Chocolate, Compliance and Motivation

"So what's up with the chocolate and lactose?"  says doctor Jeff after he does my muscle testing.

I swear I did not tell him about the 2 pieces of cheese over the weekend or the daily chocolate I've been having. (This applied kinesiology/function of muscle testing really works!)  Other than that I'm pretty clean.  But interestingly enough, I also feel heavy, literally and figuratively and I have more inflamed acne than I care to admit (which was gone when I was eating completely clean).  I've been non-compliant.

Speaking of non-compliance, recently the gastroenterologist told one of my patients to cut out dairy. I have a strong sense he won't do it. Instead he'll take prednisone rest of his life and not address allergy or food sensitivity that is potentially the underlying cause of the persistent eczema he's struggled with these past 2 years.

What is it that drives our decisions to be "compliant" patients... to do the things we know aren't good for us...?

People want to talk about motivation, but I think it's more than that.  People (and professionals) want it to be some sort of drive or deep seeded thing leftover from our parents that has us making the choices we do. 
I think each of us has patterns of thinking, processes that we may not be aware of ourselves, that inform the choices and behaviors that we make.  Sometimes we have blind spots that no amount of meditation or self-reflection can see. 

This is why we need other people in our lives - spouses, partners, family members, friends, therapists, coaches, bosses, mentors - to shine some light on our blind spots. To help us root out what trips us up.  Of course quiet time, prayer and meditation also help us start to notice things about ourselves, patterns.  But it is through relationships, with ourselves, God, others, our pets, That help us become the next best version of ourselves.

So, about that chocolate...

Taking a stab at a new (clean) way of eating...

As it turns out, I may have a sensitivity to a bunch of things, including wheat, caffeine, vinegar, potatoes, tomatoes & peppers.

I knew about the caffeine, as I had cut down to mostly decaf coffee in the mornings, but for the next 30 days, on the recommendation of my doctor, this month I'm taking a stab at a new, clean way of eating and cutting all these things out.

Today is day 10 of 30 and I already feel less cloudy, less sluggish and my sugar cravings are gone (whew!). I'm also watching my break-outs diminish and have not experienced any night sweats either.

One of my new favorite recipes is a quinoa taboule (fromBobs Redmill package):


2 cups cooked and cooled Bob's Red Mill Quinoa
1 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup chopped scallions
2 tbsp. chooped fresh mint
1 garlic clove or shallot minced
1 tbsp minced fresh basil
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 extra virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp. freshly ground pepper

Toss together all ingredients. Chill for 1 hour or more to allow flavors to blend. Makes 6 servings.