Quinoa WHAT?

I've been watching a lot of the BBC America channel. There's a show on every morning that I watch as I get ready for work called "You Are What You Eat." A woman named Dr. Gillian puts obese people on an 8 week program of healthy/holistic/natural foods and they drop the weight like it's melting off. Most of the participants in the show lose upwards of 2 stone (that's 28 pounds in 8 weeks, and they are EATING a LOT).

Inspired by the show, I decided to look at the website for the channel and found an 11 week bridal program, complete with daily eating plans, menus and recipes. Since I get married in 33 weeks from tomorrow, I could realistically do it 3 times). I printed off a copy, and have been doing it since yesterday. The eating of the food isn't that difficult, it's the finding of the foods that gave me trouble.

Living in Alaska, I didn't expect to be able to find the Quinoa Porridge (the flakes are like cream of wheat after they are cooked), Nori (seaweed wraps), or Aduki beans (red beans with little white "stripes" on them). I was pleasantly surprised to find most of the foods at the Fred Meyer in Eagle River where I live.

Yesterday, I ate Quinoa for breakfast, Chickpea and mint soup with carrot salad for lunch, and had a pear and vegetable juice for snacks. I didn't even get to eat my dinner because it took so long to make (I was supposed to have Chestnut loaf with steamed vegetables). I also missed a snack, bean dip with vege sticks. It doesn't sound like much just typing it, but I was full all day until dinner. Missing dinner just about did me in and I got VERY grumpy (Alex told the kids I would be moody until my body got used to the "new foods" and got over the cravings for the garbage I usually eat). Although I'm eating foods that I can't even pronounce right now, having them be totally different is a good thing. When I came home and unpacked the groceries after shopping, I felt good about what I'd purchased. I know that I could "binge" on everything I got, and I still wouldn't feel guilty. How can I feel guilty binging on carrots and cucumber, chestnuts and pine nuts, and pears and apples?

The funny thing about this is that people at work noticed the change first thing yesterday. I've got people commenting on my food choices and expressing how "sorry" they feel for me. I don't feel sorry for me though. The stuff actually tastes good. I like the Quinoa (pronounced Keen-wa), the chick peas are very tasty with everything else that's in the soup, and the Chestnut Roast that was supposed to be yesterday's dinner is awesome, and all I tasted was the mix. (I'm doing the first day of the plan over today, since I missed the roast).

Tuesday, I felt so bloated and disgusting. My stomach hurt, my pride hurt, my heart hurt. Today, I know that I'm on my way to making that all stop, and on my way to feeling and looking better, and losing weight.

The only downfall of this is that I am moody right now. I want to pop the skinny little blondes in my office that are telling me that the reason the trash stinks is because of the 'crap I'm eating now." (They seem to forget that they all left the leftovers from the office Christmas party in the trash all weekend). Give it 8 months, and I'll have them eating like I do. Ok, maybe not, but they'll all be jealous! :)

This chick's off to eat more chick peas and carrot salad!

I'll keep writing and reviewing the recipes I'm eating and update my weight. Hopefully, Alex doesn't read this. This morning, I weighed a whopping 17 1/2 stone. I'll let you do the calculation!