This is it!!! The great milestone I longed to achieve. Two weeks ago I made a goal for just two weeks ... to see if for two weeks I could hold myself to a strict diet ... stricter than necessary maybe, but strict none the less. The purpose: to attempt to begin the nightmarish battle of returning food from the "diety" category to the resource category in my life and to hopefully have some form of positive effect on my body's swelling condition. Additionally I was hoping to see other parts of my life fall into stricter discipline as well. So, what now?
Well simmer down lightening, first let me tell you about my day!
I made a wonderful batch of whole wheat biscuits for breakfast this morning. They were amazing! The recipe? 2 cups whole wheat flour, 1 tbs baking powder, 2 tbs soft sweet cream unsalted butter, 1/2 cup skim milk, 1/2tsp salt, honey (optional), and some water and oil.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl, mix the flour, salt, and baking powder. Then fork in the butter. Work the butter into the flour mix with the fork until there are no longer any noticeable clumps ... the grainier, the better. Stir in the milk (and honey here - how much is up to you but if you want to taste it about 1/4 cup - it is quite delicious without it) , then mix well. Add water slowly until the mixture forms a dry ball ... it should not by flaking (too dry) but it should also not be mushy (too wet). Since whole wheat flour is so dry, there is not one certain amount that is perfect since there is a margin of error in the measuring of the cups.
In a small cast iron pan, pour enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan and set about 1/8 inch. "Spoon off" [with your hands] 2in diameter balls, place in oil, and line around the skillet. Be sure to roll the dough in the oil ... you want oil covering the the dough. Form them in a circle then fill in the center. Squeeze them together. Flatten the dough in the pan, then throw it in the oven. 18 - 20 minutes later flip the broiler on and leave the biscuits in there for 2 minutes ... be careful, they will burn if left in longer. Take the skillet out, place a plate over the top, flip over and the biscuits should come out easily. If you didn't oil sufficiently, they may be a little stuck. Just use a butter knife or spatula to gently work them loose. Serve with some butter and honey or syrup and enjoy!
The rest of my day was typical. I wish I could tell you that the hunger has subsided ... but it has not. However there is something freeing about knowing that as often as hunger shows itself, there is always something ok to eat that will curb the appetite and actually help your body stimulate energy allowing your metabolism to pick up and burn more unnecessities ... a lose win ... better than a win lose or a lose lose. Dealing with hunger is not so bad anymore, unless it is coupled with heartburn. If I let my stomach go empty, it is pain. Unfortunately, my body seems to burn though food within 5 minutes.
But the results! My stomach muscles have returned from their long voyage to the center of my earth. Clothes are fitting ... my belt no longer is squeezing out water when I try to lock it in. Once I squeezed blood out of the belt ... apparently it really belonged to a live animal ... and I finished its death. Someone should notify its next of kin. Actually, his next of kin is probably in my freezer.
So ... what will I do? Well to me, the answer is now much easier than where I was two weeks ago. I survived the first two weeks and I'm in it for two more. At that point, I am not sure if I will allow myself to splurge. It's not like I am forbidding myself the pleasure of the foods I love ... it is I am more enjoying how I feel inside not giving in to them and not having them control me. I feel better, I sleep better, and it's in large part because I am eating better.
Thanks for two great weeks and here's to two more!
Till tomorrow!
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