Week One UPDATE :)

HI Everyone,

My first week is under my belt and I would say it has been a grand success. Now the first week on any weight loss program you tend to have a big loss at the scale. Mostly water but it is still very encouraging. My weigh in was this morning and I am down.....drum roll please.............10.7 pounds!
That is 1/10 of the way to my goal and a nice way to start this journey.

Bigger than the weight loss for me is the fact that I wasn't obsessing about food all week. Obsessing about blogging???? Maybe! But with regards to food, I just followed the WW program as it was laid out and didn't find I was playing games with myself or the program. I wrote and rewrote my goals every morning and evening and fine tuned them by the end of the week to really resonate with me. I will rewrite them here:

• I weigh 100 or more pounds lighter by December 31, 2013 and I feel like I can do anything I set my mind to!
• I drink 3 liters of pure water every day to hydrate and replenish my entire body.
• I walk a little bit further every day and feel my body getting leaner and stronger with every step.
• I detoxify my body and mind from all things toxic and I glow from the inside out.
• I write and rewrite my goals daily until they become my reality.

I am also finishing up my box of Total Body Rapid Cleanse I am feeling pretty good so far. I had a bad headache for the first 4 days. No problems with running to the bathroom or anything of that nature. What I did notice (as did my husband) is that I have been on bitch on wheels! In chinese medicine they refer to the liver as the "seat of anger". The philosophy is that it stores not only your anger and negative emotions but also those of your loved ones (spouse, children, parents etc). When you begin to work on your liver, as you are doing when you cleanse, these negative emotions can surface. I definately noticed that. I tend to be a little short tempered with Jon but I found myself getting impatient with Aidan and that is not like me. Especially near the end of the day I would find myself getting really agitated. The first week on a cleanse is the hardest for some people but I always found my cleansing reactions went up a notch when I entered week 2 so we will see what the next 7 days brings. Hopefully I don't kill Jon in the process. I mean how much anger can be stored in one little organ????

So onto week 2. I want to thank you all again for your support and encouragment. I am so happy I am not taking this journey alone!

THIN Thinking

Many years ago I was out for coffee with a coworker. We finished our coffees and she said she was going to get another and asked if I wanted one. Being a coffee addict I was not about to say no so I replied "Sure, large with 2 cream". She literally stopped in her tracks and looked at me with a mix of humour and disbelief. "Your kidding right?" she asked. I was confused. "OK medium with double cream please". She said "You use CREAM in your coffee instead of milk?????". She couldn't believe that I would make that choice. To her, she drank a lot of coffee so of course she would use milk instead of cream. It was that sort of thinking that set us apart. It was that sort of thinking that kept her THIN.

Now to this day I still use cream in my coffee but I learned something that day. It was the first time I really consciously realized that thin people are thin because they work at it. Of course there are those exceptions, those people who can't put weight on if their life depended on it. But in my lifetime I think I have met about 6 of those people.....6. The rest of the people I know with a healthy body weight are that way because every day and every meal they make decisions that encourage that outcome. They are not perfect all the time, no one is, but the majority of the time they are conscious about what they put in their mouth. Walk into any gym and you will see that 80% of the people there are in good shape. Walk into a HOTEL gym and about 100% will be thin. No fat person in their right mind would workout while on a vacation. I am on vacation for god sakes! Eat healthy on vacation? Are you kidding me? I have planned whole trips around restaurants we wanted to visit! Now I am not saying that thin people don't indulge while on vacation but their mind is wired differently than mine. In most cases those skinny psychos working out in the hotel gym are doing that so that they can enjoy an amazing dinner guilt free later on. They are countering the damage in advance instead of my thinking which is GO BIG OR GO HOME (and then deal with the consequences)!

Until a few years ago I had spent my whole life looking at thin people and thinking "You don't know how lucky you are!" meanwhile luck had nothing to do with it. They work at being thin as much as I work at being fat.

WHAT?? Work at being fat??? That makes no sense. Why would I work at something I don't want for myself? If I am brutally honest with myself, and you know I am, I work DAMN hard to maintain this ample figure of mine. Just living with an extra 100 plus pounds is difficult enough but things that should be simple are much more difficult when you are obese. Flying in an airplane, walking around a new city, fitting in a restaurant booth, finding winter boots that fit over your cankles! That is the not so pretty truth about reality for someone like me. A reality I created by the decisions I made every day and every meal. Is it more work to throw together a quick stir-fry or go pick up takeout? Well as I proved Friday night, it is much quicker to cook the damn stir-fry. By the time you decide what you want to eat, order it, go pick it up and come home you could have cooked a nutritious meal. Another example is running to the store. I live very close to a grocery store, 10 minute walk max, yet I usually drive to pick something up. By the time I clear the snow off the car, drive over and park I could have easily walked and saved myself some gas. My decisions to be constantly on (or off) a diet. That is a lot of work spent in planning instead of just executing better habits on a regular basis. You see, I WORK at this. You could even say I have mastered it!

So this week I am going to keep an eye on all those skinny wenches in my life (whom I love so dearly) and see how they make decisions that keep them in the great shape they are in. I will report back next Sunday with my findings. Who knows? Maybe I will even master the art of "Thinking Thin" by the end of this year. Using the treadmill on my next vacation? I wouldn't put money on it if I were you!

Cleansing: Your Questions Answered

Wow, I have had so many questions come in to me about cleansing over the past few days. I am going to answer them here since it seems the same questions keep coming up so maybe more of you are wondering the same things.

1)      What should I eat and drink while I am doing a cleanse?

Ideally we should be eating really “clean” while cleansing. This means lots of fruits and veggies, lean proteins, whole grains, good fats and very little else. No white carbs, processed foods, coffee, booze or fast food but this is not a reality for everyone. A cleanse is a great way to kick start a healthier lifestyle so even if you are not there yet, it can get you moving in the right direction. Renew Life cleanses are designed to work regardless of diet or lifestyle choices which is one of the reasons I love them so much. They meet you where you are at.

 

One thing you really need to do is ensure you are drinking enough water. I aim for 3 liters a day which is a lot but not for my size. They say half your body weight in ounces is a good guideline. If I did that I would float away! Just aim to drink more than you do now. It makes sure that the toxins are being flushed through your system and helps to lessen some of the side effects of detoxifying.

 

2)      Do I need to take anything else when I am doing a herbal cleanse and can I continue to take my multivitamins?

You can definitely continue to take your other supplements. The one thing we always recommend people consume when cleansing is fibre. Fibre is like a sponge that absorbs toxins as you release them. If you eat a very healthy diet, you MAY be getting enough fibre in your foods but this is not normally the case. There are a ton of different fibre options out there, some are better than others. We sell 3 different products that you can find in the health food store. My favorite is Organic Clear Fibre because it has no flavor and mixes clear in water. I also add it to my smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal etc. It is included with the Rapid Cleanse kit that I am doing. If you are a little short on cash, pick up milled flaxseed. It is about $7.00 a bag and works great.

Unless you drink a ton of water, stay away for psyllium fibre (the fibre found in Metamucil). It can be hard on the bowel and constipating.

3)      I am prone to diarrhea, can I still cleanse?

Yes you can but you may need to take it a little more gently.  The exception to this is if your diarrhea is caused by inflammatory bowel disease like Crohns or Colitis. If you have a disorder of the bowel then you should probably not do a colon cleanse unless under supervision of a Naturopathic doctor.  If you tend towards a looser bowel, start with First Cleanse. It focusses more on the other detoxifying organs (liver, kidneys, skin, blood, lungs, and lymphatic system) with a very gentle bowel component. It is only 15 days but if you feel like you are getting results, you can stay on it longer.

4)      Is this going to suck?

LOL this was actually a message someone sent me and the answer is IT CAN but only for a week or so. When you start cleansing you can get a few unpleasant symptoms but they usually go away within the first 3-5 days. Headaches, muscle aches, fatigue and skin breakouts are the most common. I have had a headache for 3 days straight. Not debilitating, just kind of there in the background. It is just telling me that sure enough, I am toxic. Some people are lucky and have no symptoms. Cleansing is a different experience for everyone. If you are still getting headaches after the first week, increase your water and go get a fibre supplement to take.

The good news is that most people feel much more energetic after about 2 weeks. I know I notice that energy boost at about day 9 and I also notice that my skin glows by the end of the cleanse. My joints hurt less, my eyes are brighter and I just feel healthier overall. There are so many benefits besides weight loss.

Just a few other tips to help your body detoxify:

·         SWEAT. If you have access to a sauna, get in there and sweat. Of course exercise works as well but not nearly as relaxing J Sweating is a great way to release toxins through your biggest organ….your skin.

·         Drink warm lemon water upon waking. Squeeze fresh lemon into some warm water and drink it first thing in the morning. It is like a wake me up for your liver.

·         Get enough sleep. Just do it! It’s good for you dammit.

·         Try to eat leafy greens every day. Greens are very detoxifying and alkalizing. The deeper green the better. I add them to my smoothies but if you are a salad person have at it. Just make sure you stay away from iceberg and really processed dressings. Experiment with different lettuces, throw in some spinach or kale, add brightly colored veggies and fruit (red cabbage, yellow peppers, purple onions, carrots etc) and dress with olive oil and vinegar. Your salad should look like a rainbow on your plate.  

Good luck for everyone who has decided to start detoxifying their body. Cleansing is one of the most rewarding things you can do for your health and your waist line! I will share my experiences every 7 days as I go through my 6 weeks of Rapid Cleanse.

 

 

Do these toxins make me look fat? Cleansing Part 2

Why yes, yes they do!  Various studies have shown that toxins slow down the body’s metabolic rate; decrease feelings of fullness, leading to eating more and more calories; and limit our ability to burn fat. When faced with toxicity, our bodies respond by retaining water in an effort to dilute water-soluble toxins, and fat to try to dilute fat-soluble toxins. Your body will store water and fat in an effort to dilute these toxins.  This chart illustrates the whole process of detoxification beautifully.

There is a group of toxins called (big word alert) Organochlorines.  They are found in virtually everyone and are easy to detect and measure so Organochlorines (OC for short) are frequently studied in association with obesity. We cannot get rid of them very well, so the body stores them in our fat cells. As we lose weight, the fat cells release the toxins into the bloodstream. Once these toxins are in the bloodstream, all hell breaks loose.

One of the first things toxins do when your fat cells release them into the blood is slow down your resting metabolic rate. So as you begin to lose weight, those surfacing toxins can begin to work against your weight loss. This can lead to the dreaded plateau. This is why cleansing is important. If you can get rid of these toxins quickly, you can reduce or eliminate this effect.

One study that came out in 2002 looked at five factors that affected RMR (resting metabolic rate) during weight loss in sixteen obese men-all of whom experienced a decrease in their metabolism. Not only were toxic OCs in their blood partly to blame for the lower RMR, but the study also confirmed that of the five factors considered, including fat mass and appetite hormones, the presence of OCs was the most important factor influencing  metabolism. The study further determined that the toxins were affecting the production of the thyroid hormones. Your thyroid plays a major role in your body’s regulation of its metabolic rate, so it’s not surprising that toxins present in the blood can lead to a slower metabolism.

Bottom line: The more fat you have, the more toxins you retain.  Toxins not only lead to weight gain but also sabotage your ability to lose weight.

So how do you cleanse? Well there are lots of different options actually but the 3 most common are: Fasting or Juicing, Nutritional Cleansing and Herbal Cleansing.

• Fasting or Juicing: Many cultures fast periodically for health or spiritual reasons. It is gaining popularity in western society and there are even retreats you can attend to fast in a controlled environment. How fasting works to cleanse is that it takes the burden of digestion off the body, allowing all of the bodies functions to perform better. Enzymes which are usually used for digesting food travel to the intestine and blood stream where they "clean" the system of dead and damaged cells, pollutants and unwanted bacteria. Fasting also gives the major organs a rest so that they can become rejuvenated. Sounds great right? Fasting is not for everyone, especially if you have a highly physically demanding job or blood sugar issues. Most people who fast do so for 3-10 days although there are people who do it for much longer. Please proceed with caution if you do decide to fast.
• Nutritional Cleansing: This is a wonderful way to cleanse the body by flooding it with minerals, vitamins and other nutrients. These nutrients help the fuel the body and nourish it so that it works optimally. When you support the body with the proper nutrition, your liver, kidneys and bowel are able to release and eliminate toxins efficiently.
• Herbal Cleansing: Currently this is the most popular way of cleansing the body. Herbal cleanses are usually sold as kits with products to cleanse the organs and support the bowel. It is very important that if you are going to cleanse your liver you make sure you are not constipated. If the toxins are dumped into the bowel and sit there, they will be reabsorbed. Think of it this way, you wouldn’t sweep out the garage with the garage door closed. Same with the body, you have to make sure that your bowels are functioning normally.   Either deal with the constipation first or buy a herbal cleanse that addresses that issue (2-3 bowel movements a day is ideal!). Herbal Cleanses use formulas of herbs, minerals and amino acids that help the organs of detoxification to increase their output. These kits usually last between 7 - 30 days (30 days is ideal to do the job fully although a 7 day cleanse done every month is also effective).

I am doing a combination of nutritional and herbal cleansing. I make myself a green smoothie most days that is filled with lots of organic veggies and fruit. The base is always leafy greens like kale, spinach, chard, romaine and then I put in whatever else I have on hand (cucumber, celery, beets are a few examples). To make it palatable I put in one apple and/or a pear and the juice of one lemon. Fill the blender with filtered water and blend. I can usually get 3 glasses of smoothie out of that. Not only does it help my body detoxify, it is full of fiber to help bind the toxins my body is releasing on its own.  This is not everyone’s cup of tea and thankfully you don’t have to go this route to cleanse your body of toxins. That is where herbal cleansing products come in.

The herbal cleanse I am doing is called Total Body Rapid Cleanse and it is by the company I work for, Renew Life. Obviously I am biased and think we make the best cleanses out there but go to your health food store and see what’s available. As a general rule, if it is sold on a TV infomercial or by a multi-level marketing company, it is overpriced and underperforming. Not always the case but most often the case. I am choosing to do 6 but more likely 8 weeks of Rapid Cleanse. It is only a 7 day cleanse so I will be doing one per week. We do sell a really good 30 day cleanse called CleanseSMART but I had 3 of the Rapid Cleanse on hand so I will use them up. The other reason is that Rapid Cleanse is a little bit stronger and since I have cleansed before, I feel I can handle it.

This was a mega long post! My apologies but hopefully you find the content interesting. Tomorrow I will cover a few more action steps you can take to help detoxify your body and also what you can expect to feel while cleansing. It ain’t always pretty!

Sensitive Sally

Well it's 3:53 AM and I can't sleep. I am one of those people who lie awake thinking about things when something is on my mind. So rather than analyze things to death by myself, I figure why not blog about it?

I am a pretty sensitive person by nature. I get over things quickly but at the time I feel things intensely. In fact when I am upset, worried, angry or any number of emotions, I feel it physically. I get this feeling of a knot in my stomach. It is like a physical reminder that something is bothering me even if when I am not actually thinking about it in that exact moment. In the past I would eat and that sensation in my stomach would be replaced by a more familiar and comforting one. I can't reach for food so here I am reaching for my keyboard in hopes that it has a similar effect.

So here's the situation without getting into too much detail. A friend of mine is going through one of those big events in their life. I like to think I played a little part in making it happen and I couldn't be happier for them. I found out that they are having a few get-togethers to celebrate and I wasn't invited. Normally this wouldn't really faze me, in fact I am not a big fan of these shindigs so I would likely just send a gift and my best wishes, but this time I feel really hurt. I don't know why I wasn't included and I have no control over it so rather than worry about that I am trying to figure out WHY it is affecting me so much and what to do with it.

I have a few theories. First, it is that time of the month so I am irrationally emotional. I am cleansing my liver which can actually stir up emotions, especially anger. I desperately want people to like me and when that comes into question I breakdown. I see a lot of myself in this person and maybe thought we were closer than we are so I am disappointed. These are all good theories and maybe have a grain of truth but if I was to really dig deep I think the issue is FOOD.

I feel raw. I feel that knot in my stomach. I feel like I want to comfort myself and I can't....rather I won't. Not the way I am used to doing it. I can't allow myself to reach for food when I am feeling this way, even healthy food. The whole point of this journey is to learn new ways to cope. THIS is helping actually, writing about it is bringing me down a few pegs. I feel childish that I am being such a sensitive Sally but it is how I am feeling and I have to honour it. Asking the person themselves WHY is not an option and at the end of the day I don't think the answer really matters anyways. I am trying to remember the quote I posted the other day about "What other people think of me is none of my business".

This is a test and my opportunity to develop some new coping techniques. So I am curious, what do you do to deal with emotions like this? How do you bring yourself back down when emotions are running high? Any tips are highly appreciated!

Why Cleanse? Part One

Hi Everyone,

Day one is under my belt and I feel great. I am feeling so optimistic about this coming year and again, I thank you all for the amazing support. I have been rewriting my goals morning and night, walking, drinking my water...I am even being nice to my husband! Miracles can indeed happen!

Today I am going to start talking about CLEANSING. I am a big believer in cleansing. I have seen how it can change people's health in amazing ways. It is a large topic so I am going to break it into 3 posts.

We have all heard about cleansing or detoxing our body (not to be confused with the detox that Lindsay Lohan is forced into bi-weekly). We read about cleansing in magazines, hear ads on the radio and see products line the shelves of our health food store. It seems like cleansing has exploded overnight but this is not true, in fact cultures have cleansed for thousands of years.
Is it necessary to cleanse our bodies? YES!! If you drink alcohol or smoke, you need to cleanse. If you sit in traffic and breath in the fumes from cars, you need to cleanse. If you use plastic, make up, lotions, pharmaceuticals,  or dry cleaning, you need to cleanse. Basically if you live in this day and age, YOU NEED TO CLEANSE.

Our bodies are amazing machines and they cleanse every minute of every day. For example, our kidneys and liver cleanse toxins so that they can be removed from the body via urine and our bowel. If you were to ask a Doctor if you should cleanse, chances are they would say "Your body does it for you" and this is true to a degree. However, our bodies are bombarded with more toxins than ever in history. Cancer rates are through the roof, kids are developing liver disease, our bodies are nutritionally depleted and still most Doctors refuse to acknowledge that this could be in part due to our toxic environment and bodies. Our bodies weren't designed to handle and process the amount and types of toxins it is faced with today.

A study conducted by Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the Environmental Working Group tested volunteers blood and urine and what they found was shocking. There was a total of 167 chemicals found, an average of 91 in each person. Of these toxins, 76 caused cancer, 91 are toxic to the brain and 79 cause birth defects. These industrial toxins were even found in high levels in infants. This is scary stuff. Check out www.toxicnation.ca for studies they are doing on Canadians including our politicians.

Still not convinced? I am going to ask you a series of questions. If you answer yes to any then you should really consider doing a cleanse (whether you have a weight problem or not).

1. Are you constipated? If you are not eliminating regularly you are creating toxins from within your body. You should be having at least 1 but ideally 2-3 bowel movements per day. One movement for every meal is a good goal!
2. Do you eat or drink alot of C.R.A.P? Coffee, Refined Carbohydrates, Alcohol and Processed Foods.
3. Do you work with chemicals, metals, or oils? This includes welders, mechanics, hair dressers etc.
4. Do you eat non-organic fruits and vegetables?
5. Do you feel tired or sluggish especially after eating?
6. Do you suffer from headaches, sore joints or sensitivity to certain smells?
7. Do you have skin issues including acne, eczema or rashes?
8. Do you drink unfiltered tap water?
9. Do you use regular household cleaners or dryclean your clothing?
10. Do you have difficulty losing weight regardless of diet and exercise?

I haven't cleansed in almost 2 years and I can answer YES to 7 of those questions. Today is day 2 of my cleanse and my headache tells me it is working! Tomorrow I am going to explain how toxins can contribute to obesity so that you have a better understanding as to why it is such a big part of my weight loss plan.
 

What's the plan man?

       Before Photos

 Ok if there is one thing I don't enjoy, it is getting my picture taken. This was not fun for me! Poor Jon must have taken 20 pictures before I finally just gave up. Thankfully, I will only be posting these every 20 pounds and who knows? I might actually start to like striking a pose!

So here I am, Day ONE and I am excited, nervous, overwhelmed but most of all, optimistic. The last few weeks of introspection have been really valuable for me. It wasn't easy but I learned alot and I see more clearly (and maybe with more empathy) where I am coming from. When I first started writing I thought my issues all lie with food. If I can get the food under control, my problems will be solved. What I have learned is that the problem lies with ME and the decisions I make surrounding food. Using food to soothe myself, using food to celebrate, using food to punish instead of simply using food to nourish my body. I have come to realise that my struggle this year will not be with food, it will be learning to deal with life without using food as a coping agent.

At the beginning of December when I started thinking about doing this blog, my old thinking took hold. I wanted to come up with some really cool eating plan that I could put my signature on. I made up my own little food triangle and tracking sheets. I thought I would share what I ate each day so that others could follow along. But I realized something, focussing on the food plan instead of the reason I am the way I am would never lead me to succeed. I would have some weight loss initially but then I would start questioning my program, questioning my results, and fall back into old habits. I realized I needed to make the food part of my journey somewhat automatic, meaning I didn't have to really think about it, so I can focus my energy on the more important things.
Part one of my plan is WEIGHT WATCHERS
While a bit of a bitter pill to swallow, this is also really liberating. I have decided to follow Weight Watchers to get this weight off once and for all. It won't be the first time I do WW but it will be the last. The reasons I have decided to go this route are:

1. It is proven and it has worked for me in the past.
2. No foods are forbidden. This was important for me since whenever I go on a diet I tend to be very extreme and I am the queen of low carb. Now that we have a little boy, I want to ensure that I am teaching him good habits, not extreme habits.
3. It is based on portion control which is a huge issue for me.
4. My husband wanted to do it and I think it is important that we do this together.
5. There is the accountability of weighing in weekly. I have actually had Jon hide our scale so I don't weigh inbetween meetings as I can get a little obsessive about weighing. The excitement of seeing the progress every monday morning should keep me driven. No peeking inbetween!

The main reason I chose it is that it is easy for me to follow. I am a nutritionist, I know what foods to eat. I know that if I just follow this plan (I mean ACTUALLY follow it as written, not tweak it) that the food part of my journey will be taken care of. I won't have to think about it and it will free up my energy to focus on getting my other issues in check. Making this decision, while hard, has taken so much pressure off of me. Why reinvent the wheel? Just follow the program and don't stop. Seems simple enough right?

So yesterday morning Jon and I went to Weight Watchers, signed up and weighed in. I am actually about 12 pounds heavier than I thought (OUCH!) but it is not the end of the world. Weight that comes on fast, comes off fast.

Part two of my plan is CLEANSING
I truly believe that cleansing the body is crucial for longterm weight loss success. I will be posting alot about this but as of this morning I started a herbal cleanse that I will be doing for the next 6-8 weeks. Why? Well I will get more in depth about this in the next few days but short version is:

FAT HOLDS TOXINS. AS YOU RELEASE FAT, YOU RELEASE TOXINS

Cleansing helps your body to handle that increased toxic burden. If you are fat, you are toxic. This is a fact. I work for a natural health company and we specialize in cleansing but there are lots of options out there. More on this tomorrow.

Part three of my plan is to MOVE MORE
I went for a walk this morning and that is what I am going to do every morning. Each day a little further. I am also going to try to incorporate a new form of exercise every month. This month I am going to buy some Kettle Bells and start using them. I will share my experiences. Not everything I try will stick I am sure but I am hoping to resurrect some sort of passion for fitness.

Part four of my plan is SELF CARE
For me this encompasses everything from putting lotion on my whole body instead of just my hands and elbows to taking certain supplements. It is taking the time to nurture my body on the inside and on the outside. I always take time to put on my make up and do my hair every morning but I might skip taking my vitamins or shaving my legs. I want to feel good about myself and part of that is taking the time to take care of myself. Also a big part of my self care will be learning to cope without food. Letting the emotions run their course and know I will be ok on the other end of it. It is in those moments of feeling raw and exposed that self care, or self LOVE, will comfort me the way food did before.

Part five of my plan is SHARING
Last but not least, I want to genuinely share everything about this journey. I want to help others the way that all of you are helping me. This blog is a big part of that but I also what to interract with people going through the same thing. If you have any questions about anything I blog about, please send them to me. You can send them to my email if you don't want to post a comment. You can send me a message on facebook. I'll answer everything to the best of my ability.  Invite your friends to add me as a friend if they want to follow along. I want my struggles, truimphs, confessions to stand for more than just a number on the scale.

This is it, my five part plan to change my body and life. I wish you all the best in 2013 and that whatever goals and dreams you aspire to will become your reality. Happy New Year to my family and friends, new and old. Let the games begin!