Getting back on track

I am sure it is a known fact that when you go camping, it is hard to eat super healthy. Breakfast was usually toast with peanut butter and green tea. I tried to eat fruit afterwards and lunch was more peanut butter or a turkey sandwich. Dinner was bar-be-que or fish n chips, not the healthiest!

My system was protesting, and I was pretty uncomfortable for most of the 4 days, but was able to ignore it, telling myself I would get back on track once we returned home.

I started my day with a yummy juice and a protein drink after BodyPump class at the gym.

It is hard to go from one extreme to the other, being careless about what I am eating, and the next day be happy eating what looks like bird seed cereal with rice milk.

But! I’m going to get back on track, be kind to my body and feel good again.

Making choices

Another thing that I have noticed after my detox is the choice I make. I find myself leaning towards eating more vegetables (most of the time.) A quick dish of sautéed vegies is something I would willingly eat for lunch every day. Eggplant, pumpkin, shallots, mushrooms, yum…..

I have gone back to having one coffee a day, but have cut out sugar altogether (in the coffee) I went from adding one packet of raw sugar to none at all, and I can’t believe it isn’t terrible, it is actually good! Living in Melbourne though, we are spoilt for amazing coffee so it might be hard when we go back to America drinking that watered down crap.

I find I would rather have a fruit/veg juice for breakfast in the morning rather than cereal or toast, knowing how much more energy I will have and how much better I will feel for it.

It is all about making the right choices, but it’s not always easy!

Where I’m at

My juicer has been used less in the past few days, and my Lacteese tablets are gone. This means I have been eating croissants, toast and pancakes for brekkie. Which also means I have been having gastro issues again. It’s stupid you know. I eat foods that I am 100% positive around going to affect me negatively. I enjoy the 30 seconds to 3 minutes of eating the food and then it starts. My stomach starts hurting, and then it’s all down hill from there.

Then why, I ask myself, why do you do this? It is just stupid.

Last night I was out with some friends and we went into Chinatown. It was so nice to eat from every dish and know that there was no dairy to worry about. Asian cooking is the way to go, I’m going to try some Vietnamese recipes this week.

Coffee: we have had some rendezvous’, but I don’t crave it.

Alcohol: have had some drinks when I am out, but none at home (except for Christmas Day) Will continue to limit it while at home.

Sugar: Hasn’t been added to my coffee, but I’ve made up for it with cookies that were baked for Christmas. I am hoping they will be gone soon (not eaten all by me though!)

From here on: Focus on eating foods that don’t make me feel bad! Limit coffee and alcohol. Stick with juice for breakfast. Vegetables are my friends.

And then I ate all the bread

I survived.  I woke up this morning and wasn’t that hungry, surprisingly.

I had been thinking about what my “first meal” would be and I knew it all along: bread. What, that’s not a meal? Well I started out with wheat toast and butter (olive oil spread, but I tell myself it’s butter.) Then I followed that with a croissant. I was contemplating having a bagel with fake cream cheese, but made myself a juice instead. I don’t want to “un-do” all my hard work in just one meal.

I’m going to take it slow today, I don’t want to completely freak out my digestive system. Then next two days will be holiday meals galore, so I have to gear up for that.

These two weeks have put a spotlight on the fact that we truly are what we eat. I’d rather feel good (digestion-wise) than enjoy a minute or two of yumminess. There are plenty of foods that are just as yummy that don’t wreak havoc on my poor insides. (Hello, blueberries!)

Day 12, final day

I am ending 2 days early because there is NO WAY that I would be able to do this on Christmas Eve & Day, hello…I have to draw the line somewhere!

I am supposed to be ending on another fasting day BUT my will power has lost all its power and I decided to just have juice all day. I think that is reasonable (I hope so!) Yesterday was a pretty stressful day, spending the day in the hospital with my youngest who broke his thumb. I know that I shouldn’t use that as an excuse, but I really at just at the end of my rope, will-power wise.

 

Day 9, acceptance

Cooking for others was a big concern for me. In my case, I prepare 3 meals a day for my boys, along with countless snacks and dinner for my husband. Of course I wasn’t going to make them eat the same food I am eating, but I have been trying to incorporate some of the same things.
I made vegie fried rice yesterday and Craig just added some extra soy sauce to his along with barbeque chicken. I might try to get the kids to eat eggplant later, I don’t think they will go for it, but I’ll try.

I even baked cookies yesterday with the kids and wasn’t too aggravated. I might have tasted one, but I paid for it after since it is full of butter!

I only have 4 more days of this and I think there are so many things I will carry on into my daily life. The juice is something I made for breakfast anyway, but the things I have been adding (Barley grass, lean & clean, cell clear, vitamin C) have been a great addition. I don’t know that I will be adding them all, but I will have to see. Choosing foods that don’t have so much added crap in them will be something I focus on. And eating more vegies of course. I do not for one second miss eating meat and fish, it is mostly bread and sweets that I think about going for on Friday.  I don’t even know if I will go back to coffee, just think of all the money I’ll save!

 

Day 6, just call me crankypants

Oh carrot sticks. Yes you are cold and crunchy and sweet and healthy, but I am sick and tired of you. And mixed nuts? You are getting on my nerves as well. The only thing I haven’t tired of yet is my morning juice. I like those, and smoothies. But the rest of it? Boring-ville.

When I open the fridge to choose one of the two things I can eat, the rolls and croissants speak to me. They say things like, “I am buttery and soft. I would taste so good with jam, or nutella!” I have to ignore their teasing and instead reach for the blueberries.

I am honestly impressed that I haven’t slipped up yet, I have been 100% on track for six whole days. No sugar. No coffee. No carbohydrates. No alcohol. No meat, chicken or fish. Just a whole lotta fruit and vegies.

Six more days to go! (I am ending 2 days early due to Christmas, there is NO WAY I would be able to make it through eating like this.)

Day 5, some challenges

Making dinner for the boys last night, I forgot to look at the clock when I put their spaghetti in to cook. I took a piece out to feel it, but I can’t tell that way, if it is ready or not. I guess one tiny taste of spaghetti wouldn’t kill me, but if I start with that excuse, then next thing it will be is a piece of chocolate.

I served it to them, and nobody complained so I guess it was fine.

I went out for lunch with a bunch of friends and only had a few choices that were vegetarian. The dish that I did choose was delicious, so it ended up a success. After lunch, two girls ordered lattes. It was the first time that I the smell of coffee that had an effect on me. My sense of smell still seems heightened, so for a moment I inhaled and wanted to join them for a cuppa.

I haven’t had that same feeling with wine though, thankfully. When the glasses were being poured I was happy with my water and green tea, it might be a different story though when we go to a birthday party this weekend.

I am surprised that this is as easy as it has been. I am a constant grazer (staring into the cabinet looking for something to snack on.) So not doing that hasn’t been too painful.

Day 4, noticing changes

My caffeine headaches are gone. Blueberries taste so much sweeter than they did last week. I don’t go into the cabinet for food anymore, staring blankly at endless boxes of crackers, snacks, and cereals. The fridge is full of fresh vegies and fruit. I am not hungry except for at normal meal times and a handful of almonds in the afternoon holds me over.

A friend told me I seemed “chilled out.” I don’t think I have ever been described that way in my life. I think life without sugar can be a good one, I still crave bread though when making the kids lunches but not enough to make me want to sneak a piece.

I know it is early on, but this detox isn’t so bad after all.

Day 3

This isn’t so bad. I think that the day of fasting prepared me for this part – not being able to eat anything then being able to only eat some things. Whenever I want something I’m not supposed to have (like the leftover crust of Jake’s PB sandwich) I remind myself of the hunger I felt on Sunday and reach for something I can have – like carrot sticks.

I must admit, there are times I am frustrated because I want something bread-y, but I get over it and realize this is for my health and if anything, I can eat it after this is all over.

I haven’t had any stomach issues yet which is amazing, I am so used to having a bloated stomach with pain and discomfort. But since I have kept completely away from Lactose there is none, zilch. I still have massive cravings for cheese but oh well, I enjoy being pain-free more.

The real test will be tonight when I am going out for dinner with a group, will be challenging to not have anything to drink! Everyone is in celebratory holiday mode. The good thing is that I can drive, so that saves money and time – always focus on the positive!