Sugar Detox Day 4, Workout Day 29

Hello chickens. 

So I told you last time that I signed up for this Restart program at the kickboxing/crossfit gym I love. The way I read it, it was a weekly nutrition class/support group and two boot camps each week. I thought it was a restart - like people get together to learn a little more about nutrition, support each other and make some healthy habits at the beginning of the year. I did not realize it was Restart™, a program incorporating "education about nutrition and digestion" with a sugar "detox" in order to "eliminate toxins" and "reduce inflammation." If I sound a little cynical, it's because I've done something very similar to this with the Whole 30, and I'm sure many of you have read about the unscientific basis for that particular program. A lot of rules about what I can and can't eat, a lot of jargon about toxins and inflammation, not much science. It was developed by a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, which is a lot like a "health coach" in that they cannot diagnose anyone or give medical advice, and they seem to be very focused on whole foods and how they can help to bring your body into balance. The first week of the program is about preparation, then you do a three week sugar detox together, and then learning to reintegrate what makes you feel good etc. Each individual class is run by a Nutritional Therapist, who has taken classes through this program to learn how to facilitate, I guess. The woman running my particular has individualized it a bit - the original is a 5 week program, and doesn't incorporate exercise. For this program, she integrated two Inbody scans - one at the beginning, and one at the end. She increased the program to 6 weeks, and includes two trainer-led boot camps a week. I was excited about the support component, and disappointed when I arrived to find 3 tall, slender, fit people sitting there. Obviously not there for weight loss support, these people had been working out and doing crossfit, and whatnot. They're nice enough, and not judgy, but I'm still not getting that support.

Anyway, why, Missy, is your cynical ass going ahead with the program, you ask? A few reasons:

1. I already paid for it before I knew what it really was. 

2. The boot camps are totally worth it. Really great workouts, and while I'm not exactly having "fun", I'm enjoying the challenge. And the trainer brings her dog sometimes, and he's a good boy!

3. I actually do eat way too much sugar, and doing this with other people helps. 

4. It's only 3 weeks.

So I'm 4 days in to the detox, and the first 2 1/2 days sucked so hard - the headaches alone made me want to cry. I prepped all my food for the week on Sunday, which was a crapton of work, and I hate cooking anyway, so I'll have to adjust a bit for that so I actually feel like I have a weekend. I am eating soup every day for breakfast. If you know a good healthy soup full of protein and veggies, with no sugar added, and no soy of any kind, and no noodles or gluten...please let me know. Bonus points if it's easy. Extra extra bonus points if you make it for me. 

Other than the food thing, I've been working out every day, and that feels pretty good. I promised myself a massage at the end of every 30 days, so I have to get on finding and booking one because I have SWT and Pound classes tonight, and boot camp tomorrow, and that will be 30 days in a row...woot woot! 

I'll post some of the food I'm making in the upcoming days. One happy thing about this program is it's not as strict as some of the others. She says if you choose to indulge in something during the detox, do so, as long as you mindfully choose to eat that item. For instance, this Friday night, I have a Girl's Night Out at a new, and possibly very good, restaurant. If I see something on the menu that is really calling out to me, I may mindfully choose to order it. Perhaps. we'll see what they have. 

Ok, so this is kind of a breakdown of what I'm doing, and I will come back this weekend and give you updates. See you soon. Wish me luck.

Ned Flanders is not my spirit animal

I hope you've been enjoying your week. I am 14 days into this workout every day challenge, and still going. Sunday I add a new aspect to this challenge - a "Jumpstart" program at the kickboxing gym I love. Two boot camps a week, and a nutrition support group, which I soooooo need. Apparently, part of the challenge is a sugar detox, which sounds so not glorious, but I really do need to back off the sugar a bit. Guys. I like my sugar. I do not know what this will look like, but as long as they do not force me to eat (or shudder, cook) fish every day, I can handle it. I do like scientifically based nutrition, though, so let's hope they don't start spouting a bunch of "my mama's cousin cured her diabetes with this diet" nonsense. I'm already a little nervous about the "detox" name, but I will keep an open mind. I definitely work harder when someone else tells me what to do, and this is only 6 weeks.
So, like I said, this is at the kickboxing gym I love, and I really want to start going again. I also have wanted a heavy bag of my own for a few years now, but I never wanted to buy one for myself. You all know I do that Reddit gift exchange every year, and several of the years I've gotten cat gift after cat gift, but this year! Dudes! They got me my heavy bag! My brother helped me set it up in the basement, and I worked out on it this morning!

That is my hand, in my glove, not actually punching, but you get the idea!

Only problem - last night I did jogging intervals on the treadmill, and damn, if my knees weren't killing me today. Like, my thighs and butt have been super sore the past 2 weeks, but my knees were hurting again, which is what made me quit kickboxing in the first place. So I went pretty easy today, alternating between punching and kicking and using the stationary bike, just to get moving. But I am really for sure going to have to get some weight off before I can do more high impact stuff. Last night I weighed in and it was pretty bad - I gained almost a pound this past week. I've mentioned that weight loss for its own sake is not why I'm working; I just want to be able to do the things I want to do for a long time to come. This body will never look good in a bikini again, but it will damn well be kickboxing again before my next birthday.

So...planning. Food prep. Writing it down (ugh). Smoothies. And, apparently, a sugar "detox."

All the emotions

Ok, it's just not going to happen every day. That's alright, but it means I need to stop numbering posts. Sooner or later they might be named "Clever Blog Post A" or something, but today I had emotions, so I will talk about those.e
Argh! Finnegan is not helping!

Wants to be all up in my business

Ok, so, emotions. First, today was workout 8 of 100, and I went to a class at SWT, which is kind of hip hop, a little Latin, a lot of twerking... good fun, and I'll definitely be going back. Anyway, at the end of the class, Gabby, the instructor, always does this destress period after the cooldown, where she has us close our eyes and let go of the crap in our lives, and do some breathing, a little more stretching, and she ends with a motivational quote. Today she was telling us to picture the crap we need to let go of, and well...a friend of mine asked not too long ago if I ever cried during yoga. I can't remember a time I did, but for some reason, this segment of the class set me off. I'm sitting there starting to bawl, thinking of stupid 2019, and stupid 2018 before it, and my feelings of incompetence at work, and so on, and then I remember, she always finishes the class with a group picture, and I couldn't do that with tears running down my face, so I managed to squelch it, but damn! That was interesting.

I love this mug - I drink tea from it, and I don't cry. You can get it from www.emilymcdowell.com

 It really is a fun class, though, and I've never actually cried before, so don't take that as a warning.

It was also fun because one of the participants/instructors is the weight loss doctor I was seeing. I didn't like the program so much, but I loved the doctor, so much, and I really want to be her friend, so it was lovely to see her again.

Tomorrow I am off work to see my therapist, spend some time with my son, go to Costco, and visit my mom, who just had surgery (she had an internal defibrillator implanted) so I need to go check on her. Hopefully I'll also have time to sit down for a minute, but if nothing else, I don't have to drive all the way up to the office.

Ooh, speaking of my commute, I am listening to a new book, highly recommended.

I can't tell you much so far other than the writing is gorgeous, and the narrator for the female character has the most delicate, lovely voice. Which is interesting when she says the word "cock." Which she does, more than once. I'm enjoying the book so far, and I'll keep you posted; it's a long one. I've never read anything by this author before - have any of you?

Alrighty, I have to wake up to go to the gym tomorrow, so I'm going to bed. If I work out here, though, I can sleep in a bit. That may have to happen. Anyway, good night!

Day 3

First and foremost, stomach is feeling better, thank you very much for the well wishes.

It is very wet here today in Cincinnati, so it was a gym day. I go to Planet Fitness, so I decided to try a new one on my way home, and visited the Oakley location. It was fine. I really kind of hate the gym this time of year, but I got there early enough to avoid the worst of the crowds. Anyway, I did 6 minutes on the rower, 32 minutes on the treadmill, and some planks. Still hoping to attend some classes with friends...hint hint...anyway, I took my obligatory selfie, which I will put on Instagram, but I'm sure people get kind of tired of my double and triple posting, so we'll find another amusing and fun fitness-related image to post here.

Now, I realize this is not a hobbit (I'm not an ignoramus, people!), but I have this need to live in a Hobbit Hole. Not really, but they just seem so freaking cozy. A few of you may remember my husband and I took our first trip alone in 17 years a few months ago. We went to Nashville, IN, which was nice, and we had a really good time, even if we did sit in a hot tub. So last night we were chatting a little about our next trip, which is apparently on me to plan (hint: it will not be in Indiana.) Did you know they have Air bnb Hobbit Holes!? There is one in Virginia! The pictures are kind of hilarious - it definitely draws a certain cosplaying clientele. And they have broom making workshops! I was quite charmed, although I have broom, and a husband with a love for robot vacuums, so I feel no need to carve my own broom.

Anyway, looking for getaway locations, within a few hours, and affordable. I would love some suggestions. Hot tub NOT required.

Day 2

Day 2 of 100 - my stomach is bothering me today, so I took a walk from work, and then got lost, which extended the walk by a bit. I also had a green smoothie for breakfast, which may be why my stomach is hurting? I have no idea.

I've been binging Seinfeld lately. I find the humor from Seinfeld to age well.

I'm not concentrating tonight, so rather than boring you all, I'm just going to say have a good night.

New Year, New...Year

Hi.
I wrote earlier in December, but didn't post, as it was a little dark, and I was struggling. For no real reason - weather? Holidays? I don't know. Anyway, I ended up not finishing the post, and then I went to see my therapist, which definitely helped. And then the holidays hit, which I can't really complain about, as my holidays tend to be pretty chill, what with my heathen husband, my young adult kids, and most of my family in other states. Nope, no real reason to stress, although I do, because "constant low-grade anxiety" is my middle name. Sexy, right?

So I told my therapist that I quit the St. E program. She gave me homework - workout 3 times a week, meal plan, and blog more. My goal? Not to gain weight. That was it - just not to gain. I ate my fair share of junk, but I didn't want to gain anymore weight. Then I pulled a muscle in the top of my calf (playing with my cat, little demon), and did not work out for a week, but the rest of it was not bad. My scale does not show a gain - hopefully my friend's won't either. Oh, and you'll notice the blogging thing didn't happen.

So I made some new goals, because, honestly, what's more fun for an anxious self-analyzer than drumming up a new plan for self-improvement and telling everyone about it, and then worrying about letting everyone down when I inevitably trip and fall into a bucket of ice cream and forget where the gym is?

Seriously, I am not that self-pitying. (but am I that self-involved? Because I've used hyphenated self-words several times in the last two paragraphs.) I just like making goals. Sooner or later I learn from the various mistakes. For example, I hate those nasty-ass shakes, but I enjoyed my month of green smoothies last year, so those will probably make a reappearance. I do better with fitness when I'm trying to keep a streak going, so I started a 100 day challenge today.

From top to bottom - sweaty selfy, treadmill screen from today's workout, hot zone I cleaned up, Tricky Rick, the ferret.

 I will likely be posting here more just to keep the excitement going. And if any of you locals want to hit me up to come work out, please do, and I will definitely encourage back. Especially classes, I love classes. I'm going to be using my Organize Yourself Skinny e-class I bought a few years ago - the steps are manageable, and I always do better when organized. It's one of the best e-classes I've done, and I've tried a few. Check out the link in the sidebar, if you're in the market.

Something fun to share - I cannot come up with my own recipes. I've mentioned before my failures at smoothie creating - I have to use a recipe, or they come out gross. Last night I decided to try my hand at a lentil soup. I had a recipe to start with, but I had a few containers of Trader Joe's preprepped veggies (mirapoix and the 7 veggie blend) that I wanted to add, so I knew I would need some extra flavor. I started with garlic, ginger, salt, pepper, and turmeric, but there was just not enough flavor. A normal person might have just added some more of the flavors she had started with, but I thought, ooh, those chopped hatch green chiles in jar look good - let's add those. crap, that didn't work, more garlic! What is that bitter taste? Got my husband to come in and help (he has a better feel for spices), and he asks what on earth I've added? We added some soy sauce and a little apple cider vinegar. This is the lentil soup of ALL the flavors. It ended up not being terrible, but weird, and then today, after a night in the fridge, it was a little better. It will be my lunch for the next few days. If nothing else, it is pretty freaking healthy.

Moral of the story - if you're coming to dinner, make sure I'm using a recipe, or that my husband is doing the cooking.