I am stronger than I thought. Likely you are too.
I have shared my journey of the elimination diet. From “Failing to plan” to hitting the “Messy in the middle”. Today, or at least as I write this, I’m done!
Sort of…
6 weeks of eliminating so much from our diet is complete. Are you wondering what we eliminated?
And more.
You would be surprised what contains potatoes and corn as filler. You’ll even be more surprised at how much you eat that has mustard in it. Oh and gluten… did you know soya sauce is not traditionally gluten free? You have to specifically buy gluten free soya sauce.
A friend of mine recently asked me what we ate… meat, veggies, fruit, hummus, guacamole, baba ganoush sweet potatoes and rice mainly. My husband did an amazing job of finding ways to keep the variety in our diet. Modifying foods we like. Chicken wings even with homemade sauce. We found dessert in coconut ice cream or cooked pineapple or bananas. We snacked on fruit, and terra chips with hummus (vs. chocolate, cookies or chips).
At three weeks the thing I missed the most was wine. At 6, all I want is a pizza.
I can’t start with pizza.
We have to introduce one thing at a time. One thing. For us, Pizza would mean we had to first introduce wheat, dairy, yeast, to name three. So no to the pizza on day one.
After 6 weeks what would be the first thing you would introduce?
We have our first 5 items planned all with the goal to get make a pizza while understanding how our body will respond to the pizza and why. Of those first 5 items, none of them are alcohol-related.
The same friend who asked me what we ate, also declared that she would have starved. The truth is you adapt. You find ways. You find out that you are stronger than you think. If you want something enough, you can do anything. You become strong.
Don’t get me wrong the temptations are still there. But by planning for them, finding alternatives and using an accountability partner, you can do it.
A friend of mine did the 75 hard program last year. This includes something like, no alcohol, reading, exercise and following a diet every day without fail for 75 days. You slip, you start again. I thought she was crazy. I thought she was strong to do it. Today I realize I’m just as strong. I realize that everyday this gets easier and although we have a long road ahead re-introducing foods one at a time, we totally will do it.
This exercise got us to think outside of the box. It taught me how strong I actually am. It taught us to read labels. It taught us that we can handle a bad day, a bad week, how about a bad month in lockdown without candy, chocolate or alcohol. It reminded us how expensive it is to eat out. It rewired our habits and replaced them with healthier ones.
Overall, I have no regrets. I’m thrilled with all that I learned. Especially about myself.
What about you? What will you do to stretch yourself?
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”Ralph Waldo Emerson
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
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