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Day 83: Reflecting on Smart Carb Choices and Introducing Healthy Fats

A woman engages in active recovery in her home gym, reclined comfortably on a recumbent bike. With short brown hair, she watches a TV show on a large screen in front of her, promoting relaxation while she exercises. The pedals of the bike are at the front, near the wheel, enhancing the laid-back position. The setting includes other fitness equipment like dumbbells and a yoga mat, within a well-lit, cozy environment. This scene exemplifies a serene and effective indoor fitness session focused on active recovery.

Reflecting on Smart Carbs

Today's lesson offered a valuable recap of the past two weeks, focusing on our efforts to make smarter carb choices. We were encouraged to reflect on the changes we've implemented and the effectiveness of these strategies. For me, incorporating more beans into my diet through chili, experimenting with chickpea pasta, and opting for multigrain tortillas and popcorn over Doritos for snack times have been significant adjustments. Notably, ordering prepared deli chilis has been a practical way to integrate beans into my meals subtly, helping me overcome my dislike for their texture.

Realizing New Eating Habits

The shift towards smarter carb choices has gradually become more intuitive rather than a forced effort. However, I still find myself challenged by the concept of feeling full. Taking smaller portions has been helpful, and I've started leaving more than just one bite on my plate, which is a considerable shift from the clean-your-plate habit ingrained in my upbringing. This change underscores my progress in adopting a more mindful approach to eating which I'm quite surprised has happened so quickly into this program.

Insights from "Intuitive Eating"

Reading "Intuitive Eating" by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch has been enlightening, reinforcing many principles we've explored in this program. The book is dense with information and insights, prompting me to take detailed notes and proceed thoughtfully through its content. This reading complements our lessons well, offering deeper understanding and validation of the habits we're developing.

Gardening Adventures

In a blend of curiosity and enthusiasm, I ventured into new gardening territory by planting a sprouting potato in a specially designed sack. I am excited to try and grow potatoes, and the grow sack has a window/flap that opens near the bottom for harvesting. If they grow, I'll do a post about the process. As the days are quite warm I have shifted my citrus containers outside during the day and I am going to move those, plus the potato sack between my greenhouse overnight as it is quite cool still, no frost on the forecast but still in the single digits C, marks another step in my journey towards sustainability and self-sufficiency. I would love to be able to have a variety of foods growing at home.

Surprise Recipes

We don't often get recipes as part of our lessons from the program, they are shared through the coaches or on Facebook but today there were two! I'm not going to share those specific recipes but I'm going to see if ChatGPT can create something similar and post those separately. One was for a carrot cake made with dates as part of the cake and the icing and the other was a brownie recipe made with black beans, zucchini and dates again.

Black Bean Zucchini Brownies with Fresh Dates - includes Date, Cocoa, and Peanut Butter Icing

Carrot Cake with Fresh Dates - includes Date and Cashew Butter Icing

Nut free carrot cake with fresh dates - includes Date and Sunflower Seed Butter Icing

Active Recovery and Mental Well-being

Active recovery today included more than just our regular walks with the dog. I spent time on the recumbent bike, watching a show to make the time more enjoyable. Additionally, incorporating meditation into my routine continues to positively impact my emotional well-being, helping me maintain a calm and centered demeanor throughout the day.

Looking Ahead to Healthy Fats

As we transition to focusing on healthy fats tomorrow, I'm eager to learn how to integrate these vital nutrients into my diet effectively. This new habit promises to enhance our understanding of balancing our meals and ensuring our bodies receive the nourishment they need.

Today was not just a day of reflection but also of preparation for the new lessons ahead. Each step, whether in refining our diet, expanding our gardening skills, or enhancing our mental resilience, builds on the foundation laid by previous lessons, steering us towards a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.

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Location: Canada

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