A Diet Update (And Rest Of January)

Yes, I absolutely used another filter. It's been quite a month ya'll and no one wants to see what I truly look like right now. I'm telling you. I'm tired and hungry and hanging on.

 

 I haven't eaten inside of a restaurant in two weeks. I have been on this diet for a month. I am SO proud of myself for sticking with it, but it's been rough at times.

 

Sadly as I type this post, I am feeling reflux and I don't know why. I haven't felt reflux in a long time, but today I woke up with it. And I didn't eat anything differently yesterday than I have all month. I have no idea what is going on. Frustrating.

 

 Nothing super interesting has happened in my life since I last posted - mainly just weather-related stuff. Our area had the threat of a catastrophic (yes the weather people used that word) ice storm last weekend that didn't pan out and then this weekend we had the potential for snow - which ended up being just a sad, barely-there dusting. With all the over-hype lately by the local forecasters, one forecaster got her knickers in a bunch on social media when people started naturally getting a bit irritated with her. She whined and complained in a post that she had been away from her family, her kids, for a whole week. Of course, she then got a lot of sympathy and ego-stroking from people in her comment section. I do understand that is difficult to predict weather sometimes. But don't freaking over-hype to get ratings. And when you are WRONG, then just ADMIT it. I don't watch her (she just happened to pop up in my FB feed), and I don't plan on it from here either. 

 

 Sorry if I sound a bit salty right now, but I am tired of the absolute chaos on the news and in the world lately. And I am sugar/caffeine-deprived, so try to cut me a little slack.

 

I will say, it has been COLD here lately...

 

We aren't used to these kinds of temperatures in GA!

 

Here are pictures of the "catastrophic" ice and snow in my neck of the woods the past two weekends...

 

 I did see a very beautiful hawk land on one of my trees during the ice event...

And my cat loved these events more than anyone else...

And speaking of my kitty, January 24th was our "gotcha day" anniversary. Our fur baby has been a part of our family for 11 years...

 

Bri is still doing well at school. She sent me a selfie before a presentation she had to give (which she got a 100 on) and was looking very snazzy...

 

Doug is doing very well - he is BUSY with his new job. So freaking busy. But, he is happy. He was miserable in the job that he had for just a few months. He's back in his happy place.

 As for me, this elimination diet has really consumed a lot of my life. It takes a long time to get through a grocery store after reading so many labels. I will pick up an item and I read through most of ingredients thinking - great, I can eat this. Then I finally get to "corn" or "milk" or "sugar" at the end and I have to put it down. Ugh. So frustrating. I am constantly food prepping. And it is EXPENSIVE to be healthy. It was expensive before, but things are getting more and more expensive every single day. I usually meet my friends for catch up meals but I can't really eat out, so my social life is suffering a bit. Doug keeps reminding me this is just for the short term, and I know that, but it is still difficult.

 

I did meet with my doctor last week, told her I was only giving one more full week to this intense diet and said I wanted to start bringing things back in. She was fine with that and seemed so happy that I got this far. I started thinking to myself "do a lot of people quit this?" Maybe they do. So the protocol is...I have to eat a lot of what I decide to bring back in for one day and then wait for 2 days to see how I am affected by it. This will be a long process. And I still need to stay clear of dairy (for now) and gluten (probably for good). So tomorrow, I am going to eat eggs again. I like eggs. I don't love eggs. But right now, I am craving freaking eggs. So tomorrow, I eat lots of eggs and hope that my body tolerates it ok. If it does, I keep them and try the next thing - which I have chosen to be beef. And so on and so on.

 

Doug and I are going to SCAD TV Fest next weekend to see Bri and we will be in a hotel for two nights.  I worry about what safe foods I can find while I am there. It will be a challenge. At least I'll have eggs again, hopefully.

 

 I have lost a few pounds while doing this - which is great. But it truly isn't why I am doing this. I am learning how to eat better. I want to feel better. I think I will be able to stick with it this time. I really do.

 

 The only restaurant food I have eaten the last two weeks was "Moe's" and Doug brought it home for me. It was kind of sad...

 

No cheese. No sour cream. No tortilla. I had to make my own white rice to add to it. It was just meh. 
 

And these are some of the meals I have made for myself...

 

And I have to say, everything that I posted has been quite yummy. It looks pretty too, right? But, I need to add some more things in to my diet pronto. I just do.

Gosh I wish I wasn't feeling reflux right now. It is making me feel a bit down. Hoping it goes away by tomorrow.

 

  So, happy February everyone. Well, as happy of a February as we can have living in this jacked-up country. And wish me luck as I start bringing in possibly problematic (let's hope not) foods.

 

Be back soon.