Day 1- Healthy Eating & Living Challenge

Many of you are aware that in January, I began a 30-day No Soda Challenge which I successfully completed and as of today's date, still haven't indulged in a full soda (although last week I had a sip of someones Coke). Now that I have lost a few pounds and feel the difference that living soda-free has made in my life, I have decided to also challenge myself with eating more healthy in order to get in shape and lose some more weight. My goal is to lose 15 to 20 lbs, which would make me picture perfect for a nice two-piece which I plan to wear during my trip to Miami with ForeverLex.

My goals are simple: NO FAST FOOD. No sodas. Work out at least three times a week. Cook a healthy meal at home at least five nights a week and stay away from take-out. I would like to stay under 1800 cals a day.

Here is the data on Day 1 of the Healthy Eating & Living Challenge:

Breakfast- a bowl of Rice Chex cereal with two percent milk (150 cals)

Lunch- nothing

Snack- two pieces of sharp cheddar cheese (180 cals)

Snack- 1 cup of orange juice (125 cals)

Dinner- Hungarian Skillet Stew with egg noodles (400 cals)

Snack- 1 cup of Silk chocolate milk (140 cals)

= 995 cals.

Update- 30 Day No Soda Challenge & Other Items

Can you believe it has been almost a month since I began my 30 Day No Soda Challenge? I began the challenge not only as a New Year's Resolution, but as a goal to live my life healthier in '09. I found myself drinking at least a six pack or so more of soda each day, and with diabetes being a problem in my family for so many years, I knew I had to stop the addiction. So on Monday, January 5, 2009, I started my 30 Day No Soda Challenge.

There have been many times that I slipped and fell off the wagon. But what kept me on the straight and narrow (besides prayer) is knowing that I would be so defeated if I drank a soda because I would have to blog about it and let you all know that I lost the good fight. That is one blog I don't want to have to write, especially since a few of my Twitter folks are also riding with me on the Challenge.

I have lost 11 pounds since I began. I wasn't doing this Challenge to lose weight, but this is a great side effect and I needed to lose bout 15 pounds anyway. I feel like I have more energy each day and I don't feel as bloated. I still get headaches every now and then but they don't last as long as they used to, and my body is getting used to not having as much caffeine. I drink about 15 glasses of water daily along with a few servings of juice (either cranberry or apple) and I also drink sweet tea, which is my latest addiction.

Someone on Twitter recognized that sweet tea can be just as bad as soda and pointed that out to me, so I began weaning myself off of that this week. I plan to be completely sweet tea free by the middle of next month as well. I am trying not to start too many Challenges at one time in order to keep balance and control in my life. I don't want to be overloaded with too many goals.

This Challenge will last beyond 30 Days. I would like to stay soda free (with the exception of a can or two here or there once or twice a month) for the rest of the year. I also want to begin a rigorous exercise challenge of Cardio and Yoga in February. My homie Forever Lex and I along with the USUAL SUSPECTS are planning a TweetUp in Miami in May and I so want to look flawless in a  two-piece. Dade County will never be the same. 

This Challenge this is slowly morphing into a lifestyle change and a way of life for me. Thanks to everyone who has continued to show me support through this No Soda Thing. I am ever so grateful. More than you know. :P

30 Day No Soda Challenge Update (Day 7)

I am on my seventh day of not ingesting soda and I feel great. No more headaches (Thank GOD) and I have lost a total of 5 and a half pounds. All from not drinking soda. I feel better, less sluggish each day and I am sharper. I never really knew that there were "side effects" of drinking so much soda, but I now see what I was doing to my body.

A special thanks to everyone who has given me feedback since I have begun this journey. I a truly grateful and I plan on continuing this challenge for more than 30 days. This is going to be a new lifestyle change for me.

MUAH!

My Addiction To U (Plus) My 30 Day No Soda Challenge

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.

I am not clapping folks.

I am irritable and bitter and borderline psychotic because my mind is playing tricks on me. Ryan Leslie's song about addiction keeps playing in my cerebral cortex as I dream of the days I sipped on a ice cold Dr. Pepper straight out of a 12 ounce can.

Those days are gone.

Not one for resolutions, I began to think of ways I could revolutionize my life as '08 came to an end. Live better. Go farther. Do more. And so, as of Monday, January 5, 2008, I put myself on a self supervised 30 Day No Soda Challenge.

I figured I drank about 4 12 ounces of soda per day (during the week) and maybe even more than that on the weekends. That, my friends, is not good, and a one-way ticket to diabetes-ville. Hell, I am surprised I am not morbidly obese with all of the soda I have consumed on a daily basis.

But that was then....

I am currently having issues, though, because soda was an addiction. I have had about three headaches since I began the challenge. I know my body is withdrawing from caffeine and so I drink iced tea which has caffeine to substitute but I think my body knows the difference. I went to the grocery store yesterday on my off day and purchased apple and cranberry juice as well as lemonade, and plenty of water. The first day was very easy but today I am stressing out big time.

I WANT A FREAKING SODA!

In addition to my no soda rule (not even diet soda folks which I can't stand anyway), I am also instituting the following guidelines for my new and improved lifestyle and healthy living:

• Eating breakfast everyday and NO SKIPPING
• Making sure I get at least 10 glasses of water each day
• Taking my lunch to work and no longer purchasing fast food or takeout
• Cooking dinner each night, healthier meals and no fried foods
• No eating after 7pm during the week
• Yoga class at the Y (I will tackle Pilates this spring)

I am hoping that with these new life choices, I am preparing myself to live a longer, more healthy life. My father has been very ill lately and heart disease runs in my family and I do not want to become a victim of that. I want to be around for my offspring as well as show them a healthier way to live so that they can therefore live a longer life as well.

Someone has got to break the chain....

LOL. I will whine. I will complain. I will probably write numerous a blog regarding my frustrations. But I know in the end, I am doing the right thing for me and my well being.

If anyone else would like to participate in the 30 Day No Soda Challenge with me, please e-mail me at dannigyrl_is_fab@yahoo.com

I already have a few Twitter folks who are participating with me. Let's do this :P

Sunday Dinner

So I spent today, Sunday watching Food Network (in between football of course) for dinner ideas and I came across an interesting recipe that I thought I would try from the show Down Home with the Neely's. The recipe was called Grandma Neely's Fried Pork Chop Vegetable Soup and I went to the grocery store specifically to purchase items for the meal.

Let me tell you that it was better than my expectations. Not only was it yummy, both of my children liked it and had seconds, it's very hard for me to find new meals that they like to eat. Anyway, if you are interested in the recipe, click HERE for the details. The Neely's are no joke---kudos to them for sharing their family recipe to the masses. Happy eating!