Cleanse Day 1

Today I embark on my quest to be more fit.  Not just fit, but consistently fit.  I know what to do.  I know there are no magic tricks or miracle pills to make overnight changes.  Eating clean, working out, cutting back on the booze...all things I have done before and intend to do again.  My problem is that even though I know what do to and can do it 70% of the time, when I fall off the wagon, I fall hard.  I tip that wagon over, wagon-jack the driver, light the sucker on fire and roast marshmallows in the flames.  I'm an all or nothing kind of gal and moderation is not a word in my vocabulary.  For the past two months, I've been stuck in a vicious cycle of eating well during the week, and then letting one bad meal derail my crazy-train of wellness into a downward spiral of junk food and booze.  Any progress I make during the week is usually undone on the weekends.  My two vices are booze and snacks.  I like to have a glass...or three...of wine a night during the week and beer on the weekends.  Once I have a drink, the late evening snack cravings come...usually chips and popcorn.  I can handle avoiding sweets, and I'm not a stress-eater or emotional-eater by any means.  But football season, family get-togethers and busy weeknights are just the excuses I need to crash and burn.  I've successfully managed to lose 10 pounds in 3 months and have been working out pretty consistently, but the weight is creeping back and my clothes are getting snug.  Our trip to Mexico is in ONE month and these next 24 days are my Hail Mary pass into the end zone of well-being.  I started eating better a few months ago when we booked the trip but (like with other things in my life), I become easily distracted and get back into my old habits. 

So, a friend of mine is an Advocare consultant and she has always spoke highly of the products and has had success using them in combination with a clean diet and exercise.  I researched the snot out of Advocare and was impressed.  I know the products themselves are not going to do the nitty-gritty work for me, but I'm hoping they will supplement my efforts and help to keep me accountable.  Nothing like spending $200 in supplements to make you want to stick to your plan :)  So after talking with her, we custom built a plan for me based on my needs.  In a nutshell, the 24 day challenge consists of a 10 day cleanse with nutritional support followed by a 14 day max phase plan consisting of supplements to boost metabolism, energy and curb cravings.  The rules are simple...no dairy, white flour, sugar, coffee or alcohol while on the cleanse.  Fruits, veggies, protein and complex carbs only.  Take the supplements daily as lined out in the pamphlet and exercise frequently.  Easy stuff right?   Hmmm, we'll see.  I already know what my three biggest challenges will be:

• No coffee!  I only have 2 cups a day, but the ritual of having it will be the hardest to give up.  I'm looking to Spark to provide me with the caffeine fix.
• No booze!  As I said, I love my wine and beer.  When I told my husband I'd be dry for 10 days, he offerred to put me in a hotel.  Maybe I should have called AA instead of Advocare :)
• Cooking for the family.  I have no problems with my food choices, but my family may grumble.  It will be challenging to keep things varied and pleasing for them while taking care of myself too.  We all eat pretty healthy but if I serve them grilled fish and veggies every night they may hire a chef.

So here goes day one.  Measurements to follow.  Maybe pics as we move on.  Let's just say I did a REALLY good job of getting all the bad food out of my house this weekend -- right into my gut.  It was a pizza and beer free for all.

Wake up:  Spark Mango Strawberry drink and 3 catalyst tabs.  Catalyst tabs are basically amino acids that are supposed to help reduce muscle loss and create a toning effect.  I've heard it described as "lipo in a bottle", but I'm skeptical on that.  I will take them through the 24 days though as directed.

30 minutes later:  Peaches and Cream Fiber drink.  Used an immersion blender to get out the chunks, very drinkable.  A bit later I had a bowl of steel cut oats with a chopped pears as well.

Lunch:  Southwest Grilled Salad from McD's with NO cheese, dressing or tortilla strips.  Not an optimal choice, but was traveling for 6 hours and had to improvise.  An apple for dessert.

Mid Afternoon:  Spark drink and 3 more catalyst tabs.

Dinner:  Baked salmon (4oz) and steamed broccoli.  4 Omega Plex tabs

Bedtime:  Herbal cleanse tablets

Exercise:  Just a walk tonight.  Feeling sore from yesterday's Body Pump session and a little tired as well.

I'll admit, I already miss the coffee.  Even though Spark has 120 mg of caffeine, I felt foggy all morning and had a mild headache all afternoon.  I miss the warmth in my belly on these cool mornings.  I also felt just kind of run down in general.  Could be the toxins leaving the body, could be all the crap I ingested this weekend as well, could be 6 hours of traveling to pick the kids up from Grandma's.  I'm not reading too much into it and just focusing on one day at a time.  Foodwise, I wasn't too hungry and felt plenty fulfilled.  Like I said, food will be my smallest obstacle to tackle over the next few weeks.  And of course, when 5:00 hit I started thinking about my evening cocktail, but I made like Nancy Reagan and Just Said No.

I'll still be tracking my calories with MFP just to keep in check.  I'll also be focusing more on inches than pounds lost.  So hard to do, but I know from experience, that's what counts.  Here are my starting measurements.  I should also add that I am 34 years old, 5'9" and 168lbs.  Not too shabby to start with after 3 kids in 9 years. 

Left Arm:  13in
Waist:  36.5 in
Hips:  43 in (holy crap, baby always had back)
Right thigh:  24 inches
Right calf:  15 inches

My lower body is always the last place to lose inches and my biggest insecurity.  I'd be thrilled to pieces if I could lose some inches there.

Day 1 in the books, I'm excited to see how I feel on day 2 tomorrow!