Phasing Out...

Today is the last day of Phase 1...which means the next five days are a bit more tough, but I'm feeling encouraged and motivated so I don't think it will be that bad.

Things I've noticed thus far:

* I feel clear and energized all day! Usually it hits 2:30/3:00 and I can barely figure out how to make tea let alone be productive. I usually feel sluggish, tired and hungry. I'm searching around for food like haven't had anything to eat in days and I usually land on Cheetos or candy or cookies (usually something sweet and tempting is in our office break room...) but these past five days I am not ravenous and usually make it all the way until dinner before I start to feel hungry.

* Cravings. I thought I would be going nuts and dreaming of pasta, bread and dairy (CHEESE!) But, I haven't. I don't have any cravings for sandwiches, toast, pasta, cheese/yogurt -- but this morning we had a work meeting which means a cornucopia of delicious morning sweets: warm gooey cinnamon rolls, cream cheese danishes, bagels with cream cheese and I realized THIS is my weakness. Breakfast sweets (and I'll throw in doughnuts because I love those. A lot.) So as I munched on my pear and apples with almond butter I still wanted a big bite of cinnamon roll and bagel with veggie cream cheese. Yum! But I also tried to think about how I usually feel when I indulge in those items at the meeting...and then at lunch...and then at 3:00 because there's always leftover taunting, and I realized that I feel even more sluggish and usually get a headache from all the sugar.

That said: I'm hoping to learn how to say "no" not because "I want to lose weight" or because "I'll feel guilty" which are popular reasons people refrain from meeting snacks - but more about realizing, am I only eating because it's there? Or, do I actually really enjoy the treat? Cranberry-Walnut-Banana Bread in our department meeting yesterday? No thanks -- I don't even like nuts in bread?! Why do I always eat 2 pieces that weren't that enjoyable? Cream cheese danish, bagels and doughnuts in the staff meeting this morning?! Yes -- but maybe not ALL. I don't need a heaping pile of sugar to start out the day, but picking the one I crave the most would work. It's not about restriction - but figuring out why I'm eating and changing those habits. (Ex. Eating because I'm bored, stressed, or it's just in front of me = not a healthy relationship with food).

But, I really do need to stop writing about doughnuts etc. because while I'm on the detox those ARE off limits and I need to make it out of this office without stuffing any in my purse...

That said. Bring on Phase 2!