Well I’m not going to lie to you, I’m not going to be sad to see this self enforced eating plan go except for one thing– I look great. I look younger, my marianette lines are less deep. My upper eye lids are less heavy looking.

My husband told me that when I first woke up this morning I looked like I’d been up for an hour. Damn I didn’t think he noticed the slight puffiness I’ve come to experience in the am this year. There’s no where to hide is there?

And I feel great. I’m not hungry except at meal or snack time and the caffeine withdrawal headaches haven’t been too bad as long as I have a cup of green tea.

Let’s get real here though, I miss the food groups I’ve given up–salt, sugar, dairy, a grain that isn’t oatmeal, and wine. And I expect I’ll have a Starbucks right after the show is over. But I won’t make these old friends such major players in my eating program going forward.

 I don’t need all the salt I use, food tastes pretty good with less and I’d forgotten. And salad with lemon juice–fresh only please–and extra virgin olive oil is delicious and satisfying so I’ll skip the bottled dressings. They are by the way full of sugar and that’s the next thing on the list to have less of.  Sugar is an super-ager, making all of us older not just our skin. But it’s everywhere and it takes some work to change the eating habits we fall into. 

This has been a great experience and I’m sure that tomorrow’s TV interview will be fun. With the small exception of the split screen of the before and after photos. Yes that’s right, my face,  up close and as personal as it gets will be on the show’s Jumbo screen TV for all to see.

But hey, I always say I’ll be the guinea pig if it’s recommended and it’s something that can help us feel and look better at midlife. So bring it on, this is midlife with a vengeance and meeting Dr. Perricone, being reminded of his anti-inflammation way of eating, and sharing it all with my readers, feels like a good life to me.

PS–I will not be eating salmon tomorrow at all!