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Day 3,4,&5: Making it through the weekend!

So this was my first weekend going through the cleanse, and I can proudly say I passed with flying colors!!!  It started Friday night when I went out with some friends after work to watch the Blazer game!  GO BLAZERS!!  My original plan was to go to the gym and go home to make a home cooked meal, but I figured, just because I’m on a cleanse I don’t have to be boring.  As I’m sure everyone would think, the hardest part of going out is not being able to eat or drink the things that everyone else is enjoying.  I can still eat out, but I have to eat the plainest meal with no sauce, dip, or dressing.  My friends were not envious of me!

It was pretty much like that the whole weekend.  People eating deliciousness all around me, while I’m carrying around my own meals, perfectly portioned out, and my mid-day snacks whenever I needed it.  Of course, even though everyone knew I was on a cleanse, they would still offer me food.  “Sheena, do you want some pizza?”;  “Sheena, do you want some steak?”; “Sheena, do you want some pizza?”  (this was a very popular pizza weekend.)

But I’m glad I made it through the weekend without slipping.  I did realize though that I need to add more variety to my meals.  At first I didn’t use any salad dressing because I didn’t know what to use.  Then I started to use lemon juice- which was a whole new world compared to what I was doing before… which was nothing!

So Sunday night I was fed up and I finally made some homemade salsa!  It was super delicious on top of my Mexican style seasoned ground turkey, pepper, kale, and cucumber fajita style dish.  I wish I took a picture of my meal, but I was too hungry to even think about that.  Whenever I’m making food without using a recipe, I usually don’t measure things out.  I just go with how it taste- which I think everyone should do.  But here is the gist of what I put in it.

Sheena’s Homemade Salsa:

Organic medium tomato

Cucumber

Celery

Lime juice

Garlic Powder

Cayenne powder

Cumin powder

Coriander Powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Just throw it all in a food process and blend until at  desired consistency.  Then ENJOY!

This coming up week is going to be a whole new set of challenges:  I will be on the road traveling for work!!!  I’ll let you know how it goes!  Wish me luck!

You can also follow me in my my new forum:  http://completepowerwithin.wordpress.com/

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I will be the first to admit that the quality of these pictures are not the best, (thanks a lot iphone), and that the tag on these shorts are annoyingly hanging out, but I figured that in 24 quick days I will be updating these pictures and it will be 10 times better!

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Day One: Just the beginning

I woke up this morning anxious to start the cleanse!  I had everything laid out and ready to go the night before so that I didn't even have to think about what I had to do throughout the day!  This is pretty much what my day looked like:

Morning:  Fiber shake - not the best tasting shake I have ever had, but definitely not the worst either; Catalyst pills; and Orange Mandarin Spark! (LOVE the spark)

Meal 1: Meal Replacement Shake - Berry :) yummy!  OmegaPlex Pill

Meal 2: Snack time!  Almonds and half an apple - prepared the portions beforehand so I didn't have to think about it at work

Pre-Lunch: (30 minutes before) spark - Fruit punch!  (Better than the Mandarin Spark!) and more catalyst pills

Meal 3: 2.5oz Chicken, veggies, 2 hard boiled egg whites

Meal 4:  The Other half of my apple and the egg yolks from my hard boiled egg from lunch

Meal 5:  4oz ground turkey with seasoning and a mixture of kale, red and yellow peppers, and spinach - Very tasty, but then again it was a late dinner and I was starting!

The cleanse says that you shouldn't work out on the first day, which was a bummer because I was excited to hit the gym.  But I still had to do my measurements so my best friend (who is also doing the cleanse with me) and I decided to do the incriminating before pictures and take our body measurements so that we can track our progression later.  (Incriminating photos to follow in next post)

Measurements:

Chest: 34.5"

Arm: 11"

Waist: 29.5"

Abdomen:  32"

Hips:  37.5"

Thigh(R):  21.75"

Calf(R): 13.75"

Neck:  13"

The first day was pretty easy I would have to say.  I didn't have any cravings and it was easy to stick with the dietary plan because I had it all set up.  Which brings me to my first tip...

TIP #1: Take about 10-15 minutes either the night before or the morning to really plan your meals.  If you are prepared and plan ahead, then you are setting yourself up for success!

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Starting the year off right! Advocare 24 day cleanse!

I am sad to see the holidays go, but not the sweets, pies, and sugary snacks that I couldn't resist since "it was the holidays".  I'm exciting to start the year off right by starting the Advocare 24 day cleanse tomorrow!  It's all about eating right (non-processed foods), no alcohol, no caffeine, and reducing carb intake.  The purpose of the Herbal Cleanse is to help the body be better able to absorb nutrients and to rid the body of toxins.  This Cleanse is gentle and uneventful, but VERY effective.  I will blogging and sharing my experience and hopefully make other people a believer that eating to nourish your body, exercising right, reducing stress, and sleeping well can lead you to a happy and healthy life!  

Wish me luck! 

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looks like fun!

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You don't always have to choose organic, because it's obviously more expensive.  Just pick your battles!

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#Truth

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"Do you do CrossFit..."

A few things has happened in my life that has really changed my workouts.

1.  I started training for the White Salmon backyard half that is coming up in June.  I have been running on the trails a lot more and love it!!!  I have been running with Animal Athletics, an awesome running and coach duo that rocks it on the trails.  Check them out www.animalathleticspdx.com

2.  With my regained love of trail running, I have signed up for two more trail races.  On top of that, I have decided to run the Portland Marathon- for the second time,  with my best friend.  It has always been a goal of hers to run a a marathon and I'm very excited to help her all the way!... Literally.   

Because of all the outdoor running and boot camps I have been doing, I haven't been to the gym in a while.  (Okay, it's been about two weeks, but it seems like FOREVER to me!)  Today I knew I wanted to focus on my arms because I'm still sore from running down dog mountain this weekend.  It's funny.  I have been so nervous about training for the hills... I didn't realize that I also need to be focusing on training for the downhill for a lot of these races coming up.  Anyways... that is for a different time.

I start doing a few supersets- high intensity and low rest.  At one point I was doing a (what I call) Plank tri-pull backs and a SA stiff arm overhead squat with a bar bell.  After I was done, this dude, who I kept seeing in my work out area, asked for my help with adjusting a bungee for his workout. 

After I help him he quickly asked,

"Do you do CrossFit?"

haha... I just laughed. 

"Um no..."  I didn't want to really get into my previous experience and schooling, so I basically just left it at that. 

Then the dude was like, "So you just make up your own workouts?"

"Yup... Pretty much"

Dude then replied, "Well that is pretty cool.  I don't usually see girls workout like that.  They are usually just on the treadmill and stuff.  Cool.  Well keep rockin'."

Getting that acknowledgement and positive feedback made me feel great!  It made me feel really powerful and that I can do anything.  It also made me realize that us girls need to show all those guys in the weight room that we are tough and we can handle the hard workouts that "usually guys" do.  Move  over boys!

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Truth

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It's about a 12 minute video but very entertaining.  "if we study what is merely average, we will remain merely average" - Shawn Achor

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They are trying to put GE fish on the market without labeling it!  I want to know what I'm eating and what's in my food- don't you!  How can we be making the right choices if we don't know.  And how does this help people who think they are making the right choices!  Please look at this and help make a difference!

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Talking about Leptin and Ghrelin in class.  This is very interesting and something I have never hear or thought about before!  Good read from Mark Sisson. 

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Just entered into a race!

I just entered into my second half marathon with my classmate Willie. 

http://columbiagorgerunningclub.com/races/se_006.php

A little nervous, since I have been out of running for a while, especially long distant, and trail running--- which is what this is!!  I guess it is time to start training! 

Closer down the line I'm doing the Shamrock run in downtown Portland!  Fun event, done it the last 3 years with my brothers.  AND you get a free beer as a reward for finishing!!

http://www.shamrockrunportland.com/

Check it out!

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This is a study from 2008.  Wonder what it will be like in the next 5 to 10 years.  Hopefully there will be more lighter colors on there! 

And plus, there are a little dramatic on Alaska!!  I'm sure very few people, if at all, life in the most northwestern part of that state.  That might just be representing a few hundred people- and of course they need to be overweight.  They need to bear the cold!   

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“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.” - Maya Angelou

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I love Coconut Oil!! Read all the different ways that you can use it!