Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Kick Start For Sleevers Week 2 (and Weekly Update)

Weekly Update: Last week was tough. Not because of what I was trying to eat, but because of what was going on in my life. This week is going to be just as tough as we are making transitions left and right in our little household. From homeschooling, to starting businesses, to working on cookbooks, to children moving location, it's becoming a little hectic around here. As a result, last week I succumbed to temptation a LOT. As a result, I gained weight. Did you know that you can gain weight on the sleeve? I didn't. This is the first time it's happened to me. But rather than sticking with all protein last week, I had carbs - sweets, chips, alcohol . . . It's my own doing. So this week, I am restarting with week one. I am confident that I CAN do it, I just need to get away from my addiction mentality once and for all.

Now back to what we were doing:

Kick Start For Sleevers Week 2!

After the last week, your body should have returned to a state of ketosis, which means your body is back into fat burning mode. While protein is wonderful, man can not live on meat alone. Okay, well technically man CAN live on meat alone, but WOman needs CHOCOLATE.

Jokes aside, while protein IS a vital part of nutrition, the next most important component belongs to our little plant friends: VEGETABLES. And this week is all about bringing them back into our lives.


Vegetation is important for so many reasons. First of all, there are the nutrients. Although we can get vitamins and minerals from a pill, actually EATING your vitamins is so much more beneficial! Second, there is the fiber content. Remember last week when you took all that fiber supplement? That's what plant foods do for us!

This week some of the most beneficial plants are going to make a comeback. Foods like spinach, kale, and lettuces. Squash and tomatoes and bell peppers.  Broccoli and cauliflower any and all non-starchy vegetables! Now we are not bringing fruit back yet - that comes next week, but this week it's all about the veggies!

Week 2
The Return of The Vegetable!

I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love my veggies.
I could eat a pound of asparagus in one sitting. It might take me two hours, but I can do it!
Week one always sucks for me!
So when week 2 rolls around, I breathe a HUGE sigh of relief!
VEGGIES!!

During week one our focus was to recommit ourselves to our protein needs. This week we begin to reacquaint ourselves with those foods that we once balked from.
 
Now there is a rule of thumb for sleevers – 7-10 bites of food is (usually) enough. That roughly translates to about 3 oz of protein and 1-2 oz of vegetables.  (roughly 5-6 oz of food total). Most of us, past 6 months, can eat about a cup of food at a time. This amount should measure close to that. If you’re still hungry after finishing everything, feel free to have more. These are good, healthy, and nutritious foods that will not harm your body.

Week 2 Allowed foods:
ALL week 1 foods PLUS:
ALL leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale, lettuces (in small amounts)
Broccoli, cauliflower, ALL squashes (summer, winter, and in-betweens!)
Onions, leeks, garlic, green onions, shallots, etc.
Tomatoes, avocados, ANY pepper (bell, chili, jalapeno, poblano, banana, etc)
Cucumbers . . . ANY non starchy vegetable!

Avoid:
Continue to avoid all carbs – flour, sugar, oats, etc.
Starchy vegetables and tubers such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, carrots, corn, peas, etc.
Beans and legumes
Artificial sweeteners (may use stevia)

Now, go eat your veggies, kids!



Please note there is not a sample meal plan for this week published at this time. If you would like to have one, please comment or email me and I will provide that information!