The First Three Days - Think Clean!

I'm on day 3 of an intensive "clean diet" cleanse.  Brian, my brother, came up with the concept and catered the program to fit my lifestyle.  So... I'm trying it out as an option for our program!

Day 3

Last night I went to bed with a killer headache... the kind that pounds and reverberates throughout your whole head, neck and upper back.  I attribute it to the fact that I am cleansing, during extreme weather changes and have completely cut out caffeine and alcohol.  The combination all came together by the end of day two to force me to bed early with a visit to the chiropractor and an ice back on my neck.

I woke up today feeling like a million dollars!  My headache is gone and actually my head is clearer and more alert than it has been in weeks.  I have some before and after pictures that I'll post at the end of the two weeks to show the progress, but within the first three days my jeans are starting to hang off my waste and my stomach is already looking more flat.

So what am I doing?

I'm embracing a "clean diet."  This means that I have cut out most foods that cause inflammation, some key "no-no's" are:

• Dairy
• Animal proteins
• Corn
• Sand-alone oils
• Heavy cooking
• White grains/starches
• Sweets (white sugar, processed candy, baked goods...)
• Alcohol
• Caffeine

Than what am I eating? 

• Complex grains (brown or wild rice, quinoa and barley)
• Sweet Potatoes (roasted or steamed with a tiny pinch of sea salt)
• Fresh vegetables... any kind... as much as I want
• Fresh fruits... any kind... as much as I want
• Fresh juice, mainly greens and herbs with apple, lemon and ginger to taste
• Tea
• Coconut meat and water
• Small handfulls of raw nuts (try to stay away from peanuts)
• Water... lots and lots of WATER

I'm going to keep the updates coming... in the meantime, if you want more information about this cleanse, let me know.  What a great way to be able to show off that flat stomach for summer!

Just As A Horse...

"Just as a horse will manufacture all the protein it needs for it's strong musculature from greens, so too will a human." ~Natalia Rose (Author of "The Raw Food Detox Diet")

This phrase has gotten a lot of hype on blog and discussion postings.  Raw food fanatics are raving about it's truths and the all-American meat and potato eaters are claiming it is made-up and false.  There are arguments both ways and in reality it is a statement that works to support how a body's metabolism and chemistry actually manufacture protein and nutrients from the very foods and liquids we intake.  

What a concept!

Plant-based proteins do in fact exist.  Examples are:

• Asparagus
• Dark greens (Beet greens, broccoli, collard, kale, mustard, spinach, chard, turnip greens)
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Sprouts
• Tomatoes
• The list goes on...

A well rounded routine means that you must determine what works for you!  Each body is different.  Each body vibrates at a different frequency.  Each body requires it's own unique balance of energy, nutrients and exercise.  There is no magic formula to fit all.  

It is VITAL that we remove stigmas and false, blanket statements about health.  Wipe the slate clean and start doing your own research.  You will be amazed at what you find rings true for you.

One example is that last year I tried a high protein powder diet.  The idea was to match my body weight with 1 gram of protein each day.  What ended up happening is that I would fill up on any type of protein imaginable (powder, nuts, cheese, meat...) until I was too full to eat anything fresh.  My body was so dense and my system felt so "heavy."  My mood was gloomy and I felt "off."  After two months I had not lost a pound.  In fact I had gained 5 pounds.  This program was obviously not for me! 

So... I found a different way to get protein on a regular basis.  One that worked with my body.

For me, juicing became "the way."  I found that juicing made me feel light, happy, energetic and more aware. I started thinking more clearly, sleeping regularly and am now able to focus on the important parts of my life.  

Based on results, my body is in-fact able to manufacture the nutrients (including protein) it needs based on what I intake.  The form from which it comes is obsolete... because it works for me!

What works for you?

Plateau Obliteration – Day Three!

When “obliterating a plateau” it’s hard to stay motivated.  Progress isn't as fast, my internal engine has slowed down to accommodate for the pace it wants to follow and it is just plain hard work.

Day three is always the day that I seem to hit my slump.  Today I left the gym feeling tired and sore and a little bloated from the weekend.  The scale has not moved an inch and this is about the time when I start to feel a bit defeated.

Time for a little self-talk and some motivation boosting!  Luckily, I have been here before and I know how to push through. 

Step 1:  Stick to the plan.  Make sure that you are juicing each day in accordance with the plan you've created for yourself.  

• For my “plateau obliteration plan” I am making a commitment to incorporate no more than 25% fruit juice into my routine.  This forces me to seek vegetable alternatives which add less sugar and less calories.

Step 2:  Increase intensity and duration.  For your movement or exercise routine, it’s time to pick up the pace and increase intensity and duration.  That means you want to increase your heart-rate for a longer period of time.  

• My current goal during this time is to increase my cardio to 30 min instead of 20 at an intensity of 6-7 vs. my previous 5.  I’m sweating bullets!

Step 3:  Check the negative attitude.  This is about the time when I start the negative talk in my head, “I’m just too tired… I am not making any headway… there’s no point, I might as well take the day off… I think I’m looking fatter… this is just too hard… I've made a lot of progress recently, I don’t’ need to work that hard.”  Do any of these sound familiar?  These are the types of negative thoughts that work against you and against your best interest.  

• I, personally, “fake it till I make it.”  I start talking to myself in the exact opposite manner, reversing those statements.  Even though I don’t quite believe them at first, I keep going until I start to feel the lift in my spirit.

Step 4:  Take a step back.  Look at how far you've already come!  What a feat!  Whether it’s weight loss, better health, more energy… take a moment to recognize and build yourself up for the progress you've already made.  Remember what it felt like to start your new juicing routine.  Remember how hard that first week was.  Now look at the positive progress!  

• I figure... I've already made it through the first phase... nothing is going to stop me from making it through the next!  I deserve this... and I can't wait to look back and remember what this phase was like.

Try this extra green recipe to kick-start your system!

Uber Green (just chug it)

½ bunch kale

½ bunch rainbow chard

1 large bag of spinach

½ cucumber

½in ginger root

¼ lemon

1 apple

Day Two

I rolled out of bed on day two to find that I was not as hungry as I was when I went to bed.  Oddly enough, I felt great and I was craving water more than anything else.

I marched into the kitchen to face the juicer once more... ready for the yummy goodness it has in store for me.

That day's regimen was to try and fit in six glasses of juice.  All of which consisted of dark green vegetables, lemon and ginger.  The act of throwing the produce into the juicer and hearing it 'wiz' through the process was becoming therapeutic and I quickly learned that the smells emitted were cutting down on my 'wake-up' time.  I'm energized and excited to juice today.

I honestly thought that I would have a more sullen view on this and that I might even have given up by day two.  So I was pleasantly surprised to find that I continued to be motivated and actually enjoyed this experience.

The morning and mid-morning juices were easy to chug.  This combined with a busy morning at work helped me get to my mid-day tea outing in no time!

My sister and I decided to check out some mountain bike paths down in River Falls, WI.  They were amazing... the sun just peaking through the trees, the late summer air smelled fantastic and for the first time in what seemed like forever, my mind was open, clear and not focused on food.

That night, I felt like I was breaking through brick walls of past eating habits and I began to feel a little emotional.  I realized I had held so much emotion within the pounds that I had gained and held onto.

It was time to let go and release this weight.  It no longer served me or my life.

Greens - Greens - Greens!

Green... it's not just a color anymore.  It's a way of life.  

People are living, breathing and being Green.  If you look at a green lifestyle, individuals are working to align their lives with nature.  Embracing the aspects of nature that enhance and support our world.  Individuals are choosing to be more Eco-conscious when it comes to the buying of products, utilizing of certain brands and in general, within their everyday practices.  Entire companies, families and communities are Going Green!

Green is not just in how we live, though.  Greens have become the building blocks for our most successful juicing programs.  Greens are now recognized as super-foods in their own right, taking on a shape and personality all their own.  Think about it... a food group that detoxifies, promotes digestive and organ health, cleanses, increases blood health and supports the nervous system.  Talk about powerful!

What are these magical greens I speak of?

They are the dark green, rich and sometimes leafy vegetables, grasses and algae found throughout the globe.  A short list of my top pics are below.  But mind you, there are many, many, many more to be found and had!

• Kale
• Chards
• Asparagus
• Cabbage
• Celery
• Spinach
• Parsley
• Cucumber
• Broccoli
• Okra
• Spirulina
• Wheat grass
• Herbs (mint, basil, sage, rosemary...) 
• And so many more!

So what happens when you juice these greens?

When you juice, you are basically injecting the nutrients directly into the digestive system.  Juicing allows for seamless and easy absorption of the nutrients that are sometimes overshadowed by other foods and the 'ruffage' that goes along with them.  I'm all for 'ruffage,' trust me!  Whole foods and healthy, alive produce is an important part of my diet.  Juicing, though, brings things to a whole new level.  It is a core way of life (for me anyways) that allows these nutrients to hit the system at a micro-level. 

The power of these greens comes through in the nutrients they bring to the table:

• Magnesium
• Vitamins A, C, K, B6
• Folic Acid
• Copper
• Potassium
• Calcium
• Chlorophyll
• Phytonutrients
• And the list goes on!

Moral of the story... GREENS - GREENS - GREENS!  They are the building block of our program and philosophy   We can't wait to share more!