Committed to Healthy Clean Eating – Plan vs. Reality

Clean Eating – The Plan

What I used to do isn’t working anymore, but changing eating habits is going to take work and planning. My husband and I are committed to making it a priority. When there isn’t a plan, that’s when things fall apart for us. No more finger pointing. We all are going to take responsibility for healthy, clean eating. High blood pressure runs in Jeff’s family, and he wants to combat that with diet and exercise. I want to maintain my health to fully enjoy my life. It’s time to do this.

Clean Eating – The Reality

Well, doing the clean eating as a couple has sort of been a bust. Jeff is super supportive of me and this Ultimate Reset. But timing for the Ultimate Reset has to be right and for him, right now, it just isn’t. No real reason, he just didn’t commit to it like I did. So I’m carrying on. We went to the grocery store the other day to get items for school lunches. When I tacked on my veggies & Reset-staple shopping, he didn’t complain or give me a hard time, even though it took an additional 30 minutes or so to get the items I needed.

Since there is a little more meal prep involved (at least for me since I haven’t mastered that yet) I appreciate all of the support Jeff gives me with the kids at dinner time. Some nights that means taking them out and others, just doing the dishes.

I have been finding that prepping and eating my meal after I make the kids and Jeff dinner is… almost therapeutic. I am actually enjoying the rituals of chopping and cooking more and more. I like having a plan and knowing what I am going to prepare. I like that there is a ‘reset in a crunch’ cheat sheet on page 101 of the guide (glad they included that!). Since I’ve done the Ultimate Reset a few times now, I have some favorite recipes and I often use them as “go-to” meals since I know how to prep them and I know I enjoy eating them.

I was so excited to see an extra large bag of organic quinoa when I went to Costco this week AND EVEN MORE EXCITED when it only cost 3 dollars more than the tiny bag I purchased at the grocery store a few days ago. I now know where to return to get more.

My biggest challenges are:

  1. not indulging in a bite or two of dessert when we have family dinner and a yummy treat like homemade brownies (I did sneak a tiny bite on Saturday night, shame on me!)
  2. being prepared ahead of time so that I don’t grab something not on my plan if I am hungry and my food isn’t ready. I do best when I prepare a few items ahead and have them in the fridge. I am making this a habit this time around.

There are quite a few things I like about doing the Ultimate Reset. I’d have to say what I like most about the plan is regaining control of what I put into my body. I realized, I don’t need 3 espressos a day for energy. Also, that I really don’t need all of the sugary treats I tend to snack on when I am grazing in the kitchen. Another realization during this program is that I often eat out of boredom and that is powerful knowledge. I LOVE that I am more clear minded and focused and I think I appreciate things more when I am mindful about my diet.

I guess what I’m saying is that it’s okay when reality doesn’t match the plan (wait… I think that’s just mostly life). For me, it’s important to be adaptable and to be able to find ways to get what you need even when it doesn’t exactly fit your plan.

xoxo - Lee

About Lee

I am a 44-year old married mom of 4. I love my family. If you’re a mom, then you know kids and a spouse keep you busy. It’s easy to forget yourself in the process of taking care of your family. My mission is to help other moms take care of themselves so they can be more available to their loved ones and lead more fulfilling lives.