Having knowledge does not equal changing behavior, for good reason. There are so many other variables in the mix (other information, emotions, social issues, economic issues and more) behind why we do the things we do. To make significant changes “cold turkey” based on one piece of information puts us in crazy-making mode. It triggers backlash more often than sustained positive change.

At the same time, pursuing and accepting knowledge about what food works is a step in the direction of intentionality and awareness–good things in my book. It’s better than keeping our heads stuck in the sand and feigning ignorance.

So my long-term plan for knowledge I gain from the elimination diet is to accept it with compassion and conservative considerations for change somewhere down the road, when I am ready. There is a huge difference between procrastination and patience. I hope to cultivate the latter while tolerating my tendency toward the former. They both serve us well to some extent.

Having said that, I had a wonderful experience during the cleanse part of this experiment where I opened up to a completely new and visceral understanding of the concept of “enough.” It began with the stress-release component of a simplified diet–not so many choices, but a simple resolve to stick to the basics, and feel in my body that eating that smaller amount of limited foods was enough. Plenty!

But the feeling kept digging deeper under my skin, until it knocked on my bones and said, “Guess what? *You* are enough too.” Even without the caffeine that fuels me and makes my personality more amicably bubbly; even without the chocolate that makes me feel pampered and luxurious; even without all the crazy ups and downs that creates the drama that makes me feel like it’s ok to ask for attention…

I realized the extent to which I’ve developed these internal beliefs that, without the addictive foods I eat, I’m not enough–not productive enough, not fun enough, not interesting or social enough, the list goes on. Who am I without all that crazy, sexy, culturally adored food? I’m enough.

I do intend to hang on to that long-term.

Thanks again for writing!

Thanks for letting us follow your process. It’s good to get the “inside view” on something I’ve also done myself, and wondered how other people handled it. Your updates have also connected me to my own body’s calls for a spring cleanse.

The thing I wonder sometimes, and did as I read this piece, is what happens when you do figure out exactly what things you are allergic to? For instance, I know caffeine isn’t good for my body (not looking forward to cutting it out, so I’ll probably still drink some white tea). At this point, I can’t even handle black tea very well. But man, that’s a hard one for me to completely give up because it’s what makes me get work done! In other words, I struggle with “what now?” for some of those “final frontier” items.

Do you have long-term plans on what you will do with the info from the elimination diet?