July 9, 2008

  • cleanse schmeanse.





    Today is day 13 of my cleanse, and I've spent a lot of time mulling over how it's going and how I'm planning to eat when it ends.

    First of all, I have to say that I'm feeling REALLY good.  For those that don't know, I have multiple endocrine diseases (type I diabetes 25 years, hypothyroidism, & anti-GAD antibodies in my system), which have progressively depleted my energy over the years, seemingly no matter how well I eat, sleep, exercise, et cetera.  (Quality of life, in terms of pain and energy, has been a huge issue for me for almost a decade.)  Less than a week into the cleanse, I noticed that I had a lot more physical energy and mental motivation than usual, and I have been able to sustain this.  It's like, all that spring cleaning that I didn't do in April?  It's getting the hell done NOW.  So, I definitely give the cleanse credit for helping me to feel MUCH better.   

    I'm not having any difficulties with food cravings and I don't feel deprived.  My meals might seem a little boring and repetitive, but I am still discovering new-to-me foods and seeking out recipes to try.  Besides, I tend to eat foods in cycles.  Like, I ate tostados for about a week because I was slightly obsessed with them, but now I probably won't have one until next month. 

    I am not 100% sure what will change about my diet when day 22 comes along and I can, seemingly, eat whatever the heck I desire.  I think that since I'm feeling SO GOOD, I will just eat something that wasn't on the cleanse if I really crave it, and then I will observe how it makes me feel.  For instance, maybe I'll notice that gluten makes me tired or sore.  If so, I'll limit it.  If not, I'll eat it when I want it.  I appreciate good cheeses, like grana or aged cheddar, so I suspect that will make an appearance in my life once or twice a week.  Eggs ... maybe, especially in a birthday cake or whatever.  I don't really plan to eat meat, but that could change.  Fish comes to mind.  For the most part, I do know that animal products bog my body down and fruits, vegetables, and grains help me to feel normal-ish for the first time in A LONG TIME.  Feeling good trumps eating mindlessly, but a little indulgence is good for quality of life too.   

    I will definitely have coffee again ... probably once a day, possibly more.  Sugar isn't really an issue.  I don't crave it.  If I should, I'll indulge.  While I don't care for most alcohol, I like fine beers.  I haven't made a firm decision about that EXCEPT that I won't have it more than once-in-a-while.  And, mimosas on Mother's Day. 

    I am planning to do one more post about the Quantum Wellness cleanse on Day 21 (July 17 at my other blog), at which time I plan to give away my copy of the book.  It's not a fancy-schmancy contest nor a fancy-schmancy prize, but if you were thinking about buying the book, please come by that day and leave a comment for a chance to win it instead.  Seriously, your odds of winning will probably be one out of five. 

    My previous Quantum Wellness posts: 

       

Comments (17)

  • i am SO glad this experiment is working out so well for you!
    and you have ~way~ more willpower than i'll ever have.

  • @Southland - I tell ya ... It has nothing to do with willpower because I don't feel deprived.  Eating to feel good TOTALLY TRUMPS eating and then feeling bad.

  • have you tried yoga? something restorative and organ-massaging? i only mention it cus my digestion is never better than when i'm going to yoga regularly.

  • i suck. my friend mark came to visit and the cleanse was off. so this week i kind of started over. BUT. when i am home alone i do fine. and i took a friend out to dinner for her bday last night so alcohol and dessert were involved. :| i do however i feel like for the most part i will continue to eat less sugar, meat and the rest. i notice that if i don't have stuff here in the house i don't crave it. living with ray makes it tough sometimes because he eats anything. i haven't had coffee for over a week which doesn't seem to phase me at all. my lunch today consisted of a whole grain pita, hummus, non dairy garlic aioli, avacado, red onion, cucumber and tomato. YUM. the garlic aioli is made by wildwood if you've never had it wholefoods carries it. i think it's WAY better than any fake mayo. i am still slowly reading the book. she has some cool things to share. 

  • @lilms_sassy - I have been doing yoga for 12 years, usually daily.  I also go through spells where I go to either massage or get cranial-sacral work done.  I like to try all sorts of body work. 

    @firephly - The entire time that I've been doing the cleanse, I've been making theother23 (and sometimes X) meals ... cheeseburgers, lime chicken, spaghetti, etc.  Fortunately, I have not been phased by it.  I'll totally look for the aioli when I shop at Whole Foods on Friday.  Thanks for that tip!  I was scared to try the fake mayo. 

  • *un-lurks*

    I just wanted to say that I think it's awesome that 1) you're sticking with the cleanse and 2) you're actually getting results....the fact that you have more energy is just amazing, and not something that I would have linked to food but it does make sense. I'd really like to start eating better as well, and I have an appointment with a nutritionist at my school....but maybe I'll try this whole cleanse thing just to kick-start it all and maybe get me into some sort of routine....so yeah...thanks for sharing all of this

  • Nice to hear that you are seeing and, most importantly, feeling differences since you started!

  • Well, I have thyroid disease, too, and I found that I felt my best when I ate a very limited diet.  At the time, it was composed mainly of: eggs, beans, brown rice, spinach, and whatever else I might crave, later in the day (usually raisin toast).

    Now that I've been home for 2+ years, it's harder to eat that way.  At the office, it was SO easy because I didn't have the choice.

    And now that I'm skating, I need SO much more to eat than I used to.  And am taking TONS of supplements because skating is just so energy consuming, that it's impossibly easy to fatigue if you fall off the wagon for one day.

    For the rest of my life, I could prob. eat nothing but beans and rice and be happy.  When you find something that feels good, it's so satisfying!!!!!!  A Big Mac makes me sick to my stomach, and I consider that a tremendous blessing.

  • keep it up

  • I'm glad you've decided to study how certain foods affect you. I definitely notice that carbohydrates make me fat and lethargic. They have my whole life, I just didn't know that until I elminated white flour from my diet. Whole grains don't affect me nearly as negatively. I have found too that the more white flour I eat, the more I crave. Once I'm off white flour for a while, the cravings subside.

  • @starryeyedoll - I love it when people un-lurk!  I'm curious to hear how your appointment with the nutritionist goes.  Because of the diabetes, I go to one every year or so.  At the university, I've seen some great ones that are totally down veganism, etc.  When I went to the local clinic, I had some old lady that chewed me out for not following the food pyramid, drinking milk, etc.  It was sort of funny.  Anyhow, thanks again for delurking.

    @Tom - It is so interesting to know this about you because I usually think of you and all these delicious, sinful recipes.  Right now, I'm trying to find more easy-to-make, yet delicious recipes that fit in with this groovy new way of eating.

  • @soNOTcool - I'm kind of interested to see what she (the nutritionist..dietician...whatever she is) says....I also have issues with energy - or lack thereof - and such, and I've been having these weird fainting spells and they couldn't find anything wrong with my heart, so my doctor suggested this...something about being "borderline diabetic" too...so I guess we'll see. I'd love to go vegan (or at least vegetarian) too, so I think I'm going to run that by her and see what she says...anyway...yes...I'll let you know how it goes...

  • I crave how well you feel.
    Hmmm.. this is definitely a diet worth saving up for.. (like nutrisystem), but for much much better reasons!

  • xoxoxox

  • = yayyyy for feeelin grood

  • I wish you health and I send you love

  • I loved the line, "Feeling good trumps eating mindlessly".  It's a lesson I've yet to learn.  I really just wanted to say that I'm glad that you are feeling better.  Keep us posted on how you're feeling.  Take care.  Judi

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