Day 21: The end.

Wow, 3 weeks on this "cleanse."  At first, I didn't know if I was going to be able to do it all the way through.  But, like I've shared, it became easier and easier, and I actually enjoyed finding new foods and cooking fun, new recipes!

I feel great, my body is happy with me, and I've just found how to love the things that are good for me!

Thanks again to all of you for your support, and for letting me ramble on here so that I could keep myself accountable! :-)

QUESTION FOR YOU: Wanna try it? ;-)

Day 20: Fakin' Bacon!

I just had to share what my breakfast was yesterday morning:

Tempeh Fakin' Bacon...when I opened the package, it kind of smelled like a dog treat, for some reason. :-) I just cooked it over the stove with some olive oil, and it started getting crispy just like real bacon.  I have to say, it was quite yummy for having no meat in it!  The texture is definitely different from the real deal, but it was quite a treat!

(this isn't a picture of my bacon, but it looks just like it - from vegancrunk.blogspot.com)

I also poured myself some unsweetened almond milk.  I had never tried it just by itself before - I had used it in my Groovy Smoothie, but I had never drank it on its own.  Mmm, mmm, mmm!  I recommend you go out and try some now, because it's pretty darn good, and it doesn't come with any of the dangers of cow milk.

I also had a banana.  That's not new, but still tasty.


QUESTION FOR YOU: Have you ever tried a meat substitute?  Fakin bacon, Tofurkey, or something else?

Day 19: No sugar?!?!?

This was probably the hardest thing for me to give up.

It's not that I eat a lot of sugar.  But...I do love my chocolate!  So, why was it important to give up sugar for 21 days?

The average person in America consumes about 2-3 POUNDS of sugar in a week.  Crazy, right??  Well, among other things, it's found in high fructose corn syrup, which is an ingredient in a lot of processed snacks, cereals, microwaved meals, and almost every other processed food!

According to healingdaily.com:

One of sugar's major drawbacks is that it raises the insulin level, which inhibits the release of growth hormones, which in turn depresses the immune system. This is not something you want to take place if you want to avoid disease.

This alone should cause us to take stock of our diet and find where we can cut out sugar.  But, there are even more health concerns associated with consuming refined sugar:

• Insulin resistance, which can lead to Type 2 diabetes
• Reduction of good cholesterol and increase of bad cholesterol
• Depression, hypertension, and migraines
• Hypoglycemia, kidney damage, acidic stomach
• Speeding up the aging process 

Pretty dismal picture, right?  

It's not like we should never have sugar again, but we need to consume it in a much more moderate way.  I've been enjoying natural sugars, like fruits and agave syrup, and they satisfy just as much as chocolate...though I'll still eat some now and then! 

Thanks to healingdaily.com and wikipedia.com for the info!

QUESTION FOR YOU: What tasty treat do you sometimes substitute for sugary items?

Day 18: What the future holds...

Only 3 days left on this plan...I really can't believe it!

I've started to think about how I'm going to continue once the "3 week plan" is over.  I mean, I'm feeling so good when I'm eating this way, and I have a lot of energy.

I think I'll ease back into some things.  Like gluten.  It's wise to slowly add it back to the diet and make sure you still feel ok (digestion and all).  So, that will be the first thing I do.

After that, I think I'll try to continue many of the habits I've formed these past 3 weeks.  The only thing is, I won't deny myself a treat now and then.  I think this strategy will keep me motivated to stay healthy and keep on track!


QUESTION FOR YOU: What motivates you to stay healthy?

Day 16: Salsa, salsa, salsa!

I definitely think my energy level is way up following this plan.  Tonight, I went salsa dancing for the first time in over a year, and I danced the night away with my friend, Rachel!  Fun times!!

Day 15: Groovy Smoothie and Fancy Quesadilla time!

Time to pull out the big guns today...

I made a "Groovy Smoothie" this morning (that's named by my 3-year old nephew, Travis), which my sister Steffany taught me how to make.   Here are her instructions:

a bit of crushed ice
about 1/4 c. soy milk
soy protein powder (when I'm not on the cleanse I use vanilla flavor)
small handful of spinach leaves
small handful of kale and/or parsley (even frozen broccoli if you want)
big handful of strawberries, blueberries and whatever other fruit you have around (plums, peaches, etc are all good)
a small (or 1/2) banana (to give it a creamy texture)
1 tbsp flaxseeds (if you want...really good fiber and omegas, but it tends to be a little gritty.) I've found that if you blend up the flaxseeds first (before you put anything else in the blender), the consistency is best.

blend it all up really, really well. I take the blender cup off and shake it in between blending to make sure it all gets blended well, and I probably blend it for at least 2 minutes total. you want it to be a smooth consistency with no chunks. voila! a yummy smoothie that you'd never even knew had more greens than the average person gets in a day. :)


That's all it takes...it was yummy and creamy, and by 9:00 am I had had my 5 servings of fruit and vegetables!


Then, for dinner, I spent about an hour cooking up some gourmet quesadillas with baked tomatoes, caramelized onions, hand-made guacamole, gluten-free tortillas, and vegan sour cream!  Mmm...mmmm...mmmm!!

Day 14: Two out of three!

Two weeks down!!!  Wow, the time is kinda flying by now.  Compare that to the first few days, when every day seemed like a week! :-)

I'm totally understanding why people say it only takes 3 weeks to form a habit.  This way of eating is becoming natural now.  Tonight, I had a rice cake topped with peanut butter, and it was just as good as any chocolate dessert I used to have!

QUESTION FOR YOU: What's your favorite "healthy" snack?

Day 13: Cravings? Not so much!

Well, I think it's time to pause and reflect on what's been changing over these past 13 days:

• The cravings I used to have for sweet stuff don't have a hold over me anymore
• My body feels healthy and thankful for all the good food it's getting
• My skin is soft and clear
• I have lost about 4 pounds
• I am sleeping better (besides the alarm clock of a puppy I have!)

It's exciting to see the payoff of following a plan like this!  I think this is a healthy thing to do 1-2 times a year.

QUESTION FOR YOU: Do you live to eat or eat to live?

Day 12: Being kind to the animals...

For these 3 weeks, I am eating no animal products at all.  No meat (which I will continue doing after the cleanse), no eggs, no cheese, nothing that comes from an animal.

Why?

As Kathy Freston explains in her book The Quantum Wellness Cleanse, our body needs amino acids, which we get from protein.  A serving of meat protein will give us a lot of these amino acids, but it also delivers lots of saturated fat.  Plant protein, on the other hand, gives us the same amount of amino acids with very little saturated fat, but more fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Physiologically, our stomachs have to create way more acid to digest animal meat than plant protein.  This raised level of acid in the body can lead to inflammation and fatigue.  Studies have even shown that eating meat has been linked with the development of cancer, mainly because the meat-eating starts an inflammatory process in the body.

I also have to think about the way animals are mass produced and treated horribly just so I can have a piece of meat.  They are injected with all types of hormones they shouldn't have and we should never ingest, just so the animals will grow bigger and corporations can make more money.  Animals are packed into tiny (almost non-existent) living spaces where they can barely move until they are fat enough to slaughter.  It makes me sad just thinking about it.

I know a meat-free diet isn't for everyone, but I would encourage you to look into the issue more.  Especially if you have risk factors for high cholesterol or heart disease, a plant-based diet might be the best gift you give your body!


QUESTION FOR YOU: Have you ever thought about giving up meat?

Day 11: Halfway through!

Well, friends...I'm halfway through with the cleanse!  Can you believe it?  I can't... :-)

Just want to share what an awesome dinner my family and I made and ate last night.  Delicious veggie pizza made with gluten-free crust, soy cheese, caramelized onions, peppers, mushrooms, and roasted garlic.  Also, we made some macaroni salad with corn pasta and lots of goodies.

For dessert, we enjoyed some AMAZING Japanese grapes (the purple ones below) - they almost literally explode in your mouth and taste just like you're drinking the richest grape juice ever!  Yum yum yum!!

So, you see, you can eat deliciously on a cleanse like this! :-)

Day 10: Is caffeine really that bad?

So, today let's talk about why I'm not drinking any caffeine for 3 weeks...

It's funny, because when I tell people about this plan, a majority of people say, "Wow!  I couldn't do that...I NEED my morning coffee!"

I think that's exactly why we take out the caffeine.

Caffeine is definitely an addiction for some people, and there's a reason why:

[Kathy Freston, the creator of this plan] argues that caffeine consumption leads to an increased production of adrenaline, which can build up in the body and cause tension and headaches. Also, the stimulation of the adrenal glands by caffeine can deplete them, which in turn, leaves you feeling tired and in need of more caffeine to feel awake, or even just normal. (from thatsfit.com)

Now, I've never drank coffee, so I don't need it to wake up.  But I do normally have a soda or two during the day, which gave me a caffeine kick.  This change hasn't been too bad for me since the first 3 days, when I definitely felt a slump in my energy level come mid-morning!

For those of you who swear you couldn't give up your coffee, I'd encourage you to just try it for a week!  Make a cup of herbal tea in the morning - it doesn't have the caffeine, but it fulfills a habit of drinking something warm right when you get up!


QUESTION FOR YOU:  Could you give up caffeine for 3 weeks?

Day 8: What's up with gluten?

So, I thought it might get boring for me to just say what I've eaten every day on this plan.  Are you curious what gluten is and why I'm not eating it for 3 weeks?  Oh, good!  I thought so.  I'll tell you...

Gluten is a special type of protein that is commonly found in rye, wheat, and barley.  That means breads, cereals, baked goods, and a lot of things you wouldn't even think of.  The funniest one I've found?  Veggie burgers.  It was interesting that there is grain in a veggie burger patty, but I guess it makes sense - gluten has a binding and "chewy" effect in food.


Why is gluten a problem?  Well, it can, in effect, act as a toxin in the human body: 

"The nature of the toxicity, although to some extent stems directly from the chemical nature of gluten, is mostly due to a reaction that occurs by the immune system of individuals in possession of certain genes that recognize gluten for the foreign protein that it is and hence toxic. The immune system genes in control of this reaction are actually not rare, and may be present in up to 60% of Americans." (from finerhealth.com)

60% of Americans!  That's a majority!  The symptoms of gluten sensitivity usually manifest in gastrointestinal discomfort (heartburn, nausea, indigestion, abdominal bloating and pain, and more).  So, taking gluten out of the diet for 3 weeks gives us a chance to evaluate how our bodies feel without that "foreign protein" getting in the way.


Thanks to Wikipedia, wisegeek.com, and finerhealth.com for the info!




QUESTION FOR YOU:  Wanna try no gluten for a few weeks? :-)

Day 7: One week down!

I can't believe it....I have completed Week 1 of the cleanse!  I'm 1/3 of the way done with this plan!  I'm finding all kinds of reserves of will power that I never knew I had!

When I get together with my friends, they say they can't believe I'm eating this way.  Really, now it's almost becoming second nature.  Check the ingredient list.  Look online at menus before eating out.  Order lots of salad.

I definitely have you guys to thank!  Without the accountability of writing a blog every day, I would probably have already cheated (maybe more than once) on this diet.  When I think, "I just want chocolate!" or, "I could really use my Diet Dr. Pepper around now!", I say to myself, "No!  This is for my health!  This is to kickstart healthier eating!  This is for the people who are supporting me and helping me on this journey!"

So, thank you. :-)  Thanks for getting me through my first week!


QUESTION FOR YOU: What keeps you motivated when you've made a commitment to yourself?

Day 5: Keeping busy

Today was better than yesterday - the cleanse and I have reconciled. :-)

Tonight I had dinner with some friends - it's something we do about twice a month.  We  pick a new recipe every time we meet.  Tonight, the girls made stuffed tomatoes.  They used meat, cheese, and veggies in theirs.  I brought my own eggplant mix so I could have the dinner with everyone else, and it was AWESOME!  It just takes a few changes and some preparation to be able to do normally scheduled things within the cleanse.


QUESTION FOR YOU:  Where do you find new recipes to enjoy?

Day 4: The honeymoon's over...

I mean, me and the cleanse were doing just fine - we were good!  But, we had our first fight today, as the cravings started to kick in.  I really just wanted something sweet.  ANYTHING sweet would have done fine (preferably containing chocolate).

You can ask my family, whom I was with this morning....I was a cranky cleanser today.

However, my mood got better after lunch at Rubio's (guacamole and chips with black beans) and distracting myself with my family and pups.  And, a quick shopping trip to Sprouts for some exciting new things I can eat on the cleanse...this really helped!

It's clear that this won't always be easy, but like I've said before, I can do this!


QUESTION FOR YOU:  What's your favorite non-food treat you like to give yourself?  Some new music?  A shopping trip?  A massage?

Day 3: A day at the beach (literally!)

Today was girls day at the beach!!  Such a fun time with friends, sand, and the ocean.  And, with a little planning...it worked just fine with the cleanse.

I had a nice breakfast of gluten-free waffle topped with agave nectar, strawberries, plums, and some almonds.  I made sure to bring plenty of healthy treats with me to the beach - rice cakes, veggie chips, and some fruit.  It paid to plan ahead, because I felt totally satisfied for our whole 6 hours at the beach, with enough energy to play some beach volleyball!

For dinner, we all went to a really great pizza place near the beach.  I'd be lying if I said I didn't want some pizza, but luckily the place had an awesome, huge salad topped with all kinds of veggies and chickpeas.  It was quite yummy. :-)

The girls talked about grabbing some Golden Spoon yogurt on the way home...and chocolate is the one thing I've been craving.  I knew I couldn't go there, so I went home and played with my puppy instead. :-)


QUESTION FOR YOU:  What is your defense against your cravings?

Day 2: My first obstacle

So, this morning I felt great.  Not too hungry, not too full!  For breakfast, I had a banana and rice cake, with a little bit of soy cheese.  Once again, I had quite an energy slump around 11:00, but it was soon remedied by a handful of almonds.

Here comes my first obstacle...a lunch meeting at Denny's.  Quite literally, the only things I could eat on the menu were a green salad and "dippable vegetables."  I have to tell you....it was actually pretty  satisfying!  I think my body is starting to crave the things that are good for it - not that I haven't been craving any sweets ;-).  But for now, my veggie chips are fulfilling my snacky needs!

Dinner was awesome - my sister and bro-in-law cooked portabello mushroom burgers, topped with carmalized onions, greens, pesto, and Vegannaise - all wrapped in a gluten-free bun.  Oh, and on the side - fresh squash picked from their garden.  Yummy!!


I really think I can do this!



QUESTION FOR YOU: What's your favorite grilled veggie?

Quantum Wellness Day 1...not so bad!!

Overall, Day 1 was a pretty good day.  After I experienced a tiny energy slump in the mid-morning, the rest of the day passed by like a breeze.  I'm still getting a handle on the different meals I can eat, but today's menu included:

• Breakfast - Gluten-free waffles topped with agave nectar
• Lunch - Salad with white kidney beans, sauced with olive oil and sprinkled with soy cheese
• Dinner - Sweet potato and strawberries
• Snacks - Almonds and veggie chips

Cravings were at a minimum today, but I know my excitement for this new plan helped that.  Maybe they'll get stronger in the next few days, but now I know that I CAN eat this way!

Oh, one funny thing that happened, though...last night, I had a dream that I was eating a piece of cheese pizza, and all of a sudden I said, "Oh no!  I started the cleanse today and I already messed up!!"  Guess it's been on my mind, huh? ;-)

QUESTION FOR YOU...What's the randomest fruit you've eaten?  How did you like it?

On the eve of the cleanse...

So, tomorrow I start the Quantum Wellness Cleanse. If you haven't heard of it, here's the gist:

For 3 weeks, I will be avoiding food with:

1. Animal Products
2. Sugar
3. Gluten
4. Alcohol
5. Caffeine

Sounds crazy, right? Well, I can tell you this: I've been shopping the past few days to prepare, and it's kinda hard to find foods that fit all of the above criteria! Still, it is doable and actually sustainable beyond the initial 3 weeks (I'll think about that when I get to the end of this thing!).

One commitment I will be making beyond the cleanse: I am now a vegetarian!

So, here I will be sharing the joys and pains of this 3 week cleanse, recipes and foods that work on this type of plan, and vegetarian living tips for those interested! Thanks for listening and for keeping me accountable for these next few weeks! :-)