Here it is almost the end of April and yet again a huge chunk of time has passed without me writing anything here. I keep meaning to but never quite get to it.
Well...March, usually one of my favorite months, kind of sucked this year. I was sick with one thing or another for three of the four weeks and I turned 40. I was not thrilled about the approach of 40, nor am I particularly happy about it now that it has arrived. Still, the world did not end and if you want to take your mind off such a milestone being miserably sick for three weeks is one way to do it.
Let us speak no more of March.
April has been a bit better. My 40th birthday present to myself was an iPad2, although I only got it last week. First I had to dither about spending the money and which one to buy and then I had to wait for it to arrive. But now it is mine and I love it. I worried a bit that once I actually had it in my possession, I'd feel bad about how much it cost. Nope. I'm still figuring out everything I can do with it, but it's great.
The other big news of the month is that I saw a nutritionist, who put me on an elimination diet. No gluten, dairy, sugar, caffeine, eggs, alcohol or soy for two weeks, with limited red meat and pork. By the end of the two weeks I was actually fantasizing about a piece of toast with butter on it. Interestingly enough, I do seem to have had fewer headaches and stomach upsets in the two weeks, but then again, I don't get headaches and an upset stomach constantly. I don't think I have a food allergy, but we'll see.
It is a very clean way to eat, but not one I think I can keep going forever. For one thing, I miss cheese. For another, it is a lot of work. The gluten free thing is the biggest hassle (and I don't care what anyone tells you, gluten free pasta is terrible) but the lack of dairy is what bothers me the most. Well, and I don't enjoy tea without a little bit of sugar in it. Easter came just after the two week period ended and I cheated wildly, eating waffles, bacon and hash brown potatoes with cheese at brunch without any ill effects. But now I'm back to "everything-free" until my follow up with the nutritionist in early May. Then I get to start officially adding foods back in.
So, what's up with you? If there's still anyone out there, that is.
Hello! Nice to hear from you again :) I'm in New Zealand. We did a bit of an experiment eliminating gluten for a while. It made hubby's asthma heaps better, but I found it a bit of a struggle, being diabetic and suddenly not being able to eat many carbs.
Oh I understand you iPad love :) can't live without my various iDevices :P
And HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Sorry you spent it sick, that's no fun. But any chance to celebrate is good! :)
Sorry I'm missed your birthday Hillary! If it makes you feel better, I hit 50 a couple of years ago and absolutely love being this age - you're old enough to know better and still young enough to really enjoy life.
Speaking of diets, I'm doing the Weight Watchers thing (penance for going wild over the holidays last year and gaining 10 pounds). I'm going into week 7 of the diet and am more thrilled with the effect it's having on my hypertension (now gone, no more meds!) than with the meager weight loss. Being calorie-restricted really makes you savor every tiny little meal - I totally relate to your buttered toast fantasy. :)
Keep up the good work!
-Laurie