Week Six

Three Words: Blizzard Number Two.

I hope that many of you who read this share in my misery. With the exception of yesterday, I have not driven my car in over a week. There are no sidewalks. The government was closed for a week. I'm not even going to mention the gym. Cabin fever. I know it's evil, hateful, face.

Sometimes you have a plan. And then sometimes Mother Nature, says OH HELL NO. And that's pretty much what happened. I have not been able to leave this tiny shoebox I live in for almost two weeks.

I

AM

LOSING

MY

MIND

So...about that diet. Ummmmmmmm, yeeeeaaaaaahhhhh.

Let's just say I haven't GAINED any weight which is a miracle in itself because the last time I made a grocery store run before the last storm, the only foods left were highly processed, refined, junk that I normally wouldn't feed my dog...but you gotta do what you gotta do, right? And what can I say? My kid LOVES hot dogs...even if they are full of lips and butt holes and nitrites.

So, the spouse is back to work today. The gym has reopened. And I am once again ready to do this. You know, you fall off and you get back on. That's what determination is about. NOT GIVING UP...even when you fail...again. And again. (annnnnd according to Albert Einstein it could also be classified as insanity...but hey, I've never been fond of the term normal anyway)

I am supposed to go back to Indiana for two weeks in March and BY GOD, I WILL NOT show my face there the same size I was the last time I saw my family...so I'm about to get medieval on myself!

THE PLAN: Back to South Beach Phase 1 (but including select fruits) for two weeks....Dear God, pray for me because this is HARD! But I KNOW if I can just do this for two weeks I will lose about 10 lbs giving myself a kick start and some momentum at which point I will switch back to WW until I reach my final goal.

I ordered the Skechers Shape Ups Shoes on the recommendation of several people and as soon as we have sidewalks again, I'll be walking everywhere in those lovely duds (<-- Insert sarcasm there...they are NOT cute, but I would wear a cow's bladder and a monkey's paw as a hat right now if you told me it would help me reach my goal)

Today I go back to the gym and will try to go 5X a week doing as much as I can before Ari has a fit and they have to page me to rescue her from the childcare area.

Soooooo, that's my story. Here we go. Again. Wish me luck. Again.

Week Four......

Ummmmmm......

Let's call this week: FAIL

We can chalk it up to being snowed in and a spousal penchant for sweets (which I was unable to withstand)

Starting over. NOW.

On another note I am feeling physically MUCH healthier and I will tell you what I've been doing.

If you've talked to me personally any time in the last few months you'll know that I've been complaining of just not feeling good. Aches in my joints, depression, and just an overall sense of yuckiness.

Well, a few weeks ago I went to the doctor who wanted to put me on Zoloft for my problems which she attributed to the physical manifestations of depression. Do you know me? If so, I am just about the LEAST depressed person I know. But having two small kids and taking care of them practically by yourself is hard and has it's depressing moments. So I researched it and I just wasn't happy with what I read. I decided to research natural cures for depression and found that a lot of the symptoms can be caused by a lack of certain vitamins and minerals. I decided to try them ALL.

I did not, however, take a very scientific approach to this experiment and instead of beginning one supplement at a time and noting it's effects, I just dove in head first and started taking most of them at once. I began to feel better within a few days! Let me tell you, my aches are gone, I have more energy, my digestion (which, while sparing you the lovely details, has always been WHACK) is so much better, and even my skin also seems to have cleared up and is smoother.

Are you ready? Here we go (oh and I suppose this is where I insert a disclaimer stating that I am in no way a doctor, not do I play one on TV and that of course before beginning any of these things you should consult with your doctor ):

Prenatal Vitamin (once a day) Brand: Centrum

Magnesium 250mg (once a day)

Iron 325mg (once a day) Brand: An RX from the doc

B-complex (once a day in the AM. This pill is AWE-SOME) Brand: Solaray from Whole Food Market

Flax Oil 1000mg (3x a day with food) Brand: Origin organic

Calcium, VitaminD, Vitamin K 500mg (2x a day) Brand: Adora Milk Chocolates from Whole Food Market

Green Super Food 1 scoop (3x a day after meals) Brand: Amazing Grass

Fiber Smart 1 scoop (3x a day with meals I mix it with the green super food in water and shoot it...it IS gross, but it works) Brand: Renew Life

In addition to ALL that crazy stuff I have been using coconut oil (per the recommendation of a friend) as a lotion on everyone. It smells delicious!

While I realize that is a lot of pills, I feel that it is so worth it. I feel a thousand times better. I am not introducing foreign chemicals into my body that trick my brain into believing a falsehood about the chemicals it's producing. I feel I am simply giving my body what it was lacking.

In addition to all of that I feel that the foods we eat also have a large impact on how we feel. This past week I did terrible. And while I don't necessarily eat processed foods, I ate far too much starch and dairy. This week I am going to stick to the original WW plan while trying to eliminate all but one serving a day of dairy from my diet.

Wish me luck! Again.