Two Weeks In...

So here we are...two weeks into our Lenten "project."  A friend asked how our project was going.  I told her that was a good word for it.  I told her another word for it was hell. Another friend inquired about our diet. We informed him we would prefer to call it a lifestyle change.  My folks asked if maybe we bit off a little more than we could chew.  The answer is no. We can do this.  You just might want to leave us alone while we do.  Let me gnaw on my cauliflower in peace because in just a few hours I get to eat a salad. And after that I get a piece of raw fruit.  Woo-Hoo!

Okay seriously...if you talked to me in the first three days of doing this, my response would have been fairly negative and my tone angry. The lack of sugar in my body would yell at you. I'm sorry. Sugar detox is a bit of a.....bitch. Or maybe I was. It's all a little foggy.  But now, it's kind of the new norm around here and I don't think about it too much.  We've gotten a little more familiar with what we need from which store and what food combinations fill us up.  That one took awhile for me.  Honestly the first week I felt hungry more than I felt satisfied.  But now I am finding it takes much less to actually fill me up!

A lot of people have asked us how we do this and what is working.  It's odd to love and hate something equally at the same time.  So here they are, the pros and cons of a Non processed Lenten Lifestyle Change...(in no particular order)

Pro: Food in its original state is actually very tasty.
Con: It takes a lot of preparation.  We cut and cut and cut and cut.  Nothing is quick.
Pro:  Grocery shopping is pretty easy when you only hit up two aisles and spend the rest of the time in the produce section.
Con:  We grocery shop close to four times a week at 4-6 different stores.
Pro: Organic milk is delicious and reminds me of my childhood.
Con:  Organic food is very expensive.
Pro:  We use organic food in much smaller portions because of the price.  We are much more thoughtful about how we use our foods.
Con:  Avocado-Cucumber smoothies.  Ack.
Pro:  One day I crapped six times...... a personal record!!!!!!!!!!!
Con: We don't always like what we eat.
Pro:  We don't always like what we eat.....I'm learning that I don't always need to love what goes in my mouth.  My body is filled with nutrients.  I'm not entitled to anything else.
Con: We can't find any bakery that makes bread with less than five ingredients!
Pro: Chris' back pain has decreased.
Con: Whole wheat wrap with black beans, cream cheese, sprouts, cukes, and mushrooms.  Whoops.
Pro: Our local outlet grocery store has organic granola, organic juice for the kids, and Starbucks coffee.  I think we're actually making money by shopping there.
Con:  I have to watch Eliza eat the salami I want.
Pro:  I don't always eat when I feel hungry....trying to stretch food makes me eat less.
Con: Low blood sugar makes me yell at my family.
Pro: Eliza has started potty training herself in all of this.  Apparently we missed the signs of her readiness so she took it upon herself.  This will save a lot of money in diapers.
Con: Chris has mentioned the word steak more in the last five days than in our 9 years of marriage.
Pro:  I'm finding that my palate is changing and I don't really crave sweets at all...except when I do.
Con: Give me some chocolate, dammit.
Pro: I'm not bloated anymore. Ironically, I never  knew I was bloated before.  But now my gut doesn't hang out quite as far.  It's still there, just a little more intact.  Hooray for the no-gut factor.
Pro: Crab legs, shrimp, and steak are all unprocessed foods.
Pro: So are eggs...so when we break the budget with a special dinner, we make up for it the following night.
Pro: Mixed greens with pears, blueberries, almonds, scallions, feta, and homemade dressing
Pro: I feel more balanced.
Pro: I feel better about Isis' diet knowing that certain aspects contains a lot less sugar and unnecessary additives.
Pro: When we go to a friends house, we eat what is served. Tater-tot casserole never tasted so good.
Pro: We have lots of friends who are eagerly waiting to have us over for dinner.  Hint Hint.  Please serve pizza and hoagies.
Pro:  The girls have filled up their food rainbow two times.
Pro:  Isis has eaten two new fruits!  We use Eliza as leverage.  Isis can't stand the thought of their rainbows not being equal.
Pro:  Yogurt with granola, blueberries, bananas, and honey
Pro:  I crave smoothies.
Pro:  Every single nutrient that our body needs was provided to us by God in the form of fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, meat, and dairy.  Anything we do to those foods is extra.

Woah.  Looks like I may have just run out of cons....until tomorrow when I don't want another stupid bowl of fruit filled granola AGAIN!  And I throw it against the wall and dive face first into a bowl of Life cereal.  But luckily on the way there I spy the blender and make a smoothie instead.  Did I say love-hate?  Maybe manic is a better word.  Happy eating.