Change your Diet
I mean it. Unless you try something new, you will never know whether it works better for you or not. We are creatures of habit and we are more comfortable sticking to our routines, we feel safer. Or is it that we feel more in control? How will you ever know if your existing eating habits are best for you? Do you read the ingredients on your food labels? I bet you that you can’t even read half of them, and you don’t even know what they mean, and you haven’t even Googled them! That is irresponsible, because what you put into your 2nd brain (your stomach) not only affects your overall health, but particularly your mental health. Develop food awareness. Be selective.
Forget calories. Don’t complicate your life. Simplify it. I love bread, for example. The bread that I find everywhere is not only full of ‘expanders’ and ‘softeners’, but it also makes me lethargic. So, I decided to research several bread recipes on the internet and choose the one that suits me best. They all use white flour. I go for my Ferkha flour, adding oilseeds or herbs. It takes me 15 minutes to make it. I leave it overnight to mature properly. I bake it in the morning on a low fire for one hour, and I have the loveliest bread God ever created! Only 2 slices fill me up (compared to a full loaf of ordinary loaf bread) and I feel as fit as a fiddle.
Unexpectedly, in February’22, I had to undergo emergency surgery for a benign brain tumor. It had grown to the size of a large orange of around 6.2cm. It was not obvious to anyone at all except to my family, because in January’22, my appearance was changing, I felt slower, and I started losing interest in many things. Tests and scans indicated that the tumor had got to a maximum size and I had to remove it within a matter of weeks. Since it was benign and not attached to the brain, I decided to do so sooner than later.
After the surgery, the change radically improved my mental health, apart from post-surgery physical inconveniences due to the anesthesia and heavy medication. But I became far more alert and dynamic and my physical appearance had gone back to what it was previously. It felt like a rebirth. I seized this ‘rebirth’ to be mindful of everything I put into my body, Food was my priority since it is my source of energy and I intended to recover very fast. However, it will not be enough on its own and I had to develop the daily habit of walking as much as I could, to avoid the risk of any rigorous or contact sport at this early stage. It helped me tremendously. I started with 15 minutes/day and ended up doing 3 hours/day. (I have another article on the detailed benefits of walking).
In the process, I completely abstained from meat and poultry, while focusing on fish and grains. In the process, I realized that I lost the previous ‘sweet tooth’ I had. If ever I felt like something sweet, I would rather go for fresh or dried fruits. Simultaneously, I observed that while eating out, the food was salty. I abstained from restaurants, and would only accept home invitations, or entertain friends and family. Consequently, I avoided cheeses completely. They contain a dense dose of ‘invisible’ salt. Occasionally, I would go for my favorite Danish Blue.
I immediately found traditional substitutes for rice, couscous, and pasta: Burghul. It comes in a variety and it is made from whole wheat. It is rated as the 8th on the chart of the 26 healthiest grains in the world. I love chewing my food, and this is textured, and filling. I have learned to add fresh vegetables or herbs to their preparation. With my voracious appetite, I gravitated towards salad hors d’oeuvre before my meals and ended them with juicy seasonal fruits. If I rarely felt like something extra sweet, I would have a bowl of homemade yogurt with honey. But it tastes best with peanut but and honey!
Controlling my intake of salt, substituting sweetness through natural fruits, and integrating more wholegrains, left a remarkable impression on my neurosurgeon when he invited me for an examination 6 months later. I had recovered much faster than anticipated, I lost 20 kgs (44 lbs.) and my demeanor had completely changed. “You make me proud of being a neurosurgeon! Your recovery without any adverse results or medication is amazing! I did my part and you picked up from there. Congratulations!” he said. I was embarrassed. No doubt that my diet played an important part alongside my leisurely daily walk for exercise. I deprived myself of nothing in my diet. I was only selective and mindful. If I could do it convalescing after such a life-changing surgery, you can do much better. It only takes one decision, today!
Twelve months after the surgery, he invited me again for a whole battery of tests and added a heart scan for extra precaution. “You’re healthier than an 18-year-old, Sammy!” I was flushed with a profound sense of accomplishment and achievement. In fact, I do feel like someone in his twenties with the same vigor and energy. It took willpower and only one decision: to do it and to do it now.
The captions in the “weight loss” emblem above are inspiring. Magnify the picture, and pick your daily affirmations, to encourage you on your path to a New You. I’ll tell you what I tell all my good friends “Eat everything in moderation. It is not the quantity but the quality that matters. Just be aware of the quality of your intake and when you observe the results, you will voluntarily develop better eating habits and stick to them. Do you have anything to lose? In this worst case, just a few pounds.
But also drink a lot of freshwater or freshly-squeezed juices. Don’t even consider touching “soda drinks” or health concoctions. I appreciate a good coffee. I take about 3 cups at different intervals in the morning, and that’s it for the day. I’ve researched its benefits and now I go for the best. I am fond of my Brazilian Arabicas at №4 intensity.
If I did it, so can you! I lost 20kgs in 6 months only by eating everything I enjoy and by eating my full. I am not Superman. Neither are you. Best of luck!
Sammy RNAJ — sammy.rnaj.writer@gmail.com
