A funny thing happened while I was cleansing...

I'm winding up my three week cleanse.

It's been easy on some days, hard on other days, I cheated with one or two meals in the 21 day process (adding dairy or gluten, never meat).

Then I decided something.

I'm never going to stop cleansing.

I really like how I feel when I'm eating this clean and refined.  I'm never hungry, I'm getting all the nutrients I need and yes, it takes planning and cooking and planning ahead, but it's worth it for this energy and sense of clarity I'm getting while doing it.

I'm up at 5 to hit the gym, getting my to do lists done, and just feel better.

That's not to say that I won't cheat occasionally. A girl needs a little gluten now and then, but 95% of the time I'm going to stick to this.

I feel all zen and shit.
.

Status Update

You may remember a few weeks ago I made the decision to give up sugar after successfully giving up soda.

I'm here to tell you that this is not working as well.  It was much easier to skip the soda. 

Anyone else given up something like this?  Helpful advice?

Let's Talk About Sugar

Sugar... is a harsh mistress. But I'm ready to make a break.

After my success of giving up soda for a month (still going!) I decided to branch out and try to cut down on my sugar eating.

Now I didn't want to get crazy and just cut out all sugar, but I happened to be watching a horrible reality show on Bravo called 'Thintervention' and the pretentious trainer ordered her fat clients to throw anything in their pantry with more than 5 grams of sugar out. So that's my new rule.

Although I'm not giving up fruit or natural sugars... that'd just be too much.

Shit, I miss sugar. This could be a long 21 days.

Going Sugar Free

This day has been hard. I'm off High Fructose Corn Sugar and most sugars.

This is a huge deal for me, I'm a total sugar junkie. I didn't realize it till this week. From my morning soda to my yogurt to my Mike and Ike addiction.

So this week I've cut back on the sodas (can't go cold turkey)cut out most processed foods (save for a fun/if slow dinner with my girls Andrea and Lisa) it's become so much harder than I expected.

I didn't realize how much I depended on grabbing a snack from the vending machine when I get hungry in the afternoon, or heating up a TV dinner at home. I actually have to cook now! Of course at 27 it's probably time for me to expand my cooking horizons anyway. How long can one live on rice and scrambled eggs?

I quenched today's hunger pains by taking a bunch of fruit with me to work and snacking on that and drinking a ton of water.

This thing pretty much started cause I've hit a weight loss plateau... so I'm restructuring the diet and upping my cardio.

I'm even going to try some of the different classes at the gym... which should be fun to blog about... especially since I'll most likely make an ass of myself in one of them.

I'm Doing It

Well dear readers I'm going to do it. I'm going to give up high fructose corn syrup.

If you follow my twitter you may have noticed the article I posted a few days ago about a new study linking that substance to increased weight gain. And if you don't follow me on twitter you totally should, as long as you're not easily offended because I have no brain censor.

And I've hit a plateau, I am upping the workouts and refining what I eat, and I figured this is as good a way as any to start. So starting Monday nothing containing high fructose corn syrup.

That means none of my beloved Diet Dr. Pepper or sweet tea or Mike & Ikes... wow... this is going to be really fucking hard.

Here's the article if you're interested:
http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S26/91/22K07/