Going whole hog - I mean whole grain!

[vesta]

Hello world.
I'm Tatjana. I've felt like crap for 2 years and since I've managed to stump the doctors, I've decided to take what control I do have into my own hands. Even if I can't control the extreme pain my jointies feel or the crippling fatigue, I can control what goes into my mouth. It came to me in that wacky state between waking and sleep while I was on prednisone: gooooo macrooooo...

I've spent the last 6 days reading and preparing for this moment. Having returned from a convention, I've got my rice and lentils soaking (not together), and I've set out some miso for breakfast... I went shopping for basic dry goods before I left and stopped on the way home from the airport for some fresh veggies.
I don't actually have a kitchen (yet), so I'll be cooking on the grill for now. My stove is in the garage, wrapped in plastic. My cast iron skillet and wok are ready for action!

I wish I could find a macro counselor in my area, but there is only a cooking class, as far as I know. My area is notoriously yuppy and expensive for alternative stuff. I do have symptoms of both extreme yin and extreme yang, so this should be pretty interesting. I'm taking the strict course to desludge enough to get a little more clear on what is going on. At this point I just feel like I need to start. Then I can worry about adjustments. I've even started a blog to chart my adventures and misadventures.

Anyhow, nice to meet you. Looking forward to getting to know you. Any wisdom is welcome. I know this first week will be tough. By Saturday I may need some cheering up. I hear by the fourth day you want to kill yourself, and then the fifth day comes and you leap from the bed like a new person. Well... something like that.

Cheers and happy chewing.
Tatjana

[Klara]

Tatjana,

Your spirit sounds fantastic. By "strict course" I take it you meant the #7 brown rice diet??

I haven't done that, actually afraid from so many things I've heard - it's been discussed a few times here on the forum.

Generally speaking, mb way is a gentle way, if at all possible - that's not to say I also haven't heard amazing things about the brown rice diet, but why go extreme, if you can go gently?

the mb diet is pretty challenging for newbies as it is - actually changing one's diet is almost always difficult - but like with everything in mb alot depends on you yourself, your condition, your motivation, your knowledge, your support system.

But since you're new and without a counselor, somehow jumping into the deep end just doesn't sit comfortably with me. Be careful - and ask for help if you feel funny!!!!

Klara

[vesta]

Hi Klara! Thank you soooo much for your wisdom!
Yeah... brown rice number 7 lasted one day.


Please no scoffing at the newb. You'll do anything if you feel badly enough.


Generally speaking, mb way is a gentle way, if at all possible - that's not to say I also haven't heard amazing things about the brown rice diet, but why go extreme, if you can go gently?

My body couldn't agree more! But The last 3 days I've included lots of veggies and have been playing with some condiments. I've been having miso when I get up and in the evening. I have lots of beans and as many grains as I could lay my hands on. While short grain browns might be the ultimate food, my body seems to really love hulled barley, polenta and bulghur, probably because I grew up on them overseas. I'm going with it, chewing the whole way.
I am also looking more at Christina Pirello's books.
Gentle will definitely be my key word.
Surprise thus far: I never thought I would like green tea.

[Klara]

Tatjana,

Be proud of yourself that you are so open and so honest with yourself. Your attitude is going to get you far - all the rest of the mb practice is just details that will of course change with your growing knowledge and with your awareness.

I loved how you said "playing with some condiments" - that's what it's all about, playing!!!! As long as you're not seriously ill, you can afford to goof, we all do, and we learn from those goofs.

What was the convention you went to? Are the cooking classes mb? if yes, go for it - if it's a good teacher, you'll get much more than just some recipes.

And if you do go to the cooking classes, repeat everything you made in class at home, and several times.

Do you get PBS? - Christina has a cooking show on PBS, I've never been lucky enough to catch it.

Be ready for lots more surprises

about being very yin and very yang - just try to be in the middle with your eating - too hard to see-saw to get to balance. (btw, just a small amount of beans is enough - you can cook it up with lots of veggies)

Keep up the great work.

Klara