Spent - Week 1, day 5

Well now. Feeling good today, mostly. I must admit, I am a little tired at the moment. Why? Because I had pasta for lunch. I hadn't had any pasta since I started, for no reason except that I thought there might be sugar in it, but I had it today, and I'm amazed at how my body has reacted!! I'm really tired now!! :(

So, apart from the pasta, things are going well. It was a bad choice, and I'm going to leave it at that. Wow, though. I can't believe how much it has affected me.

I continue to find myself waking up refreshed (even at 5:55 this morning, if you can believe it!!), and I'm noticing another thing. When I used to wake up, I would have a really achy back and shoulders. It was a strain to get out of bed and shake it off. Since starting this thing, I've noticed a very obvious difference. I'm not sure whether it's the tennis ball release (that I actually was doing before I started the program) or something else, but I'm feeling so....so......not achy. Even when I get up in the middle of the night to visit the loo, there is no pain. Funny. Mostly funny because apparently that pain wasn't needed...

Another thing? I'm standing up straighter. Yes, my posture is improving. I have been a sloucher my whole life, but suddenly I'm standing and sitting straighter and it's less of an effort. Could be because of my increased energy, or because I'm just feeling good about my bod, but whatever it is, I like it!!

Day 5: Unprocess Your Diet

This is a biggie, folks. At least, it will be for some of us. The jist? CUT OUT PROCESSED FOODS. Yes, and of course the book goes through a few pages about hydrogenated oils, trans fats, and all sorts of other nasty things, but to cut to the point, here's the deal.

DO NOT CONSUME THE FOLLOWING:

white rice

all quick-cooking rice (including quick cooking brown rice)

any refined grain such as farina, quick oats, or boxed side dishes with processed grains; so no
parmesan couscous, wild rice dishes, or anything else that says "quick" or "easy"

factory-made breads - this means most breads on the supermarket shelves

bagels

commercial breakfast cereals (including instant oats)

cakes, cupcakes, pies, doughnuts, and pastries (which we've already cut out, right???)

crackers and pretzels

chips (all kinds - even organic corn or soy chips)

processed cheeses such as those nasty individually packaged slices, velveeta, cream cheese (waaaah!!!)

frozen meals

most packaged snack foods (anything in a "single-serving" package from candy bars to "health" bars like power bars)

fried food - this means no fast food, french fries, friend chicken, etc

processed meats - hot dogs, salami, sausage, ham, bacon, deli meats, and other lunch meats

margarine

(This was good to look over again myself and be reminded of the list!)

I have had some delicious meals so far (and one rather unfortunate soup - I botched the recipe!). Here are a few of my favourites so far: Tandoori Chicken Wraps, Vegetable Curry over Brown Rice, Chicken Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette (I just cooked a lemon/rosemary soaked chicken breast, cut it up and added it to a bowl of arugula, spinach, feta, walnuts, and red onions) If anyone wants recipes that I mention here, let me know and I'll email them to you.

Also, there's a note at the end of one of the recent pages that says I'm going to need a "foam roller". I'm not sure if I'm going to go out and get a couple or just use something else....

I'm quite excited that there are now a handful of people who've expressed interest in this, and some who are even following along!! I'll be very diligent and update every day for you all! Good luck!