Magical Fruits! (Day 8)

Breakfast:

1Qt Watermelon Juice

Very refreshing! My boyfriend was appalled that I would blend a watermelon and not just eat it! But eating it takes concentration. Drinking it does not. I will say that drinking it has a different flavor...or maybe it's because it was in the fridge all night? It just almost seemed like I was drinking pure sugar. Very sweet. Maybe I'm just thinking it tasted different because I was DRINKING watermelon rather than eating. It has made my stomach burn like the grapefruit juice did. Wonder if I should try drinking a glass of water before I drink the juices.

Exercise:

Simple Stretching

Therapy Exercises
Ran out of time to do the yoga this morning, but I'll be walking on my lunch, hopefully stretching throughout the day, and running after work (or walking, depends how my body feels)! Kind of excited for this!!

Snack:

24 Oz Watermelon Juice

1 Aprocot

Don't know if it's the watermelon juice that's giving me uber amounts of energy (I only got about 5 hours of sleep) or just the cleanse itself, but I AM SO ENERGETIC!!! It's kind of awesome. Been making sure I get up and stretch everytime I hit the restroom (which is often, with the mass amounts of water I drink!). Feelin' GOOD!

 

Lunch:

1 Orange

1 Apple

1 Mango

1 Banana

1 Kiwi

1 Carton Blueberries

1 Pear

Juice of 1/2 an Orange

 

Oh man, I was cutting this all up at work and it looked so awesome! People were highly jealous when they saw my mound of fruit. Wish I could have found the raspberries because it would have added a beautiful color to the bowl, but what I had was amazing! I had brought apricots to add in place of the raspberries, but decided to save them for a post workout snack. I ate about 3/4 of the bowl just now and am stuffed! It was SO delicious! Will save the other part for just before leaving work and going for a run. Currently bouncing in my chair! Loved this :)

 

Exercise:

Stretching

Hand Weights

Squats

 

Didn't get to go outside for a walk, but I did bust out the yoga mat and get my body moving! Glad I brought the weights into work since I have another set at home. Hope to make this a habit! I'd love to make sure I take a 10-15 min break every couple hours to do some movement.

 

Snack:

The rest of lunch

 

Nom nom...

Exercise:

Walk/Run for 50 min

Didn't anticipate how HOT and humid it was outside! I hadn't been out all day. Got dressed in my workout clothes at work and as soon as I walked outside was like "WHOA!" but I decided I was still doing it. If others can do it, I can too! And I've been itching to run! I love that feeling. I went on a trail that I pass by daily. Knew of a parking area on the drive home and went one direction, which wound up being a dead end, and then the other direction, which branches out and extends for a bazillion miles north and south in North Dallas and Plano. Definitely want to bike the path! It was nice to enjoy the outdoors regardless of how hot and how much I sweat. The sun peaking out from behind big fluffy clouds was beautiful. The slow, giant bumblebees that hovered from flower to flower, the dragon flies that tried desperately to avoid the birds that dived for them...it was a wonderful feeling of being alive!

Snack:

3 Apricots

I actually found this to be too filling after the run and saved one for much later. Sipped on water mostly.

Dinner:

4 Oranges Juiced

1 Cup frozen fresh Blueberries

1 Banana

2 Apricots

About 1/3 of this remains in the fridge. It was delicious, but I am so full! I just want water. I'm really looking forward to greens tomorrow. Too much sweetness today! I really wanted a salad tonight. Can't wait for lunch tomorrow!! I'm also interested to see how the morning smoothie will taste. I've not ever had a real green smoothie that didn't involve 75% fruit.

Water Intake:

96+ oz

Not a fad (Day 7)

Can't believe the end of this day marks a week! Crazy!

Another productive morning! Got up and dropped the cat off to get shaved (it's so hot in Texas and he has mass amounts of long hair), then walked for a little over an hour, picked up stuff at the pet store, and then got my groceries done! All before noon! Yeah! I like these days. Need to do some actual work work, which means I'll be sitting my rear on the computer most of the afternoon. Kind of stinks.

Had a talk on the walk today with the boyfriend. He's very supportive, but also expressed concerns that this is extreme. He is slowly trying to eat healthier, but loves meat and cooked food. He wouldn't ever be able to "give up" anything, but can definitely limit consumption. I applaud him for that. I told him this didn't feel like giving up anything. He didn't quite understand. His main problem with my new eating habit is that before, on my other diet fads, he was willing to meet me half way, but now it seems I'm just getting further and further away. He dislikes the fact that we can't eat together/eat the same thing, though he's willing to try some of my meals. And I will get him to join me in trying the raw food restaurants in town sometime! I guess I understand his issues, but I'm okay with having to cook separate meals (we don't live together, so meals together are usually weekends only). 

It stinks he doesn't get it, but he's not criticizing my choice. He just wishes there COULD be a middle ground rather than my running the opposite direction. With all the other workout regimes and diets tried, I understand that he just sees this as another fad that I will slip out of, but honestly... I don't. I don't see myself going back. I like this. Just need to cut the date snacking!

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Day 7 Happiness Exercise

What is Your Life Trying to Teach You?

My immediate response to this question was "how to live". Obviously I am living by the simplest of definitions, but often times I stress myself out trying to be too perfect, or trying to make a situation perfect. I've been learning more recently that imperfection is beautiful and makes us who we are. Imperfection IS life and there is nothing wrong with that. In fact it's much better than anything I deem perfect. I don't want to be a copy cat, I want to be my own, original self. I want to be me.

So, life is trying to teach me to be me.

A week? Really? (Day 7)

Breakfast:

2 Oranges (juiced)

6 Mandarin (juiced)

This was great! Mandarin are so much easier to juice than oranges! I used 6, instead because the 7 I had bought at Walmart were already going bad; had to throw one away. They're not really in season right now I guess? I couldn't find them at Sprouts. The boyfriend tried this and liked it a lot too :) He's a sucker for fresh orange juice.

Exercise:

1 hour walk

After dropping off my cat to get his hair cut we used the time to walk around a HUGE park where they were having a really big rugby tournament. There was also a group playing cricket. Attached to the park is a greenbelt that also attaches to another park. We probably would have gone further, but the boyfriend was wearing sandals that were not for long walking. It worked out pretty perfectly because I was able to grab cat litter and do my grocery shopping before walking in to pick up the cat just as they finished. Forgot to hit up the bank, so I think I'll walk there tonight if I'm not super tired.

Snack:

4 dates

They wouldn't fit in the container with the new ones I bought. :P

Lunch:

Gazpacho

Added Salt

WOW...this is awesome! I'm totally stuffed, but I want to eat the rest of this! I did add some salt, which makes me feel a little guilty that I'm not to that point of being able to leave it behind and enjoy the taste of pure nature...but...it tastes so good! I had no idea what gazpacho even was (funny how I've mentioned that a few times already and will probably throughout this program!) so I looked it up and then some other recipes. Those recipes were not so clean...but it did make me think I might add some diced onion at the end with the avocado next time! I hope there is a next time in the next 2 weeks :)  

I was unfamiliar with tarragon also, and couldn't find a package that wasn't semi-wilted looking or yellow and brown spotted, but MAN does that stuff smell amazing when freshly chopped! I added more than a Tbsp...so good :D

While I was cutting up the tomatoes, I saw that one was getting a little dimply when I pressed on it's skin. I knew it had to go today. When I opened it up it has SO much meat! I don't think I've ever seen that much meat on a tomato I've purchased from a grocery store--it's usually mostly seed and juice. I tasted a big ol' hunk and it was heaven in my mouth! Made me really appreciate fresh food...kind of wish I had saved it for a salad or just eaten it as was...but it tastes pretty amazing in this gazpacho. :) 

Snack:

1 Apricot

1 Kiwi

7 Dates (need to stop this!)

5 Almonds

5 Rings Pineapple

I've had a ton of water today (more than normal), so I'm not sure why I'm hungry, but I was...or thought I was. I have no will power when I'm around people. If they eat, I want to eat. It's especially bad with my boyfriend. Granted, I've not eaten anything but raw food, but I didn't need to eat all of this!

The pineapple was not ripe enough and my tongue and lips got the wrath of the acid! THEY HURT! Guess that's what I get, eh? Hopefully I will be able to taste food tonight :(  I guess if not, then I've had enough for dinner as is? haha...

Exercise:

~40 min walk

It might not have been that long, or perhaps longer, but we were gone for just over an hour. Walked to the end of the street, hit up the bank, wandered around Albertsons for the boyfriend's starving stomach, and then wound up going over to Jack in the Box. I watched him eat a chicken sandwhich and then we walked back.

Dinner:

1/2 Bag Lettuce

1/4 Bunch Kale

1 Avocado

1/2 Lemon Juiced

1 Scallion

1 Date

Thyme

2 Shakes of Sea Salt

Not sure I liked the avocado dressing sweet. I love it with lots of lemon juice...probably won't add the date again. Needed to use up the kale, so I chopped that up; same with the scallion. Overall, pretty great! Just not a fan of sweet avocado dressing and the kale is a bit tough with a spring mix.

Snack:

2 Spoonsfull of Watermelon

around 10 dates :(

Was getting the watermelon ready for tomorrow. I got a big one, so I cut it in half, blended half for tomorrow and chopped the other for whatever day we have it next.

I need to stop snacking on these dates! I love how sweet they are, though! It curbs my sweet tooth! But I eat too many. I did find out they only have 24 calories per date, but when I eat at least 10, that kind of adds up :P  Must ween myself! GRRR

Happy Productivity! Day 6

Day 6 Happiness Exercise

Accepting Your Shadow

Make a list of things you don't like about yourself, who you are, how you behave…Then go back and beside each point, write down something to love about each thing…

1. I nag the boyfriend sometimes -- pushing him further, to live up to his potential
2. I'm a really bad backseat driver -- care about safety and very time conscious
3. I procrastinate a TON -- work comes out great
4. I eat out of boredom -- the fact I get bored means I'm not busy!
5. I prejudge people often before getting to know them -- I will get to know them just to prove myself wrong
6. I have no self control when it comes to food -- finish what I start

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What a day! I don't know what time I went to bed, but I've been up since 6:30 being the most productive little worker bee! I JUST sat down to make some food and eat it. Had 96 oz of water so far today. I've accomplished so much around the apartment! Had the windows all open (until it got too warm) and let laundry dry out on the patio. It was beautiful and awesome! I have done 10 loads of laundry. That's a little ridiculous for one individual, but I swapped out my winter clothes for my summer and am doing all bedding and bathroom items. Moved my microwave to on top of the fridge so I had more counter space. I won't be needing it, but it's available if someone comes over and uses it. Been decluttering, reorganizing, and getting ready to donate items from my closet, kitchen, and bathroom. Still need to vacuum the bedroom, but all other surfaces are clean! 

The energy I have had today is pretty spectacular. :)

About to either go to bed (busy day tomorrow too) or walk to the bank and deposit a check. Now that I think about it...probably bed. I'm pretty tired.

Eating? Wha? Day 6

Breakfast:

Water

Decided that I wanted to keep the energy I had and not pause to make breakfast. Since I normally stay up later on weekends, I have found that I will eat at the normal times and then be hungry late in the evening and try to cram more food down my throat. And, since yesterday I didn't get nearly enough water in, and ate more than I needed, I figured a morning of nothing but water would be just fine.

Lunch:

Half a bag of mixed spring lettuce

1 Scallion

1 Tomato

Dressing:

Avocado

1 Juiced Lemon

Water

Cayenne

Pinch of Salt

This was so good! The lettuce expires today. I accidentally bought it when it was to be used on a day I wasn't home. Decided to make a dressing out of the avocado....so tasty with the lemon juice and bit of spice! I loved this :)  The rest of the bag of lettuce will probably be for this evening. The cabbage can wait! And I never picked up a pineapple...so it's all good.

I honestly didn't even want to make this lunch. I feared sitting down to eat it and then not getting back up to finish my productive day. I did eat it, though because I also knew that the lettuce was going bad! I think I'll be okay with fasting next week. :)

Dinner:

1/4 Cabbage

1 Carrot

1 Tomato

Dressing:

1 Avocado

1/2 Juiced Lemon

1 tsp olive oil

Cayenne

Cumin

Tomato Juice

The cabbage and carrot made way more than I anticipated! So I'll save the lettuce for tomorrow. It should be okay a day over. This was very tasty! I wish that I could have let it marinate a little so the cabbage wasn't so tough, but I feared the dressing going brown and gross with the avocado. Pretty darn stuffed. I literally just finished and it's 10pm. Been such a busy day! I feel great, though!

I'm working on my 4th 32oz container of water. Guess I really did need it after hardly any yesterday!

Didn't do yoga or any of the videos today, but I was literally on my feet from 6:30 until 9:30 cleaning, reorganizing, decluttering, swapping winter clothes for summer, and doing laundry! 

Light Day! (Day 5)

Breakfast:

OJG (4 grapfruit, 4 orange juice)

Almond Mylk (5 regular dates added)

The grapefruit made my stomach hurt when it hit it. :(  Probably from the acid. I drank them separate. Because I'm fasting after 8 until my procedure tonight I also made the almond mylk and drank that as well. I'm glad I peeled last night! It took much longer than I anticipated. Kind of relaxing, though. I decided to strain the mylk (stovetop grease catcher! haha...) since I couldn't get it super blended with my Ninja. I saved the pulp since I'm sure it can be used for something! It tasted pretty darn awesome! I could make that a LOT. I didn't buy medjool dates (which are really just larger versions of what I had) and just added extra of the small ones.

I got to work JUST as a dumping spell hit. SO glad that wasn't while driving. I've not had one quite this bad I don't think. Had to be from the all the sugar in the fruit juice. The previous fruit juice mornings I've only done 8 oz, this time I had 32! Oh man, did I sweat...and have blotchy eyesight! Dumping syndrome is a side effect of gastric bypass. I get it when I eat too much sugar in one sitting. I will probably have to cut down the amount of fruit juice intake. Today I really just wanted to get something in my stomach so it wouldn't freak out on me as I wait until after the injection procedure to eat again! If I'm lucky, I will want to just sleep afterwards, haha.

After the spell I was freeeeezing so I turned on my space heater which has made me ridiculously tired. Can't win! Totally want to sleep at my desk...

Snack:

Apple

10 Almonds

10 Dates (...what? lol)

In the end, I decided to just go with the local numbing for my SI joint injection...which meant I didn't need to fast! That's okay, though. My stomach was growling, but I was okay! I had a cup of water after getting it done (oh man, so not comfortable!). When I got home I was pretty darn hungry and had the snack. I'm sure I could have just downed some water instead since that was what the body REALLY wanted, but my brain was tricked into thinking I needed food since I hadn't eaten all day.

Dates might very well be the death of me! If I want something sweet, I tend to grab one...and then another...and another...ugh. 

Dinner:

Bok Choy

Green Onion

Avocado

Juice of 1/2 Lemon

1/2 tsp Olive Oil

Sprinkle of Sea Salt

Sprinkle of Chia Seed

Sprinkle of Sunflower Seed

I hadn't bought oregano and I really didn't want to smoosh the avocado, plus I had just watched a video on a recipe with bok choy salad, so I decided to make a salad. I've been craving it for awhile! The avocado diced kind of melted into the lemon and olive oil. This was definitely tasty! I want more... but honestly this is more food than what was in the meal plan for the day. I might go for some fruit tonight or a smoothie, but until then...I'm resting and catching up on water!

Snack:

Couple Handfuls of Kale

16oz Pure Coconut Water

1 cup Frozen Strawberries

1/2 cup Frozen Blueberries

3 Dates (again, seriously)

Tbsp Almond Pulp (from this morning)

Funny how a fasting day turned into a EAT MORE THAN ANY OTHER DAY day.... I guess I really do rely on water to keep me full. I don't really like that my brain thinks every craving or "hunger" pain is really meant for food. Today, it literally was water, but for whatever reason I kept wanting to eat to try to get water. I'll have to work on this. Hunger doesn't always mean food! 

Writing, writing, writing... Day 5

Day 5 Journal Exercise
---- My Favorite Forms of Movement: Walking, jogging, swimming, hiking, biking, flying (lol...hey I'm moving!), sports, dancing, yoga, boxing, weight lifting, skipping

I can't wait to be able to do a lot of these without lower back pain!!! 

Today I went in for my SI joint injection. I had said originally I didn't want sedative and then I decided I did, and then at the facility I flopped back and said no because I didn't want to have to pay for the anesthesiologist. Even though I will eventually be reimbursed, the initial fees come out of my pocket and I don't know how much insurance will cover! As it was, this procedure was $500! Needless to say, I'm shuffling money around... The pain kind of sucked...not going to lie. They numb you, but I usually need extra numbing (I have had 2 bad teeth fillings where I felt it! By different dentists too). I definitely felt when he hit the joint. Oy...

Anyway, I'm sitting not so comfortably on the couch... It throbs right now! I'm sure the numbing is wearing off. But, it hurt to sit before, so this is nothing new. 

Right now, my biggest worry is money!!!! Argh, I dislike you! I have a decent paying job and should be staying completely afloat, but student loans cost me $800 a month. That's a hefty chunk! $200 for the new car (which, after this settlement I should have paid off), and other expenses...it all just adds up! I never get to save :(  Especially with these expenses! My Personal Injury Protection maxed out with all the physical therapy, so now it all comes out of my pocket until I settle with the other insurance group. Luckily, in Texas, your PIP pays and so does the other insurance, meaning you are double rewarded! So all that money shall go into my car and any left over will be partially put into savings and thrown at the big interest loan! I'm glad to have paid off all my credit cards last year, at least. 

I just have no idea when that settlement will ever happen. I'm sure as heck not letting them try to settle until my pain is gone. I used to be so darn active! I'd hit the gym 5 days a week and hike the 6th. I miss this :(

On to better things! Of course, more money things...but whatever.

My 10 Year Class Reunion is coming up. I had planned on making it back for the weekend. The plan has grown exponentially and become awesome! I have a deadline that following week with a writer in Denver, so I will be working out of the Denver office that week. I talked them into letting me stay the entire week so I had that weekend to go hiking! MAN! I miss the Rocky Mountains!! My b/f is flying in for the weekend also to join me! This will be his first trip to Colorado. He might die with the high altitude (heck, me too), but we are going to have so much fun!! I can't wait :)