First few days back on the program

I am into Day #4 of the Ideal Protein program.  I'm glad I made the decision to initiate this correction, as it has been almost a full three years since I did the program the first time.  That experience fundamentally changed how we eat as a family.  As such, the adjustment has been minimal at best.

Simply stated, I've cut out all sugars and carbs, though my consumption of both the last few years has been moderate.  My daily cheat had become my nuts mixture with a dollop of Greek yogurt and a splash of syrup for flavour in the evenings.  Outside of the odd ice cream cone, or larger than necessary servings, I did pretty good.  My one uncontrollable vice was bread, and it is probably the worst culprit of them all for adding to the waist line.

How did Ideal Protein change how I eat?

• Chips, nachos, processed cookies, rarely end up in the grocery cart, if ever
• I no longer drink beer. I get nostalgic thinking of the days when drinking this delicious nectar didn't pack on the pounds. Sadly, that is no longer the case. 
• Salads are a staple, carbs a treat.  In the old days it was opposite.
• My main drink is water.  Outside of coffee, it's all I drink, with the exception of sip of scotch every now and again.
• French Fries - which I love - are a once-every-couple-of-months treat rather than a daily one.

In shifting into Phase 1 of the Ideal Protein protocol, my evening snack has changed, my portion sizes have gotten smaller, and my appetite is greatly reduced.

The reduction of appetite is one of the blessings of ketosis, where in the absence of refined sugars and carbs the body begins to use its own fat stores for fuel.  I felt the transition into the state on Tuesday, walking home for an early lunch, feeling fuzzy, somewhat weak.  I felt it slightly yesterday, but noticed that the absence of hunger pangs had already set in.  My brain was no longer fixated with what was coming next in terms of food.

One of the ways the program has changed is that they send you daily motivational video tips.  So, the first thing I do is watch these short messages with recipe tips, physiology information, and ideas of how to keep it interesting during the monotonous routine of the eating regimen.  Ironically, I've learned a couple of basic food preparation things that will serve me for the rest of my life.  For instance, how to properly clean leeks.  I had no idea before.

I also thrive on routine and a predictable menu.  If I don't have to debate what to make for my meals, it is three less decisions I need to make in a day.  I actually like it.

I'm enormously pleased that I didn't suffer the raging headaches that I did the first time through the Ideal Protein journey.  I'll never forget the day we broke ground on the new airport terminal, sadly for that reason.

Heather has been away since Friday.  By the time she returns I will have been on the program for one full week.  I wonder if she's see a difference?  I know I feel different, though physical evidence is difficult to see at this point.