The Virgin Diet - Week 4 Update

While on vacation, I completed my first 21 one days on The Virgin Diet.  I will admit it took some serious willpower to stick to this diet while away.  Generally, this particular trip is junk food heaven for us.  My mother-in-law loves to spoil our children with cookies, brownies, ices cream, chips, s'mores, and a gazillion other fatty snack foods.

 

 

 

I decided I would plan ahead and pack plenty of fruits and veggies in addition to items to make my own meals so that I could remain faithful.  I powered through the two weeks, making clear that I wanted to stick to my diet.  My family did a great job of supporting me, and even my children caught on and would ask, "Mom can you eat this?"  If I said no, they often went someplace else to eat it.  I made it almost to the end of the 21 days with no cheating.  However I discovered eating out is a whole other beast.  While I tried to order things I thought would be safe, several times things contained unexpected ingredients (sometimes even after I had asked for them not to be added).  Since it was vacation, and I didn't feel like making a fuss, I ate it anyway.

 

 

I was shocked that the day after eating some of these products I woke with stomach cramps, bloating, and a huge zit on my otherwise clear face.  I was also extremely tired that day and could hardly find energy to do anything other than lay around reading.  Finally making these connections that it is what I am eating that has been effecting me has really been freeing!  I feel in control of my health for the first time in forever!

 

Upon arriving home I weighed in and was thrilled to find I had lost another 5 pounds while I was away!  WOOHOO!  So in my first 3 weeks on this diet I have lost a total off 10.5 pounds!  This is a major accomplishment for me.  I had previously been on a paid diet plan in an effort to loose my baby weight, and had gotten down to a certain point, however once I got there, no amount of exercise and dieting was moving that weight off....until now!  It had been so frustrating to look 5 months pregnant when my youngest was almost a year old already.  In just 3 weeks most of the inflammation around my belly is gone.  I had been puzzled at one point as to how I could be loosing so many inches from my waist when I wasn't really loosing much weight.  My very smart mother explained to me that is was my gut healing.  Just like when you sprain your ankle, you may have swelling, and as the swelling goes down it heals.  The same thing is happening to my gut.  These little things make the struggle so worth it.

 

Since I did end up cheating some, I have decided I am going to repeat the 21 day cleanse.  It shouldn't be as harsh this time around since most toxins are already removed from my system (plus I like the weight loss results and would like to keep loosing). 

 

If you have decided to join me on this journey to health, please let me know!  I would love to support you in your efforts.  :)