A week in

So we’re officially one week in. Fourteen days of no bread, minimal carbs and no gluten or dairy. I can’t tell a huge difference, but I am beginning to see a few changes — changes worth talking about.

I am absolutely, incredibly exhausted. I wake up tired, proceed through the day tired and fall asleep before my head hits the pillow in the evening. It makes finding energy for cycling quite difficult. I have given up caffeine, and after one more week without it, I’m going to reintroduce it. I know it’s too early to expect great results, so I’m giving everything at least another week, probably longer. I’m hoping the fatigue will fade as my body gets used to healthy foods.

I am hoping after next weekend to add minimal dairy and gluten-free bread back into my diet. I originally thought I would add minimal gluten back in, but after Sunday, I changed my mind. I went to lunch at Ruby Tuesday after church. They have a special gluten-free menu if you ask for it. I ordered a petite sirloin with grilled zucchini and asparagus. By the end of the meal, my stomach was hurting. I was sick for the next several hours and spent most of the afternoon and early evening on my couch or in the bathroom. Having worked in restaurants, I know it’s absurd to expect a kitchen staff to take extra steps to make sure my food doesn’t touch other food or other surfaces where gluten has been present — especially during the Sunday lunch rush. I understand that completely, I really do. But if you offer a gluten-free menu, you should be able to take the necessary steps to provide the food actually gluten-free. Otherwise, don’t offer it.

I was surprised that after only one week of gluten-free, gluten made me sick. But I ate a ton of gluten and bad foods before this and for seven days, I’ve had nothing. I guess it does make a difference.

Some of the positive changes include my digestion. Without getting into details, my digestion has been great. I’ve had no problems, and everything has been working just as it should. I also haven’t felt bloated at all. It’s hard to describe, but I feel lighter, less heavy. I feel like my insides aren’t being weighed down and that I’m cleaner. It’s hard to describe without experiencing it, but it feels amazing. Refreshing.

I’ve also lost five pounds. I can’t tell a big difference when I look in the mirror, but my clothes aren’t as tight. I think that’s due more to the lack of bloating than anything else. It’s insane how good I feel on a regular basis. Plus, food doesn’t consume my thoughts. I have to plan ahead, so I pack my lunches and sometimes, my dinners. When friends suggest eating out, I have to know where we are going ahead of time. But other than that, I haven’t been inconvenienced by the new diet.

I actually roasted brussels sprouts Friday night, and I enjoyed them so much I bought more and cooked them to have for lunch this week. I think it’s official — hell has frozen over. 😉

On the downside, I miss peanut butter, milk and cheese terribly. I’m anxious to reintroduce those three things (or variations of those three things) back into my diet next week. When I’ve had cravings for sweet stuff, I’ve eaten strawberries and blueberries, and that has been sufficient. (I did dream about pancakes one night, so suggestions on making those from scratch are always welcome.) I also made a second $70+ trip to the grocery store. That’s more than $150 spent in two weeks. I hope as time goes on, I get better at this shopping business. But even though my grocery budget is expanding, my dining out budget is decreasing.

After the weirdness of getting sick on Sunday, I realized I can never truly go back — my life and diet will forever be different. It made me sad for a second, but the way I feel overall makes the changes worth it. I literally feel lighter. It’s incredible. So now, onward to week two.

Do you have any questions about this experiment? Feel free to ask or email me at victoria[at]victoriacumbow[dot]com.