Nine months ago I started on a journey to clean up my diet. Three months ago my journey was derailed...or rather, I jumped on the wrong track.
We were in Reno for a bowling tournament/vacation and we decided we would treat ourselves. Eat whatever we wanted for just a week. Then a week turned into a month, then three months. And all the while I had excuse after excuse after excuse. "It's hard to eat clean when you're eating out all three meals". "One week of potatoes and rice and cheese won't hurt". "The good foods are too expensive." I could go on and on. But in the end, when I really looked back, not one excuse was a true VALID excuse.
Sure, it is hard to eat "clean" when you're not preparing the foods. But that didn't mean I had to order french fries and mashed potatoes. I could have substituted a salad where at least I had a little more control and nutritional value. I could have bypassed the danishes and the buffet and loaded up on fresh fruit.
Sure an occasional potato or serving of cheese won't hurt. Problem is, I can't stop at the occasional serving. Food is like my cigarette or beer. I love to eat! And I love to eat good food! And I can't always filter my brain when one side says "choose this healthy option" and the other side says "no you really want that unhealthy option". It's like the devil and the angel sitting on each shoulder and the devil drowns out the angel.
However, the last few days I have reached a point where eating ANYTHING gives me a stomach ache. I know I have to start ignoring the devil and listening to the angel. And so I'm developing my plan.
1st - I must start blogging regularly again. Maybe no one will read it, but it will help hold me accountable to put the thoughts out there in the cyber world knowing someone might read them.
2nd - I'm going to start journaling - whatever is on my mind, diet related or not. I'm hoping this will help me drill down as to what causes me to make the poor decisions. What moods or events affect my choices? How am I feeling physically, emotionally and spiritually by the end of the day?
3rd - Get back on track with exercise. Yoga is so restorative to me even if it does make me sweat. And just stretching and working my muscles make me feel good - and help with my chronic low back pain.
The hardest thing of this plan is going to be getting over the excuses and disciplining myself. But this stomachache has got to stop so no time like the present!
Friday, September 13, 2013
Friday, May 31, 2013
Diets, Diets Everywhere!
There are a plethora of diet plans out there. I think you could spend 1 month on each diet plan and "diet" for a lifetime...never settling on just one. So how do you know what's right?
The more I research the more I decide there is no right or wrong for everyone. It's what YOU can stick to and what makes YOU feel good. For some that's the ready made meals a plan like Jenny Craig offers. For others is the calorie counting and measuring of a plan like Weight Watchers. For others it's no carbs. You get the idea. What concerns me is many of these plans encourage low fat, no fat, sugar free foods. These are exactly the kinds of foods that contain MORE artificial ingredients. Especially sugar free foods. I am convinced there is nothing healthy about sugar substitutes. They are chemically created (except things like Truvia), have no nutritional value, and our bodies don't know what to do with them.
I am looking for an eating plan that doesn't require measuring and counting and weighing and charting. I'm too lazy to do all of that. I don't like to cook as it is, let alone have the act of making dinner take twice as long while I'm surrounded by measuring cups, kitchen scales and point counter books. I want something that encourages less artificial and more natural. More like "living off the land" as well as we can in society today. Obviously we can't all live on farms and raise our own vegetables and cattle.
I have been reading up on the Paleo diet. It's something my sister and I have been discussing off and on. For those who may not know, it's basically going way back to our roots and eating more like our "hunter-gatherer" ancestors did. Primarily protein, vegetables, some fruits. It's very limiting on grains and dairy - which admittedly, as a carb and cheese lover, that will be difficult for me. But what I like about it is it emphasizes "clean" foods. NO artificial anything. NO low fat anything. NO sugar substitutes. For me that's logical. Our bodies are not wired for processing artificial anything. It's a big reason why food today lacks nutrition. They process the good stuff right out and then try to add it back in. Next time you're at the grocery store, try picking up anything you can get in both organic and non-organic forms. Then compare the labels side by side. I guarantee you will be surprised at how much longer the list of ingredients is on the non-organic label. Scary, right?
I saw a posting on Facebook the other day that demonstrated what a food label would look like if food distributors were required to list all the pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, etc used on crops. An organic strawberry was listed with one ingredient. Strawberry. A strawberry from a non-organic farm must have had 20 chemicals it was exposed to before it was picked and sent off to your grocery store.
Why are human beings getting sicker every year? I can't help but think it's partially due to the chemicals in our foods. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think it's working for me.
The more I research the more I decide there is no right or wrong for everyone. It's what YOU can stick to and what makes YOU feel good. For some that's the ready made meals a plan like Jenny Craig offers. For others is the calorie counting and measuring of a plan like Weight Watchers. For others it's no carbs. You get the idea. What concerns me is many of these plans encourage low fat, no fat, sugar free foods. These are exactly the kinds of foods that contain MORE artificial ingredients. Especially sugar free foods. I am convinced there is nothing healthy about sugar substitutes. They are chemically created (except things like Truvia), have no nutritional value, and our bodies don't know what to do with them.
I am looking for an eating plan that doesn't require measuring and counting and weighing and charting. I'm too lazy to do all of that. I don't like to cook as it is, let alone have the act of making dinner take twice as long while I'm surrounded by measuring cups, kitchen scales and point counter books. I want something that encourages less artificial and more natural. More like "living off the land" as well as we can in society today. Obviously we can't all live on farms and raise our own vegetables and cattle.
I have been reading up on the Paleo diet. It's something my sister and I have been discussing off and on. For those who may not know, it's basically going way back to our roots and eating more like our "hunter-gatherer" ancestors did. Primarily protein, vegetables, some fruits. It's very limiting on grains and dairy - which admittedly, as a carb and cheese lover, that will be difficult for me. But what I like about it is it emphasizes "clean" foods. NO artificial anything. NO low fat anything. NO sugar substitutes. For me that's logical. Our bodies are not wired for processing artificial anything. It's a big reason why food today lacks nutrition. They process the good stuff right out and then try to add it back in. Next time you're at the grocery store, try picking up anything you can get in both organic and non-organic forms. Then compare the labels side by side. I guarantee you will be surprised at how much longer the list of ingredients is on the non-organic label. Scary, right?
I saw a posting on Facebook the other day that demonstrated what a food label would look like if food distributors were required to list all the pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, etc used on crops. An organic strawberry was listed with one ingredient. Strawberry. A strawberry from a non-organic farm must have had 20 chemicals it was exposed to before it was picked and sent off to your grocery store.
Why are human beings getting sicker every year? I can't help but think it's partially due to the chemicals in our foods. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think it's working for me.
Monday, May 6, 2013
When You Fall Off the Horse, You've Got to Get Back On
I'm an emotional eater. There's no denying it. I eat when I'm stressed. I eat when I'm depressed. I eat when I'm bored. Food is my comfort.
My other problem is that I hate to cook. And I REALLY hate to cook when it's just for one. My husband had done quite a bit of traveling for a few weeks and that's when I really fell off the wagon. I found myself going for convenient foods (read processed foods) before I even really realized I was doing it.
I had been doing really well for a while with my healthy changes and better choices. Then one thing led to another and life happened. It's not an excuse, or at least not a valid one, but I think it shows how easy it is to slip back into bad habits. I'm still soda free since January 8, so that's one positive. But sweets and carbs and processed foods have crept back into my diet. And I can tell. I'm more lethargic. I have more cravings again. I'm getting headaches more often - which I equate directly to my sugar intake. And naturally a few pounds have crept back on.
I haven't been blogging either, as I'm sure you've noticed. And I think even that helps me stay on track. It keeps me thinking about my choices because I want to share my successes (and failures) in hopes that I will inspire others. So, now I am admitting that we all have our failures. It's what we do with them that counts.
So, I'm getting back on track. Out with the processed and in with the organic, raw and natural. And I've decided something else I'm going to do is journal every night before I go to bed. Even if it has nothing at all to do with food choices. I think writing down how I'm feeling physically and mentally can only help me see how my diet, exercise and lifestyle help or hurt my overall feeling of well-being.
I'm dusting myself off and climbing back on the horse.
My other problem is that I hate to cook. And I REALLY hate to cook when it's just for one. My husband had done quite a bit of traveling for a few weeks and that's when I really fell off the wagon. I found myself going for convenient foods (read processed foods) before I even really realized I was doing it.
I had been doing really well for a while with my healthy changes and better choices. Then one thing led to another and life happened. It's not an excuse, or at least not a valid one, but I think it shows how easy it is to slip back into bad habits. I'm still soda free since January 8, so that's one positive. But sweets and carbs and processed foods have crept back into my diet. And I can tell. I'm more lethargic. I have more cravings again. I'm getting headaches more often - which I equate directly to my sugar intake. And naturally a few pounds have crept back on.
I haven't been blogging either, as I'm sure you've noticed. And I think even that helps me stay on track. It keeps me thinking about my choices because I want to share my successes (and failures) in hopes that I will inspire others. So, now I am admitting that we all have our failures. It's what we do with them that counts.
So, I'm getting back on track. Out with the processed and in with the organic, raw and natural. And I've decided something else I'm going to do is journal every night before I go to bed. Even if it has nothing at all to do with food choices. I think writing down how I'm feeling physically and mentally can only help me see how my diet, exercise and lifestyle help or hurt my overall feeling of well-being.
I'm dusting myself off and climbing back on the horse.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Suero Viv Cleanse - take 2
So my husband was so impressed with my results after my cleanse in January he decided he wanted to try it as well. I told him I would do it with him for moral support - because I know it's hard enough without people eating around you. So here we go....Day 1.
It wasn't my original intention to do a cleanse again so soon. However, I had been slipping in my habits, a few pounds had crept back on and I noticed I was starting to feel more lethargic. So I figure now is as good a time as any to nip those bad habits before I completely slip back into them forever. I'm hoping this cleanse will be a little easier for me than the first one.
We spent the last two days at Walt Disney World and really didn't take a lot of care about what we ate. I did notice, however, that sweets are far more sweeter than they used to be. Before my first cleanse, I could have eaten a chocolate covered rice krispie treat and not thought twice about it. This time, I could only eat a couple of bites and it was SO sweet! I hadn't let myself get back to eating sweets and I have still been free of soda since my first cleanse so obviously my body is not craving the sugar like it used to. A very good thing. That alone should make this cleanse easier!
So, here's to three days of nothing but Suero Viv beverages and water. Seems a bit like deja vu....
It wasn't my original intention to do a cleanse again so soon. However, I had been slipping in my habits, a few pounds had crept back on and I noticed I was starting to feel more lethargic. So I figure now is as good a time as any to nip those bad habits before I completely slip back into them forever. I'm hoping this cleanse will be a little easier for me than the first one.
We spent the last two days at Walt Disney World and really didn't take a lot of care about what we ate. I did notice, however, that sweets are far more sweeter than they used to be. Before my first cleanse, I could have eaten a chocolate covered rice krispie treat and not thought twice about it. This time, I could only eat a couple of bites and it was SO sweet! I hadn't let myself get back to eating sweets and I have still been free of soda since my first cleanse so obviously my body is not craving the sugar like it used to. A very good thing. That alone should make this cleanse easier!
So, here's to three days of nothing but Suero Viv beverages and water. Seems a bit like deja vu....
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Heading toward the left
I read an interesting article yesterday about how to cut processed foods from our diets. The first tip discussed how quitting cold turkey may not be the easiest for everyone. That's me for sure. I've done well heading in that direction but processed foods still make it into my diet. For example, I have not yet been able to give up my Bailey's coffee creamer. I just LOVE it! But, I did purchase a bottle of the Coffeemate Natural vanilla. So once I open it we'll see if I find it to be just as good. The list of ingredients is definitely shorter!
But I digress. Back to the article. One thing it said for helping to move in the direction of cutting processed foods is to look at your foods and decide which ones are "real", "almost real", "barely real" and "not real". More specifically, they used orange juice as an example: freshly squeezed being "real", juice not made from concentrate "almost real", juice made from concentrate as "barely real" and orange flavored drinks and sodas as "not real". Then, when you are shopping, try taking one step to the "left" in your decisions to head toward better foods and away from processed foods.
So I'm going to start using that tip in my menu planning and shopping. Maybe I can find myself heading to the left and improving my diet even more!
There were 4 tips in the article, but I really liked this first one. If you'd like to read the entire article, here is the link: http://www.naturalnews.com/039249_processed_foods_diet_tips.html
But I digress. Back to the article. One thing it said for helping to move in the direction of cutting processed foods is to look at your foods and decide which ones are "real", "almost real", "barely real" and "not real". More specifically, they used orange juice as an example: freshly squeezed being "real", juice not made from concentrate "almost real", juice made from concentrate as "barely real" and orange flavored drinks and sodas as "not real". Then, when you are shopping, try taking one step to the "left" in your decisions to head toward better foods and away from processed foods.
So I'm going to start using that tip in my menu planning and shopping. Maybe I can find myself heading to the left and improving my diet even more!
There were 4 tips in the article, but I really liked this first one. If you'd like to read the entire article, here is the link: http://www.naturalnews.com/039249_processed_foods_diet_tips.html
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Cleaning up all aspects of my life
About a month ago, after hearing about my goal to clean up my diet, my sister asked me if I had ever heard of Melaleuca. This is a company that for 25 years has been selling green cleaning products, cleaner skin and hair care and nutritional supplements. They sell direct to consumers (not in stores) so I imagined why I hadn't heard of it. They had been trying the Melaleuca products to rid their house of the harsh chemicals in cleaning products. Apparently my brother-in-law didn't like that he felt like he had to take his kids outside to avoid fumes just because he had cleaned the stove.
My husband and I heard their pitch and were intrigued so we signed up. We too want to rid our house of nasty chemicals which can only be bad for us. Now I don't mean this to sound like a commercial for Melaleuca (although we have been very happy with their products and would love to help anyone else become a preferred customer of Melaleuca)... I bring this up because one of the leaders above us in Melaleuca sent us a book called The Melaleuca Wellness Guide. I just started reading the book this week. What I'm reading is astounding.
I had long suspected that the environment was a huge contributor to increasing health problems. When I first found out 17 years ago that I suffered from a condition which made it difficult if not impossible to have children, I had never heard of this disorder. Now I'm shocked at how frequently I hear it mentioned. In this book I am reading that conditions such as Alzheimers, Multiple Sclerosis, miscarriages, infertility, asthma and ADD increase each year. The frequency with which people are diagnosed with cancer is astounding. At this rate of growth, it seems every person in the world could eventually be diagnosed with some form of cancer. Studies have been published of children ending up critically ill or even died from exposure to the chemicals in regular household cleaners. Clearly this is something that needs attention.
I have been using organic hair products for years - and my hair has never been healthier. We have tried adding more and more organic foods into our diet, as financially feasible and we are feeling better. Now we are adding green cleaning products to our household. I can clean the shower without my eyes burning. I can eat off my dishes without wondering what chemical residue is left behind from our dishwashing soap. I'm feeling very positive about the changes we are making and we still have a long way to go. But hey - baby steps, right?
Oh, and I'm down another pound...1 more and I will have lost 20 pounds since January 8th!
My husband and I heard their pitch and were intrigued so we signed up. We too want to rid our house of nasty chemicals which can only be bad for us. Now I don't mean this to sound like a commercial for Melaleuca (although we have been very happy with their products and would love to help anyone else become a preferred customer of Melaleuca)... I bring this up because one of the leaders above us in Melaleuca sent us a book called The Melaleuca Wellness Guide. I just started reading the book this week. What I'm reading is astounding.
I had long suspected that the environment was a huge contributor to increasing health problems. When I first found out 17 years ago that I suffered from a condition which made it difficult if not impossible to have children, I had never heard of this disorder. Now I'm shocked at how frequently I hear it mentioned. In this book I am reading that conditions such as Alzheimers, Multiple Sclerosis, miscarriages, infertility, asthma and ADD increase each year. The frequency with which people are diagnosed with cancer is astounding. At this rate of growth, it seems every person in the world could eventually be diagnosed with some form of cancer. Studies have been published of children ending up critically ill or even died from exposure to the chemicals in regular household cleaners. Clearly this is something that needs attention.
I have been using organic hair products for years - and my hair has never been healthier. We have tried adding more and more organic foods into our diet, as financially feasible and we are feeling better. Now we are adding green cleaning products to our household. I can clean the shower without my eyes burning. I can eat off my dishes without wondering what chemical residue is left behind from our dishwashing soap. I'm feeling very positive about the changes we are making and we still have a long way to go. But hey - baby steps, right?
Oh, and I'm down another pound...1 more and I will have lost 20 pounds since January 8th!
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
A word about Kefir
Several of you have heard me talk about my new favorite beverage, Kefir. Kefir is a cousin of yogurt and comes in the form of smoothie drinks. It is packed full of probiotics and tastes exactly like a yogurt smoothie! In fact we've even added fresh fruit to it and run it through the blender as our evening treat. It is so good and so good for you!
I was introduced to Kefir when I read "Live Beyond Organic" by Jordan Rubin. After suffering from severe weight loss and health issues that no Doctors could identify, he moved to California to work with a nutritionist. This nutritionist introduced him to a whole new diet of eating raw and organic, including raw unpasteurized milk and cultured dairy such as kefir. Products such as these are very helpful for the digestive tract and your immune system.
Since adding kefir to our diets, along with eating better quality foods and greatly reducing our sugar intake, my husband and I have felt so much better. For me, gone are the days of my stomach not feeling quite right, hurting or even nauseous. I feel like I'm processing my foods so much better. I have more energy. And the kefir helps me feel satisfied I'm getting a "dessert". Even though I don't miss the sugar of my favorite ice cream treat, mentally I still feel like I need that dessert at night. So instead we have a glass of Kefir, or run it through the blender with some fresh fruit for a great smoothie. I have definitely become a huge fan of Kefir and probiotics in general!
I was introduced to Kefir when I read "Live Beyond Organic" by Jordan Rubin. After suffering from severe weight loss and health issues that no Doctors could identify, he moved to California to work with a nutritionist. This nutritionist introduced him to a whole new diet of eating raw and organic, including raw unpasteurized milk and cultured dairy such as kefir. Products such as these are very helpful for the digestive tract and your immune system.
Since adding kefir to our diets, along with eating better quality foods and greatly reducing our sugar intake, my husband and I have felt so much better. For me, gone are the days of my stomach not feeling quite right, hurting or even nauseous. I feel like I'm processing my foods so much better. I have more energy. And the kefir helps me feel satisfied I'm getting a "dessert". Even though I don't miss the sugar of my favorite ice cream treat, mentally I still feel like I need that dessert at night. So instead we have a glass of Kefir, or run it through the blender with some fresh fruit for a great smoothie. I have definitely become a huge fan of Kefir and probiotics in general!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Epiphanies and "No Duh" Moments
First the good news...I returned from Colorado having gained back 6 pounds of the 16 I had originally lost. I'm happy to report this past week I lost those 6 pounds plus an extra for good measure. So, since my 3 day cleanse Jan 8-10, I have lost 17 pounds.
I am continually amazed at overall, how little I crave the things I used to love. I definitely have my days when the sugar demon rears its head, but I have found if I chew a piece of sugarless gum, or have a cup of coffee with cream I can avoid the temptation to run for the nearest bag of chocolate or pray for Dairy Queen to appear at my door.
I did have an epiphany earlier this week...or maybe it was just a "no duh" moment. But I realized that since I started eating better I'm not snacking as much during the day. So obviously the better quality food I'm giving my body is helping me to not need the extra calories in the afternoon. Don't get me wrong, I still occasionally want to reach for that bag of chips or the piece of chocolate. But not nearly as often.
Last night my epiphany was that fresh organic pineapple makes just as good of a dessert as ice cream. I used to eat ice cream almost every evening. It's one of the things I thought I would crave the worst, next to soda. But if it isn't in the freezer you can't eat it. So last night I told my husband we needed to eat the pineapple we bought on Saturday before it got too ripe. It was SO good! A perfect dessert! Who knew?
So I encourage you to rid your house of your favorite snack food or dessert and replace it with a fresh fruit, veggie or nut. You might be surprised to find you are equally satisfied with the new food and will even need less of it since your body can put it to better use than those refined sugars and processed foods!
I am continually amazed at overall, how little I crave the things I used to love. I definitely have my days when the sugar demon rears its head, but I have found if I chew a piece of sugarless gum, or have a cup of coffee with cream I can avoid the temptation to run for the nearest bag of chocolate or pray for Dairy Queen to appear at my door.
I did have an epiphany earlier this week...or maybe it was just a "no duh" moment. But I realized that since I started eating better I'm not snacking as much during the day. So obviously the better quality food I'm giving my body is helping me to not need the extra calories in the afternoon. Don't get me wrong, I still occasionally want to reach for that bag of chips or the piece of chocolate. But not nearly as often.
Last night my epiphany was that fresh organic pineapple makes just as good of a dessert as ice cream. I used to eat ice cream almost every evening. It's one of the things I thought I would crave the worst, next to soda. But if it isn't in the freezer you can't eat it. So last night I told my husband we needed to eat the pineapple we bought on Saturday before it got too ripe. It was SO good! A perfect dessert! Who knew?
So I encourage you to rid your house of your favorite snack food or dessert and replace it with a fresh fruit, veggie or nut. You might be surprised to find you are equally satisfied with the new food and will even need less of it since your body can put it to better use than those refined sugars and processed foods!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
If that wolf's name is sugar, then I am very afraid!
Today has been my worst day for sugar craving. I would really like to drink a Dr. Pepper or eat a nice hot fudge sundae. And I'm not really sure why today is worse than other days have been.
Now I know I've said from the beginning I'm not going to deprive myself, just try to make better choices. But I'm scared to say it's ok for me to have that soda or ice cream. I'm afraid once I start I won't be able to stop.
I did have cake and ice cream and frozen yogurt while I was on vacation. And I was satisfied and didn't crave it every day. But today I'm afraid. I keep trying to distract myself with water (ha - not even a little bit convincing). Soon I'll try some fruit. I'm only 3 1/2 weeks in to my new lifestyle and we already know I cheated while I was on vacation. I just don't want to get myself back on that bad road.
But, nobody said it was easy! Tomorrow I'm going for bananas. We just got a new kitchen toy - Yonanas - which turns frozen ripe bananas into a frozen treat exactly like soft serve. One of my husband's employees says it works. But alas we are sans bananas right now. So if I can get through the night, perhaps I can satisfy my craving in a healthy way tomorrow.
Onward and upward!
Today has been my worst day for sugar craving. I would really like to drink a Dr. Pepper or eat a nice hot fudge sundae. And I'm not really sure why today is worse than other days have been.
Now I know I've said from the beginning I'm not going to deprive myself, just try to make better choices. But I'm scared to say it's ok for me to have that soda or ice cream. I'm afraid once I start I won't be able to stop.
I did have cake and ice cream and frozen yogurt while I was on vacation. And I was satisfied and didn't crave it every day. But today I'm afraid. I keep trying to distract myself with water (ha - not even a little bit convincing). Soon I'll try some fruit. I'm only 3 1/2 weeks in to my new lifestyle and we already know I cheated while I was on vacation. I just don't want to get myself back on that bad road.
But, nobody said it was easy! Tomorrow I'm going for bananas. We just got a new kitchen toy - Yonanas - which turns frozen ripe bananas into a frozen treat exactly like soft serve. One of my husband's employees says it works. But alas we are sans bananas right now. So if I can get through the night, perhaps I can satisfy my craving in a healthy way tomorrow.
Onward and upward!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Vacations are evil for healthy eating
My husband and I just returned from a 10 day trip to Colorado visiting friends and family. I went with every intention of sticking to my "better choices" lifestyle. It was a lot more difficult than I expected.
It's hard to make better choices when other people are cooking for you. And obviously even harder when eating out. Despite my good intentions every time I picked up a menu, I found myself ordering what I really loved instead of what I knew was good for me. But I didn't beat myself up. I was having a great time visiting my friends and family and that was more important. I did eat cake and ice cream at my niece's birthday party, frozen yogurt with friends and one ice cream treat the night before we came home.
The difference this time than before my cleanse was that I could FEEL that I wasn't eating correctly. I started to get that "blah" feeling I had before Christmas and noticed that after sugary desserts I felt more bloated.
So that has made it easier to get back on track now that we're home. I did gain back 6 of the 16 pounds I had lost since the cleanse, but I think since I know I will feel better now that I'm back in control of my own food, those pounds will hopefully come back off. I'm back to lots of veggies, fruits with breakfast, organic milk and kefir and no desserts to tempt me. I have not had soda since before the cleanse and other than occasionally thinking it sounds good, I'm not really missing it. And the package of Dove chocolates that was in my Christmas stocking has stayed in the freezer untouched since my cleanse. Little victories.
Now my big challenge is to get back to some exercise. I know I feel so much better when I'm doing yoga with some regularity and my back doesn't bother me as much. I think I'm also going to try my ballet workouts again as long as my bad achilles will allow. It's a whole other dimension of my journey to add the exercise in since I am not allowed to run or jump or do anything that irritates my achilles - unless of course I want to end up having surgery on it. But I'm hoping the ballet will help gently stretch and strengthen it again.
Stay tuned....
It's hard to make better choices when other people are cooking for you. And obviously even harder when eating out. Despite my good intentions every time I picked up a menu, I found myself ordering what I really loved instead of what I knew was good for me. But I didn't beat myself up. I was having a great time visiting my friends and family and that was more important. I did eat cake and ice cream at my niece's birthday party, frozen yogurt with friends and one ice cream treat the night before we came home.
The difference this time than before my cleanse was that I could FEEL that I wasn't eating correctly. I started to get that "blah" feeling I had before Christmas and noticed that after sugary desserts I felt more bloated.
So that has made it easier to get back on track now that we're home. I did gain back 6 of the 16 pounds I had lost since the cleanse, but I think since I know I will feel better now that I'm back in control of my own food, those pounds will hopefully come back off. I'm back to lots of veggies, fruits with breakfast, organic milk and kefir and no desserts to tempt me. I have not had soda since before the cleanse and other than occasionally thinking it sounds good, I'm not really missing it. And the package of Dove chocolates that was in my Christmas stocking has stayed in the freezer untouched since my cleanse. Little victories.
Now my big challenge is to get back to some exercise. I know I feel so much better when I'm doing yoga with some regularity and my back doesn't bother me as much. I think I'm also going to try my ballet workouts again as long as my bad achilles will allow. It's a whole other dimension of my journey to add the exercise in since I am not allowed to run or jump or do anything that irritates my achilles - unless of course I want to end up having surgery on it. But I'm hoping the ballet will help gently stretch and strengthen it again.
Stay tuned....
Monday, January 14, 2013
Drum roll please.....
It has been exactly 1 week since I started down the path to a healthier me. Since I started my 3 day cleanse last Monday, I have lost 16 lbs!! I feel awesome! The cleanse was hard, coming off the cleanse was hard...but the last couple of days have been great. I have had no soda in 8 days, and no chocolate in 8 days for that matter. Both huge victories for me! I am still struggling to get enough water. I just don't seem to drink unless I feel thirsty and the next thing I know, the day is over and I've only had like 32 oz of water all day when I really want to be drinking closer to 100 oz a day.
We have explored a couple of new things...mainly raw milk cheese and cultured kefir. Both things that were recommended by Jordan Rubin (the originator of Beyond Organic) in his book I read. We were pleased with both! Raw milk cheddar has such a different flavor than pasteurized cheddar. It's very mild at first and then has a huge flavor kick. So good! We can't wait to try some other kinds of cheese. The kefir probiotic smoothie we bought tastes just like a yogurt smoothie. But it's filled with all the good probiotics we all need.
We don't have a Whole Foods near us, unfortunately, but decided to visit the one in Tampa when we were down there on Saturday. Wild caught salmon, grass-fed bison....YUM! We even tried a blueberry pie (since we were having dinner guests Saturday night) made with unbleached, unbromated wheat flour and organic cane sugar juice instead of refined white sugar. So good! I think you could even taste the blueberries better than if we had bought a regular pie from our regular grocery store.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm finding eating the raw, more natural foods not filled with preservatives and additives actually tastes so much better! And to be able to eat wild caught fish and grass fed bison instead of meats with added color, hormones and antibiotics was a treat. More expensive yes, but in the grand scheme so worth it!
So I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and try something new! If you have a Whole Foods or Sprouts or other natural grocer near you, ask for a sample of a raw milk cheese. Or treat yourself to some grass fed bison or beef. I promise you it will be worth it!
We have explored a couple of new things...mainly raw milk cheese and cultured kefir. Both things that were recommended by Jordan Rubin (the originator of Beyond Organic) in his book I read. We were pleased with both! Raw milk cheddar has such a different flavor than pasteurized cheddar. It's very mild at first and then has a huge flavor kick. So good! We can't wait to try some other kinds of cheese. The kefir probiotic smoothie we bought tastes just like a yogurt smoothie. But it's filled with all the good probiotics we all need.
We don't have a Whole Foods near us, unfortunately, but decided to visit the one in Tampa when we were down there on Saturday. Wild caught salmon, grass-fed bison....YUM! We even tried a blueberry pie (since we were having dinner guests Saturday night) made with unbleached, unbromated wheat flour and organic cane sugar juice instead of refined white sugar. So good! I think you could even taste the blueberries better than if we had bought a regular pie from our regular grocery store.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm finding eating the raw, more natural foods not filled with preservatives and additives actually tastes so much better! And to be able to eat wild caught fish and grass fed bison instead of meats with added color, hormones and antibiotics was a treat. More expensive yes, but in the grand scheme so worth it!
So I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and try something new! If you have a Whole Foods or Sprouts or other natural grocer near you, ask for a sample of a raw milk cheese. Or treat yourself to some grass fed bison or beef. I promise you it will be worth it!
Friday, January 11, 2013
Tonight's temptation brought to you by Miller Lite
I've been pretty please with myself this week. I came off the cleanse yesterday eating eggs, soup, organic applesauce and did pretty well. Some digestive issues but I'll spare the details.
Today again, eggs for breakfast, some avocado, some pineapple and grated cheese.
Then it was time to go bowling. I think as someone trying to eat healthy, I imagine going to the bowling alley is like a former smoker going to a bar. Temptation everywhere. But I was surprised at what I was tempted by tonight.
I had been psyching myself up all day that I wasn't going to be tempted by the burgers and fries or the pizza. And I wasn't. I ordered a chicken sandwich with broccoli instead of fries. Unsweet iced tea. But one look at the pitcher of beer at the next table and I was craving a beer in the worst way! I couldn't believe how good a nice cold beer sounded. But Darin reminded me that beer is empty carb calories..."toxic" for my newly cleansed system. So I pushed through I soon I forgot all about that beer. That beautiful pitcher of cold Miller Lite....hey, I'll take all the small victories I can get!
Today again, eggs for breakfast, some avocado, some pineapple and grated cheese.
Then it was time to go bowling. I think as someone trying to eat healthy, I imagine going to the bowling alley is like a former smoker going to a bar. Temptation everywhere. But I was surprised at what I was tempted by tonight.
I had been psyching myself up all day that I wasn't going to be tempted by the burgers and fries or the pizza. And I wasn't. I ordered a chicken sandwich with broccoli instead of fries. Unsweet iced tea. But one look at the pitcher of beer at the next table and I was craving a beer in the worst way! I couldn't believe how good a nice cold beer sounded. But Darin reminded me that beer is empty carb calories..."toxic" for my newly cleansed system. So I pushed through I soon I forgot all about that beer. That beautiful pitcher of cold Miller Lite....hey, I'll take all the small victories I can get!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Whew! I made it!
I am happy to say I successfully completed my 3 day cleanse! I really never thought I had a lot of willpower but I think I've proven myself wrong. My biggest test of all came last night at bowling while everyone else was eating dinner and I was drinking by Suero Viv. I will say the salad one lady was eating looked much better to me than the burger another lady was eating. But I did it...NO CHEATING! WOO HOO!
I was pleasantly surprised at how much energy I had bowling last night considering I had not had any food in 3 days. I felt really good!
In total I lost 12 lbs over the 3 days. We'll see how that shakes out over the next few days as I add solids back into my diet. But overall I'm very pleased and glad I did the cleanse.
So far today I've tried organic applesauce and eggs. I'm going to push myself to drink lots of water. Maybe later I'll juice some tomatoes or make some carrot/apple juice. But so far so good.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much energy I had bowling last night considering I had not had any food in 3 days. I felt really good!
In total I lost 12 lbs over the 3 days. We'll see how that shakes out over the next few days as I add solids back into my diet. But overall I'm very pleased and glad I did the cleanse.
So far today I've tried organic applesauce and eggs. I'm going to push myself to drink lots of water. Maybe later I'll juice some tomatoes or make some carrot/apple juice. But so far so good.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Cleanse Day 2 is in the books
And I'm happy to say I made it! Day 2 was much harder than Day 1. I was more tired - took a 2 hour nap in the afternoon. I was more hungry at dinner time. I had a dull headache off and on all day. But I'm proud to say I made it!
I think I'm feeling better this morning although I haven't really been very active yet. But no headache and the hunger is tolerable. I feel less bloated which is clearly because so far in total I have lost 10 lbs. I'm still primarily craving proteins but the bigger victory is I am not craving sweets! And I noticed last night my knees didn't ache so much going up the stairs.
My biggest test today will be bowling. I have been fairly inactive for the past 2 days. Today not only am I still not eating, but I need to actually do some work and I have to bowl 3 games tonight. Hopefully I can do it without eating so I can say I did the cleanse 100%.
My friend and hair stylist Stacy who got me onto this plan reminded me that I can't just go back to eating normally tomorrow. I won't have had any solid food in 3 days so I need to ease my body back in. The recommendation is soups and fresh fruit juices. Maybe avocado or steamed veggies that are easy to digest. One girl in the support group says she is going to be having organic applesauce...I wonder if I can find that in our local grocery store...Today the one thing I am craving is the veggie omelette Darin made me for breakfast last weekend. I take that as a good sign because while I do love a good veggie omelette, I usually crave breakfast burritos - with the tortilla and potato and all. Going to have to start having things "naked" or "in a bowl" to cut back on my carbs.
Anyway, all in all despite how difficult it has been, I am glad I did this. I feel better today than I've felt in two months. And I have a positive attitude toward making dietary changes in the upcoming days and weeks. But we'll save the final opinion for tomorrow after I get through my last day of nothing but Suero Viv! Here's to one last day of powering through!
I think I'm feeling better this morning although I haven't really been very active yet. But no headache and the hunger is tolerable. I feel less bloated which is clearly because so far in total I have lost 10 lbs. I'm still primarily craving proteins but the bigger victory is I am not craving sweets! And I noticed last night my knees didn't ache so much going up the stairs.
My biggest test today will be bowling. I have been fairly inactive for the past 2 days. Today not only am I still not eating, but I need to actually do some work and I have to bowl 3 games tonight. Hopefully I can do it without eating so I can say I did the cleanse 100%.
My friend and hair stylist Stacy who got me onto this plan reminded me that I can't just go back to eating normally tomorrow. I won't have had any solid food in 3 days so I need to ease my body back in. The recommendation is soups and fresh fruit juices. Maybe avocado or steamed veggies that are easy to digest. One girl in the support group says she is going to be having organic applesauce...I wonder if I can find that in our local grocery store...Today the one thing I am craving is the veggie omelette Darin made me for breakfast last weekend. I take that as a good sign because while I do love a good veggie omelette, I usually crave breakfast burritos - with the tortilla and potato and all. Going to have to start having things "naked" or "in a bowl" to cut back on my carbs.
Anyway, all in all despite how difficult it has been, I am glad I did this. I feel better today than I've felt in two months. And I have a positive attitude toward making dietary changes in the upcoming days and weeks. But we'll save the final opinion for tomorrow after I get through my last day of nothing but Suero Viv! Here's to one last day of powering through!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Suero Viv Cleanse - Day 1 finished
Well, I did it. I survived the first day of my cleanse. And it wasn't horrible. The worst time was around dinner time - I was so hungry and craving protein and fat. A bowl of tuna with mayo and a hard boiled egg sounded like heaven to me. Instead, while my husband was eating dinner, I shut myself in the bedroom and took a bath. And I managed to make it through the night.
I was surprised I never had a headache...and still don't so far. I'm a bit of a caffeine fiend so I figured for sure I would have a headache from lack of caffeine. Maybe that will come today. I also feel more tired today. But I'm still hoping to power through and do this cleanse right. No food until Thursday!
I know you're not supposed to weigh yourself every day because your weight fluctuates so much but I couldn't help myself. I had weighed myself yesterday morning and had to again today. And I was down 6 lbs! No doubt. Let's just say my kidneys work just fine - about 1,000 times yesterday. No wonder I was down 6 lbs. But that also tells me how much water weight I've been carrying. And just means I need to stick to a healthier eating plan when I do finish this cleanse.
I find one thing that is helping me is to keep reminding myself of my goals. Obviously my big goal is to improve my health. But it's the little things like being able to take my wedding ring off so I can really clean it. Or going to a sporting event or the theater and knowing I can sit in the seat comfortably. Or feeling confident that I won't need a seat belt extender on the airplane. The little things like that are what I keep reciting to myself to get through the day.
So we're off and running on Day 2. I need to stay focused on some projects and my goals and hopefully I can finish this day without cheating. Everyone in the Facebook support group I'm in says you feel like a new person on Day 3. I'm counting on it!
I was surprised I never had a headache...and still don't so far. I'm a bit of a caffeine fiend so I figured for sure I would have a headache from lack of caffeine. Maybe that will come today. I also feel more tired today. But I'm still hoping to power through and do this cleanse right. No food until Thursday!
I know you're not supposed to weigh yourself every day because your weight fluctuates so much but I couldn't help myself. I had weighed myself yesterday morning and had to again today. And I was down 6 lbs! No doubt. Let's just say my kidneys work just fine - about 1,000 times yesterday. No wonder I was down 6 lbs. But that also tells me how much water weight I've been carrying. And just means I need to stick to a healthier eating plan when I do finish this cleanse.
I find one thing that is helping me is to keep reminding myself of my goals. Obviously my big goal is to improve my health. But it's the little things like being able to take my wedding ring off so I can really clean it. Or going to a sporting event or the theater and knowing I can sit in the seat comfortably. Or feeling confident that I won't need a seat belt extender on the airplane. The little things like that are what I keep reciting to myself to get through the day.
So we're off and running on Day 2. I need to stay focused on some projects and my goals and hopefully I can finish this day without cheating. Everyone in the Facebook support group I'm in says you feel like a new person on Day 3. I'm counting on it!
Monday, January 7, 2013
You are what you eat...or mind over matter
They say you are what you eat. Well, then after the past couple of months I must be a sugar covered, butter filled, bread stuffed prime rib with a side of peanut brittle and soda. My diet has been off the rails bad since Thanksgiving. And I can feel it! I'm lethargic, bloated, constantly hungry and just downright blah.
So, that brings me to mind over matter. Today I am embarking on a first for me. A 3-day cleanse. 3 days of nothing but Suero Viv cultured whey beverages and water. No food. And those of you that know me know I love my food. But I'm also tired of feeling gross all the time. And the more I talk to people and read about our food supply, increased overall illness in the population and my own smorgasboard of medications in my closet, the more I've wondered - can I clean out my body, try to eat a cleaner diet and reverse if not eliminate some of my own health problems without going on a fad diet and weighing every single thing I eat?
So I'm going to try. That's my gift to myself for 2013. I'm not going to diet. I'm not going to count calories or starve myself - well except for these first 3 days. I'm simply going to do my best to eliminate the over processed, chemical laden food and just eat cleaner. More fruits and veggies, organic if possible. More grass fed beef if my budget will allow. Less things that come in boxes and have a shelf life of two years. Those things are convenient but they cannot be healthy! And in fact I believe they are a huge contributor to society's overwhelming health issues.
So, join me on my journey if you like. I'll share how I'm surviving my first ever cleanse (so far so good but it's only been 2 hours). I'll share probably more than you want to know about how I'm feeling. I'll share my progress - hopefully all good. And I'll share my struggles. Everyone wants to know they are not alone in their struggles, right?
So, that brings me to mind over matter. Today I am embarking on a first for me. A 3-day cleanse. 3 days of nothing but Suero Viv cultured whey beverages and water. No food. And those of you that know me know I love my food. But I'm also tired of feeling gross all the time. And the more I talk to people and read about our food supply, increased overall illness in the population and my own smorgasboard of medications in my closet, the more I've wondered - can I clean out my body, try to eat a cleaner diet and reverse if not eliminate some of my own health problems without going on a fad diet and weighing every single thing I eat?
So I'm going to try. That's my gift to myself for 2013. I'm not going to diet. I'm not going to count calories or starve myself - well except for these first 3 days. I'm simply going to do my best to eliminate the over processed, chemical laden food and just eat cleaner. More fruits and veggies, organic if possible. More grass fed beef if my budget will allow. Less things that come in boxes and have a shelf life of two years. Those things are convenient but they cannot be healthy! And in fact I believe they are a huge contributor to society's overwhelming health issues.
So, join me on my journey if you like. I'll share how I'm surviving my first ever cleanse (so far so good but it's only been 2 hours). I'll share probably more than you want to know about how I'm feeling. I'll share my progress - hopefully all good. And I'll share my struggles. Everyone wants to know they are not alone in their struggles, right?
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