Step by Step (No, Not the TV Show.)

It’s been over a month since I finished my BluePrint Cleanse, and I plan to write an update every month with my post-cleanse progress (or my lifestyle change as I’m calling it) so I can keep myself accountable. Hopefully I can keep myself accountable for updating my blog once a month, too.

Since completing my 3-day cleanse, I’ve introduced healthier foods into my diet, exercised 3-4 days a week, and cut out fast food (minus ONE slip up.) I’m feeling great and I’ve lost a noticeable amount of weight, but that’s not to say I haven’t had a few set backs. I cheated with my healthy eating kick a few times, but I realized quickly I need to have these set backs to keep moving forward. If I won’t allow myself all not-particularly-healthy foods, then I’m going to feel deprived and just binge on it later once the craving becomes overwhelming. I went through that cycle for years and it wasn’t fun.

Aside from the weight loss, the most noticeable change for me is that I don’t feel as guilty when I eat some “cheat” foods. It’s okay if I have chips and salsa on a week night, and I won’t be angry with myself if I have one meal from Taco Bell after a night out with friends, and I can enjoy a piece of doughnut cake at a family party without letting it ruin my whole day. As long as I’m doing it in moderation, it’s okay.

I am relieved because I’ve never allowed myself to feel this way about food before. Eating a handful of Doritos doesn’t mean I’ve “ruined” all the effort and hard work I’ve put in to changing my lifestyle. It just means that I’m a normal human who has food cravings, and I don’t need to eat the whole bag to feel satisfied.

Another great thing about changing my lifestyle is that I’ve been cooking way more than ever before. I finally know how to make more than just PB&J and grilled cheese! I’ve been making lots of veggie and brown rice dishes and oven-baked chicken with plain sweet potatoes and greens. I’m eating less high carb, sugary and salty foods and incorporating more vegetables and complex carbs into my diet. I went out to dinner with family over the weekend, and instead of ordering my usual boneless wings or chicken quesadillas, I actually got balsamic-glazed salmon, jasmine rice, and grilled asparagus! In case you were wondering…it was delicious.

Here are two new foods that I can’t get enough of right now:

1) Quinoa. I’m obsessed with combining it with roasted butternut squash, red peppers, dates, and balsamic.

This was my reaction after eating it for the first time:

2) Mushrooms. After years and years of feeling too grossed out to eat this fungus, I’m now enjoying them with some spinach on my pizza instead of my usual pepperoni.

Changing my old habits hasn’t been easy. It’s day by day, but I’m being honest with myself and continuing to work hard. I don’t want to lose what I’ve gained and what I’ve lost either….if that makes sense.