The Challenge: Continued

So several weeks ago, I started a post about a nutritional challenge. You can catch up here...

so I was heading into my day--a nutritional cleanse day and I was a little leery. I actually would say my attitude sucked going into this...I hear the word cleanse and think "GI Cleanse" but this is a detox cleanse--using natural fruit juices and herbs to help to rid the body of toxins and supplementing your day with little snacks. A break to the GI system and a way to flush the body of toxins that build up in our bodies.

Nutritional Cleansing increases the health benefits you’ll receive from the ancient health practice of cleansing. The herbs, vitamins and minerals that aid cleansing do two things:

• Accelerate the removal of impurities from the body.
• Nourish the body with vital nutrients to rapidly revive health.

A cleansed and revitalized body is stronger, resists illness better, is more efficient and performs at a higher level than one that is filled with impurities. Many people notice an ability to reach and maintain their ideal weight.

I was expecting to hate it and call it stupid. I am the biggest skeptic out there. It took me a year to even try this. 

But I was feeling energized and CLEAR. I tried a one day cleanse and I could not believe how great I felt! even dare say better than I had in a long time.

I continued the nutritional plan as written and not diverting from it for a second. After a few days, it was insane how GREAT I felt. And alert. I did not miss coffee and I any sort of craving for "junk" was deeply diminished. In week one I dropped 8lbs and my lean tummy was returning.

I continued on with week two in the same way. Super clean nutrition, eating every couple of hours and using only clean nutritional supplements (vitamins, a super clean protein shake twice per day), implementing the nutritional cleanse to release toxins and lots of water.

These are just random pics of some of my meals

At the end of the two week trial period I dropped 14lbs and nearly 2 inches from my waist. From that loss, my body fat dropped 4.7%.

I was sold. There would be NO GOING back to the way I was eating before.

getting leaner every week
no, I did not make my bed 

I consulted a nutritionist regarding this plan and the needs for endurance athletes; she helped me to map out a plan specifically for me (as well as a structure for endurance athletes) and how this is going to play into my life once I up my training and hit some bigger cycles. I was psyched to have her look over the plan and give it a big thumbs up and talk to me more a bit about how the whole system played a role in recovery, refueling and keeping that muscle mass.

BUT--The biggest reasons I am sticking to this plan?

ENERGY-my energy is through the roof! no more stimulants like coffee are even needed. I feel amazing. Never have I felt this energized and focused. 

RECOVERY-my body recovers quicker workout to workout.

STRENGTH-I am preserving LEAN MUSCLE MASS and dropping body fat (measurements and body fat measurements confirm this)

TIME-It made my day easy and simplified my daily nutrition. I have super easy grab/go options and I am getting in MORE nutrient dense meals into my day without spending more time prepping them. 

-It falls in line with every single EAT CLEAN principle I have been behind since I started my own 120lbs of weight loss 5 years ago. Ethically, it agrees with all the fundamentals I have been held onto from the start!

I cannot wait to tackle 2014 leaner & meaner than ever!!