Wow!

So.  I am pretty excited to report that after 5 days of doing no refined sugar, I am down 5 pounds!  I am convinced this is 'bloat' weight that was being retained because of evil refined sugar.  I really couldn't be happier, though, because it is SOMETHING after so long of seemingly nothing, and I can't help but be filled with the conviction that THERE IS HOPE FOR ME YET! :) 

Working out went well last week.  Sore, sore muscles! The lower body workout made my deep glutes so sore it was ridiculous!  (How did they get so OUT of shape in such a short time??)  For my eating the past week I am actually following more of a weight watchers type plan to gauge my caloric intake, while still eating clean & low fat and making sure to get my protein (in addition to no refined sugar or sugar-added foods).  My energy level for working out was fine with this. .. .. BUT, I admit to feeling hungry more often.  This is surely an adjustment phase and rightly so, b/c I am now consuming about 500 less calories a day than I was before.  With the P90X nutrition plan, I was consuming closer to 2100 calories - now I'm down to 1600 or so.  I feel like this forces me to think about my food choices more.... what will fuel me better, what will stay with me longer?  And that is a good habit and way of thinking for me to adopt long-term.

I am extremely hopeful that this no sugar change will also help my body to start burning more fat while I'm working out so strenuously.  In my research on the evils of refined sugar

(refinedsugarisevil.blogspot.com)

I've learned the following (among many other interesting things):  Consumption of sugar causes blood sugar levels in the body to rise, which stimulates insulin production.... . insulin tells the body not to burn stored fat.  Body fat can't be burned when the body is converting glucose (sugar) into more body fat. So if you have too much sugar therefore too much insulin going on, your body is not going to burn stored fat for energy.  Sugar also decreases growth hormone production, which is the key to staying youthful and lean.

Such a simple concept but it explains sooooo much!!! I'm tellin' ya - Refined Sugar is Evil.  BAD STUFF!!!

Keep pushing play!! :)