Well, Jason and I are on a new diet, and it's definitely working for me. Right around when Evelyn was born, Jason started eating a paleo diet. Actually, I think he's technically more "primal" instead of "paleo," because he eats yogurt and cheese (I think strict paleo is no dairy, but then you just don't have a reason to live anymore, do you?). Jason thinks this is a more healthy way to live for a few reasons - one of them is that your blood sugar stays more constant instead of all these spikes all day. We also think that modern wheat (dwarf wheat) probably isn't the ideal base for our diets (and it usually is the base for the typical American diet).
I started this diet about 3 weeks ago when we got back from Florida. I have had very little wheat, though I do have tiny cheats every now then (and by "cheat", I mean a bite of quiche with some crust on it or a few bites of the kids leftover oatmeal). I have dramatically cut down my sugar intake, though I do put sugar in my morning coffee.
Before I started this diet, I would eat oatmeal for breakfast, PB&J (or whatever the kids had left of their sandwiches) for lunch and then spaghetti or cereal or something like that for dinner. Basically, I was eating all processed carbs all day. Now, I have scrambled eggs for breakfast with a little havarti cheese or bacon or sausage (replaced my cup of milk with a glass of water), a huge spinach salad with raw carrots and peppers, boiled egg and feta cheese (with just red wine vinegar for dressing) for lunch and maybe chicken or crustless quiche or chili ro something like that for dinner.
I have basically been doing this for 3 weeks, and I have lost about 13 pounds so far. I haven't worked out a single time (which is depressing, honestly, but it's just hard to figure out the logistics of it with the 3 kids with me every day) and I'm losing weight. So far, I would definitely say that this is a healthier way to eat for me. Jason seems pretty set on this diet right now, so I'm pretty sure that I can keep it up as long as he is doing it.
I also hope to have the kids eat less processed food and more fruits and vegetables. They still have oatmeal for breakfast and PB&Js for lunch, but I'm trying to give them more bananas and apples and grapes and cantaloupe. Unfortunately, it's hard to get them to eat vegetables, but I'm hoping they will eventually warm up to them (or maybe I can find more fun and tasty ways to offer them).
So I'm right around 157 pounds right now and I was 155 before I got pregnant. I'm 2 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight, and Evelyn is only 3 months old. With the twins, it took 9 months and LOTS of running to work it all off. So far, I think I like our version of the primal diet. Of course, our grocery bill is much, much higher, but I think it's worth the money spent on food. After all, you are what you eat.
You should join a gym that has childcare when Evelyn turns 6 months (I think that is as young as it goes). I personally run after the kids are asleep at night on weekdays and run with one or two kids in tow (we have a single and a double running stroller) on the weekends.
ReplyDeleteMy tricks for cutting out some of the processed foods. We do 'peanut butter spoons' which is just peanut butter on plastic baby spoons, cuts out the bread and jelly. I cheat and buy pre cut fruits sometimes, I swear sometimes they are cheaper. Adria likes frozen peas and corn, sometime still frozen or sometimes warmed up. Austin loves those baby food squeeze packs and we get the fruit/vege mixes. It's a battle.
Good for you! Sounds like it's working well for your current life phase, which is saying something given how crazy life is for you! I know how hard it is to manage the logistics of working out. Our YMCA allows infants after six weeks, but even so it's really hard to get everyone there in between feelings and naps. Agree, higher grocery bills for better quality/more natural foods is worth it.
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