DAY NINE!!! SHE CROSSES THE FINISH LINE!!!

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy!!! THANK CHRIST FOR THAT! It is OVER!!! HOORAAAYYYY TO ME!

As I put down my forever drinking bottle and kiss a sweet goodbye to shakes and gel I can sit back with a smug little smile and finally say...PASS ME THE CHEESE!!!

Not much to report really from the past few days, just more of the same stuff and a whole lot of sugar snaps...my new fave! So what I would really like to do is sum up the cleanse and talk about how I am feeling now that I've been through it and how I plan to move forward from this whole GHASTLY experience. Haha, it really wasn't THAT bad.

First off, it was my anniversary yesterday, 5 years of marriage to my hunk of a hubster and I have to tell you that I had half a bottle of champagne...my bad! The effects of this on my brain after 9 days of starvation were not great. I fell asleep on the sofa catching up on 'The Great British Bake Off" (Yes Yes, I like to party) and woke up in a deranged, confused mess! Needless to say, not a great way to end Day 8! Still...You win some you lose some.

SO! Lets talk about how I am feeling...I have lost 4pounds and 4inches however, our scales are a little unreliable, you can stand on them then get off then get back on again and within a few seconds you have gained a stone. Always upsetting. Gets me every time! "GOOD GOD NO!!! A WHOLE STONE!!!??? WHAT DID I DO??? BREATHE AIR???" As for the 4inches, that's spread out across my waist, chest, thighs and calves so all in all it doesn't sound a lot. Nevertheless, it wasn't the weight loss I was doing it for. I DO also have to mention that in the C9 booklet it states that on days 3-9 you should be doing 30 minutes of strenuous exercise...NOW there's a little thing that has hindered my exercising capacity this last week that I like to call 'Life'. Being that I work now 3 days a week, when I am not at work I do feel and want to be, spending time with my little bear cubs! Therefore, attending exercise classes/swimming etc has taken a slight back burner until I can get organised enough to work it all out. I am good at doing squats and sit ups in the evenings when they are in bed but even I know that is not enough. A hectic lifestyle and two children does mean that I am usually rushing around, I'm sure I burn plenty of calories on an average day in this way! However, the C9 says 30 minutes exercise a day...and I have officially recorded NIL! If I had...who knows, I could be looking like Kate Moss right now...

I have heard people say that after completing the C9 they have been super happy with how their hair and skin feels. Alas, I cannot say this is the case for moi. My hair and skin feels pretty much the same...I am a MASSIVE avocado fan and I have always noticed my skin decline if for any reason I don't eat them for a little while. So today I bought four of the beauties! BABOOM! Looking forward to those...not all at once! Obvs.That's just silly!

The one thing that I have been super impressed with, and it only occurred to me driving into work yesterday, was that I have been feeling really calm and content. Since the birth of my second son just over a year ago I have suffered with some anxiety issues. A day hasn't gone by that I haven't spent a little amount of time, and sometimes a lot of time, worrying about my health and becoming ill. I've lost sleep worrying about finding out something is wrong with me. I have worried a lot about death and not seeing my bears grow up. Which, having discussed this with other Mums, even my own, this is quite common. But as I drove into the car park yesterday morning, the sun was blazing and I had been singing along to the morning radio show...I suddenly realised that for the past 9 days I hadn't thought about anything like that. Not even once. This leads me to believe that anxiety is chemical and something in my diet/lifestyle has been feeding this in some way. I'm not in fact a nervous mess which is a nice discovery. So, I am now determined to keep to fresh foods, cut down on the obviously naughty things. Last night we had fresh cod with a massive salad. I've been snacking on free foods and have totally cut down on salt and bread...this is a good start. If the C9 has done anything good for me it has helped me to feel like a young, determined, fighting fit woman...not man. SO I can understand completely why for people who DO want to change their lifestyles and lose some unwanted weight, it is a very good start! Whether or not I think it should go on for longer that 9 days is another question. As a good firm kick up the arse! YES! Go for it. If you struggle to get going the C9 is strict and intense, you will see results and this in itself is addictive. You will want to lose more so will already be on the road to success. I am still a FIRM believer that a well balanced, healthy diet and an active lifestyle is the key to a happy, healthy you. CRIPES this is a mighty long paragraph! Moving swiftly on...

I did the C9 because I wanted to have a good cleanse. Has it worked? I have absolutely no idea. If I had the ability to dive briefly into my colon and intestines I would, just to let you know the results. Im sure you would absolutely love to know! But alas, I cannot. However, the fact that I like this healthier mind that I have indeed noticed in myself, is definitely going to encourage me to think about what goes into my mouth and how natural the ingredients are.

I have before and after pics but they are HILARIOUS because I don't look any different! I think my results are mainly from within...PAH!

Before Front

Before Side

After Front

After Side

I Promise you that I didn't wear the same underwear for nine days!

So there you have it! If you need a lifestyle change and you have dedication, by all means this cleanse has the potential to get you on the right track! You do have to be super super dedicated. I did cross the finish line but I did trip up a few times on the way. Afterall, life is short and I am a mere mortal.

I hope you have enjoyed this diary blog and that in some small way it has been useful...and if it hasn't, I hope you have been entertained. Thank you to my pal who provided me with the C9 and for all of your encouragement! You know who you are! If any of you lovely readers are interested in finding out more about the C9 then you can visit my friends Forever page http://440500061970.myforever.biz/store/

And it is with the great, wise words of Bugs Bunny that I say goodbye, thank you and...

Day Seven!!! If I can eat 500 calories, then I can eat 100 more!? Right?

Woopsie...I wrote this last night but forgot to publish! I do apologise...ENJOY!

Today I have been mostly thinking about cheese and Milkybar chocolate...not together though...just to clarify, that would be wrong and insane! 

Not too much to report today. Back to work after the weekend. I said good bye to my little bears who were busy playing in their nappies this morning. I love it when their chubby thighs hang out. If only I could love mine! PAH!...

So yes, work was busy today, just how I like it. It is nice to get ones brain working every now and then I find. I was organised enough to bring snacks of two oranges and one apple along with me (TIT) and some detox tea bags (DOUBLE TIT), so along with my supplements and shake I was set up for the day (TIT TIT TIT TIT TIT TIT TIT)...and that is it really. I'm afraid it was just a normal day at the office. I didn't feel too miserable as my colleagues sat eating their sandwiches. I did struggle somewhat when my boss started to tell me about a lovely pastry she consumed on the weekend which had goats cheese, pesto and sun dried tomatoes on it...Oh good lord. Lets just move on swiftly...

This is a picture of an actual Tit...alas, for me, I don't look this good! 

At lunch time I went for a nice brisk walk up into Ilfracombe Town to get some exercise, its a nice steep hill so I got my heart rate going. I was almost tempted to buy a bag of yoghurt raisins and eat them in a dark alleyway but decided it probably wasn't worth the guilt. And all that sugar after a week without it could have put me on par with the drunkards I could hear shouting down the high street...only lord knows how it might have affected me!

I purrrr chased a nice card and gift for the hubster, not out of sheer spontaneous kindness unfortunately, it is indeed our anniversary tomorrow! :) 5 years! Woop woop! Then I dashed back to the office to resume my daily tasks. All in all, a good working day. Another day, another dollar. What a difference a day makes. A good day to you madam. 

My energy levels have been good today. I do feel alive and kicking. BOOM BOOM...POW POW!!! I'M THE KING OF THE WORLD...Or Queen!? What??? 

Now in the tub I am thinking about how lovely my fresh Spicy Dahl soup is going to taste for dinner and how in fact that will only amount to 500 calories! SAAAYYYYYY WHAAAATTT!!! Yip yip! That means I have 100 calories to play with, what oh what shall I eat??? Only time will tell and I will of course keep you enthralled as I am sure it will it until I post again...

So on that note...I bid you all a very calm and tasty GOOD NIGHT! 

Peace and love. x

Days 5 & 6 - Surviving the Weekend...

Evening readers...

Apologies for the absence of 'Nine Day Diary' yesterday. With it being the weekend and all I felt like a night off, especially as I had me old pal Dora HobbKnob visiting. (She is getting married in 20 days!!! :) Yay!)

I hope that any present readers have had a lovely few days and any future readers...hello, welcome, I trust you are alive and well. 

So, as we all know, for many people, weekends are seen as a time in which we relax and indulge a little. This can be difficult if you are following a strict regime such as the Clean 9. Seeing as my bud was staying we decided we needed to make the most of the time that we had by going on a fun day out. After discussing the options with my two and a half year old, it was evident that he most definitely wanted to go to the North Devon family attraction that is 'The Big Sheep'. I think it was the fact that he kept shouting 'The Big Sheep, The Big Sheep...come on lets go!' that persuaded us. Therefore, after everyone had enjoyed breakfast and I had not so much enjoyed mine (aloe gel and another shake) we got ready and off we went...YAY! FUN DAY OUT! 

So there we were, finally at The Big Sheep. It really is a great day out, so much fun for all the family. We started off by bottle feeding the lambs, we left the kids outside because we didn't want them to get dirty. By the time we'd finished with that it was lunch time so off we went to the cafe. I prepared lunch for little baby but not for bigger baby. So that meant my husband, Dora AND son had the pleasure of ordering from 'The Big Sheep' menu which is just so...DIRTY! In a mouth wateringly, I want some dirty grease kind of way! Oh my gawd you should have seen the burger that came to our table that the hubster ordered. It was intense! Big baby bear had chicken and chips of which he ate about 2 chips so there were plenty of them hanging around, and Dora who is a vegetarian had possibly the most tastiest, cheesiest, pesto dripping, hot, gooey, panini that I have every feasted my eyes upon. Man...I felt like a prisoner in my OWN BODAYYYYY!!! I'm not proud of the fact that I stared at her eating it and started to hallucinate. I hallucinated about flying across the table, slapping her in the face and stealing her panini and then eating her panini whilst she ran away crying...By the time I came to, the panini was gone and I was back to safety. My husband let me have a nibble on his gherkin. Good man!

I sat quietly for the rest of lunch time sipping my raspberry and elderflower fibre fuzz tea...I'm glad I didn't steal my friends panini... 

Panini. Panini and cheese. Panini and cheese and pesto. We had a lovely day. 

Stay away from paninis if you plan to do the Clean 9. They could turn you and gain you a criminal record. 

NOW THEN. Saturday evening, I wanted to take Dora to our local pub down the road so it made sense that we stayed and had din dins there. I believe there is no way to sugar coat this so I will just come right out and say it...I had tomato and mozzarello salad which came with FOUR pieces of wholemeal bread. The salad was not very big and I only ate one of the slices. So I am quite positive this stayed within my 600 calorie limit...I also had a few onion rings and one and a half glasses of red wine. I f***ed up. I apologise. Let's move on...

Can't believe I found this image of red wine and onion rings on the internet!!! 

Today I have been really good, back to nibbling on mangetits and tomatoes. I had a roast dinner this evening. I have no idea how to calculate accurately how many calories are in your average roast but I did double up on the cabbage to to satisfy my appetite. Husband Googled the average amount of calories in a 'light' roast dinner and I think it was around 650. So I think I'm good. I have had a good amount of energy in the mornings. However, after a very long and busy week I have felt really tired this afternoon. 

All in all the Clean 9 is going OK. I know I messed up and I would really appreciate it if we could just let that go, don't judge me. It could have been worse, I could have attacked my good friend Dora and eaten all that cheese and gone to prison! I have generally been really really good...I have drank nothing but water and detox tea all week AND I've eaten my body weight in raw vegetables. Having said all of this, andjokes aside, I haven't struggled that much with hunger, it's not been that bad. I guess I am finding it a little bit boring. I cooked a full English breakfast this morning for both Dora and me other'alf and as they tucked in I endured yet more gel and drank my shake...BORING! I would be a liar and a goon if I said I wasn't interested in the mushrooms, hash browns, sausages, fried eggs, beans...etc etc. You get it. Considering this is supposed to be a kick start into a new, healthier way of thinking, I guess I feel like...I understand, I do...but in order to do this cleanse, you really do have to be super super dedicated and strict with yourself...

Drinking Aloe Gel...

Washing down Aloe Gel with water...

Having an aloe gel melt down! 

As for my insides, all excellent in that department! Healthiest in a while. In musical terms, I feel like my bowel movements have converted from 'Scat Man' to 'Pavarotti'. A much larger and fuller version. 

Day Four - Omelette Du Chemicale...

EVENING ALL!

Today has been a good day. I had a little lie in courtesy of the Hubster. What a guy! I woke up feeling a bit hungry but nothing I couldn't handle. I did very much need a wee though. No surprises really when you consider just how much water I have been consuming these past few days and how little substance.

I was perplexed to say the least when Hubby decided to taste the aloe vera gel and casually passed it back to me saying there was nothing wrong with it. What an idiot. It takes like utter s***! What a way to piss on my fire...anyway, it does taste like crap I don't care what he says.

Kept myself busy today, took the two bears swimming with my pal and her lil fella which was fun. It is quite a challenge doing the whole swimming thing with TWO small ones, however this was made much easier with help from my companion. She is good! We ordered the boys lunch in the leisure center cafe after the swim and she did ask me if it was really hard sat watching them eat their chicken & chips/tuna jacket and actually it wasn't. I seem to have been ignoring it without giving it much thought, after all, I did have a lemon & ginger tea with 'fibre fuzz' in it! What more could I want?

Swimming, hoovering and mopping the whole downstairs floors (a workout in itself) AND 300 squats has been my workout today. Plus I have had a nice Epsom Salts bath. I feel good!

I was a little concerned after a friend had commented on my FB about this 'Cleanse' the other day. He mentioned that this was a scam and that it was dangerous starving myself and putting chemicals inside of my body! An excellent and very valid point. So, with this is mind and wanting to clear this up with you my readers, I set husband the task of researching the contents of the supplements that I have been taking at breakfast, lunch and dinner...'Forever Garcinia Plus' & 'Forever Therm'. I would have been really cross to find out if they were actually full of chemicals, however, I guess that was something that really I should have looked into before I started the 'Cleanse'!

Hubby couldn't find anything bad with the ingredients...

Garcinia Plus - Garcinia cambogia extract, safflower oil, gelatin, glycerin, medium-chain triglyceride vegetable oil (MCT or thin oil) purified water, beeswax, lecithin, carob extract, titanium dioxide, and chromium picolinate

I have googled most of these. I admit 'Titanium' made me go 'WTF!?' but it seems ok. Not quite as herbal as I imagined though!

Therm - Go to this page... https://www.foreverliving.com/retail/entry/Product.do?code=463

Apparently a unique blend of nutrients and botanical extracts!!! All sounds very natural and lovely but it is very hard to find information that hasn't been published by 'Forever'. So if you are at all interested I would advise you to do your own research before starting rather than being a numpty like myself!

All in all I am finding the C9 much more manageable now. One portion of Aloe for brekkie along with a shake and pills, a shake for lunch with pills and a 600 calorie meal at dinner time which I am now going to go and enjoy...Omelette Du Chemicale! Ooooops, I mean, Omelette Du Champignon! Teehee...

But before I go, I caught a glimpse of myself in the kitchen window last night and could see that I looked a bit leaner on top. I must tell you that as I was drying big bear tonight after his bath he started to play with my collar bones! At first I laughed at this, especially because he was making them talk to each other as he does with his toy cars! Wasn't long before I suddenly realised...this is a bit weird!!! Don't get me wrong, I am no Kate Moss...But still...

Day Three - SHE EATS!!!

Ello ello ello. I'm back! I've survived another day and it aint been'alf bad.

Soooo...A much better night with the two bears. Was woken up at around 5am and 6am but then we all got back to sleep again and slept until 8.30am which is a rare treat. Today has been a happy day because my husband returned home from a five and a half week trip offshore. To say that we were excited to see him would be an understatement. I did wake up this morning feeling not quite right. A bit of a headache, a bit achy, I was hungry, obvs! Thankfully I knew that after breakfast of aloe gel that I wouldn't have to drink any more of that ghastly stuff for the rest of the day, and that certainly put a spring in my step. A nice big springy one.

I think that being at home with my bears today really helped with the whole lack of food thing as they really are great fun and keep me really busy. So as I endeavoured to keep them entertained, did a bit of house work and got myself spruced up a bit, I didn't really have time to think about what  I wanted to put in my mouth! Which made a nice change from the last two days...OH and probably a good time to let you know that Mavis, is sadly no longer with us. I did eat her...it was quick and she didn't feel much pain.

Lunch time was more pills and a shake which was OK. The chocolate shake really is fine to drink. The texture and flavour is that of an oaty milkshake I think. I don't drink milk usually as I don't really like it but I've been fine with it, which is really good to know as I know how good it is for you. So maybe that's a real positive of doing this.

I made a slight slip up late morning when elder bear found a pot of biscuits that had a little section of chocolate spread inside, you know the ones...well I brought some back from my besties hen weekend and he found them today, so as I took the lid off for him I thought it would be a good idea to explain to him how these snacks work as he is only young. Of course, I was only thinking of him, he needed a demonstration or else he wouldn't have enjoyed the full experience of dipping the biscuit into the silky chocolate...So, I took it upon myself to show him...I selected a biscuit finger, I dunked it and before I could even think what I was doing and stop the situation, my naughty hand had put it into my mouth and it somehow found its way down my throat and into my stomach. NAUGHTY HAND!!! NAUGHTY!!!

After yesterdays shopping trip I have had the pleasure of nibbling on free foods this afternoon. I've had a few strawberries, some grapes and an abundance of Mangetout! Mangetout and Sugar Snap Peas are great because they are crunchy and really satisfy the need to veg.

Mangetout??? Mangetit more like!!!

NOW THEN...Let's talk about dinner...yes oh yes oh yes oh yes! Today, on day numero trois of this 'C9' challenge I have been able to eat a main meal at dinner time. A meal of up to 600 calories. The prospect of having proper food today has kept me going and boy oh boy have I looked forward to cooking for myself. Something super yummy! So much so that the big issue has been trying to decide what on earth to have? What do you eat when you want to eat absolutely everything you can get your hands on??? I narrowed it down to two options, new potatoes and salad were a given BUT to have that accompanied with a mushroom omelette or chicken breast??? After consulting the Oracle that is my lovely friend Gemma, I opted for chicken as we both agreed, it would be more filling.

The plate is realllllllly small, I promise! 

Bloody hell it was lovely, I enjoyed making it all from fresh, I boiled my pots and made my salad as i slowly fried the chicken breast in a jerk spice paste...So good. I have to say that usually after eating it takes about 10 minutes before I have to dash to the loo and relieve myself. I usually feel very full and a little uncomfortable. However, I haven't felt like that at all this evening. I feel pleasantly satisfied but totally not full and bloated. Thumbs up to that! AND usually I eat my tea and may consider picking on some crisps or something after, but that hasn't even crossed my mind this evening. I feel good.

On day 3 the booklet advises you to weigh yourself again. I do seem to have lost a few pounds but HELLO I've literally been starved for the past couple of days!!! SO it's no shocker!

I have to say, tomorrow is another day and in terms of food, I am not dreading it at all. I CAN DO THIS!!!

So, there you have it. I did want to mention that I felt like my bowel movement looked a lot healthier today than usual...I don't usually study them in detail to be honest, no more than any normal soul I'm sure, they aren't all that to look at really. Yet, seeing as I am writing a blog about a 'Cleanse' I feel it only appropriate to discuss this matter...and it does seem to be a bit different and definitely for the better...To learn more about what an example of a healthy stool is, please check out the image below...Pahahahahahahahahaha...(but seriously, it's important) Good night!

How much do they weigh??? Are they serious!? My scales are for cakes not for poops! 

Struggles & Sugar Snaps...

Day Two

Hallo! Welcome to day numero duo! 

So, where to begin. Today is Wednesday and it is 19.55pm. I'm sat on the sofa, 'Bridget Jones Edge of Reason' is on, what a classic! Rather fitting as well I think. In the words of Bridget Jones, "I'm a mature, sophisticated, professional woman...and I'm going to..."...EAT THE CAT! That's right, you read correctly, I am literally going to eat my cat! Mavis...you dinner baby! I'm prepared to give you a head start but I am going to gobble you up in one swift GOBBLE!!!...

I had an early start this morning, 5am the alarm went off and after yet another bad night with baby bear numero uno, this was not welcome. Nevertheless, a big day ahead I stumbled to the bathroom and hit the shower (not literally...I'm not violent). Today's meal plan, if you can call it that, was the same as yesterday. So before heading out of the house I downed the gel and supplements, collected my day time supplies and headed off to meet my manager ready for our trip to Leamington. 

I have recently started working for North Devon Theatres as Media & Publicity Officer. Today my manager and I travelled to Leamington to meet this years Pantomime cast and watch the big photo shoot. I promised my manager that I would not fall asleep and that I would take over driving should she get tired. Around 20 minutes into the journey I was gone, forehead leaning on the window, a little dribble, a few head bobs... and I came too just as we were passing Stratford. I think I did really rather well. 

On arrival I felt I could do with a cwoffee...Of course refreshments had been laid out for us. I said to one of the members off staff that I shouldn't really drink coffee because I was on a detox and she excitedly piped up.."Ooooo are you doing the C9??? I've just finished it! I feel fantastic. I thought it would be hard because I love food but I thought it was OK. You aren't allowed to drink coffee, nothing with caffeine really...You can have water!???" Great! Not only was this lovely lady a C9 enthusiast, but two other people as well...my cover had been blown. 

I guess it wouldn't have been so bad today but the sleep deprivation definitely could have been helped by some carbohydrates. Also, the lunch time spread was pretty much a bloomin lovely one, and as everyone tucked in to the chicken tikka sandwiches, rustic sausage rolls and variety of cakes...I did feel a little miserable. I sat and ate my orange...(WHAT A TIT!). It was not appreciated how funny my manager and some of the panto cast members thought this was...

By the time we left the theatre I was undeniably really hungry. Like, my stomach was eating itself kind of hungry...I don't know if it was my mind playing tricks on me because I had turned my back on Carrot Cake which in my world DOES NOT HAPPEN! EVER! It's a law breaker as far as I am concerned. I have heard people say who have completed the C9 cleanse that they were surprised at how they didn't feel as hungry as they thought they would...this is not the case for me. I'm so hungry right now! Like, I will seriously eat the cat if she gets within arms reach. 

I was so hungry in Sainsbury's this evening that when an elderly lady started to follow me down the pet aisle telling me a story about how her vet had told her that she needs to stop feeding her dog 'Bakers' dog food, I almost told her that if she had any left I would eat them for her...but rather than do that I just mumbled and walked away. Normally I would have stopped for a chat with her. So mean! I guess being hungry really does make you a miserable fart! And a stinky one! 

I think it is only fair that I am completely honest with you and point out (as I said we would take this journey together, hand in hand) that although I did good in resisting today's luncheon spread...I have had two relapses. I am not proud, and I feel bad but...I accepted a polo mint today! I accepted it and ate it...pretty much swallowed it whole. Then...and this is even worse...as I was putting the shopping away this evening, I...oh god this is embarrassing...I...I ate a slice of ham!!! Dear god forgive me. I am only human, I really don't want to eat the cat! Not deep down. Needs must I'm afraid. 

In summary, I think I've made it rather clear I haven't found today particularly easy. Temptations have been staring at me in the face left right and centre. The luncheon spread, the stop off at Gloucester Services which are just lovely and full of local farm treats! Like a giant deli it is! You have to go if you are ever passing on the M5! I bought some garlic just to fill the urge to buy something tasty...it didn't really work and made the journey home a bit smelly. Of course, there was also the shopping trip to Sainsbury's...bit hard! 

NOW what is important is to discuss how I am actually feeling aside from the hunger. My stomach last night was really rather vocal and I was a bit windy. I expected this from a 'Cleanse' however, the stomach cramping, although not unbearable, has stayed with me throughout today. My urine is very smelly although I am drinking lots of water. I haven't had regular bowl movements as I normally would...HOWEVER this is only day two, I'm not ready to give up just yet, and the good news is tomorrow on day 3 I only have to endure one portion of aloe gel AND I get to eat an evening meal!!! Yay! I'm looking forward to that yes I am. I am looking forward to preparing a meal with fresh ingredients and really, truly appreciating every single mouthful. That will be lush! 

So as I sit here eating a bowl of sugar snap peas (which are absolutely delicious I might add), feeling a little tired, hope is not lost. There is light at the end of this tunnel and I am sure the energised and revitalised new me is just around the corner...

Tit!

FOREVER!? - It better be forever!

How long is FOREVER? Forever is for ever of course but how long is ever? For ever and ever amen?Forever and a day? For ever after? Who knows...

What I do know is that ever growing organisation 'Forever Living' is becoming more and more talked about. This Summer alone I have gone from not EVER hearing about it to being exposed to it by several individuals who are indeed either working for the organisation or using it's products. It's all over social media, its being talked about amongst friends and personally I only need to mention the word 'Forever' to a friend and they are already all over it like a kiddy in a sweet shop, whether in an approving or disapproving way. It seems people are aware of it and have opinions of it. 

I am bringing you the nine day diary so that we can together experience one product in particular. The C9 diet. Already the name implies this is a 'serious' product, a product of high importance. The name is strong, its powerful, it almost sounds a bit robotic. Am I sceptical? Yes, I am in all honesty. I don't tend to believe in fad diets/weight loss plans. I have always believed and still do that a healthy well balanced diet and regular exercise is the key to a healthy temple. Allowing oneself to indulge every now and then with friends, on Fridays and when your favourite programme comes on TV...so pretty often I guess. I am definitely the type of person that if I'm told to do something or if I try and cut something out of my diet/life...I will rebel and want it even more...BUT before I continue...let's find out what the C9 diet actually is...come on...lets find out, hold my hand we'll go together...

C9 - Designed to kick-start the programme and cleanse your body, this provides the perfect starting point for transforming your diet and fitness habits. Based around Forever’s bestselling Aloe Vera Gel drink, this nutritionally-balanced programme will allow you to see real results in just nine days.

So...there we have it. The C9 arrived at my house in a box which looked to me like it should have a computer console inside. However when I looked within all of the ingredients I needed for the next 9 days of my life were neatly placed side by side as well as a drinking bottle, a tape measure and a book for me to log everything and find my daily plan. 

DAY ONE 

This morning I rolled out of bed, miserable I admit due to a two and a half year old who is going through a bit of a sleep regression...Also, Tuesdays are nursery days which means single handedly I have to try and get two small children up, dressed, fed and kept happy whilst I also get ready for work and try and get us all out the door by 8.30am. Sometimes I manage this sometimes I don't. We also had a mouse situation this morning...but that's another story. So, having stupidly not read or fully understood just exactly what the C9 entailed I hastily tried to figure out what there was for my breakfast! 

Before starting, I measured the body areas that are listed in the log book and weighed myself...Not always a great idea directly after celebrating your best friends hen weekend in which an abundance of chocolate, crisps and prosecco was consumed. Nevertheless, fun was had by all and my synchronised swimmming session must have burnt off at least half of the calories...

NOW I don't care what anyone says, Aloe Vera Gel is not pleasant to drink, in fact its like drinking lumpy, gunky, vegetable water which has been jellified and then mushed up. It's not pleasant. So that for breakfast with some tablet supplements didn't exactly boost my enthusiasm for the hour ahead! However, I am told that by leaving the gel in the fridge makes it slightly more pleasant! Note has been taken! 

The book states that I should have then proceeded to do 30 minutes of exercise...well, I didn't have time for that but I had been rushing around with my boys so I logged that as light exercise instead. So, Breakfast DONE! TICK!

By 10am I was struggling to think about anything but food. Usually on Tuesdays I treat myself to something nice from my work cafe as I get a good discount and their chunky chips are DA BOMB! By 11.30am a sweat broke out on my brow as the smell of chunky chips starts to ascend on me from my office window...by 11.45am I was biting my nails...I needed to do something...Then I remember, I am allowed a snack! YAY! Now when I think of snack I think of a banana initially, maybe a packet of crisps, a biscuit? Slice of cake perhaps, or even a cup a soup if I'm in the mood. My C9 snack came in the form of a small sachet with 'Forever Fibre' written on it...'Hmmmmm' I think, maybe if I mix it with liquid it will turn into a sponge cake???. Referring to my booklet, I have to add the contents of the sachet into a glass of water or other beverage...Not being allowed to drink anything other than water reallllyyyyy, I decided to make a detox tea and pop it in there. I can tell you in all honestly, hand on heart, I know what a snack is, I would consider myself to be a snack expert in fact...this I am afraid to say, was not a snack and should not offend snacks by calling itself one. It should be called...'Fibre Dust' or 'Fibre Fuzz'...basically it went into my tea. I couldn't taste it and I wasn't pleasantly satisfied in the way that say...a Fondant Fancy would have pleasantly satisfied me. 

Lunch time was a little better, the chocolate shake was actually not bad at all and the cold aloe gel was indeed better than at room temperature, however, I suspect we will never be friends. Dinner was more aloe gel and supplements and this evening I've been allowed more aloe gel and water. I have referred to page 11 of the booklet to where 'free foods' are listed, these are foods that are naturally low in sugar and are OK to eat if you feel you need to. So I treated myself to a small orange and a tomato (I have to admit I feel like a tit even just writing that). 

It may have been a struggle today, the flavour of the Aloe and the hunger has been the biggest challenge, but I'll be damned if I haven't lost 5 pounds and 3 inches already!!! HOT DIGGEDY DAWG!!!...Ok, I'm only joking. I have found it hard, yes indeed. This post is has an underlying tone of negativity for a reason...it's day one, and I always knew the first two days would be the hardest. No point in sugar coating it. Of course I would like to eat something! When I get to day 3 I can start having an evening meal...that will be such a TREAT! 

On a positive note, I genuinely wanted to do the C9 cleanse. I wasn't asked to do it. I have had bad habits over the years...too much salt for sure, my husband works away and at times I do fall into the 'ready meal for one' faze which I know is BAD! But I do eat them more than I should. I have had my party years! Nights of binge drinking and and not giving a thought to what I'm putting into my body...I often think that I should look into getting a 'Colonic Irrigation' treatment to cleanse my pipes...if you will! But let's face it, nobody really wants a sucker pipe inserted up their bottom, and if they do then...well, fair enough! Life always gets in the way of such things. If this C9 cleanse actually works and can be done in the comfort of ones home without having to insert any objects up ones back passage, then you have my attention. I appreciate that this can be seen as a weight loss plan, for me, not so much. To shift a few pounds would be welcome, I'm 5ft 7in and 140 pounds, a healthy weight. My intention is to feel 'cleansed', refreshed and have a kick start to a new healthier and energised me, IF that can be done in 9 days...well then I'll eat my own hat!