Personal Prose Post

Yesterday was the 21st day of the diet I started earlier in the month, and the end of my commitment to it.  So this will be my last post regarding weight loss.  Time to reflect on what I’ve gained (or lost) from this project.

I lost only four pounds, and I had hoped to lose more.  I did follow the eating plan, except for the day a week we had “off.”  Four pounds is four pounds, though — better than I have done on other diets, so I’m not completely discouraged.  The eating plan is a good one.  Mostly vegetables, raw or cooked, and the meal plans were delicious.  I will follow it, maybe not quite as religiously as I did for three weeks. 

I’ve learned that I’m sensitive to wheat.  Having a clean system without dairy, soy, or gluten, I discovered that my morning congestion is gone.  I haven’t taken an antihistimine since the diet started, and it’s a wonderful feeling to — pardon me — have no postnasal drip.  Reinstituting my morning raisin bran brought on congestion, itching of my throat, and a generalized yukky feeling.  So the raisin bran went into the trash, and I won’t have it again.  Sad, but real.  I’d rather have a clear throat than the joy of eating wheat.  Oh, well. 

My stomach hurt much of the time, probably because I ate larger portions than before.  In an effort to stave off feeling deprived, I think I overate.  Maybe that’s why my weight loss wasn’t what I’d hoped.  Anyway, now I can eat more intuitively instead of following menu plans, and hopefully return my digestion to what it was before the diet. 

I’m proud, though, that I followed through with my commitment.  I now know not to mix protein and starch at the same meal, to eat closer to the earth, to let go of dairy and gluten (not sure about soy yet), and to cook with coconut oil.  I have enjoyed many new recipes that will be an ongoing part of my diet and experimented with foods that I wouldn’t normally eat.  So, all in all, it was a good experience, and I will incorporate much of it in my regular eating plan.  Hopefully, I’ll continue to lose the extra weight, or at least feel that I am doing my best, and accept myself with the extra pounds. 

Next, I’ll talk more about writing.  Lots of good ideas for those of you who want to write the stories of your life! 

Posted in Weight loss | No Comments » | January 28th, 2010