Today is the first day of the weight loss challenge, or as I prefer to call it – the better health challenge. There are much needed changes to my diet, which I am starting today. I work with a woman who started this challenge, and there is no reason you can’t start one of your own. Here’s to all of us and our soon to be found vibrant health! Start here for more information on this challenge.
I made it through my first morning of drinking black coffee. Not as bad as I thought it would be. I can do this.
Saturday - January 11, 2020
Weight: 175 lbs
Morning Exercise: 5 miles on stationary bike (17 minutes)
Breakfast:
2 cups black coffee – no sugar
1 cup holy basil tea – no sugar
1/2 cup oatmeal with 1/4 cup blueberries, 6 walnut halves and 1 tablespoon maple syrup
Lunch:
1 cup dandelion tea
1 cup baby butter beans with 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley and 2 sliced green onions.
1 dill pickle
1 slice whole grain bread
Snack:
guacamole with 2 average size celery stalks
Dinner:
1 cup stinging nettle and horsetail tea
1 roasted chicken thigh with garlic and onion
1-1/2 cups sweet potato fries
Evening Exercise: 1.5 miles on stationary bike (5 minutes) – Didn’t make my goal today. It happens, but maybe not on the first day. I’ll do better tomorrow.
Sunday - January 12, 2020
Morning Exercise: 5 miles on stationary bike (17 minutes) Also walked around sprout and H Mart for about an hour total.
Breakfast:
2 cups black coffee – no sugar
1 cup holy basil tea – no sugar
1/2 cup oatmeal with 1/4 cup blueberries and 1 tablespoon maple syrup
Lunch:
1 cup dandelion tea
1 cup baby butter beans with 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley and 2 sliced green onions. (Same as yesterday basically, without the pickle.)
1 slice whole grain bread
Snack:
15-20 spiced walnuts
Dinner:
1 cup stinging nettle and horsetail tea
1-2 oz slice roasted turkey breast
1 cup maple glazed rosemary carrots
Dessert:
1 walnut, date & cacao ball
Evening exercise: 5 miles on stationary bike (18 minutes)
Monday - January 13, 2020
Morning Exercise: 5 miles on stationary bike (17 minutes)
Breakfast:
2 cups black coffee – no sugar
1 cup holy basil tea – no sugar
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1 orange
Lunch:
1 cup water
2 oz. roasted turkey breast
1 cup maple glazed carrots
1 small avocado
Snack:
15-20 spiced walnuts
Dinner:
1 cup stinging nettle and horsetail tea
1-2 oz slice roasted turkey breast sandwich on whole grain bread
1 cup roasted brussels sprouts
Dessert:
1 walnut, date & cacao ball
Evening Exercise: 1 mile on stationary bike (5 minutes)
Tuesday - January 14, 2020
Morning Exercise: 5 miles on stationary bike (17 minutes)
Breakfast:
2 cups black coffee – no sugar
1/2 cup greek yogurt with 9 cherries
Lunch:
1 cup water
1 can small smoked oysters
6 ritz crackers (yup this is a no-no but it’s all I had)
1 slice cheddar cheese
Snack:
15-20 spiced walnuts
Dinner:
1 cup stinging nettle and horsetail tea
1-2 oz slice roasted turkey breast
1 cup maple glazed rosemary carrots
Dessert:
1 walnut, date & cacao ball
Evening Exercise: 1 mile on stationary bike (5 minutes)
Wednesday - January 15, 2020
Morning Exercise: 5 miles on stationary bike (17 minutes)
Breakfast:
2 cups black coffee – no sugar
1 cup holy basil tea – no sugar
1/2 greek yogurt with 9 cherries
Lunch:
1 cup water
1/2 cup cottage cheese
10 triscuits
Snack:
6 triscuits
Dinner:
1 cup stinging nettle and horsetail tea
2 cups homemade tuna casserole
Dessert:
1 walnut, date & cacao ball
Evening Exercise: skipped
Thursday - January 16, 2020
Morning Exercise: 5 miles on stationary bike (17 minutes)
Breakfast:
2 cups black coffee – no sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup greek yogurt with 9 cherries
Lunch:
1 cup water
1 medium DQ hot fudge malt (drank half of it because it wasn’t as good as I thought it would be.
Snack:
2 cups plain popcorn with sea salt
Dinner:
1 cup stinging nettle and horsetail tea
1 cup leftover tuna casserole
Dessert:
1 walnut, date & cacao ball
Evening Exercise: 1 mile on stationary bike (5 minutes)
Friday - January 17, 2020
Morning Exercise: 5 mile on stationary bike (17 minutes)
Breakfast:
2 cups black coffee – no sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup greek yogurt with 9 cherries
Lunch:
1 cup water
turkey sandwich on whole grain bread
Snack:
15-20 spiced walnuts
Dinner:
1 cup stinging water
1 pan seared chicken thigh with burst tomatoes in red wine vinegar with thyme
1 cup roasted vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, summer squash)
Dessert:
1 walnut, date & cacao ball
Evening Exercise: 1 mile on stationary bike (5 minutes) also walked around Wal-mart for an hour
This was an eye opening week. Looking back I see some things I will want to change in the remainder of this challenge. Number 1 – I need to drink a lot more water and push myself to get more exercise. I will also really try to pre-plan the menu because I think I am struggling balancing my meals as far as nutrients.
That said, it was a very successful week as far as weight loss. I weighed in at 170 pounds on Friday morning. That is a loss of 5 lbs in one week. I don’t expect that much loss in the coming weeks, because I probably lost mostly water weight and it wouldn’t be healthy.