A Fat Girls Journey to 5k

Well as we all know...I lasted exactly 14 days before I couldn't juice fast any longer...since then I have gained all the weight back and feel like crap.  Since I am a believer in the adage: if at first you don't succeed, try, try again, I'm going at it again...not the fasting, but a new weight loss/healthy living journey.  I'm starting the c2 5k program tomorrow and hope to run a 5k on September 9th  called the IronGirl Run, and a 4.5 mile run in November called the Mud and Chocolate Run.  I am really excited about this as I actually LOVE to run (when I'm not so fat).  I haven't decided on an official "diet" to follow yet, but I'm thinking I'll just cut out the nutritionless junk food that I love so much (I've already cut out Pepsi) and watch my portions.  Obviously, I'll add tons of water - which I've already been doing since giving up Pepsi a week ago.  I will also incorporate the fresh juicing because Lord knows it's the quickest, least painful way to get tons of great nutrients into my body.  Listen to me, I sound like a commercial!  LOL
Anyway, I'll update when I can with my running progress.  I'll be on the treadmill Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and I really want to start doing my old workout videos that I used to do when Scott was in Iraq, so I may incoorporate them on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Until next time...

Two week official weigh in

Alright, well after two full weeks, I'm down 17.5 pounds.  I had a major meltdown last night though - I knew I wasn't going to break, but I was pretty much hysterically bawling because I miss food.  I'm a little better today, but I'm annoyed that I seem to be going backwords.  I thought I had moved passed the emotional crap after day 4...guess not.  People keep suggesting that I just stop, or shorten my fast, but what they don't understand is that I planned and planned and prepared myself and wrote it down and put in out in cyber world for everyone to see that I was going to go all the way with a 60-day juice fast.  Even if I "cheated" and no one else knew, I would know and the guilt and shame and feelings of failure would be ten times worse than the random fits of tears.  Tons of other people have done this, there is no reason I can't stick it out until the end.  I've made it 14 days without a single morsel, sliver or smidgen of actual food.  As long as I take it one day at a time, I CAN do this.  Now I better go to the store because I'm running low on fruits and veggies...this morning's breakfast was just straight orange juice - which was strange after so many days of mixing lots of different things.  Anywho, TTFN!

Today is day 14

Somehow I have regressed to the first few days...I'm crabby and starving!  I don't want to do this anymore, I want food!  I tried taking a nap today, hoping that would make me feel better, more rested, more calm...but I am just hungry and annoyed.  I know I will be more annoyed if I quit, but man this is so hard!  As of this morning, I'm down 17 pounds, which is super exciting and I know if I start eating food in my current frame of mind, I'll gain it all back, but the thought of drinking another nasty veggie juice like the one I had for lunch today, pretty much makes me want to throw up.  I keep trying to remind myself how proud I'll be if I keep going and make it to 60 days, but time sure is dragging...
Anyway, I'll post my official 2 week weight loss tomorrow, if you read this post, thanks and sorry for being a downer, but I did say I'd be honest, right?   Please send good thoughts that I'll make it through tonight without caving!

10 days done!

Well I'm 1/6th of the way there.  For some reason, it's been tougher the last two days and I've been on the verge of tears quite a few times...it didn't help that I decided to take my oldest son on an overnight trip to Seattle, thinking I could find a fresh juice bar, and I couldn't.  (it wasn't until we were on our way home that I remembered a little store that is in like every mall in the world, called JAMBA JUICE....duh).   I went from about 3pm Friday to 11am Saturday with nothing but water because I couldn't find a stinkin juice bar...let's compound that with the fact that said oldest son had a fever the whole time.  My other problem lately is that whenever it's time to make more juice, I almost feel like I'm going to throw up, I'm getting a little sick of the flavors and I really need to find some new juice recipes so that I can go another 50 days!  I'm pretty sure it's either the cucumber or the celery that's making me want to yak, so I'll experiment today to find something that tastes better. My juicer came with a "cookbook" so I'll browse that for something simple today.  I'm finding tons of great sounding and great looking healthy recipes that I can't wait to try...I really hope the next 7 weeks go fast! 
I'm giving myself the rest of today (Sunday) to be lazy, but the workouts start tomorrow...probably just the treadmill to start, but I have some really good workout dvds (that I've had since 2005) that I can't wait to start doing again!  I'm thinking I'll have to invest in a new pair of shoes for sure!

Anyhow I weighed in this morning and I'm down a total of 14 pounds after 10 days!  Here's to the next 10!

One week down!!

I made it through my first week!!  After 7 days, I'm down 11.5 pounds!  I can hardly believe it!  Strangely, I feel kind of annoyed or just a little depressed this morning...weird I know, but it's true.   It could be because school is kind of stressing me out right now, but I really am so happy with the results of all my dedication!  I honestly can't believe I stayed strong and made it a full 7 days...only 53 days to go!  ;)

This might sound totally lame, but I'm seriously thinking my forearm is thinner!  And actually my wedding ring is falling off my finger.  I've lost 2.5 inches around my waist so far too!  No new symptoms to report or anything, so this is a short post...sorry!  (plus I have a house to clean!)

Day 6

Every day seems to get better and better and my conviction stronger and stronger...honestly, I was thinking yesterday about my doubters and the people that think I'm crazy and that 60 days is way too long, but ya know what?  After 6 full days, it's just habit, there is no way I will quit this.  Making it through the first 3-4 days is the hardest part, and now that I'm past that, easy-peasy!  I weighed myself this morning and I'm down 10.5 pounds...unbelievable!  Although I still have some left over blemishes on my face that are still healing, my skin is so much clearer already! 

I kind of had an epiphany yesterday as well...every other time I've attempted weight loss, it's been because I want to be skinny, I want to look better.  This time is so totally about improving my health.  I'm really thinking about cleansing and getting rid of 15 years of abuse that I've put my body through (smoking, drinking pepsi like I should have been drinking water, eating anything and everything I wanted to, just because I wanted to).  Now, I'm SO excited to get through this 60 days so I can start eating healthy...never before has the thought of things like whole grain pasta and soy milk and mountains of vegetables been so exciting.  We're going to start a vegetable garden this year and I'm going to learn how to can veggies and fruits and cook more from scratch.  We're thinking about getting some chickens (for the eggs, not the meat).  We've also decided that we are only buying whole wheat bread, brown rice and whole wheat pasta.  We will still be eating chicken, fish, and probably replacing our ground beef with ground turkey. 

It is so great that my husband is so supportive of such a drastic change in our lives.  Not only that, but I've recently started college and he's been so great about making sure I have all the time I need to work on homework and meeting with my learning team and making sure that the house is nice and clean when I come home after a late night at school.  The kids are upset sometimes when we're grocery shopping and they want things like poptarts and fruit snacks and capri sun juice packs...all things we don't buy anymore, but they are starting to come around and try new fruits and veggies and seeds and nuts (the things we now keep in the house for snacks).  They've even tried Mommy's soy milk and haven't even noticed the wheat pasta!  Some days, they are annoyed by the wheat bread, but they all still eat it...one day at a time, just like everything else.

I don't want to get overzealous but I'm really thinking I may be ready to cut down or eliminate my Wellbutrin altogether; I feel absolutely great!  Anyway, thanks for reading, be sure to check in tomorrow for my official weekly weigh in.

Day 5 musings

Not a whole lot to report today...the headache got really bad, but advil took care of it pretty easily.  I ended up only drinking juice twice yesterday cause I just wasn't hungry around the dinner hour and by the time I was hungry, it was too late - I didn't want to be up all night peeing, so I just decided not to juice.  My skin feels a little more oily than normal but at the same time, it seems to be clearing up too - which was what I was hoping for, so that's exciting!  I am feeling lots of energy, like I want to go running outside or something (haven't tried it yet though)!  The hunger pains are gone, but there is still a strange empty feeling in my gut around "meal times".  Like I said yesterday (I think) now it just feels weird not to eat, it's awkward.  There have been several times where I think I'll grab a nibble of something and catch myself...so I've realized eating was way too much of a habit for me; hopefully after this is done, I'll be able to eat to live rather than live to eat!

I lost another half a pound so my total is 9.5 pounds in 5 days....until tomorrow, adios loyal followers!

Day 4

I did it!  I made it four days and I'm still going strong!  Day four was better than the previous three days by leaps and bounds!  The hunger pains are pretty much gone, although making meals for my family is still difficult.  Really, it's just weird not to eat, it feels awkward to have to stop myself from grabbing a snack.  Ya know, before, I would just eat when I was hungry without much thought...now I'm having to be conscious about everything...I have almost accidentally eaten several times.  My kids are confused about why Mommy isn't eating with them and they think green juice is silly...Carson actually begs for drinks of it!  LOL!


No side effects really, headache lingers a little, but nothing unbearable.  I'm still getting the hiccups more than normal and peeing all day long, but that is to be expected with all the liquid I'm consuming.  And the part you've all been waiting for - I weighed myself this morning (day 5) and I'm down 9 pounds!  Yep, you heard me, NINE pounds in four days!!  woo hoo!  If that's not motivation to keep going, I don't know what is!

Aaaahhh, day three...so glad you're over!

Three days!  So far, so good...sort of!  LOL  Meal times are still really hard, I made spaghetti and garlic toast for the kids tonight and that was really hard!  mmmm....garlic!  Seriously though, I am so proud of myself, I didn't even lick the sauce off my finger when I checked the temperature for the boys; I just grabbed a paper towel and wiped it off!  It's so funny how I'm noticing all the little behaviors that I hadn't paid attention to before now.  When I made the kids a pb&j, I would almost always eat their crust, or steal a bite of their cereal at breakfast time, or just grab a snack whenever I feel like it...that's been the hardest part and has made me see how easily all this extra weight came on!  Not eating any food is really really hard, but every morning I wake up and think, "woo hoo!  I made it another day!"  And that feeling is so great, I can't wait to have it again tomorrow morning and the morning after that!  It also helps that when I got on the scale this morning, I found that I had lost 6 pounds since the morning of day one!  that is crazy!  So I just looked at a calendar and realized that day 60 is April 2...wow, that seems really far away, doesn't it?!  One day at a time!

One small side note - I've noticed that I have the hiccups A LOT lately!  I don't know if it's related to the juicing or not, but I don't usually get them this often - we're talking like twice a day!

Made it through day two...barely

Well I was doing awesome today until my daughter decided that pizza was her sleepover dinner of choice tonight. It's her birthday this weekend, so how could I say no? I didn't have any, but it was absolute torture! I decided to have fruit juice for breakfast rather than veggie juice because the idea of drinking cucumbers this morning was so unappealing! I know the fruit has more calories and sugar, but I'm okay with that! So breakfast was apple, pear, grape, strawberry, lemon juice and lunch and dinner were the same as yesterday with a couple minor tweaks for taste. I added another green apple and also added another half a lemon. Makes it much easier to drink! I still have a headache; it's gotten worse as the day has progressed. I have had to pee a TON today but luckily no other "purging" as it were. As soon as I can get the kids to bed, I am taking a hot bath and going to bed. I'm not as crabby as I was last night at this time, which could be because I drank my dinner a little later tonight, but I'm also not too chipper either!. Scott is out of town for the weekend which could make the next couple days harder because I have to feed the kids actual food while I drink my oh-so-tasty green juice! Anyway, that's about it...I made it through another day!

End of day one

Well I made it through the first day of only juice and water...there were definitely some rough parts...I felt hungry most of the day and learned the hard way that too much ginger is NASTY! All those greens are making me super burpy and (because I said I'd be brutaly honest, here's some TMI) I did spend quite a bit of time in the restroom this morning. I have a headache - but I've had it for days, so I'm not sure that has anything to do with the fasting. I am really tired and feel physically weak, but I also didn't sleep long enough last night, so that could explain why I'm so sleepy...I think I'm going to bed early tonight so I don't have to deal with the next food craving until tomorrow. I expected all of this, but it doesn't make it any easier! I was making lunch for the boys today and it was SO hard not to snag a bite of their sandwiches! One craving at a time, one day at a time and I WILL power through this...I appreciate all the support, keep it coming!

Five stages of juice fasting detox

I copied this from www.juicefasting.org Sounds fun, right?? LOL

Stage 1 (Day 1 To Day 2)On the first day of fasting, the blood sugar level drops below 70 mg/dl. To restore the blood to the normal glucose level, liver glycogen is converted to glucose and released into the blood. This reserve is enough for half a day. The body then reduces the basal metabolic rate (BMR). The rate of internal chemical activity in resting tissue is lowered to conserve energy. The heart slows and blood pressure is reduced. Glycogen is pulled from the muscle causing some weakness. The first wave of cleansing is usually the worst. Headaches, dizziness, nausea, bad breath, glazed eyes and a heavily coated tongue are signs of the first stage of cleansing. Hunger can be the most intense in this period unless the enema is used which quickly assists the body into the fasting state by ending digestion in the colon.

Stage 2 (Day 3 To Day 7)Fats, composed of transformed fatty acids, are broken down to release glycerol from the gliceride molecules and are converted to glucose. The skin may become oily as rancid oils are purged from the body. People with problem-free skin may have a few days of pimples or even a boil. A pallid complexion is also a sign of waste in the blood. Ketones are formed by the incomplete oxidation of fats. It is suspected that the ketones in the blood suppress the appetite by affecting the food-satiety center in the hypothalamus. You may feel hungry for the first few days of the fast. This effect is temporary. The desire to eat will disappear. Lack of hunger may last 40 to 60 days, depending on whether you are on water or juice. The body embraces the fast and the digestive system is able to take a much-needed rest, focusing all of its energies on cleansing and healing. White blood cell and immune system activity increases. You may feel pain in your lungs. The cleansing organs and the lungs are in the process of being repaired. Periodically, the lymphatic system expels mucoid matter through the nose or throat. The volume excreted of this yellow-colored mucus can be shocking. The sinuses go through periods of being clogged, then will totally clear. The breath is still foul and the tongue coated. Within the intestine, the colon is being repaired and impacted feces on the intestinal wall start to loosen.

Stage 3 (Day 8 to Day 15)On the latter part of an extended fast, you can experience enhanced energy, clear-mindedness and feel better than you have felt since childhood. On the downside, old injuries may become irritated and painful. This is a result of the body’s increased ability to heal during fasting. If you had broken your arm 10 years before, there is scar tissue around the break. At the time of the break, the body’s ability to heal was directly related to lifestyle. If you lived on a junk-food diet, the body’s natural healing ability was compromised. During fasting, the body’s healing process is at optimum efficiency. As the body scours for dead or damaged tissue, the lymphocytes enter the older, damaged tissue secreting substances to dissolve the damaged cells. These substances irritate the nerves in the surrounding region and cause a reoccurrence of aches from previously injured areas that may have disappeared years earlier. The pain is good as the body is completing the healing process. The muscles may become tight and sore due to toxin irritation. The legs can be the worst affected, as toxins accumulate in the legs. Cankers are common in this stage due to the excessive bacteria in the mouth. Daily gargling with salt and water will prevent or heal cankers.

Stage 4 (Day 16 to Day 30)The body is completely adapted to the fasting process. There is more energy and clarity of mind. Cleansing periods can be short with many days of feeling good in between. There are days when the tongue is pink and the breath is fresh. The healing work of the organs is being completed. After the detoxification mechanisms have removed the causative agent or render it harmless, the body works at maximum capacity in tissue proliferation to replace damaged tissue. While a short fast will reduce the symptoms, a longer fast can completely heal. Homeostatic balance is at optimum levels. The lymphatic system is clean except for a rare discharge of mucus through the nose or throat. After day 20, the mind is affected. Heightened clarity and emotional balance are felt at this time. Memory and concentration improve.

Stage 5 (Breaking the Fast)The sticky, toxic, mucoid coating on the intestinal wall is loose, and the first meal frees it from the intestinal wall. Toxins enter the blood through the colon. The gallbladder dumps its waste in a heavy discharge of bile. This can cause an instant bowel movement upon eating followed by intense diarrhea. If the symptoms are too uncomfortable, an enema will help.

Team Varner - Christmas 2011

Here is a recent picture of me and my awesome family

New direction

Hey all! It's been ages, I know, I'm a slacker! When I first started this blog, it was to chronicle my 365 project, but that kinda fizzled out...so when I decided to start a 60 day juice fast after watching Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead on Netflix, I figured what better way to keep me motivated and accountable than to blog about my experience, and be brutally honest with the world...right?! I bought a Jack LaLanne Power Juicer today and stocked up on the fruits and veggies I will need to get started. The recipe I'm using is the same one Joe used in the film: 6 Kale Leaves, 1 Cucumber, 4 Celery Stalks, 2 Green Apples, 1/2 Lemon and 1 piece of ginger. I will be drinking this four times each day and nothing else (except water) for 60 days. Oh dear God, what was I thinking? No, just kidding...I'm actually really pumped about this! I've been thinking and preparing and planning for about 6 weeks and I'm just ready to get started. I know there will be difficult days, but I'm ready for it and Scott is supporting me 100%! I had my doctor do a complete set of labs the other day so I could see the numbers pre-cleanse and compare them in 60 days. To be honest, they aren't that bad to begin with. My blood pressure is always in the normal range - around 120/80

Total Cholesterol: 187 (range: 0-199)
Triglyceride: 132 (range: 0-149)
HDL (the good stuff): 37 (range: 40-59)
LDL (the bad stuff): 124 (range: 0-99)

White blood cell count: 8.3 (range: 4-11)
Hct (red blood cells): 38 (female range: 35-46)
Hgb (hemoglobin): 13.1 (range: 11.6-15.5)
Platelet count: 202 (range: 150-400)
Blood Glucose: 73 (range: 65-114)
ALT (liver enzyme): 18 (range: 5-50)

I thought about sharing my starting weight and measurements with ya'll but then decided I'm just not that brave...after 60 days, I may tell you where I started, but not today. :)
I will say that I am about 100 pounds more than my "recommended" weight. I currently take Wellbutrin for mild depression and birth control for erratic menstral cycles and I hope to eliminate both of those drugs with this cleanse. I'm also hoping this will help my skin because for the last couple years I've had teenager-like acne and it's getting real old!

I quit smoking a week ago (1/31/12) and plan to start some sort of exercise routine in the near future.

So I guess that's it for now...Tomorrow I start this journey and I'll try to update every night with how I'm feeling, physically and mentally...wish me luck please!!

Project 365....ok really, who am I kidding?!

Ok well I officially quit my project 365 - I just cannot keep up with it! I'll just go back to updating with random pictures and funny stories when I can...here are some pictures from September - just for you, Dad! ;)


This is Cameron, on school picture day



CJ stiring the dry ingredients for oatmeal cookies



Cameron's favorite thing to do - making chocolate chip cookies with Mommy

Cameron's first soccer game! Go Transformers!

CJ is such a great big brother to Carson!

We gave away the high chair and Carson sits at the table like a big boy now!

TADA!

Carson, getting ready to walk Cameron to school - hey Dad, do you recognize the coat?! :)

My sweet Colton James

Checking out the classroom at Kindergarten orientation

Kaitlyn's first day of 6th grade!

My little man, heading off to school!

My brother Jeromy and Cameron at our family reunion - as you can see, Cameron doesn't like his Uncle one bit!

Scott and I at the family reunion

Tyler and Carson doing a little puddle jumpin!

Project 365, day 62-82 (8/5/09-8/30/09)

Ok, so I know I'm WAY behind on my Project 365, and I have no excuses...here are 20 pictures to help make up for it...more to come later this week, I promise!

Daddy, beading with Kaitlyn! AWWW!

He actually made her a really cute anklet

The necklace I made my for my Grandma

My three boys on the left and their friend, Justin on the far right...watchin Transformers, AGAIN

Cameron and Colton, with their friend, Justin in the middle

Carson thinks he's ready to potty train like CJ

Cameron's first day at Soccer practice

Kait with some of her friends

Movie night

mmmmm, salad!

Project 365, day 61 (8/4/09)

Today was "project day" at our house - here is the paper plate face puppet that CJ made! He was so proud!

Project 365, day 60 (8/3/09)

My monkeys and their Monkey Bread (cinnamon pull-apart)!

Project 365, day 59 (8/2/09)

You wash my back, I'll wash his back? Except Cameron wasn't having any part of it! Carson sure thought it was funny though! lol

Project 365, day 58 (8/1/09)

Carson waited all morning for CJ to take this hat off so he could wear it...I tried putting a different beanie on him and he wasn't having it, so when he got the chance to put this one on, he wasn't letting anyone take it! lol