I’ve been told that I’m long overdue for an update.  So here it is.  I’m in my 8^th week of eating a plant-based diet.  I’m doing OK.  I’m starting to miss certain things, like being able to enjoy a nice night of take out with my husband or simply a buffet at a friend’s wedding.  I’m finding that certain restaurant commercials on tv make my mouth water.  It’s not really any specific food I crave (sometimes it’s ALL the foods!) but it’s more the idea of them.  I then remind myself that I’m doing this for my health – it’s my drug of choice, so to speak.   I want to get my Crohn’s under control in any way I can that does not involved chemical medications.  However, lately, I’ve been experiencing some additional manifestations of my Crohn’s Disease.  This is very disheartening.   I really was sure that changing my eating this dramatically would make a big difference.  Perhaps, it has.  Perhaps, if I continued eating the way I was, I’d be having a full-blown Crohn’s flare up, rather than just little bothersome manifestations.  Who knows?  So I’ve decided that in one more month’s time (which will make for 12 complete weeks of eating a strict vegan diet) I will go to my doctor and have my blood drawn and tests run on my blood to measure my Crohn’s Disease activity.   This should give me a good indication as to how my newly acquired diet has affected my health, if at all.  After that, I will continue keeping a plant-based lifestyle at home, but will allow myself a meal out at a restaurant once a week with my husband (or a night of take out!)    This will still involve me eating healthy for 96% of the time (figuring that I’ll eat 21 meals in any given week).  Plus, it will help me tame the cravings and let me enjoy much-needed alone time with my man.   It will also reinforce my middle ground resolution.  (See my last post for more on that).    So, there you have it.  Nothing fancy, just a quick update to all of my loyal readers – especially to you, Nate.