Primal Update

Picture from www.marksdailyapple.com


So, I have been doing this lifestyle change since the first week in January.  I lost 6 pounds the first three days and after that dropped another 5 over the next two weeks.  By the end of the month I had officially lost 11 pounds but I was "stuck."  Plateau.  What an ugly word.  I know it is a common thing that happens to virtually everyone who is ever on a diet(or not), but it really sucks.  You become obsessed and negative to an extent.  For example, by day four I was the biggest supporter of this diet that there ever was.  I told EVERYONE about it.  In fact, almost everyone I know is now doing this diet to some extent and they are all having similar results as I did.  But, by week 4 when I had denied myself every indulgence possible, was maintaining a certain carb count/day and working out consistently yet the number on my scale was not budging I became, well, negative.  Isn't it amazing how quickly your mindset can change? 

So, I started researching why people plateau, what to do to "break" the plateau and then I considered my options.  Option 1: Fast.  Hell to the no!  I am sorry, but I love food.  I cannot go an entire day without eating.  That to me is plain stupid.  Option 2: Eat straight meat.  Really?  Option 3: Figure out if there is anything else that you can cut out.  I already cut everything minus my coffee creamer out so technically this is not really even an option for me since I will NOT give up coffee or creamer.  Option 4: Shut the hell up and be happy that you lost 11 pounds.  Not likely.  So, I decided to go for option 2.  I ate bacon and eggs for breakfast, Tuna from a can for lunch, rotisserie chicken for dinner and repeated the only meat for another day until by dinner time on day 2.  I was such a freak from being in ketosis that I was craving veggies like it was no body's business, felt dizzy/nauseous/unfocused and irritable.  As lovely as the only meat thing sounded, it sucked.  I wasn't hungry, but I was unable to function properly. I did lose 2 pounds in 2 days but the way I felt doing it was not worth the two pounds.  Another nasty side effect was that my craving for unhealthy carbs and sweets skyrocketed after doing this and for three weeks I ate like CRAP(cookies, cupcakes, 1/2 a Costco sheet cake)bad,bad,bad Amber(I gained 3 pounds over 3 weeks)!  Perhaps I needed to do the only meat thing for longer than two days.  I am sure that I read somewhere that going into ketosis makes you feel like I described at first, but after a few days it should level off.  I will have to look into that more...but, for now I am sticking to the diet as I did when I first started it. 

I truly believe in this lifestyle.  I am going to maintain it because I feel great doing it.  I sleep wonderfully, I have been less sick over these last two months, I am learning to cook new delicious meals and I see results.  I have learned some amazing things about my body and how certain foods will make me feel.  The first time I cheated on this diet, I could not sleep that night because my body was literally buzzing.  It was so weird.  I love having a wonderful network of people(friends/family)who are doing the diet as well because we can all talk about these things, swap recipes and share in each others success.  Support is critical in any diet and I am thankful to have a ton of it! 

If you haven't heard about this lifestyle and want to learn more about it, go to www.marksdailyapple.com and get your Grok on!

Daddy Daughter Twirly Whirly Ball

Tonight, Chadd got dressed up in a suit and the girls got dolled up in fancy dresses.  They went together to the Twirly Whirly Ball at lifetime fitness.  I am sure that they are having a blast!  It was so adorable to see the girls giggle when they were taking pictures with their handsome daddy. 

Bennett and I are playing Fasttrack, UNO, Monkey Dunk and of course all the while watching StarWars!!!  May the force be with you!

The twins are 5!!!

I cannot believe how quickly time flies!  It seems like just yesterday, I was shuffling my way down the hall toward to the level 2 nursery to visit my tiny preemies.  I'll never forget how tiny they were and how amazing it was to watch them move around in their incubators.  It seemed almost surreal then.  Perhaps it was the drugs that kept in a bliss like haze?  Either way, I remember how in awe I was of these two strong little fighters.

Bennett was the first born.  He positioned himself just right(footling breech)so that he was preventing Bria, who was head down, from engaging.  The little stinker! I am not sure how they grabbed him first during the c-section, but they did.  I think Chadd said they grabbed his foot and pulled him out that way.  They showed me his little face and immediately ran off with him.  I remember thinking he is just perfect.  Look at all of his hair.

When Bria was born, they whisked her right away so I only caught a glimpse of the beauty that she is.  I was so scared that something was wrong with her since they did not let me see her up close.  I was searching Chadd's eyes while asking him whether or not she was okay.  He did a great job of acting normally.  When I actually recall seeing her, I thought she was the tiniest little peep who had a face like Avery's and a nose like Chadd's. 

Now, they are five years old!  They have an affinity for one another that seems to get stronger as the years go on.  They love play dates, their buddies, school and each other.  They are both very free spirited and independent.  They are challenging in different ways and yet both of them bring us joy each and every day. 

Happy Birthday to my two darling five year olds!  You make me so proud!

I love you both so very much!

XOXOXOXO

Mom