Wedding stress - for non-traditional weddings

My wedding is a little over 5 months away. Yesterday and today I have become a huge stress ball over everything. I'm looking up "proper wording" for invitations. I'm happy that my Matron of Honor got her dress ordered, but now I'm worried that my Maid of Honor isn't ordering hers for 2 more weeks...and will that be early enough? Plus, has she called the place that she wants to order it from to see if they'll even order it or do I need to bring her to the place I originally found?

I mean, come on...these are grown women. My Maid of Honor knows how to do these things, so why am I stressed about it? As for the invitations, I'm inviting mostly family and a few friends (unfortunately not everyone that I wish that I could, but budget and size of venue, etc) so no matter what the wording, no one is going to be insulted or shocked or anything...so why (again) am I so worried that I need to word it perfectly?

I know that I have a tendency of being a perfectionist, but I've really been working on that for a while and I really had hoped that I wouldn't be paranoid about little things like wording...but I am.

Part of why I am writing this is in hope that in the future, someone else who is in this situation in the future will find the work I have done and not have to go through it herself.

Concern 1 - just inviting a limited group of people to a reception - not the ceremony...do you include that?

After going back and forth on this, I think no...we just say we want them to celebrate with us, but don't mention that there is a "private ceremony"...some people might be bothered by not getting invited, even though no one really is...so I say just go for the "you're invited to the party" or something much more elegant that says the same thing.

Concern 2 - heavy passed hors'dourves not a sit-down dinner

Now I will admit that there is no way anyone in their right mind will leave this party hungry, but I have been told to give people a heads up that there is no sit-down dinner. This is already listed on the website that we made, however, my Matron of Honor reminded me today she keeps forgetting that we have a website. Therefore, I can't just think that other people will remember to check the website.

Remember, you will invite family members (most likely) and some will be older. Just because you and your friends understand the concept of the internet and non-traditional things...make the assumption that no one does...even your friends.

The other thing, no matter how close you are with your friends, this wedding is not as important to them as it is to you. I keep having to remind myself that it's my fiance and I that are planning this and need to be happy with the decisions. My best friend is not remembering every little detail nor should I expect her to...just because she's my Maid of Honor doesn't mean that she should drop everything (5 months before the wedding...but the day before the wedding I think it could be acceptable).

This is where I am at right now. Hopefully some of my ranting will help someone else in the future. It has helped me for now.

Staying motivated

We are starting week 3 of P90, and it's starting to get a little boring, so we're figuring out ways to keep motivated. By the two of us working out together each day that helps, and adding some Wii tennis afterwards helps.

Knowing that I keep moving towards the direction I want helps, but, there needs to be more. Why is it that we start to make changes in our life, stick with it for a while, and then we have a hard time sticking with this new lifestyle? It's why resolutions "fail" right? What is it that we get "tired of?" I enjoy eating right, and I love working out, yet I seem to have problems sticking with it past January or February, then I go back around April, and it just goes up and down.

Why are we this way? That is what I am going to ponder for a while.

Detox days 5-7

I totally forgot to blog recently! I apologize...I will summarize.

Day 5

I started to feel really good and refreshed. I felt light and that my skin looked great. I worked out (P90 cardio) in the morning and then did yoga (Candlelight restorative) in the evening. I had enough energy for sure.

I switched over to banana for the morning shake and berries in the evening. I also got to switch to almond milk which I liked better, it wasn't as sweet (even though I had unsweetend for both).

Lunch was a never ending salad. 2 cups of lettuce/spinach mixture, 4 oz of baked chicken (with garlic, lime juice and cayenne pepper), 1/2 cup of quinoa, and 1/4 of an avocado

Day 6

Still feeling good, but wanting to just call it done. I think a bunch of that had to do with us ice skating outside and I really wanted some hot chocolate...tea wasn't cutting it 100%. Workout in the morning was P90 strength (as well as some cleaning of the apartment AND carrying the Christmas tree to the car over my head...we recycled our tree to be turned into mulch). We also (as I mentioned above) went ice skating for about an hour down at Millennium Park...so much fun.

Lunch for today was 3 ounces of chicken, 1/2 cup of lentils, 1/2 cup of quinoa, and a cup of sauteed/steamed kale (with onions and garlic). I added Braggs because I really am in need of taste. I also added the rest of the no sodium chicken broth.

I drank so much tea...I couldn't stop peeing at times! Oh and I did take the second epsom salt bath, which felt amazing (especially after being outside skating for so long...even though it wasn't really cold out, it was in the 40s).

Day 7 (thank goodness)

I am getting bored of this I think is the biggest problem. That and I'm just hungry. After 7 days of detoxing it's not surprising. My skin looks good, I feel good overall, just tired...drained. Again, I think it's because of the lack of calories and my normal working out (this morning was an hour of yogalates).

Lunch was eaten because I was so hungry, but it was not really appetizing. I was trying to use up what we had, and it tasted fine, but I think that was a bunch of mental pressure on my taste buds. I'm almost embarrassed to write it. 2 hard boiled eggs (eaten on their own), 1/2 cup of lentils, 1/2 cup of quinoa, 1 cup green beans, some sea salt, no salt beef bouillon , braggs on top. Really don't recommend that one, unless that's all you have on hand.

Now I'm just going to take some time to reflect on this (and plan to write about my reflection on here). We are going to take some pictures (since I'm viewing the end of the detox to be the beginning of my "diet"), and I'm going to enjoy some more tea.

I have decided that I am going to bring back black and green tea beginning tomorrow, and hold off on the coffee for a bit. Tomorrow is also going to be a vegetarian day. We have decided to have at least one vegetarian day a week, and a few other vegan and vegetarian meals throughout the week. It should be a good transition and I'm looking forward to the next steps of this adventure.

Detox day 4

This morning started off as an emotional disaster. I cried on my way to work, I was short with the first few students that I saw, but they turned me around.

Overall, aside from being hungry and slightly emotional, I feel pretty amazing. My skin looks good, I feel rested, I feel strong, I feel well circulated (is that a word or phrase that actually exists?). I'm wondering if I do have a gluten or dairy issue, because I feel so amazing and it's been 4 days without those foods. Of course it could be a number of things...since I have no dairy, wheat, red meat, gluten, sugar, processed food, table salt, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine...you know pretty much everything :)

4 down, 3 to go

Day 3 - detox

So far my headache has gone away. Woke up this morning feeling refreshed, it was nice. Followed waking up with putting too much pepper in the water...it's ok, it happens.

The pup wanted to go on a short walk this morning, which was a nice surprise, thought it wasn't as cold as it had been. After the walk it was P90 time! My calves are hurting after day 3, but it's a good hurt. Nothing else is really sore so I feel like I need to push it more...but waiting until after this detox is done.

"Breakfast" was made by my fiance and he did a great job. Lunch was prepared last night and unfortunately I did have to use a microwave today, but I knew just a salad wasn't going to cut it for me. Today for lunch was 4oz chicken (coated in cayenne pepper), over 1.5 cups of lettuce with 1/4 of an avocado and 1/2 cup brown rice and the rest of the roasted brussel sprouts heated up.

When I was telling my sister-in-law about how wonderful yesterday's lunch was, and then while eating today she told me I must be starving for that stuff to taste so good. I think she's right. Nothing on my salad was really bland, but it tasted so dang good!

My co-worker keeps asking me how the detox is going, she asked me last night if I was emotional yet. I wasn't, until this morning. Totally over-reacting to emails, short fuse with people at work today, just a big ol' mess. I am thinking no more double shifts until next week when I am done with the detox. I need to keep my job :)

I do think that this evening, I want to make my smoothie, take a bath, and call it a day...that might help let out some of this emotion as well.

I am interested to see what tomorrow brings.

Detox - day 2

Ugh, the headache has arrived!

You would think that with the detoxes I do I would remember that cutting out caffeine gives me a crazy headache and withdrawal symptoms...you would also think that would be enough incentive NOT to go back to drinking the caffeine!

Today is more difficult than yesterday...I am back at work. Apparently when I'm at work, I graze on food a bit...not happening here. I also ate my lunch in my car in the parking lot since I was a late day today. Tomorrow will be different and it will be a cold lunch.

One thing that the detox talks about is not heating foods in the microwave...so when I'm at work the rest of the week, salads with protein it is! Saturday and Sunday will be hot food.

I will state that the meal I ate today was delicious. I cooked up 2 TBSP of onion with 2 oz of chicken and 1/2 a lime (juice) plus a splash of cayenne pepper. Add to that 1 cup of black beans and a bit of sodium free chicken broth. Oh garlic, can't forget the garlic. I also added 2 cups of fresh spinach and 1/2 cup of cooked brown rice and let that all cook together for a bit (I did add a bit of cumin which the detox says spices are ok, but I think they are supposed to be fresh spices....whoops). When it was time to eat, I added 1/4 of an avocado. OMG yum! I think that will be a nice meal to add into my regular diet!

Also, did P90 strength this morning. Still doing well there, and tomorrow morning before work I will do the P90 cardio again.

My complaint right now is my headache...I'm getting crabby because of that (and because the system that allows us to do our job is down making for very PO'd people). Oh well.

Day 2 almost done, getting tougher.

Day 1 of Aster RAW Detox

I really think that calling this RAW is misleading. It is not a raw detox, since I just ate my one healthy meal and it was cooked, but moving on...

This morning I had my detox drops in water, which I could not taste at all. That was followed by my cup of hot water with 1/4 of a lemon and a dash of cayenne pepper. That wasn't so bad, but the pepper hit my throat in a weird way. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.

I was drinking that out on the walk with the puppy in the snow...that might have influenced the throat a bit (breathing in the snow and all).

Next was the morning smoothie and that tasted really good. 1/2 cup of rice milk, 1/2 cup of water, 2 scoops of the detox powder and 1/2 a cup of frozen berries.

Since I have today off I took advantage and did laundry, that way I'm getting out and doing stuff and not thinking about how I haven't "eaten" anything. Post laundry brought on workout time. My fiance and I started P90 today, cardio for day 1. I'm hoping that we can make it all 90 days and then move to P90X, but one day at a time right now. Anyway, that was about 40 minutes of warming up, cardio and ab work.

Next up, more detox drops in water, again, flavorless.

Shower, doing the hydrotherapy. That I need to find a better way to do...I made the water too cold I think. I was only able to do 2 cycles, but I will try again.

Lunchtime was delicious. I roasted up some kale and some brussel sprouts. I added a bit of sea salt and cayenne pepper and some fresh garlic. Next up, chicken! Lime juice, dill and chicken cooked up in the oven. Also 1/2 a cup of brown rice with some braggs on it, and a tsp of olive oil. All of that with a cup of herbal tea...it was yummy.

More drops to come and then another shake for dinner...I'm also going to have a cup of no sodium broth I can tell.

I think tomorrow or possibly Wednesday will be the toughest days, but I will make it through and provide you with all of the fun withdraw symptoms.

I've been drinking lots of water today, so increase in running to the restroom for sure.

Detox of 2012

This year I have decided to go for a shorter detox, just one week.

I believe it was a few months ago I purchased a detox (RAW by Aster) through one of those coupon sites out there (lifebooker). I had wanted to do it in 2011 but as that year quickly came to a close, I opted to start of 2012 with this detox.

It is set up as a 10 day detox, but I have a bunch of tastings coming up for my wedding so 7 days worked better than 10 days. I took out the first 3 days which were a prep phase (eating mostly fruits and veggies). Beginning in the morning I'm just diving head first.

This detox starts off with some hot water with lemon & cayenne, then a shake, a healthy lunch (4oz protein, tiny bit of fat, 2 cups raw or 1 cup cooked veggies, and a 1/2 cup of specific grains), then more shake for dinner...with LOTS of water. Also there is epsom bath requirements and hydrotherapy requirements...and skin brushing.

I'm excited to see how this goes.

In addition to this detox, my fiance and I are starting up the P90 workout for the next 90 days. At the end of that we hope to move up to P90X...we shall see.

Follow me along on this journey if you like!