The cleanse.

There have been some requests for the "plan" I am following for the cleanse.

It's really pretty simple.

I eat as many fresh, organic vegetables as possible and 1/2 the amount of fruit.

I begin each morning with a fresh fruit smoothie made in my new vitamix.

I have a large salad with greens and any other vegetable topping I want. I sometimes add fruit and/or homemade soup from last night (also made in the vitamix).

For dinner I love having my ONE a day serving of brown rice or lentils made into something and a large portion of veggies.

Basically, I can make whatever I want with the following ingredients:

Brown rice (I love brown rice cakes) 1x per day

Lentils (I love lentil soup) 1x per day

Yams/ sweet potatoes (1/2 per day at max)

All Fruits.

Oils: Olive oil or Avocado (1/2 is a serving)

All Vegetables (2x more veggies than fruit).

Any vinegars, spices and herbs.

*** All foods should be fresh or frozen. Consume as many raw foods as possible.

NO:

• Starches (beans, breads, pasta, etc.) I do allow soy.
• Dairy (Cheese, milk, yogurt).
• Meat.
• Sugars (Unless natural from fruits)
• Caffeine.
• Canned or dried foods.

That's it! I'm not even working out right now. Although I am on my feet, running around a lot at work.

Going for another 7 pounds this month!

One more day of stims.

(Above: Left Follies, Below: Right Follies).

I received all my updates this afternoon at school. (I am always anxious to call as soon as 3 o'clock hits!) The nurse told me my numbers (see: right side bar) and said that I won't have the ER on 10.10.10, but most likely the next day Monday, 10.11.10 or at the latest Tuesday, 10.12.10. I am DAYS AWAY PEOPLE--DAYS! DH should feel lucky if I hold back from counting hours and minutes!

I am bummed that I will have to take off more school for this but it's another instance of "it will all be worth it in the end". There are about 36 follies at this point that are worth measuring. Some of the original 43 have "dissolved" into the others or haven't been keeping up. It is funny to me because the right ovary had 29 follies at the first count. Now it has less jumbo follies because each of the 29 follies had to "share the stim medication" with the others. While the left ovary had only 14 follies to begin with, so there was more medication to go around and therefore the follies we able to grow larger. Ah, so is life. . .

I'm hoping all the follies have some eggs to retrieve. I'm thankful that I have ANY follies, but would really like to have a bunch that are able to go to freeze. Unless we are able to use those for a FET, we will most likely not do another IVF cycle until Summer--but this will work so why am I even wondering? :)

In the meantime, DH and I are addicted to all-foods-crappy. We are about to indulge in some Little Caesars $5 pizza for dinner. I wish we could get our eating habits back on track. We are not huge or overweight (in fact DH runs marathons) but we usually eat much better. Last year at this time I was on a vegan cleanse. We just can't seem to get back on track.

We're stressed, tired, and I am HUNGRY ALL THE TIME. I have gained 10 pounds from the meds and this way of eating. Crazy.

All I do know is, when I get the positive pregnancy test, I will repeat my habits of the last pregnancy--I am a fitness/diet animal. I paid good money for this baby (or babies)--I'm treatin' it right!

Once I can chew again. . .

A lifestyle change is needed.

I've always been a fairly active person and I eat pretty well, especially as of late.

But I do think that my portion sizes are too big (even the good stuff) and that I need to actually commit to going to the gym and giving it my all 5-6 times a week instead of just talking about it.

My plan is actually quite simple in design:

1. Continue eating vegetarian--but remove more dairy, carbs, and sugar.

2. Get my A$$ in the gym at least 5 times a week. (Cardio everytime + weights every other). I may even begin a mini-training program for a half-marathon--MAYBE. It's on Halloween and I'm not sure there would be enough time to properly get in shape for it, but I gotta have a goal, right?

3. Loose the 20lbs you've been trying to loose before baby is inserted into uterus. (As I found out last time pregnancy can quickly cause your weight to stop decreasing and move towards the other side of the scale. . . ).

4. Get some acupuncture. I've heard more times than I can count, how valuable and important it can be in the IVF process. Getting it as much as possible before hand and once a week during the process, including right before and after ET (egg transfer).

Now I just have to plan on not getting admitted to the ER or having my teeth yanked out for a few weeks and I should be good.

This is always better said than done, but I have a lot riding on my health now. Big bucks are going to be spent on IVF. Whether we can have our own biological child could very well depend on how well I take care of myself over the next few months. Beginning a new job, moving and selling our house, etc. are all things giving me a lot of stress lately. So I'm hoping the acupuncture will help lessen how overwhelmed I'm feeling and the gym and eating habits will not only get the inside ready to go, but make the outside look damn good for baby holdin'.

I'll let you know when the teeth heal and I can start a movin'!