August 2009 Archives

Well 1/2 way through and had a couple of urges today. Oh well, tomorrow I can start fresh and see how I make it through the last 10 days.

Breakfast
Decaf coffee with cream: I felt dizzy after drinking one cup. Not jittery, but couldn't focus my eyes very well.
water

Lunch
Watermelon gazpacho: a delightful and refreshing dish adapted from Cat Cora

Snack
Shaklee Cinch chocolate snack bar, absolutely decadent

Dinner
Grilled portabello mushroom with grilled onions; fresh green beans
Piece of homemade (and garden-grown) zucchini bread
Chai tea

I did hit a bodypump class at the gym and went for a brisk 30 minute walk after dinner. So I got some good exercise in today. Back on the bandwagon tomorrow.

I felt pretty energized today and got a lot of work done!

Day 8
protein shake
blueberries
water

Lunch
salad: fresh garden lettuce with chick peas, drizzled with olive oil and lemon
herbal tea

Snack
chai tea

Dinner
skipped dinner wasn't that hungry! took my supplements (vitalizer, 1 tsp carleson's and 1 tsp vivix) and drank tons of water

I don't know about you, but I'm getting tired of listening to all of the talk about "reforming our healthcare system" in the news. "Is it good for you," "what will change," "how much will it cost" and "who is going to pay for it?" And more importantly, will it ever pass or will the "talk" just eat up space on TV and in the papers for another year?

Don't get me wrong, reform is important - we all know that our healthcare system is a mess and we pay too much for care. But I think we need to balance the air time with information on how we can take control of our own health and keep ourselves healthy, happy, and out of the hospital.

How about a good book to empower you? I've read a couple of amazing books this summer and wanted to share the list. They're not exactly beach romance novels, but they each offer a different perspective about our body's natural healing intelligence.

Check out these titles from your library or local bookstore:

CLEAN by Alejandro Junger, M.D.                

You may have heard about "detox diets" and other drastic measures to cleanse (juice cleanses, fasts, detox pills, etc.). This book provides one of the most balanced and reasonable approaches to cleansing that I have seen, and it mirrors advice from my holistic doctor. Dr. Junger discusses how most of our common ailments - colds, viruses, allergies, extra weight, restless nights, indigestion, itchy skin, acne, depression and anxiety - are a direct result of toxic buildup in our system. Our current diets of sugar, fast food, processed food and alcohol as well as our chemically-filled environment are creating the toxic build-up, weakening our body's natural detoxification process. The book does a great job of explaining how the build-up occurs and how we can reactivate the natural process to get rid of it. He provides a 7-day, 14-day or 21-day cleanse menu with great recipes, if you're thinking a detox might be for you.

 

The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite by David Kessler, M.D.:                                              

Dr. Kessler, the former Food and Drug Commissioner under Presidents Bush and Clinton, provides a fascinating read about how our bodies and minds change when we consume foods high in sugar, fat and salt. He explains how food manufacturers - including those that supply chain restaurants - create products by manipulating these ingredients to stimulate our appetites and drive us to keep craving the foods. I always thought eating grilled chicken at a chain restaurant was healthy - but manufacturers actually inject the meat with added sugar and oil. The thought of it makes me cringe. This book was my impetus to try Dr. Junger's 21-day cleanse to try to banish my cravings for sugar and fat! The book will change the way you look at food forever.

 

The UltraMind Solution by Mark Hyman, M.D.:

If you know anyone suffering from depression, anxiety, memory loss or attention problems, this book provides an in-depth look at the diseases of the mind and offers alternative healing solutions. Dr. Hyman believes that the "truth is that these 'diagnoses' are all the result of a few basic problems with our biology, and if we pinpoint the biological problems, fix them, and allow the body's naturally healing intelligence to take over, we can repair our brains." The book explores what we do to our bodies that has a profound effect on the brain. He discusses nutrients, foods and lifestyle practices to keep our brains healthy. 

Happy and healthy reading!

 

I slept in late today -- couldn't get myself out of bed. I don't know if it was the steady rain or the detox waring me out.

Once I got up, I felt pretty alert and energized. Here's the menu from today:

Breakfast
herbal tea
water

Lunch
protein shake
protein bar

Dinner
fresh green beans
roasted pork and sauerkraut

I cheated twice today (scoop of peanut butter and a chai tea with milk)...but I had a much larger victory. I took my cousins bowling today and managed to only take in the aroma of their french fries, chicken nuggets, chicken fingers and hamburger. I didn't steal one fry!

Almost a third of the way through!

I felt very sluggish this morning. I woke up at 7 am, but was ready for a quick power nap by 11 am.

I started to re-read sections of Dr. Junger's "Clean" book to get re-energized for another two weeks and contemplated why I started this journey in the first place. For me, it's all about clearing the heaviness, fogginess and lack of clarity that comes with too much sugar, pasta and bread and alcohol. I also have a dairy allergy and while I can live without eggs, milk and cheese, I really love cream in my coffee and absolutely love butter on my bread. I was working with a holistic doctor who suggested that if I can eliminate dairy from my diet for 3 months, I may be able to eliminate the allergy. I've never been able to get rid of cream and butter for 3 months!

Junger states that a "cleanse is a way of harnessing the body's natural intelligence." "The detoxification function is a joint venture of many organs and systems that work in harmony to neutralize and eliminate toxins, both the 'inner,' the by-products of normal metabolism, and 'outer,' toxins we eat, breathe, or absorb through our skin and intestines. The function involves the liver, the intestines, the kidneys, the lungs, the skin and the blood and lymphatic circulatory system." Basically, we tax our bodies to the limit when we consume processed foods, sugar, alcohol, as well as dairy and wheat which can cause inflammation. Detox is a way to give our digestive system a rest by consuming liquid and lighter meals, allowing the body to naturally get rid of excess toxins and heal itself.

Day 7

Breakfast
1 cup millet
1 cup blueberries
decaf tea
water

Lunch
Shaklee cinch shake
Water

Snack
Watermelon
Few tablespoons of "Go Raw" granola. I picked this up at my health food store, it's a new product. Gluten free, dairy free, no GMOs, hand made. However, watch your serving. 1/4 of the bag is 442 calories!

Dinner
Stuffed peppers: grilled peppers stuffed with grilled chicken and sauteed onion. Swap the rice for millet. Very tasty
Water