Abstinence from Chemicals for Health Challenge

**CrazyHomemaker** · 07-17-2010, 11:41 PM

Hello, everyone!

As my name suggests, I am a bit crazy. However, you'd be surprised how crazy I am not.

I want to issue a challenge to all who 1) want to lose weight without trying, 2) become healthier, 3) join me in the crazy and glad to be alive club.

Here is the challenge...for one week, stay away from anything that has food additives in it. In other words, if you can't recognize the ingredients, don't eat it. There are many options out there for foods that are free from additives. You'll have to eat fresher foods and read labels. But most of us do that anyway, right?!

This is only one week! Then come back and post here if you felt any different after one week and how much weight you lost.

I figured out this was my problem and in one week I felt incredibly better. In three months, I lost 30 pounds and kept it off. This has been since October 2006.

Good luck if you should choose to try this. I'll love to hear from you.

P.S. If you have a mysterious illness the doctors can't figure out, consider trying this first. I have no formal affiliation with the medical profession.

**Libby** · 07-17-2010, 11:51 PM

I so agree with this - by eating healthily and wholesome foodly, I've lost weight and kept it off and my energy levels are higher then they were when I started. I find I'm not as hungry as I used to be while eating the empty calories. But alas, I'm only human...I've given in to processed foods and treats again lately and I'm trying to get to get back to whole foods again so I don't re-gain lb's.

This is a great challenge and a 'cleanse' to your body w/o even trying. It's truly not as hard as you think.

**Drgnfly423** · 07-18-2010, 01:14 PM

I'm definitely interested in trying this. I've cut back substantially on additives, but still can't let go of my flavored coffee creamer. =)

**CrazyHomemaker** · 07-18-2010, 03:48 PM

I'm glad to hear of successes with trying this. We're only human and some things just taste too darn good to give them up. I'm a donut junkie, but I keep away from them except for a couple times a year. The funny thing is, if I make sweets and other foods considered junk food from scratch, it doesn't affect me. I don't gain weight, either.

I've actually had a couple of my doctors interested in what I'm doing.

**Luckybustert** · 07-18-2010, 05:59 PM

I've tried this before and felt a million times better when I wasn't putting all those chemicals into my body. Unfortunately, I also have a tendency to revert to old habits (like eating fast food) when I'm under stress or a lot of time constraints. How do you manage to keep on track?

**pollypurebred39** · 07-18-2010, 06:11 PM

Before my husband was laid off this is how we lived. Everything was organic/natural. Our food bill was crazy, but we felt SO MUCH BETTER! We also used only natural cleaning products. Those we purchased online with automated monthly ordering. Amazing what a difference it made in our lives. All of us feel blucky, and have not faired this layoff health wise well. We've suffered from headaches, fatigue, depression, unexplained aches and pains, the grumpies, and lots of infections and viruses. Oh, and weight gain

I wish you the best of luck with this. I'm positive that you'll see good results from this.

**Luckybustert** · 07-18-2010, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by pollypurebred39

Before my husband was laid off this is how we lived. Everything was organic/natural. Our food bill was crazy, but we felt SO MUCH BETTER! We also used only natural cleaning products. Those we purchased online with automated monthly ordering. Amazing what a difference it made in our lives. All of us feel blucky, and have not faired this layoff health wise well. We've suffered from headaches, fatigue, depression, unexplained aches and pains, the grumpies, and lots of infections and viruses. Oh, and weight gain

I wish you the best of luck with this. I'm positive that you'll see good results from this.

It's really unfortunate that the things that do us the most harm are also the most affordable. I think they could cut health care costs in our country dramatically if they'd just make eating organic and natural foods more affordable to people and promote it instead of constantly bombarding us with advertisements for Frankenfoods.

**pollypurebred39** · 07-18-2010, 07:30 PM

**Libby** · 07-18-2010, 08:31 PM

LB - I think "my" key to success was knowing that the junky fast food will ALWAYS STILL be there so if I don't give into the craving now...I can get it next time. (and as you've stated before: what works for one person may not work for another)

Each time I craved junk food - I thought of two things: what else could I be doing with this money and why do I want junky fast food? Listening to your body is hard to do but once you decipher why you want to eat something, its easier to say OK and make it at home instead. Healthier and more cost efficient.

The other thing is - I'll give into to craving but not each time. Try to push yourself away from giving in to it.

IE: Craving, ignore it today. If craving comes back again tmrw....try to push it off another day or two and if you're still having it after almost a week - give in and have it but not the full sized version. For fast food - the kids meal size is enough to satiate the taste but not add the lb's to your bod. If no kids meal option available...half the portion you'd normally serve yourself or only eat half of whatever you've ordered.

HTH

**BeachBaby** · 07-18-2010, 08:38 PM

I am definitely in and will start tomorrow.

I'll check back in a week.

**pollypurebred39** · 07-18-2010, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by Luckybustert

I've tried this before and felt a million times better when I wasn't putting all those chemicals into my body. Unfortunately, I also have a tendency to revert to old habits (like eating fast food) when I'm under stress or a lot of time constraints. How do you manage to keep on track?

We had a period of time that we spent more time at the all the specialist/tutors for DS2 then at home. On super crazy days I would pop into the health food market and buy premade chickens and sides from their hot bar. Most days I put a roast in the crockpot, but some days the health concerns/problems were dominant and made at home took a back seat.

For those, "I just want fast food junk" times, I made up my own fast foods. I made my own Big Macs & fries, Whoppers & onion rings, Kentucky fried chicken, biscuits & potato wedges. It worked for us.

**CrazyHomemaker** · 07-18-2010, 09:00 PM

Polly...you don't have to give up eating well because of layoffs and economy. You don't have to buy organic to feel better. Yeah, it's the best thing. But I don't think the 'organic' foods are really all that organic anyways. I'm a cynic with gov't regulations. I can't afford organic veggies unless I grow them. I just eat stuff that I can pronounce. I go off and on this diet, but I know I won't get too bad from an occasional binge.

Luckybustert...In my case, how I stay on the diet is I picture a skull and crossbones when I see the food. It helps me decide whether I want to fall off the wagon or not. For me, there is a 50/50 possibility that lovely goodie may put me in the hospital.

I'm excited to see the outcome of your week!

**pollypurebred39** · 07-18-2010, 09:26 PM

CrazyHomemaker,

yes, organic is not necessary to eat healthier. We do our best to eat well. We have found that in our family, "clean" low carb food is what we need to feel and be healthy. That is just not in the budget at this time, however I strive to purchase the best food I can. I often shop scratch and dent kind of places and can sometimes find products that are whole foods, sometimes organic. I make virtually everything mix wise homemade. I do believe we would be in much poorer health if I didn't.

It's the free with coupon items that I fill our cupboards with that have been to our detriment. I've not once had a coupon for a natural product that I could double/triple or combine with sales and get for free. These free products are what make up about 75% of the food that hits our table. Throw in the pizza shop leftovers from my husband's work and that takes us really over the top in the BAD for you department.

**CrazyHomemaker** · 07-20-2010, 07:09 AM

Polly...you're pretty much where I'm at. I do everything I can from scratch. That's pretty much everything. Once in a while I'll throw a chemical-laden pizza on the table because I'm lazy, I'm hungry for one, I'm strapped for cash and don't know what to make for dinner. I have a favorite deep discount grocer here. I get everything I can from there then I go to the big guys. I don't do coupons because there are none in my area for what I buy. I envy you that you can get stuff for free. I just can't eat the free stuff anymore. No biggie. Any one of us can only do the best we can. The whole point of this exercise is to make a few different decisions with a conscious mind and see what happens. You're doing the best you can for your family and you're conscious about it. That's the main point.

**CrazyHomemaker** · 07-24-2010, 02:41 PM

I forgot to do this...THANK YOU for whoever nominated me for the TOTW/F/M Award. I don't know what the acronym is for, but it's the third award I've received in my life. Too cool! Thanks, again.