Monday, July 19, 2010

2 Weeks Clean

Another week has passed and it has gone well. For the most part.

The week started out with me on the road for a couple of days doing something for work but I went prepared! I packed my little cooker full of healthy snacks and home baked goodness (clean of course) for the trip. I bought only one meal while out and was able to make a healthy choice.

This week I lost 1.3 pounds!

I have to say how shocked I am as I felt that it is seeming really easy.

To boot I only visited the gym 1 time! (not braggin' just saying ... my trainer wouldn't be impressed).

This all goes to show you that it really is what goes into your body when.

Some new foods that I just recently cooked up was Picadillo Chicken (super yummy!), and Apple Sauce Banana Bread (haven't tried it yet, it's in the oven). Along with baked oatmeal that has proven to be a delicious breakfast for sure.

As for desserts, Wally made Chocolate Mousse out of Tofu and a dark chocolate bar. It tasted like dark chocolate bar. We found that it was more palatable with strawberries added. It would make a good addition to a trifle.

Oh and 'Breakfast cookies' are amazing. Like amazing!

Now I have to come clean about something (excuse the pun). I visited home this past weekend and knew it would be an issue. As soon as I walked through the door goodies from all around were calling my name. I waited for a while and decided to partake. So, I partook.

Right away I realized that the homemade chocolate squares tasted a bit waxy and not all that great. Unfortunately I tasted a few before I decided I didn't need them. I withheld from the chocolate bars hidden in the fridge and anything else processed. For some reason I have brain washed myself about processed foods. something I don't mind.

I continue to pursue my clean eating and look forward to what this week brings.

Monday, July 12, 2010

1 week clean

'Hi my name is Eva and I'm a food-a-holic...'

That's how I would've described myself a mere few weeks ago. And to be honest it may be a statement I feel as though I have to hold with me for the rest of my life.

... Or it may not.

For the first time in my life I feel as though I have hope of leading the life of my dreams (at least in the realm of physical health, at this time).

I have spent the past seven days (I suppose eight at the time of writing this). Eating more free from processed foods than I have ever been in my life.

This certainly isn't to say I've eaten 100% clean this the first week of my 6 month endeavor, but it has definitely been a step in the right direction.

I don't remember the last time I have cooked so much, let alone cooking in a way that benefits my body. The cool part is I am loving what I am eating and I don't feel hungry all of the time. (Yes I realize I sound like an infomercial).

I haven't really taken the time to describe how my new lifestyle has taught me how to eat my food so now seems like a good time.

I generally eat 5-6 times a day. I never (or do my best not to) wait more than 3 hours between 'meals' (as the body goes into starvation mode and stores what you eat past this allotted time as fat).

Each meal is composed of protein and a complex carb. Protein to build muscle (not like a body builder as I'm not working out like one but the more muscle you have the higher your metabolism). And the complex carb (generally a vegetable or a grain like brown rice, some kind of bean, once in a while a fruit). The carb helps the body to absorb the protein to use for the muscle.

By the way, I'm sure a real expert would real my 'kindergarten' description of these processes and withhold my sticker but I'm putting it the best way I know how, but hopefully the concepts are correct.

I've also upped my water intake and am trying to drink 2-3 liters of water a day. Trying. Trying.

This week has been crazy busy for me at work so I have been unable to get to the gym my regular 4 times (2 for weight training and 2 for cardio). I missed one of my sessions due to an 'emergency' and this week looks like it could turn out the same way, however I plan to do my damndest to make it happen.

All that being said I lost a pound!

Ok so a pound doesn't sound all that great but it really is considering I'm at my last 15 to loose. And considering I feel as though I eat all of the time (seriously every 2 1/2 - 3 hours!!) I find it astounding!

I also have been in several 'out to eat' situations this week. Six in all (Wow that's ridiculous! Four were for work. I wish that meant work paid for them). Considering this and how I have always looked at 'going out' as a reason to get what ever I wanted. I'd say 1 pound really is astounding.

How have I dealt with the restaurant factor?

Well, Wally and I have researched and looked up many of the eateries that we'd generally find ourselves in. We've looked at nutritional information and assessed the options.

It's normal for up to look up all of these things before going out now.

In reality strict eating 'clean' is pretty much impossible to do at a restaurant (unless you find a rare one that has the same views on clean eating). But there are ways you can try your best to clean up what you are eating.

Examples: Have your salad dry (I know, this is hard core), or look for a vinaigrette (is that right?) dressing. By no means am I saying they all would be best but I know half EVOO and half vinegar is what the doctor is ordering.

Whole grains and things that aren't bleached to death are also things to look for.

Saturday a young lady I was supporting wanted to go to McDonald's, my second trip there in 3 days, and I was strapped for cash. I had bought the spicy chicken Thai salad, which was surprisingly yummy but also not so cheap.

I did my best guessing and ordered 2 grilled chicken snack wraps.

I didn't realize they came in white tortillas. Nor did I realize how accustomed to whole grain tortillas I had gotten. I took the first bite and was sure my tortilla was actually formed, dried out paste. Yuck!

I read the nutritional info. as I ate and decided that I would have to save my other wrap for my next meal (as I hadn't pre planned one because I thought I was only working for a couple of hours). I had put it in the fridge of the young lady and tried to remember to take it home later.

I briefly thought of throwing it out but the frugal part of me couldn't do it. As I was driving home I had realized I'd forgotten it. I was actually glad. I couldn't take another over processed bit of it.

Now Wally and I haven't eaten white breads and grains in years, it's been a gradual change but still, I would never have been affected by it like this a few months ago. Of course we are accustomed to the change of taste and prefer whole wheat, aside from that though now I know more of how hard my body has to work to digest and precess these processed food and I think twice before putting something like that in my mouth.

All in all, though I have struggled very hard at times to keep my resolve to eat clean, or cleaner (especially Saturday night after an exhausting day at work), I have been able so far to do my best to make good choices.

Week 1 of 26 = success. I'd give myself a 7.5 overall. Still lots of room for improvement.


Here's hoping that's the direction I choose to take!

Friday, July 9, 2010

Day 5 & 6

Just wanted to let you know the clean eating is still going strong.

I've been out a couple of times for dinner but once was at a vegan restaurant and though I wanted to wrestle my one friend to the ground over her french fries I didn't (she offered politely after I told her exactly what I wanted to do) but I declined (begrudgingly).

The other time I ordered a salad and declined on the dressing so I'll take that as a thumbs up.

Some stressful stuff happened today just around supper time (wish I could share but I can't right now). I so badly wanted to throw away any resolve I had in my pocket and buy cookies (my old binge item). But I didn't do it.

So Success on Day 6!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Day 4

Made it through.

Not enough water.

Had a turkey and ham sub at subway. Totally forgot and had cheese (glorious cheese).

Purposefully had the honey Dijon sauce.

That was my biggest stray.

I'm impressed!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Day 3

Today went well (YAY!!!)

However I have to state the in the past 36 hours I have strolled through the grocery store twice and both times had temptations intentionally seek me out to torture me. I went down the 'ice cream novelties' section and heard them cat calling me. Seriously. The ice cream was cat calling me!!!

I made it though and only thought of the fact that I was on day 2 with 182 to go that would be indeed without any splurging on ice cream once. (Being the hottest day of the year that's pretty good!)

I won't lie, I find abiding by my newly acquired eating practices much easier while working a full day. As challenging as it is to pack a cooler with 4 meals in it is, it is more challenging to eat clean without it.

Tomorrow will be another challenge. Going out for lunch with someone I support. For some reason these are some of the hardest times to deal with while staying on an eating plan because often the people I'm with (though very capable and often quite intelligent) don't see why I need to be on any special 'diet'. 'You don't need to lose weight! You look fine!' To which I reply: 'I'm trying to eat healthy'. To which they reply: 'Ice cream is ok once in a while'. To which I reply: 'My once in a while is more often than it should be'. At which point I order my salad and we generally start the whole conversation over again.

Bug me about what I did come tomorrow night!

By the way, the salmon arugula salad was AMAZING!!! I even got a picture which I'll post soon. I'm not a huge salmon lover (especially cold, which this was) but this was so good!!!

Well cheers until tomorrow.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Day 2

Well I've been cooking and baking up a storm in preparation for my coming work week.

I definitely think preparation is half the battle. If the food is ready you are more likely to stick with things.

I've struggled with deciding to what level I want to attack this experiment. Of course there's different levels of eating clean and you really have to know what you're goals are and what you want to get out of it.

Primarily I want to develop a lifestyle of eating clean. That means learning new ingredients, cooking new recipes and getting familiar with healthy portion sizes.

Because this is my main goal (to make this a lifestyle), I am forgoing any goals for weight loss this week as I familiarize myself with things. (Of course weight loss could still happen as a result of clean eats).

Of course my other goal is to shed the rest of my weight and build more muscle (not like a body builder but for a good metabolism and nicely shaped bod:)

I haven't yet gone organic but it's definitely in the plan. I'm taking little steps and as I get to know things I will gradually get myself over to that side of the grocery store. I plan on getting informed more about this topic by a friend soon!

Some of the foods I've made in the past 24 hours:

* homemade protein bars (they're delicious!! with chocolate - 71% dark of course)

* Bran muffins (only approx. 110 calories!! Haven t' tasted them yet).

* Chicken strips and Szchuanese (it's like a chicken stir fry - two thumbs up!)

* Mediterranean chickpeas (great for one of my 5 meals of the day - high in protein and fiber. Tasty as well)

* Porridge from old fashioned oats but still easy! I loved this for breakfast (along with my egg whites of course for protein).


Tonight Wally and I are having baked salmon on arugula with blanched asparagus and a blackberry sauce. I'll let you know how it tastes.

It's all about preparation.

If there's interest in recipes I'd love to share!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Day 1

I was hoping for a more joyous day one but unfortunately my mind is playing some tricks on me.

As some of you may know from my other blog: A Work In Progress, I have been working on getting in shape for the past 4months with a personal trainer.

I have had my successes and challenges with this. My successes are found in the numbers (as Wally told me over and over today) more than in my subjective mind.

As of a month ago I'd lost 21 pounds of fat and gained 8 pounds of muscle and lost 22 inches I believe.

For my first 2 1/2 months I had really put my heart and soul into everything. Initially I wasn't all that excited over my progress after the 3 months until I learned how great it is to build muscle, then I was ok with it.

After spending the last couple of week off kilter being on vacation and then a cottage trip with work I feel all out of whack. Even though I did better than I would've before I started training when away I still didn't do as great as I wanted to and have felt very discouraged with myself.

I have indulged in more 'off limits' food in the past two weeks than I have int eh past 4 months combined.

Yesterday alone Wally (my husband) and I gorged on sugar as it was my last day before my experiment and I felt an obligation to it. I have learned that it was definitely not worth it. Now I am struggling with sadness and depression (which , did you know, can be caused but consuming great amounts of sugar - it's called the 'sugar blues').

I did learn a very good thing though while partaking in these food items ... I don't care much for them anymore. At least not like I used to.

I have noticed how much I eat them more out of an obligation to 'enjoy' before my next 'fresh start' in hopes that by eating a lot of it I will be 'held over' so to speak not wanting to eat it.

It never seems to work out though and I always find myself regretting it in the long haul.

Here's a list of food that I have had in the past couple of weeks for the first time in months, that I have learned I can definitely live the rest of my life without (yay!):

* deep fried fish

* bacon (gasp! I used to have a serious love affair with bacon!!)

* pop (or soda for my American friends)

* salt water taffy

Here are a list of foods that I can now go long periods of time without consuming:

* pizza

* donuts

* french fries (that's big as I used to have a fries and gravy addiction)

* baked cookies (my former favourite binge item)

Here's a list of foods I fear I can't get through more than a day or two of:

* ice cream (from an ice cream place)

* chocolate


I am trying to stay positive and I am hoping that as I get the processed sugar out of my system over the next couple of days, I will begin to see and more importantly feel the results of living a healthy lifestyle free of binging and full of vitality.

By the way I have taken my 'before' pictures(which I have to say must be the most humiliating event that can take place for someone at the beginning of such an experiment). I am under no illusions that I will walk out of this a bikini clad model nor do I hope to be (of course if this happened because of it I'm certainly not going to be standing in the refund line!).

More important to me than anything else is escaping the emotional need I have for food. The more time I spend feeding my body with what it's supposed to have the more I find I crave the stuff it's not supposed less. And THAT is the main reason why am an here.

I beg for your accountability, questions, reactions, encouragement during this time. I need to know I'm not alone!

Thanks!

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Experiment Eve

Well I guess I'm actually doing this.

I'm nervous, excited, scared and questioning myself all at the same time.

At first I thought I should make the start date mean something. You know, like the 6 months before my birthday or something. Or From July 1st until January 1st. But after using and abusing 'tomorrow' too many times I decided the best time to start is now. After all there's no time like the present right?

I have done some research and hope to do my best to fulfill my commitment to 'eat clean' for the next 6 months of my life. I know that there will be times when it won't be easy or even possible to be 'perfect', but I want to use this space to be accountable for my actions and share how I cope with this system of eating.

My hope is to document my struggles, challenges and temptations during this time in order to help myself and anyone else out there reading overcome something that has nagged me for years - my eating.

If you are reading and have a story - PLEASE SHARE!!! I would love to learn something from you and/or be an encouragement to you. I know first hand how profoundly changed a person can be on either side of the battle over weight.

As I go along I will share stories from my past, new things I'm learning and any epiphanies I have along the way.

My hope is in 6 months to say 'I am clean'. Clean from my addiction to sugar, clean in how I eat, clean from a negative self image.

Cheers to a successful 6 months!