The Late Night Munchies

 

It was late. The boys had been in bed for two hours. Grayson spent our precious quiet “kids in bed” time finishing up a bit of work, and I had spent it editing photos and puting the finishing touches on a blog post. We were beat, and our heads fell hard on our pillows. But then it hit us.

Hunger.

And it was the type of hunger that only something sweet will satisfy. We snuck out of bed and crept towards the kitchen like children set on the cookie jar. We grabbed two shiny red treats, admired their beauty, and then sat out in the pitch black of night savoring our apples together on the back deck.

That morning Grayson had arrived at a work appointment to have a customer kindly inform him that he looked wore out. He laughed. “I’m on a diet….” “You don’t need a diet!” The woman respectfully advised him, “You need a lifestyle change!”

Little did she know that she was preaching to the choir.

 

 

Doing The Very Thing We Speak Against

 

It’s true. Us–the ones adamantly against diets for their temporary and unsustainable characteristics and results; us, the ones who grimace at extreme diets; us, who are usually the ones advising, “You don’t need a diet–you need a lifestyle change!” Yes. us. We are on a diet.

We have not changed our values or beliefs. We still wholeheartedly believe in finding a wholesome way of eating and living that is sustainable for all your years, not just temporary stretches of time. We still believe that diets, in essence, are more harmful than helpful. Most often they set into action a never-ending, never-satisfying struggle for thinness; frustrating the chronic dieters with endless attempts, persistent hunger, unrealistic goals, and expensive supplements that over promise and under deliver. We are against diets.

 

So… Why Are We On a Diet?

 

I would like to clarify that we are actually “Detoxing.”

This means that we are adopting, for a short period of time, an extreme way of eating for a very specific purpose. Specifically, for three weeks we are giving our livers a break from the very arduous job of processing hard toxins that come from any form of sugar, whether it be obvious sugars, or sugars found in the forms of fruit, dairy, and wheat.

It is not that our diet has been poor– not at all. Our way of eating has been very low in processed foods, and rich in local, mostly organic produce, sustainably-raised meat, organic whole fat dairy, and grains from non-modified sources and fermented when possible. It’s been good! But we should never shut the door on progress.

 

 

Pursuing Progress Over Perfection

 

We will never achieve the perfect diet all of the time, and that is okay. Our goal is always to focus on progress rather than perfection, and to enjoy the ride along the way!

It won’t always be perfect, but we are aiming to continuously move forward, and make the adventure a delicious, wholesome, and fun one as we navigate through living an abundant life!

In order to always move forward in finding a healthier you, you must always focus on progress– on that next step forward. Our three week detox is a way of achieving that next step. What about you–what is your next step?

 

 

A Time To Put Food Back In Its Proper Place

 

This is the type of diet I do endorse, one meant for a very specific purpose of “resetting” your body; of giving it a period of time to rest, and refocusing yourself on a balanced and wholesome way of eating.

This is how we can put food back in its proper place. This diet is not meant to be something we could sustain over the long haul; it’s just too strict and limiting if we want to enjoy the good things in life and find proper balance. Instead, it is meant to refocus us on the big picture of health. To help us step back, and get a clear look at what we’ve been eating, what has made up the bulk of our plates, and how it has been affecting us.

 

 

A Detox To Heal Both Body and Mind

 

We are only on day 7 of our detox, and already seeing some very noticeable physical effects and symptoms. Some of them are unpleasant, but they are assuring us this is working; that our bodies are learning, resting, resetting, and healing. And some of them very pleasant–like a 10 pound combined weight loss! Not only that, but this time is already giving us a very clear and surprising look at the roles food has been playing in our lives.

Stay tuned on Wednesday as I’ll share the surprising discoveries we are making from this time, what exactly our detox entails, and some ideas of how you can set realistic goals and take your next step to finding a healthier you!