Day 19

Today was definitely one of the hardest days for me. I had super low energy, and could not snap out of it! I got really frustrated and depressed about not being able to eat normal food. Jordan convinced me to juice a bunch of fresh fruit, which I did: kale, carrots, a peach, a grapefruit, a cucumber and an orange... and it tasted really good! Plus it pumped me up a little bit, which was good. Then I had my friends over for The Bachelorette, and I made some yummy snacks for them that I couldn't eat (flat bread with 3 cheeses, mini pizzas, etc.) but I did splurge and eat some edamame, and veggies with hummus and salsa.

Earlier in the day I worked out, which was hard with no energy. I had my one meal around 1 pm: a big salad, with a potato/walnut oil on the side. The other thing I'm thinking is that I need to get more protein, so I bought some tofu at Trader Joe's for tomorrow's lunch.

So probably because I am deprived of anything sweet and yummy, I've taken to being completely obsessed with food blogs (even more than I already was). I'm seriously like an addict, living vicariously through the baker of these wonderful treats. I've been craving a combination of cinnamon, sugar, and butter...

Like these beauties ...



Or maybe a big ol' helping of this...



Or maybe these...



Or I bet this would make my house smell delicious...



But sadly, this is what my dinner looks like instead: (insert crying sound here)



OKAY OKAY this is NOT helping!!! Ha ha. But it's still fun to fantasize with food porn. (The deliciousness on this page comes from my favorite blog, The Pioneer Woman.)

xo xo

Day 16, 17, 18

Goodbye coffee maker, hello juicer! I finally did it, I put my beloved coffee maker away for the next two weeks, and in its place there is a fancy shmancy juicer, lent to me by a friend. I bought a ton of fresh veggies and fruit from the Farmers' Market, including peaches, carrots, kale, tangerines, cucumbers, apples, and a 16-lb bag of oranges! So each day I've been making a glass of juice to substitute a meal, and then eating one meal in the middle of the day. The juice tastes good, but cleaning the juicer is the biggest pain in the ass... I'm not quite convinced that it's worth the effort.

All three of these days I ate a big salad for my one meal, with grilled veggies and tofu, plus a potato with walnut oil on the side.

There are definitely times when I'm feeling low energy, and other times when I'm feeling great. Like the Ejuva instructions claim, there are highs and lows.

I'm starting to really miss normal food. Not craving it necessarily, but just wanting something different than what I'm eating. I'm starting to think about how I'm going to return to normal eating habits after this is all over, and I'm thinking gradual is the key. I've lost 6 pounds so far, and I don't want to gain it all back!

It's weird because although I'll feel like I have low energy, I really haven't felt hungry, like when your stomach hurts and you feel sick because you need to eat. It really got me thinking: if I am capable of eating just one meal a day and living normally (working, working out, etc) then why the hell do we all eat so much? I think it is habitual and nothing more. Oprah has recommended this book I've been reading, called "Women, Food and God" and it talks about how most of us don't eat out of hunger, we eat out of stress, boredom, for distraction, etc. The book goes hand in hand with what I am learning in this cleanse: that is, instead of just eating to eat, or because "it's time for lunch" or eating as a social activity, we need to stop and think if we are actually really hungry, and if we are, what are we hungry for?

Ten days left!!!!!!!!

xo xo

Day 15

Okay so eating once a day sucks. It just does. Do you know much time you spend preparing, thinking about, getting ready for, and eating meals? A lot! So when that is not a part of your day, you suddenly have a ton of extra time! (Not to mention significantly fewer dishes to be washed!)

I worked out in the morning, and my energy was definitely lacking. When I got home I took my herbs/shake, and then headed to work. Around 1 o'clock I had my one meal, a big salad with veggies, a potato with walnut oil, and some edamame.

When I went back to work I had my herbs/shake, and then I had a massage, facial, and acupuncture until about 6:30. I've decided to start juicing now, because I think it's important to get the calories and have the energy. So I stopped by a little cafe that has fresh juice and I got a juice made with beets, carrots, apple and celery. Blech. Not tasty. How am I only going to drink juice for 7 days?!!? *tears*

Before bed I did some restorative yoga and took yet another round of herbs/shake.

Funny how much more time I had.

xo xo

PS. I have noticed a new side effect: my skin seems really oily over the last few days. Normally I have pretty clear and even skin, but I'm noticing an excess of oil and some acne. Not cool! But I expected it kind of.

Day 14

My last day of eating two meals. Sad.

I was super tired today because I put in a 17 hour day yesterday, plus I'm completely off caffeine (not an easy feat!) so I felt a little sluggish.

Last night I did decide to take the herbs and shake, even though it was close to midnight when I got home from work. I just took two of each tablet, so I wouldn't have a ton of stuff to digest when I went to bed.

For lunch I had a veggie stack from a local deli, and after being assured it was vegan, I was super bummed to find it had cheese on it. I was at lunch with a friend and didn't want to make a scene, but I was bummed. I ate around the cheese, but could still taste the flavor of it (NOT a bad thing, ha ha). I also had a side of baked yams... delicious.

For dinner (after a 2 hour afternoon nap! I love Wednesdays!) I had a big salad with grilled mushrooms, zucchini, squash, avocado and tomato, plus a plain baked potato on the side.

I'm halfway through, which is awesome. But tomorrow I start eating once a day, and I'm pretty freaked out by that.

Also, I've lost 5 pounds total so far. I'm really glad I haven't lost more than that, I want it to be a healthy and gradual weight loss, so it stays off!!

xo xo

Day 13

Well I'm still at work here on Day 13. I'm super starving and I just ate some baked potato crisps from Whole Foods that my co-worker had. I'm debating on whether I'm going to do my herb/shake combo when I get home or skip it; I'm not sure if you are supposed to take them right before bed, and I have at least an hour left here at work. Long day.

I started at 6:30 this morning teaching Pilates for 2 hours, drinking only water instead of my usual coffee and cream. That was a little brutal, I'm not going to lie.

When I got home I did my herbs/shake, and then had a big ol' bowl of cereal with a peach, banana, blueberries and almond milk.

For lunch around 2:30 I had vegan vegetable soup from Cantwell's, as well as some baked yams with olive oil and beets and arugula.

It's hard to work such a long day and not eat. Tomorrow is my halfway point on this cleanse, and I'm really excited. I know the next two Tuesdays are going to be hard, but I'll do my best!

xo xo

Day 12

Eating only twice a day is starting to get old, real old. But I guess I better enjoy it because starting Thursday I'm down to just once a day! AGHHH!!

I went back to working out today, and did it on an empty stomach. I was starving when I got home so I did the herbs/shake combo and then breakfast shortly after: cereal, almond milk, a peach, banana, and blueberries.

Around 1:30 I was starving. So I went home and made another salad with portabello mushrooms, avocado and heirloom tomatoes, with two small potatoes with walnut oil on the side. So yummy.

When I got done with work around 6 pm, I did my herb/shake combo again, and then I had my friends over for the Bachelorette.... and there were tons of yummy snacks and CHEESE.... but I did really good and just had some carrots and hummus with guacamole, and a few organic corn tortilla chips.

I'm frickin proud of myself ;-)

xo xo

Day 11

Whoo hooo I'm in the double digits! Day 11!!!

My first full day without ANY caffeine, and I feel good. I'm stoked I kicked that habit. (Although I plan on going back to drinking coffee after this is over.... I just love it! Decaf maybe?)

This morning I walked on the treadmill for half an hour, to try and loosen up my back after pulling it the other day. Tomorrow morning I'm going to try to go back to my boot camp class, gingerly. When I got home from the gym I took my herbs/shake, and had a big bowl of sprouted cereal, a cut up peach, a banana, and blueberries, with almond milk. About five hours later I had my second meal: a salad with tomato, avocado, and half a portabello mushroom, with walnut oil, lemon and balsamic. Plus a small potato with some walnut oil, my new favorite treat. That was at about 4:30. It's now 10:00 and I'm doing my second herb/shake combo.

It's funny I really haven't been hungry. I get a few pangs here and there, but they are rare. It's really about patterns, and getting used to eating a certain way or at a certain time, that is what is hard to overcome.

Tomorrow is my first full day back at work after my vacation, and I haven't quite yet figured out how I'm going to spread out my meals. I'm thinking I will pack up cereal, fruit, and milk, and eat that at work around lunchtime. Then I will eat my second meal when I get home around 5:30. I'm trying to not be too high maintence at work and bring all the bottles of herbs and stuff. That will have to happen though next week, when I start taking the herbs three times a day...

xo xo