As promised a few weeks ago in this article, here is my follow up after the FX Mayr clinic cure. When I came back from the clinic, I was full of energy and determination to do everything I was told to do. I was determined to change my eating habits and stick to the certain rules they taught me in the clinic (e.g. don’t drink before, during or after food).
Sticking to the rules was much harder than I thought. The thing is, when you are actually in the clinic, you are like a mouse in a laboratory (in a good way). You don’t see anyone eating anything that you wouldn’t have (well unless you are on the full fasting regime). Also, you don’t talk to anyone (except on the phone) who isn’t in the same situation. And frankly, you don’t have a choice.
However, once you get home, the reality is quite different. You get all these rules and even more restrictions in case you have some intolerances, that everything suddenly seems like running a marathon without a proper training (not that I ever run one).
So, did I stick to the rules? I so wanted to tell you I did stick to them to the last letter, but I can’t. I have to be honest, I didn’t follow the rules to the letter once I was in a real life full of socializing. What was most difficult? Definitely my food portions and avoiding bread. Bread is my biggest weakness and even though I eat healthily. So why I am actually writing this? Well because some things did change – my eating habits. Also you can see here a selection of some of my food in the last few weeks.
How did I change my eating habits
- I stopped eating bread (well almost). Frankly we don’t need bread, it is just really yummy. I have stopped eating bread on a daily basis and I stopped craving it. So the fact I had normal bread probably 3 times in last 4 weeks is for me huge success. I am “allowed” to eat rye or buckwheat bread and I feel so much better.
- I started eating very slowly and chewing properly. Eating much slower makes a significant difference. In the clinic they encourage you to chew everything 30-50 times (or you eat soups and yogurts with espresso size spoon). At the beginning this was one of my biggest struggles. I eat naturally very fast, however now I fine with being the slowest. Also this makes me eat less.
- I stared to watch food portions. Who needs a plate with loads of food?
Dover Sole with mash potatoes and asparagus - I am very careful about not eating raw food after 4 pm. I still would have an occasional salad, but I really try sticking to this one. What happens then is, the metabolism starts to slow down a bit to prepare for the resting since raw food tends to ferment in the body and produce “bad bacteria”.
- I do not drink 30 min before, during or 30 min after food. Another rule that makes a difference. Drinks just dilute the digestive enzymes and it takes your body much longer to process the food. It is quite difficult to maintain that when you have a social dinner, but on daily basis it is good to stick to.
Poached eggs with asparagus and wholegrain rice - Puddings and sweets. Oh this could be a chapter for itself. Sometimes when I went to a restaurant in the past, I couldn’t help myself and had a pudding. Now I choose the time and place I will have a pudding. Win win situation. Weird thing is, I don’t actually like most of the sweet food in restaurants and I always feel too full anyway. I just order them because they are available. So now I have a mint tea instead and I am happy.
Lamb lettuce, quinoa, feta cheese and pomegranate seeds
I know these are very small choices, but eating habits are quite difficult to break. Loosing few kilograms feels great, but for me, the most important thing is, that I finally made a change I felt like I wasn’t capable of making.
I had moments in the last few weeks, when I felt disappointed in myself and frustrated whenever I broke one of the rules. But the truth is that I suddenly realised I am, in fact, making overall much better choices. I don’t even need to think about it that hard. It starts to come to me much more naturally.
Grilled prawns with green salad and mustard and lemon dressing
So my message to you is this – to change eating habits takes time and determination, but most of all your willingness to learn, make mistakes and not giving up. You really need to be determined to change something and then stick to it. And don’t forget, to create new habit, it takes 21 days so give it a time and don’t give up.
Have a lovely day
Petra
xx
