I am discovering interesting perks about this new Paleo diet shift. I spend most of today eating well and with a noticeable change in how I feel. I really just felt GOOD. Not like wanting to run around like a maniac tapping dancing in the streets or anything like that, but an overpowering sense of contentment and balance in my whole body. I didn't realize how truly exhausted and anxious I really am from day to day until I wasn't. And in this state, I can see very marked differences in how different foods affect me. I had two cups of coffee today. One cup I made myself this morning: a large travel mug of Ethiopian coffee beans using a french press with some almond milk and honey added. I did have some hand shaking from that cup and I wished I could go outside and run off the extra burst of energy instead of forcing myself to keep it contained since I was in a team meeting. I still felt great, though, and my concentration levels were high.

Fast forward to later this afternoon. I met a friend for coffee at Starbucks. I was going to get tea, but I was curious what my usual no-fat caramel macchiato coffee would do to me. I was fine for a while...until after I got the kids to bed and started to do the things I planned for the evening. I was irritable. And aggravated. My mind kept racing about all the things I wanted to do to the point I was overwhelmed with where to start. And once I did finally start, Tadd kept trying to ask me questions and engage me in conversation, which annoyed me. REALLY annoyed me. Next thing I knew it was after 10 and I still hadn't written or worked on any of the wonderfully creative and relaxing things I planned to do before I was scheduled to go to bed by 10:30. The delicious feeling of balance is now replaced with my "normal" state of anxiety and being on edge. I could barely get through my writing pages (I eked something out though) and at one point, the idea flow abruptly turned off.

So, that officially takes fancy frou-frou coffee drinks off the list. Good riddance. I want the feel good state to come back. Tomorrow it is right back to meat and vegetables and fruit and herbal tea. I am scheduled to meet up with people for some exercise bright and early, which hopefully will help (if I don't feel totally wrecked when I wake up and it isn't snowing.) As long as all the not-good-for-me food keeps screwing with me, staying on this diet will be real easy!!