I mentioned a little about the documentary Forks over Knives on Facebook. I watched this with Mr Smith last week and it woke me up a little. I struggle to get started with things I feel so inadequate at, but a flame has been kindled. It gave me some ideas of where to start on diet and nutrition in my home. But since I'm a visual person, I need to write down my thoughts and goals. There is so much confusion out there surrounding this subject even amongst the experts. Going off what a friend said, I will take the main repeated points and then modify what I think works great for us.
It didn't just start with the documentary mind you, remember Mr Smith and his obsession with "signs of the time"? Well, we're starting with the basic truths:
The Word of Wisdom
2 To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the aword of wisdom, showing forth the order andbwill of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days 3 Given for a principle with apromise, adapted to the capacity of the bweak and the weakest of all csaints, who are or can be called saints.
You can read in D&C 89 regarding wine, strong drinks, tobacco, etc... but I want to talk about everything else (if you struggle with those, you should start there)
You can read in D&C 89 regarding wine, strong drinks, tobacco, etc... but I want to talk about everything else (if you struggle with those, you should start there)
So what do the scriptures say about FOOD?
#1 Wholesome herbs are meant for our use in the season thereof. {So start an herb garden! start a vegetable garden! (herbs back then included vegetables too) And learn how to freeze a surplus}.
#1 Wholesome herbs are meant for our use in the season thereof. {So start an herb garden! start a vegetable garden! (herbs back then included vegetables too) And learn how to freeze a surplus}.
#2 Every fruit in the season thereof should be use with prudence. Fruit of the vine is good. Also that which yieldeth fruit whether in the ground or above ground.
#3 Animals (beasts & fowl) should be used sparingly. Subjective? It does continue to say it pleases the Lord if they are eaten only during winter and times of famine / excess hunger. {this relates well to the documentary, but they don't eat meat - period. And then one asks do eggs or dairy count? The documentary says no}.
# 4 Grain is the staff of life. For man and animal. All grain is good. Wheat is specifically mentioned for man. {And let's go ahead and assume we aren't talking refined grains…}
And do we not remember the promised blessings?
18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, a shall receiveb health in their navel and marrow to their bones; 19 And shall a find b wisdom and great c treasures of d knowledge, even hidden treasures; 20 And shall a run and not be b weary, and shall walk and not faint. 21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that thea destroying angel shall b pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.
Awesome blessings.
And that's what initially has me proactive. I'm not out for a fad diet that will help me lose weight. I know none of you thought that. And I hate to admit that I'm actually waddling on underweight, not by choice. (I know. hate me now) But my body and I aren't on great terms. Whether or not nursing and good genetics has allowed me to lose my 42 lbs of gained baby weight and 13 additional pounds within 9 months, it's a lot for a body to handle, me thinks. I need those 13 pounds back. and I miss my butt
But ignoring weight for a minute, I feel like my brain is working at half steam, I am weary all the time (and my life isn't stressful by any means), my allergies kill me in the winter season, I have dizzy, vertigo-verging symptoms just sitting still. I should probably stay better hydrated. My stomach still plagues me and we wonder if it's lactose or a combination of other things. I have zero muscle tone. (The goal is to gain that weight back in muscle). I don't exercise regularly, so my heart is weak.
More motivation comes from wanting my daughter to have all the nutrition she needs, whether from me nursing or giving her snacks during the day. I need to be healthy for my children. I also don't want my husband to go to an early grave.
More motivation comes from wanting my daughter to have all the nutrition she needs, whether from me nursing or giving her snacks during the day. I need to be healthy for my children. I also don't want my husband to go to an early grave.
And I think a good place to start is an 80% whole foods diet, squats, and a jogging stroller.
I definitely think the world is struggling with a medical overdose. I think narcotics are handed out like candy at the doctor's office and patients aren't even aware of what they're taking. I again agree with the documentary that so many illnesses can be treated with a proper diet, riding the need for many daily medicines doctors prescribe. However, don't hear me wrong when I say I love modern medicine (epidural anyone?) - I think some medicines do help people take back control over their lives and I'm grateful we have medicine when its needed. But it doesn't always have to be our first go-to. I've always been one to avoid it if possible, so this is easy for me to say. But even if you are taking medication, diet and exercise are still critical! But people just get confused, like me. OR lazy, like me. I mean for real I just ate a cinnamon raisin bagel (I bought them before the new conviction).
I will blog later about what my 80% whole foods diet means to me.
Because this post just got way too long.
My husband and I have revamped health and fitness in our home, we learned that I have a gluten sensitivity and since I have eliminated it in my diet, I have regained my health. I have normal bowels again and I have mental clarity and I am losing weight finally at normal and healthy speed (I still have grains, GF oats, brown rice, etc...). It amazes me how important it is what we eat. For him, it has done nothing, so he does eat things with gluten and feels great. We have eliminated many processed food, try to buy organically when we can and do buy meat that is grass-fed and cage free; because after seeing documentaries on how horrible they treat the animals, I feel like we would not be wise stewards to buy meat where the animals are not treated humanely. We are striving to live the word of wisdom to the best of our ability and I love seeing how our healthy choices are making us feel so much better. We have been working out for 6 weeks now and are seeing a difference. I think it is awesome you are also trying to make changes that will give your body what you need to be healthy. It is amazing how the gift of knowledge makes us great stewards over our responsibilities. :)
ReplyDeleteVery true about knowledge makes us great stewards and more responsible. We do have to figure out what works for us, but I think making ourselves aware in a great place to start.
DeleteWe watched it too and love it. We are cutting out one animal product at a time. In January it was meat, Feb is milk, and march is cheese. Peter makes his same recipes (spaghetti, chili, enchiladas...) Without meat and it actually taste great. He's lost 19 lbs but I've only lost 9 and my goal is 30. When I went on a break I felt like crap and now my days are better now that I'm back on it. I'm excited to see how you guys do it and get some ideas
ReplyDeleteWow power to you guys for cutting it out completely!! Do you plan on keeping it up? Eric loves enchiladas and so I try to do less chicken and more black beans, but idk it's hard to go just beans? Do you load it up with veggies? We'd love the recipe (or the basic ingredients)! Because typically they are nothing but chicken and cheese, haha. I hope we can get better at it! And hopefully I can share some pictures. I need to remember them too and pictures help.
DeleteI have been thinking about this alot lately as well. I didn't see the documentary, but my diet changes for Sam have been making me evaluate or diet. You know, I came to the con Clouston that we, as a family, could make one meal a week that is vegan, cut our portions of meat that we eat in our meals, and try to not waste any meat. However, I was researching foods that were high on folic acid (most pre and post natal vitamins havesoy inthem) and some of the research indicated that in order for your body to process folate it needs the B vitamins found mostly in meat to process the folate. So I kind of feel like your body needs meat for some nutrients...... especially when pregnant or b.f. However, I want to read "the China study"... It was recommended by Emily. Though Greg is really not on board with the no meat deal... I have heart disease in my family, so I am really trying to make changes! I love finding new healthy recipes that taste good, pretty rare for us! Love your posts!
ReplyDeleteWe had the one meal a week that was meatless more for cost. Meat is most expensive! So I think the more practical goal for us is like you said, just cut the meat or animal portions and learn to enjoy more vegetable and herb substitutes. I still think meat can be good too, but I definitely don't think we're used to the idea of sparingly...
DeleteI have been thinking about this alot lately as well. I didn't see the documentary, but my diet changes for Sam have been making me evaluate or diet. You know, I came to the con Clouston that we, as a family, could make one meal a week that is vegan, cut our portions of meat that we eat in our meals, and try to not waste any meat. However, I was researching foods that were high on folic acid (most pre and post natal vitamins havesoy inthem) and some of the research indicated that in order for your body to process folate it needs the B vitamins found mostly in meat to process the folate. So I kind of feel like your body needs meat for some nutrients...... especially when pregnant or b.f. However, I want to read "the China study"... It was recommended by Emily. Though Greg is really not on board with the no meat deal... I have heart disease in my family, so I am really trying to make changes! I love finding new healthy recipes that taste good, pretty rare for us! Love your posts!
ReplyDelete