So, there they were. The orders from the doctor floating around in the air, waiting to be put into place. I looked at Lo and told him that this was our chance to begin a new life. He didn't look thrilled about it to be honest. I had waited for years for my family to come on board with a healthier lifestyle. I realize that no one shoves those fried chicken wings or baked potatoes with sour cream into my mouth, but hey; anyone that is trying to lose weight knows how difficult it is to eat differently than your whole family.
I can't tell you how many times Lo and my daughter have gone out together and stopped at McD's or brought home a dozen donuts just because they looked good. Being with a man that feels he has to eat any time of the day or night just because he is thinking of food and mistakes that for hunger breaks down my resolve continuously. I love food. I love the taste and the smell and the look of it. Lo does too. My kids do too. So, how does a family that uses the word LOVE when describing food change their lives? It's not without pain, believe me.
Lo still has the heart and lung issue to contend with. However, if I can do my part in helping all of us lose weight and get on some type exercise regime because it will save our lives in the end and keep my beloved with me longer, then call me a bitch and throw out all our processed food because I am going to do it! Doctor's orders!
Since this sentencing, er, I mean, order from the doctor; I have plunged into researching foods that have low fat, low sugar, low cholesterol and low or no sodium. This is a full time job. I am exhausted and thank the Lord that I have a little time left this summer before having to return to teaching. I want to be able to get a long list of recipes and ingredients under my wing that will taste good, be easy for all of us to handle and won't break me financially in doing so. Easy, huh? So far, it hasn't been.
For one, EVERYTHING has sodium in it. Even some of our fresh fruits and vegetables where it occurs naturally. I have never added salt to anything I cook with the exception of corn on the cob and possibly movie popcorn. I have always cooked with lots of herbs and spices to add flavor. I have always added fresh vegetables to everything I cook so that my picky family would learn to appreciate them. I keep a large fresh fruit bowl in the fridge and cut up celery, cucumbers and carrots so they are readily available to grab and eat. Unfortunately, it's the soup, cereal, crackers, breads and tortilla chips that are first choice for my loved ones. I eat enough salad in a week to feed a cow in a day but I cannot take off the weight and lose this excess water I carry like cement blocks in my legs. In my research for sodium free or very low sodium foods, I am discouraged to say that little to nothing falls in that category for a sodium free lifestyle.
I made a list after three days of googling and have all fruits and vegetables, oatmeal, puffed rice and wheat, shredded wheat, Jasmine rice, unbleached flour, some oils and some unsalted nuts to contain no to very little salt. Low sodium is considered 1 to 150 mg. per item, per serving. Since a person is to keep their range between 500 and 1500 mg. of sodium a day, this can be very difficult. Add trying to find low fat, low cholesterol and low sugar to compliment the low sodium and I'm afraid that even the grass growing in my front yard may have too much of a good thing for me.
I personally am afraid to eat anything. I also am monitoring Lo like a warrior and have him stressed out if he puts a piece of bread in his mouth. "Do you know that one slice of bread has 220 mg. of sodium?", I screech at him. He's always been a closet eater and now I fear I am going to make him take residence in the trunk of his car to eat, just so I can't see what he is eating. There has to be a happy medium here. I am trying to figure all of this out. It's very hard. It's very hard to go cold turkey and stop eating salt right away. It's very hard to hear the constant whining and complaining that nothing seems to have taste or doesn't appeal to them. I am woman, hear me roar (plus, I cook the food and buy the groceries here)! Right now, I am a force to be feared. I am scaring myself a bit too. Just last night, Lo had a handful of tortilla chips in his hand. After the fourth crunch I flew out of my chair and screamed out the amount of salt he was putting into his body. I cried and told him that the doctor said he would DIE if he didn't cut salt and lose weight. He fed the rest to the dog. I am so driven by fear that I am becoming a bit loony. I fear for the life of Lo. The future of my kids and myself. My finances and if I can continue to shop at the Health Food Store and get only two bags of groceries for the same price of 6 at my nearby Kroger. What about my coupons too? I don't see many made for food that is good for you. If we do find success in our new lifestyle, and WE WILL (I will make sure of it), will we be living in a box on the street to be able to afford it? Where will the balance come from?
I can't tell you how many times Lo and my daughter have gone out together and stopped at McD's or brought home a dozen donuts just because they looked good. Being with a man that feels he has to eat any time of the day or night just because he is thinking of food and mistakes that for hunger breaks down my resolve continuously. I love food. I love the taste and the smell and the look of it. Lo does too. My kids do too. So, how does a family that uses the word LOVE when describing food change their lives? It's not without pain, believe me.
Lo still has the heart and lung issue to contend with. However, if I can do my part in helping all of us lose weight and get on some type exercise regime because it will save our lives in the end and keep my beloved with me longer, then call me a bitch and throw out all our processed food because I am going to do it! Doctor's orders!
Since this sentencing, er, I mean, order from the doctor; I have plunged into researching foods that have low fat, low sugar, low cholesterol and low or no sodium. This is a full time job. I am exhausted and thank the Lord that I have a little time left this summer before having to return to teaching. I want to be able to get a long list of recipes and ingredients under my wing that will taste good, be easy for all of us to handle and won't break me financially in doing so. Easy, huh? So far, it hasn't been.
For one, EVERYTHING has sodium in it. Even some of our fresh fruits and vegetables where it occurs naturally. I have never added salt to anything I cook with the exception of corn on the cob and possibly movie popcorn. I have always cooked with lots of herbs and spices to add flavor. I have always added fresh vegetables to everything I cook so that my picky family would learn to appreciate them. I keep a large fresh fruit bowl in the fridge and cut up celery, cucumbers and carrots so they are readily available to grab and eat. Unfortunately, it's the soup, cereal, crackers, breads and tortilla chips that are first choice for my loved ones. I eat enough salad in a week to feed a cow in a day but I cannot take off the weight and lose this excess water I carry like cement blocks in my legs. In my research for sodium free or very low sodium foods, I am discouraged to say that little to nothing falls in that category for a sodium free lifestyle.
I made a list after three days of googling and have all fruits and vegetables, oatmeal, puffed rice and wheat, shredded wheat, Jasmine rice, unbleached flour, some oils and some unsalted nuts to contain no to very little salt. Low sodium is considered 1 to 150 mg. per item, per serving. Since a person is to keep their range between 500 and 1500 mg. of sodium a day, this can be very difficult. Add trying to find low fat, low cholesterol and low sugar to compliment the low sodium and I'm afraid that even the grass growing in my front yard may have too much of a good thing for me.
I personally am afraid to eat anything. I also am monitoring Lo like a warrior and have him stressed out if he puts a piece of bread in his mouth. "Do you know that one slice of bread has 220 mg. of sodium?", I screech at him. He's always been a closet eater and now I fear I am going to make him take residence in the trunk of his car to eat, just so I can't see what he is eating. There has to be a happy medium here. I am trying to figure all of this out. It's very hard. It's very hard to go cold turkey and stop eating salt right away. It's very hard to hear the constant whining and complaining that nothing seems to have taste or doesn't appeal to them. I am woman, hear me roar (plus, I cook the food and buy the groceries here)! Right now, I am a force to be feared. I am scaring myself a bit too. Just last night, Lo had a handful of tortilla chips in his hand. After the fourth crunch I flew out of my chair and screamed out the amount of salt he was putting into his body. I cried and told him that the doctor said he would DIE if he didn't cut salt and lose weight. He fed the rest to the dog. I am so driven by fear that I am becoming a bit loony. I fear for the life of Lo. The future of my kids and myself. My finances and if I can continue to shop at the Health Food Store and get only two bags of groceries for the same price of 6 at my nearby Kroger. What about my coupons too? I don't see many made for food that is good for you. If we do find success in our new lifestyle, and WE WILL (I will make sure of it), will we be living in a box on the street to be able to afford it? Where will the balance come from?
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