About 2 years ago, I changed my diet and started exercising more. I had some success and lost 10 pounds. Then, I cut out glutens, dairy and sugars and lost another 30 pounds. I was not quite at my college weight but it felt great to be close. While my food choices had improved, working out was still difficult for me. I lacked energy and motivation.
Then came the infamous chocolate binge. For whatever reason, these cravings for carbs took over and in ten days I gained 15 pounds. Yes, 15 pounds! AKA 52,500 calories.... mostly in chocolate. I just couldn't stop. I was an addict, and my drug of choice was sugar. This sugar habit could easily be traced back to my childhood (one day I'll tell you about my "candy diet").
So, why wasn't I an obese child? Well, I'm also very competitive and my big brother was (and is still) very athletic. I played sports in order to compete for my mother's attention. I'm sure that organized sports as a teen and my love for dancing in clubs in 80's was instrumental in my ability to eat junk food and stay at a healthy weight.
Jump to April 2012, still lacking motivation to exercise on a consistent basis, I was on the road to undoing all of the good things that I had done the previous year.
Enter "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead," the documentary by Joe Cross, about his journey to undo the damage he had done to his body. I can't say enough about this documentary,
so I'll reduce it to one simple sentence. It changed my life.
It didn't take much to convince me to "reboot my life." I checked out the website jointhereboot.com, dragged out my Magic Bullet with the juicer attachment and dove right in. I juiced 4 or 5 times a day for a week. The first three days were the hardest, mostly because I have a housemate who eats bacon just about every morning. I toughed it out, primarily by closing my bedroom door, pulling the covers over my head and pouting.
On day 4 of this stretch of the reboot, I had a 5 mile hike planned. I juiced up in the morning, packed up some nuts and carrots (just in case) and headed out. Surprisingly, I felt great! I probably could have done the whole thing on the juice only, but being an experienced hiker, I knew my body needed more fuel. Other than that, I consumed only juice for the week..... and dropped 10 pounds. In addition, the inflammation in my knees practically disappeared, my energy levels were raised and, without pills, I was sleeping better than I had in years.
After that week, I started eating whole foods again. Since I had gone back to my "clean eating" lifestyle, I easily maintained my weight loss. It's not enough for me though. Now that I know how easy it is for me to do, I am setting my sights on my original goal... to be back at my college weight of 125 pounds. This time though, it will be a healthier 125, one built by clean, healthy whole foods. I can't rely on a teenage metabolism anymore.
And here I am, Day 1 of a 15 day reboot. I'm on a short journey to improve my body, my health and my confidence. I invite you to follow me on this trip... and join me if you can.
Then came the infamous chocolate binge. For whatever reason, these cravings for carbs took over and in ten days I gained 15 pounds. Yes, 15 pounds! AKA 52,500 calories.... mostly in chocolate. I just couldn't stop. I was an addict, and my drug of choice was sugar. This sugar habit could easily be traced back to my childhood (one day I'll tell you about my "candy diet").
So, why wasn't I an obese child? Well, I'm also very competitive and my big brother was (and is still) very athletic. I played sports in order to compete for my mother's attention. I'm sure that organized sports as a teen and my love for dancing in clubs in 80's was instrumental in my ability to eat junk food and stay at a healthy weight.
Jump to April 2012, still lacking motivation to exercise on a consistent basis, I was on the road to undoing all of the good things that I had done the previous year.
Enter "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead," the documentary by Joe Cross, about his journey to undo the damage he had done to his body. I can't say enough about this documentary,
so I'll reduce it to one simple sentence. It changed my life.
It didn't take much to convince me to "reboot my life." I checked out the website jointhereboot.com, dragged out my Magic Bullet with the juicer attachment and dove right in. I juiced 4 or 5 times a day for a week. The first three days were the hardest, mostly because I have a housemate who eats bacon just about every morning. I toughed it out, primarily by closing my bedroom door, pulling the covers over my head and pouting.
On day 4 of this stretch of the reboot, I had a 5 mile hike planned. I juiced up in the morning, packed up some nuts and carrots (just in case) and headed out. Surprisingly, I felt great! I probably could have done the whole thing on the juice only, but being an experienced hiker, I knew my body needed more fuel. Other than that, I consumed only juice for the week..... and dropped 10 pounds. In addition, the inflammation in my knees practically disappeared, my energy levels were raised and, without pills, I was sleeping better than I had in years.
After that week, I started eating whole foods again. Since I had gone back to my "clean eating" lifestyle, I easily maintained my weight loss. It's not enough for me though. Now that I know how easy it is for me to do, I am setting my sights on my original goal... to be back at my college weight of 125 pounds. This time though, it will be a healthier 125, one built by clean, healthy whole foods. I can't rely on a teenage metabolism anymore.
And here I am, Day 1 of a 15 day reboot. I'm on a short journey to improve my body, my health and my confidence. I invite you to follow me on this trip... and join me if you can.
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