Four Days In

So here it is, Wednesday afternoon.  I survived .... no, I thrived! ... on this new Pink Drink!

Having my #pinkdrink first thing in the morning, I definitely feel the effects in the form of not being as hungry as I usually am.  I work retail and am on my feet 9+ hours a day.  There is no "sit down" portion of my job, and I didn't tire out, at least not today. 

Monday was a very hard day, as it was Day 2 without my usual Diet Coke intake, and I had that gnawing headache one gets when you try to cut out your caffeine.  But I powered through the day, drinking lots of water.  No real hunger pangs at all, it was a shock to realize that when lunchtime rolled around, I wasn't constantly staring at the clock, wishing it was time to eat.  By the time I got home, I fixed broccoli and cauliflower for dinner, then walked Sadie for 35 minutes. 

Tuesday was easier, but there was a lag in my step that I noticed around 2pm.  I grabbed a cool bottle of water, took a 10 minute breather to "regroup" and get through the rest of the day.  Every day after dinner - from now until it begins to heat up for summer - I walk Sadie.  Some days, I just don't want to do it, but it was a pleasant diversion to end the evening.  We watched that gorgeous full moon rise up over the horizon!

Wednesday and the day went so much easier!  No more nagging headache, there was a spring back in my step and my day just seemed to breeze on by!  I usually measure my days by my productivity at work, and today was one very good day!   Dinner and then our walk again, I've topped out at 15k steps, and I feel good.  Really, really good!

And we'll see what the rest of the week brings ... I can't wait until Sunday when I can step on the scale .....  I know, I know, I shouldn't measure success by those numbers, but it's ingrained!

Try Something New

Today is a new beginning!  Frankly, every day is a new beginning, a new start, a chance to make a change, and today it's mine!  I'm starting the new Plexus Slim, and am having my first #pinkdrink as I jot down these notes.

Why?  My health.  I have issues with gut health, am currently taking meds to combat the effects of Bile Acid Malabsorption (BAM from here on out)  My liver produces bile acid, and my gall bladder has been removed, so said BA goes right into my system, and irritates my colon with the usual typically bad reaction.  Thank goodness the cholystyramine that I take once a day does the trick-- most days.   With a bit of research, it's safe to assume that while I don't want to reduce the bile my liver produces, I could improve the quality of the bile.  Which sounds like a very weird thing!

Personally, I've found that eating sugary or fatty foods makes things worse.  I also recently introduced oranges into my diet, and those?  are a no-no!  I'm guessing too much acid.  I've also recently discovered that drinking water with higher alkalinity seems to improve things as well. Because of this new PinkDrink, I'm supposed to drink half my body weight in water each day.  That might be just a stretch; however, when I was exercising, I was hitting 100+ oz per day.  So it's doable!

Eating too much also amps up the BA, so "eat small and often" .... but let's face reality.  Changing our eating habits is one of the hardest things a person can do.  Sticking with it is even harder!  Small changes that you stick to over a long period of time seem to be the best way for making a long term change.  We all think we're strong enough to do it! But statistically, it's a very hard road.  And we slip up.  For me, it was the hardest thing giving up "donut Friday" at work.  But I did it.  For about 6 weeks.  Last Friday, I slipped up, and couldn't resist a quick afternoon sugar high.  The end result wasn't fun.

The other thing I know that I need to do is to kick my Diet Coke habit.  Again.  Three years ago when I was on a big exercise kick, I was able to do it.  Nine years ago when I moved from Ohio to Arizona, the money struggle was real and I kicked it then, too.  But I keep going back to it.  Why?  I'm not sure ... caffeine, because it tastes good, or my personal favorite:  I'm hooked on the bubbles! (lol)

My trip to the grocery store each week is usually filled with good intentions, I even make it out the door with healthy choices, but the stresses of the week become too much and my will power loses its oomph.  When I get home and am making the dinner choice -- broccoli and cauliflower just don't make the top of the list when I'm stressed! 

So today, with a weekly plan, and a shopping list in hand ....... off I go to the grocery store!
Wish me luck!