It's not a diet, it's a new way of life!!

These days I have a whole new attitude when it comes to food. You may think I'm crazy, and OK, maybe I am a little, but there is no way I can go back to eating the way I used to. Just to clarify exactly what I mean, let me tell you a little about my dietary limitations.

*I have given up coffee completely and I now drink black or green tea. They say tea has less caffeine and has antioxidants in it, especially if you drink green tea.

*I no longer consume dairy products such as milk, cream, cheese, and butter. They are high in saturated fat and contain less calcium than originally believed. I have noticed that I haven't had a single outbreak of acne, which at my age was terribly annoying!

*I do not eat beef, chicken, or pork products. I have actually had a total of 3 steaks since this all began, but haven't gone near chicken or pork. I do not feel deprived and I rarely crave meat at all.

*I am also gluten free, so no wheat products such as bread, pasta or desserts made with flour. This isn't really difficult for me at all because I found an organic brown rice that I have been eating with basically every meal, and I do allow myself dark chocolate pieces.

*No processed food with ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, soy lecithin, aspartame, etc. Whole foods are the way to go.

What the heck do I eat everyday, you ask?  A most delicious and healthy menu! I start with a cup of black tea in the morning. On my way to work I eat a bowl of steel cut oatmeal with fresh fruit such as cut up organic apple and some cinnamon and honey. When I get to work, I sip on a smoothie that I made fresh with my amazing Ninja blender. Usually it is made with mango, banana, strawberries and lemon juice. It is so refreshing. For lunch I have leftover stir fry with rice, vegetable, egg and another protein such as tofu or fish. I also sometimes have a salad with spinach, rice, vegetables, and egg. Dinner is an veggie omelet or a lovely baked fish with rice and a vegetable.

So far I have not felt deprived. I feel the opposite! I can eat as much as I want and with the growing season upon us, I am so excited to try new fresh vegetables that are coming out. I feel great about not eating meat for the most part. People ask me if I don't eat meat because of the animals. At first it wasn't about that at all, it was really just a chance to cleanse my body. But now, it is both for my health and the animals'. If I know where the meat is coming from, I have less of a problem with eating it, but most of the meat that's available in stores are from places we have no idea what goes on. It's easier for me to buy organic vegetables and eat eggs from happy chickens, than it is to worry about where meat and dairy comes from. My body is changing for the better. I have a ton of energy, my mind is sharper, and I have lost weight.

I recommend trying this for at least a week or two. My original plan was to do this for two weeks to cleanse my body of toxins and then go back to eating the way I was. Instead it became a new way of life for me and I am so glad. It is definitely challenging at times, but I don't get all bent out of shape if I have a cookie or a steak now and again. Most of the time I stick to it because it feels good and these days I want to feel as spectacular as possible. Who knows how long we have on this great Earth? I want to live it the best I can for as long as I can!