body cleanse

For the Love Of Animals.

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FactoryFarmingPhaseOut

I’m back in the USA. Arrived home, safe and sound, on Thursday afternoon, but just now adjusting back into the US Pacific timezone.  I had a fantastic trip – successful from a work front, and extremely successful on a fun/friend front.

  • I reconnected with a bestie – I was able to hang out with Smiles, one of my best girlfriends ever.  She was my partner in crime may years ago.  She was the reason for one of my greatest trips of all time – my trip to Australia (and to Hamilton Island) in 1996.  I know, a lifetime ago, but at the same time, unforgettable.
  • I connected with a new bestie – Sporty Spice. I was able to get to know her before she started her world travels, but I was lucky enough spend more time with her down under.  I love me some Sporty Spice!  She is so funny, so insightful, creative, interesting.  I can’t wait for more time together!

I know, I know, I’ve already said all of this. But it was a great trip, it felt too short, I would have loved to stay longer, and I look forward to my return trip in April.

What I’ve not shared is my current obsession with health. I know I said in my Yacht Body post that I’m going to go the no-alcohol route, but that was before watching 3 movies on juicing and vegetarianism.

  • Vegucated – great documentary on 3 meat and cheese loving individuals take a 6 week vegan challenge.  Also showed some shocking videos of slaughterhouses and compelling facts about farm animal cruelty.
  • Fat Sick and Nearly Dead – amazing documentary (available on the website, Netfix, and Hulu) on the lifestyle and medical transformation attributed to juicing.
  • Food Matters – medical experts weigh in on the lack of nutrition and natural healing education and support in the medical community as well as the growing dependence on pharmaceutical drugs (which I personally love) and expensive medical treatments.  What I learned is that there are many alternative therapies available, the easiest of which is choosing healthier foods to put in your body – “You are what you eat”.

After watching these documentaries, I truly believe that alcohol is the least of my concerns.  I need to be focused on a plant-based diet… not only for my health but to also save animals from undue torture (be careful, I got about 30 seconds through the video and couldn’t go any further).  I do have an appointment with an allergist to figure out my stomach issues.  I’ve met with my doctor to review my medications (I take sleeping pills, constipation, and pills to help manage my recurring panic attacks).

I can say, that I’m honestly sick to my stomach about the farm animal cruelty right now.  I think that I can get my Yacht Body AND contribute to making a difference in an animal’s life (Alicia Silverstone is a spokes person for Farm Sanctuary in the US and even Aussies have their own sanctuary anyone want to do a volunteer stint with me?). If I could save all the animals I would – they deserve better than to be created solely for the purpose of consumption IMO.  Anyone who knows of a farm that saves animals, please post it to comments.  I’d love to see how many active sanctuaries we can provide links to on this blog.

With my new-found purpose, I am going to focus on living a healthier life and saving the animals, one diet (mine) at a time.  I will post my weight loss, blood pressure, and bad cholesterol test results when I get them.  If I don’t show significant progress by April 1st, then I have 1 more month to cut out alcohol and anything else necessary. I WILL HAVE my Yacht Body by early May…  Please provide any advice, links to education recourses, or vegetarian recipes… I’ll take it.

GM Diet Day 7 – Fruit, Veggies, and Rice.

PaulasPonderings8 Comments

Day 7 has come and gone.. I’m SO GLAD that this diet is over with!  Again, not because the diet is a challenge food wise, but because the no drinking really hinders my social life.

The results of day 7… drum roll please…  4 ounces down.. for a 7 Day total weight loss of 3.5 pounds for the week.  Not great given that some have experienced 10-17 pounds of lost weight…  but I have officially lost all the weight I gained while working in Atlanta.

Day Date Day Morn Weight (lbs) Daily Loss/ Gain Total Loss # glasses of Water Daily Activity
1 29-Aug Mon. 126.1     8 10 min walk
10 min abs
2 30-Aug Tues. 124.1 (2.0) (2.0) 8 40 min run
10 min abs
3 31-Aug Wed. 123.6 (0.5) (2.5) 7 60 min golf
4 1-Sep Thurs. 123.6 0.0 (2.5) 9 30 min low impact work
5 2-Sep Fri. 123.7 0.1 (2.4) 10 60 min bar burn class
6 3-Sep Sat. 123.0 (0.7) (3.1) 6 lazy day
7 4-Sep Sun. 123.0 0.0 (3.1) 7 40 min run
10 min abs
FINAL 5-Sep Mon. 122.6 (0.4) (3.5)    

My thoughts on this diet:

  • It’s not really a diet but a cleanse.  I wouldn’t put much stock in losing weight on this plan UNLESS you plan to work out every day.  The days that I worked out are the days that I actually lost weight.
  • Eating Healthy is a lifestyle, not a diet.  I love fruits and veggies, so this diet was pretty close to my lifestyle, and if you too eat mostly fresh fruits and veggies, you are more than halfway there. 
  •  Carbs aren’t that hard to avoid.  I love only a few carbs – tortilla chips is about the only thing I really missed.  
  • You have to exercise.  As I mentioned a few times, the days I lost weight were the days I physically exerted myself….  to lose weight you have to exercise, period.  I love to workout, but it became clear to me during the week that I’m not exercising enough IF I want to lose weight. I exercise enough if I want to maintain.
  • Where does dairy fit into this plan?  I don’t like milk so I drink soy milk, but I’d love to know where cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt fit in?  Are these things considered “bad” for you? Why are they not mentioned at all? 

A friend of mine mentioned that he lost 30 pounds on the 17 day diet… I think that will be my next diet attempt.  Like I stated before, I’d love to get down to 110… its my ideal weight – keeps enough meat on the bones but reduces the layer of fat that currently covers my muscles…..  🙂 .  So I would need to lose 13 pounds (I’m now at 123, I was 120 at the first of the year)…

So today is Monday, Labor Day, and I’m going out with friends to enjoy the sunshine and have a few afternoon cocktails.  I’m deliriously happy about it…

GM Diet Day 6 – Beef and Veggies.

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Day 6 went.  Results of Day 6 is  no weight loss, no weight gain.  The highlight of the day was that I met friends for happy hour.. and it was soooo nice.  I loved being out and about.  Finally!  We sat outside, in the sun, enjoyed the summer late afternoon/early evening…. Its been the highlight of the week.

Day Date Day Morn Weight (lbs) Daily Loss/ Gain Total Loss # glasses of Water Daily Activity
1 29-Aug Mon. 126.1     8 10 min walk
10 min abs
2 30-Aug Tues. 124.1 (2.0) (2.0) 8 40 min run
10 min abs
3 31-Aug Wed. 123.6 (0.5) (2.5) 7 60 min golf
4 1-Sep Thurs. 123.6 0.0 (2.5) 9 30 min low impact work
5 2-Sep Fri. 123.7 0.1 (2.4) 10 60 min bar burn class
6 3-Sep Sat. 123.0 (0.7) (3.1) 6 lazy day
7 4-Sep Sun. 123.0 0.0 (3.1)    

I didn’t stick to the diet specifically, just did what I normally do.  I had a lot of fruit today – I don’t think that it is allowed, but its a hot summer day and that’s what I wanted.  I did eat some ground beef for dinner – ground beef with lots of tomatoes, onions, avocados, lettuce and Cholula sauce (no beans, cheese, sour cream, or chips).  As you can see, I didn’t work out either, so I’m sure that had an impact on my not losing any weight on Day 6.

The Final Day, Day 7, will prove interesting, I went for a run and worked in the yard for an hour.  I’ll let you know how it goes!

GM Diet Day 5 – Beef and Tomatoes.

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Day 5 went well.  Nothing out of the ordinary.  I ate all the tomatoes and only 1/4 lb of ground beef.  I drank a ton of water.  I felt full after eating the beef at lunch time, that all I ate in the afternoon and evening was tomatoes with basil and balsamic..  I had the fresh organic heirloom tomatoes from Farm Fresh To You and they were absolutely divine….  I don’t know if I can eat another tomato that doesn’t come from garden.

So after the beef and tomatoes day, I’ve lost 7 oz, for a total loss of 3.1 pounds.  I’ve officially lost my Atlanta weight. 

Day Date Day Morn Weight (lbs) Daily Loss/ Gain Total Loss # glasses of Water Daily Activity
1 29-Aug Mon. 126.1     8 10 min walk
10 min abs
2 30-Aug Tues. 124.1 (2.0) (2.0) 8 40 min run
10 min abs
3 31-Aug Wed. 123.6 (0.5) (2.5) 7 60 min golf
4 1-Sep Thurs. 123.6 0.0 (2.5) 9 30 min low impact work
5 2-Sep Fri. 123.7 0.1 (2.4) 10 60 min bar burn class
6 3-Sep Sat. 123.0 (0.7) (3.1)    

However, I had hoped to lose a bit more with this diet, I was looking to lose a total of 6 pounds – the 3 pounds I gained while working in Atlanta AND the 3 pounds that have crept on during the year.. that would put me down to 120 – the weight I rang in the New Year at.  Ideally I’d love to be at 110.. which I would consider my ideal weight given my height and bone structure.  Maybe that will be my 2012 New Years Resolution…

I think the secret is eating healthy AND working out.  The days I had “strenuous” workouts are the days that I lost the most weight.  I love to run and I love the classes at the gym… so I will continue to eat healthy and focus on working out.  What I do not plan on doing is giving up my social life for a diet any longer.  I’m going to stick to the ‘lots of fruits and veggies no carb diet’, but not waste away my weekend by avoiding activities with friends so that I don’t drink.

 

GM Diet Day 4 – Bananas and Milk.

PaulasPonderings5 Comments

I made it thru Day 4. It was pretty easy. I love bananas.  I made myself 2 banana shakes, each of them had 2 bananas mixed with ice and soy milk (vs. regular milk).  Super yummy.  You are supposed to eat 8 bananas, but I didn’t need anymore than the 4 I ate.

I had a banana shake in the morning, a banana shake in the early afternoon, and a bowl of the soup for dinner.  I drank a lot of water today … I marked 9 glasses officially, but I know it was way more than that.  It was a warm day today and I did a bunch of stuff around the house…  I was just thirsty and I love water.

But get this, I GAINED weight!  Yes, only an ounce, but seriously?!?!?  I have no idea why, I felt good, didn’t feel hungry, stayed on target/plan..  just boggles my mind (maybe the soy milk vs. regular milk? not eating all 8 bananas?, the alcohol from the day before?).  I keep thinking to myself, why am I doing this?  I’m doing this to lose weight, not gain weight..  surely something is up.  I eat pretty healthy as it is, and cutting out carbs hasn’t been that big of a deal..  but cutting back on alcohol, and thus my social life, is a BIG DEAL.  So I’m now tinkering with the idea of giving up..  Below are the stats:

Day Date Day Morn Weight (lbs) Daily Loss/ Gain Total Loss # glasses of Water
1 29-Aug Mon. 126.1     8
2 30-Aug Tues. 124.1 (2.0) (2.0) 8
3 31-Aug Wed. 123.6 (0.5) (2.5) 7
4 1-Sep Thurs. 123.6 0.0 (2.5) 9
5 2-Sep Fri. 123.7 0.1 (2.4)  

 The only craving I had was for fruits, and specifically the organic grapes I have sitting in my fridge.  It was hard to not grab a handful every time I opened the fridge.  I’m looking forward to eating some meat on Day 5…   I have dreams of a hamburger.. I might make some ground beef and season with taco seasoning, mix it with lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, onions, a bit of cheese.. yum! 

What I miss the most is not sweets (I don’t really have a sweet tooth), but tortilla chips and beans.  I eat mexican food all the time – I love it, the chips, the beans, salsa, cheese, etc.. it’s a staple in my life, along with soft toilet paper. 😉

Wish me luck on Day 5… if I don’t lose weight, I’m NOT going to stick with the plan…

GM Diet Day 3 – Fruit and Veggies.

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Summary for Day 2 – 1/2 a pound down … not as much as on Day 2, but hey, its something!  

Summary of Day 3 – zero gain, zero loss.   Day 3 was fruits and veggie day – yeah!!  I had a great breakfast and lunch…  however, the afternoon and evening took a turn for the worst.  I went with a friend golfing and had a glass of wine afterwards.  I also had a date on Wednesday night, had a great Greek salad and took a few bites of my dates skirt steak. The big no-no was the glass of red wine…  This is why I cannot go out while I’m dieting, I have zero will power…  drinking has more to do with socializing than it does with drinking…. 

Oh, and my period started..

Given all of this, I’m actually shocked I didn’t gain weight.  But I didn’t… so its o.k..  I’m interested to see how this affects the rest of my diet.

Day Date Day Morn Weight (lbs) Loss/ Gain # glasses of Water Daily Activity
1 29-Aug Mon. 126.1   8 10 min walk
10 min abs
2 30-Aug Tues. 124.1 (2.0) 8 40 min run
10 min abs
3 31-Aug Wed. 123.6 (0.5) 7 60 min golf
4 1-Sep Thurs. 123.6 0.0    

Thursday, Day 4, is all about bananas and milk.  I had debated whether to do another day of fruit and veggies, but decided to just continue with the plan…  Wish me luck – I’m crossing my fingers that I didn’t derail myself.

GM Diet Day 2 – All Veggies and a Potato For Breakfast.

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Summary from Day 1 – down 2 pounds!  I woke up this morning, hopped on the scale, and just smiled.  Thank god Atlanta didn’t get the better of me.  I’m almost down all the weight I gained…  Yeah for me!

Day Date Day Morn Weight (lbs) Loss/ Gain Total # of glasses of Water Daily Activity
1 29-Aug Mon. 126.1   8 10 min walk
10 min abs
2 30-Aug Tues. 124.1 (2.0) 8 40 min run
10 min abs

Today is Day 2 – all veggies and a potato for breakfast.  So after making my coffee, I cleaned a potato and stuck it in the oven.  An hour later, I had a potato with 2 pats of butter and a bit of salt and pepper.  It was delicious.  I felt full, but not too full until late afternoon.  For dinner I made myself some baked eggplant with homemade chunky tomato sauce and a big salad.  I cheated and added some cheese to the eggplant and I think that was a mistake.  About 30 minutes after eating, I got really bloated and my stomach hurt for about an hour..  the same feeling I get all the time.  I’m wondering if I’m allergic to cheese?   I’m going to eat the rest of the eggplant minus the cheese tomorrow and see how I feel.  If I don’t feel bad, then I’ll know that I don’t feel good when I eat cheese.  It would be an absolute bummer because I LOVE cheese.

I went for a run today – the first one in a month. I was slower than usual but it felt so good. The weather was perfect – it was warm out, there was a slight breeze, the sky was clear and blue.. the sun on my skin felt glorious.  I feel so much better when I exercise I don’t know why I don’t “just do it” when things get busy/crazy….  seems backwards.

I ran errands tonight after dinner so I wouldn’t be tempted to relax with a glass of wine.  It worked… and now I’m home, blogging, and getting ready for bed. 

Tomorrow, Day 3, I can have both fruits and veggies except bananas and potatoes.  I’m looking forward to my berry shakes, more mango (yum!), and the grapes I just received in my organic care package from Farm Fresh To You.  It came at the perfect time as it contains a bunch of grapes, two containers of heirloom tomatoes, an eggplant, some broccoli and lettuce. I used the eggplant and a few of the heirloom tomatoes for dinner tonight…  I’ll use the tomatoes with my beef on Days 5 & 6, and the broccoli for a stir fry on days 6 & 7…   Yum!

Alright, I’m tired.. off to bed I go.  Have a great Wednesday everyone.

GM Diet Day 1 – All Fruits Except Bananas.

PaulasPonderings6 Comments

Today is the 1st day of my 7 day diet (GM Diet).

I weighted myself first thing in the morning as the diet suggests.  I’m at 126.1 lbs. 

I started the morning off with a stong cup of coffee (always cleans me out) and a large berry shake. I spent most of the day in front of my computer frantically trying to get work done because I have jury duty tomorrow (and potentially the rest of the week).  I did get outside for about 10 minutes and it was absolutely gorgeous – sunny and cool..

The day went by quickly –  I’m glad I was working from home.  I ate fruit all day – berry shakes, oranges, mangoes..  delicious.  I did begin to feel fuzzy/shaky/weird around 6pm, but I ate a bowl of the GM Soup and all was good. I do not miss drinking tonight – didn’t crave it like I thought I would.  Instead, I watched Millionaire Matchmaker while unpacking my suitcase and doing laundry.  It felt like a productive evening. 

Being Type A, I’m keeping track of everything in a spreadsheet ….  I can’t fit everything into this blog (I’ve documented everything I’ve eaten so far) so here is the important stuff:

Day Date Day Morn Weight (lbs) Loss/ Gain Plan # glasses of Water Daily Activity
1 29-Aug Mon. 126.1   All fruits except bananas.  8 10 min walk
10 min abs

Tomorrow is all about vegetables…  It  makes me miss My Mr. Big.  He was the best salad maker ever (among his other many talents).  There was something about the way he made a salad that made it over-the-top delicious.  As I type this, I realize that it’s not really about the salad, but about the way he took care of me.  He took pleasure in making me happy, as I did him.  He was generous in so many ways…  and salad making was just one of them.  I’ll be thinking of him all day tomorrow (not that I don’t every day.. but it will happen even more so tomorrow)…

O.k.. no nap for me today so I’m tired… I’m off to bed, get a good nights sleep and begin Day 2 with a bang!

Trying The GM Diet.

PaulasPonderings3 Comments

My month in Atlanta was brutal, especially on my physique.  The 3 hour time change made it almost impossible for me to work out.  I know this sounds like a lame excuse, but getting up at 7am pst is about all I can do…  If I wake up any earlier than that, I feel sick to my stomach and have on many occasions, thrown up.

I also felt bloated and uncomfortable the entire time .. I don’t know if it was the weather or what I was eating, which for the most part was the same – oatmeal in the morning, salad for lunch, low carb dinner), but I just didn’t feel good.

Anyway, the long and short of it is that I didn’t work out and I drank too much…  which has resulted in a 3 lb gain.  Of course I’m not happy out it, I had 5 lbs to lose before I left for Atlanta a month ago.  So, I’m going to try the GM Diet.  A few friends of mine have done the diet one week a year for years (they do it once a year for cleansing purposes)… and have consistently lost weight and have kept it off.  So I’m going to give it a try.  I’ll blog my progress …   

I’m actually looking forward to it because I do love fruits and veggies..  and I can substitute chicken for the beef days if I want to..  I went shopping today and purchased a bunch of fruits and vegetables… the bill came to $68… which is very low for me.  Normally its close to $100, and that’s because it usually includes alcohol…. And honestly, after all the drinking I did in Atlanta, I’m looking forward to an excuse to NOT drink.  I know, shocker. 

Wish me luck.  I’ll let you know how day 1 goes tomorrow.