Wow! I was away for an all-day training session and came back to fantastic comments and questions (which always cheer me up).
Not least because the author of Potatoes not Prozac left a message, too. Answering the questions! How fantastic is that? It also confirms my feeling that this is NOT a process to be rushed, even though the dieting/addict mindset say the opposite.
Peridot is very concerned about breakfast so I will answer, as best I can. Unless it is a certain time (of the month), I rarely want sweet things for breakfast BUT if I am tired or have to get up very early (4am, for example), a sweet choice will always be made. I have worked out that - ideally - I'd be getting 27g of protein within an hour of waking up. I think Shauna's (aka Dietgirl) breakfast sounds a yummy solution:
"Greek yogurt contains a decent amount of protein... 150g pot of 2% has 10g. my weekday brekkie is greek yogurt with unsweetned tinned apples or pears (me very lazy) and a sprinkle of raw oats and sunflower seeds (good fats and some carbs) and cinnamon. almost tastes like apple crumble"
And Shauna is absolutely spot on when she says:
"Eggs are good and only take as long to scramble as your slice of bread does to toast... "
I've been doing a mixture of both - yoghurt options (with Greek zero fat) - and/or the reliable eggs/toast combo. I've gone back to reading the chapter about Step 1 and guess what? It's also broken down into further steps. So it really is baby steps. I love that approach. It's the opposite of all or nothing - perfectionism or total doom. I have not been doing it to the letter - purely down to the lack of organisation. BUT I can understand why it's so important. Today I had eggs on one piece of toast. Later in the morning I felt hungry. And panicked. Momentarily. So I had an apple (which sounds very healthy and 'good') but I had to remind myself that I did not have 27g at breakfast. This is all going to take time. Much more time than I anticipated. But that's OK. As is a mid-morning snack.
I'll leave the last word to Dr Kathleen DesMaisons:
What a great beginning!! WOW~~you have an open heart...
a) the issue about an hour is important so you don't put your body into a stress crisis.You haven't eaten since the night before.
b) you can have a mid morning snack :)
c)the potato is designed to raise serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is the JUST SAY NO chemical. It gives you impulse control. The myth that potatoes are bad for you is a myth. Read the book for a scientific explanation :)
d)No, it simply means that you are free from compulsion and you GET TO chose what you want. This is not about control. You can't control sugar addiction. This is healing. But the sugar thing is step SIX, not step one. By the time you get there, it is a non issue.
The book says "Don't try to do it all at once" and "Take it in sequence". I love that reassurance. I absolutely do. So, Peridot, I hope your questions have been answered. From two experts (published authors no less) and ...me! So, if you're curious, buy the book; this is a paperback I have absolutely zero reservations about recommending. And nothing can replace reading the words for yourself. They are still singing to me. Loudly.
PS apologies for the formatting. As soon as I cut and paste in TypePad, it ignores my wishes...(ie editorial control on the layout).
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