Today is day 28.  I have gone 28 days without eating sugar, processed food, pre-packaged meals, dairy, beans, grains, and most impressively alcohol.

I can’t believe it.  When I started this experiment (what else do you call it), I was not sure how it would go.  I have tried eating and being healthy 19,840,785,321 times before and have only stuck with something once before (that was way back in mid-90’s when I wasn’t so busy and when I look back–it also wasn’t so healthy).

I have used my busy life as an excuse for so long.  I’m too tired to cook. I’m too tired to workout.  I have too many papers to grade.  The kids have too many activities to get to.  I just want a pint of ice cream.  I could go on for days with the excuses I have allowed to dictate my behavior.

Food addiction is real.  Sugar addiction is real.  Sugar is in everything.  I have to shop at Whole Foods (aka Whole Paycheck) just to find bacon and sausage that don’t have added sugar.  Eating healthy and whole is easy.  Finding the paying for the food is not easy.  Last weekend, I went to 3 different stores to get our week’s groceries and spend over $200 to feed the four of us for the week.

But, I did it.  I am going to do it again and again and again.  At this point, eating isn’t about losing weight (that would be awesome) but that can’t be my focus.  My focus is on being healthy and getting my PCOS under control–I have too long ignored it.  Eating is also about how I feel.  and I feel great–I’m still exhausted at the end of the day (but that is life).

I have learned so much during this almost 30 days.  I don’t need food to feel good.  And by food, I mean cookies, cakes, ice cream, fries, bread, cheese, etc.  So many of the cravings I was giving into were mental cravings as opposed to physical cravings.  Not be allowed to have trigger foods and figuring out what those are has been so eye-opening for me. I don’t eat when I am bored anymore.  I drink water.  I don’t snack on the kids food.  I have not even  licked non-compliant food off my finger.

We had a trivia night on Friday and I only ate the food I brought.  I didn’t touch the pizza, the cheese, salami or crackers, the alcohol, or the dessert.  And it was easy.  I wasn’t temped by any of the food.  I feel as though I have made real progress with my addiction to food (specifically processed food).  I don’t miss anything.

Results:
I have kicked my old habits.
I have lost 11lbs (only changing what I eat–I’m adding exercise in for the next round).
I don’t miss any foods.
I feel good about doing it and accomplishing it.

Here is to the next 30 days.