I'm hungry.

I am on Day 19 of the 21-day Ultimate Reset and I have to admit, I'm hungry. I want more to eat. Not necessarily non-healthy foods, just different ones. I've been eating fruit for breakfast for the past two weeks and I am so bored with it. I WANT some hot cereal. Thursday...Thursday I will have quinoa for breakfast.

I have had some good food though - squash with tahini is delicious. Curried cauliflower is still a favorite. Roasted beets are fantastic.

But I want cashew butter on crackers. I want bean salad and avocado hummus. I want dolmas and roasted red pepper spread.  I could totally go for some colcannon with kale.

Not awful foods. I don't want a cheeseburger or donuts, but I do want some additional variety. Two more days. Hopefully by then my daughter will be better. She's been sick for the past three days and it looks like she'll be home again tomorrow - she just can't shake this fever.

Happy Anniversary to us!

It’s been a year. I have a hard time believing it’s been a year, but it really has. I’m not going to lie to you and say I didn’t eat any gluten or any dairy or whatever this year, but I would still say I have successfully cut those items out of my diet. And I really don’t want to add them back in. Occasionally I have decided I am willing to take the consequences – I had some cheesecake on my birthday (but I didn’t eat the crust), but for the most part, I usually decide feeling like junk just isn’t worth it.

I can think of three times in my life where I can draw a clearly defined line in sand saying my life changed at this time. The first was when I transferred schools between my freshman and sophomore year of college. The second was when I divorced and moved into my first apartment with my daughter and the last is when I was diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome. The changing of my diet was probably the biggest action item of that last major life change.

I’m doing the Ultimate Reset again. Although I’ve stayed true to my new style of eating for the last several months, I’ve also found new gluten-free, vegan foods and some of them are not the best for me so it was time to reset again. I’m on day five right now – I haven’t weighed myself or taken measurements, but it hasn’t seemed as physically taxing for me. Maybe its because I’ve really committed to drinking the full gallon of water a day the program suggests – even for me that is a lot!

However, it has been more emotional this time. I cried through the sermon at church yesterday and feel another cry coming on. Yesterday the sermon was about divorce which was upsetting to me and today I’m trying to work through some career stuff that has been challenging me for a long time.

I’ll keep you updated on how it goes. I’m sorry I haven’t posted a lot of recipes lately, but the last two weeks I put in a ton of hours at work so I haven’t been getting too creative in the kitchen. Tonight is a reset meal – brown rice with black beans, corn, salsa and guacamole – no real recipe to it, just mix it all together! I’m looking forward to it. 

The official results

I've reset...now what?

Well I’m done. I made it through 21 days of strict meal planning, vegan eating, no strenuous workouts and only drinking distilled water. 

My official stats include:

10.6 lbs weight loss
-2 inches off waist
-1.5 inches off hips

I will be taking photos later today. 

I thought I lost more inches, but it is what it is. I won’t have new bloodwork done until August, but I do look forward to finding out what those results will look like with all the changes I’ve made since my last round of bloodwork. I really hoping my HDL has gone up … maybe I’ll be able to go off the statin I’m on. 

I don’t have any crazy new foods planned for today (or this week). I’m going to try to drink A LOT of water today because it’s supposed to be quite hot today. I’d also like to look into longterm water options for home. The biggest change I’ve made today so far is to make my strawberry Shakeology with almond milk and add a tablespoon of almond butter to it for protein. I probably won’t eat meat until later this week and that will be tuna. 

I don’t know what we’ll have for dinner today, but I might hit up the Trader Joe’s while I’m in Castleton today and pick up some more Himalayan salt, dried fruit and organics. 

If I cook anything fun and exciting later, I’ll update.

Day 21: This is it! Last day

Morning weigh-in: 161.6 lbs - exact same as yesterday

Today was a rough day. A day with many tears, dismay, anger and frustration. I mostly stayed on the program, but unfortunately due to some stressful events this morning I did not get to make my lunch to take with me so I ended up have to get two side salads from McDonald’s + some apples at lunch time. McD’s really does use a nice mix of greens for their salads. The dressing wasn’t vegan though and I wasn’t thrilled with that, but I did what I could. 

Then we ended up waiting nearly an hour for Annyka’s stepmom to come pick her up at the pickup spot (about 45 minutes from our house) so that pretty much killed my entire afternoon. This was not the way I wanted to spend my day off from work. 

I think I’m going to take a 20 or so minute power nap, then put some laps in at the pool. I learned many many years ago that swimming makes almost everything better. Even when people try to make me feel bad for trying to do something nice for people who deserve it.

Day 20: A whole person

Morning Weigh-in: 161.6 lbs. 

Today I feel amazing. I was driving home from work and realized that in the past year I’ve really started to feel like a whole person. I’m not sure if that makes sense to anyone, but I really feel like I’ve found things in my life to be passionate about – that make me feel fulfilled. I still have moments that work is frustrating or I get tired of housework, but the other facets of my life make it worth it. 

And I realized I doubt I’d be doing any of these things if I hadn’t been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. It’s funny in what form blessings come. If I hadn’t gone through the multiple biopsies and blood tests and lymphoma scare while getting diagnosed, I may have never pulled the trigger on joining Team in Training. Without TNT, I may not have realized my enjoyment in fundraising and finding ways to raise money to help people who truly need and appreciate it. 

I can pretty much guarantee I wouldn’t have started going to a new chiropractor and taken the food sensitivity test if I hadn’t gotten Sjogrens. Without rediscovering my diet, I don’t think I would have started working with Beachbody or realized my potential in helping other people discover the amazing power of food. 

I can’t imagine my life any other way right now.

Day 19: Feeling good...

Morning weigh-in: 161.2 lbs - whoa did not expect that, but I'll take it.

I felt mostly great today. I'm really enjoying becoming more in touch with the food I eat, but I am very ready to get back to some more intense workouts.

I did my yoga first thing this morning and last night before bed I drank some Smooth Move tea. That helped. I felt much better by mid-morning today. I do think I waited too long to eat dinner though.

I took Annyka to a water safety class at the YMCA and I sat in the whirlpool and sauna a bit during the class. By the time we got out of there I was feeling a little faint with hunger. I was fine, but I probably shouldn't wait that long to eat next time. I'm really enjoying the curried cauliflower today. It was roasted in the oven and I really like the texture.

I haven't looked at tomorrow's menu yet...It might be stir-fry which would make me quite happy!

Oh, I also found some chia seeds at Pogue's Run Grocer today - bonus! I think on Sunday I going to make some of the chia pudding I have a recipe for. I'll post it if it turns out yummy. I also found a vegan, gluten-free strawberry shortcake recipe I'm looking forward to trying.

Only two more days because I can start planning my own menus again and working out!!

Day 18: My new favorite salad

Morning weigh-in: 164.8 lbs - same as yesterday

I had the super duper easy to make jicama-avocado salad again for lunch today, but dinner was pretty much a complete fail. We went to join the Y before dinner today (yay family gym time!), then went to the grocery store so we didn't get home until 8:30. I made roasted fennel bulb with steamed asparagus and broccoli. I was posting a recipe on facebook and forgot I was steaming the veggies, so they got overcooked and lost their pretty crisp greenness. And I wasn't a big fan of the fennel. It wasn't awful. I could eat some of it - unlike the tempeh - but it didn't really have much taste. It was just kind of crunchy like celery. I doubt I'll be making it again.

I believe tomorrow is spinach salad for lunch. I have to look up what dinner is. I had some serious cravings today for marinara sauce (random) and mexican food. I miss my mexican a lot! I could go for some fajitas right now...even if they were vegetarian!

I looked up tomorrow's dinner - curry cauliflower and lemon pepper kale. I'm looking forward to that. And now I'm craving India Garden food now too!

I can't wait to start going to the Y regularly....I do miss working out.

Since I've loved the Jicama-avocado salad so much, I will bring you in on that secret:

1/2 jicama, peeled and cut into matchsticks
1/2 avocado, ripe but still firm, cut into chunks
1 tbsp agave nectar
1 tbsp lime juice
1 1/2 tsp olive oil
2 tbsp cilantro leaves, chopped
dash of salt
dash of cayenne pepper
mixed greens, up to 3 cups

To make dressing, stir together agave nectar, lime juice, olive oil, cilantro leaves, salt and cayenne. Toss jicama and avocado in dressing. Serve over greens.

Day 17: New foods!

Morning weigh-in: 164.8 lbs

I got up about 20 minutes early today so I could do yoga again (I did it twice yesterday). It seems to be helping some. But what is not helping is that I also started my period yesterday. *

Anyway, so I have crampiness in my abdominal area and some related bloating. Hopefully it will subside in a couple days and if not, I’m sure it will by the time I’m off the Reset. With the help of the reset and getting back into my regular workouts in the next few weeks, I think I can be at the weight my rheumatologist wants to see by my next appointment (around 155 by Aug 16). 

On to food notes, which are the most important kind of notes, right? I tried something new last night. I steamed an artichoke. Scott and I both really like artichoke, but I usually buy them in the jar or can, not whole. So I put it in my steamer basket, sprinkled some lemon juice over it, put a few garlic cloves in the middle and steamed it for about 20 or so minutes (I didn’t time it, just estimated). It was quite good. I’m not sure it’s something I want to do regularly. It was a significant amount of labor for not a lot of food, but I’m happy to have tried it. 

Today I’m having a jicama-avocado salad for lunch. Jicama is something I’ve never eaten (at least to my knowledge). I’m pretty pumped about it. I’ve heard good reviews about the salad. Dinner is roasted squash (probably zucchini) and green beans. I’m also looking forward to it, but nothing new about it.

*I would like to point out that I am not normally an oversharer. I don’t really like being this open about my bodily functions  - in fact the last time I remember sharing this much about bodily functions was when I had Annyka. I doubt I’ll ever again announce to a stranger (a nurse), “I passed gas” with so much enthusiasm. However, I am taking on a journey of health and these are obvious parts of that journey that I would feel remiss if I left them out.

Day 16: No motivation

Morning weigh-in: 162.2 lbs

I'm down another pound, but more than weight loss, I really need to go to the bathroom. I know that's what you want to hear about. I apologize, but to be honest about this UR journey I have to mention it. I'm doing all kind of things to help things along - yoga especially for digestive help, warm epsom salt bath, deep breathing, and adding more good fats to my diet. Last night I ate about 1/3 of an avocado before bed and this morning I added flax meal and walnuts to my fruit - 1/2 cantaloupe, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries.

I'm also going to try to get about 200 oz of water in, but I'm already behind on that since I got up late today. I also really need to do laundry today, but I haven't made any move to start that and it's already after noon. Lastly, I'd like to go to the YMCA today and see if we can join. I think the kids would really enjoy that - so would I.

Today for lunch, I'm having more Asian Cabbage Salad, then for dinner it'll be roasted squash, green beans with lemon and some toasted millet. I'm looking forward to both meals.

Day 15: Busy Saturday

Morning weigh-in: 163.6 lbs

A busy day to usher me into Phase 3. I got up at 8 am, after a solid night’s sleep with some vivid dreams and headed to the gym for a swim. Then I hit up the Goodwill for the Half-Price sale and spent about $90 buying myself jeans & dresses and summer wardrobes for the kiddos. I successfully found 2 pairs of jeans in my current size – 10 short. I think by the end of the summer I can be in single digits! It’s possible it could happen sooner, but it may take picking back up on the workouts to get that done. I also had to buy snacks for Annyka’s school’s field day (for about 350 students) and we went to the movies. I successfully ignored Scott’s popcorn and Mr. Pibb. It wasn’t too awful since I had just eaten before the movie. I also smuggled my water into the theater.

I had two challenges with the Reset today…1) The meals were too big. Lunch was HALF a head of cabbage – with other veggies and dressing. I could only eat about a quarter of a head. And I only ate half of my veggies at dinner as well. I did eat the whole sweet potato, but I felt almost uncomfortably full. 2) I haven’t been regular throughout the Reset and it’s not fun. I am not having regular movements and that is unusual for me. I’m having a hard time understanding how I can eat sooo much fruit and vegetables and drink so much water (more than a gallon a day) and be constipated. I’m wondering if I might have to do a Shakeology fast to get back to normal once the Reset is done.

Day 14: Moving on to the Final Phase

Morning weigh-in            164.8 lbs

Tomorrow I enter the final phase of the Ultimate Reset. I just finished drinking the last serving of Detox – thankfully. It’s not that it tastes bad, but it is gritty and hard to swallow. Next week my calorie intake goes down even more and I’ll focus mainly on eating fruits and vegetables. I’m a little nervous about that, but hopefully I’ve prepared for it appropriately. I’m excited about the cabbage salad, baked sweet potato, but I’ll making a substitution for the carrot seaweed salad and tempeh. 

I haven’t taken my measurements yet…I’m waiting as long as possible so I can see as big of a difference as possible. I know that’s kind of silly, but since my weight loss has been so little compared to most people who have done the UR, I want something to be dramatic. 

A few weeks ago I found a pair of Pajama Jeans for half price so I decided to buy them, but they only had XXL or M. I bought the medium pair. Let me say something about Pajama Jeans…the waist is a drawstring and it doesn’t stretch. So if you have hips, you have to choose whether you want the pants to fit your waist or hips, not both. So I chose waist, but that meant it took about five minutes to get them over my hips. So here’s the punchline: Last night, I was able to pull them on like a regular human being, not wiggling into them like a spastic fish. 

In addition to the UR, next week I’m also going to have a spa day and do a wrap on my thighs and stomach.  And at the end of the reset I’m going to get my hair cut as well. It’ll be as close to a total body makeover as I’ll have anytime soon.