Changes

While on vacation a few weeks ago, I read a book recommended by a coworker called "Feed Your Face" by Jessica Wu. It's directed towards people with all types of skin problems (mine being acne) and has suggestions for foods to try/cut out in an attempt to improve various conditions. When I got home I decided to give it a shot; I cut out ALL dairy, all white bread/pasta, and for the most part sugar (I also started running again with the C210K program). I don't know what's necessarily working or not, but I have to say that my energy has been higher this past week and I have felt AWESOME (ok, and my skin is nice and smooth so far too). I miss ice cream and Gigi's but this has been great! I've also noticed that I'm not as bloated, which is a bonus considering I felt like I was carrying a melon around in my lower abdomen all the time.

 I also came across something interesting at the store last week- coconut sugar. Who knew coconuts were sweet? Actually, they're not. The sugar is taken from the flower of the coconut tree. According to the company "Madhava Organic Coconut Sugar is a delicious, pure, unrefined alternative to processed sugar and artificial sweeteners. The sustainably grown, Non-GMO Project Verified sweetener is produced from the flower bud of the coconut tree. In addition to tasting delicious, organic coconut sugar has naturally occurring nutrients including magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, B vitamins, and amino acids". When I first opened the package I thought- hmmm, this stuff is brown and flaky looking. Then I tried it. It was GOOD. I put it in my coffee and tea and it tasted just as if I had used regular sugar (it didn't have that funky fake sugar taste). I showed the website to a super vegan friend at work, and even she seemed impressed and decided to give it a shot. It seems like a nice alternative to people who want to give up white sugar but not consume a lot of processed fake crap.

Last but not least, I added a probiotic to my daily vitamins. WARNING: TMI COMING. I have been having bowel "issues" for months now (gas, diarrhea, cramping, overall ickiness) and in addition to changing my diet, this is a last ditch effort to improve things before giving in and going to see a physician. I've heard both good and bad things about probiotics (the main one being the possibility of worsening acne) but I thought it might be best to try and see for myself. I've had acne for my entire adult life; what's a few more zits?

Whole 30 Day 1

Today began my attempt to complete "The Whole 30 Program" in hopes of getting some more energy and clearing my skin up a bit. I did have a headache most of the day (totally missed my Starbucks macchiato) but I wasn't starving by any means. I woke up late so I only had time to grab some eggs and fruit, but for lunch and dinner (hey, it's hard to pack lunch sometimes) I made myself salads with organic greens, grilled chicken, avocado, cucumbers, tomatoes, Fuji apples, and oil/vinegar dressing. I'm not a big salad person but these were pretty good!

I fully intend on getting some "before" photos, but since AB really wanted to watch "The Hunger Games" after I got off work, the picture taking will have to wait.

As for my goals while on the program:

• Get more energy
• Sleep better
• Wake up easier
• Improve my running time and distance
• Get rid of random aches and pains
• Clear up acne
• Lose a few pounds

My starting stats:

• Weight: 161.5
• Measurements: 39-32-39 (gasp)
• Sleep 7-9 hours a night but hit the snooze button 10 times and am still tired all day
• Hormonal acne on cheeks and chin
• 13+ min/mile running; max distance so far 1.7 miles
• Random aches and pains, especially in my back and knees

23 Things About Me

Borrowed from another blogger:

1. what are your current obsessions?
Blogger, reading, figuring out how to quit my job and become a writer, losing weight, Groupon, E News, LOST reruns, de-cluttering, clearing my acne

2. which item from your closet are you wearing most often?
By default, my scrubs. Second to that, my Rainbows

3. last thing you bought for yourself?
A Starbucks grande iced soy caramel macchiato

4. what’s for dinner?
I had a turkey and cheese sandwich, almonds, and some key lime Greek yogurt at work

5. say something to the person who tagged you:
I wasn't tagged. I have no friends.

6. what is one item you could not live without?
Unfortunately my phone. It sucks as a phone but it does everything else!

7. vacation spots you must visit before you die?
New Zealand, Africa, Ireland, Italy, the Galapagos, Patagonia, Fiji

8. three things to do before you die:
Write a published novel, travel (see #7), sail around the world

9. what are you reading right now?
An HP Mallory book and one about writing a novel (which is funny because AB told me to stop reading about writing and just do it

10. what is the last movie you saw and enjoyed? rate it out of 5 stars.
The Avengers. 5 stars. How can you not love a movie with Robert Downey Jr and Chris Hemsworth???

11. what’s your guilty pleasure?
Alcohol and chocolate covered Dove almonds

12. what are you eating/do you want to eat right now?
Actually nothing- it's late and I'm not hungry

13. best thing you ate or drank lately?
Fried cheese sticks from the hospital cafeteria (I won't be able to starting Monday)

14. care to share some wisdom?
No matter how bad you think your life is, someone else has it way worse

15. describe one of your happiest moments.
Our wedding. It was awesome.

16. what was your best halloween costume?
I don't actually remember the last time I wore a costume

17. what do you have an addiction to?
Isn't this the same as #1? Blogging, reading, drinking (hey, my job is stressful), Amazon.com

18. what do you do that you would be embarrassed for others to know about?
If it's something I don't want others to know about why would I put it on my blog? Believe me, I have something!

19. what was your first screen name?
Foknrayofsunshyn

20. do you have a weird talent?
I can pop my ears

21. what is your favorite holiday?
Christmas

22. what was the last email you sent?
I forwarded some amazon emails to AB

23. what on on your calendar this upcoming month?
The lake, another laser hair removal session (it works!), boat show, work