Day 4- Office day, potential danger zone. Started out with a medium glass of chocolate milk and half a coffee cake Costco muffin that was left in the freezer. Clearly, it was not a great choice, but didn’t want to waste it and just gave into the sweet craving probably caused by getting up three times the night before. Packed a handful of carrots, two Babybel cheeses and took the water bottle into work. From my desk, I made sure to get up every hour and walk the hallway with a 15 minute lunch stroll around the office building, came back in and walked up the flights of stairs. Lunch raisins, carrots, peanuts, 5 saltines, those cheeses,5 mini peppermint patties over the course of the day and water. Worked until 4 pm, came home exhausted and took a nap before heating a bowl of leftover chicken soup from Saturday. Somewhere in there I had half a papaya. Total- 1 fruit, 2 vegetables including what was in the soup. Not such a great day from an “Eat the rainbow” perspective- but not too bad either.

Day 5-This is really the day 1 because the kids have been gone long enough for me to sort of eliminate their old stuff and recover from the late night. I woke reasonably refreshed and after feeding the dogs, took myself out for a walk- did 4000 steps- solid start. Came back to the regularly scheduled and now ripened, half papaya. For lunch, there was the last of the chicken and dumplings with half a cup (measured it out) of blueberries. My snack did include about 2 tablespoons of peanuts and a glass of chocolate milk. Dinner was roasted Brussel sprouts and potatoes with olive oil and garlic alongside a spinach and avocado salad with 4 of those raisins for dessert. That meal completely deserves an award! Feeling pretty good about myself because I made a 6000 step target plus two additional bike rides. Total- 2 fruits, 4 vegetables- not counting the soup. I did it, feel great. Weight, unfortunately no changes.

Day 6- Planning- Breakfast, papaya, Lunch- Milk with peanut butter crackers, carrots, Dinner-spinach salad, grilled portabello mushroom over pasta. Dessert fresh pineapple Exercise- 15 minute kettle bell and walk. Total- 2 fruit, 3 vegetables, might add some green beans to the pasta.

Ok, things did not go as planned. My original thought to go into the office was sort of foiled while waiting for a medical test result. I opted to have milk and cheerios with a handful of blueberries for breakfast because I wanted toast and an egg but was not in the mood to cook. The morning walk got side-tracked, but there is still time in the day. I am thinking since I am at home will have papaya next with a few peanuts, before working on dinner.

Still no exercise and no weight changes either. I figured at least water weight would disappear by now, but nothing. I did have that papaya and some fresh cut pineapple, too. Lunch was two peanut butter crackers with cinnamon. Dinner pasta with portabella mushroom, green beans and broccoli along with onion and garlic in a homemade semi-alfredo sauce made with those soft cheeses sold at Costco. Honestly, I was noticing at the end of the bowl, I was sort of pushing the pasta aside to have more vegetables. That has to be good. No salad, no carrots and feeling pretty full by 7pm. My biggest cheat is 12 chocolate covered raisins in 3 portions of 4 each. No exercise. However, tomorrow is a surprise 5 mile hike with a friend at 8:30am and then lunch out. Things should balance out. Total- 2.5 fruit 3 vegetables also noting that today was completely meat free. I doubt tomorrow will be- maybe I will try again on this weekend on that front.

Day 7- Plan- Papaya, having lunch out, Dinner salad (going to keep this light)

Day 8-Plan- Smoothie, lunch papaya salad from farmers market, Dinner those roasted sprouts, potato, salad

Day 9-Plan- Golf day-Omelet, carrots, peanuts, snack Dinner green beans, salad, potato

Day 10-Work training at home early- Smoothie, Lunch Dinner, maybe dinner out ?? otherwise see below

Day 11- Husband leaves tonight-Chicken broccoli stir fry

Day 12-Work training. This seems like a good stopping point. Will update as I go along.