Day 8, The NOT Allowed List

Vermeyen, visipix.com

 Like me, you might lack sympathy for friends embarking on a cleansing diet because you have no idea what that means.  Thus in an effort to generate greater compassion, I'd like to offer the full list of "not allowed" foods on my 21 day liver cleanse:

• red meat (including pork and veal), cold cuts, hot dogs, sausage, eggs, egg substitutes;
• milk, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, ice cream, goat & sheep cheeses, non-dairy creamers, any products made with casein;
• all corn and corn-containing products;
• all breads and cereals made from wheat, oat, spelt, kamut, rye, barley & other glutenous grains;
• citrus, strawberries, dried fruit preserved with sulfites;
• coffee, tea, cocoa, postum, alcoholic beverages, soda, sweetened beverages, citrus drinks;
• margarine, shortening, butter, refined oils, salad dressings, spreads;
• peanuts pistachios, peanut butter, macadamia nuts;
• brown sugar, honey, molasses, maple syrup, corn syrup, fructose, vinegar;
• salt, soy sauce, mayo, ketchup

 And while I'm tapping your compassion, has it occurred to anyone else that THANKSGIVING falls within my 21 days of restriction?  I mean, what's the point of turkey without stuffing and pie?

Day 3, Migraine

Van Gogh, visipix.com

The headache was there waiting when I woke at 2:30 am and when I woke at 6:30 am, upon which I decided to get out of bed and birth this blog so that I might make some sense out of this suffering before I bailed on it.

The truth is that I appreciate the restriction of the diet.  I appreciate the attention to my eating habits--to my ruts--and how it forces me out of them. Without sugar or salt or baked goods, I've been able to savor the delicacy of simple flavors. And this feels good, and right, and true.

On the upside of pain,the headache has been an excellent distraction from the mental and emotional anguish over the deprivation of food. And that makes me realize how pathetic I am, how entitled I've become around meeting my every craving; and how necessary this discipline is, despite and because of the pain.