Healthy Detox Challenge - NO FASTING

OK, question 1: can we use stevia as an alternative sweetener, the natural one?....question 2: protein powder, without artificial colors and sweeteners, can we use them?

Yes and Yes.

You do want to look at the brand of stevia and make sure it's the pure or raw stevia. Unfortunately, some contain fillers.

And you're right on track with the protein powder, as long as you check the label.

Good Morning and welcome to Day One!!

Our final list of participants is as follows:

CarlitaK
nutrigaby
SlimNana48
jennyab
MochaMixAZ
jillbarnes

WELCOME to everyone and GOOD LUCK! You can do this!!!!!!!!!!!
D.

Wow, it's tough, huh?! So many things I'm missing today: A bagel, my creamer, GUM, Sprite 0. Woe is me. :sad:
BUT it's going to be worth it!!

It sounds like you guys are doing GREAT (we'll just look past the 3 Tbsp of ice cream... but what kind was it?!?! Let me live through you!)

I'm a bit worried about tomorrow. My boyfriend and I are loading up our pups and heading out on a Jeep trip. I'm looking forward to it, but the trip is usually packed with pretzels, hummus, crackers, cheeses, sandwich meat, hamburgers, cookies.... and then we stop for lunch. LOL Not this time, though - it's going to be BRU-TAL.

My plan to survive is as follows: Venti iced coffee with stevia and milk from Starbucks, oatmeal and blueberries that I'll prepare before we go, some fresh fruit (whatever looks good at the market), and buckets of water. And then I'll stare evilly at the BF while he eats all the stuff I REALLY want to be eating. Although he is supportive and willing to eat what I cook, on the road it's a whole 'nother deal. YIKES!

But, as CarlitaK posted, it's only 14 days! Technically 13 more. I can do this!! It's why we're doing the challenge - to get us past these cravings! Keep it going, Ladies!

GREAT job today everyone!!!! Super logging, and I can see all the good choices in your diaries!

I am totally pleased with my day, still worried about tomorrow but hope the planning ahead has helped. To make matters worse, our kitchen sink literally sprung a leak so prepping anything fresh right now is extra tough. YIKES!:grumble:

I'll be checking in late tomorrow after we return from our Jeep ride, so best of luck to everyone for Saturday!!!!!
D.

New day new excitement! Looking forward to making my homemade tortilla soup tonight! From scratch! including the veggie stalk, and tomato sauce... no preservatives for me

WOOHOO!!! Way to go!

I'm back from the Jeep trip, and it was fun and I stayed on track. Now we're talking about Saturday night plans, and we'd love to go out for dinner.... but unless I can research the right restaurant, that'll be out. Hmm..... .... .... this is so hard!

<deep breath> Day 3 almost complete. Congratulations!!!!! Are you ready for the week ahead?? What have you done to get ready??

Today was supposed to be an R&R day. However, a popped pipe under the kitchen sink made that impossible. I had hoped we'd have it fixed early, but just ran into problems. So the pedi I was all set to get didn't happen, but I did get to burn some calories crawling around on the floor, running outside, and mopping.

The Pelligrino and lime worked great. I added some Sugar in the Raw, and made a sparkling lemonade. It HIT the sweet spot and seems to have quelled my raging taste for Sprite 0.

As you gear up for the week, be prepared: day 4 and 5 are historically tough. The "newness" of the plan has worn off, the cravings are still around and will make a mad effort to get you to come back to them.... and remember: just one taste CAN derail!!!

So, keep it up! Keep posting and checking in! We're on our way, ladies!!
D.

Well, so far so good today.

At work, there seems to be chocolate EVERYWHERE: M&Ms, Heath, cakes... I'm eating only what I packed, but it's very hard. Especially as I look toward my afternoon knowing I've got a good solid 3-4 hours of deskwork to do. Something about sitting and working on the computer makes me want to snack. SO TOUGH!

I am excited about a delcious natural lasagna I found. It is SO GOOD - Trader Joe's has done it again!

Hope you are all doing well!
D.

WOW! Now that's a hard day one!!

It is rough... but you can get through it. Stay focused. You'll make it and it will be your day 2 before you know it.

The headaches and hunger are to be expected (unfortunately). The first 3-4 days... well... suck. But it WILL feel awesome soon!

I like quinoa both sweet (like oatmeal with a little brown sugar and cinnamon, or with honey) and savory.

Here is 1 quinoa recipe I love:

Thyme for Quinoa

Cooking Spray
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 red onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup uncooked quinoa
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
2 teaspoons dried parsley
½ teaspoon dried thyme
3-4 grinds fresh black pepper

Serves: 4

Place oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook additional 2 minutes. Remove onions and garlic, place in bowl. Spray saucepan with cooking spray, add quinoa, return to heat. Toast quinoa, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Add broth, bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat to simmer.

Cook 15 minutes or until quinoa is tender. Add parsley, thyme, and pepper to onion mixture. Add onions to quinoa, stir, and serve.

Tip: Replace dried herbs for fresh. In general 1 teaspoon dried equals one tablespoon of fresh.

Serving Suggestions: Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme.

Options:
• Add other veggies to the onions like bell peppers or zucchini
• Swap vegetable broth for mushroom broth
• Stir in a handful of dried cranberries or raisins


Nutritional Tidbit: While quinoa is sometimes called a whole grain, it is actually the seed of a green leafy plant. Quinoa’s magnesium helps keep bones healthy and maintain normal blood sugar level, while being high in fiber and lowering cholesterol. It’s also gluten-dree and very easy to digest.

Okay ladies - - - can you believe it? DAY FIVE IS TOMORROW! FIVE WHOLE DAYS *completed*!! Congratulations!!!

Give yourself a big hug and a bigger pat on the back. This is NOT EASY. It is SO much easier (faster, cheaper, etc) to not give the thought and energy into what you're eating. Your body is going to thank you!

Mine is starting to. Today was an incredibly difficult day. Being at work and around piles of junk food was brutal. I wanted a soda so badly I had trouble concentrating. I wanted chips, crackers, and this one amazing looking blueberry muffin. I ate ALL the food I brought from home and I was still hungry. Really, hungry - hunger pains and all.

But I made it home. Cooked a big meal. Ate every bite of it. Now I'm not hungry, but I'm not quite satisfied either. I'd love a thin mint cookie. Or a piece of my boyfriend's PIZZA that he had leftover from his lunch. Or a soda.

But instead, I'm going to bed. I'm going to drink a big glass of water so at least I'll feel really full. And hope that will set me off to dreamland (Where hopefully sugarplums will NOT dance in my head).

Tomorrow should be easier, although it could go either way. I've found days 4 & 5 to be tough, so let's hope this time it stops with day 4. LOL

KEEP IT UP, Ladies! I can't wait to hear your check-ins later this week. I'm also really looking forward to my official weigh in on Friday.

Goodnight!:yawn:
D.

Ahhh, sorry to hear you're not feeling well. Super-awesome for sticking to the plan, even when not feeling 100%.

Hopefully, you'll kick it soon and be back in action.