Updates

Ok so I've neglected to post for the past couple of days--- because of some slip ups. :/ This is harder than I thought.

To bring you up to speed---

Sunday Sept 27- I went to church and ate breakfast there. And you know how food is at the black church. super unhealthful. So I ate this greasy chicken, scrambled eggs. I drank coffee, only to help mask the horrible taste.

Monday Sept 28- I got hungry in between classes and had a black forest muffin from the cafe. Totally unsatisfying and not filling, but thats what you do when you let yourself get starving.

Tuesday Sept 29- BJ's, a Steakhouse Brewery, was offering free meals. And who am I to turn down FREE? So I went, at the behest of my mother. Of course I ate a pizza. I could've ate a ceasar salad, but thats gross, and did I mention this was free. And I had to try their famous soda. And then I had to try their world famous desert, a warm cookie topped with ice cream. Wow. FML.

But here we are in a new day , in a new way. I can truly say my sugar cravings are lessening dramatically, and I will continue to work on that. I feel that adding more green to my diet will help mitigate the hunger and cravings further, so I will try to pick up some salad from trader joes.

Also, I want to start making pasta, as it will probably help me feel a lot less hungry.

So send me your feedback, love and support.

Thanks

Happy Trails.

Sharla

Headed Into Day 6

Ok so yesterday was a good day. I stuck with the detox... smoothie in the morning, peanut butter snack, lentil soup lunch... but then the evening came. I decided to stay at school and talk to Brittany instead of going home. Very good but I didn't have any snacks.

So it started with Cheez Its. I decided to have a handful, but you know how that goes. They were low fat, and technically not too bad, but the artificial preservatives in them were unhealthful. Then I gravitated to her tootsie rolls. Funny, they weren't even that tasty. But the butter melts out of habit, the toast isn't even warm.

I was locked in her room waiting for her to return, so I didn't eat or go shopping. Then we decided to go to a party-- without eating. By the time I was back from the party I was starving! Too starving to focus, and so I got a friend to purchase a healthful night snack for me of a turkey sandwhich, peach rings and a pepsi. It wasn't as good, and I felt the effects (sluggishness) this morning. but these late night decisions are killer.

Its important to stay focused, and to stay prepared. Also its important to make your concerns known. I found out later that Brittany had apples, which I'll have for breakfast. :)

well, back on the bandwagon I go!

Here's to health!

Sharla

Meals For Today

This is my tentative meal plan for the day

Breakfast

We begin our day with smoothies. Supposedly its easier on the digestive system. I also eat a piece of multigrain toast with my drink.

Smoothie

1/2 cup soy milk, 1/2 cup water

ice

1/2 bannana - or maybe more I need to use them up before they spoil

handful of strawberries

* i forgot to by some stevia or other healthy sweetner so I guess I'll just have to drink quickly

Mid Day Snack

Apple

1/2 Peanut Butter Sandwich

Lunch

Beans (lentils or black beans) and salad with lettuce, onion, tomato and avocado

Dinner

TBD

I'll also drink lots of water through out to keep my systems flowing and hunger down. :)

If you have any good, fairly uncomplicated food suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them.

Happy Trails,

Sharla

The High Cost of Health?

Its 7:08AM. I have been waking up since 6:30. Everyday I am getting up slightly earlier. I don't know if this is because my body is not intoxicated by sugars or if its with excitement to see the class that I've been tutoring in.

Last night a friend and I were talking about the cost of eating healthily. He was saying that, while he wanted to have a healthier diet, it was just too costly. In the immediate sense, this is true. I've been to the grocery store already several times this week, though that is probably due to lack of planning more than necessity. However, I think about the experience of my dad, who was hospitalized for more than a month with iaschemic colitis, and I know that this is not true.

In June, the effects of poorly controlled diabetes, and the effects of smoking cigarettes (though he quit 13 years ago) caught up with my dad. His got a blood clot in his veins, (which constrict more easily due to poorly controlled diabetes and arteriosclerosis, which came from smoking) and that clot caused parts of his small intestines to die. Ouch. After being in the hospital for more than a month without knowing what was wrong, and enduring numerous CT Scans, colonoscopies and intense drugging, he underwent 2 surgeries. After being released he returned 3 times from surgery complications and affects of diabetes. He spent about 2 months in the hospital and has a 6 month recovery ahead of him.

How does this relate to cost? Well this hospital experience would've cost him about $1,000 a day-- and he was there for over a month. Then there is the cost of the two surgeries (he's yet to open these bills). Then there is the cost of the home care nurse that he needed for at least 2 hours of round the clock care, which cost at least $100 a day. There's the cost that my aunt paid to fly out from Kansas to CA to stay with him. There's the cost of the 14 pills that he must take daily. There's the cost of not being able to work for 6 months--- thank God for Sick Leave.

While insurance in fact covered many of the costs of the hospitalization and surgery (i guess they send you bills as a cautionary tale) still there was a great financial cost to my father, and to my relatives, which all stemmed from his poor health. So while he may have saved a couple of dollars on fruits and veggies, look at the way he'll be paying.

I love my dad, and his recovery is priceless to me, but everyday he tells me to live better than he did. Then he sends me to Golden Bird. :)

Happy Trails

Vegan Virgin

So today is the first vegan day. I have gone sugar free for the first two days, and now I'm getting totally vegan.

So today for breakfast I ate a smoothie that was 1 cup soy milk, mangos and strawberries. Very gross! I forgot to add a sweetner--- so used to drinking with yogurt and orange juice-- so there is no need for sweetner. But welcome to a more healthy way.

I had to part with eggs today, this would not necessarily be my choice but the 21 day detox requires no meat or meat by products.

How will I get protein-- well, the soy milk and peanut butter sandwhich snack and the black beans in lunch should be sufficient.

I feel fine, though I had dreams that the chocolate bar in front of me was unwrapping itself... don't worry, I made it put its clothes back on.

Happy Trails,

SB

Beginning

Well, I didn't get a chance to meet with the group, so I decided to start on my own anyway. For the past two days I have begun what I guess is a basic version of the detox--- basically no of the everything on the no list except I did eat eggs and meat. I am really curious to see the effects on my body when I restrict my meat intake. I hear this is not good for highly sensitive people. However, I will get my protein from soy milk which will go in my smoothie, beans and peanut butter. So hopefully this will suffice.

I am very excited that, in my past two days, I have not had any sugar. No cookies or candies, no cakes, no ice creams, no juice. Nothing. Not even gum. Wow. That is a huge victory for me, and I'm excited to see the benefits from just not eating sugar alone. I feel great, very sleepy, but a lot more relaxed. So from here on out, for the next 19 days, the more intense aspects of the detox begins. Happy trails.

Introduction

Hello all!

I am beginning my 21 day detox and I would like to share my journey with the world. My detox is basically an abstinence program--- I will abstain from refined sugars, fried foods, meats, animal products and caffinee. You ask, then, what will I eat? I'll eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and soy products if I can get my hands on them.

I 've never done anything like this before. I'm nervous about failing. But think about how many great things we have never done because we are afraid to begin. So here we go. welcome to my journey.