Tag Archives: Diet plan

January 27, 2012 · 5:00 am

My Post-Holiday Cleanse Diet: Success? Or Epic Fail?

I don’t know about you, but I spent the holidays eating wa-a-a-y too much junk food. So I decided to schedule a post-holiday cleanse for myself a few weeks ago. (Results and takeaways are coming, so hang on. :) )

There are lots of cleanses out there–everything from juice diets to cleanses that include supplements. Last summer I did a ten-day cleanse through Advocare. It was crazy-hard, but I couldn’t believe how much my energy and overall health improved as a result!

This time around, I decided to create my own cleanse diet–mostly to save money but also just to see how the results would differ from the formal cleanse program I did before. Some cleanses are pretty strict and don’t allow protein in the diet, but I included some “clean” proteins so I wouldn’t starve. :)

The basics of my diet were to eat mostly whole foods–fruits, vegetables, a few lean proteins (fish, chicken, etc.), unsalted nuts and seeds, and grains limited to whole oats and brown rice. I also used olive oil a LOT and mixed it with balsamic vinegar for salads. Oh, and no dairy. That’s a must on a cleanse diet.

So what were my end results? Well, semi-success and semi-failure. I originally set out to do the diet for 10 days, but I only lasted 5. I think mostly because I didn’t have accountability this time. (If I do another cleanse, I’ll shell out the dough and do Advocare again…There’s something about spending money that makes me stick to it.)

The other factor that made the diet difficult was my overall health. I was dealing with sinus issues and ended up on three different medications during the diet, which whacked out my body big-time.

In the end, though, it wasn’t a total failure. I did lose 3 pounds in 5 days. (Technically I lost 6 pounds, but 3 of them were due to extra weight from my medication. I wasn’t going to count it, but my hubby says to take the credit. :) ) And, I’ve managed to keep those pounds off by getting back into a normal diet and just being careful to not overdo the calories.

So would I do a cleanse again? I’d say maybe. If my body feels as sluggish as it did after the holidays, I probably will. I just might seek out a more accountable system next time.

In the coming weeks, I’ll share some meals and snacks I ate during the cleanse that are also great to eat any other time of the year!

Have you ever tried a cleanse or detox diet? What do you think would help you succeed? What scares you most about them?

*Pastry photo by Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
**Scale photo by dream designs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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January 6, 2012 · 5:00 am

Why Weight Watchers Will Never Work

(Warning: I might get a little fired up in today’s post, but have no fear. It’s still me, just a little more…well, fired up. :) )

There’s an enemy that has been attacking women of faith across America.

I call it the number monster.

We’re all pumped up right now with New Years resolutions, right? Gyms across America will bloat from the influx of people vowing to lose weight this year. Weight Watchers will see a huge crowd of people sign up, claiming this will be the year they get their diet on track.

But what will those numbers look like in April?

Now don’t get me wrong, those resolutions are borne from genuine need. How many of us are unhappy with our bodies? With our weight? How many of us are so unhappy with how we look that we avoid doing certain things, going certain places, because of how we look?

How many of us turn down opportunities to serve others because we don’t feel worthy? Or we don’t have the energy?

Trust me, I’ve been there.

Well, ladies, this is the year to change. This is the year to say that a session of Weight Watchers isn’t enough. A three-month gym membership isn’t enough.

What we need is a permanent lifestyle change. A lasting change. And that starts in God’s Word.

“You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God.” I Corinthians 6:19-20 (CEV)

This Scripture begs the question: How are you using your body to honor God? Are you filling it with junk food that wears it down and clogs its life? Or are you taking care of it as if God indwells it? Are you filling it with good food that gives you energy and health? The kind of energy and health you need to serve to your fullest?

And what about exercise? Are you stagnant day in and day out, letting your muscles atrophy? Or are you building them up, bringing strength and endurance that’s needed to serve God the way He yearns to be served?

You see, I think we make a vital mistake in our efforts to lose weight. We think that it all has to do with us. We set our goals by the numbers. “I’ll lose ___ pounds.” “I’ll drop to size ___.” (And don’t feel alone…I’m just as guilty of this!)

But that’s not our calling. We’re called to see a different perspective–to strive to be our best for HIM. To drop those pounds so we can be the friends and wives and mothers we’re called to be, so we can volunteer more, so we can lend a helping hand without wearing ourselves out.

THAT’S the secret to our true health.

So instead of thinking of our diets and fitness goals as temporary, why not go deeper this year? Why not move beyond our numbers and how they gratify us and ask ourselves this question…

How can I use my improved health for the greater good of the Kingdom?

That’s ultimately the goal behind my Friday posts. As I share fitness and food tips in the coming weeks, my prayer is that they’ll bring you one step closer to serving the One who indwells you.

So, is anyone else with me on this? Did you make any health resolutions this year? How can you spin them so they move beyond you and look heavenward?

*Scale photo by Vorakorn Kanokpipat / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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December 2, 2011 · 5:00 am

The Easiest Homemade Fries Ever!

When I went on an herbal cleanse and detox a couple months ago, I spent the first few days with my body craving those foods I’d indulged in before. Then my friend Karin from All Points Whole gave me this awesome recipe. It was my savior!

Now I’m so hooked on these, they’re a regular staple in my family. And my husband–who’s about as anti-organic as they come–even eats them up. I have to fight him for them!

First of all, start by scrubbing however many potatoes you want (You can use regular or sweet potatoes). I usually figure one-half to one whole potato per person.

Then cut them into slices. You can vary this to your preference, but I usually cut mine so they’re about steak-fry size. (I recommend leaving the skin on! It softens right up after they bake so you don’t even notice it, and it has lots of added nutrients.)

Then toss them in a little bit of olive oil. Spread them out in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with nonstick spray (like in the picture above). Then sprinkle them with sea salt. (Regular salt works too.)

Bake at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes. (If you cut smaller fries, you’ll want to check them sooner.)

Here’s the final product:

Dip them in ketchup and you’ll have some major yum! Not to mention they’re much healthier than the fast-food variety.

What’s your favorite version of French fries? Have you ever tried to make them at home? Any tips or secrets to share?

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