Day 24

We are well into our fourth week, and I truly can't believe how fast it's gone by!  When we first talked about doing this diet, I thought it was going to be a constant struggle to resist temptation.  I do find myself thinking longingly about pasta, fresh baked bread, and cheese occasionally.  But, it passes, and I feel so good right now!  Part of that feeling is pride in my ability to stick it out, but a big part of it, is just feeling healthy, lighter, refreshed.
Earlier this week I made a quinoa salad with broccoli, red onions, carrots, and red leaf lettuce.  Tossed it all in a mustard vinaigrette.  It was so light and delicious!  My husband went on another cooking spree and made a stir fry with chicken and tons of veggies.  Another dish he made was a Mexican-style "salad" with ground beef and veggies cooked in a tomatillo sauce with cabbage and served over rice.  He also roasted a pork shoulder and served it up with braised fennel and an apple-potato mash.  None of these things take a super long time to prepare either.  With a little planning, it could even take a novice only 1/2 hour to get everything ready.
We are feeling a little under the weather, so I made a chicken and vegetable soup yesterday from our own chicken stock.
Also, I have been bringing my own breakfast to work with me so I don't feel tempted by all the fresh baked goods, pancakes, waffles, and biscuits and gravy!  Sometimes the smells drive me mad!  But, I manage, and I feel satisfied with my oatmeal or polenta, and apples.  I know deep down, if I gave in and ate one of those things, I would only feel regret.
Exercise has been spotty, I tried to go running, but am feeling a little sickly, so it didn't go so well!  But, I am back to having lost 13 pounds!  I am trying to work on my portion size now that I have gotten used to eating this way.  Salads can be as big as the moon, but breakfast and dinner, I am trying to eat a little less.
Christmas is coming up, and we've decided to kind of "let go" a little.  I don't mean shovel in the mashers, gravy, and pie, but to let ourselves indulge a little.  We will also help with the cooking I'm sure, so we can add our own healthy influence to the meal.  Plus, by then it will have been almost 2 months!
So, one more week to go of the official 30 day diet.  Then we will start thinking of ways to incorporate gluten and dairy back into our lives without going back to the way things were.  We have learned so much, it's amazing!  I am looking forward to carrying the learning to another level!