Day 9 | Working Through It

Today was different in that I wasn't feeling well. I had upper back aches that didn't go away no matter if I walked or sat down. I was also a lot hungrier today and felt like I grazed all day - healthily but I felt full. I'm wondering if the pain had anything to do with the lack of a bm today.

I feel as though I should be having movement in the colon at least twice a day with all the fruits, vegies and grains/oats I'm eating now but that isn't the case. Not only does this add to the feeling of being full but it causes an uneasy feeling throughout the day because you know you need to eliminate. I need to research this further and make sure I'm incorporating the right nutrients to ensure movement every day, if not twice a day.

Another thing I noticed is that I'm not drinking as much liquid as I did when my blood sugar was higher. I do keep track of what I drink daily ensuring that I have a minimum of 64 ounces of water but I think I need to drink more than that - it could help in the digestion and elimination processes.

It was a good day but I was less productive today because I wasn't feeling as well. I wanted to get out and walk but I just didn't feel like it. Exercise is so important to health regardless of weight. I am going to get myself outside tomorrow no matter what even if I walk slowly and move a little bit for at least 30 minutes.

Eating

As I mentioned I was grazing every couple of hours today. Normally this is good but I felt it was a little more than I should be eating unless its fresh fruit and vegetables. I really like the crunchy oat/grain snacks in between meals because it satisfies my need for crunch. The cinnamon wheat bundle cereal by Kashi is so good. I could eat this day and night with no problem. To expand the snack I mix it with 3 other oat/grain snacks in a ziploc bag - that way I can take it wherever I go to stave off hunger.

My new favorite meal is my bean fiesta or refried bean salad (see recipes below). The flavors are so great and I don't need dressing because the refried bean mixture has a lot going on. I could easily eat this at lunch and dinner every day, no kidding.

What I ate today:

• Grapefruit
• Nectarine
• Banana
• Oatmeal
• Ezekiel bread w/sour cherry jam
• Oat/grain snack mix
• Mexican-style marinated carrot slices (so much flavor!)
• Bubbie
• Bean Fiesta salad
• Hash browns with chili sauce (ketchup & taco sauce mixed)
• Cantalope
• Radish w/jalapeno mustard
• Fiesta bean dip
• Rice crackers

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Recipes:

Fiesta Bean Salad

Bean Dip - Dry saute the garlic and then add the beans - once combined and the beans are warm, add the other ingredients, cover and set aside (off heat)

• Fat free refried beans (canned or dehydrated)
• Fresh style salsa (any type, any spiciness)
• Jalapeno mustard (optional)
• Minced garlic (to taste)

Spanish Rice - I like to cook the rice with all the ingredients but it will take longer for the rice to split in order to be able to absorb all the flavors. It may be easiest to cook the rice and immediately add the combined ingredients as soon as its finished.

• Whole grain rice (any type as long as its not white/bleached)
• Tomato paste
• Vegetable broth (fat free)
• Minced garlic (to taste - I like a lot)
• Cilantro - washed and chopped finely
• Cumin - just a small pinch per can of refried beans
• Finely diced onion (any type, even shallots)
• Finely diced jalapeno (optional) - adds a nice little crunch

Salad

• Thick shredded crunchy lettuce
• Split grape tomatoes (the more, the better)
• Diced onion

Loosely combine warmed bean dip, warmed Spanish rice and salad ingredients all together and eat!