Weight Watcher's and I agree on one thing...

Today I weighed myself and I weigh 141.

I lost 5 lbs over the past month.

Not great, but I'll take it.

I didn't exercise, which could have helped.

And I really hurt things with the eating during the Lice week.

But I'm happy with where I am and am moving forward.

I went for a run tonight.

Full moon, so pretty and so SCARY! NOT!

I don't like running in the morning because

1.) I really do hate getting out of bed unless I HAVE to.

2.) There is something about running at night and I can't see exactly how far or where I need to go that lets my mind shut off the feeling that I have forever to go. I started night running in Nashville and loved it. I have totally gotten away from it because Jordan hates it. But I take my phone. I have a mean right kick and can scream with the best of 'em. I should probably start carrying my mace though, just in case...

So this is where Weight Watchers and I agree.

Did you know that they don't suggest/advocate that you start exercising when you start their program?

Why one might ask?

Let's say I'm back to my heavy weight of around 175. Let's add 40lbs to that.

That's like carrying my 5 year old son Jace as I run.
DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD THAT IS!!!!?????

Tonight my run felt amazing. I felt strong and light. I remember what it was like to run carrying my son around on my butt and thighs. It hurt and was not fun.

Exercise becomes more fun when you can actually move, eh?

So I agree with Weight Watchers. Don't kill yourself over getting to the gym to burn those 500 calories.

Get your eating under control. Go for walks. Play with your kids. There are LOTS of ways to be "active" without having to do a Cross-fit routine or  high impact aerobics, that are really just putting tons of stress on your overweight, often undernourished body.

Tonight I made a gluten free pizza with Alta Denta Cheddar style goat cheese, organice tomato sauce, mushrooms, orange bell pepper, cilantro, red onion, and tomato. Do you know how absolutely delicious it was? Amazing. Not goat-y at all and tasted so good compared to that other crust I tried.

This is the pizza crust mix. You'll find it in the organics section. Ask if you can't find it. Almost every grocery store should carry this.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this pizza!

I made sure to start with a salad. Simple and good. Nothing fancy. That was saved for the pizza.

Dressing was super simple and good, lemon juice and powdered stevia!

I did really good today.

I juiced and it was D-E-LICIOUS!

I had probably a 1 1/2 lbs of strawberries, 2 bananas, my favorite avocado lunch sandwich and some rainier cherries.

Really a great day. So happy with how I did!

BTW this is a typical day of food for me...

Day 30-Last day

 Day 30

Today is the last day of my 30 day cleanse.

Did I eat perfectly every day? NO.

Did I try my best? Yes

Have I learned countless things about myself, others, and where I want and need to be? YES!!!!

This has been a great journey for me. I know I wouldn't be where I am today if I hadn't FORCED myself to be this strict and at least try it for 30 days. I tried new recipes, new foods, new ideas and found things I love and things I don't like so much.

I learned I need to be prepared. I need to be ready for anything. Lice, headaches, grumpy/tired children, lack of sleep, long road trips, inability to find certain foods, and most importantly I need to be prepared against the weaknesses of myself.

I realized how easily I fall in to old ways. How easily I am "tempted" to eat and choose the wrong foods. I rationalize one bite won't hurt. But sometimes, like with the breakfast bars, one bite turned into 3 helpings! Oi via!

Again so many thanks to Ginger, Jordan, my sister Christy (who supported me the whole time I was in Spokane wanting and trying new recipes with me, and she lost 10 lbs in two weeks just following and doing what I was doing! Go CHRISTY!), my parents for their love and support and help with the kids, my friends who's texts greatly helped me through and definitely brought smiles and laughs during hard points.

Alright so I ate pretty good today.

I was going to juice, I thought there was enough in the fridge for me to juice in the morning and when I looked, nothing, seriously nothing.

So I made my pro-biotic drink. Then had a kids Cliff bar, not great cause it's processed but better than anything else.

Then went to Kneaders for lunch and had their Avocado Salad, AMAZING!

Then came home drank way too much Kombucha...

And then because again I thought we had more in the fridge, made my hungry girl omelet.

Love this meal

Seriously good goat cheese. Seriously.

Finally had 4 little squares of dark chocolate.

Not exactly how I wanted to finish, but I tried to end on a good note.

Tomorrow I will post my final weight. Which isn't super important because of how I feel, but I do have a goal people, I have a goal weight!

I know I will get there just need a little more time!

And finally, to any one interested I am already planning a juice fast for August.

I haven't decided on the dates yet but plan on doing it.

Please message me, phone me, or text me if you are interested in doing this with me.

Thank you for following me.

You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that people have read something or looked at something and decided to change or want to get on the path.

That is all it takes. Make the decision to get on the path and then do your best.

As you can see with me, I'm not the fastest at losing weight, but I'm determined, realistic and hopeful.

I know I will see you 125 on my scale. I KNOW I will see you.

Till then,

Adieu!

Day 29-My old "normal"

Day 29

So it might seem weird that I decided to try and test out my "old" way of healthy eating yesterday on the road during my cleanse.

I don't even think I can call this last week a cleanse at all, except for eradicating lice from my family's heads, bedding, clothing, and any fabric material.

Yesterday, I decided since I would be on the road, to eat my old way of healthy.

So I had a high fiber cereal with dried strawberried in it and almond milk.

Then I had a banana, by itself, I've learned that at least!

Then for lunch a Subway sandwich. While still healthier than say, McDonald's, a far cry from a properly combined, easily digested meal.

Then I had for dinner a dinner salad, a steak (yes, I had a steak, the first one in probably 7 months and it was NOT how I remember meat tasting), and some broccoli.

Can I tell you how heavy and SICK I felt last night driving home at 10:00pm in the dark.

I would have consider this a very healthy day. And while for many people this is a healthy day and better than what they are buying and fast fooding into their bodies, it's a far cry from what I've learned and been putting into my body.

My "ignorance" has been lifted from eyes. I have such guilt if I eat the things I know I shouldn't, not because of calories any more, but because I know how hard I'm making things on my body.

I may not have eaten perfectly and stayed completely consistenent the last 29 days, but gosh darn it I've tried my best and learned SOOOO much that will be with me through the next 29 years of my life.

That is truly my reward in this. Opening my mind and eyes to what I should do and what I can have in life.

A healthy and fit body.

A clear and sharp mind.

A happy and positive outlook on life.

Ginger Dunham....

Thank you for all your support the last 29 days

Thank you for all the love and friendship and kindness.

Without you I couldn't be where I am today.

Thank you!

Thank you to my mom, sister's, and dad back home. It was a great time, and the last week could have been better but oh, well. Thank you for supporting me with my food needs up until the lice. Understandably, those tiny bugs destroyed any desire to cook or plan a meal.

Thank you!

And lastly, but not least, my amazing husband Jordan.

Thank you for listening to me cry about a million times over the past two weeks.

Thank you for loving me and supporting me in all my "crazy" seeming endeavors that have thankfully become our lifestyle.

Thank you for your friendship, love, and most importantly, your understanding heart.

And, most importantly, thank you for being an amazing father to our children, who, when they see you won't get out of your arms and want to snuggle with you and be just like you.

Thank you!!!!

Day 28-Things I've learned

Day 28

Two positives:

I juiced

I discovered a new lovely Kombucha flavor, Strawberry, truly delicious.

Other than that my eating was ok.

I'm ready to be home and to be done with lice.

I will miss my sisters terribly, but it's time to go home.

I give a huge shout-out to all single mothers.

Those ladies not only have to manage a home and children, but provide as well. Whew, can't even imagine it. They will be the first people I will ALWAYS think of to help or give money to. They have a challenging road.

I've learned that stressful situations make me stress eat.
I've learned I get really flustered when there is a stressful situation and I take it out on those closest to me. I'm sorry EVERYONE who has been in this house the past week. I've been a very grumpy individual with all the lack of sleep, delousing, late nights and constant laundry.

I have to pack and load the car.

Adios!

Day 27- Another bad day

Day 27

So I did my best today.

This lice thing is extremely time consuming and exhausting.

Talking hours, HOURS looking through hair.

At least 18 + hours looking through hair the last 72 hours.

The washing machine has not stopped in 3 days.

Can you imagine washing everything that has fabric or cloth? Literally, I think I am losing my mind.

All the car seat, all bedding, all clothing, all towels, all floor mats.

Anything that can't be washed in hot water and dried on the highest setting has to be placed in air tight bags for 2 weeks.

I HATE LICE!

So, I ate a banana for breakfast at way too early in the morning because Kenzie has also decided to stop sleeping these last few days...

Then two pieces of sprouted bread with almond butter...

Then LOTS of strawberries and rasperries a few hours later..

And then because of fatigue and accesibility two pieces of fried, yes fried chicken.

Could I have sunk any lower. I ate all the above alone, which may be my only saving grace.

Dinner I actually tried to combine properly but again failed out of lack of supplies from not planning my food and not going to the store.

I had a romaine salad with cucumber and the liquid gold elixir dressing.

Then an avocado with an heirloom tomato on sprouted bread. So good and SO filling!

Tomorrow I hope to juice.

I have truly missed it.

I am leaving Sunday to drive home.

I have decided to juice till dinner Monday to Thursday of next week because of my failed week this week. I love how I've felt this last month until we discovered lice.

I'd like to enjoy that again until the Robison Reunion next weekend.

Cheerio and enjoy the games! xoxoxo

Day 26-Recovering

Day 26

Is it possible to recover from one of the longest days I've had as a mother...I hope so?!

Today was better.

My children are still lice free.

I found 4 or 5 eggs on Sean's head and maybe a newbie louse on Kenzie's head and nothing on Jace.

My sister inspected me today and I am happy to say I had no eggs and NO LICE! YES! So happy. I wish I could say the same for the other's in the house.

It has been a full-on assault against these things!

They don't JUMP, thankfully, but they are fast and will crawl from hair strand to another without you even seeing them, especially if the hair is a certain color. So if you are sitting next to or sleeping next to someone who has lice they can quickly and easily go from one hair follicle to the other.

There are marvelous new inventions, as my mom put it, since the day she had to scrub and delouse a family of 7.

Yes there are, and since we've had 9 people living in this house the past 2 weeks, it's been a really busy 48 hours.

There is a non toxic spray my amazing friend Sara told me about. I was planning on seeing her the day after we discovered the bugs, and quickly texted her the news as we found out what has been living with us in the house.

She had the wonderful opportunity to delouse her family of 7 in June, with a newborn baby to boot!

I would highly recommend the robi comb and Licefree Spray. Look for them at your local Walgreen's if you ever have an outbreak.

I have eaten better but I didn't juice today and had fruit and berries till lunch.

I then had my favorite lunch!
Sprouted bread with mustard, avocado, tomato, and S&P...ohhhhh sooooo yummy and fast!

Couple hours later I devoured a banana..it's been a long time my old yellow friend, a long time. He was delicious and savoured.


So I'm obviously not following the guidelines of the cleanse right now.

Hopefully, tomorrow I can get back on track.

Day 25-Lice are NOT nice...

Day 25

So we've discovered an outbreak of lice in the house.

I ate pizza for lunch because I didn't have time to juice between shaving my children's heads and checking for eggs and lice. Then starting laundry and spraying down mattresses and sealing anything with fabric on it.

It's been a nightmare.

Dinner was sprouted bread with almond butter and a banana.

So today I was not a clean eater. I did my best and that's all that matters now with this new problem.

If you've never experienced lice or had the opportunity to deal with it in your home, be grateful. It truly is the most disgusting, awful, time consuming thing. Those little lice are nasty and fast.

It's made me think before resting my head on the seat at the movie theater for sure...YUCK!

Jace-man

Sean and cousin Tyler

Kenzie all buzzed with Ella doing a serious lick on that ice cream cone!

My sad Sean after the hair cut and with the lice shampoo on. When he laid down for his nap later that day, he kept saying "I want my hair back, I so sad, I want my hair back". It was truly so sad!