First note of gratitude: boobs, butts and bellies
Throughout most of my life I've prided myself on the fact that I didn't really have a tummy, just huge hips and butt, oh and big breasts too. Classic hourglass I was. And even though I've been overweight most of my life, through most of it my weight plateaued and there were years at a time where it didn't change more than a pound or two. I've only been on two serious diets in my life, so I haven't had the yo-yo syndrome that so many people are plagued by. So imagine my horror when my weight increased so quickly in the last two years. I mean really, I've lived with obesity my entire adult life, and been quite stable, so how could it happen to me? Well, peri-menopause happens girlfriend!
So, all this to say, I was most distraught at the growing bulge between my breasts and my bellybutton. But today, I think I see that it's every so slightly flatter. Dare I say it looks less donut-ish?
Second note of gratitude: all jazzed up
I feel much more energized today too. Most of the aches and pains are going away, including my knees (if you remember, I stopped taking any supplements during this cleanse to truly detox). And this is despite the cold. I must be the most naive person, or the most optimistic, because it is colder here in Moncton than I've ever experienced and with less work to do to digest, my metabolism is slowing. So, I'm doubly cold. Thank goodness for extra layers, alpaca wool and warm apple cider!
Third note of gratitude: ready to bounce back
Since reading Jason Vale's Book 7 lbs. in 7 Days I've been on the lookout for a rebounder/mini-trampoline. I had one in my first foray into healthy eating, but after a few months, it mostly got used as a trampoline by my then very young nephew. But last night I got a response to my kijiji ad and picked up my nearly new bouncing baby toy for only 20 bucks! I'm doing the happy dance right now. I might just give it a spin tonight. For a very short period I'm sure.
Fourth note of gratitude: the results are in
Now this has nothing to do with the juicing cleanse, but everything to do about my health. I've mentioned before that I've been taking Niacin to reduce my cholesterol. For three months, each month, I've been upping the dose by 500mg and am now up to 1500mg, which is what is usually recommended. I had my blood tested a couple of weeks ago and finally managed to get in to see my doctor today.
I am so very excited to say that in just 3 months, I've reduced my total cholesterol by 16%, raised my HDL (good cholesterol, which was already at a good level) by 9% and.... drum roll please... reduced my LDL (bad cholesterol) by 28%!Score one for the gal who refused to be browbeaten by her doctor into taking a statin. I literally dropped the 'f' bomb and almost started to cry when she told me.
When I think of what juicing is doing to heal the inflammation in my body and in my arteries that is the root cause of heart disease, I am very much looking forward to a healthy future.
And, to losing the weight that I no longer need to hold onto. I finally think I'm ready.
But there's one more...
Fifth note of gratitude: a shift in attitude
Both hubby and I know that we are never going to be vegetarians. I've been thinking of proteins like chicken, fish, steak and nuts for days. Today I was walking through Costco, picking up 4 huge bags of apples, multiple cucumbers, avocados and pineapples, and as I was walking through the food aisles I started thinking, "Oh that looks, good, mmmm..." I realized what I was doing, and so I asked myself, "Do I want this, but can't have it, or can I have it but don't want it?" I don't really know how to say this yet, but I think what I was feeling was a memory of the good taste of the food, not that I really wanted to eat it. Not yet certainly, and I hope never again as I used to.
I found this today on MindBodyGreen.com today. Michael Pollan is my hero. He was the writer who first put this inkling of Eating the Rainbow in my head. So when I saw this, I knew I had to share:
And one last thing: When I first posted about making some changes in the way I eat on January 1st (this was NEVER a resolution), I got an email from the author of the book Eating the Rainbow: Lifelong nutritional wellness without lies, hype, or calculus. I want to take a moment to thank one of the authors, David Chong, for giving me a free copy. For the reader who is new to eating healthfully, it could be a good place to start.
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