I wasn't able to make much of a start two weeks ago on cleaning up my diet. I'd been going out to breakfast every day, and there was no way I could eat paleo while doing that. Now the weather is colder (it's less tempting to walk to a cafe every morning) and I've been thinking about my health issues and priorities and the fact that this is life or death to me. I have a deadly health problem that could be fixed by diet. I'm ready to get serious - about grain, anyway. I'm not off dairy yet.
I'm on coffee again. When I don't buy coffee, I go out to breakfast because I want coffee, and then I have some sort of bread thing for breakfast because that's all they have, and that just sets me up for carb cravings all day. Plus it starts me off each morning with the idea that I've already blown it. So I just bought a pound of coffee and some milk - NOT paleo, I'm well aware - but I think grain is the more serious issue and I will do better if I edge towards the goal. If I eat breakfast at home, I can get off grain.
The problem I was having before is I didn't know what to eat - especially for breakfast. I need to slowly develop new habits - new favorite breakfasts, in particular. I need to learn how to make some new things. Otherwise I eat paleo for a day then I get sick to death of meat, eggs, repeat.
I find that I like carbs in the morning. As long as I deny this fact, I will have trouble sticking with paleo. So I'm thinking that I can make breakfast the time I eat carbs - but make them healthy carbs (winter squash, fruit). If I only eat them in the morning and it's limited to winter squash and fruit (and perhaps roots), my carbs will be below the 60-70 grams per day that I'm aiming for.
Anyway, this is what I'm trying.
Today for breakfast I had some winter squash - just mashed with some cinnamon and salt - with a poached egg on top and some bacon. It was quite good (except for the fact that I overcooked the egg - I need to finetune my poaching technique).
I have an idea - perhaps crazy - that people can sense inside themselves when they are going to die. My internal sense is that I'm at a crossroads. I have indeterminate dysplasia in my colon from years of chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can progress to colon cancer or can go away. And I think what happens is somewhat under my control, depending on what I eat. If I get my carbs and omega-6s under control, I can greatly reduce my risk. I know this from all I've read. It's insane not to try it.
If I cut out grain, I'll cut out most of my carbs. I'm being very mindful about eating nuts and seeds (sticking mainly to walnuts), avoiding PUFAs like safflower and sunflower oil, and I'm taking an omega-3 supplement that has antioxidants (krill oil).
I was pretty good about what I ate yesterday (if you don't count a bit of Halloween chocolate). Today I want to do even better. I need to keep the quick-digesting sugars down. I know this makes a difference in bowel health. It's hard, but when I don't eat them I stop craving them, and that's a much more comfortable way to live, even apart from the health issue.
Nancy, I think you are totally right that the key is keeping the consequences of what I eat top of mind. It's when I slip into denial that I get into trouble. If I eat excessive carbs and omega-6s, I could shorten my life by decades, and shift from a death from old age to a horrible, painful, premature death from colon cancer. Is a brownie worth that?! I don't think so!
Also, during my recent two weeks of ambivalence, I did some rebellion eating and gained about five pounds. I would like to lose that and perhaps a bit more, though weight loss is not my main goal. My main goal is health.
So wish me luck! Today is the first day of the rest of my life!