Desperate measures.

This picture has no relation to my post- other than the fact that those pants are total workout motivators... LOVE.

     

Today, I am celebrating not only the arrival of the weekend, but the completion of 2 weeks of boot camp.  Since I shared my initial suffering and pain on day 1, it's only fair that I follow up with an update.  And a quick shout out to the gal who initially inspired my decision.  After reading about Sarah's experience (and seeing the results!), I found an amazing deal on a boot camp in my area, and signed up (not without huge amounts of hesitation and anxiety, I might add).  I related so very much with Sarah, that there was no denying that this was the route that I needed to take.  And her "after" picture simply sealed the deal.  Sometimes, proof is necessary.

Well, It hasn't been easy.  Scratch that.  It's been hard... very hard.  I was utterly out of shape in every which way- strength, cardio, endurance, stamina- and I've been inactive for far too long.  She (the evil monster trainer) is working every single muscle in my body... muscles that I had no idea existed.  And I'm surrounded by a class full of powerhouse women, not only older, but 1,000 times stronger.  I've been fairly thin for my entire life, but as you know- thinness does not equate with fitness.  And that has become more apparent than ever before.

But you've heard the story (or experienced a similar one yourself) enough times before to know what I'm going to say next.  It's all worth it.  After only 2 weeks, the soreness is still there (oh, is it there), but it's accompanied by an overwhelming sense of power... strength... energy... confidence.   And a drive to eat well, to get the sleep I need (to wake up at the crack of dawn), to move more- to push myself beyond my preconceived notions of weakness... beyond my [far-too-low] self-imposed limits.
                         
Aside from the workouts though, they've recommended a simple solution to the ongoing issue of eating your vegetables.  And this element has been equally important in the positive results that I've experienced.
               
 

The Addition Diet. 

 

Not a diet, in the typical sense of the word- in which you cut food out.  Here, you bring food in.  It's not a new concept, but a simple one, and a good reminder to fill up on healthy foods, leaving less room for the junk. 

Here are the rules (in their words exactly):

 

Rule #1 - Breakfast:  Huge Smoothie  

3 types of fruit and 3 big handfuls of spinach (Example would be 1 orange, 1 apple, 1 cup frozen blueberries, spinach)

Cut up the fruit, stick it in the blender with a little water and liquefy once that is all mixed up add in 1 handful at a time of the spinach (till you have three big handfuls in there).  This should make a large smoothie.  Drink until you are full.  If you’re not full make another one.

*Don't let the spinach scare you; you won't even know it's there besides the color.

One hour later or before you eat anything else, eat 2-4ozs of turkey or chicken breast.

Rule #2 -  Lunch:  Big Salad

Commit to yourself that come hell or high water you will do your best to have a large salad for lunch every day.  Try to get as much variety of raw vegetables as you can find.

Rule #3 - Dinner:  Hippocrates Soup        

Begin each dinner with a bowl of the following soup recipe:

   

3-4 stalks celery

Small amount of parsley

1 ½ pounds of tomatoes

2 medium onions

2 small leeks

2-3 cloves of garlic

1 pound of potatoes

Chop up the above ingredients and put them in a big pot.  Cover with distilled water and cook for 2 hours.  It is recommended that you keep the leftovers for no more than 2 days.  If you need to freeze a portion, you can do that. 

 

If you want to be even better for dinner, have a lean protein, steamed vegetable and dinner salad.  But the real rule to focus on is including the soup.  Every night.  It is a cleansing, detoxifying soup and you are not to add any salt.

Without a doubt, I am all for taking the 'all-is-okay-in-moderation' approach to eating (as long as you're active).  But like Stephanie shared last week, sometimes "desperate times call for desperate measures."  And since I couldn't seem to get my act together any other way, desperate measures were in order.