Week 3 came to a close on Sunday. Which means the cleanse is over this Sunday. It's a little sad.
We have found a good routine and are in the groove of this whole clean eating and detox thing. It's been so great! Yes, there were some rough times. Also there have been huge successes and I feel proud of myself for being successful!
I will write a whole re-cap (with costs, etc.) next week when it's officially over.
Week 3 was really great. I actually enjoyed drinking the 7-Day Detox drink. And it made my insides feel fantastic! :)
We both had a lot of energy, and didn't have too much trouble turning down temptations, of which there were many of course! It really feels more natural now to not "graze" or eat "treats" at work. I used to rationalize getting a treat when my co-workers were going to Starbucks. Like this: "I've had a busy week. Yes, I should have a pastry and another cup of coffee 30 minutes after breakfast." Um, NO. That's not cool.
I had a major discovery during Week 3 too! Based on the instructions for the Cleanse I was having a Protein Shake for breakfast and lunch then eating dinner. Well, I failed to consider my crazy work schedule. I am at work 11 hours a day with a 1.5 hour commute which is 12.5 hours away from home!
I was STARVING and a little HANGRY most of the time during weeks 1-2. And I couldn't figure out why when S was doing fine. So I did a little investigation:
9:30 Breakfast to 12:30 Snack: 3 hours
12:30 Snack to 2:30 Lunch: 2 hours
2:30 Lunch to 10:00pm Dinner: 7.5 hours!!!!
Turns out, 7 hours is too long not to eat! DUH!! And I am so busy from 3-8:30 I wasn't even having a snack!
NO WONDER I WAS HANGRY and MISERABLE!
It was such a simple change. I just ate something healthy for lunch (usually S' dinner from the night before) and drank my protein shake for dinner. DUH.
This has been so much more helpful, and I feel like a million bucks! And I have lost more weight the past week and a half than I did at the beginning.
S has lost 9 lbs!! I can see it on his face and waist for sure. He says he can feel my waist is significantly smaller too though I have only lost 3 lbs.
All in All. WINNING! ;)
There will be a Clean Eating Challenge Group starting Jan. 5. Let me know if you are interested in feeling fabulous during the January Doldrums!
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Ugh Day 8!
Day 8- Tuesday started off with great promise. It didn't last long.
I got up as usual at 6am to make our shakes. I typically go back to sleep after that but I had a doctor appointment so I had to leave a bit earlier. There wasn't enough time to go back to sleep, and I was awake anyways. I found a pretty good yoga youtube video, and did that for 35 minutes. Then, I even had time to do some laundry!
I was feeling great! Got to the doctor on time, and it started going downhill from there.
I went in to get a mammogram and ultrasound on Righty because of a lump I affectionately call "The Rock."
"The Rock" has been with me since about 2007, he's cool and hasn't changed much. But I get him checked out every few years.
Everything's going fine, no biggie the tech just tries to rip Righty off my body to get it in the damn machine. But fine. (Someone really needs to work on that technology. It sucks!!)
Then, I have to go back for more mammogram pictures because the doctor "saw something concerning" on Lefty. What???? I'm here for the right one thanks. Getting slightly freaked out.
On to Ultrasound.....The tech is pregnant. Not off to a good start. Then she says nonchalantly that she needs to focus on Lefty because the doctor is concerned about some spots. Way to freak me out more!
It was a rough 2.5 hours there, but it turns out everything is fine. They are just lumpy. Which incidentally would reduce if I breastfed. And we know that's not happening.
Since the radiology office was in the same parking lot as my last RE, Dr. M, I planned to go over there and donate leftover medications and syringes. I didn't think much of it.
But suddenly when I was leaving I just started crying. It made me really sad to give up all my medications and syringes. Now my "IVF Bucket" is empty for the first time in over a year.
Actually, almost exactly a year. I had my first IVF Transfer of 2- Day 5 embryos on my birthday last year.
One year later it's done. Over. That's it. So I'm sad today.
And so incredibly grateful my exam results came back normal. So incredibly relieved and thankful.
I was thinking about it all on the drive to work. How I am so blessed, lucky, whatever to be healthy and not have any real medical problems. And also, how the one major thing I have always wanted and took for granted so many years would just happen it the one thing I can't have.
I have so many things to be thankful for this year on Thanksgiving, and so many amazing blessings in my life on my birthday. I really have been given a good life and I am choosing to focus on what I do have and the experiences I have been given instead of focusing on the things I don't have.
I hope you can do the same.
I got up as usual at 6am to make our shakes. I typically go back to sleep after that but I had a doctor appointment so I had to leave a bit earlier. There wasn't enough time to go back to sleep, and I was awake anyways. I found a pretty good yoga youtube video, and did that for 35 minutes. Then, I even had time to do some laundry!
I was feeling great! Got to the doctor on time, and it started going downhill from there.
I went in to get a mammogram and ultrasound on Righty because of a lump I affectionately call "The Rock."
"The Rock" has been with me since about 2007, he's cool and hasn't changed much. But I get him checked out every few years.
Everything's going fine, no biggie the tech just tries to rip Righty off my body to get it in the damn machine. But fine. (Someone really needs to work on that technology. It sucks!!)
Then, I have to go back for more mammogram pictures because the doctor "saw something concerning" on Lefty. What???? I'm here for the right one thanks. Getting slightly freaked out.
On to Ultrasound.....The tech is pregnant. Not off to a good start. Then she says nonchalantly that she needs to focus on Lefty because the doctor is concerned about some spots. Way to freak me out more!
It was a rough 2.5 hours there, but it turns out everything is fine. They are just lumpy. Which incidentally would reduce if I breastfed. And we know that's not happening.
Since the radiology office was in the same parking lot as my last RE, Dr. M, I planned to go over there and donate leftover medications and syringes. I didn't think much of it.
But suddenly when I was leaving I just started crying. It made me really sad to give up all my medications and syringes. Now my "IVF Bucket" is empty for the first time in over a year.
Actually, almost exactly a year. I had my first IVF Transfer of 2- Day 5 embryos on my birthday last year.
One year later it's done. Over. That's it. So I'm sad today.
And so incredibly grateful my exam results came back normal. So incredibly relieved and thankful.
I was thinking about it all on the drive to work. How I am so blessed, lucky, whatever to be healthy and not have any real medical problems. And also, how the one major thing I have always wanted and took for granted so many years would just happen it the one thing I can't have.
I have so many things to be thankful for this year on Thanksgiving, and so many amazing blessings in my life on my birthday. I really have been given a good life and I am choosing to focus on what I do have and the experiences I have been given instead of focusing on the things I don't have.
I hope you can do the same.
Thanksgiving and Birthday!
I am officially 32. YAH! We didn't do anything for my birthday except prepare for Thursday, though we did get to spend some time with friends who now live out of town. That was fun.
Thanksgiving and the weekend went really well overall! We hosted 9 family members, and S and I cooked everything! WHEW, we were tired. It was all awesome, and not that much was off the Detox diet.
On Diet:
Smoked turkey
Brussel sprouts
Sweet potato casserole (the only thing was the 1/4 cup of sugar)
Green beans w/almonds
Off Diet:
Sausage balls (I only had 1, S had 0)
Mashed red potatoes (Super small servings)
Gouda cheese w/1 cracker (2 small bites)
Red Wine (ok, ok, I had too much of this.............)
Cigarettes (only a couple, but I know still.......)
It looks worse written out. I had it rationalized well in my head! A bigger issue was the next day when we had local BBQ brisket, sausage, ribs, beans, and potato salad. Both of us tried hard to eat significantly less than we usually would, and neither of us got seconds on anything. Overall I give us a B- on maintaining the detox over the holiday. Not so bad.
And we had so much fun celebrating with our family, and then Saturday with friends!! I love the holiday season and am excited about upcoming events!!
We got a Christmas tree on Sunday too. We went to a Christmas tree farm to cut it ourselves! It was pretty cute, but the trees they grow were a little picked over, and too short.
We ended up getting a pre-cut Fraiser Fir from North Carolina. Still better that we bought local than from Lowe's........
As of Monday we are back on the detox 100% and feeling GREAT!
Thanksgiving and the weekend went really well overall! We hosted 9 family members, and S and I cooked everything! WHEW, we were tired. It was all awesome, and not that much was off the Detox diet.
On Diet:
Smoked turkey
Brussel sprouts
Sweet potato casserole (the only thing was the 1/4 cup of sugar)
Green beans w/almonds
Off Diet:
Sausage balls (I only had 1, S had 0)
Mashed red potatoes (Super small servings)
Gouda cheese w/1 cracker (2 small bites)
Red Wine (ok, ok, I had too much of this.............)
Cigarettes (only a couple, but I know still.......)
It looks worse written out. I had it rationalized well in my head! A bigger issue was the next day when we had local BBQ brisket, sausage, ribs, beans, and potato salad. Both of us tried hard to eat significantly less than we usually would, and neither of us got seconds on anything. Overall I give us a B- on maintaining the detox over the holiday. Not so bad.
And we had so much fun celebrating with our family, and then Saturday with friends!! I love the holiday season and am excited about upcoming events!!
We got a Christmas tree on Sunday too. We went to a Christmas tree farm to cut it ourselves! It was pretty cute, but the trees they grow were a little picked over, and too short.
We ended up getting a pre-cut Fraiser Fir from North Carolina. Still better that we bought local than from Lowe's........
As of Monday we are back on the detox 100% and feeling GREAT!
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Day 7
Happy to report Day 7 was easy. No cravings, no problems, just feeling good.
I noticed I had more energy in the evening when I got home from work, which was nice since we have so much to do before Thursday-Thanksgiving!!!
Also, my birthday is Wednesday. I keep forgetting and having to remind myself. The b-day is not a big deal to me usually but at least I remember......
This should be a good excuse to fall back on if I forget anyone else's birthday. I can't even remember my own, much less anyone else's!!!
Dinner last night was particularly tasty. We discovered awhile back this brand called Red Fork that makes pouches of sauce. We like the Sloppy Joe version. Then we found a sauce for asparagus, and chicken! So last night we had:
Red Fork Lemon Herb Asparagus Seasoning Sauce on Asparagus
Red Fork Tomato Olive Skillet Sauce on Chicken
So good, so easy, and other than having more sodium than we usually eat they are very "Clean" products! Check them out!
I noticed I had more energy in the evening when I got home from work, which was nice since we have so much to do before Thursday-Thanksgiving!!!
Also, my birthday is Wednesday. I keep forgetting and having to remind myself. The b-day is not a big deal to me usually but at least I remember......
This should be a good excuse to fall back on if I forget anyone else's birthday. I can't even remember my own, much less anyone else's!!!
Dinner last night was particularly tasty. We discovered awhile back this brand called Red Fork that makes pouches of sauce. We like the Sloppy Joe version. Then we found a sauce for asparagus, and chicken! So last night we had:
Red Fork Lemon Herb Asparagus Seasoning Sauce on Asparagus
Red Fork Tomato Olive Skillet Sauce on Chicken
So good, so easy, and other than having more sodium than we usually eat they are very "Clean" products! Check them out!
Monday, November 24, 2014
Weekend 1- Days 4-6
Well you win some and you lose some. We have been doing so good eating exactly on the plan and only what's on the plan. In fact, a couple of days I didn't even make it to 1200 calories and didn't really feel hungry.
Last night (Sunday) was the first weigh in. I lost 1 lb. (then it was back Monday morning) and S has lost 2 lbs. That's it. I really don't feel upset or disappointed by that. I am loving eating all the clean food, staying away from all the processed crap and drinking 2 meals a day. I actually like it.
But. What happened was.........we decided to have a little cheat day on Saturday night. We drank some beers. And maybe had a couple cigarettes. I know, I know. We shouldn't have.
It was so easy to rationalize the choice, and we were both miserable after working all week, not smoking, and not eating any junk food. My brain was PISSED! I could feel it, my dopamine and serotonin levels were at an all time low, I was just an addict without their drug. Unfortunately, after the first cigarette I felt all the way back to "normal." It's bad. I'm an addict (nicotine, not the beer). I didn't "need" a beer the way I "needed" the smoke.
I know I can quit though. I have done it before, and I can do it again. I just have to be strong. We got right back on track Sunday, and don't plan on smoking again. It's just back to keeping focused on the goal.
I am terrible at blogging over the weekends. I don't really have a computer at home, just a tablet. The blog doesn't work well on it. So I also did not succeed in my goal to blog for 30 days straight. But hey-No one is perfect. Right???
We have had some great dinners though. I want to write them down here so next time we do this I will remember!
Friday Dinner- Spaghetti Squash with Organic Red Sauce and grilled onions and garlic. YUMMY!!!
Saturday Dinner- Baked Cauliflower and leftover spaghetti squash. The Cauliflower was awesome! We bought 2 more at the store yesterday, we liked it so much!
Sunday Dinner/Lunch- We only had one protein shake Sunday because we were out most of the day. We ate a Chipolte. It was pretty good. We both had the salad bowl, with grilled veggies, meat, red salsa, and guacamole. And halfway through the bowl we were full! So we had dinner too! On diet-and delicious, and cheap!
Last night (Sunday) was the first weigh in. I lost 1 lb. (then it was back Monday morning) and S has lost 2 lbs. That's it. I really don't feel upset or disappointed by that. I am loving eating all the clean food, staying away from all the processed crap and drinking 2 meals a day. I actually like it.
But. What happened was.........we decided to have a little cheat day on Saturday night. We drank some beers. And maybe had a couple cigarettes. I know, I know. We shouldn't have.
It was so easy to rationalize the choice, and we were both miserable after working all week, not smoking, and not eating any junk food. My brain was PISSED! I could feel it, my dopamine and serotonin levels were at an all time low, I was just an addict without their drug. Unfortunately, after the first cigarette I felt all the way back to "normal." It's bad. I'm an addict (nicotine, not the beer). I didn't "need" a beer the way I "needed" the smoke.
I know I can quit though. I have done it before, and I can do it again. I just have to be strong. We got right back on track Sunday, and don't plan on smoking again. It's just back to keeping focused on the goal.
I am terrible at blogging over the weekends. I don't really have a computer at home, just a tablet. The blog doesn't work well on it. So I also did not succeed in my goal to blog for 30 days straight. But hey-No one is perfect. Right???
We have had some great dinners though. I want to write them down here so next time we do this I will remember!
Friday Dinner- Spaghetti Squash with Organic Red Sauce and grilled onions and garlic. YUMMY!!!
Saturday Dinner- Baked Cauliflower and leftover spaghetti squash. The Cauliflower was awesome! We bought 2 more at the store yesterday, we liked it so much!
Sunday Dinner/Lunch- We only had one protein shake Sunday because we were out most of the day. We ate a Chipolte. It was pretty good. We both had the salad bowl, with grilled veggies, meat, red salsa, and guacamole. And halfway through the bowl we were full! So we had dinner too! On diet-and delicious, and cheap!
Thursday, November 20, 2014
I Hit a Wall- Also Known as Day 3.
Day 3-Wednesday.
Why is it not Thursday (the end of my work week)??????
I just want to be in my bed.......
I hate this......it's stupid/I'm quitting/and every variation of that sentiment
Those were my thoughts most of Day 3. By far THE WORST DAY! I was so miserable all day. For several reasons.
First, I am tired. My body had become quite accustomed to the arsenal of stimulants I provided regularly. Coffee, Cigarettes, Sugar on regular dosing intervals. I was never without a stimulant.
Now I have NONE. And my body continues to let me know via headaches, grumpiness, general un-comfortableness, and tiredness.
Second, I am constipated.
(Disclaimer: This paragraph is going to be full of TMI. Skip if you can't handle it)
I am open about talking about my poop, and other people's for that matter. It's an important part of our functioning health. Anyways, I haven't had a legitimate #2 since Sunday! It has been incredibly painful. My stomach is very loud, letting me and everyone else know what's up.
We both drank some Traditional Medicinals Smooth Moves Tea (if you are ever constipated or just not regular, this stuff is amazing!!)Tuesday night. It worked for S (of course) but not for me.
Third, I have cravings! For coffee, sugar, and nicotine! All the time! The cigarette craving was particularly strong. For about 12 hours. It was rough. Luckily the Husband is a rock, and helped me through it!
I took a bath after work to help me relax, and it helped.
Dinner was pretty good, or I was just happy to be eating solid food....
Baked chicken with garlic and onion
Romaine Lettuce
Black Beans
Brown Rice
Salsa
Mix it all together for a yummy salad bowl a la Chipolte.
Our Day 3 Smoothie-
(Tip: Keep the smoothies simple, Day 2's smoothie just had too much going on to be good!)
8 scoops (4 "meals") Arbonne Chocolate protein powder
2 scoops fiber
2 scoops Greens Balance
Coconut milk
Water
Ice
Snacks-
S: Avocado, unsalted mixed nuts
R: Carrots/Hummus (I should have had more calories today, but didn't because my stomach hurt so bad)
Why is it not Thursday (the end of my work week)??????
I just want to be in my bed.......
I hate this......it's stupid/I'm quitting/and every variation of that sentiment
Those were my thoughts most of Day 3. By far THE WORST DAY! I was so miserable all day. For several reasons.
First, I am tired. My body had become quite accustomed to the arsenal of stimulants I provided regularly. Coffee, Cigarettes, Sugar on regular dosing intervals. I was never without a stimulant.
Now I have NONE. And my body continues to let me know via headaches, grumpiness, general un-comfortableness, and tiredness.
Second, I am constipated.
(Disclaimer: This paragraph is going to be full of TMI. Skip if you can't handle it)
I am open about talking about my poop, and other people's for that matter. It's an important part of our functioning health. Anyways, I haven't had a legitimate #2 since Sunday! It has been incredibly painful. My stomach is very loud, letting me and everyone else know what's up.
We both drank some Traditional Medicinals Smooth Moves Tea (if you are ever constipated or just not regular, this stuff is amazing!!)Tuesday night. It worked for S (of course) but not for me.
Third, I have cravings! For coffee, sugar, and nicotine! All the time! The cigarette craving was particularly strong. For about 12 hours. It was rough. Luckily the Husband is a rock, and helped me through it!
I took a bath after work to help me relax, and it helped.
Dinner was pretty good, or I was just happy to be eating solid food....
Baked chicken with garlic and onion
Romaine Lettuce
Black Beans
Brown Rice
Salsa
Mix it all together for a yummy salad bowl a la Chipolte.
Our Day 3 Smoothie-
(Tip: Keep the smoothies simple, Day 2's smoothie just had too much going on to be good!)
8 scoops (4 "meals") Arbonne Chocolate protein powder
2 scoops fiber
2 scoops Greens Balance
Coconut milk
Water
Ice
Snacks-
S: Avocado, unsalted mixed nuts
R: Carrots/Hummus (I should have had more calories today, but didn't because my stomach hurt so bad)
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Why?
I have been asked several times recently "Why do you need to detox?" Or "What's the Point of it."
I think those are very valid and important questions, I want to answer with my own story.
This summer when preparing for what we knew would be our last IVF, I wanted to EVERY THING possible to give my body the best chance. Which is how I discovered the first cleanse program I have done.
I was totally skeptical at first. I told my Dr. Friend who first talked to me about it that my big plan was to just eat "super healthy" and that would do the trick. She used some doctor reasoning on me that made me understand that eating "super healthy" (whatever that means BTW) wasn't going to be enough to repair the damage my years of unhealthy eating and exposure to toxins. She explained that most American's gut's are badly damaged and leaky. Gross. But she is right.
I started thinking about it, and reading up more on the Gut-Brain Connection. I knew about this already, but I didn't realize the importance of the Gut in reproduction. In retrospect, it seems a bit obvious. I had just never thought of my gut health being so critical to the success of IVF.
Did you know there is more Serotonin in your gut than in your brain? Serotonin is a super important "Feel good chemical" that we mostly associate with our brains, but there really is more in the gut. Just one reason having a happy gut is vital to our well being.
So I was convinced. I did her 6 week leaky gut repair cleanse and it was so hard, amazing, challenging, fun and amazing! There were some days that were TERRIBLE, but at the end I noticed some significant changes.
I noticed that after 2 years of taking pre-natal vitamins I FINALLY understood they do make my hair, skin, and nails so much prettier and faster growing. It seems my body was in such a state of disrepair all those years, I wasn't absorbing all the nutrients in my food and vitamins. I also had more energy, not caffeine generated, had less stomach trouble, quit smoking and was just more focused overall.
Obviously IVF still didn't work. But the cleanse was still worth it. That is part of why I decided to do it again with the Arbonne products. I need another "Reset" after the chemicals of IVF, the 10 pounds I gained during and the excessive eating of my feelings afterwards.
I binged on food, cigarettes, coffee, and beer for the last 2 months. I think I have felt all the feelings, grieved the pain, and I am looking forward to moving forward. :) This cleanse will help me push the Reset Button on my body, my mind, and my soul.
I think those are very valid and important questions, I want to answer with my own story.
This summer when preparing for what we knew would be our last IVF, I wanted to EVERY THING possible to give my body the best chance. Which is how I discovered the first cleanse program I have done.
I was totally skeptical at first. I told my Dr. Friend who first talked to me about it that my big plan was to just eat "super healthy" and that would do the trick. She used some doctor reasoning on me that made me understand that eating "super healthy" (whatever that means BTW) wasn't going to be enough to repair the damage my years of unhealthy eating and exposure to toxins. She explained that most American's gut's are badly damaged and leaky. Gross. But she is right.
I started thinking about it, and reading up more on the Gut-Brain Connection. I knew about this already, but I didn't realize the importance of the Gut in reproduction. In retrospect, it seems a bit obvious. I had just never thought of my gut health being so critical to the success of IVF.
Did you know there is more Serotonin in your gut than in your brain? Serotonin is a super important "Feel good chemical" that we mostly associate with our brains, but there really is more in the gut. Just one reason having a happy gut is vital to our well being.
So I was convinced. I did her 6 week leaky gut repair cleanse and it was so hard, amazing, challenging, fun and amazing! There were some days that were TERRIBLE, but at the end I noticed some significant changes.
I noticed that after 2 years of taking pre-natal vitamins I FINALLY understood they do make my hair, skin, and nails so much prettier and faster growing. It seems my body was in such a state of disrepair all those years, I wasn't absorbing all the nutrients in my food and vitamins. I also had more energy, not caffeine generated, had less stomach trouble, quit smoking and was just more focused overall.
Obviously IVF still didn't work. But the cleanse was still worth it. That is part of why I decided to do it again with the Arbonne products. I need another "Reset" after the chemicals of IVF, the 10 pounds I gained during and the excessive eating of my feelings afterwards.
I binged on food, cigarettes, coffee, and beer for the last 2 months. I think I have felt all the feelings, grieved the pain, and I am looking forward to moving forward. :) This cleanse will help me push the Reset Button on my body, my mind, and my soul.
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