2 Broken Dishes. Countless Dishes Washed. But....10 lbs Lost!

I've successfully completed three days of Phase 2:  Release.  One of the great things about Beach Body is the on-line support.  For Ultimate Reset, they have support groups for each Phase so that you can chat with and encourage others.  There have been some very interesting conversation strings in Phase 2 about, er, "releases". Having two kids, potty talk is, well, part of everyday.  It's just amusing to read about it from grown adults.

Anywho, Phase 2 is essentially about restoring optimum health to the complete gastrointestinal track while continuing to refine meals, removing all animal protein and shifting to an entirely vegetarian diet.  A new supplement has been added, Detox, which is taken 3 times a day.  Like the Alkalanize supplement, opinions vary on the flavor and consistency of Detox, which is mixed with about 8-12 ounces of water.  Having had 9 servings over the first 3 days, I find it tolerable.  It's a bit garlicy, and yes, a bit gritty, but the ingredients (a proprietary blend) are really healthy.  In fact, everything about these supplements is natural - but then, I would expect no less for a detox program.

The second week has no shortage of chopping and prep work.  In fact, since everything is vegetarian, I think it may even be more intense.  Hence the 2 broken dishes, victims of aggressive chopping, and the daily grind of dish washing.  I have no complaints, though, the food continues to amaze, and the results are just as amazing.

After 10 days on the reset, I've lost 10 lbs!  This is not a weight-loss program, but the benefits of program are better portion control, more filling foods, better metabolism, and as a result, weight loss can occur.  In addition, my blood pressure, which has run on the high-normal side for the last year, is now on the low side, down nearly 20 points on the systolic side and 5 points on the diastolic side.  This one is great, because hyper-tension does run in the family.

In addition to the weight loss and drop in blood pressure, my energy levels are way up.  I just feel......good.  Energized.  Alive.  Not is some weird manic high way, but a true sense of alertness and fitness.
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 The food has continued to be delicious.  Day 8 was a breakfast of fresh fruit, a lunch of salad and avocado, and one of my favorites, a dinner of pinto beans and rice with steamed zucchini and green beans.

Day 9 was an unconventional breakfast, to say the least.  Miso soup (yes, soup), avocado, and mashed chickpeas with oil.  Despite the oddness of the meal timing, it was actually quite warming, comforting, and a great way to start the day.  Lunch was leftovers of the beans and rice with a salad.  Dinner was HARD WORK, but it was awesome.  I had to dice and boil potatoes, roast a red pepper on the grill and grate fresh ginger (not as easy as it sounds), then blend it all together with some other ingredients.  The result - a hearty Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Bisque.  Yeah, I don't even know what bisque means, but it was GOOOOD.  I paired it with roasted asparagus and slivered almonds for a filling meal.

Day 10 was another breakfast of fruit.  I varied it from Day 8 adding raspberries, melon, and kiwi.  The flavors were great, and all complemented each other well.  Lunch was another serving of the bisque and a Greek salad (I subbed out the Greek dressing for the vinaigrette).  Dinner was a new recipe - quinoa and lentil pilaf with steamed broccoli.   It had a very Mediterranean flavor, likely due to the smoked paprika and tumeric.

All in all I'm feeling great, and look forward to telling you more about my journey as I progress through Phase 2.

Phase 1 is .... Done!

Day 7 Recap


Mission accomplished - I successfully completed the first phase of Ultimate Reset:  Reclaim.  Thanks for joining me through this first phase, I have 2 more to go.  This program is really amazing - the philosophy, regiment, and prescriptive nature make getting healthy "easy".  Easy in the sense that if you follow the program faithfully, you will see results (I'll share my Phase 1 results tomorrow).  Reclaim was about "righting" my diet; that is, eliminating processed, refined, and (bad) fatty foods, replacing it with a whole food (and in many case organic) diet.  It was also about introducing all natural supplements to help improve overall metabolism and health.  The beauty is it only takes ONE WEEK to get back on track.  Everyone has one week - I owed it to myself, you owe it to yourself, when you're ready.

Breakfast was my last taste of dairy/animal protein for two weeks (and maybe longer, who knows??).  I had oatmeal with ground flax seed (finally got to use the mortar and pestle that's been in the kitchen for a year!), cinnamon, chopped apples, and a side of yogurt with honey.  I know I'm going to miss yogurt, it's a staple of my regular diet, but I'm looking forward to learning how to be creative with fruits and veggies (and this week has already taught me some of that).

I was lucky enough to work from home in the afternoon, so I was able to eat my lunch with my own comforts (dishes, silverware, and a kitchen).  Lunch was another micro-green salad (I'll have probably eaten about 20 by the time this is over, but they taste great every time) and a serving of the Zucchini and Cashew soup.  I can't say enough about the soup, it was incredible and I look forward to making it again when the Reset is done.

Dinner was a simple, but hearty meal.  I had baked tempeh again, which had been marinating all day, steamed mixed veggies, and a serving of brown rice.  I really can't wait to try tempeh again - I'll be looking for some recipes because from what I read, like tofu, it takes on the flavors you cook with.  I can imagine it great grilled, stir fried, etc.

Reflections
You've heard the saying "what a difference a day makes".  With Ultimate Reset, it's "what a difference a week makes."  I was never hungry, the portions were generous, I got used to drinking water before my meals rather than during, I kept to the schedule, had fun in the kitchen prepping, gave up coffee, ice-chewing, and other recreational habits, and I feel energized.  I'm excited to enter Phase 2 and explore the new menu items.  I'm so pleased that my family gets to see me doing this - our children learn from us, and it's not always what we say, but what we do.  Their watching me work hard at, but enjoy, living and eating healthy, will hopefully set them on the right path as they grow.

Day 4, 5, and 6 Recap


Ah, so much to do, so little time.  Let me just say that I am feeling more energetic then I have in weeks/months, which has helped me get everything done.  A bit about my daily routine.  Married, 2 wonderful (active preschoolers), and I work full-time.  I'm the first up.  I get lunches ready for Wife and me.  I make the kids breakfast.  I would typically make my breakfast or skip it and grab something at the office.  I make Wife's breakfast and coffee and take to her while she gets ready.  Feeding and entertaining the kids.  Wife takes over and gets them dressed while I get ready.  We alternate dropping off and picking up.  Work a full day.  Get home.  Cook dinner for the family.  Eat.  Play with kids.  Bedtime routine (includes bath, books, bed).  Clean up (Wife or I do it).  Shower.  Unwind - usually by 9-930pm.  Bed 10-11pm.  Start over next morning.

If you have kids, this is probably similar to your routine.  It's life as a parent, and I wouldn't change it for the world.  If you don't have kids, embrace your free time, you have more than you can possibly realize (I can say that looking back, it wasn't necessarily apparent at the time).

Now, add Ultimate Reset (or any workout routine).  Finding the time is amazingly difficult.  But it CAN be done, you just have to re-prioritize.  Wake up earlier.  Maybe stay up later.  Time is there, you just have to commit to finding it and using it.  What's the point of all this? The energy I've gained from the Ultimate Reset (plus getting a good night's sleep from the CPAP) allows me to get up earlier (now one hour earlier than typical), get through a busy day, and not feel exhausted at the end of it.  Amazing what healthy food, good supplements, and a positive attitude can help you accomplish!  Not to mention I've lost some weight and I don't have that bloat feeling every time I finish eating.

Day 4 was a Friday.  The meals were less complicated than some of the others, so prep time was average, and I was able to do most of it the night before and in the morning.  Breakfast was a simple fruit plate, toast, and yogurt.  For many of the meals, the program allows men to have specific extras; however, since one of my long-term goals is weight loss, I've avoided them.

Lunch was a repeat of previous menu items:  Nori Roll, Lentil-Lime Salad, and a Micro-Green Salad.  It was a HUGE lunch, I couldn't finish it all.  I saved some of the Lentil-Lime salad for Wife, and was able to finish the roll.  I ate most of my salad, but had to throw some out because I was full.  I was proud of my second attempt at the Nori Roll - I succeeded in rolling much tighter, and as the night before, it was delicious.

For snack, I did an apple and almonds.  It's easy to pack, and a good carry over.  Snacks are considered optional - if you must, they give you suggestions.  I've had one every day, and will likely continue.  I'm trying to stay on a rigorous routine/schedule, but sometimes dinner may come later, and it's helpful to have something to carry me from lunch to dinner.  As everyday, I Alkalanized prior to the snack.  Frankly, it's a non-issue - I actually enjoy it, it didn't take long to get used to.

Dinner was delicious!  Stir fried veggies, quinoa, and a cucumber and tomato salad.  I made the quinoa the night before, so that just needed a quick re-heat.  I made the salad in the morning so it could soak up the dressing.  I think what made the stir fried veggies (carrots, broccoli, zucchini, and red bell pepper) so good was the use of toasted sesame oil AND coconut oil.  They by cook at high heat, and add an amazing flavor. Finishing off with Bragg's gave it a restaurant quality flavor.  The portion was perfect for the veggies and quinoa, the salad was huge so I shared with Wife.

Day 5 was a much needed Saturday.  With no work, and no activities already on the calendar, time was a little more lax.  I really do love to cook, and prep work is actually therapeutic when the clock isn't ticking.  Breakfast was one of my favorites as a kid (and C's current favorite breakfast), cooked farina.  What made this breakfast special was the addition of toasted walnuts and maple syrup, with a side of beautiful fresh fruit.  I have been following the UR advice and choosing low GI fruits so as to not overload on sugar.  

Lunch was easy and tasty.  A chop here, a chop there, and a added scoop of hummus, and lunch was ready.  Another serving of the quinoa salad and a fresh, raw veggie plate with hummus.  I sat outside with the family since the weather was so beautiful, and enjoyed nature, and the natural lunch.

In the "going the extra mile" section of UR, which recommends things to do to enhance the experience, they suggest spending some time in the sun and outdoors.  I did both this day.  We had pool time in the morning, and park time in the afternoon.  It's rare in this part of the country, this time of year, to have a mild day (temperature and humidity), so I did my best to take full advantage.  After park time, I got home, got chopping, mixing, and heating, and had a great dinner of repeats including stir fried veggies, miso soup, and brown rice.

Day 6 was, as Sunday's typically are, a busy day.  I slept in a bit, got breakfast ready.  The meal was something new for me, Tempeh, a dense, highly nutritious soy product found in the refrigeration section of most health food groceries.  I marinated it in apple cider vinegar, Bragg's, maple syrup, fresh garlic, and sesame oil overnight.  The recipe calls for at least 1 hour, but I think the longer it marinates, the more flavor it absorbs. On it's own, it could use some help, but in terms of nutrition, we're talking 22g of protein per serving, AMAZING! Plus, this breakfast is constructed to have complementary flavors. I squeezed some lemon on the kale, took a bite of it and tempeh, and the flavors came out. The chefs did a great job combining flavors - to fully enjoy, I took bites of the components together and found the tempeh not only tolerable, but delicious.

Following church, I came home and prepared lunch.  Normally I head to brunch with my friends from the choir - a great time of socializing and eating heavy, fatty, processed breakfast food (that I love-d?).  I missed the company, but was glad to fight yet another temptation.  Lunch was a simple pairing of quinoa salad and a micro-green salad.  I am definitely getting used to the salads, they are filling, and with the right combination of vegetables, they have delightful consistency, crunch, and flavor.


Sunday is grocery shopping day.  I normally take about an hour and a half to complete it.  UR will add some time.  One reason is that I have to travel a little farther to get to a Whole Foods.  Another is finding the unfamiliar (Swiss chard anyone?).  And last, it takes some time to grab it and bag it.  I had little A with me, she did great and we spent the time talking about how healthy everything we bought was.  Then she wanted to get to Costco for samples (girl can eat).  Another dance with temptation with no cheating.  It wasn't easy, what with the pizza (a favorite food of mine) and the samples EVERYWHERE, but I'm committed to this program and to following it to a tee.  


I had an early evening event, so I had to time dinner to be a little later than normal.  Since I knew what my schedule would be, I managed it well, and continue to prove that success with this program is about time management, planning, prioritizing, and discipline.  Dinner was superb.  Roasted roots, toasted millet (an ancient whole grain that packs a powerhouse of nutrition), and my favorite part of the meal, zucchini and cashew soup.  It was A-MAY-ZING (misspelling for effect ;-). I've never had a soup so creamy that didn't have any cream.  This meal convinced me that the menu plan alone (without the supplements) has been well worth the money spend on the program.

Day 3 Recap and Reflections


Day 3 and feeling great.  One of the things I love about this program is the prescribed meal plan.  No more worrying about portion size - the recipes are designed for 1 serving, which is often hard to find.  I also love feeling satiated, but not full, after each meal.  You know that feeling, after you've housed 3-6 pieces of pepperoni pizza?  I don't miss that.  For me, it's all about being disciplined, and this plan makes it easy.

I had a great night sleep and was again able to get up earlier than usual (1 hour) to get to work on prep.  I've been weighing myself each day first thing.  Having successfully done Weight Watchers in the past, I know you can't live and die by the scale, especially weighing everyday.  Your body weight fluctuates constantly, so it's really week-to-week that matters.  That said, I'm down 4 lbs, which is about reasonable.  While I'm not necessarily doing this specific program for weight loss, I'd like to be down 10 lbs at the end.  I figure that gives me a good base to then start an exercise program to lose the remaining 20 lbs.

My morning was HECTIC!  The amount of chopping was, well, ridiculous.  I spent approximately 45-60 minutes cutting, chopping, shredding, and mixing.  Even though I was up early, time still got away.  In fact, I got to work about 30 minutes later than normal.  Life happens!

Breakfast was a repeat of Day 1 - scrambled eggs, toast, and steamed spinach.  I'm going to miss eggs.  I typically have them about 4 times a week, so going 2.5 weeks without (and probably longer) makes me sad.

Lunch was a great salad pairing.  I had lentil and lime salad and another micro-green salad.  I can't believe the portion on the micro-green.  It's about 1.5-2 cups of fresh cup veggies AND greens.  The lentil and lime salad had a great flavor - lentils with shredded carrots, lime juice, some seasoning, and chopped cilantro.  I am NOT a fan of the devil weed (cilantro), but I chopped it really fine and to be honest, it actually was a great compliment to the other flavors.  I ate at me desk - I'm jealous of the stay-at-homes doing this program, I'd love to sit with a proper plate every day.  By the way, that's only half of the salad serving in the picture below.

I had my snack of edamame mid-afternoon, along with my pre-hydration and Alkalanize.  The stuff is going down fine - I know it's a strong flavor for most, and I can see why some would have trouble with it.  I truly believe it's mindset - if you think it's going to be nasty, it will be nasty.  Look to enjoy it, and it will be good.  Thinking about the health benefits helps me.

Since Thursdays I have a standing evening activity, I needed to be very conscious of my schedule to ensure I had enough time to hydrate, make, and eat dinner and still not be late.  Using my calendar was clutch.

I hydrated before I left work, and when I got home I got right to work on dinner.  I had prepared the cucumber/seaweed salad in the morning (all the chopping, oye!), the brown rice was already cooked for the sushi, and the miso was really easy to prepare.  Tonight was my first attempt at rolling sushi.  YouTube videos definitely helped, and thanks to my friend B for lending me the sushi matt.  While the role wasn't "perfect", it came out okay, and I learned a lesson about rolling it tighter for the next one.

I loved the sushi.  The smokey tempeh was delicious, I'm all for a "fake bacon" if it tastes good.  I've read that some don't like it, but I loved it.  I had a little trouble chopping fine matchstick carrots and cukes, but it ultimately came out ok.  After I rolled and cut it, I put some Bragg's on each piece, and thought it was great.  Now for the not so great news - I could have definitely done without the cuke/seaweed salad, and frankly, the miso.  I couldn't find the paste, so I bought an organic dry mix - the low sodium variety.  It just didn't have any flavor, but it was at least nice to have something warm.  I will probably head out to find the paste to see if it makes a difference.  I suspect anything low sodium is just going to taste bland.  As far as the salad, I think it was just cuke overload, and the marinade didn't add as much flavor as I would have hoped.  All in all I powered through it, got to my standing activity, and got home in time to see C and A before bed.

I finished off the night watching a favorite show, finishing my hydration, and getting my second night sleep with my CPAP.  Yes, I have mild sleep apnea, which is one of the reasons for this reset.  I want to get to a point of healthy eating so I can transition into a workout and lose the 30 LBs.  I know that this program, along with the CPAP, will give me a restful sleep and the energy I haven't experienced in years. So far, so good!

Reflections
Today I put everything on my calendar.  I mostly live and die by it, so it's helpful to schedule hydration, meals, etc.  I found it really helpful, and will probably continue this through the reset.  I see the biggest advantage being not letting too much time get in between meals.  I could see having dinner way later if I'm not scheduled or at least conscious about it.

The portions are huge.  Again, I'm an eater, and I've found some of these meals are almost too much food.  Yeah, me.  As part of this conscious eating philosophy, I'm working on quitting the clean-plate-club.  I am re-learning to listen to my body and hear when I'm full.  The nice thing is Wife loves this type of food, and since she's not doing the program, she can have my extra portions.  Win-win.

Tonight was my Thursday activity night.  The activity is always followed by dinner and drinks with my friends.  Telling them I was heading home was hard - I knew that they would be somewhat disappointed/sad, but I know in the end they support my goals and hopefully are privately rooting for me. I know to some this program may seem hokey, but I'm hopeful as they see the results, they'll be champions for me :)