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The Master Cleanse Experience… aka Lemonade Diet

Well it has been sometime since I have blogged, before the birth of our second baby, Clover Alessandra. This topic, however, has to be blogged about. I started the Master Cleanse diet this past Monday, January 29th, 2008. It is a 10 day(min) fast where you only consume liquids consisting of a lemonade concoction and then do a herbal laxative tea in the morning and evening. I completed this fast once January 2007 with my mother-in-law, Fran. 

What drove me to even consider this craziness was that I was at my wits end with the lack of weightloss from having my first baby, Sebastian. I packed on a hefty 50 lbs with him and had 40 lbs to lose after the baby. I managed to wittle away at it but by the holidays (6months) later I was still 10 lbs heavier and at a plateau. I saw the footage on Oprah about Beyonce Knowles doing the fast to lose weight for her role in “DreamGirls” I thought to myself… I can do that! So when I saw the family at Christmas I mentioned it to Fran and low and behold, she had the actual orginal book The Master Cleanser by Stanley Burroughs.   I was shocked! Apparently she had the book and had always wanted to do the fast but never got around to it.  So it was ON! We decided to start and complete the fast together beginning the new year. 

It was a really tough first few days and I almost quit so many times. It was amazing the need to chew something was what I felt and I just felt like I had the flu. Apparently these are all detox symptoms. At the end of the fast I was a pleasant 12 lbs lighter and had so much energy and umpf that I was so happy I had completed the fast no matter how tough it had been.

This is why I am here again going through the same fast. This time I had more to lose since I started at a higher starting weight. I figure it will get me going down the right path and help me restart my system. Oddly though, this time the fast has not been as arduous. It has actually been quite easy.  I was prepared for the worst on day 2 and day 3 and that never came. I am currently on day 6 and toward the end of the day at that.  One side effect I am experiencing that I also had last time is the “coldies”. You just freaking feel cold all the time. I guess the lack of solid food and also it being winter time doesn’t help. Besides that everything else, including the cravings are manageable. Last time I was obsessed with watching the Food Network and looking at cookbook recipes. Weird even though I couldn’t eat anything just looking at it made me feel better and closer to food. I am planning to go to day 10, but have been contemplating continuing on for 4 more days to make it a full 2 weeks.

I have been looking at message boards www.therawfoodsite.com which are really helpful during this time. It is always nice to know there are others going through what you are going through. With that being said, it is definitely easier to do this with someone than alone. Also I had the benefit of having this week off of work. So I will only be at work for 3 days if I complete the 10 day fast instead of the 14 day one. The worst days are also in the beginning.

So right now my sense of smell is like superhero sense of smell. I guess since I am not eating it has instensified my other senses. It’s really odd to smell everything so intensely but at the same time really great. I am also just starting to get the energy high that comes with this fast toward the end. I have also managed to mantain working out. I have gone twice now and plan to go and do a weightlifting class tomorrow.

One thing I did differently this time was I drank a lot more water in between my lemonade drinks. I think that really helped me feel so much better and I am glad I figured that out. Also having two little ones keeps me really busy and my mind off of the whole food thing. It is truly amazing how much time you have when you don’t mess with food. You have a lot of free time to read and do things you usually don’t have time for. For me though with the kids I am just spending more time with them.

So another hard thing is watching your loved ones eat in front of you. Michael has been eating pizza, chinese food, pasta, etc.  It’s tough but I just tell myself that I can’t do it and I am too close now to the end to stop this. I know once I am done I will feel like a million bucks just like last time. Also hopefully a good 15 lbs lighter. Currently I have lost 8 1/2 lbs as of this morning weigh in. It is really motivating to see that scale go down everyday! My plan after the fast is really stay away from all the bad foods and eat a more clean diet and continue my vigorous exercising… I am addicted to the working out part!

So to anyone that wants to try this diet… DO IT! Just commit and do it and I promise you will be truly amazed at how you feel and how you look! 

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Baby #2

I have been meaning to write for some time in this blog but life and other petty stuff has gotten in the way like it tends to do when you have something well intended planned. Michael and I are expecting our second baby this coming September. It is truly a blessing to welcome a child into this world.  Especially as we raise our son, Sebastian, and celebrate his milestones. We know what to expect and what to look forward to with our next beloved child. With that being said…

I had no idea how different each pregnancy could be. I mean I knew it could be different but this is nuts. Let’s put it this way, with Sebastian I was basically on a “happy” drug for the whole pregnancy. This one has been totally different. I have had morning sickness, I have been sick in general, I had acid reflux, insomnia, major food aversions and I can only manage to eat small portions — I mean tiny portions at each sitting. Oh, I am grumpier too… bless Michael for putting up with me.

The funny thing about the differences are that everyone thinks I am now having a girl because of them. I am kind of in agreeance with them but I am not convinced it is because of the type of pregnancy.

This time to just be different we have chosen to wait until the baby is born to find out the sex. I think it’s because we want to have the surprise but also because we don’t care what the sex is as long as the baby is healthy.

We will find out in September! I am now in my 15th week and have a OB appt. tomorrow morning so I will have to report more next time!

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O Christmas Tree Brings the Warm & Fuzzy Feeling

Tonight we got our Christmas tree from Cranberry Tree Farm.  Michael is vacuuming the house right now so we can put it in the living room. Boy it is interesting how something like buying a big tree makes you get in the Christmas mood and feel the holidays are here. Just seeing the sales guy at the farm tie the tree up on the hood of the Jeep really made me happy.

I think it puts me back when I was a child and the wonderful feeling of Christmas and all the great things it brought. This year was special too because we took Sebastian to pick the tree out.  Even though he had no clue what was going on he was thrilled to run through the trees displayed and watch people picking their trees out. We took some great photos of him for posterity.  Something about his sweet innocence and true happiness just made the experience this year even better.  I can only imagine next year when we pick a tree out when he is 2 and half years old, how exciting that will be.  He even added the Christmas spirit to other tree shoppers.  One guy who appeared in his 20s was there with his family and particularly seemed to enjoy watching Sebastian have his first tree experience. That is the wonderous thing about children.

Last year we didn’t do the whole tree thing because we were traveling up to NY to spend it with Michael’s family and we thought it would just sit here wasted. So technically this is Sebastian’s first tree and first Christmas in our home in NC.  We are very excited and want to make it special. I know it really is for us since he has no idea what is going on. But he sure loves lights and seems to know there is definitely something different and special going on right now.

After the tree purchase we went straight to BJ wholesale club to buy lights to decorate the house and more ornaments. Sebastian was fascinated by the prelighted trees on display at the store. At this time in his life all he cares about is that there are neat lights everywhere. It is so interesting that simple lights just make him so happy. I really cherish this time because soon Christmas will be about what he wants from Santa – that will also be fun. www.bjs.com

Experiencing the setting up of Christmas time in our home and driving around and seeing lights displayed really reminds me of all the things I am grateful for… Health, Family, Job, Friends and that is really all that matters.  In the family we all have decided to not exchange gifits for each other but instead buy for the children. I think this is such a great way to really appreciate the holidays instead of racing around trying to decide what is the best gift for all the people on your list.

The best gift we can give each other is time and love and patience. All these things we have and so my wish list is complete. Happy holidays to everyone!

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The Funk

Emi speaks: I think I have the funk! You know what I am talking about when the season changes from glorious fall to yucky winter. Everyone around me seems to have had it, had it, or is getting it.

I keep blaming it on allergies but I know it’s more than that. My head is killing me, sinuses are a mess and draining, and I feel sluggish and just down right yucky!

Even my exercising doesn’t seem to be warding the funk off this year! It seems like people at the gym are all getting sick too — maybe that is where I contracted this funk. Thank goodness Michael and Sebastian are doing ok.

I probably just wore myself down too much by staying up late playing boggle and that did me in.

Well to those out there that have the funk… rest up, drinks lots Qof fluids, and take your vitamins… for me it will be lots of vegging out on top of that and NYQUIL! 

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Chocoholics Unite!

This is the time of year the call of chocolate is too strong to resist! Why o why do I not have the power to resist chocolate and sweets in general. I think it could be hormonal… seems to be getting worse over the years.

Dark, milk,white, cakes, cookies, ice cream — I will take it all.. and I love it all. I need some type of repellent to these things — evil, evil, sweets… oh the downfall of all my working out and trying to stay in shape are my addiction to sweets. Give me Godiva, lindt, Haagen-Daaz, or Herseys. 

I have just been told go to the 8th floor of the saks fifth avenue www.saks.com in NYC (the original) and get the expensive chocolate… make sure to go alone so not to have to share the expensive chocolate..

So I am here to say, my name is Alicia and I am a chocoholic. I need help!

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Motherhood for Me

Motherhood for me has been such an interesting journey and my son is only 18 months old as of yesterday Nov. 25th. I knew it would change me and change my life but I didn’t know it would add so many layers to my life.

Before Sebastian was born I thought I already had a full life. It was like a part of me awoke after he was born and they told me I had a baby boy in the hospital. I guess that part of me was always there but I just didn’t realize it or know it until Sebastian arrived.

For this reason alone I am so happy we decided to embark in the world of neverending worry, love, and concern, and hopes for our child and hopefully future children. That part of parenting is so mind boggling. All the worrying and hopes and concern you feel for your child it is just nuts. You worry if they are sleeping enough or eating enough or not enough. You worry if they are developing at a fast enough pace or if you should or shouldn’t be giving them certain foods. It is just neverending… I mean there is a whole book section on how to properly raise your child. Unfortunately there are differing opinions on how to raise your child and do things.  That topic is a whole other blog in itself which I am sure I will get there one of these days.

Ok back to motherhood and how much I absolutely love it. The best part is the first time you see your baby in the morning. It is truly like Christmas every day when you see him for the first time.

I just can look at him for hours and think how spectacular he is and how cute and funny he is.  I mean what a sense of humor our child has. He really just cracks me up.

I love thinking of all the wonderful experiences we are going to share all through the years of him growing up. It really is exciting. I can’t wait! I do have to remember to not wish today away.

For the days are long but the years are fast when raising children – such a true statement.

The one thing I love about my son is how sweet and comforting he is to me. He truly has saved me from myself in a way. He puts so much perspective in my life – keeps me grounded.  I can’t say enough great things about being a mom.

When I hear my friends are expecting I am so excited for them to experience the most amazing joy in life… giving life. What a true gift it is, the best one I could have ever hoped or asked life to give me.

Just as Oprah www.oprah.com says, “This I know is true” I know being a mother is the most amazing job and experience this life has to offer and I am blessed to have it.

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My First Post on this thing called a Blog

What is the meaning of blog anyways… ok this is my first post and I feel like I need to write something life altering.  We have just finished a wonderful Thanksgiving in NC. I definitely ate way too much — need to look for redemption. I am hoping burn off the extra calories at my spin classes this week.

I think I definitely have an obsessive personality. I tend to get very addictive. I have definitely developed an addiction to spinning classes at O2 Fitness.  That is a smaller gym in Raleigh, NC www.o2fitnessclubs.com  I think what makes the classes fun are the other people in the class with you and the instructor. I definitely have my favorite teachers – Chrissy & Brandon are awesome. I love Casey’s music and Hadara is great too on Tues.  Ok, back to my obsessive (addictive) personality.  I even went as far as to buy special cycling shoes that actually lock you on to the bike.  When I went to the Biking store www.trekraleigh.com the sales guy asked me what type of bike I had and I said that I didn’t.  So I am the nutty customer that buys shoes for a bike that doesn’t go anywhere. I am sure since I started classes this past January, I have probably biked at least 1000 miles or more. I mean when I go out of town I miss class and get stressed if I have to miss class. With that being said I am not going this evening since it is the last night my mother in law is going to be in town and we are spending time together.  I am thinking I will feel guilty but I am thinking that it will be ok…. At least my spinning addiction has gotten me back into shape since the baby. That process is in a whole other blog post.

At least to my benefit this addictive behavior does not include drinking or drugs or smoking. Ironic it tends to be good things for me.

This past weekend I discovered you can play Boggle online with other people…. totally addictive. You definitely must try… if you think you are a good Boggler, think again, once you go to the site www.weboggle.shackworks.com you will see how crazy good these people are. You can also sign in with interesting usernames. Some people are political with their names and others are just down right funny… one that I remember to be funny was “Dumpling Running Man”.  I challenge you to try the site out. Beware though… I was stuck playing until 3 am Thanksgiving day evening because I was on a mission to be #1… still not there yet. I feel this draw to play when I get near a computer… It is amazing that I am actually on a computer and doing something else.

Ok so there are two examples of my crazy addictive behavior. I am curious if anyone else shares my afflictions. – Alicia