My girl and I embarked on an interesting cleanse slash diet last week that is meant to change the metabolism. It was a little rough but the results where good in that I lost 5 pounds. I’ve never been much of a “diet” person but in todays American food culture by body hasn’t responded well the last 5 years or so.
Processed white flour, sugar, caffeine, fat and alcohol are powerful drugs and the biggest thing that stood out to me about the last week was how I use those things to change the way I feel. It’s not that I’m an emotional basket case or am suppressing some major issues, it’s just very subtle. I feel a little anxious or uncomfortable in my own skin at times and reaching for something sugary, or a taco, which is my weakness, makes that uneasiness seem to disappear. Without those things I have to learn how to sit in that uncomfortable place. The experience definitely brought me back to what I had learned in 12 step programs. When relying on my own will power I was doomed and ultimately failed. I slipped up a number of times throughout the week. This week, although we are not following a strict diet I’m going to practice tapping into something greater than myself. For me that has always been the natural world and something as simple as a tree or a blade of grass. I’d like to loose another 25 pounds and I know that a huge part of my success with be to sit through those uncomfortable moments.
We did eat very clean and of course as a result I feel pretty good. Cutting out dairy, caffeine and processed carbs, I drank a lot of tea and replaced those processed foods with some whole grains. I’m constantly around food and unconsciously tend to snack on the things around me which isn’t always the best. I’ll definitely indulge a bit this week with the holidays but I think I’m on the right track. How do you cope with those moments? Do you white knuckle through on your own will power or turn to something greater than yourself?