My Zen-like “Keto-ish” month
For the past 7 years (each January) I have carved out time to enjoy a period of “mindful” eating
It’s not about “dieting or cleansing”, rather it offers me space for observation as I begin the new year. It involves a commitment to a mindful practice around shopping, cooking and an avoidance of snacking. Questions that generally rise to the surface during this time are… What am I missing? What am I craving and How do I feel?
However, last January there was no period of mindful eating. In the midst of completely re-branding our products I slid into the new year at breakneck speed. While I faithfully began each day with a 20-minute meditation, I rarely paused for water breaks, let alone lunch.
I noticed over the months that followed that I slowly slipped into a pattern of mindless eating as I worked during breakfast, snagged a meal replacement bar or juice for lunch, and cookie around 3 pm. By 5 pm I was so hungry I would grab a bowl of nuts, and in time most of my calorie consumption came after 7 pm.
I know I’m not alone.
In this era of “mindfulness” we find ourselves toggling between the knowledge that “slowing down” brings us a higher level of self-awareness, and the reality that we live a world that provides a myriad of distractions.
Which led me to that fateful Saturday in September when we participated in a “Keto-event” at one of our favorite retail partners, Sendiks. Since our blends are “Keto-friendly” we were asked to join a number of other food artisans during a book signing event by well-known Wisconsin based Keto author Maria Emmerich.
People traveled for miles to meet Maria. When they stopped by our table for recipe inspiration, I was both interested and humbled by their stories, as they shared their health struggles and journeys toward wellness. Feeling in need of a re-boot myself, I decided it was time to commit myself to a month of healthy eating.
Without getting too technical, the Keto diet is no sugar/low carb/no dairy or gluten and a variety of healthy fats. Taking out diary/gluten was easy, as I had long ago eliminated them from my diet. Similarly, legumes and root vegetables are high in carbohydrates and needed to come out for the month, which was not an issue for me. And I love healthy fats like those contained in avocados, so no issues there. My challenge was eliminating sugar…I love it in all forms – cookies, candies and spirits.
As I had heard stories of people “crashing” after a month of Keto only to regain the weight they had lost, I emailed Jenny Rowland (Health Coach) for her thoughts:
I think it can be a great therapeutic intervention for folks who truly need it. In my practice, I have only had clients following it under “doctor’s orders” and it’s not something I would personally recommend for everyone. It can definitely be helpful with weight loss and cognitive decline (and a host of other neurological issues), but true ketosis is a challenge for most people to sustain. I’m generally more about incorporating lifestyle upgrades that people can sustain for a lifetime.
I took her words of wisdom to heart as I began my month.
Observations…
Week 1 – I was super excited to get started. I loaded up on cookbooks and bookmarked websites, fresh veggies and lots of berries. It felt like I was shopping for a new pair of shoes or a gorgeous outfit for an upcoming vacation. But as expected, by day 4 my “new shoes” felt a little worn and less interesting.
Concerned, I would jump off the bandwagon early, I added a plant-based drink into my afternoons called Remedy Organics, along with Nut Pods “nut-based” coffee creamer – these gave me a little sense of indulgence each day that helped me alleviate a feeling of deprivation.
I also made a lifestyle shift by shutting off my computer around 8 pm. I often work late into the evening to catch up on emails, but know that this often leads to mindless snacking.
Week 2 – I felt great! Lost a few pounds that I had picked up over the summer. Knowing that I was headed to exhibit at the Kohler Wine & Cheese event I planned for a mid-month break.
Week 3 –
After an indulgent weekend in Wisconsin I was actually looking forward to getting back to my new routine. I also knew that with my anniversary right around the corner I would take another break from the regime to celebrate.
Week 4 –
On the home stretch, and glad that I had taken some breaks, I didn’t have the usual “can’t wait to eat a cookie and get back to normal” feeling, rather I felt a deeper understanding of the changes I would like to make in my life moving forward.
Reflections
No extraordinary revelations, but I saw huge changes in my appetite by starting with a breakfast / egg salad each morning. Eliminating orange juice reduced my desire for sweets and removing mixed nuts at 5 pm completely eliminated my desire for a glass of wine.
Reducing technology in the evenings created time to read for pleasure – leading to a much more restful sleep.
And perhaps more importantly I enjoyed a deeper level of self-discovery. I noticed that aligning my thoughts on what I desired (better sleep) versus what I eliminated (craft cocktails) helped me shift my focus from a sense of scarcity to a sense of abundance.
In the end, these past 30 days have helped me to re-discover the simple pleasures that life has to offer each and every day.
Author’s Note…
As a business, ZOSC is committed to creating a “clean” preservative-free product for our customers. While our blends can work in any diet (Paleo, Weight Watchers, Whole 30, plant-based or Keto) our position is truly driven around helping our customers create opportunities for a more “Zen-like” life using their mealtime to create more healing, connection and wellness.
Zen Moment
“I no longer ask, What do I want let go of and what do I want to hang on to? Instead I ask, What do I want to let go of, and what do I want to give myself to?”
Parker J. Palmer, “On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old.”
