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wholerestart-blog · 5 years

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The Difference Between Paleo & Whole30.

New Post has been published on https://wholerestart.com/the-difference-between-paleo-whole30/

The Difference Between Paleo & Whole30.

Let me start by saying that I have heard opinions about Paleo and Whole30 that are often those of the uneducated. In this post, I’d like to make a case for clean eating and explain the difference between Paleo & Whole30.

Recently, I was sitting in church and our pastor asked for us to use one word to describe Americans. I turned to my husband and said “obese”. In general, the American diet or what I refer to as the American dream is loaded with sauce, cheese, and sugar.

What’s worse, even when we go on a “diet” we are consuming “shakes or bars” with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavoring, and processed oils rather than turning to the food our bodies were biologically meant to consume. How is this healthier?

Nutrition Label from Slimfast shake

So, it’s little wonder that cancer, diabetes and other dread diseases are on the rise. It could be why our kids have more incidence of ADHD and maybe even why there seems to be an epidemic of appendicitis. If you want to read more about the case for clean eating this article is very good and was a source for this post.

Eating clean

When I first heard about this concept I immediately thought that there was no way that I could give up gluten and dairy. It seemed impossible. It wasn’t until I read Kelly Brogan’s book A Mind of Your Own that I started to really think differently.

A whole new world opened up to me. Kelly doesn’t necessarily label her way as Paleo, she advocates for clean eating and living. After I read her book, I went on a search for something I could use to describe it and came across Paleo.

I learned that gut health had a lot to do with your mental health and healing the gut started with what I was eating and drinking. Did you ever wonder why you could starve yourself all day and still not lose weight? Consider what you are putting into your body if it’s anything like the nutrition label above you’re likely to feel hungry, bloated, and foggy most of the time. This is a recipe for disaster and destined to failure.

Paleo Lifestyle

Paleo is not a cult following of people that want to eat like cavemen. The idea behind it is that our bodies are made to eat food that occurs naturally like vegetables, fruit, seeds, nuts, animals, and fish. That we eat when we feel hungry not when we’re bored and not when we’re told it’s time to eat by society. Last, we exercise regularly because our lifestyles have become fairly sedentary in this technology age.

Something amazing happens when you eat and exercise this way, your body functions at a healthy level. Your weight levels out to your bodies ideal. You feel good physically and mentally. You start to notice things like the sweetness of carrots!

Paleo Lifestyle

There are many different approaches to clean eating that you’ve likely heard about. So what is exactly is the difference between Paleo & Whole30 which are two of the more popular?

At its simplest terms, Paleo is meant to be a lifestyle while Whole30 is meant to reset your system and help you to break unhealthy food associations like cravings for sweets. Below is a sample of the basics of Paleo.

You will not count carbs, fat, or calories with Paleo. Simply eat when you’re hungry. If you are eating good meals with meat and vegetables at every meal you won’t likely need to snack because you won’t be hungry. Avoid snacking because you are craving something.

Eat: Meats, eggs, vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, spices, herbs, healthy fats, and oils.

Avoid:

Sugar & high-fructose corn syrup: Candies, table sugar, cane sugar (even if it’s organic), brown sugar, Soda, ice cream. If it’s sweet, avoid it unless you can determine how it was sweetened. Alternatives in moderation: Maple syrup (pure), honey, coconut water, Coconut sugar, maple sugar, dates, dried or fresh fruit.

Dairy: Anything made from the milk of an animal like milk, cheese, yogurt, and cream. Alternatives to dairy: Coconut milk, coconut milk yogurt, almond milk, Ghee (sub for butter).

Gluten/Grains: Includes bread and pasta, wheat, spelt, rye, barley. Alternatives: Almond flour, coconut flour, cassava flour, tapioca flour (for thickening), arrowroot flour (for thickening).

Legumes: Beans, lentils and many more.

Some Oils: Vegetable oil, canola oil, soybean oil, cotton seed oil, sunflower oil, grape-seed oil. Alternatives: Olive oil, Coconut Oil, Avocado oil.

Trans Fat: Found in partially or fully hydrogenated oils like margarine.

Artificial sweeteners: Aspartame, sucralose, cyclamates, saccharin, acesulfame potassium.

How is Whole30 different?

Whole30 is meant to be done for 30 days not indefinitely. Whole30 uses the paleo diet as a template. If something is Whole30 it is also Paleo, but not everything that is Paleo is Whole30 approved. Whole30 requires complete dedication to the plan for the entire 30 days, no slips, or cheats.

On Whole30 you will also avoid:

Alcohol: Under the Paleo lifestyle people will have an occasional alcoholic beverage. Obviously avoiding beer which contains wheat and sugary cocktails. Whole30 excludes it completely.

Treats: No treats not even those made with natural sweeteners.

Food copycats: In general the goal of Whole30 is to break your unhealthy food addictions to things like bread and dessert. Therefore, making these items with Whole30 approved ingredients is a violation of the Whole30 concept.

Under Paleo, many people will add items back in such as goat cheese or quinoa for example because it doesn’t seem to bother them. Under Whole30 the rules are very clear, don’t even lick the beaters of the birthday cake you made for your son, not even a taste!

If you want to try Whole30 and are looking for more detailed guidance try this book.

Which is better?

I don’t view one as better than the other. Whole30 was the beginning of Paleo for me. I started there and eliminated everything because I was on a spiral of feeling bad and prescription meds that were unhealthy. You can read about the terrifying reason I started here.

I encourage people to start with Whole30 to really clean their system and break bad habits. Then move into the reintroduction phase where you can determine what items may be causing you issues. Reintroduce things one at a time a week apart. Use that information to form what Paleo will mean to you. For example, some people do not eat white potatoes on Paleo, while I believe that the body needs some resistant starches.

If you are looking for recipes or advice on what to eat, typing Paleo or Whole30 into the Pinterest search bar will give you lots of options. You may also want to check out some of my tried and true recipes here.

Tell me about your experience with Whole30 or Paleo below! Lets stick together and encourage each other on this path.

#caveman #clean eating #healthy #Paleo #vegan #Whole30

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jonathanleesink · 6 years

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A Year and a Day

Originally posted on March 10, 2017

“This is going to be refreshing…I can already tell; similar to slicing into a freshly harvested vegetable. Fresh, clean, wholesome, and healthy.”

These were the very first words I wrote on this blog on May 30th last year. I have been writing for nine months. I have been sharing my most personal and vulnerable thoughts, struggles, and triumphs. I have confessed my struggles with drinking. I have shared why I chose to change my lifestyle. I have told you about my anxious personality and my spirituality. This has been an enlightening journey for me. I have been honest and scared to death. I have also felt empowered and bravery like I never knew existed. I have been asked why I have shared this part of my life so publicly. In the simplest terms I write this blog for two reasons. One, for myself. I write to document this ambitious change in my life, and to hold myself accountable to my commitment. This blog is monumental to my recovery process. The other reason I write is for anyone who may benefit in any way from what I write. I have learned people respect honesty. Like myself, everyone has their own personal struggles. But the personal struggles everyone has, it is very likely someone you know struggles with the same thing. The most rewarding experience from this whole thing is when someone makes a point to tell me they enjoyed my writing, or that my story has inspired them to take the first step of their own journey. That is what this is all about. When people use their talents to help other people…that is what defines purpose.

Yesterday…March 9, 2017.

Yesterday was day three-hundred and sixty-five of my sober lifestyle. One year without a drop of alcohol. It also marks one year of living vegetarian. No meat, no booze, one year. Amazing.

I was told just the other day from a friend that they want to give up alcohol too, but that they just don’t see how it is possible. I used to feel that way too. Once I had the realization that I wanted to love myself more than the currently trending pale ale, I had my moment of clarity. My vision for myself was crystal clear, and the motivation to make a change was significant. Making the decision is the relatively easy part. It is the commitment to yourself and to follow through with the decision which proves to be the most difficult. But now, a year later, I am truly proud of myself.

This journey has been eye-opening to me on the societal norms of drinking alcohol. I went through a period where I was silently disgusted with the beer and alcohol industries. I have always made a conscience effort to not preach my thoughts to my readers. I wanted to share my story, and that’s it. The last few months I have backed off from my strong opinions on the drinking culture. I am realizing that alcohol is not really a bad thing by itself. It was when I paired my addictive personality with alcohol is when it became a bad thing. There are so many people who can drink beer or a glass of wine without it becoming a habitual behavior. We are all our own people who must make our own decisions and take responsibility for our actions. What’s best for me, may not be best for you. And what you may be able to innocently enjoy, might not be so innocent for others…myself included. I know what’s best for me, and you know what’s best for you. Be brave, be honest, be you.

I have exposed myself through this blog. I have a hard time verbally talking to people about my vulnerabilities…I always have. Writing every few weeks has helped me more than you will ever know. So many have offered their support. I cannot thank you enough for that. It was a scary thing to put myself out there like I did. I was terrified that people would not want anything to do with me. I had heard that when someone stops drinking, they lose friends. The truth is you lose your drinking buddies. There are some people who I enjoy very much, but I just don’t see anymore because our socializing revolved around drinking beer. There are other people who I have considered very close at some point in my life who have not reached out to me at all to offer support. I understand that the topic of alcoholism, sobriety, and mental health are topics that not everyone is comfortable talking about, I get it. Then there have been the acquaintances, strangers, or old high school friends who made a point to reach out to offer encouraging words. That is amazing. They have no obligation to me at all, yet they have been remarkable supporters. Again, thank you.

In my very first writing, I not only claimed my sobriety, but also made a declaration to be my true self…always. I had spent years dealing with self-esteem and self-doubt issues, and somewhat hiding who I wanted to be. This has been a very liberating experience. I am a changed person. There is no more self-medicating my anxiety, or drinking my way into social comfortableness. I am now dealing with my anxious personality head on with a clear mind, and learning that it is perfectly okay to have an introverted personality. I have become an advocate for embracing your identity, and who you truly are. When you tear down the bullshit facade of doing stuff for the sake of pleasing others, you become liberated and free. I now understand that I only have control over myself, and that I am the only one who can truly make myself happy. Shit happens to all of us, and I used to grab a sixer to deal with it. Now I have an ever-increasing amount of tools to help process life’s complications. I have learned that being honest with myself is a powerful tool. I spent years in denial that I was dependent on alcohol. Once I realized that truth for myself, positive change happened immediately. Finally, I now know that I had to be brave to achieve a year of sobriety. I had to be brave to not fall into temptation, and I had to be brave to share my story with you. Successful sobriety is not for the weak. You have to want it, you have to have the strength to endure it, and you have to fight for it everyday.

People love reading lists. So, here are 9 things I have either learned or that have happened to me over the last year.

1. You don’t need alcohol to have fun! - This isn’t an immediate realization, but once you get over the hump it is an enlightening moment.

2. There are a lot of other people who are either non-drinkers, or are wanting to make that change. - Once I started writing, people came out of the woodwork to share their stories with me. It felt awesome to have people I could connect with.

3. When you quit drinking your body changes effortlessly. - Not only did I lose excess weight when I removed those empty calories, I also woke up every morning without a hangover, with more energy, and the quality of my sleep improved greatly.

4. I gave myself a pay raise! - I wrote about the financial aspect of my habit a couple months ago. I have saved about $1,800, which is a pretty nice annual bonus.

5. My creativity shot through the roof. - I started writing this blog. Who knew I would enjoy writing? It was a complete shock to myself. My musicianship has improved and I just feel more open to creative possibilities. My playing before felt like I was in a box with limits to my abilities.

6. I bought a BMX bike. - This was an early birthday present to myself. I even built a sweet ramp, and go to skateparks with it…at 40 years old.

7. I went on two amazing vacations. - I visited New York City for the first time, and I went backpacking in the mountains of West Virginia. Both of them completely sober.

8. I am in the best shape of my life. - Instead of sitting on the couch every night drinking a handful of beers. I choose to ride bikes, run a few miles, or even lift weights.

9. I have been to some amazing shows in the last year. I have been to MCA Day in NYC, I have seen Brian Fallon, Bad Religion, Against Me!, Henry Rollins, The Interrupters, and the Dropkick Murphy’s without a drink in my hand. The awesome thing about seeing shows sober is you get to remember every little detail; things I wouldn’t have picked up on if I had been drinking.

Thanks again for the support and kind words. I wish everyone good luck in whatever it is you want to achieve. Remember, you are worth it. You will likely see less writing on this blog in the next year. I have to make time to start my book. :) Peace!

#sobriety #cleanliving #straightedge #xvx #vegan

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wineanddinosaur · 4 years

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Will the Low- and No-ABV Movements Survive Covid-19?

If it seems like everyone in your social media feed is drinking more right now, they probably are. According to IWSR data shared with VinePair, retail alcohol sales during Covid-19 have hit double-digit growth, mirroring “holiday-type” volume and value spending.

Of course, any current data should be examined with the caveat that on-premise sales have plummeted, and many are replacing those purchases with stay-at-home Quarantinis. There’s also stockpiling to consider, though IWSR figures signal that the bulk of this took place during a two-week period in March, and sales since then have remained strong.

But just as our interactions with the physical world are largely confined to the views from our windows, we should not overlook the subjectivity of social media feeds. Put simply: Not everyone is drinking more right now.

“If anything, I’ve seen this kind of outpouring of, ‘Here are all the ways that I’m taking care of myself,’ and lots of people doing yoga and meditation,” says Sam Thonis, co-owner of Getaway, an alcohol-free bar in Brooklyn. Opened in April 2019, the bar has become a brick-and-mortar signifier of the growing low- and no-alcohol movements.

Prior to Covid-19, these movements had started gaining significant traction, with coverage reaching national media. By the end of last year, publications such as The Washington Post and The New York Times had devoted significant column inches to the popularity of lower-ABV spritz cocktails and hard seltzers, and the growing interest in the “sober-curious” lifestyle. While it was harder to back the “trend” with sales data, low- and no-ABV drinks had by then entered the cultural lexicon.

But like everything else right now, the future of the low and no movements feels delicately poised. Convincing drinkers that it might be a good idea to lower their alcohol consumption is difficult enough at the best of times, let alone in the midst of a global pandemic. And looking forward, there’s the dark cloud of recession looming on the horizon, which is likely to impact consumer spending. That could be a particular challenge for the zero-proof category, whose products have been priced at retail similarly to the boozy libations they were designed to replace. To boot: The non-alcoholic botanical “spirit” Seedlip sells for around $30 for 700 milliliters, while a slightly larger bottle of Bombay Sapphire gin sells for $25. These issues raise the question: What does Covid-19 mean for the future of the nascent low- and no-ABV movements?

Drinking Habits In a Global Pandemic

For Thonis, there’s no question that the zero-proof scene was gaining traction prior to Covid-19. After Getaway opened, it received significant press. While skeptics could argue it seemed like a niche “New York” concept, multiple operators around the country reached out to Thonis and told him they wanted to emulate his model.

Sales, too, seemed to indicate that the city that never sleeps was willing to take the occasional night off from booze. “Before March, when everything changed, the two normal months of 2020 were our best months yet,” he says. “We were on a serious upswing.”

Sadly, those sales have now crashed to nothing. Unlike some New York cocktail bars, Getaway hasn’t pivoted to takeaway or to-go options. And when stay-at-home orders are finally relaxed, Thonis realizes his bar’s offerings might be deemed as a luxury by some. “[Non-alcoholic cocktails] are not human necessities, unlike food and arguably alcohol,” he says.

Lifestyle writer Ruby Warrington has noticed contrasting attitudes on her social media feeds. In 2018, the New-York-based British author wrote a book on alcohol abstinence titled “Sober Curious.” Some have even credited the work with popularizing the no-ABV movement. Warrington also hosts a podcast of the same name and interacts via social media with a community of people who choose not to drink.

Many of those interactions have included people speaking about how glad they are that they don’t drink right now and don’t need to navigate hangovers in the midst of a pandemic. But when she opens her Facebook feed, which has a lot of people from her “pre-sober-curious life” in the U.K., she notices some friends repeating the kind of statements that could double as a quarantine meme, such as “How early is too early to start drinking?” and “Drinking alone doesn’t count in a crisis.”

“It almost feels like there’s a lot of bravado, a ‘let’s drink our way through it’ sort of attitude,” she says. “With my sober-curious goggles on, it does seem like underneath there’s a lot of fear.”

Her evaluation is backed by psychological science. “It makes a lot of sense that people are drinking more during this time: They want instant relief from anxiety, boredom, depression, and just not wanting to feel their feelings — alcohol offers a solution to that,” says Lindsay Hayden, a New York-based licensed mental health counselor who specializes in addiction.

Hayden warns that without the structure and routine of normal life, those who are using only alcohol as a coping mechanism could soon be facing more serious issues. “Not everyone who is relying on alcohol will come out of the pandemic with an alcohol addiction, but it is definitely something people should be watching out for,” she says.

Drinking Habits During a Recession

While the “new normal” of quarantine life is unprecedented to all experiencing it, at least some of what comes after Covid-19 is not without parallel. By many accounts, the world economy is headed into a long and potentially deep recession. The IMF predicts the coronavirus crisis could knock as much as $9 trillion off global GDP over the next two years. If previous recessions are benchmarks, that doesn’t spell good news for the low- and no-ABV movements.

During the eight-month 2001 recession, whose economic impact lasted for several years, alcohol volume sales grew year-over-year, totaling a 4 percent increase between 2001 and 2004, according to IWSR’s chief operating officer, Brandy Rand.

While alcohol sales growth was somewhat flat during the Great Recession of December 2007 to June 2009, that was only because of declining beer sales. “[U]nemployment rate at the end of 2009 was 10 percent, yet there was still an upward consumption trend outside of beer,” Rand explains.

The purchasing habits from both of the most recent recessions indicate that when economic times are tough, consumers turn to the bottle. Amid the uncertainty, and with less cash in their pockets, they also favor higher-ABV beverages to leverage more bang for buck.

Lisa Laird Dunn, executive vice president of Laird & Company, predicts a similar trend this time around. Founded in 1780, her family runs the oldest licensed distillery in America. In its 200-plus-year history, Laird & Co. has survived more than 30 recessions, two world wars, and even Prohibition.

While known for its Applejack, the distillery’s portfolio contains a broad range of products, priced from high- end to value brands. Laird Dunn confirms that the company’s lower-priced value brands typically sell best during a recession and expects to see a repeat of this trend following Covid-19. “I think you’ll find that there will be more price shopping versus just brand shopping,” she says.

But national sales statistics and the experience of recession-defying distilleries paint just part of the picture.

In January 2013, the University of Buffalo published a study on alcohol use during the Great Recession. Polling more than 2 million Americans between 2006 and 2010, the study uncovered notable increases in heavy drinking (3.9 percent) and frequent binge drinking (7.1 percent), but also found a slight increase in abstention from alcohol (0.8 percent). Put more simply: Not everyone decided to drink more. And there’s more than just anecdotal references to prove the same thing is happening right now.

On Thursday, global research firm Wine Intelligence published its first Covid-19-related consumer analysis report. Based on data collected at the end of March and beginning of April, the report found that, on average, wine consumption has remained stable during lockdown. But once again, this trend only tells part of the story.

“We’re seeing an increase in frequency of wine consumption amongst more engaged wine drinkers,” says CEO Lulie Halstead. “So those who were already drinking wine at higher frequencies are increasing that frequency.”

On the flip side, younger drinkers who were just discovering wine are now drinking it much less frequently than before, she adds. While this finding is based on data collected in Australia, Halstead says early examinations of international data appear to show a similar trend in other markets.

Hope For the Low- and No-ABV Movements

During previous recessions, those who opted not to drink were limited to sodas, seltzers, and water. But this time around, the market is already awash with interesting alcohol alternatives. From no-ABV beers to zero-proof spirits, there are a number of non-alcoholic options that taste just like the real thing (or pretty darn close) without the alcohol and with fewer calories. If consumers can get past price concerns, the compelling flavors and low-calorie appeal of these products could help keep the low and no movements humming along.

As one notable example, Scottish brewery BrewDog has reported strong demand for its range of alcohol-free beers this year. Compared to the last four months of 2019, volume sales on its e-commerce platform have surged more than 350 percent between January and April of this year.

“Just last week, we had our strongest day of online sales ever with the launch of our newest NA beer: Ghost Walker,” says CEO Jason Block. Demand from wholesalers has been stronger still, with volume growth reaching quadruple digits during the first four months of 2020.

The thirst for no-ABV spirits appears to be similarly strong. Ritual Zero Proof, a non-alcoholic beverage brand that offers gin, tequila, and whiskey alternatives, sold its entire six-month inventory in just five weeks when it launched in September last year. Despite the current global pandemic, March 2020 sales were up 16 percent over February, and April sales are on track to double that.

“Spirit alternatives like Ritual are today what veggie burgers and almond milk were a few years back: New, easy to knock, and so broadly desired there are now sections in the grocery store dedicated to them,” says founding partner Marcus Sakey. “Almond milk did $5.3 billion in 2018.”

Support from internationally acclaimed bartenders has given these alternatives further credentials. At Bar Kumiko in Chicago, partner and director Julia Momose curated an extensive “Spiritfrees” cocktail menu. The bar is currently offering five of these drinks as part of a temporary to-go menu.

One of the most vocal supporters of low- and no-ABV cocktails has been Derek Brown, owner of Washington D.C.’s Columbia Room. In February, Brown authored a high-profile article on embracing “mindful drinking” and detailing his own complicated relationship with alcohol.

Brown believes zero-proof cocktails can be just as delicious, interesting, and thought-provoking as those with booze. While he’s also noticed an anecdotal increase in alcohol consumption, he doesn’t think that will harm the low and no movements. In fact, Brown believes our current situation might serve as a wake-up call for many. “A lot of people who went into this wondering whether they had a drinking problem will come out of it knowing the answer to that,” he says.

For those who do, there’s never been a broader range of alternatives and support to help change those habits.

The article Will the Low- and No-ABV Movements Survive Covid-19? appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/coronavirus-impact-low-no-alcohol-movements/

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johnboothus · 4 years

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Will the Low- and No-ABV Movements Survive Covid-19?

Drinking Habits In a Global Pandemic

Drinking Habits During a Recession

But national sales statistics and the experience of recession-defying distilleries paint just part of the picture.

Hope For the Low- and No-ABV Movements

One of the most vocal supporters of the low- and no-ABV drinks has been Derek Brown, owner of Washington D.C.’s Columbia Room. In February, Brown authored a high-profile article on embracing “mindful drinking” and detailing his own complicated relationship with alcohol.

For those who do, there’s never been a broader range of alternatives and support to help change those habits.

The article Will the Low- and No-ABV Movements Survive Covid-19? appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/coronavirus-impact-low-no-alcohol-movements/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/will-the-low-and-no-abv-movements-survive-covid-19

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raisingsupergirl · 4 years

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Lent Wrap-Up 2020: What I Learned from Starvation

Living a public life comes with challenges. For instance, there's a fine line between being an encouragement to others and being a braggart. As the Bible dudes say, "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven," because you've already received your reward on earth. And so, when it comes to things like this—sharing my struggles and successes through my 2020 Lenten experience—I wonder if I should just keep most of it to myself.

First off, if you haven't been following, you might be fairly confused right now. "Lent just started!" Yeah, maybe for the rest of Christendom. Or, more specifically, for Catholic-dom. But as I shared about a month and a half ago, I'm not Catholic, so I can make my own rules. And I wanted to practice a season of self-restraint earlier this year, so I did. And it was pretty great… mostly.

Long story short, for forty days I gave up alcohol, tobacco, fast food, YouTube, video/phone games, most of social media, and late-night snacking (though that last one was an epic failure. Hey, nobody's perfect). As you'd expect, the first couple of weeks were the hardest. Habit, chemical dependency, and psychological dependency were tough things to kick, especially under the pressures of daily life, which robbed me of my focus. And, quite often, I noticed that I had to re-center myself and live in the moment instead of longing for the day when I wouldn't be burdened by all of my self-imposed rules anymore.

And that was the hardest part: remembering why I was going through it all in the first place, leaning in on God to give me strength and enjoyment, and celebrating the room I'd made for him by decluttering my life from all the distractions (instead of letting them distract me even in their absence). In fact, when I entered the last week of "my" Lent, I was so fed up with my lack focus that I did something drastic. I stopped eating.

You see, the things I'd given up were still masters of my life. I was still comfortable in so many ways that I still missed my creature comforts. Like our whole spoiled society that complains about every little thing because we've forgotten what poverty, war, and true fear feel like, I was throwing a daily pity party. So, instead of limping through the finish line and celebrating a mediocre victory, I gave myself something real to worry about. Starvation.

Okay, maybe I'm being a little dramatic. It was only three days. And it was only a partial fast where I still drank three nutrient packed Shakeology shakes every day. But that only amounted to 500 calories daily, which I burned off with exercise before 7 a.m. And so, by the time I got off work every night, I felt like I was literally dying. And you can bet that it took my mind off of things like Facebook and beer. And it really did help me focus in and appreciate the things that God gave me.

Of course, it still wasn't perfect. Or, should I say, I wasn't perfect. There were times when I wore my hunger like a badge of honor. It felt like bragging when I turned down the homemade cookies that a patient brought in to work. And I wasn't exactly sad about the almost ten pounds I lost in three days. But overall, I'm glad I did it. I didn't devolve into self-righteous asceticism, and when I broke my fast last weekend, I relished every bite and drink, giving thanks to the Provider for my many blessings. Especially the blessings of Hawaiian pizza and hot wings.

In some ways, I miss it. It happens every year. A part of me wishes that I could maintain that level of purposefulness, focus, and health. The last day of Lent, I weighed less than I had since high school, I was able to do more pull-ups than I ever had (twenty, in case you were wondering… not that I'm bragging. That would be wrong.), and my wife and I finished our taxes in record time. But as I said, the day after, I cherished the bliss that can only come from deep-fried meat and melted cheese. And right now, as I write this, I’m enjoying the late-winter sunshine overhead, the cherry cavendish in my pipe, the blackberry moonshine in my glass, and the sweet sounds of my little super girl fighting “bush monsters” around a crackling fire pit in our backyard.

For me, life is about balance, and since I'm prone to over-indulgence, that balance has to be an average, not a constant. Checks and balances. Seasons of celebration and seasons of fasting. In that way, I can appreciate life's joys without being consumed by them. I'm sure that method doesn't work for everyone, but it does for me.

Lent may be over for me, and maybe I'll never completely master my urges, but that doesn't mean I'll become a slave to them, either. Through a little hard work and a lot of prayer, I've gained a foothold. And I'll not let loose anytime soon. I don't say these things to brag or to discourage, but to inspire and encourage. I'm not a strong person. As I said, I have a tendency to overindulge. I have an addictive personality. I'm naturally lazy, and I'm not particularly brilliant. But I do live with purpose. I set goals for myself, even when it's not obvious that I need to. Doing so is good not only for my physical health, but also for my mental wellbeing. I haven't felt run-down or depressed for months. In fact, I've felt rather inspired. I've been working on projects and cherishing my family. Not because I've had any giant victories (quite the opposite, actually), but because I'm putting God at the center of my life and celebrating the small things. Maybe some of my bigger dreams will come to fruition this year, or this decade, or maybe not at all. But that won't stop me from adding little reasons to smile one day at a time.

Which reminds me, I have some left over hot wings in the fridge. Look at me, smiling again.

#lent #lent 2020 #fasting #christianity #faith #mindfulness #purpose #life goals #celebrating the little things #ole smokey moonshine #moonshine #family #momblr #mumblr #dadblr

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soberovereasy · 5 years

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what i’ve learned (so far)

We’re 58 days in, according to my little “nomo” sober app. 1 month, 4 weeks, 15 hours, and 33 minutes since I officially had my last drink.

I'll be real. I’ve tried a sip of my husband's beer and I had a bit of a crisis of self after I took some Nyquil (DOES IT COUNT???) but for the most part, sobriety hasn’t been difficult. That’s why I don’t really think I’m an alcoholic - they gave me weird meds and a stack of resources, and instead I quit them and tossed the packet. I don’t want to waste my life talking about my feelings in a shitty church basement, sipping tepid burned bean water and wondering when I get to leave. I know that AA is an amazing resource for a lot of people, but without even attending one meeting, I knew it wasn’t my style.

But after the full-on intervention I had, surely all of these strangers I’d never talked to before were right. I was certainly an addict! I’m in the hospital, after all!

I had my follow up with my PCP about a month after my incident, and he said “Does this mean you can never drink again? Nah. You just can’t drink like you used to.” He referred me to a guy who looked at my blood and ultrasound and said my fatty liver wasn’t consistent with alcoholism or damage. No long term damage, thankfully, but also no leads on why my liver insisted on being so fatty. He said I should never drink again (probably thought I was an alcoholic too). I know that these doctors see things. I know that they have to recommend the most extreme measure because THEY know that people don’t listen. People are dumb. Addicts are dumber.

I haven’t had another drink, though, because I haven’t had the opportunity arise where I wanted one. Sure, I’ve missed having a glass of wine with dinner and NYE was absolutely boring as hell, but for the most part what I’ve gained from sobriety is far better than what I’ve lost.

1. I feel great. I forgot what living without a hangover felt like. For me, being a little ill and feeling gross and tired all day was just a part of life. Now, I’m waking up at a normal time, going to bed before midnight, and my body is performing like it’s supposed to. I’m in a better mood most of the time. I’m sleeping like a log. I’m PEEING REGULARLY. It’s actually scary how rarely I peed before.

2. I’ve lost weight. Like, 15 pounds without even trying. Between the empty calories of alcohol and the midnight snacks (apparently drinking made me ravenous), I was able to drop weight with no problem when I stopped without changing my eating habits. I probably cut my calories in half, at LEAST. I also suspect that when your body is able to quit working on detoxing, it can focus on other things.

3. I’m not as bloated. You can tell, too. I slipped on some of my favorite loafers and they fit like a DREAM now. Three months ago, I could barely shove my fat feet in them. I thought I had “gained foot weight.” Nope, I was just a bloated cow. In fact, EVERYTHING fits better. Pants. Shoes. Skirts I haven’t been able to zip now slide up like they were made for me. I’m actually enjoying buying clothes and getting dressed again.

4. I feel hot. Seriously, I just feel great. I’m starting to feel sexy again. It’s weird. I’m interested to see how much more I can do once I start working out and eating healthy.

5. Oh yeah, working out? I do that now. Mostly because I am trying to do a Peloton challenge and do a class every day, but I actually have time and energy to do them.

6. TIME. Wow, I have so much time now. It helps that my friends have been out of town and busy, so I haven’t had much to turn down. I do get lonely, and I feel a little lame spending my time at home by myself, but I don’t mind. I’ve saved enough money that I bought myself a nice pair of shoes. I picked up a piano book so I can start playing again. I’ve sat down and read books at night. I started playing my Playstation for the first time since I bought it.

I could go on. Socially, hot tea or soda with cranberry have been a saving grace. At home, I usually sip on some diet cranberry or vitamin water. It’s funny, I used to bring home Vitamin Waters to help me nurse my hangovers. Now, I drink them as a substitute to wine.

I did find a few non-alcoholic or alcohol-removed wines that are pretty decent. The Ariel cabernet wasn’t half bad, and the Free Brut is delicious. They’re still just as expensive as a bottle of wine, of course, so it’s really just for special occasions or house parties, but it’s nice to have a substitute - and you can drink the whole bottle for like, 150 calories. It’s insane.

For the most part, my friends have been super supportive as well. I only have one that I suspect is leaving me out of stuff. We used to go drink just to have something to do or to wash our days away. I understand why our relationship is going to change a little, because I also think that I reflect some of her own choices to drink and it can’t be easy to confront those things. On the other hand, I have a few friends who have cut back on their drinking out of inspiration (including my own husband!) and it makes me proud to see how much better they’re feeling.

I still think it’s absolute bullshit that I’m the one that went to the hospital for pancreatitis when there are so many people who drink far more than I do and are far more awful.

Oh, that’s one more thing I’ve gained. My memory.

I find it kind of embarrassing how many memories I’ve drowned in the past. Nights in Paris got fuzzy after too many red wines. Happy Hour conversations repeated because I didn’t recall what we’d talked about the night before. I often got irritated at my husband because he would tell me we’d already talked about something or I’d ask him a question he’d already answered. When I think about how much of my life I have missed because my brain was physically incapable of making memories, I get a little sad. No more memories will be lost now.

So before I go - I want to address why it’s so easy to not drink right now. I think the main thing is, I know that I can’t drink like I used to, or it could kill me. I know how much it hurts and I know how much it costs, so I can never drink to get drunk ever again. I will likely never have another Miller Lite or vodka soda. So when I think about having my first drink after this long drought, a $2 house wine isn’t gonna cut it. I don’t know that I could even enjoy it! If I truly can only drink for the love of the taste, and not for the buzz or for the escape of drunkeness, then it makes no sense to quit my streak for cheap alcohol. I’m not going to throw away two months of feeling great for a glass of wine at Chili’s or a free beer at a mixer. I have to be choosy. I get to decide for myself how I’m going to move forward.

There’s also this voice in my head that worries that if I stray, I could go back to my old ways. That then, I’ll prove that I actually *am* alcoholic and I haven’t got anything to be proud of. That I actually need to go to meetings or therapy and there’s nothing special about my ability to cut off my drinking. That’s a distant fear, but a concern nonetheless. Because it’s so easy to justify Drink #2. #8. #....oh crap, my bill is how much? As much as I miss happy hour at my favorite restaurant and meeting friends downstairs at the bar for a glass of wine, I also am proud of the progress made.

I dunno. I need a sober friend to talk about all of this with, someone who used to drink and doesn’t now, because I’m feeling a lot of things that I know most people don’t understand. My friend A is a good source, and she checks in with me often, but I’d love to go have a tea with someone and talk about how dumb everyone looked on New Years, or how awkward it is when someone offers me a drink and I have to say “I don’t drink”. At least you can say that to strangers. It’s the people who you DO know that always make a bigger deal about it (or ask if you’re pregnant. NO!).

Speaking of pregnant - I might be going to Mexico in March with friends and I’m thinking of getting a fake pregnant belly so the language barrier doesn’t end me up in the hospital. No sir, just the soda. Thank you.

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isaiahrippinus · 4 years

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Will the Low- and No-ABV Movements Survive Covid-19?

Drinking Habits In a Global Pandemic

Drinking Habits During a Recession

But national sales statistics and the experience of recession-defying distilleries paint just part of the picture.

Hope For the Low- and No-ABV Movements

For those who do, there’s never been a broader range of alternatives and support to help change those habits.

The article Will the Low- and No-ABV Movements Survive Covid-19? appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/coronavirus-impact-low-no-alcohol-movements/ source https://vinology1.tumblr.com/post/616288664749834240

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adambstingus · 5 years

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A Sugar Scientist Reveals 6 Ways To Kick Added Sugar Out

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The Food and Drug Administrations new recommendation that Americans eat no more than 10 percent of calories from added sugar is a giant leap in the right direction, according to sugar scientist Laura Schmidt of the University of California, San Francisco. But confusion about the difference between added sugar and naturally-occurring sugar, as well as the way foods are marketed and labeled, have created a food environment in which people arent quite sure how much added sugar theyre actually eating — much less how to strategize ways to lower those numbers.

Naturally occurring sugar refers to the sugar that naturally comes in whole foods — say, the fructose in whole fruit, or the lactose in milk. Added sugar is the extra sugars and syrups that are added in the manufacturing of a food, like the white table sugar added to fruit to make jam, or the brown sugar in cookies and other baked goods.

Joining the World Health Organization and the American Heart Association, the FDA made its 10 percent recommendation for added sugars in order to help folks avoid developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity, which affects about one-third of American adults and roughly one in five children and teens.

In theory, it’s a great guideline, Schmidt explained. Practically, it means youre going to have to figure out how much is best for you. The AHA says the 10 percent rule converts to no more than 100 calories of added sugar, or six teaspoons, for women, and no more than 150 calories of added sugar, or nine teaspoons, for men.

For kids, those numbers are even lower. Preschoolers should eat no more than four teaspoons (16 grams), and children ages 4 to 8 should eat no more than three teaspoons (12 grams) a day. Finally, pre-teens and teens should eat no more than five to eight teaspoons (20 to 32 grams) of added sugar a day.

Unfortunately, the average American eats much more sugar than whats currently proposed about 16 percent of daily calories come from added sugar, according to the FDA, and its really easy to go over the limit considering a normal treat like a 12-ounce can of soda has 10 teaspoons of added sugar. Thats more than any person should consume in one day.

But if we can all get ourselves off the sugary drinks, we would be lowering our total sugar consumption, on a population level, by almost half. Dr. Laura Schmidt, sugar scientist

At TEDMED, a three-day conference focusing on health and medicine, we asked Schmidt, a professor of health policy, how we can cut down on sugar intake and create a healthier world for ourselves and our children.

Strategy 1: Stop buying sugary drinks.

Youve probably already heard this, and the rest of the U.S. is getting the message, too. Sales of soda are down more than 25 percent over the last 20 years, and sales of orange juice are down 40 percent since the late 90s. Schmidt says this should be the first step for anyone who wants to cut down on their added sugar intake: draw down slowly, and then use diet drinks if you have to in order to kick that final soda out of your life. As for juice, Schmidt suggested theres nothing healthier for kids than a piece of fruit and a glass of water.

For many people that can mean a lot of craving, and it can be hard, Schmidt said. But if we can all get ourselves off the sugary drinks, we would be lowering our total sugar consumption, on a population level, by almost half.”

Strategy 2: Get it out of your environment.

Schmidts research roots are in alcohol addiction, and she first began to get interested in the impact of sugar on diets when she learned one of the top reasons for liver transplants is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition linked to obesity and diabetes — not alcohol abuse. Consequently, although the research is out on whether sugar truly is an addictive substance in the traditionally scientific sense, Schmidt isnt afraid to use for sugary foods the same public health tactics she learned studying alcohol addiction.

That means people who struggle with added sugar consumption should clear their pantries of sugary offenders and commit to stop buying them in the first place.

“We call it harm reduction in addition treatment, Schmidt explained. “If I were an alcoholic, I dont spend a lot of time in bars. If I have a soda problem, then I dont have it in my house, and I try to avoid contexts where its highly available. Practically, that means if you have the financial means, shop at a farmers market or supermarket, not corner store bodegas where sodas and other junk food are front and center of the display.

Strategy 3: Delay age of first consumption for kids.

Another principle straight out of addiction treatment is to delay the first time a child has a food or drink with a lot of added sugar, Schmidt explained.

The goal should be to delay the age at which a kid first has a soda.

The goal should be to delay the age at which a kid first has a soda, Schmidt. And a child does not need juice its better to give kids whole fruit or maybe blend fruit up in a smoothie.

The theory behind this tactic, just like the principles that encourage parents to delay a teens first cigarette, alcoholic drink or sexual experience, is that the child grows up enjoying the way they feel without that cigarette and beer, or makes more mature and informed sexual choices as a young adult.

Schmidt said this idea shouldn’t be taken overboard — say, by telling all the parents in your social circle not to offer your kid soda — because it makes your child a pariah and that drink forbidden fruit. But your house, where kids spend most of their time, should be the healthiest environment it can possibly be.

Strategy 4: Be wary of foods that come in boxes, bags and cans.

Lets say youve kicked sugary drinks out of your kitchen and your everyday meals. The next step, said Schmidt, is to start hunting for that hidden sugar, usually found in highly processed foods that come in boxes, bags and cans. The more youre cooking from raw ingredients like whole foods, the less youre eating what Schmidt calls organijunk — snacks labeled organic, healthy or fortified with vitamins and nutrients, but full of hidden sugars.

Manufacturers have figured out that mothers know if sugar is in the first three listed ingredients, they dont buy it, Schmidt said. Now they just put 10 different kinds of sugar in the product.”

Be suspicious if a products ingredient list is long, she continued. Unless youre reading ingredients that you yourself would put in a homemade dish, dont buy it.

Strategy 5: Build a supportive community that cares about healthy eating.

Schmidt is impressed at how Crossfits company leadership united against selling sugary sports drinks at their gyms after an impartial review of the scientific evidence. She said she doesn’t know too much about the exercises that make up CrossFits core program, but she wishes other organizations — say hospitals, schools or workplaces — could have the same sense of responsibility toward community members.

Thats whats cool about what CrossFit did; they said, if were about health, lets look into this and actually decide whether we should be advocating Gatorade for our people, Schmidt said. Thats where I think the health sector needs to go; the hospitals need to stop giving unhealthy food to patients, because its our responsibility.

In the same way, she said, you can create a community that celebrates healthy choices in your school, church or parent-teacher associations.

As a sociologist Ive always been told real social change comes from civil society, she concluded. When you look at these organized entities, together they could get together and form a social movement — and thats when Washington starts to listen.”

Strategy 6: Get politically active.

You might not think attending political meetings or donating to campaign finance reform causes is part of a healthier diet, but in fact these steps are actually the most vital to create change on a national level. Politicians often don’t make the decisions that are best for the health of their constituents because theyre in the pockets of big donors from the food industry, Schmidt explained. The sooner we can pass campaign finance reform, the sooner politicians can get back to advocating for the health of their communities instead of looking for ways to do their jobs while still appeasing their donors.

A special 2012 analysis by Reuters noted that some of Big Foods greatest lobbying accomplishments include getting Congress to declare pizza a vegetable so it could remain on cafeteria menus, defeating soda taxes in dozens of states and killing a plan to make foods marketed to kids healthier.

The first thing we need to do is put pressure on our elected officials to stop taking money from corporations, and lobby our government agencies — the [National Institutes of Health], [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and every health organization — to stop, too said Schmidt. A lot of this is public information, so we should be using that to call people out.”

from All Of Beer http://allofbeer.com/a-sugar-scientist-reveals-6-ways-to-kick-added-sugar-out/ from All of Beer https://allofbeercom.tumblr.com/post/181562985312

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wholerestart-blog · 5 years

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The Difference Between Paleo & Whole30.

New Post has been published on https://wholerestart.com/the-difference-between-paleo-whole30/

The Difference Between Paleo & Whole30.

Nutrition Label from Slimfast shake

Eating clean

Paleo Lifestyle

There are many different approaches to clean eating that you’ve likely heard about. So what is exactly is the difference between Paleo & Whole30 which are two of the more popular?

Eat: Meats, eggs, vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, spices, herbs, healthy fats, and oils.

Avoid:

Dairy: Anything made from the milk of an animal like milk, cheese, yogurt, and cream. Alternatives to dairy: Coconut milk, coconut milk yogurt, almond milk, Ghee (sub for butter).

Gluten/Grains: Includes bread and pasta, wheat, spelt, rye, barley. Alternatives: Almond flour, coconut flour, cassava flour, tapioca flour (for thickening), arrowroot flour (for thickening).

Legumes: Beans, lentils and many more.

Some Oils: Vegetable oil, canola oil, soybean oil, cotton seed oil, sunflower oil, grape-seed oil. Alternatives: Olive oil, Coconut Oil, Avocado oil.

Trans Fat: Found in partially or fully hydrogenated oils like margarine.

Artificial sweeteners: Aspartame, sucralose, cyclamates, saccharin, acesulfame potassium.

How is Whole30 different?

On Whole30 you will also avoid:

Alcohol: Under the Paleo lifestyle people will have an occasional alcoholic beverage. Obviously avoiding beer which contains wheat and sugary cocktails. Whole30 excludes it completely.

Treats: No treats not even those made with natural sweeteners.

If you want to try Whole30 and are looking for more detailed guidance try this book.

Which is better?

Tell me about your experience with Whole30 or Paleo below! Lets stick together and encourage each other on this path.

#caveman #clean eating #healthy #Paleo #vegan #Whole30

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allofbeercom · 5 years