Epilogue

Well, I did the weigh and measure.  I'm sad to say I've gained three pounds.  I was a little bummed at first, but then I turned a critical eye on what I have consumed this week.  Although I was drinking the smoothies for breakfast and lunch, I was eating toast in the morning with clarified butter (unsalted) and eating the guacamole and chips for dinner at night.  I went overboard on the guacamole (you were right, Mom) and I don't loose weight when I eat bread, even if it is sprouted wheat.  So, I will be eliminating them for a while.

Once I had turned that critical eye on what might have caused the weight gain, I wasn't so bummed anymore.  If you know what the problem is you can fix it, right?  Right!  And it could have been worse it could have been six pounds or more.  Three isn't that much.  I'll loose that in no time.  A positive attitude helps, too.  The point being, I'm not going to go to pieces and give up over three pounds, so no lectures and/or pep talks.  I got this covered.  I'm just sharing.  Ok?

We just added a new member to our family.  He is the cutest little thing, too.  His name is Honey Bear and he is 4 to 5 months old.  That's about all I know of this little guy, other than my niece appears to be head over heals with him.  She finally got the dog she has been wanting.  He is a rescue dog. He is a mix, by the look of him (pictures my brother sent), but a mix of what I'm not sure and Geoffrey didn't provide that info.

That's all for now folks.  Thank you for going on this journey with me.  I really appreciate the company, support, and general cheering that you all provided.  I will continue to write at least once a week, maybe more if there is anything significant to share.  If you still need something to read, I have another blog called Divine Lunacy.  I'll post something from there if you want the link to read them.

Well, a happy Sabbath to all.  May you find rest and rejuvenation for your mind, body, and spirit in this most special of all the days of the week.

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 26: BLAST OFF!!!

That's right, folks.  Today was the very last day of the detox.  I will be doing a weigh and measure in the morning.  I'm really excited to see if I've lost any more in pounds and inches.  And guess what I'm having for lunch tomorrow?  Go ahead...guess!  A great big, lip-smacking, avocado, tomato (heirlooms), and sprouts on sprouted wheat sourdough bread Sammy!!!  Woo hoo!  I've waited for this long enough, don't you think?  Friday night's dinner will be a baked potato and for desert...concord grapes.  They are chilling in the Frigidaire as I write.

I'm going to continue to eat light using the smoothies and keeping everything to a minimum.  Sunday, I'll be writing out my menus for the week, making my grocery list, and going shopping.  Then I'll be able to get everything ready for the week.  Yay, me!

I'm so glad that this is a three day weekend.  It will give me time to get really organized and together for this next phase of my life.  A few years back, I had wanted to be 50 and fabulous.  And while I am undeniably fabulous (La Croix, sweetie, La Croix...a nod to Absolutely Fabulous), that fabulous was to include weight loss that didn't happen. So, now I am aiming for 50-something and fabulous, only this time I have a plan and I'm not afraid to use it.

As to this blog.  I will continue to write, but not every day.  Maybe a once a week thing; more if there is something momentous to share.  However, I think once a week should suffice.  I will be writing one more tomorrow to give you the results of my weigh and measure.

Until then, see you in the movies!

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 25: 1

Tomorrow is day 26 of the 26 day detox program.  Wow!  I can not believe I am almost done with it.  I'm entering the exit and the light is bright at the end of this particular tunnel.  I'm gearing up for the next phase of my life.

I wrote before of a feeling of excitement and also being a bit scared.  That still holds true.  I don't know what tomorrow is going to bring.  I only know that I'm walking out of darkness and into the light.  And I don't want to go back to the darkness again.  The inertia of my life is over and forward mobility is the rule of the day.

Now that I almost have this detox under my belt, I realize that I need to start some form of exercise.  I do walk into the building from the parking lot each day.  And before one of you thinks, "Well, that's not very far is it?"  Let me assure you, it is.  We don't get to park in the parking lot up by the building and if you are a working Jane (or Joe) like me, you don't get to park in the covered parking on the east side of the building, either.  Where we are required to park is out in the back 40 and if you get to work too late, you could be parking out by Charleston.  The building sits on the corner of Alta and Grand Central Parkway, so you get an idea of what I'm talking about.  No, I need something that my knees can handle and that won't give me a heart attack.  I will be incorporating some rebounding; that much I do know.  I need to do some other things, too, so that I can keep changing it up and not get bored.  I'm sure I'll figure it out.

One more day!  Wow...I just can't believe tomorrow is ground zero.  After that, the adventure continues in a new and (hopefully) just as rewarding direction.  I'm excited.  I'm nervous.  I'm looking forward with great antici....pation.  (Sorry.  For those of you that don't get it, a little nod to The Rocky Horror Picture Show.)

Good night everyone.  Sweet dreams.

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 24: 2

I can't believe it!  I'm can see the light at the end of the tunnel!  Two more days and I will have completed the detox.  Wow!  It seems like it was just a few days ago when I started.  My how time flies when you are not having salt.

I've decided to linger a while longer on this end tail.  I want to get all my ducks in a row to start with the healthy eating and that can best be done on Sunday.  I can make out a menu for the week (all three meals), go grocery shopping, and then get everything ready.  It doesn't hurt that Monday is a holiday, either.

Ah.  A three day weekend.  I'm really looking forward to that.  I haven't been really busy customer-wise at work, at least nothing I can't handle on my own.  However, today I really busted my hump with other work.  Quite a bit came in on the e-mail in the way of traffic control plans to be processed.  Encroachment permits to charge to escrow accounts and print up so they would be ready for the entities to pick them up.  Encroachment letters to be typed.  Punch letter drafts to be typed and proofed punch letters to be put on letter head for signature and mailing.  Not to mention the deposit first thing in the morning.  All in all, the day went rather quickly.  I'm grateful for that.

I'm almost through the second week of solitary, but I figure that if the detox went by this quickly, so will the next month.  Plus, I will have saved up some vacation time.  Need to do that so I'll have plenty of time off at around Thanksgiving.  I'll be able to use my birthday holiday for Thanksgiving, as well.  My birthday falls on a Sunday, so I'll just wait till the next week.

Not much else to report.  I will do another weigh and measure on Friday morning (if I'm not running late) as I will be officially done with the detox.  After that, well, probably once a week or once every other week.  It's not good to weigh every day.  If you don't see any weight loss for a while, you can become discouraged and give up and I don't want to do that.  I'd like to be down 40 or 50 pounds by Thanksgiving.

I'm calling it a day, Constant Reader, so I'll bid you goodnight and sweet dreams.  May flights of angels sing you to your rest.

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 23: 3

And the countdown continues...Not much to report tonight.  I'm still digging the guacamole.  I've got to make some in the morning, so I'm going to keep this brief.

Today was a sort of blah day.  I don't mean that I felt sick or anything; I haven't felt sick since I've been detoxing.  More of a blah mood day.  I love the rain and normally I don't get the rain blues.  Today I did.  It just seemed that a lot of things irritated me.  Then I would get irritated with myself for being irritated over something that didn't amount to a hill of beans.  Did you ever have one of those moods?

I've been trying to decide if I want to start with a starch or a protein day once the detox is done.  I guess it doesn't really matter.  I'll continue to do the smoothies anyway.  I need to see which veggies have the highest protein and plan meals on the protein day with those veggies.  I really don't want to start eating meat right off the bat.  I'm aiming for a mostly plant based diet. 

I heard from my detox buddy tonight.  She asked me a lot of questions about the results I've gotten.  She had a lot of traveling to do and it made it difficult for her to continue the detox.  She is going to do it in the next month or two.  I'm glad she is.  I'll be rooting for her, as she rooted for me.  That's another great thing about this detox.  I've made a new friend.

Time to stick the clothes in the dryer, do a quick look on Facebook, and then off to bed for moi!  I must get up earlier.

Sweet dreams all.

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 22: 4

Wow!  What a Sunday!  It was supposed to be cloudy and rainy this morning and when I woke up it was sunny and clear.  I was a wee bit bummed.  Anywho, I started going through my bills and such, returning my tithe (electronically, I love it!  It's transferred immediately and no worries.), and figuring out what I needed to get from the grocery store.  I called my mom to see how she and dad were doing and she told me there were some clouds gathering over the mountains, so maybe we would get some rain after all.  The wind was picking up, too, so I got dressed and skedaddled.

My first stop was Bed Bath and Beyond.  I needed to get a bottle brush.  Cleaning the Mason Jars I use for my green smoothies isn't easy and I knew a bottle brush would be much better for that purpose.  I also found a straw brush for me and for my mom.  Some of the drinking cups come with straws and need to be cleaned, too.  I also got some more of the green Tupperware type food storage containers.  They were created by the woman who created the storage bags that keep your veggies and fruits fresher longer.  I really like the seal that you get on them and they do seem to keep things longer.

My second stop was Whole Foods.  I really didn't need to get too much.  I got some scallions, heirloom tomatoes, and black beans.  I found some organic corn tortillas.  They aren't too big around, but they will make nice homemade chips.  The one thing I forgot at BB&B was a pizza cutter.  Might see if I can borrow one from my mom until I can get one for myself.

I'm coming to the end of this detox and in a weird way, I'm a little sad.  Don't get me wrong, I'm really looking forward to what comes next, but this is the champagne bottle that launched my ship.  I'm a little scared, too, but in a good way.  I've grown complacent, you see, with the status quo.  I know what to expect from people; what their reaction to me is because of my weight.  That may sound strange, but we are all guilty of it.  We all have our comfort zones and stepping out of them is scary.  I think that's why people have a hard time changing, no matter how bad their circumstances are.  A drug addict knows that one day that crack pipe or that needle is going to have his/her name on it; knows they need to get clean, but it's comfortable living life stoned to the gills and getting straight would mean dealing with something entirely new and not using a crutch to get through.  A woman knows that the abuse will put her in the hospital someday (or worse), but the thought of being out there alone scares her more than the pain and shame.  We all have our big comfy chairs and giving it up for the unknown isn't easy.  I don't know what tomorrow holds.  I only know I want to strive for better than I've had in my comfort zone.  As Ferris Bueller once said, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

Oh, yeah.  We finally did get our rain storm.  Lots of rain pouring down and flooding streets.  I've even turned off the air conditioning.  In August.  In Las Vegas.  Nevada.  I don't know if I'll turn it back on until tomorrow.  I'm living la vida loca already!

That's enough for one night.  Sweet dreams!  See ya in the movies!

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 21: 5

Well, today is done and it's nearly Day 22.  I apologize to Marseea.  I know the hour is late, but I just got home from spending a wonderful afternoon and evening with the Turner Sisters.  So without further ado, let's get to it.  I did the weigh and measure this morning and I've lost another 3lbs for a total of 16lbs.  I'm within 1lb of my goal for the end of this detox.  I do believe I'll make that goal.  I feel so much better now than I did when I started this.  My knees are virtually pain free and that hasn't happened in a long time.  Even with getting up and down all day long at a front counter, they feel better.  I'm praising the Lord for that.

As I said, I just got back from the Turner Sister's house.  They foster cats.  Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy hanging out with Amber and Rebecca.  The conversation is good and interesting.  But I have a confession to make.  I have an addiction. To cats.  Amber and Rebecca are my connection.  I go to their house and I get my kitty fix.  I come home covered in cat hair and I love it.  One of their kitties, in particular, has taken to me.  His name is Galaxy and he is a little lover.  He just jumps up on the chair and makes himself at home on my lap.  He curls up on my chest and he loves kisses.  His purr comes in short, fast bursts, almost like machine gun fire.  Some of their regulars are getting used to me and will now approach me and rub against my legs and let me pet them.  They still aren't too keen on being picked up and held, but that will come in time.  I have no doubt.  Anywho, I'm home and feeling warm in the afterglow of my kitty fix.  Thanks Amber and Rebecca.

Well, this adventurer needs some shut eye.  So I'll call it a night.  Sweet dreams.  I apologize again, Marseea, if I've kept you up tonight.

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 20: 6

Can we talk?  Can I just tell you how much I adore guacamole and chips?  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  Home made guac with some pico de gallo mixed in (she said salsa, but pico is the same only not as wet) and home made chips.  I think this must be the food of the gods.  Sorry.  Too pagan,  I know.  But really...considering what I've been eating this seems positively exotic.  I ate my fill and stopped myself before I could go over board.

I didn't weigh and measure myself this morning as I was a bit behind schedule.  I'll be doing the weigh and measure tomorrow morning.

This afternoon, I had to make a quick run to Whole Foods before the sun went down to gather up a few things to tide me over until Sunday.  Then I'll get the rest of what I need for the remaining days.  I have enough avocado to last but I will need some more green onions and black beans.  I'm looking forward to trying the black and green salad.  I've not had quinoa before so this will be interesting.

While I was driving to the store, I kept seeing flashes of lightening around the valley.  Lots of dark clouds out there and some wind.  Just wondering if a storm is brewing or if, like last night, it will just find its way around us.  I hope it comes in.  We need more rain.  I love a good thunderstorm, too.  Lots of thunder and lightening, rain pouring down.  I hope it'll come a good gully washer tonight.  That would be a great way to usher in the Sabbath.

I'm a little on the sleepy side again tonight.  Being by myself at the front counter sure does take it out of me.  But, hey, the Sabbath is a day of rest, right?  I'll be getting some rest and getting my kitty fix tomorrow afternoon.  I'm invited over to my friends' house.  The Turner Sisters.  Pastor Ken calls us the Three Sisters because we always sit together in church.

Well good night all.  May each of you find the peace, rest, and rejuvenation that comes for being held by our Abba-God.

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 19: 7

Tomorrow, I start Phase 4, the final phase of the detox.  You'll never guess what I have to eat.  A green smoothie in the morning along with two slices of toasted, unsalted buttered, sprouted wheat bread for breakfast.  For lunch it's my choice of home made sweet potato fries or home made guacamole and home made non-GMO chips with a green smoothie to wash it down.  And for dinner we have a choice of black and green salad OR Lentil soup (not happening) and a green smoothie OR my favorite sliced raw veggies.   The black and green salad sounds really good.  It's quinoa (Keen-wah), black beans, tomatoes, and scallions (it also calls for cilantro, but that's another thing that ain't happening).

Today was calmer at work.  No last minute rushes, for which I am eternally grateful.  I don't know if it was the dark clouds off to the south southwest or what, but I'll take whatever it was.  I'm a little disappointed that the storm didn't make it this far.  Oh well.  If not here, then I hope it is raining over Lake Mead.  That would be a blessing.

I'm really excited and nervous that the end of the detox is only a week away.  Then it's on me to start planning and executing good, healthy meals to loose the weight.  I'm well prepared, though.  I've got some good cookbooks that have whole food recipes in them and I'm fairly creative in the kitchen, as well.

That's all for tonight, folks.  Still have a few things to do before dawn!

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 18: 8

One more day for the classic green smoothie for breakfast and lunch and greens for dinner.  I haven't looked at the book yet to see what is going to be on the menu for the next phase.  I believe it is the last phase of this program.  Then it's up to me to put together healthy meals to continue this journey. 

Today was a bit busier at work.  Especially at around 4:10pm.  I can not believe how many people came in, one after the other.  I was trying to get the money counted as we are supposed to have it in the safe by 4:30pm.  I finally got started on it at about 4:30.  I was right in the middle of it when, here comes another one.  I could sit at my desk twiddling my thumbs all day long, but come 4pm the hordes show up.  See, they volunteer to take stuff to the County so they can go straight home from there.  On Monday, one guy showed up at 5 minutes to 5pm.  Luckily, he didn't have every thing he needed for me to take his submittal.  Don't think I wasn't smiling when I handed it back to him.  Oh, yeah!

One really neat thing did happen on Monday at about 10 to 5pm.  Two young men came to my counter.  The difference between them and other young men that have come to my counter is they were both deaf.  I actually got to use a little sign language and actually was able to help them.  Unfortunately, I had to send them to the City of Las Vegas' Building Department.  But I was thrilled that I was able to communicate a little with him.  Bless him for his patience, too.

And what have I been doing with all that down time?  Why, I've been working on my novel!  It's coming along splendidly...I think.  Time will tell.  I'm really looking forward to this year's NaNoWriMo November.  I've got some ideas that are percolating.  I was thinking of doing short stories, maybe.  I do enjoy a good collection of short stories.  It might be just the thing.

Well, I'm done with my griping.  Time to put the clothes in the dryer and put it to bed.  I want to get up early tomorrow.  I've been hedging back towards 6am, rather than 5am.  Mostly because I'm going to bed too late. 

One quick question, though.  Does anybody know where I can get a good bottle brush?

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 17: It's the universal countdown of 9...

Today started the second have of Phase 3.  While it is back to the green smoothies for breakfast and lunch, I get a nice greens salad for dinner, complete with legumes and nuts.  Sorry, I'm just not up for fruit.  Although, I might try the raisins in tomorrow's salad.  To top it all off, I get a sprouted wheat English muffin.  I can have unsalted butter, but I went one better and I'm using unsalted clarified butter.  I also found garlic crystals, so tonight I made the poor man's version of garlic bread.  Toasted sprouted wheat English muffin, clarified butter (ghee), sprinkled with garlic crystals.  Yummy!

I have two more days of this and then it is the last and final phase.  Phase 4.  When I started this detox, it seemed I was looking down a very, very long and dark corridor with just a speck of light at the far end.  Now, I can see the exit much better.  I can't believe I'm nearly there.

Phase 4 is designed to help ease a person into healthy eating, although in truth, the whole detox is gearing you up for that.  What is so great about this is that I can do this two or three times a year.  Our bodies do need a good detoxing every now and again.  I might be brave enough to go through the level 2 next time.  Then again, maybe not.  I like my coffee orally, not up the bum.

I did some writing today on my novel.  Last November, I signed up with NaNoWriMo.  The idea is to write.  Just write.  The goal is 50,000 words between November 1 and November 30.  It doesn't matter what you write a novel or short stories.  The idea is to get people writing.  I didn't make the 50,000, but I have the start of a novel.  I read through it yesterday and then went back and fine tuned a few things today.  I also added a bit to it.  I guess it was time I dusted it off and started back up with it again.  I really enjoyed that.  Oh, for those of you that don't know, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month.  November is National Novel Writing Month.  The month of my birth.  Go figure.

I'm done for tonight.  I'd like to encourage the writers out there to give it a go this coming November.  You might be surprised to find that you have a story inside you.

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 16: Watermelon! Watermelon! Watermelon rind! Look Who's Behind!

Two days of nothing but watermelon and water.  It was interesting.  I still have two watermelons left, so I'll need to get them cut up and put in the refrigerator in the next couple of days.  I find it strangely satisfying that I never actually got hungry until it was approaching meal time.  I ate as much as I wanted, too.  One weird side effect was the burping.  After finishing a big serving of watermelon, I would burp.  I've never had that happen before.  At least, not after eating watermelon.  Very weird.

Tomorrow starts the second part of Phase 3.  I go back to the green fruit smoothies twice a day and I'm supposed to have fresh apple juice each day by itself with out any other food.  I have a juicer, but for us level 1's she said to blend it with water.  So, I will cut and core the apples and give em the Blentec treatment.  The idea is that you get not only the apple juice but all the pulp that goes with it, including the skin.  Most of the vitamins are in the skin.  Or so I've heard.  It should prove interesting.

The third meal of the day is a green salad.  Not with your garden variety iceberg lettuce, but with actual greens:  spinach, kale, collards and the like.  I have other veggies to put in the salad, as well.  I'm to add legumes (a different one each day), fruit (I'm not sure about this one), and raw nuts into the mix.  I'll use the dressing recipe that she gives earlier in the guide.  And I get to have a sprouted wheat English muffin.  Yum!  (No really, yum!  I love sprouted wheat bread.)

At work today, I was a little on the slow side.  So, I went to my home e-mail and pulled up an old e-mail that I had sent to myself with my novel in it.  I began reading through it and ideas have been percolating ever since.  I realized that I have left out a part for Thanksgiving night between my two main characters.  I must remedy that.  I don't think I'm going to write any more tonight, but I'm going to start writing on it again in the evenings.  Who knows?  Maybe I'll have a bestseller on my hands; maybe it will be an unmitigated flop.  Point is, I'll never know unless I try.

Watch out world, I'm coming out of this cocoon of fat and turning into a butterfly.  I can't wait to spread my wings and fly!

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 15: It's raining, it's pouring!

Ok.  New phase started and doing good.  Apparently, I have a knack for picking good watermelons.  I picked up four more (one is for my mom) today at Trader Joe's.  I decided to get them there after eating the one I purchased this week.  It was sweet and juicy!  Had some of the one I gave my mom and it was as well.  The watermelon actually sustained me from about 9:30 this morning until around 6ish tonight.  I was pleasantly surprised.

As I do at the start of each phase, I did a weigh and measure.  I've lost another 2lbs and 1" all over.  I knew there would not be a big weight loss this week, as there was added food.  I'm not complaining.  That's a total of 13lbs altogether and I am ecstatic!  My hope is that at the end of this 26 days, I will be under the 300lb mark.  That would be a great way to kick off this healthy eating.

As I sit here, banging out tonight's episode, I can hear the rain on the roof.  It moved in late this afternoon, complete with thunder boomies and lightening.  We've been under a flash flood watch since about 4pm today.  Earlier, when I noticed it getting cloudy out, I checked the weather online to see what the forecast was.  We weren't scheduled for any rain until tomorrow.  That's ok.  I hope it continues into tomorrow.  I could live with that.  Especially with the cooler temperatures.  It's 83 right now.

Dad is home from the hospital.  They will be sending rehab people to the house to help him.  Where the tumor was located was on the part of the brain that controls motor function and balance.  Mom has borrowed a walker for him and made him promise that he will not try to get up to go to the bathroom on his own.  So, what did he do?  While we were at the dining room table, he got up and went to the bathroom.  Mom went right after him and scolded him to not lock the door when he is in there by himself.  Men!  He's so glad to be home, though.  Comfortable in his own bed.  Mom said he looked better already in just the short time that they had been home.

So.  The rain is falling and dad is asleep in his own bed and all is right with the world.  Well, maybe not the whole world.  But for right now, it is in mine.  I can't ask for more than that.

May all your watermelons be sweet and juicy!

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 14: Mi Familia

Day 14 has come and gone and thus ends Phase 2.  Tomorrow is Phase 3 and you know what that means...weigh and measure.  I don't expect to have lost very much during this phase as there was more food.  Although, I wasn't eating as much of it either.  I'm pretty sure there will be some on the first part of Phase 3, since I'll only be eating watermelon.  (My niece used to call it waterlemon and I still think of it that way.)  I can eat as much as I want, but that is all I can eat.  My sister-in-love told me that her Costco (they live in Yucaipa, CA) had watermelons for $5.00 each.  I have one cooling in the fridge as I type and I'll start the day with that one.  I'll go to Costco in the morning and see if I can get a good deal like that.

Saw my dad today.  He's is in a really tiny room.  How tiny is it?  It's so tiny you have to go outside to turn around. Insert rim shot here.  He slept most of the time I was there.  When I arrived, the doctor was there with them.  They are talking about releasing dad to a rehabilitation center.  My mom isn't too thrilled with that.  Friends and relatives that have gone to these places have had horror stories.  My mom told him, if they aren't going to put him in the rehab located in the hospital, then she would rather take him home.

So.  Can someone explain to me the purpose of a rehab of this nature?  It's like a halfway house or something.  Your being released from the hospital but you can't go home yet.  So we're going to stick you in this half way house only we call it rehab.

Anywho, mom and I left to go back up to the house and spend some time with my brother and his family and my sister.  Around 3pm, my sister and brother went back to the hospital to see dad since they would be leaving a couple of hours later to go back to California.  My mom went over there around 4pm.  As soon as the sibs got back everyone was rushing around packing their respective vehicles.  While this was going on, here come my aunt and uncle (my dad's one and only sister).  And then mom came back from the hospital.  So much coming and going and going and coming.  Oy!  After the sibs left, mom and I had a nice visit with my aunt and uncle.  I just got home about 20 minutes ago.  I guess I'll hear in the morning, if dad is coming home or not.  I'm sure he's eager to sleep in his own bed in relative peace and quiet. 

I just want to thank all who have taken the time to pray, send positive thoughts/energy, what ever your belief system exhorts you to do, for my dad.  We are hoping this will be the last of the cancer.  My folks have done some reading and research into foods that will help keep dad (and mom) healthy and cancer free. 

Part of the reason I decided to do this detox is because I know that I am a prime candidate for a myriad of diseases, not the least of which is cancer.  God gave us all this wonderful food to eat that helps to support the incredible bodies we have been given.

"Oh yes, You shaped me first inside, then out; You formed me in my mother's womb.  I thank You High God--You're breathtaking!  Body and soul, I am marvelously made." Psalm 139:13, 14 (MSG)

I know that I have abused my body by what I have eaten in the past.  Now I have a chance to correct that as much as possible by eating as healthy as I can.  I'm cleaning out the temple and doing a total remodel.  This detox may only be 26 days long, but the journey is just beginning.  I can hardly wait to see where it leads.

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 13: I'm halfway home...

Today is the halfway point of this detox.  I have one more day of the smoothies, bug soup, and Purple Heaven, not to mention Hockey Pucks.  Then Phase 3 starts.  It's two days (I was thinking it was three) of nothing but WATERMELON!!!  I love watermelon.  However, after two days of nothing but, we will see if that statement will hold water...(can I get a rim shot?)

Today was also day one of 1 1/2 months alone at the front counter.  It went pretty good.  Not too many people came today.  Had a couple of rushes and lots of dead time.  Apparently, I did not need to worry about the stress today, but boredom.  I know, I know.  I need to learn the lesson that Paul had learned.  To be content no matter my circumstances.  I am trying.

I didn't get over to see my dad tonight.  My sister texted me that he was out of NICU and into a regular room.  He got to walk a little today and eat solid foods.  He is progressing nicely.  I'll be going to see him in the morning.  Tonight, I went up to the folks' house to spend a little time with my niece and nephew.  I always enjoy spending time with them and we had some good laughs.  They seem to have come around to my silly accents.  I told them the story of Rindercella in an Emily Littella voice.  All in all, it was a nice start to the Sabbath.

I'm pretty tired tonight.  I seem to start really fading once it hits 10pm.  So, I will put paid to this missive and call it a night.

Sweet slumber and dreams to all.  May you find rest and peace in the arms of our gracious Heavenly Daddy and wake up refreshed tomorrow.  Happy Sabbath!

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 12: My Heart is Full....

I am on the brink of the half way point of this detox.  Other than being a little tired, I'm feeling great.  My knees are the biggest improvement so far.  Little to no pain in either one of them.  I'm sleeping really well.  I don't think I'm tossing and turning as much.  My cravings have subsided immensely (except for that veggie Sammy) and I'm not feeling hungry until it's time to feel hungry.  I feel like I'm thinking a bit clearer, too.  (Or I will be once I've had some sleep.)

Today has been a rather long day.  Dad had his surgery today.  It was successful.  The doctor got all of the tumor.  She described is as slightly larger in diameter than a quarter and dense, like a giant marble.  She also removed some of the scar tissue left by the radiation treatments. She told us that he was awake and he could move his hands, arms, toes, and legs just fine.  Once we got word, my sister and I got on the tribal drums (Facebook) and beat out a tattoo of the good news. 

We finally got to see him after they got him settled in NICU.  He was still groggy and sleeping off and on from the anesthesia.  I didn't stay too long.  Just long enough to see him, give him a kiss, and tell him I love him. When I got to my car, I sat down and cried a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord.  I just thanked Him over and over again.  My heart is so full.  After I got home, I got my tater in the oven to bake and took a look on FB again.  So many people have been praying for my Dad and the tears welled up again.  Thank you all for the love, support, and prayers you have given.  My heart is overflowing.

Whilst I was perusing FB, I came across a status that reminded me of a blog I read not too long ago.  A young man named Dan Pearce has a blog called Single Dad Laughing.  I've read a lot of what he has written.  This last week, he wrote of his son's step dad.  The man, Chappy, was in a terrible motor cycle accident.  He wasn't wearing a helmet and sustained serious head injuries.  He is in a coma.  There has been some progress, but he is not out of the woods just yet.  He will live, but they are not sure what his quality of life will be.  My tears flowed yet again.  My family and I have received a miracle.  God heard our plea and my dad came through surgery with flying colors.  Chappy is also someone's dad.  A baby son, a step son, and a grown daughter.  I prayed for God to give them a miracle, too.  For God to bring their dad through this ordeal.

I ask that you would continue to lift my dad in prayer, but remember also, Chappy.  He needs our prayers, as well.

More tomorrow, campers!

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 11: Of Mice and Women...

This phase has been a strange one.  As I said yesterday, I haven't eaten everything that is on the menu for this phase; I haven't eaten anything that hasn't been allowed to this point, either.  I have tried a couple of new things that were not quite the taste sensation that I thought they would be.  And I keep dreaming of that sandwich.  It is the light at the end of my tunnel.

I'm coming to a very stressful time, as well.  I'm a little worried, but I'm trying not to be.  You see, I am an emotional eater.  I eat when I'm sad, lonely, depressed, stressed, happy, bored...you get the picture.  For a wonder I'm not as big as a house, instead of a Mini Cooper.  There are a couple of big things that are on the brink and I'm praying that the Big Guy will help me not to go over it.  My dad is having surgery tomorrow afternoon and tomorrow is my co-worker's last day for the next month and a half because she is having surgery on Friday.  I'm not so much stressed by the fact that she is having surgery (although I'm praying for all to go well for her), as the fact that I will be basically at the front counter on my own.  My counter can be stressful when there are two of us, so I'm praying for an extra helping of the Joseph attitude to get me through it.  (In case you are wondering, I'm talking about Joseph from the Bible.  Read his story for details.)  I'm trying not to fret over my dad's surgery.  He is in the hands of the Great Physician; the One who loves beyond all reason.  And most of the time, I'm good with it.  The enemy doesn't like us to be "good with it".  Ever.  So, he comes along and whispers in your ear and suddenly you find yourself fretting away.  It's like a little mouse nibbling away at a piece of cheese.  I shoo it away with a prayer, but eventually that little mouse comes back.  So I shoo it away again.  That mouse has a name, too.  It's name is What If.  That's what the enemy whispers to you, what if, what if?  With God, there are no what ifs.  With God, you give it to Him and leave it there.  And you trust that all will be right, no matter the outcome.  I've cried my tears, believe me and that's ok, too.  God can take it.  But through those tears, I've kept my eyes on Him and my hand in His.

Am I worried that I will be tempted to eat something not in the detox?  I'm not worried.  I know I will be tempted.  I'm doing something good and positive; something that will bring me to better health, so of course the enemy is going to tempt me.  Will I give in?  I don't think so.  I've been praying for God to see me through this and I believe He will.  I don't have the wherewithal, but He does.  He is strong in my weakness.

Time to call it a day. 

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 10: Of Millet and Sweet Potatoes....

Day 10 is nearly over.  I'm tired and ready to go to bed so I'll be quick.  Here is what today held for me menu wise:  Millet Porridge for breakfast and baked Sweet Potato for dinner.

Millet Porridge.  Ok.  So I read the recipe for this millet porridge and I'm thinking, "That's a lot of porridge for one person!"  I follow the recipe anyway.  It was one and a half cups of millet so the pot was full.  Then there was the coconut milk mixture that you put on it.  Coconut milk, a tablespoon of maple syrup, 1 cup of orange juice, and a couple of drops of stevia all blended together.  Then, old dopey me, I misread the directions and poured the whole lot over the millet and began to mix it in.  All the while I'm thinking that I will never be able to eat that much in one sitting.  So I look at the directions again (discovering my coconut milk faux pas) and see that the serving size is one and a half cups.  This still left quite a bit in the pot, believe me.  Then you dump in one pint of fresh blueberries, to boot.  I sat down and had the blessing and began to eat.  At first, it was ok.  I could sort of taste the millet and it tastes a bit like rice.  I think what did me in was the coconut milk mixture in with it.  I think, once the detox is over, that millet with a little unsalted clarified butter (ghee) and a dash of that maple syrup and it would be quite good.  I'm glad I at least tried it.  Oh well.

Baked Sweet Potato:  I'm sorry, but I don't think this is going to happen again.  I didn't really care for it.  Maybe it was the texture, because the taste wasn't bad.  Maybe it was the plainness of it.  I don't know.  I just couldn't eat it.  I did try, but it just wasn't happening for me.  I do seem to like them fried, but that is about it.

I didn't get my seeds on last night because I hadn't gotten them from Trader Joe's.  I didn't realize that until I went into the kitchen to put them soaking.  Well, now I have the cashews, almonds, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds and they are in for a good soaking tonight.

I do have one confession to make.  I haven't been following this detox to the letter.  I don't mean that I have eaten anything outside of what has been put down in the menu.  If anything, I have eaten less.  My week has been a bit rocky because as I go, I'm discovering things that I need to get in order to cook, clean, chop, etc. the food I am supposed to eat.  I get home, hot and tired and not wanting to make anything.  I haven't been tempted to run out to a fast food place or anything like that.  I seem to have lost my cravings for such nonsense (big smile here!).  My worst food craving, and one that was very tempting when I was at Trader Joe's, was a sandwich.  A sandwich made with sprouted wheat sour dough bread, tomatoes, avocados, onions, and sprouts.  This is what I am craving.  Go figure!  Don't get me wrong, I'm glad this is what I am craving.  Usually, I'm craving Dryer's Salted Carmel Truffle ice cream.  This is not only a step up, it's on a whole other plane.

I've no more to report tonight.  I'm feeling much clearer today than yesterday and I'm eager for what tomorrow will bring.  However, I'm so glad to be here tonight, just sitting in my big comfy lazy-boy and banging out this missive.

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 9: And the beat goes on....

Well, here we are at the end of Day 9.  Only 17 mores days to go.  I've gotten a bit of a rocky start to this new phase.  I haven't fallen of the detox trolley or anything like that, just a bit discombobulated.  This weekend, I was feeling quite clear and bright.  Today, however, I have felt foggy and muzzy; like I'm moving through molasses.  I'm not sure what is causing this, since I haven't eaten anything I'm not allowed.

It could be that I am just plain tuckered.  I stayed up too late on Saturday night and got up too early Sunday morning.  Anywho...

Before I go to bed tonight, I'll be putting some sunflower seeds to soak overnight.  They are to go into the Hot Pink Breakfast Smoothie that I'll be having on Wednesday.  Tomorrow's breakfast is Millet Porridge.  The recipe for it actually sounds pretty good.  I've never had it so it will be a new adventure for me.  Dinner is a baked sweet potato.  Again, I've never had a baked sweet potato.  I've had sweet potato fries and they were all right.  There are new taste sensations everywhere in this new phase.  I'm especially looking forward to the Purple Heaven.  It sounds a little like Chinese Coleslaw.

One thing I have noticed is that the pain in my knees has subsided greatly.  I still get a little stiff when I sit for a long period of time, but my knees do not cause me to wince when I stand.  And my ankles are not swelling anymore.  That makes me very happy.

I'm enjoying this new path I'm on.  Much more than I thought I would.  I've been looking for quite some time for something to give me the impetus to get back into eating in a healthy way.  I saw this detox and (I believe) the Spirit whispered in my ear, "This is it."  God is so good.  He always leads me to what I need so that I can do what I need to do.  He did it with my smoking.  Brought me to the laser cessation through my folks.  And here I am, seven years later, still smoke-free.  Now He's brought me to this so that I can get back on track, eating food that will sustain and nourish me, rather than riddle me with disease and pain.  Thank You, Father.

Well, that's all there is and the ain't no more...at least not until tomorrow.  Have a wonderful evening, a peaceful, restful sleep, and the sweetest of sweet dreams.

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 8: Can we talk?

Ok.  I need to make some corrections and then we'll get on.  First, I have never been a whiz at math, so when I first said that I had dropped 9.5lbs, I was incorrect.  I have dropped 8.5lbs in that first four days.  Second, I was reading the phases wrong.  Phase 1 had two parts and I just finished with the second part of the first phase yesterday.  So today was officially the start of the second phase.  It appears that Phase 2 only has one part and is seven days long.  Now, is that clear as mud?

This is the start of a new phase so I did a weigh and measure.  I have lost 2.5lbs in the last three days and about .5" overall.  That makes a total of 11lbs and 2", right?  (Please correct my math, if not.)

I went to Whole foods to get groceries today and all I can say is, "Holy money bags, Batman!"  $102 and some change later and I still need to go to Trader Joe's for a few items that were outrageously expensive at WF.  I'm not paying $13.99 a pound for raw cashews or almonds.  Merciful Heavens!  As I think on this, though, I probably spent that much ordering out at work and stopping off at fast food or take out on a weekly basis.  And we know where that has gotten me.  I need to get used to buying food and preparing it myself.  If nothing else, this should do that for me.

And while we are at it, I just have to climb on my soap box.  Is it my imagination or do people walk like they drive.  I was walking from the produce to the back of the store and I was to the extreme left.  This guy, looking at me the whole time, changed his trajectory to put himself in my path.  I had to move over and as I did, he went back to the extreme right (my right, his left).  I'm thinking to myself, "Why did you do that?  You were on that side to begin with and moved over.  Why?  So I'd have to get out of your way?"  I see this more and more.  Or the people who leave their carts in the middle of the isle as they go grab something.  I saw a guy from work (he works in a different department) today at WF.  He's a fussy little man.  I don't think he saw or at least recognized me.  He was walking in the main isle at the back of the store by the dairy/fake dairy products.  I was walking up the middle isle.  He leaves his cart in the middle of the main isle, partly blocking the isle I'm in to come into the isle I'm in to look for something.  I had to maneuver around his cart, which was blocking part of the flow of traffic with everyone else.  Why do people do that? 

Ok.  I'm off the soap box.  I'm done with my tirade.  All I can say is, the more people I know the better I like my dog.  And I don't have a dog.

More tomorrow as this adventure continues.

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 7: All's Quiet on the Western Front...

Not much to report today.  I've only had two smoothies today.  I had breakfast rather late this morning (9:30) and then just had a true day of rest.  I listened to an audio book by Sheila Walsh (God Loves Broken People, read by Sheila Walsh) and took a nap.  When I woke up, I took a shower and then had the second smoothie.

I just got home from my church's fund raiser, The Polynesian Festival. It was going strong when I left at a little after 9pm.  We have a large contingent of Samoans in our church; also Filipinos and other island folk.  Last year's Polynesian Festival raised around $3,000 for our church building fund.  It will be interesting to find out how much was raised tonight.

They had a buffet at this fund raiser and I was tempted tonight to break this detox.  The smells were marvelous and the Samoan ladies are fine cooks.  I stayed far away from the buffet, but people were eating all around me and, oh, the aromas made me salivate!  I did hang in there.  I didn't fall off the wagon.  I'm still in detox!  I just kept thinking about the first four days of this program; how great it was to weigh and measure myself on the 5th day and realize I had lost weight and inches.  No way I'm going to blow that.

Tomorrow is the start of Phase 3.  I'm getting up early so that I can hit the grocery store before the crowds and get what I need.  I think this phase is actually a full seven days.  I'll have to see.

That is all for tonight, but I would like to leave you with these words:  Be kind to yourself because you are worthy of your own admiration.  (Queenisms: 101 Jolts of Inspiration, by Kathy Kinney and Cindy Ratzlaff)

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 6: Spinach and mixed berries and bananas! Oh, my!

The hour is late and I am tired.  Today was pretty good.  My moods seem to have evened out and I didn't have the desire to thump, throttle, or answer sarcastically any one asking an oh so silly question when they came to my counter today.  Of course, taking off at 1pm might have helped.

I got to add bananas to the mix with my smoothie today.  The bananas add a bit of thickness and creaminess to the whole shebang.  I can't wait to put in the apples tomorrow.  That will be awesome.

Late this afternoon, I went up to my folks' house.  My brother and his family are here.  I just got home a few minutes ago.  When I got there, they were just getting ready to go out to dinner.  I decided it would probably be better if I just waited for them were I was at.  They were going to a Mexican restaurant and I was afraid of all the yummy smells.  I don't think I would have ordered anything, but they do bring out chips and three types of hot sauce dips.  The chips are still warm from the oven, too.  Too, too tempting.  After they returned, we sat and visited.  My niece loves to look at old pictures.  She was looking through some and came upon a picture of my sister and me.  Harmony recognized Auntie Crystal, but didn't know who the other person was.  My sister-in-love told her it was me.  Harmony looked from the picture to me with a questioning, unbelieving look on her face.  Her mommy told her that I used to have blonde hair.  I don't know if she believe us or not.

I enjoyed the visit, but I had to get home.  And now that I've done this little task, I am off to bed.  I have one more day on Phase 2 and then it's Phase 3 and something called Hockey Pucks.  For some reason, when I looked at the recipe for these, I thought "Carrot cake.  Without the sugar and eggs."  I don't know.  We'll have to wait and see.  Avocado is also being added.  And more fruit. 

That's it for tonight, folks.  Not real exciting, I know.  But not every day can be a wowser.  I don't think we could survive if its was. 

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 5: A New Phase Begins...

Good evening one and all.  I am pleased to announce that Phase 1 is over and Phase 2 has begun.  As such, I took the liberty of weighing and measuring myself.  I have lost (drum roll please, thank you) 8.5 pounds and lost 1.5" overall.  I'm feeling much better and my mood has definitely lightened.  I was down right perky today and I had to waste two hours of my life in a mandatory class at work.  So things are definitely looking up.

On Phase 2, I get to have three Classic Green Smoothies per day.  I got to add mixed frozen berries to today's green smoothie.  Much better!  Tomorrow, I will get the mixed frozen berries and two bananas!!!  On Sabbath, it will be mixed frozen berries, two bananas, and two apples!  I am salivating right now just thinking about it.  Is that wrong?  To be so excited about adding fruit to a green smoothie? 

The really great thing is that even when I start to get hungry, if I drink water, the hunger goes away.  I drink quite a bit of water anyway, but I admit, I did drink a little bit more today.  So, yes the visits to the bathroom were a little more frequent than usual.  Bye-bye toxins!

Phase 2 is a total of three days, so I don't know what the weight loss will be like for only three days.  Although...Phase 1 was four days and I didn't do so bad.  We'll see.  I'm just jazzed because I feel like I'm getting somewhere.  This is definitely going to get me back into the healthy eating mode. 

I have had one really weird, but in a good way, craving:  Last Sabbath, I had lunch at my folks' house.  We just had sandwiches.  Mine was tomato, avocado, and onion on toasted sprouted wheat sour dough bread.  It was fabulous.  I am craving that with one addition:  alfalfa sprouts.  Don't ask me why I'm craving it, all I know is that is the healthiest craving I have had in a long time.

I must close for today, but never fear, I will be back tomorrow with more.  After all.  This is an adventure, not just a journey.

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 4: Momma said there'd be days like this...

I am at the close of Day 4.  My aches are subsiding and I'm feeling calm and relaxed right now.  Of course, the calm and relaxed part could be because I am at home and there are no customers or telephone calls with silly questions.  You got it, folks.  It was another Moody Blues kind of day.  Not that I was particularly blue, just moody.

When I got up this morning, I fixed my no fruit green smoothie.  I tried my best to chug it like a beer, but it just wasn't the same.  After, I just could not face the oatmeal, so I didn't fix any.  I took my soup and any time the water wasn't giving me that "full" feeling, I had a couple of spoonfuls of soup and that helped.  Then of course, the baked potato for dinner.

Earlier in the day, my knees were still a bit tender, but all the other joints seemed to be doing OK.  I was thinking, as I walked from the parking lot to the building I work in, "This is feeling better.  Knees aren't protesting so loud this morning.  Woo hoo!"  A little later, I got up to help a customer and pain shot up through my right knee and I had to use some support to walk.

Let me just give you the back story on my right knee.  I had originally injured it playing LVJA hand ball.  Swinging with all my might to hit that little red ball, my feet came out from under me and I came down on my right knee.  Oh.  Did I mention that the gym floor was concrete?  No?  Well it was.  And it hurt.  I was black, blue, yellow, purple, and green from the top of my knee down to my ankle for about a month.  That did not dampen my Tom-boy attitude at all.  I loved sports.  Basketball, baseball, and volley ball were the top three.  I did a lot of running and being a Tom-boy, wasn't afraid to dive for the shot or the catch.  The problem was that when I landed, I almost always landed on my right knee.  I ended up with a hemotoma under the skin.  I've had a lump there ever since.

Anywho, during the morning hours, every time I stood up it felt as though my knee were split in two.  This afternoon, however, is a different story.  I am having only faint twinges in either knee.  Yippee!!!  That makes me very, very happy.

Tomorrow, I start on Phase 2 (Day 5).  For the next three days, I get nothing but green smoothies.  Kind of like the ones I had but with one very notable difference.  FRUIT!!!  Tomorrow's smoothies will incorporate mixed frozen berries!!!  I'm excited, can you tell???

Well, I'm gonna pack it in for tonight.  Be back tomorrow and I'll let you know how the smoothies are working for me.

Four days down only 22 more to go!!!

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 3: Salt...my kingdom for a pinch of salt

One more day on Phase 1!  I will be so glad when this phase is over.  It's hard to eat a baked potato with out a smidgen of butter and salt.  I have always put a pinch of salt in the boiling water before putting in the oatmeal, too.  It's been rough on my taste buds.  I know it's worth it and I feel much better now I've got that off my chest.

Today was better physically.  I still had a low grade headache, but I think I was getting used to it because it didn't seem to bother me except when it was putting pressure on the sinus areas.  The rough for me today was mood wise.  It seemed like every little thing just annoyed me. 

Of course, working a front counter at the County, you meet all sorts of interesting folks.  My favorites are the ones that are opening businesses.  They walk into our area from the rotunda.  They look at our sign (which reads:  PUBLIC WORKS CONSTRUCTION/DEVELOPMENT REVIEW); they look down the hall.  Once more at the sign; once more down the hall.  Then they walk up to our counter and ask, "Is this were I get a fictitious name for my business?"  Could someone please, PLEASE, explain to me how the words construction and development would make a person think that we issue fictitious names?  We had people stopping to ask where zoning was; where the clerk's office was, etc, etc.  Oy!  One fellow stopped and said he was looking for the clerk's office.  I wanted to reply, "Well, you're not looking very hard, are you?  Turn around.  See that sign down at the end of this short hallway?  What does it read?"  I didn't say that.  I wanted to, but I didn't.  Then to add insult to injury, one of our commissioners hosted a dance performance by a performing arts school here in town.  That would have been fine.  However, the entrance to the rotunda is just a short walk down the hall from our counter.  Again, that would have been fine, but they did a couple of numbers where they were beating the living tar out of some sort of drums.  I was at lunch at the time, sitting with my earphones on listening to an audio book and I could hear it over that.  The grand finale was earsplitting to say the least.  I wanted to stalk out to the rotunda and yell:  "SHUT IT!!!"  I didn't.  I wanted to, but I didn't.  I'm just wondering if it would have bothered me as much is I hadn't been feeling so moody.

Well, I'm just glad that day three is just about under my belt.  One more day of bland potatoes, soup, and oatmeal.  I was looking to see what I would be doing for the next phase...hmmm.  At least, there will be fruit!

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 2: Oh, my aching...(how much time do you have?)

Today didn't start out so great.  I woke up feeling a bit hung over.  I was a little headachy and my eyes felt like they were lubricated with sand.  I had my no fruit green smoothie (it has lemon in it, the only fruit I am allowed right now), and the lemon juice in it burned my throat.  I can't get that stuff down fast enough.  Then I had my bland oatmeal with a pinch of cinnamon.  I decided to forgo the Stevia this time and it tasted a little better; bland , but better.

I took the Hippo soup for lunch.  My little thermos container really did a good job.  The soup was nice and hot.  I kept thinking this soup would be really good with a few choice seasonings.  Like, say, SALT!!!  I can't have any salt at all right now.  Not even sea salt.  The Spike just doesn't cut it and the Bragg Sea Kelp Seasonings isn't much of an improvement.  Oh, well.

For dinner tonight, I thinly sliced the potato and laid the slices on the baking sheet.  I used a silicon pastry brush to lightly brush on the flaxseed oil.  Then I generously sprinkled the above mentioned Bragg's on the slices and then baked them.  It came out pretty good.  Nothing that a little SALT couldn't make a bit better!  NOTE TO SELF:  When making your baked potato in this fashion, be sure to use baking parchment on the sheet so that your potato slices don't stick to it.

Throughout this day, I've had aching joints to various degrees.  Oddly enough, I have had some pain in an old sports injury just below my right knee.  My head hasn't faired much better.  At times, it was just a low grade headache.  At other times, it felt like there were some little men in there with hammers and spikes, striking in various places.  Green Smoothie Girl said this would happen.  You are going to feel worse before you feel better.

My theory on why there are aches in the joints and in your head is this:  All the toxins are realizing there is a new sheriff in town and that they better get out before they are all hung.  So, there they are running and screaming for the only exits they can find (which aren't many) and they are clogging the exit by trying to escape at one time.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I have two more days on Phase 1.  On the morning of Phase 2, I will do my first weigh in since I started.  Seems like only yesterday...Oh.  Wait.  It was only yesterday. 

Well, that's all for today.  The tunnel seems long, but I know it will be over before I know it.  Not only is my body making adjustments, but so am I. 

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith

Day 1: And so it begins...

I got a late start this morning, as I was setting up this new blog, so breakfast was not eaten at a very appropriate hour.  As a result, lunch was much later today and dinner is not going to happen.  I'm OK though.  I've been drinking water and I'm not going to go off this detox.

Just for your edification, the menu for the first four days is as follows:

Breakfast is a no fruit green smoothie and a bowl of oatmeal.  You may be thinking, "Hey, a bowl of oatmeal?  That sounds alright."  Yes.  It does.  Except this is pretty much just oatmeal.  You can put a pinch of ground cinnamon and a few drops of Stevia in it, but otherwise, none of the other usual accouterments that people use to make it palatable.  And as for the no fruit green smoothie, I just about gagged on the last mouthful.  Lunch is a baked potato and another no fruit green smoothie.  The baked potato is also without the usual toppings and no salt.  I am to use a salt free seasoning like Spike.  You can put flax seed or hemp oil on the potato.  I sliced the potato and put the flax seed oil on it along with some crushed garlic (which I can have) and then laid them out on the baking sheet; into the oven they went and an hour or so later, out came baked potato crisps.  Well, sort of.  It was pretty good, but the Spike doesn't really help bring out the flavor of the potato.

Since I had to go to Whole Foods again to get celery, I decided to see what other salt free seasonings I could use and found one by Bragg.  It is organic sea kelp seasonings.  It has other stuff in it, but no salt.  Anyway, it was supposed to be Hippo soup for dinner tonight, but as I type this, it is cooking.

I realized that there would be a problem with lunches at work.  First, the no fruit green smoothie is supposed to be consumed right after you make it.  However, the only way to do that is to haul my Blendtec to work with me and that is just not going to happen.  Second, I don't like using a microwave to heat up the potato as microwaving changes the molecular structure of the food.  So, I decided to flip lunch and dinner.  I'm going to take the soup for lunch in a thermal container that will keep it hot and then have the potato for dinner, along with the green smoothie.  There is also a yummy looking cucumber and tomato salad that you have with the soup.  I nearly forgot that!

I feel quite good so far, only a little stiffness in my neck and a little bit of joint pain in my hips.  My knees, which were feeling better, are singing an aria again tonight.  Although, I don't know if this is the result of the detox or going up and down stairs today at the theatre.  (My sister was in town and we went to see Despicable Me 2.)  I have been burping quite a bit from both ends, but nothing too awful. 

Well, the soup is set to simmer now for one hour.  Then I shall be off to bed.  I am looking forward with anxious excitement for day 2 of this new journey. 

Tally ho!  Sweet dreams
Nevada Smith

Nevada Smith and the Detox of LIfe

Today, I start a new adventure.  I am beginning a 26-day detox program.  This program is designed to detox all of the major elimination organs (colon, kidneys, liver, gall bladder).  I'm using this program, designed by Green Smoothie Girl, to kick start my healthy eating.  Years ago, I followed a very simple plan of eating.  I eliminated wheat products, dairy products, condiments, and sodas from my diet.  I ate mostly whole foods and very little in the way of processed foods.  I lost 100 pounds in three months and kept it off for another three.  "What happened?", you ask.  Just this:  I reverted back to the old way of eating.  Quick, easy, grab-on-the-run foods.  As a result, I not only gained back the 100 pounds that I had lost, but added a whole lot more.  Today, I weighed in at 317 pounds.  That might be a good weight for a 6' 4" linebacker, but for a woman that barely tops 5' 2"--not so good.  There are a lot of factors as to why I want to loose weight.  As I implied, I don't just want to loose weight, I want to be healthy.  I want to be healthy in every area of my life:  physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  My weight is getting in the way of that.

Physically:  I have a great deal of pain in my knees.  Granted, as a young girl, I injured my knees by falling a lot during sports, however, the weight is just adding insult to injury.  Literally.  I can't walk very far without being out of breath.  Sometimes I get winded just getting dressed in the mornings.  There is the genetics card at work here, as well.  Diabetes, heart disease, and cancer are all in my family, both sides.  It's kind of like the story of Dracula.  Dracula (or any vampire, for that matter) can not enter your home unless he is invited.  Being over weight is like an invitation to the vampires named Count Diabetes, Lord Heart Disease, and Viscount Cancer.  I want to close the door on them for good and all.  Eating whole foods as opposed to processed foods can not only shut the door on these "vampires", but drive a stake through their nasty little hearts forever.

Mentally:  I feel like (as my Detox Buddy said) I'm "foggy brained".  It sometimes takes me a while to get the gears moving.  I make mistakes on things at work and at home that I shouldn't have made.  I read things wrong or don't comprehend what I'm reading.  Not always, but enough that it bothers me.  I know I'm smarter than that, but it keeps happening.  I know that when I ate whole foods, my thought processes were a lot clearer, sharper even, than they are now.  I want to get that back.

Emotionally:  My emotions are in a constant turmoil.  I dread the drive to and from work.  I get so angry at people.  In fact, anger is a pervading emotion most of the time.  Just lying under the surface and waiting to come out.  I don't like to be angry.  It is a mostly energy zapping emotion that doesn't need to be the primary emotion.  It has it's place, just not all the time.  I want to be on a more even keel; emotions only coming to the fore when appropriate.  I would like to be more calm and content.  Again, when I was eating whole foods, I was more calm and contented.

Spiritually:  Recently, I've realized that because of my weight, I don't participate in church as I once did.  I've been sitting on the sidelines and longing to jump in.  Having no energy and not wanting to stand in front of the congregation doing what I love to do because of how I look, I've become spiritually lethargic.  Eating whole foods helped to clean this temple we call a body.  It made it a comfortable dwelling place for the Holy Spirit.  Not that the Holy Spirit doesn't dwell in a temple like mine.  However, I think this must be a hard place for Him to dwell.  It's not healthy, clean, or very inviting and so I imagine it must be uncomfortable for Him.  I want to make it as clean and inviting as I am capable of doing.

Each day, I want to write about what I am experiencing in this detox.  I hope that it will inspire someone else to find a way to get healthy, too.

I'm off to have my breakfast.  I'll write more at the end of this day's adventure.

Tally ho!
Nevada Smith