crazy sexy cleanse

#CSDCleanse Update

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So it has been 10 days since I started this cleanse and let me tell you it has been a rough 10 days. Well I guess that’s a big of an exaggeration because days 2-7 were going okay, day 8 was tough and then day 9 happened. This is the day that I had a happy hour date with a friend that we had planned over a month before so obviously I had the intention of having a cocktail. Not only did I have a cocktail but I had bread and then I went out after with Neil and Edith and we shared a cone of sorbet.

I hate writing this post and am a little disappointed in myself for falling off the cleanse wagon but I think it’s important to be honest with you.

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I dreaded each morning because of how much I hate smoothies or green juice for breakfast. I mean I like them but I also want something more substantial especially after a night of non-stop nursing, which we have had a few this past week. I have always had a hard time with doing smoothies for breakfast and yet I try again and again but I’m not sure why I bother. I can never seem to make them fill me up despite adding nut butters, protein powders, avocado, coconut, etc to bulk them up. That being said I have gone back to eating oats with fruit, or fruit with nuts and coconut or veggies and gluten free or sprouted grain bread.

The good news is that breakfast was the only real diet/food related struggle I had with this cleanse was the morning green juice or smoothies. I know I had a piece of bread and sorbet on Sunday but otherwise I have been feeling really good with my high alkaline foods diet, (pretty much) no gluten, (pretty much) no alcohol and (pretty much) no refined sugars.

I have to say I have been very successful with the no coffee aspect of the cleanse has been a success and here I am still going strong. Honestly this cleanse has transformed itself into a coffee free June cleanse and I’m going strong and staying strong with this. I have to say I have lusted after Neil’s coffee in the morning but I also know my body needs a break and that I need to get back to my old routine of only 3-4 cups per week versus the 7-10 I have been having.

I debated restarting the cleanse after my bad day this past Sunday but I decided that it just doesn’t make sense to right now. We have a rare date night coming up which we plan to enjoy with a night of amazing food at Portobello. Then there is Fitbloggin which I am sure I can keep it healthy but also want to enjoy a beer or cocktail as well and then my parents come right after that. I have to say it’s bad timing for me to even attempt to do a cleanse properly.

That being said this is my plan for the remainder of the month of June (and hopefully beyond):

  • Green Smoothie or juice for breakfast 2-3x per week; for me this is so much more attainable than 7 days/week.
  • Gluten Free 4-5x per week; I know that too much gluten bothers my stomach so my goal is to avoid it at lease 4  days out the week.
  • Limit adult beverages to a max of 3 per week, while trying to stick closer to two.
  • No coffee for the remainder of June, after June keep my coffee max at 4 per week, while trying to keep it closer to three
  • Continue to eat more raw veggies, lower glycemic fruit and lots of leafy greens while limiting the amount of grains, nuts and soy.

I am planning to do another cleanse in August probably not the Crazy Sexy Diet one but rather a three-five day high raw food, juice and smoothie cleanse. I would love suggestions for one if you have any.  I am actually working on planning my own and will see how it goes. Who knows maybe I will try it after my parents head home so I can give my body a break after showing them around to all the amazing food carts, breweries and eateries in Portland.

Have you ever done a cleanse? If yes, what kind and how did you do?

My June Challenge

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Hello June and summer!  As I said on my Facebook page my monthly challenges see going on dinner break. However this didn’t mean you can’t come up with your own challenges or join me in my personal challenges it just means no organized challenges (or prizes).

I will admit that the plank-a-day challenge lasted about 2 weeks before I missed a day and then it was two, then three and so on. Needless to say it was kind of a huge fail for me. I am actually pretty disappointed in myself as well.

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This month I am committed to successfully competing my personal challenge. Starting tomorrow I am doing the Crazy Sexy Diet 21-Day Cleanse (#CSDCleanse). This is a cleanse I tried about 8 months ago but didn’t complete. This time I will complete it!

There have been a number of questions from you via Facebook and instagram since I announced that I was going to do this cleanse. That being said I thought I take a moment to give a few details about the cleanse and answer the questions that have come up so far. As always feel free to email me or leave a comment below if you have additional questions!

So what is the Crazy Sexy Diet 21-Day Cleanse? This cleanse is all about eating lots of whole and raw foods, green juices and smoothies, while also cleansing the mind and body. While this cleanse does have some restrictions such as no coffee, alcohol, refined sugars, gluten and a few other things it doesn’t restrict calories, require fasting (although you can) or have a specific meal plan to follow. It is all about clean eating and lots of yummy whole foods. in addition the cleanse guide has tips, workouts and guides to cleanse not only your body but your mind as well. Honestly the easiest way to find out about the cleanse is to get yourself the book or visit the website.

Green Smoothie Day #1: coconut milk, banana, kale, pineapple, coconut oil and blueberries

Green Smoothie Day #1: coconut milk, banana, kale, pineapple, coconut oil and blueberries

How can you cleanse while breastfeeding? As for cleansing while breastfeeding the CSD cleanse is totally do-able! This cleanse like I said before is not about restricting calories or fasting so there is no need to worry about getting enough calories to keep up your supply.  Additionally, you will be eating so much cleaner and more nutritious foods that it will not only be great for you but your baby as well! Basically with this cleanse you eat 20-40% cooked and 60-80% raw whole foods vegan foods for 21 days and do green juices or smoothies for breakfast.  If you are hungry you eat more if you aren’t hungry you eat less. Plain and simple.

If you would like to join me please let me know! I’d love to be able to support each other!

As always I am health coach not a doctor so if you have any concerns please consult with them prior to doing any sort of dietary change. For me I am not personally making a huge change I am just cleaning my diet up so that I can get back on a better healthy eating track.

Cleanse Fails & Wins

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I know that I said I would do the Crazy Sexy 21-Day Cleanse but after the first 5 days I failed it. I am finding that life with a new baby doesn’t always allow you to do everything that you plan and that at times you just have to go with the flow. Now this may all sound like I am blaming it on the baby (which I am a little) but honestly it was hard to stick with reading the various affirmations, daily goals and ect.  As for the food part I only have had a few minor fails and plan to continue to follow the 60/40 plan.

Okay so things really aren’t as dramatic as they might seem, overall Neil and I both have stuck with the Crazy Sexy Diet/Cleanse with a few minor fails which include:

  • I had Thai takeout that my parents got for dinner after a crazy day out.
  • I have had coffee which honestly I’m not sorry about. I have had no more than one cup per day and most days I don’t have a cup and I’m okay with that. Neil has also had coffee.
  • We gave into our hunger and desire for our favorite dumplings from the dumpling cart Saturday (which we now regret- too much gluten!).
  • I had a gluten free beer. Neil had beer this week too at home and at a work dinner.
  • We stopped following the cleanse in the book. Tending to a fussy baby, nursing, sleeping and focusing on eating as well as possible took priority.

What I like to call the Crazy Sexy Diet Wins:

  • We have successfully reduced the amount of gluten that we have been eating. With the exception of beer, dumplings and today Neil had Field Roast deli slices for lunch we have not eaten any other glutenous foods in 8 days.  We are both feeling a lot better and our digestion has improved.  We will not be eliminating gluten completely from our diet (we both enjoy beer too much and Neil is a homebrewer) because a little gluten doesn’t bother us but we will be limiting our intake because we both feel better.
  • We have increased raw foods. We have been enjoying lots of green juices, green smoothies and extra large salads. We feel great since increasing all of these and I am so glad to get back to juicing! Also to be honest one of our favorite meals now are extra large salads with tons of veggies, a little cooked protein and sometimes a little whole grain added in <– so good.
  • We have maintained our caffeine reduction. Back when I got pregnant I pretty much stopped drinking coffee in my first trimester with the exception of a few small decaf coffees and in my second and third trimesters I had decaf 3-4 times per week and once in awhile a half caf. During this time Neil decided to reduce his coffee intake from 2-4 cups per day to one cup per day (sometimes two on the weekends).
  • We have reduced our sweets. When I was pregnant I developed this crazy sweet tooth and was always wanting coconut ice cream and chocolate chip cookies.  Well the craving for chocolate chip cookies didn’t go away once Edie was born and the first week home Neil must have made at least three small batches.  I’m happy to say that as much as I want a chocolate chip cookie right now we won’t be heading to the kitchen to bake any for awhile and that both of our sweet tooth’s have been satisfied lately with a small piece of dark chocolate.
  • We increased our workouts. I went for a walk 5 out of 7 days last week and Neil got back on track with his training schedule, biked to work and also ran a 5k. I am happy to say it feels amazing to be back on a more regular workout out schedule and I plan to keep it up!

Okay so it wasn’t a total failure. We didn’t stay on track like we had wanted to but we are keeping up the principles of the 60/40 plan of the Crazy Sexy Diet and will be maintaining our workouts.  One day I hope to really be able to commit the necessary time and focus to do the Crazy Sexy Cleanse.

 

Crazy Sexy Cleanse: Days 2-4

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I was hoping to do an update sooner than this but this mama has been super busy and dealing with a fussy, gassy baby which takes priority. I have to be honest as well I cheated on the cleanse today with a mug of coffee and a few spoonfuls of coconut iced cream.  The coffee was due to a sleepless night, which I know is a poor excuse but I decided I “needed” it.

So lets check in on Days 2-4:

AM/Breakfast: Tea, Water, Millet Toast with Avocado, Apple Sprout Smoothie

Lunch: Rice Bowl with black beans, salsa, lettuce, jalapenos, guacamole and hot sauce

Snack: Cocomojoe Bar

Dinner: Extra Large Salad with leftover tofu and lots of veggies with Lemon Goddess Dressing

Activity: Quick 20 minute walk with Edie the BOB

AM/Breakfast: Tea, Water, Millet Toast with Avocado

Lunch: Tortilla with ketchup, mustard and sauteed summer squash and a large green salad with hemp seeds, tomatoes, cucumber and Lemon Goddess Dressing

Snack: Cocomojoe Bar

Dinner: (hellish evening with a screaming baby) Bowl of brown rice with hemp seeds, nutritional yeast, Braggs and sriracha

Activity: 40 minute walk with Edie the BOB

AM/Breakfast: Water, coffee, green juice (romaine, cucumber, golden beet), gluten free toast with almond butter and banana

Lunch: Thai Stir Fry Veggies & Tofu with Rice

Dinner: Thai Stir Fry Veggies & Tofu with Rice and fresh roll

Dessert: Chocolate PB Coconut Milk Iced Cream

Activity: 40 minute walk

Tomorrow I vow to get back on track with this cleanse! One off day doesn’t mean I’m a failure and it doesn’t mean that the cleanse is over!

Oh and just because even after a crazy roller coaster of a night with her I can’t help but smile at this silly little face and I am reminded how amazing it is to be her mama.

Postpartum Update: 1 Month

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We made it one whole month with lots of ups and very few downs as new parents.  It is amazing to me how fast this past month went and I love watching Edie grow and become more interactive but part of me wants time to slow down just a little bit. Today on Naturally Family you can read Edie’s one month update.

How I Am Healing: I would say I am about 90% there! So excited! I have my 6 week appointment in 2 weeks and hope that I am cleared to get back to regular activity. Once I am I hope to get back to yoga classes and running!

Activity: I have been getting out for a walk every morning with Edie and it feels great.  I love pushing her in the stroller because it really adds so resistance to my walk-it’s so much more challenging! You can follow my workouts on DailyMile.

Weight: Still no change but I am feeling good.  I have a few new pieces of clothing (although the bottoms are maternity) and I hope that in the next few weeks I can find a few more items that I feel comfortable in because I am so over t-shirts and workout pants.

Breastfeeding: Things have been going really well with breastfeeding.  We have had a few fussy moments with Edie when she has wanted to cluster feed and I haven’t had enough for her so she gets frustrated but otherwise things are going well. What’s new is that I decided about a week ago (and also per recommendation of the lactation consultant at our pediatricians office) that I would start pumping at least once per day to help my supply.  I have been pumping most days but I’m still not getting a ton which may be because Edie is nursing so frequently.  Yesterday I had a good window of time (she took a 3.5 hour nap) and was able to pump one ounce which the most I have been able to since I started.  I am hoping that I will be able to pump more over time because I would really like to pump enough to have Neil give Edie a bottle a few nights a week so I can have a little me time and he can have some bonding time with her after he gets out of work.

 

Crazy Sexy Cleanse: Day 1

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Well we are finishing up Day 1 of the Crazy Sexy Cleanse and so far things are going well. Neil struggled a little this morning without his normal coffee ritual and to be honest I could have used a cup myself but instead with both had a mug of Infuse Your Mood Tea, a lemon water with cayenne and a big green juice (makes one quart: one bunch dino kale, half bunch curly kale, one gala apple and half a mini melon.)

As part of the cleanse and my goal of getting back to my fitness Edie and I got out for a 30 minute walk this morning.  I pushed her in the BOB which added a little something extra to the walk- sheesh it is so much tougher to walk when you have to push around a stroller, a baby and a car seat!

After our walk and nursing session I was feeling hungry so I decided to have a few slices of millet bread with avocado, a sprinkle of sea salt and nutritional yeast.

Lunch consisted of leftover quinoa salad (quinoa, cherry tomatoes, parsley, green onions, cucumber and a homemade dijon-balsamic vinaigrette), a big glob of lemon dill hummus and leftover roasted veggies.  It was tasty but not too photogenic so I decided to nix the photo.

For an afternoon snack I had a fig COCOMOJOE bar which was absolutely delicious and I am quickly becoming addicted to all of the flavors!

Dinner was the highlight of the day- I made two recipes from Crazy Sexy Diet, the teriyaki tofu and the hemp cabbage salad.  I knew that the tofu would be good but I was skeptical about the salad and to my surprise it was actually really good and the perfect pairing with the tofu.

One day down 20 more to go!

Today on Naturally Family I talk about my first official day as a stay-at-home/work-at-home mom.