1. So much to do. Taking something off the list is a great thing! I cook less. I have time and energy to put more effort into the meals that I am eating. AND then there's money. Less eating means more denero for the meals you DO have. So, steak it is. :)
2. Hormone changes. This goes for everyone. Man or woman we all have them and your body will adjust to what you are doing. The food we are eating on a Standard American Diet is not helping our hormones. We have to get back to basics and Eat What He Gave Us! Fruit, nuts, meat, veggies and water. Organic dairy! There are practices that make sense to a pocketbook and only the pocketbook. The things going on in non-organic dairy defines the difference. Oils are right up there doing the same damage. Stick to butter, coconut and olive oil. Soy is NOT your friend, Friend. If you are programming your body to be sick...hang on to your britches, cuz that's what you will get. BUT, if you are training your body to submit to your will instead of the other way around...those britches will be a few sizes smaller very soon. I am in love with the idea of victory. Nothing feels as good as knowing that the battle we fight is a hard one but we have already won the war! With open eyes and willing hearts we, as Christian believers, are to submit everything unto Christ. This doesn't just mean our wallet, our choice of churches or if we should apologize for bad behavior. It means everything. He has blessed us like CRAZY! We are free to choose what we want from a store full of food... down the street from our air conditioned homes... with our comfy car taking us there. We can't put down the Doritos and eat something He made so that we can stay alive long enough to live for Him? Honor Him? Serve Him? Most of us are living such fast and furious lives that we throw whatever will fit into our mouths. We live from one high to the next. Coke to coke, candy bar to cookie. We can't get enough and are just dying for it...and we ARE dying for it! Disease is rampant. But not here. We are standing for a change. We are LIVING for Him!!
3. Better sleep. Ryan has struggled for years with restless sleep. Since we began intermittent fasting he sleeps more soundly. He dreams the kind of things that leave you tired when you wake and waking often through the night. He recently had a snack before bed with guests that were visiting. When he woke the next morning he swore off ever doing it again. Most days we eat our last meal before 5 pm. This break has given Ryan peaceful sleep. No sugar-crazed dreaming and overloaded digestion taking place while your body should be resting! You could do this once a week for twenty-four hours or once a day. We eat lots of healthy fat and protein to help keep cravings to a minimum.
An article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition listed benefits of fasting.
They include:
Lowering of blood pressureReduction in damage to lipids, protein and DNA
Improvement in insulin sensitivity
Decrease in fat mass
*This list is all explained by the fact that when we break from eating our bodies have more time to rest and repair. In most of our worlds we are eating all the time. We are even told to eat smaller meals more often. I find that this is a difficult lifestyle and one I can't maintain. Most of us just end up eating all the time...period. Give it a rest and just watch the results. You will be amazed at what this body God gave us can do to heal what we have done to it.
4. Transition. Do a little at a time or do it all at once. Some people just can't ease into anything. The cannonball approach is how it is gonna be, if it is gonna be at all. Whatever works. Just start. Listen to your body....it's smarter than you. I didn't know what any of this was a few years ago. God took me from one thing to the next by letting my symptoms be my guide. Fasting helps speed recovery so I think it is a great idea to incorporate IF as soon as possible. What I am surprised by is that I am not hungry. For nineteen hours, sometimes more, I have no cravings or want for food. My body has adjusted and so will yours.
5. Recipes. I have been promising them and still haven't posted any other than the occasional FB pic in excitement of a great dish. IF gives lots of time to look into what you want to eat for the meals you prepare. I have been able to expand my cooking skills because of this extra time and have come up with some pretty tasty recipes in the process. I really like the simple ones I can throw together quick. Here are a few of them!
Creamy Italian Dressing
1 pint Organic Heavy Cream
3 Tablespoons White Wine Vinegar (or preferred)
*Sea salt and course Ground Pepper to taste
Mix and store in mason jar. Keep refrigerated up to two weeks.
**Optionally you could add in basil, chives, garlic, dill or any herb you like.
Frozen Banana Bites
1-2 Bananas
Peanut butter fudge (recipe below)
Dry Roasted Peanuts, Pecans or nut of your choice
Slice bananas and dip into freshly made chocolate. Arrange slices on wax paper lined cookie sheet and top with nuts. Place cookie sheet in the freezer and enjoy a "bite" anytime. Do NOT eat this all at once ;)
Peanut butter Fudge
1/2 cup coconut oil (slightly melted)
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1/4 cup raw honey
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Prepare a muffin pan with 10 muffin liners.
Put all ingredients in a bowl. It will be liquid-y.
Pour the liquid fudge into the prepared muffin liners dividing evenly between the ten of them. There will be about a half inch of fudge in each muffin liner.
Place the muffin pan in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until the fudge has hardened. (Sometimes I use the freezer and it only takes about 10 minutes)
**Optionally you can add nuts of your choice to this and "beef up" your cups. This makes the fudge go farther so spread it out to as many as you wish.
