One Year Healthy Eating Plan Update
The suggested topic for Day 9 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge is to write about something inspiring, whether it’s something I did or something to inspire others. My topic today is a combination of both since it’s been a year since I started my healthy eating plan. This is my one year healthy eating plan update and if you re looking to change your lifestyle to eating healthier, I hope this inspires you.
A little background, last July I was diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. After doing some research, I realized I needed to change my diet immediately. I cut out sugar, sweets, white potatoes, bread and rice for starters. http://themarthareview.com/fatty-liver-disease/ These are some of the yummy desserts I use to eat!
Since I was a chocoholic plus lived on a giant cup of McD’s sweet tea daily (which was basically a large cup of sugar), I wasn’t sure how this plan would work. But I’m all for a challenge so I dug my heels in and started my new plan.
I cut both sweets and sugar COLD TURKEY and haven’t had a sweet tea in over a year. Instead I add frozen or fresh berries, orange or lemon slices and even mint leaves. Since I love tea, I also make spiced orange tea, peppermint and green tea.
Now you have to know that when I say I was a chocoholic, I mean I could share a bag of M&M’s with only me or eat brownies and milk for breakfast. But I wasn’t going to let this challenge get the best of me, I switched to protein bars, oatmeal or cut up apples sprinkled with cinnamon and organic coconut for breakfast and I didn’t even miss the chocolate!
I found a recipe for delicious organic almond joy bars and how yummy! http://themarthareview.com/organic-almond-joy-bars/ I also made avocado chocolate drop cookies but both of these are so rich I can’t even eat that much. http://themarthareview.com/chocolate-avocado-cookie-recipe/
Potatoes has always been on my dinner menu but now I’ve switched to sweet potatoes or “faux” mashed potatoes made from cauliflower. http://themarthareview.com/faux-mashed-potatoes/
Fast forward to nine months later when my lab work showed my liver had returned to normal and my gall stones, which I didn’t even know I had until my scan last year showed them, were gone! I was having so much stomach pain after eating but never knew why. That all disappeared since I started my healthy eating plan plus I also lost 24 pounds in the first two months and I have maintained my weight and I feel great.
As for exercise, I still can’t get into a steady routine but I do walk every day and work out on my cardio bike. At 70 years old I feel like a new me, mainly because all the stomach pain is gone.
Snacks now consist of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and my favorite is my homemade trail mix. http://themarthareview.com/delicious-trail-mix-recipe/
I don’t follow any particular diet plan, I just eat healthy options. I love salmon, eggs, tuna, chicken, vegetables and salads. I’ve also found that since cutting out the excess sugar, I’m less hungry than I use to be. So my own theory is that the sugar was only making me crave more sweets.
Don’t say you can’t change your diet to a more healthier plan, it may be a big change but you will find it’s well worth it. I made this big change at 70 years old and feel fantastic (okay so I’m just a kid at heart), if you are wanting to change to a more healthy eating plan there is no time like the present to start working on a healthy you and I hope my story has inspired you.
These are my previous updates with some menus, healthy snacks and delicious fruit smoothies. http://themarthareview.com/fatty-liver-disease/
http://themarthareview.com/healthy-eating-plan-update/ http://themarthareview.com/three-month-healthy-eating-plan-update/
http://themarthareview.com/six-month-healthy-eating-update/ http://themarthareview.com/nine-month-healthy-eating-update/
This post reminds me of the no white food diet I used to be on. This diet/lifestyle change has you cut out all white foods including sugar and flour. It is supposed to help with anxiety, depression and weight control. It was so hard for me to stay on that diet since I love sweets. Since I quit the diet over a year ago I gained a lot of weight.
Your post inspired me to try to get back on my diet. Thank you for writing this post.
Any diet change can be challenging to stick with Amanda but when I started my healthy eating plan I had no problem sticking with it. Maybe because I love a challenge of any kind! If I can help you getting back on track, let me know!
Congratulations on reversing your fatty liver. So many people would rather take medication than change their eating habits and lifestyle. Good for you for your commitment to your good health.
Thanks Karen, I would rather go the natural route instead of just popping medication that has so many side effects. My insides even feel better and I’m sticking to it! Thanks for stopping by!
You look fabulous, and your food looks colorful and tasty! I started on my diet change one week ago and have removed baked goods, fruit juices, white bread, white rice, and other stuff from my diet. I can feel my digestive system start to settle down. Today, I made a asparagus soup, and it was yummy! One day at a time in our road to better health!
Thanks Alice, I feel fabulous also! I know what you mean about feeling it in your digestive system, I couldn’t get over how much healthier I felt after just a week. Keep up the good work, we’ll consider this a personal challenge to eat and feel healthy!
Maybe I should take this off my to-do list and make it part of my routine…. 🙂
Sounds like a plan Roy, it’s not that hard and I’m still eating great meals! Let me know if you take the healthy eating challenge!
I so admire your discipline in sticking with your healthy eating plan and everything you have accomplished in the past year! I’m so happy it has worked so well for you. Thanks for keeping us updated. Maybe your success with it will inspire me. 🙂
I love a challenge Jeanine and once I started the healthy eating plan, I challenged myself to stick with it. Just like the UBC!! Thanks for stopping by, now go have a healthy snack!