Wednesday, July 13, 2011

A SCRIBBLE AND A PRAYER

So I drew a thing in MS Paint at the beginning of the year that I found recently. It traumatized me, but it's good therapy. It's printed and on my fridge as I type this blog. I even added some pencil shading for added effect. Now, it was intended for my eyes only, but I have a point to get across. Here ya go:

It may or may not be perfectly accurate, but I fear it's closer to reality than I wanted to admit. There I am on the left, double chin and rolls and all. Flabby bat wings and blubbery thighs. And I realized that I have grown complacent in this body. And, in the face of disease and death, I had given up by mere inaction.

Now here's the spiritual part: I may not throw out the "thees" and "thous" all the time, and I can't quote my bible as well as the devil (he doesn't have to LIKE what's in there, but he knows it!), but I am a Christian. I am not better than you. I am not perfect in my outlooks and behavior. I have vices and virtues. I am honest and straightforward to the point of rudeness. And I won't expect anything of anyone else that I can't do myself. The rules are laid out simply. All I have to do is follow them.

As a Christian, I have read that my body is a temple, literally and figuratively. But I haven't taken care of the temple. Even though I wash the surface regularly, the cracks of neglect are showing inwardly and outwardly. I'm placing filth on the physical altar. I want to be the spiritual warrior that God wants me to be, but I can't even fight diabetes in this condition! So I can't expect people to come to God through any ministry I provide-- or get healthy with any advice I provide-- if I can't "practice what I preach."

So I'm proposing a fast of sorts. Fasting is a very personal thing if you do it spiritually, so I'm not going to discuss the spiritual side of my fast. That's between me and God, other than what you read above.

But the physical fast is pretty simple. I'm one meal into it and haven't keeled over yet. :) I'll wait to check back weekly instead of daily. I've made a few daily charts to cross off each accomplishment and meal, right alongside the picture I posted above and the photograph heading on this blog.

HERE'S THE PLAN:

FRANKEN-DIET

PROCESS: LOW CARB AND LIQUID FAST

6 or 7 Meals Daily:

1.      1 egg with bacon (150cal, 0carb)
2.      1 cup Miso Soup with Nori (84 cal,1 carb)
3.      1 can white tuna with mayo, onion and green peppers (350cal, few carbs)
4.      2 cup lettuce with cheese, bacon and olives (no dressing) (120cal, 2 carb)
5.      2 pieces deli ham with 1 piece cheese (150 cal, 5carb)
6.      1 cup chicken broth or bouillon (nil)
7.      1 chicken breast (120cal, 0carb)
8.      SUBSTITUTIONS: 2 C Broccoli w/Soy and Butter, 1 filet salmon, 1 cut venison with onions and peppers, 1 whole avocado with lettuce, cheese and salsa.

TOTAL CALORIES: Around 974, TOTAL CARBS: ~8

RECORD-KEEPING:
1. Checklist: 1 of each meal, 1 Walking exercise, 1 Weight Training, 1 Vitamins, 1 each Water.
2. Take Initial Weight and Waist/Hips Measurements, then Measure/Weigh-In Once Per Week. Journal!
3. Recalculate progress

I know the calories are lower than the "recommended" amounts. I know the carbs are not calculated exactly. I know, I know! :) But I said last time that this is a process-- a very personal process-- that I intend to test. Numerically speaking, this is probably going to throw me into ketosis in a couple days, same as the Atkins diet. And I've marginalized the meals so that there's no question about portions or anything else, so it's got some WW structure to it. I won't make any boasts about how long I'm staying on it or how dedicated I am to the process, because this isn't about ego. It's about survival. There's no room for macho bullcrap popularity contests. I just wanna live better and longer.

Cuddles,
Tamara

1 comment:

  1. I'm starting South Beach after I get back from Park City in a week or so. It seems very reasonable. You don't have to count anything, calories or carbs. Basically, after the first two weeks (which are very strictly low carb), you can have low glycemic index carbs (whole wheat, no sugar added, brown rice) and good fats (olive oil, canola oil, the fats contained in vegetables and lean meats). Portion control is on an "eat until you're no longer hungry" basis. And you eat before you get hungry to control cravings.

    I'm starting it because I'm where you are as far as feeling like I'm doing my body a disservice by the fuel I feed it. I never wanted to do a named diet, but my mom has been on South Beach for nearly a year, and plans to follow it for the rest of her life. She's lost 100 pounds, her blood sugar is non-diabetic without drugs (she was on quite a bit of diabetes medication before) and she lowered her cholesterol from 170 to 120 in the first month.

    Not that you have to, but if you wanted to start it more or less with me, you could. If not, I've still got my mom for support if I need it since she's been where I'm about to go. It just seems like a more sustainable option since it teaches you how to eat properly for the rest of your life, and not just a "take off the pounds for now" diet.

    ReplyDelete