Day 2 - Getting started on the right diet

DAY 2 - I took the 25 question Metabolic Typing Test.

Results: I am a Mixed Type, meaning I am partly a Protein Type and partly a Carb Type; however, it seems I may be a little more bent towards the Carb type due to my slightly higher score. Therefore, the meal plans provided by the Diet Solutions Plan should be already quite balanced for me but may need a little tweaking as I learn to "listen" to my body more and hear what it says to me throughout the day. This may change the way I answer the Metabolic Typing Test questions.

Mixed Types: "require an equal balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats, including variety in the everyday meal plan. Of the three metabolic types, this one is the easiest to manage, because food choices are greater."

"The appetite of a Mixed Type tends to vary greatly throughout the day--hungry at meals but not in between; ravenous at times and no appetite at others. These responses depend on what foods have been eaten that day. Mixed types don't generally suffer from cravings, however, mixed types who eat too much sugar or carbs may develop strong sugar cravings." Hey, this is sounding quite a bit like me! There are times in the day in which I have no appetite and others in which I literally crave carbs. Hmmmm....this is some good information!

Protein types need to:
- Eat protein at every meal and with every snack (eating only carbs at a meal causes your blood sugar to spike and then drop quickly, which will leave a Protein Type feeling hungry, fatigued, and anxious as well as cause cravings for more carbs later)
- Eat small meals frequently or healthy snacks between meals (to avoid extremely low blood sugar levels)
- Avoid refined carbohydrates (avoid break, crackers, and pastas--especially those made from wheat since wheat breaks down sugar faster than any other grain. Try sprouted whole grain bread products instead).
- Avoid most fruits and fruit juices (Protein types need to watch their fruit intake, all though a healthy food, it is broken down quickly and converted into sugar in the bloodstream which causes extreme blood sugar fluctuations. Best fruit choices are Avocados and apples [high in fiber and low in sugar] for Protein Types).

Carb Types need to:
- Choose low-fat proteins (e.g. white-meat poultry or whitefish)
- Choose dairy products carefully (Carb types tend to metabolize dairy poorly)
- Choose carbohydrates carefully (choose those of low-starch vegetables like broccoli)
- Monitor your response to legumes (Carb types typically cannot easily digest protein that most legumes contain)
- Limit the nuts and seeds (Carb types feel best on a low-fat diet, and nuts and seeds add too much fat to a meal. Lean animal meats are better protein options)

Overall, a Mixed Type may be more a Protein Mixed Type or a Carb Mixed Type -- meaning I may need more qualities of one type of food than the other. This will have to be figured out in trial and error as I pay closer attention to responses to each meal and then determine which foods make me feel good and energized rather than hungry, fatigued, cranky, or craving more.

**Finding the right balance or proteins, carbs, and fats is the KEY to losing weight, feeling great, and achieving optimal health**

My Goal is to better listen to my body, start the Success Journal, and try a new recipe in the meal plan guide this week.

Remember, the Diet Solution is NOT a diet in the "traditional sense" but "a new way of eating that you want to adopt for life."

#1 Keep meals tasty and interesting.
#2 Be Creative!
#3 Be adventurous-try some new foods!
#4 Adhere to the principles taught in the manual (e.g. Don't fear salt, but do use an unrefined sea salt, preferably Celtic sea salt).

New Recipe: Chicken in Coconut-Lime Sauce
(Free-Gourmet-Recipes.com online Recipes)

3 tbsp coconut oil
4 bone-in chicken thighs
4 bone-in chicken drumsticks
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/2 cup prepared salsa
1 tbsp minced garlic
2 dried red hot peppers
1 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
13 1/2 oz (1 can) coconut milk
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
a few lime slices (for garnish)
a few fresh red hot peppers (for garnish)
1/2 cup grated coconut (for garnish)

In large frying pan, warm coconut oil over medium-high heat. Brown chicken in batches, about 5 minutes on each side; remove from frying pan and keep warm.

To frying pan, add green onions, salsa, garlic, dried hot peppers, curry powder, salt, and black pepper; cook about 2 minutes, stirring, until onion is browned. Return chicken to pan; pour coconut milk and lime juice over chicken. Simmer over low heat about 30 minutes, or until fork can be inserted into chicken with ease. Remove and discard hot peppers.

Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...I am ready for this NOW...and it is only 3:58am in the morning. Hmmmmm...I see that I am craving protein right now and not carbs. Noted.

I can't wait to try this recipe this week. You should try it too and let me know what you think.

Bon appetit!