WEEK 1 Finished!

Oh Boy!  What a week!  I think this is the hardest thing I have ever done. I have had blood sugar issues: lightheadedness, foggy brain, nausea, lethargy. Not fun.  I have almost developed an aversion to green smoothies. I am NOT kidding!  Luckily, I can eat the makings of the smoothies as a salad. ( Didn't find that out until today though) I HAVE lost 12 pounds and feel lighter and thinner. Thinner meaning I have lost inches and I can totally tell! That is fantastic.

Did I follow the program 100%. NOPE.  I ate a salad last night with a small amount of fresh salad shrimp. GASP!   I needed some protein. I felt better. The thing that troubles me is this. I was feeling GUILTY for eating a cucumber or a banana because it wasn't ALLOWED.  That is messed up.  I ate something totally healthy and felt remorse.  So, my strategy is this: as long as I am eating healthy foods---NO GUILT!  

I will continue to do this cleanse free to modify it according to my BODY"S needs....not someone else's opinion of what my body needs
.   I am not bashing the cleanse by any means, just doing what is best for me.

Day 2-FINISHED!

I was going though my purse today and in the bottom I found a
SKOR  candy bar.  They are my favorite. I ate some...like 4...
before I started the detox.  SCORE!!!!  Get it?  Anyway....I have the mother lode of yum in my purse....right now.   HOLY CRAP! 

 While perusing Pinterest today I saw this quote and it made think about what I am doing and why I am doing it.....but most especially how HARD this is!
Why? My friends run marathons and bike 100's of miles.  They get that feeling of accomplishment when they FINISH!  I want to be a FINISHER!  I have set the goal and have committed myself to finish.
I want to FEEL BETTER!  Less joint pain, less inflammation, less junk in my body, less of me!  

Today has been a good day!  I am sure that a bad one will happen, but I am prepared to keep going until the end.

THE FINISH LINE 

The candy bar is still in my purse!

Day One....or Green lemonade isn't really that bad!

Day one is almost ended.  It has been okay so far.  I don't have a headache....yet. Hoping for the best on that one! Here is what will be on the menu for days 1-4!

BREAKFAST: Green Lemonade...which is basically water, green, fresh lemon juice and stevia.  For me...it must be COLD. Like, really cold. 
1 cup of gluten-free oats with cinnamon and stevia.

Stevia is a natural plant sweetener that doesn't affect your blood sugar. It's really sweet BUT.....if you use to much it has a horrible bitter aftertaste! Which I did on my oatmeal....lesson learned. 

LUNCH: Baked potato drizzled with flax oil and chopped chives.
 Green lemonade.

DINNER: Hippo soup-which is potatoes, tomatoes, onion, leek,celery and garlic.  No salt.  As much as I want.
Cucumber Tomato Salad-cucumbers, tomatoes and red onion with a little Apple Cider Vinegar and fresh basil. 

A little tip I learned today was this: You can put a tablespoon of Chia seeds in some water and drink it down to lose that hungry feeling in your stomach!  I did it....I like Chia! I bet the gooey-ness would make some of you hurl!

Drinking a ton of water and keeping busy!  Day 2 will be a little easier!  Can't wait for days 5-7....Green Smoothies WITH FRUIT! WooHoo!

D-Day tomorrow~26 day detox!

Tomorrow is the big day!  Day one of my 26 day detox cleanse.  I am excited and nervous at the same time.  For the first 4 days I drink green smoothies with NO FRUIT!  Just greens, lemon juice and, stevia.  I also will be eating oatmeal, baked potatoes, steamed broccoli and cauliflower, and drinking ALOT of water.  

The purpose of the first week, really, is to get off sugar, caffeine,dairy, gluten, and....SALT!  Oh dear, my beloved salt is out the window for 26 days.   WHY......you ask are you doing this?  I want to feel better!  I feel sluggish, bloated, blech, and my knees hurt. SO....I am taking the challenge to detox from all the junky processed food and clean out my colon, liver, gall bladder, and hopefully get back on track eating real, whole foods!

To support this effort I will also be using some essential oils.

Frankincense-is a favorite because it helps support oxygen levels in the brain. It is an anti-inflammatory and also an analgesic, so it helps with pain and swelling. 

 Peppermint-love the cooling, stimulating, pain relieving power of peppermint. It also helps you feel full to avoid overeating.

Lemon-helps detoxify the body. Supports kidneys and liver, uplifts, and helps the body break down fats. I use it daily in my water.

Cilantro-supports blood sugar levels and is a heavy metal detoxifier. I also use it for my headaches.

Grapefruit-helps with liver and gall bladder function, cravings, antioxidant. I put it in my water too!

Wild Orange-I love wild orange. It smells so good. It lifts your mood, helps your cells function properly, and even helps with digestion.  Another great oil to put in your water.

I am feeling pretty good about what the next 26 days will bring; but I am also very aware of the fact that this is going to be a challenge!  I am ready to take it on!

Keep checking back to see my progress. I plan to journal each day and share the ups and downs!

Excuse me....Don't I know you?

3 yrs ago....I weighed 50 pounds LESS...than I do now.  So hello poundage....you are back and I need to have you go!  I was doing Medifast back in the day and was committed. Until I went to Utah on Vacation....that started my downfall. I remember eating blueberry pie.....a lot of it.  Then I had cancer surgery for a melanoma on my arm....major stress.  And now I am back up....with arthritis and bursitis in my knees.  I can't walk long distances and I am pissed off!  I did this to myself with food .  I am trying to get back on the way to a healthier weight.  I am trying to eat real food...no junk food...and it is kicking my butt!  I seem to have lost ANY ounce of power over food.  I have been doing WW and it's just TOO MUCH CHOICE for me.  My body feels clogged, sluggish, cluttered.  I have signed up to do a 26 day Detox Cleanse with the  Green Smoothie Girl.  Check it out...you may be interested.

My intention is to blog about each day as I go along and give you my progress.  The cleanse starts August 1, 2013 and I am nervous and excited. It is not going to be easy...but I need to prove to myself that I can accomplish my goals.  I am not doing this as a weight loss cleanse but as a detox for my body.....from sugar, and processed foods, white flour, and other crappy stuff I have been eating.

Yep...that's me in my favorite royal blue shirt......it HUNG on me!  I felt so good that day and I am on my way again!

Week? I don't remember!

Well...after a semi-frustrating week filled with cravings and tastes, bites and full on eating...I am down to 294.9 A total loss of 41.8 pounds since I started this journey.
I am thrilled with the loss and am looking forward to continuing on. My goal was to lose 50 pounds by August 23rd...my birthday! I am looking @ changing my goal to lets say...60 pounds by my birthday! It is totally do-able as long as I keep my focus!
I am feeling great and in 8.2 pounds i will buy some new clothes. I bought a really pretty blue blouse about a month ago ...in fact I am wearing it now....and it hangs on me! Looks pretty crappy! My old favorite shirt..the one that made me look polished and chic is MILES too big and looks rotten! I am saving it to remind me of just how FAT i was and never to be seen again!

Tomorrow is the last day of school....i hope my routine can be the same this summer! We are also going on vacation in July.....i am a little concerned about giving myself "permission" to eat! I don't want to go back this route again!

Weigh in #5

Wow! I have lost 30.7 pounds! I am rounding it up to 31. I now weigh 305. Only 6 more pounds and I am back in the 2's! Can't believe it!

I have had some ups and downs...like not planning and being ravenous! I haven't cheated....except for a few tiny pieces of gouda cheese and a bite of a hard-boiled egg! I actually find if I don't stay on schedule I end up running out of hours to eat ALL the food I a supposed to. Funny...I can't fit IN the food! I have been really focused on staying on program. I still can't believe that 35 days ago I was so much heavier! I feel so much better. I can tie my shoes without having to get on the bed and let my feet be closer to me! I can bend over and not be out of breath! I sleep better. My clothes look pretty crappy...but I am waiting to lose 50 lbs. before I go and buy more clothes. Only 19 more pounds before then.

Happy Happy Happy!