DETOX WEEK 3 RECAP

It's been a while since I've given my Detox Week 2 Recap.
I ended up having so many leftovers after week 2 that menus kinda blurred together during the following weeks.
Although this would be week 6 since starting THE CLEANSE, I'm really just starting to eat meals from week 4, and begin my transition out.

WHAT MEALS DID I LOVE FROM WEEK 3?


{Pineapple Rosemary Detox Smoothie}

 I continued sticking with smoothies for breakfast and even tried a few new ones I found online like the one above.



{Kale, White Bean, Potato Stew}

 As usual, I've loved the soups and stews. This one was so hearty and tasty. There are still 3 soups I have not made...but will definitely be trying before the warm spring weather arrives (although for Chicago Winters...it's felt like spring these past few months) I'm not complaining!!!

{Shiitakes and Brown Rice en Papillote}

This was a wonderful dish I will be making again. It was simple and easy to make, AND tasted great!

{Chickpea-Brown Rice Veggie Burger}

It would be hard to narrow down my absolute favorite recipe from this detox...but this burger would definitely be in the running. I was amazed at how easy it was to make my own veggie burger...and even more amazed at how great this tasted! I will DEFINITELY make this again.

WHAT HAS THIS DONE FOR MY DIABETES?

Ironically enough, the past few weeks have been a little harder on my blood sugar as I've begun transitioning out of the detox. Sure I've cheated here and there and may have eaten a few more pieces of dark chocolate than I should've...but I'm really starting to notice the affects of eating grains on my blood sugar (brown rice, quinoa, etc.).

I still have some more observing and experimenting to do...but against my Dr.'s thoughts, my blood sugar is still doing really well as I eat fruit (especially on an empty stomach first thing in the morning or with some nuts for a morning snack).

NOW WHAT FOR WEEK 4-ISH (WEEK 6)?

I'm going to finish out a few of the transition meals, and then I have another crazy 30 days of experimenting with a different diet/lifestyle I recently came across.

All in all, I'm still amazed at what eating the right foods can do for us, how it can heal certain ailments, and how God made our bodies to do amazing things, (especially when they are fueled and cared for in the right way).

***I encourage you to make small adjustments to your diet/lifestyle where you can. I know for myself, making small changes has really added up and benefited my life over the past 2 years.

There are so many different studies and theories on diets out there that I like the idea of taking 30 days to try something out. If it doesn't make you feel better than you did before, you can always go back to the way things were. I'm excited to jump into the next adventure and will be trying my best to document it here***

Thanks for reading!

HYDRATION WITHOUT THE BOREDOM

One of the tips Whole Living offers to help get you through a successful cleanse, is to
drink plenty of water.

In the past, I've found it hard (even boring), to drink the recommended eight 8-ounce glasses each day.
I've heard it is also suggested that we should drink half of our body weight in ounces each day.
(If you weight 200 pounds, you should drink 100 ounces...which comes out to 12.5 glasses/cups each day).

Here are some tips that have helped me drink close to 100 ounces of water each day.
And no, I don't weigh 200 pounds...it just happens to be 3 water bottles worth of water!



I've mentioned before that I like to add flavored ice cubes to my water bottle. This really does add a nice touch and keeps me coming back for more sips throughout the day. I fill our white ice cube trays with regular water and the colored trays with flavored water (or in the case above, some frozen canned pumpkin from the fall...to eventually be used in a pumpkin/gingerbread smoothie)! This helps keep things organized, and keeps Derek from icing his knees with fruity flavored ice cubes after a hard workout/run/football/basketball game.

I make sure to keep my water bottle (with the cap off & in reaching distance from me) on my desk when at work. This makes it extremely accessible and visibly reminds me to keep drinking throughout the day. I take it to meetings with me and aim to drink one bottle by lunch, another by the time I leave work, and finally one more by the time I go to bed. I also keep my vitamins nearby so I remember to take them with my morning snack, lunch, and dinner. I like that the water bottle I use lists the ounces right on the bottle, so I can keep track of how much I have left to drink.

(Remember, 8 liquid ounces is equal to 1 cup).

Freezing fruits and vegetables to use in place of ice cubes also adds a nice flavor to your water. Berries, cucumbers, and orange, lemon, or lime slices all freeze well. As with everything, the key is to stay organized and prepare ahead of time.

Drink up,

stay hydrated without getting bored,

and continue making small changes to better your health!

RANDOM THOUGHTS OF THE MOMENT

I want this year to be a year filled with JOY.
Even in difficult times, I want to be able to find the good, and be joyful.
I want to be known as a woman of JOY.

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1 Chronicles 28:20a

New International Version (NIV)

 ²⁰ David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you..."

This Bible verse encourages me to not be afraid, to go after my goals with 110%, with all that I have...remembering that God is my biggest fan, cheering me along.

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At the end of the year, I want to look back and be thankful that I have Diabetes. I spent the last year hating Diabetes, getting overwhelmed with all that it entails, asking, "why me?", and letting Diabetes win.

I'm constantly inspired when I hear stories about people who use their Diabetes to motivate them into  accomplishing great things...marathons, playing professional sports, competing in the Olympics, etc. I want to live with excellence, despite Diabetes...and because of Diabetes...and hopefully inspire others.



{Video found on Amy Stockwell Mercer's Blog}

Diabetes isn't going anywhere anytime soon. I'm kinda stuck with this for life. As out of control as this disease can be at times, I want to be in control of it as much as I can be. I want to eat well, exercise often, and live with excellence...to conquer Diabetes.



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 ...and maybe I'll even be inspired to run a 1/2 marathon.
Ok, maybe I should at least start with a 5K.
Sometimes I need to remind myself to take baby steps!

DETOX WEEK 1 RECAP

With 7 days of detoxing under my belt,
I am feeling good, healthy, energized...and I'm 5 lbs. lighter!

The goal was not necessarily to lose weight, but if that happens, I'll take that as a bonus!
Wanting to start off the year right, this detox has been a great "jump start" to my health and has really cleaned up my eating (which turned ugly with all of the parties and holiday events that took place in December).

Here is my recap of the past week:




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 WHAT DID I EAT?
I started out every morning with a cup of warm water and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Not having much experience with juicing (and not being too sure of how to calculate the carbs), I stuck with the 7 detox smoothie choices for breakfast each morning.

They were super simple to make (in our Magic Bullet), healthy, tasty, and left me feeling energized and ready to start the day.

The Carrot Mango Herb (Mint) smoothie was by far my absolute favorite...and may have made an appearance into my meal plan several times last week!

I was afraid I would be hungry and feeling weak throughout the day, but instead felt satisfied, had more energy, and felt very focused.

WHAT WERE MY FAVORITE RECIPES?


{Spiced Butternut Squash & Apple Soup}

 The one thing I would've changed about this would be to use less ginger. It calls for "1 inch fresh ginger, grated (2 Tbsp.)". I used pre-minced ginger in a jar. 2 full Tbsp. was just too much for my taste. However, this soup was still REALLY good!

{Kale Slaw w/Red Cabbage & Carrots}

I was skeptical about being able to stomach all of the kale and cabbage, but was presently surprised by this salad. The dressing was amazing and was just the right combination of sweet and sour/bitter. The one change I made to this was using a veggie peeler to peel the carrots into thin strips instead of julienning them.

{Sweet Potato, Celery, & Apple Salad}

This salad was amazing and had the perfect combination or tastes and texture. The one thing I omitted was the sweet potato. From the recipe, I was assuming I needed to julienne the sweet potato raw. I tried one tiny bite and just wasn't too sure about it. Is it OK to eat a potato raw? Did I miss-read the recipe?



{Roasted Peppers, Cauliflower, & Almonds}

 This was such a great, savory dish, again, with the right combination of taste and texture. I had this for 2 meals and 1 snack during the week.

The only recipe I didn't try yet for week 1 was the Roasted Garlic & Beet Soup, which I hope to work into my meal plan this week.

WHAT DID I SNACK ON?
I have yet to try any of the 12 snack recipes that are posted online, but I have plans to try the Crispy Roasted Cauliflower, Minty Pea Dip, and Roasted Spiced Chickpeas in this coming week.




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In between meals I enjoyed lots of fruit and nuts, Lara Bars and Kind Bars (I later realized that Kind Bars have a little soy in them...which is OK for week 2, not week 1...ooops!).


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 Throughout the day, I'm also making sure to stay hydrated. I drink 3 large bottles of water, totalling 96 ounces. To keep from getting bored, I make ice cubes from Whole Foods flavored Italian sparkling mineral water that I add to each water bottle. This gives just a hint of flavor that makes me tolerate drinking close to 100 oz of water throughout the day. The water comes in several flavors, my favorite being Raspberry Lemon, and only costs around $1.50.




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WHAT HAS IT DONE FOR MY DIABETES?
WOW!!! My blood sugar has never been better. I've even had to lower my insulin dosages a bit.
I'm excited to report all of this to my endocrinologist and Diabetes Educator when I see them in a week from today.
***(Remember to check with your doctor before starting any new diet plan)***

DID I EXPERIENCE ANY DETOX SYMPTOMS?
Monday - Just a little extra gas.

Tuesday-awful headache from noon to bedtime. Finally took 2 ibuprofen around 10:00pm.

Wed - (WARNING...TMI) 5 bms throughout the morning. I read that 3 would be typical while detoxing. I'd like to think I'm just an over-achiever. I thought about going home from work, but waited it out. I was also a little more sluggish during the day.
But... I was able to walk by a kitchen full of leftover Christmas sweets for the first time in FOREVER.
I realized I wasn't even craving sweets, coffee, or CHEESE (I was really afraid I wouldn't be able to give them up).

Thursday - My nose ran for the most part of the morning, but my energy was through the roof.

Friday - I was feeling amazing and didn't experience any other detox symptoms. I spent most of the evening shopping and planning for week 2 menus.



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IS THIS LIFESTYLE/DIET REALLY DOABLE?
Saturday night we had some friends over. They brought chips and a cheese dip (which I didn't eat), and I supplemented it with a bowl of cherries. We decided to go to Gale Street Inn, known for having the best Ribs in Chicago! It smelled amazing when we walked in, but I wasn't craving meat. Was I just mentally prepared, or physically was I losing those cravings?

With an hour wait until we were seated, I did cave and took 1 bit of some sample plum chicken they brought around, along with a small bite of spinach bread.

I was excited when I saw an amazing Grilled Vegetable Salad on their menu (spring mix, asparagus, portabella, zucchini, with balsamic vinaigrette). I ordered a baked potato on the side, thinking I wouldn't be satisfied with just the salad.
(I asked, but they did not have sweet potato, only white).

I ended up only eating half of the salad and a few bites of the potato. I walked away full, with leftovers for the next day.
I also took a bite of my friends Mahi Mahi dish, which was really good...and made me excited to be able to add seafood to week two's menu!

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SO NOW WHAT FOR WEEK 2?
Because the smoothies worked so well for breakfast, were delicious, and great on my blood sugar, I will continue having those for breakfast.

I will move the breakfast menu to lunch and then work the lunch menu into the mix with dinners.

I'm excited to get more cardio and strength training in since I'll be eating more protein, but I also plan to continue doing yoga once or twice a week as well.

Overall, I'm pleased and shocked. I highly recommend this plan to anyone who wants to clean up their eating and get a jump start on living healthy! It's all online (grocery list, menus, tips, stretches, etc.) and you can start at anytime.

The key for me has been planning ahead. I sit down on Thursday night, print out recipes, review menus, see what we have in the fridge, clip coupons, etc. I make a detailed list of what I need and where I need to go.
I know it sounds crazy, but I typically shop at 6 stores over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It saves us money that way, hunting down the best deals, and the stores are all conveniently located.



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Stanley's for all of our produce. I got a car trunk full (literally) of produce for $25.
Aldi, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, for the rest.
Costco for bulk items (they have really good strawberries, and cheap carrot juice).
Target for other miscellaneous things, or what I have coupons for.
I spend Sunday afternoon cooking a few meals ahead.

Our workout schedule is planned the week in advance and every night I pack all of my snacks and lunch for the next day. I even set out anything I need to prep breakfast and dinner. This just makes things run smoother and keeps me from getting frustrated or overwhelmed.

Let me know if you have any questions. I will do another recap next week on how week 2 goes.
This week I can add seafood, beans, lentils, and organic soy.

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Thanks you Whole Living for this plan and great gift of good health, great eating, and a ton of motivation to make this part of my healthy lifestyle for 2012!!!

DIABETES, EATING DISORDERS, & A SIDE OF SOCIAL ANXIETY

I have to say this 28 day detox/cleanse has been amazing...
and I'll report on that more in detail later.

I knew doing the detox would mean a lot of planning ahead.
Grocery shopping for everything I need, preparing meals in advance, packing snacks and meals for work... so there is no excuse to stray from the plan.

It's been really keeping me on top of my "Diabetes" game.

My numbers have been under the best control they've been in a while.

I'm meticulously counting carbs and trying to be as accurate as I can be

...weighing, measuring, looking up nutrition facts, etc.

This is what striving for excellence in my health looks like.

Yes, it's annoying and time consuming, but the pay off is worth it!

Can I just eat an apple if I feel like it? Sure... but first I need to test my blood sugar and make sure I'm (some-what) in range. Then I need to weigh the apple to see how many ounces it is. Then I have to consult with my book of carbs to see how many carbs are in an apple. This usually involves some sort of math equation to calculate the specific carbs for the apple I'm about to eat. Then by the time I've finally figured all of that out, sometimes I'm just craving a pear instead! (re-start calculations)

It really is a wonder Diabetes and eating disorders don't come hand in hand. I'm not poking fun of the situation. Eating disorders are very serious. It's just that with all the time us Diabetics are required to think about food and what it's doing to our bodies, I legitimately am wondering what percentage of Diabetics develop eating disorders.

And then what about eating out... in public, with friends, with strangers? Thanks to technology today, I can quickly look up carbs on my phone if we're out eating Lou Malnatis pizza. But what about when at a dinner party somewhere? Would it be awkward to pull a measuring cup out of my pocket as the mashed potatoes and gravy are being passed around? My family wouldn't bat an eye, but people I've just met for the first time?

And what if I underestimate the carb count? Overestimate the carb count? Too much insulin? Too little insulin? Feeling awful with high blood sugar later...or coming close to passing out from low blood sugar by the time dessert is being served.

You might as well throw a side of social anxiety into the mix now that I'm dealing with diabetes and food issues!!!

But like I said, it's been well worth the work to be feeling good, strong, and healthy, and to be at the start of 2012 with optomism and hope for the healthiest year yet!

Happy New Year!!!

Where did 2011 go?!?
I had so many goals, so many plans...so many great ambitions to blog regularly (Ooops!).

With a new year, comes new goals, plans, resolutions.

This year, my priorities revolve around faith, fitness, & family.



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 FAITH. It's so easy to put my relationship with the Lord on the back-burner, and to get busy with life and excited about what I have planned. I NEED to make spending time with God a priority. It was nice having a few days off and to be able to sleep in then sit in our front sun room with my Bible and journal. To read and pray is such a great way to start out my morning. My plan for 2012 is to read through the 1 Year Chronological Bible...and my hope is to be consistent each day!



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 Fitness. Getting in shape, losing weight, eating healthy, working out consistently, getting my a1c under 7, my Diabetes under tighter control, and my body ready for a baby (someday). I ran at the gym on Jan 1st and did a yoga workout at home on Jan 2nd (patting self on back). So far so good (I know, it's only been 2 days!). I've decided to kick off the year with a 28 day cleanse/detox. Our kitchen is overflowing with fruits, veggies, spices, and pots and pans from a weekend of cooking and planning ahead. The only real problem I've run into is when I added a pinch of Cayenne pepper to my mango coconut water smoothie this morning...and then proceeded to put in my contacts (without having washed my hands). Ouch! I have big hopes for making this the healthiest year ever. I've spent the last few years obsessing over healthy living and eating blogs, books, documentaries, etc. It's time to put it all to good use!



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Family. I couldn't imagine my life without Derek. He really is the perfect fit for me! We are very compatible, rarely argue, and work very well together. He always knows the right thing to say and do...and he is the funniest man I've ever met!!! (It doesn't hurt that I think he's the hottest guy around either). Because it's so easy being married to him, there's not a lot that we work on improving. This year I want to be more intentional about our marriage. I want to look for things to improve in our relationship. We aren't planning on "starting a family" this year. That one goes back to my goals in fitness. I want to take this year to prepare my body & get my Diabetes under control so that in a year, 2, maybe more...we'll be ready to grow our family. The same goes for strengthening our marriage. I want us to put habits and things into place that will strengthen our family now and benefit our kids someday.

The beginning of the year always seems so hopeful and promising. Its an exciting time to start fresh. I'd like to sit down and fine-tune these goals, writing out specifics and really making a plan to stick to it.

I'm excited to pursue excellence this year in faith, fitness and family.

Here's to a good new year! Happy 2012. What are your goals?