Half-way to thirty! I woke up the morning of Day 15 feeling less like I wanted to camp out in bed. I like not feeling as though I’m drugged in the mornings.

I realize that some people would cringe at the thought of eating basically the same thing every day for two weeks. Believe me, I thought it would get old. I mean, mono-meals alone sound truly unappetizing to those of us accustomed to having our plates divided into categories. However, there are some real benefits to eating mono-meals. Here’s a great post called Fruit Meals: To Mono or Not to Mono. I agree with the author in that last year it was difficult for me to enjoy mono-mealing, so I did a lot of fruit salads and smoothies also. Digestion is easier eating just one fruit at a time though. I’ve also found that I really like the simplicity. As a result, I’m making meals for the cooked vegans with fewer ingredients (for example, I don’t cook with added oil or salt any longer). They tend to get satisfied more quickly. The contrast being when we ordered vegetable pizza for the cooked vegans the other night (without meat or cheese of course). I think they could each put away an entire pizza on their own. It’s not necessarily because they are hungrier, but because pizza excites the palate and makes it more difficult to determine when satisfaction is reached. If I prepare them a simple soup and salad, they eat far less and are full and satisfied.

Now, you may be thinking, “Ok, but why eat the same thing every day?” Well, there are a few reasons for that. One, some of the things I’m eating, I can buy in bulk (saving moolah). So, of course, I want to eat them before they spoil. Two, I’m trying to heal my digestive system, which means, the simpler the better. Three, when I do try something different (one thing at a time), I will know instantly if I have an allergic reaction to it. Four, there aren’t a whole lot of items I can get in the winter (in season or out), that taste good to me right now. I am mainly eating what I am pretty much guaranteed to like.

There you have it, the low down on why you see so much repetition in my meal log.

Are you looking to make some changes in 2013? Check out The Journey for more information.

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What I read: Job 40-42

What I ate:

• Breakfast – Ten oranges juiced with electric citrus juicer
• Afternoon Meal – 10 Bananas blended with 8oz of water (should have had this at my normal time, but I thought I was going to run earlier than I did and it got pushed too far back. Not good.)
  
• Dinner – 1/2 large watermelon, 1 lb romaine lettuce, 1 cup grape tomatoes, 1 cup golden tomatoes, with fruity dressing (1 cup grapes, 2 cuties, parsley, cilantro blended together)
  

What I did: 37:30 minute run/walk workout (I didn’t place my meals correctly though and as a result was super hungry by the time I headed to the trail – I’ll plan better next time)

Here are the notes I made regarding my symptoms throughout Day 15:

• slowed digestion (gas, abdominal pain, bloating)
  
• headaches
  
• puffy hands, feet, and face
  
• sinus congestion – none
  
• dry/itchy eyes, skin, and scalp
  
• acne – clearing, almost gone, my face feels softer to the touch lately
  
• aching muscles and muscle spasms
  
• foggy brain
• irritability
  
• mood swings – I am amazed at how well I’m processing emotional stuff these days. I don’t feel all fractured and broken up inside.
  
• blood sugar fluctuations
  
• fatigue – bouts of fatigue were coming mainly at the end of the day around 6 or 7 pm, but not this evening. Felt fine.
  
• unable to sleep well
  
• unquenchable thirst  – better
  
• cravings – Not a problem
  
• chest pain – I’m adding this one on here because I just realized that I haven’t had this. It had become something that was frequent.