Well, we're midway through Day 9 of the cleanse and things are going pretty well. Now I must admit, I drove by Spin Pizza today and I drooled a little bit, no doubt about that. There have definitely been moments when I have said, "Why the heck am I doing this? It's been a week, that's enough right?" Perhaps, but I'm determined to stick to this. It is a commitment I've made and I'm going to do it.
It's funny because those momentary cravings are just that... momentary. They don't last long. I'm not dwelling on a soy latte or anything for more than 2 minutes. And I'm finding that there are an equal amount (if not more) of moments where I feel utterly joyful about how I'm eating. It may sound funny to you if you're not vegan, but it truly makes me happy when I am eating a plant-based diet. I've read so much about the treatment of animals (both for meat and dairy) that when I can exclude myself from participating in their misery, it makes me so happy.
This cleanse is not just vegan, it's uber-healthy. So while tortilla chips are vegan, they are not included in the cleanse (insert sad face here). Well, okay I say that but Brian and I went to a vegan restaurant downtown called Fud (www.eatfud.com- check it out KC folks! It was super yummy, but the food takes a long time. I'd recommend it if you want to have a slow leisurely dinner with your spouse or a friend you can gab with for hours) and we had vegan nachos and vegan tacos. In my opinion they were so, so delish! And then, in sticking with the cleanse, I washed it down with fresh-juiced carrot juice. While the cleanse is gluten free, I don't think I could live gluten free unless I absolutely had to. So when the cleanse is done, bring on the bread!
All in all, the cleanse is bringing on positive changes and habits that I want to continue for a lifetime!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Positive Message of the Day
I drink Yoga Tea in the morning when I get up and each packet has an inspirational message on it. I really liked today's message and wanted to share it with you...
Uplift others and uplift yourself.
I really loved this message this morning and am trying to put it into practice today. Give it a try yourself! I think we could all use it. :)
Friday, February 25, 2011
Don't Get Sucked In!
Manwich marketers... I have a bone to pick with you.
I want to know who you think you're fooling by advertising your product on television (I should stop right there but everyone has a right to sell stuff) and claiming that it has a full serving of vegetables in every can. First of all, a can full of "meat" that can sit on a shelf for umpteen years and not go bad gives me pause. Second of all, are you really implying that this product is healthy because it has "vegetables" in it? Ladies and gentlemen, this is why we have to be conscientious consumers. Manwich (ConAgra) doesn't come straight out and say their product is healthy, but they certainly imply it. A busy mom who is trying to get her picky kids to eat their veggies might actually think this is a quality product and that is scary! I probably sound like a broken record but let's stick to eating as many whole foods as possible. If it's in the produce section, get it and eat it in large quantities! If it needs loud and flashy packaging, put it back.
Another interesting blog post I read in the Times recently had to do with McDonald's and their selling of oatmeal. Read it and be amazed at how the fast food giant can ruin a perfectly healthy, beneficial grain. Spoiler alert! Their oatmeal is not healthy. And Starbucks, you're not innocent either... Here's the link to that post:
I want to know who you think you're fooling by advertising your product on television (I should stop right there but everyone has a right to sell stuff) and claiming that it has a full serving of vegetables in every can. First of all, a can full of "meat" that can sit on a shelf for umpteen years and not go bad gives me pause. Second of all, are you really implying that this product is healthy because it has "vegetables" in it? Ladies and gentlemen, this is why we have to be conscientious consumers. Manwich (ConAgra) doesn't come straight out and say their product is healthy, but they certainly imply it. A busy mom who is trying to get her picky kids to eat their veggies might actually think this is a quality product and that is scary! I probably sound like a broken record but let's stick to eating as many whole foods as possible. If it's in the produce section, get it and eat it in large quantities! If it needs loud and flashy packaging, put it back.
Another interesting blog post I read in the Times recently had to do with McDonald's and their selling of oatmeal. Read it and be amazed at how the fast food giant can ruin a perfectly healthy, beneficial grain. Spoiler alert! Their oatmeal is not healthy. And Starbucks, you're not innocent either... Here's the link to that post:
Day 6
Towards the end of Crazy Sexy Diet, there is a section of day by day encouragement and tips if you choose to do the 21 day cleanse. The affirmation for today, day 6, is "Each step is a victory. Each fall is a lesson. Either way, I am improving now." I think this is great advice for every day. Some days are sunny, some are cloudy, and some are flat out hurricanes. Unfortunately, not every day is going to be sunny so it's important to accept the stormy days as they are, learn from them, and move on.
In our neck of the woods today, it happens to be snowy... literally. But I have to say that after a hurricane week with Christopher, I feel pretty sunny today and incredibly healthy. Today was the first day I started with a green shake instead of breakfast and it was better than I thought, to be honest. It's amazing how your taste buds change when you're not eating sugary junk. Now I must admit, I baked three small loaves of vegan banana bread (Veganomicon!) last night to use up ripe bananas (they are for Christopher, btw) and it was a bit of torture smelling them and not being able to eat them, but the torture was only temporary.
I forgot to mention some of the supplements I'm taking during this cleanse (and actually, I take most of these on a regular basis)... Multivitamin for my B12, D, etc.; Probiotics for my acidophillis, Aloe vera (liquid form) for detox, and Juice Plus Vinyard, Orchard, and Garden blends.
Have a healthy weekend!
In our neck of the woods today, it happens to be snowy... literally. But I have to say that after a hurricane week with Christopher, I feel pretty sunny today and incredibly healthy. Today was the first day I started with a green shake instead of breakfast and it was better than I thought, to be honest. It's amazing how your taste buds change when you're not eating sugary junk. Now I must admit, I baked three small loaves of vegan banana bread (Veganomicon!) last night to use up ripe bananas (they are for Christopher, btw) and it was a bit of torture smelling them and not being able to eat them, but the torture was only temporary.
I forgot to mention some of the supplements I'm taking during this cleanse (and actually, I take most of these on a regular basis)... Multivitamin for my B12, D, etc.; Probiotics for my acidophillis, Aloe vera (liquid form) for detox, and Juice Plus Vinyard, Orchard, and Garden blends.
Have a healthy weekend!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Working Through It
We're on day 3 of the cleanse. As usual, our timing is impeccable--Chris has been sick since right before we started on this health journey and on top of it, he hasn't napped in 5 days. I'm looking at it as an extreme challenge for me because as I said before, Starbucks is usually my first stop when I get stressed out. I can't deny that I have wanted to dive into the sugary goodness of a cinnamon dulce latte but I'm looking for other ways to get through the no-nap-cranky-fussy-"no mommy"-two-year-old afternoons.
Overall, I feel excellent after just 3 days of this cleanse. The green juices make me feel so clean and healthy as do all the other foods we've been eating. Brian and I have each lost a couple initial pounds too. For breakfast this morning, I had some of our leftover millet from the other night mixed with raw spinach, onions, and cherry tomatoes--not your typical breakfast food but it was actually delicious and I followed it up with 2 cups of mixed fresh berries.
To be honest, it does take a lot of effort to eat like this, despite what anyone says. (Especially the juicing part--there are a lot of components to clean up!). But I feel like the effort is worth it. It gets us away from the fast food, pick-up-dinner-on-the-go mentality. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure we'll be doing that every now and then, but we'll be better off if we prepare our own meals and eat as a family at home!
Overall, I feel excellent after just 3 days of this cleanse. The green juices make me feel so clean and healthy as do all the other foods we've been eating. Brian and I have each lost a couple initial pounds too. For breakfast this morning, I had some of our leftover millet from the other night mixed with raw spinach, onions, and cherry tomatoes--not your typical breakfast food but it was actually delicious and I followed it up with 2 cups of mixed fresh berries.
To be honest, it does take a lot of effort to eat like this, despite what anyone says. (Especially the juicing part--there are a lot of components to clean up!). But I feel like the effort is worth it. It gets us away from the fast food, pick-up-dinner-on-the-go mentality. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure we'll be doing that every now and then, but we'll be better off if we prepare our own meals and eat as a family at home!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
A Day in the Life of the Cleanse
Day One!
We've officially begun our 21 day cleanse. I was thinking this morning as my child was hacking and the drainage was flowing from his nose that this would be the ultimate test for me. Whenever Chris is sick (or hasn't napped for, say, two straight days), I tend to get a little stressed and reach for the coffee/chocolate/sugar/crap. I know it's just for comfort but I'm trying new comforting methods that don't have to do with sugary, caffeinated foods. Any-hoo, if we can stay focused on taking care of ourselves while taking care of our son while he's sick it will be good for everyone involved!
So here is our sample menu for the day. Most days, at least for the first week, will be similar to this.
Upon waking: Down a big glass of water followed by a cup of hot herbal tea.
Breakfast: Oatmeal with flax and hemp seeds topped with cinnamon and strawberries and blueberries.
Throughout the morning: Water with aloe vera drink (a very good digestive cleanser) and another herbal tea.
AM Snack: Green drink (cucumber-green apple-celery-romaine lettuce-sprouts)
Lunch: Miso soup and a big, fat salad (mixed greens, bell peppers, 1/2 avocado, sunflower seeds, vinaigrette dressing)
PM Snack: Leftover green drink; handful of cashews
Dinner: Millet mixed with spinach and kale, topped with pinto beans and 1/2 avocado
"Dessert": A few chunks of pineapple or cantaloupe
This was my menu. Brian's didn't vary by much; he just had a different soup for lunch. And then of course, physical activity is also important. The weather has been very nice so we went for a family walk, chased our 2 year old around for a few hours, and did some power yoga... I have to say that it does take quite a bit of effort to prepare healthy food but it is so worth it! We'll keep you updated about how we are doing!
We've officially begun our 21 day cleanse. I was thinking this morning as my child was hacking and the drainage was flowing from his nose that this would be the ultimate test for me. Whenever Chris is sick (or hasn't napped for, say, two straight days), I tend to get a little stressed and reach for the coffee/chocolate/sugar/crap. I know it's just for comfort but I'm trying new comforting methods that don't have to do with sugary, caffeinated foods. Any-hoo, if we can stay focused on taking care of ourselves while taking care of our son while he's sick it will be good for everyone involved!
So here is our sample menu for the day. Most days, at least for the first week, will be similar to this.
Upon waking: Down a big glass of water followed by a cup of hot herbal tea.
Breakfast: Oatmeal with flax and hemp seeds topped with cinnamon and strawberries and blueberries.
Throughout the morning: Water with aloe vera drink (a very good digestive cleanser) and another herbal tea.
AM Snack: Green drink (cucumber-green apple-celery-romaine lettuce-sprouts)
Lunch: Miso soup and a big, fat salad (mixed greens, bell peppers, 1/2 avocado, sunflower seeds, vinaigrette dressing)
PM Snack: Leftover green drink; handful of cashews
Dinner: Millet mixed with spinach and kale, topped with pinto beans and 1/2 avocado
"Dessert": A few chunks of pineapple or cantaloupe
This was my menu. Brian's didn't vary by much; he just had a different soup for lunch. And then of course, physical activity is also important. The weather has been very nice so we went for a family walk, chased our 2 year old around for a few hours, and did some power yoga... I have to say that it does take quite a bit of effort to prepare healthy food but it is so worth it! We'll keep you updated about how we are doing!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
The Cleanse
So tomorrow is Day One of our 21-day Crazy Sexy Diet cleanse. Brian and I are both doing it and, by default, most of Christopher's meals will be pretty alkaline too. When I initially read through the Kris Carr book, I thought I would follow the cleanse to a T, but upon further examination, I was getting pretty overwhelmed. I felt as though I would be spending a whole lot of time in front of the juicer every day. So in the spirit of Kris Carr, I am making it my own and having some fun with it (not sure if Brian agrees about the "fun" part yet!). Here are the goals for the next 21 days...
1. Eliminate coffee and diet soda (or any kind of soda, juice, for that matter); also no alcohol
2. Eat gluten free for the next 21 days
3. Consume no sugar unless it is the sugar found in fruits
4. Consume no processed foods or animal products (this last part is easiest for us since we've already cut out the majority of animal products; eggs just might be the hardest).
5. Forgive ourselves if we slip up!
I'm feeling a little nervous but also very excited about this journey. I'm especially excited because Brian is choosing to do it with me (no I didn't bribe him in any way!) and it's always easier to do things as a family. Eliminating all of these "fun" foods for the next three weeks may seem pretty lame and it may seems like our diets will be really, well, boring. But I cannot wait to see how we both feel once the pH of our body starts to balance out and become more alkaline. I already know how I felt last year when I stopped drinking coffee, limited my wine consumption, and ate a really healthy diet. This cleanse takes it a step further by making it really alkaline and also gluten-free. We have our own personal reasons for taking on this challenge and I have a feeling we will all benefit!
I'll keep you updated about how we are doing and give you some sample menus of the meals we are eating. Wish us luck!
1. Eliminate coffee and diet soda (or any kind of soda, juice, for that matter); also no alcohol
2. Eat gluten free for the next 21 days
3. Consume no sugar unless it is the sugar found in fruits
4. Consume no processed foods or animal products (this last part is easiest for us since we've already cut out the majority of animal products; eggs just might be the hardest).
5. Forgive ourselves if we slip up!
I'm feeling a little nervous but also very excited about this journey. I'm especially excited because Brian is choosing to do it with me (no I didn't bribe him in any way!) and it's always easier to do things as a family. Eliminating all of these "fun" foods for the next three weeks may seem pretty lame and it may seems like our diets will be really, well, boring. But I cannot wait to see how we both feel once the pH of our body starts to balance out and become more alkaline. I already know how I felt last year when I stopped drinking coffee, limited my wine consumption, and ate a really healthy diet. This cleanse takes it a step further by making it really alkaline and also gluten-free. We have our own personal reasons for taking on this challenge and I have a feeling we will all benefit!
I'll keep you updated about how we are doing and give you some sample menus of the meals we are eating. Wish us luck!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The Juicer
After being so inspired by Crazy Sexy Diet, we went ahead and purchased a juicer to add to our kitchen appliances. And actually, it is replacing my coffee maker as we are about to embark on the CSD 21 day cleanse. We ordered one of the Brielle models (don't ask which one; they all have crazy model numbers that I can never remember!) mostly because the reviews were positive, especially about ease of cleaning. This afternoon, the juicer made it's debut! More on that in a minute.
Previously, I have heard and read about the benefits of juicing, but also the drawbacks (no fiber, goes directly into the bloodstream, etc) and have been curious for a while. Kris Carr talks about the blood sugar issues in her book and most, if not all, of her recipes and juice suggestions include low glycemic veggies and fruits that have minimal effect. She's been juicing like this for 8 years now and it seems to be working for her!
Anyway, when I told my son that we would now have a juicer in the kitchen, he was very excited because for him, juice is a treat he only gets once in a while. Usually we're talking about apple juice or orange juice (which this juicer makes too; mmmm, fresh squeezed OJ!) so I figured cucumber-green apple-celery-romaine lettuce-sprout juice would be a shock for him. I didn't have high hopes, despite the fact that he's a good eater. Well, it appears that I am going to be stocking up on bulk veggies because this boy LOVES his green juice! "This is really good, Mommy" he said to me after finishing his first sip. "I want more please!" This mother could not have been more proud that my boy was drinking this yummy goodness. :)
I was pleasantly surprised by the taste of the juice and am now looking forward to beginning the 21 day cleanse. You know, it's amazing. Whenever I eat or drink something made from completely earth-made ingredients, I feel incredibly clean and healthy. It makes me wonder why, upon knowing such a feeling, we don't make green choices for our food all the time.
Eat your veggies everyone!!!
Previously, I have heard and read about the benefits of juicing, but also the drawbacks (no fiber, goes directly into the bloodstream, etc) and have been curious for a while. Kris Carr talks about the blood sugar issues in her book and most, if not all, of her recipes and juice suggestions include low glycemic veggies and fruits that have minimal effect. She's been juicing like this for 8 years now and it seems to be working for her!
Anyway, when I told my son that we would now have a juicer in the kitchen, he was very excited because for him, juice is a treat he only gets once in a while. Usually we're talking about apple juice or orange juice (which this juicer makes too; mmmm, fresh squeezed OJ!) so I figured cucumber-green apple-celery-romaine lettuce-sprout juice would be a shock for him. I didn't have high hopes, despite the fact that he's a good eater. Well, it appears that I am going to be stocking up on bulk veggies because this boy LOVES his green juice! "This is really good, Mommy" he said to me after finishing his first sip. "I want more please!" This mother could not have been more proud that my boy was drinking this yummy goodness. :)
I was pleasantly surprised by the taste of the juice and am now looking forward to beginning the 21 day cleanse. You know, it's amazing. Whenever I eat or drink something made from completely earth-made ingredients, I feel incredibly clean and healthy. It makes me wonder why, upon knowing such a feeling, we don't make green choices for our food all the time.
Eat your veggies everyone!!!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Winter blues
Okay, we're all saying it. We're tired of winter. I totally wasn't going to get caught up in feeling animosity toward the cold, dark, snowy weather. I was taking care of myself and staying positive...
And then last week happened.
We hardly left our house for three full days. And the one day my little boy goes to school, school was cancelled. On top of it, he was acting very two and a half and the only exercise I was doing was shoveling the driveway. I actually enjoy shoveling but I don't think there is any such thing as a "shoveler's high" as there is a "runner's high."
Anyway, I ate like crap, was cranky and tired of my house, and didn't want anything to do with green vegetables. This seems to be a pattern with me each winter. There is a stretch of a week or two when my normally healthy diet just crashes and I load up on comfort foods. Let's just say I visited Starbucks one too many times last week and ate the whole bag of mini marshmallows before they even made it into my hot chocolate... Yeah, not good.
But that was then and today is a new day. I broke out of my funk after a little Saturday TLC (cuddling up to watch a good movie and painting my nails!) and woke up Sunday with a new determination to take care of myself. I know the food we eat affects everything about us including our moods and this past week was a living experiment of that for me. Today I have eaten like a rock star, did some AM yoga, and a heart pumping afternoon workout and I feel fantastic! In my head, I always know that eating well makes us feel well, but it is not always easy to follow through when winter is dragging on. But it's okay you guys! If you get in a funk, remember to take care of yourself and start again. Each day is a new day!
And then last week happened.
We hardly left our house for three full days. And the one day my little boy goes to school, school was cancelled. On top of it, he was acting very two and a half and the only exercise I was doing was shoveling the driveway. I actually enjoy shoveling but I don't think there is any such thing as a "shoveler's high" as there is a "runner's high."
Anyway, I ate like crap, was cranky and tired of my house, and didn't want anything to do with green vegetables. This seems to be a pattern with me each winter. There is a stretch of a week or two when my normally healthy diet just crashes and I load up on comfort foods. Let's just say I visited Starbucks one too many times last week and ate the whole bag of mini marshmallows before they even made it into my hot chocolate... Yeah, not good.
But that was then and today is a new day. I broke out of my funk after a little Saturday TLC (cuddling up to watch a good movie and painting my nails!) and woke up Sunday with a new determination to take care of myself. I know the food we eat affects everything about us including our moods and this past week was a living experiment of that for me. Today I have eaten like a rock star, did some AM yoga, and a heart pumping afternoon workout and I feel fantastic! In my head, I always know that eating well makes us feel well, but it is not always easy to follow through when winter is dragging on. But it's okay you guys! If you get in a funk, remember to take care of yourself and start again. Each day is a new day!
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