Thursday, October 16, 2008

Hello Pumpkin!


This is our pumpkin! Isn't it just so cute?! I got this idea from a recent Southern Living Magazine. I had help with the stencil (thanks MITA!) and the carving was mostly done when during my cleanse. Good times.
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Saturday, October 11, 2008

One more thing...

I seriously can't stand the smell of maple syrup or lemons or cayenne pepper right now. The combination just makes me wanna gag. Ok, just thinking about it makes me wanna gag.

I'm going to my happy place now.

Death of the Master Cleanse

I can't tell you how glad I am to be over with the Master Cleanse. Thursday night I started eating again. Well, not eating real food just raw veggies and fruit. I took it pretty easy as to not upset my stomach and it worked.

Friday, I had fresh orange juice for breakfast and some veggie tacos for lunch and then I hit the big time for dinner! We went to Panera!!! Broccoli Cheddar in a bread bowl never tasted so yummy!

Now, let me just give you a little bodily background and catch you up to speed. Since I stopped taking the laxative tea at night and in the morning and since I stopped drinking the lemonade I noticed that my body was no longer producing "movements". I also noticed that I started feeling pretty heavy. So, I checked the scaled and noticed that I had gained 8 lbs over night! I was discouraged but not totally disappointed. I simply waited it out and it paid off.

Well, as of today I'm sorta back to normal. I was finally able to "go" and that obviously helped with weight loss but I'm not back to 305lbs as I was right before going back to normal food. I think my body is holding on to water in a major way!!! I had to take one of my rings off because I was that bloated. I've easily had about 1/2 gallon of water today and I've only had to go once or twice since waking up this morning.

Ok, enough about my bodily functions!

Here are some interesting perks of the Cleanse.
On day 3 or 4 I noticed that I could smell so much more.
I could smell people's breath from 4 feet way (good, bad and ugly). I could smell their previous meal coming off their pores.
I felt more mentally alert. I could concentrate so much better.
I slept so much better. By 10:30pm I was more than ready for bed and by 6am I was up and ready to go!!
My morning breath so was different too! I can't explain it but it almost tasted OK unlike the norm when I can't wait to brush my teeth.
I was more perky that normal. And for those of you who know me I can't say that you'd characterize me as perky...
My body also began to feel clean. It's an odd sensation but it seriously felt clean. Hard to explain.
My sister did notice that my skin was "off" color. I think it looked better but she seems to think I looked sickly...I think she's crazy!
Oh, and this was totally great! For some weird reason I noticed that both my feet and legs were looking much smaller than normal. I remember checking out my toes and thinking "wow they look so much smaller". So I pointed it out to my sister and she told me to try on the "Shoes". You know that one pair of shoes that we all own that are total murder to put on and wear but we can't stand to give them up because they're so cute...yeah that pair. I went and grabbed them from my closet and it's awesome to report that my feet slipped right in. I loved it!!!

So, I'm off to start my weekend festivities. Thanks for reading!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Master Cleanse VI

I'm still sorta fasting. I had to consume fresh orange juice all day yesterday in order to prepare my digestive tract for food. Last night after work I had some broth from a vegetable soup I made the night before. My body seemed fine with accepting it but I didn't want to push it and consume more.

I waited a few more hours, ran some errands, met with a friend, continued to consume more orange juice and returned home around 9pm to find that I was still feeling fine and a little hungry. I then decided to try to try a little more broth but this time I added a few veggies (carrots, celery, cabbage, squash, zucchini). And, can I just tell you that it was the most delicious, and most satisfying soup I'd ever had! OK, I exaggerate.... but it was good!

This morning I weighed in at an even 305 lbs. I'm excited that I didn't gain. I'm excited with the prospect of finally conquering a huge milestone but I'm also a bit sad that I'm back to where I was all those months ago. I'm so close to my goal of finally getting out of the 300's yet I'm so afraid to hope for success.

It's inexplicable. I can't understand this self destruction. I do, however, understand that I began to find my worth in weight loss. I began to feel that this blog, this journey and even parts of myself were almost worthless if I wasn't losing weight. The battle is still present. I still have to believe (and struggle to understand) that God isn't more in love with a future version of me but instead loves me as I am. I know I'm not alone in this battle.....

Thanks for stopping by today.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

I'm a little happy! Can you tell?
Preparing my meal.
Yup, all the citrus went into a freshly squeezed 8 oz of OJ. Nice...
I used to be really picky about pulpy OJ but as of today I LOVE IT!! I got to actually use my teeth!! Dear sweet chewable orange pulp... I love you! I love you!
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I ABHOR SALTY WATER!!

Woke up early this weekend to start my 32 oz of Sea Salt Water. I stared down the barrell of that straw for 30 minutes!

This is the picture that makes my sister laugh so hard!
Apparently she thinks my jacked up hair and pouty morning face is funnier than words!
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This is all you need


This is all you need for the Master Cleanse. Oh, yeah and WATER!
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Master Cleanse V

I hope you can appreciate this story as much as I have... I went to Sprouts last night because I needed to load up on some oranges for today's diet change. While at Sprouts I also decided to take care of a few regular groceries. I noticed some black seedless grapes and remembered that they're my sister's favorite. So, without thinking I pinched one off for a little taste. I seriously don't like sour grapes. Before I knew or even realized it I had both eaten and NOT SAVORED my one and only bite since Friday!

First I was scared that I was going to make myself totally sick. Secondly, I was appalled that I didn't spend anytime really thinking about how good it might have tasted had I not been in robot shopping mode. I was so sad.... I waited for something traumatic to happen. I waited some more. Kept on waiting as I felt the grape slip down my esophagus down into my empty stomach.... still waiting. Nothing.

Ok, I can't totally say that nothing happened but I'm not totally sure it was the grape's fault because it might have been just the normal way of things these days. So, after leaving Sprouts I'm driving down toward 407 (headed the back way to Denton) when suddenly..... I HAD TO GO!!! I made a B Line to Target, parked my car, and nearly ran to the restrooms and for a split second I smiled to myself because I realized I was walking much much faster than I had in a long long time.... I'm so grateful to be able to move but that's another story. Anyhow, I survived last night with flying colors.

Reintroducing food into my system today. I started off with my regular lemonade this morning but for the rest of the day I have drink fresh orange juice. The orange juice is supposed to prepare my digestive tract for broth and maybe some veggies tomorrow.

This morning I got on the scale to find that I had lost more weight. When I initially stood on the scale it said 303.3 and I swear I double blinked just to make sure i wasn't seeing things. So, I got off the scale and reweighed myself to find that I wasn't as 303.3 but at 305.6. I'm totally OK with that! The extra weight loss puts me at a total of 14.2 lbs down since Saturday morning.

It's been motivating to see the scale moving again. I had almost forgotten how good it feels.

Well, thanks for thinking of me and thanks for stopping by. I'll be sure to post a picture that my sister took of me a few days ago. She laughs so hard every time she takes a peek of it on her digital camera. I haven't seen it yet but she's made me promise I'd post and blog about it.... it can't be good if she's laughing that hard.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Master Cleanse IV

Yesterday (after work) was my most "off" day thus far. I was sick per se but I did feel exhausted. Around 5pm I needed to sleep. My body was starting to shut down so I left the office a few minutes early and headed straight home. After feeding my dog and doing a few other household chores I went straight to bed. The need for rest was completely undeniable.

I thankfully woke up in time for small group. Along with waking up I found that I was hungry. Really hungry. I thought the hunger was supposed to pass after the 2nd or 3rd day....

Anyhow, as of this morning I've lost 11.8lbs. which puts me at an even 308 lbs. It's motivating to finally see the scale moving but then again that much weight loss in such a short amount of time also scares me.

I also decided that during this detox that I was going to abstain from taking all current medication (which includes vitamins/supplements and birth control). That was a bad idea because my menstrual cycle has kicked into high gear again and it's only been a week since my last. As to be expected it's become more difficult to go through the cleanse while experiencing such a loss.

Today will be my official last day on the cleanse and tomorrow I begin to reintroduce "food" into my system. Actually, I don't get to chew real food until Friday... Let me just tell you that once you're in this.... you're totally in this and there's no going back!

I've heard way too many horror stories from people that haven't followed the directions to properly come off the cleanse, And, those stories have scared the mess out of me so cheating is a non-option at this point even when I'm tempted to sink my teeth into something yummy.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Master Cleanse III

9.2lbs! As of Saturday morning I've lost a total of 9.2 lbs! How crazy is that?! I haven't had a single bite to eat since Friday night and I can't believe I'm still alive!

I told myself my goal was going to be 3 days. I'm hungry and I'm craving me some Avocado Tacos from the GreenHouse. I'll just have another batch of the lemonade and that'll keep me going for atleast a few more hours.

Totally happy to report that I haven't (yet) experienced any head aches or weakness. Life just seems to be going along quite nicely. It's amazing how much more time I have available to me when I'm not obessing over food. I did so much during my lunch break it was sick! Went to the candy store for come chocolate covered cherries (not for me), went to the post office to mail off a care package, went home to let the boys out, finished carving a pumpkin, headed to Drug Emporium for more maple syrup and other goodies and now i'm back at the office. I feel so ....accomplished.

To workout or not to workout?? That's the question. I'm afraid to risk it and I'm just being lazy. Maybe I'll go for a walk after small group tonight.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Master Cleanse II

I more than survived day one of the Master Cleanse and i'm rounding off day two. Yesterday I decided to sleep in a little longer than usual and I got out of bed at 9am and started my day with the sea salt internal wash (which still tastes nasty nasty NASTY!!!). I totally forgot to weigh myself before beginning my day so when I stepped on the scale (after drinking 32 0z) I came in at 319.8lbs.

The lemonade (10 oz of purified water, 2 tbs of grade B maple syrup, 1/10 tsp of cayenne pepper and 1/2 orangic fresh lemon) is pretty tasty!! I really enjoy it and I think I'll most likely drink it on a regular basis even after the fast is finished. I had about 6-7 servings of the lemonade throughout the day yesterday and thank God I didn't eat anything!!

It's about 5:36 right now and I'm still on the cleanse. It's hard for my head to wrap around the idea that I haven't needed to eat yet. I have mild cravings but I don't feel like I'm desperate for food. Anytime i feel hungry I just make myself another serving of the lemonade and it fixes the urge to eat. The only things I'm seriously craving right now are roasted red bell pepper hummus and a loaf of french baguette.

My goal is to make it past tomorrow. if I can go longer then I'll push myself to complete the full 10 days.

A fun little fun fact: i weighed in today around 3pm and found that I'd lost 7.4 lbs since Saturday at morning!! Crazy, huh?!

Although, it's nice to to start dropping water weight I'm mostly looking forward to cleaning out my body of all the sugar and carbs I crave as well as all the hardended junk in my organs.

I may not be able to stomach another round of the sea salt wash so tomorrow I seriously may just skip that part and just do another round of laxative tea first thing in the morning. We'll see...

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Master Cleanse I

I started to write a post earlier this week about starting weight watchers today and thankfully i didn't have time to actually post it. Instead, I decided to follow my Dr's orders.... I'm on the Master Cleanse as of this morning.

If you've never heard of it - do yourself a favor and research it!

I'm staying in doors today - for the most part. Currently watching When Harry Met Sally and .......................... I just had to drink 32 oz of luke warm sea salted water. I must've gagged like 40 times.

Now I wait for the bomb to drop.

I'll keep you posted.