Hi all. I must say, this "Live with Less" challenge is quite a task. I didn't think it would be as difficult as it has been. My husband and I started yesterday when we woke up. So, yes, I did have one whole day of living with less AND my 21-Day Cleanse. Luckily I taught all day long yesterday and was so busy, I hardly recognized what was happening until I got home from work and immediately wanted to flip on the TV. We are only allowed to watch 1 hour of television each day and we were so nervous about what we wanted to "spend" our hour on, we ended up waiting so long, we didn't watch anything and went to sleep without turning it on. I honestly can't remember a day that's happened in our marriage when we weren't camping or something. Sad but true.
My biggest challenges so far: not using paper towels or napkins. Especially when my cat spazzed out on our coffee table and knocked over two glasses of water AND a cup of tea onto some important papers. Today at the gym, I also found it difficult not to use PTs. I forgot to bring a towel with me, so there was lots of wiping my face and hands on my shirt. Not using my iPod while working out was really boring. Hard to stay motivated up there. I decided to watch the TV instead and then I remembered this challenge includes a television diet and ended up just staring off into space. 40 minutes felt like 40 hours, but you know what? I survived and the world kept turning.
I definitely "plug in" quite a bit and separate myself from the world around me. For instance, I much prefer to use email than the telephone. I think doing this challenge is really going to be helpful. As resistant as my partner and I are to the assignment, I honestly think it'll be a jump start for us and our communication. We do zone out in front of the TV after work and after just one day, we're already talking and connecting more. Glad Oprah suggested it.
As I type this, I'm eating some smoked salmon and drinking a green tea. HALLELUJAH for the day after the 21-Day Cleanse. I'm really glad I did it and think it was a good experience and I am grateful to have added some diversity to my diet, but oy! Enough with the soy already. I have it at least once everyday when I'm not doing the cleanse, but for 3 weeks, I had it in some form at almost every meal. I felt my brain turning into edamame.
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Today's rerun is about the pregnant man. Remember that one? I've been paying a lot more attention to the audience than I did the first time the show aired. They look horrified - at least in the beginning of the hour. As much as Oprah can generally drum up all the excitement and support she desires, today's audience seemed far more resistant. She's also plugging A New Earth quite a bit. I really appreciate what she's saying about the evolution of acceptance of "diversity" in our society, but I can also understand how her words have sparked controversy and anger in her more conservative viewers. After much thought on this topic, I have to say I respect that she is speaking her beliefs, instead of censoring herself based on ratings. Regardless of whether or not I agree with her viewpoints, I think on this topic, she is a good example the "live your own truth" gauntlet she's thrown down to the rest of us. As many of us have discussed, she's not always consistent when it comes to this, but today's show displayed her at her most fearless.
Monday, June 9, 2008
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So I just read O's blog entries for the 21 day cleanse. While I felt a critical spirit in me that wanted to be harsh that she had Tal make her food for her, she did eventually have to give him up. However, I notice she still had other people doing her homework for her when it came to finding food *(which was take out...Not a very "Live with Less" thing to do).
That being said, I have to say that when it comes to relating to the real woman and all that, at least she's doing this challenge. While her reality is different from most, she's still having to make some real and significant sacrifices. And, at least for that, I have to give her props.
hey judes! i agree - i am glad to see that she is doing the 21-day challenge. i hope she does some of the other challenges she gives and writes about them. the blog is a good idea for her, i think. much more relatable and personable than usual. i am looking forward to reading the rest of her cleanse blog once it's posted...xoLO
So how did the 21 day cleanse make you feel? The lady who introduced it made it sound like it would change you life-do you feel better?
hi kelly! well, i can't say it was a life changer, but one thing that was great was that i didn't have any tummy problems during it. i get heartburn pretty easily and don't always have the most...er...regular...digestive system. over the 21 days, i was working like clockwork AND heartburn free (i still took my prescription meds for the acid reflux, though). that was pretty cool. i'm not sure if the two are related or not, but i also didn't breakout at all. i don't really have too much trouble with my skin, but i'll have an occassional breakout. over the past 3 weeks, nada! on the flip side, i got hungry sooner after my meals than i normally would. i am a pretty healthy eater in general, but as i was using mainly soy and beans for protein, those low fat choices didn't really "stick" as well as some of my usual ones. in retrospect, i could have added more nuts, but i was already doing them once a day and didn't want to overdo it.
i did have an organic Amy's chicken sausage last night for dinner and got indigestion. i think maybe that was too heavy to introduce right away.
all in all, not a bad experience. i was definitely SUPER aware of all my meals and i was able to "savor" my food, as oprah said was important in past shows. it made me appreciate every bit of food i ate.
i would actually recommend the experience.
thanks kelly!
xoLO
I agree, at least Oprah's doing the challenges along w/ the audience. I know that's probably hard..wouldn't it be easier on her to just, I don't know, .. not challenge the people?
yo that_girl, i don't know, with oprah's personality, i think it would be harder for her NOT to challenge her audience. :)
i think one of her personality strengths is not being afraid to speak her mind and communicate what she believes to be the "right" path to travel.
i do agree it's really good she's chosen a challenge to follow. as i know all too well, it's a lot easier to give suggestions than to take my own advice. i realllly do wish she'd do all of her challenges, though. i know it'd be hard for her, but we've all got our own obstacles - they might not be as grand as oprah's, but just as valid.
xoLO
Hi - a bit late to point this out, maybe - but I read earlier you had thyroid issues. Soy is not something you should eat or drink on a regular basis, as it interferes with your thyroid. Mary Shomon has an informative post on this at about.com
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