Spring Cleaning...ME.

I have had quite a few people ask me about this cleanse/diet that I am doing...so this post is dedicated to explaining everything that's been going on and why I am doing what I am doing! 

So- for starters I am NOT a fan of "diets" so I was extremely skeptical when my mother in law pointed this particular one out to me. Since I am not a fan of the word or the concept, I am choosing to call this a "cleanse" because essentially that's what I am doing. Some spring cleaning! Monday, I hurled myself into the pits of hell (ok, maybe I am exaggerating- but the first few days were terrible!!) and I started Dr. Oz's 2 week rapid weight loss diet. Don't turn your nose up at the name like I first did...bear with me. So here are my reasons for even giving this a try. 

#1- I am overweight. Whether I like to admit it or not, and no matter what my friends and family may say, I am heavier then I care to be. I desire a more fit, toned, and trim me. Therefore, I knew I needed to do something, I just needed to find the will power to do it. 

#2- I am dealing with horrible stomach issues. I have always semi suffered in this area, but this past year has just been terrible. I am nauseous all day every day, which requires me to lay down on the couch for short periods sometimes as many as 6 or 7 times a day just to get through. It's worse in the evenings which results in me missing out on awesome family time because I am in the bathroom and hugging a bucket. Every. Single. Night. Folks. It's beyond old. I was first diagnosed with acid reflux- which we now know is not the case. I am still undergoing tests to try and locate a problem (so i'm not necessarily looking for diagnosis on this post. :p) but in the meantime I have honestly been praying about what I can do to help, since there doesn't seem to be any obvious triggers. When I read over this "cleanse" I thought to myself- "What a great chance to discipline myself to eat clean, and cut out all the junk." So...I went to the store, bought everything I would need and got started. 

So here is a sneak peek into my day, generally speaking. 

7 am- Wake UP
8 am- Sip on a cup of hot water with a 1/2 of lemon
         Drink my breakfast shake (recipe is on Dr. Oz website) 
         Take multi vitamin and probiotic 
10:30 am- Snack (usually a fresh veggie, cucumber, pepper, carrots, etc. with                                 
               plain hummus.)
1:00 pm- HUGE salad with fresh veggies, avocado, and balsamic vinaigrette.
3:30 pm- Handful of nuts, a cup of vegetable broth
5:30 pm- 6 oz protein, 1/2 cup of brown rice and unlimited low glycemic 
              veggies. (veggie list is on Dr. Oz website)
7:00 pm- 1 cup of plain greek yogurt. 
Drink Green Tea (unsweetened) and water throughout the day. 
Nothing to eat after 8 pm. 

That's the jist. I switch the veggies up day to day, and try to get creative with my dinner. Tonight I am going to attempt spaghetti squash with seasoned chicken, sauteed mushrooms, zucchini, and onion on top. It's all about change. I can't eat a salad everyday for the next 2 weeks or so. I just can't. 

So here's what I am finding: 
I have not been sick since I started eating this way! Which tells me- I am allergic to something I am taking in on a day to day basis. 
I have lost 4 pounds! 
Win-Win if you ask me. 
This is not saying that I will never treat myself to a "sweet treat" every now and then or any of that. I just know that it will not kill me to eat this way for a couple weeks, and really even a lifetime. It's amazing how when we eat clean, we feel sooooo much better. Now that I am on day 5 it is starting to get a bit easier. I won't lie those first couple of days were awful. I mean terrible. I was going through sugar withdrawls like crazy. For those of you who know me personally, you know how much I LOVE my coffee. Like to the tune of almost a whole pot a day...yeah, I haven't had any all week, but my energy levels are so much better. To boot- my sleep is amazing! Bye-bye insomnia and hello, I am ready to crash by 9:30pm! Over all I am feeling so amazing. 

Now can I get a little spiritual on you? Another reason I did this was basically just for the self-discipline. I think it's good for us to deny ourselves things from time to time, just to remind ourselves that we don't have to have everything we want. Nor is everything we want, good for us. I was quite crabby the first few days, because I was fiening for chocolate, a cheeseburger, and coffee. It was a battlefield up in my mind, let me tell ya!! I was telling myself all sorts of things to convince myself I didn't need to make these changes- but I overcame!! Really and truly self indulging (on a daily basis) is a lack of self control...isn't that a fruit of the spirit? It may not feel good, but I have to make myself deny myself. Does that make sense? Here's a couple of my go to verses:

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline,” -2 Timothy 1:7.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...gentleness and self-control” -Galatians 5:22-23

“For the grace of God... teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” -Titus 2:11-13

“Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name” -Psalm 86:11

Now, these verses are great when I've got my fight on...other times I feel like Paul...

“I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do” -Romans 7:18-19

Haha! Really and truly God has given me the grace to stay strong. I've only cheated once! ;) My desire is to live a healthy life for my kids and my husband, and to demonstrate self control and self discipline. So- I will overcome! And hopefully along the way I will continue to feel better, drop weight, and gain a new healthy lifestyle! 

Thanks for reading!