I felt terrible last night, but I was a lot more careful about my diet today so I felt a lot better today. Since I started watching my food choices more closely, I’ve lost maybe 18 pounds or so, but what’s been really weird is how it’s changed how I feel and what I crave.

I still crave sweets, but a few apple chips or a small handful of candy corn will take care of the cravings pretty quickly. I crave things like those little oranges that are easy to peel and don’t seem to have seeds. I crave apples. Squash. Cucumbers were the main craving today. I used to crave things like pizza and McDonalds fries. Sometimes I still do, but not like I used to. And I feel crappy after I eat it (see: yesterday).

I’ve noticed some other changes that I didn’t anticipate. I don’t have reflux nearly as much as I used to. My guts aren’t sore or gurgly the way they used to be. I seem to have more energy. My clothes feel a bit more comfortable.

One of the reasons I wanted to try to lose a little weight is a sore foot. A couple years ago, I was diagnosed with capsulitis in my right foot after I had put up with pain for at least a year. There was talk of shots into my foot or surgery on the bottom of my foot that would take months to recover from (I guess bottom-of-the-foot surgery is pretty rough). I have worn specific doctor-recommended shoes and insoles since then, mostly with success, but losing weight means that there is less stress on the joints in my foot, which should help them feel better. If there is a tear in there, it won’t fix itself, but less weight will help me live with it.

I know that a lot of times people gain weight back after losing it. I definitely gained back the weight since the last time I was thinner, but it took a long time (and being pregnant didn’t help). I’m hoping the change in my diet now can help me be more aware of the connection between what I eat and how I feel. I’m also hoping that my stomach stays smaller (I can’t eat nearly as much as I used to be able to). I’ve stuck to it for a month now, and just like this blog, maybe I can keep up with it.