Day Eight

WEEK 2! Yippie! I made it! I have had nothing but fruit, vegetables, nuts, and healthy oils and spices since February 12. I never stick to anything so this feels pretty great. I like that the diet changes each week as it gives me a new thing to focus on. I really don't think I could stick to week 1 at this point.

7:00 :    orange, berry, banana smoothie

Again, I mixed this up yesterday and drank it this morning. It could have been that Louis kept us up half the night but I just didn't love this today. I think the pulp of the orange juice did something weird over night. I don't like thick, fibrous smoothies apparently.

8:00:     detox tea

9:00:     chocolate peppermint tea

10:00:   grapefruit, water

12:30:   salad (orange peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, walnuts), water

2:30:     walnuts, water

6:15:     SALMON!!!!!!!, broccoli, dates (still hungry), water

8:00:     apple, almond butter

Things I am thinking today:

• As of this morning, I am down 8 pounds from one week ago. Now before you get too worried about me (or rush out and start your own cleanse), I ate and drank everything I wanted on the weekend prior to starting. This caused me to retain a BUNCH of water on Monday morning. Also I forgot to weigh before working out and downing a giant water bottle that first weigh in. I guarantee this upped my weight a bit and I lost four of these pounds in two days. I would estimate my true weight loss at just under four pounds for the week. This will slow down considerably as the next two weeks go on because I will be adding more caloric foods back into my diet. Like I said, I didn't do this for the weight loss but it's an okay side effect. 
• As I look ahead I wonder how this three week (21 day) cleanse will affect my eating in the long run. This entire cleanse is not sustainable, I feel deprived of too many things. On the other hand, if this has no long term effects, why did I do it? As the toxins leave my body and I feel the ache as they depart, I understand the need to cut the amount of processed foods as much out of my diet as possible. As I yearn for cheese and milk though, I know I will not/cannot cut that out. The vegan alternatives are processed to death and I cannot live a fulfilled life without pizza! The big change I hope to make is taking the time to bake/cook more. If I want a cookie--FINE--bake some cookies. A burger--FINE--make it! McDonalds and Oreos don't need to be in my life but cookies and burgers can be (in moderation). The biggest obstacle to this change though is what it always seems to be with me, time and energy. 
• The body aches are not as bad as they were, but I still am having them. The headaches have gotten a lot better though. Now I only get a hint of one when I'm getting hungry. I need to focus on the next couple of days on my energy level. I really think I'm less tired, but I'm not sure. I haven't been thinking too much about it.

Day Seven

7:00:    berry-banana smoothie

7:30:    chocolate peppermint tea

10:00:  walnuts, dates, water 

1:00:     roasted cauliflower, sweet potato, sunflower seeds, water 

6:00:     cinnamon poached apple, water
7:30:     chocolate peppermint tea, walnuts


Things I'm thinking today:

• Hot tea is not coffee. It just isn't very good. Maybe if I could add some milk in it or something...
• The reason people don't eat like this is because it's so much dang work. Seriously!
• I am SO PROUD to have reached the end of week one. Tomorrow I eat beans and fish. Probably not together, but we'll see!

Day Six

7:00:    berry-banana smoothie

7:30:    peppermint tea

10:00:  walnuts, dates, water 

1:00:     salad (yellow pepper, tomato), water 

5:30:     butternut squash soup, walnuts, water
8:00:     apple with almond butter

Things I'm thinking today:

• Being around people eating real food today wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it might be. I was jealous of the great smelling popcorn at the movie theatre, but I pushed through with grape tomatoes. 
• If I ever eat this many vegetables in a week again, I will do it in the summer. Finding great looking veggies 

Day Five

6:30:  berry-banana smoothie

7:00:   detox tea

10:00:  clementines, water 

12:00:  salad (cucumber, yellow pepper, tomato, sunflower seeds), water 

2:00:    cranberry-pumpkin seed trail mix, water 
3:00:    dates, water
5:30:     roasted veggies (mushrooms, spinach), baked sweet potato with cinnamon, water

Things I'm thinking today:

• Maybe instead of a massage I'll treat myself to some new jeans! I really don't buy that expensive of jeans because I really don't care. I like to be comfortable and some of those fancier jeans just don't fit me right. I refuse to pay upwards of $100 on something I don't feel good in. I actually like the AE original boot cut the best, although I do have a pair of skinny jeans that need upgraded. In the last two years I have worn four different sizes of these jeans. Granted I was wearing them up until the day I delivered Louis, but I could open a store with the variety of sizes I have in my closet. The smallest size though, I haven't purchased since 2009 and could use an overhaul. I think walking around in too big of pants looks just as bad as too small (only for different reasons). Since Nev won't have to take me out for a fancy dinner on Saturday night, I might suggest a trip to the mall instead.
• I like to drive Nevin crazy by reminding him that I am the best dieter ever! While it's taken me over a year, I have lost just under 60 pounds. Now while this highlights just how huge I got while pregnant, it also makes me feel good about where I'm at. When he gives birth to our second child, I'll let him brag about his weight loss as much as he wants. 
• My legs and hips have been really achy and sore. It got so bad last night that I couldn't fall asleep. I thought it was because I wore heals on Wednesday, but I Googled it tonight and apparently that's a side effect of a cleanse.

Day Four

6:30:  berry-banana smoothie, cucumbers
Louis wanted the cucumbers and peppers I was cutting up for my lunch so I gave him some.    He would only eat them if I was eating them too. What a goofball. 

7:00:   detox tea

No lemon water/tea this morning because I ran out of time. It's a busy week at work.

10:30:  clementines, water 

12:30:  salad (cucumber, yellow pepper, tomato, sunflower seeds), water 

I had to eat on the go this afternoon and didn't even have a plate and fork. Mixing this all together in a baggie seems to be close to a salad. Right?

1:00:    cranberry-pumpkin seed trail mix, water 

Still hungry after my half-ass salad lunch. 


3:30:     walnuts, dates

7:00:    roasted vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potato) with olive oil, water

Things I'm thinking today:

• My weight is officially down lower than it has been in two years. While I'm not going on this cleanse specifically to lose weight, dropping an extra five pounds would be a welcome side effect. 
• I'm nervous for this weekend. I'm supposed to go to a movie with my girlfriends on Saturday and it is going to kill me not to eat that yummy smelling popcorn. Much of the fun we have together includes food and it's hard not to partake. Besides it's hard to be a friend to someone who isn't partaking. I don't like to think of us pressuring each other but I do know I don't feel as good about the cookie I'm eating when the person sitting next to me isn't enjoying one. These are some of the very feelings I would like to work on when dealing with my relationship to food.
• I have a gift card from Christmas for a massage. I'm thinking about scheduling it for next weekend to celebrate being half way done. If I cheat I could force myself to cancel it. Maybe that's motivation...

Day Three

6:30:  up for the day

7:00:  antioxidant smoothie

7:30:  I packed my hot water and lemon in a reusable thermos today and added an herbal tea bag. Much better!

10:30:  clementines, water 

12:30:  salad (spinach, red cabbage, carrots, chia seeds, sunflower seeds)
I forgot the rest of my veggies today so I was at the mercy of my office fridge. Blech. Boring and not very good. 

12:30:   detox tea

2:30:    butternut squash and apple soup, tomatoes, water
A snack wasn't going to cut it this afternoon. My lunch was disappointing and I couldn't keep the hunger at bay with a handful of nuts. 


3:30:    sesame-kale crisps, dates
A pretty good snack and Louis seemed to enjoy sneaking bites. 


I went to bed at 6:00. I am lucky to have a husband who doesn't roll his eyes at that request. I'm hoping it's enough to kick start my energy.

Things I'm thinking today:

First twinges of real hunger this afternoon. I hate being hungry!

I am EXHAUSTED. Lack of caffeine, lack of carbs...

Day Two

5:30:  hit the snooze for an extra ten minutes of sleep and then heard Louis shrieking. He always gets up in the morning and talks for a bit before going back to sleep for another hour, but he never wakes up screaming. I ran in to get him thinking something must be wrong. Nope. He just wanted up. No workout AND no extra sleep. Bummer.

I also skipped my hot water and lemon. I couldn't bring myself to do it.

7:00:  green smoothie

This was better today. I added more water to thin it out and blended it up longer. There were less chunks and the smooth texture helped. I also added ice so it was nice and cold. Do I love them? No. I will continue to drink them until my kale is gone though. Next week I may move on to another recipe. 


8:00:   watched Louis drink "pink" milk and eat french toast and apples at daycare for our Valentine Breakfast. I managed to not grab one for myself, but that maple syrup smelled wonderful!

9:00:   detox tea

10:30:  clementines, water 

12:30:  roasted veggies, water 

I couldn't do a salad today.The negative side to following another woman's plan, is that I would personally like to eat on my salads. Tonight I'm stopping at the store and stocking up on tomato, cucumbers and mushrooms. I think this will make me MUCH more excited for my upcoming lunches. It's not pizza, but it's something!


A much needed nap. The beauty of my job is that I didn't have meetings this afternoon so I went to the grocery store after lunch and came home. It means I'll start my grading when Louis goes to bed and be up late tonight, but it's a fair switch.

3:30:    a couple of dates, water 

6:00:    butternut squash and apple soup, water
Apparently Louis and Nevin had leftover pizza without me last night, so for Valentines Day I made them spaghetti and heart shaped garlic bread. 

While I cooked for them, I made my soup. Cooking and eating wasn't tempting but cleaning up after the meal took a lot of willpower. There's something about stealing a noodle and dipping it in sauce as you put things away, but I resisted. It was even harder to resist the giant cookies my mom sent for a Valentine's Day present! 

Louis and Nevin shared one though and I will be freezing mine. 

You better believe I will eventually be relishing in one of those! Louis was sad his was gone (we stole half of it back when he wasn't looking). I'm sad I don't get mine until March...

Things I'm thinking today:

Still not nearly as hungry as I thought I would be.

I miss substantial meals.

I gave Nevin a card today that said, "I love you more than coffee." After the last two days, that's really saying something!

I'm already getting sick of veggies. I love them, but I need someone to come whip up something new and exciting for me!