5 Pounds Down, Grain Brain Follow UP

• The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Grain brain. 
  

"The cornerstone of all degenerative conditions, including brain disorders, is inflammation, which can be triggered by carbs, especially those containing gluten or high sugar.  Dr Perlmutter explains what happens when the brain encounters common ingredients in your daily bread and fruit bowls, how statin drugs may be erasing your memory, why a diet high in "good fats" is ideal, and how to spur the growth of new brain cells at any age."

  Grain Brain is a new and more in-depth look at a diet that I have been toying with for years.  It has been interesting to read more about what I had gathered from my research pertaining to Multiple Sclerosis and Adrenal Fatigue as well as for my son who has autism and has been gluten free for 8 years now.  
  My initial post about the book and supplements introduced you to the supplements for a healthy brain and introduced this very basic outline of the 4 week challenge proposed in the book.   

         o Shifting your body away from relying on carbs for fuel and adding brain health supplement

         o Incorporating a fitness routine

         o Getting restful, routine sleep seven days a week

         o Establishing a new rhythm to maintain these healthy habits 

  The supplements are great to and I had been taking and still take fish oil.  I did end up choosing to continue to take my Salmon Oil instead of the fish oil that was sent with the book for the review.  I try and avoid soy and the fish oil had soy oil in it.   Speaking of oil though, I did increase my olive oil consumption and of course  I love my sun butter!   Dr. Perlmutter stresses that the brain is 70% fat and we need fat in our diets for our brains to function properly.   I am fortunate that my mother didn't buy into the whole  "fat is bad" fad when I was younger and told us that fats were good for our brains, skin, and hair.  

  I didn't like how resVida made me feel when I tried it however I was I am going to give it another try since I think my test might have been thrown off by a cold I caught.  I love the BrainStrong and everything I have read about DHA shows that people  with MS should be taking it.   That means its fabulous for everyone else as well!! 

  Incorporating a fitness routine has been mostly easy for me.  I have had a bout of MS symptoms and then had a nasty cold during the challenge so I actually haven't exercised as much as I normally would like.  I do however cherish my fitness routines, yoga, and walking so enjoy adding more to my routine.   I was just sent the 108 days of yoga DVD set to try out and I am so excited to see how I change.  I have lost 5 pounds during the challenge so something is working!!  I also just signed up for a 30 day plank challenge.  This is a lifestyle not just a four week challenge. 

 Getting restful sleep is something I have to work at.  I envy those that can lay their heads down and be asleep.  Ever since I was a little girl I have had a hard time falling asleep.  My body prefers to sleep from 12:00- 9 however I have wee spawn to get off to school so my sleep is often less than I would like.   I know how important it is though and I work to relax in the evenings and turn the lights down including mobile devices.  

Here is a post with tips for perfecting your sleep skills!

  Establishing a new rhythm to maintain these new healthy habits is not something that can be done in 4 weeks, at least not for me.   There are a lot  of great tips in the book for making these changes stick.  Things like planning each week, preparing a shopping list, create non-negotiable goals for the week like trying that new yoga studio or getting your butt to that farmers market.  He also suggests using technology.  I love using MyFitnessPal to track what I eat.  Its great for seeing where I have been so I can better plan out where I am going.  Things like a Jawbone or Polar Loop are fabulous pieces of tech that I can't wait to try out one of these days.  
  
 The books last chapter is all about recipes and meal plans which makes the idea of changing ones lifestyle a little easier to face and visualize incorporating into our own lifestyles.   What I think is most important about this post is that the message isn't just about going gluten free.  Its a combination of lifestyle changes. 

   I think that working on even just one of those changes will bring you results.  So don't get discouraged and just find a place to start.  Find your personal motivators and share your book with a friend and work on it together.  

  There is a lot of conflicting and contradicting health advice out there.  What I do is try some things out and see how I feel.  Keep a journal so you can look back after the 4 weeks objectively.    

  What I like about this book is that parts of it makes sense to me.  Other parts I am dubious about but not sure if its because I don't want to believe it or if the research is sound but I am keeping my mind open and ready for change.  The sleep, gluten free, and exercise are all fantastic places to start to improve health which I will continue to work on. 

  Here is a suggestion from the book as to what a days meals might  look like. 

• Breakfast~ 2 scrambled eggs with 1 ounce cheddar cheese and unlimited stir-fried veggies (e.g. onions, mushrooms, spinach, broccoli). 
• Lunch~ Chicken with Mustard Vinaigrette (recipe in the book page 256 essentially chicken breast over mixed greens with vinaigrette)
• Dinner~ 3 ounces grass fed sirloin steak, organic roasted chicken, or wild fish with a side of greens and veggies sautéed in butter and garlic. 
• Dessert~ (yay!  for dessert!) half a cup of berries topped with a drizzle of fresh cream or 2-3 squares of dark chocolate.

Have you tried The Grain Brain Challenge?   Are you Gluten Free?  Got any tips or tricks to make it easier or recipes to share?   Let me know in the comments or on Facebook or twitter!   

Namaste xoxo

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Angie Bee