I MADE IT.
You can read the first post here. The other updates are here:
I’m glad it’s over. I didn’t see any drastic changes and I don’t see why it would be beneficial OR pleasurable to continue. Now the breakdown.
Challenges
Now is a good time to address this question: Was there cheating involved? Yes, a few times. I’d be lying if I said I was 100% perfect for the whole month of February. There were some weak moments when I just needed REAL CHOCOLATE and not fake crap. I had several small “fun size” candies (i.e. a mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cup, a Dove chocolate square and a mini Twix bar). I had about 5 total the whole month. I felt mildly guilty for giving in and having chocolate but I tried not to beat myself up too much because overall I did very well resisting things that had dairy or gluten in them.
What I Liked
I actually did discover a lot of things that I enjoyed and will continue to eat. The Omission gluten-free beer was a really good alternative. Almond Milk is something I will continue to drink instead of regular milk. It was a delicious enough substitution that I never felt like I was missing out on something.
Frozen grapes were an excellent dessert option, as was frozen banana slices with peanut butter on them. I loved the RiceWorks chips we bought and will continue to buy those in the future.
What I Disliked
I hated how much processed foods I ate in February. I was trying to find gluten and dairy free options and while I did eat a lot of natural things (fruit and veggies), I also ate more foods that came out of a box. Gluten-free crackers, chips, dairy-free cookies, etc etc. I did not like that aspect of it.
I also disliked feeling restricted. That lead to feelings and desires to binge. I couldn’t wait to be done with diet and I planned all the dairy and bread I was going to eat! I don’t like feeling like that. I think counting my calories and eating whatever I want that fits into that calorie range works best. This experiment is just another confirmation of that.
Weigh-In and Measurements
When I started this challenge I weighed 145.2. I wasn’t expecting any weight loss, so I was happily surprised when I stepped on the scale after one week and saw over 1.5 pounds lost. So what was my final total? 143. I lost 2.2 pounds, which is decent but not mind-blowing enough for me to continue this diet.
As for measurements, there wasn’t a lot of change:
| February 1st | February 28th |
| Hips: 37 inches | Hips: 36 inches |
| Waist: 34 inches | Waist: 33.5 inches |
| Thighs: 18 inches | Thighs: 18 inches |
I wish there was more of a drastic change but I did lose an inch around my hips, so that’s something.
Final Thoughts/Observations
It didn’t take long for me to conclude that I could pretty easily go gluten-free but never entirely dairy-free. I didn’t really miss the bread (despite the two food p0rn dreams I had about eating freshly baked bread). My mom commented that when she gave up gluten, she stopped craving sweets and the second she ate it again, those cravings came back. I experienced something similar. I didn’t really crave sweets or candy or chocolate (except for a few crazy cravings in the beginning) and definitely didn’t miss bread or pasta.
The dairy was another story. I craved cheese and sour cream. I didn’t think about Greek yogurt or milk as much as I thought I would. As the month stretched on, all I wanted was pizza or a grilled cheese sandwich!!!
Something else I did notice: it did not take very long to adjust my thinking and get used to looking for gluten and dairy free choices. It took about a week and a half and then I just became that person that was gluten free. It felt normal and familiar and not awkward like it did the first week. It almost feels strange to go back to eating the way I used to!
I will probably do another update as I re-introduce gluten and dairy back into my diet and let you know if I felt anything different. Other than that, I’m pretty glad I’m going back to normal.
I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t feel any differently or see a drastic change because that means I don’t have to continue the diet.
Now pass me the ice cream!
Marc
Interesting experiment to do on your own. I normally skip bread products and all things made with flour, but will freely admit that when I do indulge, I feel like an alcoholic that has lived like a tee-totaler that wants to fall off the wagon and go on a3 day bender. Five pieces of chocolate is so minimal. Now five bags is another story.
How was your mood? Did you experience mood swings?
Lisa Eirene
Ooooh that’s not good, Marc! Sorry you feel like it’s a 3 day bender. Thankfully I did not have that issue. No withdrawals, no mood changes. I was a bit cranky in the beginning simply because I didn’t like feeling restricted. But other than that, no difference.
Roz@weightingfor50
Congrats on seeing the month through Lisa! You did so well.
Lisa Eirene
I was a few days short of the month, but I think I did ok otherwise.
Karla @ Foodologie
This is awesome! Thanks for your update! I’m starting Paleo challenge today so it means no dairy, grains or legumes.
I’m really intrigued by the sugar craving aspect. Thanks again for your recap!
Lisa Eirene
I’ll be following your paleo challenge. I’m curious if your taste buds/sugar cravings change at all.
Jill @ a Girl in Progress
A life without dairy is unimaginable for me! I tried giving up dairy for a weekend and didn’t even make it 24 hours. Congrats on sticking with it for a month!
Lisa Eirene
I agree. I could not give up dairy forever!
Lisa
Not sure I could do dairy free but I might be able to pull off gluten free. I love rice, so that would be my substitute.
Did you try any of the dairy-free ice creams??
Lisa Eirene
I did not! I was going to and I was finding that so much of the substitutes were so expensive I chose to just skip them all together.
Michelle @ Eat Move Balance
It’s so interesting how different people react differently to foods like gluten and dairy. I enjoyed reading your honest posts about how it all went!
Lisa Eirene
Yes, it’s so radically different from each person. My mom had an obvious reaction, yet I didn’t feel any differently. So odd.
Biz
I could never give up dairy for my beloved cheese! Great job on seeing the month through to the end though!
Lisa Eirene
I definitely missed cheese! What a thought of most was a grilled cheese sandwich. Yet I haven’t had one yet now that I’m done with the challenge…!
evilcyber
I think the feeling restricted would be one of the biggest stumbling blocks for me if I tried to do this. In my experience, not allowing yourself something makes you almost obsess about it (that was at least what made my first attempt at a diet a total disaster).
But I’d say you can consider this a success. You went through wit it and the improved measurements are an added bonus.
Lisa Eirene
I am more successful NOW that I don’t feel restricted than I was when I actually did the diet.
Lori
I laughed when I saw how bolded and capitalized you wrote I MADE IT – makes it seem like you really did miss your dairy 😀
Even when experiments aren’t always fun – they at least are interesting!
Lisa Eirene
It does kinda feel like I was running up hill in February and then finally MADE IT to the top! I’m glad it’s over. It was interesting, but I’m glad I can eat whatever I want again. 🙂
Matt @ The Athlete's Plate
Congrats! Must’ve been tough!
Trevor
Congratulations on your successful diet experiment. I’d say 5 small pieces of candy over a month’s time hardly counts as cheating . . . .you did read some of my own diet update confessions, right?
But I hear you about the cheese and sour cream. They’re just too damn hard to give up. And for many of us, completely unnecessary.
Enjoy your return to dairy.
Cheers!
Lisa Eirene
I did read your updates. I know I’m too hard on myself. I tend to set near impossible standards and then feel bad when I fall short…