As my 14-day challenge came to end I want you to know I still can’t believe it worked. With all the highs and lows this week I was not expecting to lose much. Again, I stepped on the scale twice. My jaw dropped and I couldn’t believe I lost 5 pounds a total of 15.
I journaled a little this week so this blog will probably read a little weird.
Day 8
Today I felt good after stepping on the scale and realizing how well week 1 went. I had a nice white tea for breakfast, still adjusting to no coffee. Breakfast was simple, lunch was leftovers from the BLE Cookbook recipes, and made a chicken stir fry for dinner.
- Breakfast: 4oz Oatmeal, 2oz Peanut Butter, 6oz Apples
- Lunch: Leftover Very Veggie Chili (3oz beans, 2oz ground beef, 6oz veggies), 6oz peach, 2oz avocado, 2oz salsa,
- Dinner: 4oz Chicken, 14oz, stir fry veggies, .5oz sesame oil,
My support buddies and I chatted about how prepared we were last week and not being as prepared this week made for more of a challenge.
Pro-Tip: Meal plan and grocery shop for a whole week make daily meals easier.
Day 9
I am starting to see trends in my meals. Things that are easier to make or stick but also based on what I want. Like today’s breakfast. Do you see the trend?
This is also the day cravings started to creep in. I think it is important to focus on one moment at a time and emotions. Also, I think it is important to remind yourself, especially for someone like me, that you have been eating poorly for many years and the habits are still there, time to give grace and focus at one meal and one choice at a time.
I shared with my group that I think because I‘ve been so unhealthy for so long I don’t really know what true hunger is. I’ve had cravings but not hunger for such a long time. I think that is why it is making it easier to follow the plan. I think my body has been starving for nutrition. And it is so grateful right now to be getting it that I don’t feel hungry. But I do still have cravings. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had fruit regularly like this. I probably never have.
- Breakfast: 1 egg, .5oz sausage, .5oz cheese, 4oz sweet potato, 6oz grapes
- Lunch: (no picture) 4oz shrimp, 6oz veggies, 6oz apple and grapes
- Dinner: Leftover Very Veggie Chili (3oz beans, 2oz ground beef, 6oz veggies), 1oz cheese, 8oz salad, 1oz white balsamic vinegar
Day 10
Today was a hard day, I found out my one of my daughters made a comment about how when mom goes on a diet we all go on a diet. This is my biggest fear. I don’t want to project my food issues onto my children. My goal has always been to teach them about healthy eating but I don’t want them to feel like anything really different has changed for them when I make changes for myself.
Here are the tips I received.
“Explain to them why these certain foods are bad for you”
“Try to stop using the word diet.”
“You have to do what is healthiest for you. Then have healthy side dishes that are normal for them.
“Let them add cheese and other stuff to enhance meals but try not to say mom can’t have that.”
“Let the kids help cook”
“Reinforce that no what size that they have beautiful bodies and that healthy is what is important”
I share all of this with you because I went from feeling great to feeling low. Having a group to turn to and share these struggles with helped so much. The tips that were given to me helped me so much. The other thing that helped was reading in the BLE Offical FB group all the success stories. I like to search the group for 100 days and 1 year to see all the success posts. This helps me stayed focused.
- Breakfast: 2 eggs, 6oz potatoes, 6oz oranges and blueberries
- Lunch: 4oz cod, 3oz roasted veggies, 3oz veggie sticks, 2oz hummus
- Dinner: Leftover meatloaf (4oz turkey, 1oz veggies), 8oz asparagus, 6oz veggie sticks, 1oz hummus
Day 11
The lines got blurred a little. I am struggling with drinking water. Especially in cooler weather, I have such a hard time. I add a Mio flavoring to my water which has a little bit of artificial sweetener in it. My group and I talked about how 98% of the time eating what we wrote is great. We don’t expect things to be perfect. We can only do our best and focus on one meal at a time. Emotions play a part in this I think for everyone on some level and old habits definitely die hard.
- Breakfast: 4oz cottage cheese, 1oz Mary’s Gone Crackers, 6oz oranges and blueberries
- Lunch: Leftover meatloaf (4oz turkey, 1oz veggies), 6oz asparagus, 6oz apple and grapes, .5oz peanut butter
- Dinner: 4oz chicken, 6oz fajita veggies, 8oz cilantro-lime coleslaw (.5oz mayo, 1oz vinegar, 1oz lime juice, seasonings)
Day 12
Struggled again with lots of cravings. I kept myself distracted but I am surprised these are happening this week instead of last week. This makes me think it is more emotional cravings than actual food cravings.
- Breakfast: 2 eggs, 4oz potatoes, 6oz fruit salad, 1oz salsa
- Lunch: 4oz chicken, 8.5oz roasted veggies, 3.5oz fruit, .5oz peanut butter
- Dinner: Leftover Very Veggie Chili (3oz beans, 2oz ground beef, 6oz veggies), 1oz cheese, 8oz salad, 1oz white balsamic vinegar
Day 13
Running errands this morning and pictures as you can tell started to come less of a priority. Today I also attended my niece’s birthday party today. Since it was family I asked what was being served ahead of time and made a plan. It was such a different experience than parties I have attended in the past. I only ate 4 Triscuits which weren’t on plan. Totally passed on apple pie and ice cream even though I had served. High five!
- Breakfast: 2oz cottage cheese, 1 egg, 1oz Mary’s Gone Crackers, 6oz grapes
- Lunch: Leftover meatloaf (4oz turkey, 1oz veggies), 5oz salad and veggie sticks, .5 balsamic vinaigrette
- Dinner: 4oz beef, 14oz vegetable soup, 1oz cheese
Day 14
Sunday can be an early morning for me. I volunteer for our church production time so I had to eat early. Of course, that means I also forget to take a picture. By the time I got home, I was really hungry for lunch. I think on days like that I will need to delay eating my fruit from breakfast and carry it with me for a snack because I got hungry earlier and wasn’t really hungry when I woke up.
This dinner is one of my favorite meals. I realize I don’t miss the extra food I would have eaten in the past. I don’t miss a bun, I don’t miss chips or fries. The salad is very satisfying.
- Breakfast: 2 hard-boiled eggs, 1oz crackers, 6oz fruit
- Lunch: 4oz chicken, 6oz salad, 6oz fruit, .5oz mayo, .5oz mustard, .5oz white balsamic vinegar
- Dinner: Burger Bowl (4oz beef, .5oz mayo, 3oz lettuce, 1.5oz tomato, .5oz ketchup, .25 mustard), 9.5oz grilled veggies
What comes next:
Well just as my 14-day challenge began BLE announced the move to a subscription model. I was on the fence about how to move forward after the 14-day challenge but with this new option, I will be starting that subscription plan and will start the Boot Camp program. Until then I will keep up with my friends and continue to follow BLE like I am now. I see my future blog post with less of a food log and more of a how it is going with recipe highlights and tips. Stay tuned for that coming in December.
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