Pescatarian and Pick One Thing...
I thought now would be a good time to give a little update on our diet change. Kathy mentioned an update and expressed an interest in how things are going so I thought I would let you guys in on how it is going, how things are changing, and how we are feeling.
Well, in two days, it will be two weeks of no meat other than fish. Moving away from beef and pork wasn't difficult for me because since WLS, I've not been able to eat a lot of meat. When I did eat it, sometimes it hurt my belly. I mostly lived on chicken and fish but more chicken than fish with bacon twice a week. For me, I could tell a huge difference after two days. I've always had irritable bowl syndrome and have had really bad abdominal pain that seemed to linger around my liver. But two days without any meat other than fish, I stopped eating all the Tums and really began to feel more energetic.
Today, I noticed something else too: I've been eating a variety of raw vegetables for snacks and I've been sticking to it. All the vegetables and all the fish has made me extremely thirsty, so I am drinking a lot of water and much less diet coke. The water has rehydrated my skin and suddenly, I am feeling much less wrinkled...not that I look young, but the added water certainly hasn't hurt anything.
The down side; yep, there's a down side. First, cooking fish and seafood every day makes the house smell like fish, so I cannot leave my dishes for a minute. And, I have to take the trash out a lot more often because fish trash stinks. Also, all those fresh vegetables and particularly raw vegetables has regulated my already regular colon. While my poop isn't nearly as disgusting as when I was eating meat, my urine has a very different smell. When I eat seafood or halibut, I make sure to take baby wipes to the bathroom because I am afraid my urine might burn my skin with the smell of all that seafood. I am sure it's a normal chemical thing and maybe it will change, but it's killing me...really. My doctor said to eat pineapples a couple times a week and that will counteract the smell of fish in my urine. Now I'm not saying that my privates smell like fish but you know...urine goes on my vajayjay and I worry...so I make sure I keep the baby wipes handy.
Another thing I notice is that fresh vegetables and fish are filling but an hour after eating, I think I am still hungry. This has me coming up with strategies to either eat healthier or not eat at all. So, I keep carrots, celery, and cucumbers handy and crackers...but not a lot of crackers.
Next week, I am going to add a lot of tofu, much more beans, and maybe some portabella mushrooms as a main dish...I cannot wait to see how that goes.
DH is sticking to the new way of eating but I find him more hungry more often so I am always trying to find new ways to keep him into the new snack foods. He is already showing a weightless...I will lose 2 pounds to his 10...ha.
I wil tell you this; before I went all fish and veges, I would do a meatless Monday and Fish only Friday and that was sort of what lured me into this. So, if think this is something you want to try, go slowly...start eating fish a couple of times a week and start buying a variety of fresh vegetables...once you get the hang of cooking all those fresh things or dried beans often, you will be ready to move slowly. BTW, I did lose two pounds but we also started walking again and I started doing Yoga again...every little thing helps.
Let me know if you have any questions or want recipes. I have mastered the fish and the bean patties...and I've gotten really good with acorn and winter squash...But,remember, you fit your dietary needs to what is realistic for you...if it isn't going off of meat or chicken, pick pieces that are less fat and also cut the serving size down...
But you know...one day this week, pick one thing you are going to change...just for the day and maybe next week, you can pick that same thing but do it for two days. .
Julia, when I told my doctor that I'd noticed my urine was smelling different and he said drink more water and I said, well, see, I am drinking more water. Then I said, don't laugh but my urine smells a little fishy and since the urine you know is so close to my lady parts, I don't want my lady parts stinking....he tried not to laugh...he really did but he burst out and said, I've never heard any woman ever talk out loud about getting rid of a fishy smell. I said, hey, there is no fishy smell....it's my urine...to that he said, eat pineapples...the chemical in the pineapple will counteract the omega stuff from the fish during metabolism and the fishy urine will go away. But, he laughed out loud and I am sure he had a good laugh later from it too...
I think you and I would have a wonderful time together. We are probably like two peas in a pod.
I have another bit of good news to report: this morning, DH's fasting blood sugar was 124. His sugar hasn't been that low in years. Even when I found his stash of candy and tossed it and we cut out bread and cereals, it didn't get below 170. But, all the fresh vegetables and raw vegetables snacks and fish have paid off...if his blood sugar stays down throughout the day over a week, we are going to start cutting his insulin dose down. We are so excited. Today, he gets his cholesterol levels done...of course, I think it is too soon for his blood to show a difference but it might. I am keeping my fingers crossed. His cholesterol meds, insulin and diabetic supplies, and his diabetic pills cost us 500 bucks a month and that is with insurance. If we get to cut half of that cost, I see us saving that money for a good reward vacation next spring. Yeah...win, win, win.
Good morning Jeannie and OFF-
I'm happy to read your update on pescatarianism. It gives me hope and resolve to get back on track. I am going to find a good place to buy fish and increase that in my diet.
as for the smelly urine I too have had that issue especially after eating lobster. I bet Vickie's Carrie could give us the chemical explanation about this and natural ways to counteract the smell.
well I started back to water fitness Monday. I love being in the pool but feel like a whale due to the weight gain. Last night I ached so badly that my legs were twitching and I tossed and turned! I'll start teaching classes starting in November.
I bought all sorts of winter squash to oven roast. Just have to clear the way to the oven and stove top. I'm going to follow Connie's suggestion and unpack everything to the dining room table before putting it away into the kitchen. Better way to sort than having everything piled on the kitchen counters.
okay off to the boxes for me. Hugs and thoughts going out to all of you!
Cindi B
Jeannie, thanks for sharing all this...I want to introduce more fish in my diet, but it has always fell by the wayside. However, when you hear how well it is working it gives a person a new resolve!
It is especially good to hear about hubbys blood sugars improving. That is an added bonus and huge motivator for him.
I also chuckled about the fishy urine...hilarious. My laugh for the day!
Kathy
Hello Jeannie...I laughed until I peed my pants....I am serious!!
You are a hoot!! I love your humor and I love you!!
This post is really good information. If you can quit laughing long enough to soak it in!!! I had to read it a second time!!
I love fish too...I however couldn't eat it every meal. I like to change things up a little bit each day!! I haven't eaten red meat in a long time.
I will look forward to seeing how you prepare the fish each meal.
Thanks...more love....and hugs....connie d
