Day 8 - Back to Work

Up and at it a heck of a lot earlier on Day 8.  Back to work - half days only for the next three weeks but I like getting back to a regular routine.

Breakfast....big surprise...another smoothie.  I sometimes don't have a huge appetite in the morning so I find a smoothie really does do the trick.

Even though I was only going to be working for 4 hours, I made sure I packed a snack in case I got hungry.  I packed some jerky and a handful or raw walnuts.  You really need to bring some healthy snacks with you during the day.  It's far too easy to go to the vending machine and grab a chocolate bar or chips if you don't.

Got my workout in when I got home.  I did an AM RAP of Wall push ups,  squats,  crunches and half - burpees for 21 minutes and then followed it up with core work of 10 roll ups, 10 leg lifts, 10 ankle reaches and 9 reverse crunches.  Awesome!

We had lots of leftover roast from the night before but I made a side dish to accompany it of caramelized onions and green apple with a bit a bacon.  Heavenly!  I will be making it every time we have pork now!

I still am not having any cravings which is shocking me.  I made 21DSD compliant fudge the other day with some coconut butter, coconut oil, sunbutter, cocao powder and pumpkin puree.  I have a couple pieces every couple of days and that seems to be doing the trick!

Day 7 - Week In Review

My first week of the 21 Day Sugar Detox is done!  I have to say that it went by alot better than I thought it would.  I was sure that I was going to have horrible cravings for the sweet stuff but I really didn't.  And I didn't get rid of candy and chocolate out of the house.  It's still here, I just don't want it.

Has this week been perfect?  Heck no but I'm not going to beat myself up over it and just throw in the towel.  My hubby ended up putting some honey in a rub for the pork roast he made last night (which he told me after we had eaten it).  You know what I said to myself?  So what.  It happens.  I ate clean for the rest of the day and the little bit of honey that he put on wasn't that big of a deal.  And he chose a natural sweetener which is better.

Onward to week two!  I go back to work this week for half days.  Have to plan what great snacks to bring with me. 

One thing I can day about succeeding on this detox is to plan your meals.  Have healthy ingredients in your house and know what you are going to make in advance!

Day Six - Can you eat out on the 21DSD?

I had a great Day 6.  My flu like symptoms had disappeared and I woke up pretty energized. 

Saturday mornings I have a few ladies stop buy to work out together.  Unfortunately, they weren't able to come yesterday so I had the gym to myself.  I concentrated on more core work today.  My core sure took a beating over the last three months so it was great to get some exercises in to strengthen them. 

My smoothie obsession continues but I made a pumpkin pie protein smoothie after working out.

The hubby then suggested that my daughter and I get to the mall.  No prompting was needed.  He then suggested that we get dinner out.  Normally,  that would pose a problem as there aren't a lot of restaurants that will cater to gluten-free/egg-free/dairy-free lifestyles.  Then we stumbled upon Five Guys Burger and Fries.  Heaven!!

What's great about Five Guys is that you can order your burger (100% beef no fillers) or hot dog without a bun.  They will wrap your burger in lettuce leaves.  You then dress the burger the way you want.  I ordered a little bacon burger with grilled onions and mushrooms.  I can't tell you how good this was.  It's messy but awesome! 

Day 5 - My Return to the Gym

I was so exited to get back into the gym yesterday morning.  I have missed doing strength training.  I have lost pretty much all the definition I had built in my upper body.  The 21DSD comes with a great workout program if you order your package online at www.balancedbites.com/21DSD.  The workout consisted on a quick warm up, step ups, wall push ups, squats and crunches.  After three rounds, you hit the mat for some core work and stretches.  God, I have missed this!

My food today was pretty easy.  I went a little overboard at the grocery store when I was picking up stuff to make this week!  So it's easy for us just to grab something healthy. 

Breakfast was another smoothie but this time I took a frozen banana, almond butter, almond milk and a couple bug handfuls of spinach.  Yumm!   The hubby was totally put off by the green colour of the smoothie and wouldn't try it but it was really good!

Lunch was a quick grab of leftover taco meat, some lettuce,  and mushrooms.  Quick, easy and satisfying!

Dinner was awesome!  Stuffed portobello mushroom caps.  So good!

I was thinking that I was going to get off a bit easy since I had managed to get to Day 5 with only a headache for symptoms but later on in the evening I started to feel kinda crappy (no Crohns pun intended).  I was nauseated and a bit achy.  I ended up taking a Gravol and went to bed.  Symptoms passed shortly thereafter and I got a great nights sleep.

I haven't had any sugar cravings at all.  Which is strange for me but let's see what tomorrow brings!

Day Four and Post - Surgery Update

I woke up early on Day Four as I had an appointment at the hospital with my surgeon for a post-surgery check up.  Had another Coco-monkey Smoothie.  Yes, I have a mild addiction to this smoothie but my husband is also asking when I am going to use up the avocado that I bought earlier in the week!

Then off to the hospital.  Always book your appointments first thing in the morning.  I usually get in to see the doctor right away and you aren't sitting in a waiting room for hours.  First up, visit with the resident.  He went over my pathology report.  No cancer but definitely Crohns Disease.  I'm kinda grossed out by the fact that someone had to examine my excised intestine...definitely not a job that I would do.

Dr. Ott came in shortly thereafter.  He was very pleased with my recovery.   My incision has healed up nicely.  He also have me the ok to return to work for half days.  Best though is that I can finally workout more that just going on short walks and light Cardio.  Finally!!

Day Four of 21DSD was pretty easy actually.  My headache was gone.  Lunch was some leftovers and brown rice.  Dinner was taco night.  My family has been really supportive with my new recipes.  They had tacos with the works.  I ate the taco in a lettuce cup.  No dairy but lots of veggies!  Another winner!!

I'm just so pumped to get going in the gym!  The 21DSD does come with a workout program (e-book) so I will be testing it out tomorrow. :)

Day Three...The Beginning of Hard Times?

Day Three...a day where fatigue, flu - like symptoms, low blood sugar could set in.  Apparently, this is quite common for people detoxing from sugar.  I found that I had a headache and felt a bit light - headed at times but that was it.  Not too bad as some people that are in the 21DSD Facebook group are really suffering. 

I actually don't really miss the sweet stuff right now.  I know, I know...let's see how I am in a couple days.  But so far, so good.

Breakfast was another Coco-monkey Smoothie.  Seriously, this drink is like having a chocolate milkshake for breakfast...plus it uses up the avocado I bought earlier in the week.  I woke up late again so this smoothie kept me full until dinner.

Time to use up some leftovers!  For dinner I took some leftover meatloaf from Day 1 and vegetables from Day 2 and stir fried them up in a bit of ghee and then threw in 1/2 cup of brown rice.  Pretty darned good for a quick throw together meal!

Smooth sailing so far...On to Day 4!  I go so the surgeon today so I am hoping to get clearance to return to work shortly.  I will update you all on that tomorrow!

Day Two Recap of 21DSD

Well, Day Two has come and gone.  I started the day with a workout.  Turbo Jam 20 Minute Workout.  I love these workouts but, holy moly, I was completely sucking wind through it.  It is totally frustrating when your body doesn't do the things it used to do so easily but then I have to remember to cut myself some slack...my body went through a significant trauma.  It will take some time to get it back to where I was pre-surgery.  Patience grasshopper!

My post-workout breakfast was a Coco-monkey Smoothie from the guidebook.  It was so stinking good.  I seriously could drink this smoothie the rest of my life!  The frozen banana in there gave it enough sweetness to help curb any cravings for sweets that I had upon waking up.

The symptoms that I could experience on Day Two were headaches, mental foggiest,  or hunger.  I definitely had a headache and a bit of nausea during the afternoon.  I grabbed some beef jerky as a snack later in the afternoon which helped a bit.

The one thing that I am finding is that I'm not really that hungry during the day.  The smoothie was enough until about 2 p.m.  (I also didn't get up until 9 - I am hoping to get the clearance to get back to my full - time job after I see the surgeon this week so I will be waking up at 5 a.m. next week). 

Dinner was Greek Meatballs, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots.  Fantastic!  The hubby even commented how good it was - which is saying something!

Evening snack was Cinnilla Nuts (also from the guidebook).  I thought they were pretty darned good.

So I will chalk Day Two up to be a success!  Cravings not bad at all.  Day Three is supposed to be when it can get pretty dicey but bring it on.  I got this!!