I had plans to spend the day with my brother, but unfortunately, he was sick yesterday.  It started with one of his girls on Monday, his other daughter got sick on Tuesday, and yesterday, it was Charlie’s turn.  I can’t afford to get sick – especially today when I work both jobs, so Tony and I ended up spending the day together.  After getting up early with a low blood sugar yesterday and after writing yesterday’s post, it was only 8:15 so I decided to go back to bed.  I didn’t wake up until after 10!  And then Tony and I just watched t.v. in bed until probably 11:30.  I wish every day could be like that!

We had to pick up our prescriptions and run a couple errands, then stopped for lunch at our local Italian restaurant.  We can’t not get a Boddington’s on tap when we go there!

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I actually went in thinking “I’ll get a nice salad” when out of my mouth came “I’ll have an Italian beef on garlic bread with marinara sauce on the side with tater tots please.”  It was nearly 1:30 and I was hungry!  I didn’t even take a picture of it, but this will give you an idea.  Um, and dipping an Italian beef sandwich into marinara sauce doesn’t suck.  I also mixed in hot gardiniera into my coleslaw and that didn’t suck either!

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I had another beer with lunch and by the time I got home I was so full.  I only ate half the plate, but with the beer it just was weighing me down.  I am so out of my routine it’s not even funny.  I’ve worked out only once in a week.  and I am started to feel . . . puffy.  Do you know what I mean?  I’ve had a nice time off from work, but it’s time to get back into the game.  Happily, this is the first time in YEARS that I am not starting January 1 off with “this is the year I’ll lose weight!”  My final WI for the year is next week – my hope is that I have maintained my WI from December 1 – 155.  My hopes were to lose another 5  pounds in December, but with my erratic work schedule this month, I’ll say maintaining would be a victory.  I just need to get it in gear.  One thing that I fail at miserably when not at my desk job?  Drinking water!  I don’t think I had two full glasses of water each day I was home off from work.

Which brings me to my next challenge.  Blog reader Peggy and her husband Brian do a 21 day sugar detox.  Brian has the sugars just like me, and she said it was remarkable how his blood sugars stabilized while on this 21 day sugar detox.  He is not on insulin, so he has to manage his diabetes through diet and exercise.  He’s done a terrific job handling diabetes – so proud of him (and for Peggy who preps most of their food!).

Starting January 6, she has a page on Facebook for this 21 day sugar detox challenge.  Here is a snippet of what to expect.

 

While I don’t advocate keeping foods out of a healthy diet permanently, I am actually looking forward to changing things up for a few weeks and for this to give me inspiration in the kitchen again.  Luckily I still have Sunday’s completely off from work, so that will be my food prep day for the week.  It’s funny because I haven’t meal planned for a whole week.  It always boggled my mind that people go to work without food and just wing it every day.  Well, now I know that without a plan, it’s easy to eat like crap, because it’s convenient!

Have you ever done this plan before?  Did you see any results?  Let me know if you want to join the group and I’ll provide Peggy with your information to add you to the 21 day detox board for daily inspiration and motivation.  I’ve LOVED having my Healthy for the Holidays page on FB.  So many great ideas!  And one idea that I didn’t even think of came from Peggy.  On days I work at the restaurant, I am usually so hungry by the time I get home, it’s easy to pick up fast food or reheat leftover pizza.  Why did I not think to just make a pot of vegetable soup to reheat?!   It’s easy, healthy, and especially since I go to bed shortly after I eat, it won’t weigh me down like pizza will!

Basically its taking a step away from refined carbohydrates (bagels, English muffins, potatoes, ALCOHOL, and replacing that with lean protein (beef, chicken, scallops, shrimp), veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, peppers, spaghetti squash, etc.   It also includes nut butters and nuts (almond butter, tahini, flax seeds) and dairy.  Although I’ll have to get the plain Greek yogurt and add honey and cinnamon to it on my own.  I can only use stevia and honey for sweeteners.  Um, pretty sure I’d never use molasses as a sweetener!

So I am excited about this.  I hope that 2014 brings me closer to my goal.  I don’t have an “end date” per se, just need to get my ass back in the gym and fine tune my nutrition.   Is anyone interested in joining this group?  Just shoot me an email at mybizzykitchen@gmail.com with your Facebook name and Peggy can add you to the group – since she’s done this a few times, she’s got some great ideas!!   Like Greek burgers and crock pot cheeseburger soup!

Alright, I have to get my ass in gear.  I have to iron my work shirt for tonight.  I also am bringing my Buffalo Chicken Chili to the restaurant tonight – if the chef likes it, he’s going to put it on the special menu!

It feels weird that it’s Friday – yesterday felt like Sunday all day.  Make it a great day!