The Plan - Update

I thought I would give you a final assessment of The Plan, a special diet that detoxes and then uncovers your most "reactive" foods. That includes foods touted as "healthy" like salmon, oatmeal and cauliflower which in fact may make you put on weight and bog you down. I've done it to get more energy. The Plan is supposed to be only 20 days but I was put back after cheating. Here are seven things allowed that's made it bearable.

Watermelon, lemon on everything, chocolate and red wine (neither of which I normally have) siracha sauce, pears and avocados and oil.

Full disclaimer. There was no "clean" cooking last week in Santa Barbara. I tried to follow The Plan menus but often couldn't do it to the letter.

1. Do I feel better?
Yes and No (Sorry, I loathe that answer too). I definitely feel every soupcon of salt and vinegar and additives in food when I go out now. Just so you know how much salt and butter goes into restaurant food - I put on 2lbs overnight when I ate chicken at a restaurant one night. I exercised properly only about three times during the last month and I think adding that would have made me feel better.

2. Good stuff?
The 64 oz of water I drank every day was worth the price of admission as I never drank any water before.  I lost 2lbs when I ate beef. Someone else put on 2lbs when they ate artichokes! Sparkling wine is out, papaya (which I ate all the time) is reactive. Learned more about health in three weeks than in my whole life. I like chia and flaxseeds. (Already knew melted cheese and garlic, dried fruit and nuts are not my friends.)

3. Bad stuff?
It's incredibly complicated and strict. I cannot imagine I am the first person who could not keep to it. (However I could feel the inventor of The Plan, Lyn-Genet's, frustration with me seeped through her emails. Fair enough) There is very little to look forward to except the evening meal with the glass of wine. Lunchtime protein is just seeds and bits of goats cheese. I didn't really like the recipes except for the smoothie.

4. Good for weight loss? I did this to feel sprightlier not lose weight. I have only lost 6lbs. It got me off the lattes, bread and bacon and massive amounts of eggs (my body likes poached eggs but not omeletes - go figure!) My first milk latte this morning was not as triumphant as I expected.

5. Would I do it again?
Yes, but properly this time. Blocking out three weeks. And with someone cooking the recipes (this is available in New York). I can't see this happening.

6. Good for the travel ailment that dare not speak it's name?
My mother emailed me... how was my toilet training going? Much better thanks Mum. I have added Probiotics, flaxseed and magnesium to my toilet training arsenal for my trip to Spain.

Last night I celebrated with a meal at my favorite Oakland restaurant, Hopscotch  I went off the rails badly -  food and too much wine. She's back!

Hopscotch

We all mourned that they don't cook the chips in duck fat anymore

Donuts with butterscotch

Pork with peaches and black eyed peas

Hmm what was this?

Oysters with sea urchin and salmon roe. Sublime

Forgot...there was a Tin Lizzy (gin vermouth, peach, thyme, mint) before the wine. Oh dear

Congestion when I got home and terrible sleep last night. I fear it was that wafer-thin sliver of cucumber with the oysters. Or it could have been the Tin Lizzy ...and, um, the three glasses of wine that followed. So all Toxed-Up and ready to head off to Spain tomorrow!

What are you up to this weekend?