It’s starting to feel more like a habit, or new lifestyle this week. It’s interesting for me to note just how much stuff I turn down on a daily basis. For example, today I turned down (vegan) doughnuts, caramel popcorn, a ton of cheese and chocolate, just to name a few.

I’m having more quinoa (I like it for breakfast with rice milk/cinnamon/raisins or with leftover indian food). I had Mexican food for BREAKFAST one day, and it was great – black beans, guacamole, tacos, corn, salsa, chicken. I might do that a couple days a week. Had a great big salad using marinated chicken as the dressing. For desserts, having bananas and raw chocolate/peanut butter and I ate a ton of baby coconuts with yummy coconut water this week (like 6!). I gave up microwave popcorn after learning the commercial variety can have carcinogens in the bag lining. Loving salted almonds as a snack, and enjoying the decaf, sugar-free 5-Hour Energy shots when possible. I’ve been drinking more coffee for some reason.

I’ve found the hardest food items to avoid this week were ketchup, sugar in soy milk or coconut milk creamer for coffees, dairy in chicken dishes in the sauce preparation, and beer, mixed drinks, or (ahem) jello shots. I feel like more sugar and dairy snuck into my diet this week in the prepared foods I had when eating out, but I think the wheat stayed out pretty well. I’m going to avoid the coffee creamers unless I know for sure they are sugar-free this week.

I love the way my stomach looks this week. I think there’s something about turning down foods you don’t need and being disciplined that makes a big difference when it all adds up (over the past 21 days). For example, today at the Oscar party, I ate a bunch of raw asparagus, carrots, even a raw pepper slice with my corn chips & chili. In the past I would have slathered my chili with all the cheeses and sour cream on the table and gnawed down on the caramel corn and chocolates being offered. I feel awesome just practicing making good decisions, and it’s not like I’m suffering. I love the healthy food I’m eating. It tastes amazing and makes me feel only good. It’s just that the food I crave would make me feel instantly 10x better, then, only afterward, worse. I can see how this will be a hard balance to strike in the future when I’m not as fully committed (or I may just continue down the path for the most part; I’m really getting used to this).

And I don’t know if this is a coincidence but my libido is very high and healthy, I’m totally maxing out my romantic life and loving it. That may just be the fabulous romantic month of Pisces rolling in backed up by the Neptune in Pisces cycle that is here to stay for a looong time. **bats eyelashes** YaY

On to week four!