Have you ever seen the show Wife Swap? I remember catching an episode about 10 years ago where one of the wives sat in the sun like 6- 8 hours a day. She ate hardly anything and believed that she could get all her nourishment from the sun.
Ya, well, I tried it and it doesn’t work.
Moving on…
Day 18 {Thursday}
Breakfast Strawberry Malt -o-Meal 440 calories {220 per serving}
I woke up pretty early so I decided to cook a double serving of Strawberry Malt-o-Meal for breakfast. I was happy… even though I knew it would probably mean I’d have to open one of those bags of pancake mix to make it through the full 30 days.
Snack – Beans and Rice 320 calories
Lunch and Dinner – Chicken à la King 530 calories {265 calories per serving}
Total Calories Consumed on Day 18 1290
Total Beverages Consumed on Day 18 9 bottles of water {I’m using this to drink out of}
The hardest part about day 18?
I stopped by Costco to buy food for our Father’s Day party. The parking lot smelled like muffins. I swear the bakery vent is somewhere near the entrance of the building.
As soon as I walked in I spotted a couple with big Starbucks beverages and then starting craving a venti earl grey tea with two sugars and an inch of milk. It was torture and it took every fiber in my being not to grab the free samples.
I watched as people filled their carts with delicious convenience food {half of which they will all probably throw away} and almost had a melt down. But I made it.
Day 19 {Friday}
Breakfast – Strawberry Malt-o-Meal 220 calories
Snack – Beans and Rice 320 calories
Lunch and Dinner – Chicken à la King 530 calories {265 calories per serving}
Total Calories Consumed on Day 19 – 1070
Total Beverages Consumed on Day 19 – 10 bottles of water
The hardest part about day 19 ?
Nothing. Friday rocked! I spent half the day outside gardening with Lucy and the other half cleaning out the storage room.
I am amazed at my willpower to continue to be able to eat the suggested servings out of pouches on a daily basis. I am not a camper, or someone who eats freeze dried food normally {I think I’ve had astronaut ice cream twice in my lifetime} so this whole crazy experiment of mine has been a wild ride.
I have been off caffeine since day 4 and I’ve been sleeping better than I ever have before. That in itself is a BIG deal to me. My skin looks better than it has in a long time. My guess is it’s because of all the water I’ve been drinking on this challenge.
I truly believe it’s good to get our of your comfort zone every once in a while. I know most of you think I’m nuts… and I’m okay with that. 😉
Day 20 {Saturday}
Breakfast Multi Grain Cereal/Strawberry Oatmeal Combo 250 calories?
Snack – Beans and Rice 320 calories { I poured some of the habanero chili sauce over my beans and rice and it was DELICIOUS!!!
Lunch – Chicken à la King 265 calories
Dinner Mango Habanero Chili 230 calories
Total Calories Consumed on Day 20 – 1065
Total Beverages Consumed on Day 20 – 9 bottles of water
The hardest part about day 20?
Nothing really. I slept in, ran some errands with the HH and did a little house cleaning.
Day 21 {Sunday – Father’s Day}
Yes, the rest of the Godiva cheesecake is all MINE. The cake is safely and hidden at the bottom of my garage freezer. Bottom line: If you touch my cake, I will cut you.
Breakfast Multi Grain Cereal/Strawberry Oatmeal Combo 250 calories? {I poured the rest of the multi grain cereal into the strawberry oatmeal pouch to make my life more exciting. What can I say? It’s a thrill a minute around here.
Snack – Beans and Rice 320 calories
Lunch and Dinner Mango Habanero Chili 460 calories {230 calories per serving}
Holy canolies the chili was spicy and GOOD. You can bet your last dollar I am using the extra liquid from the chili to pour over my rice and beans. {Note: I added an additional cup of water to the chili mix just so I could do that.}
Total Calories Consumed on Day 21 – 1030
Total Beverages Consumed on Day 21 – 11 bottles of water
{The food I have left to eat + my stash of beans and rice}
The hardest part about day 21?
What? You mean besides all the bbq, side dishes and dessert everyone was eating? Seriously? Do I even need to answer that?
My Mom, the interventionist, told me that when I run out of the food I’m holding {and my rice and beans} I have to open the pancake mix. Each bag of pancake mix contains 15 servings. My choices are buttermilk pancakes and whole wheat pancakes. Clearly I’ve been doing a little double dipping on my portions and have not rationed properly for the last few days. Eating pancakes is inevitable. It’s a tough gig, but someone has to do it.
Even though the experiment isn’t over yet, I think we can all safely assume 2 things.
1. When a company offers to send you a Premier Kit with 205 servings TAKE IT. Just because I was an idiot and didn’t realize the original kit I received was meant to be supplemented with beans, rice and other food I already had in my pantry, doesn’t mean you need to make the same mistake too.
2. Have something sweet in your food storage like brownies to feed your sugar cravings.
Keep calm and carry on.
The experiment continues…
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
Living off a 30 Day Emergency Supply of Food – Days 15, 16, and 17
diane @smartmoneysimplelife says
I admit it. There’s no way on this earth or beyond that I could have resisted that cake.
I guess it’s a very special reward to look forward to but, I’m pretty sure I’d be able to hear it saying, “eat me” from all the way at the bottom of the garage freezer…
Not long to go now!
Em says
One more week! Glad to read you’re still enjoying the food!
Karen says
On day 31, someone will find Mavis in her garage, covered in chocolate cheesecake, passed out with the freeze standing wide open. LOL
Mavis Butterfield says
Oh… I’ve already got July 1st planned out. 🙂 You bet I do.
Jess says
LOL I love it! You are a huge inspiration.
Kris says
Mavis, I’m so proud of you! I just thought you should have had this last year to fit into your jeans! Maybe I need to buy a kit to fit into my jeans! With the fruit and Zaycon meat in my freezer, bring on the zombies!
Leanna says
TEA!!! I love earl grey with milk and sugar. MM MM MM
Sherry says
You’re in the home stretch! So impressive!! Go Mavis!
Mrs. Chow says
Mavis, you are an inspiration, so much fun, and hilarious, all rolled into one. I wish you were my neighbor!
Mavis Butterfield says
I wish you were my neighbor too Mrs. Chow. 🙂
Becky says
Very impressed!!
Janet says
Do you think this will change the “regular” food you eat next week? What about tea? if you feel better and look better, is this kind of a kick start to look at what you eat and drink and whether you want it anymore? I am wondering if you will find the regular food and tea aren’t as important anymore.
I thought you were going to give in last week, but I was hoping you wouldn’t because you’d come so far. You’re on the homestretch – way to go!
By the way – I am so happy for you and Lucy to be the yard together.
Mavis Butterfield says
These are all great questions Janet and I will try to address them next week WHEN I CROSS THE FINISH LINE. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Sandy says
Speaking of finish lines…I think you should count this as one of your “marathons” as I’m pretty sure the will power and attitude needed to complete a big running event you’ve got in spades with your little experiment. Go Mavis!
Sarah says
You are doing great! You mentioned that you are sleeping better since going off caffeine. I’m sure it may be hard to tell because of your decreased calories, but I would love to know how your energy level is after the challenge without the caffeine. Also, I’m sure you have experienced weight loss; maybe they could market it as a one month weight loss tool? Anyway, your willpower is an inspiration!! Almost done! You can do it!
RebekahU says
OK – I have a rude question… Have you lost any weight while doing this? I struggle with my weight because I struggle with portion control, and I’m wondering if trying something like this might be worth a try to help get me moving in the right direction…
Mavis Butterfield says
Hi RebekahU,
It is not a rude question. Because this challenge was never about weight loss, I am going to hold off on talking about that aspect of it until I’m done. I hope you {and everyone else} understands.
Diana says
I am so proud of you. I knew you could get beyond that ‘problem’ last week. Can’t wait for you to finish the month. And since I’m bit of a prepper, I’m definitely going to look into this company. I’ve held off getting anything from any of them because I didn’t know if the food would be any good. I’m so glad to hear it is.
And is that YOU in the picture? You’re wearing a PINK top! I didn’t recognize you, lol.
Hang in there kiddo. It’s almost done. Remember, eat the first piece of cheesecake fast, then the second one verrrrry slowly… lol…
Tammy says
That is hilarious about Wife Swap – because that episode and maybe two others were the only ones I watched.