change in the weather...change in the weather....something's happening here....

Good Sunday, gentle reader...if anyone's out there!

We're having another cold snap like we did last October....the cold snap last year was when we discovered that our furnace had stopped working, and it happened in the midst of my 25 year old cockateil's fall molt.

He died from the stress.  I was heart broken.  We were together for half my life.  I still miss him.

Fortunately, this year, the furnace works.  It got down into the mid 30's last night.  I hope it was cold enough to kill off some plant based allergens in the air, but I'm not so sure.

I am 31 days into the 90 day dance challenge.  I've found it difficult to dance on a couple of occasions....like Fridays, because they are SUCH long days (i get up at 5:45 on weekdays and workout, then go to work, then on Fridays, we do all of our grocery and other shopping--so Friday's obligations don't end until 8 or 9 at night), and there was one day last week when I had NO inclination what so ever to even try....so I took that day off....but then, I made it up the next day and danced twice as long.

I am doing this for many reasons, a couple of which are making dance practice a daily habit that I no longer have to think about MAKING time for...I have the time, I just need the focus;  and trying to break through the deep anxiety that I have about doing improvisational dance.

It's been interesting so far.

Then, there's the diet.  We are now at day 28 of our 30 day cleansing diet.  It's gone by pretty quickly, and with a lot less angst and crankiness, on Dave's part especially, than predicted.

I am confident that I will stay at my normal size now, so I have cleaned out my clothing stores and donated the larger sizes!

I was, after all, the same size for 20 something years.  The weight gain was the un-natural part.  Being back to my normal size is the natural part.

I now know, without question, what my body thrives on at this age: the right balance of protein, fat, and "slow carbs" from lots of variety of veggies.

And, I now also know what my body gets fat and unhealthy on: mostly glutenous grain foods, processed convenience foods, and sugars.

I could eat those processed, grain filled, sweet foods before without consequence...but I can't anymore...and, from what I've learned about chronic inflammation and malnourishment of the body's cells....I don't WANT to anymore!

If everyone out there knew that grains cause inflammation, and inflammation causes almost all of our lifestyle related illnesses in this country, I think Americans would eat a LOT differently.  If they cared, that is.

Most people don't care.

Anyway, the cravings I was having for cakes and cookies and bread have completely stopped, and now I'm not in the least interested in adding those foods back into my diet.  I will probably have something in that group once in a while, as a treat...but really?  Do not want.

This past week at work was customer service week, and each day, they handed out treats to everyone...cookies, cake, ice cream, chips.....and it was extremely easy to say no, even when the goodies were brought to me at my desk!

My cravings for alcohol have taught me a LOT about why and when I drink.  I will have a MUCH different consciousness about it from now on.   The past several years of almost non-stop stress had a very bad impact on my drinking habit, and Dave and I had become FAR more interested in daily drinking than either of us ever was before.  Now that I've not had a drop in a month, I am no longer desperately wanting a drink.

From here on out, one or two will be MORE than enough, and only on the weekends and holidays.

If for no other reason, I don't have any "fat" clothes anymore!  :)