Detox Week 2

ONLY 1 WEEK LEFT! Ahh can you feel my excitement?!?! This week was easier than last but I'm definitely ready to get back in the kitchen to experiment with recipes again...and eat bread. The thing I miss the most is just being able to eat whenever I want. But I must say the detox has been worth it!

After two weeks I've lost right around 9 lbs. I have 3.8 more to go to meet my actual overall goal weight (so I might have gained a few pounds between September and January, it might have been from not working out, the holidays and baking?) But I plan on getting back to the gym in March, once all those new years resolution gym-goers fall off the wagon :)

My energy has increase 100%. I've been sleeping like a baby and even wake up before my alarm goes off. Before I hit my snooze about 4-5 times and now I might push it once but I'm up before it even goes off again.

I actually feel thinner! I mean my tummy actually feels flatter from not being bloated from processed foods, salt, fast food and just plain crap. My body feels just plain healthy.

Last night we had our friends surprise 30th birthday party in which there was a nacho bar. I heard from everyone how good it was and it did smell amazing, but I was good I didn't give in. Although at the end of the night I did have just a little taste of the cheese to see what the fuss was all about and that curbed any desire to have any....and it was delicious BUT I held out and am very proud I didn't give it. I did have a couple drinks, rum & diet, then filled up on water! It's really hard not to have a drink with our group of friends around :)

Now the countdown begins.....

Great Deal

Before I start, no I'm not pregnant (yet) but yes I bought something baby-related. It's hopefully for a future baby but in the meantime, while we wait it's for something else....your going to think I'm crazy, just wait!

I bought a baby sling....for my dog!

Ha ha. See you think I'm crazy!

But let me tell you why. Maddux is one needy little puppy, or more like he's a big baby! He always wants to be held when he gets scared or cold. He's scared when the dishwasher is running, anytime the oven alarm buzzes, the washing machine is on, the vacuum, etc and he always wants me to hold him while I'm cooking. It's pretty difficult to make dinner with only one hand or clean the house. So for a long time I've been thinking how much simpler it would be if I had one of those baby carriers (already tried putting him in my sweatshirt) so I can hold him and still have two hands. They do make actually pet slings but those things are expensive. I was given this wonderful website http://www.sevenslings.com/ which had very cute and stylish slings. I ordered this one yesterday! There are 3 ways to wear your baby...I think I'll be cradling or front carrying Maddux :) Ahh the things we do for our furbabies.

Another reason I want to share this with you is that you have to buy one. Not just because they are the cutest baby slings I've seen but because with the promo code all you pay for is shipping!!! It's a limited time offer so go order one now!

Promo code: babies

Clomid Round 1

I had my follow up appointment yesterday with my doctor for the Clomid. No over-stimulated ovaries for this girl, YEAH! All is well and good.
I really didn't have much for side effects. I took Clomid on Day 5-9, on the first day I got a headache and felt really dizzy for a while but luckily I just sit a desk all day so I was god until it passed. The second day I had elevated anxiety, it could have also been Dave's driving when we went to Chicago but we'll never really know ;) After that it was smooth sailing.
I'm staying at the same dosage for next month and he called that order when I need it. He did add in an order to go get my blood drawn to test my Progesterone levels next cycle a week after ovulation, as this month the OPK's never picked up my LHS surge but my temp did rise signalling that I did ovulate... so it's a mystery. I'm beginning to get tired of peeing on things though... ;)

Detox Week 1 Results

After a week completed on this detox diet I'm down 5.6 lbs!! Kerry started 2 weeks before us and is down 13 lbs in round 2 for her. As for my other two co-workers, Sara has lost 9 lbs and as for Tami, she made it till Friday before she quit over the weekend :( It's tough but the daily weigh-ins help tremendously!! You see your progress everyday and it really helps keep you motivated to continue. I'm pretty sure if I didn't weight myself every morning I would most likely give up.

The weekends are the hardest! One, I have more time. And at home I have an entire pantry full of banned foods. Two, there's usually always some social event that involves food. This weekend I went to Kelsey's baby shower which had an assortment of food (that I didn't touch), then we had game night with some friends, in which an assortment of snack and leftover mini cupcakes from Kelsey's shower where there. Yes I gave in. I had two mini cupcakes! But I ate the tops of the cupcake with the frosting and threw away the bottoms, so really it was like I only had one right?!? Ha, I'm making excuses for myself already. Sunday we had a few friends over for the Bears/Packers football game. Dave went out and bought chips and dip, chocolate chip cookies and little wienies. It was really hard! I gave in again and had a few wienies which was a terrible idea, it gave me stomach cramps later that evening and although I didn't gain or maintain weight, I only lost 2 oz so it caught up to me on this mornings weigh-in. Guess I have to learn my lesson some how.

This coming weekend we have a surprise 30th birthday to go to which will have a taco bar and of course booze! Uhh! And although I am allowed to drink (hard liqueur and diet soda) I'm trying not too. I made it last weekend so we'll see if I can do it again. I have a feeling it's not going to work as there's going to be a lot of our friends there and it will be a lot of fun....yikes.

It Does Exist

I hate diet sodas! I don't drink a lot of soda but when I do it's definitely NOT a diet Pepsi or Coke or anything diet. My go to soda is Cherry Pepsi. But since being on this detox diet I am forbidden from regular soda and pretty much any caloric drinks. Drinking 60 ounces of water a day gets boring and I'm a big water drinker. I am allowed 2 diet sodas a day so I thought I would trust those Diet Dr. Pepper commercials, you know the one where the Diet Dr. Pepper guy joins the "I Exist" support group. I went for the Diet Dr. Pepper Cherry flavor... ...and it's now my New Favorite Diet Soda!!! I have to admit it's the best diet soda out there that I've ever had. It really doesn't taste like diet at all. This definitely helps if I want something sweet.

Day 4

Yesterday SUCKED! Actually it was mostly the morning that was the hardest since you eat a fruit and then just drink zero calorie fluids such as water, coffee and tea (you are allowed 2 diet sodas a day). Not very filling I know. But oh how I so looked forward to lunch!! For lunch I had 3.5 oz of tilapia with broccoli and for dinner I made a steak salad, 3.5 oz of steak with lots of greens, no dressing of course but I used the juice of 1/4 of a lemon and the steaks natural juices. It was surprisingly filling! I was told that the first two days of this phase would be the hardest, and the first day was, but today wasn't that bad. The morning flew by and I didn't really have any hunger pains like yesterday. Since my steak salad was so filling from the night before I decided to have it for lunch as well. Tonight for dinner I made eggs (1 egg + 3 egg whites) with green peppers as my vegetable and various herbs and spices for taste, along with a very small amount of salsa. No cheese, no butter, no oil :( I have found sugar free candy to be pretty good and helps if I have any cravings for sweets slong with sugar free jello.

Of course your probably saying "Well of course your hungry Brenda your on a restrictive low calorie diet" and "Of course you'll lose weight your on a restrictive low calorie diet". I know I said the same thing before I started. So why am I doing this? Because I want to reset my body AND mind. I want to quit craving carbs and sweets. I want to learn how to listen to my body for when it's really actually full compared to what I think I want to eat because it sounds good or just tastes too good to stop. I want my body to know what it feels like not to have processed foods, fast food and just plain junk! I want my energy back!!! I know it will be tough and there might be a time I cheat but it's only for 23 days if I want. In the scheme of things it's really not that long. I can be done by Valentines Day if I want too, just in time to do some holiday baking ;)

Detox Time

I've gone back and forth for months about wanting to a Detox diet (hence why it's on my 101 List) but never really knew where to start to find one that I could do. A few months ago my co-worker Kerry did this Detox Diet and lost 17 lbs. Since then I know a few people who have done it as well and have had similar results.....so I was intrigued so say the least. I've been asking LOTs of questions to Kerry and thought it was ridiculous and there was no way in hell I would be able to do something so restrictive!!! I have NO willpower! No sugar, no bread, no potatoes, no creamer in my coffee?? How could anyone so that?!?! Those people are crazy!

Kerry decided she was going to do a second round of the detox and recently started it. So a few of my other co-workers and I began talking about starting another round of the Weight Loss Challenge we did a few months ago. Then we ended up coming back to this detox diet again...I figured it's something I've always wanted to try and the only way I think I would really be able to stick with it is if I was doing it at the same time as someone else. So now there are 4 of us that have started it and my manager is even going to do it!

This Detox Diet consists of taking these drops 3 times a day. There are 3 Phases: Phase 1 Gorge! For the first 2 days you start taking the drops and eat whatever you want, as much as you want, as often as you want. The point is to start to get the fat metabolism process going. Phase 2 Restriction! Depending how long you want to be on the diet (23-40 days) you follow a restricted diet of a variety of certain foods. The last 3 days you stop taking the drops but continue the restricted diet to get your body ready for the next phase. Phase 3 Maintenance! For 21 days you start introducing other foods back into your diet and watch what you eat such as carbs, sugars and fats.

Seems somewhat simple right?! I started Monday and was so looking forward to the two gorge days however the drops naturally reduce your appetite so I was very disappointed how much I didn't feel like pigging out. However that didn't stop me from ordering Happy Joe's pizza, having a root beer float, chocolate and Mexican food. It as all so delicious!!! I'm not looking forward to Phase 2 which I start tomorrow. So one last bite-size snickers for me before bedtime!!

New Start

Well we have entered the 2 year mark of TTC and now that it's a New Year.....we have officially started Clomid!! Fingers (and toes) crossed that one of these 3 cycles will work!

Chicago Part 2

Day 2 we decide to check out Navy Pier for the afternoon. It was a bit chilly right on Michigan Lake (much more enjoyable during the warmer months) but luckily have a small indoor mall to walk through.

We had lunch at Harry Caray's Tavern! It was a pretty classy steakhouse adorned with Chicago sports memorabilia and pictures all over the place of all the celebrities and athletes that have visited. Lego Harry!

Dave and Harry

Me and Harry....in my new Blackhawk's shirt :)

Before the Bulls game Saturday night we went to the Billy Goat Tavern a few blocks away from the United Center for dinner and drinks....he's the guy who brought the goat to Wrigley and there begins he start of the Curse of the Goat!!!

I of course had to have The Billy Goat Taverns signature drink.....a Horny Goat!

The Michael Jordan statue outside the United Center

Me & My Love!

Definitely enjoying ourselves :)

Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics

Da Bulls!

Our free gifts from the game Bulls Snuggies!!

The game was pretty close until the 4th quarter when the Bulls pulled away and ended up winning. On our way home from Chicago we stopped in Naperville to have lunch at Portillo's! Dave went to school in Chicago for a year and him and one of his friends practically lived at Portillo's. I've heard about how great it is for years now so now I finally got to experience it for myself. Dave even brought home 2 extra sandwich's for work and 2 for this friend he lived with. It was such a great trip even if it was just for the weekend. My husband and I got to spend some much needed quality time together enjoying each other's company, doing things we love and experience new things together. It was very much needed to get out of town and away from eveything, to escape reality and our everydays if only for a few days. Now, only to plan our next trip ;)

Chicago Part 1

Well I said as part of my New Year's resolution I wanted to take more trips with Dave this year and only two weekends into the new year we have Trip#1 under our belt! Plus it's also something to add to the 101 List, #11. This past weekend we went the Windy City for the Chicago Bulls game on Saturday. We actually had this planned a few weeks ago and decided we would leave Friday afternoon to grab dinner and hang out in around downtown then explore Saturday and go to the game. So Friday morning before we left Dave called me to see if I would be interested in going to the Blackhawk's game since they were also in town and playing Friday night....and who would decline a chance to go to their 1st NHL game?!

At the United Center The atmosphere was absolutely AMAZING at the Chicago Blackhawk's game. They played the Ottawa Senators. They sang the Canadian anthem and then the National Anthem. I was unaware beforehand but it's apparently tradition for the crowd to get louder and louder throughout the singing of the National Anthem...it was pretty cool.

Enjoying the game

OT! The game went into overtime and then a shoot out. The Blackhawk's ended up winning!!!

I made this into 2 posts to include more picture :)

A New Year

Happy New Year! Hope everyone has a fun and safe time celebrating. Can't believe we're already saying goodbye to 2010 and hello to another year. This past year and been full of up's and down's but one very memorable one at that so I made a list of everything I can remember

2010 in Review

• Hosted Our 1st New Year's Party
• Got a new job in Healthcare
• Got pregnant...but it didn't stick :(
• Dave turned 30 and his dad turned 80
• I turned 28
• We celebrated 2 years of marriage
• I started really getting into cooking and baking
• I started my Baking Blog!
• Made 6 birthday cakes
• We celebrated Carter's 1st Birthday!
• Went to my first psychic
• Finally went to a dermatologist
• Went to a MLB game
• Celebrated a full year in our new house
• 5 of our friends welcomed babies
• Lost 15 lbs!

I haven't really thought of any New Year's Resolutions for the year yet but there are a few things I would like to do or focus more on this year such as saving money and working on our finances, working out again, losing weight, getting pregnant, taking more trips with Dave, landscaping our house, to continue baking, get crackin' on my 101 List...and I'm sure I'll think of more.

For 2011 I hope everyone has a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year!!!