Detox, Cleanse and Rebuild - Day 1

I am finding it difficult to get back on board with a healthy lifestyle, despite all my best intentions.  I had allowed sugar into my system a few months ago and now my body wants.it.every.day.  and because I have allowed the monster to take over, it has resulted in weight gain and feeling sluggish.  This certainly is not what I want or need....I need a fresh slate....so I figured it was time for a cleanse.

I trekked on out to my local health food store and purchased this:

Image from here http://www.michaelshealth.com

I was looking for Fresh Start Cleanse by Nature's Plus, but despite the website's claim that I could buy it at the health food store nearby where I live, the store does not carry that brand....and I am not one to drive around town looking for the product when there was a staff member here with the answers to my questions about all of the different cleanses that they did have in stock.

I chose this Cleanse for a few different reasons.

Image from here http://www.michaelshealth.com

1.  The pills are conveniently pre-packaged which means I don't have 4 different supplement bottles to keep track of and I take them with my Breakfast and lunch only.
2.  I don't  have to try to remember to take them a half hour before a meal, etc.  I can swing breakfast and lunch, it's the late afternoon, early evening supplements that I always have a hard time remembering to take.  Once I am away from my desk with stuff in front of me, it's out of my thoughts....out of sight, out of mind.  Yes very much so!
3.  It's 7 days...I think I can manage that!
4. Bonus - there is a super foods powder that comes along with it.....not the best tasting stuff in the world, but I bet it will make me feel so much better!

Image from here http://www.michaelshealth.com

I'm going to try to keep a log of how I feel....starting Now!

Day 1 - At the moment I am feeling heavy, sluggish, and bloated.  My pants are starting to get way too tight....like going up a size too tight.  I am PMSing and hoping its just bloat from that, but still....I am no fool, and this is not my first time at the rodeo.  I had Cheese Eggs and Bacon for Breakfast with a cup of coffee with half and half and Whey Low Gold.  I don't think I was supposed to have the bacon...or the cheese....the directions suggest increasing consumption of fibrous fruits and veggies while decreasing consumption of processed foods, meat and dairy products....but I am PMSing...cheese and bacon are a a necessity.  anyway,  I took the first of the pills and powder shortly after eating breakfast.

For Lunch I had a plate of fresh broccoli and cauliflower.  Yes I covered it in cheese and I dipped it in Honey Mustard.(Dairy and processed foods) I'm still on day one and I have increased my consumption of Fibrous veggies....as soon as I run out of cheese, I will stop, but they're not taking my half & half away...no way!  I tore open the second packet of pills and chugged a bunch of water.  Time to refill my bottle.

Now I really should plan what dinner will be.  Perhaps I can grab some veggies at Kroger before heading off to school so that I am not tempted to eat at the Jamaican restaurant.....I need a plan!  That's part of my problem...not having a plan and not being prepared.

Here is where I set my intention.  I intend to follow through this cleanse for the 7 days that it will take (including the weekend!)  I intend to be prepared and have a plan for all meals from now til next Monday.  Here's to me!

4/6/12 Nice To Be Back

I know it's been a while....man, I hadn't realized just how long....SO much to talk about!  Not sure that I want to put it all in one post, so let's make today's post about some yummy deliciousness!!!

Despite 2012 being a great year so far (as I knew it would be), I had a little bit of anxiety this week.  I'm not sure why, but God sure did put the right man in my life to help me out through times like that.  That big man up there sure does know what he's doing!

Anyway, last night I had planned to go to the gym for some Zumba, but just wanted to stay in.  Yes I could have worked out at home, but I was not feeling it....at all.  Instead I was feeling a bit creative culinary-wise.  I opened the fridge and pulled out all of the fresh veggies.

Brian grilled up some delicious chicken breast while I was chopping and sauteing away!  Here's what I was sauteing: (Sorry I have no idea what amounts I used....I eyeball everything, so these are just guesstimates)

Asian Inspired Chicken and Veggies

Shredded Green Cabbage (maybe a half of a med size head)
Chopped Kale (probably about 2 cups)
Chopped Scallion (Three stalks)
2 T Butter
1 T Coconut Oil
3-4 Cloves of Garlic

I Sauteed the above ingredients for a few minutes, but made sure they were still crunchy.

Then I diced 2 tomatoes and chopped up the 3 chicken breasts that BF had grilled.

I tossed all of the ingredients into a large bowl along with:
2-3 T Soy Sauce
2-3 T Sesame Oil
2-3 T Organic Rice Vinegar
salt, pepper, granulated garlic to taste

Voila!  This.WAS.So.Yummy!

I couldn't get enough!  Easy, Delicious and packed with vitamins!

I'll be back perhaps over the weekend to talk about more stuffs, til then, Enjoy!