#i also do have my entire summer and winter wardrobe with me this time cus usually i leave my summer wardrobe at home before going uni

[nerdie-faerie]

Currently unpacking all my shit into my new flat. And it's never more apparent that I have both, a shopping and hoarding problem, until I have to once again move and confront my problems

[healthblitz-blog]

When Cardio’ing The Sh*t out of Life Doesn’t Work...

Honestly speaking, the past 4 years since my first baby, I've cardio'd the sh*t out of life, run a 5k five days a week for an entire summer, cut out alcohol, tried calorie counting....yet never lost a pound or lost very little and for what felt like a long suffering commitment.  I think things just changed as I got older and "mommy-er". Lack of sleep greatly affects the body's ability to recoup, and good healthy self-care wellness fell by the wayside for me big time (some self-care happened but it was manicures and cocktails to unwind but what I was putting in my body as fuel was super questionable). 

Anyhow, I hit a point in late March where I was exhausted. I was tired all the time, fueling myself with caffeine to just get through the first hours of the morning never mind the whole day (occasionally would get the shakes when I was off my caffeine kick). I just felt physically depleted. And it didn't feel like how I normally "operate". Plus, I was up about 20lbs of winter hibernation. 

While driving home from work in one of those low-moment panics, I called my pal Nicola and she set me up for the 30 day cleanse. And I'm SUPER happy with the results.  The major plus was - I finally SAW results... and it wasn't deprivation-based, but more so about eating on the prescribed plan and not deviating. I learned how to fuel my body off good stuff and not "empty but delicious carbs" and on a time schedule that my body needs. Overall, staying the course very strictly (but with 2 cheat meals involved due to special events), I lost 11lbs, 2 dress sizes and a bunch of belly - which is where I keep all the bad stuff anyhow. Also, I'm 100% off caffeine and it doesn't feel awful in any way (which I never thought I'd be able to say but was something I wanted to kick while doing the cleanse).

I've been off the full cleanse now for another 30 days and it's holding stable, which was my other concern before starting (would this be a fad?). Actually to be fair, since the 30 days, I've lost another 3lbs. It just feels like my body is cued into itself again.  

I'm not trying to be skinny and am not trying to be the size 6/8 I was either. But I want to feel energetic for myself and the kids and I want to exercise and not feel like I'm slugging around an extra 20-30 lbs while doing so. And vanity-wise, I do want to see pieces of my former self's wardrobe fit once again - and that's happening.

Moving forward, I'm still doing a shake at breakfast every day, primarily because I don't have a schedule in a way that let's me start the day with any fuel unless I do.  So this is my quick guaranteed fuel. Otherwise, I'm using the knowledge I gained in the 30 days for meal planning, making sure I snack, and just taking better care of myself. I throw in a daily second shake when needed or when time is short.  I'm super happy I called Nicola that day and super happy I committed to the 30 day cleanse.

Now summer is coming and I am not embarrassed about enjoying beach time with the kids together.  It ain't perfect by any means, but it's progress and health - and I'm very cool with that.  Thanks Nicola