End of Day 10 and Holding

I have gone 10 whole days eating a vegan diet that's free of sugar, gluten and caffeine!!! And honestly, I've never felt better. And honestly, it's pretty easy too. After about 3 days I stopped craving sugar and coffee with an unbridled passion. I do crave foods sometimes but the craving is so much less that it used to be. It's more like, "oh, that sounds yummy". Instead of "I MUST HAVE THAT NOW OR I WILL DIE AND TAKE OTHERS OUT WITH ME!" I feel like I have obtained my goal of controlling food instead of it controlling me. Now, how to sustain that when the 21 days are up...............

I've also noticed that my moods are more even. I started my period last week and it came to me by surprise because there weren't any severe mood swings and chocolate cravings for days before. I also used to get really moody when I was hungry and now not so much.

Of course I eat less because I can stop eating when I'm full. I have noticed a boost of energy. And the icing on the cake, I've lost 10 lbs.

Now on to what this diet hasn't "fixed". I still crave food when I crave comfort. I got really sick this weekend and all I wanted was food to make me feel better. It was really hard when I couldn't eat my way better. Also, I'm still eating when I'm stressed. I just chomp down a bag of carrots instead of a box of cookies. Yes, overeating carrots is better for me than overeating cookies but it still overeating. I've been praying about it, asking God to help me find comfort and ease stress in ways other than eating. Now that my cold is dissipating I've started exercising again and I know that will help. Once my period ends I'll resume activities in the bedroom and I know that helps (I'm serious!) but there are lots of times I can't stop everything and go for a walk or jump my hubby.

One of the thoughts I've had is that stress and being uncomfortable are just part of the human condition. Something that we have to endure at times for a while. I suppose it develops that thing they call perseverance. Paul says in Romans 5:3-4 "........we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; an perseverance character and character hope." Well, I'm all for having character and hope! I think I'll memorize Romans 5:3-4 and recite it during those times of tribulation (like when my 6 year old spills milk on the kitchen floor I just washed while my 8 year old is screaming at his baby sister in the other room, the baby sister is crying, the phone is ringing and I haven't even had breakfast yet!!!!!) Yes, I think I could endure a lot of things in pursuit of character and hope. I'm sure I'll thank myself someday or rather thank God for each and every opportunity to conform me to His image.