DAY 4

Woke up at 4am and couldn't fall back asleep. Hope this isn't a side effect of the diet. I keep reading people sleep better! Thinking of sneaking a gluten free ambien tonight. My muscles have a deep ache today in my back and legs, probably from inertia. Need to get on that new Octane L got for our "gym"/garage. She could use more attention.

Breakfast was the same old ... need to change that tune to eggs tomorrow. Doesn't that look delicious?? Z had my favorite cereal this morning and I'm sure he saw me eyeing it.





Must say I'm happy as a clam even though I'm not allowed to eat one. It's gorgeous outside, sunny and 70. That's yummy! Need to look up the special grapefruit mixture for Dr. Joshi's diet that we need to have once weekly. Hurry back L so we can cleanse. And what about the colonics? To be discussed ...

Booked a sitter for Friday night so I can go on the town to a movie and not drink or eat! I can sit through a movie without popcorn. If you put me in a straight jacket! Will need to arm myself with snacks.

Back from my 11am appointment who said I looked "depleted and tired". Ouch. The anti-glow. Certainly it will all turn around. Soon. For lunch, I had a salad with the avocado dressing. Just veggies and some goat cheese. Portion control will work itself out because of boredom. Working on a spreadsheet for more interesting meals ... yes, that's so me.

Had some rice cakes with guacamole on them for a snack. And then shared my edamame with Z while he ate his "special sticks" (don't say "fish" to a 4yo) and sweet potato fries. I made a chicken paillard for dinner with a salad. L went out for dinner in NY and aced it! Chicken with veggies. I can feel her glowing from here.

Very tired from the early rise so it's early to bed ... after some Aussie open of course. The leg pain has subsided so I think working out tomorrow is in order, before I'm captive in the house for ATT and their inane 20 hour window!

DETOX DAY TWO

Woke up tired this morning and thought "coffee" please but made the luscious lemon water instead. Not the cure for the incessant hammering taking place inside my head. Neither is the 4yo cuddled beside me who has no idea why his mommies may be a bit cranky--thank goodness for Elmo's World. I can't get it together to eat before taking Z to school and lose it on the phone in the car with ATT because they transfer me to Kentucky to repair my phone service! I would have to do more than detox if I had no phone or internet living in Kentucky!! I stop at whole foods on the way home to find gluten free muesli which is impossible without cranberries or some dried fruit or nut--so I come home eons later with some rice cakes and assorted items from the raw section. And a loaf of gluten free bread that can also serve as a dumbbell.

Breakfast:

I can see L has already foraged for breakfast as I eye the remnants on the counter upon my return ... banana peel, yogurt container. But she is excited to see what I have discovered in my hunting and gathering mission. I make nonfat greek yogurt (we are supposed to have "live" cultured yogurt but are not in possession of that elusive item as of yet) with banana, gluten free granola and puffed brown rice. And a splash of honey. Delish. I'm hungry. I then find some expired multi-vitamins and have a few for good measure since I'm not sure of my next meal.

Snack:

Rice crackers with pumpkin seed butter, one of the hunting items. I really liked it despite the ghouly green color. A little sticky to the gums but yummy and satisfying. L said she "doesn't really think she'll be eating much of this". Enough said.

Lunch:

We returned from Home Depot (who doesn't like a good romp around the depot?!!) and are famished. I think just the IDEA I'm on a diet just makes me hungry. L grabs the salad and dover sole leftovers from last night and I'm trying to think about what to concoct while the construction site in my head is building a skyscraper! I decide on the 25 pound bread with goat cheese, fresh basil. lettuce and scallions. I put that in our panini maker (aka "George Forman grill" circa 1999) and voila, a scrumptious (as Z would say) sandwich.

Snack (again):

L and I are working in the bedroom together because we have to hijack a neighbor's signal (what moron doesn't secure his wifi these days??) until "Kentucky" comes to fix ours. I'm not very productive today as I'm tired and the head is not cooperating, teasing me with the mantra "coffee ... coffee". We are in need of sustenance and I return from the kitchen with hummus and mini rice cakes. We devour the entire container. Of both.

Dinner:

While Z is having the delicious turkey meatloaf leftovers, I marinate chicken breasts in lime, cilantro, cumin, chili powder, s&p and jalapeno, make brown rice with chicken stock and carrots and steam some asparagus. I would eat this any night, detox or not. But it's especially delicious tonight.

I'm exhausted but feeling good about the diet.

What I missed today: Ice Cream.

What I'm grateful for today: Love

Day One Dr. Joshi's 21-day Detox

L and I decided to go on a "cleanse" and thought Dr. Joshi's looked the most sensible (re: the easiest). I didn't buy the book because I read that it's repetitive and got the information from other blogs and posts. Basically, it's getting the body to be alkaline as opposed to acidic. Pretty simple. There are of course recommendations for vitamins and special detox concoctions that we will try to adhere to but overall it's just a sensible low carb, low cal diet that creates a "glow". Which is what attracted me. Who doesn't want a "glow"?? Not sure where the glow happens but I'm open.

Day one:

No coffee in the morning. Hellish. Not only for the caffeine but the ritual. I like rituals. Love. But okay we skip it for the daily lemon and warm water. Except for lemon and limes the only fruit allowed is bananas because most fruit is picked before it's ripened therefore non-alkaline. Simple. I'm a fan of bananas but I can see the road ahead will be slippery ...

We follow the lemon water with green tea (drink LOTS of this throughout so be close to porcelain) and try to rummage for breakfast since I didn't really prepare as well as I should have. There is some plain yogurt and A banana which we have to split. L isn't a fan of plain yogurt so needs some honey for palatibility. I think because I know I'm on a diet, I'm starving but I have to take Z to school and go to the office. Without detox snacks. Not even sure what those are yet but I'm unarmed. And dangerous. I have the beginning of a headache from Peet's withdrawal.

L and I decide lunch will be at M Chaya Cafe (yummy) where we can order lots of items on the diet. No brainer.We have the chopped salad, garden roll sushi and a side of broccolini and lentils. Except for the cucumber, I think we did okay. Delicious. (and bonus plug, as a member of KCRW we got an additional 15% off!).

After a few meetings and a journey to the grocery store, where we wandered aimlessly reading labels and jonesing for some java--we broke down and had some. So desperate to stop the hazy minds, we lapsed on day one at our not so fav Starbucks for a fix. Upside: we used soy milk and were more pleasant.

Dinner was our best effort with Dover sole as the starring role with an amazing salad of romaine, arugula, broccoli slaw and an avocado dressing, recipe to follow.

Today I missed chocolate. And java. Feeling tired. Have not been to the gym and the Doc says to exercise 3x weekly. Getting on it.

Will start documenting with pics starting tomorrow.