CUTTING OUT THE REFINED...

Last week I took steps to eliminate refined sugar and flour. Basically, I tried to eat nothing processed. I didn't do it 100% but I ate very well. And I lost 5 pounds. Yeeeeaaaaaaah. I lost 1.5 pounds more than I lost all of last month. So that was really nice. And I felt (feel) great. Interesting thing happened...when I wasn't eating any sugar (except fresh fruit), I didn't want sugar. I didn't miss it AT ALL. But one afternoon, I saw a gum ball on the counter. And without even thinking about it, I popped it in my mouth. I struggled with cravings for the rest of the day. Just from chewing that one piece of gum! Craziness.
Last night was The Great Cotton Candy Binge of '09. I enjoyed every. single. bag. Yes, I had BAGS of cotton candy. Every bite was blissful. Pretty sure I won't touch cotton candy for another year. Back to yummy whole foods today.

BACK TO NORMAL
I am finally "back to normal" again. I am enjoying my children, I am loving being back in the kitchen, I am fitting into a few of my old clothes, I am homeschooling, and I don't feel crazy hormonal. It is nice to feel like we are back in the swing of things. I have been cooking up a storm and am just so happy about it. We have cut way back on eating out because I have been cooking up some yummy stuff in the kitchen, and honestly, I have been enjoying that so much that I haven't wanted to go out to eat.
The weight is sloooooowly coming off. And I do mean slowly. Last month I lost a meager 3.5 pounds. But hey, it is better than nothing. And I feel GREAT. I am on week four of the couch to 5K running plan. Running for me is really about pleasure so much more than it is about weight loss. In fact, I don't really factor in running to the weight loss equation at all. It seems in the past that the more I run, the hungrier I am, so the more I eat...
But, I run because I love being alone with my thoughts, being in the fresh air, pushing myself to run faster and farther than the time before. It just feels so darn good!!
Also, I usually do 50 or so squats while I am in the shower, washing my hair. I want to do the 100 push up challenge too.
This is what I ate yesterday. It was a little light on the veggies and heavy on grains. But, other than the 1/2 piece of sausage and sips of sprite, this was a really good food day!
9:30 AM:
-2 eggs, fried in olive oil
-1 piece of cinnamon raisin Ezekiel Bread with fresh almond butter

12 PM:
-1/2 piece of sausage
-handful of grapes

12:30 PM:
-homemade veggie soup

2:30 PM:
-1 piece Ezekiel toast with homemade pumpkin butter

6 PM:
-grilled salmon
-Sauteed spinach with garlic and olive oil
-Quinoa
-Apple

8:15 PM:
-popcorn
-a few sips of Matt's Sprite

9:30 PM:
-homemade granola with milk