end of day 4

so having no bread or grains and very few calories for 4 days is the worst! i have had absolutely no energy and been just about constantly hungry. i actually cheated yesterday - we had to do some juice tasting and there were crackers to cleanse the pallet between sips. i had crackers, about a serving. and today, i decided that bret and i would move on to phase 2. phase 2 includes such things as a serving of whole grain cereal with ground flax seeds for breakfast, hummus with bell peppers or carrots for a snack, apple and peanut butter for another, salad with fresh protein for lunch, and such a dinner as lentils with salad. i'm also allowing myself one treat per day, which can be 150 calories or less (glass of wine, small latte, piece of candy, you get the idea). today, it was a 150 calorie cake ball. so not following 100% phase 2, but i'm really thinking about what i put into my body. tonight i made lentil soup with yellow bell pepper and had blueberries for dessert. yumminess and so filling!

i feel fabulous today! and i'm not sure what my exact weight loss so far is, but it's somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 to 3 pounds. it's amazing how satisfied you can be by fresh, live food when you get way from processed foods and carby, fatty options. i will say that this diet absolutely works, so just stick to it. all the icky, bloatiness i've had since thanksgiving is officially gone and i feel really good. i'm even energized enough to wake up early tomorrow and go for a run... which means it's bedtime for now.

a cast iron, iron clad diet

it might be more fun to make things loaded with butter and salt, but after quite a bit too much of that, cookies, wine, and other holiday cheer, you're left feeling like an under-slept, over-filled water balloon (if a balloon could feel under-slept). i justify my over-indulgences with lots of running and most of the time, i can maintain my weight with a few days of salad lunches and no dessert after dinner. but when it comes down to it, i could be healthier right now. and my husband is overwhelmed with stress at work.

enter antioxidants!

i heard about keri glassman through work - we're all huge fans of her book, the O2 diet. bret and i have decided to give it the old college try. the diet lasts for 32 days, designed to be followed for life. really, it's common sense - eat foods loaded with antioxidants, which help prevent aging, cell damage, and a slew of other health problems that arise from nutrient deficiencies. so i'll be writing about our success with that.

day one of the first phase starts tomorrow. phase 1 consists of a four-day cleanse, where you eat the same things for four days. lots of fruits and veggies, including a yummy salad for lunch! for the moment, i'll be leaving my butter, cream, and frying aside and replacing with steaming, toasting, and broiling. but don't worry - there will be cast iron used whenever possible.