Feeling the Body/ Listening to the Body

I have had ongoing break outs on my face the past few weeks. Usually I can associate this with my period. Hormonal changes. But it is not going away and it has been almost two weeks since my period.

Since acne has always been a struggle I have tried to be aware of my diet when it came to breakouts. Is it diet pop? Beer? Cheese? Milk? Candy? Chocolate? My doctor assures me it is not my diet but acne is a result of hormones.

Why do I break out? I am reading a book about the G-I Index, which bases its information on the bodies reaction to certain foods, whether they are high on the gylcemic index or low. High foods are absorbed as glucose easily and quickly causing a rise in blood sugar and therefore a rise in insulin. Low GI foods digest slowly and therefore do not cause the pancrease to produce insulin to balance the sugars in the blood.

Because of the holidays there has been lots of goodies around, including chocolate, baked goods, candy etc and I have been eating it all without limits. My justification is “It’s Christmas.” I have actually been going out of the way to buy chocolate. Anyway my connection happened while reading my book before bed and after washing my face and feeling frustrated that my face which has been clear for months is now pimple central.

So I know from over the years that hormones have an effect on acne and after reading lately more and more about the effects of insulin on the body, I thought maybe there is a connection with my face. After all I have been eating lots of chocolate, baked goods, and candy. Could the higher levels of insulin due to my sugar intake be the cause or associated with the cause of my breakouts?

I think it is. When I cut out sugar several months ago my face was the clearest it has been in years and consistently, with one or two during the week before my period. Maybe because I tend to eat more sugary foods during the week prior to my period.

So how do I test this? I eat foods that are low on the glycemic index that have less effect on blood sugar and insulin levels. Now that I think about it my face is always seems more healed in the morning and as the day goes on and I eat crap, it seems to get more irritated.

My challenge is to choose foods that are low on the Gylcemic Index for a week and see if my face clears up. This will be hard since there is still yummy baked and chocolate goods in the fridge. Can I do it? So far I was unable to commit to it today, I will start tomorrow, the gym is open, I can start the day with a workout.

I need to listen to my body cause it can give me clues as to what it needs or doesn't need.
Water consumption = pee clear or strong?
Good Carbs = Face breaking out?
Calories = Listen to my stomach for clues.

• I have decided to stop tracking my food on Fitday. Logging food is very time consuming and takes a lot of energy. I will try to skip it for a month and see if I am able to maintain my weight.

• Already I feel it will save lots of time and preparation. I will need to remember to eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Limit junk food. Eat small servings.

• From my experience on Fitday, I have been pretty consistent in eating 30/20/50 fat/prot/carbs.
  
  So Instead I will take cues from my body.