IT'S ALL OVER

and I miss the diet! Despite feeling hungry the entire time, and excessively salivating at inopportune times, I absolutely felt healthier during those three weeks than I have in a loooong time (and certainly more so thatn I've felt the past few weeks since it ended and I've been reintroducing all the so-called bad stuff).

But it's strange how psychologically I seem to need the diet in order to control my intake. For instance, I didn't need that donut yesterday morning for breakfast. I could still be eating almond milk smoothies and mochi waffles - delicious! But buying a donut is so much easier.... snap out of it, Karen! Repeat after your more healthy, reasonable alter ego, BumbleV: "Do not enter the donut hole! You will not feel good afterwards!"

There. I think I'm cured of donuts for the time being.

Project WHEAT

Wow... I had no idea that wheat packed such a punch.

I have tried some wheat cereal, bread products and really basic things like - english muffins.

And in return, I have had some great cramps, some really impressive bloating (and associated escaping air!), and generally feel more tired.

I am considering stopping all wheat, and proceeding to soy.... the joy of soy!

Day TWENTY ONE!!!

Mmmmm.... latte. Well, decaf latte, decorated by the talented coffee artiste at Chapter House, Shannon.

OK, ok, we cheated. The reintroduction occurred a day early. It was a difficult choice, but Michal and I went with the diverse and delicious dairy food group. Owen , of course, went with booze. Vodka, to be specific.

I LOVE the reintroduction of dairy!

Yesterday evening cheese passed my palette for the first time in 20 days. It was delicious, even when eaten with lukewarm brown rice noodles. Salty, with delicious crystals of whatever those crystals are within certain cheeses.

So far, there have been no ill side-effects, thankfully. Mental clarity? Check. No Aches and pains? Check. Gastrointestinal distress? None to speak of!

I am definitely sneezing and stuffy this morning, but hopefully I can blame that more on dreaded spring pollen than on delicious milk products.

Day EIGHTEEN

Three days left!!?! Thank god! I have hit a wall today. I am cranky and STARVING, despite having eaten a lovely bowl of yellow riceandbeans for lunch two short hours ago. There's just something about this diet that causes hunger.
And, yes, I know that the point of the elimination diet has absolutely nothing to do with weight loss, but I would assume, having starved steadily for over two weeks, that it might be a pleasant side effect. But nooooo....I was weighed at the doctor's office this morning, and there has been no slimming down. What's up with that? How irritating!

Day FIFTEEN

I have no photos to post because everything that I cooked and ate this weekend was unattractive and brown. However, my dreams are in technicolor! And they are long and detailed. In fact, last night I dreamed that... only kidding. Noone likes to hear other people's dreams. Unless they are in them.

But seriously, I have never felt so clear-headed in my life! I sleep well, wake up fresh, and am fueled with a steady stream of energy. Does this mean I have to make a choice between clarity and chocolate cupcakes? Cognizance and alcohol? Sharpness and soft pretzels?

DAY THIRTEEN: (cue the freaky music)

After blissfully discovering that MOCHI can really be made in waffle formation, I moved on with fresh vigor to make the "baking powder biscuits" from the recipe book:



Although they appear to look, just like biscuits...

They tasted a little more like:



But, when smothered with agave nectar.... they are delicious!

Day TWELVE

We're more than half way there (the Bon Jovi song just played through my sugar deprived head - I think I'm starting to hallucinate)! The cravings have subsided, to be replaced by irritation and fear: what if, when we start to reintroduce, it turns out we DO have a bad reaction to something? What if we can't handle wheat? Or sugar? Or chocolate? Nooooooooo! Personally, I wouldn't care so much about dairy. Dairy shmairy. But life would be so dark without bread and sweets...