Never say never

This morning I happened to see a website linked on a friend's FB page.  http://www.whole9.com/ At first I was really into it because the program has incredible testamonies on the improvement of health, cures of diseases, etc.  Then I began reading about the program.  No dairy.  No grains including whole wheat.  No sugar.  Nothing to drink besides water.  No processed foods.  No soy.  Many people have lost weight, become healthier and feel like a different person on the program.  That leaves meats, fruits, vegetables. 

Ok great, but how do you sustain that type of eating?...the thing is, a person could probably do it for a month, even two, maybe three, but it's not sustainable as a lifestyle for most of us.  At the end of the month we would most likely go back to our normal eating routine and then what do you have?  The weight back, the disease back and less energy.  Now don't get me wrong.  There are people out there who can do this in a sustainable way that would last a lifetime. The whole9 program says you can't slip up at all or ever allow yourself to have something not on their specified list because it upsets the "reset" of your body.  That's just unreasonable to live with.  I know that everything you put in your mouth is a choice.  However, food is such an intrigal part of our lives.  It is fuel but for many of us it is more than that.  It's memories. 

Never eating one of my grandma's famous sour cream cookies again?  Yeah it might be great for my body, but for my whole being...not so much. It's not just the taste, or the sugar high, but the memory of her teaching me to mix them, use my hands to slather the butter, sprinkle them just so and bake them according to her mother's recipe.  Each time I take a bite of one of her cookies I'm reminded of my love for her with those warm irreplacable memories. 

I think whenever you say, I'm never going to have a sip of milk or sweets again or I will never eat spaghetti again you are simply setting yourself up for failure.  Right now, I'm taking out as much sugar, preservatives, in  processed food as I can for the next month to see if it will decrease my migraines as the research says, and if it works then I will keep as much sugar, white flour and preservatives out of my mouth as I can. However, that doesn't mean I'm giving up these things for the remainder of my life. For example, I plan to have a piece of cake for my birthday and a grandma cookie or two at Christmas time.  It's okay.  It's the eating sugar every day-day in and day out that is the issue.  Thoughts?