Break Fast!

I haven't posted anything for two days and I have a lot to catch you up on! First of all, yesterday was kind of a landmark day for me. I had a small breakfast, just a pear on my way out the door in the morning, but I heard they are a good breakfast because they are high in fiber; this must have been a good start to the day because I had an unexpected surge of energy while teaching in the morning, which is the greatest feeling, because energy is so important in the effort to reach kids in that environment. I went to the gym with my friend Stephanie in the evening and I felt an energy that I have not felt in a long time, which allowed me to Zumba for an hour, continuously, breaking a huge sweat, which, again, is not something I have felt the ability or drive to do in a very long time. My body really felt changed (and not just hungry!). There were many times during the fast in which I thought "why am I even doing this, I don't even care about detoxing my body." Honestly, the biggest motivating factor was simply that I had talked about it so much beforehand that I felt I had to go through with it just to put my money where my mouth is...or my fruits and veggies where my mouth is. Anyway, I really do feel cleansed, refreshed, and ready to give my body a new lease on life!

Now, for the part we've all been waiting for: the breaking of the fast! Actually, it was nothing exciting. I was going to wait til lunch, but I felt sick to my stomach this morning and had to eat a piece of toast before work (and I'll tell you, it was the most delicious piece of toast I have ever eaten). Hanky and I met my dad for lunch today, where I proceeded to order a tuna melt, because I was SO craving something savory and mouthwatering. I was eating more slowly because I was feeding my nephew at the same time, and I looked down at my not-quite-half-eaten sandwich and realized something astounding: I was just about full. This NEVER happens to me, and even if it does, my mental hunger always overpowers my physical satisfaction and I end up eating the whole thing anyway. But today I had a renewed sense of purpose. I let that tuna melt sit on my plate until the server brought a box. And on my way home tonight, as the tuna aroma was wafting through my car, I though "damn, I'm gonna scarf that thing down when I get home." And then I kept thinking..."I'm not really hungry at all, especially compared to the hunger I felt at various times throughout this week. You know what, I'm gonna put that in the fridge and eat it for lunch tomorrow." And that little anecdote is just one example of the fresh perspective I have gained from these fresh fruits and vegetables. It's amazing how a whim of a decision made one night after a documentary, and a mere week's worth of effort, can have such a profound impact on a person.

Throughout the next seven weeks (with the exception of Thanksgiving week, when I will be enjoying (delicious?) English fare in London and Oxford) I will continue to actively document the changes that my eating habits take (not just my diet, but the actual habits themselves). And hopefully some of you (if anyone is even reading this) will be inspired to at least make a small change, because I know we all have something to benefit from a healthier lifestyle.

To be continued...