Rebellion

Little things that others might not see or even think so bad are markers for rebellion in my eating life. For example, making a bowl of oatmeal with raisins for sweetener and a little bit of pecans for crunch is a great meal...but when I stop and sprinkle refined white sugar on it--I know I'm in rebellion. I want to do what I want to do and it usually comes about when another part of life forces me to be doing something I don't want to do. It's my way of throwing a quiet tantrum and having my way in some little thing. The problem with this thinking is that it's not really the way I want to go. I no sooner finish eating it and I'm promising myself I won't do that again...but if I let the stress continue to control me I might as well be a remote control toy. The cravings for "forbidden" foods takes hold and I believe the--Well you blew it so you might as well blow it all the way--lie.

That's the kind of day I had yesterday. No, not the whole day. I started out with a glass of fresh carrot juice and mid-morning had a small glass of fresh apple juice lemonade, but then it went down hill for the afternoon.

Why do I say this? Because for me, I have to have an eating plan to follow--at least when I'm where I am in my mindset. And with all the plans out there you'd think I'd find one to try--well I do want to try the Flat Belly Diet. It allows 1600 calories a day and is centered around eating healthy fat--plus my belly is the place I gain the most so it's a good match. The fact that Prevention magazine is behind it is also encouraging. But since the book isn't out yet, what do I do?

The "I've Blown It" Trap

Like I said yesterday, don't put off eating healthy and starting that exercise program or routine. Just because you didn't have a good Monday, doesn't mean you might as well stuff yourself with "forbidden foods" on Tuesday because you failed. After all, what's wrong with starting again on Tuesday? Don't fall into the "I've blown it trap" and think that one failure constitutes hopelessness and that you'll forever be trapped in your overweight body. I'm talking to myself here folks.

I started the day out well yesterday, and did fine at lunch...even had a green smoothie for lunch...and then...I had chips. Before I say anything else, let me tell you that there was a time when I would eat at least half of that large family size bag of chips, but I didn't do that. I had two handfuls. In the past when I've done that, I've moved on to the cookie jar as I'm one of those eat salt then sweets kind of people. But yesterday I didn't do that. I stopped the feeding frenzy, still a bit irritated with myself for going after such a temporary pleasure instead of hanging in there to achieve what I really want--a slimmer me.

With that said, I can tell you I did walk for 30 minutes and that's progress too. It's so easy to procrastinate and put it off until I run out of day, but I'm determined to exercise no less than 3 days this week and hopefully more. I set the goal low because I can always over achieve and underachieving is never motivating.

So instead of falling into a downward spiral because you've blown it, pick up the proverbial bootstraps and start the day with new resolve. You can do it. One decision at a time. Eat well!

Procrastination Weight Gain

Here it is Monday, the day many of us will plan to start our diet. But by the end of the day the majority of those who swore to start their diet will already be looking at next week...or at least tomorrow. The problem is, there are always excuses and exceptions that make dieting almost impossible. So what's the answer to procrastination weight gain? You guessed it. Stop procrastinating.

The reason I bring this up is that the book I had hoped to order on the Flat Belly Diet has not been released yet. So what do I do in the mean time? Throw my hands up and say, well, I might as well eat what I want until the book comes...No. I am not going backwards. Let's hang in there and make healthy choices. I ate my healthy high fiber oatmeal this morning with raisins, pecans and rice milk. I learned if I add some raisins I don't need to add sugar.

So don't put it off because if you do, you'll be packing the pounds on and that's really not what you want to do. And let's exercise. It's so easy to put off...but I'll talk about that tomorrow.

Choosing a Diet Plan Right for You

Just like the earth, our bodies go through seasons. When I graduated from High School I weighed 98 pounds and stood 5' 1 1/2". That was back in 1969, and today if I weighed 96 pounds I would not look healthy. In my 20s my weight fluctuated from 105-111 and in my 30s I worked to stay between 114-118. After that things changed. I had hoped it was my thyroid, but alas it was my mouth--or should I say feeding my mouth. Plus the hormonal changes that happen to most women in their 40s and 50s. In my 40s I was horrified to hit the low 130s and in my 50s I almost made it to 150. That did it. I decided no more--but losing weight is not easy. In my 40s I did get back down to 113 by following the Prism Diet but when I went off of it, I did not maintain the weight loss.

So what do I do next? Like I said yesterday, I need to find a diet plan that works. I considered the Martha's Vineyard Diet which claims I can lose 21 pounds in 21 days, but I've decided against it only because it is another detox plan and though they work, they don't really retrain my brain for how I should be eating for this season in life. So instead, I've decided to buy the book for the Flat Belly Diet. Their motto is: "A flat belly is about food and attitude." And that's what I need; an attitude adjustment.

Need a Better Plan

I can see why Weight Watchers works--the accountability. And Jenny Craig provides prepackaged meals that take little thinking or planning. But what for those of us who don't have the time or money to go that route? I've got my ups and downs and plenty of good intentions, but I'm not getting anywhere with losing weight.

My motivation has fizzled and I'd rather eat what I want, but then I'm disgusted that I'm still overweight! I kind of feel like I'm on a hamster wheel doing the same old thing. Lose some weight, gain some weight, lose some weight...

The key is to learn to make healthy choices and exercise. I don't do either successfully for long. So I'm thinking about what's next because what I'm doing isn't working.

Stress--an Excuse

I sit here wondering where to start. My eating the last two days has been less than stellar and it's not what I want. It's a short month and I have some pressing deadlines--and stress. I drank my lemon water yesterday morning, followed by carrot juice got into work and...well I grazed on junkie food rather than taking the time to make healthy choices.

Stress is part of everyone's life. Some seasons in life dish it out in heavy doses, but what I need to remind myself is that stress is not an excuse to eat what I want because it's easier, comforting or any other reason. How to do this? Have a plan. Weight loss plans like Jenny Craig work because people know what's on the menu. So today, I have a plan. Even though we are going out for dinner tonight with three other families.

Today's plan--lemon water, carrot juice, green smoothies, and out to dinner where I plan to eat veggie fajitas. And hopefully, I'll fit 30 minutes of walking in there too. My stress is no less today than it has been the last two days, but I already feel better because I have a plan.

Breaking My Fast

I opened my eyes in the morning and felt a sense of freedom knowing that I could eat and yet, I didn't think about my binge foods. Instead, I started the day with a glass of warm water with about 2 T. of lemon juice and when I felt hungry had a couple of classes of carrot juice to ease my system back into accepting food other than the lemonade mixture. For lunch I had a green smoothie made from water, spinach, apple, banana with a touch of lemon and sprinkled with chopped almonds. Yum, never tasted so good.

For dinner I had a plate of salad and about 4 cups of soup. Before bed I drank a cup of dieter's tea and this morning I weighed 133.4. I expected to gain about 2 pounds as the soup had dumplings it it. My calorie intake for the day was somewhere between 1,000-1,200. I'm not counting exactly, but like to make sure I'm eating enough to keep my metabolism running efficiently so it will burn calories and stored fat.

Master Cleanse (Lemonade Diet) - Day 7

Day 7 – February 17, 2008
Weight: 133.6
Exercise: Didn't Exercise

This day was a day of mind games. It was harder to follow through knowing that tomorrow I will taste food. My tongue is less coated than yesterday, I'm still feeling good and I have a plan for breaking my fast tomorrow. But even with all that, I toyed with the idea of quitting a day early. BUT I DIDN'T.

My husband and I usually have breakfast together on Saturdays, so when I fried his bacon, buttered his toast and cracked his soft boiled eggs I wondered if I would join him…will I eat that next week? Time will tell.

All in all, I'd say this fast is very user friendly. It's less expensive than a juice fast, and doesn't leave me feeling hungry or lethargic. So, I stuck with it and sat with my cup of dieter's tea tonight knowing that tomorrow I will not be drinking the saline solution for breakfast. Needless to say I'm looking forward to that and the taste of fresh fruit.

Master Cleanse (Lemonade Diet) - Day 6

Day 6 – February 15, 2008
Weight: 134
Exercise: Didn't Exercise

I had the best night sleep last night. Before I started this detox cleanse I was up around 3 times a night, waking with night sweats…and last night. Awake one time to go to the bathroom and fell right back to sleep! I can't wait to see if this continues. Getting uninterrupted sleep will be a big bonus I'd never expected!

My challenge this morning was that I had to bump up my schedule because I needed to fit grocery shopping into my day. I mixed up two jars of lemonade to take along in the car without adding the pepper which I brought separately. I drank the first one between stops and was fine until I got home.

My tongue felt a little weird this afternoon and when I mentioned it to my daughter she asked to see it. When I stuck it out she said it was coated and that is part of detox. Part of me wishes I could continue the fast longer, but when I started this cleanse it was for 7 days, and when I learned the health food store was out of the grade B maple syrup that put any ideas of continuing out of my mind. That means I'll start eating again on Sunday, and I've already started to make a plan. I'll ease into food with carrot juice in the morning, a green smoothie for lunch and vegetable soup for dinner.

Master Cleanse (Lemonde Diet) - Day 5

Day 5 – February 14, 2008
Weight: 134.0
Exercise: Didn't walk today

Last night…well maybe I should say a dark-o-clock this morning around 4:00 my dieter's tea kicked in and sent me to the bathroom when I'd rather be sleeping. I had trouble falling back to sleep but finally did for about an hour before time to get up.

I drank my salt water flush without thought this morning. Just shows you what you can get used to.

As the day wore on, I have to admit food crossed my mind briefly…again not because I'm hungry, but because I'm used to snacking throughout the day. Usually this happens when I hit the part of a writing project that I'd rather not work on; I'll reach for a cookie or chips to help me through. So while I'm not dwelling on food, the habit of food still worms into my thoughts, but much less than I would have expected.

Master Cleanse (Lemonade Diet) - Day 4

Day 4 - February 13, 2008

Weight: 134.6
Exercise: Walked 30 minutes

I had a good night's sleep without a headache last night and woke again with energy and the motivation to keep going. The dieter's tea got me going, literally, upon waking. For some reason I was ready for the salt water cleanse—like it's my morning coffee. Well maybe I wouldn't go that far, but I didn't mind it too much.

I have so much energy today and feel so alert!

I've started thinking about what I'll do when the fasting cleanse is over, because if there's one thing I've learned it's that if I don't have a plan I will return to my old ways. I'm learning to eating raw during the day including juices and then eating dinner with a salad.

One of my afternoon glasses of lemonade tasted terrible when I took my first sip and I realized I'd forgotten to pour in the lemon! Went back to the kitchen and emptied the juicer into the glass. That's when I realized that I actually have learned to like this drink. Who would believe it?

Master Cleanse Diet (Lemonade Diet) Day Three

Day 3 – Tuesday 12, 2008
Weight 135.6
Exercise: Walked 30 minutes

I experience a headache during the night again, but have attributed that to the fact that I may need to go to the chiropractor and have my neck adjusted. I climbed out of bed less than enthusiastically today. Not dragging, but not motivated to drink my salt water flush. Weighed in and have lost another pound. It surprised me that each day so far my weight has ended in .6 which makes calculating so easy. And while I'm not doing this only to lose weight sensibly but to detox, I'm so happy to see the scale's lower numbers.

This morning I actually had a bowel movement before I even drank the salt water flush. I guess that dieter's tea before bed is doing its thing. After I drank the salt water flush I remembered it's not as bad as I think it will be. In my life, more than half of the fight to eat right and exercise is a mental challenge. In fact, I think I'm cursed with Eve's disease. My eyes see it, I think it looks good to eat and I want it. Guess that's called temptation. This detox cleanse is opening my eyes to more than one thing. Not all of it is new to me, but learning to eat to really feed and nourish my body is a lifelong quest. It's so easy to get caught up in our cultural overeating frenzy.

Yesterday and today it took less than an hour for the salt water flush sent me hurrying to the bathroom. I'm taking that as a sign that my system is working more efficiently than the first day when it took about an hour and 20 minutes. I drank the salt water flush at 7:14 and had 7 bowel movements by 10:00. Up until today I had only had 3 for the entire day. Seems to me that my plumbing is getting cleaned out.

As the day wore on I faced my first temptation to eat food—not because I was hungry but because potato chips sounded good. I know it's a stress thing. I have a big project I'm working on and I take comfort in munching on "forbidden" foods to help me cope. When you put it like that, it sure sounds pathetic. Instead, I made a cup of herbal mint tea which is allowed on this diet and the craving, if you want to call it that subsided. When I talked with my daughter in the afternoon, she said that day three is the hardest day and that tomorrow will be easier. We shall see!

Master Cleanse (Lemonade Diet) - Day Two

Day 2 – Monday, February 11, 2008
Weight 136.6
Exercise: 30 minutes walking

Last night I woke up off and on with a worsening headache, but when morning arrived the headache was gone. I figured it could have to do with sugar withdrawal. Part of me doesn't look forward to the lemonade mixture today and I didn't want to do the salt water flush—but I made a commitment and will follow through. I stepped out of bed thanking God the headache was gone and went in to weigh myself. 3 pounds gone in the first day! How motivating is that? Although losing weight is not my main motivation for this cleanse but a nice side benefit.

I warmed the water for my salt water flush today, not hot but not cold. Today it started to take effect about 50 minutes after I drank it. Perhaps drinking that herbal dieter's tea helped to move things along.

My headache did not return and my energy level is high which surprised me. I expected to feel sluggish for at least three day even though I tend to eat healthier than most people. As the day wore on, I remained amazed that I did not feel starving or deprived. This cleanse is helping me take my focus off food and I thank God for that. Daily stresses still filter into my days but instead of eating a cookie, I stop and realize that physically I am satisfied.

All in all, I am surprised that my routine has not had to change. I'm keeping up with all my writing deadlines, had an afternoon with my grandchildren, and I even walked for 30 minutes.

Master Cleanse Diet (Lemonade Diet)

It's been a long time since I posted here because time constraints forced me to prioritize. But yesterday I started the Master Cleanse diet also known as the Lemonade diet, and thought I'd post my journal entries for others considering detoxification. I weaned myself from coffee and caffeine before starting to avoid the caffeine withdrawal headache.

Day 1 – Sunday, February 10, 2008
Weight: 139.6
Exercise: 30 minutes walking

I had planned on starting the Master Cleanse on Monday if I had weaned myself from coffee. As it turned out, I made it through all of Saturday without the headache and decided I'd go ahead and start today. Especially after we ate at an all-you can eat buffet last night.

I started out with the salt water flush this morning. I'd tried this a couple of times before so not only did I know what to expect, but I knew I could do it. Though I had to do it earlier than I usually would if I want to fit in drinking 10-12 glasses of the lemonade mixture. As of 12:30 I've had 4 glasses as I'm trying to spread them out over the day and listen to my body. So far I don't "feel" bad or good…pretty normal. Though I'm starting to get hungry between drinks…not like starving, but I can tell I'm ready for something more.

The taste of the lemonade mixture is not bad. Actually it's pleasant except for the after bite of the cayenne pepper. If it wasn't for the pepper I could sit and actually enjoy sipping the lemonade.

By the evening I had a dull headache and needed to wrap myself in a blanket to feel warm. Don't feel awful, but I've felt better. I'll sip on my dieter's tea and go to bed. At least day one is done!