DAY 8 - Bring on Week 2.

Day 8 – December 5, 2016 – Shake Day

Wt: 125 lb — Waist: 29” — Hips: 37”

Beginning of Week 2.  I’ve lost one pound, an inch and a half off my waist and an inch off my hips.  Not much but I still have three weeks left.

I stayed on the program pretty good over the weekend, just adjusted the timing on everything.  Might have overindulged on dinners though since we went out both nights.  Friday night was Mexican food.  Saturday was Texas Roadhouse.  I got the 5oz salmon (and only ate half of it), only had one of those delicious rolls with cinnamon butter, and replaced my usual “loaded” sweet potato with a house salad.  Still probably over the 400-800 recommended calories but I’m okay with that.

Also over the weekend I tried putting pumpkin pie spice in my vanilla shake.  It’s pretty good.  This morning I mixed chocolate and vanilla.  These shakes are seriously so much better than any protein shake I’ve ever tried in the past.  They’re not as sweet as the shakes you get at fast food restaurants, but I’m getting used to that and don’t feel that icky sugar sick feeling afterwards.

I like the convenience of these products, it’s so nice to just mix up a shake for a meal or grab an IsaDelights chocolate or a bag of Whey Thins for a snack.  Quick and easy and no clean up (except a quick rinse of the blender cup) so I can get on with my day.

PS.  Dinner:  Brittany and Ridley were with me in Tucson and Ridley really wanted to eat at McDonald's.  He was such a good boy while we were running our errands, we decided to reward him and I figured surely I can find SOMETHING I can eat there....  I ordered a Quarter Pounder with Cheese... 470 calories.  And water.  No fries.  No soda.  I actually felt full when we left, but by the time we got home an hour later, I was hungry again.  A 240-calorie IsaLean Shake fills me up for longer than 1/4 of beef on a bun with almost twice the calories.

DAY 4 -- Shake Day again

Day 4 – December 1, 2016 – Shake Day

8:00 – Ionix again, then Strawberry Shake for breakfast.  Also gave a Shake to Logan on the way to school.  He likes it mixed with orange juice, I prefer it plain.  Makes me feel good that I can give him an easy quick breakfast and it’s giving him lots of good nutrition.  The stuff is 24 grams of protein, guys...

10:00 – V8 Fusion/Energy for snack.  Not sure if that’s “allowed” but I love the stuff.  Gives me a great caffeine boost (caffeine from green tea) and it’s a full serving of fruit with only 50 calories.  So maybe it's okay.  Perked me right up.  Isagenix has a E+ Shot (bottled like 5-Hour Energy) that is probably just as good or better... but I don't like the taste of those and they're more expensive than V8.

Noon – Chocolate Shake for lunch.  I’ve discovered I don’t like the chocolate as much as the vanilla and strawberry.  It is good, but it’s not as sweet as the other two.  Also with strawberry and vanilla you can just shake the cup and mix them pretty well.  Chocolate not so much, you have to blend it and it froths up thicker and takes longer to drink it.  Not bad once you get used to a less-sweet chocolate flavor (and I think I actually feel a little fuller after chocolate), but tomorrow I’m gonna try mixing it half and half with vanilla.

3:00 – Snacked on a bag of Whey Thins.  They’re surprisingly good.  Curbed my appetite 'til around 5:00 when I needed a little IsaDelight chocolate square to tide me over 'til dinnertime.

7:00 – Chicken breast, mashed potatoes and country gravy (binged a little bit there), corn, and a couple slices of organic wheat bread and butter.  The Isagenix stuff is great, but so nice to have regular food again!

Bedtime – No snack needed.  2 IsaFlush capsules.  Gotta keep regular on this diet.... J  Also today started on the Joint Support for my hip, three tablets, twice a day.  Yikes, I sound like an old person.  But I still refuse to look or behave like one!  LOL

DAY 3 -- I'm Alive!!

Day 3 – November 30, 2016 – Cleanse Day

8:00 A.M. – Had my daily Ionix—I do kinda like it, it tastes like a fruity spice tea.  I drink it hot and it’s comforting and soothing on a cold morning.  Then the Cleanse For Life drink, the first of four today.  Meh.  It tastes kinda like fruit punch (not my favorite flavor).  It’s not horrible.  But it’s not fantastic.  Fortunately I only have to drink about half a cup of it and I just down it real quick.  No gross aftertaste.

10:00 A.M. – Feeling a little hungry.  Had a couple of those chalky snack wafers and chased 'em down with a few of Ridley’s apple slices.  Satisfied my hunger surprisingly well.

Noon --  Drank the second serving of Cleanse.  Blah.  Also had a chalky wafer.  I’m supposed to use those as snacks throughout the day.  They’re really not awful, I’m kinda getting used to them.  And weirdly enough, I feel like I just had lunch.  Halfway through the day, I’m thinking I’m gonna get through this!  I ordered some of the Whey Thins, hoping they’re like a savory cracker, that I can use as a Cleanse Day snack.  They should be delivered this afternoon.  I forgot to put my water bottle next to my workspace so I haven’t had enough water today.  Getting on that right now.

3:00 – Got the Whey Thins... they’re pretty good!  I’d rather have a handful of Pringles or Cheezits, but they are tasty and they satisfied my craving for something salty.  Downed the third Cleanse and a couple more wafers.  They must be an acquired taste, I don’t mind them so much anymore.  It’s like someone took a spoonful of hot cocoa mix and compressed it into a tablet.

6:00 – Day 3 done!  Just finished the fourth Cleanse drink, and also had a wafer and shared an IsaDelights salted caramel chocolate with Brittany (she loves them).  They’re not much bigger than a postage stamp but surprisingly filling.  I actually feel pretty good!  I expected to be falling down dizzy starving by now, but nope.  They say this is about nourishment and detoxifying, not starvation.  That’s why they allow the healthy low-calorie snacks and lots of water.  I’m not saying I want to do this every day, but maybe 2-4 times a month, no problem.  I might be a little hungry again by bedtime but I can have a little snack then and should be fine.

DAY 2 - Second "Shake Day"

Day 2 – November 29, 2016

8:00 A.M. – Ionix Supreme (which is yummy as a hot tea!), an accelerator capsule and strawberry Shake.  Feeling full.  Also I slept better last night, but didn’t get to bed 'til late so I’m feeling a little sleepy this morning.

9:00 A.M. – Yeah I gotta take a little nap.

10:00 A.M. – IsaDelight chocolate... still feeling a little draggy, and also hungry.  I’m starting to miss my nasty unhealthy food.  I’d really love a Big Mac right now... L

Noon – Lunchtime shake.  I tried Vanilla this time, first with water only.  It’s good.  Then I added about half a banana and that was good too.  Lots of potential, I’m looking forward to trying different things with it, but also happy that it’s good with just water.  Still would love a Big Mac.

3:00 P.M. – Had a couple of the Snack wafers... taste like chocolate flavored chalk.  Not great.  Also by 4:00 I’m feeling a little lightheaded and really hungry.  I read up on snacks because I feel like I need a little more variety... turns out I can have just about any healthy snack between 100-150 calories.  Cool.  So I ate a couple celery sticks.  Celery has never tasted so good.

6:00 P.M. – Pork chops with mushroom gravy, and sweet potatoes with lots of brown sugar.  And a small slice of pumpkin cream pie.  Probably more calories than the 400-800 I’m supposed to have, but I don't care, I was starving.  :-/

Tomorrow’s a “Cleanse” day... I don’t know if I’m gonna make it.  I guess it’s normal to feel weak and a little light-headed at this stage because my body's settling in to this fairly drastic change.  I can’t wait for that burst of energy that’s supposed to show up around Day 4 or 5....

2 down, 28 to go! 

DAY 1. Here we go!

Today I started Isagenix's 30-Day Cleanse and Fat-burning System.  I don't REALLY need to lose weight.  My goal is just to feel better and have more energy.  But if I happen to lost 10 lb I won't miss it!

First of all, here's my "Before".  (I don't have a picture yet but will try to get up the nerve to put one up soon.) 

• Measurements --  Weight: 126.  Waist:  30.5".  Hips:  38"
• Usual Diet – No breakfast except V8 Fusion/Energy.  Lunch maybe a PBJ sandwich but usually a handful of crackers or chips or other snack, if anything.  Dinner whatever the family is having—often pasta, potatoes, burritos or other carb-laden food.  1-2 caffeinated sodas per week.  Not nearly enough water.  Sweets and processed snack foods whenever available, which is too often.  Snacking late at night, usually something unhealthy.  (Pretty pathetic, right??)
• Physically – tired and “lazy”, don’t want to exercise.  Digestion normal but often feel gassy or bloated.  Rarely sleep all night without waking up at least once.  Often wake up in the morning feeling anxious and/or from a nightmare.  Small but unwanted layer of fat around my waist and hips.  Hot flashes several times a day/night (normal due to age, I know).  Right hip bothering me for several months... not sure the IsaShakes are going to help with that, want to try the Joint Support tablets eventually.
• Emotionally – periods of anxiety and sadness, not every day but often and pretty severe.  Don’t really want to do anything.  Messy cluttered house stresses me out big time.  Anxiety also triggered easily by children responsibility, marital conflict, money issues, etc.  Could be typical menopausal mood swings.

So here we go.

Day 1 – November 28, 2016

8:00 A.M. – Strawberry IsaLean shake mixed with 4oz V-8 Fusion & 4oz water.  Tastes pretty good. 

10:00 A.M. – Ionix Supreme "tea" drink.  Not delicious, but not bad.  Was supposed to drink it before the shake this morning but didn’t read the instructions 'til just now.  I can have a snack mid-morning but it’s already 10:00 and I don’t feel hungry yet, so think I’ll skip that and have lunch in an hour or so.

Noon – No mid-morning snack.  Strawberry IsaLean shake for lunch.  Mixed with just cold water.  I liked it!  Kinda reminded me of Burger King shakes.  Also lots of water.  My goal is at LEAST two 32-oz bottles per day.  Should do four but probably won’t.

3:00 P.M. – IsaDelight Salted Carmel Chocolate for a snack.  Mmm, they're yummy, but too small.  I don’t really feel hungry, but wanting to give in to the habit of looking for an unhealthy snack about this time of day.  I get to have a full meal for dinner so I guess I can wait 'til then.

6:00 P.M.  – Chicken breast (lemon pepper) and rice with cream of chicken sauce, mixed frozen veggies.  Ate 'til I was full, then rinsed my plate.  :) 

10:30 P.M. – Feeling a little snackish but have been drinking water (managed 3 bottles today) and not really craving anything.  I’ll just take my IsaFlush capsule and go to bed.  J

I felt pretty good today.  Emotionally clear, slightly “blue” at dinner time but not bad.  Energy level was about normal, I got a lot of stuff done.

1 down, 29 to go!!