Day 15 {Monday}
I woke up Monday morning and my very first thought was… I’m half way there. And then… man, it would sure be nice to eat a slice of cake right now. 🙂
Breakfast – Multi Grain Cereal 160 calories
Snack – Beans and Rice 320 calories
Lunch and Dinner – Chicken Teriyaki 460 calories {230 calorie per serving}
Total Calories Consumed on Day 15 – 940 calories
Total Beverages Consumed on Day 15 – 7 bottles of water {I’m using this to drink out of}
The hardest part about day 15?
I am so ready for this to be over. I want some TEA and CAKE. But, a deal is a deal and I told myself I’d try to eat a 30 day emergency supply of food and that’s what I am going to try and do. I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up opening one of the pouches of pancake mix James sent me though… We’ll see.
Doing anything for 30 days in a row is hard. And even though this is more of a mental challenge at this point, it’s still tough.
Day 16 {Tuesday}
Breakfast – Strawberry Malt -o-Meal 220 calories
Snack – Stupid rice and beans 320 calories
Lunch, Dinner and Dinner – Irish Pub Cheddar Potato Soup 690 calories {230 calories per serving}
Total Calories Consumed on Day – 1230 calories
Total Beverages Consumed on Day – 9 bottles of water
The hardest part about day 16?
I woke up at 4 am and didn’t go to bed until around 10. I worked out in the yard all day and was HUNGRY and came very close to opening a bag of the pancake mix. VERY CLOSE!!! WHY AM I SHOUTING? I don’t know… maybe it’s because I’m going crazy that’s why.
Can someone PLEASE remind me why I decided to do this?
I’m at my worst in the afternoon between 2-6pm. Every day I feel like if I can just make it until dinner time, I will be okay. Physically I feel fine. It’s just need to stay focused.
{What is left after 17 days}
Day 17 {Thursday}
Breakfast – Strawberry Malt -o-Meal 220 calories
Snack – Beans and Rice 320 calories
Lunch and Dinner – Irish Pub Cheddar Potato Soup 460 calories {230 calories per serving}
The soup is delicious and it’s totally something I’d buy to have on hand for a quick dinner.
Total Calories Consumed on Day – 1000
Total Beverages Consumed on Day – 8 bottles of water
The hardest part about day 17 ?
All I could think about all day WAS EATING FOOD. I smelled cookie bags, I planned our Father’s Day menu, and kept opening the goodie drawer hoping the treats would leap into my mouth. I even thought about making a carrot cake and EATING THE ENTIRE THING.
It’s starting to get to me. I’m wearing down. I need something sweet. A candy bar, a bag of chips, a blueberry muffin, a box of sugar cubes… anything.
Did I mention my mother is bringing a Godiva chocolate cheesecake for our Father’s Day BBQ? Yes, yes she is.
Gaaa. I don’t know how much longer I can hang in there. Eating survival food for 17 days in a row is tough. Yes the food tastes good, but I am so used to eating sweets and drinking tea every single day that it is tough to go without goodies when you know they are within reach.
Willpower is an AMAZING thing. I hope I don’t break… but if I do, I’ll know that I gave it my best shot.
~Mavis
More Posts-
Living off a 30 Day Supply of Dehydrated Food
Living off a 30 Day Emergency Supply of Food – Day 1
Living off a 30 Day Emergency Supply of Food – Day 2
Living off a 30 Day Emergency Supply of Food – Day 3
Living off a 30 Day Emergency Supply of Food – Day 4
Living off a 30 Day Emergency Supply of Food Days 5, 6 and 7
Living off a 30 Day Emergency Supply of Food Days 8 and 9
Living off a 30 Day Emergency Supply of Food – Days 10 and 11
Living off a 30 Day Emergency Supply of Food – Days 12, 13 and 14
Jennifer Jo says
Sounds like some foreshadowing to me…!
Mavis Butterfield says
You and your big words.
fore·shad·ow : be a warning or indication of (a future event).
Linda says
The thing is, you know you can do it & we know you can do it. If this were a real emergency situation, and the rest of the family was right there with you eating the same thing you were – you know you could do it and pretty much sail through it. The only reason this is so hard, is because they’re enjoying the Godiva chocolate cake while you’re eating stupid rice and beans. I think you need to embrace the fact that you went this far under extreme conditions and call it a win!
Sherry says
I give you credit for sticking to it this long. Living off an emergency supply of food when you have to is one thing…..but trying to do it while you have access to your usual supply of food can’t be easy. In an emergency situation you wouldn’t have those things (BBQ and chocolate cheesecake!!!) tempting you. Well done, no matter how many more days you stick to it, well done.
Renay says
At least there will be one person really ready for the zombie apocalypse!!! LOL On the plus side, are ya losing any weight?
teri says
You have the most impressive willpower to do this while the rest of the family isn’t. You are a success!
Cenith says
Mavis you have done wonderfully. It is not an apocalypse. You have given us a great review of the survival foods. Made us all think about preparing for the unforeseen disasters that could happen. You are a true solider. That said. Let it go. Enjoy that barbecue and cheesecake. As a Mom with a daughter about your age it would break my heart to see her sitting there and not enjoying our family celebration. So do it for your Mom.
Rosaleen says
Have you given any thought to what it would be like stuck in a shelter eating this while other people are doing the same? Each of you is at least a little hungry, missing sugar, desserts, MEAT, etc., and getting crankier and crankier…
Mavis Butterfield says
Oh it would be awful. That I know for sure.
Joe says
I’m trying to figure out why you would eat this dull food when you are into garending! Living up in Canada I can see the problems facing your lifestyles…I’m happy with my lifestyle and respecting the land…..Joe
Jess McCarthy says
You’re pretending like this is a survival situation, correct? If it truly was a survival situation, and someone showed up with a chocolate cheesecake, I’m pretty sure you’d tackle them to the ground and eat the cake. I don’t think you would be too worried about only sticking to the rations you have….
Yep, tackle your mom when she brings the cake and then run away shouting “Mine, all mine!”. I’m sure she’ll understand. 🙂
Tracy L. says
I seriously laughed out loud! I agree with Jess, in emergency situations you would share. Share what you have, and what others contributed. Take the cake!!!
Another Lisa says
Anyone read Alas Babylon? One part always stuck with me was when the main character finds a stash of treats that he had tucked away years before. Something like vienna sausages, chocolates, crackers, something like that. Foods not necessary to survival but certainly a comfort in a trying time. I’ve always have been sure to store some treats along with our long-term storage. Often I’ll find something on sale or on clearance and then will put it in a Food Saver bag and tuck it with the more mundane freeze dried cans. Hard candies, gummy bears, licorice…
I’m thinking I better rotate that stock tho, Jolly Rancher (from 2007) anyone?? anyone??
sk says
You’re allowed to quit. It’s okay to quit. You’ll still be you, the very same strong, remarkable woman we already love.
Lilypad says
Mavis, please stop and eat real food! We’re all amazed by your will power and will not think any less of you. I want you to enjoy celebrating Father’s Day with your family and eating special foods together is an important part of the celebration. I just finished a cup of sweet black tea—I usually have 2 – 3 per day—and I say you deserve this “luxury” too and don’t be ashamed of it!
tc says
Okay Mavis, by having a treat on Fathers day you won’t be quitting, eat the survival food in the morning and then enjoy the bar b que and go back to the survival food the rest of the month. Simple, you can then blog about what it is like to have that treat and have to go back to boring survival food. However, lets face facts in a real survival situation you or someone you know would figure out how to make cookies or cake from something, snare a rabbit, shoot a pheasant or duck to get a change of pace. Here someone else is bringing something for a special occasion, enjoy it you deserve it and in a survival situation I would scavenging for miners lettuce, dandelion and other wild herbs and such to supplement the dried fruit, I would find berries and apples for the sweet stuff as would you plus you would grow them too.
Don’t you have to survive Fathers Day anyway and B’bque and cake are the survival foods for the day.
Rachel says
If you decide to quit your challenge, I’d agree with others that no on would think any less of you. But if you do decide to continue the 30 days, why not take a “cheat day” on Father’s Day? You could still do 30 days, just don’t count that Sunday. I’m actually surprised and amazed that you didn’t take a cheat day for that graduation meal. That’s some serious will power.
But if you do decide to continue with your challenge and you don’t want to take a “cheat day” then please for the love of all that’s good in this world put a piece of that cheesecake in the freezer to enjoy on day 31.
Megan says
I totally understand the sugar thing about now….!! I made it a month on SCD (no sugar/carbs) before I thought I might die 😉 When you finish this month there better be a big party! But if you suddenly eat chocolate cake I don’t blame you…
AmyWW says
I admire your willpower. I think this is a good lesson on what kinds of foods to have in your emergency stores! Storing treats and comfort foods (at least the ingredients to make them) that will help your family make it through a tough situation is a smart thing. Keeping those things will help the situation seem more normal. After all, as you have learned, even in something as relatively short as a 30-day rationing scenario there will still be special events like birthdays, graduations, baby showers, etc. and life will go on much more enjoyably if you’ve got some special stash somewhere to liven up the party. : )
I noticed all your foods look very mushy. I have to have some crunch! Which is seriously lacking in freeze-dried foods, no matter how delicious they may taste and nutritious they may be.
Raymond Dean White says
Mavis, while I admire your will power and applaud your initiative I hope you realize that eating less than 1200 calories per day is a starvation diet–at least long term. If you were truly in a survival situation you would likely need a minimum 2-3000 calories per day to survive and maintain a healthy weight. I mean, in a SHTF scenario we will all be working our butts off and will require mucho fuel.
Diana says
Yes you have will power, you go girl!
But why the heck are you doing this?
This doesn’t sound fun…and it’s not that fun to read.
Just stop the crazies and be you! That is fun to read.
This is nonsense!
Kathy says
‘Stupid rice and beans’ – hahahaha! I love your blog and your sense of humor! At least I think you were kidding, lol!
rachel says
I’ve been out of the loop – that you were doing this challenge – but I’m impressed you’ve stuck it out this long. I agree with what others have said: this is so much harder because you’re in it alone! PLUS if it were a disaster or something, you’d be busy during the day dealing with life as it now is and not going about your regular day but eating boring food 🙁 You are making me think though (and hard) about how many 30 day supplies we would need to not become hangry!
Mavis Butterfield says
Actually the food is really good. It’s the beans and rice that are boring. 🙂