Day: 45
Days left: 1
Weight: 236.4 lbs.
Weight lost: 21.6 lbs.
LAST DAY!
Well, sort of...
Total weight lost is over 20 lbs. However, I still have a ways to go for complete health.
This week has had it's ups and downs, but overall we are super grateful for everyone and everything in our lives. On Tuesday, 15 tornadoes touched down in the DFW area, one of which jumped my office building. We also lost another house we bid on this week. To say that there was some stress in our lives this week is an understatement. That filtered through in some of our food consumption choices, but overall we kept with the plan.
Yesterday, we went kayaking for the first time. One of the best experiences of my life, hands down. We are sunburnt and sore, but I can't wait to give it a go again.
Britni is at 187.6 lbs., and losing out on the latest house has been hard for her as well. I am crazy proud of her though, and can't wait for us to continue this journey together.
Stay tuned for before and after pics :)
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
Day 41-Ang
Day: 41
Days left: 5
Weight: 239.4 lbs.
Weight lost: 18.6 lbs.
Good Monday to you all.
First, I need to admit that I did not weigh myself this morning, so I am using the same stats I had on Friday. There was a bit of a slip this weekend, that may or may not have involved a piece of coconut creme cake, that gave me a bit of guilt as I stared down the scale. I will suck it up and get an accurate weight first thing tomorrow.
And as for the slip, lets just say the stress of the house hunt got the better of us. Face it, carbs increase feel good endorphins, and there are plenty of carbs in desert. This back track made me feel terrible though...both in terms of the aforementioned guilt and physically. Even today, after an intense spinning session, my face and gut is bloated and I think less clearly. This diet is definitely going to stick around post-Easter, especially if going back to pre-detox eating habits will make me feel like complete crap.
Britni composed my meals for today, being a good wife and all ;) For breakfast I had a grapefruit and a whole bunch of blackberries. Lunch was a spinach and green bell pepper salad with some raw almonds. I had an orange and some remaining almonds as a snack. Dinner was the infamous chickpea salad.
As it's the last 5 days of our initial journey, I'm hoping to kick both the diet and the exercise in high gear.
Keep on reading...you won't be disappointed!
Days left: 5
Weight: 239.4 lbs.
Weight lost: 18.6 lbs.
Good Monday to you all.
First, I need to admit that I did not weigh myself this morning, so I am using the same stats I had on Friday. There was a bit of a slip this weekend, that may or may not have involved a piece of coconut creme cake, that gave me a bit of guilt as I stared down the scale. I will suck it up and get an accurate weight first thing tomorrow.
And as for the slip, lets just say the stress of the house hunt got the better of us. Face it, carbs increase feel good endorphins, and there are plenty of carbs in desert. This back track made me feel terrible though...both in terms of the aforementioned guilt and physically. Even today, after an intense spinning session, my face and gut is bloated and I think less clearly. This diet is definitely going to stick around post-Easter, especially if going back to pre-detox eating habits will make me feel like complete crap.
Britni composed my meals for today, being a good wife and all ;) For breakfast I had a grapefruit and a whole bunch of blackberries. Lunch was a spinach and green bell pepper salad with some raw almonds. I had an orange and some remaining almonds as a snack. Dinner was the infamous chickpea salad.
As it's the last 5 days of our initial journey, I'm hoping to kick both the diet and the exercise in high gear.
Keep on reading...you won't be disappointed!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Day 38-Ang
Day: 38
Days left: 8
Weight: 239.4 lbs.
Weight lost: 18.6 lbs.
Happy Friday, all!
Well, we found out that we did not get the second house we put an offer in for today. Even though everything happens for a reason, it was still a blow to our eagerness to start a semi-permanent home together. We'll keep on truckin' though.
Short blog this evening. Just wanted to give you an update on the detox end. Still eating plenty of raw foods, especially my new friend grapefruit. Workouts continue to get more intense-today was cardio day, which consisted of 45 minutes on the treadmill with a ridiculous amount of incline, and 20 minutes of laps in the pool. I suppose I have double my swim time, as it only took me half the amount of time to complete the laps I did on the first day of swimtime activity. Pretty awesome!
That's all for now...more to come tomorrow!
Days left: 8
Weight: 239.4 lbs.
Weight lost: 18.6 lbs.
Happy Friday, all!
Well, we found out that we did not get the second house we put an offer in for today. Even though everything happens for a reason, it was still a blow to our eagerness to start a semi-permanent home together. We'll keep on truckin' though.
Short blog this evening. Just wanted to give you an update on the detox end. Still eating plenty of raw foods, especially my new friend grapefruit. Workouts continue to get more intense-today was cardio day, which consisted of 45 minutes on the treadmill with a ridiculous amount of incline, and 20 minutes of laps in the pool. I suppose I have double my swim time, as it only took me half the amount of time to complete the laps I did on the first day of swimtime activity. Pretty awesome!
That's all for now...more to come tomorrow!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Day 36 - Britni
Day: 36
Days left: 10
Weight: 186.6 lbs.
Weight lost: 12.4 lbs.
The countdown begins.
Welcome back to another episode of "Where'd Your Double Chin Go, Miss?"
So what's going on today? I'm really harnessing the power of raw food. Today I forgot to juice and woke up late'ish so I have eaten raw cashews, two oranges, and a banana today. I feel great and I've drank ridiculous amounts of water.
I also ran 2 miles and then walked 2 more miles at a pretty steep incline burning approximately 550 calories in my lunch break. What did you do during your lunch break?
So we're still waiting on the result of the offer on the house we desire. I'm about to pull my hair out, so my before and after pics in a week or two, I may be sprouting little random hairs. I'm ready to get this show on the road.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Day 35-Ang
Day: 35
Days left: 11
Weight: 242.6 lbs.
Weight lost: 15.4 lbs.
I'm back :)
Sorry kiddos...BUT I have been working really hard and have a lot to dish.
My workouts are becoming more and more intense. I am upping the reps and weight load during my weight training, I've been attending crazy challenging spinning classes, and my swimming endurance has literally increased tenfold. I feel stronger each day, the inches lost is becoming very noticeable.
Speaking of noticeable, a friend at work found a picture of me from less than a year ago at a company picnic. Everyone that saw the picture was in complete shock. I was about 50 lbs heavier than I am now, and basically looked 8 months pregnant. Although my reaction would have been embarrassment a few months ago, today it was pure pride and hope. I am extremely proud of what I have accomplished thus far in terms of health and am so hopeful that I will reach my health goals.
In other news, I'm still eating mostly raw. Since I've been able to cut out my daily dose of Claritin, I can now consume grapefruit (which is fabulous!). Breakfast for the day was a grapefruit, a handful of blackberries (in season-and cheap!!), and a 1/4 c. of raw almonds. I had 2 Cuties oranges as snacks during the day. For lunch, I had a salad of cherry tomatoes, broccoli, red onion, and carrots that I actually got from my work cafeteria, and a banana. Dinner was the always delish chick pea salad. I also had a square of dark chocolate--99% cacao that is!
All in all, the experience is continuing quite nicely.
Happy detoxing :)
Days left: 11
Weight: 242.6 lbs.
Weight lost: 15.4 lbs.
I'm back :)
Sorry kiddos...BUT I have been working really hard and have a lot to dish.
My workouts are becoming more and more intense. I am upping the reps and weight load during my weight training, I've been attending crazy challenging spinning classes, and my swimming endurance has literally increased tenfold. I feel stronger each day, the inches lost is becoming very noticeable.
Speaking of noticeable, a friend at work found a picture of me from less than a year ago at a company picnic. Everyone that saw the picture was in complete shock. I was about 50 lbs heavier than I am now, and basically looked 8 months pregnant. Although my reaction would have been embarrassment a few months ago, today it was pure pride and hope. I am extremely proud of what I have accomplished thus far in terms of health and am so hopeful that I will reach my health goals.
In other news, I'm still eating mostly raw. Since I've been able to cut out my daily dose of Claritin, I can now consume grapefruit (which is fabulous!). Breakfast for the day was a grapefruit, a handful of blackberries (in season-and cheap!!), and a 1/4 c. of raw almonds. I had 2 Cuties oranges as snacks during the day. For lunch, I had a salad of cherry tomatoes, broccoli, red onion, and carrots that I actually got from my work cafeteria, and a banana. Dinner was the always delish chick pea salad. I also had a square of dark chocolate--99% cacao that is!
All in all, the experience is continuing quite nicely.
Happy detoxing :)
Day 35 - Britni
Day: 35
Days left: 11
Weight: 186.6 lbs.
Weight lost: 12.4 lbs.
I certainly do apologize for the sparse postings the last 10 days or so, but as we've said, we're house hunting and that is both stressful and time consuming.
My goal for the next 11 days is to focus more on eating healthy and working out more. With all of the house stuff going on, it's been easier to snack a little more (even on healthy things) and to indulge in larger portions at dinner time. Regardless of what turns the house journey takes in the coming days, it's definitely time to focus more on health and kicking habits. I would like to throw in that it's been 36 days since I've had a coke or coffee. Working out has not been too huge of a priority due to coughing constantly the last couple of weeks, but it's time to stop falling back on that. Also, with all of the house stuff going on, it's been difficult to remember to juice, so some morning I'll wake up and have to throw some fruit and nuts in my bag and go without juice. I really need to be more dedicated to juicing which I don't intend on stopping just because Lent is over.
Lent is coming up quickly though, so what does that bring for me? I will indulge on Easter morning with a cup of coffee. That's for sure. I don't care if it's decaf. Just want coffee. That being said, Cokes are out. No more. Cacao to Coke. Do I still crave them? Absolutely. Is my addiction to them broken? I think so.
So I'm going to TRY my hardest to get back to blogging daily. That being said, I've got a busy next couple of weeks. I'm starting my new job on Monday, then it's Easter weekend at Ang's parents, then a wedding the following weekend, and depending on how things go, we may be closing on a house mid-May. THEN school starts. THEN we move. THEN the projects start.
Reflecting back on this whole Lent season, have we stayed on track? Definitely not. Have we been diligent in our bloggings? Not at all. Have we been successful? Absolutely. With me being down almost 13 pounds and Ang down over 15, I'd say it's been greatly successful. We have definitely changed the way we shop, the way we eat, and the way we view food. I've become less reliant on Coke, and find water more enjoyable than I ever have.
Onward. Things are only going to get better from here.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Day 31 - Britni
Day: 31
Days left: 15
Weight: 186.8 lbs.
Weight lost: 12.2 lbs.
Finally. A little tick past 12 pounds lost. I'm finally back at the gym and everything feels like it's getting back to normal.
Yesterday I ran faster and further than I have since I was 14. I was pretty scrawny and fast at 14, but I am getting more muscle nowadays. My 14 year old self wouldn't have been able to keep up. Take that tiny-Britni. Today I was sore, though. Very sore. I wasn't near able to run as much as yesterday, but I'm hoping to top it on Monday after a couple of days of rest. I was back on the juice yesterday which was much appreciated by my body, but I woke up too late today to make any, and I was doped up on Benadryl and was asleep by 9 p.m.
Let me tell you, folks. Allergies are no joke. They have taken me out for almost two weeks. That's almost worse than the flu.
It's finally the weekend and I'm feeling great today. Such gorgeous weather today! Perfect temps and perfect weather. We're going to try and enjoy a stress-free evening. Tomorrow we're at a wedding shower but Sunday I want to try and get out and play in the park or something. We're due a Frisbee session.
Enjoy the weekend kids!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Day 29 - Britni
Day: 29
Days left: 17
Weight: 187.0 lbs.
Weight lost: 12.0 lbs.
Well, it's been a week that I've been stuck at pesky 187. In my defense, I haven't been able to work out because of this allergy crap that I've had since last Monday. Tomorrow, though, I'm back in the gym. I promise. I'm ready too. I feel like I could run ten miles.
I've been juicing about every other day because I've felt so bad in the evenings with the cough that juicing just isn't as high of a priority. Plus this whole house hunt thing has thrown every daily routine out of whack. We'll find out probably tomorrow if we get the house that we put an offer in on. If we get it, hopefully we can chill out for a little bit.
Also, I'm starting a new job on April 2 back with my old department so there will certainly be some adjustment there, but I'm so incredibly excited.
I'm about to go make tomorrow's juice. I'm thinking pineapple, spinach, and a lemon. Sound good? We'll see.
Ang-Day 29
Day: 29
Days left: 17
Weight: 242.4 lbs.
Weight lost: 15.6 lbs.
Well, that was a poor attempt at a resolution! Let's try this again...every day from now til Easter. We can do it! Gah...
Today was my first exercise 'class' at LA Fitness. When I got to the gym, I did about 30 min. of the weight circuits and 10 min. on the row machine. I then went to an hour long spinning class. I'm pretty sure I have not worked out that hard since high school sports! I was exhausted, covered in sweat, and my knees hurt like hell...but it was amazing!
As for food, I started out the day with a banana and some unsweetened coconut for breakfast. I snacked on an orange in the morning, and then had a Roma tomato and some cauliflower for lunch. I had an apple and a couple cacao beans before my workout. Britni made some delicious whole wheat pasta with pesto for supper. For desert, we split a dark chocolate bar.
I've added unsweetened hot green tea to my daily routine. I've noticed that it really suppresses my appetite, and that I need to make a conscious effort to eat enough calories throughout the day to keep up my metabolism.
Speaking of metabolism, I gave myself a shot for the first time with some wonderful B-12. I got a bit nauseous at first, stabbing myself and all, but got over it pretty quickly. Looks like this is going to be a normal occurrence, so I might as well get used to it.
And now, in the words of Dorey, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...swimming, swimming..."
Days left: 17
Weight: 242.4 lbs.
Weight lost: 15.6 lbs.
Well, that was a poor attempt at a resolution! Let's try this again...every day from now til Easter. We can do it! Gah...
Today was my first exercise 'class' at LA Fitness. When I got to the gym, I did about 30 min. of the weight circuits and 10 min. on the row machine. I then went to an hour long spinning class. I'm pretty sure I have not worked out that hard since high school sports! I was exhausted, covered in sweat, and my knees hurt like hell...but it was amazing!
As for food, I started out the day with a banana and some unsweetened coconut for breakfast. I snacked on an orange in the morning, and then had a Roma tomato and some cauliflower for lunch. I had an apple and a couple cacao beans before my workout. Britni made some delicious whole wheat pasta with pesto for supper. For desert, we split a dark chocolate bar.
I've added unsweetened hot green tea to my daily routine. I've noticed that it really suppresses my appetite, and that I need to make a conscious effort to eat enough calories throughout the day to keep up my metabolism.
Speaking of metabolism, I gave myself a shot for the first time with some wonderful B-12. I got a bit nauseous at first, stabbing myself and all, but got over it pretty quickly. Looks like this is going to be a normal occurrence, so I might as well get used to it.
And now, in the words of Dorey, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...swimming, swimming..."
Monday, March 19, 2012
Day 27-Ang
Day: 27
Days left: 19
Weight: 243.4 lbs.
Weight lost: 14.6 lbs.
*New Resolution* I will blog every day from today until Easter, no matter how busy or hectic our schedules become!
After an intense weekend of house hunting, we have officially but an offer on a beautiful home in Corinth. Crossing our fingers and nervously awaiting the news!
But back to the detox...still hanging in there and seeing results. I did a quick comparison of my 'before' pictures with my current self, and the difference was shocking. People in my daily life have started to noticed the difference, too. I'm very grateful for all of the support we have been receiving during this journey!
Today, breakfast was a sour apple and a tall ole' glass of ice water. I snacked on a 1/4 c. of raw peanuts and a few cacao beans throughout the day. Lunch was an orange and a salad of cauliflower, tomato, and raw hemp seed. I was spoiled at dinner since Britni made me cabbage with quinoa pasta and ham...omgomgomg.
Due to some inclimate weather, I was unable to go to the gym today, as I feared a whirling vortex of cloud would sweep me off the treadmill. However, I will be upping my workouts this week and will of course keep you updated.
That's all for now!
Days left: 19
Weight: 243.4 lbs.
Weight lost: 14.6 lbs.
*New Resolution* I will blog every day from today until Easter, no matter how busy or hectic our schedules become!
After an intense weekend of house hunting, we have officially but an offer on a beautiful home in Corinth. Crossing our fingers and nervously awaiting the news!
But back to the detox...still hanging in there and seeing results. I did a quick comparison of my 'before' pictures with my current self, and the difference was shocking. People in my daily life have started to noticed the difference, too. I'm very grateful for all of the support we have been receiving during this journey!
Today, breakfast was a sour apple and a tall ole' glass of ice water. I snacked on a 1/4 c. of raw peanuts and a few cacao beans throughout the day. Lunch was an orange and a salad of cauliflower, tomato, and raw hemp seed. I was spoiled at dinner since Britni made me cabbage with quinoa pasta and ham...omgomgomg.
Due to some inclimate weather, I was unable to go to the gym today, as I feared a whirling vortex of cloud would sweep me off the treadmill. However, I will be upping my workouts this week and will of course keep you updated.
That's all for now!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Day 26 - Britni
Day: 26
Days left: 20
Weight: 187.0 lbs.
Weight lost: 12.0 lbs.
Hello all. I promise next week will be better. I don't know why my allergies are so much worse this year, but I'm sick of it. Basically, since Monday evening I have been coughing and sneezing my head off. It's been really terrible.
But let me update you on how things are going with the food situation. I have been on raw food all this week because I need to be eating with the allergy medication. I'm hoping that by tomorrow, I'll be able to be back on the juice. I'm shooting for Tuesday to start working out again. Tomorrow, the university is closed and so I won't have access to the gym. I've been going crazy not working out but I know it's for the best while my body recuperates.
In other news, I interviewed for a new job in my old department on Wednesday and on Thursday I found out that I got it. This is incredibly exciting news because I absolutely love the folks in that department and I feel like I have a lot I can contribute. So in two weeks, I'll be heading back to the other side of campus to start my job as a Payment Analyst. Fantastic!
In other other news, today we're going to put an offer on a lovely home and we hope hope hope we get it. It's absolutely perfect in almost every way. In the meantime, it's off to Sprouts because we are out of produce! Happy Sunday everyone!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Day 22-Ang
Day: 22
Days Left: 24
Weight: 245.2 lbs.
Weight Lost: 12.8 lbs.
Happy Pi Day everyone! I should have made a raw pie or something!! Maybe that will have to be a weekend project...
This will be another short one, but I promise the next few posts will be more substantial. It has been a pretty hectic week overall. We are browsing the market to purchase our first house. For as exciting as the process is, it is also time consuming and stressful. Some stress is good though-keeps the adrenaline up :)
Breakfast was a bowl of sour green grapes and a handful of raw cashews. Lunch was cauliflower, a banana, and a honey tangerine. After work, I grabbed a banana, unsweetened flaked coconut, and a few cacao beans. Dinner was chicken and rice, with mushrooms, celery, carrots, onion, and a side baked potato. Desert was a few sweet dates.
I plan on tearin' it up in the gym tomorrow. I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes.
Now it's time to take care of my lady...good night all!
Days Left: 24
Weight: 245.2 lbs.
Weight Lost: 12.8 lbs.
Happy Pi Day everyone! I should have made a raw pie or something!! Maybe that will have to be a weekend project...
This will be another short one, but I promise the next few posts will be more substantial. It has been a pretty hectic week overall. We are browsing the market to purchase our first house. For as exciting as the process is, it is also time consuming and stressful. Some stress is good though-keeps the adrenaline up :)
Breakfast was a bowl of sour green grapes and a handful of raw cashews. Lunch was cauliflower, a banana, and a honey tangerine. After work, I grabbed a banana, unsweetened flaked coconut, and a few cacao beans. Dinner was chicken and rice, with mushrooms, celery, carrots, onion, and a side baked potato. Desert was a few sweet dates.
I plan on tearin' it up in the gym tomorrow. I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes.
Now it's time to take care of my lady...good night all!
Day 22 - Britni
Day: 22
Days left: 24
Weight: 187.0 lbs.
Weight lost: 12.0 lbs.
Happy Wednesday everyone! I apologize for yet another hiatus. I'm very much under the weather due to some very awful demon tree pollen.
The upside is I have lost some more weight. Also, I had a very successful interview today. The downside is I haven't been able to work out which is terrible.
Because I've been on so much medication for my cough/scratchy throat, I've been just eating raw food throughout the day. Once I'm doing better, I'll be back to juicing. I'm sorry to cut it short, but my throat is killing me and I'm sleepy.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Day 20-Ang
Day: 20
Days Left: 26
Weight: 246.4 lbs.
Weight Lost: 11.6 lbs.
I'm back!
Sorry again for being away...the weekends have really been a challenge time-wise.
Let's begin with the weight. The weight noted above is from Friday morning. I will re-weigh myself first thing tomorrow am, and I will report my findings.
Today was a bit challenging, as it was my first day with only juice and a handful of cashews for breakfast and lunch. I noticed that my blood sugar was thrown for a loop for the majority of the day, and have since decided to stick with my raw food plan. The juice was delicious though-apples, strawberries, cucumber, and turnip greens.
For dinner, we got a couple of sammiches from good ole Jimmy John's. Not the healthiest of cuisine, but it sure hit the spot after all that juice.
I have been hitting the gym quite hard, but admittedly skipped today. We have been house hunting and endured the hell of daylight savings time, so I needed to get home to take care of any business and rest the remainder of the evening. I will be visiting the gym bright and early tomorrow, as we will be touring a house later in the day. I will have to really test myself in terms of time management, since I will need to be getting enough of a work out and have time to get all dolled up for work.
Other than that, things are going great. Still feeling healthy and strong, and am looking forward to new challenges. Bring it!
Days Left: 26
Weight: 246.4 lbs.
Weight Lost: 11.6 lbs.
I'm back!
Sorry again for being away...the weekends have really been a challenge time-wise.
Let's begin with the weight. The weight noted above is from Friday morning. I will re-weigh myself first thing tomorrow am, and I will report my findings.
Today was a bit challenging, as it was my first day with only juice and a handful of cashews for breakfast and lunch. I noticed that my blood sugar was thrown for a loop for the majority of the day, and have since decided to stick with my raw food plan. The juice was delicious though-apples, strawberries, cucumber, and turnip greens.
For dinner, we got a couple of sammiches from good ole Jimmy John's. Not the healthiest of cuisine, but it sure hit the spot after all that juice.
I have been hitting the gym quite hard, but admittedly skipped today. We have been house hunting and endured the hell of daylight savings time, so I needed to get home to take care of any business and rest the remainder of the evening. I will be visiting the gym bright and early tomorrow, as we will be touring a house later in the day. I will have to really test myself in terms of time management, since I will need to be getting enough of a work out and have time to get all dolled up for work.
Other than that, things are going great. Still feeling healthy and strong, and am looking forward to new challenges. Bring it!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Day 19 - Britni
Day: 19
Days left: 27
Weight: 188.0 lbs.
Weight lost: 11.0 lbs.
Howdy all! I apologize for the hiatus, but the weekends have been a little bit hectic.
So let's start with Friday. Friday was oddly crazy at work since I had lots to do and a meeting to go to. I fit my workout in during my late lunch break and ran longer than I have since high school. I felt very proud of my workout. I'm ready to get back in the gym tomorrow. We didn't get much accomplished in the evening on Friday because we had decided that we are going to possibly buy a house when our lease is up.
Saturday, we ate raw throughout the day. We ate mostly grapes and mixed nuts. In the evening we went to my dear friend Megan's baby shower and chowed down on some delicious Italian food (which probably wasn't the healthiest thing, though we did extend some portion control).
Today we ate raw for breakfast (it's hard to juice while on the road). We went and looked at houses during the day and stopped for Target sushi for lunch. For dinner we had Greek nachos which were conceived in Angela's mind and brought to fruition in our kitchen.
Again, I apologize for the break, but we will definitely keep you updated throughout the week. And look. More weight loss! That is always a good thing.
Anyhow, we'll see you back here tomorrow night. Good evening, my friends!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Day 16 - Britni
Day: 16
Days left: 30
Weight: 189.6 lbs.
Weight lost: 9.4 lbs.
Hey hey kiddy kids! Well, its day 3 of not losing any wait. The good thing is that I'm not gaining, but it's frustrating when you're drinking juice two meals of the day, working out, and still not losing weight. I'm hoping that it's just muscle mass, but man is it bringing me down.
We have decided, however, to do a 3 day juice fast next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I'm very excited about it as I need another challenge. Tomorrow I'm considering going to the gym after work to go swimming along with my lunch workout.
In other news, J. Lo needs to stop trying to be 20.
Now, onto cravings. Someone in my department had fried chicken. I don't know who, and I don't know where. But I smelt it. And when I find out who had it, I'm going to hunt them down, and I'm going to make them promise to never bring such things in the office again. Then I'm going to do a big clap in their face without them expecting it. And to the rest of you, you've been warned.
Day 16-Ang
Day: 16
Days Left: 32
Weight: 247 lbs.
Weight Lost: 11 lbs.
Good evening fine blog readers...welcome to the show!
Breakfast was interesting...I had sliced cucumber and a fruit salad of watermelon, pineapple, and strawberries, but then I got extremely nauseous and dizzy. I couldn't figure out what was wrong, as I didn't feel feverish or anything. Then Britni asked the question, "Have you been drinking enough water?" Answer-I apparently have not. After a full bottle of water, I felt 100% better. I suppose the intense workout from last night dehydrated me a bit. Now I am going to monitor my aqua intake a little more carefully.
An orange was the snack of choice. I then had a kale and tomato salad for lunch with a banana. Dinner was chickpea salad with pita chips and a few dates. We also split an organic chocolate bar for desert (give us a break, we really needed a fix!).
For a work out, I did laps in the pool for 40 minutes, and then indulged in the spa for a few minutes afterwards. I had initially planned on swimming for an hour, but at 40 min. my abs felt as if they may snap...so I called it quits for today. Tomorrow will be weight training, which I'm pumped about. Get it. Get it.
Talk to you all again tomorrow!
Days Left: 32
Weight: 247 lbs.
Weight Lost: 11 lbs.
Good evening fine blog readers...welcome to the show!
Breakfast was interesting...I had sliced cucumber and a fruit salad of watermelon, pineapple, and strawberries, but then I got extremely nauseous and dizzy. I couldn't figure out what was wrong, as I didn't feel feverish or anything. Then Britni asked the question, "Have you been drinking enough water?" Answer-I apparently have not. After a full bottle of water, I felt 100% better. I suppose the intense workout from last night dehydrated me a bit. Now I am going to monitor my aqua intake a little more carefully.
An orange was the snack of choice. I then had a kale and tomato salad for lunch with a banana. Dinner was chickpea salad with pita chips and a few dates. We also split an organic chocolate bar for desert (give us a break, we really needed a fix!).
For a work out, I did laps in the pool for 40 minutes, and then indulged in the spa for a few minutes afterwards. I had initially planned on swimming for an hour, but at 40 min. my abs felt as if they may snap...so I called it quits for today. Tomorrow will be weight training, which I'm pumped about. Get it. Get it.
Talk to you all again tomorrow!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Day 15 - Britni
Day: 15
Days left: 31
Weight: 189.6 lbs.
Weight lost: 9.4 lbs.
We're down to roughly one month of this left, and I can say, I'm not too stressed about that. Today was an odd day because the only thing I craved was chocolate. I had a good intense workout which has left me pretty exhausted. I don't really feel like typing a whole lot because of being sleepy. So I promise I'll write more tomorrow. Goodnight kids.
Day 15-Ang
Day: 15
Days Left: 31
Weight: 248.2 lbs.
Weight Lost: 9.8 lbs
Phew! Now that was a work out...I burned 550 calories on an eliptical and rounded it out with 50 calories on the bike. I need to hit the showers, so this is going to be a short one folks.
On the topic of work outs, I've made a decision regarding my schedule. I am going to alternate days of weight circuit training, cardio training, and swimming, with Sundays off. I'm hoping this will give a nice balance to the workouts and keep my interest with the constant switch up.
Today's food began with a 1/4 c. raw almonds, a banana, and an apple for breakfast. I, as could be suspected, had an orange for my mid morning snack. Lunch was a salad of romaine, kale, 5 sliced strawberries, a Tbsp. raw Chia seeds and a Tbsp. raw hemp seeds with a cup of grapes. Dinner was leftover rice pasta from Sunday's dinner and a few pita chips with rawish hummus.
Getting strong :)
Days Left: 31
Weight: 248.2 lbs.
Weight Lost: 9.8 lbs
Phew! Now that was a work out...I burned 550 calories on an eliptical and rounded it out with 50 calories on the bike. I need to hit the showers, so this is going to be a short one folks.
On the topic of work outs, I've made a decision regarding my schedule. I am going to alternate days of weight circuit training, cardio training, and swimming, with Sundays off. I'm hoping this will give a nice balance to the workouts and keep my interest with the constant switch up.
Today's food began with a 1/4 c. raw almonds, a banana, and an apple for breakfast. I, as could be suspected, had an orange for my mid morning snack. Lunch was a salad of romaine, kale, 5 sliced strawberries, a Tbsp. raw Chia seeds and a Tbsp. raw hemp seeds with a cup of grapes. Dinner was leftover rice pasta from Sunday's dinner and a few pita chips with rawish hummus.
Getting strong :)
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Day 14 - Britni
Days left: 32
Weight: 189.6 lbs.
Weight lost: 9.4 lbs.
Two weeks! We've made it two weeks! Holla!
Okay, now that the rejoicing is done, let me tell you how it's going. Still juicing. Still feeling awesome. Ang and I were talking over dinner about how much better we are feeling in general since we've started this journey. And it's basically just awesome (trying to see how much I can fit that word into this blog). It's been probably a week and a half since I've had a headache. Compare that to having a subtle headache every day, and it's a huge difference. I also don't really have stomach aches, or feel like I've stuffed myself (due to portion control).
It's an amazing feeling when you wrangle something into your control. Eating raw and juicing is very easy. You spend less time focusing on what's for breakfast and lunch, and just make your juice or grab some fruit/veg/nuts/seeds. It's certainly do-able on the long term. I think this diet may stick after Lent. I may switch over to a raw diet for breakfast and lunch and have juice occasionally, but it will be some variety of what I'm doing now. It's certainly getting easier to eat healthy. It's getting easier to ignore cravings. It's getting easier to be in a healthy frame of mind. It's getting easier to go to the gym.
But now that I've mentioned cravings, I'll admit, I've not shaken my cravings for the disgusting creature which is Coke. The cravings are much milder than they were at first, but they are still there. It's usually only when I cross paths with a Coke/Dr. Pepper that I crave it. I'll tell you what, though, folks. Coke is everywhere. There are at least 10 Coke machines in my building at work. There are Cokes at almost every checkout at the store. There are Cokes in the hands of students as I walk from the gym to my office. Lucky for me, no one in my office cares much for soft drinks. I wouldn't likely crave Cokes if I didn't see them. But that's not happening. The good thing is that the cravings don't last long. Out of sight, out of mind. Ang told me that breaking an addiction takes 20 days. I'm at day 14, so if the 20 days holds true, by Monday I should be cured of my affliction. Things I haven't really craved are fast food, fried things, etc. I occasionally crave fried chicken, but that's because it's fried chicken. And everyone knows that fried chicken is heaven. I haven't really missed sweets either. I've never been much of a sweets person anyway (except with Coke).
Well kiddykins, it's time to bid farewell for the evening. I'm tired and the wind is blowing something fierce. It needs to calm itself so I can rest.
Good evening to all you lovelies.
Day 14-Ang
Day: 14
Days Left: 32
Weight: 249.8 lbs.
Weight Lost: 8.2 lbs
First of all, I want to mention that I am now weighing myself first thing in the morning. I was weighing myself right after dinner and it was making me feel guilty, even though our evening meals have been healthy and relatively portion controlled. This way, my body has time to digest and process the dinner and distribute as needed, preventing any skewing of the weight. So yes, my weight is less today :)
I ate pretty light throughout the work day, which was a real good thing since Britni and I went out for sushi and udon for dinner. Breakfast was an apple and a banana and a few remaining raw hazelnuts I had left over from yesterday. I again had a tangelo as a snack in the morning. Lunch was a green pepper, raw hemp seed, and 7 strawberries. I hoping to try some of that raw mint icecream this evening, so my tantalizing description will need to wait one more post session.
In other news, I met with the personal trainer today. He completed a full body assessment, which was absolutely fascinating. In relation to my height and body frame, the lowest weight I can maintain healthfully is 149 lbs. and 18% body fat would be at about 179 lbs. I was kind of shocked by the numbers, but I was pretty solid when I used to weigh 165-170lbs. Now that I have that in mind, I am revamping my goal weight to 170 lbs., and will be more than ok if it dips down a little lower as we progress through this little journey.
"Work smarter not harder" was the general theme of our training session. We went through a lot of circuit weights, and he also showed me how a simple 1 minute plank with a balance apparatus can bring my heart rate up to fat burning level, which would normally take 15 minutes on a treadmill to reach! I learned a lot in a short amount of time, and can't wait to apply it to my daily work outs.
This concludes my edition of day 14. Hope you enjoy!
Days Left: 32
Weight: 249.8 lbs.
Weight Lost: 8.2 lbs
Hello, Tuesday!
First of all, I want to mention that I am now weighing myself first thing in the morning. I was weighing myself right after dinner and it was making me feel guilty, even though our evening meals have been healthy and relatively portion controlled. This way, my body has time to digest and process the dinner and distribute as needed, preventing any skewing of the weight. So yes, my weight is less today :)
I ate pretty light throughout the work day, which was a real good thing since Britni and I went out for sushi and udon for dinner. Breakfast was an apple and a banana and a few remaining raw hazelnuts I had left over from yesterday. I again had a tangelo as a snack in the morning. Lunch was a green pepper, raw hemp seed, and 7 strawberries. I hoping to try some of that raw mint icecream this evening, so my tantalizing description will need to wait one more post session.
In other news, I met with the personal trainer today. He completed a full body assessment, which was absolutely fascinating. In relation to my height and body frame, the lowest weight I can maintain healthfully is 149 lbs. and 18% body fat would be at about 179 lbs. I was kind of shocked by the numbers, but I was pretty solid when I used to weigh 165-170lbs. Now that I have that in mind, I am revamping my goal weight to 170 lbs., and will be more than ok if it dips down a little lower as we progress through this little journey.
"Work smarter not harder" was the general theme of our training session. We went through a lot of circuit weights, and he also showed me how a simple 1 minute plank with a balance apparatus can bring my heart rate up to fat burning level, which would normally take 15 minutes on a treadmill to reach! I learned a lot in a short amount of time, and can't wait to apply it to my daily work outs.
This concludes my edition of day 14. Hope you enjoy!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Day 13 - Britni
Day: 13
Days left: 33
Weight: 190.4 lbs.
Weight lost: 8.6 lbs.
Well, I made it through Monday which is always the longest day of the week. The juice is slowly becoming less of an issue as it was and I'm not really craving things anymore (except today I craved salmon, but only because I was looking up healthy recipes).
Anyhow, I actually forgot to drink my juice at lunch and didn't realize until half way through my workout, so I had to go drink it as an afternoon snack. My lunch workout was good. I felt stronger and ran for longer periods of time. This evening I did weights and crunches and also ate some super lovely chickpea salad. We're trying to adjust our meal plans to the reduced portions so we're having the chickpea salad twice this week.
As far as weight loss, it's coming off slower now, but that's okay. So long as it keeps going down, I'm happy. I'm very happy we came to our senses and added solid meals into our diet. I think the main key to making it past the cravings is having something in the short-term (food-wise) to look forward too. Suddenly your dinners mean more to you, because that's when you can enjoy eating a meal instead of drinking. You become more okay with every day, healthy meals and less distracted by fattening high-calorie meals. You can finish a meal and still feel good about yourself instead of finishing a meal and regretting it. It really changes the way you view and relate to food. Once you can get past the cravings for fried chicken and Coke, you're golden.
Well, that's my little rant. I tricked Ang into making my juice for tomorrow (hee hee). Tomorrow's juice is apple, strawberry, and orange. Nom nom nom.
Day 13-Ang
Day: 13
Days Left: 33
Weight: 251.2 lbs.
Weight Lost: 6.8 lbs
Happy Monday!
Ok, so weight is still a little up...but I need to remember that this cleanse process is not just for weight loss. The ability to replenish the nutrients my body needs to be strong is even more important. So, despite another set back, I am still positive I am on the right path for health.
In terms of food for the day, I had a 1/4 c. of mixed raw nuts, a tangelo and 5 strawberries for breakfast. I had an apple as a post meeting mid morning snack. Lunch was a salad of romaine hearts, cucumber, and edemame in a home made cold pressed vinaigrette. After working out I had a little bit of raw(ish) hummus with a couple pita chips. Britni whipped up some lovely chickpea salad for supper, and is in the process of making raw mint ice cream (mmmmmmmmmmm!). I'll fill you in on the outcome in tomorrow's little ditty.
As I mentioned, I worked out pretty hard core today. My gym membership was finally activated so I had free range of the entire club. I blazed ahead with 45 min. on the iso eliptical, 15 min. on weights, and 20 min. on the bike. According to the cardio machines I burned over 400 calories, so I am estimating about 500 with the weights was shed this afternoon. I feel amazing this evening, with just a little soreness in my arms and legs. I meet with a personal trainer tomorrow, so hopefully I can get a plan on paper for my fitness goals.
In other cleanse news, I paid off what should be my last outstanding medical bill this morning. It's a small step towards financial detox, but damn did it feel good. I used to be rather uncomfortable with money. I don't think I had a great grasp on how to live within my means until recently. I am now actively trying to improve past financial missteps, and pave the way for my new financial mind to reign. Just wait until I start my degree in Financial Management...I should be well good.
That's all I have for tonight. I apologize again for the brief absence in the blog world. Talk to you all again tomorrow!
Days Left: 33
Weight: 251.2 lbs.
Weight Lost: 6.8 lbs
Happy Monday!
Ok, so weight is still a little up...but I need to remember that this cleanse process is not just for weight loss. The ability to replenish the nutrients my body needs to be strong is even more important. So, despite another set back, I am still positive I am on the right path for health.
In terms of food for the day, I had a 1/4 c. of mixed raw nuts, a tangelo and 5 strawberries for breakfast. I had an apple as a post meeting mid morning snack. Lunch was a salad of romaine hearts, cucumber, and edemame in a home made cold pressed vinaigrette. After working out I had a little bit of raw(ish) hummus with a couple pita chips. Britni whipped up some lovely chickpea salad for supper, and is in the process of making raw mint ice cream (mmmmmmmmmmm!). I'll fill you in on the outcome in tomorrow's little ditty.
As I mentioned, I worked out pretty hard core today. My gym membership was finally activated so I had free range of the entire club. I blazed ahead with 45 min. on the iso eliptical, 15 min. on weights, and 20 min. on the bike. According to the cardio machines I burned over 400 calories, so I am estimating about 500 with the weights was shed this afternoon. I feel amazing this evening, with just a little soreness in my arms and legs. I meet with a personal trainer tomorrow, so hopefully I can get a plan on paper for my fitness goals.
In other cleanse news, I paid off what should be my last outstanding medical bill this morning. It's a small step towards financial detox, but damn did it feel good. I used to be rather uncomfortable with money. I don't think I had a great grasp on how to live within my means until recently. I am now actively trying to improve past financial missteps, and pave the way for my new financial mind to reign. Just wait until I start my degree in Financial Management...I should be well good.
That's all I have for tonight. I apologize again for the brief absence in the blog world. Talk to you all again tomorrow!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Day 12-Ang
Hi all.
I know we've been away for a hot minute, but the garage sale was a lot of fun.
I'm going to make everyone wait one more evening before a proper blog though. I need to be in the right frame of mind for these things, and after eating a heavier dinner I am definitely not in the right frame of mind.
Talk to ya soon!
I know we've been away for a hot minute, but the garage sale was a lot of fun.
I'm going to make everyone wait one more evening before a proper blog though. I need to be in the right frame of mind for these things, and after eating a heavier dinner I am definitely not in the right frame of mind.
Talk to ya soon!
Day 12 - Britni
Day: 12
Days left: 34
Weight: 190.8 lbs.
Weight lost: 8.2 lbs.
Sorry for the brief hiatus, folks! We were at my parent's house helping with a garage sale, so let me catch you up.
Friday went by pretty fast. I had a pineapple apple juice with spirulina for breakfast and almonds to snack on. For dinner we had hummus, pita chips, and veggies. I made juice before we left Lewisville for Bridgeport to have on Saturday morning and for lunch.
Saturday was the garage sale and the juice was my saving grace as we worked pretty hard throughout the day and had to resist the temptation of pizza which is what my parents had for lunch. For dinner, though, we had Mexican food and man was it delicious.
Today I had blackberries for breakfast because we hadn't planned on staying in Bridgeport to this morning. We headed back to Lewisville around 9 and we had watermelon for lunch. For dinner we had a wonderful pasta with chicken, mushrooms, and tomato, and a salad on the side. It was, of course, lovely as always.
Everything is going pretty smoothly. The cravings have died down quite a bit which is great because that is what has been so hard. The week, though, has actually proved to be harder than the week as there are few temptations at work.
So here we stand. 12 days in and 8.2 pounds down. Onward.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Be Back Tomorrow
Hello all! We're at my parents for the weekend and we'll be back tomorrow with a full update. Weight loss is still going well! Happy weekend!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Day 9 - Britni
Day: 9
Days left: 37
Weight: 192.6 lbs.
Weight lost: 6.4 lbs.
What a day. Can I just say, I'm so happy tomorrow is Friday.
Today was kind of a down day. Not in the best mood today and I wasn't really excited about anything. However, things have turned around.
I worked out pretty hard today to get rid of some tension. Once I got home, we went to Fuzzy's for dinner where I had a salad. It was delicious.
There's so much to do this evening so I'm going to keep this short. But a little bit of a weight loss today! Yay!
Day 9-Ang
Day: 9
Days Left: 37
Weight: 250.8
lbs.Weight Lost: 8.2 lbs.
Ahh....gained a pound, which is a step backwards. However, I did just weigh myself immediately following a heavy dinner at Fuzzy's Taco Shop (heavy, but scrumptious!).
But I suppose I should start from the beginning. I woke up with an unprecedented amount of energy, thanks to my new friend the Vitamin B-12 injection. I haven't felt that awake for most of the day in months.
For breakfast I had a bowl of watermelon and some fresh green beans. I had an orange and a banana as morning snacks. Lunch was a salad of romaine lettuce, carrots, edemame, almonds, and sea salt. You are aware of dinner, so deal with it :) .
The lady and I will be heading out to spend the weekend with the inlaws tomorrow. We are going to have to practice some self control in terms of keeping to our plan while out of town.
Keep on reading...
Days Left: 37
Weight: 250.8
lbs.Weight Lost: 8.2 lbs.
Ahh....gained a pound, which is a step backwards. However, I did just weigh myself immediately following a heavy dinner at Fuzzy's Taco Shop (heavy, but scrumptious!).
But I suppose I should start from the beginning. I woke up with an unprecedented amount of energy, thanks to my new friend the Vitamin B-12 injection. I haven't felt that awake for most of the day in months.
For breakfast I had a bowl of watermelon and some fresh green beans. I had an orange and a banana as morning snacks. Lunch was a salad of romaine lettuce, carrots, edemame, almonds, and sea salt. You are aware of dinner, so deal with it :) .
The lady and I will be heading out to spend the weekend with the inlaws tomorrow. We are going to have to practice some self control in terms of keeping to our plan while out of town.
Keep on reading...
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Day 8 - Britni
Day: 8
Days left: 38
Weight: 193.0 lbs.
Weight lost: 6.0 lbs.
Its day 8, y'all! That means that we've made it past a week sustaining this diet and that's quite the accomplishment in my mind.
Today was not an easy day, however, by any means. Cravings were in full swing today. My nemesis Coke came a'callin' for my stomach but I resisted all urges to walk down the hall, slide my credit card, and indulge in the super tasty, throat burning deliciousness that is oh-so-bad for me.
So what did I eat today? For breakfast I had a juice that was pretty basic. Blueberries, wheat grass, and banana. It was super tasty. For lunch I had my faux lemonade which was real delicious. What I did forget to do today was take my running shoes to the gym! I was completely changed and then wham…no shoes. So I just worked out on the spinner here at the apartment for 30 minutes and then did my 200 crunches followed by my various array of weights (for arms). I'm going to have pretty awesome arms when all is said and done, you know? Ang already said that my arms are looking more toned. Hoorah!
Now on to dinner. For dinner we ate at the always lovely Piranha's Killer Sushi and I had an eel roll and a Volcano roll which was amazing. We also ate edamame which is probably one of my favorites.
I have to cut this off now…time to juice for tomorrow!
Happy Hump Day!
Day 8-Ang
Day: 8
Days Left: 40
Weight: 249.8 lbs.
Weight Lost: 9.2 lbs.
I started this fine Hump day/ Leap day with a glass of Britni's soon to be famous spinach-lemon-apple juice, with a side of raw cacao nibs. It is probably the best juice I've ever had, and tastes a bit the way fresh cut grass smells-delicious! An apple was had midmorning, and romaine hearts, celery, carrots, red onion, almonds and strawberries were combined for the lunch salad.
Dinner was prepared by the folks at Piranha Killer Sushi, where I had edemame, an avocado roll and grilled chicken spring rolls. Fantastic dinner and fantastic service.
I also got my first B-12 shot today. My energy should increase dramatically in the coming days.
Stay tuned tomorrow, when I trek to the land of LA Fitness.
Days Left: 40
Weight: 249.8 lbs.
Weight Lost: 9.2 lbs.
I started this fine Hump day/ Leap day with a glass of Britni's soon to be famous spinach-lemon-apple juice, with a side of raw cacao nibs. It is probably the best juice I've ever had, and tastes a bit the way fresh cut grass smells-delicious! An apple was had midmorning, and romaine hearts, celery, carrots, red onion, almonds and strawberries were combined for the lunch salad.
Dinner was prepared by the folks at Piranha Killer Sushi, where I had edemame, an avocado roll and grilled chicken spring rolls. Fantastic dinner and fantastic service.
I also got my first B-12 shot today. My energy should increase dramatically in the coming days.
Stay tuned tomorrow, when I trek to the land of LA Fitness.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Day 7 - Britni
Day: 7
Days left: 39
Weight: 193.0 lbs.
Weight lost: 6.0 lbs.
Look at that weight loss today! I'm super excited about that.
Anyhow. My breakfast juice was straight pineapple and then I blended in a banana. It was incredibly wonderful and is probably going to become a staple. I felt great through the morning until it was time for my lunch juice…which was gross. It was cucumber, celery, and lime. It was incredibly bitter even though I'd put some stevia sweetener in it. Don't ever do that. I'm just warning you. You will regret it.
I had pretty good energy throughout the day and did a nice workout of about 50 minutes during my lunch break which was similar to yesterday with a little more running than walking. I'm about to go do weights and crunches also. After I got home we ate leftover pork and cabbage. It was just as yummy as Sunday night.
So on the cravings side of things…I did have cravings this evening for Coke and coffee. Mostly Coke. We did decide to go get shaken passion teas from Starbucks which were absolutely lovely and that killed that craving.
We made another Sprouts run this evening for groceries and came back with all kinds of lovely things. Yay!
Day 7-Ang
Day: 7
Days Left: 39
Weight: 252.0 lbs.
Weight Lost: 6.0 lbs.
Hi folks! One week down, and 6.0 lbs down too!
Well, I started this fine Tuesday off with some fresh pineapple, sweet watermelon, and some raw cashews. I snacked on blueberries and raw pumpkin seeds throughout the day. Lunch was a salad (go figure) of 1 chopped cucumber, 2 chopped roma tomatoes, and a sprinkle pf raw hemp seeds, and a bunch of grapes on the side. We grabbed leftovers from Sunday nights dinner this evening, with the addition of half an avocado each.
Lunch time was a little difficult today. It took all the power in me not to head to the cafeteria at work and order a turkey and bacon wrap and grab a diet Dr. Pepper. That's my monthly 'naughty' lunch that I would purchase when unusually hungry. However, the 'naughty' lunch is way off limits right now. I know there will be a place for the occasional turkey wrap once the cleanse is over, which is somewhat comforting, but I also like the health results I am getting with the current meal routine. I actually think I'm going to start incorporating more juice meals, instead of heading the opposite direction.
I did not work out today--however, I did purchase some new running shoes :) As I said yesterday, the workouts will be a consistent, intense part of my day once my gym membership kicks in later this week. Until then, at least I know I have the outfit ready!
That's all for today!
Days Left: 39
Weight: 252.0 lbs.
Weight Lost: 6.0 lbs.
Hi folks! One week down, and 6.0 lbs down too!
Well, I started this fine Tuesday off with some fresh pineapple, sweet watermelon, and some raw cashews. I snacked on blueberries and raw pumpkin seeds throughout the day. Lunch was a salad (go figure) of 1 chopped cucumber, 2 chopped roma tomatoes, and a sprinkle pf raw hemp seeds, and a bunch of grapes on the side. We grabbed leftovers from Sunday nights dinner this evening, with the addition of half an avocado each.
Lunch time was a little difficult today. It took all the power in me not to head to the cafeteria at work and order a turkey and bacon wrap and grab a diet Dr. Pepper. That's my monthly 'naughty' lunch that I would purchase when unusually hungry. However, the 'naughty' lunch is way off limits right now. I know there will be a place for the occasional turkey wrap once the cleanse is over, which is somewhat comforting, but I also like the health results I am getting with the current meal routine. I actually think I'm going to start incorporating more juice meals, instead of heading the opposite direction.
I did not work out today--however, I did purchase some new running shoes :) As I said yesterday, the workouts will be a consistent, intense part of my day once my gym membership kicks in later this week. Until then, at least I know I have the outfit ready!
That's all for today!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Day 6 - Britni
Day: 6
Days left: 40
Weight: 193.8 lbs.
Weight lost: 5.2 lbs.
Hello all!
Well, it was back to work today for the both of us so that means no more weird sleeping schedules for us. The day actually went along pretty well, aside from a run in with a certain postal worker who decided to be hateful to me for no reason.
Anyhow, I woke up at the same time as Ang this morning (early) but didn't have the motivation to get my butt out of bed and do some working out in the morning. It's a good thing I made my juice last night. Here's a tip. Should you choose to juice, do it at night while you're cooking dinner or whatever, otherwise, it may take all of the strength in your body to pull yourself from the loveliness that is your bed. My breakfast juice was absolutely the best juice I've made so far. It consisted of kale, spinach, two apples, a lemon, and a few strawberries. It tasted just like a pink lemonade but so much better because it's crazy healthy!
My lunch juice consisted of spinach, watermelon, and orange. It was just okay, but I downed it pretty quick.
The highlight of my day was getting back in the gym. Hoorah! I worked out for 55 minutes on my lunch break doing a combination of running and walking. It felt great and I wasn't too worn out afterwards which is a plus.
After work I worked out a little bit more at home, riding my spinner for about 15 minutes, doing weights for my arms, and 200 crunches. Elegant.
Needless to say, I'm pretty exhausted. But I've lost some weight and I'm feeling pretty darn awesome!
Day 6-Ang
Day: 6
Days Left: 40
Weight: 252.4 lbs.
Weight Lost: 5.6 lbs.
This one is going to be short and sweet, as it has been a long Monday for sure. For breakfast I had a bowl of watermelon and a banana. Lunch consisted of fresh green beans, baby carrots, raw almonds and blueberries. I snacked on an orange and raw dates throughout the day. Dinner was left-over chickpea salad. There seems to be substantially more left overs these days, as our portion control is much more in check.
Working out also commenced today. I did 50 weighted sit-ups, 50 omni ball crunches, 50 wall push ups, and various free weights. My work out was not nearly as intense as Britni's, but when my gym membership begins on Thursday, that will be changing :) .
Have a great evening folks!
Days Left: 40
Weight: 252.4 lbs.
Weight Lost: 5.6 lbs.
This one is going to be short and sweet, as it has been a long Monday for sure. For breakfast I had a bowl of watermelon and a banana. Lunch consisted of fresh green beans, baby carrots, raw almonds and blueberries. I snacked on an orange and raw dates throughout the day. Dinner was left-over chickpea salad. There seems to be substantially more left overs these days, as our portion control is much more in check.
Working out also commenced today. I did 50 weighted sit-ups, 50 omni ball crunches, 50 wall push ups, and various free weights. My work out was not nearly as intense as Britni's, but when my gym membership begins on Thursday, that will be changing :) .
Have a great evening folks!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Day 5 - Britni
Day: 5
Days left: 41
Weight: 194.2 lbs.
Weight lost: 4.8 lbs.
Today was absolutely a wonderful day. While I didn't lose any weight today, it was such a beautiful day and we got so much accomplished.
I didn't really sleep all that well last night…only about 4 hours, but I did sleep 12 hours the previous night so that averages out to a solid 8. This morning I had a lovely juice which consisted of spinach, apple, orange, and strawberry. After we ate, we got up and around and made a trip to The Power of Home Depot for some herbs and then a quick trip to Target to do a little bit of shopping, as well as a trip to Sprouts (again) for some almonds, dates, and Himalayan sea salt which is apparently the best and healthiest salt. It's not that expensive! It was $2.49 a pound which is probably cheaper than a normal container of sea salt.
Once we got home, we made lunch, mine being another juice which was pineapple, apple, and wheat grass. Yum. After I sucked that down, we headed out to out balcony to plant our new herbs. We now have 2 pots of basil, 3 pots of lavender, and 2 pots of peppermint. Love love love. I'm hoping this year the sun doesn't murder them.
So once we finished up outside, I was super sleepy, so we got ourselves a much needed nap with the warm sun beating in on us. I slept for a good two hours and then we got up to terrific news…Ang had an e-mail waiting for her saying that she's been accepted into the MPA program at UNT! Excitement!
Then she made me dinner.
A delicious pork roast with cabbage and noodles. It was absolutely the best thing in the world. I'm very excited because tomorrow is the first day back to work and therefore, back to the gym. I finally feel like I have the energy to really workout hard. I'm excited to start chronicling my workouts and see some more muscle build.
Now, as, Ang said, back to Oscars!!!
Day 5-Ang
Day: 5
Days Left: 41
Weight: 252.8 lbs.
Weight Lost: 5.2 lbs.
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday.
As you can see, I had a slight weight gain from yesterday. This is partially due to some (raw) snacking throughout the day, and partially due to a heavier supper this evening. I don't like the thought of a step backwards, but with the insane amount of energy we both have, there is no way I regret the dinner decision.
We both woke up naturally around 6:30 am this morning, bursting at the seem with energy. After a failed smoothie at breakfast (spirulina is best when blended, not just stirred in, apparently), we headed out to purchase some wonderful herbs for a patio garden. Lavender, mint, and basil....mmmm. We spent the afternoon planting said herbs and relaxing in general.
We also made a quick stop to Sprouts, where I was searching for unsweetened coconut. Although the coconut was not found, they had delicious little morsels of raw dates rolled in unsweetened coconut with a raw almond-perfection!
For supper, I made a pork sirloin roasted with apple slices, baby carrots, and celery with a side of braised cabbage and brown rice noodles--YUMM! Like I said, this was a much heavier meal, but celebration was called for. I received an email accepting me into UNT's MPA program! Hopefully I'll burn most of the extra calories off with my excitement :)
Sorry to cut this a bit short, but it's time to get back to the Oscars (we all need a few vices).
Days Left: 41
Weight: 252.8 lbs.
Weight Lost: 5.2 lbs.
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday.
As you can see, I had a slight weight gain from yesterday. This is partially due to some (raw) snacking throughout the day, and partially due to a heavier supper this evening. I don't like the thought of a step backwards, but with the insane amount of energy we both have, there is no way I regret the dinner decision.
We both woke up naturally around 6:30 am this morning, bursting at the seem with energy. After a failed smoothie at breakfast (spirulina is best when blended, not just stirred in, apparently), we headed out to purchase some wonderful herbs for a patio garden. Lavender, mint, and basil....mmmm. We spent the afternoon planting said herbs and relaxing in general.
We also made a quick stop to Sprouts, where I was searching for unsweetened coconut. Although the coconut was not found, they had delicious little morsels of raw dates rolled in unsweetened coconut with a raw almond-perfection!
For supper, I made a pork sirloin roasted with apple slices, baby carrots, and celery with a side of braised cabbage and brown rice noodles--YUMM! Like I said, this was a much heavier meal, but celebration was called for. I received an email accepting me into UNT's MPA program! Hopefully I'll burn most of the extra calories off with my excitement :)
Sorry to cut this a bit short, but it's time to get back to the Oscars (we all need a few vices).
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Day 4-Ang
Day: 4
Days Left: 42
Weight: 251.6 lbs.
Weight Lost: 6.4 lbs.
Today was a bit of a rebound day. After our dinner breakdown yesterday, it was time to regain focus in the little quest of ours. As Britni mentioned, we slept for approximately 12 hours. This is highly unusual for us, as we typically max out at 8 hours, even on the weekend. I am attributing this slumber to our bodies needing time to release some left over toxins and to reboot after the past couple of rather trying days.
Breakfast was absolutely divine...I mixed 1 chopped banana, 10 chopped strawberries, a handful of raw cashews and 2 Tbsp. raw cacao nibs. The combination of banana and cacao was literally one of the best things I have ever eaten. For lunch I had a salad of 1 chopped cucumber, 1 chopped avocado, 1/2 chopped tomato, and a dash of sea salt. I snacked on an orange and some raw cacao in the afternoon, after a refreshing trip to Sprouts. For dinner (since that's a thing now), we partook in our soon-to-be famous chickpea salad.
For this healthy, light meal, begin by blending 1 bunch of cilantro with 3 cloves of garlic and a little bit of cold-pressed olive oil with a hand blender-this will be the dressing for the salad. In a large bowl, mix the dressing, 3 cups of chickpeas, 1 chopped cucumber, 2 chopped Roma tomatoes, about 1/2 c. chopped green onion, and sea salt to taste. Serve in a bowl with some crushed pita chips for a bit of crunch. Voila! Chickpea salad. A simple, yet fulfilling delight in our lives.
In the spirit of full disclosure, there have been a few frustrations with the detox process. As noted, we broke down and added dinner to our daily routine, as our stomachs triumphed over our minds. I believe we both saw this as a bit of a defeat; however, as we both continue to lose weight at an accelerated pace AND feel much more energetic, this decision was definitely not in vain. There is also the annoying fact that many recreational activities focus around food (or alcohol). Today was sunny and rather warm for February, so the thoughts of icy margaritas on a patio overlooking the lake swarmed my head. I suppose this illustrates that the detox is not just a cleansing of our physical bodies...it's a chance to reconsider the relevance and purpose of food in our lives.
On that philosophical note, happy Saturday! Here's to health!
P.S. Britni surprised me with a warm, effervescent foot bath this evening. Can we say best wife ever, or what?
Days Left: 42
Weight: 251.6 lbs.
Weight Lost: 6.4 lbs.
Today was a bit of a rebound day. After our dinner breakdown yesterday, it was time to regain focus in the little quest of ours. As Britni mentioned, we slept for approximately 12 hours. This is highly unusual for us, as we typically max out at 8 hours, even on the weekend. I am attributing this slumber to our bodies needing time to release some left over toxins and to reboot after the past couple of rather trying days.
Breakfast was absolutely divine...I mixed 1 chopped banana, 10 chopped strawberries, a handful of raw cashews and 2 Tbsp. raw cacao nibs. The combination of banana and cacao was literally one of the best things I have ever eaten. For lunch I had a salad of 1 chopped cucumber, 1 chopped avocado, 1/2 chopped tomato, and a dash of sea salt. I snacked on an orange and some raw cacao in the afternoon, after a refreshing trip to Sprouts. For dinner (since that's a thing now), we partook in our soon-to-be famous chickpea salad.
For this healthy, light meal, begin by blending 1 bunch of cilantro with 3 cloves of garlic and a little bit of cold-pressed olive oil with a hand blender-this will be the dressing for the salad. In a large bowl, mix the dressing, 3 cups of chickpeas, 1 chopped cucumber, 2 chopped Roma tomatoes, about 1/2 c. chopped green onion, and sea salt to taste. Serve in a bowl with some crushed pita chips for a bit of crunch. Voila! Chickpea salad. A simple, yet fulfilling delight in our lives.
In the spirit of full disclosure, there have been a few frustrations with the detox process. As noted, we broke down and added dinner to our daily routine, as our stomachs triumphed over our minds. I believe we both saw this as a bit of a defeat; however, as we both continue to lose weight at an accelerated pace AND feel much more energetic, this decision was definitely not in vain. There is also the annoying fact that many recreational activities focus around food (or alcohol). Today was sunny and rather warm for February, so the thoughts of icy margaritas on a patio overlooking the lake swarmed my head. I suppose this illustrates that the detox is not just a cleansing of our physical bodies...it's a chance to reconsider the relevance and purpose of food in our lives.
On that philosophical note, happy Saturday! Here's to health!
P.S. Britni surprised me with a warm, effervescent foot bath this evening. Can we say best wife ever, or what?
Day 4 - Britni
Day: 4
Days left: 42
Weight: 194.2 lbs.
Weight lost: 4.8 lbs.
Hey hey hey! It's my favorite day of the week! Saturday! While we may have had a rough day yesterday, today has been fantastic! First off, we slept almost 12 hours! That's ridiculous. We were absolutely exhausted. Anyway, I woke up with plenty of energy, however, I chose to stay in bed for a while because it's Saturday and I can.
Anyway, I did get up to have a breakfast juice which was made up of lime, orange, and strawberries. It was absolutely delicious and I drank quite a bit of it. I then had a lovely bubble'ish bath with lavender sea salts. Whether or not that is relative to anything, I don't care. Because it was lovely.
For lunch I had a juice that consisted of apple, lime, banana, spinach, and spirulina. It, too, was delicious. These juices were much easier to get down than the previous juices in the week. Ang said it's because I was trying to put too many things in the juices and I happen to think she is absolutely correct. When it comes to juice, remember KISS – Keep It Simple, Stupid.
We spent the afternoon doing some lovely grocery shopping at Sprouts and some browsing at World Market. We spent about $50 and bought a fridge full of fruits and vegetables. I also bought some wheat grass which I intend on juicing tomorrow at lunch. We also bought a big ol' seedless watermelon for $3.99! What a steal! We'll be back for more on Tuesday.
By the time we got home, I had a pretty bad headache which I think came from not drinking enough water throughout the day. Hey kids, drink your water. I ate an avocado and had a handful of almonds to curb an afternoon hunger bout and soon after my headache was gone.
Then came dinner where we had delicious chickpea salad which Ang has previously mentioned. It was satisfying as always. She's going to give you the recipe for it if you need a nice light but filling dinner. Getcha some! Anyway, today we stayed pretty positive. Yay for little victories too! No Cokes in 5 days! That's the longest I've gone in a long long time.
See you tomorrow!
Friday, February 24, 2012
Day 3 - Fail (Sort of)
This evening Britni was very lightheaded due to the detoxing. We decided after the load of absolutely awful side effects that it was necessary to back things up, re-evaluate, and take a more do-able approach to juicing.
We'll be back tomorrow with regular updates.
Keep up the encouragement!
Day 2-Ang (A bit late.)
Day: 2
Days Left: 44
Weight: 253.8 lbs.
Weight Lost: 4.2 lbs.
Happy Friday!
So, as you have heard, my detox symptoms peaked last night in a major way. During the day I felt a little ‘off’, and chalked it up to not eating enough calories throughout the day. I tried to feel better by eating an avocado and a handeful of cashews when I got home after work. Then the pain really hit, and I laid in bed sweating with the headache of all headaches. I was actively trying to avoid any medication for pain, and Nurse Britni was doing all she could with some lovely lavender oil, but had to eventually give in and take some naproxen sodium.
I was able to get up and around enough right before bedtime to have a bowl of watermelon and a small glass of juice. I slept really well, considering I had laid in bed for so many hours in the afternoon, and woke up refreshed with a slight, dull headache.
Although I wouldn’t wish what I went through last night on anyone, if that is all I have to go through to gain my health back…then bring it. I am more determined than ever to make it the full 46 days.
Days Left: 44
Weight: 253.8 lbs.
Weight Lost: 4.2 lbs.
Happy Friday!
So, as you have heard, my detox symptoms peaked last night in a major way. During the day I felt a little ‘off’, and chalked it up to not eating enough calories throughout the day. I tried to feel better by eating an avocado and a handeful of cashews when I got home after work. Then the pain really hit, and I laid in bed sweating with the headache of all headaches. I was actively trying to avoid any medication for pain, and Nurse Britni was doing all she could with some lovely lavender oil, but had to eventually give in and take some naproxen sodium.
I was able to get up and around enough right before bedtime to have a bowl of watermelon and a small glass of juice. I slept really well, considering I had laid in bed for so many hours in the afternoon, and woke up refreshed with a slight, dull headache.
Although I wouldn’t wish what I went through last night on anyone, if that is all I have to go through to gain my health back…then bring it. I am more determined than ever to make it the full 46 days.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Day 2 - Britni
Day: 2
Days left: 44
Weight: 195.2 lbs.
Weight lost: 3.8 lbs.
Good evening to you all. I MAY be blogging for the both of us. Ang has fallen victim to the mother of all headaches. We’re hoping that it is resolved soon.
Today was definitely harder than yesterday. I slept 9 hours which is incredibly awesome since one of the possible side effects is insomnia. I had loads of energy until the afternoon where my energy faded and was replaced by cravings. For fried chicken. And my nemesis Coke. I wasn’t hungry, just having cravings.
As far as physical side effects, I’ve had a dull headache since about lunch. Ready for these headaches to get outta here. I’ve thought about 50 times a day “why in the hell am I doing this?” Of course I’m doing this for good health and to reboot my system. And also just to see if I have the will to do it. I have to keep telling myself that this isn’t forever. It’s just 44 more days which doesn’t seem like too long of a time. I will be able to occasionally indulge on the foods I love (if I even love them after I’m done with this). I will, however and hopefully, never drink another Coke.
I’m definitely feeling weak, but I will finish this damn thing. Apparently the first 3 days are the hardest, and then it gets easy. So I’m hoping tomorrow passes quick. I’m off for a long bath after I watch Parks and Recreation and The Office which will hopefully ease my headache and get me ready for a nice long sleep.
Ang will update you on her blog IF she’s up to it.
Wish me luck.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Day 1-Ang
Day: 1
Days left: 45
Weight: 256.6 lbs.
Weight lost: 1.4 lb.
Day 1 has gone really well for me. So far, I have not experienced any detox 'symptoms', but I suppose those would be more relevant for the coming days. The only craving that hit me today was for coffee. I suppose working in an office isn't conducive to avoiding the tempting smell of some good ole java. However, drinking warm water with fresh lemon slices really did the trick. For breakfast I had 10 strawberries and 15 baby carots. Throughout the day I snacked on 1/4 c. raw pumpkin seeds and drank tons of water.
Lunch was my favorite meal of the day, with a salad comprised of a chopped green bell pepper, a chopped stalk of celery, 1/4 c. raw cashews, and a pinch of salt and an ice cold orange for dessert.
Although lunch was very filling, I felt a bit tired when I got home from work, so I indulged in a cup of watermelon.
My opinion of dinner differs from Britni's, in that I loved the juice. It reminded me of a cold spicy veggie soup. I had the same juice as Britni for dinner, with the addition of 1 Tbsp. hemp seed for protein.
As I type now, I am enjoying some herbal tea and a handful of raw cashews. Still positive, and am actually more excited than yesterday about this process.
Days left: 45
Weight: 256.6 lbs.
Weight lost: 1.4 lb.
Day 1 has gone really well for me. So far, I have not experienced any detox 'symptoms', but I suppose those would be more relevant for the coming days. The only craving that hit me today was for coffee. I suppose working in an office isn't conducive to avoiding the tempting smell of some good ole java. However, drinking warm water with fresh lemon slices really did the trick. For breakfast I had 10 strawberries and 15 baby carots. Throughout the day I snacked on 1/4 c. raw pumpkin seeds and drank tons of water.
Lunch was my favorite meal of the day, with a salad comprised of a chopped green bell pepper, a chopped stalk of celery, 1/4 c. raw cashews, and a pinch of salt and an ice cold orange for dessert.
Although lunch was very filling, I felt a bit tired when I got home from work, so I indulged in a cup of watermelon.
My opinion of dinner differs from Britni's, in that I loved the juice. It reminded me of a cold spicy veggie soup. I had the same juice as Britni for dinner, with the addition of 1 Tbsp. hemp seed for protein.
As I type now, I am enjoying some herbal tea and a handful of raw cashews. Still positive, and am actually more excited than yesterday about this process.
Day 1 - Britni
Day: 1
Days left: 45
Weight: 198 lbs.
Weight lost: 1 lb.
Well, I’ve made it through day 1 without wanting to kill myself. I woke up about 40 minutes earlier than I normally do to make the juice for breakfast and lunch. I used all of it and destroyed the kitchen in the process, but the juice was delicious. It was watermelon, strawberry, spinach, cucumber, spirulina, bee pollen, and stevia.
I chugged my juice for breakfast and quickly felt plenty full. I drank plenty of water throughout the morning which may have been a little too much because I started feeling nauseous. That didn’t last long though.
My lunch juice (which was the same juice as breakfast) I sipped a little bit slower and enjoyed it. I felt fine throughout the day and didn’t feel any kind of side effects aside from a light headache, which isn’t anything out of the ordinary. I did have to do a double take when I accidently grabbed a peppermint. Can’t do that!
Dinner was a little bit rough just because the juice just didn’t vibe well with me. It was garlic, tomato, green onion, cilantro, cucumber, sea salt, and ice cubes. I think it would’ve been fine had it not been so cold. As far as being hungry and craving anything though, I’m great. Onward with day 2.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Intro Part Dos - Ang
Hi everyone! I’m Britni’s partner, Ang (as she mentioned), and I will also be partaking in this Lent-long detox. However, my cleanse diet will be slightly different than her cleanse diet plan. Unlike the super health status of my lady love, my health status has been lack luster at the very least for the past decade. My doctors have bestowed upon me many labels, including insulin resistance, fatty liver disease, chronic reoccurring mononucleosis, occasional hypertension, obesity, PCOS, etc. etc. My most recent classification is B-12 deficient, and will begin receiving shots of the good stuff next month. Therefore, not only am I doing this detox as a means of mental clarity, weight loss, and eco sustainability, but I am doing this detox and general lifestyle improvement to ensure that I don’t die before the age of 40. My body simply needs to be given the resources it needs to heal and become strong: nutrients and time.
Now don’t get me wrong, I have taken steps towards health up until now. When I moved to Texas in September 2010, I weighed over 320 lbs. 320 lbs!!! Since then, I have dropped 62 of those nasty little buggers and currently weigh 258lbs. Still waaay too much, but progress has been made. Being overweight has contributed to most, if not all, of the above ailments. As my weight has fluctuated my entire life, I am aware that I look and feel my absolute best around 145-150lbs, and that is my goal weight. Britni and I have also made a genuine effort to eat relatively ‘healthy’. Fresh fruits and veggies, lean meats, whole grains. Hell, our creation entitled ‘chickpea salad’ is a weekly staple for us. Still, it is time for us to take our pursuit of health to a new, more refined level.
So, the details: As I suggested, my meal plan will differ from Britni’s strictly juice diet. This will ensure I do not detox too rapidly, causing my health to get too much worse before it gets better. I am also a huge fan of fiber, and not much fiber is available in juice. For breakfast and lunch (and possibly a snack or 2), I will consume only raw vegan foods. This will include fresh or frozen fruits and veggies, raw nuts, raw seeds, herbal tea, and lots and lots of water. For dinner, I will be juicing with Britni. I mean, how awful of a spouse would I be if I were to chomp down on some broccoli right in front of her during this project? I may have to trick myself some days by eating the veggie juice with a spoon, though. Tada! Chilled soup.
I will also begin a structured work out plan after the initial 5 days of the cleanse. I thoroughly enjoy being active and breaking a good sweat, but I do tend to skip out on workouts in favor of some other, less healthful activities. (Do you hear that, Mr. Television? You’re going to be lonely real soon!) Documentation of the workouts will be posted daily, keeping me accountable to all you wonderful readers out there in interwebs land.
Furthermore, I do not want to restrict this detox to just the food I consume or the number of sit ups I can do. I will also include posts related to the cleansing of multiple life factors, including mental and spiritual, financial, and organizational detox.
Well, Britni and I just got back from the market with a whole load of colorful produce. T-minus 3 hours. Please feel free to comment, and let us know if there are any related topics you would like us to cover in future posts. Thanks for reading!
Now don’t get me wrong, I have taken steps towards health up until now. When I moved to Texas in September 2010, I weighed over 320 lbs. 320 lbs!!! Since then, I have dropped 62 of those nasty little buggers and currently weigh 258lbs. Still waaay too much, but progress has been made. Being overweight has contributed to most, if not all, of the above ailments. As my weight has fluctuated my entire life, I am aware that I look and feel my absolute best around 145-150lbs, and that is my goal weight. Britni and I have also made a genuine effort to eat relatively ‘healthy’. Fresh fruits and veggies, lean meats, whole grains. Hell, our creation entitled ‘chickpea salad’ is a weekly staple for us. Still, it is time for us to take our pursuit of health to a new, more refined level.
So, the details: As I suggested, my meal plan will differ from Britni’s strictly juice diet. This will ensure I do not detox too rapidly, causing my health to get too much worse before it gets better. I am also a huge fan of fiber, and not much fiber is available in juice. For breakfast and lunch (and possibly a snack or 2), I will consume only raw vegan foods. This will include fresh or frozen fruits and veggies, raw nuts, raw seeds, herbal tea, and lots and lots of water. For dinner, I will be juicing with Britni. I mean, how awful of a spouse would I be if I were to chomp down on some broccoli right in front of her during this project? I may have to trick myself some days by eating the veggie juice with a spoon, though. Tada! Chilled soup.
I will also begin a structured work out plan after the initial 5 days of the cleanse. I thoroughly enjoy being active and breaking a good sweat, but I do tend to skip out on workouts in favor of some other, less healthful activities. (Do you hear that, Mr. Television? You’re going to be lonely real soon!) Documentation of the workouts will be posted daily, keeping me accountable to all you wonderful readers out there in interwebs land.
Furthermore, I do not want to restrict this detox to just the food I consume or the number of sit ups I can do. I will also include posts related to the cleansing of multiple life factors, including mental and spiritual, financial, and organizational detox.
Well, Britni and I just got back from the market with a whole load of colorful produce. T-minus 3 hours. Please feel free to comment, and let us know if there are any related topics you would like us to cover in future posts. Thanks for reading!
Intro by Britni
Hello! I’m Britni. Now that we have informal introductions out of the way, I thought I’d explain the gist of this blog.
Along with my partner, Angela (whom will introduce herself in the following post), we will begin a detoxifying diet for Lent starting tomorrow all the way until Easter. We’ll get to the specifics later, but here’s a brief insight into why I’m doing this and why we have chosen to take this route to better health and why we have chosen to document it in this way.
Here’s a brief history into my health over the years and the current state of my health. Overall, I’d say I’ve been very healthy. Growing up I ate well and was scrawny because I played a lot. Sports, running around the yard, etc. I was always moving. Once I quit most organized sports in high school, and started eating more junk, the weight started to tack on, but never to a terrible amount. Post-high school, things got worse, though. I ate more junk. I didn’t have any physical activity really, and for the most part have worked sedentary jobs. In 2009, I went on my lunch break and had a revelation that I needed to change things and there was no point in putting it off. In October 2009, I was at my heaviest at 215 and it showed. I was out of shape, and just flat out fat. Because I worked for UNT Police and Parking, I had a gym at my disposal for free with good equipment. That day, I worked out for an hour and a half…the first time I’d worked out since my freshman year of college. I became addicted to working out. I was working out for an hour and a half, 6 days a week and became a calorie Nazi. I tried my best to keep my caloric intake below 1500 daily. By the end of December, I was down to 165 and loved it. I was able to lose 50 pounds while in my last semester of undergrad, taking 16 course hours and working 40 hours a week. I felt unstoppable.
In the time since, I have slowly packed most of that weight back on. Between March 2010 and August 2011, I worked out some, but never really regularly. Most of 2010 I was back to eating unhealthy foods. By July of 2011, I was back up to 190 lbs. In August of 2011 I started working out regularly again. For the most part I have been working out 4 to 5 times a week and have been eating relatively healthy as Ang and I don’t tend to eat a lot of processed foods. Currently I weigh 199 lbs., which I largely attribute to muscle mass as my arms, thighs, and calves have become more muscular. I still have a gut though, which is the source of most of my frustration with my body.
This juice fast is not necessarily for weight loss, though it will be a wonderful side effect. The juice fast is so I will be detoxed, level headed, and have more energy. Currently, I come home after work and I’m tired and just want to sit, eat dinner, and watch TV. There’s more to life than that, and I need more energy. I’m starting on my second bachelor’s degree in the Summer, so it’s time to get myself into a more active routine.
The purpose of this blog is to have some accountability and a plan. We have tried to juice fast before without a plan and an audience and we made it one day. Seriously. Just the one. The next morning we woke up cranky and just wanted bacon. So we gave in and went to Denny’s. This time, that will not be happening. We will be held accountable for our actions and therefore hopefully stick to our rules since there is an audience.
Angela and I are following slightly different juice fasting rules due to our differing health conditions. I’ll give you a run down on what you can expect on this blog daily, and what my rules for my juice fast are.
First off, the juice fast is from the beginning of Lent, February 22, all the way to Easter, April 8. That’s a good long while. I will be having juiced fruits and veggies and will be adding in some bee pollen and spirulina , a blue green algae that is about 60% protein. I may also supplement a B-Complex vitamin. Other than that, I can have herbal teas and lots of water.
The first 5’ish days are likely going to be terrible as this is when the body is releasing all of the toxins. I’m expecting headaches and weakness and a loss of energy. Needless to say, I will NOT be working out during this time. However, after that, we should be smooth sailing. My energy should be up and my mind should be clearer. After about 20 days, cravings for foods (especially my craving for Coke) should start waning. After a week in, I’m going to start working out again.
So my daily posts will basically have the same theme. I’m going to weigh myself every night after dinner (juice) and let you know how I’m feeling and what kind of work out I’ve done. I’ll also comment on my emotional state and any frustrations I may be having. I will welcome encouragement, advice and criticism (of the constructive variety).
At the end of the juice fast, I will post a before and after shot of what my weight loss looks like.
So that’s that. Now Ang will tell you what’s up with her.
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