I know. What the heck. I haven't posted at all in this last week. It's summer. Kids are home. It has been crazy busy!
So I have to say, I'm super excited that today was the LAST DAY of Beachbody Ultimate Reset. I made it!
I did have some wobbles here and there and I discovered in this last week I had to add extra food nearly every day, but I'm pleased with how things turned out.
Tomorrow, I'll weigh and measure, but I don't think it's going to be a true representation because of an unfortunate PMS situation. I'm sorry to burden you with woman details, but there you have it.
A bit of exciting news: I don't have six-pack abs, but I do have two-pack abs, which is kind of fun to see actual ab muscles.
Summing up:
-I liked the Ultimate Reset. It was "hard" in the sense that I was touching and handling and cooking non-Reset food for my family, but I only slipped up a few times. Really, the Reset food isn't too far off from how I eat anyway.
-Don't cheat. I nibbled some chicken during the vegan week. And some eggs. But that was as bad as it got UNTIL...I was making a dessert for dinner at friends' last weekend (I took my own food!) and I ate one of the peanut butter bars. I was so mad at myself! I was so close to the end and to have a massive misstep like that! Really annoyed. And apparently that little misstep made my body mad, too. I spent a chunk of the evening in the bathroom with a digestive system that didn't know what the heck to do with that fat and sugar Ugh. Embarassing and awful. Thank goodness I was somewhere I could use the bathroom! TMI, I know, but you have been warned! To reiterate: don't cheat!
-Don't workout The booklet says no exercise other than light walking and stretching. I followed that the first few days. Then I got antsy. And for few days, I did some TurboJam and some walks That pretty much kicked my ass. Then I switched and did TurboFire's Stretch 40 nearly every day. That workout made me feel great. So stick with what the booklet says!
-Plan ahead. Cook ahead. I think I've said this in nearly every post, and it remains true. Cook big batches of rice and lentils. Double the batch of Lentil Lime Salad because you eat it two days in a row. Do what you can to make your life easier.
-Use the support groups on Facebook. Great place for questions. I had questions about using Shakeology and making substitutions and found answers there
-Substitutions. Use them and don't sweat it. I had so much Toasted Millet left, when a meal called for a grain, like quinoa, I just used the millet. I didn't want it to go to waste. Same thing with greens. If I had spinach and something called for collards, I used spinach.
-Eat it cold. I'm a big fan of raw eating anyway, but there were some of the soups and salads that they want you to heat or cook, and I just ate them cold. More nutrients! I never heated any of the soups except the miso. For the seawood salad, I soaked the hijiki and then just threw all of the rest of the ingredients in a bowl, subbing the yellow onion with green onion, and ate it cold. It was delicious!
-Take your food with you. I had fun going to friends' for dinner (except the tummy troubles) and just taking my own food. I explained what I was doing and that I'd be bringing my own food and no one cared. In fact, they were intrigued by Ultimate Reset.
That's all I can think of now. I am a little bummed out about the timing of my PMS, but it is what it is!
Now, as for how I'll eat over the next few weeks, my plan is to ease lean proteins back in. I'll be cautious. I have to fly on a plane tomorrow so I'm sticking close to Reset foods so I don't have some sort of abdominal meltdown on the plane!
But my goal is to eat as lean and raw for the remainder of the summer. I'm really craving Chocolate Shakeology and actually, Tropical Shakeology. I'll add those back in starting on Day Two off the program. I don't want to drink it and hop on the plane.
More details on Ultimate Reset later!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Ultimate Reset: Day 14 -- Still Here!
OK, sorry the big lapse. Busy, busy, busy. I'm currently on the last day of Week Two! It hasn't been totally smooth sailing, mostly problems of my own doing. For example, why would I make homemade ice cream for my family when I'm in such a challenge!? I tasted it! And it made me feel sick. So that took care of that.
Days of being needing more food and not needing more have continued to alternate. Yesterday, for example, I was having a bad crash before lunch. I was due to eat the Microgreen salad, which I love, for lunch. It has toasted nuts or seeds on it. I actually cooked up a big batch of nuts and seeds so I'd have them ready when I needed them. So I ate some in advance of lunch. I could tell I was desperate for protein and fat.
And tonight, it's only 7:15pm and I'm already feeling hungry. For a workout today I did TurboFire Stretch 40 so it's not like it was strenuous. In fact, it felt good. So I'm not totally sure what I'll do with what is going to be a roaring hunger in about an hour!
It is a good reminder that this isn't a starvation diet. If you're hungry, eat. So I guess I have my answer!
Days of being needing more food and not needing more have continued to alternate. Yesterday, for example, I was having a bad crash before lunch. I was due to eat the Microgreen salad, which I love, for lunch. It has toasted nuts or seeds on it. I actually cooked up a big batch of nuts and seeds so I'd have them ready when I needed them. So I ate some in advance of lunch. I could tell I was desperate for protein and fat.
And tonight, it's only 7:15pm and I'm already feeling hungry. For a workout today I did TurboFire Stretch 40 so it's not like it was strenuous. In fact, it felt good. So I'm not totally sure what I'll do with what is going to be a roaring hunger in about an hour!
It is a good reminder that this isn't a starvation diet. If you're hungry, eat. So I guess I have my answer!
Friday, June 8, 2012
Ultimate Reset: Day 10 -- Halfway!
Today I realized that I'm halfway through Ultimate Reset! Pretty exciting.
I did have some cravings today, but not enough to pop something in my mouth. I was making the boys egg sandwiches for breakfast and I really wanted to eat their leftovers. But I did not. As I go on, my resolve strengthens to stick to the plan.
I did TurboFire Stretch 40 today and I'm also sticking with my plan to alternate days doing that DVD and a walking.
I'm trying to think if I have any advice/major observations. The calorie counts in this second week are definitely lower, especially if you don't eat the afternoon snack, which I haven't been hungry for. I just read on someone else's blog about the Paleo/Primal diet, which is somewhat how I eat anyway and somewhat similar to the Reset. She commented how she no longer grazes -- no longer eats snacks in between her meals, and I'd say that's how I'm becoming. And usually I'm a 5 - 6 times a day eater.
So it's a curious process.
I remain amazed at the lack, egg sandwich desire this morning withstanding, of cravings. Last night I made Finn popcorn, and I ate nary a kernal. Popcorn is my favorite food, people, so this is huge. Hugely huge.
I did have some cravings today, but not enough to pop something in my mouth. I was making the boys egg sandwiches for breakfast and I really wanted to eat their leftovers. But I did not. As I go on, my resolve strengthens to stick to the plan.
I did TurboFire Stretch 40 today and I'm also sticking with my plan to alternate days doing that DVD and a walking.
I'm trying to think if I have any advice/major observations. The calorie counts in this second week are definitely lower, especially if you don't eat the afternoon snack, which I haven't been hungry for. I just read on someone else's blog about the Paleo/Primal diet, which is somewhat how I eat anyway and somewhat similar to the Reset. She commented how she no longer grazes -- no longer eats snacks in between her meals, and I'd say that's how I'm becoming. And usually I'm a 5 - 6 times a day eater.
So it's a curious process.
I remain amazed at the lack, egg sandwich desire this morning withstanding, of cravings. Last night I made Finn popcorn, and I ate nary a kernal. Popcorn is my favorite food, people, so this is huge. Hugely huge.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Ultimate Reset: Days 8 & 9 -- Busy!
Last day of school Wednesday = lack of time to post AND the need for careful eating planning!
Wednesday, Day 8 of Ultimate Reset, marked the first day of Week 2 as well. I have to say, the size of the meals was much more to my liking. Just fruit for breakfast, my favorite Ultimate Reset salad for lunch, and beans and rice with steamed veggies for dinner. Because I was going to be at Eamonn's bike race during dinner (and they were serving up some hamburgers and potato chips the whole night), I just steamed the veggies and threw them in with the beans and rice and all of the spices. It was really tasty.
Anyway, just an example of how I'm really trying to look ahead and make sure I go prepared with all of the correct supplements and food.
I had a huge revelation yesterday, which, because it was the last day of school, contained not one, but TWO ice cream parties, pizza, and then the trip to the hamburger ranch. As I was helping to set up the ice cream buffet at lunchtime, I realized I had absolutely no desire to eat the ice cream or any of the toppings provided which ranged from syrup to whipped cream to sprinkles and all sorts of candies and cookies. I felt zero need to pop M&Ms or Oreos into my mouth, and it was a beautiful thing. I nearly wept with happiness.
That feeling stuck with me at the second ice cream/pizza party.
Overall, I think this second phase is going to be more to my liking. Plus, I feel like I'm seeing/feeling some changes AND several people have commented on how I look. I love it! I'm so vain...
Although I will say that when today, Day 9, dawned, I didn't want the miso soup and smashed chick peas for breakfast. Frankly, these are normally foods I would love -- at lunch or dinner. But what I really wanted and was truly craving, was either the fruit plate, which is pretty much the breakfast staple this week, or Shakeology, which is allowed if you have the Tropical vegan version. I went with the Shakeology, and it really hit the spot.
Had my favorite salad and more beans and rice for lunch and I was so full that when dinner came around, I STILL wasn't hungry. It was a weird, large amount of food, and I will confess that I'm a little stymied about how eating that much at one sitting is OK! I calculated the calories and it was over 700! What the heck! I even went back to see if I'd misread the recipe and doubled it or something. Nope, it was correct. So here's where I had my first off-plan experience: I drank Tropical Shakeology again for dinner, which you're not supposed to do, but I couldn't stomach a full meal.
C'est la vie. I still feel like I'm detoxing.
I also noticed that I'm super tired today. Don't know if that's the detox again or if I just had a really long day yesterday.
With that said, I'm hitting the hay!
Wednesday, Day 8 of Ultimate Reset, marked the first day of Week 2 as well. I have to say, the size of the meals was much more to my liking. Just fruit for breakfast, my favorite Ultimate Reset salad for lunch, and beans and rice with steamed veggies for dinner. Because I was going to be at Eamonn's bike race during dinner (and they were serving up some hamburgers and potato chips the whole night), I just steamed the veggies and threw them in with the beans and rice and all of the spices. It was really tasty.
Anyway, just an example of how I'm really trying to look ahead and make sure I go prepared with all of the correct supplements and food.
I had a huge revelation yesterday, which, because it was the last day of school, contained not one, but TWO ice cream parties, pizza, and then the trip to the hamburger ranch. As I was helping to set up the ice cream buffet at lunchtime, I realized I had absolutely no desire to eat the ice cream or any of the toppings provided which ranged from syrup to whipped cream to sprinkles and all sorts of candies and cookies. I felt zero need to pop M&Ms or Oreos into my mouth, and it was a beautiful thing. I nearly wept with happiness.
That feeling stuck with me at the second ice cream/pizza party.
Overall, I think this second phase is going to be more to my liking. Plus, I feel like I'm seeing/feeling some changes AND several people have commented on how I look. I love it! I'm so vain...
Although I will say that when today, Day 9, dawned, I didn't want the miso soup and smashed chick peas for breakfast. Frankly, these are normally foods I would love -- at lunch or dinner. But what I really wanted and was truly craving, was either the fruit plate, which is pretty much the breakfast staple this week, or Shakeology, which is allowed if you have the Tropical vegan version. I went with the Shakeology, and it really hit the spot.
Had my favorite salad and more beans and rice for lunch and I was so full that when dinner came around, I STILL wasn't hungry. It was a weird, large amount of food, and I will confess that I'm a little stymied about how eating that much at one sitting is OK! I calculated the calories and it was over 700! What the heck! I even went back to see if I'd misread the recipe and doubled it or something. Nope, it was correct. So here's where I had my first off-plan experience: I drank Tropical Shakeology again for dinner, which you're not supposed to do, but I couldn't stomach a full meal.
C'est la vie. I still feel like I'm detoxing.
I also noticed that I'm super tired today. Don't know if that's the detox again or if I just had a really long day yesterday.
With that said, I'm hitting the hay!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Ultimate Reset: Day 7 -- Some Adjustments
Today I decided to make a few adjustments. First, the meals I've been eating seem so huge to me. It's way more food than I would normally eat in one sitting. Normally, I eat three meals and two or three snacks, and I'm always hungry for each one.
On Reset, you eat three meals and one afternoon snack, but that snack is optional and sometimes I want it and sometimes I don't. On the days I don't want it, it's usually because the noon meal has been so large, I'm not hungry. I don't like the feeling of not being hungry again for 4 - 5 hours. I like to eat every 3 hours or so. Otherwise, I just feel overfull and bogged down.
So today I tried a little experiment, and I like how it turned out.
First, I didn't eat the full portions in the Ultimate Reset menu/recipe book. For example, breakfast was supposed to be 1 cup of oatmeal, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon ground flax seed, and 1/4 cup apple. For me, that's a huge bulk of food at once. So I knocked the oatmeal down to 3/4 cup and the yogurt down to 1/4 cup. After breakfast, I felt really good, like it was a normal amount of food for me.
Now, I will say that I did get hungry before lunch and my stomch was seriously growling. At that point, I went out for a walk. And here's the second change I made: I walked for about an hour versus the 20 minutes 2x a day the book recommends. I work a sedentary job, so the 20 minutes isn't cutting it, and it's tough for me to find time for two separate walks. So I'm going to go with what feels right and that's longer walks once a day. I didn't hoof it like I normally would, but I still felt like I got my blood moving.
At lunch, I did eat the recommended amounts. I'm OK with eating a lot of veggies -- they fill you up with their size and fiber, but you burn through them pretty quick. And happily, I was hungry for a snack around 4pm. Again, I didn't eat the full snack amount recommended. I chose fruit and yogurt and had 1 cup of berries and 1/2 cup yogurt instead of 3/4 cup. I was full on that.
At dinner, I ate the recommended amounts of the veggies and tempeh, but cut down the amount of rice. I still felt a little overfull after the fact.
So we'll see how that works. The scale didn't move again today and that bugged me. But week two starts tomorrow and that will mean a shift in food. More changes in store!
On Reset, you eat three meals and one afternoon snack, but that snack is optional and sometimes I want it and sometimes I don't. On the days I don't want it, it's usually because the noon meal has been so large, I'm not hungry. I don't like the feeling of not being hungry again for 4 - 5 hours. I like to eat every 3 hours or so. Otherwise, I just feel overfull and bogged down.
So today I tried a little experiment, and I like how it turned out.
First, I didn't eat the full portions in the Ultimate Reset menu/recipe book. For example, breakfast was supposed to be 1 cup of oatmeal, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon ground flax seed, and 1/4 cup apple. For me, that's a huge bulk of food at once. So I knocked the oatmeal down to 3/4 cup and the yogurt down to 1/4 cup. After breakfast, I felt really good, like it was a normal amount of food for me.
Now, I will say that I did get hungry before lunch and my stomch was seriously growling. At that point, I went out for a walk. And here's the second change I made: I walked for about an hour versus the 20 minutes 2x a day the book recommends. I work a sedentary job, so the 20 minutes isn't cutting it, and it's tough for me to find time for two separate walks. So I'm going to go with what feels right and that's longer walks once a day. I didn't hoof it like I normally would, but I still felt like I got my blood moving.
At lunch, I did eat the recommended amounts. I'm OK with eating a lot of veggies -- they fill you up with their size and fiber, but you burn through them pretty quick. And happily, I was hungry for a snack around 4pm. Again, I didn't eat the full snack amount recommended. I chose fruit and yogurt and had 1 cup of berries and 1/2 cup yogurt instead of 3/4 cup. I was full on that.
At dinner, I ate the recommended amounts of the veggies and tempeh, but cut down the amount of rice. I still felt a little overfull after the fact.
So we'll see how that works. The scale didn't move again today and that bugged me. But week two starts tomorrow and that will mean a shift in food. More changes in store!
Monday, June 4, 2012
Ultimate Reset: Day 6 -- Great Day!
A lot of people doing the Ultimate Reset have talked about how they spent the first few days or the first whole week in a fog. I haven't felt like that at all. Until today, when I felt so great that I realized I really MIGHT have been in a fog and not realized it.
Truly, I think I've avoided most of the detox symptoms because I rarely drink anything with caffeine, and even though I ate s'mores over Memorial Day Weekend, I don't eat a lot of sugar. So I wondered if I was going to coast through this thing.
But here's the deal: I don't think anyone is going to coast through this! There will be something to challenge everyone. I think I felt foggy and grumpy up until today. Today I felt really productive and in a good mood, and that's when I realized I hadn't really been in a good mood for the past few days.
It's a good feeling.
Anyway, the food today was really good, for the most part. I'm still not sold on the tempeh 100%. I bought the 5-grain flavor, because that's what the store had. I heard there is a rice one that's really yummy. This is just kind of chunky and weird. I did really like it rolled up in the nori rolls.
I will tell you I was DREADING breakfast this morning -- baked tempeh (and it's for dinner tomorrow night -- something to get through. I won't sub out a meal because I want to use this stuff up. I won't buy this flavor again.). You marinate the tempeh in mix of Bragg's Liquid Aminos (which I've used for years), syrup, and apple cider vinegar before baking it. It wasn't awful, but it's just a flavor combo I dig at breakfast. It's more of a lunch thing for me. So maybe I'll like it better tomorrow.
I forgot to eat the toast I was supposed to have at breakfast, but it didn't matter -- I was full.
I haven't really been tracking calories. I did the first day or so, then I stopped. Today I tracked because I'm curious as to how many calories I'm eating. I think each day is about 1400 calories. Tomorrow I'm going to make an effort to really weigh and track stuff to see how close I'm coming to that number.
My weight has popped back and forth between the same 1.5 pounds up and down since Day 1. This is a little depressing to me because I have heard everyone else's amazing results and I was sure I could drop 10 lbs. So now I'm needing to re-evaluate and recommit because I don't want these 3 weeks to be in vain. I want to be sure I learn something from this in case I don't lose weight -- I don't want to be disappointed at the end. I'm trying to remind myself there are many benefits to be had that don't involve weight loss, that I'm already in the appropriate weight range for my height, blah blah blah. Just needing a MENTAL reset right now and having trouble doing it.
Day 7, end of first week tomorrow!
Truly, I think I've avoided most of the detox symptoms because I rarely drink anything with caffeine, and even though I ate s'mores over Memorial Day Weekend, I don't eat a lot of sugar. So I wondered if I was going to coast through this thing.
But here's the deal: I don't think anyone is going to coast through this! There will be something to challenge everyone. I think I felt foggy and grumpy up until today. Today I felt really productive and in a good mood, and that's when I realized I hadn't really been in a good mood for the past few days.
It's a good feeling.
Anyway, the food today was really good, for the most part. I'm still not sold on the tempeh 100%. I bought the 5-grain flavor, because that's what the store had. I heard there is a rice one that's really yummy. This is just kind of chunky and weird. I did really like it rolled up in the nori rolls.
I will tell you I was DREADING breakfast this morning -- baked tempeh (and it's for dinner tomorrow night -- something to get through. I won't sub out a meal because I want to use this stuff up. I won't buy this flavor again.). You marinate the tempeh in mix of Bragg's Liquid Aminos (which I've used for years), syrup, and apple cider vinegar before baking it. It wasn't awful, but it's just a flavor combo I dig at breakfast. It's more of a lunch thing for me. So maybe I'll like it better tomorrow.
I forgot to eat the toast I was supposed to have at breakfast, but it didn't matter -- I was full.
I haven't really been tracking calories. I did the first day or so, then I stopped. Today I tracked because I'm curious as to how many calories I'm eating. I think each day is about 1400 calories. Tomorrow I'm going to make an effort to really weigh and track stuff to see how close I'm coming to that number.
My weight has popped back and forth between the same 1.5 pounds up and down since Day 1. This is a little depressing to me because I have heard everyone else's amazing results and I was sure I could drop 10 lbs. So now I'm needing to re-evaluate and recommit because I don't want these 3 weeks to be in vain. I want to be sure I learn something from this in case I don't lose weight -- I don't want to be disappointed at the end. I'm trying to remind myself there are many benefits to be had that don't involve weight loss, that I'm already in the appropriate weight range for my height, blah blah blah. Just needing a MENTAL reset right now and having trouble doing it.
Day 7, end of first week tomorrow!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Ultimate Reset: Days 4 & 5 -- A Pattern
So I feel like a pattern is emerging. I'm not hungry and don't need the PM snack one day and then am starving and feel like I DO need the snack (plus more) the next. I'm trying to figure out if there's a way to even things out so I'm not feeling these swings. I'm also trying to figure out what the difference is. I wonder if it's the lack of meat? Hmmm, I'll need to look back and see if on the hungrier days there was protein in the form of meat that day.
I still have a backache, but then again, it's the same backache I've had for months. Not sure if it's age or a giant tumor that is slowly killing me.
I'm feeling morbid tonight.
Yesterday was sort of an out of whack day in terms of timing of supplements. I got off kilter for dinner. We were invited to visit a friends' ranch (I'll post pics when I get them on my personal blog) and we were on the go all day and there much later than I thought we'd be. I was good about packing Reset food for lunch, but I didn't take an appropriate snack. I was lucky because I had some leftover lunch, so I ate that. But I hadn't packed the afternoon supplements. I just had them when I got home, but found myself un-hungry at dinner. I drank a Shakeology and that seemed to do just fine.
Or maybe it didn't do just fine because today I've been hungry. I looked at the allowed snacks and multi-grain crackers was among the choices. I don't eat gluten, so I ate rice crackers instead and hoped that was OK, but then I felt like I needed fat/protein, so I added some nuts and even a few bites of fruit. The combination was not Reset sanctioned. And then I realized I hadn't taken my before dinner supplements. I'm having them now, before bed. I hope the world keeps turning!
Got plenty of exercise at the ranch yesterday, but none today. And come to think of it, I sat and worked much of today -- so why am I so hungry?
It is a mystery.
I also fee irritable and a little sad today. Don't like it. Don't like it at all...
I'm hoping it's just all part of the process!
I still have a backache, but then again, it's the same backache I've had for months. Not sure if it's age or a giant tumor that is slowly killing me.
I'm feeling morbid tonight.
Yesterday was sort of an out of whack day in terms of timing of supplements. I got off kilter for dinner. We were invited to visit a friends' ranch (I'll post pics when I get them on my personal blog) and we were on the go all day and there much later than I thought we'd be. I was good about packing Reset food for lunch, but I didn't take an appropriate snack. I was lucky because I had some leftover lunch, so I ate that. But I hadn't packed the afternoon supplements. I just had them when I got home, but found myself un-hungry at dinner. I drank a Shakeology and that seemed to do just fine.
Or maybe it didn't do just fine because today I've been hungry. I looked at the allowed snacks and multi-grain crackers was among the choices. I don't eat gluten, so I ate rice crackers instead and hoped that was OK, but then I felt like I needed fat/protein, so I added some nuts and even a few bites of fruit. The combination was not Reset sanctioned. And then I realized I hadn't taken my before dinner supplements. I'm having them now, before bed. I hope the world keeps turning!
Got plenty of exercise at the ranch yesterday, but none today. And come to think of it, I sat and worked much of today -- so why am I so hungry?
It is a mystery.
I also fee irritable and a little sad today. Don't like it. Don't like it at all...
I'm hoping it's just all part of the process!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Ultimate Reset: Day Three -- A Little Sore
So today was Day 3 of the Ultimate Reset. I'm going to do a little experiment. I finished eating dinner at about 7:30pm MST (kind of late, but I made the boys' dinner first and then I had to make the Japanese "feast" that is dinner from Week 1, Day 3), and I am STUFFED! I'm curious to see at what point, if any, that I'm either hungry again or back to a normal feeling. How fast will I burn through that dinner? I'll update...
What I'm noticing today:
I've upped my water intake, so I feel very hydrated and my mild headache is gone. However, I had a wicked back backache earlier today. That seems better this evening, but I was seriously sore -- like I'd done a workout sore -- this afternoon.
I didn't need the snack this afternoon, but that might have been because I ate a later lunch. I did wake up hungry, but didn't eat breakfast until after 9am because of a series of events (that weren't unfortunate, just delayed my breakfast).
I took a 20 minute walk this morning and that felt really good. Nothing at all strenuous, no climbs or anything, just the flat path around the neighborhood, but it felt nice to stretch my legs. I don't think I even broke a sweat.
I was a little crabby around dinnertime, when I was making the boys' dinner so maybe a little blood sugar dip?
I had to make cookies for someone as a thank you gift. I did not eat one bite of dough. Unheard of. In fact, I wasn't even tempted to take a bite. Indeed, one of the things I suddenly realized is that I haven't craved anything sweet for the past three days. Wild, considering last week at this exact time I was on about my 3rd s'more.
And here are some tips I was thinking about today. Things that were vexing me before I started and now I wonder why the heck I was so worried:
Don't be afraid to substitute stuff. Some of the foods can be hard to find, especially if you live in a small town and the nearest Whole Foods is 2+ hours away (like me). For example, I couldn't find tempeh, which was disappointing because I wanted to try it. Not only is it one of the ingredients in the nori rolls, but you also eat it for breakfast one day, as well. But then when I was looking at the Ultimate Reset support group pages, people were saying you can substitute any meals that you need to (with some exceptions). So I could have put oatmeal in as a replacement for the tempeh breakfast, or had the rice and beans instead of the nori rolls. In the end, I stumbled upon some tempeh (the nori rolls are really good so I'm glad I found it!) so it wasn't an issue, but don't be hung up on not having an ingredient. Another example: I couldn't find mirin -- Japanese cooking wine -- so I used white wine vinegar instead.
Venture out of your comfort zone. A lot of the foods on the cleanse are things I already had in my fridge or pantry (with the exception of the tempeh!) because I eat a lot of these foods regularly. I know you THINK you might not like wakame (a sea vegetable) or nori (the toasted seaweed sheets sushi is rolled up in), but give it a whirl. Expand your palate a little bit and experiment. You might not like it the first time -- think about teaching your kids to try new foods! Sometimes it takes a few times, right? Also, let's face it: many of our palates are numbed from all of the artificially flavored, processed foods we've eaten over the years, and we don't even know what real food tastes like. So, I encourage you to at least try some new things, and keep an open mind. Truly, the first time I ate oat or buckwheat groats I thought they were nasty. Now they're two of my breakfast staples.
Cook ahead. I know I said this yesterday. Or maybe the day before. But it's really key if you're busy -- like who isn't? Cook up a big batch of brown rice, lentils and quinoa so you don't have to cook when you're assembling salads (the Lentil Lime Salad is CRAZY good, people!). Tomorrow I'm out and about all day so when I made my nori roll for dinner tonight, I went ahead and made two so I had tomorrow's ready to go. Same with the Lentil Lime Salad -- doubled the recipe today so it's ready for tomorrow. Maximize your time and minimize your cleanup!
And thinking back to yesterday and how I needed to add the snack and even a little extra food on top of that, don't sweat it. Very important: This isn't a starvation diet. If you're hungry, eat something! Within the parameters of the cleanse of course. Not potato chips. Or crackers even. Look at the suggested snacks and eat!
Let me know if you have any questions! If you're NOT doing the Ultimate Reset, but would like more info, you can read about it here or send me a question!
And now, here's an update on my "fullness:" An hour later, and I no longer feel full. My metbolism is really chewing on the cucumber salad, miso soup (lots of seaweed in those two!), and the nori roll.
What I'm noticing today:
I've upped my water intake, so I feel very hydrated and my mild headache is gone. However, I had a wicked back backache earlier today. That seems better this evening, but I was seriously sore -- like I'd done a workout sore -- this afternoon.
I didn't need the snack this afternoon, but that might have been because I ate a later lunch. I did wake up hungry, but didn't eat breakfast until after 9am because of a series of events (that weren't unfortunate, just delayed my breakfast).
I took a 20 minute walk this morning and that felt really good. Nothing at all strenuous, no climbs or anything, just the flat path around the neighborhood, but it felt nice to stretch my legs. I don't think I even broke a sweat.
I was a little crabby around dinnertime, when I was making the boys' dinner so maybe a little blood sugar dip?
I had to make cookies for someone as a thank you gift. I did not eat one bite of dough. Unheard of. In fact, I wasn't even tempted to take a bite. Indeed, one of the things I suddenly realized is that I haven't craved anything sweet for the past three days. Wild, considering last week at this exact time I was on about my 3rd s'more.
And here are some tips I was thinking about today. Things that were vexing me before I started and now I wonder why the heck I was so worried:
Don't be afraid to substitute stuff. Some of the foods can be hard to find, especially if you live in a small town and the nearest Whole Foods is 2+ hours away (like me). For example, I couldn't find tempeh, which was disappointing because I wanted to try it. Not only is it one of the ingredients in the nori rolls, but you also eat it for breakfast one day, as well. But then when I was looking at the Ultimate Reset support group pages, people were saying you can substitute any meals that you need to (with some exceptions). So I could have put oatmeal in as a replacement for the tempeh breakfast, or had the rice and beans instead of the nori rolls. In the end, I stumbled upon some tempeh (the nori rolls are really good so I'm glad I found it!) so it wasn't an issue, but don't be hung up on not having an ingredient. Another example: I couldn't find mirin -- Japanese cooking wine -- so I used white wine vinegar instead.
Venture out of your comfort zone. A lot of the foods on the cleanse are things I already had in my fridge or pantry (with the exception of the tempeh!) because I eat a lot of these foods regularly. I know you THINK you might not like wakame (a sea vegetable) or nori (the toasted seaweed sheets sushi is rolled up in), but give it a whirl. Expand your palate a little bit and experiment. You might not like it the first time -- think about teaching your kids to try new foods! Sometimes it takes a few times, right? Also, let's face it: many of our palates are numbed from all of the artificially flavored, processed foods we've eaten over the years, and we don't even know what real food tastes like. So, I encourage you to at least try some new things, and keep an open mind. Truly, the first time I ate oat or buckwheat groats I thought they were nasty. Now they're two of my breakfast staples.
Cook ahead. I know I said this yesterday. Or maybe the day before. But it's really key if you're busy -- like who isn't? Cook up a big batch of brown rice, lentils and quinoa so you don't have to cook when you're assembling salads (the Lentil Lime Salad is CRAZY good, people!). Tomorrow I'm out and about all day so when I made my nori roll for dinner tonight, I went ahead and made two so I had tomorrow's ready to go. Same with the Lentil Lime Salad -- doubled the recipe today so it's ready for tomorrow. Maximize your time and minimize your cleanup!
And thinking back to yesterday and how I needed to add the snack and even a little extra food on top of that, don't sweat it. Very important: This isn't a starvation diet. If you're hungry, eat something! Within the parameters of the cleanse of course. Not potato chips. Or crackers even. Look at the suggested snacks and eat!
Let me know if you have any questions! If you're NOT doing the Ultimate Reset, but would like more info, you can read about it here or send me a question!
And now, here's an update on my "fullness:" An hour later, and I no longer feel full. My metbolism is really chewing on the cucumber salad, miso soup (lots of seaweed in those two!), and the nori roll.
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