Just got back

SUNDAY ...

I've just gotten back from my ambulance course and loved it! (as always) Pretty tired! I realised when I was at the course that I forgot to post Friday's update. I had typed it all out but got called out on a job and had to rush out, then didn't get back to station till 7.30pm, so it didn't get published. So putting it up now for you. Sorry, better late than never I guess.

Bill informed me when I got home on Friday night that we had a virus on our computer ... grrrr!!!! So much for Nortons doing it's job!! I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, hopefully I can sort it out! Don't worry I'm doing this update from the station.

Anyway here's Friday's update ... I'll fill you in more on the weekend when I get a chance.

FRIDAY ...

Did ya like my bit of humour? Chris asked me if I'd had my 'big event' yet so thought I'd do a bit of photoshop work. Unfortunately I'm one of those unlucky people who doesn't have a flash big event, just lots and lots and LOTS of little events... heheh

Had another busy day on duty today and attended my first death. Although fortunately I didn't have to see the body as the police were already on scene when we arrived and stood us down as we got into the house, due to the fact that he'd been deceased for too long to warrant resuscitation. I still don't know how I will react on having my first patient die. Everyone responds differently to do and St Johns has a great support service for us if we feel we need to get counselling with anything.

Onto my colon cleanse ... It was supposed to be my last set of 40 capsules to take this morning but given the fact that I could have been away from a toilet for up to 3hrs at a time on the ambulance I postponed the last lot till tonight. In the instruction booklet they say this is ok. So as of 6pm tonight I will be officially cleansed! :o)

My ambulance partner and I had to back up Paeroa today and I had previously planned on having a subway salad for lunch. But I soon learnt there is no subway in Paeroa! So a bakery was the nearest thing I could find. For the first time in 9 days I had something other than fruit/veges/yoghurt ... a chicken/salad wrap. Initially I was disappointed but realised the choice was out of my hands and I still made a good choice in spite of the dilemma. I chose a wrap instead of a bread roll so that has to be good enough. Was either that or starve, which is not an option.

Tomorrow and Sunday I'm off to Mount Maunganui for my ambulance PRD (professional role development) course where I will learn all about work stress, grief, cultural awareness and NZ law. In the service it's known as the 'tree hugging course'. There's no exam at the end of this one, just a 60hr written assignment!! (to be done in 3mths)

All our food and accomodation is supplied so that's very nice although might be a bit tricky with food choices. I will just have to do the best I can with what is supplied.

Once my written assignment is finished and I pass I get my next patch (on my ambulance sleeve) Primary Care 2 ... very flash!! Which leaves me 'ambulance officer', 'paramedic' and 'advanced paramedic' to achieve. Each of which takes at least a year to obtain. Something to strive for.

As I put my ambulance uniform on this morning I needed to go to the next hole on my belt ... hole number 6!!! Yeeehawww!! And my final hole ... next will have to be a new belt! I feel very chuffed about that!!

So I'll be back on Monday to update again on how my course went, and more importantly ... the food choices I made. I'll try my best to be a good girl ... promise!!!

For Chris ...

Judge for yourself ...

Thankyou all so much for your comments, loved each and every one!!

I was going to leave this till Friday or Monday when my detox is completed but I'm getting asked alot now whether I notice any changes so I figure I'll bring the evaluation forward to today. I'm also on ambo tomorrow and away on my next ambo course Saturday/Sunday.

As everyone is different and has different issues to face I thought I'd give a background of me first and why I chose to do this.

Initially the thing that grabbed my attention about a colon detox was when Jo did it and lost 6kgs in her first week. I was stunned that someone could lose that much. So of course not thinking about the benefits to my body I just thought "I want to lose that much too". So I started doing a bit of research on the net and asking around.

I remembered back to when a customer was telling me about this detox thing a year ago and he was raving about it. Now this took my attention as not many men care that much about their bodies to do something like that and then to actually notice the changes in his body. To me, I think that females are far more intune with their bodies than men. So it must be pretty good for him to notice the benefits.

The lady in the healthshop across the road reaffirmed his comments. But I was a little shocked at the price. I think she noticed the look on my face. She told me I'd never look back, that it was really that good. I took this with a grain of salt given that it would probably double her sales for the day.

I took a brochure away, did some more internet exploring and basically mulled it over in my head for the next six weeks.

For the past 6mths while on ww points I have stuck to my points but had worked out ways of 'cheating'. I knew all the points for every packet of chips there were. My fruit and vege intake had majorly gone downhill and I was having to survive on sugarfree redbull, V's or coffees to get me through the day. I put my lethargy down to my lack of exercise and would beat myself up about it.

Of course I would have a healthy breakfast of vege soup and 3 slices of bread. Then bread sandwich for lunch, packet of chips in the afternoon and finished by plenty of pasta for dinner. I was still within points for the day but what I was eating was CRAP!!! And I wandered why I lacked energy?? I reckon probably 40-45% of my daily intake was bread,pasta,potatoes or sugar.

So day one of the detox ... man did I suffer!!! I thought I was gonna run out of go and kark it!! I was soooo hungry ... all day!!!!

Day 2 and 3 was a little better but I still missed my bread.

Onto Day 8 today and I don't miss it one bit. My energy levels have gone through the roof. I no longer need redbulls, or v's or coffee. Infact I've only had one coffee (for social reasons) in the last 5 days and I had it with no sugar (normally have 1tsp) and it tasted fine.

Infact that's another thing I've noticed ... my taste buds have changed. Because I'm not eating any sugar other than fruit I can taste things better. I also cut out salt, where I used to add a tsp in the veges at night, now I don't bother and I haven't noticed the difference.

I think the biggest change tho has been my lack of hunger. Still having my 3 meals and 2 snacks ... but I eat because it's time to eat, not because I can't think of anything else but food.

So briefly ... the pros & cons ...

Cons ...

• It's truly hard work especially in the first 3 days
• Costs around $119 depending on the brand you choose
• Of course the 80 capsules each day is a chore but does get easier
• Difficult to come up with ideas for meals, especially dinners
• Burp up 'herbal' yucky burps for half an hour after each tablet taking session
• On day 3 & 4 of tablets, got sick of running to toilet

Pros ...

• Cravings for packet food (chips etc.) has vanished
• Energy levels hugely increased, alert & vibrant in the mornings, not tired at night
• Hunger levels decreased, especially afternoon times
• Positive mindset, clearer thinking
• Skin clearer, acne decreasing
• Of course weightloss
• Taste changed, appreciate natural sugars, don't need salty foods
• Drinking less caffeine drinks

So there you have it from me. The other 'medical' benefits ie. boils, psoriasis clearing, I will have to keep monitoring that one as time will tell.

Amazing to think I only have one more day to go and I'm done. This has DEFINATELY, DEFINATELY been worth it. Becks mentioned at the start to me that I will learn alot about my own body and it has been so true. I have also come to really appreciate natural food for what it is.

Initially I chose to do this detox as a weightloss tool but it's done far more than that for me. It's been the springboard to a much happier, healthier way of eating for me and one that I'm going to continue.

Over the next week I will gradually add protein (meat, milk, cheese) into my diet but I'm choosing at this stage to omit bread, pasta, white rice, chips, potatoes. If I'm not missing it ... why have it?

Day 7 detox - weighin day

Well I did have an 'event' but as to whether that was IT or not ... hmmm, I'm not sure. It certainly didn't look anything like that picture! lol As the title says I'm onto day 7 of the detox with two more days to go (I did 4 buildup days of diet only)

Ok enough of that subject ... As for my weighin this week ...

I lost ...









Bringing me to my lowest weight this time round and another goal achieved ... I'm officially at the exact same start weight that I was last time round. Although this could be construed as a negative point I choose to make it a positive. For this journey so far everytime I've made any achievement something in the back of my brain tells me "yeah, but you still haven't started yet". Now I am truelly on my way to goal!

I've joined up with a local weighin group called the 'piglets playgroup'... cool name huh? They meet every Wednesday morning at someone's house to weighin in and get measurements taken. So it's a great way to keep up my accountability. The lady who organises it told me today that in the 8wks it's been going NO ONE HAS HAD A GAIN!!! Sheesh that's a lot to live up to! Think I'm gonna have to step it up a notch! But I feel excited in saying that. Time to get down and get dirty!!!

We received Lauren's midyear report in the mail this morning. And it was a glowing report, one that I was very proud to read!! Except for one thing ... it said she had been absent for 11 days this year and three of her subjects had the words 'attendance concern' listed. I went into complete panic mode, calling Bill down to the shop to see. We both looked at eachother and realised that our 'good girl' was starting some bad habits. I mean this could lead onto other things ... smoking, stealing ... who knows what else??

Bill suggested we ring the school and get the exact days she was absent then sit her down when she got home and have a very stern talk with her. As Bill got off the phone with the school, he burst into laughter. What's so funny?? It was a computer glitch! Apparently the computer was randomly throwing in absent days for some students. They had been inundated with phone calls from concerned parents just like us! What a relief!! For a moment there I had thoughts my daughter was turning into a backyard junkie at just 12yrs old!

So now that panic attack is over life can get onto normality again!!

The big event??

I managed to down my tablets last night without too much bother. It's still taking me 2ltrs so I feel pretty uncomfortable but at least I'm not gagging anymore. I spoke to a customer in the shop yesterday who does it every year and he told me after day 3 it's not a big issue any more and I think he may be right... it is getting easier. So funny tho, seeing people's faces when I say I'm taking 80 tablets a day!!!

I must say I feel a bit like a guinea pig under a microscope with this whole thing. I have everyone watching me to see what's going to happen ... like maybe I might explode or something. People from ambulance want to do it, Bill wants to do it, a couple of girlfriends want to do it, and of course a few of you guys too. I said to Bill it's like everyone wants to find out if it works first before they try and he replied "YEAH!! What did you expect??". And I must admit I'm a bit the same too. I mean I know there's going to be some major 'bowel event' ... lol ... I'm actually a bit nervous about it. I'm not sure if it's gonna be a KAWBOWZA!!! there it is??? or a gradual built up. Bill was asking me the other day ... "so ... how do you ... I mean ... are you gonna be able to wipe it? ... is it gonna hurt? ... I mean it's like, the photo you showed me was a half metre long bugger ... how can that come out your arse in one go???" ... and I was like "I don't know!!! how would I know, I haven't done this before!!" lol

In some ways I feel like a full term preggers waiting for 'the big day' ... I actually thought to myself as I hoped on the scales this morning (yes I have been weighing daily this week out of interest) ... "I wonder if it's going to happen today?" ... how crazy is that?? I even felt my tummy gurgling last night and thought "Ooooo ... I just felt some niggles" But so far they've all been braxten hicks ;o)

As I was on the scales this morning I was briefly disappointed that my weight was the same today as yesterday. I had to slap myself about the cheeks ... WAKE UP WOMAN!! Since when did your weight go down every single day for 6 days??? Umm like never?? ... well then, what are you complaining about??? She's right, um I mean that's right. It's amazing how quickly we get used to the scales dropping and ungrateful for it staying the same.

Weighin tomorrow ... given the "big event" hasn't occurred yet (if there even IS a big event, I'm a bit too scared to ask the healthshop lady that question) my weight won't have dropped HUGE amounts. But it still will be a loss so that's all good. And I have noticed already changes in my cravings (or lack thereof) and energy levels (like I've had a coffee but I haven't). So that in itself is reason enough to make it all worth it.

But I'll certainly keep you all posted ...

You think I can down these pills like a machine??

I took my first lot of herbal tablets last night ... all 40 OF THEM!!!! yuck!!!! I managed to get them all down in about 25mins but it took me 2.5ltrs of water to do it!! Man, was I bloated!!! I just hoped and prayed for the next hour that I didn't throw them back up! They didn't have any taste but I just HATE taking tablets with a vengeance! I'll gag on a single disprin!! And I was very disappointed at the lack of excitement from Bill when I finally swallowed tablet number 40. Did he not realise the immense achievement????

Knowing I had to wake up this morning and do it all over again almost sent me into a panic attack. But as my alarm went off and I started to wake up I put my hand down and noticed how flat my tummy felt. It's definately not flat standing up by any means but lying down I could almost feel my hip bones. What an amazing feeling!! I can do these tablets!! It's so worth it!!

Then Bill had a brain wave ... suggesting I break them open and put them into my breakfast smoothie. It could work?? I read the ingredients ... carob powder, licorice, peppermint, barley grass, berry extract to name a few ... Yeah that could work, they didn't seem to potent. Twenty tablets tipped into my smoothie and it changed from a lovely boysenberry purple to brown and went thick! Adding some more smoothie seemed to help. It smelt ok, now for a taste ...

OH MY FRIGGEN GOODNESS!!!!! That was DISCUSTING!!! There is something yuck in here!!! Grabbing the bottles I hurriedly skim read again .... ohhhhh yuck!!! THERE'S CAYENNE PEPPER IN HERE!!! I'd missed that one! And I'd paid so much for these tablets I wasn't going to tip them out! So you guessed it ... for the next 20mins I tried every which way to get my cayenne pepper flavoured with a dash of boysenberry, smoothie down my throat! Holding my nose, closing my eyes, sculling water between each gulp ... no matter what I tried IT WAS STILL FRIGGEN YUCK!!!! Damn you Bill!! lol You'd think after all these years I would have learnt not to listen to his brainwaves!!!

The good thing is I got it down!!! The bad thing .... ahhhggghghhh!! I still have 20 to go!! And when I finally get them down ... I have to do it all over again tonight!!! Ahhhhhhh!!!

Am I still on track??? ...

Time to admit I've been keeping a secret from you for the last 4 days. Yes for 4 days I've been doing the 'Ultimate Cleanse'. Initially I didn't want to mention it incase it didn't work ... but onto day 4 and I can tell you I'm seeing the results already!

It involves an 8 day program that you do once a year to clear your colon and bowels. The first three days is the diet only and on day 4-8 herbal tablets are introduced that do the bowel clearing. It doesn't just clear out the contents, but breaks down years of plaque buildup on the lining of the bowels. Once completed it's supposed to give you more energy, help with immune disorders like psoriasis, boils and migraines, lazy bowel (all of which I have) along with lots of other things, by allowing the vitamins and minerals in foods to be more easily absorbed into the body rather than having to be filtered through the plaque layer first.

And of course the major side effect is weightloss!! I could handle that! lol

The diet consists of just fruit and vegetables (no bananas or potatos) and acidophiles yoghurt ... that's it!!! It has been a real challenge for me but I'm so focused on this and knowing it's only for 8 days helps.

Initially I didn't think I would be able to eat all my points but interestingly enough as I've entered in my food to my points counter each day, all bar one day I've managed to eat all my points. And my food servings (fruit,vege,dairy,oils,water) have all been done too.

I was talking to a fellow ambo lady about it on Friday and she said it's very similar to the diet Middlemore Hospital puts their cardio patients on. That was good to know I'm not doing anything crazy.

• Day one - I thought I was going to die from hunger!! My carb and gluten withdrawal was crazy!! All I could think about was bread, pasta, potatos ... basically anything I wasn't allowed to have!!!
  
• Day two - I was busy doing ambo most of the day so it didn't worry me too much, but I did start to feel quite drained.
  
• Day three - my energy levels went through the roof and all my cravings for carbs stopped (except when Bill decided to cook some garlic bread!! But I was good and resisted
• Day four - I have that 'slim' feeling, amazing considering TTOM started on day two and should be feeling bloated right now! I start on the herbal tablets tonight, that's when the REAL action starts!!!
  

My bowel motions have gone from a normal of once a week (yep bad aye) to twice a day!! And that's before even taking the bowel emptying tablets.

I'm not going to tell you how much weight I've lost so far but I have lost ... I'll keep that good news for weigh day (Wednesday)

For any of you who want to read more about it you can here

I'm so excited about this!!!!

**UPDATE**

For some reason that link doesn't seem to be working, not sure why. I'll keep trying to sort it.