Upon Further Reflection...

I wasn't sure whether to post this here or my other blog, but thought since it was food-related, I"ll post here.

As you know if you read my other blog, the other night I had a HUGE, over-indulgent, too-rich, fabulous dinner. It was so, so delicious.

However, I'm continuing to pay the price for it today, in odd ways. I don't feel too bad in general (tummy is pretty much fine), but I feel oddly kind of sick about the whole thing today, the foie gras in particular. I've been trying to figure out why. I think my body just wasn't used to so much rich food, so I'm feeling sluggish and tired and kind of sick today. But I just keep remembering the foie gras, and it kind of makes me want to throw up (just being truthful here). Both from the taste (WAY too meaty and rich) and also I know what it is, and I just feel kind of bad about it. I don't know why it's any different than beef or chicken or anything else. I didn't feel too bad about eating the quail, although I cringe if I think about it too much. I don't really have any 'reason' for feeling bad -- I just do. Not exactly guilty -- just bad. Uncomfortable. I'm not sure why I'm having a such a strong reaction.

And, while I loved loved loved the cheese course and was positively giddy over it, I think it was too much of a good thing (as was the whole dinner). It was a lot of cheese. Don't get me wrong - it was fab, but I think I ate two or three bites too many. It's like, I can almost feel my cells protesting. The funny thing is, I really don't even feel guilty - it's not like I'm saying to myself, I shouldn't have eaten all of it. I'm just noticing how I am actually feeling today.

So this makes me think about how I've been eating the past couple of months. I've been doing some experimenting with my diet. Nothing too extreme, just trying this and that to try and pinpoint the tummy upsetters. I've come to the conclusion that wheat is a culprit. Also, raw vegetables, and excess sugar. And, strangely, gum.

But I realize that once I figured out that wheat was really hurting my stomach, I went the other direction in trying to soothe myself and have been eating a lot of dairy products (as in, "I can't have wheat, but goddammit, I can have dairy!"). This also doesn't feel too good, but in a different way. My head is a little stuffy, I've been having a harder time sleeping, I feel a little more sluggish overall. I just feel kind of... murky. Internally. That makes no sense, but it's kind of how I'm feeling.

All this brings me to that tired old conclusion: moderation in everything. Even with wheat -- I had a half-piece of bread (spread with amazing butter) last night, and it was okay. I know that when I eat things like cottage cheese and low-sugar yogurt, I feel good (I even feel fine about full-fat yogurt). I can feel good about really great cheese now and again. I actually prefer soy and rice milk for smoothies, soups, etc., but soy cheese? Why bother. I love chocolate and jelly beans... but again, too much of a good thing isn't always a good thing.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the excess of last night makes me realize how much I really do want to practice moderation in my everyday diet, and really observe how I feel about what I eat. It really is important, what goes in your body. I'd like to continue to increase things like fresh fruit, whole grains, colorful veggies, low-fat dairy and soy products. I'm not going to worry so much about decreasing things - I really don't want to trick myself into feeling restricted, and then start to feel deprived, and then the whole thing goes to hell and I'm back to where I started.

But what about just making sure I have yummy yogurt for snacks at work? And nuts and dried berries? And making extra dinner so I have a healthy lunch the next day? Stuff I already try to do, but I like the idea of being more conscious about it.

And then, every once inawhile, I've got to have that Roaring Forties blue cheese. Because life is too short to miss out on the good cheese.