Crazy Sexy Cleanse: Day 1

1. Did you abstain from coffee?  YES!
2. Did you abstain from alcohol?  YES!
3. Did you abstain from gluten?  YES!
4. Did you abstain from animal products?  YES!
5. Did you abstain from crack (aka sugar) and choose low-glycemic fruits and better alternatives such as stevia or agave?  YES!
6. Did you dry brush today? No...I need to buy a brush or a loofa.
7. Did you clean your sinuses with the good ol' net pot? YES!
8. Did you move your body for at least 35 minutes? No.
9. Did you meditate for fifteen to twenty minutes? No.
10. Did you chew your meals thoroughly and mindfully? I think I was so excited to eat, I ate quickly...
11. Did you laugh out loud and tell someone you loved him or her today? YES!
12. Did you spend time in nature? I spent about 2 mins in my backyard with Jeremy, but then we came in because it is COLD here!
13. Did you get eight hours of uninterrupted sleep? Close.
14. What did you eat today and did you juice? Morning: Water with lemon and cayenne pepper to start off the day, 2 cups of peppermint tea, green juice. Noon: Green salad with tomatoes and dressing. Afternoon snack: green juice and 2 brown rice cakes with almond butter. Dinner: Salad greens, with avacado, olives and tomatoes with quinoa.
15. How much purified water did you consume? You can include fresh veggie juices in your calculation. I think about 60ish ounces...but that's a guess.
16. What supplements did you take? Vitamin B12, Vitamin C and Iron.
17. How was your elimination? It happened.
18. What time did you stop eating? 7pm...3.5 hours before bed.
19. How do you feel physically? I was tired today, but I feel good tonight. My teeth looked grubby. Weird...usually they look really white. Could that be part of the detox?
20. How do you feel emotionally? Normal.


Note: My starting weight on this diet is 175 pounds. Yowza! 

And just like that, the train done arrived!

You might remember that I wrote here that I was pondering a way to jump back on the vegan train. Well, folks, the train has arrived at the station!

I have spent the past month reading and familiarizing myself with the Crazy Sexy Diet, and today I'm kick starting a new lifestyle with a 21 day vegan cleanse. This cleanse involves drinking a lot of green juice and eating a lot of green veggies.

I've decided to chronicle my 21 day journey to a cleaner system on this blog. At the end of each day, I'll be answering 20 questions of accountability posed by Kris Carr, author of the CSD. And I'll also be writing about how I'm feeling during the cleanse.

Here are the 20 questions:

1. Did you abstain from coffee?
2. Did you abstain from alcohol?
3. Did you abstain from gluten?
4. Did you abstain from animal products?
5. Did you abstain from crack (aka sugar) and choose low-glycemic fruits and better alternatives such as stevia or agave?
6. Did you dry brush today? (Dry brushing is just what it sounds like...taking a special brush or loofa to your dry skin and brushing yourself from toe to nose!)
7. Did you clean your sinuses with the good ol' net pot?
8. Did you move your body for at least 35 minutes?
9. Did you meditate for fifteen to twenty minutes?
10. Did you chew your meals thoroughly and mindfully?
11. Did you laugh out loud and tell someone you loved him or her today?
12. Did you spend time in nature? Even five minutes is better than nothing.
13. Did you get eight hours of uninterrupted sleep?
14. What did you eat today and did you juice? Include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and any in-between snacking--it may help to jot down meals and snacks throughout the day.
15. How much purified water did you consume? You can include fresh veggie juices in your calculation.
16. What supplements did you take?
17. How was your elimination?
18. What time did you stop eating? Three hours before bed is optimum.
19. How do you feel physically?
20. How do you feel emotionally?

Hop on the train and enjoy the ride with me for the next few weeks!

Interesting Timing. What do you make of this?

I've noticed that even when I'm eating what I consider to be a normal diet of foods, my weight continues to creep ever upward. It is very discouraging.

This morning, I came across this article which basically states that the latest research shows that women who don't diet (like me) but just eat a regular diet of foods can slow weight gain (but not necessarily stave it off) if they exercise at a moderately intense level for an hour a day. And that means seven days a week.

When researchers followed more than 34,000 non-dieting women (average age 54.2) over many years, they found that regular physical activity was associated with gaining less weight over time—but only in women who weren't overweight or obese. (That means a BMI of lower than 25, or less than 150 pounds for a 5'5" woman.) And those women had to exercise quite a bit: An average of an hour a day of moderately intense activity—such as a brisk walk—or the equivalent (if you exercise more strenuously, less time is required) during a week was the amount of activity recorded for the normal-weight women who gained less than 5 pounds during the 13-year study. (Just 13.3 percent of women studied fit that bill.)

While it is encouraging that 420 minutes per week of moderately intense exercise will help stave off those extra pounds, I find it mildly heartbreaking that it won't make even the tiniest dent in them, in terms of losing some of them! To do that, I would have to exercise above and beyond those seven hours a week and probably go on a diet, too.

And truthfully, as I observe my normal routine, I believe that to be true. Here's the thing, though: I don't really want to go on a diet. Diets don't really work in terms of keeping weight off. That requires a lifestyle change, and my current lifestyle isn't excessive in terms of what I eat.

It seems like nature's way is for a woman to gain weight over time, and it is emotionally exhausting to be engaged in a never ending fight that it seems like I'm destined to lose.

For now, all I can seem to muster is to enjoy my food (which is hard to do when I'm feeling constantly anxious about it sticking to my hips and tummy), to try to eat a balanced diet, and to get out and exercise for the health benefits (ie. a healthy heart) even if I'm not losing weight in the process.

I'd love to hear thoughts from any of you women out there. I'm discouraged.

Note: I'm 100% aware that my body won't change if I don't change. I'm willing to make a change, but it's going to have to be something that I can maintain over time. Right now, I'm thinking that might mean going on a morning and an evening walk, to increase my amount of exercise.

Kicking the Can

I can't believe it's been a year since Operation: Wonder Whoa-Man!

I just thought I'd use that as a launching pad to say that I can't wait to wear my Wonder Woman Halloween costume again. I am moderately concerned about the size of my can and its ability to fit into it. So rather than starting another Operation: Clever Words, I'm going to kick myself out the door and go to the gym.

Have a stupendous Tuesday.

As if putting you through Operation: String Bikini weren't enough.

As you know, my attempt at pre-wedding weight loss was a total bust. I got over it, though, and wore my string bikinis in Kauai anyway. And my man thinks I'm hot. *bonus!* (I actually made Husby take this picture of me in Kauai as proof that I really wore it! :) It's amazing what I'll do for my blog!)

However, I have been having some weird gastrointestinal issues lately, and frankly...I'm sick of waking up feeling full from dinner the night before when I didn't even eat that much. So, I decided on Saturday night that I would take action, and this week, I have been eating a vegetarian diet. Lots of fibre and fruits and vegetables.

Oh, and I'm doing a colon cleanse, too.

That's right. I'm taking my colon to the cleaners! (Aren't you glad you're still reading? I'm really glad that you are because Husby has told me that I am no longer allowed to talk to him about poop for thirty more years. He figures that by then we'll be old enough for those discussions.)

It's a 10-day cleanse that involves (step 1) taking three pills a half-hour before dinner that are supposed to improve your liver function. A half-hour after dinner, I dissolve a scoop of fibre in water and try to drink it without regurgitating (step 2). It helps if I hold my nose, as it is the consistency of cold, watered-down oatmeal with a hint of seaweed scent. Finally (step 3), I take three more pills that "sweep" my colon free of the toxins that were captured during during steps 1 & 2. Let's just say that thus far, the cleanse has delivered on its promise of a healthy morning BM. (Ewww. I hate that expression! I much prefer the term "to do a doodle".)

According to a speaker I once heard, the human colon can hold up to 30 pounds of unpassed food. A cleansed colon is also widely acknowleged as an important part of overall health. A healthy colon promotes a healthy body. I'm hopeful that at the end of this ten day cleanse, I may drop a few pounds and feel a little lighter on my feet. I don't know how long I'll continue with the veggie diet. I did it once for a year in 2002-2003, and I dropped a significant amount of weight. I'm not too fixated on being a certain "number", but I would like to wake up in the morning feeling vital and healthy instead of full and lethargic.

Hope you're having a doodle-y-do-da day!

Final Update on Operation: String Bikini

Remember this?

Well, I'm right back where I started at the very beginning. Every pound that I lost, I have gained right back. And you know what? It's okay.

Still getting married.

Still going on my honeymoon.

Bought two string bikinis--still gonna were them!

In the words of Bridget Jones, "He likes me. Just as I am."

Using My Assets

I'm not saying I'm proud that I own one of these. I'm just saying they work.

Operation String Bikini is really going poorly. I have gained back every pound that I lost. :( It's really frustrating. South Beach Diet, I'm running back into your forgiving arms. I'm sorry I left you. Can we try again? Thanks.

Pondering Weighty Issues

Have you guys been seeing Dove's newest ads? It's their "Campaign for Real Beauty", and it features models that look like real people. If you'd like to meet the six women chosen to be the new models for the campaign, click here. I first saw the six of them in a magazine ad, posing in their bras and panties--some with full figures--all with tummies, thighs, arms and legs of normal proportions. Immediately, I breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, one company in this media-saturated world is putting images of beautiful women out into the market place that are at least reasonable!

This video--a part of their campaign--brought tears to my eyes. Probably because something about it resonated with something deep inside of me.

I want to give Dove a standing ovation for this fantastic campaign. I hope they will continue advertising in this life-affirming way, and that other companies will follow in their footsteps.

I am a curvy woman. I am now, and I always will be. I have wide hips. I have cellulite. I wear a 36C bra. I have red hair and fair skin and more freckles than I can count. I feel beautiful just the way that I am. I may weigh more or less in the future than I do right now, and it really doesn't matter much to me. I want to be a healthy person who lives a healthy lifestyle.

Do I struggle with self-image issues? Sure I do. And I realized when I breathed that sigh of relief how much the media influences our cultural ideal (and my own) of what beauty is.

The truth is that beautiful women exist in all ages, sizes, shapes and colors. And our true beauty eminates from deep within.

What does beauty mean to you? When do you feel the most beautiful?

Halfway There!

Guess what, y'all? I'm halfway to my weightloss goal! Yep, I've lost 7.5 lbs! Operation String Bikini is well underway. I've already bought two bikinis for my honeymoon! I found my favorite one at Target--it's an itsy bitsy teeny weeny turquoise polka dot bikini! And it has a cute little ruffle on it.

I've found that The South Beach Diet is working for me. I also joined Curves, which has been a good exercise solution for me.

I have about two months and a few weeks to work on the second half of my goal. I'll keep you posted!

Well, What d'ya Know?

Apparently, commitment, planning, and sticking to a diet really do work! During my two weeks at home, my mom and I did phase one of The South Beach Diet. I am pleased to say that during that time, I lost some weight!

I'd like to thank my mother, without whom I never would have stuck to this! It takes lots of prep work, and she certainly did most of it. She did so much menu planning and was my cheerleader the whole way!

I'd also like to give a shout-out to No Sugar Added Fudgesicles and Sugar Free Jello. You two totally rock! You kept my sweet tooth from having to check into an insane asylum.

Now that I'm back in LA, I plan to continue to do South Beach Diet (Phase 2). 4 pounds down, 11 pounds to go for Operation String Bikini. By the way, I bought a string bikini for my honeymoon! I have serious incentive, now!

Bienvenidos a Miami

My mom and I may not be flying to Florida, but we are hanging out at South Beach. For my two weeks at home, we are doing Phase One of The South Beach Diet. Have any of you done it? It is the strict two-week kick-off to the diet, which later becomes less strict. Phase One of the diet consists mostly of a whole lot of protein and a whole lot of veggies. When we were checking out of the grocery store, Mom commented that it looked like we were preparing to feed an entire family of rabbits for a week. I said that it looked like a colon cleanse waiting to happen. (So, my mom's a little more suave than I am. What can I say?) eSuitor said that just hearing about the diet made him cranky. Allow me to say that the no sugar added fudgesicle I get each day is what keeps me and my dear sweet tooth from throwing tantrums.

We finished Day One of the diet today, and I've got to say, it wasn't bad at all! The recipes are delicious! We had grilled salmon seasoned with fresh rosemary for dinner tonight, with steamed asparagus and a salad. Very nutritious and satisfying!

The purpose of Phase One of the diet is to help get your body's insulin levels into a healthy range and to help your body stop craving unhealthy sugars. Like I said above, I love sweets, so if I can break free from my sugar cravings (or at least lower their intensity), that would be a great thing! The South Beach Diet also claims to target belly fat first. I thought that would be a definite step in the right direction for Operation: String Bikini!

What do you know?

Operation String Bikini Update:

As of this morning, I was down two and a half pounds from last week, which is great, since somehow I had gained a stray pound last week.

So, here's the official tally from where I started (and yes, I'm counting half pounds!):

one and a half pounds lost
thirteen and a half pounds to go

Fessing up and ouch, it hurts!

I was so hoping to be able to say that I at least lost one pound this week, but alas, when I stepped on the scale this morning, it told me that I had gained one! AHHH!

Now I have 16 pounds to go! Okay, I know, it's probably just water weight or something, but still! I wonder if it has anything to do with the caramel corn I ate yesterday. :)

As much as it pains my ego to do this, I am going to write every Tuesday about my progress (or lack thereof) in Operation: String Bikini. This kind of accountability can only help.

Of all the advice I've been given to make weight loss and better health my new reality, I think the best has been this: commit to it. If I want to lose weight, I need to commit to it, and not just think about it. And for me, the only way I can commit to it is by being very specific about how I will make this happen.

I think the first specific thing I can do is a little menu planning. So starting today, I am going to write down what I can eat and when, and I will not stray from it. I am commiting to do this for the next week. I'll let you know my results next Tuesday! Thanks for your support.

In other important news, I found out my Sesame Street personality (thanks, Cherry!):

You Are Ernie

Playful and childlike, you are everyone's favorite friend - even if your goofy antics get annoying at times. You are usually feeling: Amused - you are very easily entertained You are famous for: Always making people smile. From your silly songs to your wild pranks, you keep things fun. How you life your life: With ease. Life is only difficult when your friends won't play with you!

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz