Day Three

 Felt good today, although pretty hungry between meals. Energy good.

Breakfast: smoothie

Lunch: veggie fajitas

Dinner: large veg salad, fruit salad for dessert

Walked 3 miles

(weight 161)

Day Two

Down 3 pounds the first day?! That's pretty darn awesome. Although I'm not in it for the weight this time. The number I really want to see come down is my cholesterol. It will take a bit more time for that...not going to happen overnight.

A startling research study showed that those with a cholesterol level between 200-239 increased risk of developing dementia by 52% and at 240 or higher it was a staggering 66%! Alzheimer's has been one of my biggest fears as I age, and with my cholesterol registering at a whopping 307 last time I had it checked, this statistic really lit a fire under me to make some serious changes!!

Breakfast: smoothie

Lunch: veggie "fajita" with no tortilla, rice and beans

Dinner: smoothie

Snack: banana w/peanut butter

Feeling pretty good today...wasn't really hungry until after the movie this evening. Had banana for snack but still hungry. Maybe need more water. Feeling a little headachy too. Detox?

(161 lbs)

Day One - Whole Foods Plant-Based Strategy

 Made a trip to the farmer's market to stock up on fruits and veggies. Feeling good about starting this today. For the past several weeks I've eaten pretty poorly with lots of fast food.  Each time I've eaten it I realize and become more aware of just how little I enjoy the taste and how sick it makes me feel. Watching these documentaries has been great motivation. I can't get the images out of my head about the way these so called foods are produced. And I am encouraged by the fact that changing what I eat can truly affect my health. I guess in the past, I've hoped that it would, but didn't have full confidence in that fact. Seeing all these people and their results has made it undeniable.

Breakfast: Smoothie

Lunch: Cabbage Wraps filled with zucchini, red bell peppers, avacado, hummus, kalmata olives and a fresh peach for dessert

Dinner: Steamed veggies-red potatoes, corn on the cob, green beans, broccoli

(164 lbs/cholesterol 307)

Forks Over Knives

Just finished two great documentaries. One is called Forks Over Knives and the other was Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. The first is a scientific look at the ability we have by making the right food choices to avoid and/or reverse some very serious diseases. These are the big, scary ones that most believe are dealt to us by fate in our genes, namely cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. How empowering to know that we are not at the mercy of some cosmic roulette wheel, but we hold the key to our own health-and wouldn't you know...it's shaped like a fork!

The second chronicles the journey of two men as they basically put the research above to the test in the real world. The two movies are done completely independently of each other, one several years before the other, but follow the same type of food regime. They are both based on a whole-food plant based diet. The results these to men see in their lives and share with us are nothing short of miraculous.

I am inspired!!!

A walk at last

It's been so long since I've been able to walk outside, so tonight was quite a treat. A storm blew through about six this evening dropping the temperature from "oh my god!" to something a little more bearable. So I laced up my Nike's and headed out to the greenway. I had an acupuncture session earlier in the afternoon and I was anxious to move the blood and Qi through and continue what the work had started. About three weeks ago, my IPod was stolen, so I had no music. That ended up being a really good thing. I noticed all the sounds and sights around me so much more without the distraction of the music. It felt good to walk along the path feeling so connected to nature as I listened to the birds, crickets and tree frogs make their music. The cadence of my feet connecting with the earth sounded strong and sure, not heavy or clumsy. Everything was that deep green of mid-summer with the occasional splash of purple or yellow supplied by a wildflower hardy enough to survive the heat. Without the music, I heard the creek tumbling over the rocks and the rhythm of my breath. About half way through, the stillness revealed a tawny doe standing 10 feet off the path in a field. She raised her head with a leaf sticking out of her mouth as I rounded the corner and stood like a statue, watching me, watching her. Finally she must have decided I was not a threat, twitched her little white tail and went on with her snack. I only had time to do three and a half miles. As I was finishing the loop, I could see the sunset painting pink streaks between the tree branches and the fireflies began their twinkling dance  like terrestrial stars. Perfect timing! It felt so good to be outside soaking up all that nature was lavishing on me. And it felt really good to be moving and working my muscles.

A week later...

One week later...didn't quite reach the goal, but I have improved. I did eat fast food a couple of times, but made much healthier choices at home. Feel like I'm turning it in the right direction at least. I think the big part of this is the planning. I can't plan for everything. Sometimes I am expecting to be home by lunchtime, but then I get a call to go do a massage. So how do I deal with the unexpected? Maybe instead of saying no more fast food, I should say that if I have to get a bite on the run-I'll chose the healthiest option available.

On the exercise front, I went biking one evening. I did six miles. It felt good to be out and moving. The heat is putting a really big cramp in the exercise schedule. I purchased a voucher for one month's worth of Kettlebell Classes. I haven't tried it yet, but I hear it is an incredible workout. Maybe this is the solution until outside activity is more workable with some cooler temps.

I'll keep you posted....

Half Way

Can you believe the year is officially half way over-six months down and six to go. So it is time for a little check-in and a reality check.

The first 4 months of the year I was fairly pleased with my progress. I was improving my eating bit by bit and I was training for the half-marathon, so I was exercising about 5 days a week. Then 2 days before the race, I came down with the flu which kept me sidelined from the event. It was really disappointing. I'd put in a lot of work to get ready for it, and then I wasn't able to actually do it! Mentally, it was a pretty big blow.

Since then, I've made only feeble attempts to work out and my eating has gone back to S.A.D. :-( I have really been beating myself up over this. Lots of negative self-talk going on...and it is partially deserved. But I have decided to reframe my thinking. I had 4 good months so far this year and 2 not-so-good months. I can dwell on the bad and slip deeper down into it. Or I can focus on the good and figure out what helped me to do so well January through April-then try to repeat those behaviors.

This week I have set a goal. I do not want to eat ANY fast food this week and I want to do some type of exercise 4 times. I may have to use the treadmill inside, because it is so hot out now. But that's ok. These seem like attainable goals and there is no reason I can't get this train back on the right track starting the second half of the year with a bang!! Happy Independence Day.