Day 10...

Well Day 10 finds me settling in to this eating.  I almost feel like I am enjoying the new menu items too much.  The chicken salad is wonderful accompanied by the lettuce buns.  I don't struggle too much with the steamed veggies at dinner because I did that anyway, but it is now something I dearly look forward to.  I am getting a little tired of "dry" grilled chicken though. 

Big excitement of the day...... I had almond butter and 3 slices of a Granny Smith apple and it was absolutely decadent I must say.  I looked around me at first, while I was enjoying it, to see if anyone was watching me as I actually felt like I was cheating it was soooooo good.

The Burst exercises are still going well.  I have my favs that I like to do, but I am attempting to at least try them all.  I tend to lean toward the ones that make me look less silly when I do them.  LOL

I learned:  Naturally sweet or low sugar food is starting to satisfy my sweet tooth.

I miss: grapes, pears and a good old fashioned piece of butter bread.

Day 9...

Finally on the day I should be on. This was an exciting day... I got to eat NEW food! The new menu had chicken salad recipe, etc. Yes! Feeling better. I don't seem as slow moving and I have had 2 very busy days at work and did just fine. Wonder if I had more brain power due to the protein? Hmm makes me wonder.

Great 3 miler in the evening and new Bursts to try. Feeling pretty spent, but in a good way.

I learned: Coffee with cream only isn't so bad.

I miss: Captain Crunch..... how random is that?

Sorry to all 2 of my faithful followers… I did not blog day 6 or 7.
Here’s a quick catch up.
Day 6 was uneventful much of the same. Still felt like I was moving slower than normal. I did survive my first exposure to eating outside of my controlled area. I went to a Labor Day PICNIC!!! Yikes. Actually I thought it through ahead of time. Had a delish “lettuce burger” (a normal burger nestled beautifully between 2 lettuce leaves. Crunch, Crunch). I did find it hard to pass up the other side dishes; The salad with it’s sugared dressing, potato chips on display for me to look at but not touch, apple pie to smell but not partake of…..ah well. I made it. Exercises went well. No worries of getting a cramp due to to much food. J

Day7 opened with a wonderfully brisk 3 mile run. Breakfast with my sister followed at a RESTAURANT. I splurged and asked for 2 scrambled eggs instead of 1 filled with spinach and mushrooms. Not bad. Passing on the hash browns that my sister so cruelly ordered and ate I might add right in front of me just about did me in.

Because I was feeling so confident, I suggested the family eat out for dinner. Bull and Bear Grill it was. I recalled the words of wisdom Dr. Matt had given us; “ask for grilled meat and steamed veggies without the oil”. I did get a salad and I have to say I think the oil and vinegar dressing had sugar in it, but I am sure it was just a trace. After dinner, dessert was Burst exercises in the family room. Yummy.

Day 8 The day I had been waiting for, well kinda. A mixture of good and not so good: Weigh in day L New menu and exercises day J Yes I lost weight, not the intent necessarily, but it was fine. We were given a new menu for our meals for the week with a few extra recipes for smoothies and a dessert. I was very excited.

Off to the grocery store to stock up on veggies and pure chicken and fish. Interesting to see how little ends up in my cart, but how the bill is still substantial. An hour spent in the kitchen cutting and slicing and cooking and mixing for the lunches and dinners to come. Not too bad. J

Cardio at the gym and Burst exercises and done for the night.

I learned: Planning ahead makes a difference and Lettuce buns are not too bad.

I miss: Cheese and crackers on my deck.

Day 5...oh my

Okay so I made it thru day 5.  Not too bad.  Still somewhat slow moving.  Strange.  

Not a happy camper as I watch my daughters eat Double Stuff Oreos and my homemade salsa with chips.  Ugh... He did tells us with a smile... "you all might get a little #@&%&" .  Yikes.  Should have been a warning.  Soooooo looking very forward to getting the new "Menu of the Week" on Tuesday from Dr. Matt.:-)

Cardio felt good.  Warmed up and finished with the elliptical and then Burst exercises.     SPeaking of Bursts......Don't know which is worse-- having Nicole sat the Burst exercises  look like water aerobics out of the water or  wondering what people thought at the gym.  And I thought the staring bystanders at the gym just wanted to join in and were jealous. ????  Looking forward to a nice run on Sunday or Monday with the break in the weather.

I learned:  I can be full without feeling too full.  If that makes sense.  And even if I eat a whole quart of blueberries I still want an OREO!!!!

I miss:  Oreos, my homemade salsa, slice of whole wheat toast and Brown Sugar,  have I mentioned that!!!

Bloggin off.....

Day 4

You may notice Day 3 is missing.  That is intentional since I felt so lousy I don't want to remember it.  It could have been a bug, something I ate (mashed cauliflower) or what I suspect; not enough calories to support the cardio.  I did get my Burst exercise in at 9:00 pm last night when I thought I could maybe handle it. 

I am better now. Coming around still feeling groggy, but think I will make it. I think I am missing the carbs and sugar I ate before and my body is saying "What? You want me to do what?"

Day 4 is almost over so I am hoping for the weekend to bring energy back.

I learned: My body is like a car, if I don't keep it fueled up it is going to leave me stranded. and that protein is good for me, but boy I really could skip it.

I miss: Dark brown sugar not just in my coffee. I am dreaming of just eating a spoonful of it, a small spoonful would do just fine, well maybe if I could have a pinch on the tip of my tongue.......

Bloggin off into Brown Sugar Dreams I go!!!!!!  (does that sound weird?)

Day 2 of the 30 Day Challenge ...

Well Day 2 is almost done. 

I did eat less and felt better.  Eating the portion of meat once a day instead of twice is better.  I usually only it one portion a day if that anyway. 

I have to say I am amazed at the "burst" exercise tonight. After I warmed up on the elliptical for 10 minutes I moved on to the "Burst" of Dr. Matt's choice for the day. He sure makes it look simple on the paper.  Hmmmm.   It was SPRINTING in place for 20 seconds 3 times per set, doing 3 sets.  Being a runner and cardio person I thought no big deal....I was wrong.  I was begging for the 1 minute break between sets to arrive.  My heart was pumping and I was sweating.  Crazy.  After the last set I waited the full 2 minutes.   I am a cardio junky so I moved on to the tread mill since my heart was pumping so good and finished with a pretty good pace for 10 minutes.  I felt last nights work as well as tonight's.  There is no doubt I will be looking like an old lady going up and down the stairs at work tomorrow. 

I learned:  Mashed Cauliflower is not very good when it is blended to the consistency of cream sauce.  Yuck!  And no it doesn't help to put it on the Salmon as a sauce.  Just had to get a spoon and do what I could.  Better luck next time....wish there weren't left overs.  ugh! 

I miss:  dark brown sugar in my strong morning coffee and apples.

Bloggin off as I need to put my 2 strawberries and 4 almonds in containers to take to work.  LOL.  Just kidding. 

Day 1 Down

29 Days To Go doesn't explain much, but read on.  I haven't blogged before, obviously, but hey I figured give it a try.

I accepted a 30 Day Fitness Challenge through my work.  I don't usually do Fitness challenge things.  I have my own ideas and I know what generally works for me and my body.  I had to try it as it was something new to me and I love trying new things. 

Day 1:   Give me my coffee, half a piece of whole wheat toast (to get my vitamins and med down) and I am good to go.  Not today.  Today I had to eat 2 scrambled eggs with peppers and onions.  Now don't misunderstand me I love that, but ugh was that a lot to stomach in the morning.  Feeling full, it was on to getting measured.  Yes, that means, weight, body fat percentage, lung capacity (time to Google that), blood pressure and waist circumference.  Interesting way to start the morning.

I soon discovered I DO NOT like feeling so full; just ask my co-worker, Andrew.   I was rather crabby by 10:00 as my stomach was still very full feeling.  All I could think about was how am I going to get the berries down that I am supposed to eat as a mid morning snack.  I did get a few down around 11:00.   By 1:00 I almost felt like eating the salad with grilled chicken and mushrooms on it.  My tummy finally growled around 4:30, oops missed my afternoon snack of 4 almonds (just kidding).  Dinner was my fav as it was sauteed veggies with just a little grilled turkey.  Finally time for something I want to do....cardio.   Treadmill and then what I thought would be silly and useless (sorry Dr. Matt) 20 second bursts of squats as fast as I could.  That kicked my behind!!  Literally!  More treadmill and home to "enjoy" water with lemon on the deck.  A far cry from my usual glass of wine.

Lessons learned from Day 1:  1 egg for breakfast not 2, meat once a day, I will work on the mid morning snack requirement,  3 sets of 3 - 20 second bursts of squats make my legs quiver and there is a lot of slicing, dicing and planning that goes into this type of challenge.  I am disclosing now, I was not made aware of all the extra prep time. : )

What I miss most:  dark brown sugar in my strong, morning coffee!

Bloggin off for Day 1; 29 to go