Alcove

There is a fabulous restaurant/bakery very close to me called the Alcove. Its charming outdoor seating makes it perfect for the casual hang out with friends. Last night a group of us gathered there to welcome in the new semester. It occurred to me that this would be my first time eating out with a group in my new lifestyle. I'll confess, I was a bit nervous. I ate before leaving as not only did I not want to spend the money, I did not want to be tempted by the hordes of evil (yet utterly delicious) dining options that would be laid before me. I'm proud to say that I didn't flinch. Yes, the cakes and pastries looked wonderful, but I didn't all feel pressured or in any kind of pain. I ordered a cup of white bean, spinach, and leek soup, which was amazing. I suspect that it was made with chicken broth, but hey, I could have done much worse.

As I've said before, embarking on a change such as this really has to come from within - much like what it takes for someone to quit smoking or an alcoholic to reach out for help. Many are surprised to hear I would make such a drastic shift, but really this has been a long time coming. For weeks if not months before this all started I was feeling clogged up and run down by all the shit I was putting in my body. I have reached a point where I am ready to focus on feeling good rather than on what tastes good, so really it has not been that difficult to make good decisions.

I also want to make it clear that I am not forcing myself to eat anything I don't like. I can't think of a quicker way to fall off the wagon than to construct a lifestyle full of shit you don't want to eat. One of the reasons I felt so compelled to take this on is because I truly enjoy 98% of the foods one should be eating all the time: nuts, berries, whole grains, broccoli, sweet potatoes, hummus, beans, oily fish, etc. I also don't drink alcohol, coffee, and I don't smoke. I have all I need to be taking care of myself. So why the hell not.