Greenmama's 60th Day Special

Who needs an excuse to celebrate?  LOL!

My cute kids, ages 3, 10, 7, and 12.  They all smiled at the same time!  

I started Freelee's challenge because I noticed that there were a TON of women on this site, freaking out about their weight and whether they could stop the calorie restriction.  I personally had struggled for 6+ years of serious binge eating.  And I had recently found help from going to Overeaters Anonymous and increasing the daily amount of calories that I ate to between 3000-4000 of low fat, high carb, mostly fruit calories.  And I had not gained any weight doing so.  

I am over-fat from years of abusing my body.  And I WOULD like to lose weight.  But I also object to the idea that somehow my weight defines who I am or how happy I can be.  I mean seriously, this is 2012, and many women seem to believe that the most important thing about them is how they look in a bikini.  Good grief!

I used to be obsessed that if I got to the proper number on the scale because I believed somehow I would be happy when I got there.  Then I did get to that magic number.  And guess what, nothing magical happened.  Not to mention that I got there on 1600 calories a day, and I was starving!  I felt like a failure when I binged my way back up.  Now I know that it was just the natural result of under-eating.  Now, when I eat enough, no binges.  No more horrible dairy foods, chips and chocolate for me.  I no longer crave them.

Now I'm gonna really do this program for 1 full year, at least to the best of my ability.  I'm gonna accept myself and my imperfections along the way, because it is a waste of valuable energy to beat myself up.  I could be using that energy to have fun, play with my kids, help others, and do something for the planet.  I can't thank all of you who have been reading this and supporting me since Day 1.  You have no idea what it means to me!

Here's my challenge stats so far

*I will add my measurements when I can find where the kids took my tape measure...

Starting                                                           Current 

Weight: 140                                                    Weight: 146 (typically I range between 140-147)

Waist: 31.5"                                                    *Waist:

Bust: 34"                                                         *Bust:

Hips: 37"                                                         *Hips:

Arm: 10.5"                                                      *Arm:

Thigh: 21"                                                       *Thigh:

Calf: 15"                                                          *Calf:

Here's some photos from Day 60.  Sorry my camera is so very crappy.  And my 7 year old took them.  LOL!

Questions from the audience...

Grape Nut asked me:

Q. How is your energy level?

A. My energy level is pretty amazing.  I do continue to eat cooked, salty food and have detox symptoms from that, which probably brings my energy down a bit.  I also am erratic with my sleep and do better when I get at least 10 hours.  I also notice the quality of my sleep is much better when I'm carbed up.  I don't have that daily mid-afternoon slump or drowsiness when I drive any more.

Q.  Can you compare your mood before and at the 60 days?

A.  My mood is overall improved.  I still am up and down from day to day

February Girl asked me: 

Q.  Where was your energy before and after?

During this challenge, I've put a lot more energy into my garden because it's Spring.  I've put a lot more energy into helping others in whatever way I can, because it feels great and helps me feel like I have a purpose here on Earth.  I think doing this challenge has been a way for me to focus on the little things I can do to inspire or encourage or educate others.  Somehow I feel more motivated to care for myself if someone else can benefit.  And also, I think I have been more accepting of where I am at in my journey right now, rather than always having negative energy and disappointment like I used to.

Q.  How do you get in bed by 9:30?

Well, as you can see, I don't always!  I am fortunate that everyone else in my house typically goes to bed before 9:30, except for the little guy.  He stays up until the last light is out and both parents are in bed with him.  So getting him in bed early is extra motivation for me, too.  To make it happen, I have to just consciously go upstairs, get in bed and turn off the light. It does help to read in bed for a little while before lights out, but I don't always do that.  

Joe Canoe asked me:

Q. How do you manage to juice so much o.j.?

A.  My husband and occasionally my kids do help.  And if I am juicing orange juice, I am usually surfing 30BAD with the other hand.  LOL!

Karen Sinclair asked me:

Q. Why the added salt?

A.  I believe salt is a poison and I will be leaving it behind.  No excuses for why I still eat it.  I just do.  But I believe I will get there.

Finally, several people asked for garden photos.  Honestly, my camera is so awful, I feel sad that you can't see much, but here you go.

There are 3 different kinds of lettuce on the left, and kohlrabi and lambs quarters on the right.  I used orange boxes to make the paths and put some yard waste on top to keep the boxes from blowing away.

Red Russian (Ragged Jack) that overwintered and is flowering now.  There are tons of bees and butterflies visiting the flowers.

An heirloom tomato which I direct-seeded, and mulched with shredded office paper.  I am trying an experiment this year with direct seeding and using home-made cloches made from reused pop bottles that I rescued.  Our town does not have recycling.