I fell off the wagon

Well, not me personally.  But I hear it all the time.  I am in quite a few bucket loads of groups on facebook  for HCG protocol, banting, LCHF, paleo peeps and every day there are several posts lamenting how they (the writer) have failed and fallen of the wagon.  Generally followed with self flagellation to an extreme.

Seriously, don't!  JUST DON'T!!!

Life is too short to beat yourself up over this shit.

At the end of the day all you can do is continue on eating what you know works for you.  

Take a look at why you 'fell off'

What caused you to eat something you feel you shouldn't have.

What exactly did you eat?

Life is there for living and food is there not only to fuel your body but also to enjoy.  

Maybe next time take a look at what you think you are craving, can that be satisfied with something that isn't going to hurt you or make you ill.

Sugar craving, try some almonds

Chocolate craving, have some super dark chocolate with high cacao 

But please, don't make yourself feel bad over it.

This is a life change. 

If it were a diet and you were trying to lose weight by a certain period then you might feel disappointed that that wasn't happening.

Because eating real food that your body agrees with is a lifestyle you are not time limited.

You cannot fail

Do you know what you are eating?

My kids are avid label readers.  

I have taught them to do this because I want them to make informed choices about their food and to know what they are eating.

In doing so we come across some unbelievable stuff.  

It really amazes me the lengths companies will go to increase their revenue by decreasing quality.  Stuff 'food' full of fillers, thickeners and other crap to make the produce go further.  Get more packets out of one item.

I tend to steer clear of prepackaged foods as a rule.  I do buy yoghurt occasionally and my kids get a pack of rice crackers sometimes when we are are out but generally I have cut back to very little from the supermarket shelves.

This item caught my eye the other day.  

On the front it said Sliced Chicken Breast.  

Now, like me I suspect you would expect that to be a chicken breast that had been thinly sliced.  

I have to admit even I was surprised when I turned the packet over and found an extensive ingredients list.

I mean, seriously! 

WHY???

The saddest thing about this is that the majority of people DON'T turn they packet over and check the ingredients. 

They rely on the manufacturer having their best interests at heart.  This is so far from the truth.  They don't give a shit about your health.

Some of them talk the talk but at the end of the day they are there to make money.

They plaster the front of their packets with whatever will sell,

LOW FAT

GLUTEN FREE

NATURAL FLAVOURS

HIGH FIBRE

ADDED VITAMINS

None of this means the actual product is healthy.

You see it in the cereal aisle and one of my pet hates is the rows of muesli bars and similar that are targeted at children's lunch boxes.  Have you seen how much sugar are in all of those things!

The latest celebrity to get on the 'no sugar' bandwagon is Jamie Oliver.  He has recently called for a sugar tax, stating that sugar is evil.   Yet, when you have a look on the ingredients of ALL his woolworths, ready made meals they contain substantial amounts of sugar.

Again, people will choose his products because he is a loved and trusted celebrity who obviously cares about what people eat!

DON'T TRUST!!

Read labels!

Whether you are LCHF, paleo, primal, vegan, vegetarian you need to know what you are putting into your body!

even better

Buy wholefoods and make your own!

I said LOW carb, NOT NO carb!!!

I am constantly astounded at the comments 

I see/hear from people regarding LCHF (Low carb, high fat).  

These generally range from people assuming you are depriving yourself of tasty food and treats through to people getting quite defensive about you 'cutting an entire food group'.

I have to assume they have no idea what it is I do and haven't done any research themselves, they just jump to conclusions and decide they should voice them far and wide.

Cutting out processed carbs, that are mostly grain foods and then saying you are depriving yourself of carbs entirely is the same as telling a vegetarian they need meat to get their protein!!

Total bullshit in my honest opinion!

It never ceases to amaze me that people feel should feel so strongly about what another person consumes.  At the end of the day we really only need to worry about our own health and habits I would have thought.
I do share links and info I come across, whether people choose to take it on board is entirely up to them and I am beastly careless if they do or not.
I would love for others to feel as great as I do and I do feel sad when I see or hear people lamenting their poor health and I wonder if dietary changes would make a difference.

In our house hold we have completely cut carbohydrates from processed foods and wheat/grain based foods.   We have minimised fruit, beans and pulses.  Does this mean we are getting NO carbs?  Obviously not, since fruit, vegetables, dairy and other sources still contain carbs.

Another concern by the opinionated masses is whether we can get through the day due to lack of energy, since carbs are the only source of fuel in their 'professional' opinion.

Since changing my diet I am now able to walk several kilometres a week where as before giving up carbs I was too sick.

A great site that addresses this is Mark's Daily Apple.  

Another great site with fabulous podcasts is Jimmy Moore's site.   

 Jimmy has loads of info on ketonic lifestyle and how to maintain it.
Also check out what Tim Noakes has to say on his site.  He does some great podcasts that he shares on his twitter feed to.

But you know, at the end of the day you do what suits you.  This suits me perfectly.  I haven't felt this great in forever and I love that others who are joining me are feeling the benefits too.