Day Two: Emotional Eating

The cleanse experience allows me to rekindle a relationship with my body and food.  We all have a "relationship" with food, whether we eat a lot of junk food, or are a strict vegan, we still have our own issues with what we eat, when we eat it, guilt, happiness, frustration, etc.  By doing this cleanse, I have more free time because I don't have to think about when I am going to eat, what I am going to eat, if I should eat and if I am hungry or not.  I know what I am going to have for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and when I am going to eat those meals.  It is freeing, and also sort of frightening, because I had no idea how much time I spent stopping for a coffee somewhere, making a snack or standing in the pantry debating if I was hungry.

By changing my eating patterns, it is also easier to truly feel when I am hungry, and when I am not.  Part of hunger is thinking that you might be hungry - for instance I had soup for dinner - I should be hungry now.  But if you truly listen to your body, your realize that being hungry is not the same thing as not being full.  We are so used to eating until we just can't eat any more, and it is much better for our bodies to stop before we are full.  But it's hard to do when there is a delicious plate of food in front of you... much easier to do with soup.  Ha!  By the way, I am completely satisfied and not the least bit hungry right now (honestly).

I am already feeling the happiness that comes along with this experience.  I am seeing more clearly and am living more in the present moment.  Caffeine, processed sugar and alcohol put me in a haze.  As much as I love them, I think I might love being without them a little bit better.  The haze lifts, and you find a sense of peace and serenity. 

Now how many days until I can have them again?  Hahaha....