Day 10

I can't believe it's already day 10. I know I am getting lax about the all fruits and veggie thing. But it's better than doing nothing, I guess. Last night I had nothing at the movie...no candy, no soda, no popcorn (it always smells better than it tastes anyway). And at Sweet Tomatoes I filled up my plate with veggies and salad, added a little salad dressing (this is where I am lax) and had two bowls of vegetarian soup. If it is vegetarian does that mean there is only veggies in there? I took it as a yes, and ate up. Not one brownie morsel made it past my lips. Still, I feel like I ate too much while there and didn't feel at all skinny that night when we got home. It was probably because of the sodium in the dressing and soup.

I am looking forward to today. No plans to eat out so I can really stick to the diet. I also bought my first watermelon of the season and I can't wait to cut it up and sink my teeth in. Imagine how great it will taste after all these months of winter. My plan:

Breakfast: banana drizzled with honey (my new favorite meal)

Lunch: green smoothie

Snack: fruit salad

Dinner: green salad and watermelon

I'll also drink plenty of water, take my vitamins, and get in a great workout. Peace out.

So far so good

Just a little post before we head out to the movie and dinner. So far I've done fantastic (in my mind) and wanted to recognize that fact before I face temptation. Not that it is any temptation, because I've already made up my mind about what I will and will not eat. Over and out.

Ooopps!

No one is perfect, right? No one expects me to be perfect, do they? I didn't think so. With that in mind, day 9 can be flushed right down the toilet. I'm not sure what happened but my resolve dissolved into a food mess. I won't post what I ate, just know that is was not a fruit or vegetable. But that was yesterday and this is today. I can't do anything about the past...all I can do is move on and focus on today.

Which, BTW, today is Tre's birthday. Happy 9th Tre! Celebrations are always tough. This is what I will do to get through it:

• Dinner is at Sweet Tomatoes...great for me (salad, fruit, no preparation!), and great for Tre (unlimited ice cream and chocolate sauce and sprinkles).
• He is not a huge fan of cake so I am making mint brownies. He loves them and I don't care for them at all. Mint and chocolate does not do it for me...it's kinda like brushing your teeth then biting into chocolate. All that gooey chocolate is ruined by the fresh mint taste.
• I'll be busy today with wrapping, baking, watching the Dance Festival at his school, and going to see Speed Racer right after school. No time to get bored and eat.

That's the plan. And if I stick to the diet today I'll be pretty happy.

Day 8

I'm not sure if anyone really wants to be reading about my little world, but it helps me when I post about this daily.

So Monday rolls around and it hits....I want to eat real food! It doesn't help that it rained all day and was cold. When the weather is like this I just want something warm. I did okay until dinner time. I wanted cereal, bread, and peanut butter because salad, smoothies, or fruit just didn't sound good. I broke. I had a bazillion spoonfuls of peanut butter and a slice of bread with smart balance spread. Then I brushed my teeth and told myself I was done even though I felt bad that I couldn't eat what I wanted.

I guess I could eat what I wanted....if I was weak and not willing to stare my problem in the face. I could just run away and hide in food like always or I can break the binge/diet cycle. I want this to work. It just doesn't feel like it will right now. Really I just need to stop making a big deal out of this. Somewhere in this world there are a lot bigger problems than mine.

Tuesday is a new day and the day I will buckle down and finish what I started. So far I've had coffee and an all fruit smoothie for breakfast. Lunch will be a green smoothie and dinner will be a big salad with lots of veggies. I'm going to the store today to stock up on fresh fruits and veggies and 100% juice.

Day 6 & 7

Not bad, not bad at all. I survived Cafe Rio on Saturday. No problem here. I just ordered a salad like usual and asked for an extra plate. Then I took most of the lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, and black beans and let Belle and Jer eat the rest. It was fantastic!

Then there was lunch at Nana's house on Sunday. They had shredded pork sandwiches on fresh rolls, corn on the cob, strawberry pie, cupcakes, and a bowl full of mini chocolate bars. I had caesar salad and tomato slices. I also opened up a can of diet Dr. Pepper, had about 3 sips, decided I didn't want it and gave the rest to Tre.

I feel normal otherwise. If you can call me normal. I really want this to work. I would hate for all this hard work to go down the drain as soon as I start eating real food again. Not that fruits and veggies aren't real food, but you know what I mean.

Weight as of Monday morning: 131.8

My goal is to stay between 125 and 130 year round. This is easy for me around Christmas time (must be all that holiday cheer) but seems to be a little more difficult in the summer months. Crazy.

I'm thinking that if I can resist Nana's strawberry pie, I can resist anything as long as I put my mind to it. The trick was deciding before hand that there would be no question. I made my decision and I was not going to back down. I wanted to be in control, not the other way around. Bring on week 2!

Day 5

It's been five day of eating only fruits, vegetable, and a little peanut butter. At this point I feel proud, in control, happy, and skinny. I have lost 4.2 pounds so far (probably water) but feel 30 pounds lighter. My clothes fit better, I hold myself higher because I am not ashamed of being a hypocrite, and I feel in control. Food doesn't have control over me...I have control over it.

Fruits and vegetables have a more intense taste now. A fresh strawberry or some frozen banana pieces explode in my mouth and I'm pretty sure they have a party. Last night we went out to dinner. Wingers no less. I ordered the Chicken Mango Salad minus the chicken, almonds, dressing, and tortilla strips. A huge bowl of satisfying crisp lettuce, soft juicy mango pieces, and candy-like Craisins. Add a little tiny bit of poppy seed dressing (I'm talking maybe a teaspoon) and I was in heaven. Sounds corny but it's the truth.

I haven't had any cravings as of yet. I know it's early still but they say the first week is the hardest. After Monday, it's all down hill. The trick will be when (if) I start eating other healthy foods like lean protein, whole grains, light sauces and dressings, and small portions of my favorite treats.

Memorial Day will not have a hold on me. I'll have some fun for sure, but it will not revolve around food thank you very much.

Day 4

I don't feel hungry anymore. That empty feeling in my gut is gone and I my stomach doesn't growl like it did at the beginning of the week. I have to remind myself to eat when I start getting low on energy. Actually food in general just doesn't sound good. Weird. My face is breaking out because of excess oil (this is supposed to be normal with detox) but I had to cinch my belt to the next hole today. Here are some stats:

• Starting weight: 136.6
• Weight on Day 4: 132.4

• Starting average daily calories: 2100
• Average daily calories now: 1055 (I know it is extremely low and not a balanced diet, I don't promote this diet to anyone unless they are seriously struggling with eating compulsion or food addiction!)

• Favorite food last week: PB sandwiches, cookies, doughnuts
• Favorite food this week: Fruit salad--one banana, 4 large strawberries chopped, one clementine mixed with 3 Tbs orange juice and cinnamon to taste

I'll keep posting about this, stay tuned to see if it is all worth it. BTW...I am nervous about Memorial Day weekend coming up and Tre's Birthday next week. Lots and lots of temptations. Family, friends, food, and fun could spell disaster.

I am strong, I am in control of my eating habits, I love my body and will treat it right.

Day 3

Today was the third day on strictly raw fruits, veggies, and 100% juice. I did add 2 Tbs of peanut butter for energy (I have to keep up with my gymnasts!). Here is what my day looked like today. BTW, I feel fantastic so far. I am also proud of myself.

Breakfast:

• 1 cup coffee
• one banana
• 1 cup orange juice

Lunch:

• Spaghetti squash
• 4 Tbs fresh salsa
• one apricot

Afternoon snack:

• 2 Tbs natural peanut butter
• 1/2 cup frozen cherries (YUM!)
• Crystal Light packet
• multi vitamin with calcium

Dinner:

• Green Smoothie: 2 cups baby spinach, 3/4 cup frozen mango, 1/2 cup frozen blueberries, 1 cup orange juice, 1 cup water; blended

Sounds weird but it is actually SO good.

I needed caffeine mid-afternoon for a little pick me up, but other than that I feel good. I am happy with my decision. I started at 136.6 pounds on Monday morning....today I am 133.4. Yes, most of this is water weight. But what am I doing holding onto all that water anyway? Probably because my body has been dehydrated and under nourished.

I was tempted today to eat other food. I didn't though and am proud of that fact. I was just going to pop something in my mouth just out of habit, not hunger, and had to stop and throw it away. The biggest temptation was when Tre offered me his cookie because he couldn't eat the rest. If you know me well you know that cookies are my one and only. No more. Cookies will not have a hold over me. I have learned to accept slight hunger and know that it is not the end of the world. Food will not go away, there is always tomorrow, and I am not starving.

Eat your fruits and veggies

That is just what I am going to do. In fact I am embarking on a new adventure. Only (raw) fruits and vegetables for the next 30 days. Yes, I said 30! You might be wondering why. Well, I'll tell you....

I have been reading up on my disordered eating habits because I am sick of falling into the same old rut. I thought there has got to be a cure out there, so online I go. Because food addiction is like any other addiction (cigarettes, drugs, alcohol) the only way to stop the destructive behavior is to quit cold turkey. That is not always easy with food since we kinda need it to live. So the next best thing is flushing out the bad by eating only raw fruits and vegetables. The goal is to teach the body and mind to live without the food. Only what is necessary to function.

I am supposed to re-learn what hunger really feels like, eat to live not live to eat, and flush the body of toxins that are supposedly in my system due to animal fats, dairy, and sugar overload. This is day two of my adventure and so far I feel great! I feel lighter (not pounds wise but it's hard to explain) and I feel in control of my behavior.

I read many tips and hints to stay away from the bad such as negative thinking. Examples: maggots in your movie popcorn, pizza sludge digesting in my gut, white flour goo loaded with sugar and fat in the form of a doughnut. Also thinking about gross thoughts when tempted (someone throwing up, finding a hair in your fast food, or a pound of lard sitting in my butt). Sounds disgusting but so far it has worked. I am also supposed to take 5 deep breaths before I eat anything, and keep a list of things to do if tempted to overeat.

I don't know if this will work or if I can really do it, but I want to try. I want control over food. Control over what and how much of it I eat. I also want to stay away from dairy, gluten, and sugar to see if I can get rid of my stomach problems and headaches. I will be taking a multi-vitamin daily and watching calcium and iron intakes. I need your support. Even if you don't agree with the severity of the program. It's like AA for food-aholics. I will keep updates about my days; what I eat, how I feel, if I am sticking to the program, and weight lost if any. Wish me luck!

Fidget to fight fat:

In a recent study, scientists from the Mayo Clinic issued motion-sensing skivvies to 10 heavy people and 10 thin ones, then recorded even their tiniest movements 24 hours a day. Ten days later they found that overweight people simply moved less than their lean companions, burning 350 fewer calories per day. To get yourself "fidgeting," plop down on a stability ball for 15 minutes each hour and use it to keep yourself in perpetual motion.

Food Through a Lens

Ah! Food. One of my favorite pastimes. I thought it would be fun to take a picture of everything I ate for one day. I also thought it would help me stick to a healthy diet...it didn't. Here is what my Thursday looked like through the lens:

My daily morning coffee. One cup of Joe with 1/2 TBS creamer and a packet of sugar substitute.

Breakfast: One egg substitute only omelet, a clementine, a Western Alternative Sweet Wheat bagel with 1 oz Weight Watchers cream cheese.

Morning snack: 2 saltine crackers. I didn't need these, but Belle was having some and I grabbed two without even thinking about it. I had to get two more to take a picture of and then put them back! Mindless eating....I'll work on that.

Lunch: Grilled peanut butter and (sugar free) jelly sandwich and one apple.

Snack: Okay, it's not really a snack. We took Tre to the dentist at about 2:30pm then to the park to play. On the way to the park I was hungry so we stopped at the gas station and I got a 32 oz Diet Dr. Pepper. I knew we would eat dinner soon so I didn't want to eat anything. The drink did the trick.

Dinner: McDonald's Grilled Classic Chicken sandwich, and 3/4 of a large fry (ugh!). Tre got to pick where we went to dinner (when the kids go to the dentist we make it their 'special day' so they don't dread going) and apparently I was too hungry to make a healthy choice, hence the fries. Sure was tasty though.

Snack: 1.5 cups Fiber One cereal, dry, and one cup Light Vanilla Soy Milk.

Evening Binge: 2 maple bars from Harmons. I don't want to blame anyone but myself, but I had a meeting for work from 8-9:30 and Jer wanted me to stop and get him Butter cream Maple Bars from Harmons. They didn't have any but these maple bars looked delicious even though I wasn't hungry at all. So what did I do? I bought a box of 4 and ate half of them. Yikes!

Totals:

Calories: 2385

Fat grams: 89

Carb grams: 357

Protein grams: 91

Sodium: 3889 mg

Fiber: 54g

Sugar: 98g

Not one of my best nutrition days. I think Friday will be a much better day.

A Mother of a Workout

I am cutting down to a tip of the week instead of daily. Just in time for Mother's Day, I have a tip for working out with your kids. Depending on how big or little they are you may need to adjust. When I am stuck in a hotel room with no way to go out and run and no weights in site I turn to my kids for resistance training. Here are a few exercises that are my favorites:

Push up: Let your child sit or lie on your back to add extra weight to some basic push ups.

Dip: Sit your kid on your lap, slide off the chair with hands right next to your hips, bend at the elbows to lower yourself to the floor and then press back to starting. This works the triceps.

Curl and Press: Works biceps and shoulders; Start standing up holding your child under their arms, arms straight. Bend elbows to bring the little bugger's face to your face (bicep curl), kiss if needed, then press them into the air over your head (overhead shoulder press) and reverse the motion.

Squats and lunges: Put 'em on your back or shoulders and squat and lunge until your hearts content (beating hard).

Leg extension: Sitting on a sturdy chair (or on the edge of a swimming pool) let your kids sit on your feet and hug your shins. While holding them in place extend knees so legs are straight then lower. You'll feel it, but I'll tell you it works the quadriceps, or front part of the thigh.

Core: Any ab exercise can be done with your child sitting on your stomach. What this does is force you to keep the abdominal wall contracted throughout the movement which means extra work for the core.

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Tip of the Day--SHOULDER'S

Well, it's trying to be shoulder bearing weather outside. Hopefully it will stick. Time to pull out the t-shirts, tanks, and swimsuits. And what better way to feel great in these items than shapely shoulders?

Put an extra shoulder exercise (or two) into your strength routine starting ASAP. Soon you will be seeing some shape and cut to your upper arm. Not a lot of people have a lot of fat covering their shoulder area. So when you work this muscle you can see the definition a lot sooner than say, your glutes. Plus the eye automatically travels from your eye's to your smile to your neck and shoulders. Here are a few shoulder exercises to try:




Overhead Press: Aim for 3 sets of 8-10 reps with weight that is so heavy that you can barely finish the 10th rep with good form. Anywhere from 8 pound dumbbells to 30 pound dumbbells.Lateral raise: Again, use a weight heavy enough to tire out the muscles within 12-15 reps. Finish 3 sets of these.

Front raise: Same as above. This exercise focuses on the front head of the deltoids (shoulder). Always keep abs tight and knees slightly bent.

Push ups, pull ups, chest press, and some triceps exercises also work the shoulders as an assisting muscle group.

Tip of the Day--TREATS

This is not really a tip. Just a question. If you could only eat one treat for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I think I couldn't live without sugar cookies. I only eat them around certain holiday's and birthdays. I like to make sugar cookies with my kids. The kitchen is a mess, the kids are sugar laden, and the memories are set by the time we are done. And it is an all day thing. I guess treats aren't just about taste, but what they represent.

Now it is your turn. We did healthy snacks already so now it is not so healthy snacks. What would you choose?

Belle blowing out the candles on her pink frosted sugar cookie at her 5th birthday party

Tre and Belle showing off their snowman cookies they made this past summer. What is better than eating snow (men) in July?

Christmas sugar cookies are a tradition in our house. The kids (okay, me too) look forward to this all year!

Tip of the Day--BOOTY CALL

Want a great exercise that works your glutes? Try one leg squats. I do mine on the Smith Machine with 20 pounds on each end of the bar. You can also do them with dumbbells or just your own body weight. If you do it this way, put the top of your non-working foot on a bench or chair for balance. Squat down as low as you can and push through the heel of the working foot on the way up. Aim for 2-3 sets of 12-15 reps on each leg. This can also be done at the gym on the leg press machine. It's important to remember to keep your knee stable and not let it cave in or press out. It stays right in the middle.

Tip of the Day--SNACKS

Snacks are good. The right kind of snacks are even better. Here is a list of my favorite snacks that tide me over until my next meal. Please add your favorite snack foods to the comment section. I always like new snack ideas. Thanks!

• light string cheese and an apple
• handful of almonds (12-24)
• bowl of Kashi GoLean with soy milk
• Western Bagel wheat bagel with WW light cream cheese
• Skippy Natural Peanut Butter (just on a spoon)
• banana or apple dipped in melted PB
• protein shake
• snap peas
• Fiber One Caramel Delight cereal, dry
• Fiber One granola bar
• any 100 calorie pack snack
• South Beach Diet high protein cereal bar

I am sure there are others but these are the ones I like best. The trick is to eat something with a little healthy fat, some protein, and carbs. Or veggies plain since they have fiber and we typically don't get enough veggies in our diets. Snack time is a great time to fill fiber or veggie requirements. It is also a great boost to your day and can help you from scarfing down your next meal because you are so famished.

Remember to add your favs to the comments.