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!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
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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