Fasting through the holidays

Well, I made it through the holidays (well almost, I am still on vacation) and did pretty well. On Christmas Eve I ate like a mad woman but within the window. WOW did I eat a lot of sugar. I think I had a sugar hangover in the morning. Then Christmas Day I had already decided to have two meals because we had two places to be. I ate lots again that day...it didn't feel very good eating all day. I am really not used to that, which is a good thing because I am much happier with one meal a day.

I weighed in after all of this food and I was only up 2Lbs. Up yes, but not as up as I was worried I would be. Today I weighed in and am exactly the same, so that is good. I will be on a break from all day fasts until January. There are so many social events during this time of year that it is too difficult to fit them in so I will just stick with my regular eating window and 19 hour fasts until January.

In January I am planning to take it to the next level. It will be one year since I began this journey and I am more than half way to my goal. I plan to incorporate some techniques from various sources. Of course I will continue with intermittent fasting and all day fasts once or twice a week. I will also continue with my workouts following along with the Venus Index building my ideal body under the excess fat I still have to lose. (I have completed the first four weeks of the program and have another eight weeks to go.)

The additions I plan to add in January are

1. I am going to remove dairy and wheat from my diet for one month. I have seen a naturopath and am seeking help with some digestive issues I have had ever since I had my gaul bladder removed 5 years ago. They strongly suggest cutting out wheat and dairy for a short time and then adding it back in slowly to determine if I have any allergies or sensitivities in that area. I struggled with this decision a bit because I really don't like the idea of depriving myself of anything, but, it is only for one month and if it helps me feel better then I am willing to try it.

I hope that I can make it as painless as possible replacing my pasta and bread with other brands that don't use wheat and using goat products instead of cow products throughout the process. I do see their point that the wheat and dairy products we all consume so much of are highly modified and genetically altered and the body has a hard time processing them. I am also going to follow their advice on a few supplements mainly a supplement that will help me digest my food better and a very strong probiotic. There are a few procedures that they do that I am going to try as well, including acupuncture. We will see how it goes.

2. I am going to follow the Gabriel Method. I have read his book and I found it to be a very interesting and logical approach. It makes so much sense to me. I have found ways to lower my body weight but I haven't fixed what was wrong in my mind that got me here in the first place. I hope that the methods he recommends will help cure me of my over eating and issues with food and body image.

I am hopeful with all of these techniques working together that I will reach my goal in 2011! Not only that, I hope to be a much healthier version of myself, aside from my outward appearance I want to look great on the inside too.