21DSD, the day after the three weeks before

I’m not going to keep writing every day now that the 21DSD is over but today did seem significant to the process. The first day of the rest of my life. It was odd, knowing that we could go back to eating anything, but difficult to know what we wanted to eat. I’ve formed new habits, so moving away from them now feels strange to me.

I had left over apple muffins for breakfast, Chris went for Alpen, but I didn’t want to break so early. Lunch was a barbecue at a friends. Gins were being clinked and fresh bread rolls enveloping the sausages. I had lemon water and sausage without the bun. Not wanting to stray from my new path. But crisps were out. I tentatively nibbled, awaiting the great carb crash that would inevitably follow. I had a few cold potatoes with my salad…

Immediately after lunch I suddenly felt really tired, was it the immediate effect of poisoning my system with carbs? Unlikely, psychology testing me.

We drove to Reading for the afternoon, and this is where we broke it properly. I was tempted to buy a bar of chocolate but resisted. Then we both caught each other’s eye on passing a groovy looking creperie. That’s where we did it. I had a Nutella waffle and he had a Belgian chocolate crepe. Both smothered and covered and drowning in shiny brown goo. We gobbled them up, sweet delicious sauce running down our chins, greedily licking our lips, eyes rolling back in our heads. Oh yes. There it is. Swigging foamy latte to wash it all down. We strode out of the cafe, heads held high, big smiles on our faces, tummies happy and the sweet trail of sugar still on our tongues. Yum, yum, yum. That felt good. That felt naughty but that felt good. It’s OK to do naughty things with your husband, your partner in crime.

We talked about it afterwards. I went into Topshop and managed to get into a “petite” dress, size 6. Holy crap, I’m skinnier! It felt good. I like what the detox did for my body and my mind and my emotions. But I am going to have a cheat day every now and then because I like having the will power to make that choice and enjoy life and its naughty moments.

I don’t feel guilty, I thought I would. I came home and cooked up a monster batch of my fav Thai Nut Mix, ready to take away with me this week. I baked some banana muffins, my own recipe, using eggs and coconut flour and bananas and butter, but I added a dash of honey this time. Just a dash. They came out beautifully, the sponge moist (which is a challenge with coconut flour). And I made an elaborate version of one of my favourite 21DSD dinners- salmon with capers and olives, I added leeks, garlic cheese mushrooms and a salad. Big, satisfying, healthy, tasty Sunday dinner. All good.

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Move over Book Worm, here comes the Kindle Katerpiller

My other half often accuses me of being a book worm. I don’t mind this label, to me it’s a label that I am out and proud of. I have an obsession with books, of all kinds, fiction, non-fiction, self-help, craft books, coffee books, travel books, dictionaries… I am delighted by my big white bookcase, bursting at the seems with colourful books. I work for a publishers and take books out of our library and use our staff discount. I’ll frequently visit our city library at lunch or at the weekends, browsing for fun, picking up random books that catch my eye, and stumbling home with bulging bags of more books.

Last Christmas I FINALLY got my hands on a Kindle (HURRAH!). It took a while, I had the usual inner bookworm battle that I now see friends and colleagues having about whether it’s an insult to book lovers to move to the Kindle – How often do I hear repetitive choruses of “it’s not the same” “I love real books too much” “I need to feel the pages”. It’s hillarious. I love “real” books too, and I love reading, and now I get to do it more and I’m not limited by where I am or what I’m carrying. The Kindle IS truly amazing, and I am a fully fledged evangalist on the matter. Thanks to the Kindle, I can now:

• Read books all night, not needing to stop reading when the light goes out (inbuilt light in the case)
• Read a book in any crazy bed/sofa/sunlounger/airplane seat position, as I only need to press one button to turn the page and I don’t need to worry about pages flapping around or the book staying open
• Read for longer, as it’s actually less tiring on my eyes than a printed page (seriously!!)
• Carry my entire library in my little handbag
• Change my mind about what I’m reading on a long flight, without checking extra carry-on
• Buy a book that’s recommended when chatting with friends, straight away, in a flash
• Request free samples to try before I buy
• Stock up on all my favs, all in one place
• Read more than one book at a time (which I did in print, but the pile by my pillow was ridiculous…)

The downsides are:

• I spend a lot more money on books – impulse book buying now a problem!
• It’s harder to share books with friends

BUT THAT’S IT
So, next time him indoors rolls over to turn out the light and pauses to call me a bookworm, I’ll remind him the bookworm is dead, here comes the Kindle Katerpiller! Oh and go ahead and turn out the light, The Kindle’s got that covered.

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