Day Seventeen

7:00 :   antioxidant smoothie

8:30:    peppermint tea

10:30:  walnuts, water
12:30:  salad (carrot, cucumber, tomato), hard boiled egg, water
2:30:    trail mix, water
6:30:    quinoa, avocado, tomato, onion, eggs, water
7:00:    dates

Day Sixteen

7:00 :   antioxidant smoothie

8:30:    detox tea

10:30:  clementines, walnuts, water
12:30:  salad (carrot, green pepper, cucumber, tomato), hard boiled egg, water
1:00:     dates, water
3:30:     walnuts, water


5:30:     Kale, White Bean, and Potato Stew, water
I loved this, as did Louis. My leftovers were sacrificed to my son! I can see making huge pots of this in the fall just as the weather starts to get cold. It seemed a little out of place as I've been wishing for spring, but it still tasted delicious! While this was cooking I also mixed up some Chickpea-Brown Rice Veggie Burgers. Sadly, one of the four ended up smooshed all over the kitchen floor. While I keep my kitchen clean, it is not clean enough to eat off of. I made some substitutions in order to keep some things in my fridge from going to waste. Black beans for chick peas and quinoa for brown rice. We'll see how they are tomorrow!


6:30:      dates, red chai tea with a splash of unsweetened almond milk
STILL NOT COFFEE :(

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.