When I was in college, I began having all sorts of stomach issues. My junior year, I was diagnosed with gluten-intolerance and was told to eliminate it from my diet. Luckily, I didn't have Celiac Disease but that didn't help the discomfort and side-effects I suffered after eating gluten. It took me years to finally take the step to go gluten-free but I've been doing it for over a year now. I truly believe that my eating habits in college affected my tolerance because it was the first time I ate processed foods on a very regular basis. I began eating lean cuisine paninis (which are delicious by the way) and pizzas for almost every meal because they were so cheap and quick. I also ate sandwiches all the time because they were also cheap and quick. Ever since college, I haven't been able to stomach (no pun intended) lean cuisine sandwiches or pizzas and I notice an immediate effect if I have wheat/gluten.
Over the past few years, I've made an effort to eat fewer processed foods and I've cut gluten out completely. Since then, I've felt much healthier and I have a feeling, the more "clean" I eat, the better I will feel! I took a look at some of the Clean Diet recipes and they look amazing! I'm not a huge calorie counter (I eat ALL the time and I'd get lost halfway through the day if I tried), but I do try to eat healthy foods throughout the day. The recipes I enjoyed at Cate's house and those I saw in their cookbooks sounded like something I could have every day and not feel deprived! The diet is less of a diet and more of a lifestyle. As I've learned through my process of going gluten-free, it's hard to make the jump, but once you do, you can train yourself to stick with it.
Today, I'm ordering the Eat-Clean Diet Recharged book so I can gain further insight on how the diet works and begin to clean up my eating habits! It shouldn't be too big of a leap for me (Husband may be a little harder...) but I'm hoping to feel a difference in my health/happiness/well-being. I'm not one to follow anything exactly but I think this could reinforce what I already know about healthy eating and encourage me to be more conscious when deciding what to buy and make for my family.
Here are some things people have said about the diet (taken from dietsinreview.com) :
Am getting my feet wet with it- have done it for a week or so and already can tell a difference in my energy level! I feel good too! No more feeling nasty after eating a greasy meal!
It's hard at first, but more than worth it. You sleep better, clothes fit better, and you like looking in the mirror.
Yummy! My hubby and I have huststarted this diet, and though much different from our daily meals, the food is rather tastey. My husband has lost ten pounds in three weeks and 3 inches off his belly ( much needed drop.) I am trying to get healthy for pregnancy, and this diet seems to be perfect in keeping me trim and not wanting more!