I started feeling less like myself. I began stress eating once I got back to school, I was eating food even when I wasn't hungry just because the people around me were eating, and I was eating unhealthy foods for social reasons or because it was cheaper. But I finally decided that I wanted to feel and look like myself again. So I got "permission" from a dietician to be gluten free, avoid all fried foods, only consume dairy in small amounts, and not eat super sugary foods/candy for 30 days.
I survived all 30 days and I feel and look so much more like myself. But I've made a few realizations since doing this cleanse while at school.
Our schools do not offer enough healthy, tasty foods. It is hard to find well cooked, fresh vegetables on campus. You can't just eat salads every day, because that gets old. Also, the meat is often fried, so there are less options for meat that you can consume daily. Even at other on-campus dining options, many of the healthy foods are not on the meal plan so we are forced to use cash or debit dollars to buy healthier alternatives to french fries. I got so tired of eating grilled chicken and spinach salads because I had so few viable and tasty options. I pity the dairy-free, gluten-free student who has so few options every single day. Our schools should have less fried food and more fresh food.
Eating healthy is a lifestyle change. I had more energy, my face was clearer, and I felt better. At first, the change took a little adjustment, but then I realized that I could resist unhealthy foods and that I could make it through the day without a nap. When I changed my diet it didn't just effect my stomach, it affected my entire body.
Because of the cleanse, I found that I liked certain foods that I normally would not buy. Now I can say that I like rice cakes, banana chips, oil and vinegar dressing, dairy-free ice cream, and even sandwiches without bread. This cleanse forced me to expand my palate and I'm thankful for that.
Being on a cleanse of any type is hard work. Over time it does get easier to resist certain cravings, but at the same time, those last few days were hard because I wanted some candy and some variety in my meal choices. So now that I know I can go without unhealthy foods for a month, and I hope to be able to withstand that extra cookie that I want after dinner or that fried item in lieu of the grilled option.
Everyone feels differently and needs to take care of their bodies in different ways, but this cleanse made me feel and look more like myself, which (in my mind) outweighs the feeling of saying no to gluten and excessive dairy for a few weeks.
