Can you see the lightbulb that just went off above my head?

I have been avoiding blogging for a few days, first because of the insane headaches I wrote about earlier that have been plauging me and then because I have been researching and working on a new plan for myself. I have basically stayed the same weight since Christmas even though I am eating my WW point target and working out regularly. I will lose a couple and then one high sodium meal out (even with healthy options) will cause me to instantly gain a couple pounds that take a week to get rid of. For the first year of this weight loss roller coaster I did not have this problem at all. I still have 50 pounds to lose, I should not be plateauing, it should not be this hard!

In trying to come up with a reason for my sudden PMS symptoms (including the crippling headache) I have been reading up on how hormones affect metabolism and how chemicals in the food we eat can affect our hormones. For the past year I have been filling my body with all kinds of fat free, sugar free, non-foods that have helped me transition from my old eating habits slowly without feeling deprived. But, I honestly feel like I am filling my body with processed chemicals that are making me sick and stalling my weightloss. I drink 2 litres of Crystal Light every day, I eat fat-free mayo, baked potato chips, fat-free pudding, sugar free frozen yogurt. I have looked at every nutritional information label for everything that has gone in my mouth for the past year - counting the calories, fat and fibre and figuring out the points. I never look at the ingredients though. There is some scary stuff in these foods.

These foods have definitely helped me get as far as I am and I don't think I could have lost 60 pounds without them but now I am going to start on 'Phase 2' of this journey. I don't just want to be thin, I want to be healthy. I am going to cut out as much processed food as possible and whenever possible eat organic meat and keep my pesticide consumption to a minimum. I live in a part of the country where organic meat and veggies are easily available to me - I feed my precious doggie organic dog food, don't I deserve as much? I have planted a beautiful veggie garden and will soon have wonderful produce growing right in my own backyard.

I am going to continue with weight watchers, the meetings are a great motivator and keep my momentum up. I am not going to count points for the next two weeks though. I am going to follow the plan outlined in the book 'Master Your Metabolism' (written by Jillian Michaels). Weight Watchers has taught me so much about portion control that I think I will be able to utilize my eat until satisfied skills.

So, I am committing to two weeks of clean eating. I am hoping to regain some of the lost energy of the past few months, clear my throbbing head, and hopefully see some permanent movement on the scales.