Revelations in Eating: My (almost) Grain-Free Experiment
Doesn’t this look tasty? It is a lemon tart – not only is it gluten-free but grain-free. I made it as part of our Beltaine or May Day feast. Spring seem to be making a stronger appearance here in the North-North East and on April 30th we celebrated by blessing the fields, soon to be planted, and our animals. We also had our first fire pit of the year and enjoyed this amazing tart (see recipe info at the end of the post)…there is also fun contest info at the bottom of this post – so don’t miss that! Here comes another long one…I can wait until you get settled…:) OK, here we go.
Over the past few years I have tried a number of modified eating plans. I don’t use the D-word “diet”, because it alludes to something you do for a short period of time and then after go back to an un-healthy way of eating. “Lifestyle Change” doesn’t quite fit here either, because I already lead a pretty healthy lifestyle. For me it is not about “healthy” – it is about optimum health, about feeling the best I can and as someone who has been “tired” most of her life and can be “moody” – both to the point where it is sometimes a hindrance, I am always looking for the magic bullet to put everything back in balance. I believe food can heal, so put those two together and you have a person who has been tweaking her way of eating here and there for optimum health, for the past decade, at least.
This is not an easy post to write. I have shared a lot with my readers about my life on this blog – my thoughts on food, health, food politics and even religion over the past year. But talking about body image and health struggles are not so easy. There are just as many things wrong with our society’s demands on people to “fit in” as there is with our food system…and don’t even get me started on body image. But these are all things we struggle with in some way.
When I posted on my facebook page that I was going to be doing the 4-Hour Body “diet” for a month, people were very interested in the whys, the hows, etc. I started posting photos of many of my meals to give people examples of how to eat this way. I did not start this eating plan to lose weight. Well, it wasn’t my main motivation in any case. My main motivation was to detox from grains and sugar and this “slow carb” plan seemed very sensible. I will state for the record that I don’t agree with everything in the book and I am not a Tim Ferris advocate. I just like the simplicity of the food plan – no “white stuff” (grains, flours, potatoes), no sugar and no dairy (although I was allowed one TBS of cream in my coffee in the morning and I didn’t give up my daily kefir).
These past few months have been interesting. Despite raising chickens, I stopped eating eggs because Roberto and I are trying to start a family and have been unsuccessful thus far. I heard from several different friends that food allergies or sensitivities caused problems for them conceiving. I was told by my doctor to not eat gluten (a known sensitivity I have) or eggs. So in order to make up for the lack of eggs (and I eat a lot of eggs), I started eating more grains, a food group that I have had issues with my whole life. For several months I ate this way. My strength started to wane, I was tired all the time, my body felt like lead most days and my moods were not as good as they should have been. I was easily overwhelmed which is not a good thing in my busy life. I do happen to trust my doctor with my health, and yet sometimes doctors aren’t 100% right and your body tells the real story. I think that was the case with the eggs and I am glad I listened. I started eating eggs again, having 2 with dinner one night, and the next morning I was feeling better. Then I started the 4-Hour Body plan.
I took all my measurements the day I started the plan because I have “problem areas” just like everyone else. I heard a great many people successfully lose weight with this plan, I had put on a few extra pounds gorging on grains, and so I figured it would be fun to see if I lost those stubborn pounds I have had my whole life, in addition to the extras I gained from the grains.
Monday marked my one month period…and of course the sheet with all my measurements? Gone. I was very upset about this. I felt that I had worked really hard this month keeping away from grains, starchy foods and sugar (of any kind, including fruit) and I wanted quantitative results. Someone said that maybe that was the Universe’s way of telling me the numbers don’t matter, it is how I feel that matters. I must say that I do feel better. But like many, I have struggled all my life with body image, and when I look in the mirror, my brain does not give me an accurate representation of what my eyes actually see. So for me it is important when monitoring change to have something real and tangible to go on, because I can always convince myself that I feel better.
Regardless of all of that, a few important lessons came out of this experiment:
1) Do not entrust your husband with important papers, like measurements, just as an example…lol
2) On Saturdays, according to the 4-Hour Body guidelines, I was allowed to eat anything I wanted – a “binge” day. Which is why I say my experiment were “almost” grain free. My “binges” were raw or cultured dairy products, soaked buckwheat pancakes, breads made with quinoa or oats and potatoes for the most part. Oh and ice cream, and I realized those things had no negative effects on my body or mind when I introduced them back in. So going forward I will continue to eat buckwheat, quinoa and oats.
3) The only foods I really really missed were my buckwheat pancakes. Potatoes came in second and dairy products third. That surprised me, because I am crazy about cheese, but it is the truth.
4) Soaking my grains before eating them makes a world of difference. I have talked before about why I soak grains for digestibility. During those few months I wasn’t eating eggs, I was eating a variety of gluten-free breads and baked goods that I did not make, and therefore were not soaked, and I believe that was the real detriment in all of this.
5) Eggs are vitally important to my health. There are certain foods that my brain and body just love, that helps me stay in balance emotionally and physically – one of those foods are eggs, another is buckwheat.
6) Exercise is a must for me. The balance between hard physical work (in the form of strenuous farm chores, or exercise) and lots of healthy fats keep me sane and joyful.
7) My body is the way it is and I am at my ideal body weight. This is the hard one, and one that I will have a hard time remembering the lesson. Like I said, I have been tweaking for decades, I have done low carb, vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, South Beach, low-fat, WAPF, and now 4-Hour Body. When I was a teen, I was an exercise addict to the point that it wasn’t healthy for me and even with all that, I have never ever had a flat stomach or a tight ass. I know what you are saying – few people do. I know that too, but it doesn’t mean I don’t struggle with the fact that I don’t. I may have legs like tree trunks (one of the things I love about my body and something I have worked hard for this last year), but I have been conditioned through books, TV and movies to believe I should have a flat stomach and a tight ass and I fight that conditioning every day.
8*) The way I have eaten over the past (almost) 2 years, using the guidelines of the Weston Price Foundation (for more info read the PDF Healthy4Life) and applying Michael Pollan’s 80/20 rule to those guidelines helped me to lose 10 lbs in 2009, keep it off and maintain my weight for the past 2 years. A feat that no other way of eating ever has, and it has sustained me through rigorous weight training, kettle bell programs and the physical demands that running a small homestead requires. When I stick to that, the majority of the time, I feel awake, happy and strong. Some days I don’t, but I am not perfect and probably never will be! I have to remind myself that I am not Wonder Woman, Buffy the Vampire Slayer or even Sarah Connor, but that doesn’t keep me from trying to be the healthiest and strongest I can be.
9) That said, I do believe that different things work for different people. I wish I could tell you that we are all programmed the same way, and you could just learn from my experiments, and what your magic bullet is, but I can’t. But one thing is for sure– whole foods, local foods, seasonal foods, non-GMO, non-packaged, non-processed and non-industrialized foods are best for everyone. But the ratios of carbs to fats to proteins may vary. I also believe, although I have had many argue with me, that if we eat the food our ancestors ate most of the time, we will feel better.
So what will I eat going forward? I will eat what we grow on the homestead and meats and veggies from local farms. I will be sticking to the Weston Price Foundation Guidelines. I will be sticking to buckwheat, quinoa and oats in the grain department. I will enjoy healthy fats. I will joyfully eat and drink full fat dairy. I will eat potatoes. I will gorge on berries, especially when they are in season. But I will limit my starchy foods to 1-2 servings a day at most. Some days I might not have any. And I will eat eggs to my heart’s content* I will also continue exploring my various cultural heritages through food.
What my readers can look forward to:
1) More Let’s Get Cultured! posts on making cultured dairy products at home
2) More homemade (and lacto-fermented) condiments
3) Experiments in grain free desserts and baked goods
4) More Gluten-Free and Grain-Free recipes
5) Egg recipes!
*Before I stopped eating eggs, I got my cholesterol tested (so did Roberto). My general doctor described our results as “perfect”. She said it was clear we ate well and took care of ourselves. This is on a diet of 2-3 eggs per DAY, full fat dairy, other animal fats, butter, etc. But I will state for the record that the sources of our foods are good quality – grass-fed animals and pastured animals, organics, non-GMO, local and sustainable, etc. To me, that is what makes all the difference.
Gluten and Grain Free Lemon Tart
From The Spunky Coconut (the pie crust) and Simply Sugar & Gluten Free (refined sugar free lemon curd – the only think I changed was substitute honey for agave) – if you like Amy’s Lemon curd recipe, you are sure to love all her other recipes! The Foodie Blogroll is giving away 8 copies this month – so please go check it out!
Also, don’t forget the Leftover Queen Awards and Giveaway going on until May 15th! I want to hear your tips -what are some small things do you do in your kitchens that make you a “Leftover Queen”?
Jenni - May 5, 2011 at 10:45 am
You make me so happy. The tart is lovely, but I really appreciated hearing about body image issues. What particularly resonates is that your brain doesn’t accurately process what your eyes see. I so relate to that–whether I weigh 100lb or 140lb, or probably even if I weighed 180lb, I always see the same me. That’s why I Need reference clothes.
You are my hero(ine)!
Rosa - May 5, 2011 at 10:46 am
A splendid tart and interesting post! Yes, unfortunately, we all have to accept our body as it is… ,-)
Cheers,
Rosa
Sara, Ms. Adventures in Italy - May 5, 2011 at 11:08 am
Nice, I have also gone on a 4HB-similar diet (but some changes – some dairy and fruit) – but I’d love to hear more about what proteins you’re eating – eggs…and?
kat - May 5, 2011 at 11:21 am
Make sure your doctor checks your thyroid especially if you were tired all the time. It could also cause fertility issues if it isn’t working correctly. I know you really want someone else’s two cents but there it is…
ValleyWriter - May 5, 2011 at 11:22 am
I am so happy to hear you put it in writing that you are at your ideal weight – because you are! The fact that you’ve maintained it and that you’re healthy is proof. (Plus, I’ve seen you and you’re a very healthy shape!!)
I, too, have body image issues. There are parts of me that are more jiggly than I’d like, but no *healthy* ways I’ve tried to combat that have worked. Sure, when I was running 5 miles a day and eating 1200 calories, I weighed less and there was less jiggle – but there were too many bones sticking out in some spots and STILL some jiggly bits in other spots. (Plus my husband start to force feed me!) So now, I try really hard to accept my body for what it is, eat what it tells me to and take as good care of myself as I can. (Having that encouraging husband helps A LOT, too!)
As for trying to start a family, I am wishing you and Roberto all the best. I know you would make wonderful parents. I know I’ve mentioned this before, but you might want to check out the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility. It’s a great way to get in touch with your cycles – and I know several women who have used it with great success. (I actually used it as birth control – and it worked for that, too!)
Good luck, sweetie! <>
ValleyWriter - May 5, 2011 at 11:26 am
Oh and 1 more thing. I know the USDA is not your favorite organization – BUT in the new dietary guidelines, they’ve replaced the word “diet” with “healthy eating pattern.” I think it’s a great change – and a much better term for what many of us strive for.
The Duo Dishes - May 5, 2011 at 12:19 pm
It’s very brave of you to share this side of your life as it pertains to food and how you eat. There are many of us who work in or around the food industry and have a hard time with food and how it affects the body…when the effects are ‘negative’. You’re smart for moving away from the word diet though. You have to find what works for you then incorporate that into your life. After that, the rest is a mental and emotional journey. G’luck!
toontz - May 5, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Thank you for sharing Jen. Thankfully, I learned at an early age not to worry about what I weighed, but just to enjoy certain foods in moderation. Our main diet is very healthy, but there is always room for improvement. We can just relax, do our best, and for goodness sakes, do not stress about it. We do not use the word “diet” in our house. If one of the girls moan about their body shape or a bulge here or there, (and believe me, they are not overweight at all) I tell them to go take a walk. Exercise, even moderately, cures a lot of negative fluff that threatens to take over our common sense. Eat to live, do not live to eat. Certain foods in our diet cause problems, I cannot tolerate oats, and one of my daughters as well. We have always ate well, but I have slowly been implementing the Weston Price guidelines because it just seems to make a lot of sense to me. You really have to listen to YOUR body, because like you said, everyone is different.
Jacqueline - May 5, 2011 at 2:42 pm
It sounds like you have sorted it out for yourself Jenn. You have a very sensible head on your shoulders.
5 Star Foodie - May 5, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Thank you for sharing your revelations with us, you are so right that different things work for different people. That tart looks terrific, how neat that it is grain free!
Christy - May 5, 2011 at 3:45 pm
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post – thanks for the honesty. I think all women (and many men) struggle with body image and just wanting to be different. We live in a time where looks are too important. I agree that how you feel is so much more important. I wish you luck in the baby making dept – it is fun to try ;o) – I am sure the eggs are good for your body! Thanks for linking this to the Hearth and Soul Hop!
Alta - May 5, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Jenn, this was a wonderful honest post. A lot of us struggle with our body image (myself included – while I’m within that “ideal weight” range according to all the charts, it’s the higher end, and I definitely carry some jiggly parts from the waist down. I have tree trunks for legs too – but slightly squishy ones!) and suffer from that issue where we don’t see ourselves accurately in the mirror. When I cut back on grains and sweets and ramp up my strength training, I find my image issues improve – muscle tone can do wonders, and you FEEL stronger, which at least for me, improves how I feel. (and cutting grains and sweets reduces the cravings) But I do appreciate that you have come to grips with how you will treat your body, and I think what you’ve chosen is great! It sounds like a healthy, REAL way to live. We should cherish our bodies and the foods we eat – it’s all a gift from the Earth.
Happy Cook / FInla - May 6, 2011 at 1:53 am
I agree a very honest post I wish you and Roberto all the best .
bellini - May 6, 2011 at 8:31 am
The importance of experimenting is to listen to what your body tells you. I worked for an allergist for years and he always said that the test is only a guideline and that you listen to your body and find what works for you. I know that for myself a low carb, “no white” plan works best but the fact that I deviate from this plan often hinders me in becoming my ideal weight:D I am glad that you have found what works for you Jenn. I think we will always striggle with our own perseption of ourselves and our body image but you are definetely achieving your goals in life and on the homestead.
Angela@spinachtiger - May 6, 2011 at 8:43 am
I can relate to this article on many levels. I have recently dropped 10 pounds, the lowest I’ve been in over 25 years. I’ve experimented with various diets throughout my life. While my energy is exceedingly high which is my nature, my weight has always been stubborn and I’m a 25 year work-out queen. I’ve never “not” worked out, but I found that not to be enough. I think I am proving that I’m allergic to sugar and can only eat bread under certain circumstances. Eating bread in Italy and France and I lost weight so it’s not just bread. I’ve taken starches down to less than once a day and I never ever count my fat (olive oil, eggs a plenty and meat). I eat apples or pears every day and lots of almond butter on rice cakes. I can, however, do potatoes and oatmeal and be okay. I’m still discovering what all this means. I am nearing the end of Advocare’s 24 day challenge which has helped me break a weight number, and I’ll share that on my blog soon. I’m with you on all this experimenting and discovery. It gives me compassion for the very obese who don’t know where to start.
Angela@spinachtiger - May 6, 2011 at 8:48 am
I wanted to come back to say also, thank you, for your honesty about body image. I am learning to take pictures of myself so I can see the difference. I also put all my measurements in a place on my computer so I can do a weekly track and see what is working and not. Body image problems are partly caused by the culture we live in. The clothing models have unrealistic abnormal bodies so it’s disturbing when we try the same clothes on. This is especially true for those who shop on line. The on-line models are probably a size 0, and are over 5’10, which means they are not at a healthy weight and most likely sustain it with an eating disorder. Why doesn’t Michelle Obama take that on, instead of childhood obesity. Not to slam that effort, but until “parental” obesity is addressed, there is not much hope for the children.
tasteofbeirut - May 7, 2011 at 4:00 am
This is such a common concern, especially for women; I am glad that you are tackling it head on; good luck, you will do fine. Interesting recipe for the tart and I will be looking at all the new ones to publish on your site.
Arlene - May 7, 2011 at 6:08 pm
Well, in my “un”biased opinion you are PERFECT just the way you are.
That said, more on the post.
I have walked the aisle of diet books at the bookstore and have tried many of them myself. And like you have taken the best of a few of these and made them into a plan that works for me. Naturally, many of my eating habits that have evolved over the years have been through your research and practices. Eating fresh, local, organic. cutting way down white carbs and sugar seem to work well and seem most sensible. But I do not stress so much for an occasional bit here and there. And keeping an active lifestyle especially for us older folks is a good combination.
Body image – well we all know the stress of trying on bathing suits. Ha ha. But being healthy, strong and feeling good are way more important. Besides you are one foxy chic- just the way you are. 🙂
Arlene - May 7, 2011 at 6:09 pm
One more thing, the tart is AWESOME. SO GOOOOOOD!
Peter G @ Souvlaki For The Soul - May 7, 2011 at 11:41 pm
I love your honesty here Jenn! I too have experimented with different eating programs over the years, attempting to find the one that works for me. In the end, I discovered I had no allergies but needed to limit the amount of carbs (but not by much). Travelling and body clock changes don’t help much…so I stick to the old rule of “moderation”..a little of everything and no excessive binges. The body image issues are also relevant to men…again without being cliched I’ve learned to love what I have and go with it! Thank you for a very inspiring read!
Amanda - May 9, 2011 at 5:24 pm
oh gosh there’s so much here. I honestly think you take better care of yourself than anyone I know. And you revel in your strength and your connection to nature. And that’s a great place to be as you prepare to conceive. I am no expert, and you know a lot more than I do I think, but have you checked your thyroid? I had a problem for years and the only symptoms were itchy skin, hives from heat (ie the shower) and then after Lucy, or actually stRting mid pregnancy, horrible insomnia. No one ever thought of thyroid, but it was the root of it all. And I have two friends who’ve been trying for a while and both just found out they have thyroid issues. I don’t know it’s worth a shot. And it’s going to be one lucky baby to have parents like you two and a life like yours. The waiting is tough, I know. You’re brave to share it. Xoxo
Michelle - May 9, 2011 at 10:49 pm
What a beautiful, raw post. The fact that you are confident enough in your own skin to share such intimate details of your life is amazing. Posts like this are the reason that people relate so strongly to what you have to say. You are beautiful, regardless of what shape you have ever been. I love you. =)
Annika - May 12, 2011 at 7:26 am
I love this post and hearing about your experimentation and results. One comment: when you listed all the ways of eating you have tried, you didn’t mention paleo. Have you read Robb Wolf’s “The Paleo Solution”? He has had lots of success getting women pregnant (well, not him personally!) using a paleo diet. Your diet seems very close to paleo (or lacto-paleo) already, so admittedly you might not see a whole lot of benefit. His premise is that if you are showing any signs of inflammation, you should go strict paleo for 30 days and see what happens. For those with inflammation-related issues, that includes cutting out nightshades and eggs as well as the standard grains, legumes, and dairy. You have already tested eggs so hopefully you’re OK there – I know I would have to have my eggs pried out of my cold dead hands before giving them up! Check out robbwolf.com for more info.
The Leftover Queen - May 12, 2011 at 10:25 am
@Kat and @Amanda – I have had my thyroid checked in the past – like I said, I have been dealing with general lack of energy and tired-ness for years, and that was one of the first things I have checked. But I may have it re-checked, just in case – things change and you never know! So thanks for the reminder! 🙂
@Annika – thanks for the comment! Actually I have never gone paleo – the 4-hour body experiment is probably the closest I will ever come to it. I am a budding dairy farmer, and so the idea of eliminating dairy from my diet, is kinda like the eggs – pry it out of my cold dead hands! LOL.
Thanks everyone for all your comments on this post! xoxo
Cara - May 12, 2011 at 4:09 pm
Thank you for being so honest and open, this was a great read!
jo - May 20, 2011 at 12:22 pm
I’ve been awful with keeping up with blogs lately…. but your last post mentioned something that got me reading back to this post 🙂 *hugs* I am sorry I missed you mentioning that you’re trying to start a family! I know how hard it is when you’re not conceiving as soon as you’d wanted…
My ex and I were off birth control and trying to get pregnant for 4 years before we finally got pregnant… and after we did, we got pregnant twice more with ease. But what took us all that time the first time around we never did find out! I hope its something like that for you and Roberto (but maybe not as long!)
I wish you the best of luck Jenn…. you’re already a great Step Mom to Gwen and a wonderful Fur Mama to the Fur(and feather) Babes… we can all see that… and you will be an incredible Mom to your own too 🙂