Day #30 I did it!

Reflections:
What a month! My birthday, Thanksgiving and even our anniversary (today 14th!!!) were ALL in this month. This use to be a time to eat and "party" (with food), but I learned a lot about myself and a lot about self discipline! It's so amazing what can be done when you put your mind to it! I've had countless people say, "I could never do that!" to me all this month. The reality is they could, their own mind might defeat them, but they could. It's just a matter of putting your mind to something. This month was the EASY part...now it's back to "normal" eating and that's where the challenge lies. I've got to balance my life better. Barb and I are training for a 5k New Year's day! I'm really excited about that, and I think that's gonna help motivate us to really stay strong and be disciplined!

This challenge started out to help someone else, but in the end, obviously, I was the one that TOTALLY benefited from it! I learned about will power. I learned about strengthen and discipline. I learned that motivation is a huge factor and perhaps the most important factor in any endeavor is your mind! Your own mind controls it all. I lost some weight. I found out that I can accomplish great things! Challenges and goals need to be an important part of my life! If I don't have something I'm working toward or something I'm trying to accomplish, I will just float through life. Steven Covey was right...set goals and review them often! If you don't have a plan, you plan to fail!

Weight:
Well, as of this morning, I'm still 253 lbs. 12 lbs in a month is nothing to frown at and most importantly, I'm healthier! I have cleaned out my system and now the challenge is to eat more natural and stay away from the toxins!
Links:
30 days of eating raw vegan food is the name of the album of my food journal on facebook. I tried to take a picture of everything I ate. There were times I ate nuts (raw, allowed on the diet) that I forgot to take a picture of, but almost all the times I sat down to eat this month, I photographed it! It's been fun taking pictures and logging all I put into my use-to-be cake hole :)

Scripture:

I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.

Phil. 4:13 the msg

Day #29 Stocking up for December 1st

Today was "1st of the month" grocery day and it was exciting to buy things other than just veggies! We bought some turkey meat, some chicken and steaks to celebrate our anniversary on Wednesday (technically it's tomorrow, but Barb is allowing me to finish the last day of my 30 days). I will weigh tomorrow and I will give you an update. I originally set this blog up for 1 month, but I think it's going to go way beyond that! I've realized that this was a great detox diet, but it's really just a better and more health way to live! There are a lot of changes that Barb and I are trying to make for ourselves and our children.

I've really looking forward to my 2 eggs over easy on two pieces of flat, whole wheat toast!  Yes, that is kinda celebrating with food, but this diet has changed me in so many ways. I have really tried to educate myself though this whole process. I know so much more than I did before and I now understand that detox is an important part of the American life (or at least it should be!). I really want to make health changes in the way I eat and especially for my kids. I can't continue on this path and not expect some serious repercussions in my health, energy and life in general! God has blessed me with this knowledge and I want to use it to His glory!

Tomorrow is my last day and I can hardly believe it! I will be posting an album on my facebook book called, "30 days of eating raw!" Be sure and look for it to see all the stuff that helped me change the way I eat, change the way I've thought and even change the way I live!

Day #28 Inching towards the finish line

Sunday is half over and I have Monday and Tuesday left! I can't believe I will be able to eat whatever I want on Wednesday. Technically I could eat whatever I want now, but I'm making better choices. Don't worry, I promise I won't go crazy, but I'm starting to get excited about my two eggs over easy on toast...I will buy them tomorrow when I go grocery shopping :D

Sunday's are never easy, but knowing this was my last raw one for a while made it a lot easier. I also got paid today, so that's always nice. I think everything is going well. I need to find out where I can go and get some blood work done to see about my cholesterol and general health. I'm excited to see the difference. Tuesday I will weigh. That will be the last time on this diet! I think I've done good. It think I even lost some over Thanksgiving weekend which is awesome! I'm not done yet, still got two more days to go! I will write more later, but I will leave you with this. I'm so thankful to have my juicer back!!! I missed it while in FTW. It makes life so much easier!

Day #27 Travel & emotional

It was a long trip from ftw to the Casa today! I hate trying to eat right and travel. It makes life so difficult it seems. The diet is going well and I'm glad I'm saying goodbye to day 27! I'm thankful I only have 3 more to go! It's been hard at times, but thanks to my wife and the Lord, I'm doing it. It's funny how many people have told me, "I could never do that!" coming back to the states has really been interesting. There are so many things that have changed, but I wonder, when did it change that eating a good, health diet was seen as impossible? Why are we so in love with food? People that don't even seem to struggle with their weight tell me how they live to eat!

Please don't miss understand, I'm not judging. No, I don't think I'm better than anyone! In fact, I've spent the greater part of my life proving how weak willed I truly am! It seems to me that if I can do this, there really is NO one that can't do this. It comes down to a decision, a single choice that you might have to reaffirm, a choice that won't be easy, but a choice that will have good consequences! A choice that can bless others, a choice that can change so much! Make good choices like I'm learning to do!

Day #26 Weigh Less AFTER Turkey day :)

Reflections:
Last night we left for Grapevine Mills around nearly midnight. "Black Friday" was CrAzY and there were a million and one people! It was good to finally get out of there around 2 a.m. We didn't buy ANYTHING!! That part stunk, but it's all good. I had my experience and I won't need to have another for about 20 years :) What amazed me was the fact that the food court was PACKED after a day that's usually full of high calorie food and packing it all in in a short time. There were lines at Chilis too! The economy is bad, our health is bad and  yet we are all at the mall spending and eating. Crazy times we live in!


I will have to wait til I get home for the official "weight", but it looks like I lost a pound or two since I've been here in FTW. It's amazing to think that I could actually LOSE weight over the holidays rather than gain a pound or two! I'm so thankful for this new way of eating and living. Barb and I are going to sign up for the New Year's day 5k! I'm looking forward to running more of these and starting a collection of T-shirts from the events. Although we just walked the majority of the race, I'm looking forward to the days of jogging or running these events. 


Scripture:

"you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all^(U) spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰so as^(V) to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,^(W) fully pleasing to him,^(X) bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. ^11(Y) May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for^(Z) all endurance and patience^(AA) with joy, ^12(AB) giving thanks^[d] to the Father, who has qualified you^[e] to share in^(AC) the inheritance of the saints in light." Col. 1:9-12

Day #25 Turkey Trot

Up at 6:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving day and you ask why? NO! It's not for a sale or to get the turkey started. I'm super excited, because I'm doing my 1st turkey trot! Yes, it's called "turkey trot" and it's a 5k on the west side of FTW. According to my sister, there's literally THOUSANDS of people that do this. I'm not sure how accurate her numbers are, but she claims as many as 25,000! The current temperature outside is in the 50's and it's starting to sprinkle! I'm not too excited about getting wet and I'm worried Barb will get sick, but we are gonna go for it all the same. If it's just pouring we might not be able to once we get there, but we are driving there and we will see once we get over there. It doesn't actually start til 8:30, but I want to warm up really well and I've heard the parking and lines are madness!

I've had a cup of water and 2 bananas this morning for breakfast. I have a back pack full of bananas, oranges and a raw trail mix. I know lunch won't be too bad, but dinner is what really concerns me! It's Thanksgiving and there will be turkey and all the really good stuff, but I do feel renewed. I watched the raw 30 day challenge again last night and it reminded me why I'm doing this. Food just isn't all it's cracked up to be. I want to be thankful for the right reasons and take better care of my body.

It's time to head to west FTW, so I will post something when we get back.

AWESOME time!!! Barb did great and it was a LOT of fun! There were THOUSANDS...Bootsie was right :) It rained on the way there in the car, but thank the Lord it didn't while we walked. It was really cold and dropped down into the high 30's. Great way to start Turkey day. I will give you updates when the day is over and tell you how I did.

The day went well. I didn't cheat! I had a special pie made by Bootsie and bought by Andy. It was apple and was awesomeness! Great day, proud to have resisted even though I wasn't really tempted, the broccoli rice casserole sounded REALLY GOOD! I made it and today was the day I was concerned...I made it baby!
p.s. there's lots of pics on FB of our thxgvg day!

Day #24 Stayin strong

The odds are stacked against me: traveling, family, great food, holidays and boredom, but I'm preparing ahead, buying good stuff and trying to do my best. No cheatin to date and I'm thankful to God for strengthen to stand!!!

The mall food court was packed and I wanted to eat the Master Wok orange chicken! The biggest challenge is that "food" IS our holiday.  It's all good. I'm hanging in there and doing pretty good! I have S-I-X days left!!! I'm excited to finish, but I'm proud of what I've done!