I thought I'd post a picture of my lunch! It was really yummy! Another recipe from Natalia's book that has been a pleasant surprise! This comprised of carrot juice, avocado, curry, garlic, ginger, and a little salt. It was a little heavy on the curry, but not too bad. I ALMOST didn't put the fresh ginger in it because it sounded like a horrid concoction. But I'm glad I did! The flavors all combined turned out to be really delicious! I highly recommend trying a few dishes that you expect to hate...it's really fun! :)Friday, January 30, 2009
Raw Blended Carrot Renew
I thought I'd post a picture of my lunch! It was really yummy! Another recipe from Natalia's book that has been a pleasant surprise! This comprised of carrot juice, avocado, curry, garlic, ginger, and a little salt. It was a little heavy on the curry, but not too bad. I ALMOST didn't put the fresh ginger in it because it sounded like a horrid concoction. But I'm glad I did! The flavors all combined turned out to be really delicious! I highly recommend trying a few dishes that you expect to hate...it's really fun! :)
Day 9 -- Christi
Oh boy, yesterday was NUTS! Too busy to blog! But a strange thing happened! The only thing I ate yesterday was a large salad and some flax crackers...and strangely, I was hungry, but it didn't really bother me! I ate two pieces of sprouted grain toast before bed to calm my aching stomach, but I didn't cave to any crazy cravings, so I'm SUPER excited about that! On top of that achievement, the more I clean out my system, the more alive, aware, and energetic I feel! It's really incredible!
I'm moving up the dosage on the cleanse. It's been really easy so far. If you're looking for a cleanse that doesn't hole you up in your house for 2 days straight making mad dashes for the bathroom, this is definitely a good one for you! Carrying on with life as usual has been easy.
And carry on I must...more tomorrow...
I'm moving up the dosage on the cleanse. It's been really easy so far. If you're looking for a cleanse that doesn't hole you up in your house for 2 days straight making mad dashes for the bathroom, this is definitely a good one for you! Carrying on with life as usual has been easy.
And carry on I must...more tomorrow...
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Day 7 -- Christi
Today was my sleep-in day! I got to sleep in till SEVEN FORTY FIVE! Oh, it was amazing!
The C is going well, pretty uneventful. I did remember my tea last night and that resulted in some minor abdominal discomfort this morning, but not pain. All expected stuff. Breakfast was fresh apple cider. For lunch I have to confess, I caved to temptation! I had a sprouted bagel and some organic cheddar instead of my salad and carrot juice that was on the menu. I'm going to have my carrot juice while I fix dinner instead and then have less of my kamut pasta.
All for now...more later!
The C is going well, pretty uneventful. I did remember my tea last night and that resulted in some minor abdominal discomfort this morning, but not pain. All expected stuff. Breakfast was fresh apple cider. For lunch I have to confess, I caved to temptation! I had a sprouted bagel and some organic cheddar instead of my salad and carrot juice that was on the menu. I'm going to have my carrot juice while I fix dinner instead and then have less of my kamut pasta.
All for now...more later!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Day 6 -- Christi
Last night's dinner was super yummy! Whole wheat lasagna with eggplant and zucchini (and it was supposed to have spinach but I ran out of room!)...yum! Ok, I have to admit, I cannot CANNNNNOT do the goat cheese thing, so it was loaded with real cheese. But other than that it was completely wholesome. I was excited to be eating something "approved" and yet satisfying.
As far as the effects of the cleanse go, earlier in the afternoon yesterday I developed a slight headache in my temples. I often get headaches from either bad posture or dehydration but this felt very different. I think it was a detox headache from eating so intensely healthy all day! James shakes his head at me and smirks, "When you eat junk food you feel sick and you say it's from all the bad food you're eating. When you eat healthy and you feel sick you say it's from all the good food you've been eating and you're detoxing." Oh yah, VERY FUNNY. It's not quite as cut and dry as all that! When I eat a lot of salt and I get a dehydration headache, I think the two are related! So sue me! But this was clearly a different type of headache, much more dull and located in a completely different region of my head. I rest my case! My skeptical husband is willing to let me proceed with my insanity as long as I'm not harming myself or others (when he glanced at last night's dinner, I thought MAYBE 'harming others' was being called into question, but we were alright).
This morning Jennifer and I swam instead of using the machines. I use the term "swim" loosely. We took advantage of the natural resistance that water imposes on those who...spend time...in it and hoped that in the process our water-dwelling muscles worked harder than land-dwelling ones? And then we went in the Eucalyptus steam room and then the dry heat room (I KNOW, if you went in after us and noticed a slightly more humid feel, that was us! I'm SORRY!!). I had never been in either one before, so I was kind of enamored. I came home relaxed and rejuvenated and feeling like I'd had a morning at the spa! It was heavenly! I proposed a change in schedule: 2 days a week we work out hard and kick boo-tay. Two other days we "swim" and steam. And on Wednesdays, thank GOD for Wednesdays...we sleep in!
I'm still keeping up with the cleanse except for the night time tea! I keep forgetting the tea!! I need to remember to drink it tonight.
Oh, here's a great recipe! On today's menu Natalia has raw flax crackers, but she doesn't have a recipe for them! They're SO easy if you have a dehydrator! I did these at about 9am this morning and they were ready by 1pm. Perfect!
1/3 c. chopped bell pepper
1/3 c. chopped cilantro
2/3 c. sun dried tomatoes (I just used 2 roma tomatoes instead)
1/4 c. Nama Shoyu (I used Bragg's amino acid instead)
1 clove garlic
1 T. cold pressed olive oil
(I added some Mrs. Dash tomato basil and garlic seasoning for some extra kick)
BLEND and then add 2 cups of whole flax seeds.
Spread on dehydrator sheet and dehydrate at 110 degrees for 4 hours or until crisp. Chew well! Flax seeds need lots of chewing to release their nutritional properties! And you'll need lots of water!
I have long thought that I didn't like cilantro but I've discovered that I really do! Before I added the flax seeds to the mixture this morning, I taste-tested the blended stuff and SERIOUSLY, it was good enough to eat as soup! I loved it! Cilantro is a new fav!
As far as the effects of the cleanse go, earlier in the afternoon yesterday I developed a slight headache in my temples. I often get headaches from either bad posture or dehydration but this felt very different. I think it was a detox headache from eating so intensely healthy all day! James shakes his head at me and smirks, "When you eat junk food you feel sick and you say it's from all the bad food you're eating. When you eat healthy and you feel sick you say it's from all the good food you've been eating and you're detoxing." Oh yah, VERY FUNNY. It's not quite as cut and dry as all that! When I eat a lot of salt and I get a dehydration headache, I think the two are related! So sue me! But this was clearly a different type of headache, much more dull and located in a completely different region of my head. I rest my case! My skeptical husband is willing to let me proceed with my insanity as long as I'm not harming myself or others (when he glanced at last night's dinner, I thought MAYBE 'harming others' was being called into question, but we were alright).
This morning Jennifer and I swam instead of using the machines. I use the term "swim" loosely. We took advantage of the natural resistance that water imposes on those who...spend time...in it and hoped that in the process our water-dwelling muscles worked harder than land-dwelling ones? And then we went in the Eucalyptus steam room and then the dry heat room (I KNOW, if you went in after us and noticed a slightly more humid feel, that was us! I'm SORRY!!). I had never been in either one before, so I was kind of enamored. I came home relaxed and rejuvenated and feeling like I'd had a morning at the spa! It was heavenly! I proposed a change in schedule: 2 days a week we work out hard and kick boo-tay. Two other days we "swim" and steam. And on Wednesdays, thank GOD for Wednesdays...we sleep in!
I'm still keeping up with the cleanse except for the night time tea! I keep forgetting the tea!! I need to remember to drink it tonight.
Oh, here's a great recipe! On today's menu Natalia has raw flax crackers, but she doesn't have a recipe for them! They're SO easy if you have a dehydrator! I did these at about 9am this morning and they were ready by 1pm. Perfect!
1/3 c. chopped bell pepper
1/3 c. chopped cilantro
2/3 c. sun dried tomatoes (I just used 2 roma tomatoes instead)
1/4 c. Nama Shoyu (I used Bragg's amino acid instead)
1 clove garlic
1 T. cold pressed olive oil
(I added some Mrs. Dash tomato basil and garlic seasoning for some extra kick)
BLEND and then add 2 cups of whole flax seeds.
Spread on dehydrator sheet and dehydrate at 110 degrees for 4 hours or until crisp. Chew well! Flax seeds need lots of chewing to release their nutritional properties! And you'll need lots of water!
I have long thought that I didn't like cilantro but I've discovered that I really do! Before I added the flax seeds to the mixture this morning, I taste-tested the blended stuff and SERIOUSLY, it was good enough to eat as soup! I loved it! Cilantro is a new fav!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Day 5 -- Christi
Day five is REALLY pretty much Day 1. I had originally planned on starting on Monday but got excited and jumped the gun last week and then floundered my way through a weekend that went from being bad to worse. We had planned to leave town for the weekend but when our plans changed, I was not prepared for the change in menu planning so, I will use the word again: floundered! But nevermind because today I am doing absolutely marvelously!!! I worked out at 6am, I took my Paranil pills, my fiber drink, went grocery shopping and completely cleaned Meijer's out of anything green and leafy with names that I could not pronounce. My refrigerator is stuffed full of goodies in opaque plastic bags! For lunch I made "Ambrosia" which consisted of sliced bell peppers, carrots, apple, and zucchinni topped with ginger, garlic, basil, cilantro, jalapeno, dried cranberries, and walnuts and a dressing called Golden Elixer (lemon juice, nama shoyu, ginger, honey, and oil). It was supposed to have mint as well, but Meijer was out of mint. As you are reading, I'm sure you're feeling the same way I was: hesitant, skeptical, doubtful? I'm not crazy about cilantro or jalapeno and the combination of all these things together sure didn't whet my appetite! But if there's one thing I've learned about the raw diet, it's this: IT WILL SURPRISE YOU! Things that you would never have eaten together before can actually taste quite good. And once again, I was surprised! It wasn't "oh baby give me more" but it was definitely a satisfying lunch. And I wrapped it up with a yummy Larabar for "dessert." Now I'm focusing on drinking plenty of water.
I'm sticking to the Level 4 Detox Menu as closely as I can. So far so good!
I'm sticking to the Level 4 Detox Menu as closely as I can. So far so good!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Day 2 -- Christi
Taking a day off after just starting, not a great idea. However in my defense 1) It's Corban's 5th birthday, 2) We're leaving for the weekend tonight, 3) Because of the upcoming travel, I have let my refrigerator run out of perishables. On Monday I'll grocery shop and hit this thing with a force to be reckoned with.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Day 1 -- Christi
I'm off to a decent start! Pretty excited! I TRIED getting out of my workout this morning, but my friend Jennifer came through for me...and THIS is exactly why we're perfect work out buddies for each other!! When I tried to bail she TM'd back, "NO PAIN NO GAIN! I'll let you off the hook, but I'm going!" And of course, competitive and stubborn girl that I am, I could not back down from the challenge or be outdone. I went. I didn't kick butt, but I didn't crash and burn either, so I'm happy with that.
When I got home, I took my Paranil capsuls and downed some more water, showered during the 15 minute wait, then had my fiber drink which was not nearly as bad as I remember it from last time. It does give you the urge to chew it, but the banana flavor is quite tolerable. For breakfast, I had one of the most amazing Golden Delicious apples I've ever tasted...SO sweet! And a fantastic orange. And a slice of chewy Cinnamon Date Manna Bread with Earth Balance on it. Mmmmmmm! Now that I've broken into grains already, I'm guess I'm done with fruit for the day. I'm working towards eating strictly raw till dinner, but for now I still need something with more substance to hold me over.
I'd like to make a note of my personal goals at the beginning of this journey:
I've previously tried 100% raw and it's entirely too difficult to stick to. So by the end of the year I'd like to be comfortably eating 100% raw for breakfast, snacks, and lunch, but wholesome cooked comfort foods in the evening. This seems like a happy medium.
In the process of all this exercise and diet, I'd like to lose 75 pounds. Yep, that's right. 75. We're gonna have to ROCK HARD.
This is kind of vague, but I'd like to feel better, have more energy, and think more clearly. Not sure how to measure the success of that besides just knowing. I'll keep ya posted.
When I got home, I took my Paranil capsuls and downed some more water, showered during the 15 minute wait, then had my fiber drink which was not nearly as bad as I remember it from last time. It does give you the urge to chew it, but the banana flavor is quite tolerable. For breakfast, I had one of the most amazing Golden Delicious apples I've ever tasted...SO sweet! And a fantastic orange. And a slice of chewy Cinnamon Date Manna Bread with Earth Balance on it. Mmmmmmm! Now that I've broken into grains already, I'm guess I'm done with fruit for the day. I'm working towards eating strictly raw till dinner, but for now I still need something with more substance to hold me over.
I'd like to make a note of my personal goals at the beginning of this journey:
I've previously tried 100% raw and it's entirely too difficult to stick to. So by the end of the year I'd like to be comfortably eating 100% raw for breakfast, snacks, and lunch, but wholesome cooked comfort foods in the evening. This seems like a happy medium.
In the process of all this exercise and diet, I'd like to lose 75 pounds. Yep, that's right. 75. We're gonna have to ROCK HARD.
This is kind of vague, but I'd like to feel better, have more energy, and think more clearly. Not sure how to measure the success of that besides just knowing. I'll keep ya posted.
It's all about the big C
From C to shining C.
a C change.
C ya on the flip side.
...C for yourself!!
Let's Cleanse! It's going to feel GREAT! And let's share what's going on so we have accountability and a steady stream of fresh inspiration, both incoming and outgoing! Share experiences, share recipes, document your daily intake, even document your daily output if you'd like (hey, it's part of cleansing!). I'm excited!!! Let's rock and roll!
a C change.
C ya on the flip side.
...C for yourself!!
Let's Cleanse! It's going to feel GREAT! And let's share what's going on so we have accountability and a steady stream of fresh inspiration, both incoming and outgoing! Share experiences, share recipes, document your daily intake, even document your daily output if you'd like (hey, it's part of cleansing!). I'm excited!!! Let's rock and roll!
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