Gluten-free

Well this is embarrassing.  I get that from Google Chrome. ;)

My step kids came to live with my husband and I March & April 2007 so my diet changed somewhat.  I had been eating vegan but eventually it was only vegetarian.  Both the adult male and the teenage female love cheese.  I began eating cheese... and eggs are so convenient (for protein and other things).  Life became very chaotic very quickly.  Excuses, excuses.  But I had yet to really plan my meals properly.  I was just learning what to eat.

Advance to current day, June 2011.  Just this calendar year, my husband and I are in a house and the kids are in the condo.

I've eaten no meat including fish for 6 years.  I'm now considering a vegan lifestyle again.

That decision came after I began re-reading about Celiac disease because it appeared that my niece, Allana may have it.  She is dealing with some unknown, yet-to-be diagnosed issue.  In any case, a gluten- and wheat-free diet can't hurt and I'm positive it can only help with digestion.  I went to Chapters and although I didn't commit to a book yet I learned a few things.  There were vegetarian gluten-free books but I always find there are so many recipes with lots of cheese.  Just like the challenge of eating out.  Vegan dishes are rare (except in restaurants that cater to that cuisine).  Part of a veg*n lifestyle is to be healthy so I don't want to be eating saturated fat.  So I found a book on eating vegan gluten-free.  It sounds strict, but oh-so-clean too!

I've noticed how "little" I can get away with eating, too, in reality.  That leads to me to think that I am also leaning towards eating fruit before each 'meal'.  Rather, on an empty stomach.  I think back to when I read Fit For Life by Dr. Harvey Diamond.  This was a dozen years ago... and Dr. Oz concurs.  So it seems valid.  I get that fruit and fiber nourishment as well as quick digestion then eat sufficient protein calories for sustenance and energy.  I think I can do it.  I need to meal plan though to pull it off.  It will be a process.

So in summary:

1. Vegan
2. Gluten-free
3. Fruit on an empty stomach / in the morning, all morning

This is my long-term plan.

In the short-term... over the past 4 weeks I've been participating in a "Phat Farm" with about 30 fellow employees.  I focused hard and was determined - in fact competitive for the first time in regards to my own weight loss.  I didn't think it possible, but in 28 days I lost 9.1 pounds, 5.08% of my body weight, 2 inches from my waist and 1 inch from my hips.  I am pleased!  My personal goal was to lose 5% of my body weight and I did!

My goal now is to lose an additional 5% of body weight... we are continuing the 'contest' for another 4-5 weeks.  Then I will likely want to aim for a 'final' 5%.  I think this will bring me to a body weight where I will need to determine if it's where I should be based on my body mass at that point.  Or... maybe it's just that I cannot fathom that I need to lose another 30 pounds!!?

OK, here's my weight:

May 24, 2011:  179.7 lbs
June 22, 2011:  170.6 lbs

I'm 5'6" tall.