So, it has been a while since I posted an update on my progress. For the most part, I've done really well with not eating any meat or fried foods, and eating more fruits and vegetables. However, I've run into a few problems. The first issue is the craving of meat. Anytime someone eats meat around me, the aroma starts my saliva going, and here I am swallowing gobs of saliva trying to eat my fruit in peace.

From a physiological standpoint, I understand the craving. You've all heard the phrase "you're probably craving meat because you need more protein/iron/whatever the nutrient." Well, there's another reason. Our bodies crave endorphins. Certain foods, sweets, meat, etc contain chemicals (natural or otherwise) that promote endorphin release. When you eat meat, for instance, your body releases endorphins into the blood stream, and you get a lovely feeling. Eat meat a couple of times, and get that release, and now you've created a kind of "fingerprint," and your body now understands that you get endorphins from eating meat. So when you go without meat for a while, and you aren't getting your endorphins elsewhere, your body starts saying to itself, "hmm, I am craving some endorphins. I gotta have 'em. Where can I get 'em? OOO... I know!!! Meat gives me endorphins." Then it begins hollering in a way you can understand (you all know what I mean, especially if you happen to be pregnant, or have ever been pregnant in the past) "HEY, YOU!!!! GIMMIE SOME MEAT!!!!!!" It's not the iron or protein or whatever you're craving, it's the endorphin rush given by eating the meat.

So, now that I know my body is out to get me by making me fat with all the cravings it pushes on me, the trick is to change the endorphin fingerprint changed onto another kind of food. I just have to figure out what food will do the trick.

I haven't been completely faithful with staying away from meat. The day before Thanksgiving, I ate some chicken. Then, on Thanksgiving, I had one piece of turkey. The results? On Thanksgiving, I had a bit of a stomach ache, and the day after I had diarrhea. Well, that's it for me... back to no more meat. See what happens when I pay attention to what my body says after the endorphins have worn off? Back to feeling good.

So... as far as exercise goes, I got a job as a nanny recently that makes it difficult to exercise on a regular basis. I do still put in the occasional belly dancing video and get my sweat on, accompanied by a certain 2 1/2 year old who still thinks it's great fun to emulate Mommy. I'm going to have to get a video of him to post here. I also have been picking up the manure after the cow and horse at nights, which is always a sure way to get a little sweat drip down the middle of my back.

As far as weight goes, I started out around 134 pounds, and have gone back up to 140, and then back down to 138. I'm not entirely sure why the weight gain, unless it's muscle building from all that manure shoveling.

Well, it's time for Luke to go to bed. His schedule has been off lately, to where he's sleepy some nights and not others, sleeps in one day and wakes up early the next. It would be fine if he was staying up late then sleeping in late, but it never seems to work out that way. Typically, he'll stay up late, wake up early, go to bed late. Or, go to bed early, wake up late, go to bed early. I don't get it, but whatever. Hopefully he'll end this stage soon, along with the terrible twos... but that's a topic for a different venue. This is about diet and exercise! How did Luke come into it? Oh wait... that's right... it's cuz the cutie is my life!