Day: 6 Green poop and brownies

The good news: I didn't eat any of the cupcakes I had to bake last night. I didn't even lick icing off the spoon. An amazing feat for me.

The bad news: I accomplished this because I ate gluten-free, dairy-free brownies as preemptive strike. They were not, however, sugar-free, therefore, I cheated on the detox.

I'm back on track today, and plan on sticking with it. I'm totally fine without the bread and dairy, but the sugar will get me every time. I look at last night's lapse as a triumph because had I not opted for the "better for you sort of" brownies, I surely would have ate all that butter, sugar and flour on the cupcakes. PLUS, there were brownies left but I gave them away. Something I'd never do before.

Anyway. The one physical change I'm noticing, not to be gross, is that my poop is totally green. Yup, all the veggies. But it makes me wonder if I'm getting any of the nutrients from all the greens I'm eating or if I'm just shitting them all out. That would suck.

I'm also pooping less frequently. I have to say I don't really feel like any toxins are coming out of me but I feel better after I eat these kinds of foods. No heartburn or indigestion, no stomach pains, not that I ever have a lot of that stuff. Sometimes after I'd eat a high-carb meal my heart would pound and that's not happening now. I'm also waking up at the same time every day--earlier, which is good.

No pics today, just a rundown of the food.

B: gluten-free porridge with olive oil spread, salt and pepper. DELISH. tasted like grits
L: hummus, rice cake and grilled chicken in broth
S: more hummus
D: i'm making spicy veg soup

Day 5: Wavering Will

Ugh, today is hard. It's day 5 and I just want to eat "normal" food and a cup of coffee. I was doing OK with the sugar cravings but today I want something. I think it's because I didn't drink a ton of water today. But I have that old feeling of "I'll go nuts if I don't have chocolate this instant."

Work is doing this to me. It's hard, it sucks and my heart's not in it. I'm supremely unhappy and I want to take it out on my body.

But, there's no chocolate here and nothing worth cheating for, so for now I'll stick to my licorice tea. Maybe I'll add some honey.

Oh and I didn't have time to bake last night--got home late late. Tonight, 2 doz cupcakes. This WILL be torture.

Anyway, my meals are all starting to look the same--beige and green. See?

B: Spinach, 2 eggs and a little mozz. (The book says you can have mozz and even feta as "cheese alternatives.") Don't ask me how these are alternatives to cheese, I'm just gonna eat them if I can.

S: Rice cereal, rice milk, banana
L: Spinach and turkey burger over rice pasta.

S: hummus with a rice cake

D: ? Last night I had escarole and spinach with rice pasta and turkey burger. sound familiar??????? no time to cook other things, though I bought ingredients to do so

Too many carbs, I know. Oh well. I'm replacing the sugar I love, I guess. Until the morrow...*sigh

Day 4: Mood swings and boredom

The day I'm excited about hummus...

I made this hummus last night for today and I'm so excited to eat it. Normally I'm excited about chocolate cake. This is getting weird.

It's day 4 and I have to say that the feeling of having to eat something sweet after food is waning. Amazing! I mean don't get me wrong, I'd love some m&ms right now, but I'm not obsessing over getting them in my mouth.

I'm noticing more energy in the morning--waking up seems easy and I'm alert and wide-eyed. Although it feels like there's nothing to get out of bed for since I can't eat what I want. :( Hopefully that feeling will go away.

I found myself crying really hard at my desk at work today for no real reason. It started with the boiling water I spilled on my hand but quickly turned into something else. I wasn't sure I could pull it together. I'm detoxing my emotions, too, I guess.

Challenges today will be huge--I have to bake cupcakes and cookies for catering event. Oy vey, god help me, WTF, come police me! I don't know how I'll get through this without licking my fingers. But I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Breakfast: yogurt, rice cereal and a banana. Didn't finish it.

Lunch: Salad with lots of stuff in it. I bought mozzarella. I don't think it's the buffala they suggest because I couldn't find it, but I wanted cheese.

Snack: That wonderful hummus with carrots and cel

Dinner: ?

Day 3: Pools of nausea, waves of pee

I WANT COFFEE!!!!!!!

I'm not even addicted to coffee, but I craved it today. I'm still craving it. Beyond that, I can't believe I've stuck with this so far. It's day 3 and I'm not looking for sweets at all (amazing!) but I do miss just grabbing something and snacking on it. Makes me stop and think how often I do just that.

I'm peeing so much from the water I woke in the middle of the night to go--I never do that!

I woke up quickly today and felt wide awake (which never happens) and I had a lot of energy until I got to work and it was quickly sapped. Overall, I feel a little tired and sluggish, but I'm riding the storm.

Challenges: Coffee and lunch at a Mexican restaurant. Stress at work and wanting to just grab something to calm me down. Mood swings. I found myself crying at my desk today. Sleepiness.

Breakfast: Veggie-egg scramble (you can bet I ate all of it)

Snack: yogurt with honey, which hurt my stomach and made me nauseous (note: last night same thing happened-wtf)

Lunch: Honey-lime chicken over mixed salad. I basically ate the chicken, didnt use the dressing and skipped the corn chips and salsa! I did eat guacamole though.

Dinner: Ugh, I can't even think about it. Don't even care. Maybe I'll have some brown rice or veg soup.

Tomorrow is day 4 and I heard it's supposed to get easier. I'll let you know.

Day 2: With a little help from my friends...

So far, mostly everyone's been supportive. Thanks! Today's challenge is making it through a job I'm unhappy with--without snacking for comfort. So far, so good.

Here's the unsweet n' lowdown

Breakfast: Gluten-free porridge with cinnamon, honey and a banana (sounds gross and was, kinda. Only because it was watery.)

Snack: Pumpkin seeds and licorice tea

Lunch: Leftover chicken and escarole with rice pasta

Snack: Carrots (I mean they're sitting there. I didn't actually eat them yet but when the sugar craving comes at 3, my agents orange will be at the ready)

Dinner: I'm planning on a salad, and to back off on the starches. I can easily ruin the whole thing with too much rice and stuff.

Dessert: If I have it, I'll do yogurt with honey.

Problems: I'm feeling headachy and just unwell. Slept HORRIBLY last night.

Challenge: Drinking a gallon of water a day. I'm drowning now and I haven't gotten there yet. Also, stop obsessing over the detox and think about something else.

Good news: I just finished lunch and really don't feel like shoving something sweet in my mouth. If I do I'll get by with a little help from my friends. :)

Day 1: Beginnings

What: The Dr. Joshi 21 day detox diet

Where: Montclair, New Jersey

Who: Just me

Why: A long, cold winter of inactivity and an itchy sugar tooth has left me feeling pretty shitty. Cleaning house for spring seems like a good idea.

I was inspired to do this after seeing my friend Cara's blogs about it. Ok, I admit the food she was photographing looked bareable and I was like "shit, grilled chicken and veggies with rice pasta? I can do that."

This isn't a traditional detox in that you can have meat. It's mostly a no-wheat, no-dairy (excepting yogurt), no sugar thing that's supposed to make you feel amazing when it's over. Losing weight is probably a side benefit, but I'm not even in it for that. I hope to accomplish two things on this detox:

1. To stick to a regimen for a fixed period of time for the first time in my life

2. To observe the physical changes (if any) that will take place, i.e. shiny hair, clearer skin, more energy, etc.

Can I do it? I guess we'll have to see. This is the evening of Day 1 and the first day in a very, very long time that I didn't consume refined sugar. Here's what I ate:

Breakfast: Yogurt with rice cereal and half a banana

Snack: Rice cake with hummus

Lunch: I skipped lunch because a friend trapped me at his house talking for 5 hours---bad, bad way to start.

Dinner: Pictured above. Grilled chicken and escarole over brown rice pasta

Dessert: NONE! A cup of licorice tea is sweet and does the job of the would-be sugar.

The nice weather was a boon--rode my bike today and walked the hills. Yesterday I gymed it.

The big challenge will be tomorrow and all the work days--ugh. But I've done my shopping and I'm prepared.

Wish me luck!!