Quiting sugar and processed foods I don’t have any inflammation or aches any more, and eating lots of fiber means I’m rarely hungry. I also eat fruit throughout the day to maintain a steady blood sugar levels.

My main reason for working to control blood sugar is to prevent problems down the line, and because when my blood sugar isn’t low, I’m not super hungry and I don’t fill either cranky or dizzy. Blood sugar is something mostly talked about with diabetes but maintaining it within reasonable levels helps everything perform better and reduces caloric intake.

The other problem with processed sugar is it is essentially an narcotic. When you consume processed sugar not only does it give you a high by spiking your blood sugar, but dulling your taste for everything else. Sugar causes extreme cravings, and makes you desire to eat even more. I long had a ban on cookies and candy at home, but I’ve really stepped it up in weeks after turning 40, kicking out other sources of processed sugar like pasta sauce and refined carbohydrates like pasta. And I’ve started to refuse it away from home and don’t plan to have it while camping either.

I’ve built a lot of protein into my diet, adding lentils and sometimes black beans to the brown rice which I have with most meals. I make up a big pot, freeze it and have it all week, changing it around each week with different ingredients. I also have been experimenting with tofu in many meals. Not to replace meat per se but as a healthier alternative for variety. Big blocks of firm tofu is also the “cheapest meat” you can buy, as are big bulk bags of brown rice and lentil. Keeping things affordable is so important in these inflationary times, especially as I’m trying to step up my saving and investing to make up for a slowing market growth.