Week Twenty-Five: Days 5,6,7,8 and 9

The weekend was a whirlwind - kids, baseball, friends and all of the fun that summer holds.  I did well on my detox despite the busyness and temptations thrown my way.  The  point where I thought I might cave was only slightly torturous.  That I can say, "no thank you" to a margarita  on hot summer day or "thanks, but maybe another time soon " to girlfriends trying to kidnap me for the night, is completely empowering.  Empowering, because  I normally engage in all of the fun that life offers and my commitment to the cleanse was stronger than the fun.   I am two days away from finishing, and I'm feeling great.   My son just dropped an Atomic Fireball on my desk, how sweet.  He knows I occasionally love them.  I really want to eat it right now.  It is the little things like this that make a detox tough.  Would it really hurt me to have it?  No, but the experience of my detox would be compromised as would the experience of enjoying my few and far between candy indulgences (guilt).  
Two days to go and I should start planning  how to go back to a regular diet.  Will I have my coffee again?  I am doing fine without it, and just stopped missing it.  I am not a big caffeine junkie so I could go either way.  If a cup or two of coffee in the morning isn't a big deal and I enjoy it, than why quit, right?  On the other hand, if I feel just as good without it, and it's one less thing to "depend" on in my routine, than why complicate life with something I don't need?   Will I automatically opt for a green smoothie breakfast or go back to my favorite oatmeal topped with goji berries, breakfast?  When I began the detox I did not fully consider that some of the changes from the ten days might become permanent.  My feeling is that I will begin eating and drinking some of my favorite foods and drinks again and see how I feel.  Truth be told, I am already a pretty clean eater and unless I overindulge, I feel great.  This detox was more about giving my body a rest from all impurities and toxins and experiencing how that feels for more than just a couple of days and whether or not I could actually sustain it in the middle of a busy, social, summer.  It has not been all easy, or fun, but I am doing it, and am almost done!
~One Body, One Life~
Jennifer

Week Twenty-Four: Day 4 of the The 10 Day Detox

Day four was another fine day!  Interestingly enough, I had excess energy all day and was not that hungry.  The theory that your body craves what you put in it seems to be holding true with me this week.  I look forward to my green smoothies in the morning and my sweeter (naturally with fruit of course) smoothie for lunch.  I have been saving a little of the smoothie for a mid-day snack and that gets me through until dinner.  I feel completely satisfied with the amount of food, no doubt.  One of the more difficult aspects of this is making meals for myself and for my family, but that is nothing new.  I have always aimed to please in the kitchen and usually make two or three dishes per meal so that the whole bunch is satisfied - different taste buds you know.  Overall day four was an A+ day.  
Breakfast: Green Smoothie 
Lunch:  Choco-Starwberry-Banana Smoothie.  Almond milk, banana, strawberry, cacao powder, hemp protein powder, coconut butter and soy lecithin.  
Dinner:  Thai Curry Soup, Flax Crackers and an apple for dessert.
This weekend will be interesting as I am on the go for three days straight days without a RAW food cafe in site.  Wish me luck and enjoy a beautiful weekend!
~One Body, One life~
Jennifer

Week Twenty Three - Ten Day Detox...

Is there  a better time for a 10 day detox diet than smack in the middle of a beautiful summer?  Maybe so, but I am doing it anyway.   It is my own  detox recipe that includes 100% RAW foods, no caffeine, no alcohol as well as 1 green smoothie, 1 fruit smoothie and 1 evening RAW meal each day(approximately 1000 calories).   

I am doing this for the experience, and am interested in what the next ten days will bring.  I will of course, be blogging through my detox with recipes, thoughts and all of the fun that comes to mind!  Wish me luck...

Day One:

Woke up feeling great.  Really wanted my 1-2 cups of fair trade, organic coffee.  Opted for a hot Rooibos tea.  Rooibos is a South African herb loaded with antioxidants.  It has a rich almost nutty flavor and is really not too bad of a substitute for coffee. 

Breakfast:  Green smoothie.  One scoop, Garden Of Life, Perfect Greens RAW Formula blended with 6 oz grapefruit juice and a banana.  I have this often for breakfast and find it pretty tasty.

Lunch:  My favorite, *Shake Your Money Maker*  from RAWvolution.   I have played with this recipe and now have my own version perfected.  The bottom line is that this shake is fabulous and leaves me energized all day long!

Dinner:  Mixed greens salad with pepitas, avocados, cucumbers, celery, figs and a ginger dressing. Enjoyed a Cosmic Cranberry Kombucha with it as well.  

Day one was fine.  The most difficult parts were skipping my morning joe (I do like the experience of drinking coffee, and I haven't yet decided if sipping tea is quite the same),  remembering not to dip into the kids potato chip bag (my weakness), and having to pass on a nice chardonnay on a beautiful summer evening.  I felt good all day (a little euphoric actually), no headaches, and the amount of food was perfect.  I am trying to focus on all of the the things I can enjoy instead of any restrictions.  I'm anxious to see how tomorrow feels!

~One Body, One LIfe~

Jennifer

Day Two:

Woke up feeling a little cloudy and in a funk today.  Had a houseful of kids, probably not a great idea at the start of a detox.

Drank peppermint tea and that was fine.  Got through the morning with a green smoothie while making raw food for the rest of the day.  Started feeling better around 2 pm after all kids were off and house was in order again.  Felt fantastic after a 5.5 mile run.  Caught up with a long time BF and that always makes for a good time.  Exercise was essential today - don't think I could have made it through the day without my easy run.  I find it interesting that although I eat pretty clean, and about 75% RAW, on a regular basis,  I am definitely in detox mode.  How the body adapts to changes in diet is so interesting. 

Breakfast:  Green smoothie with Kale, broccoli, banana, apple, lemon, celery and parsley.  

Lunch:  Shake Your Money Maker, of course.

Dinner:  Thai Curry Soup that was delicious, Almond/Flax Bread made in my dehydrator, Red Cabbage Salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, parsley and a tahini, lemon, garlic dressing.  

Looking forward to day three...

~One Body, One Life~

Jennifer

Day Three:

Day three was a good day overall.  I felt energetic, and the eating seemed very easy.  I have been sleeping life a champ and that feels wonderful.  My craving of the day was a cold beer after four hours of gardening.  Not so bad, only seven days to go...

Breakfast:  Green smoothie, repeat from day two.

Lunch: Smoothie - almond milk, fig, banana, blueberry and pineapple.  My husband's take, "This could be on the menu."  

Dinner:  Lettuce wraps from RAWvolution.  Always a great, easy choice. 

~One Body, One Life~

Jennifer

Week Twenty Two - Breakfast On The Go!

                                                         An energizing (or as we say in my house "Jenergizing")  breakfast! 


1 c water (I use filtered water)
1 apple
2 carrots
2 stalks of celery
1 golden beet
2 tbls lemon juice
Ginger (approx 2 inch cut from fresh ginger or 1 tsp dried, ground)
Fresh Parsley (small handful)


Simply add all washed ingredients (skins and all!) to high speed blender or food processor for 45 seconds to 1 minute.  You can skip your morning dose of caffeine with this vitamin packed drink - enjoy!
~One Body, One Life~
Jennifer

Week Twenty One - Do You Hear What Your Body Is Saying?

Today is day 4 with no exercise and I am on steroids. Quite the opposite of my incessant blog preaching, to fill our bodies with only natural substances and move them often, I know. I am however, listening to my body - a very important daily task. As much as I want to move and keep my normal schedule, I am choosing rest. Another day or two and I will be back in motion. Listening to our bodies is one of the best health tools we can learn to use. Our bodies tell us everything we need to know, if we choose to listen.
Over the weekend I met a darling couple, Dave and Mary.  Together they had just finished an eleven day cleanse.  Dave's response to the cleanse was that he learned how little food our bodies really need each day.  Mary's response was that she learned to adjust to the feeling of being a little hungry and being okay with that feeling instead of feeding the feeling.  Both Dave and Mary listened to their body's response to the change in their diet and learned from it.  We can all reap the benefits from listening to our bodies more closely and more often, and here are some general, daily ways to do this.

I am hungry.  Are you hungry or are you thirsty?  Often we are dehydrated and that translates to feelings of hunger.  Try drinking water before you choose food and see how you feel.

I am craving something sweet.  Great, eat an apple or juicy melon (watermelon is fabulous right now).  This fills your sugar fix naturally and with the added bonus of nutrition.  

My body craves XYZ.  Yes, your body will crave whatever you put in it consistently.  Eat fresh fruits and vegetables and your body will begin to crave them.  Eat processed sugary, salty snacks and your body will crave those too.  Choose wisely and choose what you want your body to crave.  My funny client, Julie insisted that the day she craved an apple would be the day hell froze over.  We were discussing easy ways to increase fiber in our diets and I suggested an apple a day for an easy 5 grams of fiber.  It did not take but two weeks, when she came to me amazed that she actually craved an apple.  Jules, are you still eating your apples?  

I am a caffeine junkie.  Limit your caffeine intake.  One to two cups of coffee or caffeinated tea a day.  And decaf?  Skip it, the decaffeination process and additives are more toxic than the natural caffeine.  If your body is telling you it needs a mid-day caffeine fix, try taking a brisk 10 minute walk or drinking a large glass of water.  If you need the hot drink sensation, find an herbal tea (they are naturally decaffeinated) that you like.  

My body is always achy.  More and more is becoming known about diet and its affects related to  chronic inflammation.  Chronic inflammation can be the cause of general body aches, weight-gain, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, heart disease, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, diabetes, and more.  When we observe and listen to our body's response to our lifestyle choices, we  may very well see where the problem is rooted.  Dr. Andrew Weil, one of my most respected health experts, has some great information regarding inflammation on his website (www.drweil.com).
After working at my desk all day I am tired and do not have the energy to exercise.  Sitting for long periods of time does make us tired.  Take breaks throughout the day and take a walk instead of the caffeine, smoke or vending machine break.  If you are only tired from sitting, push yourself to exercise.  You will feel the energy burst afterward.  Sara, a former bootcamp client, continually told me how she loved the later evening classes, because although she often did not have the energy going into class, she loved the increase in energy afterward and how much she accomplished on those evenings. 
I have an injury/strain or I am sick, but I am going to work out anyway.  This is always tempting for us exercise junkies, but not very wise.  From experience I can tell you, continuing to exercise through an injury or illness will most always cause a greater injury with more time off later.  Rest when your body needs it!  
This week, take some time to keenly observe what your body is telling you.  Make the necessary changes in diet and habits from these observations.  Make the choice to be a better listener and your body will thank you time and time again.
~One Body, One Life~
Jennifer