i posted this in the forums but i wanted to post it here as a reminder of when i began this clean journey. i eat pretty clean, but there are some evils that i need to get rid of and after my first day is almost over... i feel really great about what i have done so far.

rough night last night and also a rough week overall. i had some really stressful days and i tended to want to turn to food. i wonder if my over consumption of sweet and low and sugar subs is affecting my appetite for foods that aren't so great. i have been eating pretty clean, but there are a few things i have been using as crutches and i am simply going to stop this cold turkey, right now.

starting today, i eat clean. the only exception i will allow for is my protein powder which has sucralose and i don't know of a faster/easier way to get my protein, glutamine, and creatine after a workout. once this is gone, i will look for a more natural - unsweetened - alternative. maybe if i see one soon i will even pitch what i have.

otherwise, no more creamer in my coffee, no more sweet and low, no more sugar free gum (or sugar gum), no more white sugar (but this wasn't a problem before), no more white bread or bread with preservatives/sodium... no more fiber bars. can you believe i had 8 pieces of gum on friday? EIGHT. my jaw was sore from chewing... imagine what my body did what that fake sweetener in those 8 pieces. and what a waste of calories. sure, i did not eat 40 calories of food but i COULD HAVE and had more nutrition instead of empty fake sugar and a sore jaw. no more using gum (or anything else) as a crutch.

this chick is going clean! and my first day is great so far. i have enjoyed it... i picked up the book "The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged" by tosca reno.. she writes for oxygen magazine. lots of info i already knew and lots more. basically, i am going to fit this clean eating lifestyle into my current CK standards and then when i am ready to maintain this will help me to stay focused. i am also hoping this will help me get the final 15 lbs off and help to lean me out. she suggests that 80% of our bodies is what we eat and only 10% exercise and 10% genetics. i have seen this to be true with CK so i hope taking out the artificial stuff will really help.

i highly recommend the book. it's tough to make six small meals work on only 1250 cals, but i think i have a plan this week. i have planned mon and tuesday and i think i will repeat those days for the rest of the week. i already have all my lunches and snacks made and divided out. i am super excited. one thing i am really increasing is healthy fats, and i think this will help make me more (cough) regular. i have been getting fiber, but now there is more of an abundance, and it's CLEAN fiber! yay! plus the fat will help for that fiber to be properly digested.

i just had my first piece of ezekial low sodium sprouted grain bread and i am hooked. delicious! i never knew eating clean could be so yummy. i also had some organic plain yogurt with some honey added and some cinnamon. also delicious. so far my sodium count is less than 500 for the day and i only have 1-2 small meals left. this rocks. i feel so empowered, so motivated... so... CLEAN!

thanks for the inspiration aubrey!