learning, healing and update

Today is day four of the diet, and overall doing better. I only had sugar cravings on Sunday. I had a caffeine headache for two days, but today I was ok.

A sort of side result of this diet (which is partly to help my skin heal) is that my skin is all broken out. My eyes got puffy, my lips are red almost up to my nose, my back is more irritation than regular skin. I checked with my doctor about this, and part of it is my body pushing out toxins and bad-for-me stuff. She had said the body actually uses the skin to get rid of bad stuff (better out than in I guess). But I am also reacting to not taking my skin medicine -- so a double whammy if you will. She said to give the diet a week and I should start feeling better and my skin should start clearing up.

I've just been taking things really easy. Eating when I'm hungry. Sleeping when I'm tired during the afternoon, although today I was proud I managed to fight off a nap by going for a walk and doing Total Gym exercises.

Up till today, one of my biggest challenges has been that I was starting to feel bored with the food I could eat. (Just for fun, next time you are in the grocery store, see how many things have wheat, dairy, sugar, corn or such as ingredients -- I was amazed at where I was finding that stuff). But I found some yeast-free, wheat-free, vegan bread that is sweetened with rice syrup. Granted, the stuff feels like you could throw it at someone and it would be a good weapon, but it actually tastes ok. I also found brown rice cakes that are a good snack and naturally sweetened soy yogurt (didn't like that).

Without all the sugar and processing you really taste the food. You taste the ingredients. Things taste...simpler. It's nice to taste real food and not food filled with chemicals or sugar. I'm finding I like it, and finding that fruit is a good sweetener. And I like how I feel full after eating, but not heavy. And bonus....my stomach hasn't hurt or been bloated since I started this, and that is progress.