Eating (for) "Real"

Those of you who read this blog semi-regularly may remember this post about my struggle with weight. Well, after a lot of frustration with calorie counting (and seeing no changes on the scale), I decided to try something else. "Eat to Live" was a term coined by Dr. Joel Fuhrman and is a nutrient-rich diet plan. Essentially, the gist is this: eat more real food and less processed junk and, without counting calories, you will lose weight and feel great. There's obviously a lot more to it than that, but in my un-scientific mind, this is the simplified overview. So, for the past 2 weeks, I have not been counting calories (hallelujah!) but have instead been eating more whole, real foods (with an occasional treat here & there). My meals have looked mostly like this:

Breakfast - Oatmeal with fruit, eggs with whole wheat toast, a fruit smoothie, or whole wheat toast with natural peanut butter

Lunch - Vegetable soup, salad with lots of veggies/beans/legumes, or leftovers from dinner

Dinner - Homemade vegetable-based meals (like eggplant parmesan, aloo gobi, or tofu stir-fry) or black beans & rice, chickpea curry, or whole what pasta primavera

Snacks - Handful of almonds or cashews, an apple, or a Luna protein bar

The best part of this is that I am NOT stressing out like I usually do when I'm trying to keep track of calories or points, and (drumroll please....) I'm down 4.4 pounds in 2 weeks. This is the most weight loss I've had in a long while for the least amount of "work." Plus, I feel great!

The moral of this story for me is this: too much of our food is filled with all kinds of disgusting preservatives, and the more real food you consume, the better your body will feel. Now that I'm reading labels, I'm shocked at all of the crap that is in even the most basic of items, like breads and soups. One of the most intriguing things I've read is that people are overfed but undernourished. I am treating my body to the nourishment it deserves and enjoying delicious food in the process.

On Sunday, Sean and I stopped at the grocery store and also checked out a local farm to pick up some milk and eggs. Pittsford Dairy is, officially, our new favorite place. The milk is delicious and sweet, and we even got homemade ice cream while we were there (SUCH a treat). 

Can you sense my enthusiasm and happiness as you read this? If not, maybe this will help:
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm happy, I'm getting healthier, and I'm really looking forward to lunch :)