Monday, November 12, 2012

A CLEANSING Week

So perusing the internet, (OK, it was really Pinterest), I found a 7 day cleanse that someone recommended.  It didn't use any wierd foods and seemed healthy enough.  It didn't restrict calories and allowed flexibility for substituting some things.  So I started it two days ago. 

Why a cleanse, you ask?  Well, my reasoning is that my hardest thing to overcome the first week I start a new diet  lifestyle change is the sweet cravings.  And sometimes portion sizes.  I've found in the past that the cravings go away more quickly when I load myself with fruits and vegetables.  If seems to feed the right stuff to my body and since my body has its needs met, it doesn't crave the bad stuff as much.  The only thing I altered is the suggestion of drinking coffee and tea, which I always abstain from with the alcohol. 

So, here's what you do:
7 DAY CLEANSE
This plan can be used as often as you like without any fear of complications. It is designed to flush your system of impurities and give you a feeling of well being. After seven days you will begin to feel lighter because you will be lighter by at least 10 lbs. You will have an abundance of energy and an improved disposition.

You must abstain from all alcohol
You must drink 10 glasses of water each day

Day One All fruits except bananas. Your first day will consist of all the fruits you want. It is strongly suggested that you consume lots of melons the first day. Especially watermelon and a loupe. If you limit your fruit consumption to melons, your chances of losing three lbs. on first day are very good.

Day Two All vegetables. You are encouraged to eat until you are stuffed with all the raw or cooked vegetables of your choice. There is no limit on the amount or type. For your complex carbohydrate, you will start day two with a large baked potato for breakfast. You may top the potato with one pat of butter.

Day Three A mixture of fruits and vegetables of your choice. Any amount, any quantity. No bananas yet. No potatoes today.

Day Four Bananas and milk. Today you will eat as many as eight bananas and drink three glasses of milk. This will be combined with the special soup which may be eaten in limited quantities.

Day Five Today is feast day. You will eat beef and tomatoes. Eat two 10 oz. portions of lean beef. Hamburger is OK. Combine this with six whole tomatoes. On day five you must increase your water intake by one quart. This is to cleanse your system of the uric acid you will be producing.

Day Six Beef and vegetables. Today you may eat an unlimited amount of beef and vegetables. Eat to your hearts content.

Day Seven Today your food intake will consist of brown rice, fruit juices and all the vegetables you care to consume.


G.M.’S Wonder Soup

The following soup is intended as a supplement to your diet. It can be eaten any time of the day in virtually unlimited quantities. You are encouraged to consume large quantities of this soup.

28 oz, Water, 6 Large Onions, 2 Green Peppers, Whole Tomatoes (fresh or canned), 1 Head Cabbage, 1 Bunch Celery, 4 Envelopes Lipton Onion Soup Mix, Herbs and Flavouring as desired.

Additional Comments

Vegetables as may be taken in the form of a salad if desired. No dressing except malt, white or wine vinegar, squeezed lemon, garlic, herbs. No more than one tea spoon of oil.

You have been given a recipe for the WONDER SOUP which can be eaten in unlimited quantities. This soup is a supplement while you are on the program and it should be a pleasure to eat. Not everyone likes cabbage, green peppers, calory etc. This recipe is not inflexible. You may substitute vegetables according to your taste. You may add any vegetables you like: asparagus, peas, corn, turnips, green beans, cauliflower, etc. Try to stay away from beans (lima, pinto, kidney, etc.), however, because they tend to be high in calories even though they are very good for you.

Beverages you may consume while on the program :

   1. Water (flavoured with lemon/lime if desired).
   2. Club Soda is OK.
   3. Black Coffee. No cream or cream substitute. No sugar or sweetness.   4. Black Tea = Herb or Leaf.   5. Absolutely nothing else except the fruit juices which are part of day seven. No fruit juices before day seven.
This came from here if you want to see it from the horse's mouth.  We'll see how it goes the rest of the week.  I don't intend to do this cleanse back to back.  Just a week to get my taste buds wanting real foods.  Then back to counting food groups and calories. Wish me luck.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

50 Pounds in 6 Months or Less

I don't really want to do this, but I can't go anywhere until I know where I am starting from.  I need to post my stats.  You know, my height, weight (oh no!), and measurements (really oh no!!!).  I thought about just posting my losses and never giving any idea how big I start.  But how can I really have as much success unless I'm willing to share it all.  I need to be honest with myself and with others.  I really think that will be a key to success.  No going back now. . . . . .
  • HEIGHT: 5'3" (really 2 and 1/2 inches, but I round up for the extra pounds I'm allowed for my height)
  • WEIGHT: 175lbs
  • BMI: 31 (30 and over is considered by the CDC to be obese -- AAAAAGGHH!!!)
  • BUST: 39 "
  • WAIST: 38"
  • HIP: 45"
  • THIGH: 26"
  • CALF: 15-1/2"
  • BICEP: 13-3/8"
  • FOREARM: 10-3/4"
In August of this year, my mother passed away at 71 years old.  She died of complications from a stroke she had in 2007.  She had diabetes for at least 10 years, treated only by medications, not by life or diet changes.  She'd been overweight for 30 years, had high cholesterol and high blood pressure.  My father, at age 68, passed away in 2008 from a heart attack.  He was overweight, but trying unsuccessfully to lose pounds.  He had high blood pressure and heart disease.  I love my parents dearly!!!  I miss them everyday.  I want to call them and tell them what the kids are up to and get advice on hundreds of things.  I can't bring them back, but I can do something about my future so my children aren't left in the same boat as my siblings and I.  The future doesn't look good for me in my current state.  But I'm the only one who can change this: 

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

WILLPOWER or WILL POWER?

How many times do I try to change something about myself . . . from a character flaw to a bad habit to a dieting adventure?  It seems that my WILLPOWER can carry me through a while -- until the going gets tough.  Then, if I don't have any other source of POWER to back me up, I inevitably crash and burn.  I've been on and off of a health kick for the past 20 years and can't seem to conquer.  Food -- especially sweet food -- is my addiction that I can't seem to win my battle with.  I do great for a while, but something always seems to creep in to mess things up. 

I've been through it all before. . . Weight Watchers (did well on this for a while), joining a gym (got very fit, but didn't lose pounds because I was hungrier with the 2 hour a day workouts), starting a church exercise group (this was great for keeping me going, but people started moving away and it fell apart), and most recently joining a Feel Great In Eight group (this hasn't given me quite enough accountability). 

So I've decided to do things differently this time.  I've decided to tap into another source of power this go around.  I have WILLPOWER in small quantities and then it runs out.  I need an unending source of POWER to push me through until the end. (Which will probably be the same time as the end of my life -- I think this is a lifelong battle for me.) 

So, you say, where's the POWER source that's strong enough to push me through to the end of time?   Of course, I discover it everyday when I study the scriptures.  I seriously don't rely on my Heavenly Father enough to help me through my tough, stressful days when all I can think of is wanting chocolate in the form of cookies, frozen yogurt, or the kids' Halloween candy.  This time will be different.  I will meditate. I will write about my progress and trials.  And I will fervently pray.  The Lord does care about more than spiritual things.  You could even say all things we go through in this life have a spiritual impact.  Where's my scriptural backup?  Well, in Doctrine & Covenants 89, the Lord goes into detail about his law of health:  The Word of Wisdom, which goes well beyond a list of don'ts.  He's instituted the law of the fast to help our physical bodies take a back seat while letting our spirits grow.  Even in Moses' time, he gave guidelines to the people to keep them from getting diseases from "unclean" food.

Well, I have the plan, and now I have the POWER.  All I have left is to CONQUER!!!