Lent: Days 11-12 and Second Weigh-in Results

I am pleased to report I made it through yet another weekend while sticking to my healthy eating plan!

I must admit, however, that I was feeling some yearnings to order out for pizza on Saturday night and I really, really, really wanted some sugar while I was wrestling with our taxes.

Now that I have been on this low-to-no sugar diet for 12 days, my body is adjusting to having no sugar spikes throughout the day. While you would think that this would deplete energy levels, surprisingly it doesn’t. You get used to it. Last night, as I was exercising, I actually felt like my exercise routine was easier to do. This was a shock to me as the Tracy Anderson workout is still challenging to me even though I have been doing the same one for almost 9 months now. I am not sure where that energy surge came from, perhaps less weight to move in my body or better nutrition from my diet? I will have to see if that trend holds.

Two interesting news articles came out this week about sugar in the diet. We can all probably expect to be more and more hounded about our sugar consumption as time goes on:

• The World Health Organization is now recommending that everyone cut their sugar consumption at least in half. CNN reported on this and interviewed Dr. Lustig (whose video I wrote about in an earlier post). In the video clip at the link above, Dr. Lustig gives some tips on how he advises his own children on sweets.
• A recent poll shows that many Americans think sugar is more dangerous to health than smoking marijuana!

For the food report:

Saturday began with one of my favorites, quinoa with bananas and dates. I made a huge amount of quinoa that I keep in the fridge per Gwyneth’s suggestion so this comes together very quickly.

I was getting hungry in the late afternoon and made the body builder smoothie. I tried the suggested variation where you add blueberries.

While I am probably one of the last people on earth who one might expect to buy protein powder (they sell it near the “Muscle Milk” in the health food stores), I have to say it is extremely effective for calming hunger cravings and full of nutrition as well.

My children are continuing their “less sugar” diets. My daughter, however, is feeling the strain.

“Mom, why did you make us do this diet?!” my 5-year-old complained.

I reminded her that is was only temporary and that we are all trying to eat healthier. It may not have helped that we ran out of milk the day before. I bought more milk today and the children were thrilled. They also got one cupcake each as a treat from the store.

Today was a fasting day. My body has adjusted to the lower sugar levels and the fasting days really aren’t that difficult now. I don’t walk around feeling hungry all day but I do have to keep myself occupied so I don’t think about it. The fasting days also help me to appreciate how wonderful it is to eat not just one meal but three (plus two snacks!) on the non-fasting days. Rather than feeling deprived of sweets, I am just grateful to eat anything!

The big event today, however, was the second weigh-in. Below are my results, which I am thrilled about!

This was a big week for inches lost! I do feel noticably trimmer. For some reason, 5 pounds on my body frame makes a huge difference.

Finally, after hours and hours this weekend, I e-filed my taxes!!!

If you still have your own taxes to file, please note that the IRS offers two types of free filing. If you earn less than $58,000 per year, you can use their FreeFile software and if you earn more than that, you can use the “Fillable Forms” option. The counter on the IRS website alerts us that there are just 30 days left to file!

Tonight, we wait for a possible snowstorm! Our wild March continues.