Moving...

I've decided that I am moving my blog since I want to be able to post on many different subjects besides weight loss. If you want to stay in contact with me you will find me at:

http://julieslifejournal101.blogspot.com/

Blood work - Post Cleanse

Sorry about not being here but as most of you know life can be hectic at times...

Anyway, I wanted to update those who were following my story with my blood test results. I am POSITIVE that the MC helped me get these results.

I went to the doctor on Wednesday and my test results were:

Blood pressure: 102/70 - This is very, very good. I have never had a reading so low!

Cholesterol: Absolutely wonderful!!

January - 189

July - 179

LDL: Not sure why this went up but it's still good

January - 112

July - 116

HDL: Not sure why this went down but it's still good

January - 48

July - 40

Triglyceride: This is awesome!

January - 146

July - 114

Blood Glucose: This also went up but is still in a normal range

January - 84

July - 96

Blood Insulin: This is what I was most worried about and it has improved. The goal is be below 10 -15.

January - 46.3

July - 25.6

These results were great and the doctor was very impressed. All my hard work, determination, and doing the Master Cleanse paid off. My next round of blood tests will be in January to see if there is any more improvement and I am sure there will be!! I will be doing my next cleanse as soon as I get back from vacation. Should be starting Friday August 7th. I am looking forward to it!

Cleanse is over

My cleanse is over after 20 days. It's a bittersweet moment and all in all I'm very glad that I had the experience.

I'm doing good drinking juice and water today. My only issue is that I'm craving chocolate because my period decided to show up last night :( I thought that chocolate craving would go away with the MC but it is still lingering around. I'm not giving into it though, just took a couple of tylenol for the cramps and I'm doing ok now.

I've mentioned before that I am planning on going raw with a little fish now and then and to help me I ordered a few books. Well those books came in the mail today, perfect timing or what? lol

The books are:

Alive in 5: Raw Gourmet Meals in Five Minutes
The Raw food Revolution Diet
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Raw

I'm going to go read them but first here are my weight loss stats even though the real test comes July 1st when I have my blood work done to see if my insulin level has improved. I will get the results July 8. I'll let you know how that turns out.

After 20 days on the MC:
 
Beginning weight: 201.6
Ending weight:    185.4

Total pounds lost: 16.2

Stats, before - after:

Neck: 14.5 - 13.5

Bicep: 12.75 - 11.75

Forearm: 10.25 - 9.75

Chest: 41 - 38.5

Waist: 37 - 34

Hips: 47 - 43

Thigh: 24.25 - 23

Calf: 17 - 15.75

Total inches lost: 14.5

Of course I lost the most inches where I had the most fat to lose. I am still a long way from my goal but I do believe the MC has helped give me a jump start to where I want to be.

Over the next few weeks, I will be developing a very strict exercise routine along with eating raw to reach my desired goals.  I will most likely also be doing two more ten day MC's before the year is over. My goal is to be fit and healthy before my birthday in January.

Cleanse - Day 10

I can't believe I made it to day 10. I have had a few rough spots but otherwise I am doing great. I'm down 10 pounds and feeling awesome. I definitely have addictions to food and behaviors that I'm hoping to break with the cleanse. One such behavior, I eat when I'm bored and I never realized that before now. I'm addicted to carb type foods too. I'm going to do the cleanse for 30 days and possibly up to 40 depending on how I feel. This has definitely been a great learning experience for me and I'm glad I took up the challenge. I'm going to be a much stronger and healthier person after it's over.

Keep moving forward and you will reach your goals :)

Cleanse - Day 3

I have decided not to track the cleanse here any longer. I do have a journal on a forum that is specific to the Master Cleanse. You may click here to read my entries. I am posting everyday.

Jewels

p.s. I will return here once the cleanse is over (July 8) to further my weight loss efforts and reach my goal.

Cleanse - Day 2

Cleanse - Day 1

Drank the Chocolate Smooth Move tea last night and it was actually pretty good. It won't be hard drinking that every night.

Salt Water Flush = Yucky!!!

I drank a quarter of it and about puked it back up. It's a good thing I read about someone who brushed their teeth and then swished with cold water because it worked. It made drinking it a bit easier to swallow but I still had to think about something else to keep it from coming back up and I still only got about 3/4 of it down. I'll try again tomorrow to get it all down. Oh, and it didn't take more than 5 minutes to start working... lol

I'm getting ready to make my first glass of the lemonade now and I'll be back later to let everyone know how my first day is going.

Off to enjoy this beautiful day...

Weight: 201
I took all of my measurements as well

Just had to come back and say that the lemonade is actually quite tasty with the Agave in it although a little sweet for my taste. I don't like overly sweet stuff. I will probably have to go with 1 tablespoon instead of 2.

End of Day 1:

It's hot today. 90 or something like that. And with no food I've been a bit cranky today. Since about 2pm I have been thinking about food. I get up walk into the kitchen and remember that I chose not to eat. So, I make some more lemonade, drink it and yet I am still thinking about food. I am not hungry so it must be psychological.  It's been a trying day and I am hoping that tomorrow will be easier.

Went to step on my scales and they are broken. They come up with the "E" of death. I thought it was the battery but even with a new battery that pesky "E" is still there. I'm thinking the kids got them wet when they changed their clothes from swimming and now they are dead:( Will buy new ones on Monday. I'm addicted to the scale, can you tell?


I'm off to drink my tea, read a good book, relax and get ready for bed.

I'll be back tomorrow.

Jewels

Starting Cleanse

Important note: I am not a doctor, nor nurse, or anything related. I did three weeks of research and talked to many people before deciding that this cleanse was something I was going to do. Please if you have any questions or any medical issues consult your physician before embarking on this or any other cleanse!


With that out of the way, I will be doing The Master Cleanser by Stanley Burroughs. It consists of drinking a laxative tea in the evening, doing a salt water flush first thing in the morning, and drinking a lemonade mixture during the day along with additional water.

The lemonade mixture is:

Organic lemons and/or limes
Maple Syrup - Grade B
Cayenne Pepper
10 oz of water

Because of my insulin resistance I will be using Organic Raw Blue Agave instead of the Maple Syrup. The Agave is lower in carbs and lower on the GI index.

You can do a Google search for The Master Cleanser to find out more info on this Cleanse.

I will be starting the laxative tea tonight and everything else tomorrow. The first 3-4 days are said to be the worst and after that it usually much easier. I will be posting a blog everyday with how things are going... so stay tuned...

Ugh... It's driving me crazy!!!

2.6 more pounds until I'm 199 even. That is my first mini goal. And it's driving me crazy because I want to be under 200 so, so badly. Yes I'm being impatient and yes I know I'll get there but I want it NOW!!!! Don't I just sound like a spoiled child LOL... Oh well, I still have 1 week to lose those pounds and meet my goal and I know I can do it.

I can't focus on my next goal which is 190, and will bring me to 10% lost from the weight I started at (211), by July 1st.

Next will be, 184 by July 22nd when I plan to go to Idaho to see my best friend for the first time in 3 years. I can't wait!!

Weight loss

It won't always be easy. Lots of people want to lose weight, but most aren't willing to pay the price or make sacrifices to get there. You will not be successful with a half-hearted effort or by looking for shortcuts or the easy way out.Those who lose the weight are consistent. They make healthy eating and exercise part of their daily lives and even when they encounter setbacks along the way, they don't give up!!