Well, a few things haven't gone perfectly for my 100 days.
I haven't journaled every day. (Or hardly at all.)
I haven't worked out every day.
But here's what I did do: In that first month (September - also known as Birthday Month) I completed a two-week nutritional detox.
This was not my first time through the detox protocol, but it feels different this time. Yes, there were some physical adjustments, but the mental changes? This time, it's next-level stuff.
For two weeks, I drank a ton of water. (My weight, divided in half, in ounces of water each day. So more than 100 ounces. Yipes!) I drank a detox shake every morning for breakfast (and in the last four days I also had one for dinner or evening snack.) And I eliminated (with rare exception): dairy, corn, eggs, soy, peanuts, sugar, caffeine and alcohol. There was a night at the theater and I enjoyed some red wine. There was a get-together luncheon with old friends and I had 1/4 of a panini. So sue me.) That elimination isn't meant to be permanent, but instead it's designed to help you zero in on any foods that cause discomfort or inflammation. What it did for me is allow me to understand what it feels like to take in dense nutrients minus the junk, to get rid of sugar long enough to stave off the cravings, and to realize that I don't need nearly as much food as I ate prior to the detox.
I know I should do my best to keep up this style of eating, in moderation. And in the last two weeks, my idea of what "moderation" is has also changed. A cookie is moderation. Four is a dish to pass. If I can eat one, I can have one. If I can't, well ... the only answer is zero.
Full disclosure: the first thing I added back was coffee. And lo, it was good. I've used a little dairy (great quality plain yogurt in a curry dish) and I made some homemade treats for days when I need a little somethin'. I continue to feel great ... and the scale is responding.
Since starting the detox, I'm down 7.2 pounds. There's more work to be done, but this is a great start. Meanwhile, I am cooking more (see above re: curry) and loving it.
Bottom line: life is as short as it is precious, and we only have this one body to live it in. I want to feel good in mine, so I intend to stay the course. There will be celebrations, there will be vacations, there will be reasons to indulge - and that's okay. As long as I always return to this place where I enjoy delicious food that fuels me for living well for a long, long time.
