DAY SEVEN: CABBAGE SOUP

By the time I wake up in less than 12 hours, this dang cleanse will be OVER.
I'm sorry guys, it really wasn't that bad but today was by far the hardest day to not cheat.
I didn't cheat! I ate my cabbage soup like a champ.
But I wanted to cheat, and I justified it in my head multiple times.
But guess what...I GET TO EAT OATMEAL IN THE MORNING AND I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER.
yay carbs!!!
I also got a nice Halloween surprise from my oh so wonderful committee family tonight after club.
It contained (are you ready for this?): dark chocolate covered pretzels, mini reeses cups, and sour patch kids.
wowza, I am going to have a great car ride home on Friday because those will be my snacks.

Today wasn't so bad until this afternoon.
I felt sick all day in general, so having diet limitations just was not making anything better.
I also have had tummy trouble all day, so hopefully that will get better by tomorrow.

So here was the menu:
Breakfast -
cabbage soup

Lunch -
cabbage soup

Dinner -
cabbage soup

exciting right? nope.
All I wanted was an apple all day, but I didn't.
I'm very excited about the amount of apples I have at my house though, because tomorrow I am experimenting and making homemade apple crumble! (a recipe will be posted, obviously).

Here's the cabbage soup recipe! (I made 1/2 of what it called for on the website and it was more than enough):

• 1/2 red onion
• 1/2 vadalia onion
• 1 can organic diced tomatoes
• 1 bell pepper
• 1/2 cabbage head, chopped
• 4 celery sticks
• 5 cups of water
• 1 packet of Lipton herb garlic soup mix (the original recipe calls for beefy onion)

Directions:

Dice up all of your veggies and throw them in a pot.

Pour the water in until it barely covers all the vegetables.

After cooking for 15 minutes, empty soup mix into the pot.

Let that cook for a while on the stove until everything is nice and tender

I made my soup on Monday so that I wouldn't have to deal with the hassle.
It was pretty good! I'm really glad it was, since it was literally the only thing I ate today.

Cheers for finishing strong!

Today was a great day.
Not just regarding the diet, but over all.
I woke up (not too early), cooked breakfast, read my Bible, and went to class.
But on my lunch break I took a wonderful nap because leftovers from last night and breakfast allowed for a quick lunch.
I had to go to class but afterwards I grabbed a quick snack and went on a run with my good friend Myles.  I think a friendship goes to a whole new level when you exercise together.
I exercised with my friend Emily for the first time yesterday as well!
It's been a big week for new things I guess.
After my run, I biked to Verde to get dinner and bring it back home.  That's when God just reminded me where he has me right now in this beautiful city of Charleston, full of quirkiness, wonderful friends, and great atmosphere all around.
I love having the ability to walk wherever I want or need downtown, and perfect weather days like today made it even more enjoyable.  I love the vibes this city gives.  It's always giving them, I just need to stop and be thankful more often.
After dinner I had class and nursing club.  After that I went to campaigners with my wyldlife girls and it was great.
My team met at one of our wonderful committee family's house to talk about Halloween club tomorrow.  There, I was reminded of my love of jigsaw puzzles and tried to help for a few minutes.
It made me sad that I don't have time to make that a stress reliever (or causer) in my life right now, but that's what rainy days at the beach are for. (which is coming up soooooon!)

Today I cheated a bit but you can be the judge of that:
Breakfast-
vegetable skillet (with a dab of olive oil and fajita mix seasoning)
1 egg white

Lunch-
left over vegetable skillet
left over tilapia
2 carrots
salsa

Snack-
1 carrot
salsa
2 celery stalks
1 egg white

Dinner-
"Mesa Verde" salad from Verde
-romaine
-cherry tomatoes
-red onion
-corn
-avocado
-chicken
-tortilla chip strips (the cheating element. I tried to stop him but it was too late...)
-squeezed lime
-lime dressing (on the side!)
-I added salsa as well

I ate dinner pretty early because I had a lot to do before class and knew I would get back late.
I'm a little bit hungry right now but a piece of celery is just not going to cut it for me so I'm just going to study and go to sleep!
Last day of the cleanse is tomorrow - Hallelujah!

(Happy Halloweek)

Let me just tell you,
today was AWFUL.

I am not a huge fan of tomatoes by themselves.  I just cannot do it, so i cheated a little bit..
Today was the first day of the cleanse that I wanted to say screw it and give up.
I pushed through it though and made it to tonight!
Only two days left - yay!

I can say though that I honestly do not feel any physically different.  I'm pretty sure my pants still feel the same and I had some tummy trouble (as recorded earlier) along the way.
These facts are somewhat discouraging and very frustrating but what I can tell you that changed was my mindset on food.
I fell that I will no longer be so mindless and uncaring when it comes to what I'm putting in my body.
Eating is as mental as it is physical and food does not have to defeat me.

It's kind of funny because my mom has been sending me other detox diets that I want to definitely try just not any time soon.
She is also sending me work out routines and plans which I don't know if I should take offensively or graciously.
She always means well.

Okay, my menu today:
Breakfast:
2 egg whites
1 tomato
(scrambled together)

Lunch:
salad from Moe's
-romaine lettuce
-chicken
-pico de gallo
-tomatoes
-cucumbers
-cilantro
-salsa vinaigrette
-salsa

Snack:
sautèed tomato
spaghetti squash

Dinner:
spinach salad
1 tomato
tilapia
squeezed lemon juice

Workout:
cycling class

I "cheated" by eating lettuce, cucumbers, and spaghetti squash, which I do not feel too guilty about because what harm are those things really going to do, right?
I had to make eating all of those tomatoes bearable somehow.
I still didn't eat 6 like I was supposed to either.

By the way, I did Pilates after I posted yesterday, so yay for exercise!  My roommate Stephanie did it with me, which was awesome.  The only bad thing is that I used it as a substitute for studying for my Spanish test this morning...oops.

Side note: I am making the cabbage soup I have to eat all day Wednesday as I type right now and it is smelling oh so tasty.  I can't wait to give it a try! (It better be good because it's my breakfast lunch and dinner on the last day).

Keep rooting for me! So close...

Today was the best!
(BANANAS AND MILK!)

a day full of smoothies, no tummy troubles, and satisfaction.
and it was Sunday! my favorite day of the week.
I may or may not have treated myself to a cappuccino...espresso is part of a cleanse right?
I just thought it might help speed up digestion

Anyways, the menu:
Breakfast -
"Pink Paradise" smoothie

Lunch -
1 banana
yogurt cup
glass of almond milk

Snack -
1 banana
12 oz skim milk cappuccino

Dinner -
glass of almond milk
banana smoothie
-2 bananas
-ice cubes
-1/2 cup almond milk
-cinnamon

Midnight snack -
"Pink Paradise" smoothie

I can honestly say I stayed full all day and would definitely be satisfied eating smoothies for meals in the future.
I've got to widen my smoothie recipe knowledge!

I also decided that after the cleanse, I am only going to have one cheat day a week to have a sweet treat.  More on that later...wish me luck!

Also, recipe for "pink paradise" smoothie...(so delicious and filling!)

• 2 frozen bananas
• 1 4oz cup strawberry/banana nonfat yogurt
• 1/2 cup almond milk

Blend, and enjoy!

lot's to talk about!

I know I skipped a day of posting about the cleanse, and I apologize.
My mom got into town and I just didn't have time to get to my computer!
Gotta love quality time.

I won't leave you wondering how day one of all veggies was.

I was allowed to have a potato,
so I made it a sweet potato!
Breakfast:
1/2 a very large sweet potato
with earth balance and cinnamon

Lunch:
spaghetti squash
veggie pasta sauce
carrots
homemade guacamole

Dinner:
Yo Burrito Santa Fe Salad (no cheese or dressing)

the salad did have beans and corn on it, which the diet says to stay away from...but oh well
I also don't know how much avocados are permissible, but I have been eating a wealthy amount of those as well...
honestly, day two was worse than day one.  I was having major tummy issues and felt awful all day.
I also had to work, which meant resisting a free pastry and as many free Starbucks drinks as I wanted.
It was okay though, I was still hanging in there.

Breakfast:
1 apple
1 clementine orange

Lunch:
Verde "farmer's market" salad (with a bit of dressing and sunflower seeds)
1 apple

Snack:
frozen grapes
2 carrots
guacamole
2 pineapple strips
1/4 cucumber
salsa
1 mango

Dinner:
guacamole (shared with friends)
a lot of carrots
spaghetti squash
veggie pasta sauce
1 small apple
2-3 pineapple sticks

needless to say, I am stuffed after day three.  I ate WAY too much tonight and don't know how well the weight loss thing is going.
Also, I am thinking about giving up sugar for longer than just this week, which will be hard but we will see...
"Sugar is the enemy" as my mom always says.
Unfortunately, I agree with it.

I JUST CAN'T LET GO OF ESPRESSO AND PASTRIES

On another note, tonight was full of girl time, movies and pumpkin carving!
It was the most fun.
I wish I had gotten a picture of Alarie's tree that she carved.
I carved a cat and Alyssa carved a cougar.  I would say they turned out pretty cute.

Also, check out these little guys!
So cute, and so yummy! (no I didn't cheat and eat one)
They were for some special needs kids in the Miracle League.
All it takes is a box of nutter butters, mini chocolate chips, and more white chocolate than you'll think you will need! so easy and such a cute Halloween treat.

Today was not very fun.
I thought I was a fruit addict until it was the only thing I could eat all day!
I also had an upset stomach, so that didn't help.
Does anyone else besides me get nausous when they eat too much fruit?
Because that's basically how I felt all day…
Tomorrow should be better.
I cooked some spaghetti squash and a sweet potato to prepare!

Here's what I ate today:
Breakfast:
1 mango
1 orange
1 small apple

Lunch:
TONS of grapes (not that best option, as they leave you bloated...but I love them)
1 small apple
1 orange

Snack (though I wasn't even that hungry or feeling too hot):
applesauce with cinnamon

Dinner: (at this point I wasn't hungry at all but knew I needed something)
assorted frozen fruit: papaya, pineapple, strawberries, mango
-in smoothie form and a few solid chunks
1 small apple - with cinnamon! yum -- pictured above*

Right now I will honestly tell you that I do not feel good.
We will see what tomorrow brings! (Hopefully less bloating)

i need to post more often...

i really need to get back to blogging!
my stress levels have been soaring and this has always proved to help me.

so i'm trying something new....A DETOX CLEANSE.
it starts tomorrow
it's seven days
i'm supposedly supposed to lose 10 pounds
(we will see about that)
but one thing is for sure: i am so pumped about it.

i just spent so much money at walmart even though i already went grocery shopping this week.
i am much more prepared now!

during my journey through walmart, i had to pick up some food items for a few charity events i am participating in this next week.
i went down isles that i haven't gone down in months.
it's amazing how much junk food is out there
i thought i was eating unhealthily until i went down these isles
processed food...yuck.
it's amazing how much my mindset has changed since i've learned more about nutrition and shop for my own groceries
i'm proud to live in the produce section! (with the exception of a few grains)

anyways, back to the cleanse.
i'm going to record for the next seven days how i am doing!
physical feelings, emotional feelings, work out status, etc.
so here's the plan:

1 Thursday: all fruit (no bananas)
2 Friday: all veggies (+sweet potato)
3 Saturday: fruits and veggies
4 Sunday: bananas and yogurt/milk
5 Monday: protein (fish) and 6 tomatoes...lots of water!
6 Tuesday: protein and veggies
7 Wednesday: cabbage soup

i'll post details about each day!
side note: my mom is coming into town this weekend so that will pose a challenge.
i am glad she is a health freak because we can go to restaurants that will allow me to stay within my dietary restrictions.
i'm also proud of myself for not starting on a monday!
all of that "my diet starts next week" junk is out the window.
may i also point out that halloween is next week and candy is going to be super hard to resist.
but i can do this!

see you tomorrow....