Little Learnings Through the Bernstein Diet

I work in Aboriginal issues, and when we consult with communities, I love the roundtable, open-circle approach to discussing issues. The knowledge, wisdom, perspectives and realistic solutions from individuals is enlightening and refreshing.

As I reflect on Bernstein and its impact on my life, I want to take that open-circle approach. So I have the talking stick: here are my thoughts.

Sugar is poison

Salt is evil

I dont need to eat as much as I thought I did.

We (I as chef) relied on starches and meat to fill the void; processed white breads and sugar-laden products.

Im keeping the preferred products, and in the process of mapping out for each member of the family portions/foods and a new approach to meal planning that balances out what were eating and how much.

The program has given me the opportunity to stop the bus, do some research, evaluate my relationship with food, and what food I want to have in my life. I always admired high performance athletes who would say that their body is their temple and they dont ingest anything that harms it. I would think - yes, nice philosophy - as I drove through a McDonalds restaurant for a Big Mac. Now I know what that adage means, and have been living it. I want to continue living that clean-eating motto.

Now, in some communities, a sacred stick, pipe or other cultural object might be passed around the circle. The purpose is that each individual would "speak into it" (a metaphor for simply verbalizing publicly) their one action that they commit to implementing to continue the learning and path to change.

So, heres my personal commitment toward continued action. Im going to create a visual "talking stick" - a decorated plate to visualize how I will eat based on my learnings - as a commitment to myself for the future.

Im going to do that this weekend and Ill post a photo and display it on my fridge for daily visualize and action. Ill post it when its done.

What would your "talking stick" commitment look like?

And no...this picture is not it. Far from it...

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A little more than you need to know but for folks on the diet a helpful tip

CONSTIPATION

Because there is no fats in the diet, constipation does occur. Ive always had a lazy bowel to begin with, so I knew it was going to happen. I bought the Senokot.S laxative they recommend, and with after 2 tablets, you go. You then take 1 tablet daily (I just put it with my morning multi vit and potassium) and now Im regular like clockwork. Whew! ;-) The doctor recommended Wheat Bran; the nurses said Metamucil or Benefibre (no salt versions) but I just stuck with the Senokot.S. Works for me, and it does the job beautifully. The bran did nothing for me...

Image by mlhradio via Flickr

I just hit on something - a pattern that works for my body.

I noted that once a month, I would get a windfall 4 lb loss over the course of a couple of days. I wasnt quite sure how it happened, since I didnt seem to do anything special.

However, recall that I said that constipation is a problem on the diet? Well, I have found that by taking two (2) Senokot.S tablets before bed, certainly loosens things up.

Then I realized that by taking two tablets at night, and again another one with lunch, kept things very regular for me.

Well, Ive stumbled upon a little co-ing-ki-dink.

It seems that when I take the tablets, drink a good 64 oz of water (with lemon), go for my injections and check-up, my body does an amazing purge of water and solids. After about an hour, the b-complex injection really pushes through the system and causes a good half an hour of "quality time" with myself to evacuate all living things in my system. Not painfully or inconveniently, just efficiently.

Now, this is the third time this has occurred. Both times previously resulted in a total 8 lb loss. Likely the bulk being water and solids (hopefully the keytone fat released as well) but this helps achieve an amazing weekly additional loss.

I feel great, and keeps things moving, so for me, a regular daily evening dose and morning top-up of Senokot.S really works!

By the way - Im at 169 today. Even with my 2 lb jeans on. Yahoo!!!

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