Lean Librarian

New Instagram Account

2012-01-18T20:57:00.000-08:00

So I've decided to start an Instagram account. I'm "leanlibrarian" there. Follow me! I love browsing all of the #rawvegan and #vegan photos and recipes there. It inspires me to venture out of my creature-of-habit ways.

Sick. Sick. Sick.

2011-12-07T12:11:00.000-08:00

I have not been doing well with maintaining a raw food diet. It's easy to eat this way at work. I pack a huge bag full of raw foods and snack all day. The problem is at the end of the day. I still cook for my family and it's too tempting to not eat cooked foods. I bargained with myself, allowing cooked vegan and vegetarian foods in the evening, but all that has done for me is made me sick. This is probably the 5th cold I've caught since the school year started. I haven't been this sick since my first year working in an Elementary School.

Eating raw in the winter is challenging. I get really bored eating apples, oranges, bananas, and salads. Many of the fruits I crave are no longer in season. What's an aspiring 100% raw foodie to do? The only thing I can think to do is to start a Master Cleanse session to jump start myself back into eating raw. I loved the way I felt when I ate ONLY raw foods. My most pressing goal is to find someone with a lemon tree. Lemons are expensive. If I can't find anyone with a tree, I will substitute grapefruit for the lemon.

0% to 50% to 100% to 80% to 95% Raw

2011-10-16T12:04:00.000-07:00

by Ed Yourdon

So I have been all over the map when it comes to how I eat. After going 100% raw, I found it difficult to maintain. My weaknesses are bread, cheese, and potatoes. After eating clean for so long, I can immediately recognize how certain foods effect my body. When I eat anything dairy, I feel sluggish, my bowels slow down, and I produce crazy amounts of mucus. When I eat bread and/or potatoes, I immediately want to take a nap and then later I feel bloated. When I eat rice, my body feels sore, my head is stuffy, I'm headachy, and I become full of mucus. So now I am back to the goal of 100% raw. The only difference now is that I have changed my mind about what being raw looks like.

When I first started, I thought that I needed fancy recipes, food processors, and kitchen tools. The longer I dedicate myself to eating raw fruits and vegetables, the more I realize that all I need to do is KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid). Mono-meals work for me. Breakfast might consist of a green smoothie or juice & 2-3 bananas. Lunch looks like a large mixed green salad or a whole melon. Dinner could be 10 cuties. I snack all day: green smoothies, fresh green juices, plums, grapes, peaches, nectarines, melons, mangoes, avocados, apples, oranges, cuties, etc. (mostly organic). I'd estimate that 85% of what I eat is simple fruit. When you change you mind about what mealtime looks like, you can feel better about what you eat. Reading 80-10-10 has changed my life among other documentaries and books.

STOP FIGHTING DISEASES and START GETTING HEALTHY

2011-06-12T17:53:00.000-07:00

Haters

2011-04-27T06:05:00.000-07:00

This is my new theme song.

A twitter follower publicly asked the if she should allow her kids to self regulate the Easter candy she gave them. I said she should take the candy away. She's the mother and she controls what goes in her kids mouths. She clearly took offense to that because she responded by attacking me with:
"Starving yourself to meet society's idea of attractive is also not a healthy model for kids, in my not-at-all humble opinion." Funny how people judge doing the Master Cleanse and eating raw without doing research. I gradually went from a size 18 to a 10 over the course of a year by changing my mind and then changing my habits. Ignorance used to be bliss for me too. Hopefully one day she will understand the health benefits of 1. seasonally cleaning your body and 2. eating raw fruits and vegetables as a way of life.

Master Clease Complete at the end of Day 16

2011-04-27T05:47:00.000-07:00

After 16 days of drinking the lemonade, I couldn't take it anymore. Each day I would drink less and less of the master cleanse. That's when I knew it was time to stop. I don't think I want to see another lemon for quite a while.

I didn't end my fast the way the Master Cleanse book recommends. I drank about a quart of orange juice and then began eating my regular raw food diet. I haven't had any problems. I noticed that I am EXTREMELY regular. Yesterday I eliminated 3 times in the morning, 2 times during my work day, and 2 times at home. Pretty amazing that at one time in my life (all the years before I gave birth) I would go only 1 time per week.

The best things that came out of this cleanse is that my partner now feels more confident in the kitchen using our raw food gadgets and both my partner and son are now kicking in with cleaning up and doing laundry. I learned to let go...at least a little. I've also picked up a new water habit. I drink 1-2 quarts upon waking, 1 quart at work, and 1 quart before I go to bed.

I ordered tall pants from Old Navy in size 10! I also went on a mini shopping spree and purchased shirts and pants in my size. No more walking around looking like I'm wearing hand-me-downs that I have to draw up like a potato sack. I FINALLY got rid of my big clothes. The only thing I'm missing in my wardrobe now is a short warm jacket. It's so hard to find jackets that have sleeves that are long enough for me. Maybe I can find one online.

All in all, I feel great. Life is good.

Measurements 4/25/11
(note: height = 5'10")

Lt Bicep	11 3/4 in	-1/4 in
Rt Bicep	12 1/2 in	-0
Upper Chest	35 1/2 in	-1 1/2 in
Chest	36 in	-0
Stomach Relaxed	35 in	-1 in
Stomach Flexed	32 in	-2 in
Hips	40 1/2 in	-1 1/4 in
Lt Thigh	22 1/2 in	-3/4 in
Rt Thigh	23 1/4 in	-1/4 in
Lt Calf	13 3/4 in	-1 in
Rt Calf	13 3/4 in	- 3/4
Weight	165 lbs	-10

Master Cleanse- Days 11-12

2011-04-19T23:32:00.000-07:00

Day 11 was my day from HELL. I made the mistake of drinking "Smooth Move" tea the night before. I woke up at 3am with severe cramps. I was doubled over in pain. Once I made it to the bathroom, I wasn't very productive there. I decided to go ahead and take the saltwater flush since I was awake. About 10 minutes later I threw up. 10 minutes after that I had mild diarrhea paired with continual cramps. By 7am I was back to normal and able to go to work without another incident.

I woke up to day 12 with what looks like the beginnings of cold sores around my lips...only they aren't really cold sores. It's more like raw dry skin at the corners of my mouth. It gives my mouth that bee stung look...and not in a good way :P I'm hoping this goes away soon.

My current weight is 165 (-10 since the beginning). I can see the curves in my waist again and I'm beginning to see my abdominal muscles. My exercise is a daily jog/walk with the dog. I haven't been doing those daily ab and arm apps that I planned to do. I did, however, discover a great 15 minute workout...though it is titled a "10 minute workout". I didn't think I did much, but I woke up sore this morning. I'm going to incorporate this into my morning routine.

Master Cleanse- Day 10

2011-04-17T08:19:00.000-07:00

Here I am at day 10 and I'm feeling good. I've noticed that I don't need as much sleep as I used to, although I find that I get sleepy earlier. What this means is that I will fall asleep at 9 pm and wake up around 4 or 5 am. The extra hours in the morning gives me time to read and blog. I love it!

My partner has taken over the preparing of food in the household. She said she FINALLY gets to do her thing in the kitchen. I'm glad that she is getting comfortable with using the blender and the juicer to make the days worth of smoothies and juices. I was wearing myself out preparing those, lunches, and dinners by myself. When I come off of this cleanse, I have to figure out a way to share this responsibility. I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me in the past 10 days. My son has also stepped up and started doing laundry and regularly doing the dishes. It should have been like this all along.

Last night I listened to: How to Use Nutrition to Boost Your Immune System and Power Through the Day - An Interview with Nutrition Expert David Wolfe (MP3).
I love listening to David Wolfe. I always take away a few nuggets of raw knowledge. I always knew the importance of water intake and I've heard this said before, but starting after this cleanse, I will drink 2 liters of water upon waking. I know my body will love me for it.

I am happy with how I am feeling so far, although I am getting really bored from drinking the lemonade. Yesterday I still had 1 quart left. I just couldn't do it. I have to force myself to drink it. I'm considering continuing the cleanse until I run out of supplies (might be another 10 days...we shall see).

Measurements 4/17/11 (after 10 days)

Lt Bicep	12 in	-0
Rt Bicep	12 1/2 in	-0
Upper Chest	36 1/4 in	-3/4 in
Chest	38 in	-0
Stomach Relaxed	35 1/2 in	-1/2 in
Stomach Flexed	32 1/2 in	-1 1/2 in
Hips	41 1/4 in	-0
Lt Thigh	23 in	- 1/4 in
Rt Thigh	24 in	+ 1/2 in
Lt Calf	13 3/4 in	-3/4 in
Rt Calf	14 in	-1/2 in
Weight	168 lbs	-7 lbs

Master Cleanse Days 8-9

2011-04-16T19:17:00.000-07:00

Just checking in. I'm still going strong. The only thing that is challenging right now is my constant obsession with collecting recipes. All it does is make me want to eat. This is mostly a challenge of the mind. I find myself not hungry, but I know I need to drink the lemonade...so I do. I will take my measurements tomorrow and see if my body is changing. I have the feeling it will stay the same. I've been feeling great! I noticed that my body wants to go to bed at a reasonable time like 9 pm and then wake up at 6 am. I woke up this morning and headed to the market at 7:30 am. That is unheard of! I also notice that my eyes are white (without using Visine). I feel good.

How to Save Money on a Raw Food Diet

2011-04-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

I shop at a variety of stores. I love getting what I want while saving money at the same time. 5 of my favorites are Grocery Outlet, the local Mexican market down the street, Whole Foods (also known as "Whole Check" lol), Trader Joes and Costco.

Grocery Outlet
I love this store because everything there is so cheap. They even have a few organic items on occasion: Salad Mix, Carrots, Celery, and Spinach. Other non-organic things I purchase are: bags of oranges, bags of grapefruits, and frozen mango. This store tends to have a huge supply of over ripe bananas. When I see the brown spotted bananas at the register, I ask the clerk how much for all of the bananas at the different registers. They tend to sell them to me for .50 a bag (of 8). The last time I went there, I was a little crazy and had more than I could fit in my little freezer. I had to drop some off to my father's freezer.
Just next door to this market is a fruit stand. I like going there to find things like cilantro, cucumbers, & oranges.

The Local Mexican Market
What I love about local stores is that they always have a small section of over-ripe produce for discount prices. My store bags these items for the special price of $1! I'm known for purchasing bags of zucchinis and chili peppers. Sometimes, if I'm lucky, they will bag about 25 ripe bananas for $1. When I find those, I peel and freeze them for smoothies. Ripe bananas are the best for smoothies because they are so sweet.

Whole Foods
What's not to love about Whole Foods? Their organic section is out of this world! I like trying new things each time I go there. I love getting my organic leafy greens there: kale, chard, spinach, etc. I also purchase apples here for juicing. Other staples are: almond milk, coconut water, olive oil, raw nuts, sprouts, any kind of spice you can think of, frozen fruits and vegetables, odd raw food recipe ingredients. This is where I purchase my bottled water. We have 2 three gallon bottles and 1 five gallon bottle. I fill them once or twice a week depending on our water consumption. We use reverse osmosis water for drinking. This is the only place I can find it. Too bad it's 12 miles from my house. I heard they will soon have a year around Farmer's Market in the parking lot on Saturdays. I can't wait!

Trader Joes
I love Trader Joes because it's only 1 mile from my home. I purchase my grade B maple syrup and cayenne pepper for the master cleanse here. I also come here for sprouted wheat bread, organic red and sweet potatoes, broccoli slaw, corn chips, frozen organic pizzas, and raw nuts. Remember I am also cooking for my son who is not raw, vegetarian, nor vegan. He eats what I cook for him...which tends to be vegetarian. I also occasionally eat cooked vegan and vegetarian foods.

Costco
Costco seems to be the only market that can keep up with my juicing habits. I purchase carrots, apples, celery, spinach, mixed greens, avocados, strawberries, pears, pineapple, cucumbers, tomatoes, and all kinds of melons. I also purchase frozen organic peaches and blueberries for smoothies. Speaking of tomatoes, I just learned that "hot house" or green house grown vegetables are a safer choice because they have no or reduced amounts of pesticides. I was watching John Kohler's okraw YouTube channel and he spoke on this a bit. I embedded the video below.

Watching this video makes me want to have my own house with a garden. I've never tried to garden before, but this inspires me. Then again, that doesn't go along with my idea to one day live in an RV. Who knows where I'm headed.

Save Money on a Raw Food Diet by Shopping at Warehouse Stores

Master Cleanse - Day 6-7

2011-04-14T22:26:00.000-07:00

Here I am at the end of day 7 and I feel good. Today I took a run with my dog and did my daily abs and daily arms routines. I really love those apps because they are quick, easy, and (I hope) effective. I've never used them long enough to see results. Since I'm going for 30 days on the master cleanse, I may as well tack on flat abs and cut arms ;)

I asked my partner to check with her friends to see if anyone had a lemon tree. She came back with two huge bags of lemons! I hope they don't go bad before I get to use them. I realized today that I am not using enough lemon juice. I juiced the lemons today and had to run to the bathroom as the natural result of the saltwater flush...more on this later. When I returned to the kitchen, I took a look at my lemon juice. It had separated into juice at the bottom and foam on the top. I only had 1/2 the amount that I needed for my gallon container. This means for the first 6 days I did not have enough lemon in my juice. Now I know to wait for the foam to settle so I can get an accurate measurement.

That saltwater flush is no joke. I increased my water intake to 2 quarts with the salt in the morning. I still pour off about 4 oz to drink with the salt and then drink the rest of the clear water. After about 45 minutes I thought I felt a little gas. Wrong. Never...ever...attempt to pass gas after taking the saltwater flush. If you even THINK you have gas, go directly to the bathroom immediately. That's all I have to say about that.

Yesterday I watched part of a video called Raw Foods for Busy People. I recently got my hands on a copy of the book and DVD. My partner made the Sunflower Pâtés last night. I tasted about 1/4 tsp. It was delicious! I can't wait to try some of the other recipes when I come off of the cleanse. I also checked out A White House Garden Cookbook: Healthy Ideas from the First Family for Your Family from the library. I can't wait to try the cilantro pesto. This book is not a raw recipe book, but I'm starting to learn how to tweak recipes. Here is how I'd do it:

Raw Cilantro Pesto (makes 1/2 cup)

1 cup cilantro leaves
1/2 cup parsley leaves
1 clove garlic
2 tablespoons raw almond butter
1 tablespoon honey (not raw, but you could substitute with agave nectar)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1-2 tablespoons water
Salt, to taste
Dash Tabasco sauce or cayenne pepper or fresh peppers (optional)

Wash the cilantro and parsley leaves and let them dry.
Peel the garlic and place in a blender or food processor. Add almond butter honey, cilantro, and parsley. Turn on the motor and, with the motor running, drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture blends together. Drizzle in the water, a tablespoon at a time, if it still seems too thick and stubbornly sticks to the sides of the blender.
Put the pesto in a bowl. Stir in salt and Tabasco or peppers, if using.

I can see pairing this with spaghetti zucchini (can't wait to use my new julianne peeler) and having a great Raw Pesto Spaghetti meal. I can't wait to try it! Let me know if YOU do.

Here are some other raw cilantro pesto recipes I've discovered online:
Cooks.com Cilantro Pesto
Simply Recipes Cilantro Pesto
Rawfood Info.com Cilantro Pesto Said to Remove Heavy Metals

Weigh in day 6: 172

Master Cleanse Days 4-5

2011-04-12T18:02:00.000-07:00

So far I'm still having the same symptoms of being cold all day and having dry skin (mostly my hands). They are so dry, it feels like I could peel the top layer of my skin off. Flaky and crunchy skin on your hands is NOT sexy. I've been alternating between using shea butter and coconut oil on my skin. Like I said, I went through this phase when I went raw...this too shall pass.

Tonight I took part of the master cleanse solution and warmed it up in a little pot. It was great as a tea. Warmed my insides.

I'm writing on day 5 because life is so busy now that I'm no longer on Spring Break. I thought I'd have less energy now that I'm back to school but that is not the case. One of my co-workers told me that I'm glowing. I ran into another at the mall with her family. One of her family members hadn't seen me in years and said I looked wonderful. She didn't say that to ME :( but she relayed it through my co-worker. She then asked her what did I do to lose the weight. My co-worker told her how I'm eating only raw fruits and vegetables. Her relative turned her nose up and said that was not an option for her :( I used to feel that way. I used to say, "those crazy raw people", and now I'm one of them.

So far it hasn't been a problem teaching all day and doing the master cleanse. Luckily I have a bathroom in the library because drinking a gallon of liquid requires that you eliminate frequently. The kids are so used to me drinking my green smoothies and juices that no one asks about the huge gallon jug I am carrying around on a string. They think it's "cute". I bought the PERFECT container at Walmart in the camping section. It's made of plastic with a wide mouth and has a folding opening in the lid for you to drink. When you screw off the top, the mouth is wide enough for you to fit your entire hand. I want to get in there and make sure it is clean. I've done the cleanse before with a narrow gallon container only to find MOLD growing inside...eww.The bag also came with a nylon carrying case that zips off from the bottom. It looks like a mini backpack...or purse.

The challenge now is finding organic lemons. The selection at Trader Joe's is pathetic. Their lemons were too small and hard. I just had my partner email all of her friends to see if anyone has a tree. I have one more day's worth of lemons before I need to start knocking on doors in my neighborhood to ask if I can pick lemons from trees on home owner's property. Most of the time when people own fruit trees, they are so sick of the fruit, they are MORE than happy to allow you to pick all you want. We shall see.

Weight: 172

Master Cleanse Day 3 - DRY DRY DRY

2011-04-10T20:23:00.000-07:00

Here I am at day 3. So far I'm not feeling hungry. I'm not having headaches. My energy level is about the same. I am only having 2 detox symptoms so far: dry skin & I am FREEZING. My hands are like alligator skin. I'm also getting a dry patch around my right elbow. This happened to me around the 4th day of eating raw. I continued to have dry hands for almost two months. I hope this phase passes quickly. As for being cold, I am usually cold, but this time, I am having cold fingertips. So cold that when it happens, I need to place my hands under running hot/warm water to warm them up. I guess I will bust out the long underwear until this passes.

I asked my partner to take over making juices, smoothies, grocery shopping, and making meals for the family. The last couple trips to the supermarket were tempting for me. I kept wanting to eat a banana...or a dried prune...or a watermelon! So tonight I made my last juices and smoothies for the family. She will take over tomorrow. This will be a good test in letting go. I tend to take on too much and then get overwhelmed. This way, I can take care of myself.

Today I went to a kitchen store and bought a Titan julienne peeler. Now I can finally make those spaghetti noodles out of carrots, zucchini, and cucumber...or at least I can after the fast :P It also came with a vegetable peeler. I can't wait to play with these.

After seeing the video below, I had to RUN out to get that juilenne peeler. Who knew something like this existed? I also ran out and bought the ingredients for my partner to make this for herself. I know she will LOVE it!

Cucumber Noodles with Tomato, Basil, Capers. Yummy!
You should also check out Pam Sterling's Blog and follow her on Twitter.

I'm starting to collect quite a few gadgets since I became a raw foodist. I think I'll make a page with everything I use.

Weight: 172 (-0)

The Dirty Dozen

2011-04-09T21:23:00.000-07:00

Today I checked out a video from the library called Dr. Andrew Weil's Guide to Eating Well. I didn't hear anything that was new to me. It was not a raw food video. I was completely distracted by the lack of visual aids, Dr. Weil's size (He doesn't appear to be eating a healthy diet judging by his size), and the uncomfortable audience. The video was shot outdoors and it appeared to be a cold location with lots of wind. The audience looked like they were freezing in their winter coats. I fast forwarded the video to the end and caught the mention of the Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen list. I always struggle with wanting to purchase ALL organic fruits and vegetables, but sometimes I don't want to drive 15 miles to Whole Foods. Organics are not always available at my local market, so I settle. Thank goodness the EWG put together this list of "dirty" and "clean-er-ish (lol)" fruits and vegetables. Now I know which items I MUST buy organic (Some of my favorites: celery, apples, strawberries, blueberries, spinach, kale, & potatoes).

Download the Guide or the iPhone App.

Download the cute version by Heidi Kenney. Also visit her website, The Paper Crane.

Master Cleanse- Day 2

2011-04-09T09:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was date night. My partner and I went to see the Vagina Monologues. What a great show! It made me realize how blessed I am to have the life I have. Some of those stories are heartbreaking. Just before the show, my partner gave up on the Master Cleanse. She lasted 3/4 of a day and then I took her to Chipotle to get a vegetarian salad.

By this time, I usually have a pounding headache as the result of detoxing all of the crap I had put into my body. This time, however, no headache. I've been mostly raw since January so I guess there's not much to clean. My body is aching though. I woke up this morning feeling like I had run a few miles and lifted weights. As always, my mind is totally obsessed with food. The funny thing is I obsess about eating things like: cherry tomatoes, raw nut pates, bananas, avocados, & watermelon. In my other life, I would have been obsessing about an In & Out burger.

I am planning new raw recipes I want to try. This one in particular looks yummy:

Here are a few other youtube recipe bookmarks I have collected.

Weight: 172 (-3)

Master Cleanse- Day 1

2011-04-08T09:08:00.000-07:00

As I revamped the blog, I read through some old entries about my master cleanse experience. Back then, I was not eating a raw food diet. I was pretty much eating every and anything. I had lots of detox symptoms as my body tried to rid itself of sugar, caffeine, bread, and meat. This time around, all I eat are fresh fruits and vegetables. I should have minimal detox effects. Grade B maple syrup is not raw, but I make exceptions in other parts of my eating. I will be making an exception for this cleanse.

This morning I woke up, made breakfast for my son, and drank the dreaded saltwater flush. I had 2 tsp of un-iodized sea salt and 1 quart of water. Instead of mixing the water and salt together, I took a little cup and placed about 4-6oz of water, swished it in the glass and slammed it. I hate salt water. Then I drank the rest of the quart of water in peace. It took only 15 minutes for it to take effect. 10 minutes later I was free from the bathroom without any cramping or discomfort at all :)

I'm aiming for 30 days on the master cleanse. So far, the longest I have lasted is 10 days. I can do it. My partner said she wants to join me! If you are interested in doing the Master Cleanse, I highly suggest you download and read Dr. Stanley Borrough's book The Master Cleanse (pdf). Thanks to the Health and Light Institute for posting this in pdf form on their website.

My recipe for 1 person/1 day:
1 1/4 cup grapefruit juice (you may choose to use lemon, lime, or orange with about the same effects)
1 1/4 cup Grade B maple syrup
3.125 quarts (100 oz or .781 gallon) purified water
1 tsp cayenne pepper

Measurements 4/8/11

Lt Bicep	12 in	-0
Rt Bicep	12 1/2 in	-0
Upper Chest	37 in	-0
Chest	36 in	-0
Stomach Relaxed	36 in	-0
Stomach Flexed	34 in	-0
Hips	41 1/4 in	-0
Lt Thigh	23 1/4 in	-0
Rt Thigh	23 1/2 in	-0
Lt Calf	14 2/5 in	-0
Rt Calf	14 1/2 in	-0
Weight	175 lbs	-0

Master Cleanse - Day 2

2010-07-23T23:59:00.000-07:00

I finally found a way to do the Salt Water Flush without completely gagging for the twenty minutes it takes to drink it. Instead of placing the salt in the quart of water, I poured a little of the water (about 4 oz) from the quart into a small glass with 1 tsp of salt. I stirred it and slammed it. There was a little salt left in the glass, so I poured a little more water, swished it around the glass, and slammed it again. Then I could enjoy the rest of the clear water in peace. It took an hour and 15 minutes before my body was ready to eliminate. There were no symptoms of cramping or any other discomfort.

I spent most of the day hanging around the house reading the Master Cleanse Book. It's a quick read that I highly recommend.

It's easier for me to do the cleanse when I'm at work. Keeping busy helps to keep my mind from being focused on food. It's always funny to me that I don't ever "feel" hungry. What makes me want to eat is: cooking for my family, smelling food, watching people eat, and watermelon (I could live off of watermelon alone).

Later I went rollerskating with my family. I really miss skating. We used to go every Friday during the school year. I can't wait to purchase my own skates. I always get blisters with the rental skates. After skating we went to In and Out. Everyone had burgers and fries as I sipped my Master Cleanse lemonade. Still going strong.

Master Cleanse - Day 1

2010-07-22T19:37:00.000-07:00

I knew I would do the cleanse this summer, I just didn't know that it would begin today. I collected the supplies for my partner to do the cleanse. She stopped after a day and 1/2 and now our kitchen is full of lemons. I couldn't let them go to waste so I decided to pick up where she left off. My plan is to go again for 10 days. So far so good. The only thing I didn't do is that disgusting Salt Water Flush. Just thinking about it makes me want to gag. I ordered more Oxy Powder. It works just as well as the flush without the discomfort of drinking all of that salt water. Until it arrives, maybe I will try drinking the salt in the morning with just a little water (enough for the salt to dissolve) and then backing it up with the rest of the quart of water that comes with the Salt Water Flush.

Other news! I went to the doctor today and they said I am 5'9 1/2. All these years I have been telling people that I am 5'11. Did I shrink? My weight has decreased too! I am now 188. I was 193 in June and for the past 2 years my weight held from 210-202. I fee great! I'm eating mostly raw fruits and vegetables. I don't deny myself anything that I want to eat. I drink a gallon of water per day (most days...sometimes I forget). I continue to read about health, wellness, and nutrition. Life is good. I'm running for 25 minutes straight thanks to the C25K app. I am currently on week 7 and going strong. Right now I am reading two books. Medisin and You're Not Sick, You're Thirsty. I'm down from a size 18 to a size 12 and it doesn't feel like effort because everything that I am doing is a lifestyle change.

Acid-Alkaline Tango

2010-05-16T11:26:00.000-07:00

I read voraciously. Cleansed for 10 days. Visited the library just about every day. Learned about the properties of amino acids and combination of fruits and vegetables. I thought I had it all figured out. Then...my face began to break out. I have fine little bumps all over my forehead, cheeks, and chin. I also have acne on my chest and back. My eczema returned on my left elbow.

During one of our long health and nutrition conversations, Moraa mentioned something about alkaline and acidic foods. I didn't know which was "good" or "bad". Both of them sound like bad to me. The body is supposed to be slightly alkaline or we start to experience symptoms of fatigue, stress, and other problems with toxins in our body. I was on a Google mission to find a list of acidic and alkaline foods. I found a great list on the "I-Am Perfectly Healthy.com" website. At first glance, I felt like I was looking at my daily menu. Now that I am having 2 quarts of green smooties per day, I just knew that I was getting enough fruits and vegetables in my diet. What I didn't know is that I need to be strategic about my fruit and vegetable choices.

The good news is that I am eating quite a few of the alkalizing vegetables: beets, carrots, celery, collard greens, chard, cucumber, garlic, green beans, green peas, kale, onions, peas, spinach, sweet potato, tomato.

I am also eating many of the alkalizing fruits: apples, avocado, blackberries, cantaloupe *1 of my favorites*, cherries, dried dates, grapes, honeydew melon, lemon, lime, nectarine, orange, pear, peach, raisins, strawberries, tangerines,and watermelon *my ultimate favorite*.

On the "other alkalizing" list, I use: Apple Cider Vinegar, fresh fruit juice, mineral water, and vegetable juices.

Now for the bad and ugly Acidic List

I currently consume the following acidifying vegetables & fruits: corn, blueberries, canned fruits, plums, & prunes.

Acidifying grains & grain products: barley, oat bran, bread, corn, wheat flour, white flour, crackers, macaroni, noodles, oatmeal, rolled oats, quinoa??!!??!, rice (all kinds), rice cakes, spaghetti, and wheat.

I have lots to learn.

Post Master Cleanse

2010-05-08T22:41:00.000-07:00

I've been so crazy busy I forgot to post about my last few days. I finished the cleanse at the end of day 10. I feel great! I did a 1/2 ease-out process by drinking a quart of fresh squeezed orange juice and vegetable stew.

My tongue never turned pink.

I'm so happy to be eating. Now I savor every bite. I have been enjoying watermelon lately. I swear I could eat an entire watermelon every day. I also missed drinking my green smoothies. My first smoothie off of the cleanse was kale, 1 lemon, 2 apples, 1 qt water, 2 scoops of the Ultimate Meal, & 2 bananas.

I had a long talk with my locktician, Moraa. She is so knowledgeable about vegan eating, herbs, and food nutrition. I have so many things to blog about! In the meantime, I need to make a dent in the pile of books I've checked out from the library and the book I purchased (Medisin). I love Link+, but ALL of the books I placed on hold came in at the same time :P. That's what I get for being curious.

Master Cleanse - Day 9

2010-05-04T23:40:00.000-07:00

Today I began with a 3 mile walk. I never would have imagined that I would be waking up at 4:45 to take a walk with my partner. I love that alone time. It's nice to walk and talk and notice all of the things around our neighborhood.

My skin is clearing, but not as much as I would like it to. I don't have any more whitehead pimples, but I still have tiny little bumps that I can see. I know that when I begin eating again, the water should help. Today was harder to drink the full portion of the MC lemonade. I had over a quart left by the end of the day. It seems the longer I do it, the harder it is to drink it. I'm not hungry, but my nose is working overtime savoring the smells around me. Today I took a nibble of my son's cookie and had a bite of a ravioli from my partner.. immediately I had gas, LOL. Funny thing is that things smell so much better than they taste. I should have known better. I'm back on the wagon now...though I am having STRONG cravings for cheddar cheese :(

I decided I am going to stop after day 10, no matter what color my tongue is. My tongue seems to keep a pretty consistent coat of white. I can't imagine how long it would take to clear.

I never measured myself before I began this cleanse, but I know that the last time I stood on the scale during my last workout on the treadmill, I weighed 193. Today I weight 185!! I haven't been this weight in YEARS. This is wonderful. I feel great. At the beginning of the school year I weighed 210. At 5'11, I can hold a lot of weight without people noticing...much. This time around EVERYONE is noticing how slim I'm looking. I love it! The best part is that I haven't been focusing on my weight, I have been focusing on my overall nutrition and health. Life is good.

(Note: If you are going to try the cleanse, PLEASE do some research. Don't just read my blog and try it. READ about it. Read reviews about it. I would say check with your doctor, but doctors try to give me pills and creams for every problem...and I am moving far away from that. Make the best choice for you. Weightloss should never be your goal. Choose optimal health instead.)

Master Cleanse - Days 7-8

2010-05-03T22:30:00.000-07:00

So far so good. I'm still doing well. Increased my walking to 3 miles. This morning I found a $5 bill in the street! Lucky me! I spent 10 minutes outside in the garden at work during lunch. I'm having 3-4 BMs per day. The oxy powder works so much better for me than the salt water flush. I never feel crampy or the urgency that I felt with the SWF.

My coworkers brought in 2 huge bags of lemons. I'm all set. Two of my coworkers started today. One only brought in a partial day's worth to work and was starving while the other forgot to drink hers all day :( I hope they work it out for themselves...but it's their journey. I've had my own false starts with the MC.

My tongue is still not pink. I wonder how much longer will it take. I had a banana today. Again, I couldn't resist while making green smoothies for my family.

I feel good.

Master Cleanse - Day 6

2010-05-01T23:00:00.000-07:00

I am amazed at my stick-to-it-ness this time around with the Master Cleanse. The last time I did it, around the Christmas holiday season, it was difficult. It could have been the fact that I was on vacation and had all the time in the world to sit and think about food. My partner pointed out that around this time I usually get a little spacy (slow to respond, start forgetting things, outward appearance is lathargic, etc.), however this time, she says I look energized. I've never felt this sort of drive before. I still sit and think about food, but in a good way. I am reading a few books to learn about what my body needs and how my body responds to certain kinds of food. I am also every morning when I rise. I feel great!

I'm beginning to run out of lemons. I hope my co-workers bring in lemons from their trees. Trader Joe's lemons are .39¢ each! On the average, I use 6 to make the cup and a half that I need for the day and I still have 4 more days to go.

My skin is still broken out...but looking a little better. I'm not sure it will be clear by the end of 10 days. We shall see. My tongue is still coated white. I have the feeling that I will be doing this cleanse a bit longer until my tongue is pink again. I found an interesting website about what the coating means. My tongue is equally thinly coated white from top to bottom, except the very outside edges (liver and gallbladder and heart areas) are pink. When I began, I quickly developed a thick coat of white. The tongue scraper became my best friend.

4 more days (or more depending on my tongue) to go! I can do it!

Master Cleanse - Day 5

2010-04-30T19:35:00.000-07:00

Today I could not get warm. I walked around most of the day wearing a scarf, jacket, and gloves. Other than being cold, my cleanse is going well. I did my morning walk and I'm thinking of extending my 1.3 miles to a 3 mile walk. I would need to get up about 30 minutes earlier...which means an earlier bedtime. I'll try it out tomorrow.

I can't wait until my skin clears up. I have a fine layer of bumps. I know that my body is releasing toxins right now and unfortunately I have to deal with it coming out on my face and back. 5 more days to go (or longer depending on how long it takes for my tongue to turn pink). I just went to Trader Joe's to get more Grade B Maple Syrup. That stuff is not cheap at $16 a bottle. So far I have used almost 2 bottles in 5 days.

I'm still researching the best way to eat once I come off of this cleanse. I know that I don't want to go back to eating mucus producing foods. I also know that I want to be in control of my mood...instead of feeling the negative effects of food on my mood. One of my co-workers told me that I seem happy. I am :)

Master Cleanse - Day 4

2010-04-29T19:34:00.000-07:00

A co-worker told me she noticed my skin is changing. By the end of the day my face is usually oily. Today, it was normal. My dry patches are almost gone and my pores are not as pronounced. I also noticed that I'm not having allergy symptoms. I actually had not paid attention to it until a co-worker came into the library with watery eyes, complaining of her persistent symptoms this week. Flatulence is nonexistent! I should have known all of those symptoms were related to my diet. Now I need to figure out what I CAN eat that will agree with my body. I want to look into Macrobiotics. It seems to fit my emerging flexitarian self.

I am loving learning more about my body and what works for it. It's funny, anytime my goal has been weight loss, I fail. Now that the goal is self-care/self-love/self-discovery, I'm successful.

Master Cleanse - Day 3

2010-04-28T22:43:00.000-07:00

This morning I woke up and it felt like I drank coffee. I don't know where this sudden burst of energy and elevated mood came from. I skipped my walk today because of the rain...it doesn't take much for me to postpone exercise (still working on that one). I felt much better not doing that salt water flush. I take 6 of the Oxy Powder pills and that does my system just fine.

I haven't been drinking extra water. As a matter of fact, its difficult for me to keep up with drinking the entire gallon of my daily portion of the Master Cleanse. I end up with a quart left by the end of the day. Yesterday I fell asleep and had 1/2 quart left. Today...about the same. Tomorrow I'm going to aim for adding more water to my day.

Today I found myself daydreaming about the last day of the cleanse. I can't wait to make my crockpot veggie stew. I have 7 days to go. I think my skin is getting better. I have been using an Oil Cleansing Method (more about that later). I've been thinking that I need to start getting more sleep. I know that would help everything. Right now I get about 5-6 hours. I should experiment one week and get 8 each day and see how that works for me. Oh...and I'm currently reading a new book, Medisin by Dr. Scott Whitaker, ND & Jose Feming, CN, MH. After viewing Food, Inc. and reading this book, I wonder what I will be able to eat. Sometimes I wish I took the blue pill.

Master Cleanse - Day 2

2010-04-27T21:00:00.000-07:00

Everything is going well. I'm not feeling hungry. My energy level is good. I did however eat a banana. I couldn't resist! I was making green smoothies for my family and they smelled so good. I figured a banana wouldn't hurt. Oh well...

I decided today will be the last day to do the Salt Water Flush. I hate the taste. Today my gag reflex almost kicked in and I thought I would throw the whole thing up. Instead I will be using Oxy Powder tablets at night. They produce the same effects without having to swallow salt water. Two of my co-workers said they would start the cleanse next week! It would be great to have support during my last few days.

I took a walk today too! It feels good to take care of myself.

Master Cleanse Day 1

2010-04-26T11:28:00.000-07:00

**Warning** If you don't want to read about bodily functions...this is NOT the blog for you.

I started the Master Cleanse today. I had all kinds of ailments over the last 2-3 weeks: mood swings, acne on my face and back, horrible allergies, dry skin, lack of energy...I had enough! Every time I do the Master Cleanse, I feel great. I drink the following each day:

1 gallon of spring water in a 3 gallon container
1 and 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice (in the juicer w/ pulp)
1 and 1/2 cup of Grade B maple syrup
1 teaspoon of Cayenne pepper.

This makes a days worth. Stir well and pour into several containers. My coworkers and kids know I'm always drinking some strange conconction (green smoothies), so I don't get questioned about drinking yet another strange thing :) It is very important to shake up the container before and during the pour into the smaller bottles otherwise you will have some very peppery drinks as all the cayenne will be in the last 2 (along with all the pulp).
In the morning I do a Salt Water Flush (SWF) using 1 quart of room temperature filtered water and 1 tablespoon of sea salt. Un-iodized organic sea salt is essential. It tastes awful! It took about 5 minutes for me to drink the entire thing. I hear that standing in front of the mirror while you drink helps you to do it in one shot. After that, I took a 1.3 mile brisk walk outside....YES! I went outside for a walk! I never do that! It took me about 19 minutes. I need to pick up the pace next time.

An hour after taking the SWF, I was finally ready to eliminate. There were no cramping side effects, however my BM was completely liquid. It took about 30 mins on the toilet for it to finally stop. I made sure to drink the SWF 2 hours before I had to leave my house for work to give it time to take effect. I would hate to have to go to the bathroom...that way...at school...ugh!

At night they suggest using a laxitive tea or doing another SWF...however, I will be using Oxy-Powder Colon Cleanse and a huge glass of water. I can't imagine doing that Salt Water Flush twice a day. I am also drinking 1 cup of water with 2 Tablespoons apple cidar vinegar as my Cleansing Skin Detox. I've also heard that apple cidar vinegar is good for allergies. I hope so. I need all the help I can get this season.

I plan on incorporating Yoga at the end of my day. I have been so wound up lately (physically and emotionally), this should help.

So far so good. I am 6 hours into my day. The last time I did this cleanse, I had crazy headaches. I chalk that up to my caffeine addiction. I used to drink 1-2 cups of coffee per day. Now I am on th Green Smoothie train. I drink a Green Smoothie every morning instead of coffee. Now coffee is a "sometime" thing (about 1x per month). This time around, I have been off of regular coffee use so I shouldn't experience the headaches.

Want to join me in my cleanse? Who's in? Want to know more about the Master Cleanse? Read here.

The Next New Thing

2010-01-10T14:34:00.000-08:00

I came off of the Master Cleanse after 7 days. I lost a total of 12lbs and I'm sure a few inches, though I didn't measure. My pants were falling off so that was a good sign. I didn't do the recommended Ease-Out process. I was pretty much over it when I woke up on day 8.

The night before I started preparing a vegetarian soup in the crockpot. It took about 30 minutes to prepare the ingredients and 12 hours to cook in the crockpot on low. It was delicious! I guess anything would be delicious after 7 days of drinking lemonade. I substituted a can of seasoned Glory Greens for the frozen spinach. That huge pot only lasted 2 days in my house. I invited my father to eat with us and he took a container of it home with him. I thought the soup was a bit salty (probably due to the spices in the greens) so when I made it again today, I used fresh spinach instead of the canned greens. As I searched for an image of Glory Greens, I stumbled upon this article about a woman finding a FROG in her bag of Glory Greens...OMG!! I'm afraid. I guess we really need to start growing our own produce. That story makes me want to give up EVERYTHING in a can...(stomach wrenches).

On a lighter note...I started drinking green smoothies yesterday. I thought I had to wait until I had an expensive blender until I viewed a video on the "Clumps of Mascara" blog. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that ordinary people share how to do things on YouTube. Had it not been for this video, I would have waited until I could purchase the Vitamix blender. I don't add any dairy to my smoothies and I don't measure the ingredients. My smoothies consist of 1/2 a blender of spinach, enough water to make the blades move, 1 banana, 1 small apple, and 1 pear. Yummy!

I also read her post about drinking water. I am so bad about that, but I am getting better. I'm not like your average soda drinker. I rarely drink soda or punch. Maybe 5x per year. I just get busy and don't drink anything. A few weeks ago my partner treated me to a manicure and a facial. Both the manicurist and the estetician said they could tell that I don't drink enough water :( So I have made a promise to myself to drink 1 gallon of water per day. I'm going to keep track of it with Water Your Body, my new iPhone app.

So far so good. I am drinking water. My family is drinking the green smoothies with me. I've convinced a co-worker to join me in my green smoothie effort (this will keep me on track at work). I am regular..LOL (TMI I know...but hey...). I'm happy. I'm researching all about eating RAW and have joined a variety of RAW social networks. All I need to do now is incorporate some exercise in the mix. I have an elliptical machine in the house, free weights, bands, balance ball, The Firm's fanny lifter, and every exercise video known to man.

Master Cleanse - Day 7

2010-01-06T16:03:00.000-08:00

I just stood on the scale. I weight 192!! When I began I weighted 203. My weight gain/loss is always oblivious to the people around me. My height (5'11) hides the weight well. I notice though. My clothes are fitting differently. Things that were tight fit comfortably. Things that fit...I need to use a pin to keep them from falling off.

My weightloss/fitness/detox reading for today consisted of: 21 Master Cleanse Tips and Martha's Vineyard Cleanse (and then I placed a hold for the book at my local library.

I didn't drink the salt flush or the dieter's (senna) tea last night. I didn't want to go through either of the two evils. So I woke up this morning, stomach feels fine, but no BM. I'm going to bite the bullet and do the saltwater flush. I feel fine. No headaches or weakness. However, I constantly think about food. Today I walked past the fridge and almost opened it to grab a can of peaches out of habit. I love canned peaches. I thought about it, laughed and walked back upstairs.

Today I focused on me. I gave myself a facial and banded (bound?) my hair. Ever since I decided to grow my hair out naturally, I have been relying upon the Natural Hair Community on Youtube for tips. I won't take it out until tomorrow so I am walking around with a scarf on my head. I look like Cynthia, Angelica's doll, on Rugrats.

Evening

My partner has forbid me to drive. I guess I'm starting to look glassy-eyed. I decided tomorrow I will begin to wean myself off of the fast. Tomorrow I will begin with orange juice and the syrup. I'm going to the market to buy the ingredients for a vegetable soup. My partner is driving :( Funny how my mouth waters thinking about vegetable soup.

Today I didn't really want to drink the lemonade. I also haven't been drinking water they way I am supposed to. I think I'm done. I'll let you know tomorrow. Like I said...I'm wishy washy when it comes to this.

Master Cleanse - Day 6

2010-01-05T19:04:00.000-08:00

I am having the strangest dreams lately. In my dream, something was moving in my purse. Turns out it was a witch doctor pulling his shrunken head out of my purse. The funny thing is, I tried to get the head back because it belonged to me. The alarm went off so I don't know how it ends ;)

So here I am at day 6. I'm still not feeling hungry. No headaches. I stood on the scale to find that I have lost 8lbs!! I had to wear a belt today or my pants would have fallen down. This is a great byproduct of the cleanse. My tongue is not as white as it was yesterday. They said you should continue the cleanse until your tongue is pink again. I'm still not sure if I can continue until day 10. My partner commented that my eyes look clear and I appear to be glowing. I don't look any different to me. It's strange how you have so much time to think about other things when you aren't thinking about food. Guess what I thought about today...FOOD! LOL! I looked through all of my cookbooks, went to the library and checked out cookbooks and cooking magazines. I'm driving myself crazy I know but I can't help it. I'm a planner. I'm already planning what I will be eating when I come off of the Master Cleanse. I can't wait to taste my 1st green smoothie (although I am still on QVC's waitlist for the Vitamix blender...I hope I get it.)

FitBit

2010-01-05T05:07:00.000-08:00

I have not posted in quite a while, mostly due to the fact that I "fell off of the fitness wagon." I had been doing really well, but now I have a new resolution to lose 42 pounds. The newest tools in my quest for weight loss are my awesome fitbit (www.fitbit.com) and my Wii Active and Jenny McCarthy Wii game. I am also in the market for a treadmill. Does anyone have an opinion about the best treadmill to get? The ones in stores all have stereo equipment built in for mp3 and ipods, but I would rather do without the bells and whistles and focus on having just a good quality treadmill at a reasonable price. Has anyone purchased a used one? I thought about this option, but I am not sure if I need a maintenance package on it or not.

Master Cleanse - Day 5

2010-01-04T14:51:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning and my stomach was upset. Drinking that tea with Senna is not gentle on your stomach. The salt water flush is horrible tasting, but it does not cause my stomach to cramp. I can't believe I had another regular BM. Where is this coming from after 5 days without solid food? Makes you wonder how much stuff sits inside you each day. I didn't have a headache this morning, which is wonderful. I'm getting ~~tired~~ bored by this whole thing. I see food. I smell food. I read about recipes on the internet. I want food. Then I take a sip of my lemonade. Can I make it 5 more days? I still don't feel hungry but my senses are working overtime. Yesterday during my walk at the lake, I smelled peanut butter...LOL. I never saw anyone eating a sandwich but I am sure I smelled the smell of it :)

I keep reading other people's experiences with the Master Cleanse. With every story, I feel I can make it another day. I can make it...but will I?

Evening

Tonight I took my family to eat at my favorite pizza parlor. It was horrible to smell that pizza. I wanted to reach over and take a bite. The strangest part was the smell of the pepperoni. Something about that smell was almost making me nauseous. What I really wanted to eat was the crust, the cheese, and the tomato sauce. I began to fantasize about pesto, feta, and sun dried tomato toppings :(

I went to the market and purchased another bottle of Grade B maple syrup. I'm still not sure if I will continue this tomorrow, but just in case I want to be prepared.

Master Cleanse - Day 4

2010-01-03T13:55:00.001-08:00

Last night I never had a BM after the saltwater flush. Just a loud gurgling stomach (no pain or discomfort). This morning, however, I woke with a headache. I dreamed that a huge black spider bit me on my right hand. In the dream, the spider was our pet. We were playing a board game. I made a sudden move and it jumped and bit me. I woke up with a pounding head. About 30 mins later I went to the bathroom and again had a semi-regular BM (not as much as usual but normal). I didn't want to take any chances so I took 2 Excedrin tablets. However, right after the BM, the headache went away. Strange how my body responds to toxins and the release of toxins.

I also woke up today with energy and no soreness from my walk yesterday. Right now I am on my way out the door to walk the lake near my house. It's 12 miles around this lake, but about 2.5 miles is paved. We will walk to the end of the pavement and back for a total of 5 miles. Just a leisurely stroll...nothing too strenuous. I'm dragging my son along. He wanted to spend his last day playing video games all day. I think he needs some sun. I'm sure he's going to love it once we get going.

Today I made my lemonade using 2 lemons and 1 orange. I have learned so much about going raw and the variety of green drinks that I can make. I'm going to invest in a Vitamix 5200 blender. It's on sale today only at QVC. Is it serendipity that I began researching about living raw last night and this morning? I am ready to make a huge change in my eating habits. After this cleanse, I will incorporate having 1 green smoothie per day (for the entire family) for breakfast. I also want to purchase Victoria Boutenko's book, Green for Life. Time to go walk. I'll update again today.

Oranges vs. Lemons during the Master Cleanse

2010-01-02T18:47:00.000-08:00

I did a little research in Julie Stafford's Juicing for Health so I could compare the benefits of Oranges vs. Lemons. They have just about the same nutritional value:

Nutrients per 100 g / 3 1/2oz
Lemon vs (Orange)
Protein 1.1g (1g)
Fat .3g (.2g)
Carbohydrate 8.2 g (12.2g)
Phosphorus 16mb (20mg)
Magnesium 8mg (11mg)
Iron .6mg (.4mg)
Sodium 2mg (1mg)
Potassium 138mg (200mg)
Vitamin A 20mg (200IU)
Vitamin B1 .04IU (.1mg)
Vitamin B2 .02mg (.04mg)
Vitamin B3 .1mg (.4mg)
Vitamin C 53mg (50mg)
kJ 134 (188)
Calories 32 (45)

Today picked some lemons and oranges from my friend's trees. Aren't fruit trees amazing? I juiced 2 oranges and made an additional 1 liter portion for today. It is delicious! I love orange juice. I mixed it with the lemon. With this combination or alternating between orange and lemon, I believe I can make it through the entire ten days. I've read about people doing this for 30 days. I'm not sure if I can do that, but its fun to read about it.

I'm off to do my Saltwater Flush...ugh. Oh...speaking of flushing, This cleanse really makes you go to the bathroom often (#1). I make a trip every 30-45 minutes. Also, somehow, I still have a regular BM in the morning when I wake up. It's hard to believe that after 3 days of cleansing there could still be a regular BM in me.

The Master Cleanse - Day 3

2010-01-02T13:05:00.000-08:00

I'm still going strong. Last night I took the Saltwater Flush and it only took 45 minutes to take effect. I went to bed earlier than usual, but woke up a couple times after having strange dreams. I dreamed I ate the tofu version of chicken nuggets. I have NEVER purchased those and haven't had regular chicken nuggets in a decade. I know I had another dream, but I can't remember it. I also have a slight headache. Again, I am going to take Excedrin. I have plans later to take a walk with my partner and one of my coworkers. It will be a 3 mile walk. I hope I will be OK. This will be my 1st exercise since I began the fast.

My tongue is looking white, just like they said it would. A tongue scraper helps but I can't wait until my tongue finally turns pink. When it turns pink, that is supposed to be the indication that the toxins have been eliminated from my system.

I am thinking of substituting oranges for lemons on 1 day of the cleanse. On day 11, they have you use fresh orange juice to ease you back in to regular food. Both orange and lemon have about the same health benefits. I wonder if I will feel a significant difference. Tomorrow I will try the substitution and let you know.

The Master Cleanse- Day 2- Why am I doing this again?

2010-01-01T21:18:00.000-08:00

I'm still not feeling hungry, but thinking about food. I told myself I would keep doing this until I run out of supplies (lemons, grade B maple syrup) and then re-evaluate. I have 2 more days until my supplies are depleted. Sigh... Here I go 1 more time to take the Salt Water Flush. I googled "master cleanse comic" and I found this. This blogger jumped into my head and drew this comic. I LOVE it. After reading it...I'm going to stick it out. I know. I'm wishy washy.

The Master Cleanse - Day 2 (Part 2)

2010-01-01T17:03:00.000-08:00

I just returned from the matinee. Avatar is a GREAT movie! I brought my lemonade into the theater. Did I mention how much you have to pee when you do this cleanse? I need to go about every 30-45 minutes. Avatar is 2 hours and 30 minutes. I knew I was in trouble about midway into the movie. I was able to hold it until the end. That movie was too good to leave.

After the movie we had a late lunch. I talked to everyone while they ate pizza, salads, and quesadillas. My partner felt uncomfortable about me telling the waitress that I only wanted water, so she volunteered the information that I am not eating...grrr. I talked to her about that. I want to be the one telling people or NOT telling people about my cleansing process.

I am shocked that I didn't/don't feel hungry. I thought I would be starving by now. Afterward, we went to my favorite frozen yogurt shop and again I watched them eating. That one was hard. It piqued my sugar demon, but I didn't have any. So now we are back home. Everyone has a book or a computer and is in their own world. I guess I will get back to bookmarking. I love that I can choose to do anything with my time during vacation. No worries. This is a great time for this cleanse.

The Master Cleanse - Day 2

2010-01-01T10:41:00.000-08:00

Warning: I will be talking about bodily functions. If you don't want to read about it, this might not be the blog for you...LOL.

Last night I decided to try the Saltwater Flush. I drank a horrible mixture of 2 tsp Sea Salt and 1 qt of warm water. After the first 3 sips my throat didn't want to swallow. It took about 20 minutes to drink it all down and I found that I had to pour it into a glass to try to trick myself into drinking it. A glass makes everything taste better right? After an hour and twenty minutes, I had a BM. I thought my stomach would be crampy or I'd have extreme diarrhea, but I spent about 10 messy minutes in the bathroom and I was fine. About an hour later I had to go again. The flush is definitely something you want to do at night. I wouldn't be able to run to the bathroom like that at work LOL!

Amazingly I do not feel hungry. I woke up this morning feeling refreshed. It's hard to believe how much stuff you accumulate inside your body. I had only the Master Cleanse Lemonade, tea, and water yesterday and this morning I had a "normal" BM.

I'm about to juice my lemons and make my lemonade for the day. At noon we are planning to see Avatar in 3D. I need to sneak my lemonade with me in a purse. This will be the first time in a long while that I won't have popcorn, a hot dog, or licorice (my favorite) during a movie.

The only bad news I have to report is that I had a slight mid-day headache yesterday. Although I know I am not supposed to ruin the cleansing process with medication, I felt taking 2 Excedrin tablets was necessary or I may have killed my family and/or friends during New Year's Eve.

I can do this. 9 days to go.

The Master Cleanse - Day 1

2009-12-31T13:02:00.000-08:00

I don't know what placed this in my mind. Maybe it was the whole banana pudding I ate in 2 days around Christmas time. I completely went overboard this holiday season. I ate Cheesecake, Baskin Robbins Rocky Road Ice Cream, Pillsbury cookies, and a variety of bread and pastas. I knew I was in trouble one night when I had ice cream at midnight and baked cookies for the family at 1am. The funny thing is...I am not usually drawn to sugar like this. Vacations and I do not get along. I function well with a plan and a schedule. It's the librarian in me that demands order. So...during the holidays, without a plan or a care in the world, I turn to eating...and excessive computer use...but that is another story.

About a decade ago, I used to do the Master Cleanse at least 2x every year. I loved feeling that I was cleansing my insides. I used those 10 days to really focus on myself. I would give myself facials, manicures, pedicures, read a new book, take baths instead of showers, do light yoga stretching, listen to relaxing music, etc. After a while, I just got caught up with life and never came back to it. Well...now's the time. Anyone who knows me well knows that I am an ALL or NOTHING person. I woke up this morning, juiced my lemons and got my mind ready.

I tweeted my intentions to hold myself accountable, and I will blog about it here. Years ago when I did this, I quickly learned that I could not tell my friends, family and coworkers about the cleanse. They spent most of our talk time asking questions about the cleanse or telling me how crazy I was...or worse, putting food in front of me to try to get me to eat. Well, this time I told my immediate family and my Twitter PLN. I can do this. The only part I am afraid of is the Salt Water Flush. I read it tastes like chicken broth if you use Celtic Sea Salt. I just sent my partner to Trader Joes to buy some.

What is in the Master Cleanse Lemonade?

14 Table Spoons Lemon Juice
14 Table Spoons Grade B Maple Syrup (the website omits this part...but I have the original booklet- available as a PDF here)
1/2 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
2 Liters of water

It actually has a pleasant taste. I drink it cold, room temperature, and hot (like a tea). See which way you like it best.

Day 1- Insanity Fit Test

2009-08-26T07:26:00.001-07:00

I just completed my fit test for Insanity! 15 seconds into the workout and I knew I was in trouble. Even with all of the cardio I've been doing on the elliptical machine, my body was not ready for that workout. I know this workout is going to kick my #&*@ if the fit test was this difficult. I will be keeping track of my results on a spreadsheet. A couple of my Twitter buddies are also doing this workout which is great motivation for me. I can't wait to see how I look and feel after 60 days. For now...I feel a little dizzy...and a lotta tired.

Dieting... Again... This Time I'm Gonna Make It

2009-05-31T15:23:00.000-07:00

When it comes to dieting and watching what I eat, my life is a rollercoaster. I see myself in the mirror and am horrified by the belly, the love handles, the rolls... and I resolve in that moment to change my habits, to watch what I eat, to exercise, to shape up! I speak to myself with such authority and conviction that I almost believe it. Until dinner time, that is!

My partner is an amazing cook, and he's from the South. Most of the time we eat sensible meals, but then there are the times when he craves comfort foods-- Southern fried chicken, greens, corn bread, jambalaya. In an instant, my will-power is gone. It's impossible to diet. Just yesterday he went grocery shopping and came home with a tin of blueberry muffins. I wanted to scream, "Why are you bringing that crap into my house? You know I can't eat that." Instead, I sat on the sofa watching television with him--watching him eat the blueberry muffin he had just warmed in the microwave with butter--and I ate a rice cake. YUM!!!

Okay...so I'll stop venting. This time, I'm serious about losing the weight. I'm counting calories. I'm watching the fat grams. And, I'm working out. In fact, in a moment, I'll be doing my ABSolutely Fit Workout with Kathy Ireland. I'd rather sit on the sofa, watch Sex & the City, and eat bon-bons. Just being honest... So, here's the deal I'll make with myself. Workout 30 minutes, then... I'll snuggle up in bed with the Butch Meister-- Spend a few hours with Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte-- and snack on veggie stix!

Ups and Downs

2009-05-29T05:57:00.001-07:00

I have been away from this site for quite a while. It has been crazy busy here, but now that my Twitter password and username are not working (tech support is on the case!), I have some time to stop and think about my health. I just purchased the Wii Active and it is so much better than the Wii Fit. It is a good workout. I have also been trying to do some running on the treadmill, which, if you knew me, you'd know that I only normally run if I am chased! I won the Biggest Loser Challenge at my school, but then I gained back 5 lbs. over my daughter's birthday weekend and a family party, etc...Just recently, my other job as a swimming coach at the YMCA formed another Biggest Loser. I was in the lead last week, but I did not do as well this week. Wish me luck!

Still in the Game...Just Playing Slow.

2009-05-24T15:15:00.001-07:00

This time of year is SUPER busy for me and I haven't been back to this site for a while. I do stop in to read, just haven't posted. I put on shorts for the first time today and my pair from last summer still fit, so that means that I am at least holding my own and not going over the deep end. This last week I have been focused on my own blogging. I have developed a blog for sharing my poetry and have noticed that I am much better able to control my snacking when I am absorbed into reading and writing. Yeah! If I can just find time to stand up and walk around, I may just have the key to my issues with weight. If you enjoy poetry or just want to stop and peek at what I have been up to, stop by: Expressive Domain http://www.phawkenson.edublogs.org/ Don't forget to leave a comment. I have a few food related poems hidden in the archives. Come dig.

Week 2 Day 4 - Done!

2009-04-19T18:19:00.000-07:00

I'm still doing P90X and even got my husband involved! Of course I am still modifying many of the exercises so I don't pass out or something, but...I', still on track. Except for the fact that I haven't really changed my eating habits :-( All else is good!

Day 3 - Accomplished

2009-04-11T10:18:00.001-07:00

Yes - I did the Day 3 P90X workout, Shoulders and Arms. And I even got 1/2 of the Ab Ripper X completed, although I had to end early because my lovely husband made breakfast for me and I couldn't let the eggs get cold. Breakfast was a good one-fatfree refried beans, eggs and diced jalapenos. (this is one of my favorites!) yay, one more day done!

75% of Day 2

2009-04-10T16:01:00.000-07:00

Did Plyometrics today for Day 2...could only get about 75% completed because I got out of bed late. Plus I was weak and did all the exercises low impact...but it was more than I'm used to doing. Gone are the days of the 20 minute workout, I guess. I'm not going to jinx this, but I like how it's going so far. I can really feel my workout from yesterday and today. I kind of look forward to tomorrow, Day 3, shoulders and arms. Really I'm looking forward to finishing the shoulders and arms workout.
And now for the nutrition aspect...*sigh* I did drink a protein shake in the A.M. but the rest of the day was a wash. I just can't kick my sugar habit, and preparing healthy mini-meals and snacks is soooo time-consuming and I'm just not interested in it. It seems I can do one or the other. If I'm working out, I tend to use that as justification for eating junk. If I am careful with what, when and how I eat, I don't want to workout. I hate feeling hungry and empty and tired, and I do not want to buy supplements that are just going to sit there and mock me because I'm not taking them. Whine, whine, whine, I know. I figure the more I workout consistently, the more likely I am to adjust my eating habits accordingly. And I have to be patient with myself. One day at a time! And now on to Day 3...shoulders and arms tomorrow plus that Ab Ripper X.

All or Nothing- That's me!

2009-04-10T08:56:00.000-07:00

So the other day my partner says to me that I am an all or nothing kind of person. She's right. I throw myself into something completely or not at all. I know that P90X does not feel like the right workout for me. I feel nauseous and dizzy during the workout. I want to feel energized. I know that after a while it gets better, but I'm just not there yet. When I woke up this morning I felt like someone had beat me up. So...given my all or nothing personality, I've decided to give myself a new challenge. My partner ran into a friend last night and she said he looked great. Guess what he has been doing? ...the elliptical machine! You know...that thing that is sitting in the corner of my office collecting dust. He said he would put on his ipod and do 4-5 miles each day/6 days a week. In 30 days he lost 16 lbs. He also changed his eating habits...which I have problems with also. Taking pics of my food really helps to FORCE me to think about what is going in my mouth. So I say all of this to say...I am really going to try this 30 day thing on the elliptical and if when I complete the 30 days, I will re-evaluate my ability to begin P90X again.

Day 2 is really Day 1

2009-04-09T16:39:00.000-07:00

So yesterday was Day 1 and I was all ready to start P90X, but had an excuse party instead and didn't do the workout. I was so ashamed I couldn't even congratulate my workout partner on her success in completing Day 1 because I was too embarrased to say I did not. Which was silly because I'm sure she knew that due to my lack of response :-) So I felt bad for myself and guilty and eating all those double stuff oreos didn't help either.
But today...(Day 2, but really is Day 1) I DID IT!! Finally I completed the P90X Chest & Back workout. Plus... (are you ready for this?) I even did the Ab Ripper X workout as well, which you're supposed to do anyway because they go together, but I had stopped after the Chest and Back. And told myself I could do the Ab Ripper X "later". Then I pushed myself to just do the darn thing!
And I don't even feel like eating cookies! (right now, anyway)
Now the plan is not to go crazy and over extend myself, even though for a moment I did consider doing the Day 2 workout also, just to catch up. But I am being wise and pacing myself. Tomorrow is another day - the real Day 2. And eating habits? Well, since the kids are away for the school break, I haven't done any real cooking, which means I haven't done any real eating either. Reheating leftovers and eating junk food is my modus operandi when the kids aren't home. My poor husband knows to eat while he's on the road, because there is no 'home cookin' without the children. It is what it is - while I'm not eating too many calories, I am eating really poor quality ones, but whatever. One thing at a time and I did the workout!! And drank water, too! I don't care that I didn't break into a massive sweat and I'm not going to punish myself by thinking I didn't push myself hard enough, because I intend on doing Plyometrics tomorrow and I need to be able to move around in order to do so. So what- I wasn't all crazy sweaty, but I did the workout and that's what counts. Yeah, yeah, yeah- I couldn't do any 'dive bomber pushups', or oblique V-ups, or that many V up/rollup combos, and was only able to muster 2 (ok, 1.5)weak decline pushups, but I didn't give up and stop the video (which would have been soooooo simple). I finished what I could without killing myself. Go me!
Shout out to the Lean Librarian, who played a big part in today's success...thanks!

Nutritionist Visit

2009-04-06T12:48:00.000-07:00

I am just back from my visit to a nutritionist. We discussed what to do to help treat pre-diabetes and made an action plan. My four step plan sounds simple enough. Let's see how simple it is to put into action. I do feel ready, really ready to make it happen.
1. 30 min. on treadmill at 5:30. (Sounds bad so early, but I am actually a morning person and usually up by 6:00 anyway.) I have a chart to record day and time and will bring it back in two months for the nutritionist to review. The accountability may be what I am missing trying on my own.
2. New breakfast ideas: whole grain bread sandwiches of peanut butter, roast beef or ham. Greek yogurt with fruit, quiche with chopped vegetables and lean meat.
3. Dinner with protein salads, include chicken, pork or black beans along with fruit like mandarin oranges and cranberries. Eat fish at least 3 times a week. Avoid the pasta hotdishes.
4. All food and exercise recorded. Check out supportive websites like: amihungry.com

I feel good about these choices and think I can really put them into practice. I will add a
5. Post to this blog every Friday with weekly efforts. :)

It's a Big Day!

2009-04-02T17:54:00.000-07:00

I've been participating in the Mustang Meltdown in my school district. It's a Biggest Loser style competition and tomorrow is the final weigh in for the challenge. I'm hoping for good results and even hear they might extend the challenge for a bit longer.

During the challenge, I've worked to eat better, snack much less and exercise more. I've run on the treadmill 2-3 times a week, done some Zumba classes (which are tons of fun), and made an effort to get more steps in each day.

Sad to say, but I'm hopeful for the extension because I've done many diets/programs/fads in the past and if I don't have some accountability, them I'm a goner for sure.

I'll let you know how it goes!

First We Walk...

2009-03-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to walk home from work as much as possible. Last week, I managed to do that twice. It's a decent walk from the Financial District to the Castro--just under two miles. I try to keep the pace nice and brisk and to keep moving as much as possible. If I have to stop to wait for traffic, I try to move in place a bit, or stretch my legs--I'm sure I look like a dork, but I don't care. It's all in the name of looking "Fabulous."

You know, this exercise thing can be such a drudgery. This past Friday when my partner and I went for sushi and fish with friends at one of our favorite restaurants--Taraval Okazu Ya (amazing sushi and sizzling fish)--I was feeling some of that guilt that I sometimes associate with food. I'm sure some of you can relate to that feeling when you eat too much and then think, "What have I done?" The food was so wonderful, and I loved it. Until that familiar feeling began to rear it's ugly head. Lately, I've been trying to replace the negative self-talk regarding my weight and eating with a positive thought. Friday it was... "There's always lyposuction!" Okay, I confess, not the most positive thought at all. Sometimes, you have to replace a couple of negative thoughts before the positive one sticks.

I eventually got to the positive thought and reminded myself that food and celebrating with friends are both good things. I also told myself that I could find a way to workout over the weekend. (Deep cleaning the apartment and bathing the dog on Sunday although not standard workouts burned some serious calories.) I was careful about my food choices the rest of the weekend, and I'm starting to get on track.

First we walk... I have this desire to run a marathon in a year or so. I feel a need to prove to myself that I can. But, I realize that first, I have to walk... And the same goes for learning to eat healthier. I'm so impatient sometimes, and I try to make all of these major changes all at once. IMPOSSIBLE. I have to slow myself down. Walk first! If I can learn to walk, before long...without even realizing it...I'll be running.

Namaste!

Try, try again

2009-03-22T18:07:00.000-07:00

That's my motto with working out. This weekend was pretty much abust, I ate lots of crap and didn't do any home fitness videos, or even take the dog out. (I just let her run around the yard all by herself-she loves it but it doesn't do me any good!) But tomorrow is a new day, back to 10 minute legs (a fav vid of mine) and jumping back on the wagon with healthy choices. I must say, I've done ok all week, except for this weekend when I just HAD to eat the cakes and cookies leftover from my birthday. A friend of mine made me mini cheesecakes (it would be rude not to eat at least one) and my sweettooth was in severe withdrawal from the coffee that I was drinking all week. I did reduce the amount of sugar and half-n-half, so much so it was like there wasn't any in there.
I do know that I cannot rely on sugar and caffeine to supply my energy all day, but it's just so convenient...

No one was chasing me!

2009-03-21T17:10:00.000-07:00

I ran on Thurs. and Friday (only 20 min.) and no one was actually chasing me. That is pretty much a miracle. I feel sore today, but it was really worth it. I also worked for 12 hours on the pool deck at our state swimming championships (I am a coach) and I wore my fit flops. I think I put in a few miles running around after kids all day today and I was able to see some pretty fantastic PA athletes. I go back tomorrow for some more chlorine-scented fun!

30 minutes on the elliptical

2009-03-21T15:33:00.001-07:00

at this point my goal is not about a bikini - it's a picture of me travelling at 80, writing at 90 and feeling less pain and stiffness at all points between here and there

My Life....As A Runner....Yeah Right?

2009-03-19T21:32:00.000-07:00

My sister Connie is a runner. She's been running since junior high when she was on the track team. Now, as a member of the US Army, she runs for physical training exercises a few times a week. She and her husband actually ran in a marathon a couple of years ago. I find that amazing.

My friend Christyna is a runner. She loves to run. She recently had a baby, and I remember her telling me during her pregnancy that she had to give up running until the baby was born. She was actually a bit saddened by the fact that she wouldn't be able to take her almost daily runs. I find that amazing.

I'm amazed by people who run... The ones who run on purpose that is. I can think of a lot of reasons for running. Let's see--My plane for a trip to Australia is getting ready to pull away from the gate, and Hugh Jackman is expecting me in Sydney. I'd run then. OR I'm being chased by a pit bull that's really, really angry and hungry. You better believe I'd run. Otherwise, running just doesn't seem like it would be much fun.

I remember running one time with my sister and thinking, "This hurts too much. How can this truly be good for me?" Yeah...I'm not sure I'm really the running type. But, I do know I need to do something to get my 40 year old body back in shape. And, I've been thinking that running might actually be a very energizing experience. I have read stories of Native Americans who run for spiritual reasons. I think it could be very contemplative...a solitary activity that puts you in touch with your body...that makes you aware of your physical being... So, I've decided to give it a shot. With some help from the Cool Running website. Check it out...

www.CoolRunning.com. They have a program called from the Couch to the 5K. Sign me up!

Don't Forget to Get Enough Sleep

2009-03-19T18:12:00.000-07:00

Some newish study showed that too little sleep makes it hard to lose weight.
http://thyroid.about.com/od/loseweightsuccessfully/a/sleepdiet.htm

Today, I avoided fatty treats, but also avoided exercise - came home and fell down and slept for an hour. I'll get back to the exercise tomorrow.

Girl Scout Cookies and my birthday

2009-03-19T14:29:00.001-07:00

This week Girl Scout cookies came in and today is my birthday. So I have allowed myself to have one serving of cookies (which is only 2) every evening after dinner for a snack.Okay, okay yesterday I had four cookies. And since today is my birthday AND my five year wedding anniversary we are going out to dinner...but I don't feel guilty about enjoying whatever dish I choose because I have done a workout video Monday and Wednesday mornings and can feel it in my legs. I admit, I kind of like feeling sore because that means my workout was not in vain.
Now...I don't really want to share this but in the spirit of this awesome blog, I will.
I am afraid to start P90X.
First, it's the timing thing...I get up around 5:45am every day to at least say good morning to my high schooler before she gets on the bus. Coupled with the fact that I generally don't get to bed before midnight makes it practically impossible to do more than 30-40 minutes of any exercise in the morning before work. After work, it's drive around, drop off and pick up time--> music lessons, drama club, bowling club, or one of the various extracurricular activities the girls are involved in. I usually do some schoolwork, and then after dinner and the kids' goodnight I often start preparing the next day's work. These are all the standard excuses I use to justify not making working out a priority for myself.
The real reason I'm scared of P90X is....well... It looks hard!!!! I did tell myself that I would read through all the documents and schedule it in starting next week though...Oooooh I'm NERVOUS!
Ah well, I only have six weeks so wish me luck.
By the way, I have put a lot less half-n-half and sugar in my coffee this week, and I'm happy about that (less calories), but it's probably offset by the cake batter I am eating right now. What can I say?!? The kids are making me cupcakes and it's my birthday!

I Ate Candy and a Cookie - You Would Have Too

2009-03-18T18:50:00.000-07:00

Faculty meeting.
But on the bright side, I walked for 45 minutes after supper. I am trying hard to focus on how I am helping myself have a healthier future.

Dr. Visit Results

2009-03-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

Monday I had a fasting blood sample drawn and today the doctor gave me the results. Everything better! Cholesterol and B12 levels within normal ranges and blood pressure okay. B12 supplements and nerve medicines are working. SIX, count them SIX pounds down! I am meeting with a nutritionist on April 6 to get a better plan for diet needs to keep me away from pre-diabetes and to loose weight safely. I will share the low down when I get it. If I admit that I went right from the doctor's office to a bakery for a raspberry croissant , you wouldn't hold that against me, would you?

The DMV Called Me FAT!!!

2009-03-17T21:30:00.000-07:00

Picture it... A 30-something, okay...almost 40ish...gay man who thinks he's all that and a bag of chips (I admit, I can be somewhat full of myself--but I am likable)...goes to the DMV for a replacement driver's license. I'd lost my wallet which is traumatic enough without the hassle of having to reconstruct one's life--cancelling credit cards, reordering insurance cards, and replacing a driver's license. Add insult to injury-- I completed the DMV forms for the replacement license. Eye color: Hazel Hair Color: Red(shaved bald these days) Height: Still 5'4" Weight: 170 pounds (Yikes!!!) Somehow just writing it on the form made my breath catch in my chest. I am the heaviest I have ever been in my life. Still, I suck it up and hand the man behind the counter the form. He looks me up in the computer. Finds my license information and comments... First on the fact that I am voluntarily bald...then that my last license said I had green eyes and now I've selected "hazel" AND THEN... He notices the obvious change in my weight. Once only 145 pounds...and now 25 pounds heavier--170 pounds. Can you believe that he actually says something about it?

Talk about a reality check... I know I've gained the weight. And, I don't like it. I hate how I look in the mirror. But somehow having it there in black and white...let alone the Department of Motor Vehicles computer system really made me wake up.

And so, here I am! Ready to make the positive changes necessary to drop those 25 pounds. I'm starting out slowly. Walking home from work (about 2 miles)at least three days a week. Finding time to do yoga. Being mindful about what I'm eating. I just turned 40, and I'm committed to make this very positive change in my life. I found a great training plan online that, if followed, will take me from the couch to a three mile run in 6 months. I never imagined that I'd ever be a runner. My standing joke has always been--I only run when I'm being chased. But, maybe I need to rethink that.

Posting my before pic here. Cannot wait to celebrate the after!

Cardiologist Lowered the Boom on Me

2009-03-17T15:45:00.000-07:00

She said I need to exercise 5 days a week not 2, lose 10 pounds and eat plant stanols and sterols (huh?). She really wants to put me back on cholesterol-lowering medication, but I am very, very anti-meds right now - I had Stevens-Johnson syndrome in Jan. after taking 1 Tegretol pill for a mystery nerve pain in my jaw. So, although I feel lucky to be alive (and have skin!), I also feel very anti-anything with side effects!
So, Thursday I will weigh in with our new group at school, but I got the real numbers at the doctor's office - 142.9 lbs. I look OK, but I will definitely look better at 132. And I want to help my heart, brain, stress level, and future by learning to make exercise a habit.
Today - 10 minutes with weights, with my 12-year-old daughter alternately helping ("keep your back straight") and hindering ("those pants are a bad look for you").
Then 35 minutes on the elliptical - not full speed, medium with bursts, but sweating lightly at the end. (Reading while I did it - and watching cutest chipmonk carry big acorn into his burrow.)
My stress level is better today.

30 lbs. Thinner

2009-03-17T06:49:00.000-07:00

By using a tool at http://www0.modiface.com/weightmirror/, you can see what you would look like thinner.

Glad to be a Part of the Group

2009-03-16T19:16:00.000-07:00

I am starting to get the feeling that I might have signed up for the wrong group -or is the title LEAN librarian just wishful thinking!

At this point, I cannot describe myself as lean, although all through my life I could have. Just after turning 45 and hitting menopause, I gained over 30 lbs. in a five year period. It still startles me when I see myself in the mirror. A few days ago I put a picture of myself taken only 5 years ago upon the refrigerator. My husband looked at it and said, "Was that you?" Ouch.

I will really need the support of this group and I am thanking you ahead of time for the opportunity to connect.

My first steps that I am willing to commit to will be: 30 min. on my dusty treadmill and limiting my candy fix to only ONE piece per day, only after the treadmill!

This can be my "before" picture. I am on my way to my "after."

On Again

2009-03-16T18:26:00.000-07:00

I have a seesaw relationship with working out. It used to take a couple of weeks of dedicated physical activity and cutting calories to tone up and drop pounds. But what everybody said would happen did- I got older and now the extra weight stays on longer! Plus caring for a family of four, working and going to school does not make it easy to create healthy, appetizing, economical and family pleasing meals, or squeeze in daily fitness. And forget about going to the gym.
But I want to set a good example for my daughters and help them learn how to treat their wonderful bodies properly. And, honestly, I want to look great, not just good.
And so here it is...my husband is receiving an award for his small business and we are going on a mini vacation in Florida at the end of April. (Woohoo!) I have always been a strong starter, but tend to lose interest quickly, so I figure this time frame will give me some type of goal to reach for.The trick, for me at least, is being consistent and not overdoing it in the beginning (which I always do).
So with the help of the Lean Librarian I am going to do my best to stay on track. Plus what better time to start getting ready for the summer?
Today was officially Day 1. (I'm always good on Day 1, it's usually day 3 or 4 that I start slacking off). My birthday is this week so I am online searching for healthy and tasty dinner recipes we all can enjoy, and I don't feel guilty. Today I took the dog for a 40 minute walk on the trail behind the house and did a short ab workout in the AM. Tomorrow the plan is yoga in the morning and another walk in the afternoon. I figure if I start off moderately, I won't overload myself like I usually do. We'll see!

Yoga- I did it!

2009-03-16T18:22:00.000-07:00

Today my partner and I completed David Swenson's Ashtanga Yoga tape (minus the parts where he wants you to turn into a pretzel). When she saw me all dressed and ready to workout, she decided to join in. I did a fully modified version of MOST of his poses, but I got through it. A couple of times I thought I would topple over but I held my balance. I REALLY needed that workout. I came home in a bad mood after dealing with a young personality at work. I wish people would just do the right thing...then I wouldn't have to judge them :P That workout was the best hour of my day!!

I am so grateful to have a handful of people willing to take this journey with me. Thanks so much!

I need to get fit!

2009-03-16T17:35:00.001-07:00

Fellow Librarians, Please encourage me on my weight loss journey. I have about 30 lbs. that I never lost after having my kids...and I see myself in pictures and get frustrated. Bought the wii fit and have enjoyed using it, but I find that I don't have time to do enough. I am competing in Biggest Loser and have about $200 on the line. Any encouragement you can provide (even negative reinforcement!) would be much appreciated! I want to be in good shape for my two daughters and for the YMCA swimming team that I am assistant coaching. So far, this is what I have done: 1. Cut calories. 2. Added acai berry and salba grains to diet. 3. Try to include "healthy fats" in my meals. 4. Make an effort to move more.

Long Time No Exercise

2009-03-15T21:38:00.000-07:00

Well...that's not really true. I have been exercising on and off since my last blog entry. I think about it more than I do it. I saw the tweet of another teacher who is beginning an exercise plan. I suggested that we do this together. Something about knowing that someone else is doing this too gives me the motivation to keep going. This time I am going to do a combination of P90X, The FIRM Cardio Sculpt, my home Elliptical Machine, and my favorite Ashtanga Yoga tape. Tomorrow will be day one. I ~~can~~ will do it.

The dust has settled.

2008-11-08T07:48:00.000-08:00

Last night I went to a friend's house to have dinner. It was a fabulous pasta cheezy concoction. I went to pour a glass of water and my shoulder gave out. I almost broke the pitcher. This morning I woke up and my lower back was aching. What is up with my body?

I don't know how long its been since I've last exercised. I feel like I'm in a confessional...ugh!! After dealing with extended family issues, my son breaking his arm and having surgery, and the wave of unsure feelings regarding my career...I am finally back to the point where I can THINK about exercising. I woke up this morning and my body feels more sore now than when I was exercising. That's strange. Our bodies are strange animals. I guess if I don't work out, it will slowly lock up into a tight ball. I have also noticed that my attitude is worse when I'm not exercising. I have no patience for anything or anyone...so I NEED to exercise for my mind, body, and spirit.

The time to workout is NOW!

I need a new attitude

2008-10-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

It's been 3 days since I've exercised...or has it been 4? I haven't been keeping up with my workout routine due to extended family issues, thoughts of career advancement, and my son's bout of staph infection and allergic reaction to something we still haven't figured out.

Last night I sorted through some old pictures of myself and found one of my face. I looked so young. Then I looked closer. The picture was taken only 2 years ago! It's the weight that has aged my face. I was at least 20lbs lighter in the photo. My partner asked if I was doing anything different back then. I don't think so. As a matter of fact, I think I am on my feet more now than I was back then. The only difference I can think about is that as I get older, my metabolism is changing.

After doing P90X for 2 1/2 weeks, I have concluded that I need more cardio. I feel strong after the workouts, but I want to burn more fat before I start building muscle. I am beginning to see the definition in my arm muscles, but I want to see the FAT dropping off of my body. I know...I have no patience. I am going back to doing the FIRM which will give me more cardio while at the same time allow me to build muscles by using free weights. I also need to start getting more sleep. Is it really possible to go to bed early enough so that I get 7-8 hours of sleep?? That would feel like heaven....sigh.

Days 12 and 13 Chest & Back

2008-10-19T23:37:00.001-07:00

I skipped my Chest & Back workout yesterday due to my birthday. I think that is a pretty good reason to skip. Anyhow, instead of taking a rest day tomorrow, I will readjust my schedule so my regular rest days will fall on Wednesday. My work day on Wednesday is pretty hectic so that day would be perfect.

This time around the Chest & Back workout wasn't so bad. During the ab workout, I took it easy and did not do the part where he has you climb your leg. I am pretty sure that is where something when terribly wrong inside my body last time. I will take my measurements tomorrow to see if anything happened. I know it's less than 2 weeks, but I am anxious to see if anything is happening.

Day 11- Yoga Mommy Mantra "Nooooooo"

2008-10-17T21:30:00.000-07:00

Today I did 1 hour of Yoga and I feel sore...but I feel in good spirits. My partner pointed out that I have an improved attitude ever since I started working out. A few minutes ago my son asked me to read his Language Arts homework. I asked if I could write on his paper. He said no. So I gave it back to him and said I would not read it unless I could write on it. He huffed and puffed and complained about how much time it takes to write and rewrite. I reminded him about typing the paper and how much easier it would be to make the corrections once the paper is typed. He, again, complained about how long it takes him to type. I reminded him that the only way he will get better at typing is by typing. Then I went about my business in another room. Ordinarily I would have engaged his drama and come out of the situation angry and in a bad mood. I've allowed him to work it out on his own and I feel great.

It must be hard having a certified language arts teacher and librarian as a mother. One day he will come to me and then actually listen to my advice. Until then, I will wait until he is open. No need in fighting the current.

Day 10- P90X Shoulders & Arms (no abs)

2008-10-16T20:27:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I had the energy to complete this workout. I started just after 7pm. I feel great. I can always handle the weight workouts...its all of the jumping around that gets to me. I skipped the bonus round because I can feel my shoulders, shoulder blades, biceps, and triceps burning. I also skipped the ab routine because it still hurts on my right side when I sneeze. I can't wait for yoga tomorrow. In my next life...I'm going to be a yoga instructor.

Tired.

2008-10-16T13:57:00.001-07:00

I woke up at 6:30 today...which was too late to do my workout. I plan on doing it after school today. I need a pep pill.

Day 9- Nonstop Plyo!

2008-10-15T20:39:00.000-07:00

FINALLY I made it through a workout without pressing the pause button. This time I made sure to do the moves slowly and watch my form instead of trying to keep up with everyone on the video. I still sweat like crazy so I know its working. My right ab area still hurts when I sneeze. I sneezed in front of my students today and it took everything in me not to double over in pain. Right now, it feels better. I can at least lay day and sit up without wincing.

I hope I can keep this up for the entire 90 days. I am exhaused at the end of my day. Its really hard when you spend most of your day standing. Today I taught 6 classes (2 third grade, 2 first grade, 2 kindergarten) with minimal prep time. I need to figure out a way to have energy at the end of my day. Today it was hard for me to have patience with my son. He LOVES to talk...and sing...and say "look Mommy", "let me show you...", "let me tell you..." After a day of 120 "Ms. K..." this and "Ms. K..." that, I just want to come home, crawl into bed, and stop all of the little voices. I don't know if I will be able to continue at this pace. I want to have more than 2% to offer my family at the end of the day.

Day 8- Chest and Back and ....abs...not!

2008-10-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

I thoroughly enjoyed my day of rest and jumped back into my workout...bright and early at 5am. I was shocked that I had the energy to wake up to do the workout. I actually had time to workout, make coffee, lunch, see my son off to school, get dressed and leave the house in a semi-calm mood.

As for the workout...well...when I woke up this morning I thought I felt fine...until I sneezed. I felt a SHARP pain deep in my right abdominal area. I felt this pain before a while back when I began doing the FIRM workout. When I went to the doctor back then, he told me that I must have strained a muscle doing my ab workout. I guess I've done it again. So now when I try to sit up from laying down or try to do a push up correctly, I have excruciating pain. So you can guess how my workout went today. I half did everything, but I completed the workout. I did not even attempt the ab routine. I think I should recover within the next few days. Until then, I will continue the workouts, but on a modified scale until I heal.

My appendix is on the right side??? I've done a little research and I am not having any of the other symptoms so I think its just a muscle strain **crossing my fingers**

Day 6- P90X Kenpo or Ken ow!

2008-10-12T13:39:00.000-07:00

These workouts aren't getting any easier. Today my 1 hour workout took about an hour and a half. I guess that's a little bit of progress. During the workout my 11 year old and his friend returned from a bike ride. They watched me workout for about 15 minutes. No one laughed so I guess I was doing pretty well. Funny how you straighten up your technique when you know you are being watched.

Day 5- P90X Legs, Back & Abs

2008-10-11T15:06:00.000-07:00

I'm beginning to think that this workout may be to much for me. It took almost 2 hours for me to complete the entire workout. I take lots of breaks to catch my breath or finish my reps. On of my twitter friends said she does the ab workout in the morning and the other part in the evening. I may try this strategy. I wish each day's routine would last only 30 minutes. That seems less intimidating. In any case, I am going to stick with it. I promised myself 90 days and that's what I'm going to do.

I hadn't really given any thought about the eating program, but now I think I may incorporate that part too...at least a little. Its hard to cook for your family AND follow an eating plan. My partner is supportive of my efforts and is willing to follow my lead with the eating. My son, on the other hand, just asked me if we could go out for pie tonight. Who can resist pie?

Day 4- P90X Yoga meh

2008-10-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

After about 30 minutes of yoga I wanted to stop. The routine didn't flow for me and I felt that some of the moves are too advanced. I think the next time yoga pops up in to the rotation I will substitute David Swenson's Ashtanga Yoga video. The Ashtanga video is simple, straight forward, focuses on breathing, and gives me beginners options in the same 1 1/2 hours that it took for me to do the P90X Yoga video.

Tumble #2 Down the Stairs

2008-10-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

OK so I feel old now. This is the 2nd time this week that I have fallen down the stairs. Both times I fell from the top. Both times I was walking slowly and holding the rail. Both times my right shoulder dislocated and popped back in. Both times I sustained awful rug burns on my bottom. The first time, my partner and my son came running to see if I was OK. The second time, I fell down the stairs trying to open the door for my son as he came home after school. When I opened the door, there he was standing there with his friend...telling him that this was the 2nd time I had fallen down the stairs! I guess I have lost all cool points. :( We are now looking into putting a runner on the stairs so good ol' mommy will stop sliding down on her butt.

Day 3- P90X

2008-10-09T10:52:00.000-07:00

Today's workout was fairly straightforward. I was able to keep up, for the most part, having to pause the video periodically so I could finish my reps. I tend to move slowly when it comes to using free weights. I want to keep my form and avoid any unnecessary injuries.

Last night I woke up several times during the night because of muscle soreness. I would be sleeping like a baby, decide to turn on my other side, and immediately wake up feeling my ab muscles or my shoulder muscles. It's actually kinda funny. This morning I tried to scoot over to give my honey a snuggle (we call it our morning spoon). Due to the soreness of my body, our morning spoon resembled a morning spoon and blob. The best I could do was to reach over and run my fingers through her hair. My body was in no shape to attempt to cross the vast expanse of the bed.

Day 2 Photos

2008-10-08T16:12:00.000-07:00

I took photos of myself today and it's official: I'm fat...from every angle. I have been given the advice to not post the pictures until after day 30 so I can make a comparison. I can live with that ;)

Day 2- P90X -or- How Plyometrics Kicked My ***

2008-10-08T12:24:00.000-07:00

I took 2 hours to complete the 1 hour plyometrics workout. I am REALLY out of shape. My lungs couldn't produce enough air for me to continue at the pace of the video. I found myself stopping, breathing, sitting, hacking, twittering (ha!), drinking water, and oh yes...back to exercising. I feel great now that it is over. I hope this gets better. I won't always have 2 hours to spend working out. Thank goodness I am on vacation this week to get a jump start on this program.

I need to take photos of myself later. I think I will also take a short video.

The Purpose of the Lean Librarian Blog

2008-10-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

From Picasa

I will be 37 in a couple of weeks. I have always been the type of person who can "snap" back into shape after months of in activity. I especially love doing home video routines. The FIRM is one of my favorites. I actually lost 4 inches in my hips the last time I dedicated myself to an exercise program.

My downward...I mean...upward weight spiral began after I began my position as a school librarian two years ago. I went from 175lbs to 210lbs!. Luckily, I am 5'10 and I carry my weight all over. I gave in at the end of last year and began shopping for larger sized clothing. Its humbling to go from a size 10 to a size 18. I am currently at a size 16 (200lbs).

I had been getting pretty comfortable with my weight until I had a visit from an old friend who hadn't seen me in almost three years. As soon as she saw me she said, "I see you have grown into your 'woman' body." There is a part of me that loves my 'woman' body, but there is another part of me that wants to have a slightly leaner version of my body. This got me thinking. It's time for me to DO SOMETHING. That "something" is to begin P90X.