Day 14 I made it!

Well, here we are on the last day of my flush. I am not going to tell you it has not be difficult at times but it really wasn't as hard as I imagined it would be.

This morning I went to Harris Teeter in search of something I could take out on the boat. I checked out the deli section, not surprised I didn't find anything there. I picked up a couple of sandwiches for my husband and continued towards the produce when it hit me. The salad bar! Harris Teeter has a fabulous salad bar. I made a big salad with all kinds of flush friendly foods. I topped it with a little olive oil. It was excellent.

So, what have I learned in these last two weeks? I feel better (as I've said all along) I sleep better, I have had no headaches or upset stomach trouble (except for that brief time the morning after the wine) and I have learned that there are a whole slew of good-for-you foods that I like. And as an added bonus, I lost 4 pounds!

What will I do now? I will at least be conscious of what I am eating. I will eat because I am hungry and not bored. If I go back to eating meat it will be in much smaller portions.

I am really glad I did this and plan to base my regular diet on this plan going forward. Although this will be my last post on this blog I plan to start a new one as I discover new recipes and substitutions for my old unhealthy ways of eating.

Thanks for listening.

Fourteen days, the end

Day 13 Shepherds Pie

Well, one more day to go. I think I may make it. :-)

I had a piece of gluten-free bread for breakfast with a little vegan butter. I don't think I will continue with this bread as it falls apart really easily and is pretty dry. I've heard about Ezekiel bread which is supposed to be sprouted, I think. Maybe I'll try that even though it may have some gluten. Gluten may be something that I add back. It will be interesting to see how that goes.

Tonight we had the most awesome dinner. Shepherds pie! The mashed potatoes were made from Yukon gold potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips and soy milk. The "meat" mixture was made from crumbled veggie burgers (I finally found a gluten-free brand), chopped onion, carrot, mushrooms, peas and chopped walnuts. It was most excellent and 100% vegan. I will have to post the recipe.

Tomorrow we are headed out on the boat. I still don't know what I will pack for food. Until tomorrow then.

Thirteen down, one to go.

Day 12 Thinking about what's next

I only have 2 days to go and I'm not sure what I will do next. I have learned a new way of eating so I know I won't go back to my old ways. I'm trying to figure out how I will eat. As I mentioned earlier, I'd like to try to add one thing back at a time. Yesterday I had a couple glasses of wine. This morning was the first day I felt nauseous after waking up. Could these two things be related? I have to wonder.

In an effort to settle my stomach I had a small plain baked potato for breakfast. That seemed to have worked. Lunch was a bean burrito and later some popcorn. For dinner I had sushi. I love sushi. We chose rolls with seaweed and brown rice instead of white. It had small amounts of vegetables and a little bit of imitation crab. I'm not sure what is in imitation crab but for the amount that was in the roll I could hardly see it being a problem.

This weekend we are planning to spend some time out on the boat. I am trying to decide what to pack. Normally we take a cooler filled with beers, sodas, water and lunch meat sandwiches, chips, etc. I have no idea what to pack for food. This may take some creativity.


Twelve down,eleven to go.

Day 11 Having wine

So, today I had a glass (no, two) of wine. But, starting at the beginning... It was the last day of working in the office for me until Tuesday so I always kind of feel like Thursday is Friday. I had meetings all day, as usual. I don't know if that contributed to the reason that I wasn't hungry all day or not. Maybe, hopefully, I am starting to get acclimated to this new way of eating and realize that I don't need as much to make me full.

I had the last 2 waffles for breakfast. I had some rice crackers for a snack and for lunch my usual rice and beans with a small baked potato and salsa. This was also sprinkled with some shredded cheddar cheese.

After work my husband and I tried a new neighborhood bar, Jacks Tap Room. It was the first time I have had wine since I started this. I had 2 glasses of Longboat Sauvingnon Blanc. It didn't go to my head like I thought it might. I thought it would be like I finally got my fix but it wasn't at all. I mean, it was good and all but no big deal. Maybe I don't have a drinking problem after all. :-)

So for dinner I am making zucchini squash with mushrooms, sliced banana peppers and fresh basil with pasta sauce and a side of swiss chard.

I got a new meat-free,dairy-free,egg-free cookbook that I am looking forward to reading tonight. It looks like it may have some good recipes. (Mom, I will let you know how it is)

Coming up...the last weekend.

Eleven down, three to go.

Day 10 adding things back

I am still on my flush even though I had some feta cheese on my big salad today. I have decided that I will slowly add one item back at a time for several days and that way I can pinpoint what it is that makes me feel sluggish (if it is in fact one thing). After all, I sure don't want to return to my old habits after the great way I am feeling.

Today I had whole grain waffles for breakfast. I had a big salad with lots of fresh veggies, walnuts and feta cheese. I had a cup of black bean soup for a snack and an apple with some peanut butter.

I am having beans and rice for dinner since I don't really feel like cooking anything.

Another week is almost over. Tomorrow is already Thursday.

Ten down, four to go

Day 9 A tiny cheat

Today was a nice day. Still feeling really good even though I got on the scale and found I had gained back the 3 pounds that I lost. I concluded that I am eating too much. I'm switching to more vegetables and staying away from the gluten-free wraps, corn chips and crackers.

For breakfast I ate half a bowl of cereal with blueberries. I'm starting to like blueberries more these days. A handful of nuts as a snack. For lunch was a plain sweet potato and homemade lentil soup. (Thanks for the recipe Mom!) I had a peach in the afternoon and when I got home I munched on a few rice crackers.

I'm making dinner which is baked potabella mushrooms with some pasta sauce (I found this great brand at Harris Teeter that is so delicous and has chunks of veggies in it - It's called Colavita Organic Sicilian Garden) topped with fresh spinach and some...here it comes...REAL reduced fat shredded mozzerella! Yes, I am cheating but I could have cheated worse. Anyway, I think I smell them burning now so talk to you tomorrow.

Nine down, five to go.

Day 8 Almost falling off the wagon

Today I decided that I would add back wine to my flush. I thought, why not? I really felt that I wanted, and deserved, one (or two) glasses of wine so I had decided to have one. I think I was just having an off day.

It started out fine. I got up and logged onto my computer and began working. I went for a 40 minutes walk with my husband and my dogs. I made a big pot of lentil soup and another of rattatouie. I had a veggie burger and corn for lunch and then it just went down hill. I started to get cranky and then I decided that I would have a drink at the end of the day.

I went and got my hair cut and colored (went back to my natural color).
, which took about 2 hours. When I got home it was 5:00 (happy hour) and I had already decided that I would NOT have a glass of wine. Maybe getting out of the house for a couple hours is just what I needed. I feel better now.

It's 7:30 and I'm gonna cook up some gluten-free spagghetii for dinner and then call it a day. Glad I didn't cave.

Eight down, six to go.

Day 7 Taco night

OK, I stuffed myself with tacos and now I am full.

We had breakfast late today and then went to see a movie at 1:00. We saw Inception (great movie by the way). It was a 2 1/2 hour movie. The theator was one of those with the comfy chairs and tables where they serve food, beer and wine. My husband had a few drafts and I would have loved a glass of wine but I know it would have been just due to the atmosphere. I opted for bottled water instead. mmmmm yummy :-)

Afterwards we went grocery shopping and so by the time we got home it was almost 5:00
and we hadn't eaten since breakfast. We were starved!

I made tacos (soft and hard) I stuffed the hard shells with black beans mixed w/ taco seasoning and the soft shells with refried beans. It was just as good, if not better, than the ground beef. Still, I ate too many.

I am still feeling really good. I have a lot of energy, although I am not exercising. I also have had great nights sleep since I started this.

Well, one week down and one to go. I have to say, I already know I won't go back to eating the way I did before. I feel too good. I do miss some things like couscous, cottage cheese and eggs. I would have liked to go out to breakfast after the farmers market on Saturday. Although eating lunch and dinner out may be doable I don't know how someone could eat breakfast out on this plan.

The first thing I plan to do after my 14 days, though, is enjoy a glass of wine.

Seven down, seven to go.