Saturday, April 30, 2005

Cleanse...day 8

Today offered a new challenge.
I have been staying close to home for most meals just to avoid the temptation of cheating.
However, today I got an emergency call from my daughter's school...they needed someone to help with the hot dog program. This runs for about 3 1/2 hours....surrounded by bread, hotdogs, milk and ice cream.

Thinking this may be difficult, I planned ahead.
In my bag was a bottle of water, a V8 juice, a bag of almonds and a bag of carrots.
I survived! Without one cheating moment. It amazed me because it sure smelled good...lol

A few people have asked what I am allowed to eat....so.....
This program is limiting flour products, peanuts, all fermented foods, anything containing yeast, fruit juices, certain fruits because of their large amount of simple sugars.

Your diet is centered around 3 columns of food.

Column 1...protein foods (acid forming foods)
Recommended...fish
Acceptable....beans, beef, coffee(max 2 cups), eggs (whole), whole grains, lamb, lentils, liver, nuts, oatmeal, peas, poultry, pork, prunes(cooked), rhubarb(cooked),white rice, seeds, soy beans, tofu, veal, wheat germ
Not recommended....buttermilk, cheese, seafood(shellfish), yogurt
This column makes up 20% of your daily intake

Column 2....starch foods (alkaline forming)
Recommended....almonds, millet, buckwheat, brown rice
Acceptable...aplles, apricots, berries, cherries, lemons, peaches, pears, plums, nectarines, popcorn, baked potato, pumpkin, squash, yams, sweet potatoes, sesame sees, soy milk, tahini, tomatoes
Not recommended...banans, currants, dried fruit, fruit juices flour of any grains, grapes, honey, malt, maple syrup, melons, molasses, oranges, pasta, pineapple, raisins, soups, tropical fruit
Not recommended at any time....cakes, candy, ice cream, processed cereal, flour gravy, fruit juices with sugar, oily nuts and peanuts, sugar

Column 3....bulk forming foods (neutral foods)
Recommended....chives, garlic, ginger, onions, herbal tea, water
Acceptable...arugual, artichokes, asparagus, avocado, beans, beats, bok choy, broccoli, brussel sprouts, butter, cabbage, carrots, auliflower, clery, collards, corn, chards, cucumber, dandelion, eggplant, endive, escaole, herbs, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard greens, okra, oils (except peanut oil), parsley, parsnips, peas, peppermint, peppers, radiccio, radishes, rutabagas, seaweeds, sorrel, spinach, sprouts, turnips, vegetable seasoning, watercress
Not recommended...cottage cheese, mushrooms

Column 2 & 3 make up for 80% of your intake

So as you can see I have lots to eat.....this cleanse is just opening my eyes to what is out there.
Life is to easy at grabbing the processed foods....but nature provides some interesting options.

Friday, April 29, 2005

Cleanse....day 7

Just another day on the cleansing road.
This really is not that difficult.....main change is looking at the way I am eating and cooking.
My sinuses are clearing more everyday too....guess after this experience it will be time to go see my iridologist again....might as well really go for the gold.

My mood is more positive with the more sun that shines...lol....guess that really has nothing to do with the cleanse though. I can't believe I have less than a week left.

Food....rice cake/almond butter, pear, popcorn, carrots, V-8 juice with tabasco and celery seed, baked pototo, poached chicken, tomato, green beans with lemon dill seasoning, and nutmeg and almonds

Drink...another cool day....1 green tea, 1 gingerbread tea, 3 apple cinnamon tea, and 7 glasses of water

Onto tomorrow

Thursday, April 28, 2005

Cleanse...day 6

Today is the midway point of the cleanse. From here it is just downhill....and not in a bad way.
I decided that yesterday was definitely the weather. Today there is some sun and my mood is perking up...maybe the weather affects me more than I realized.

Cleansewise I feel pretty good. The bathroom and I meet occasionally....not as much as I expected....they say that is a good thing.

My biggest obstacle now is the water....I am not one to drink much....but I need to drink 8 glasses....some days I meet my goal...other days I come close...but I have found that the more I drink, the more I am waking up craving the stuff.

ON a positive note, I went to the mall today with fear in my heart. All those glorious smells...would they be my downfall....NO! I went with water bottle and bag of carrots in hand...and it worked. My girlfriend and her kids munched on carmel popcorn...I enjoyed the smell and popped carrots in my mouth instead.

Todays menus....rice cakes with almond butter, pear, carrots, salad, stirfried beef strips in garlic, onion and peppers. It seems like the more fruits and vegetables I eat the less hungry I am....is that normal I wonder.

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Cleanse...day 5

Its a gray day today!!
I'm not sure if my lack of energy is a result of the cleanse or the gray day outside with its snow/rain and cool wind....ugh!
Today, also, the bathroom and I are becoming more acquainted....knew this day would come...just wasn't sure when.

I am getting tired of the diet too. I really need to expand my cooking abilities that correlate to this way of thinking. I think tomorrow I might buy a good steak and grill/broil it...place it on the salad greens for a change.

I, also, changed my large meal from supper to lunch. I felt just downright bloated the last couple of days after supper. Hubby suggested the switch and ssshhhh! don't tell him, but he was right...LOL
I felt much better tonight and really not very hungry at suppertime....but had to eat something to go with the pills. I, too, cut out the night snack of popcorn...it didn't go well on the stomach either.
Much better night due to changes I am sure.

Food....boiled eggs, carrots, rice cakes with almond butter, rice stirfried with chicken, onion, garlic, broccoli, carrots, red/orange peppers, apple

Drink....7 glasses of water and 1 green, 3 licorice, and 1 apple/cinnamon tea...told you it was a cool gray day outside...all I wanted was something warm to drink.

Oh and as an aside....my willpower is much stronger than I thought.
I love sugar, chocolate...oh and did I mention sugar...lol
Well hubby wanted treats for the office...I made brownies and chocolate zucchini cake and didn't cheat once, not even to lick the bowl or finger....WTG me :-)

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Cleanse...day 4

The energy level is endless....lol....or atleast that is how it feels.
I feel great! And I got so much accomplished.
Still not sure how the cleanse is working...yes my skin has broken out and yes I am in the bathroom quite often....hopefully that is a sign that it is working.

Otherwise....the food is where I am learning the most.
How to make meals that are healthy and tasty without what I use to think was necessary.

Food....Red delicious apple, rice cakes with almond butter, red/orange peppers, carrots, poached chicken with rice, onions, garlic, celery, peppers, carrots and asparagus, popcorn

Drink....5 glasses water and 2 green tea

Also, my body seems to be consistant...I am down one more pound today...167lbs this morning....

True this isn't about the weightloss but it sure is a nice side effect...LOL

Cleanse...day 3

I woke up Sunday morning to find my headache finally gone...yipee!
Moodwise I was feeling much better and started to get bursts of energy which I used to my advantage. I am really surprized that I don't crave sugar more....I am sure it is my biggest downfall.

Went to the store and bought V-8 juice, rice crackers and almond butter...yummo!
I think I have found a new treat...the store had almond/hazelnut, cashew, hazelnut and a mystery butter which is a combo. I will experiment after the cleanse. However the almond butter is grand...it mixed with the rice crackers seemed like a great treat!

I haven't spent as much time in the bathroom as I thought I would...but I guess I still have days to go before I am finished.

I seem to be losing about 1lb a day....will be nice if the trend continues.
Exercise hasn't been much since it is recommended that you don't do a lot in the beginning....tires you out much more.
Monday will start with a few easy walks to get back into the swing of things.

Food....scrambled eggs, strawberries, rice cakes with almond butter, carrots, poached chicken, mixed greens, red/orange peppers, celery, and tomato
Drink....1 green tea, 1 licorice tea, 8 glasses of water (I am floating away)...LOL

Cleanse...day 2

I am not quite so chipper today...LOL
Not sure if the body is going through withdrawal for sugar or the pills were doing their thing....
Anyhow.....


Woke up with a slight headache with persisted for most of the day.
Headache was focused in the sinus area.
After supper I felt woozy, and nauseaus....didn't dare drive....and I was exhausted!
I could of fallen asleep at 8 or earlier if I could of afforded the luxury.

Food....strawberries, scrambled eggs, apple, carrots, popcorn (dry), more carrots, poached chicken breast, tomato, baked potato and mixed greens with lemon and olive oil.
Drinking was 1 cup green tea, 2 cups licorice tea and 6 glasses of water....the water is my biggest challenge.

I did however buy groceries yesterday and stock the fridge with cut up fruits and veggies....makes grabbing food much easier. I was also reading my food list a little closer and they say I can have almond butter on rice cakes and V-8 juice....so guess I am visiting the store again...lol

It is definitely a learning experience.

Onto day 3

First step

As a first step, I have chosen to have an herbal detox or cleanse. Herbal D-Tox by Wild Rose is my detox of choice. I began my journey on Friday, April 22, 2005.

When I began the cleanse I weighed 172 lbs. Not an easy number to write down...but you can't change what you don't acknowledge (Dr. Phil mantra...lol)

Food eaten....scrambled eggs, apple, carrots, baked potatoe, broiled salmon, brown rice, more carrots and cucumber. I have decided I really don't like the taste of brown rice. I need to find a way to make it more palitable.
Drank 4 cups of green tea and 5 glasses of water. I know that I drank a lot of tea however, I drink lots of green tea normally and this cleanse allows for green tea...so I took advantage of it.
Mood.....upbeat, positive,
No headache, hours in the bathroom, aches or pains.

Main thing I am noticing is how this cleanse really makes you look at what you eat.
I never realized how much I just grab and go. I guess that is my lesson for the day.
Planning ahead will make my meal choices that much easier.

Starting Point

I am starting this blog as a way to make myself accountable for my journey into health.
I have travelled so far this life just accepting that I can do what I want and not pay the consequences. But in doing so I have gained more weight than I am content with, I am unfit, unhealthy and unhappy with things as they stand right now. So in writing things down I hope to encourage myself and others to move their life in a positive direction.

40 is just around the corner for me....perfect time to start.