One week into my fruit and vegetable cleanse

Guess how much weight I've lost in the past 7 days? You ready?

14 Pounds!!!

It's hard to believe, but that is what clean eating does for you. For the most past, this cleanse has been relatively smooth. The first day or two I felt hungry but not so much after that.

The best part has been the increased energy and feelings of well-being that I am experiencing. I am genuinely enjoying the fact that I have been so disciplined. I do not believe I have had this much discipline with respect to my diet in years.

At this point, it's not about my weight. Sure, it is HIGHLY motivating to see the number on the scale going down. However, this is about my health. I don't know what took me so long to return to this way of eating!

This cleanse has helped me rediscover my true passion...holistic health and wellness. I now know that this is also the direction I want to take my career in.

So...I have three more days officially on my cleanse. I intend to begin food combining while doing a fruit and vegetable cleanse every other day.

Wish me luck....

P.S. I'm not going to lie...I have totally been daydreaming about grilled cheese...

Back to Basics: My 10 Day Fruit and Vegetable Cleanse

Since I started this blog 3 1/2 years ago, my life has changed incredibly. I got married. I moved to the city. I returned to work full-time but now work in a completely different profession with the criminal justice population.

Did I keep off the weight lost from my HCG rounds? Nope! In fact I gained it all back and then some within a year! Why? Besides the fact that I love food, I simply just can't do low carb diets. The low-carb phase of HCG is critical to keeping the weight off. Low carb diets make me miserable!

I have experimented ever since I was an adolescent with different ways of eating. I've been overweight most of my life...at least since Age 8 or 9. It's a struggle. I become resentful when I have to watch everything I put in my mouth. So then I just say, "Fuck it!"

I have done every diet you can imagine...calorie restriction, weight watchers, south beach diet, HCG, Atkins, 3 day diet, vegetarian, vegan, volumetrics, etc. There has got to be a better way...

When I was 19 years old, I lost 125 pounds through natural health principles. Specifically, by doing regular raw food cleanses and food combining. To be fully honest, back then I smoked cigarettes, used illicit drugs such as MDMA, and took appetite suppressants. I fully realize since I don't do any of those things anymore, it will be more challenging to naturally suppress my appetite.

I kept the weight off for several years. This is the only thing that has ever worked for me. Not to mention the fact that this way of eating detoxifies and heals the body from head-to-toe.

As I approach my 35th year of existence, I have realized that I just need to get back to basics. So here begins my ten day fruit and vegetable cleanse.

I plan to solely eat fruits and vegetables. I will be emphasizing raw fruits, veggies, salads, and juices. However, I will also eat some cooked vegetables and broth-based veggie soups. It is January after all.

I officially started yesterday, January 5th. I had raw pineapple, apple/celery/wheatgrass juice, raw sweet peppers, and a salad with natural French vinaigrette. I definitely should have ate more since that is less than 600 calories. However, I started to experience the classic detox symptoms of headache and nausea. It doesn't help that it was my first day off coffee too!

I am excited and hopeful. I know I can do this! I have done it before. I desperately long for that feeling of being comfortable in my own skin again...

HCG Vegan Protocol - Day 23 of the VLCD - Last day of Round 2!!!

Mood: content, confident, motivated, not hungry
Total Weight Loss: 26.6 Pounds!!!

This is the last day of this round! I am so happy that I lost 26 pounds. I am very proud of the level of discipline I mustered up to follow this diet. When people see me, they are astonished at my weight loss and usually remark how healthy and glowing I look. Of course, it's lovely to receive that type of feedback :)

I am excited for my next round of HCG. But don't get me wrong... I can't wait to have a substantial low-carb breakfast tomorrow. I am going to make roasted vegetables, soy chorizo, and scrambled eggs with green chiles. Delicioso!

Breakfast

Yerba Mate Tea - 5 calories                                    

Green Tea - 0 calories

Gala apple - 80 calories

Lunch

Ezekiel bread - 80 calories

roma tomato - 35 calories

Dinner

Brown Rice Protein Powder with water and toffee stevia - 110 calories

1/2 cucumber -22.5 calories

Dessert

Navel Orange - 80 calories

Chocolate Stevia - 0 calories

Total calories: 413

I am so grateful for the new energies that have come as a result of the series of eclipses this year. It was turbulent at first. Who am I kidding? The lunar eclipse (the second eclipse in the series of three) two weeks ago kicked my ass! However, I've made some amazing changes and incorporated new habits:

1. I stopped drinking coffee
2. I quit smoking cigarettes
3. I have been active at least four times per week
4. I have meditated every day for the past 3 1/2 weeks
5. I lost 26.2 pounds

This will be my last blog until I begin Round 3 at the end of September. For the next three months, my goal is to simply maintain my weight. If I lose more weight, groovy! If not, that's fine too. Until then, live consciously and abundantly!