I have completed 21 days of fasting- They say that's the amount of days it takes to create a habit and enact a change in behavior. And the best part is- I can feel the change!
I am not hungry all the time- as in physically hungry. My stomach does not ache and yearn for food, my brain does- but less than before. I have only to overcome the mental block, that learned urgency to eat 3+ times a day. The schedule has already successfully been broken, but the mind over matter part is still working itself out. I have been trying to close my eating window, to make it smaller. I figure that, if I eat 2000 or 1800 or 1500 calories in 4 hours, I am still getting the nutrition that I need.
For example, yesterday my sister invited me out to lunch. We met up around noon, and all I had eaten up to that point was some milk in my coffee and half of a yogurt (the other half my toddler wanted). From the moment my sister suggested lunch, I was like a missile locked in. YES. ALL THE LUNCH. She wanted sandwiches from a nice sandwich shop. YES. ALL THE SANDWICH. And as I tried to calm myself down, I realized that I didn't need to. If I ate one whole large delicious sandwich, it was OK. If it was made with quality ingredients and had a good veggie to meat to bread ratio, it was OK. I couldn't get a Chicken or eggplant parm sandwich smothered in cheese, that didn't sound healthy with the breading . I didn't want to get a 100% deli meat nitrate infused concoction either. But, a fresh baked roll with fresh arugula, roasted peppers, eggplant, and a healthy serving of prosciutto was right up my alley. No fries, no chips, no soda. And I could have stopped at half the sandwich and saved the rest for later, but I wasn't feeling full so I finished it- And I finished eating for the day. One large sandwich was all I needed. Vitamins/supplements, water, and green tea were the only other things I consumed.
And the truth of the matter is- I wasn't hungry. I didn't feel full either. And if I saw a commercial with food, or I walked into the kitchen, or had to feed the dog or the toddler- I just drank water.
I will say that I had a surprising side effect yesterday and I don't know where to attribute it. After I got done eating, I took my toddler home to put her down for a nap. Then I realized I was really tired. Even though I had 7 hours and 49 minutes of sleep the night before, I was so tired that I, too, wanted to nap- needed to nap. Granted, I had gotten up at 6:30 am which is way earlier than usual. Granted, I had been on my feet and going going going since 6:30 am. Granted, I had just eaten a large "comfort food" meal. I'm still not sure which one of those things are the reason that took a nap at 1:30 in the afternoon on a weekday. But-- I did it. Sorry, NOT SORRY.
I am surviving this.
I am not hungry..... all the time.
I am seeing results!
I am a tired stay at home and work-a-side-hustle MOM.
Cheers all- keep chugging that water!!
I am not hungry all the time- as in physically hungry. My stomach does not ache and yearn for food, my brain does- but less than before. I have only to overcome the mental block, that learned urgency to eat 3+ times a day. The schedule has already successfully been broken, but the mind over matter part is still working itself out. I have been trying to close my eating window, to make it smaller. I figure that, if I eat 2000 or 1800 or 1500 calories in 4 hours, I am still getting the nutrition that I need.
For example, yesterday my sister invited me out to lunch. We met up around noon, and all I had eaten up to that point was some milk in my coffee and half of a yogurt (the other half my toddler wanted). From the moment my sister suggested lunch, I was like a missile locked in. YES. ALL THE LUNCH. She wanted sandwiches from a nice sandwich shop. YES. ALL THE SANDWICH. And as I tried to calm myself down, I realized that I didn't need to. If I ate one whole large delicious sandwich, it was OK. If it was made with quality ingredients and had a good veggie to meat to bread ratio, it was OK. I couldn't get a Chicken or eggplant parm sandwich smothered in cheese, that didn't sound healthy with the breading . I didn't want to get a 100% deli meat nitrate infused concoction either. But, a fresh baked roll with fresh arugula, roasted peppers, eggplant, and a healthy serving of prosciutto was right up my alley. No fries, no chips, no soda. And I could have stopped at half the sandwich and saved the rest for later, but I wasn't feeling full so I finished it- And I finished eating for the day. One large sandwich was all I needed. Vitamins/supplements, water, and green tea were the only other things I consumed.
And the truth of the matter is- I wasn't hungry. I didn't feel full either. And if I saw a commercial with food, or I walked into the kitchen, or had to feed the dog or the toddler- I just drank water.
I will say that I had a surprising side effect yesterday and I don't know where to attribute it. After I got done eating, I took my toddler home to put her down for a nap. Then I realized I was really tired. Even though I had 7 hours and 49 minutes of sleep the night before, I was so tired that I, too, wanted to nap- needed to nap. Granted, I had gotten up at 6:30 am which is way earlier than usual. Granted, I had been on my feet and going going going since 6:30 am. Granted, I had just eaten a large "comfort food" meal. I'm still not sure which one of those things are the reason that took a nap at 1:30 in the afternoon on a weekday. But-- I did it. Sorry, NOT SORRY.
I am surviving this.
I am not hungry..... all the time.
I am seeing results!
I am a tired stay at home and work-a-side-hustle MOM.
Cheers all- keep chugging that water!!
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