My first day of the cleanse is done! Phew. Praise God for his generous mercies as I started my day off and gave everything over to him in prayer. My energy was pretty good throughout the day. I hit a lull (and jet lag around 5pm). I managed to stay awake until 9:30pm and slept until 5:30am. I think by tomorrow I'll feel adjusted to L.A. time again.
I didn't exercise. It's definitely harder to do while doing a cleanse simply because you don't have as much energy. I don't want to risk getting sick or burning out early from all the traveling, so I will probably only walk or do very low impact exercises for the next 4 days. Val and I did take the kids to the beach in the afternoon and Natasha and I took a 30 minute walk down the beach path. We had a sweet time together- mostly me explaining that I don't have it out for her and yes, there are other parents who make the kinds of rules that we do. Apparently, I'm the world's worst mom right now ;) Thankfully, I have lots of support and love reading my mom-friendly blogs to encourage me through these teenage years with my daughter. A few of my favorites are www.thebettermom.com and www.septembermccarthy.com .
Today, I wanted to chat about formulating a plan- which is found in Chapter 4 of Reshaping It All. As I pondered on the flight home, I knew that I'd have some decisions to make before I started losing a few pounds. It's so important that we don't just decide to do something and jump in without much thought. It only sets us up to fail more easily. I knew I wanted to start off with a cleanse, so that was set, but after that? What changes would I make in my diet? What exercises would I do and what would that look like during my week? When things are organized and on schedule, the likelihood of success is increased.
I'm already a healthy eater. I won't have to adjust that too much, just get back on track. I'll go into that in the days to come. What my biggest decision will be is the kind of exercise I'll do. I love changing it up. Should I try a new fitness video? Should I run and lift weights? Go back to pilates? Try spinning again? I love the thought of ALL of these and I'm sure I'll be doing each of them- just not at the same time! That's what great about seasons. If the weather is nice during the summer, exercise outdoors. When it gets cold, hit the gym. Your body will also thank you for changing up your exercise routine and I'll bet you'll see the pounds drop when you do.
For now, I've decided to continue running outdoors while the weather is nice and hit the gym to lift weights with a trainer. I'm still not all that comfortable in the weight area of the gym on my own- even though I've been lifting for over a year now. Sometimes I'll follow Val, but his routine isn't specific enough for me- as a woman. I decided a trainer for this area of expertise was worth it. I'm also going to incorporate pilates twice a week. I take group classes so it's less expensive. It's killer on your core and helps your posture SO much. I am definitely a strength girl vs. a cardio girl. I love using my muscles so much more than just sweating it out by running, spinning or on an elliptical machine. But a combination of both is the best. Also, when you build muscle, it increases the rate at which your body metabolizes and helps you burn faster. The number on the scale may not decrease as much since muscle weighs more than fat, so don't get discouraged.
Formulate your plan and let's share with each other what's working for us! I love reading your comments.
P.S. Check out my friend Summer's blog post today about all the changes she's making for her family regarding food. It's SUPER inspiring!
http://www.lemusingsofmoi.com/2012/07/corn-free-soy-free-gluten-free-dairy.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LeMusingsOfMoi+%28Le+Musings+of+Moi%29
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I prefer a combination of both weight training and cardio exercise as well. I live in Texas so outdoor exercise is out of the question for a couple more months. For now, I have decided on home workout series called Chalean Extreme. It is weight training based and calls for heavy lifting. I have completed the first week and LOVE it!! While I enjoy going to the gym, with my children being out of school for the Summer, it just seems easier to keep my workouts at home!!
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DeleteA bit of enouragment with your daughter - my mom was very strict. not over the top but by the world's standards 'very strict'. Now as a 29 year old with a 2 year old son I totally understand (and thank her every chance I get for saying no to me) and we are the best of friends. I have been told parent now and the friendship will come later. Also, good luck on the 10 pounds!
ReplyDeleteWhat type of cleanse? I've never done one and really don't know anything about it. How is it beneficial? Is it like fasting? So glad you are blogging!!
ReplyDeleteWhat about us normal folk who don't have the money for a trainer or to buy cleanse? What about us who work 60 hrs a week and raise children. I love Candace and everything she stands for but I think she has missed the fact that most of us work 10 hrs a day and still don't have the $$ or time for a trainer:( I wish there was a more realistic approach.
ReplyDeleteThere are many things you can do at home that cost no or little money... when it becomes a lifestyle you do it just like eating and sleeping. Good luck! :)
DeleteHi... I'm average folk.. in fact I'm below average in health. I'm morbidly obese -- over 300 lbs and affording weight loss programs and gyms were too expensive for me BUT I decided I had to find what I could use at home and stop making excuses (speaking for me). When I started I couldn't walk from one end of my house to the other without and break (Sadly). So a lot of my exercises were from a chair but it was a start. I used my full water bottles to hold in my hands to lift my arms in repetitions, arm circles, etc. Leg lifts - using 1 lbs bags of beans I used them as weights on my ankles. Like I said it was a start! I found I had to make household items work for me. Then I started walking my hall (laps) and now I walk my driveway back and forth at least 50 times a day (long driveway). Changing my eating habits and just moving has helped a great deal. You will find a way that works for you if you want it bad enough. I believe Candace is doing her program for her and sharing her experience, we can't lose weight for someone else and we can't expect them to do it all our way either. It's about sharing, what works for each of us. I wish you luck! ~EM
DeleteI don't have much money either so I go to the high school track and do laps. They also have home bleachers (steeper & higher) and away bleachers (smaller & wider) its free. Our high school also has a trainer in the weight room two days a week the public can utilize for free. There are ways around the cost factor :)
Deletenot being rich either--i looked up the clease candance does, looked at the ingredients...went to the store last night, n bought the items....make ur own ppl:) buy any fruits & veggis, put them in a blender, and drink it. that easy. make sure to chop or steam hard veggies 1st. i didn't have time to go to the gym. so i cleaned w all my strengh last night n worked up a sweat. u can do it....no matter what it takes...
DeleteEm and Sarah, well said! I work full time, do a ton of volunteer work with my church and have 3 children at home and still manage to eat right and exercise. OH, and my husband and I have a date at least once a week! (-:
DeleteYou do not have to have a lot of money to be healthy and/or be in shape. You just have to make the time if it is important to you. There are so many tools out there to assist if you need it. For me, I use my faith...God created this earthly body I have and I need to honor and take care of it. I have not always been that way. As a matter of fact my favorite snack for 30 something years was Doritos and Dr. Pepper. We ate tons of convenient/processed meals because it was well, convenient (and yummy). The older I was getting the worse I began to feel. Me, my husband, and 2 of my 3 children were overweight, tired and often sick. I knew for us I had to make changes in our health. After all, I was the one doing the grocery shopping and cooking. Slowly I began to eliminate proceeded foods and added in fresh produce and whole foods. 2 years later we are still on this journey of getting healthy (each of us lost 25+ pounds). We all do a combo of cardio and weight training (in our home with videos/weights) for exercise. This is what works for us and finding what works for you is often the hardest part to getting into a exercise routine. Thanks, Candace for being honest and sharing your life experiences! P.S. I have 3 teens and yes, I at times am the worst mother ever too! (-; But, keeping God as the center of your home, many prayers, rules and boundaries will pay off! Blessing to your and your family! Charity
I've always been told by my biggest critic ever, my mother that is if I want it bad enough I'll find a way to chase those unwanted pounds away! .. I myself am a stay at home mom and is living off one paycheck.. So yes I do have the time to do it more than the person that works 60 hours a week, & like you I do not have the $$ to pay for someone to do it for me.. I have to do it myself... I'm not criticizing, I'm just stating a fact that you CAN find a cheap way to do it.. it's just that it MAY be more work for YOU.. .. I remember working a full time job and coming home and complaining about how 'fat' I was and saying I never had the time to workout and eat healthy and yada yada yada.. My dad would always say, "If you want it bad enough you'll workout at 10 at night if you have to!" lol.. THEY WERE RIGHT. It's just we are too lazy to realize it sometimes.. I know I'd like to lose 20 pounds my self, but I'm too lazy to workout lol. So let's get out there and go for it :) ... "You can't phone it in.." (in the words of Jillian Michaels)
DeleteHi Candace,
ReplyDeleteFollowing your posts will give me a little 'umph' on days when I can't seem to find any! I'm a cardio girl, loving that high when I get finished with a run or 45 minutes on the eliptical. Weights bore me, but I do both because I love seeing the changes as my muscles become more defined. A combination of cardio and weights is definitely what works for me. Alas.. I have been so far off track lately that I might have to hitch a ride back.. but I'm headed in the right direction and can't wait to see (and feel!) some results. I was intrigued by reading that Pilates improves your posture? Something I may look into! I'm on the prowl for your book, and look forward to future posts! Thanks for sharing with us.
P.S. Teenage girls + boundaries = horrible parents! lol :) My own parents had strict guidelines for me, and while I am not as strict as they were, I am not nearly as lenient as other parents in our circles. Having my own daughters now I can certainly understand my parent's desire to shield me and preserve my innocence. It wasn't clear when I was in my teen years, but it is crystal clear now, and I thank them for their consistency. Now, my mom is probably the best friend I have. <3
I love your book. I've bought about a year ago. But it's hard for me to read it. I am from Germany. I am 19 years old and my English is not the best. But I'm not giving up. I will create your book to read to the end and God will help me. I strongly believe! Nice greetings :) Linda
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say that a pound of muscle doesn't weigh more than a pound of fat, A pound is a pound. HOWEVER a pound of lean muscle takes up much less room than a pound of fat in your body.... Weight training is amazing and where you can really change your body. Make sure you have a really good trainer who KNOWS nutrition and holds you accountable and not only talks the talk, but walks the walk and LOOKS the part.
ReplyDeleteI'm a strength vs. cardio gal as well. I just don't like walking or biking, and can't afford a gym pass. But I force myself to get out there with my two year old and do something! My favorite work out is to walk with my daughter to the playground and then while she plays I do my strength exercises. Tricep dips on the benches, standing pushups on the play equipment, climbing, calf raises on the stairs to the slide and squats with the teeter totter(with my girl on the other side). I can kill two birds with one stone this way, play with my daughter and exercise!
ReplyDeleteIt's the food that gets me. Since reading your book, Candace, I've lost 5 pound by exercising portion control. That's my goal right now, until the end of July. To really pay attention to portion control and only eating when I'm hungry, until I'm satisfied.
And thank you so much for the scripture references in your book, I've written a lot of them down on index cards and keep them with me throughout the day. They help me through the emotional eating obstacles I come to!
Best of luck on your cleanse this week. I needed to read this today as I'm coming of 2 months of travel softball with my daughter, which means traveling every weekend and lots of eating out. My long runs/hikes at Temescal have been non existant as a result. I like to switch up my workouts with hikes/runs/spin/and gym time. I need to get back outdoors to enjoy the beautiful mountains and summer weather. I competed in the Tough Mudder (10 miles and 21 obstacles) in Snow Valley 2 weeks ago. It was fantastic, and can't wait to do it again next year. The problem is I've been in a rut going to the gym and sitting on the bike ever since. I also need to remember this it's not still the day after the TM, and I can't continue to eat whatever I want. I think I need another challenge (but not so crazy this time) on the calendar for motivation. I'm inspired to know I'm not alone, and motivated to pick up your book again. I look forward to following your journey. Thank you for sharing. BTW, Congrats on your worst mother status. My daughter honored me as "worst mother EVER." I consider it a badge of honor. Here's to successful day of cleansing and mothering.
ReplyDeleteA cleanse can be done by the foods that you eliminate. Our family eliminated all sugars including fruit sugars and all wheat for 4 weeks. We ate heathy meats (grass fed only) veggies and Quinoa. The first couple of weeks were tough some of us did go through the Herx reaction as the Candida(bacteria that feeds off of sugars) died in our bodies. But we are feeling wonderful. Each week after the 4th we added in one fruit to see if there were any reactions. By eliminating our sugars we reset our cordisol levels. We supported the liver with Milk Thistle and the gut with a probiotic. Activated Charcoal before bed to bind the toxins that are being released. Our whole family of 5 feels great and we all have great energy. A side benefit is the weight loss for me that was too stubborn to come off before. Nothing huge and nothing fast but a least consistent and steady.
ReplyDeleteYou don't need to buy a cleanse to do a cleanse.
what cleanse are you doing? how do you stick to eating healthy and not giving in to impulses of junk food when you have kids who refuse or because of autism tend to gear to junk food?
ReplyDeleteI am on the tailend of raising 4 teenagers. Just something I enjoyed doing for my kids (at any age). It evolved over a few years. To start I would leave them small notes under their pillow just to say 'hi' or 'you did great today' I found my kids keeping these little treasures of encouragement. So I decided to have a small notebook to write these notes in so they could be in one place. The catch - they had to 'write' me back in the notebook so I could get it back. It was so exciting to get the notebook 'back.' I initially did this just for my girls and then my son casually asked if he could get a 'notebook.' What great memories in these small tokens of affection. They remind me how far both they have come as kids and me as a parent. My kids are currently 16, 17, 18 and 20. Now we rely on texting these quick notes. Just had to share.
ReplyDeleteSome inspiration for changing to a healthy whole foods diet can be found from Mandy at http://biblicalhomemaking.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteShe is doing the "Original food diet" - a diet based on the book of Genesis (i.e. unprocessed vegan food).
As for your woes with the teen years...... I'm finding there are 2 basic stages to parenting -
ReplyDeleteTHE 1st 1/2 are the little years 'till about 12 or 13. This is where you are TEACHING right from wrong and HAVE CONTROL over guarding their hearts. :)
THE 2nd 1/2 are the teen years - 14 through adulthood. This is where you have minimal control over guarding their hearts, for they now will be going out into the world and making those decisions for themselves.... they take that teaching from the 1st half and you pray they implement it.
This is the stage where I think RELATING to them now becomes the way of teaching. Sharing how important it is to think before you do, before you speak, before you watch... "Above all else, GUARD YOUR HEART for it is the wellspring of life." - Proverbs 4:23
Sharing how images from something you watched at 14 are now stuck in your head forever... times when you wished you had made a different decision... how that despite God being able to use any situation, there are consequences for sin no matter how big or small... how when something even seems questionable, it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to protecting your heart, mind and soul.
Being forthcoming so as to relate and help them understand how important this is also helps deepen your bond and opens lines of communication, which is so needed at this age - especially in our society today that justifies and makes everything seem harmless and acceptable.
And remind them that while they may feel confined by your rules and ways of parenting and have to answer to you, ultimately what they are to be most concerned about is their accountability and personal standing with GOD... pleasing and obeying HIM.
They should be looking at God's standards and instruction for their life, for in the end they will have to stand and give account to Him... and we want to hear "Well done my good and faithful servant."
A great verse is "The world and it's desires will pass away, but the man who does the will of God will live forever!"
- I John 2:17
Lastly, remember God's command (which is my favorite verse as it is so applicable in ANY situation, big or small) -
"Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again - rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all, the Lord is near.
DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, but IN EVERYTHING, through PRAYER and PETITION with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And THE PEACE OF GOD, which transcends ALL understanding shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 4:4-7
God will be your source of strength and wisdom through all of this! ~ Carolyn Simonelli Rochester, NY
Lately my cardio has consisted of running after my son who's 3. It requires a great deal of energy but I think I need a slightly more structured program to see the results I want. My plan is to continue eating healthily {we follow a whole foods plant based diet}, cut back on added sugars and begin running/walking again. We take lazy walks as a family but I needed to get back on the power walking/jogging regimen again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration and know that you were always going to be a bad mom to a teenage girl no matter what you did. That's unfortunately life. When she's older and looks back on this time she will be grateful that you were a strong mom who stood up for her and created boundaries so she could have healthy, happy, safe years as a teenager. Plus the bonus is one day you'll be a grandma who can look back and laugh when it all happens to her! :)
We're cheering for you! Great post and great inspiration :)
ReplyDeleteI look forward to day 2 :-)See you tomorrow // Linda
ReplyDeleteI don't have the money to do the clenense you are doing. So I decided to go to Herbal Magic and do a 2 day kick start for the weekend. I've also doing Valerie Bertinelli Losing it and Keeping it Off dvd.
ReplyDeleteHi Candace!
ReplyDeleteI read through your book twice and the second time God broke down some barriers and began working on my heart...I also have food issues and the chapter where you talk about the sin connection to food really got to me. I finally realized that was my food struggle. Thank you so much for sharing your heart- it really made a difference for me. That being said- I LOVE that you're doing this. You are a huge inspiration to me and following you makes me believe that I really can do it. I have about 100 lbs to lose and I'm going to try some of your suggestions. Thank you again! :)
Hallo Candace. Ich freue mich auf Tag 2.
ReplyDeleteHi Candace! So excited to read your blog and hear that you have personal struggles and daily challenges with food. I was able to relate to your book which made me read it maybe three times over! I am on my own weight loss journey and I am keeping a blog as well to help me to be accountable and document each day as I reach my personal goal. Keep writing- I love reading your submissions as they inspire me to have a healthy day! Thanks again. Lynda
ReplyDeleteCandace, your book was so encouraging, and this blog sort of picks up where the book left off. You've inspired me to make a plan of my own, which is something my spirit has been nudging me to do for a while now. It's going to be a simple let's-get-started plan that is doable for me. Thanks for the extra nudge!
ReplyDeleteThis blog came to me at the perfect time. I've always been frustrated with my eating habits because I'm a night owl which means I get in weird sleep cycles. This causes me to choose sleep over a lot of other things including my meal plan and motivation to workout. I've kept a journal to determine what I need during specific sleep cycles and what foods to have on hand so I don't binge. It's been great, hearing your fitness/health routine is such an encouragement!
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