Sara Dec 2010

by Sara
(Canberra, Australia)


Hey all, just about to start Veg Up and wondering where the rest of you are? I've been meaning to do something like this for ages but just haven't got myself organized. Now I'm thinking just go for it!



Veg Up



My health isn't too bad really, but I could do with a shake-up to get to peak. Could lose a few kilos but who couldn't...

I'm most looking forward to getting more energy so I can do more stuff each day. What about everyone else?

Comments for Sara Dec 2010

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Dec 13, 2010
 First off the starting block...
by: Trina (GrowingRaw)

Hi Sara, great to see you here! Congratulations, you are the very first person to start using Veg Up - apart from the kind people I had review it :)

For sure you'll start feeling an increase in your energy fairly quickly. You probably already feel more energetic because you have a psychological advantage now - you know you're getting started on making a powerful change.

The weight loss goal you're after often happens as a side-effect of healthy eating. If you make health your focus rather than losing weight then you're less likely to get obsessive about food.

How did you go with your Preparation days? Were they useful for setting you up? Do you feel completely ready to go?
Dec 15, 2010
 Prep days
by: Sara

Hi there, prep days were pretty smooth. I've borrowed a blender, I'll see how that works for me before I invest in one. I wouldn't want to spend hundreds of dollars unless I knew I was going to use it a lot.

I scored ok on the self-assessment but there's still room for improvement. Answering those questions helped me clarify my goals for the month. I mostly need to shop and prepare better so I eat healthy stuff when I'm hungry.
Dec 15, 2010
 Day 3
by: Sara

Well, I'm up to day 3, and it's like you said. A drag! After doing all the preparation and getting through the first 2 days I'm determined to keep going though. Can't wait for an energy boost to cheer me up though.
Dec 15, 2010
 Here I am!
by: Bel

Hang in there Sara, now you have a buddy. I'm just doing the goal-setting stuff and if I can get half of these it'll be awesome. Imagine how you're gonna feel when you wake up day 4 and know that there's a bit of downhill ahead of you. Just have to make it to bedtime. Go to bed early!
Dec 17, 2010
 Made it to day 4!
by: Sara

Phew, survived... actually once I made it to mid-afternoon it wasn't so bad. Helped that the weather cleared and that cheered me up. (The day started out with a huge thunderstorm.) I love these smoothie things, I think I might be overdosing because I usually make and drink more than the plan. If I drink some of that and then wait half an hour or so I've got a bit more energy again. Must be the sugar in the fruit.

Bel, my major tip for you in getting through day 3 is to get outside in the sunshine.
Dec 19, 2010
 Day 6
by: Trina (GrowingRaw)

Hi Sara, how is it going? By my calculation you must be up to day 6, is that right?
Dec 19, 2010
 Day 6
by: Sara

Yep day 6. And right now 30 days is starting to seem like a very long time! I feel a bit tired actually, but I'm still feeling good about taking some control here. Doing the reflections helps me realise I'm doing good stuff, but sometimes I have to make myself do them. Tonight's one might be short!
Dec 19, 2010
 Feeling tired
by: Trina (GrowingRaw)

I just checked up and the day 6 reflection is about noting any obstacles that have come up for you so far. Good timing to look at the tiredness you're experiencing before it pushes you off track.

The tired feeling you have sounds like the tiredness (and flatness) I get towards the end of a week long detox. The usual crutches that I'm eliminating (mainly caffeine) are leaving my system and the healthful effects of detox are just gradually and gently edging in. You can enjoy that tiredness in a way if you think about it being like a tide - your body's energy is ebbing but will flow back soon with renewed strength.

Don't forget that this is generally a very tiring time of year. Tomorrow you'll have a bit more energy than today, and a bit extra the day after that. The great thing is that your new energy will be more consistent throughout the day.

Something that helps me when I do feel a bit flat and tired is treating myself to some rejuvenating herbal teas. Nettle is a good one, and I really like fenugreek too. If you need something more soothing to settle your mind so you can rest well, then try lemon balm or chamomile. Lemon balm especially is good for soothing a 'monkey mind', which is something that can really hit you this time of year. There are so many holiday season jobs to do as the year rushes to a close and your to-do list can run around your head as you're trying to sleep. Everything seems to accelerate at this time of year!

You also mentioned a few days ago that being out in the sunlight really helped to cheer you up. Walking or swimming in some sunlight could be a good way for you to recharge your batteries.

Most important of all, be gentle with yourself. You're making some important changes right now and you're very focused, so be sure to praise yourself for everything you're doing right.
Dec 22, 2010
 Nettle
by: Sara

Thanks! Having some support really cheered me up. I couldn't find nettle tea in the supermarket but I found some in a health food shop. It was a Morlife brand and it had some other stuff in it, but I think it helped. I felt a bit more even-tempered but maybe part of that was because I looked after myself a bit.

I've also been making sure I get to bed a bit earlier. I should have been doing that for a long time anyway. So the tide of energy feels like it's flowing back.

I'm glad there's a thirdway milestone because I'll be happy to hit one. When I first read that there was a thirdway I thought it sounded weird but now I get it! I hit mine tomorrow and I'm going to reward myself with a long, relaxing Christmas Eve bath once the kids go to bed.
Dec 30, 2010
 Halfway!
by: Sara

I can't believe it! I've gotten through 2 weeks and after the first week it wasn't even that hard. I ate a bit too much on Christmas day but I still made sue I got my 5 veg and did all my checklist stuff so I felt fine about that. Actually I feel like I ate pretty well at Christmas, it certainly wasn't the usual pudding overload because my salads had already filled me up.

I've lost nearly 2 kilos which doesn't really matter, it's not my key goal, but it's still pretty nice. Won't say no... the best thing has been that my skin looks a better colour and glowier. Not shiny, but bright or something. When I did my halfway self-assessment the main thing I noticed was that my outlook on life seems a bit brighter too than when I did the initial one. I'm certainly feeling happy with myself for getting this far.

I feel like I've already made my new habits, but I guess chugging through to the end will just make them stronger.

It will be cool to see a couple of new people kicking off on Jan 1. I'm looking forward to giving some advice.
Jan 02, 2011
 Survived Christmas
by: Trina (GrowingRaw)

Hi Sara, you've come so far already! Looking back at your earlier posts you really struggled for the first week or so, but now it sounds like you're cruising. Well done!
Jan 12, 2011
 Finishing Line In Sight!
by: Sara

Wow, I can't believe tomorrow is my last day! 30 days has flown past, must have been the holidays that made it all a rush. Despite a rough start I'm feeling pretty good now. I've lost a bit of weight and I'm feeling more energetic. I think I'm sleeping about an hour less and waking up chirpier, if you know what I mean. Plus I feel really strong, like I won't catch colds or anythiing like that.

I'm still planning my reward for tomorrow, but I'm thinking I deserve to be taken out for dinner!
Jan 15, 2011
 Awesome!
by: Sara

I'm done! This has been so excellent. I wouldn't say it was easy but I feel terrific.

I'm sure I can keep up the smoothie and salad habits, but I'm over the sprouting already. The good thing is having to eat a minimum amount of healthy food each day has made me think more about the other stuff I eat. When I've put the effort into preparing and drinking smoothies and salads I don't want to mess it up with greasy fatty stuff.

I'm very happy about losing a couple of kilos this month. I think it will stay off because of sticking to the healthy habits. I do feel like I have a healthy eating habit now and I'm proud of it.
Jan 15, 2011
 Me Next
by: Bel

Well done Sara, I'm right behind you! One day to go...
Jan 15, 2011
 Hero
by: Trina (GrowingRaw)

Sara, you are fabulous!!! Congratulations on being the first person ever to progress all the way through Veg Up. You are my champion!

I feel really happy that this has worked out so well for you, and given you such a fresh, energetic start to the year.

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