Two weeks and it’s hardly a blip on my radar

The crystal clear waters of the lake

This week marks two weeks of me being dairy-free. The past few days were a bit challenging due to us being on a road trip to Tahoe. I had to stray from my dairy-free-ness a few times – I ate a frozen naan which probably had ghee in it, a croissant and garlic bread both of which had butter, and a slice of cake which probably had milk and butter. I did not feel like refusing our host, although I must admit that for my cake-loving self I was surprised not to really crave it.

But for the most part, I was able to stay dairy-free and it was surprisingly easy to clarify at restaurants or choose foods at home to do so. I feel a bit stronger and more energetic but it is still too early to say. I also don’t notice much change with my skin yet (I’d like to think there is an improvement, but it could very well be wishful thinking). I do notice my hair is a lot silkier and shinier, kind of like it is when I am in India. Since we consume very little dairy while in India and the protein in the milk is of a different kind there, that might have something to do with it. The other factor for my hair is that I haven’t been swimming and the my hair is doing much better without the constant chlorine exposure.

I will probably continue with my diet for a few more weeks and then try to push it to three months. I hope I will be able to determine the right choice and balance for my body. I recently read an article about how we need to understand our bodies and how they respond to various foods, but that on the other hand diets never work. The takeaway being that each of us needs to arrive at meal choices that are optimal fuel for our bodies and don’t cause more damage than they are worth. This can be done a by combination of medical tests, nutritionist consults and meal tracking along with a detailed look at cause and effect. Even the quantities and frequencies of our meals matter. It is so individual and specific that following a pre-defined diet is not usually a sustainable answer, but a slow and careful process of being deliberate with what we eat and don’t helps us get there.

With that, I’ll wrap up this post with a picture of Lake Tahoe and a song from Yazoo. I just made myself laugh a bit when I mis-typed “Nobody’s diary” as “Nobody’s dairy”, a total overuse of this word of late.

Nobody’s Diary by Yazoo

If I wait for just a second more,

I know I'll forget what I came here for,

My head was so full of things to say,

But as I open my lips all my words slip away

And anyway,

I can't believe you want to turn the page,

And move your life onto another stage,

You can change the chapter you can change the book,

But the story remains the same if you'd take a look.

For the times we've had I don't want to be, a page in your diary babe,

For the good, the bad I don't want to see, a page in your diary babe,

For the happy, the sad, I don't want to be another page in your diary.

Perhaps if I held you I could win again,

I could take your hands we'd talk and maybe then,

That look in your eyes I always recognize,

Would tell me everything is gonna be fine,

You're gonna be mine

For a long time

For the times we've had I don't want to be, a page in your diary babe,

For the good, the bad I don't want to see, a page in your diary babe,

For the happy, the sad, I don't want to be another page in your diary.