(Anyone else humming a little David Bowie now?)
I wrote two posts ago about feeling kind of dried up. Out of words. Unable to express what's going on in life and mind. I feel like God is doing kind of a clean-up process on me in a lot of ways: spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically. I believe he wants me to simplify and surrender. This has been a running theme for me for awhile. To that end I have been led to several books: 1,000 Gifts, Organized Simplicity, Get Healthy for Heaven's Sake, and It Starts with Food. We've done another tv fast to try and purge some screen-addiction. And it's SPRING! The time for rebirth. So all of these things lead me to this post.
One area I've always struggled with and have talked about here several times is my relationship with food. I am not overweight. This by no means implies that I am HEALTHY. I've tried many times to reset my body and brain when it comes to food, to no avail. In the past year, I've been led countless times to reading/viewing material and people who have brought up the subject of processed foods in our lives and what they do to our bodies, and a couple months ago found this website via Pinterest, which led me to purchase the book It Starts with Food. All of the information in it resonates with me and is something that has been supported by what I've been finding in other places too. It also lines up with my philosophy that food is God-created to fuel us and give us enjoyment, but it's another thing broken by sin, so we humans have just distorted the crap out of it. Rather, we've distorted the crap IN.
After reading It Starts (the book that birthed the Whole30 program and website referenced above) I have felt strongly led to follow its program for myself to try and restore the relationship with food that I believe God intended for me from the beginning. Basically, it's all about coming back to completely whole and natural food. The book and website are chocked full of not only scientific data about what various foods do to our bodies but also testimonials about how this program has eliminated health issues from people's lives while bringing renewed energy and strength. Any "program", as I've perhaps falsely labeled it, leaves me a little wary. Don't we hear conflicting evidence every day about what does or doesn't bring us health? But as I said, this information seems to be supported multiple other places and also sits well with me just on a common-sense level. Ok, whatevs - I sound like a salesman here.
Starting tomorrow I will be embarking on the Whole 30 journey, to the end (I hope) that my body and mind will be restored back to health (if I've ever truly been healthy) where food is concerned. It's not going to be easy by any means. For 30 days, I am asked to forego all sugars/sweeteners, grains and legumes (I know - legumes?!), dairy, processed foods, unhealthy fats, and alcohol. If I had read that list even two months ago I would have laughed maniacally and thrown this book in the trash. But, I don't know how to explain it except for I'm ready for this. I need this. And I'm actually (gulp) pretty excited about it.
I am going to try and chronicle my journey here for my own sake, really. Seeing as how I process things mostly through the written word, it only makes sense. Plus, maybe it provides me with a little accountability (from my one-two readers left out there :) ).
Here's to the journey. Cheers (that would be me toasting you with my last glass of wine. For 30 days anyway).
