Life-changing! My new chiropractor has set me on a path that has absolutely changed my life! I have been sugar-free, wheat-free, dairy-free, and caffeine-free for 21 days. (As well as free from other random culprits, like vinegar, soy, alcohol, eggs, processed meat, etc). I haven't felt this good in probably 7 years or more! (Maybe never!) He also has come up with a supplement cocktail specific for my own body's needs, so it could be that as well. It was like a 21-day "cleanse" ... much like the Candida diet.
But today is day 22~! I am seriously nervous to revert back to my old ways! How do I come to know moderation? I never want to feel the way I felt again! (So sluggish, drained, irritable, unhappy). These past 21 days, I have had more energy and happiness and resilience (physical, mental & emotional) than I have had in ages! My entire family has noticed a difference, and it has rubbed off on them! My home is much happier! It's amazing how much power the woman of the house has.
AND! My *skin* is so much more healthy, it's like night & day! I actually cancelled my dermatologist referral because my problems have cleared up-- I had a feeling that it was diet-related! No cream or medication could fix that!
SOOOO... right now I am sipping an (AMAZING!) sugar bomb! (AKA: Decaf Salted Caramel Mocha). Oh heaven! I will probably have something very illegal for lunch, like a bloody mary and clam chowder in a bread bowl or something. And maybe some homemade spaghetti with bolognese sauce for dinner, and a large glass of wine! And (pray!) tomorrow I can go back on it. Not as a diet, but as a lifestyle. Maybe I can splurge once per week. I feel like I'm shaking out of my skin. (Is it the sugar, or the nerves? I'm so nervous!) LOL
Four things I know:
1. Wheat and my body do NOT agree. It makes me sick, literally. But I love it. BUT, I can make almost any dish without it and still enjoy it.
2. Dairy and my body do NOT agree. I've known for 7 years that milk and cream makes me physically sick, but I still eat it if it's something I LOVE (fancy coffee drinks, fettuccini alfredo, etc) and suffer the consequences (knowingly). I've always done fine with cheese & yogurt.
3. I never want to go back to Caffeine!!! I kicked it, I have overcome!!! :) I battled gnarly headaches for 6 days. And many mornings of coffee cravings (out of habit, coping mechanism, or sleepiness). I am so happy to say that I'm finally doing GREAT without it! YAY! There will never be a reason for me to drink caffeinated coffee again. (Again, praying I don't fall back into this habit!)
4. Sugar is evil, and absolutely enticing, and incredibly satisfying, and evil!!! Not much can satisfy the need when it overtakes me!!! (I just realized that the sugar is more emotionally satisfying than anything. Wow. I really need to think about that.) My best attempts to stave off my sweet tooth during this cleanse were: Spoonfuls of almond butter! Apples with almond butter. Plain unsweetened Goat Yogurt with nuts & berries & vanilla. It helps, but it doesn't satisfy the "addiction"! The next few weeks, I will find out if I am strong enough to allow sugar back into my diet in "moderation". I need to figure out how much to allow. Once per week? Twice per week? I am actually terrified. But the {brand new} realization that there is an incredibly strong emotional connection with sugar is one that I think will help me if I can explore it. Wow. I am shocked. And feeling slightly empowered by this new thought.
(P.S. I've heard about those people-- sugar addicts, emotional eaters, whatever-- not me! right? But then why do I want sugar to relax or treat myself or make myself feel good? Why do I feel like I deserve it or earned it? How can I be completely physically satisfied from delicious healthy food, and still have an unquenchable desire for sugar? Nothing I eat will make it go away. And the sugar satisfies something else. It's like a deep breath, a relaxing sigh. My brain relaxes when I eat sugar (or drink it!). I feel like I'm giving myself a gift! Some delicious food gives me the same satisfaction, like a delicious plate of spaghetti or shrimp scampi-- but it's not the same. There are no needs or unquenchable desires associated with that-- I can eat other things and feel satisfied & enjoy it. I do enjoy my food to the fullest. The sugar is different. This is Crazy and dumb! I'm very annoyed with this. I just wish we could live in the country and grow our own food and not be surrounded by processed food & GMO foods & sugar laden items.
I told Kevin that I've been feeling drawn to the country lately. I'm so tired of seeing the kids being inundated with technology & consumerism. I know I can control what happens in my own home, and it is time to tighten the reins. But the OC is truly a bubble. I want to grow up some old-fashioned hard-working God-loving boys who enjoy the earth & the people on it.
Blah blah blah! I've just been feeling the need to ramble in a little "diary" lately. It's hard to find time to sit and write. But it's nice to take a moment to myself. To purge my thoughts, for absolutely no other reason except 'just because.' It's therapeutic. Susan Tedeschi is playing- and there is NOBODY who needs me right now!!!! F*@% the house cleaning! This moment is too good! :)
(Did I really just say that?!? I'm sure we all think it sometimes.)
Okay- time to get ready for another chiropractor visit. I can't wait to tell him thank you for helping me change my life! :)
2 comments:
I miss blogs too. FB is almost a necessary evil these days as it's where everyone went, but I hate it. So glad to hear of all the wonderful changes you've experienced this month! The only thing I've quit cold turkey on is drinking cow milk. I've never run across goat yogurt before, but have been using goat milk for a while in my decaf coffee. I can't drink caffeinated coffee as it makes me feel like I'm having a heart attack for several hours. But an occasional soda still lurks about in my world. Interesting, I found that I prefer plain (whole) yogurt with peaches over the sweetened stuff (even the good ones). Though I can't tolerate my yogurt during peak allergy conditions. Nice hearing from you again!
It's so good to hear from you Susanna!! How are you and the kiddos? Are you still blogging? (I will pop by to see what's going on in your neck of the woods). I bet I will be shocked by how big the kids are getting. They are all still frozen in my mind at their ages a few years ago! I went to 4 different stores to find plain goat yogurt. A few of them had flavored goat yogurt (even Target had it), but Trader Joes was the only one I could find plain unsweetened. I don't drink cows milk either, but we still have cow yogurt & cheese in our home. That's so interesting about yogurt & allergy! Is it just because it thickens secretions when you're already having allergies, or is it an allergen that's in the yogurt? Thank you so much for the note! I love hearing from you!
Post a Comment