And yet, the Body Chemistry diet is extremely simple. There is only one absolute rule:
NO PROCESSED FOODS.
How hard could it be? I thought at first. Oh boy. (Let me tell you how hard.) Not only are you not allowed any processed sugars (no white sugar, brown sugar, or sugar substitutes--natural sweeteners like honey and molasses are allowed, but only in small quantities), but you're also allowed no processed grains.
No store-bought flour of any grain is allowed, unless that grain is sprouted. Ezekiel bread is allowed (and is sold at the Harp's in town), as are the home-brand sprouted-grain breads we found at Ozark Natural. But white rice? Nope. Pasta? No. No oatmeal for breakfast, either. The only grains allowed are sprouted grains, and very few places sell sprouted grains for a reasonable price.
And guess what? I'm going to start this diet, too. The Body Chemistry diet is medically proven to help rid the body of toxins, and to improve energy and all that jazz. I can use all the help I can get, when it comes to the energy department. Plus, any diet is easier to begin if you have an accountability partner ... so my housemate and I will actually be a great help to each other by doing this together.
Besides, the single years post college are the best years to make big lifestyle changes.
So, yesterday afternoon, I ran by Wally World and brought home a dehydrator and a whole shelf-full of fresh produce. What I don't eat fresh, I will dehydrate and take to work as snacks. (Oh yes ... and fruit can be eaten as snacks, but not with meals. Apparently the sugars change the way you digest your food, so it's not good to combine them with protein or something. I'm not entirely clean on the "whys" and "wherefores" of this particular point.) And ...
... insert random breaking-news earthquake story here ....
And today, my housemate and I made the long drive in to Fayetteville to get ahold of some grains and ... okay ... some shoes too. Ozark Natural is a fantastic resource for sprouted grain options, by the way, at least so far as Northwest Arkansas is concerned. This area isn't renowned for being caught up with the cool hip granola kids.
The point of this diet is, in the end, to live a healthier, more well-balanced life. To eradicate the unnecessary. To simplify.
I'm all about simplification.
I'm not saying this new diet will be easy. I'm going to miss my empty carbs. At the same time, I think the benefits outweigh the difficulties.
Look for some exciting new experimental recipes here in the next few weeks. I have all kinds of crazy foods on hand I've never tried before--radishes, star fruit, and jicama, to name a few--as well as some golden oldies I haven't had in a while. I love mangoes, sweet potato, and kiwifruit. I just haven't eaten them in a while. Time to change a few things! Time for an adventure.
I'm glad you have a partner in health! I wish I had one to help me exercise more and eat better. I don't know if I have it in me to try that diet though. I can definitely work on my eating habits, though....there is so much unhealthy food at my place of employment. In fact, we tell new employees to bear the LLH 15...or 25...oy.
ReplyDeleteResisting the temptation to snack at work is one of my primary struggles, as well. So many people bring sweets and baked goods in, and it's almost rude not to try some. Still and all, we CAN make the decision(s) not to eat the unhealthy stuff.
ReplyDeleteWe'll see how easy or hard this diet is. It may turn out that the primary hurdle is a psychological one.