Day One: There is no TRY, only DO

I've tried the Eat to Live high nutrient eating plan before and once I got over the intense cravings that had me hating Dr. Joel Fuhrman, I actually lost a goodly amount of weight. I think I even got under 160 lbs. But I've gained it all back and fallen into eating sugary desserts again. I've noticed that my hot flashes have returned with a vengeance.

The Rules:

• Eat a pound of raw vegetables per day
• Eat another pound of cooked green vegetables, including mushrooms, peppers, onion, eggplant and summer squash.
• Eat all of the fresh fruit that I want.
• Eat one serving of cooked starchy vegetables (carrots, winter squash, potatoes) or grains a day.
• Eat all of the cooked beans that I want.
• Eat 2 oz. of avocado and one oz. of nuts per day.
• No animal products.
• No oils.
• No dried fruits or fruit juices.

This is just for the first six weeks. Then I'll add in some dried fruits.
Dr. Fuhrman likens the type of commitment you need to the one you make when you get married. I guess committing yourself to your health is extremely important. I do not feel good at the weight I'm at. I am tired, achy, and stiff in my joints. When I get up from sitting, I feel old and I have to consciously straighten up because my tendency is to want to stoop over like a 90 year old!

Already this morning I've eaten a small green smoothie (4-6 oz), two oranges and a large green salad. I'm still hungry. The first few days are like this. All my cravings are screaming to be fed!

ETL says that some people lose a pound a day. Wow that would be something, but I've never achieved that. Three pounds a week would be nice, though!

Here's my letter to myself:
Kristen, you can do anything for six weeks. It's only 42 days and remember, 42 is the secret of the universe so it might well be the secret of turning your health around too!
When you eat low nutrient food, it may taste good for a minute, but then you feel lousy for hours. Plus you gain weight. That's just foolish. You are wiser than that! You will have to sacrifice all of those low nutrient addictive foods for at least 6 weeks, but the pay off will be very happy! Someday you may be able to eat some of those foods, but remember how you really don't even miss them once you've gotten over the cravings? You really won't miss them. And you'll feel that sense of power over your cravings that is so liberating. You'll be FREE! That is a good feeling!