Officially Finished

Sorry. I didn't keep you all updated during the juice detox part of the diet. I completed it without cheats.

The entire diet lasted from Oct 1st- Nov 8.

I'M DONE! (with the 40 day diet)

I learned a lot about myself. I have a lot of will power...A lot of self control that I haven't given myself a chance to realize because I haven't tried to deny myself things for extended periods of time like this diet did.

I am still sticking with a mellow version of the Paleo diet. Some call it Primal. I indulge when the time is right.

The other day I enjoyed St. Arnold's pumpkinator. It was delicious.

As far as this blog goes, I can't decide which direction to take it. Diary of a Beer Snob can be deceiving because you think "oh, this girl is going to teach us new things about new beer and show pretty pictures of tap handles," but in reality it's been more of a blog about my journey into becoming healthy...and that is my true passion. Don't get me wrong, I love beer. I also love cooking healthy food, learning about nutrition, exercise, and all other forms of holistic approaches to becoming the best person you can become.

I will be brainstorming on what to do with this here "Diary of a Beer Snob" blog. If you'd like, follow me on instagram: cleeper1 #diaryofabeersnob 

Now for the hard part....

So...I survived the "easy" part of the diet. You know, the whole no beer, no sugar, no grains, no dairy, no legumes part of the diet. I started the hard part yesterday. The juicing and smoothie ONLY part of the diet. (Not only can I not have beer, I cannot have alcohol of any kind. Yikes. For a gal my age, with the friends I have, and the job I have, 7 days without alcohol is a lot harder than you would expect.)

Day 1 began yesterday; it was fine. I was hungry, but I had 3 smoothies and some creamed spinach/broccoli so I was satisfied ENOUGH. But this is obviously not about satisfaction. This is about denying myself things that I want and learning to have self control. I like to see what I can do. How strong I can be. The end result will be well worth it. I am typically seen as a well balanced, controlled person. However, it never hurts to challenge myself further and succeed. It's empowering. This whole experience has been empowering and has renewed my passion for health and nutrition.

Day 2: I juiced carrots, chard, apples, spinach, kale, and ginger this morning.

Story Time:

I remember I first became interested in health around the age of 11 or 12. My mom got on the whole "no fat/low fat" diet fad and I suddenly became aware of everything I ate. Some would say that is not a good thing for a little girl in her tweens. I disagree. I did not become obsessed with weight. I became intrigued by food, and it's effect on how people feel and look. (Not enough people are aware or even interested in what they put into their bodies...the vessels that will carry them throughout their life.) Thus began my journey into studying and researching all that I could about food. Throughout high school I would bring tuna, salads, and sunflower seeds for lunch and my classmates would be having pizza and chicken express. I also carried around a gallon of water. I got made fun of in the nicest of ways. Thankfully I went to a small private school where being weird was actually the popular thing to do. Long story short, after many years of researching and loving health/nutrition I found myself studying Kinesiology in college which is where I still am, and still pursuing knowledge where health/nutrition are concerned. There is an endless amount to be learned and it's not what your high school health books taught you. Have you heard of old news? Well, everything in those health books is old news. :)

The diet...and the confession

13 days and counting...

I'm sure you have all been wondering about the details of my diet. Well, I will not make you wait any longer.
This is the plan in a nut shell:

• Days 1-10- NO GRAINS. NO SWEETS. NO CAFFEINE. NO TOBACCO.
• DAYS 11-32- ALL OF THE ABOVE + NO LEGUMES. NO DAIRY.
• DAYS 33-39- JUICE DIET/SMOOTHIE DIET.
• DAY 40- WATER ONLY.

This might seem somewhat extreme. Or you might think it's no big deal. Typically people tend to worry when "no eating" or "juice fasts" are involved in a diet. This is not a bad thing for the body to go through. The body adapts to fasting. Here, Mark (popular guy who knows his stuff when it comes to the body and a "primal" lifestyle.) http://www.marksdailyapple.com/health-benefits-of-intermittent-fasting/ explains some of the benefits of allowing the body to go through times of fasting. And if you haven't noticed already, this is modeled after the paleo diet. The paleo diet is extreme, yes. Once the 40 days are over, I will follow paleo about 80/20 % of the time to maintain some balance. 

Anyway, I'm hungry lately for all of the wrong things...ice cream sandwiches, mac and cheese, ice cream, pizza. Haha. I have not given in once...when it comes to food! I have cheated once *gasp* eek! and I'll confess now. I had an almond milk PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE. There, I said it. The original diet (according to my roommate Carmen who has done this diet before with her bff) allows for 4 cheat days throughout the 40 days. I don't mind cheat days. I understand cheat days. They are fine. However, I am really looking forward to seeing how my body responds after 40 days of this type of restriction. Thus, I will not cheat anymore on this diet. 

I am still missing beer. And over the weekend, my work tapped 2 beautiful kegs of beer that I couldn't taste. Not even a sip. You have probably stopped feeling sorry for me by now. It's okay. I am doing this to myself...all with my own free will. 

In other news: The Walking Dead premiered tonight.  Zombie <3.

I am officially HUNGRY!

It's been a week...and I'm finally hungry! I think it's safe to say that I literally wanted to eat everything yesterday. And even this morning on my way to school, I heard a snippet of tejano music and immediately desired and even smelled chips, salsa, and queso. Can you even really smell chips? I was never aware that they had a smell until I supposedly smelled them this morning! Anyway...

I have successfully completed my first week of no grains and no beer. 

Last night I went to a work party celebrating our one year anniversary of being open. When I got the invite to the party, I knew that free beer was imminent. I had to stay strong. And I did. However, I did fall into the hands of my rebound: wine. There was a moment when I was pouring someone a beer (offering a friendly hand...and maybe because I wanted to be close to my long lost love) and as it was pouring beautifully out of the tap, everything went into slow motion...like a movie. I've never seen beer look so pretty in a solo cup. 

After the work party, we all ended up at the nearest dive bar. I think it's safe to say that I was the only person in there sipping from a stemmed glass. I am never that girl. Though it may have looked like defeat in that smokey dive bar, NOT drinking beer was a triumph. Normally I might scoff at anyone who orders wine or champagne where it's common knowledge that beer and your basic cocktails are the only items listed on the menu (wait, I don't even think they have a menu...hypothetically speaking then), I was able to get past my notion that I was one of  "those people" and sip out of my stemware happily.

*"those people": Anyone who is not following the unsaid but well known rules in an atmosphere where locals often hang out. Easy to spot in a crowd. Typically doing/saying the opposite of what is socially acceptable in said environment. 

Work Party After Party at local dive bar 

Continuing in the journey. More to come...

Instagram/Twitter/ etc you know the drill

In light of my diet, I've been taking photos of my food...actually, scratch that... I've always taken photos of my food (eyes cast down...shame shame... Yes I am that cliche instagrammer...)

Anyway, if you'd like to follow me on instagram: cleeper1 is the name. #diaryofabeersnob is the hash tag (yes I know you're picturing Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake...*pause for laughter*)

Crystal_leeper is twitter. 

Alright. Go follow me!

< Beer = > Wine

Okay, so if I'm being honest, I have basically replaced beer with wine. That will soon stop. Although I'm enjoying vino on a daily basis, I think this diet will not serve its full purpose if I do not learn how to say no to an alcoholic beverage. This diet has stages...basically it starts off "easy" and just gets more and more difficult as time passes. Therefore, in the first week or so of the diet, there is room for...how shall I put it....lack of discipline...more indulgence...thus the reason for my wine drinking. I will eventually run out of wine and I vow to not buy any more for a while. Glad we have that on the table.

Cravings today: dark chocolate

I went to the market this evening and saw delicious dark chocolate everywhere. Of course, I denied myself and succeeded at only glimpsing at it as I passed by...minimal salivation happened. Good.

On another note, I haven't felt too ridiculously hungry. I've been eating plenty of protein and veggies. So far so good. Bring on tomorrow. 

Cheeseburgers, Tuna, and a story about beer that I can't have

So, this whole not eating grains thing isn't so bad. 

And I successfully endured watching my friends chow down on double cheese burgers and drink beer while doing so at lunch yesterday. I gracefully ate my vegetables and tuna later in a dark corner where no one could observe my misery. Okay, I'm exaggerating a bit. But I did eat vegetables and tuna for lunch and all was okay in my world.

Today has been fairly easy. It is, however VERY difficult to not cheat at work though. It can happen so easily because stealing a fry from the fry bin (or off of Justin's plate) is second nature. And because beer tasting is part of my job, NOT trying it is a very tough task. New beer on tap that I didn't get to taste today: Four Corners Block Party. Although I have tasted that beer before, it's always nice to refresh my memory. BUT, I could not! Nor did I. And when Potts didn't finish his Blood and Honey, I was tempted to drink the rest for him. But alas, I did not. And so the beer fast continues...

I'm nearing the end of Day 2...it's 10pm-ish. And I feel good. No noticeable changes in my body/health yet...but obviously evidence that I have will power is present. These upcoming 38 days aren't looking too terrible...

Shout out to Blake for saying he believed I won't cheat during the diet. Thanks for believing that I'm that strong willed :) 

Day 1

Have you ever loved something that was not necessarily bad for you, however, it wasn't beneficial to you either? I'll answer for you; of course you have. Well, that is me and my relationship with beer. Simply stated: I love beer. Beer is an art to me. The brewing process. The flavors. The passion. This in itself is not a bad thing. However, as a woman, (surprise!) loving beer as much as I do means you either have a beer belly or are in the process of getting a beer belly. I'd say I'm well on my way to achieving that lovely, taut belly that comes along with a happy smile and a cold pint of beer.

This brings to my point. I have endeavored to go on a beer fast. A 40 day beer fast. That is 40 days without a sip of water, barley, hops, and yeast. 40 days without a cold beverage to help me transition from work to play. 40 days of bartending at a wonderful restaurant that serves Texas craft beer on tap and not "taste testing" any of them.

Not only am I fasting from beer, but i'll be fasting from many other things as well. Essentially, I am attempting to do a 40 day diet. The first 10 days involve cutting out Beer, Sweets, Grains, Alcohol, and Caffeine. And i'm bringing the virtual world along for the ride. If I slip up, you'll know. If i'm doing exceedingly great, you'll know.

My roommate Carmen will also be joining me during this 40 day trip through No Beer Land. She is the type of girl you look at and wonder, "why are you dieting from anything?" She is tall, slim, and beautiful. Her reasons for this 40 day diet are a little different than mine. Mine, first and foremost, is for weight loss. Health, discipline, and focus are also reasons for me to want to succeed on this 40 day diet.

So here we go. Cheers to 40 days without beer! Cheers to saying NO to beer bellys! And Cheers to health!