Monday, October 21, 2013

30 Day Cleanse Update

Today would mark Day 15 on the cleanse, the middle day, almost finished right? Well, I decided that I couldn't be on a diet anymore--I needed a break--I was done (I've technically been on a "diet" for a month and a half). A lot has been going on in my personal life since Wednesday, more than I want to talk about in a public blog. Doing this cleanse began getting in the way of work and personal relationships in a way that should never happen. Last week I became obsessed with my weight and how my body looked. To top it off I was having horrible cravings, I was super cranky, and extremely tired of planning so much and not being able to enjoy meals away from home with my extended family. Part of cleansing and losing weight is to become happier and more at peace with yourself and when a cleanse becomes more of an obsession than a 'cleanse' it is time to stop and focus on what is really important. I recently read a blog post that really brought this message home to me and I realized I was focusing more on my body and my food than my relationships and my work. If you have a chance to read Marlena Torres's blog Health Through Indulgence she really has some good advice on how to learn to love yourself instead of judging.



Now, after saying all of this I want to first say that I loved the cleanse I was on and I will probably do one or two or all three of the phases again one day, when I have the time to focus on it. I really like this cleanse, which my mom has recently named "10/20/30 Day Revive, A real food plan to Reshape, Repair, Restore" because the diet is easy to follow and it is also easy on the budget. There are no expensive super foods to buy, you just use what is available and in season (like cucumbers). Also it is not too extreme. I have gotten pretty extreme in my eating habits, but this is a diet any one could implement and it can be customized to fit any person no matter what they are used to eating. I will say though if you are addicted to carbs and sugars you will have some major withdrawals when you begin this diet because the sugars are almost completely eliminated. Which is excellent to get anyone eating healthier for life.


Just because I have gone off serious dieting to focus on my spiritual life, work, and relationships doesn't mean I am not going to eat healthfully. Nor does it mean I will go silent on my blog. I want to go back to my own version of a 80/10/10 ish / rawish diet. I loved how the focus on fruits made my cravings almost completely disappear and so that is what I will be shooting for. I want to eat peacefully and enjoy my food without obsessing about it. What you see above is my dinner from last night, stir fry on top of a roasted spaghetti squash and topped with raw Napa Cabbage from my mom's garden. It was so yummy I stuffed myself (which is also something I am trying not to do). I will be sharing periodically some more recipes and what my husband and I both eat so, if you are trying to eat healthy, but have to cook for more than yourself you can get some good ideas. I also have a guest post planned from someone I admire very much and this post is definitely something you do not want to miss. I have some good stuff planned for you and some more recipes coming your way very soon!

Happy Juicing!!!

Have you ever decided to 'diet' by not dieting? How did you feel? 
 

Friday, October 18, 2013

30 Day Cleanse: Day 12

Today was a good day. I was happy with the kids, I got some testing done (which I can't wait till I'm finished with it) and I got to spend some time with my husband. All in all a good day with little to report.

I am not going to do another juice cleanse though...its too cold and I hate juicing in the cold. I have even changed the time I drink my morning juice so I can be warm in the car while I drink it. (I drive to work at around 6:30 in the morning so I can be at school at 7:00) So anyway...

Yummy eats

20 oz beet, carrot, lettuce juice with dandy blend, cinnamon, cacao powder, and stevia
Raw Tomato soup with sprouts
32 oz carrot, orange, avocado, spirulina, cinnamon smoothie


Coconut lemongrass soup and 2 crystal rolls with peanut sauce (oops, tofu is not on the diet and I am sure it had sugar) from Swing Thai.
Raw chocolate dipped in almond butter
Almond butter mixed with coconut butter and cacao nibs
And I am going to finish the night off with some hot canela (cinnamon tea).

Happy Juicing!!!

Thursday, October 17, 2013

30 Day Cleanse: Day 11

Today was a really down day for me. I am not sure what the problem was...maybe I ate too much last night, maybe it was weighing myself, maybe the weather is changing,  maybe it just carried over from the bad night I had last night. Whatever it was I was pretty depressed today. I juiced during the day, but just felt like I needed something tonight so I ate some leftover soup and that seemed to do the trick. I feel a little better now, but I really need sleep so I'm gonna keep it short.

Today's eats

8 oz hot lemon water
24 oz "Waldorf Salad" Morning Cleansing Juice
24 oz "Fall Harvest" Midday Cleansing Juice (really yummy!)
24 oz carrots, kale, ginger, apple, cucumber, lime juice
1/2 bottle of homemade berry kombucha
Daikon radish and asparagus soup
a couple of the cookies I made last night
fudge brownie chocolate protein bars (which are very good, I didn't put protein powder in them and I used agave for sweetener. But the vegan chocolate chips probably are cheating. I probably won't eat much more of them because I don't think that black beans are very nice to my system.)

Happy Juicing!!!

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

30 Day Cleanse: Day 10

Yeah! First phase is finished and on to the second phase. I can eat nuts now...So excited, but first a three day juice cleanse :)

Today's eats (oh I did cheat today. I ate organic ketchup, mustard, and I forgot my stevia at work so I sweetened my cleanse-ok cookies with agave.)

8 oz Hot Lemon Water
Lots of tea
16 oz beet carrot ginger orange
Jicama with All-Veggie Hummus
16 oz kale, lime, apple, cucumber, lettuce, ginger
3 baby carrots
1 pear
Leftover kale salad


Lentil Cauliflower Burger wrapped in lettuce, with raw onion rings (Ani Phyo) and raw daikon radish fries.
To end the night I made some quinoa spice cookies, which I will post the recipe when I finish tweaking.

Happy Juicing!!!

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

30 Day Cleanse: Day 9

I am almost finished with the first 10 days!!! I am so excited! The first phase will be finished and I will eat a little almond butter and cacao :) Not that this past 10 days hasn't been full of good eats...but I am definitely ready to eat more like I am used to eating.

On another note...I need to remember that weight loss does not only hinge on food. I also need sleep, exercise, and reduced stress and working all day then making food and juices all evening does not help weight loss. Someday I will learn...baby steps, right?

Today's eats...

32 oz Low Sugar Creamy Strawberry Smoothie
1 pear
Jicama and all veggie hummus for snack
1 pear
More Jicama and hummus


Carrot-Ginger Sauce (Detoxinista) warmed with chopped broccoli, mushrooms, and zucchini on top of daikon radish noodles (not my favorite noodles). After we ate this dish I added some soy milk and arrowroot powder to thicken the sauce and my husband really liked this cooked version.


2 apples baked with apple pie spice and dipped in spiced vanillacado

Happy Juicing!!!

Monday, October 14, 2013

30 Day Cleanse: Day 8

Finally on the last two days of the first 10. I have been having cravings today! Granted this diet is not as extreme as what my diet has been; I've been cooking my food, eating beans, and some whole grains. But I am really missing sweet fruits, chocolate, and almond butter. I am so excited to be able to add in chocolate, nuts, and squashes next week! I can't wait!

Today's Eats...


1 pear
24 oz kale stems, cucumber, beet, oranger, ginger juice
1 pear
8 oz No Pumpkin Cream, warmed


Baked and raw daikon radish hash with siracha sauce and homemade, raw ketchup
Apple pie quinoa topped with buckwheat crunchies and pomegranate (not on the cleanse, didn't realize this until I had spent the time opening 3 of them--my husband will get to enjoy the fruits of my labors, "sigh")
Leftover Quinoa Bowl

Happy Juicing!!!

How is everyone doing who accidentally started this diet with me? Are you having any cravings?



Sunday, October 13, 2013

No Pumpkin Cream: Iced or Hot


This dessert is perfect for the first phase of this diet. There are no added sugars, no bananas, and no actual pumpkin. This would be really yummy in an ice cream maker, if you have a small one. I just stick mine in the freezer for a little while. It is also yummy warmed, but if you warm it watch the stove so it doesn't boil, check the temperature often and take it off just when it is warm to keep as many nutrients as possible.

No Pumpkin Cream

5 carrots
1 apple
1 knob ginger
1 avocado
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
1 tsp ground cardamom (optional)

Juice the carrots, apple, and ginger together then pour the juice into a blender with the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth. Put in the freezer or warm on the stove, Enjoy!

Happy Juicing!!!