Today is the first day of the Food Stamp Challenge, known as 3SquaresVT here in Vermont, in which I live on $38/week, the average weekly food benefit of a single person.
It took me about an hour yesterday to plan my recipes and grocery list for the week. Not surprisingly, it didn’t take me long to shop for the grocery items pictured to the right. Here’s the start of my menu for the week, along with costs.
3SquaresVT is what we call food stamps in Vermont. And from November 11-17, I’ll participate in the 3SquaresVT / Food Stamp Challenge, living on $38 in groceries for the week.
Here’s the deal:
“The 3SquaresVT / Food Stamp Challenge seeks to highlight what it is like to eat on the average 3SquaresVT benefit — approximately $1.80 per meal for a single person. The many people who have taken the Challenge have learned first hand what it is like to try to make ends meet on the average benefit.
My 21-day Quantum Wellness Cleanse ended on Friday. For three weeks, I abstained from sugar, caffeine, alcohol, meat, dairy and gluten. I developed a surprisingly delicious diet of vegetables, rice, beans, tofu, tea, water and assorted gluten-free products.
On Saturday morning, I weighed 6 lbs lighter than I did 21 days ago and lost 1.5 inches from around my stomach. The most dramatic effects were in the first week, although finally being able to get back to the gym this third week nudged along further weight loss.
You can read more about the journey in these blog entries:
This past, final week, I actually had to give up my watered-down decaf coffee. I could even feel the effects of that minimal amount of caffeine on my heart. I switched to decaf tea and the jittery feeling went away.
I also came to terms with the fact that when I’m upset, I want to eat junk food. A lot of it. I didn’t crave anything so much as I craved the idea of lots of it. I abstained and rediscovered that going to the gym, working up a sweat and spending some time in the sauna provided not only the exertion my stress needed, but also an excellent and spacious transition from work to home.
I feel relieved that a lot of my unhealthy food habits seem broken. I enjoy making and eating breakfast at home now, instead of grabbing something on the go. I’ve stopped snacking at work, even when I’m working on an exciting project, which is an odd habit I discovered in Week 1. I haven’t craved Diet. Mt. Dew or too much coffee or sugar in the 21 days. The fact that this is an all-or-nothing type of cleanse really worked for me.
I ended the Quantum Wellness Cleanse yesterday, by having lunch with a friend at August First in Burlington. I ordered a Tofu Salad sandwich and nibbled on the bread. Surprisingly, the bread held little charm for me after this cleanse, although I could taste that it was good bread. The tofu was much more to my liking. Later that evening, I had a beer from The Alchemist (a Heady Topper) and about 6 oz. of Nutty Steph’s chocolate at home.
And while The Alchemist never ceases to amaze me, it was all rather anti-climatic. My taste buds have come to appreciate much more subtle flavors, textures and, especially, spices as opposed to the overwhelming nature of caffeine, sugar, alcohol, animal products and gluten. I wouldn’t have been able to learn that had I just cut back on sugar or breads. A whole-system reset was in order for my body to actually taste and feel the negative affects of, say, caffeine (heart-stopping!).
So it looks like much of this Cleanse has become a lifestyle! For my own health, I’m excited, but it’s also exciting because of the environmental and other positive effects a mostly vegan, gluten-free lifestyle can have. Here are some fun resources I’ve found on my journey:
My next indulgence will be a (decaf) Maple Latte and some toffee from Espresso Bueno, but I’m not in a rush. I actually need to make breakfast now: a tofu scramble with lots of veggies and spices!
Sixteen days down on the Quantum Wellness Cleanse! I’ve lost a total of 4 lbs and about 1 inch around the waist, 1.5 inches around my thighs and 1 inch around my upper arms.
Week 2 was more difficult than Week 1. Returning to work after vacation, I found that we have new chefs – actually, new bakers – at the College cafeteria! I’ve resisted the cinnamon rolls and homemade bread, but it was an epic battle.
Many of us are returning to work today or tomorrow after some vacation time. We’re probably also facing a horrendous number of e-mails, voicemails and a stack of work to start right away, despite still having “vacation brain.”
Simultaneously, you may ask if the vacation was really worth it. But not me. The vacation is always worth it. Let me tell you why and it might help your Monday go a bit smoother.
Week One of this Quantum Wellness Cleanse is behind me. I spent about the same amount of money on groceries that I would have for junk food or restaurant dinners, so the fact that I’m 3 pounds lighter and feeling pretty darn good is rewarding.
To recap:
I’m working off of Kathy Freston’s 21-Day Quantum Wellness Cleanse.
I’ve eliminated the Big Five from my diet: sugar, caffeine, alcohol, animal products (meat & dairy) and gluten.
On Days 1-3, I had a growing headache and was very, very tired from the caffeine and sugar withdrawal.
I’m doing a 21-day cleanse based on Kathy Freston’s The Quantum Wellness Cleanse. This is a BIG cleanse, eliminating the BIG Five:
Essentially, my entire diet! These five components clog up any system, though: decreasing blood flow, diminishing memory, muscles and natural energy, increasing my risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer and getting me out of touch with the natural needs of my body.
Tonight, I sorted out the fridge and determined what needs to be finished, given away or thrown in the trash. (Yes, I recognize the irony of: “Hi, friend. Have some of this food that I’ve deemed unhealthy.”) I also planned my menu for the week and the grocery shopping I’ll do tomorrow.
I decided to do this cleanse because I’ve been feeling stiff, sore and tired in the past six months. I haven’t had the energy I’d like and my weight has plateaued, despite changes in my diet. Let me outline what I’m actually saying Yes to:
The cleanse is 21 days. Just 3 weeks and, for the first 11 days, I’ll be on vacation with a little more control of my time. The cleanse has me getting off of the Big Five all at once, right from the get-go, so this may be difficult. On the other hand, I think I may respond well to the big-changes-all-at-once approach. Regardless, I know I need to take a quantum leap in regards to my diet. I do not eat well and yet I know I’d like to live past, oh, say, 65.
Tomorrow I’m meeting someone for coffee and will likely have the largest latte I can buy, pre-cleanse. I’m also finishing the last can of Diet. Mt. Dew in my fridge tonight. Then, around noon tomorrow, the Quantum Wellness Cleanse plunge!
