Thanks guys. I have been reading lots of books about changing habits (Charles Duhigg, Gretchen Rubin etc) and have learned a lot. I agree that life always throws something at us. Getting through Thanksgiving is real inspiration. Perhaps it's easy to hide behind these events as an excuse not to start. But I really, really, really want to finish this and don't want to disappoint myself. I actually do feel proud of myself when I don't eat foods I'm not supposed to and that will help keep me going. It has made me aware of the total oversupply of treat food around. Treats used to be 'occasional' but I'm having to bat away offers several times a day. I'm two-thirds of the way through Day 1 and have eaten well so far. Only 29.3 to go!
KS and all who HACK YOUR DIET.....
Halloween begins what I have labeled "The Season Of Insanity".
The Season Of Insanity is the five winter months of the year where "the world" (ie: vendors of foodstuffs, diet and exercise) tries to dramatically increase your consumption of high-carb, high-sugar and high glycemic index foods. Halloween, it's simply candy of all sorts. Thanksgiving and Christmas, the overconsumption of the "traditional holiday foods". By New Year's Day, you've packed on 5-10 lbs you didn't have before Halloween, and the popular press expects you to "Make a New Year's Resolution". Diet and Exercise vendors start hawking their wares and plans the day after Christmas, and you are "encouraged" to go to the gym because, well, you made that resolution to lose those extra lbs, right?
Well, you go to the gym, and you feel like shit and try to work it off, but not much happens, you're being encouraged to over-indulge for New Year's Eve, for the Stupor Bowl, and you give up just in time to buy yourself a valentine-shaped box containing 5 lbs of fine chocolates for Valentine's Day. Screw those new year's resolutions, you'll never make it anyway, right?
Maybe you try one more time, but then, they hit you one more time with Easter and Easter candy and Easter Sunday dinners that look exactly like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
And then it's done. You are left with an extra 10lbs of fat, gluten bloating, deep belly fat and decreased insulin sensitivity. You're screwed, but you are expected to fix that problem over the summer, right? I mean, aren't you getting to the gym, or getting outside, or doing whatever young, hap'nin people do to shed the weight? I mean, you are gonna get rid of the weight so you can put it back on next year when we push our goodies in front of your face next year, right?
My point is: the onset of winter brings a coordinated attack by food vendors, state fairs, relatives, co-workers and even people you don't know. They ram crap food in front of you and expect you to "go for it" because, well, let's face it: we're all human right? We all put on a little weight as we age, right? That's only "natural", right?
Well, the pharisees in the temple can go fuck themselves. I declare war on the Season of Insanity. I HACK THE DIET and take responsibility. I use the principles of known good science and deep-seated indignance to wage war on the bastards and win.
Two years ago this coming March, I launched my attack and lost 80 lbs using the Keto Lifestyle (a "cousin" to Whole30). Whether you use Whole30, Paleo, Keto, Atkins, whatever, do what works for you, log everything you eat (LoseIt or MyFitnessPal) and find your own success.
Don't dwell on failure. If you slam down a pack of oreo double stuff, remember, OREO is a four-letter word. Get past it, crush it, burn the sugars and glutens out of your body with fierce exercise and don't stop for DAYS until the crap (literally) is gone.
You can do this, YOU CAN WIN. Hack the diet and damn the Season of Insanity!