Confessions of a Food Addict

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A BRAIN DUMP. NO FILTER OR EDITING.


Hi, my name is Stephanie, and I'm addicted to food. Not just any food. Well, really it isn't food. I'm addicted to junk. I'm addicted to junk, and I feel like crap! There I said it! I love junk! All things processed. Ice cream. Chips. Soda. Fruit snacks. Cookies... Junk. "Food" that has been basically invented in the last 100 years. I'm totally an addict. I've tried to stop in the past. I stopped sugar cold turkey for a few weeks. When I had sugar again, my desire for sugar was worse than before. I went on a totally non-processed, non-gmo (corn and soy), non-dairy diet. Yeah...it lasted a month before I got so tired of ratatouille, and curry that I totally lost it and binged my way back to my starting weight and beyond.

What is my deal? Why am I like this? It seems that no matter what I try I always end up with the same problem. I love junk, I want junk, I crave junk. I know it's not good for my body. I know what I need to do. But every time I try, I end up feeling like a failure. You see, I am a very all or nothing type of person. I'm totally committed, and if I make a mistake, it is so easy for me to throw my hands up in the air 'cause I blew it, and give it all up. Counting calories? Don't even get me started. It's bad guys. It's really bad.

I mentioned before that I feel like crap. I do! I'm so so tired. I feel grumpy. I am quite positive my hormones are out of whack. I was very depressed after having Josh, and I am starting to feel it coming on now. I often feel sick to my stomach. I feel heavy (well, I am at the heaviest (not pregnant) weight I've ever been, So I don't know why I somehow expect not to??). All this despite regular exercise. Also, I think I may be developing hypothyroidism. I don't want to be this way. I used to be much happier. Much more patient. What happened? Well, some might say I have three kids, and I just had a baby so go easy on myself. Yeah, I did just have a baby 6 months ago!! I'm sorry, but I should be at the point where I'm able to handle things.

I have come to the conclusion that I cannot live like this anymore! I have been working on devising a plan. Some way that I can snap out of it. Some way to change my life. You know, you hear a lot of weight-loss success stories, and the most successful ones have one thing in common: no processed foods or sugar, and a whole lot of fruits and vegetables. But some diets have weird restrictions. And things that I think are unnecessary. For example, if you are doing a certain diet and have to take supplements? That is a red flag to me. I believe that if I am eating as God intended me to eat, I won't have to take supplements. So I've come up with something that I think will work for me. Something I will gradually fine-tune and perfect until it is working well for me and my family. For now, it is a whole foods, plant based diet, with some exceptions.

This is what is going through my mind right now:

-Limit processed foods. If it's not a plant based food, it's probably processed. If it is a plant based food, it could still be processed, but probably not as much.

-Limit sugar. Especially white sugar. If you must sweeten things, use honey (as raw as you can get it), and perhaps maple syrup.

-Limit meat and poultry. I like meat, I do. But as much as I like meat, I don't think I need nearly as much as I'm eating. If I do eat meat, I want it to be from a cow or chicken that had a good life. None of this slaughter-house never see the light of day, antibiotics pumped, meat that is sold in most markets today. Call me hippie or granola-y, but that's how I feel. Side story: At church one Sunday, we were talking about the Good Shepherd. The sister teaching was Navajo and shared a story of her Aunt. A shepherdess. Her aunt knew each individual sheep or goat. When the time came for an animal to be slaughtered, she would calm it down, talk to it about it's life and personality, and finally thank it for it's life. After that, there was no struggle, and the animal gave itself up. Amazing huh? Obviously, not all farm raised, grass-fed beef/chicken/pork story is going to be this way, but it made me remember that animals are living, breathing beings with personalities, and we as humans are supposed to protect and provide for them. In the word of wisdom, it mentions that meat should be eaten sparingly, in times of winter and famine. And that is just what we are going to do. HOWEVER: We will be eating fish. Wild-caught as much as possible. (Thanks Nathan!) Farm raised fish have a pretty crummy life too. :(

-Limit dairy products, unless it's straight from the cow. You know, the kind that says "not for human consumption on it? Yeah. That. Honestly, I will be quite happy with plant based milks. (Almond, cashew, and rice to name a few.) Cheese is going to be the hard part. But I feel so much better when I am not eating a lot of dairy. I was going to say it will be hard to live without ice cream, but there are ways to make it a plant based affair. :)

-Eat as many fruits and vegetables as you want. No calorie counting allowed!

-Eggs are ok as long as they are free range, from the farmer eggs. We know a man that is swimming in the eggs made from his chickens, so we are good there. We eventually want to raise chickens, so it won't be a problem later.

-WHOLE Grains, tubers, and nuts are totally allowed! 

- Be as self sufficient as possible. It is our dream to one day be able to live totally off the grid if we wanted to. If this dream is ever to become a reality, I need to work on it now. That means no store-bought bread, and becoming more granola-ish than I ever thought I would be. But here I am.

-If you really, really want it, leave home.  Ok, that sounds cruel, but I'm talking about cravings here. Ice cream in particular for me. Meat for Daniel. We have decided that if it is a craving we've had for a few days, it is ok to indulge a little. But not at home! (Unless I make it myself, following our rules.) If I want ice cream, I can have a little, but no more 1/2 gallon cartons! Only small, over-priced single servings at our favorite local ice cream shop. That way, it will be hard on the wallet, and we won't do it as much as we would if we could just bring it home. It's also better ice cream. :)

So I think this is about it. It seems really long and limiting, but as far as I can tell, this high-processed diet that industrialized countries have gotten into is no good. Now, are there some exceptions? Of course. Are we going to be food snobs? NO WAY! But at home, this is how it will be. The truth is, I can't live the life I am leading anymore. I'm worried for my health, my husbands health, and my kids health. I want to change when I am young and it's easy. I want to run and not be weary and walk and not faint. I want the blessings that come from leading a healthful and active life. This is not something I've just thought about today, or even this past week. I've been thinking of it for months. Years even. It is time.

After All It Is His

I've been doing some...interesting research lately. You know how I wrote about circumcision a while ago? Well, I've never stopped researching about it, but lately instead of researching "circumcision" I have been researching "the functions of the foreskin". Which I HIGHLY encourage all of you to do even if you might be done having kids. There are plenty of sights that DO NOT have images of male penises, so you wont be feeling like you're looking at porn.

 Ladies...foreskins have so many totally awesome functions that it blows me away they are routinely cut off here in the U.S.

What are the functions of a foreskin?

Some sexual functions: 

Foreskins act as a rolling bearing during intercourse, therefore eliminating painful intercourse. (I don't know about any of you married sisters, but unless I'm really, and I mean REALLY excited lube is definitely a necessity.)

Foreskins stimulate partners genitalia, thus a better experience for the said partner.

Foreskins store pheromones and release them on arousal.

Foreskins store, release and distribute natural lubricants.

Foreskins help women orgasm.

Some protective functions:

Foreskins protect the glans (top of the penis) from becoming keratinised, and keeps the glans soft and moist.

Foreskins protect the nerves of the glans which  keeps the erotic function of the glans.

Foreskins protect an intact infants urethra from contamination. (As long as it is not prematurely retracted.)

Foreskins protect against frostbite thanks to the foreskins richness in blood vessels.

Needless to say...

Foreskins have several functions and they are very, very useful. Not only for men but more women as well. In fact, I wish my husband's foreskin had not been cut off because guess whose sex life is effected? You got it, mine. Not that I love my husband any less because he doesn't have a foreskin.

Also, there are several risks in cutting off a foreskin. Did you know that every time a doctor snips a baby boy he's guessing on how much foreskin to take off? Lot's of men, when they hit puberty and after puberty, have very painful erections and intercourse because the amount of foreskin that was cut off did not leave room for his penis to grow. As a consequence, the growing penis stretches the skin around the penis causing scarring and lack of sensitivity. The doctors never know exactly how big the infants penis is going to get, so they guestimate. If the doctor is not right on, the boy suffers.

Here are some links to article I encourage you to check out:

http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/info/foreskin.html

http://www.circumstitions.com/Functions.html

Several times in the past I have questioned my decision not to circumcise my boys. After doing this research, unless it was medically necessary, I would never circumcise. There is no question. Even if I had already circumcised a son and then had another son...I would not make the same mistake twice. I would be taking away too much from my little boys to circumcise them. When my boys get older, if they decide they don't like their foreskins, they have the choice to keep it or cut it off.

I have a firm belief that, he should decide what happens to his penis...after all, it is his.

Blessingway

Have any of you heard of a Blessingway or a Mother Blessing? I was recently invited to one, and I think it is a beautiful way to celebrate motherhood. Baby showers are great because everyone gets together to give much needed gifts to the baby, but a Blessingway is special because they are held to celebrate motherhood. Plus, it's a way to support and pamper the expectant mother. Check it out!

http://www.bellybelly.com.au/pregnancy/blessingway-what-is-a-blessingway#.U4ytuJRdVWQ

http://motherblessingway.wordpress.com/about/

Sarah and Stephanie, would this be something you would be interested in having before your babies are born? If so, I'd love to be the one to organize it for you. :) Love you!

Photos by Smiles by Stephanie

I got my hair cut a few days ago...what do you think?

Love you all!

Another Mormon Channel

This episode didn't look SUPER appealing to me. Listened to it today and LOVED it. Haha, they mentioned a book called Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. Leo and I have been reading it together and listening to some of his lessons. We've enjoyed it and think there are great principle to take from it. Anyway, the episode is great! There are 2 episodes of this one.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/gospel-solutions-for-families/77

The Mormon Channel - Radio

So I have been listening to The Mormon Channel for a few months now. I LOVE IT!! I love to listen to it while I am doing the dishes or cleaning or....just anytime really. There are different series and the one I have listened to the most is Gospel Solutions for Families. It has helped me gain better idea's on a ton of different things I would like in my life and with/in my family.

It also, has episodes for marriage, grandparents, scripture study within the home, family counsels, having sanity while raising young kids, how to help young adults in the home and a lot more. I have enjoyed it and thought I would share it with you all, cause I didn't know about it until someone mentioned it to me. Each episode is about 30 minute and there are usually 2 episodes per subject.

Here's just one that I enjoyed....they're ALL great!

http://www.mormonchannel.org/gospel-solutions-for-families/21

Love ya!

Hey everyone,

So a few years(?) ago Stephanie suggested a sight called "Dressing your Truth" to us and explained how it has helped her FEEL beautiful. Well about a month ago, I saw it again on facebook from one of my friends. Clicked the link and they were offering the online course for FREE to 100,000 women. I decided to do it. It goes into detail about different types of women (and men too, but this is geared more towards women) and how to dress for whichever type you truly are. I still am not positive of my type yet (i think i know though) she has books that she suggests reading too. 

Even if you're not struggling with feeling pretty, its interesting to see what she has to say. Towards the end of the online course it will obviously try to get you to join the site(?) and if you do please join under Stephanie, cause she's the one that introduced this to us all in the first place. I guess its just good to know a little more about the site, before just joining. I don't know if I will join, but its been fun. 

When I see other people or hear them say things that people may think that person is coming across rude, pushy, or impatient. Learning about these different types has helped me think...Okay, this person wasn't TRYING to be rude, they just may come across like that at times. NOT GIVING EXCUSES HERE! Sometimes people or we are rude and impatient and can change to be better. I don't know if that was even a good example.

HEY, I thought it was fun and still want to read the books (which I requested at the library, so you don't have to buy them!). Stephanie has loved it too. Try it out for FREE (That's why I did). It's more about KNOWING who you yourself really are and living true to that, then fashion. They just help women know what looks good on the different types once you know who you are. 

http://dressingyourtruth.com/ 

Please add anything Stephanie if you'd like too!

Hope you all enjoy!!!