Y Talk: The Purge by Michelle Bell

Can I just say that getting older is annoying sometimes? Don’t get me wrong, I love having more wisdom than I did in my 20s. And being comfortable in my own skin and not really caring about what others think or say about me has lifted a huge weight that my younger self used to carry.

But that’s not the stuff I’m talking about today. What I’m referring to are the physical changes that crop up the longer we are on this earth.

For instance, why can’t I ride roller coasters anymore? I used to love them! I was one of those kids running from the exit back to the entrance over and over again. I travelled with my brother and several of our friends to every large amusement park that we reasonably could drive to in a day – King’s Dominion, Busch Gardens, Six Flags and of course Hersheypark. But two summers ago after making a few stops on the way home after riding SkyRush with my oldest at Hersheypark, I realized something I used to love had been stolen right out from under me.

There is a running joke with anyone who knows my dad’s family that we are not capable of getting together unless food is involved. Oberholzers just love to eat! For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed eating a wide variety of foods. But recently I have noticed some rumblings in my stomach when I eat things I have eaten my entire life. It makes no sense to me. If I used to eat it with no problems, why can’t I now?

GETTING PURIFIED

I had been toying with the idea of doing a cleanse of some sort to figure out what foods were triggering my stomach issues when a friend of mine mentioned that she was getting ready to start a 21-day purification program. I thought “purification” sounded way cooler than “cleanse” so I asked for more details about the program. I checked it out and decided I was going to take the plunge – and I convinced Aquatics Director Tara Young to do it too.

For the first 10 days of the program, we were limited to mainly vegetables and fruits, with a few other things mixed in – lentils, quinoa and seeds. We eliminated all processed foods, meats, grains, dairy, nuts, shellfish, eggs and caffeine/alcohol.

I am not going to lie. The first few days were absolute torture. On more than one occasion I texted Tara when I couldn’t focus on anything because all I could think about was food that I couldn’t eat. But after a few days, my body (and mind) started to adjust. I figured out pretty quickly that it was best not to leave home without some fruits, veggies and seeds just in case I got stuck somewhere with nothing I could eat.

One of the most difficult things during the first 10 days was making food for my family and not being able to eat it. I started looking for things that I could eat and that I thought they would like too. I thought I was doing a pretty good job until one day when my daughter commented that she felt like she was doing a “purge” just because I was. The rest of the family got a kick out of her word choice and ever since they all refer to the purification program as “the purge.”

REINTRODUCING FOODS

On day 11 we were allowed to add meat to our diet. We were supposed to stick to fish, chicken and lean red meats. I called Tara the moment I finished my first salad with chicken on it because it was one of the best things I had ever tasted!

I was happy to have no problems after reintroducing chicken and fish. It was time to move on to red meat. I picked up some lean New York strip steaks and drooled the whole way home thinking about how awesome it was going to taste. My grill master husband did his magic and I enjoyed every last bite of that juicy steak. It was magnificent…for a few hours.

Unfortunately my stomach was not as fond of the steak as my taste buds had been. I waited a day and then tried a hamburger made with 93/7 ground beef. Again, it tasted like a little slice of heaven, but my gut told me otherwise.

So I stayed away from beef for the next 11 days (and ever since) and had no issues. The first week following the 21 days I added dairy and thankfully didn’t have any issues. I was debating whether to add grains or eggs next. Then I realized that the first day I was to add something new was the Chipotle fundraiser for PET Carlisle Inc. It was a no-brainer to add grains so I could enjoy a burrito bowl and support a great cause. Again, thankfully, I had no issues.

But later in the week when I tried some pasta, it didn’t sit quite right. It wasn’t nearly as bad of a reaction as I had had with beef, but I was uncomfortable. I decided to skip pasta for now and I’ll give it a try again later. This week I added eggs and so far so good.

Next week I will add nuts and the following week will be shellfish. I am hoping not to have any issues with either because I love eating both of those things.

BENEFITS SO FAR

One of the most noticeable physical benefits of the purification program has been weight loss. While this wasn’t the main reason I embarked on this adventure, it was a really great side effect.

But I think an even more important benefit has been an awakening of my taste buds. I now religiously read nutrition labels before I buy anything. Removing processed foods loaded with sugar and other unnecessary additives has made me very sensitive to what I’m eating. The flavors from raw, unprocessed food are amazing! And doing this in summer with so much fresh produce at our fingertips was definitely a wise choice.

I have no plan to completely eliminate sugar from my diet, but I do see the benefits of limiting it. So instead of eating two of my husband’s birthday donuts yesterday like I would have done pre-purge, I had half a donut. So another important benefit of the program for me has been learning some limits.

Even if something tastes good for a moment, it’s just not worth feeling horrible for hours afterward. This is where the wisdom part comes into play I guess. My 20s self probably would have been too stubborn to make that distinction.

-by Michelle Bell, Marketing Director​