Day 10 - No Sweets

breakfast: 1/8 baguette with avocado and raw cheese

snack: raw milk

lunch: pasta, tofu and vegetables in a peanut sauce

snack: strawberry-yogurt smoothie

dinner: egg salad on rye bread; tomato and cucumber salad

workout: Ballet Conditioning, 1 hour walk

Since cutting out sweets, it's becoming so much easier to eat healthy. I'm naturally gravitating towards more fruit and vegetables. My body really know what it wants and needs, I just don't think I've been able to hear it because the cookie jar was a little louder.

I'm also noticing that when I eat sandwiches lately, I don't want two pieces of bread - just one. It's like there's just too much bread and it takes away from the filling. And, yet I'm someone who loves bread. I could never do a low carb diet because I would never want to give up bread. For me, it really is the ultimate comfort food. The smell if it right out of the oven. The sound of the knife cutting through it. The taste... It's all so heavenly to me. I wish I had some baking now.

Day 9 - No Sweets

breakfast: 1/8 baguette with buffalo mozzarella

lunch: 1/8 baguette with buffalo mozzarella, avocado, tomato, and balsamic vinegar, melon

snack: strawberry-yogurt smoothie

dinner: pasta, vegetables and tofu in peanut sauce

workout: callanetics 10/10, 30 minute walk

It was so good to do a full Callanetics workout today. It's tough but relaxing. I really enjoy how you just focus on the part of the body that is being worked, allowing all other muscles to relax as much as possible. I always feel so good when I'm done.

Day 8 - No Sweets

breakfast: raw milk

snack: vegetarian tamale

lunch: black bean tamale

snack: raw spanish cheese, foccocia

dinner: brie and raspberries in filo, zucchini, chard, tomatoes, and black beans

Today was all about errands and house maintenance - silly things like touching up paint on walls and putting new hinges on cabinets. It's amazing how easy and fast such things are, how big of a difference they make, and yet, how easy it is to put them off.

I've now completed one week without sweets. It's amazing how much easier it was to cut it out this time than when I tried before. I didn't have any brownie fantasies or anything. I guess the sweets were easier to get out of my system this time. I rarely eat sugar, opting for natural sweeteners. It's interesting how addictive even they can be. I don't know if it's the sweetner itself that's addictive, or the delicious flavor, or a combination of both. I really do enjoy the flavor of sweet foods. I'm glad I'm now turning more to fruits and sweeter vegetables.

Day 7 - No Sweets

breakfast: oatmeal with dried apricots and ginger

snack: raw milk

lunch: caprese sandwich

dinner: tofu sandwich, steamed zucchini and green beans

Every muscle in my thighs is sore today. I don't think there's a single section that doesn't feel like it was worked thoroughly yesterday. Unfortunately, I had to do a lot of walking today and my legs screamed in protest with every step. I'm so glad I know this is worth it - no pain, no gain, right? It might already be bikini season, but at least I'm on my way to being in great shape for the holiday season. Is there a season between bikini season and holiday season? I can't think of one, but if there is, at this rate, I'll probably be ready for it too.

Day 6 - No Sweets

breakfast: strawberry-yogurt smoothie

lunch: tomato-tortilla soup, edamame

snack: tomato-tortilla soup

dinner: strawberry-pecan-parmesan salad with balsamic vinaigrette, steamed green beans, rye bread with almond butter

workout: ballet conditioning, 45-minute walk

Okay, Ballet Conditioning is a killer. There's no other way to put it. It has to be one of the toughest lower body workouts out there. About 8 minutes in, I was wondering if I would be able to finish. Thankfully, it did get a bit easier as my muscles warmed up more...but still - it hurts! I think what makes it harder is that you're working your entire body with every move. If you just look at the moves, it seems like all you're doing is working your legs, but it's also getting your back, stomach and arms. I think the only thing that got me through it today is the phenomenal shape the instructor is in. I kept thinking that maybe if I kept at it I could look that good. She's clearly in great shape from head-to-toe, but without the bulkiness that people who lift a lot of weights can get.

One positive: I can walk better today after this workout than I could the last time. My legs don't feel like they're quivering and about to collapse.

Day 5 - No Sweets

breakfast: strawberries, greek yogurt, granola

snack: raw cheese, spelt cracker with almond butter

lunch: zucchini cakes with tahini sauce, tomato

dinner: pita pizza with buffalo mozzarella, sauerkraut

I'm still sore and tired today, so I've decided to take today off from working out.

Day 4 - No Sweets

breakfast: 2 banana-oat bundle, raw milk

snack: spelt cracker with almond butter

day-old-bread baked with a tomato sauce, cucumber

dinner: tofu salad

workout: quick callanetics stomach

Very tired and sore today from yesterday's ballet conditioning workout. So glad I don't have to climb a lot of stairs.

Ballet Conditioning

A friend has been trying to get me to try Ballet Conditioning for a while now. I have to admit she’s been looking great since starting to use it. But I’ve had such great results with Callanetics, I haven’t wanted to try anything else. I did do a Yoga DVD a while ago. Even though I enjoyed it, I’ve only done Callanetics since. I mean, come on, a workout where all you’re told is to relax. There’s no running, jumping, or anything. Yeah, I have to modify the moves since I don’t have a ballet bar, but people keep commenting on how it looks like I’ve lost weight even though my weight has stayed the same. I’m just trying to eat healthy, but failing a lot of the time.

But, my friend has been getting on my nerves a bit over how I “have to try” Ballet Conditioning.

You know what that’s like.

So, I decided to try it today just to get her to leave me alone.

All I can say is wow! About 10 minutes in, I started wondering if I was going to be able to walk tomorrow. Halfway through my arms started calling me bad names. By the end, I just wanted to lay on the floor in a puddle.

Whenever I do any kind of a workout, I almost never sweat. This time I was dripping. I really don’t get it. You spend most of your time holding onto the back of a chair while lifting your leg slowly. What’s sweat inducing about that? Granted, I could feel it in every muscle of my body by the end – back, stomach, arms, etc. But sweat? I must have been doing a lot more than I realized.

Right now, I’m not sure how I’m going to make it into my bed. My legs think I’m absolutely evil for doing that to them…in a good way of course.

I’ve never done ballet before so I guess I never really knew what the big deal about it was. But, I really think I need to do this workout often. I still plan on doing Callanetics because it’s been doing amazing things for me. I have wished it had more for the back and arms. The Ballet Conditioning should add that...as well as more for the legs and the stomach and everything in between.

My teeth aren’t sore and tired. I guess that’s a good thing. I think maybe they, along with my ears and hair, are the only part of my body that aren’t sore right now.

I think the one scary/motivating thing is that this workout is clearly one that will get harder the more I do it. It really is only as hard as you make it. I guess that makes it good for all levels of exercisers. I don’t know. The way I feel right now, I’m definitely a beginner beginner. One day, I might make it to beginner, but I’m not there yet.

Day 2 - No Sweets

breakfast: small banana, pint strawberries

snack: raw milk

lunch: roma beans, potato salad

snack: cracker with peanut butter

dinner: day-old-bread baked with a tomato sauce, cucumber, steamed zucchini

workout: Ballet Conditioning

Day 1 - No Sweets restart

breakfast: 2 small bananas, pint strawberries

snack: raw milk

lunch: potato salad, zucchini, chickpeas, tomato

dinner: roma beans, boiled potato, sauteed savoy cabbage

I restarted my 30-day no sweet challenge today after Saturday's slip-up. It was a lot easier today than when I first started avoiding sweets. No thoughts of brownies or anything. I'm definitely feeling better without the sweets - more energy, everything.

The Best Mexican Food Around

breakfast: vegetarian gordita, horchata

lunch: vegetarian gordita

dinner: potato salad, carrots, cucumber

I blew it today. I was avoiding sweets, but failed. I didn't even think about the horchata being sweetened until I was almost done with it. However, I will admit that it was the perfect cooldown drink for hot weather. What's not to love about something that tastes like a drinkable rice pudding...all that cinnamony goodness?

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I grew up in Southern California. I was so lucky to be surrounded by great Mexican food while there. I moved away about 8 years ago and have been looking for good Mexican food ever since. Pretty much every place I've tried has left me seriously disappointed.

But about 3 weeks ago, I went to a different farmer's market and there was a food stand there selling items you very rarely see in restaurants - gorditas, sopes, traditional quesadillas made with corn. And it was sooooo goood. Everything is made with fresh masa - which, if you've ever had, you know that there's no way you can go back to the commercial stuff in a bag. This place is just so amazing I think I'm in heaven. I've been going back every Saturday just for breakfast.

It turns out the owner grows all of her the fruits and vegetables she uses organically (her husband is an organic farmer). She even grows the corn she uses to make fresh masa. Her sour cream is also homemade. And what's even more amazing is that during the summer and fall she has a restaurant about 20 minutes from me. It just opened up again this past week. I don't think it'll be hard for me to find an excuse to go. After all, if I ever decide I want something healthier than a gordita, I can always go for a tamale.

Day 5 - No Sweets

breakfast: melon

snack: buffalo mozzarella

lunch: couple bites of popcorn

dinner: tiny portion pasta w/chickpeas, tomatoes and zucchini

It was so hot today I had absolutely no appetite. Days like today would probably be good for weight loss because you wouldn't feel like eating. You also don't feel like moving so it might negate any decrease any calories. Thankfully Sunday is supposed to be 15 degrees cooler. Only one more hot day to go! I hope the weather forecasters are right.

Goodbye heat!

breakfast: apple, buffalo mozzarella

snack: strawberries

lunch: tomato and goat cheese quiche

snack: strawberries

dinner: melon, popcorn

workout: 45 minute walk

It's so hot today and tomorrow is only supposed to be hotter. Heat that isn't supposed to take place until August has been occurring regularly since April. There have been more super hot days already this year than the last two years combined. I live in an area where you shouldn't need air conditioning, but I sincerely wish I had it now.

I've never been one to enjoy the heat. Autumn weather is always my favorite - just before it takes on the crisp chill of winter. I think 73 degrees is my ideal...anything hotter than that and I begin to feel like a wilted flower. I'm looking forward to next week when it's supposed to be cooler.

Day 4 - No Sweets

breakfast: granola

snack: cheese

lunch: portabello and sundried tomato tartine, peach

snack: nectarine, peanuts

dinner: vegetable stir-fry, buffalo mozzarella, hazlenuts

workout: callanetics 10/10

When I look at what I've been eating today, I'm thorougly disappointed. I need to have so many more vegetables and fruit. I think I eating better when I started the day with fruit. I also think I'm starting to rely on cheese and peanuts too heavily. At least the great thing about writing all of this down is that it makes it really easy to see and correct things before they become too much of a problem.

Still want a brownie...

Day 3 - No Sweets

breakfast: granola

snack: ollalliberries

lunch: baked chickpeas, tofu ball, sauerkraut

dinner: kale with soy sauce and ginger, buffalo mozzarella

workout: callanetics warm-up, 30 minute walk

I could really feel the waist stretch working deeply today. I think it's what's really been pulling in my obliques. It makes my back feel so good whenever I do it. It's like any kinks just disappear and everything's put back in alignment.

I did fine without sweets until dinner and then, again, all I could think about was brownies. I rarely eat brownies so I'm not sure why they're the food obsession of choice since cutting out sweets.

Day 2 - No Sweet Challenge

breakfast: granola

snack: bread and cheese

lunch: baked chickpeas, rice with spinach and yogurt

snack: strawberries

dinner: potato and tomato bake, salad, peas, chinese herbal tofu

workout: callanetics 10/10, 30-minute walk

I wanted brownies all day today. It's so frustrating - I have everything I need to make them, it wouldn't take very long, and I can imagine what they taste and feel like. I wish imagining their taste was sufficient to satisfy my cravings - you know, make my mind think I had actually ate one. But, no. Just sitting here writing about them is making it worse.

No Sweets - Day 1

breakfast: toast, raw milk

lunch: sauerkraut, herbal tofu, rice ball, strawberries

dinner: baked chickpeas, sauerkraut, rice with yogurt and spinach

It was so hard to avoid sweets today. They're such a psychological crutch, as well as a physical addiction. I just feel better when I eat them. I hope it'll get easier over time.

The No-Sweet Challenge

I have a problem. I view sweets (desserts, chocolate, etc.) as something to have whenever I want it, not an occassional treat. I love sweets. I really do. It's one of my favorite foods. But I think I need to change that to reach my goal It takes 30 days to change a habit, so I'm going to challenge myself to no sweets for 30 days. Hopefully that will be long enough. Hopefully I can do it. It's kind of scary actually, to think of giving up sweets at all, even though I'm not getting rid of them forever, just changing my relationship to them. I guess they really are my comfort food.

June 14

breakfast: gordita, quesadilla, raspberry juice

lunch: hummus, salad

dinner: boiled potato, herbal tofu, steamed broccoli with tahini sauce, zucchini and tomato

June 13

breakfast: fruit

snack: raw milk

lunch: hummus, salad, chocolate-banana shake

dinner: tofu and vegetable sandwich

June 11

breakfast: banana

lunch: black-eye peas with tomato sauce, cauliflower, garlic and basil naan, doogh

dinner: raw milk

workout: callanetics 10/10

I really wasn't hungry today. I'm sure that's pretty obvious. To me, it's interesting how the body works - some days you're ravenous, and other days nothing is really appealing. The body does know how to regulate itself. It seems like I'm always far hungrier in the mornings than in the evenings. I can eat every 2 hours in the mornings and then barely anything from the afternoon on. My portions are always so tiny at dinner and it's extremely unusual for me to eat anything afterwards.

Big Difference!

breakfast: buffalo mozzarella

lunch: aloo tikki, chutney, kichadi

snack: plum

dinner: wrap

workout: Callanetics warm-up, Yoga Bliss Hips

Wow! I looked in the mirror today and saw a huge difference in my stomach. My obliques are really starting to pull in and the upper part of my waist is really getting flat, really sinking in. My left side looks like it's pulling in more than my right, but I'm sure the right will catch up. It reminds me of the pictures in Callanetics 10/10 of the dramatic changes experience. I can't wait to see what a difference there will be when I reach hour 19. I now wish I had taken pictures and measured before I started. I'm so looking forward to doing a full 10/10 workout tomorrow.

Today was the first time I've tried Yoga Bliss Hips. It's wierd how different Kundalini Yoga is. I've never really been into yoga, but this is so different it might be something to try. The meditations are nice breaks, kind of like all the relaxing in Callanetics. I think the only thing about yoga is that it always shows me how out of shape I am and how I don't have any upper body strength.

June 9

breakfast: raspberries, loganberries, strawberries

lunch: leftover enchilada

snack: buffalo mozarella

dinner: aloo tikki, mint-coconut chutney, kichadi

workout: callanetics 10/10

It was so nice to do callanetics again today. It seems like ever since I started to do it only every other day, I've really slacked off at working out in general. I feel so much better on the days I do callanetics. My back truly feels great. Just after the one workout today, I can feel that I'm standing straighter. I don't understand why you don't hear more about this workout. Instead, it's all about spending hours in the gym lifting weights and doing cardio. Personally, I'll go the easy route that produces fast results and leaves me feeling so good.

The kichadi I made today came out a little disappointing. I don't know if it's because I substitude red lentils for the split yellow mung beans, but it really tasted like it needed something, like the flavors weren't balanced. Maybe next time I'll try adding some turmeric and/or cilantro to it.

June 8

breakfast: plum, peanuts

lunch: buffalo mozzarella, olives, 2 spelt crackers with peanut butter

dinner: black bean-potato-zucchini enchilada, salad, small piece cherry flan

Definitely healthier than I have been eating recently, but not as good as I was. Seeing everything in writing really makes it easy to see where I'm off. More fruit and vegetables, less fat to come.

June 7

breakfast: gordita

lunch: pizza, sauerkraut, strawberry lemonade

dinner: tostada

I've been too busy to post lately and my eating has clearly gone downhill. I never would have thought keeping track like this would cause me to, almost unconsciously, eat better. I'm glad I've learned this now. Time to get back on track.

June 3

breakfast: banana, raw milk

snack: peach

lunch: fresh mozarella, artichoke heart, and tomato sandwich

dinner: leftover pasta

Still no workout. Tomorrow definitely tomorrow. I'm not letting myself make anymore excuses.

People are noticing

breakfast: banana, raw milk

snack: rye bread with peanut butter

lunch: yogurt, strawberries, granola

snack: piece of chocolate

dinner: pasta with chickpeas, sundried tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms, and artichoke hearts

Not the most well-rounded/balanced of meals for a day, but I truly enjoyed everything I ate.

I need to get back into working out. I've been pretty slack about it for the past few days. I received some compliments about how I'm looking thinner. I haven't told anyone I'm trying to lose weight or get in shape. The funny thing is that I still weigh 148 pounds - exactly what I weighed when I started almost two months ago.

I need to use the compliments as a motivator to start doing Callanetics regularly again. It clearly works. My clothes are fitting better. People are noticing. I'm still eating what I want. I'm not counting calories or carbs or anything. I'm trying to eat healthier, make better choices, and include more fruits and vegetables. But as anyone can see from looking at what I eat, I'm definitely not a stickler for it. I still enjoy sweets and need to increase the amount of salads and vegetables that I eat, just for health if nothing else. But, hey, if I get my butt back into gear, what I'm doing is clearly working...pretty easily and effortlessly if I do say so myself.

The Hazards of Being a Morning Person

breakfast: banana bread, raw milk

lunch: spinach dosa, a savory lentil rice ball that I don't remember how to spell the name of (khuzi-something)

snack: piece of dark chocolate

dinner: cherries

I had to pick my mother up at the airport last night. Well, it was supposed to be last night, but then her flight was delayed, and delayed, and then delayed some more. I ended up not getting home until the wee hours of the morning.

So, what's that got to do with being a morning person?

A lot!

You see, I have this weird habit of not being able to sleep past 6 am. I usually wake up around 5 am, no alarm needed. You should see me in the fall when clocks are set back. It takes me forever to adjust. All of a sudden I start waking up at 4 am...unable to go back to sleep. But that's another story.

So, this morning, can I sleep in? I mean, I normally go to sleep by 10 (that's another hazard...will just randomally fall asleep if I'm watching tv). If I didn't go to sleep until 5 hours after normal, I should be able to sleep in a little bit, catch up on some sleep, right? Nope. Wide awake. Before 5:30 am. It's not fair.

I have to go through the day operating like a zombie, barely able to stay awake past 7 pm. Why? Because my body is insane! It's crazy I tell ya, crazy.