Do I have to clean this again?

I know this is petty but I am sick of cleaning this shaker LOL

I have two of them which definitely helps the situation but having to clean out the shaker after every meal is starting to get to me. You cannot leave the shaker sit for too long after drinking the shake because the end result is not good, things literally start growing 😊 It is also not recommended to put it in the dishwasher so I am washing it 4 times a day which doesn't seem like much but I am finding that I am always washing it. At home my husband has to constantly remind me to wash it because I like to leave it sit.

I am currently trying to figure out how I will retire my Optifast shaker after I officially finish with it. Should I wash it out? Part of me wants to let it sit for days and then just toss it to the wind (well recycling bag). Another part of me wants to give it the respect it deserves by giving it its official last wash and keep it, hmmm!

Week 11....

Six weeks of liquid left, I cannot believe it! As I sat in group session last night thinking to myself, I made it 6 full weeks with not eating anything, how am I doing this and with another 3 lbs lost this week for a total of 42 lbs lost I can't believe I have come so far in such a short time.

This past week I have noticed that I am not enjoying the shakes as much, from what I used to find the shakes to be appealing, this week I couldn't care if I ever drank them again. When the dietitian asked us last night " how is everything going with Optifast?" A few people started to express their dislike with Optifast over the past week. Ok, I am not alone here! The dietitian said that this is a common occurrence with all groups around this week and it will pass!

So, aside from not enjoying my shakes this week I have noticed I am quite hungry, after three hours of drinking my shake my stomach starts growling and I need to push myself to wait until that fourth hour to consume my shake. The dietitian said that experiencing true hunger in this stage is a good thing so that we can recognize what it feels like when we start to eat again. I thought that maybe I was feeling more hunger because my body was burning more fat but I had a normal loss last night so I figured it can't be that. I am journaling and recording these feelings I am having on a regular basis so that I can reflect on them when I eating again.

I have also started to become more active these past two weeks, I am walking for 15 minutes on my lunch break (when it is not - 28 out like it is today) and my husband and I bowl in a league for 3 hours every Sunday night. I do want to become even more active but that will come with time, right now I am focusing on my behaviours and habits.

Looking forward to these next 6 weeks of carefree eating before starting to transition! Until next week, happy drinking....not! :)

Week 10...Potatoe/Potato, same thing.

It is Sunday, January 20th, 2013....Week 10 of the program and week 6 of Optifast and I am continuing to move along strong.

I know it has been two weeks since my last post, phew time flies when life is busy.  I must admit, I cannot believe I am in my 6th week of Optifast, one day just runs into the next right now when you do not have to think about your next meal.  I am so happy with how well my body and myself is taking to this program, I am currently at 39 lbs lost and I still have 6 and 1/2 weeks of Optifast left.  I am averaging 4-5 lbs a week and doing so well.  My husband continues to say to me " hunny, you have lost almost 4 - 10 lb bags of potatoes, carry those around for a while".
 

At this point, I am having very little cravings for those "addiction" foods and what ever hunger I am feeling is actual hunger pains and I know its time to drink my shake.  The smell of foods cooking or what people are eating around me is still getting to me a bit, not its not necessarily a bad situation because it is making me more aware of how to handle myself around trigger foods or just food in general.  One thing that I have noticed myself doing while I cook for family or friends or if I am around food is that I am tempted to lick my finger if food touches it.  For an example, today I helped my husband make a healthy casserole and a bit of the sauce he made got on my finger when I spooned it into the dish and I looked at my finger for at least 15 seconds and contemplated what that sauce would taste like.  I came back to reality and cleaned off my finger.  Multiple times over the past two weeks I have noticed myself wanting to lick whatever "landed" on my finger, and a few of those times I actually did lick my finger.  When I journal and reflect on why I am doing that, I quickly remind myself that I am currently trying to clean my body and mind of my food addiction and I know that food will always tempt me no matter what the situation is. 

I have been consuming nothing but Optifast and water these past 6 weeks and I constantly have to remind myself that everyday that passes and I "choose" to stick to this program, I am moving closer to breaking those old habits and behaviors associated with food.  10 weeks into this program and I know for certain that I never would have been able to get to where I am today without it.  I know there is an even longer and harder road ahead of me when I transition back to food and have to put all that I am learning into daily use, but one thing I do know is that if I continue to stick to this program, my mind and body will be ready for me to tackle the next and most important stage in this journey; Eating again!

Starting the New Year off with a Bang!

It is early into 2013 and I am off to a bang!  3 more lbs down last night for a total of 31, yep that is right 31 lbs lost in just 6 weeks.

Now, I know they say not to focus on the numbers but while I am working on my behaviors I am going to celebrate this milestone with a nice cold glass of chocolate Optifast :) The reason I am celebrating is because it has probably been 10 years or more since the last time I lost 31 lbs, on any diet I would start and lose maybe 20lbs and then quit or go back to behaviors in which I am finally working on now.  Today was the start of week 4 into my 12 weeks of liquid and I am feeling great I went to one of my favorite retail clothing stores on new years eve to buy a new outfit and I am down a top and pant size already.

I knew that once I made it through the holidays things would be much easier and that's because me and my body are getting used to being in Ketosis.  

How I am feeling now: 

• I am not nearly as tired as I was when I first started liquid
• I am not hungry, unless it has passed the 4 hour mark and I know its time for a shake
• I am able to actually recognize true hunger pain now vs just thinking I am hungry
• My skin although a little dry is clearer and healthier
• My finger nails are growing like crazy and are not brittle
• I have recognized 3 behaviors around food in which I am working on changing
• I am still at this point wanting to eat certain foods but I am currently trying to break that addiction
• I am starting to be honest about my addiction with food!
  

 These next 8 weeks are all about me and digging deeper in my food addiction and how I will make the neccessary changes moving forward.  Our weekly group sessions are a pivotal part of my journey and we have an amazing group, we are each very open and have gotten close only 7 weeks in.  We talk outside of weekly sessions and are all motivated to continue this group outside of weekly sessions, obviously we are not near that point yet but it feels good to know that we have such a dedicated group.