Day 1

I recently read an article that I found super interesting.  Again, I don't claim to be a food expert or anything of that sort, but I have taken some nutrition and physiology classes which have helped with my understanding.  As this is a blog, I will post something that I find that seems credible and write just my thoughts - my opinion is not necessarily facts.

http://ldsmag.com/article-1-14983/

I think this article was very eye opening.  I decided to read Doctrine and Covenants 89 this morning to further understand for myself the definition of the Word of Wisdom.  There are the more obvious commandments such as no tobacco use, no coffee or tea (later clarified..."Tea and coffee...are what the Lord meant when He said 'hot drinks.' Voice From the Mountains).  A lo of the time, I think we forget about the other important details of the Word of Wisdom.  Moderation in all things is essential, making sure we don't eat in excess, etc.  I think it's important to eat what makes one feel good.  Actually feel good - not the junk food or candy that gives us the temporary satisfaction of eating something sweet.  Cravings are often hard to bypass.  When I say eat what makes one feel good, I mean in general.  There have been times when I have listened to my body, practiced self-control, and eliminated things (specifically in this case it was refined sugar) that I found to have an effect on my mental, emotional, and physical well being.  Still, this is a learning process and I haven't mastered that ability completely.  I can say I am able to look back on those times, though, and look at the effects.  For me, my grades and study habits were better.  I wasn't as distracted on eating and satisfying my cravings because they weren't as obvious.  I felt better about myself.  I could think more clearly.  I felt I could eat more at meal times because I was practicing self-control throughout the day.  From personal experience, I can say that sugar is a very addicting substance.  Some people have the self-control to give themselves a treat every so often.  For me, I either can eat it or I can't.  The article brings an interesting point that sparks my attention.  There is so much money to be made off of these processed foods, but we all know it's a difficult process to stop eating these tasty yet damaging foods.  They are ready to grab or seem less expensive, last longer, or whatever.  I'm with y'all there when you say you don't have time to cook, etc.  Yet, we don't see promotion for fruits, vegetables, and so forth quite as much as the different restaurant advertisements (which lets be honest, most of the time doesn't even turn out as appetizing as they make it seem), etc.  One thing I am starting to research are substitutes for the tasty things that we as humans enjoy.  I'll post recipes on the blog after some cooking trials!

Also, here are some healthy plant-based substitutes I found:

http://nutritionstudies.org/plant-based-food-tips-healthy-recipe-substitutions/

Later on.
Going to bed soon, but feelin great.

Dat Foodie Thang

In the past 2-3 years, I've done a few experiments of eliminating refined sugar from my diet.  Every time I do this, I feel amazing after I get past the cravings portion, but it hasn't become my solid way of life.  In my teen years, I never really had a severe eating disorder or anything, but I was always concerned that I wasn't as curvy as other girls or I wasn't as fit.  I did sports and tried to keep in shape, but I'll be straight up when I admit that I love to eat.  Two years ago, I had a health condition that forced me to eliminate all sugars from my diet.  It was really challenging for me, and I probably wouldn't have been as motivated to do it if it weren't for the fact that it was for my health situation.  I remember that by eliminating those sugars, I eventually didn't feel as tired or grumpy.  I felt I had greater control when it came to my diet and mood.  This was something I had always wanted in my teen years.  I'd see other girls who seemed like they could control themselves so well.  This time period only lasted about two months.  The first cookie I ate after my health was better didn't really taste as good as I remembered.  I remember going to bed that night with my heart beating extremely fast.  My guess was that my body wasn't used to processing sugars like it used to or something.  I couldn't sleep as well.  To this day, I definitely have cut back on the amount of refined sugars in my diet, but my goal is to make some lifestyle changes that will make me feel better.
Eating a certain way, for me, is so helpful, but why is it so difficult?  The cost is one thing.  The time and effort needed to put into it is another.  I forget about all the great health effects and the way I feel.  That's why it's so important to remember the reasoning behind goals - for me, I forget and when I forget, I am good for making excuses. I think in my head that one little thing won't hurt me, and in reality, maybe one cookie or one piece of pie won't hurt my body that much, but the fact that I am giving into something is what I find more alarming.  I've learned a bit about different alternatives for recipes that don't contain harmful ingredients.  I've even tested some of them out and have been impressed with the results!
So, I've made a new goal.  I want to make some diet changes.  Nothing unhealthy or completely insane, just eliminate the things that are getting in the way of me feeling good.  I know I'll probably mess up a few days and it might stink for the first bit, but I want to see if blogging my journey will help it be better.  In the end, I know I'll feel better!  I'll post a Day 1 picture below.