Spring Updates!!!

Hey Bees!

I've been trying to get a post up for awhile but I've been too busy or I'd delete the post because I didn't like it. Anyway, I started a new program called Take Shape For Life with Medifast.

Day 1: The food was absolutely disgusting at first taste and the soy was triggering my allergies a bit. Slight headaches and hunger pains. :(

Day 2: Felt energized. The food started to taste better. Although, cravings started to kick in.

Day 3: Still felt energized, the food tasted even better, had serious cravings and food shopping was unbearable. Some hunger pains.

Day 4: Felt REALLY energized, the food tasted fine, no cravings, no hunger. Had severe body cramping at night the point where I had to break the plan and eat a banana (which is not allowed on the weight-loss portion of the program) to stop the cramping, several bathroom trips.

This is where it hurts (both sides)

At the beginning the food was horrible, but by day 3 I was used to the taste of soy. On day 4, I experienced no hunger. BUT, the night of day 4 was horrible. I'm already prone to muscle spasms and unfortunately when you're on a low-carb, high protein diet, muscle spasms are a possible side effect.

Needless to say, my entire back and shoulders cramped up, re-aggravating my car accident injury (mind you this cramping began as I was driving) and my legs were cramping all over the place (while I was trying to sleep at home). I'm actually sugar-coating the situation, if I actually explain everything that happened in detail, most of you would freak out. I ended up eating a banana and my spasms stopped immediately.

Bananas are high in calories and carbs but rich in potassium

Basically, I'm writing this just to say that everyone is going to have different reactions to different plans. Unfortunately, last nights incident made me realize that this plan as it stands is probably not the proper nutritional value for my body specifically. If you know me, you know my lower body is a powerhouse. I have legs people would kill for because of years of technical dance training. Now, I opted to do a two-week trial to see if I would like the Medifast program or not. I will go on record to say it works. I lost about 7lbs (yea I know that's a lot in a few days) so it definitely does work!

My health coach is good with getting back to me with feedback and helpful when it comes to finding new recipes and ordering supplies. And they have pretty good food options (I had Brown sugar oatmeal, choc/vanilla shakes *amazing!!*, sloppy joe (didn't like this), cinnamon roll and smores bars, cream of tomato soup (didn't like this), tropical punch drink and I have pancakes and eggs that I haven't tried yet. But, when it comes down to the muscle spasms, the aftermath (excessively sore muscles) interferes with my mobility and concentration level. In essence, anything going to cause me to get muscle cramps is not one that's going to work well for me. I also wanted to note that I take daily supplements and drink at least 8 bottles of Deer Park water a day (I was drinking at least 4 bottles before I started the plan). So, I'm 100% sure that yesterday's cramping was a result of too much sodium and not enough potassium in my body. Do I blame the plan, no, maybe like 10%. Do I blame myself? Yes. I think more research needs to be done on my end to see what types of greens would give me higher potassium levels (like the spinach I bought two days ago for my taco salad that I'm making tomorrow lol).

On the up side, I did get a lot of recipes, a new blender, and ideas from this. I'm hoping to incorporate that into a new diet where I can add beneficial carbs and potassium so I don't cramp up. I'll probably work in the rest of the meals I have left into a plan that works for my VERY ACTIVE social life. One thing that I realized is that I have too many friends and everyone wants to go out. So that's my lean and green meal right there. There's no guarantee the lean and green meal I'm gonna get that the venue is going to give me what I need nutrient-wise. So, it's really difficult for me to make sure I get the exact foods that I need when I'm never home to actually cook it myself. I'm not even writing this blog from home (I'm in my cubicle at work writing this and it's almost 7pm on a Friday lol).

I'm also ready to get back in the gym. The plan doesn't allow you to work out for the first 3 weeks, that was a killer, because I know I need to get back in the gym NOW. I think I'll use the shakes to curb my eating at night and the bars to hold me over during the day so I'm not snacking, but I think the main breakfast, lunch and dinner need to be my option of a lean and green so I can make sure I'm getting what I need so I don't hurt myself.

Will I continue on the plan as is? No. Last night really scared me, so after the food runs out, I might continue to buy the shakes and perhaps the bars and use that to help curb unnecessary snacking but I don't think I'll do the 5+1 as it is.

MB

PS: Georgetown classes are going well. Already registered for Summer and Fall 2012 classes. Woot! Oh and my PR program is the #1 masters program for Public Relations in the country.