It started out this morning when I was looking for one of my favorite dresses, because my velvet skirts are too warm for an eighty-degree day. Well, I couldn't find my dress (it has to be around somewhere) but as I was hunting for it, I saw on the top rack in the closet, six dresses I bought a year or so ago. They were supposedly my size when I bought them but...they were too snug to look remotely good on me and there's no way I'll wear clothing that makes me look like I'm squeezing into a sausage tube. I like form fitting, but not squished.
Well, I have been meaning to try them on for the past month or so--I left them through the first four months of my diet (I'm just four months in now), though I've gone through all my shirts and bras and tops a couple months ago and got rid of about 2/3 of my wardrobe. I had to buy all new shirts in a smaller size.
So, I decide...what the hell, let's play fashion show and try on the dresses. So I did. And...they all fit. All six. They fit and look nice and I stood there, staring in the mirror thinking, I could not wear these four months ago. And now, they look nice and I have six lovely new dresses. I was so thrilled! I love nice clothes and I dress up even when at home.
So yes, that is progress with a capital "P" in my book. I also have other progress. Because of muscle spasms that hit so bad it's pretty much sidelined me from much walking, I have been out of commission at the grocery store, etc. for a long, long time. The past two weeks, I've gone in and done the shopping instead of Sam. I still can't lift a lot with my back, but I can now do grocery shopping which--considering my state till now--feels like a huge freedom.
Even when I was just exercising, I wasn't making much progress on the walking/back issue, but with the low carb diet, the combo is working wonders. I'm feeling better, I look better, everybody who hasn't seen me for a number of months has looked at me and said, "Wow, you look SO much better and healthier."
I've had a few--and I do mean few--days where I've gone up around 100 carbs (my usual is 30-50, trying for around 40 average--and this is what my naturopath suggests for me, to stay between that range), because we have to have down time, there has to be a safety valve. But even then, I make sure I don't eat something that's going to trigger my bad habits all over again.
I'm truly, finally, feeling like I can achieve my goals. Like I can get back to the health and mobility and body shape I want. Goals are to reach a 16-18 (I'm shorter than Maura, so I'll be curvier at that but I think I would be comfortable at that place). I want to be able to walk and dance again. I know I'll never be a swimsuit model, hell, especially at my age *grins* (trust me on that one), I know I'll never learn parkour or any of the X-games that I love to watch. But you know--that's fine. As long as I can dance again around the bonfire, as long as I can get out and take a nice long walk, and not hurt while I move around the house each day, I will be very, very happy.
Oh and yes, my blood sugar is really stablizing and mostly in normal ranges now. I plan on keeping it there.
Today's recipe:
Pork Tenderloin Stirfry
1 pork tenderloin (cubed)
1 cup cauliflower buds
1 cup diced summer squash
1 cup diced bok choy (chiffonade the tops and then mince)
1 carrot, peeled and diced
1 green onion (minced--I'm slowly being able to add onions back in in small amounts)
1/4 cup tamari
2 tbsp lime juice
2 tbsp fruit sweetened jam (around 5 net carbs per spoon)
1 tbsp paprika
Heat 3 tbsp sunflower oil in wide skillet. Quickly brown pork cubes. Remove from oil. Add onion, cauliflower, carrot and bok choy stems. Stirfry for 2 minutes. Add in squash and bok choy tops. Quick fry till at the doneness level you prefer. Remove from oil. Add in lime juice, jam, tamari, and paprika. Reduce until thick. Stir all ingredients back in to heat. Serves 3-4. Depending on servings and veggies, I'm rounding out at around 5-8 grams of carb per serving. You can substitute veggies you prefer, just make sure they're low-carb and that you separate the quick from the longer cooking ones and cook the latter first.
Yasmine
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