I'm going to try to lay out the rest of the my posts like this for easier reading and so I have them for reference in the future.
Also, I warned you before: I repeat meals a lot. So you'll quickly learn I'm eating the same thing for lunch most of this week and the same thing for dinner every other night. It works for me. If it bores you, don't do it.
Today's Agenda:
Menu:
Breakfast: Chocolate Meal Replacement Smoothie (surprisingly tastey)
AM Snack: Banana with 2 TBS All Natural Peanut Butter (true story: I am not a fan of this particular brand but I'll eat it until it is gone. I hate wasting food.)
Lunch: Turkey Burger (95% lean turkey seasoned Fiesta Lime Mrs. Dash Seasoning) with guacamole and fresh salsa. Also, 2 cups of baby spinach with white balsamic vinegar and a splash of EVOO.
PM Snack: Pear or Apple with Whole Natural Almonds (that's what the container says)
Dinner: Hummus Crusted Chicken with Lightly Roasted Asparagus.... quinoa if I feel like I need it. ( I used plain Sabra brand hummus. I sure it's not 100% cleanse approved but do I look like I have time to make homemade, cleanse approved hummus? Didn't think so....)
Oh- I found many of the recipes I'll be talking about here on Pinterest- in case you wanted to know.
You can find my AdvoCare board under my user name: JBerg620. I pinned recipes and ideas there for you to use.
Workout:
40 Minutes of Straight Cardio
Thoughts From Yesterday:
I really hate that fiber drink. It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.
However, the fiber drink paired with the meal replacement shake really fills me up. I really didn't even want my morning snack, however, I know it's important to keep fulling my body. I was however, hungry for lunch. I was pretty full after my burger but I wanted to make sure I ate my salad. So, I picked at it and finished it within the hour. But wow, so full.
I hit my gallon of water consumption goal by Noon. This isn't surprising for a Monday. I typically don't drink as much water as I should over the weekend so come Monday I'm ready for it.
I started my morning with a spark in place of coffee yesterday. Best idea ever. No headache!
Mama Laughlin and I are doing the cleanse at the same time. I absolutely love her blog. My nerdy self is thinking that we now BFFs because we are doing the same thing at the same time. (I swear, I'm not a stalker, I'm just really inspired by her.)
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013
Advocare Cleanse Round Two: Day One
GoooOOOODDDDdddddd Morning, People!
Yeah, that up there? That's total BS- I did not have my coffee this morning,I miss that pumpkin spice loveliness.
As everyone who reads this blog is aware, I started the Advocare 10 Day Cleanse this morning. Since I over planned it, much like I always do, it started off with very little fanfare and zero drama. I got up, I took my Catalyst, I went to the bathroom, I weighed myself, changed into my workout clothes and off I went to take on the day.
I added in Catalyst and the Meal Replacement Shakes this go round. I took Catalyst this morning when I woke up and had a shake for breakfast. Man-oh-day, does that shake fill you up. I blended it with water and ice this morning and drank it on my way to work. I am so freaking full.
However, that might have something to do with that damn fiber drink!
I would like to declare, here and now, that I wasted my college education. I never learned to chug. I'm sure this skill would have really come in handy this morning when I was standing over my sink, trying to drink that crap as quickly as possible without revisiting it. (SHUDDER) That stuff is nasty.
Side note: I hate all things citrus flavored and food/drinks with strange textures. This drink could probably taste like Reese's cups and I'd still hate it.
Yes, I am aware they make a peaches & creme version. I don't want to ruin peaches for myself by associating them with a liquid, floated fiber nightmare.
I also read a blogger say that drinking the fiber drink makes her feel skinny. I say "oh, the lies we tell ourselves to get us through the day."
And so.... Day One has begun.
The Agenda:
4:28am- Wake Up & Take Catalyst
4:40am- Work Out
5:30am- Fiber Drink and a Shit Ton of Water
6:20ish- Shake and More Water
9:30/10ish- Banana with Peanut Butter
11:30ish- Three Catalyst
Noonish- Turkey Burger with Avocado, Fresh Salsa and Spinach Salad
3pm-ish- Pear with Almonds
6:30pm ish- Hummus Crusted Chicken with Asparagus
(maybe some quinoa, we'll see how hungry I am)
And water, water & more water. I have to drink a gallon today.
There you have it.
I'll report back tomorrow.
Yeah, that up there? That's total BS- I did not have my coffee this morning,I miss that pumpkin spice loveliness.
As everyone who reads this blog is aware, I started the Advocare 10 Day Cleanse this morning. Since I over planned it, much like I always do, it started off with very little fanfare and zero drama. I got up, I took my Catalyst, I went to the bathroom, I weighed myself, changed into my workout clothes and off I went to take on the day.
I added in Catalyst and the Meal Replacement Shakes this go round. I took Catalyst this morning when I woke up and had a shake for breakfast. Man-oh-day, does that shake fill you up. I blended it with water and ice this morning and drank it on my way to work. I am so freaking full.
However, that might have something to do with that damn fiber drink!
I would like to declare, here and now, that I wasted my college education. I never learned to chug. I'm sure this skill would have really come in handy this morning when I was standing over my sink, trying to drink that crap as quickly as possible without revisiting it. (SHUDDER) That stuff is nasty.
Side note: I hate all things citrus flavored and food/drinks with strange textures. This drink could probably taste like Reese's cups and I'd still hate it.
Yes, I am aware they make a peaches & creme version. I don't want to ruin peaches for myself by associating them with a liquid, floated fiber nightmare.
I also read a blogger say that drinking the fiber drink makes her feel skinny. I say "oh, the lies we tell ourselves to get us through the day."
And so.... Day One has begun.
The Agenda:
4:28am- Wake Up & Take Catalyst
4:40am- Work Out
5:30am- Fiber Drink and a Shit Ton of Water
6:20ish- Shake and More Water
9:30/10ish- Banana with Peanut Butter
11:30ish- Three Catalyst
Noonish- Turkey Burger with Avocado, Fresh Salsa and Spinach Salad
3pm-ish- Pear with Almonds
6:30pm ish- Hummus Crusted Chicken with Asparagus
(maybe some quinoa, we'll see how hungry I am)
And water, water & more water. I have to drink a gallon today.
There you have it.
I'll report back tomorrow.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
AdvoCare 10 Day Cleanse Round 2
You can read about my previous adventures on the AdvoCare 10 Day Cleanse starting here.
It's that time again- I've ordered all the supplies, meal and snack planned the crap out of the next 10 days and consulted the "Cleanse Bible" at least 20 times in the past week. I'm locked, loaded and ready for the challenge.
Monday morning I'll wake up to start my normal day, only there will be a few differences. For example there will be supplements to take, fiber drinks to gag on and no coffee or Diet Pepsi to be found. That, aside from the fiber drink, might be the worst part for me.... although there is that whole no cheese thing.....
Monday morning I'll wake up to start my normal day, only there will be a few differences. For example there will be supplements to take, fiber drinks to gag on and no coffee or Diet Pepsi to be found. That, aside from the fiber drink, might be the worst part for me.... although there is that whole no cheese thing.....
I feel as though I am walking into this 10 Day Challenge a little wiser this time. I know the importance of pre-planning. I know the hell of a headache I'm going to have for the first day or two (that would be because I'm a caffeine addict going through withdrawal not because of the cleanse itself). I also know what worked for me last time and what didn't. I also have a more consistent workout schedule this go round. I did not last time. In fact, I don't think I was working out at all last time..... interesting.
This time I'm incorporating two additional Advocare products into the mix.
This time I'm incorporating two additional Advocare products into the mix.
Aside from this box:
I will also be incorporating two new products:
Meal Replacement Shakes
and.....
Catalyst
Why?
My answer is two fold really. I don't feel like I'm getting enough protein in the mornings. Okay, I know I'm not. My breakfast is a smoothie made with spinach, berries, a banana and some almond milk. All good stuff but not much protein. Now that I'm consistently working out in the mornings. I think it's important I incorporate more protein to help my body recover and give it the fuel it needs.
Catalyst is a amino acid chain supplement that supports muscle health and muscle tone. I figure why not give it a try and see what happens. If it does nothing for me, at least I know. If it's awesome, well then, it's awesome.
Starting Monday I'll be posting a daily list of my meals, snacks and supplements. Fair warning: I am pretty boring when it comes to eating. I typically eat the same meal for lunch for an entire week. Dinners are typically cooked every other day, the off day is left overs from the night before. While boring, it saves money and time.
I plan on following the plan to the letter. Thus, no wine, no cheese, no coffee, no pasta/bread, sugar etc. The only minor exception I'm making is that I'm working out of the fist day of the challenge even thought it advises that you not. Having done this before, I feel comfortable doing it anyway.
My biggest challenge: I'm taking a bread baking class next Saturday. Bread baking while cleansing.... Not my brightest idea, that's for certain. However, I signed up for the class knowing what I was doing. Sure I might sample a few things but my ultimate goal is to practice moderation and go straight home to my cravings proof house :)
My biggest challenge: I'm taking a bread baking class next Saturday. Bread baking while cleansing.... Not my brightest idea, that's for certain. However, I signed up for the class knowing what I was doing. Sure I might sample a few things but my ultimate goal is to practice moderation and go straight home to my cravings proof house :)
All in all I'm excited to give this another go. The results are always fantastic, I can't wait to see what happens now that I'm working out and eating cleaner.
Are you cleansing? Do you think I'm crazy? Tell me....
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Baby Berg v2,0
It's been the debate of the Century at the Berg household since July 17th, 2012. Are we having another baby?
My health concerns certainly play a huge factor into this process. Earlier this week Mr. Berg and I sat down with Dr. L my "down there" Dr. to discuss our concerns, our fears and hopefully workout a plan should we decide on having another baby. The appointment went better then I ever thought it would go. Dr. L had gone through my mountain of blood work results from prior to having Ryan, during the process of having Ryan and in the months following. He also looked at my blood pressure history. There had been a lot of debating going on as to whether I had Post Partum Pre-E, Pregnancy Induced Hypertension, HELLP or other issues not previously considered.
The Good News:
Dr. L and his colleagues all agree: I had Pregnancy Induced Hypertension. Mine didn't crop up until my induction day, which is odd but not completely out of the ordinary.
There is no medical reason why I couldn't have another baby.
The Bad News:
Yes, what happened to me before could absolutely happen again.
No, there is no way to prevent it.
Other Factors to Consider:
Based on my family history of high blood pressure, strokes, heart disease, etc. I should get pregnant again earlier then later as those issues have a tendency to be worse the older you get.
My next pregnancy (should we decide to have another baby) will be monitored a little more closely. I will probably have extra blood work done to create a better baseline then what was done before.
It is possible I won't be allowed to go past my due date. But again, it depends on how my blood work looks, how my body is doing, etc.
Yes, the exact same thing could happen.
Yes, worst things could happen.
Yes, none of it might happen.
Something kind of funny:
Dr. L brought up the need for additional testing, planning and monitoring should my next pregnancy include multiple babies.... Mr. Berg nearly lost consciousness. I nearly peed my pants giggling..... (Never expect me to be serious and have my shit together during important conversations, it never happens)
So, are we having another baby?
I hope so.
If it was totally up to me, yes, we absolutely will.
Mr. Berg is still on the fence and honestly, I don't blame him. Do I wish he'd be 100% on board, yes. But I can totally understand his fears and reservations. Should something happen to me, he'd be a single dad to two children. Or worse, he'd be a single Dad with out a wife and second child.
Prior to the shit hitting the fan on delivery day, I never considered only have one child. My relationship with my brother is so special and so unique and I couldn't imagine Ryan not having that same bond with a sibling.
On the other hand, Mr. Berg is an only child. While he would love for Ryan to have a sibling, he doesn't understand my need for Ryan to have a sibling. I think that is something only a person with a brother or sister could understand.
Obviously, there is a lot up for debate and there is much to still discuss.
Our tentative plan had always been to start trying again in the late spring or early summer. While I think that plan is still in the works, there is a lot to discuss before then.
My health concerns certainly play a huge factor into this process. Earlier this week Mr. Berg and I sat down with Dr. L my "down there" Dr. to discuss our concerns, our fears and hopefully workout a plan should we decide on having another baby. The appointment went better then I ever thought it would go. Dr. L had gone through my mountain of blood work results from prior to having Ryan, during the process of having Ryan and in the months following. He also looked at my blood pressure history. There had been a lot of debating going on as to whether I had Post Partum Pre-E, Pregnancy Induced Hypertension, HELLP or other issues not previously considered.
The Good News:
Dr. L and his colleagues all agree: I had Pregnancy Induced Hypertension. Mine didn't crop up until my induction day, which is odd but not completely out of the ordinary.
There is no medical reason why I couldn't have another baby.
The Bad News:
Yes, what happened to me before could absolutely happen again.
No, there is no way to prevent it.
Other Factors to Consider:
Based on my family history of high blood pressure, strokes, heart disease, etc. I should get pregnant again earlier then later as those issues have a tendency to be worse the older you get.
My next pregnancy (should we decide to have another baby) will be monitored a little more closely. I will probably have extra blood work done to create a better baseline then what was done before.
It is possible I won't be allowed to go past my due date. But again, it depends on how my blood work looks, how my body is doing, etc.
Yes, the exact same thing could happen.
Yes, worst things could happen.
Yes, none of it might happen.
Something kind of funny:
Dr. L brought up the need for additional testing, planning and monitoring should my next pregnancy include multiple babies.... Mr. Berg nearly lost consciousness. I nearly peed my pants giggling..... (Never expect me to be serious and have my shit together during important conversations, it never happens)
So, are we having another baby?
I hope so.
If it was totally up to me, yes, we absolutely will.
Mr. Berg is still on the fence and honestly, I don't blame him. Do I wish he'd be 100% on board, yes. But I can totally understand his fears and reservations. Should something happen to me, he'd be a single dad to two children. Or worse, he'd be a single Dad with out a wife and second child.
Prior to the shit hitting the fan on delivery day, I never considered only have one child. My relationship with my brother is so special and so unique and I couldn't imagine Ryan not having that same bond with a sibling.
On the other hand, Mr. Berg is an only child. While he would love for Ryan to have a sibling, he doesn't understand my need for Ryan to have a sibling. I think that is something only a person with a brother or sister could understand.
Obviously, there is a lot up for debate and there is much to still discuss.
Our tentative plan had always been to start trying again in the late spring or early summer. While I think that plan is still in the works, there is a lot to discuss before then.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Recently At the Berg House......
The following happened over the course of 45 minutes......
Receptionist: Jessica, Mr. Berg is on Line 1
Jessica: {reaches to pick up Line 1 and realizes it isn't blinking anymore}
Several moments later.....
Receptionist: Jessica, Mr. Berg is on Line 1
Jessica: {picks up line one, it's dead}
Several moments later.....
Receptionist: Jessica, Mr.Berg is on 1
Jessica: {picks up Line 1} Hello
Line 1: click!
Jessica: {Shakes head}
Several moments later.....
Receptionist: Jessica, Mr. Berg is back on 1
Jessica: {picks up Line 1} Hello
Mr. Berg: Hey! How are you?
Jessica: Pretty good... Glad you called, I wanted to ask you about....
Mr. Berg: {interrupts} Sorry, gotta run, important client calling
(click, phone goes dead)
Jessica: Seriously? {said to dead air}
Once again, several moments later......
Receptionist: Jessica, Line 1 is your Husband (she never gets exasperated, I need to learn her methods)
Jessica: {Line 1 again} Hello?
Mr. Berg: Sorry, that was a really important client
Jessica: When do I get to be an important client?
Mr. Berg: Uhh, gotta go. Another important client on the other line....
(click!)
Jessica: Oh for fucks sake.......
I will be ignoring him for the rest of the day. Not that he'll notice.
It's the principal of the matter.
Receptionist: Jessica, Mr. Berg is on Line 1
Jessica: {reaches to pick up Line 1 and realizes it isn't blinking anymore}
Several moments later.....
Receptionist: Jessica, Mr. Berg is on Line 1
Jessica: {picks up line one, it's dead}
Several moments later.....
Receptionist: Jessica, Mr.Berg is on 1
Jessica: {picks up Line 1} Hello
Line 1: click!
Jessica: {Shakes head}
Several moments later.....
Receptionist: Jessica, Mr. Berg is back on 1
Jessica: {picks up Line 1} Hello
Mr. Berg: Hey! How are you?
Jessica: Pretty good... Glad you called, I wanted to ask you about....
Mr. Berg: {interrupts} Sorry, gotta run, important client calling
(click, phone goes dead)
Jessica: Seriously? {said to dead air}
Once again, several moments later......
Receptionist: Jessica, Line 1 is your Husband (she never gets exasperated, I need to learn her methods)
Jessica: {Line 1 again} Hello?
Mr. Berg: Sorry, that was a really important client
Jessica: When do I get to be an important client?
Mr. Berg: Uhh, gotta go. Another important client on the other line....
(click!)
Jessica: Oh for fucks sake.......
I will be ignoring him for the rest of the day. Not that he'll notice.
It's the principal of the matter.
Toddler v Day Light Savings Time
As someone who is typically the first person to over plan her life, I totally failed at preparing Ryan for Daylight Savings time.
Did you know you're supposed to do that? According to the books you are actually supposed to do that.
Like seriously, you are supposed to start pushing back bedtime in increments a week in advance.
I didn't even know it was "Fall Back" until Saturday night. So yeah, I'm really on top of things around here.
I look my typical approach to parenting, fly by the seat of my pants. I decided let Ryan sleep as late as he wanted on Sunday morning and then go from there. All was well until 4pm. Shit slid down hill really, really fast.
4pm to Ryan was really 5pm, which means dinner time.
Again I forgot about the whole daylight savings time thing (noticing a trend) so I gave him some cookies. He was still cranky so Mr. Berg gave him more cookies, not realizing I already had. Since we communicate so well at my house, I also gave Ryan more cookies.
This meant Ryan was running around the house like a crazy person high on sugar. He proceeded to throw remotes at the cat and spun in circles.
It was my finest parenting moment by far.
5pm rolled around (6pm in Ryan's head) and it was time for dinner. Ryan was crashing at this point and proceeded to sit in his high chair and stare off blankly into space while eating macaroni and cheese one noodle at a time, never once blinking. By 5:10pm Ryan was throwing macaroni everywhere and I still hadn't considered what I was having for dinner.
The next two hours were pretty much a blur of whining, crying, random bouts of running, spinning and toy throwing.
I contemplated opening another bottle of wine and Mr. Berg looked like war victim.
The final straw: bath time.
Mr. Berg was filling the tub as I stripped Ryan down to his diaper. Just as Mr. Berg was ready for Ryan, I took off his diaper and Ryan proceeded to pee all over the floor. He then did a little jig in it, slipped and fell, rolling in his own pee.
I laughed like a crazy woman, Ryan stared up at me as if to say "what the fuck?" and Mr. Berg went all super strict, no nonsense serious on us and made me feel like the worst parent ever.
And then Ryan had his bath, his bottle and went to bed at 7pm (8pm his time).
The end.
Did you know you're supposed to do that? According to the books you are actually supposed to do that.
Like seriously, you are supposed to start pushing back bedtime in increments a week in advance.
I didn't even know it was "Fall Back" until Saturday night. So yeah, I'm really on top of things around here.
I look my typical approach to parenting, fly by the seat of my pants. I decided let Ryan sleep as late as he wanted on Sunday morning and then go from there. All was well until 4pm. Shit slid down hill really, really fast.
4pm to Ryan was really 5pm, which means dinner time.
Again I forgot about the whole daylight savings time thing (noticing a trend) so I gave him some cookies. He was still cranky so Mr. Berg gave him more cookies, not realizing I already had. Since we communicate so well at my house, I also gave Ryan more cookies.
This meant Ryan was running around the house like a crazy person high on sugar. He proceeded to throw remotes at the cat and spun in circles.
It was my finest parenting moment by far.
5pm rolled around (6pm in Ryan's head) and it was time for dinner. Ryan was crashing at this point and proceeded to sit in his high chair and stare off blankly into space while eating macaroni and cheese one noodle at a time, never once blinking. By 5:10pm Ryan was throwing macaroni everywhere and I still hadn't considered what I was having for dinner.
The next two hours were pretty much a blur of whining, crying, random bouts of running, spinning and toy throwing.
I contemplated opening another bottle of wine and Mr. Berg looked like war victim.
The final straw: bath time.
Mr. Berg was filling the tub as I stripped Ryan down to his diaper. Just as Mr. Berg was ready for Ryan, I took off his diaper and Ryan proceeded to pee all over the floor. He then did a little jig in it, slipped and fell, rolling in his own pee.
I laughed like a crazy woman, Ryan stared up at me as if to say "what the fuck?" and Mr. Berg went all super strict, no nonsense serious on us and made me feel like the worst parent ever.
And then Ryan had his bath, his bottle and went to bed at 7pm (8pm his time).
The end.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Busy, Busy November
And just like that, we're in November already! What the heck?! Wasn't I just stressing about getting all our gear in the car for Labor Day Weekend?
There's lots to talk about coming up like:
*How Toddler's Can't Handle DST
* The Advocare 10 Day Cleanse I'm doing starting next Monday
* Will There Be a Baby Berg v2.0?
*Surviving Thanksgiving...
* How's my neck?
But for today, let's talk about what's on the agenda this week.....
Workouts:
I'm doing the same schedule as last week with one minor adjustment.
Monday- Total Body Sculpting
Tuesday- Cardio Overdrive (that would be the minor adjustment right there)
Wednesday- Cardio/TBS
Thursday- 45 Video- Same as last week
Friday- Cardio
This weekend I'm also adding in a Pilates DVD and another workout that is to be determined. I decided on a whim this morning I'm going to workout every day until we leave for Thanksgiving. Just for something different. (Seriously, I'm a masochist)
Menu:
Lunches: Soup and Rye Toast or Chicken with Leek and Sundried Tomatoes (leftovers from last week)
Dinners:
Tonight: Baked Chicken, Steamed Broccoli and Rice
Tuesday: ?? Dinner out with Mom
Wednesday: ?? Bringing Mom dinner... Panera?
Thursday & Friday: Pork Chops, Roasted Squash and Salad
This weekend I'll be prepping and packing as I gear up for the cleanse. I'm actually excited about this.... minus the fiber drink. Never have I ever heard of something being excited about drinking that stuff.... SUPER GROSS!
Worth it? Yes
Totally Gross? Also, yes.
Happy Monday!
There's lots to talk about coming up like:
*How Toddler's Can't Handle DST
* The Advocare 10 Day Cleanse I'm doing starting next Monday
* Will There Be a Baby Berg v2.0?
*Surviving Thanksgiving...
* How's my neck?
But for today, let's talk about what's on the agenda this week.....
Workouts:
I'm doing the same schedule as last week with one minor adjustment.
Monday- Total Body Sculpting
Tuesday- Cardio Overdrive (that would be the minor adjustment right there)
Wednesday- Cardio/TBS
Thursday- 45 Video- Same as last week
Friday- Cardio
This weekend I'm also adding in a Pilates DVD and another workout that is to be determined. I decided on a whim this morning I'm going to workout every day until we leave for Thanksgiving. Just for something different. (Seriously, I'm a masochist)
Menu:
Lunches: Soup and Rye Toast or Chicken with Leek and Sundried Tomatoes (leftovers from last week)
Dinners:
Tonight: Baked Chicken, Steamed Broccoli and Rice
Tuesday: ?? Dinner out with Mom
Wednesday: ?? Bringing Mom dinner... Panera?
Thursday & Friday: Pork Chops, Roasted Squash and Salad
This weekend I'll be prepping and packing as I gear up for the cleanse. I'm actually excited about this.... minus the fiber drink. Never have I ever heard of something being excited about drinking that stuff.... SUPER GROSS!
Worth it? Yes
Totally Gross? Also, yes.
Happy Monday!
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