis. Primal allows dark chocolate on occasion so I will include my homemade dark chocolate almond bark as a treat, once a week. I also decided that it is not necessary for me fill my one-third carbohydrate portion, and I am not eating as many carbohydrates each day.

I began to make small changes in my diet beginning 10.21.12. My weight that morning was 144 lbs., so I decided to pay attention to my hunger instead of eating because it was time. That evening when I felt I should eat because I was feeling hungry, it was too late for me to want to eat a meal, so I cleaned some celery and stuffed it with cheddar cheese. Over these last ten days, all of my evening meals included protein and vegetables. I enjoyed some normal sized meals, was satisfied with small meals, and even skipped a few.

On 10.26.12, I enjoyed my daily dark chocolate almond bark for the last time and made the decision to limit it to once a week. The following day, 10.27.12, my weight was 142-1/2 lbs., and I had lost 1-1/2 lbs., just by paying attention to my hunger. On 10.28.12, after dropping my candy and not filling my one-third portion of my afternoon meal with carbohydrates, my weight dropped to 141 lbs., another 1-1/2 lb. I definitely liked the direction my scale was moving and the following day, 10.29.12, I weighed 140 lbs., losing another 1 lb. I have been maintaining 140 lbs. the last three days and I even consumed coconut sugar which was included in the Chinese B.B.Q. rib marinade that I enjoyed the day before.

I continue to weigh myself on a daily basis and record it on my daily menu and exercise journal but I prefer to pay more attention to my monthly weigh in chart. Tomorrow, 11.01.12, is my monthly weigh in day and I would be thrilled to reach the 130s again.

Don't get me wrong, I am really excited to be wearing a size 4 jeans and medium to small tops, but I am 5'3” tall and at 140 lbs., my BMI is 24.8 (normal weight = 18.5 – 24.9). My weight is at the top of the normal range and whenever my weight pops up a pound, 141 lbs., my BMI is 25 (overweight = 25-29.9). Sure, today I am normal but if I eat something that causes my weight to pop up by just a pound, I am back into the overweight range again.

I am too close to reaching my goal of becoming fit and healthy and now that I have reached the normal weight for my size, I don't want to remain in the high range any longer. My exercise schedule is close to being back to normal and I believe the small changes I am making will make all the difference in getting myself closer to the mid range of a normal weight!