I rolled over and looked at the clock: 3:52 a.m. The grumpy stomach and foggy brain that awakened me Monday morning was unmistakable; it’s a hangover. . . a food hangover. It doesn’t take long to realize going back to sleep is not an option; my head is throbbing but it’s mostly because I’m pissed at myself for ruining the start to what I expect to be a very special week. I’ve been eating “clean” for months and have grown accustom to popping out of bed every morning just before 7 a.m. feeling fantastic. I love my mornings – I’m at my best – a clear head, tons of energy and a sense of gratitude and purpose. I have none of that this morning.
In addition to the headache I’m groggy – okay, the pre-dawn wakeup may be contributing to this one – but my fingers and face are swollen which definitely confirms too much sodium. While my new healthy lifestyle has lots of benefits, it clearly has left me ill-equipped to handle an occasional indulgence, or two.
It’s 4:10 a.m. when I drag myself out of bed in search of hydration. Standing in my kitchen chugging lemon water I reflect back on the weekend. It had been a great couple of days. But was it worth how I feel right now? I’m not ready to go that far.
It all started well. I had been very deliberate on Saturday, carefully planning the day to accommodate eating out. Light morning and mid-day meals, a six-mile walk and little strength training to balance the higher calorie load I expected that night. I honestly thought I nailed it. We were meeting a couple of my high school friends I hadn’t seen since the 70s. We reconnected recently – thank you Facebook – and as luck would have it they were in town for a UT graduation.
We were having a wonderful time and I felt like I made good selections; well, good to a point. I had a glass of wine, Cajun grilled grouper with couscous and collard greens. I enjoyed it, but I didn’t finish it because I was keenly aware of how much butter and salt was used as seasoning. And we passed on desert at the restaurant – excellent choice – but somehow couldn’t pass Dairy Queen on the way home – not so excellent choice. It was a bit of excess; but why not celebrate, it was a special night.
It’s 4:20 a.m. when I refill my water glass and head down the hall to start the laundry. At this point I’m convinced last night was the culprit – Mother’s Day did me in. I woke up at my regular time Sunday morning; but feeling a bit sluggish from my splurge the night before I was slow to get out of bed. I wasn’t very hungry which is odd for me, but it worked out fine because my daughter, Stephanie, was planning a special breakfast and she’s not an early riser so I needed to kill some time. I squeezed in a short workout, drank plenty of water and was actually feeling better by the time she came downstairs. Together we made a tasty frittata and enjoyed our lovely breakfast outside on the veranda.
Late-morning I took a 4-mile walk, had a light lunch and then spent the afternoon with the family boating out on the lake. Tim and I each had a beer to usher in the new summer season, just one. From there the wheels came off; starting with dinner at our local Mexican restaurant. Too many salty chips, cheesy sauce on that burrito and a general over load of glop; it was pretty much the opposite of eating clean. Throw in the faux ice cream sundae – we finally got around to trying Halo – and the combination obviously proved lethal.
Now it’s 6:15 a.m. and I glance out the window to see the darkness giving way to first light. I tip-toe back into our bedroom to change into my workout clothes and head out for a walk. My sorry condition this morning requires sweat, so my walk quickly becomes a run. I never run. I hate to run. But if I’m going to shake this thing, I need to run.
As I cruise the peaceful streets I begin to accept that this “extreme clean” place I’ve gotten to in my diet may not be so easy to pop in and out of. I’ve learned to eat more simply – real food, packed with nutrition and cooked without additives or chemicals. When I eat out I usually stick to a protein and a veggie, or basic salads. No starchy carbs or sweet treats. I’ve come to enjoy simple, it works for me.
Just then a spectacular sunrise emerges before me. I take a deep breath and my heart fills with appreciation. I’ve long contended it’s impossible to witness a sunrise and not be overcome with gratitude. Steph and I will be leaving mid-week for New York City to celebrate her birthday, and I’m not sure I see a lot of clean eating in our travels. But I also don’t want to start my days feeling like I did this morning. It’s not about weight or inches or any of those vanity measures; at this point it’s merely about waking up every day feeling amazing.
I’ve never felt better than I have these last few months. I slipped up this weekend and sent my system into shock; hardly the end of the world. I love where I am with this healthy lifestyle so I may just need a little more restraint. As I stand in awe of this glorious sunrise, I remind myself this is the kind of problem people with too many blessings have – it’s really no problem at all.
When I take off again, I’m not surprised I feel a little lighter; running feels a little easier. A grateful heart has a way of trumping anything that ails you.
