:week one: DAY 4 : of six week cleanse

stats:
40 yrs old.
139 lbs
5'4"
size 8 (some 6's if they run a bit big)
eat to live - BEGAN - march 24, 2008


my journey back to total health.

WHY:
to lose appx 20 lbs.
to feel great in and out of my clothes...in front of my husband and at the beach.
better health as i age.
fight off illness
build up my strength

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so i am documenting this 'experiment' and utilizing dr. joel furhmans book and his 6 week cleanse. since monday i have elimated all sugar, dairy, and meat. i am in a state of 'detox' right now...day 4. but i am also struggling with a head cold/cough and a very heavy period.

when i stepped on the scale tuesday morning i weighed exactly 140. this morning (2 days later) the scale reads 138! whoohoo.

i am going to use this blog as a way to keep track of my emotions, and the way my body responds to this cleanse.

i am hoping to use this time, (the next 5 and half weeks) as a way to reconnect with God - as a manner of a 'fast' as well....spiritually there is so much i need to deal with. this past year turning 40 has brought to surface alot of hurts that i have burried and i had no idea how to deal with them. also, it has been a year of anger....i have felt so much anger towards my dad, mom, childhood hurts etc ... grandpas passing, and g-ma's ugly ways....ontop of inlaw issues....well alot of hurts have surfaced and i am emotionally drained.

so i hope to find some peace and renewed strength not just physically, but emotionally as well.

:discoveries:emotional

today i realized how much i have denied the truth to my emotional eating. although i do not have a large amount of weight to lose, i do have 20 extra pounds. .... and it has been since denying myself the comfort of food this week that emotions have come to surface....which leads me to believe that i did 'use' food as an emotional crutch. i love to eat...to cook, to break bread with others...i love it....but i want to use this time as a way to go inward and upward.....and not stuff any more.

i am not sure where this will all lead me...i just trust that God will help me get to the end and that when i get there, i will be healthier, leaner, and more in control of my life.

:discoveries:physical

my symptoms include a runny nose, head ache, body aches, weakness, irritability, depression, cough, cramps (period) lots of bathroom trips, some queezy-ness, sore muscles, exhaustion, and feeling cloudy headed.

::: UPDATE ::::: scary symptoms

around 30 minutes ago, just after eating my lentil and veg soup, my nose and eyes started to run severely...i am sneezing and feeling extremely 'not well' .... just more achy today and thus far today has been the worst of the week! my nose is running continually. i want to find a forum or some place to talk to others. rene thinks i am detoxing too quickly...so perhaps i am.

i thought i would be feeling better by now...but i am feeling worse. much worse.

7:12 pm update...

made some quinou and added it to the lentil veg soup...felt a little better, but hunger pangs soon after....head ache is getting worse. much worse. but the runny nose is clearing up a little. also more new symptoms, cold sweats and hot flashes. ugh.

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UPDATE:

i was able to finally be 'over' my flu by mid saturday. i struggled thru the afternoon with rene with aches and feeling tired...drove home and slept well that night....saturday we spent the afternoon at dad's seeing off my sister and the kids. there was only pastrami and bagels with cream cheese to eat, (even though i did explain to her that i was only eating fruits and vegg's etc) so i am so relieved i took my own veggie platter, and snacked all day on veggies. i also drank a blueberry (naked juice) smoothie most of the morning on the drive out.
that evening i had a little dinner of veggies around 8ish.