Well, here we are at the end of the first week. I will say that the last few days were MUCH better than the first few. Here are some random, in no particular order reflections:
1. Before we realized we had access to teaspoons BUT ALSO "sweeteners" also via the teaspoon I was depressed to never have honey braise my lips ever again. And then we did a little more reading and honey, raw sugar, etc. is okay on a daily basis (teaspoons) but they would "rather" you didn't, but they are available if you need it. And I apparently need it. The minute I was able to add honey to my oatmeal and cottage cheese I was HAPPY!
2. I've been writing every thing down in a journal and while the journal will allow three cycles of the 21 days I will use it but I will likely revert to an online version after that. writing is good and all but it becomes cumbersome too. But, I figure at least if these cycles "work" then I will have a written document of what to maybe repeat, etc.
3. Oh, treats, I love you so. The first few days I really didn't want to focus on treats and felt it better to cold turkey the whole sugary stuff. WRONG. After we made some treats over the weekend and I had that as an OPTION to swap and eat for dessert, my world opened back up again and the sun began to shine brighter.
4. The workouts are HARD. And, I think they are kinda meant for people WITH beach bodies sorta kinda already and not for people like me. But, I managed to do them all quite well-ish EXCEPT the pilates. Go figure. I've done a walking workout that incorporated some pilates and found that quite enjoyable. So I assumed this would be great too. Wrong. I hated this day's workout. I was horrible at it and could hardly do the moves. Don't get me wrong, the other workouts are quite challenging too but at least doable-ish. Today was yoga and at first I was going to skip it. I'm SO glad I didn't...it was WONDERFUL and I could actually do mostly everything. Not great, mind you, like I couldn't reach my palms under my toes or anything remotely like that but I did my best and the "rest" workout today was kind of a nice reprieve. Will I work out 7 days a week forever? Likely no. Will I do at least 5? Yes. Will I try and get way more exercise into my life going forward? Yes again.
5. Steel cut oatmeal with 2 teaspoons of honey is like heaven.
6. I realized yesterday that I think I was making things harder on myself more than necessary. For days and days and days I "felt" it best to "save" more proteins for the dinner. So, I would eat like one protein all day and then load up on three for dinner. Or, eat two proteins all day and then 2 at dinner. WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. OMG, future self: don't bloody do this! I was shaking, hungry, agitated, and doubting the program more than necessary! Stupid. Yesterday, I didn't do that. I had protein all day long and felt full, satisfied, not tired, motivated, happy, better. Between proteins and carbs, it gives me reason to live.
7. Those little colorful containers are misleading. They look super tiny but they hold quite a bit. I really do love (and feel so much better) concentrating on those portions. Gawd, was I overeating.
8. Call me crazy but I love this way more than counting all those friggin points! You just have to really sit down and write out a sort of meal plan for the day so you can work all that food into your day...otherwise, you'll be short or overeating all your missed containers at 10pm.
9. I miss popcorn. I'm going to bring it back after the first 21 day cycle. Even my doctor said the light popcorn was an okay treat. I will eventually swap out a yellow and indulge in a few cups worth maybe once or twice a week. I need it. And I need to look forward to it. I love popcorn.
10. I think this program officially got my husband off soda. A drink he has been drinking ever since I met him almost thirty years ago! Thank gawd. I've always felt that soda was so bad for you and he's paid the price in various health things that can be stemmed from an addiction to pop. Now, he drinks more water and COFFEE. There is a god.
11. Not exactly sure how to navigate the "real world" just yet because in the real world there are preservatives and ugliness. Like, tomorrow for my last class the professor is treating us to pizza. Maybe if I was that beach body fitness instructor person I could just nibble on carrots and push the pizza away but I am not strong like that. I can't do it. I sorta don't want to do it. Life is short, after all to forgo all things that are delectable! So, my plan is bring a salad to share with the meal and do TWO workouts: one in the morning (the 21day fit) and one after lunch (one of my Leslie Sansone walking videos) to offset the pizza. Oh, and I will have either plain cheese or the veggie version.
12. I still am not drinking enough water. If I truly drink ALL the water that is requested of me I will be peeing more than I do already. Does your bladder somehow tighten or something eventually? It's a problem.
13. I'm eating WAY more veggies than I have ever eaten. It's funny because veggies are free on WW and even though I was sometimes eating two veggies with a meat dish dinner it was never the "serving" of that green container!!!
14. My skin is looking better.
15. Am I sleeping better? With the exception of troublesome dogs who suddenly need to go out at 2am for no real reason or the time change or getting up to pee which is nothing new...I do think I am sleeping better.
16. Having food prep is great and less stress in the long run...but getting there can be a challenge. Maybe it'll be easier when school ends in a week or so...
17. I feel "less." It's hard to explain but it feels as though someone took a weight-reducing brush and swiped it all over my body. As if a layer has been removed. This certainly seems like good news and I am looking forward to seeing the end of the first cycle to see how well it all worked. How can it not, really? exercising every single day, lean proteins, healthy carbs, plenty of fresh veggies and fruits, no preservatives, huge reduction in sugary crap, nothing from a box, all whole grains. Jesus H. this bloody thing better friggin work.
18. It's a great system to work on your own for your own health but I love that my husband can also do it too without having to rely on me to tell him how many points a meal is or how many points a certain something was.
19. My body is sore. Not like I was after days one and two but still rather sore. Which also made the yoga today quite relaxing. My favorite pose: the corpse. You gotta lie down on your back, arms out, legs out and close your eyes. Nighty night. ;)
20. All in all, I'm happy with this. I feel good, I feel like I am doing all I can for my body by filling it with healthy stuff and while the results may be a ways off from being noticeable, I feel better. I feel healthier and will likely not go back to those boxed up, packed up overly processed pretend foods. The realization that Whole Foods is so much better for you makes me happy, truly. And, as a history grad student I had written a 44 page thesis on the history of food and this tends to stem a wee bit closer to an earlier time when food was only whole for obvious reasons and while I will not trade my access to seasoning blends I have begun to truly savor now, I like the historical closeness to colonial times in eating whole.
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