Lenten Dietary Adventure: Entry 02
Wednesday Mar 18, 2009 Posted by:Tim
OK so it's been exactly 3 weeks since starting my
dietary adventure and I have some observations:
SURPRISED...
with my ability to actually keep it; I work at Fresh & Easy headquarters where samples of everything I'm not eating come floating by almost every minute; and, seriously, the buyers when checking out suppliers or the competition, have a lot extra food - so did they have to be checking out ice-creams - including Häagen-Dazs?
STEWING...
and mindful of being in a season- very powerful to be reminded at every meal, a knowing that is both body and soul; I don't know if it has been my Protestant up-bringing, or my over-compensating theology-of-abundance- that frowned on fasting or lumped the taking away of things with punishing penance, but I have to say there is real freedom in saying "no" - I'm realizing how much is packed into so little.
SO SO
on the toxin release- I guess I had pretty high expectations for a dramatic flushing of my system- an increased ability for focus, for insights and all those good things; but then talking last night to my wife, I was reminded- oh, yeah, when she did her initial work, it was a 4-week prep and then a very intense 3-week deal (7 weeks!)- so, me not feeling that much different with a less drastic diet change is expected, I guess. And, what do you know, me needing to pull a bunch of overtime at work, getting less sleep, actually still effects my energy level- hmmm.
SAVORING...
every bite, chewing more slowly, exploring yummy ideas I wouldn't have thought of doing, like broccoli with fresh grated ginger over it (my wife's brilliant, really)- this has been a new joy.
SIPPING
that beer in front of me- it turns out, my evil twin has not quite lived up to the title yet- I'm afraid he's been a little too considerate, hasn't quite flexed his flaunting muscles- (sorry, Bud, to burst the "Dark Horse" mystique)! Course we do have at least half of Lent left. Maybe he's just waiting...
SURPRISED...
with my ability to actually keep it; I work at Fresh & Easy headquarters where samples of everything I'm not eating come floating by almost every minute; and, seriously, the buyers when checking out suppliers or the competition, have a lot extra food - so did they have to be checking out ice-creams - including Häagen-Dazs?
STEWING...
and mindful of being in a season- very powerful to be reminded at every meal, a knowing that is both body and soul; I don't know if it has been my Protestant up-bringing, or my over-compensating theology-of-abundance- that frowned on fasting or lumped the taking away of things with punishing penance, but I have to say there is real freedom in saying "no" - I'm realizing how much is packed into so little.
SO SO
on the toxin release- I guess I had pretty high expectations for a dramatic flushing of my system- an increased ability for focus, for insights and all those good things; but then talking last night to my wife, I was reminded- oh, yeah, when she did her initial work, it was a 4-week prep and then a very intense 3-week deal (7 weeks!)- so, me not feeling that much different with a less drastic diet change is expected, I guess. And, what do you know, me needing to pull a bunch of overtime at work, getting less sleep, actually still effects my energy level- hmmm.
SAVORING...
every bite, chewing more slowly, exploring yummy ideas I wouldn't have thought of doing, like broccoli with fresh grated ginger over it (my wife's brilliant, really)- this has been a new joy.
SIPPING
that beer in front of me- it turns out, my evil twin has not quite lived up to the title yet- I'm afraid he's been a little too considerate, hasn't quite flexed his flaunting muscles- (sorry, Bud, to burst the "Dark Horse" mystique)! Course we do have at least half of Lent left. Maybe he's just waiting...