Will Power

It is Thursday. I have been tackling this cleanse for 3 and half days (or 11 meals and a handful of snacks). I am getting into the routine of it. I even have left overs that I can eat for lunch which makes food choices so much easier. I have only had one major fail: a cucumber and honeydew smoothie that I ended up dumping down the drain. I just couldn't drink it. But the food has been surprisingly good. I have been surprising satisfied. I have had tasty salads, yummy smoothies, and warming soups. I have roasted vegetables and enjoyed avocados and black beans (a favorite food combination of mine anyway). I even had lunch out with my mom at Qdoba where I ate romaine lettuce, black beans, guacamole, and salsa. And it was good. I only missed the chips a little but my mom was kind and didn't order any either.

Even this salad of red cabbage, kale, and seeds with a mustard dressing for lunch left me feeling full.

My sweet tooth has been satisfied with fruit. This is a feat that amazes me as I do love sweets. I snack on dried apricots or grapes and feel good about my healthy choices. I even think about consuming less processed foods, less sugar, less dairy, and maybe even less meat when this time is complete. I am rethinking what I feed my family, vowing to make more of their food from scratch, time allowing. And despite the thought that I have always put into our food, I realize that there are more things I would like to incorporate into our life.

My biggest hurdle has been headaches, some so painful that I just want to go to bed. I am perplexed as I never consume caffeine and am wondering again about sugar withdraws. A more humorous side effect has been my cravings. Like last night, just before bed, I really wanted a crunchy chicken taco with lettuce, cheese, and extra salsa from our local Mexican restaurant and half kidded Brian that he should head out to get one. I haven't had cravings like that since pregnancy. And oddly, I have noticed foods or restaurants that I don't even like but noticed anyway just because I know that I can't have it.

But today is the first day that I had a headache-free morning and I felt awesome. I stocked up on salmon and trout that will be added into next week's menu, ordered an herbal tea at Starbucks, and felt good about my food and my resolve to continue on despite my headaches and the extra time that is going in to food preparation.

Last night at yoga, my awesome instructor told us in final relaxation that, "In this moment, everything is wonderful. Feel good about yourself and your practice," and even with a lingering headache, I did.

Happy eating!
Kara