Week 3.5 Done: Time to Bring it Back

I finished this week with no problems! Per my last blog, tomorrow I will begin incorporating certain foods again. There was a point when I was super excited about this...but I've gone without cheese for so long, and I have fallen in love with Almond milk (and found a NEW one Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Coconut -- OMG it's like candy), and my cravings for coffee are few and far between...that I almost don't even care (notice I said ALMOST).

Step one will be lactose. Tomorrow I'll incorporate one serving of cheese or milk to my day and see how I feel. Then two servings, then three...Step two is gluten with the same process, and step three sugar. I'm ready! Tonight however, will be filled with watching kids stuff their faces with chocolate and other candies...I love torturing myself.

Not much else to write at this point, just wanted to share that I made it another week, and it's time to bring back the foods!! I also wanted to share that I'm down to 194lbs...which means since October 6th I've lost 12lbs!!! Yes, I'm bragging. Though still not where I was last year at this time (179-183lbs)... I'm still very happy and feeling healthy.

Happy Halloween. Have a safe night. I can't wait to see everyone's pictures!

~Melissa
Current: 194lbs
Goal #1: 195lbs (MADE IT!)
Goal #2: 185lbs (1.31.15)

Week 3 Done: I Cheated

I would love to say that I was good and that things are going great; but I can't lie to my loyal blogger fans... I cheated.  

Saturday after an intense championship football game (of which we lost, very upset 11 year old boys, so hard to watch), we got home around 8pm, and I hadn't taken anything out (chicken, turkey, etc) to cook. So I made the infamous Mac and Cheese dinner. I've gone three weeks cooking this for the kids, and not once have I had any. I haven't even tested the noodles, or the finished product to make sure it was ok! Saturday night though, I caved. I had a bowl of Mac and Cheese. I felt so guilty, even while I was eating it I was thinking, you are so dumb. 

Let's just say the next morning, the Mac and Cheese karma set in. I felt like crap. My stomach was throbbing (you know the kind when you feel like you have a knife being shoved into your gut, yea that one). It wasn't until about 2pm that I finally started feeling "better." 

I don't need anyone to reprimand me, I did that to myself enough. I just needed to come clean and tell everyone. Now, because I was dumb, I am going to push my reboot a few days longer. Today is supposed to be the start of my week of reintroducing things into my diet (lactose, gluten, sugar, etc). Well, seeing that I had ALL of that in the meal I ate, and I felt like crap -- I am not sure what it was exactly that made me feel that way (which is really the point of this whole reboot). It could have been the lactose, gluten -- anything, I mean really, it's processed food -- or it could have just been my body saying, you dummy! So, instead of starting my intake week today (Monday), I'll be starting it Friday (and no, it won't start with Mac and Cheese!). 

Funny, I really don't even want cheese now. Which is the only thing I've been craving since the beginning LOL. 

On the plus side, I am .8lbs away from my goal for October 31st! I got on the scale this morning and it said 195.8lbs. WHAT! I've lost 10lbs since October 6th! That's crazy. Maybe not for all of you, but for me...when I say I busted my ASS for 6 months to lose 20lbs and in less than 1 month I loose 10lbs...that's what is keeping me going right now. And actually it's more like 11lbs because I know I was hanging around 206lbs when I started :) hehe...whoot whoot!

Here's to ONE MORE WEEK to hit 195lbs even (or less). 

~Melissa

Current: 195.8lbs

Goal: 195lbs (October 31st)

Mood: HAPPY!

Week 2 Done: Food Problems

You know when you tell yourself you can't have something and you want it more? The first week wasn't so bad...the second week, wasn't so easy.

I have been craving cheese all week long. ANY cheese, but particularly sharp and mozzarella. Then I started craving ice cream -- this I will blame on Shaun because he bought a drumsticks multipack this weekend (grrr). The worst was working in the Snack Shack at the game Sunday. I'll admit, I had some french fries (and by some I mean like, 6 -- which I can have on this reboot I'm doing, I've just been good and NOT eating them)...and I did take a 1/2 piece of a chicken finger, BUT took the batter off of it, and then ate it...I really wanted to cave and have a hot chocolate, only because it was 10 degrees with the wind chill on Sunday -- I did not, so all and all I did good! Oh, yes - I am still missing Mac & Cheese and again, made it for the family this weekend and didn't even lick the spoon!

I'm starting week 3 of the reboot, and after this week (ie: week 4) I can start incorporating these things in again (ex: dairy, gluten, sugar, etc). Honestly, I can handle a lot of what I've been doing (no coffee, no red meat) but knowing that I can put a piece of cheese in my mouth next week is all that's getting me through this week! The purpose of all this is to see what ales me, if it's food related. Mostly for headaches or just "feeling good" in general. I might find out that when I go to put a piece of cheese in my system, I feel sick! It might take time, I might be lactose intolerant -- who knows! My life could be over as we know it if I can't ever eat cheese again...pray for me.

I am hoping after all this that I will still be more aware of what I am eating. You'd be surprised how much of the things we put in our body have ingredients I can't even say! I mean, we all know this, but when you have to see if there is gluten, or sugar, or what kind of oils are used -- it's crazy! I am excited to continue eating this way after the 4 weeks is over. Though, I will be happy when I can go out to eat again, and not be SO worried about what I'm eating and how it was cooked. But, the gluten free things aren't that bad...and I LOVE almond milk. I'm willing to try the almond milk yogurts and ice creams -- really I just want the feeling that I'm eating something bad, but not really. LOL... #foodproblems

All in all, after 2 weeks I'm down 7lbs. This is with no zumba and minimal walking because of my back the week before. However, it's time to suck it up -- I will be bringing my butt to the gym again. I HAVE too... I can't afford not too really. It's one thing to eat healthy, it's another to be healthy. Watch out PF I'm coming for you!

Start week 3 - NOW!

~Melissa
Current: 199lbs (4lbs to go!!!)
Goal: 195lbs (10.31.14)
Mood: Optimistic :-)

Week 1 Done: 8 Things I've Realized

I'm still alive, and so are those around me. I have made it one full week with no caffeine, no sugar, no red meat, no gluten, no pork, no dairy...no no no!! Now that I've made it through 1 week, the next 3 should be a breeze!

Things I've realized the first week;

1. I know understand why America has such a weight problem - because it costs about 3x more to eat "healthy" than not too.
2. I don't need coffee, I like it, but I don't need it.
3. Almond milk is really good, no I mean really good.
4. Being creative with eating healthy and a budget is not easy, but you come up with some good ideas.
5. I still crave Mac n Cheese. EVERYDAY!
6. My boyfriend is very helpful and supportive. Except when he eats chips and cheese in front of me LOL -- but other than that, he's eaten everything I've made.
7. Shopping for items without gluten, sugar, or dairy is harder than you realize - EVERYTHING has sugar in it, like everything.
8. Don't be afraid to try something new. I made buffalo chicken that came out -- not right, but still tasted good, and it was a learning process!

This week should be easier than the first...I'm hoping it's a progressive process, and not the other way around! The down side right now is that last Monday I threw my back out. I have no idea what I did, when, where, how... just that I could barely walk for the last week. So unfortunately, I haven't been able to exercise like I would have liked too last week. Right now, not too strong either, it's still bothering me, but I can at least go for walks again at this point...anything is better than nothing. What it does mean is zumba is on hold for a bit, and I may need to make an appointment soon to have it checked out.

I didn't really weigh myself "at the beginning" of this reboot, but I do know that I was around 206lbs. I weighed in this morning at 201lbs! Which means first week and I've lost 5lbs -- it's AMAZING what just eating healthy and drinking lots of water can do for your body. I feel confident that by November 1st, I will meet my 10lb goal and be at 195lbs -- especially if I can get my back set and start going back to the gym -- that's right I said it. It's time to start hitting the gym again. Well, who are we kidding, it was time a long time ago (I should have never stopped)...!

Until next time...reboot recap week 1 over!

~Melissa
Current: 201lbs
Goal: 195lbs (10.31.14)
Mood: Happy

10lbs in 30 Days?

Well then...I feel like this year is flying by so fast. First all of Summer, then September...now it's October. This is crazy.

My current schedule is finally getting settled, just in time for it to change after football season is over in November. I have Zumba on Mondays (and sometimes Thursdays), I am walking every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (if I don't go to Zumba). My downfalls currently however...Friday - Sunday. I don't do anything that consists of exercise OR of eating healthy!

I really need to crack down -- especially since October 31st is right around the corner, and I have to be down to 195lbs to meet my first goal! I know I can do it. I just have to do it. I have a 28 day detox that is going to help me get there. My goal is to start Monday, October 6th... as I am going to be gone this weekend and traveling, it's tough to start something like that when you aren't home, and when you don't know how your body is going to react.

So, to assist in starting the detox...I am going to start Saturday by NO COFFEE. Which is going to be really hard, but I've done it before I can do it again. I remember feeling really good too (after the 4 days of headaches)...but after that I was more awake than I was with coffee. I'm also going to make my list of groceries that I need and take a trip to Uncle Dean's and Trader Joe's this weekend. I am also going to put together my calendar for meals for the next 28 days.

I really need to step up my exercising. I used to go to the gym 4-5 days a week, and I may need to do that again to get back to where I once was. It's also 100 mile month...so I'll be walking a lot more this month -- which will definitely require the gym, since it's dark at 6pm, and this girl does not like walking at night! I'll keep you all updated on my 100 mile progress too this month (along with the detox).

It all comes down to eating right and exercising -- I just need a little boost (ie: the detox), as I don't think my body reacts to just "eating right and exercising" like it used too... I'm told this is what happens in your 30's apparently.

Until next time.

~Melissa
Current: !@#$#!
Goal (10.31): 195lbs
5 miles

Oh, I'll share a recipes as I am going along through the detox program, but here is one I can't wait to cook... Roasted Chicken and Potatoes (Dairy, Gluten, and MSG Free). OMG it looks so good!!

I'm also excited to try a couple of these for breakfast or an energy boost (since I can't have coffee)...yummmmmyyyyyy:

• Strawberry Spinach Avocado Smoothie 
• 2 cups non dairy milk (coconut or almond) 
• 2 handfuls spinach 
• 1 cup strawberries
• 1 avocado 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• Cherry Chocolate Kale Smoothie
• 1 Banana
• 2 Handfuls kale or spinach
• 1/2 avocado 
• 3/4 cup cherries 
• 1 1/2 tablespoon cocao
• 3/4 cup water 

I've found this blog - The Healthy Happy Wife - it has amazing recipes on it that are gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, etc... definitely worth checking out if you are looking to eat healthier!