garagegym107

Today has been a good day.  I made sure that I had things to keep me busy this weekend since I knew that busy is better on the cleanse days.

It’s really so much easier when you have a list and things lined up to accomplish.  There is quite a bit of truth to the “idle hands” saying.  I managed to gather some old clothes and linens and take them to the thrift store.  Nothing feels better than removing clutter.  Both mentally and literally.

I’ve noticed the time around 3-5pm on these cleanse days seems to be the toughest for me but I haven’t yet dialed in exactly why that is.  No matter, I bravely did my grocery shopping during those hours today so now I won’t be running to the store when I get off work.

I debated going to the store when in this state of mind because I’m convinced that the human brain only has so much will-power stored up before it’s subject to cave.  I decided I would challenge mine to the fullest.  Ever noticed how many people go from sample station to sample station in Costco?

It was fun because I took the college kid with me and at his request we discussed healthy nutrition the entire time.  Win.  He now understands why it’s more beneficial to eat the whole orange over have a glass of OJ.  He also knows the hierarchy of carbs and why some are good, better & best and which ones he should really avoid altogether.  He actually listened too.  He’s working too hard in the garage gym to not care about what he eats.  Baby steps!

Tomorrow morning is the stats check.  Again it’s about collecting data for me.  I’ve learned so much through this process.

• Read the directions.  If you don’t you can make things harder than they need be.
• A nutritional cleanse has nothing to do with a colon cleanse.  Absolutely nothing.  Don’t be fooled by the word cleanse.
• Caffeine isn’t a required nutrient, I just like it.
• People who think you shouldn’t do a nutritional cleanse are the same ones that tell you that you carry your weight well.
• The mind is the most powerful fitness tool we have, hands down.

Lets talk.  No really lets do.   I’ve been around the fitness/weight loss community for over 3 decades now.  I’ve seen things come and go both in the way of workout programs and nutrition.  The one constant that never ceases to amaze me is the attachment to the scale.  Also known as random number generator.   The scale can be a useful tool about once every month and no more than that.  

If you KNOW  you are doing what you need to do, eating enough clean food including healthy fat, working out (pushing to your limits, not lolly-gagging while reading a magazine), getting enough sleep and drinking a ton of water then the scale really isn’t important. 

If you find yourself having treat meals more than you are having clean meals getting on the scale is just going to torment your already tormented mind.  Yeah, don’t think I don’t know all about that.  It’s one thing to have the occasional treat meal or in my case Ben & Jerry’s.  

But it’s a completely different ball game if you are not being honest with yourself and expecting that stupid scale to confirm your worth in this world.   That scale has no power over you.  If you get upset by the numbers on that scale you need to figure out what is driving those feelings.  It’s just data.  Data that tells you to make a change if needed.  It’s not good or bad, just data.

I’ve found over the years that I am much more at peace with myself when I do the right things for my body.  And just let me say this loud and proud.   Doing this experiment with this cleanse has only confirmed that fact to me.   ANYONE can get themselves boxed into a corner with tunnel vision.   If you are not seeing results with your program then you must change what you are doing.  Sometime all it takes is a subtle change.  Sometime like in my case, it takes a sledgehammer.  

Awareness is key.  Two decades ago, I tried yoga.  At the time I had 3 young boys.   As I was doing everything I could to focus on downward dog, all I could think of was what were those boys were getting into while I was trying to remain in the moment.   It was a disaster for me at that time in my life.  Now, I adore a nice yoga class and can actually stay in the moment even when not in a class.

That’s been the beauty of this cleansing experiment.  I give partial credit to the product itself because it doesn’t contain a bunch of hocus pocus junk.  It has pure clean ingredients.  Nothing is jacking around with my thought process or my heart rate.  Nothing is creating anxiety.  It’s simple.  Here’s the stuff, here’s what you do.   And that is what allows for the moments of realization that there are no sugar cravings.  I didn’t have a horrible caffeine withdrawal headache like I have in the past and good clean food again tastes divine.  I’m not finished yet, but I know beyond a doubt that I’ll do it again. 

Enough of my babbling today.  Have a great day and if you read this blog everyday and think “oh I’d like to make a comment” please feel free to do that.

There are days I think my workouts are literally going to kill me, from a physical stand point.  On the flip side there are days when I feel my day job killing my mojo.  Don’t get me wrong and don’t think I’m not grateful for the job because I totally am. 

It’s reminding myself that it’s not what I do for a living, but what I do to live that matters most.  The work life reminds me to stay focused and get things done so I can switch gears to the fun stuff.   I choose to find the good instead of focusing on that one little negative thorn currently sticking me in the butt. 

I had a great workout this morning.  Today was a one month stats check.  I improved on strict kettlebell shoulder press, flex hang from the pull-up bar and strict band assisted dead-hang pull-ups.  I can kip several unassisted pull-ups but the raw strength dead-hang pull up still eludes me.  For me it’s a coordination deal as much as strength, engaging the lats is slow progress.  I just keep moving forward.  

And the above improvements also help me to realize this cleanse is not having a negative impact on my workouts.   I’ve determined the hardest part of it all is explaining to others why I chose to do this in the first place.  As the week has progressed a couple of things are becoming obvious to me. 

I’ve always been trained to eat plenty of clean foods in order to gain muscle.   Plenty of clean foods = eating 5-6 small meals that contain a protein, a sweet potato and or vegetable carbs or fruit.   I’ve learned that there is a good possibility of my version of plenty has outgrown what I truly need in the way of caloric intake. 

Secondly, I’ve learned that I am a caffeine junky and need to purposefully work on limiting the caffeine or avoid it all together. 

But the most shocking revelation to me is that I haven’t been having crazy sugar cravings.  None.  Nadda.  Huge.  Seriously HUGE revelation!

The path to greatness isn’t paved with gold.  It’s paved will trial and with error, sweat and tears and a courageous willingness to learn.  All things that each of us are worthy of. 

Those who travel that path to greatness appear to be somehow better, stronger, more worthy than others. 

In truth they are willing to stay on the path, sweaty and at times tearfully uncomfortable when the average person chooses to remain mediocre and steps aside searching for an easier way.

Food.  I love food.  What I didn’t realize for so long is that food in its most simply cooked state is divine.  After the cleanse weekend, my food was actually leftovers.  Grilled chicken breast, pineapple jalapeno salsa and steamed broccoli.  Most people would look at that and say “meh” but holy cow that was a good meal. 

I’m such a strange woman.  If I am not in the mood for specific clothing, i.e. work wear, I may end up changing tops or outfits 3 different times on occasion before settling on what I’m finally going to wear.   For the longest time I thought I only did that because I was over-weight and frustrated.  Ha!!  Losing weight didn’t change that little factoid at all.   This morning was one of those days but with the best ending.  It’s one of those days when you put your clothes on and they fit perfectly.  Nothing binds, pinches or pulls.  Nothing has to stretch or requires deep knee bends to loosen up the booty.  And trust me with all the squats I do I have a bit of a badonkadonk.  Anyway.   Today the results of the cleanse are really showing in my attire.  I like that.

I had someone ask me a very valid question yesterday.  A bodybuilder male friend of mine.  He said “You eat clean already and decided to do this cleanse.  What happens when you are finished?” 

I love my friends, honest and willing to hold me accountable. 

I said “you know, I’ve been at my current weight and measures for quite sometime.  I rarely shock my system and I rarely take things down to the bare bones.  I want to reintroduce my supplements and complex carbs one at a time to determine which is the culprit that isn’t allowing for lower body fat.” 

His response “I knew you would have thought this all the way through.”  Nice compliment.

I’ve learned throughout my journey that there is no finish line, not in health, weight loss, fitness, and life in general.  I see so many people jump on the band wagon of this program or that.  All the while I can read that they feel like 12 weeks or 20 weeks is miraculously going to change their life at the end.  There are plenty of programs out there that can get you on the right track to change, but you must be willing to get uncomfortable with yourself to make positive change.

Ironically, I’ve found that it’s the people you meet, the lessons you learn, especially about yourself, and the knowledge that you share with others is by far more rewarding than the end results.

Sure, I want what I want for me right now just like everyone else but I don’t lose sight of that person on the treadmill that is overweight looking at me thinking “she doesn’t know what it’s like”.  Well, yes indeed I do.  There were many, many tears of frustration that fell along my journey.  I am a double edged sword, I’ve been there and on the flip side, I don’t make excuses or take excuses because I know that it’s doable.

 The life of instant gratification is satisfying for oh about two days.  Then what are you going to do?

Monday is such a great day this week!  Measurements taken and scale weight measured and thus far I am delighted with the results.  NO!! I will not share them until the experiment is over ;o).  That would spoil all the fun!   But I will tell you this, at times  our bodies just need to be shocked a bit to start releasing the fat we want to lose.   My boss said to me this morning “you literally look like you lost part of yourself this weekend”.  I’d call that a win. 

Now keep in mind if you are reading this blog and you have a significant amount of weight to lose, the process will be a little different. And that’s where great coaching comes in.  I’ve dealt with my emotional baggage.  In fact I spent several years unpacking that baggage trunk one shoe box at a time.  It was well worth the time spent freeing my soul of unneccessary guilt and anguish.  Life is too short to live in the past. 

Back to my experience.  I went to the gym this morning to do my lower body workout.  Was it a break all my records workout?  Well no.   That would have been a ridiculous expectation.  My goal today was to work as hard as I did the last time I worked my legs.  Was I successful?  Yes, very.  I imagine that tomorrow the workout will be more on par with my normal die trying initiative.   Part of the battle of any experiment like this is to understand the difference between your normal and your experiment expectations.  

In my case, I’ve cut my calories significantly and included two full cleanse days.  I’m not going to come off of a cleanse weekend feeling like a super she hulk unless someone makes me angry.  Then it’s quite possible.

A little more about me.  I’m a big girl (5’8″) that likes clean food.  Just making sure everyone is clear on me and my prefered method of eating.  I’m sure it will take all of the manners I can muster not to appear to be a carnivore let loose on my first meal in weeks at the dinner table.

On a side note, I’m over joyed that I was able to post to the blog from my cell over the weekend.   Lack of internet really bites when you like to be social.   

Have a great day and keep coming back for more!  I really appreciate the “likes” and comments so thank you!!