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I’ve been observing the reaction of my mind to this new detox and elimination and diet over the course of the day and was really feeling like it’d managed well… not too much panic…went with the flow… until a wave of resistance came just as I was about to prepare dinner. I found myself doing about ten other things before walking into the kitchen to begin dinner. I had to laugh, when looking at an abundance of wonderful new produce and legumes sitting out for me to cook with, I could hear myself saying, now what am I going to do – there’s nothing to eat. To add to it, somehow the recipe that I’d gotten all excited about last night and soaked beans for this morning was mysteriously missing and unable to be found. That brought on a sense of panic – what am I going to do with these beans, I have no idea how to cook them… what if I mess up… I don’t even have the option of going out to eat as a backup! Hmmm… needless to say, I managed to prepare a creative and somewhat tasty meal. I’ll be honest – I have some growing to do in the world of impromptu cooking, especially as I work on incorporating new foods into the mix! Any tips are most welcome!!!!!
I appreciated the tip, Tiffany, on incorporating mindfulness and awareness into the diet. I’ve found it to be a powerful addition!
Looking forward to seeing what challenge, insight and growth tomorrow, and the next few weeks brings… grateful to know there are others out there (re)connecting with food, cooking, and being – in a new and exciting way.
10 Responses
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Emily:
Looking forward to seeing what challenge, insight and growth tomorrow, and the next few weeks brings… grateful to know there are others out there (re)connecting with food, cooking, and being – in a new and exciting way.
Tif: So good! And yes, I have had my own resistance come up with all of this as well. No time, not enough, won’t be good, can’t handle it right now… and the list goes on!It is stunning how we can have all of this abundance of whole foods and still have this deep sense of panic and deprivation.I think when we start messing with our food it can trigger a lot of deep survival strictures. Its just darn cool to have this opportunity to check it all out with some degree of objectivity.Like Kat said:
I’m trying to offer my body the kind of nourishment and love that it deserves and needs, yet my mind is telling me the exact opposite!
It’s amazing to observe and witness the ego, in its’ many shapes and forms that manifest as emotions, body aches and pains and general discomfort.
Way to go you two!!
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Yes, this is a huge change. I can’t quiet figure out how to stay full. I will eat a concoction and then find myself roaming looking for something. I am not sure if it is enabled by my resistance to eating because of the amount of attendence required to food preparation. Or if in fact I am a hummingbird. So far I have made quinao with brown rice and coconut milk, dried plums, apricots and mango. That was awesome I got up last night from reading just to eat todays breakfast. Also I tried green lentils with a little coconut milk, salt, bay and added mint and basil too it and that was exciting. So two major successes….and then my mind takes off on the tangent of having not enough, in quantity I am full for a moment, and my skin is already happier. I feel like I am struggling in learning to addapt these foods into something filling, but I am enjoying the challenges. If any one has any insight I’d be happy to hear your expirements with feeling full for longer, I feel like hunger is showing up quickly and it may just be my newness not yet addapting to engineer foods beyond lentils, smoothy and breakfast.. What are you guys eating? I feel like my perception on food is definately taking an adjustment. Some of it well needed. And some of my inner squirrel is having a tantrum. I’m trying to indulge in the knowledge that comes with the experience and realize this will make me a much better practicianer, person…animal in general.
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Lyndsey:
What are you guys eating?
Hi Lindsey! Check out some of the other posts where I list our daily food. I just posted one about 10 min ago.
Lyndsey:
I feel like my perception on food is definately taking an adjustment. Some of it well needed. And some of my inner squirrel is having a tantrum. I’m trying to indulge in the knowledge that comes with the experience and realize this will make me a much better practicianer, person…animal in general.
This is wonderful! Just give a lot of space to experience new foods and how it feels inside you. The first time I did something like this, I never “felt” full. Then I discovered that my hunger was not even for food (my belly was full with good food… just no animal and sugar :))! I needed to relax and just be… sounds corny, but I really needed to show myself some love. I started taking baths with hot tea and really letting myself relax, and then I finally felt full!
Its also amazing to just witness the resistance that comes up and then choose to put your attention else where… or just force yourself to do the right thing despite the tantrum inside! This is so POWERFUL for buliding confidence in the best part of our selves, and busting butt on the postmodern ego!
Way to go Lyndsey! Keep posting what you are making. I love to hear about it. Also, slow down and really taste and enjoy what you eat.
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Flamingo Puree!
roast cut pieces of beets, sweet potatoe and I used parsnips in the oven till the insides soften, (the recipe calls for ruadabaga) Then blend them in the blender… or food processor if you are so savvy. Add olive oil and water to get mush. Then you throw chopped leeks and rosmary in a pan with a bit of the olive oil, till they turn more green.
And then you Puree!!! It’s yummy and it’s excitingly very pink. Hope you enjoy.
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How exciting and reassuring to read what fellow adventurers have been experiencing thus far during Phase I! I appreciate all the recipe ideas as well as the general experience and insight the diet has brought to others. Thanks for sharing!!!
I have found over the last few days I have started to develop a new relationship with my body in listening to when it needs nourishment and when it is full. It’s been amazing to start differentiating more clearly between what my body is saying and what my mind seems to be interpreting. More importantly, to witness more clearly how my ego likes to play the role of translator, often infusing a message with its own interpretation. It’s also been interesting to observe the underlying emotions that have been creeping up in regard to different aspects of the diet and the change in routine – after the resistance wave passed through I’ve identified ocassional fear, anxiety, and pessimism surfacing. On the flip side, I have definitely felt more present in the last few days. It may seem silly, but I feel less clouded, lighter, and more conscious of what’s happening internally, as well as externally.
Last night I had a friend over for dinner. She was totally cool with working within the spectrum of what I could eat during Phase I and I am delighted to share that we had an awesome time cooking together and then eating the wonderfully nourishing meal we’d prepared – beets, kale and leeks sauteed with garlic, olive oil, basil, thyme, and fresh corriander, served with quinoa. Being able to share the experience of the diet was definitely an added boost for me for Phase I! So much so that I’ve made dinner plans with another friend for Phase II.
As for a recipe to recommend, it’d definitely be the Roasted Yams with Rosemary from Alissa and Tom’s WHOLE LIFE NUTRITION cookbook (p208). I combined it with adzuki beans and rice one evening and then made it as an appetizer the night my friend came for dinner. YUMM!
For breakfast I have been enjoying rice cooked with clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and apple. I’ve sprinkled Flaxseed on top and mixed in blueberries, grated coconut, and sunflower seeds. To give it moisture I’ve added a little rice milk.
Thanks again to everyone who is sharing this experience!
Embracing the opportunity to continue to step outside my comfort zone and see what unfolds…
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Thanks to all of you who are posting while doing this diet. I am not — am on day 9 of the Mother of All Colds and life circumstances not conducive right at this time anyhow so decided to start learning now but do it later. However, my body is begging me to do some significant cleanup now, so the interview with Alissa and Tom was really helpful (I’m off to look for recipes at the blog site). This thread and others on EFE are so inspiring and helping my resolve to do what I can within the circumstances of right now…You are all strengthening my understanding that sometimes there might be some challenging mindstates as I go and those thoughts needn’t be believed. Thanks to you all for sharing your experience.
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Alright, so I have to be honest here… I am AMAZED to realize that I have officially entered Phase II of the elimination diet. I remember commenting to a friend that if I could make it through Phase I it would be smooth sailing from there on out. I had anticipated Phase I as a huge storm at sea only to find out it was fairly calm waters. I recall in the recorded discussion between Tiffany, Tom, and Alissa, Tom mentioning a client who has been on the Phase I diet for six months. Well, last night as I mentally prepared for Phase II, I too found it tempting to continue with Phase I. This is the best my body has felt in awhile, I am enjoying expanding my selection of food and diving in a little deeper to what it mans to be eating healthy and consciously. I am generally a healthy eater by most standards, but Phase I really broadened my perspective, and boosted my confidence to get out of the safe zone I’d unconsciously created for myself. I was questioning whether I really wanted to move forward. A voice in my head pondered, I have been feeling good overall, what if I start having adverse reactions as I reintroduce foods? (I never saw that line of questioning coming!) My curiosity won out – combined with a desire to continue broadening my relationship with food, and deepening my understanding of my body and how to help it function optimally, on multiple levels. And here I am, the eve of the first day of Phase II…
What an awesome experience it was to reintroduce lemons… to revel in the succulence of its juice. I had hot water with lemon this morning (one of my favorites). Dinner was sauteed kale, spinach, ginger and fresh squeezed lemon over quinoa. Delightful! To treat myself, and introduce a root vegetable to help ground me a bit more, I made more of the delicious baked sweet potato as a side.
I continue to be inspired by the posts of others writing about their experience in regard to the diet! Thank you to everyone who is sharing this experience – whether you consider yourself to be ‘on’ the diet or not, it is awesome to know you are engaged with the process! In my humble opinion, anyone who is actively engaged with the process is definitely participating!!!
I’m curious to hear how others are faring, wherever you’re at with the diet. Any more recipes to recommend?
Continuing to embrace the journey and see what unfolds…
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Linda, I hope you feel better!!
This is a great detox to do anytime in the spring/summer.
Love,
Tif
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I came face to face with denial this afternoon. I blew off the subtle changes I felt yesterday, managing to attribute what I felt to other possible causes, and believing that somehow I could outwill what I was experiencing. I ignored the stuffy head I woke up with and lovingly and excitedly prepared hot water with lemon again this morning. I made it through my morning classes and conversations but felt disconnected and foggy. I felt as though I had to concentrate a lot to understand very little. I kept attributing the sensation to having altered my sleep a bit last night by staying up later and getting up earlier. I found my stomach was a bit upset when I ate lunch… it wasn’t until I was sitting in a presentation by Tom (co author of WHOLE LIFE NUTRITION COOKBOOK) that I came face to face with the denial I’d been unconsciously harboring. Talking about the elimination diet he reiterated his motto, ‘if in doubt, take it out.’ Somehow those words immediately struck a chord internally, as if my digestive tract was nodding in agreement – I was reactig to lemons. Other symptoms presented later in the afternoon, and I found myself craving snacks to keep my energy up, a combination that left no doubt in my mind that I was indeed experiencing sensitivity. This was further confirmed when I began preparing dinner and found that just looking at the (beautiful) lemons in the fridge made me feel funny.
Interestingly, on my walk this evening I found myself pondering attachment, the fluidity of life, and the importance of being able to let go. Who knew that lemons would trigger such a response! I am grateful to Tiffany for having encouraged a component of mindfulness in the diet because I was present and mindful while eating lemon the last two days, a taste I will not experience again for awhile. When I spoke with Tom after the presentation (yes, the denial was such that I sought further clarification/reiteration from him), he suggested eliminating it for three months before reintroducing it again. So, I guess the hummus and lemon tahini sauce will have to wait a little while longer… rather than lamenting the loss, I am choosing to focus on all the incredible flavors I might experience between now and then…
Tiffany – the pumpkin seed pesto sounds great, especially over portebello… Will you share the recipe?
With a deep sense openness, joy, and gratitude…
I too, have come face to face with resistance during the past 24 hours. I actually have been avoiding eating, instead of embracing the simplicity and beauty of eating with intention and mindfulness. I find myself not wanting to eat, because I’ve consciously made the choice to eat consciously and my ego doesn’t like that all. It’s pretty funny when you think about it. I’m trying to offer my body the kind of nourishment and love that it deserves and needs, yet my mind is telling me the exact opposite!
It’s amazing to observe and witness the ego, in its’ many shapes and forms that manifest as emotions, body aches and pains and general discomfort.