Okay. So I blogged every day for the 30 days we were on Arbonne's detox program back in March and April, but now you're probably wondering what's going on with us, right? Have Nick and Rachel gained all the weight back that they lost on the program or have they kept it off? Have they gone back to eating greasy, fatty, sugary, and all-around unhealthy meals or are they still eating their veggies?
Let me tell you...
It has been right at 30 days since we ended our detox program and we began adding the foods we had eliminated during the program back in. When we were finally 'free' and off the program, I was hesitant at first. I didn't want to jump right back into a world of pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream, and lattes. And I was a bit freaked out about our 'first meal' after the program had ended for us (BTW, the program doesn't ever have to end. It's a personal choice.)
Our last night on the detox (Friday night, April 12th), I remember it well and I remember day dreaming about all the food I could eat the next day...'Mmm...a Starbuck's latte, a bagel from Panera with cream cheese, a cheeseburger from Red Robin, a Jimmy Johns sandwich...a cherry coca-cola..." But when Saturday morning came, I really didn't have any desire to hop in the car and drive to the nearest convenient store to get my beloved cherry coke. That day I actually met with one of my book clubs at Panera Bread, and believe it or not, I didn't purchase a thing! Yeah, I thought about it, but I couldn't decide what to get...ha ha... Then it was time to go home, and you know, it wasn't that big of a deal!
After a few days of not being on our detox program, I realized that I almost preferred it because I didn't have to make the decision to eat right for myself. It was all spelled out for me on the program and the choice was out of my hands. I had so much accountability and determination to eat healthy for a period of 30 days that nothing was going to stand in my way for me to see it through. But now...now it's my own choice. Am I going to take what I have learned and continue to live in a way that I know will benefit my body and my life or will I resort to old ways and bad habits?
Tell you what, I want to continue living healthy, but it's not always easy!
For starters, I will say that I have dropped an additional 5.4 lbs since I weighed myself the day after we finished our detox program. That's right! Since Day 1 of the 30-Day detox, I have lost a total of 17 lbs! Boooyah!
Did I drop another almost 5 and a half pounds because I have continued eating the same way that I was eating on the detox? No, it's 'complicated.' To be honest, I was going to keep a food diary for the 30 days directly following the 30-day detox program, but we've had so many variables and circumstances enter our lives that I lost track after the first couple days...
One week following the completion of our 30-day detox program, I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth extracted which meant I only wanted to eat ice cream, frozen yogurt, mashed potatoes, and mac 'n cheese. None of those foods are allowed on the 30-day detox.
Then the weekend after that was my birthday, so of course I had to get a free frappucinno from Starbucks and Nick took me out for pizza at Dion's for dinner.
And then 2 weekends ago, Nick and I both got some stomach bug that kept us in bed within a few steps from the bathroom and buckets at our sides for at least 24 hours. That was misery! And during that time, Gatorade, Jello, and maybe a Saltine or two was our diet. And on top of all that, Isaac was officially weened the day before I got so sick, and now I face the true test of whether or not I can keep the weight I lost off now that I am no longer nursing a baby.
So who knows what all has contributed to helping me keep the weight I lost off and even lose a few more pounds, but I can tell you that the detox we did is designed to help clean the inside of your body and help your digestive system function better and more smoothly and I really think that has contributed to my continued weight loss following the program! And now, I am only 9 ish pounds away from my 'ideal weight' and you can bet that I desire more than ever to stay on track as far as healthy living goes!
And do you want to know something funny? I was actually craving salad and crisp fresh veggies and fruit after my wisdom teeth were out, but the idea of eating anything less soft than mashed potatoes or yogurt for about a week was super scary to me!
And something else? Last night I had to run to Target, and last night for the very first time in over 60 days I actually was craving a cherry coke (and I don't drink diet mind you)! Did I allow myself the pleasure of enjoying a cherry coke? No. Could I have done so? Yes. But I didn't have it because it wasn't worth the pleasure of a few sips over the course of a few minutes that would do my body more harm than good after my few moments of instant happiness were long gone. Will I ever have a cherry coke again? I don't know. Maybe. But I don't know when that will be. In the future, I will be writing a blog about self-control when it comes to food and drink and what I have learned about it and how I have learned to cope. But for me, for now, I am daily inspired to continue growing in the area of healthy living.
My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and I want to treat my body right! God entrusted this body to me, and I have a responsibility to take care of it. And in addition, I have the responsibility to be an example to my son, Isaac, and to others when it comes to self-control and taking care of my body. I'm not perfect, but I'm learning and growing. I have a host of healthy detox-friendly recipes we've yet to try, and I look forward to cooking new meals and gaining new insight into this healthy way of living! Yeah, we'll still have a cupcake here and there, a pizza, and a hamburger. But even now, we want it to be the exception and not the 'norm.'
Nick will have to share is own '30 days after' journey, but I can tell you that just a couple days ago he said to me, "I miss eating healthy!" You see, since coming off the detox program, we have become more sensitive to what we are putting into our bodies and how those foods/drinks are affecting us. We haven't had any major reactions or developed a food-allergy or anything since coming off the program, but we understand how much better we felt when we were eating healthy balanced meals each day. No 'highs' and no 'lows'. We felt great! And that is what we miss when we allow ourselves to indulge in a momentary delightful-tasting pleasure and don't pay attention to what we are eating!
So our goal is to continue learning and growing in this area, and it's not about perfection and punishment. It's about discipline and becoming a better and healthier version of ourselves - people who want to honor the Lord in every area of life including that of taking care of our bodies.
