Come on in my friend. Grab a coffee and get comfy as I give you a peek at my first week on Bright Line Eating.
The Call:
I’d heard of Bright Line Eating before. Three years before, to be honest. I felt its call, researched its online presence, and decided it would be way too impossible for me. So, instead of changing my mindset, I ignored it. Flash ahead 18 months, and BLE called again. It beckoned a bit louder, through the same source it used the year before. But hey, it was 2020 so again I shut it up and pushed it aside. That brings us to now- I’m four days into the 14-day challenge and have high hopes for my future.
What changed my mind?
The very thing that turned me away from BLE drew me back in. That is the very strict rule against sugar and flour. ALL SUGARS and ALL FLOURS. No Splenda, stevia, agave nectar, or honey. No corn flour, rice flour, or almond flour. They’re total no goes on Bright Line Eating. THAT TERRIFIED ME!!!!
However, over time, I started to ask myself why. Why was I so scared to give up sweet treats and breads? Slowly- very slowly- I had to admit the fear came from a deep NEED- slash- addiction to those very things.
I stood back and measured my life. I could not think of a single “good time” or “celebration” I enjoyed that did not involve sugar and flour. Not just that, but I couldn’t imagine a single day that I wouldn’t NEED a hit of one or the other. That’s when conviction set in.
SO: I bought a book. But not the Bright Line Eating Book- NOPE! I still was hoping to find a source that would at least allow me to devour stevia-laden smackerals. I listened/ read a great book on giving up sugar and carbs. It detailed the danger of candida. Then it gave me a great lifestyle eating program that would eventually allow me to consume honey and maple syrup. Plus Almond Flour was always acceptable. I could roll with that or so I thought.
That’s when I felt God shake me. WAKE UP, WOMAN! I understood that I was only staving off the inevitable. I had to give up my addiction in order to achieve freedom. That meant no sugar and no flour.
I relented and bought the Bright LIne Eating Cookbook. I did more research. And I prayed- a lot. Late one night, with a fried pie in one hand and the remote in the other, I signed up for the 14-day Challenge. After all, fourteen days is not forever. I could hang for 14 days.
That brings us to now. I”m in week one of Bright LIen eating and here’s how I’m feeling about the program.
Week ONE:
Day One: Pre-planned my meals. Weighed in. Took all the embarrassing pictures. Watched the 14DC day one video Ate only my foods. Stayed the course- Kept thinking geez- just a pinch of stevia would make this delectable. Had to chill my food thoughts. — Other life: Homeschool Rocked! Wrote a little bit. Took a nap after school.
Day Two: Preplanned meals. Went to Mom’s – stayed on plan! YAY!!!! I’m a bit hungry but it’s not bothersome. — Other life: Homeschool done! Wrote and edited. Took a nap before housecleaning.
Day Three: Preplanned meals. Caught up on missed 14DC videos. Not hungry. Low energy. A bit on the weepy side. Can’t tell if that’s life or detox. Ran errands and still stayed on Plan! YAY!!! — Other life: Homeschool done…. slowly. Wrote for 20 minutes. Daydreamed about my stories. Did a lot of praying and talking to God.
Day Four: Preplanned meals. Not so weepy. More focus than yesterday. A bit hungry. worried over social event coming up tomorrow. :/ Watched 14DC videos. — Other life: Wrote story, blogged, planned promos. Rocked Homeschool! Great day for School! Made much-needed phone calls. Set up appointments I’d been dreading. Hung out with my kids. Still doing it!
Day Five: Doing great. Then a family emergency took me out of the house for an unexpected six hours. I came home jonesing for something greasy and breaded. Instead, I pulled out my prepped veggies and weighed them. I did have to substitute my protein option- as it was too late and I was too exhausted to cook. PS: The family is back to normal- Praise God!
Day Six: I was dreading this day. As it was my first day around friends since starting the program. A teachers’ meeting had me locked in a room with chocolate trifle, lemonade, and coffee creamer. YIKES! I came prepared with my dinner in tow, jus tin case. I also treated myself to a fast-food cup of unsweetened ice tea. Sipping from a straw while my friends munched helped tons! I did not feel deprived. I felt empowered. Stayed Bright!
Day Seven: This day snuck up on me. I knew I was having lunch at one of my favorite restaurants and that I would have to find a new favorite dish to order. I’d prepped myself for that encounter. PRAYER WORKS! I rocked lunch and even the after-lunch snackies. What shocked me was this huge “need” for a sweet drink. For a good two hours, I had to shut down food thoughts that wanted a slightly sweetened and fruity drink. Funny how the brain does anything to help you take the easy way out. With a lot of help, I was able to scale that mountain and stay bright.
Sum it up, Sarah:
Okay, okay.
So, high points: I did lose weight, also I liked having all my meals so planned out and easy to prep. I was able to handle social events.
Low points: food thoughts are heavy and TRICKY! Thoughts of missing out keep attacking at random. Bringing them to the Cross is much easier when I’m not tired.
Other: can’t tell if my thinking is getting clearer, but I seem to be able to accomplish more each day. Maybe because I’m not taking a break to grab a treat? Or perhaps it’s the coming down from the sugar crash that slowed me down? Time will tell.
Also- the crushing thought of NEVER having sugar again is too much. Instead, I tell myself for this day for this meal I’m not eating________ (fill in the blank). That makes it so much more manageable.
As for next week, I have hope!
One day at a time.
If you’re interested in Bright Line Eating visit the website: https://brightlineeating.com
Until next time, I’m cheering you on!
Sarah
