As I was driving into work today,
I was listening to NPR. This story, about heroin addiction in Vietnam soldiers, means about our own addictions, (linked below) was on as I was warming up my car waiting for the frozen layers
to melt off so I could see. I was
listening to this, getting more intrigued as I went on. This hit me, “We think of ourselves as
controlling our behavior, willing our actions into being, but it's not that
simple. It's as if over time, we leave
parts of ourselves all around us, which in turn, come to shape who we are.”
Alix Spiegel
I just heard a pop fall down into
the vending slot, and now I want a Coca Cola.
I’m a Coke addict. There I said
it. I used to drink 4-6 regular pops a
day in high school. I’ve fought this
demon much of my adult life, and I must say I really want one. I’ve quit, but always gone back to them. That sound, coupled with the pop of the tab I’ll
hear in a minute (if my boss ever decides to open his drink), send a signal to
my brain that says, go to the machine.
There it was, I knew he would open it soon. I so want a pop!
I have been mulling this over
today, wishing I had some mulled cider as it is sooooooo cold in
Indianapolis. I’m feeling firmly
entrenched in my food plan, Whole30. I’m
experiencing some detox symptoms, and some cravings, even dreaming about
food. Luckily, I don’t remember what it
was I ate in the dream. I hope these
dreams don’t get any more vivid. The
nights are spent cooking right now, trying to learn my rhythm and organizational
style of this new life. I’m creating
recipes, trying some I find online, and exploring. I’m thinking in my mind how I can improve on
my daily routine to help me stick to this.
I’m also trying to avoid thinking that I “have” to do this for a whole
year. Yes, I do.
My health, livelihood, depends on it.
Doctors orders. How many of us
have gone to the doctor and been given a prescription for a pill, wishing we
didn’t have another copay, let alone the condition that is causing us to pop a
pill, or pills, daily. Here’s what my
day looks like, minus the fish oil at home:
I’ve been ordered to eat this way
for a year if I want my neuropathy to heal.
I was blown away that a doctor told me to cure myself through food. A western doctor. How cool is that?!?! I do have to do this for a year, but today I just need to do it for today. So, within a couple months, my picture above
will be smaller. My doctor has assured
me that with even 15 pounds gone, I can get rid of some of these. And in a year, I hope to be off all
pharmaceuticals, feeding my body the nutrients it needs from food, and maybe an
occasional supplement. Here is my new
medicine cabinet:
So, the environment has to change
for us to change. Dr. Joel Fuhrman once
said, “Permanent results only come from permanent changes in diet and
lifestyle.” (Food Matters) That permanent part is
likely what trips us up, why so many don’t keep New Year’s resolutions. That being said, he is right, you cannot have permanent changes that lead
to good health if you half ass your way through life. Does this mean I, we, will never get to eat potato
chip or drink a Coke ever again?
No. But, I might find after a
year I no longer want them in my body.
That’s a hope that will keep me going through this.
Today I realized:
I will slice a lemon up a couple
times a week and keep at the office for tea.
I will cut up veggies twice a
week, I’ll get more variety that way
I must keep herbal tea that is
Whole30 compliant at work for when water gets boring…
Keep workin’ your plan, you got
this!
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