6 days in....

and it's getting easier - not harder. Except for the birthday cake at work yesterday. Normally, though, I'd run in the kitchen, grab an oversized piece of cake, and quickly go back to my desk hoping no one saw me or the ginormous slice of cake I was about to eat. Well, you all know the sucker I am for sweets. So, yesterday, I went in to the kitchen just to look at the cake - sort of "facing my demons" I guess. I saw it was chocolate! OH NO - NOT CHOCOLATE!!! My all time favorite. So, I did have some but don't fret. It was one bite then I quickly threw away the fork and went back to my desk (I have witnesses). As I sat there - I realized that the cake wasn't even that great and I wasn't missing out on ANYTHING by not eating a whole piece. That's a major accomplishment for me and my willpower. Not to mention, by just taking a bite, I didn't feel any guilt afterward. I came home and had a nice dinner of quinoa pasta (small small portion) and a huge spinach salad that was SO yummy.

So, like I said, today marks 6 days into my new eating lifestyle and I have to say, I love it. I love that I don't have daily stomach aches. I also don't miss that tight, full belly feeling. I hated that! So, I march on and continue with the loads of water, 5 small meals a day full of lean protein, fruits, veggies, and whole grains.

As a progress report, I am down 3 lbs since Monday and Pete is down 8.5! It makes it so much easier traveling this journey together. I am so thankful for that man!

I am headed to meet my friend that moved here, too, from Vegas. We're taking our boys to the children's museum. Part of me is tempted to pack my own lunch but I think I am going to opt for getting something to eat there. I need to experience trying to order a clean meal in a restaurant. I'll let you know how that goes.

Pete and I were just talking about how we should open a HEALTHY - fast food restaurant. Can you imagine driving up to a place and being able to get a freshly made salad, grilled chicken, fruit, etc. all gourmet and passed through your car window in less than 3 minutes??? It's a nice thought - I'm not up for a challenge like that - YET!

I am going to make a second post this morning with a few recipes if anyone wants to try them.

I am not invincible....

Granted, it’s only 4 days in to the eating clean lifestyle, but I was starting to feel really good mentally about it. I wasn’t having my typical chocolate cravings and felt like for once, I had infinite willpower. My eating, water intake, and vitamin consumption have been perfect. Well, as I sat here an hour ago, I started craving Hawaiian BBQ with mac salad and coconut pie (why THAT, I have NO idea). Damn you, Mr. Cravings! I will NOT be defeated by you. So, I resolved to stay the charted course and eat my protein, fruits, veggies, and complex carbs.
One nice thing I should remember is that as of this morning, the scale says I’ve lost 2.5 pounds and Pete has lost 7! We’re well on our way to getting healthy so we might as well stick with it! No one said it would be easy – actually, they said it would be hard. I guess I just got a little too over confident. The good news is, I didn’t act on it and the victory of overcoming the cravings is a good feeling.
Are you experiencing the same??? I’d love to hear your feedback – I need all the inspiration I can get. Feel free to comment.

Excited!

As you know from my first post, much of my inspiration and eating clean education has come from Tosca Reno. I found an email address to send her questions so I just wrote to ask her about the withdrawl symptoms - but mostly just to let her know that her work IS making an impact on others and that I appreciate her efforts. I am excited and can't wait to see if I actually hear back as I know she's super busy promoting her new book, Eating Clean Recharged.

Anywho, I am over the trauma of my protein powder smoothies from the past few mornings and just enjoyed a nice lunch of herbal tea, grilled chicken, light string cheese, and a sweet potato. It's amazing how sweet that potato really is after not eating any sugar for a few days.

I keep reading all the posts from my Facebook friends and know that many of us are on this journey together right now. I am just praying that everyone keeps the determination to continue on and succeed as we all need to be more healthy. I am really thankful to all of the support I've received in the past week while letting everyone in on my journey, my goals, and this blog which is an insight into my true thoughts and feelings. Especially grateful to my friend Stacey who has experience in bodybuilding, eating healthy, and getting fit - she offered to help me and already sent some great recipes to get me past those nasty protein smoothies. I'm taking what she says to heart because she's living proof this stuff works - she looks 29 and she'll be 40 soon - yet another amazing inspiration!

Until next time my friends.....

It's been 3 days...

and I still have a headache, though it is lessening. The fatigue and nausea seem to have gone away though. One thing I am struggling with majorly is the protein powder that I am adding to my smoothie in the morning. ICK - I have never done well with powdery additions to my beverages. Looks like I will be living off of hard boiled egg whites and plain oatmeal. This will get old fast... need new ideas.

The next focus will be fitness. hmmm... many things to ponder in that area.

It has to get worse before it gets better...

Or so I am telling myself. Yesterday afternoon a huge headache came to grace me with its presence. It lasted through the night and into today. With it has come bouts of nausea and severe fatigue. As much as I'd like to think I am sick, I am almost positive I am not. I believe I am having withdrawl symptoms. Given the fact that on a normal day I'd begin with a sugar and caffeine filled Starbucks coffee along with some sweet bread or other confection, followed up by some more coffee, then a day sprinkled with diet coke and other bad foods, I am sure yesterday has put my body in a state of shock. I've completely gone off the sugar, caffeine, AND diet products. I've only ingested water (in LARGE amounts) and a small amount of skim milk. The only sugar I have taken in has been in the form of fresh produce and complex carbs. WOWZERS - who would've thought that eating clean would've made me feel so terrible.

One thing I can be sure of, as with any addiction, is that withdrawl symptoms DO go away fairly soon. I am just sticking to the plan, taking excedrin, and thinking positive thoughts. I am taking to heart some of these old but famous quotes: "No Pain, No Gain", "Everything good is worth fighting for", "Nothing TASTES as good as being healthy FEELS", etc etc.

I can tell you, while sparing the gory details, that progress is already being made. My digestion is already 100% better and the scales showed a loss of 2 pounds this morning. It is surely just water weight - but heck - at this point I'll take any loss regardless of the reason behind it.

A big thank you to Pete who takes such good care of me. He took the time yesterday to grill a ton of chicken breasts last night so that we'll have some lean protein on hand. Yum Yum!

Today's Struggles are Tomorrow's Victories!

I'm FULL!

So, this is the first full day of truly eating clean. I must admit, I was fully prepared to be hungry. Well, what a let down. I have had moments where I was actually TOO full. It seems that when the next 2 - 3 hours come around to eat again - I am never actually hungry. Hey, come to think of it, I think that's the whole purpose. The one thing eating like this does not include is starvation which is a good thing seeing how much I love food.

The protein powder and fruit shake needs a little work. The oatmeal microwaving technique needs perfecting so I can prevent future explosions - but I am getting there. I can't wait to be past the sugar/fat/bad food withdrawls. Overall though - not bad for a first day......

Northshore Produce Market

Since today is Sunday - a.k.a. the eating clean planning day - let the games begin!

Today after church Pete, me, and Jordan went to check out this specialty produce store by our house. I fell in love - everything is so fresh, good, and inexpensive. I like that I can get in, get out, without being tempted by all the other bad, pre-packaged and non-clean foods. I think a turkey chili is in order for tonight's dinner. Jordan has a new found appreciation for mangoes and wants to eat one after another. Hopefully he doesn't get a belly ache.

Yesterday we went on an amazing hike at Cape Flattery, the northwest most point in the continental US. At the bottom of the trail we were greeted with a gift from God as you can see in this picture.....