Release...They Didn't Lie

     Last day of week 2, and what do I get? A terrible hair coloring at the salon today. I know, I know, I've already vented about via the FB, but every single time I look in the mirror, I'm reminded of my yellow wig. How blessed am I that that's my biggest problem? I'll take it!

HELLO, ROOTS!! :(

     I'm going to keep this update short and sweet. Did I do well this week? Yeah, pretty much. I've cheated a few times, one time being today, another time being yesterday. And by cheating that means I've had either 1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds too many, a handful of organic cashews, or a tablespoon or three of organic almond butter when I wasn't supposed to, as in it wasn't the hour I should have them. I'm drinking the water like I should, I'm working out like I shouldn't, and I'm just ready to get week three knocked out of the way.

     I've not lost any weight, but what I did gain is gone, so I'm pretty much back at my starting point. I'm freezing all day long; it's ridiculous. During my first hour class, I have to stay huddled near the heater. My students probably think I'm worthless. And boy-oh-boy, have I been tired. I don't feel like I have an intelligent thought in my mind. I've misspelled almost every word I've typed including misspelled.

     This week was different from last week because there are no animal products this week. Last week, I could have yogurt and chicken, but this week has been full of fruits, veggies, seeds, and quinoa. Starting tomorrow, no grains, strictly fruits, veggies, and seeds. But again, I'm good with that. I have always eaten as much fruit and veggies as I do now, but it's interesting to see that maybe I don't always need to partner a yogurt or a grain with everything. Also, I had to drink a Detox supplement three times a day. It tasted like lemony Lipton tea, not too bad, but had the consistency of coffee grounds. It helped "inspire" movement. There's a reason this phase is called Release.  

New things I love:

Oh my gosh, this stuff!! It smells like warm, yeasty bread when you squeeze it out. It smells like beer when it's cooking. It tastes like heaven when sipping it from a spoon. This is my new favorite soup base. Go get some!

The label pretty much speaks for itself. I spray everything I eat with this soy sauce alternative. My steamed veggies with this yummyness...ahhhh!!

The one thing I hate:

     What's difficult about this week? The cravings!! It's like I want everything I normally wouldn't eat. If given the opportunity, I would eat the following list in one sitting:

• An entire box of Rice Krispies 
• Doughnuts (all kinds)
• Loaves of bread
• Pizza (Amy's Organic Margarita)
• Chai tea
• Cheese fries
• Cupcakes
• Sausage with syrup
• King's Cake
• Bo'Rounds
• Marble Slab
• Corndogs
• BBQ stuffed baked potato
• Oatmeal pies
• Cheesy eggs
• Checker's Fry Burger
• Shredded wheat
• A gallon of ketchup
• McGriddle
• Reuben sandwich
• Hot chocolate 
• Pistachio pudding
• Raisinets
• Cookie dough
• Mac N Cheese
• Wine

     Now, I know, but I said just in one sitting. I had to show some sort of restraint. I don't usually eat that food, and if I do, it's either in moderation once in a while or in an unholy binge. Either way, the point is I don't eat these items to be going through some sort of withdrawal without them; I just crave them something fierce. My number one craving: coffee. I can't wait to get it back. Here's to the final week of UR!!

My Body has been Reclaimed...by fat...

Hmmm...what's in the box?? Supplements, literature, DVD's, and stuff that makes me gag!! Yay!!

Day 1 is done, son! I had a feeling that today was going to go swimmingly because I ate so much yesterday. My body is still digesting those minutes before midnight Hot Pockets. What did I like most about today? Dinner! What did I dislike most? Alkalinize...aka a green shot of putrid regret. There is no way I'm going to build up a tolerance for that.

Day 2 is through, woo! Much like yesterday, everything was pretty good for a Monday. I definitely missed my coffee, but that was more out of habit than anything. What did I like most about today? Organic almond butter with my green apple. What did I dislike most? Alkalinize...it's just terrible...there are no words.

Day 3:

Day 4:

Day 5 is complete. Today was a pretty normal day; I actually got to go to work today. I'm sore from yesterday's awesome workout, but that didn't stop me from going to the gym tonight to kill it. I am all flab. Reuben deserves to come home to anything other than what I am right now. What did I like most about today? Farina for breakfast...aka Cream of Wheat. What did I dislike most? Eating a green apple during breakfast. That's just too early for a green apple.

Flab proof! This is ridiculous!

(Picture was taken on day two.)

This was me just a couple of months ago after finishing another Beachbody Challenge. Why must I put myself all the way back to the start line every single time?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!

Anyway, let's me get back on topic...

Day 6: I'm pretty angry today. I got on the scale to see a 3lb gain from the beginning of the week. This is not what I signed up for. What did I like most about today? Receiving roses from my amazing husband. What did I dislike most? Numbers.

Day 7: Well, this wraps up the first week of three. The Reclaim Phase is done! I had a great workout today, and I finished a massive assignment that's due tomorrow. I'm trying to stay positive about the weight issue because I know this journey is more about removing toxins from my body and adopting healthier options and blah blah blah blah. Mostly I'm not worried because I signed up for a personal trainer today...take that, fat! What did I like most about today? Not feeling the need to have an afternoon snack. What did I dislike most? Burning the roof of my mouth with sweet potato...instant blister. 

What have I been eating? Well, let me show you a few things...

These are just a few of the meals I've had this past week, nothing vastly different from what I usually eat. Except I don't think I would ever make beans and rice with a sweet potato; that's a lot carbs...but it's delicious. I've also had well over a gallon of water every single day, with no Crystal Light in it...never thought it possible. Be kind to me, week 2...

Detox the Binge

(Why so many blogs lately? I have an INSANE amount of grad work to do...that's why.)

     I would apologize for how I look in that video, but I really just don't care. My sense of vanity is at an all time low on Saturdays dedicated to being homebound. But yeah, anyway, tomorrow starts the Beachbody Ultimate Reset, also known as something on my bucket list of healthy goals. One, if you watch the video in the link I just provided, you can easily see a massive weight gain in my face. Two, I am really hoping this will cure my sugar addiction and give me the opportunity to have a healthier relationship with food. I mean, c'mon, does any binge really need to look like this. Three, despite my binge habits, I really do try to make sound decisions all of the time, and as of late, I've been doing a really great job of going natural, raw, and/or organic for a lot of my meals. The BUR will give me a chance to take those choices to a new level, gain some education on what that kind of lifestyle really entails. And four, my super sexy husband is coming home super soon, and I'll be wrapping up the BUR just days before he's stateside. It's best that I do this when he's away so he won't become a victim of spousal abuse due to coffee withdrawals, and so I can be the best possible me when he returns.

     I'll post a series of written/video blogs about my experience with BUR. I've witnessed the willpower it involves, and the tutorial even states that it will cause some emotional reactions due to the detoxifying process. I'm sorry...let me just say that up front. I'll try my best to provide pictures of my meals, but to be honest, I'll probably forget.

     Most of you are probably thinking, "What's the big deal? It's just a 21 day eating program. Grow up, Abigail, and put down the fork!" Well, sassy, I'll have you know that you don't need a fork to eat a Hot Pocket or Raisinets or Amy's Organic Pizza or coffee or...wait...should I just stop...I'm not making the best point, huh? This is half the reason that I fear this. I have a food addiction. That's why WW is so good for me. I can eat whatever I want as long as I write it down, but again, no one should sit to eat three pounds of vegetables for dinner. Veggies are good, yes, but three pounds! This, I'm hoping, will also help me with portion control. I just remembered that there's one more Hot Pocket in the freezer...do I dare?

     A little shout out to Coach Meridith. Thank you for answering all of my questions so far and being available for my random Abigail moments. I watched you go through the process and was floored at how well you did. I use that as motivation.

Hot Pocket update...I dared. Shame...

A Shout Out to Me

     It's Friday night, do you know where your cat is? Yep, she's chillaxin on the love seat over there, thinking, "Mom, what in the world are you doing home? This is crazy!" And I'm like, "Yep...finally!" I, too, is chillaxin...see below picture for proof.

BOOM (<--my classroom word of the week), see the proof. I'm sitting on my couch after devouring some shameful calories. What am I not doing? Conquering the world. Needless to say, last week was one of the busiest weeks I've had while Reuben has been gone. But man oh man, some goals, one being adult-lifelong, have been conquered. Oh wait...interruption...

Someone just got selfie jealous...let's continue...

     I am proud to say that on the weekend of January 24-26, I went to Newark, New Jersey to complete my training to be a certified WeightWatchers Leader!!! Ding ding ding ding ding!!! Ring the bells! Sound the drums! Toot a horn or whatever it is you do to a horn!! Do you know how huge that is??? I'll tell you! That's years of sweating, measuring, counting, running, pushing, tugging, bruising, choosing, crying, doubting, going, thinking, striving, falling, believing, talking, lifting, praying, squeezing, binging, hating, dancing, lacing, squatting, listening, sharing, motivating, hurting, encouraging, surrendering, and any other applicable verb that ends with ing. Seriously, this was a dream I've had for a long time. Those who've known me through my 20's know that I'm obsessed. It didn't take long for my new coworkers in La to learn that it's always on my mind. Their jaws dropped today when they saw me eat a stuffed baked potato during lunch because I always eat a salad. One of them announced that a certain hot place must have just froze over because she couldn't believe her eyes. (It's a good thing they don't see what I do when no one is looking.) I'm the one who evokes confessions from people; I can't help it. Since I have that effect, what better place is there for me than to be in front of a meeting room? That's right, my name is Abigail Newton, and I'm your WeightWatchers leader. 

     How was New Jersey you might ask? I don't know. But I can tell you that I had a blast going into Manhattan on Saturday night. How blessed am I to have had a student from Highlands actually want to hang out with me when I contacted her saying I was close by? This amazing girl now teaches in New York and was more than willing to show me around. 

The picture on the left was taken following her class' graduation celebration in 2008. The one on the right was taken a little less than two weeks ago. I love her dearly and am so proud of the woman she is. Thank you, Sally, for taking me out and feeling comfortable enough to call me by my first name. If you ever come down for a visit, I can introduce you to the exciting practice of watching the grass grow. It's peaceful and appreciated. 

     Fast forward one week to the weekend of February 1-2 when I ran The New Orleans Rock and Roll Marathon (marathon numero deux). Woot, woot! 

Now, I use the word ran interchangeably with the word survived. This particular marathon was not easy, but the event was incredible. I just checked my phone for this awesome picture I took before the race started. The start line arch was up but slightly covered by fog, thousands of people could be seen in the front corals, and it was a perfect shot taken from someone who is 5'1. It got deleted! Kick myself. 

However, this guy was there. He was running the half marathon, and he had beers in his fuel belt. He also blew that black horn you see in his hand incessantly. You know you're good when you can show up to a race with alcohol and a lung challenging bugle. He took off, and I never saw him again.  

     I shared some illegal marathon pictures on my FB page, and you know what it made me realize? I'm all about sharing pictures that show me at my worst. I do not look like a supermodel on a given day more or less during a 26 mile haul, so yeah, I'm okay with my nostril pictures. I saw one, though, that reminded me of something, and then a light bulb went off...

I LOOK LIKE THE CONFESSION BEAR.

     My picture is a little pixelated because I blew it up, but that, ladies and gents, is my face. Can you believe that girl actually got someone to marry her? In my illegal picture album, there isn't a single picture that makes me look happy, competent, athletic, or prepared, but I promise you all that I did train for this! 

This isn't the same as above, so my face is slightly less Confession Bear.

I look like I want to sit right there in the rain.

But I tell ya, at mile 19, I was ready to call it quits. My right knee was killing me, and I swore that my left toe was trying to remove itself from my body. This might sound stupid, but I think my joints hurt worse this time because I was running so slowly. It took twenty minutes to finish the first mile because of all the people. My pace was considerably slower because the number of runners, which I thought was going to be a great copout for not beating my previous time. Nope, it ended up just hurting, but I did it. 

     When I got home, I was really nervous about two things: my toe and my hair. Now, you can kind of see in the above pictures that my hair was in a ponytail. This is what it was when I made it home. 

It took a lot of conditioner and a lot of patience, but the world's biggest dreadlock did get tamed. 

So the time came where I had to take off my shoe to inspect the toe damage; it didn't look near as badly as it felt...and still feels. 

It's hard to tell because I haven't painted my toes and my feet are just ugly in a wide Flinstone kind of way, but you can see the wrongful color settling in on my baby toe. The picture really doesn't do it justice. Now, my little left toe nail is dark blue/black. 

That split you see on the bottom wraps all the way around to the inside of the toe where there is absolutely no skin. I've been limping all week. I feel like a dork. 

     All in all, that was a crazy, busy week. One weekend I'm in Manhattan wishing so badly that SJP Carrie Bradshaw was real, and the next weekend I'm running...trotting...dragging...limping around New Orleans. This weekend = couch. God is good!

I want to take a minute and thank everyone for making this following picture possible:

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!