Dietariality

Perhaps a personal dietarial diary...

I'm not a dieter, except for the fact that I eat daily, which constitutes of the definition of a diet. But over the past few years, God has been seeming to tug on my heart to do some type of cleansing diet for the digestive system, and after some health issues and research last year, I'm finally pulling the trigger. Oh boy.

So my first ever Whole Foods Market shopping experience went just as anticipated. I was really shopping, not just coming in to get a few things and leave like is my standard protocol for shopping. I was browsing, studying, learning. It was weird.

The atmosphere fit the subconscious stereotype I had in my mind, even down to the cashier interaction. I failed to tell her it was my first time shopping there, as she seemed to be surprised or even a little offended in her demeanor when I didn't realize or remember that Amazon bought out Whole Foods, when she was asking if I was a Prime member.

As strange as the whole visit was, I left with the smallest shopping stockpile I've had in years. Because this diet is a narrow one to say the least. Of course I had to choose one of the most strict diets there are out there, the Candida Diet...and one that lasts the longest of most of them, two months. But I'm taking it like my old football regimens and routines, along with the rehab and therapy for my improperly healed injuries from those days.

I have quickly learned that I need to get more food in this refrigerator of mine. Thankfully I have a sister reminding me of other little things that can make my meals actually feel like a full meal, with a hint of variety. Because for now, it's chicken cooked in butter and seasoning, and fresh spinach, for lunch and for dinner. (Still trying to figure out breakfast with this thing, beyond protein shake and low-sugar fruit!)

But one thing is for sure, the supplements that accompany this diet are filling in themselves. And when I catch a scent of the inside of the bottles, they sure smell like they will do something once inside me.

I remember approximately 0.7 days before the first day of the diet, I was having withdrawals. I didn't know if I could do it. I had talked and hyped it up to myself and others, but this is my life we're talking about! But I had to keep my focus on the regimen mentality, to I kept attaching it to football. That helped.

The first night of day one I had an intricate dream about food, at a grocery store, picking up items and then putting them down, remembering that they were not part of the diet. Then I found a rack of Ezekiel bread, so I picked that up. Then I saw where there was a whole shelf of unleavened bread, so I got that.

But as I reached, there they were, at eye level...a wide variety of glazed donuts, made my favorite way, light, lots of slightly crusty glaze, not thick and bready, and in all the different glaze donut shapes...small twists, big twists, rings, donut holes, you name it. I was thinking I need to take just one small bite, and I almost did, except I realized that would be like stealing.

I woke up realizing that I need to do a countdown, or count-up, to mark the progress of each of the 60 days of this diet. I'm seeing how people who have used calendar countdowns have been motivated by each day passing. I really get it.

Trust me, I give you my solemn word: after this is over, I'll make and keep certain dietary changes so I never, ever have to do a diet like this again in my life.

Dietarials

• You know it's bad when you go to a whole foods store and you still can't have most of what's on the shelves.
• I prepared myself for the dietary adjustment by having a few weaning cheating moments that tapered me down to being able to embrace this diet for the long haul. Cheating meaning, two Pringles chips, or three sugar-free Reese's cups (which are better than regular ones!), 1.5 strands of Twizzlers, or three orange-flavored Lifesavers.
• My first time in whole foods store went very stereotypical to anything I would've imagined. By the third time I went there, I felt a little bit like I belong and I wanted to be there. Now there are foods that I want to continue to have after this diet from there. (For anyone who knows me, they would know this is revolutionary.)
• I have realized very quickly the difference in quality of cheese and meats from whole foods market-grade versus anywhere else. I don't think I can ever go back to the other type of cheese, and I'm very sold on grass-fed ground beef now.
• There's a different taste and feel in back of my mouth and throat, especially during the diet. I feel the difference between acidic and neutral or basic diet and state of being within. It feels good, relieving, but different.
• I understand comfort food for the first time in my life. I see where people just feel comfortable by having certain foods. I've always been fuel or crave-only eater, until this diet, where nothing is really comfortable.
• I bought some phase-in food at the store with a couple weeks left on the diet. It felt really good, even though I can't have any of it yet. Just to be able to buy it, and to have it at home felt good. Comfort shopping?


Side Notes Regarding Other Physical Health Items
• I turned my head around to back out of parking spot further than I have in 20 years. Flexibility and health coming back to shoulders, arms.
• With every week, I noticed improvement in flexibility, strength, and movements I haven't been able to do in years.
• I have been in an intense physical rehab, muscle therapy and football team doctor treatment program for the nine injuries to my shoulders (six on throwing shoulder and three on the other), and after all the corrective movement, I've been able to finally get back into a normal, full routine without issue for the first time in over two years.

...

Eagles Point

A safe place of rest