Detoxify me PLEASE!

It's Wednesday at 2:06am and here I am coughing and wheezing my way to the bathroom for some tissues to blow my nose for the 139,402 time.

Urgh..... i have to be up at 4:30am so going back to bed is almost pointless because I will be way to nervous that I will sleep through my alarm.....Unfortunately since I'm the fitness instructor I do not get the privilege of that! 

What do i do?? Hang out with my good friend google search engine.... yes the one that tells you everything you need to know about your symptoms and how to cure them right? 

I either have...... Bronchitis, a cold, asthma, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (what?), Acute sinusitis, allergic reaction, upper respiratory infection, and a few hundred more possible medical conditions. 

I really do not like going to the doctor unless I HAVE to. I totally believe in Hippocrates - "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food"

While i am lying around (NOT typical Lallenia at all!) one of my clients keeps telling me i need to watch this "Hungry for a Change" documentary. So I found it on Netflix and watched it... (along with all the other food documentaries available... NERD alert!)

AWESOME documentary! Of course it's a bit of a scare tactic in a sense to wake people up and make them realize we are not eating the way we need to. My husband watched it with me and even HE was pretty enthralled (let me remind you he grew up on Rotella's bread, white potatoes, cereal, and juice from a container). Actually, HE is the one that went to Whole Foods to get all the ingredients to start juicing and for the 3-day detox I wanted to try. 

I've been wanting to try a detox for a while now. I read so much about it and have yet to take action on it. So I did finally! 
Here's the diet: 

• UPON RISING - Ginger Lemon Detox Drink
• BREAKFAST - Super Detox Green Juice (or optional Super Simple Green Drink)
• MID MORNING SNACK - Cucumber, Celery & Carrot Sticks
• LUNCH - Sushi Salad (or optional green salad)
• AFTERNOON SNACK - Activated almonds
• DINNER - Potassium Balance Soup
• DESSERT - Chia Pudding
• AFTER DINNER - Calming Chamomile Tea

http://www.hungryforchange.tv/article/3-day-detox-plan
^^Here is the website with the recipes it came from.

I figured since I'm not feeling well and cannot workout for a while due to the upper respiratory infection AND I get 4 teeth pulled this Monday... this would be the perfect time try this!

As of right now (Friday afternoon) I feel pretty good! I still am coughing and wheezing  a little but i feel like I am on my way to feeling better. Just in time to get my teeth pulled yay! (can you feel the sarcasm?)

Thursday I felt pretty good all day until around 4:30pm I got really hungry and light headed but I told myself i will be ok. Make the soup for dinner, I am not starving... I will be fine. Over and over again in my head I repeated this so I didn't go crazy and eat off the plan. I even taught my cycle class (i couldn't find a sub)... although I didn't feel as strong I still did it!

A little overview of the meals:

LOVE the ginger lemon drink in the morning! (sorry no pictures of that)

Green drink:
Red apple
Celery
Parsley
Kale
Cucumber
Lemon (yum)
then after it was juiced added some spurlina powder.

This was all that was juiced

Really it wasn't that bad!!! 

I really like the juice! The lemon helps make it a little sweet... and there is something to be said about feeling good drinking the stuff dontcha think?

I was able to snack on cucumbers, carrots and celery if wanted.

Now lunch....
HA! This was a different story.....

hmmm...... 

This "sushi" salad didn't taste like much of a sushi salad to me... Ok So I MAY have burned the seaweed, put too much ginger in the dressing and my avocado was too hard to use.... but I ate it... twice now!

Behind the sushi salad is my "activated" almonds. I soaked them over night... they were a little mushy but I can feel that they digest differently for sure!

Dinner I made the potassium balance soup. (no pictures again.. I'm slacking I know!)
This was ok. Not a lot of flavor but again I feel so healthy eating it I really cannot complain!

My favorite (which looks gross disgusting) is this chia seed pudding.... YUM!
Coconut milk, chia seeds, honey, and cinnamon. (Full recipe is in the link for the detox.)

mmmmm yummy!!

Almost taste like tapioca pudding.... almost. My little man loves it! So does my big man!
Side note**  If you're wondering, my husband didn't do the detox BUT he's drinking 2 green drinks a day and so is my little 3 year old boy!! (MAJOR mommy and wifey bonus!!!!!!)

SO far I feel a little light headed here and there but really not bad... even without my eggs and grass fed  meat.....I MISS you dearly!

Saturday evening:

I am really glad to see people have different view points of nutrition. I think it's important people keep an open mind about it.... but when you think about it... it's common sense to eat more vegetables and fruits isn't it? It just makes sense. Has anyone ever told you otherwise?
Right! Me either!... so why don't we do it?
 Maybe we do not know how... or maybe no one really forced us into it. If you're an adult now guess what??... YOU are in control of this! (yipee!)

Maybe people think it's too expensive..... no way... being sick miserable and not feeling confident and strong is going to cost more than choosing vegetables and fruits over cereal and granola bars.
I found this great little blog explaining it really well! If you're one of those that thinks that way!
http://www.couragetobehealthy.com/2013/01/eating-healthy-expensive/

For me I always felt like i eat pretty healthy.... but i do struggle with portion sizes now and then. Sometimes when I choose to eat a "cheat' meal it's a CHEAT meal (like 2-3 pieces of cake). That's just silly... WHY?
I think about it... and I realize it's a habit from my growing up. I CONSCIOUSLY need make it a habit to portion out my meals, not eat while I am cooking and STOP after 1-2 bites of a piece of sweet disastrous  junk food if i chose to go there.

I was raised on junk food and lots of it so it's not yet a habit to stop when I am full or eat slow. I am still learning! Some people never realize they can change their habits.... it takes time and the desire to WANT to change them before they are changed.

When I got sick this week it was kind of my wake up call.... like my body is not being nourished the right way somehow so I did this detox for a few days to help me feel better. I DO feel better! Still coughing a little and a little wheezing but I can tell I have more energy!

I made it 2 1/2 days on the detox.... movie theatre popcorn got me (i did only eat a few handfuls though!).

The crazy thing.... I lost 4lbs! I wasn't really doing it to lose weight i just wanted to feel better but that tells me my body has lots of toxins it needs to get rid of! It wasn't like i was starving myself.... this meal plan was not super low on calories so I really believe it was just build up in my gut.....I am sure you wanted to know that.... but I am a BIG believer that health begins in your gut...

My take away about detoxing.....
I LOVE it! I feel like detoxing gives you a sense of control, confidence and its a nice little reset for your body!
But if your mindset isn't prepared it can be extremely hard.... you have to remind yourself you're NOT starving..... you can do it. Once you start feeling the difference it can make in a day or two you will feel so great and it will motivate you to keep going or do it again when you feel you need it. Even if you slip up a little bit just get back on it....

I really want to keep the juicing a part of our daily lifestyle because not only is it a quick way to get vital micro nutrients into our system but my husband loves it too!
See the middle text ;-)

I know these documentaries REALLY push vegetarian/vegan lifestyle... I still am not sold that we aren't supposed to eat meat. I most definitely believe we aren't supposed to eat meat that is full of hormones and that is overly processed.

 I have come to the conclusion with all these different diets, meal plans, and detoxing plans... there is a point when we just need to use common sense and have a balance of exercise, eating smaller portions, and occasionally resetting our body when we've have a little bit too much junk in it.

They key to getting and staying healthy, fit, and fabulous is to eat everything in moderation, stay active doing something you love, and be happy to be alive! We seem to make it ALL to complicated don't we?

Wish me luck on my teeth being pulled Monday..... (scared face insert here!)

Keep yourself Healthy, Fit and FABULOUS!
*Lallenia*

Where you want to be....

You are where you want to be.

Aren't you?

No really...You are.

You are where you want to be. 

I was told this by a friend of mine during our workout session a few weeks ago. It has been stuck in my head ever since.

She's RIGHT! ( she usually ALWAYS is)

If you weren't you would make it a priority to get to where you want to be. This can be used in so many areas of life....

I've been thinking so much about this simple little saying and cannot help but realize so many people use their past or other people as an excuse (me included) as to why they aren't this or why they haven't done that.

Honestly..... it's kind of bologna (gross and just wrong). I look at my life and where I am right now. I made the decisions to be where I am today. No body forced me into it. No one can force you to do anything unless you allow them too. Even at gun point, you do not have to give up your wallet.... (it'd probably be wise if you did BUT you get what i mean right?)

Of course there ARE exceptions (duh); like if you want to have a relationship with someone and they do not want to have one with you. You can do everything in your power to try to be with them but you cannot make them want you...

Oh man!! I've been there! (tried that a few times w/ the same guy).... I didn't want to think I couldn't have what I had my heart set on. Even though that's where I thought I wanted to be, there were other plans for my future...although i may have gotten a broken heart, it taught me a whole lot and lead me to the man I believe God placed on this earth for me specifically.  (awwww how cute right?)

I'll keep him =) 

Anyways as much as I LOVE talking about my hubby and how we met... that isn't what i wanted to write about this week! (if you want to know, feel free to ask it's my favorite story... EVER!)

Are you where you want to be?? 

Ask yourself that.... it will either make you;
A. Wake up and get going on your dreams, ambitions, and goals.
B. Make you realize yes. yes I am. 
C. OR you will sit there a spew out a bunch of reasons on why you aren't the CEO of your company, haven't lost the weight you need to lose to get healthy, cannot eat a balanced diet, don't have time to play with your children or cannot seem to get ahead in life.

I do not mean this to be rude. I just think that when you REALLY want something bad enough or WANT to change something you will fight like crazy to get it and not let excuses or other peoples opinions get in your way.

Yes there are things you cannot have right away.... for instance say you want to be pregnant with a baby and you try really hard but then you find out you're not.... It's so frustrating yet that doesn't mean you are going to give up right away.

 You keep trying to find what works best for you.

I see this a lot where people start "trying" to get healthy. They start exercising and making better food decisions but do not lose a ton of weight, even gain weight sometimes..... then they quit. Wait. What? I've always struggled with this one.

WHY WOULD YOU QUIT TRYING TO MAKE YOURSELF BETTER?????

Yes there will be fall backs. Yes, it IS hard at times to stay disciplined and eat whats healthy for you when just want a dang cheeseburger and french fries someone ELSE made. Or get up and move on days you just FEEL like laying around.

My husband and I took Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University class a few weeks ago for 9 weeks to learn how to handle money (LOVED IT). 

We are on our way to getting out of all debt but our house. (YAY!) It sounds like such a great idea right?? 

BUT........

HOLY COW! It feels like its such a SLOW process of budgeting and DISCIPLINE...... but yet we have to keep looking at the end picture of being able to save and give money instead of paying interest and racking up more debt. 

At this moment it sometimes feels like we will never make it because we feel like we are sacrificing so many things we want right now (like a new house and car). Yet in 10-15 years when we are able to not only give to charities we really care about but also build our dream home, own a few Harley's, AND have our sons college fund filled up, it will be SO worth it, right??? 

Same with weight loss, muscle tone and becoming healthier.... 
HOLY COW those chocolate chip cookies look so good, an extra serving of pasta sounds delicious, the couch is super comfy, just ONE more donut wont hurt..... 

It's those little "extra expenses" that end up costing so much more down the road than if you keep your eye on that goal. Make sure your choices reflect your goals not your instant gratification need. 

“There is a choice you make in everything you do. So keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make, makes you.” John Wooden 

How true... You are where you want to be. If not, change your choices so you are. It really is THAT easy. If you're not sure how to get to where you want to be. Find someone who has made it there and ask him or her how he or she did it. Your circumstances might be a little different but that doesn't mean it's impossible to get there. Just don't give up if that’s REALLY what you want.

I am right now in a bit of a funk with deciding where I want to be. And that’s ok too.

I REALLY thought I was pregnant (AGAIN) and I'm not. To be honest it's harder than I thought.... there is no special formula as everyone is different. Since I'm not pregnant I really want to get back into feeling like myself and working out like I used to. No not overtraining or turning towards my eating disorder. Just learning new stuff and challenging myself in new ways. 

I have so many goals and ambitions I struggle with staying focused on one.
I want to be pregnant. I want to run a half marathon. I want to do a triathlon. I want to do another bikini competition. I want to compete in a cross fit challenge. 
Geez… I sound like my 3-year old son. I WANT I WANT I WANT....... Awesome.

Some girls like to sew, shop all day, some like to decorate their house, some cook all day… I like to workout & be active. I do enjoy cooking healthy meals but not all day… I’m not great at decorating and couldn’t sew a button on a shirt if my life depended on it… and shopping Yikes!!!… I get too overwhelmed!

After a long talk with my husband we decided its best to keep “trying” (his favorite part!) for baby #2 but not take it so extreme to where I don’t workout like I want or run sometimes. When the doctor told me to quit running, working out hard, and gain weight I did and I hate it!!!!!

And maybe as I am feeling more like myself, my body (and God) will say that’s it Lallenia! Baby time! We’re going to do it naturally for a few months before we decide to ask for medical help. I need to stop trying to control things i cannot control and comparing my life and my circumstances to everyone else.  

What I CAN control:
1. What I put into my body, physically, mentally and spiritually. 
2. If I decide to make time to workout or not.
3. Who and what I am surrounding myself with.

Make a list of your goals and write out a game plan of how to get there. if you don't know how ask for help instead of wasting time trying to figure it out on your own and worrying about what other people are doing. 

I know I needed to write this as I have been struggling with this lately. It is a kick in my butt as well to write out my goals physically, mentally, spiritually & financially. Then game plans on how to make them happen. That will be my next blog. (now hold me to it will ya??)

I hope this helped to motivate you to start getting to where YOU want to be and make the choices and goals you need to make to get there! Or at LEAST think about making yourself better in some form. 



Remember if you have questions about fitness & health related topics I'm an open book and LOVE LOVE LOVE learning and helping people! My passion entirely! If i cannot help you I will lead you in the right direction of someone who can. =) 

 Keep yourself Healthy, Fit, & Fabulous!!

*Lallenia*