I'm surprised I am down any weight, I expected to be up as I tried something different this week.

 

For 21 weeks I have eaten 1800 calories a day with less than 10 exceptions, I eat basically the same thing every day, and I am perfectly content without dairy, sugar, flour, or wheat. So now what?

 

Since I have been dropping weight slower, I felt it was time to change things up. I used to believe in cheat meals, I don't any more. The thought of eating pastries or cheese buns makes me anxious now, I closely associate the feeling of eating those foods with not being able to fit into the clothes I want to wear and that is distressing. But the good aspect of cheat meals is that you push your body to work harder by eating those extra calories every so often. This week I decided to push my calorie count up to 3000 a day just for this week, but only with the foods I normally eat.

 

Sounds fun hey? The first problem I came across was finding enough food (in my limited selection) to make up 3000 calories a day. Adding in meat was my easiest option, but I eat enough meat as it is and I felt overloaded with protein. I took a trip to Planet Organic here in Calgary and found a whole bunch of things to try out. My saving grace was hummus with organic rice crackers, somewhat calorie dense and great tasting. I also discovered a few salads I really liked from their deli. They have an awesome Edamame bean salad, that was my favorite, a salad called Hail to the Kale, also very good, and a Quinoa salad (pronounced KING-wah). I also picked up some organic fruit and some vegan cheese. I was all excited about the vegan sheese - mozarella flavored slices. I thought it was my way around wanting to have cheese but not eating dairy. In my opinion, it was the sickest thing I have ever put in my mouth. I tried it on a rice cake and as soon as I took one bite it was just sour and a strange texture and I totally gagged before I had a chance to chew it. So no dairy for me.

 

Overall it was a good week, I felt like I was constantly eating but I got to try some new foods out to add to my diet and also I didn't hit my 7pm wall that I usually hit where I go from fine to weak and hungry within 10 minutes.

 

This week I will go back to 1800 calories a day, then Michael and I go on vacation!!! My strategy there is to make the best of my situation. I am staying in someone elses house, so my eating will depend on that, but I want to get out and do things as well as relax and chill out, so whatever happens happens. If I put on 5 lbs, I'll take it off when I come back.

 

And Michael is 5 months old tomorrow! I can't believe it! He's rolling all over the place, making loud noises, and sticking out his tongue! When we get back from vacation, I am starting him on solid food and weaning him from me! That will be interesting for both of us. We've had a good run, but he is so ready for solid food. He is getting so big and now after his longest stretch at night (usually 5 hours) he is sooo hungry and will feed on the hour every hour until morning.

 

I got food at three weeks old! It's a different set of rules now though as I tell my mother!

Knowing what an impatient person I am, a pound this week is just not enough!

 

It's better than being up and I should be happy with the progress... even if it is slow! But this was one of those weeks when I feel like I worked soooo hard and I am so sore! I think I should weigh 125! The only 'flex' meal I had this week was delicious Vietnamese Soup last Friday. Otherwise I was totally clean with no dairy. I have even reduced myself to drinking black coffee with sweetener from Tim Horton's. I miss Double-Doubles!

 

We leave for California in two weeks! Time sure flies! I have started my organizational procedures... making extensive packing lists, trying not to bring more than 5 pairs of shoes! My son is as high maintenance as I am! I am glad I bought him a seat so we get 4 suitcases, but even then - I'm struggling.

 

I can't wait though! And when we come back, he will be almost 6 months old! Swimming lessons and solid foods are all in the plan before July is over!

 

And Hot Yoga is truly the most wonderful thing I do. In the summer I don't coach on the weekends and Michael is going longer between feedings, so I am going to make sure I do 90 minute classes on both Saturday and Sunday. It's also looking like I will be able to do 90 minute classes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. This would make me very happy because right now I am at a point where I can do the entire hot yoga routine in a meditative state. It's still hard but it really is an intensely focussed workout that is both physical and spiritual now. I love it.

 

We are headed to our mom and baby class today and then to the zoo!!! Going to go and see the baby gorilla... can't wait!

Down a pound... whatever. I think I overdosed on dairy this week, knowing it was being cut out today! A few lattes, cheese on more things than normal... and now it's over! It'll be fine, I am still able to use soy dairy products, the good thing is I don't like soy products that much so I will only use them when absolutely necessary! I still have fruit and wine though... two very important food groups.

 

And with Nationals being 8 weeks away, I am making a few back up plans. I entirely intend to continue what I am doing, but the reality is that it just might not be enough time to be stage ready. For my own personal use, I take pictures every few weeks, and the ones from this week, I can see the shape I want beginning to emerge, and I like where my body is headed. But for the stage I would need to be much smaller and much tighter. You can do a lot in 8 weeks, but I am still nursing and my body just might not want to get that lean. Plus I am being careful not to drop my calories too low because it could affect me feeding my baby properly.

 

If it doesn't happen. It's okay. The competitions don't go away, and if I wait until next year, maybe I could go back to the Provincial level and win the Overall. That would be a good goal for 2009. Also, I have to check, but I think my federation is relaxing on letting its competitors compete for other federations, so maybe there will be something in the Fall I could work towards. It would be nice to be in good enough shape to do some photo shoots, I am in the process of redoing my web site and it would be nice to have some pictures from this year only 6 months after a baby, but again, it's just a thought for now. I feel very content and in control of everything right now. I am continuously finding new activities to challenge me and eating clean has become a way of life. I am finally at a point where I can wear pretty much everything I own, I can go shopping for single digit sizes, and my Fat jeans are Fat jeans once again. Back of the closet, where I hope they will stay. All of these things are more important to me than ice cream.

 

And on the subject of my web site - I am seeking help. I am kind of tech-savvy, but I am self taught and need to bridge the gaps in a few places. I am working with a template and editing it for my own site, but I need help uploading the files (particularly PHP and XML files) into a new domain and then forwarding my old domain to this new domain as well. The site is pretty much made, it's just a matter of getting it all togther and published. If anyone can help me out or knows someone who might be able to, I would very much appreciate it. I like to be in control of my site, but it's getting a bit beyond my capabilities!!!

At this time, my best friend has been travelling for about 16 hours and still has around 10 to go! She's amazing - first she's off to Africa to do work with an organization called Hands at Work, then she is off to Europe to create documentaries and have the experience of a lifetime! I'm so proud of you!!!

 

Michael is changing rapidly right now. His little chub legs are so strong, he is standing with support of the couch all by himself at 4 months old! He has a little 'jumper' that we have started putting him in more now and he LOVES it!!! He's like a little maniac with his jumping. AND I found a company in California that rents all sorts of baby equipment, so that saves my packing panic for our trip next month. And with Michael having his own seat, I can bring extra bags for my shopping I will be doing down there!

 

As for the competition front - I still don't know yet. I like what I am doing right now, I am gradually cutting back on the things I don't need and so far I am off of flour and all refined sugar. I've even traded in my Double-Double for a coffee with two cream and sweetener. Next week the dairy goes. I will substitute with soy dairy if I need it, but it's time to give up the cheese and milk. I still have wine, fruit, and condiments right now, but I also feel like they are still kind of necessary right now.

 

And I have started Boot Camp - 3 days a week at 5:30am - kicks my butt!!! I was humbled by the fact that I am not in great shape still. I am way better than I was, but still not where I could be. It's outdoors too, and at that time of the morning it sure wakes you up fast!

 

All in all it's been a good week - busy but good. Canadian Nationals for gymnastics are going on right now. Last night I went to watch one of the Juniors from our club, Anysia and she looked amazing. Better than I expected, and my expectations for her are always high. Today I am on my way to go and watch the youn Novices - we have two from our club, Demi and Alaina. It's always good to see the young up and comers. These girls are only 12 and 13 and doing some awesome gymnastics. I would like to stay to watch the older girls tonight, but Michael's schedule isn't that flexible today! And tomorrow are the Event Finals for the top girls in the Junior and Senior divisions. My girls are doing a demo to represent the club before their awards. They have worked hard so it should be good!!!