Day Fifteen

7:00 :   antioxidant smoothie

9:30:    peppermint tea

12:00   grapefruit, hard boiled egg, water
2:00     salad (carrot, green pepper, cucumber, tomato), water
3:00     trail mix, water


6:15     cod, quinoa, brussels sprouts, dates, water
I was starving for dinner and had quite the headache. It immediately went away when I ate though. I think my slight overeating this weekend caught up to me today. I feel like a new person after eating.


Frozen vegetables just aren't as good as fresh. I had fresh roasted brussels sprouts yesterday and frozen steamed ones today. No contest.


Things I'm thinking today:

• I'm down another two pounds this week and while logically I know that's much more typical and safe weight loss, it seems disappointing after last week. I'm now smaller than I was when I got pregnant and only 10 pounds from my wedding weight. I will most likely never get down that low again. Looking back at pictures from that time in my life I realize I was really thin. I don't remember even dieting or working out very much before my wedding. I think it was just the combined stress of graduating with my M.A., moving towns, getting ready for a wedding in a town no one lived in, preparing for Christmas, planning for our honeymoon, and getting ready to start my first full-time teaching job. No pressure there.
• As for how I'm feeling, I feel less tired during the day. I wake up refreshed and I don't feel the early afternoon drag I used to. Being naturally awake beats artificially awake any day. I have been going to bed early (even for me) though. I still need to be in bed by 9:30PM and last night it was 8:30PM. This means sacrificing alone time and time with just Nev and I once Louis is in bed. It means busting my butt when I'm at work so I can bring home as little reading, grading, and researching as possible. It's not a perfect system, but I don't know what the alternative answer is. Not sleeping doesn't work for me. My brain doesn't work as well and it puts me in a crap mood. I used to not sleep during the week, but then catch up on the weekend. That is no longer an option with Lou. This is my new normal.

Day Fourteen (HALFWAY if I go through 4 weeks)

7:00 :   antioxidant smoothie

9:30:    red chai tea

11:00   butternut squash and apple soup, water
2:00     dates, water

5:30     roasted winter vegetables, water
7:30     apple and almond butter


Things I'm thinking today:

• I'm bored. I found myself fantasizing about all of the "forbidden" foods I want to consume when this is over. I don't want this cleanse to become about what I can't have, but it's hard not to do that when you're bored. I have a couple of new recipes to try out this week so I hope that mixes it up a bit. The way today felt, there is NO WAY I'll make it four weeks. I will make it thorough three because I'm determined, but that additional seven days sounds horrible.
• To combat the boredom, I have a few new recipes to try this week.
• Toasted Coconut Museli
• Chickpea-Brown Rice Veggie Burger
• Rice Noodles with Broccoli-Almond Pesto
• Kale, White Bean, and Potato Stew
• Quinoa with Poached Egg, Spinach, and Cucumber
• I get eggs this week and I CANNOT wait!

Day Thirteen

7:00 :   antioxidant smoothie

9:30:    chocolate-peppermint tea

11:00   spinach salad with black beans, tomatoes, avocado, jalapenos, red onions and taco seasoning, water

11:45   dates, water
Still STARVING! I can't skip those morning snacks? When will I learn. I was out and about with Louis and while I remembered to pack him a plethora of snacks and drinks, I forgot about me.


3:00    roasted spiced chickpeas, dried apricots, red chai tea
I have been consistently snacking all afternoon


5:00    clementines, water

7:00     salmon, broccoli, water


8:00     dates, water


Things I am thinking today:

• I do not get enough water when I am hope on the weekends. When I'm teaching it's second nature to fill my glass up constantly, but I forget around the house. I don't feel as well when I'm not getting the hydration and I also am more hungry. Clearly by my afternoon of snacking, this is not a good thing!

Day Twelve

7:00 :   antioxidant smoothie

8:00:    detox tea
10:30:  apple, trail mix, water

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

3:30:     roasted winter vegetables, sunflower seeds, water

6:00     salt and pepper tofu , water
I was craving this ALL day. It's ALL I could think about at work. It was good tonight but I didn't cut the pieces small enough. I was juggling Louis while I cooked and I cut some corners I shouldn't have cut. It was still good but it was too mushy for my liking. Ah well, it was still good


7:00     dates, water

Day Eleven--HALFWAY!

Today is the exact middle day of my cleanse. I'm not sure I could do the last ten days again, HOWEVER in the next ten days this should only get easier. I'm loving the tofu, beans, and fish this week and next week I get to put back gluten-free grains (buckwheat, corn, millet, oats--if specifically labeled gluten free, quinoa, rice) and eggs.

7:00 :    antioxidant smoothie

8:00:     red chai tea


9:00:     salt and pepper tofu, dates, water
I am still super hungry from last night.  I never thought that my eating from yesterday may affect my eating the next day. 


3:30:     any bean dip and carrots, water
It wasn't as flavorful as I had hoped. I think I would add more seasoning, garlic, and onion next time.


6:00:     salmon and roasted winter vegetables, water 
I substituted some of the veggies for things I had on hand. I ended up with leeks, carrots, mushrooms, brussels sprouts, garlic, and cauliflower. They were wonderful! I have a container in the fridge for lunch tomorrow and I am excited for a tasty lunch. 


7:00:      apple with almond butter


Things I'm thinking today

• Happier day today as I now understand that Louis' daycare will not be closed even if they decide to close Price Lab. I still hurt at the thought of the decision and think it is the wrong choice for our University. It's easier to resist temptation when I'm in a better mood. This takes the immediate stress off of me, but does not solve the larger inequity at hand. 

Day Ten

7:00 :    antioxidant smoothie

8:00:     red chai tea
DELICIOUS! Would be even better with milk but I'm dealing.

10:30:   trail mix, water

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


2:30:    grapefruit, walnuts, water
While I really would have loved this covered in cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips, I really enjoyed it. 

8:45    Fish tacos--without the taco (cod, black beans with taco seasoning, avocado, tomato, red onions), water

SO HUNGRY!!!! We went to Ash Wednesday services after work and then to the meeting at Price Lab School to hear President Allen discuss his intentions to close down the school (and in conjunction our amazing daycare). My heart breaks for the students that will miss out on the amazing education the school offers, the university students who will not get the opportunity to work with teachers who are trained to help them become strong teachers, the great teachers who will be out of work, my child and his new friends who are comfortable in their current daycare situation and will need to start over someplace else, and the parents who want the best for their kids. I have not lost hope, but I feel to be a responsible parent I have to plan for the worst. Nevin and I will start researching other daycare centers this weekend.

Things I am thinking today:

• Most emotions makes me want to eat, but bummed out is the one that I find hardest to placate. Eating vegetables just don't make me feel better. I want cookies. Those probably won't make e feel better either, will they?

Day Nine

7:00 :    orange, berry, banana smoothie

8:00:     cardamom cinnamon herbal tea

10:30:   dates, sunflower seeds, water
I got too hungry for this snack. I had a hair appointment and then went to the grocery store. By the time I got home I was STARVING. I have a hard time when I get that hungry. I ate a much larger snack this morning than I typically would, I'll make up for it with my afternoon snack.

1:00:    spinach salad with black beans, tomatoes, avocado, jalapenos, red onions and taco seasoning, water
While I really would have loved this covered in cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips, I really enjoyed it. 

5:15:    salt and pepper tofu, water
HOLY CRAP! This stuff was amazing. I actually made it to eat for lunch tomorrow and then started snacking on it, offering some to Louis, and giving Nevin bites. Pretty soon I was full and it was half gone. I didn't put in the sugar because of the cleanse and I didn't miss it. I wish I could figure out how to get every single piece with that deliciously, perfect, crunchy outer layer. I might cook it an extra two minutes next time and serve it with rice and broccoli maybe. Delish! I'll keep that recipe for non-cleanse time too.

Things I am thinking today:

• I miss eating with my family. I have spent much of our meal time hiding in the other room for the last week because I don't exactly have strong will-power. The other times I try to eat before the guys do, then at least I'm not hungry as I watch them eat CHEESE. Man, I miss cheese. I may miss cheese more than eating with my family...
• I saw the Easter candy at HyVee today when I ran in for five spice powder (something I have never had but really enjoy) and I only had a twinge of sadness when I saw the black jelly beans. My cleanse will be over long before April 8th so maybe I can sneak in at least one handful of my favorite holiday treat. 
• Still missing coffee...will that desire ever go away? I don't miss the caffeine. I have been surprising more awake. I can't explain it but it's true. I still want to go to bed early, but my afternoon slump isn't as pronounced.