After 5 Weeks (on "the new diet")

Five weeks in - and let me tell you... if I was just doing this new dietary change to lose weight, I would have stopped about 4 weeks ago! Yes, I have lost a lot of weight, but this diet is HARD! But, I keep pushing on for the sake of my health... I want to be well! I am making all of these changes for myself and for the seven people who need me most! I need to be able to physically be there for my family!

Here is a copy of my original goals 5 weeks ago:

My goals for the next few months:
- Get totally off of refined sugar
- Get totally off of caffeine
- Work my way up to a diet of at least 51% fruits and veggies... yikes.
- Drink at least 100 ounces of water every day
- no soda ever, not even decaf
- no sweet tea, not even decaf
- very little meat (this is NOT a change from our current norm. We choose not to spend our limited budget on meat. We have been eating only three pounds of meat a week for the last several months - that's three pounds for the whole family, by the way.)
- less breads (because I eat a LOT of my homemade bread. Great ingredients... in smaller amounts)
- more beans (we already eat beans several days a week. I would like to see it go to at least one meal a day.)
- exercise daily. Gardening counts. Mowing counts. Soccer with the kids counts.I am not expecting marathon condition. I just want to be able to take a walk!
- I do NOT have a goal for weight loss, because ultimately that is not my primary concern. But, I know that I should not weigh 200 pounds. After Baby #5 was born in 2009, I weighed 178 for almost two years. And, after Baby #2 was born in 2003, I got down to 160 by making no dietary changes at all... just with exercise. So, in time, I would like to see a significant reduction in pounds lost. But, for now, it is not a goal

Let's see how we are doing:
- most days I consume very little to zero refined sugars. I will admit to indulging in some treats.
- I am off of caffeine. 
- my diet (and Paul's as well!) is now at LEAST 50% raw fruits and veggies... most days closer to 75%. I am learning to make meals all over again... and it is VERY HARD! I have been borrowing UN-cook books from the library. Those are books that tell you how to prepare raw veggies/fruits. Very interesting, very expensive. And, I must add, once you have tasted organic veggies - there is no turning back!
- I am certainly drinking a lot of water. Paul does too.
- No soda, no sweet tea - not even a sip!
- We have meat once a week... twice if there are leftovers. We get protein from dairy, nuts, and seeds.
- No bread. Our mixer broke and I have not made any bread. I have eaten maybe 3 slices of bread in these past 5 weeks.
- Beans - We actually eat beans about 5 times a week.
- exercise - I am feeling stronger. So, I get outside to work a little every day. I hope to be able to take a walk with my family soon!!! But, for now, 30 minutes of gardening daily is a big accomplishment!
- weight loss - get this friends, I am down 18 pounds! Paul has lost 18 pounds too! My naturopath wants to see me lose a lot more weight, which is why I am eating so much raw veggies and no flours/starches (except for my beans and occasional brown rice). Honestly, if I can go without flours/grains for two days in a row I can lose a pound a day. Really.

In addition to these, I am not experiencing any joint pain!

So, there are many positive results of this radical lifestyle changes. But, I still cry a lot. This diet has been one of the hardest endeavors of my entire life! I will NEVER tell you that it has been easy. But, as time keeps on marching by, I hope to tell you that it has been worth it! There have been results! But, it is very hard to go to a graduation party and not eat cake! It is very hard to make your own food for potluck dinners and not touch anyone else's! It is very hard to have a bad day and get through it without the aid of coffee and cookies!

Friends, you just don't know how much of an idol food is until you try to take it away! My god is my belly! (See Phil 3:19) I am ashamed that I still look to food as my comfort! I want to fully rely upon the Lord... but my appetite shows me where my loyalty truly lies. Yes, I am in earnest. And, no, people do not like to hear this. Most of my close acquaintances have written me off as loony! No one wants to hear about my new research. No one wants to talk about it anymore.

There is a spiritual analogy in this too. (something about people not wanting to be made aware of their sins by being around someone who is trying to live a life pleasing to God). But, I will let you decipher that for yourself.

Progress? Yes!
Challenging? You better believe it!
Worthwhile? Yep!
Will we continue? Absolutely! So, please keep praying for us! This has been a very hard adjustment for our family!

Have a great week friends! Enjoy eating as many vegetables as you can work into your diet!