It's Detox Time! 3-Berry Smoothie

It's Detox Time!

For the past month I've made fresh vegetable/fruit juice just about every day. My husband and I have been trying to replace at least one meal a day with juicing. It's been a precursor to the detox diet that we started 5 days ago, and it's going great!

I liken our detox diet to the Hallelujah Diet of which I am familiar, but without the BarleyMax (I use my own powders/supplements). They promote an 85% raw, 15% cooked diet, made up of vegan choices. And glance at their testimonials and you'll see what a blessing it is to eat this way—for life!

But I'm not espousing a particular diet really, just whole "vegan and gluten-free" foods, mostly raw, and with no meat products for this time of detoxifying. And of course, fresh juicing to maximize our daily nutrient content and give the body something to enable us to heal.

What our detox includes:
Drinking a variety of fresh juiced vegetables and fruits
Healthy fruit and green smoothies
Raw fruits, vegetables and dehydrates
Big green salads
Steamed vegetables (been eating a lot of Brussel sprouts)
Homemade vegetable soups
Herbal tea
Fresh lemon/limeade
Nuts (no more than a handful)
Coconut oil

You're not ready, until you're ready!

Hubby and I both are beyond middle age. We're still young-at-heart, and so it's not fun when health issues interfere with life's enjoyment and our abilities. I feel like if I don't get serious now about true healthy living I might as well give up. I know we'll be making sacrifices—albeit good ones, as we change to better eating habits. I'm determined to—once and for all! I'm ready already.

I'd like to eventually proceed forward and make it a juice only detox, so I'm really preparing myself for when I feel the time is right. I'm inspired by documentaries like Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead and Hungry for Change. I find that a big part of making a lifestyle change or going on any diet for that matter, it takes the right timing, the right mental focus, and the right environment to make it a successful journey. I knew that now was the right time to begin. And having hubby on board makes it much more doable.

Our very first juice on day 1 was:  

Apple-Broccoli Juice

4 Granny Smith apples
1 lime
4 celery ribs
Bunch of cilantro
1 head of broccoli

I had never juiced broccoli before, but since I had plenty in the fridge I wanted to make good use of it, and I saw a recipe for Green Apple Pie Juice that stirred my interest. My Apple-Broccoli juice was so GOOD! I'm getting used to the taste of cilantro and it's useful to draw out heavy metals in the body.

This week I made another awesome smoothie recipe using blueberries (since we got such a great deal on frozen blueberries):

3-Berry Antioxidant Smoothie

This was a great tasting and so-good-for-you breakfast smoothie that utilizes three different berries: blueberries, blackberries and cranberries. One of the best sources of antioxidants, berries help to fight against aging and the chronic disease processes that many of us know about first hand. Even the American Institute for Cancer Research admits that blueberries are “. . .  substances that can slow the aging process and reduce cell damage that can lead to cancer.” Here are 7 Berries You Should Eat Everyday.

Not included in that list of 7 are cranberries, which when consumed in their raw form or juiced, have huge health benefits warding off urinary tract and yeast infections, dental plaque, and helps with blood sugar issues such as insulin resistance. See Cranberry juice benefits made simple.

3-Berry Antioxidant Smoothie

by Kathy's Kitchen

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Keywords: juicing raw gluten-free raw vegan

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A so-good-for-you antioxidant fruit smoothie that utilizes blueberries, blackberries and cranberries.

Ingredients

• 1 cup blueberries (raw, frozen or partially thawed)
• 1 cup blackberries (raw, frozen or partially thawed)
• 1 cup cranberries (raw, frozen or partially thawed)
• 1 Tbs. coconut oil
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 1 cup almond milk
• 2 Tbs. lime or lemon juice
• 1 tsp. spirulina powder (optional)
• 2 Tbs. green powder supplement (optional)
• 2 tsp. coconut sugar, maple syrup, or other sweetener

Instructions

• Add all ingredients into a high powered blender (like VItaMix) and using the tamper, blend until well combined. Pour and serve.

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Right now I've got naked kale chips in the dehydrator and when I get some more sunflower seeds I'll make some red hot snackers crackers, but I won't indulge, and now at day five I'm feeling past the terrible late afternoon cravings (thanks to the wonderful nutrients I'm giving my body and cells). I'm not having the sugar and chocolate cravings but hubby is still dealing with it, and at 270 lbs. he requires more food than I do so he eats a tad more. (I don't scold, I'm very glad and proud of him and he's losing weight faster than I am!)

So today, I look forward to feeling good, staying active, and slimming down. How about you?

Linking up with Gluten-Free Cat and  Raw Foods Thursdays 

Hit the Brake and Reset Your Destiny

Healthy Habits—Week 4

What I Hate—Loss of Control

I'm referring to all the junk (aka food choices) we cram down our esophaguses. 

What comes over us? 

Are we on cruise control? 

Kind of. 

We've set ourselves up to drive according to the habits we've made. 

It's time to hit the brake and reset your destiny. 

Get serious about this healthy journey.

 Where's that left-over Christmas candy?

While I had a serious Candida (yeast) infection, I constantly craved carbs and sweets. It's very hard to control. Eating healthier and avoiding carbs and sugary sweets, my cravings are disappearing. Even though they still entice me, I can say "no" more easily. 

A week ago I was at home alone; my husband and son were elsewhere and eating out. I was tempted to swing by the closest food joint to where I live—the Sonic Drive-Thru. The voice in my head told me I deserved it. I remembered that dreamy Mocha Caramel Java Chiller I had there once, so first I peeked online at their menu . . . and then . . . low and behold . . . I glanced at the Sonic Nutrition Guide! 

A 14 oz Mocha Caramel Java Chiller is 850 calories! 

A Sonic cheeseburger (w/mayo) is 800 calories. I gave up burgers a few years ago, but decided right then, that I needed to keep some kind of food record to really see what I'm actually consuming and be accountable to myself first and foremost. 

You can't lie to yourself. If I don't record that forbidden fare, I still know that my calories for the day are botched. 

Is Eating Raw the Answer?

Since I'm desiring a 50% raw foods diet at this stage of my plan, I know there are some concerns since weight loss is one of my health goals.  

In looking through my blog here at Kathy's Kitchen you'll see some awesome raw desserts and dishes that may be high calorie, and filled with healthy fats, nuts, etc. Yes, there are living enzymes which are important and the better choice IMO is going raw, but many of these foods should be eaten sparingly.

 ". . . raw foods can help you lose weight, but also how you, no matter what you eat (yes, even raw), can also keep weight on."

Karen Knowler is a raw food coach who at first experienced improved health and weight loss while following a raw food diet, but then a few things changed and she packed on the pounds. A raw food diet alone doesn't guarantee weight loss—read her story here: Raw Food and Weight Loss.

So, how did I do last week?

• I have more control! Those baked goods didn't get me last week—I did great with staying wheat-free, and that included eating out twice (not Sonic)! 
• I've continued to Jazzercise including a touch of yoga and shashaying to music around the house. 
• I'm drinking my greens. 
• The scale is going down. 
• I stayed chipper and close to stress-free last week (remember, I chose rejoice for my 2013 word). 
• I started a weight loss food journal a few days ago.

Keeping Track
Healthy Habits—Week 4

Move

It's crucial for me to continue the daily exercise and I want to seriously think about setting some specific goals for walking when the weather warms up. I found this as a helpful tool: Calorie Counter for Conditioning Exercise

Munch

Eat more of the above mentioned foods that kill Candida. Keep track of everything I'm eating in my journal. Calories, fiber and protein, and more are included. I can also see at a glance how varied my food choices are and the percentage of raw foods consumed. I need to be cautious and not gorge on some raw foods, especially when I need to lose weight for health reasons.

If you missed it, here is a new tasty recipe I made last week which includes several of those foods listed above: (Raw) Mock Salmon Salad on Baby Bok Choy with Not-Peanut Sauce

Motivation

Continue to utilize the Lose Weight the Healthy Way - 13 Week Journal, an excellent tool to push me forward and help me meet my daily/weekly goals. 

Mindset

Have a growth mindset:  

You can do, what you put effort into learning and doing. Abilities are developed through dedication and hard work. Set new habits and enjoy the drive!

Linking up with Healthy Habits Tuesday




and Wellness Wednesdays
 

Commitment: Habits in the Making

 I started reading an E-book I got for free "... then just stay fat."
(That got my attention!) The author, Shannon Sorrels, has a different style of writing about weight loss, calories, health, and sticking with a program—she entertains and motivates. She's heard all kinds of excuses for not getting-with-it including:

My tree fell over.

My fridge died; I had to eat it all.

I had to go out to dinner a lot this week.

They made me a cake.

My metabolism thinks I'm starving.

The soft serve ice cream with Oreo toppings was for calcium. 

You get it . . . "OK then, just stay fat."

OK, I can relate to these. Shannon tells it like it is and I have no more excuses! Either I do or I don't!

Commitment: Habits in the Making

Improved Habits: 
Exercise  6 times/week.
Drinking my greens everyday.
Losing pounds (as opposed to gaining)

Last week I concentrated on my posture and I did some Yoga (along with exercise). 
I focused more on what I was eating and if I really wanted to eat it—before I ate it. 
I continued with an anti-inflammation diet concentrating on raw foods plus eating wheat-free. I still had cravings and I didn't do as good as I could have . . . not habits yet.

Week 3

Move
Continue to concentrate on posture and doing yoga for physical stress relief. Also, make sure to play my favorite music and dance when I feel like dancing! 

Munch
Continue with the wheat-free choices. It's hard because my husband and son aren't on the same restrictions I am. My husband does most of the shopping (a great bargain shopper which I appreciate) and comes home with breads and crackers and things that I really want but shouldn't have! My friend Lynn, a Hallelujah Health Minister, told me that if she had to look at all those no-nos in her kitchen she'd have a hard time too. So, I have to convince hubby—duh, like he doesn't already know. 

I tried a German sunflower seed bread that took a little getting used to, and a pecan bread I bought that I don't really like. I'm sure these are not low calorie but I thought to find a bread substitute I can eat and enjoy. I do like sprouted grain tortillas. I know there are gluten free recipes but I don't want a potato flour replacement.  I'll keep looking and experimenting. If you have a good recipe you like, please share!

Eating Raw : 
I eat a lot of green salads and have been juicing more, enjoying green smoothies, and I made zucchini pasta last night with a new sunflower seed dressing that was not so tasty. Sometimes that happens when you experiment. But here's a fabulous zucchini spaghetti recipe! I've made friends with pomegranates over the last several months and if you missed my previous post about my experience go here: Pink PomeGranny Juice.

"A glass of pomegranate juice packs in more antioxidants 

than almost an entire day of healthy eating."

Motivation

Have you heard of Mind Mapping? When I went to Vicki Arnold's blog and saw her mind map I decided to do one for myself. This is based on my desire for healthy habit changes for 2013. The center is the red heart: Improved Health, and it has three divisions—Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual. From there it branches out and touches on many areas of my life that are important to acknowledge and commit to. If you are a visual kind of person this is a great way to make a plan and aid you on your healthy journey. I liked how they all interconnected.

Mindset
Many of you have picked one word to represent what you want to accomplish in 2013. I have chosen—REJOICE!  That's my main focus for a year. If you'd like to take a deeper look at why I chose Rejoice for my word please visit Living & Learning @ Home. 

I will say this: you know how you feel when your favorite song is played and you dance with no inhibitions? Or . . .  those sensations that grip you when you're doing something you absolutely love? That's how I want to rejoice about living—as close to all the time as I can—even through the adversity of illness and getting healthier. 

I'm not sure how this relates to the topic of commitment. Except, that I commit to rejoicing more! Isn't it all good? All that we are learning and doing and feeling and sharing? I am happy just to be me right now (with all my snags and snarls)—however far along on the healthy pendulum I am at—and I have much to rejoice about today! That's what I'm focusing on along with my healthy habits journey.

I'd love to hear about your healthy commitments. 

Linking up with Teachers of Good Things 

Hungry for Hummus —The New Diet Isn't So Hard

 The Best Ever: Nut 'n' Curry Hummus

I've had cravings for hummus in the past and it's not surprising that I'd have them again, especially since I am now limited in my overall food choices (since I started an elimination/anti-inflammatory diet) and it's something I can eat and enjoy with a rye cracker, carrot stick, or even by the spoonful! It's that good. Maybe it's the almond butter in it that brings it over the top. I also like it mixed on my salad in place of an oil & vinegar dressing.

I've bought several store brands as well as some homemade varieties at the health food market—some I loved, some were not so tasty. I made a boxed hummus once, and I've used hummus flour, and they were OK, but I decided to make my own when I found this recipe from The Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book. Thanks to Dr. Jen (Harrison Optimal Health) for getting me going in a more focused direction! I'll explain more about me in a minute, but here's this delicious recipe (tweaked just a bit):

Nut 'n' Curry Hummus

3 cups garbanzo beans (2 cans)

1/4 cup liquid from garbanzo beans

1/3 cup tahini (a sesame paste)

3 garlic cloves minced or pressed

1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice (I substituted half this amount of apple cider vinegar)

3 tbsp filtered water (I needed to add a little more)

1/2 tsp sea salt (or to taste)

1/2 cup almond butter

2 tsps curry powder

Paprika and parsley garnish

(I added 1/8 of a sweet red pepper, and you can experiment with add-ins)

Blend in high-powered blender until smooth (may add water to get right consistency—it's thick).

There are other recipes that call for presoaking chickpeas in water for 2-3 days (2 cups peas makes for 3 cups in the recipe). You could do this for an uncooked raw hummus version.

What's this about a new diet?

My Naturopath, Dr. Jen, tested me for Hashimoto's Disease, a common reason for hypothyroidism in this country, and sure enough I have this auto-immune disease where antibodies are set on destroying the components that make thyroid hormone in my body. My immune system is attacking my thyroid gland! The anti-inflammatory nature of the new diet along with an elimination diet to find out which foods I am either allergic or sensitive to will, in the long run, reduce the inflammation in my body along with the causative number of antibodies being produced. A lot of the symptoms I've experienced in the last year, including my osteoarthritis condition are most likely all related to inflammation of some degree.

I've known for awhile that this was something I needed to do and I could only seem to go a week with not eating wheat and I still wanted that daily cappuccino (I have been free of cheese and most dairy for months), but since I have a good reason and the doctor told me to, I've found it easy to stick to and it's been one of those blessings in disguise.

NOT ALLOWED right now: wheat, dairy (butter, cheese, milk, yogurt), eggs, soy, peanuts, sugar, juices, sodas, most oils (olive and coconut OK), corn, potatoes, tomatoes, citrus, beef, shellfish, lobster, clams (I can eat some tuna or wild salmon), and no conventional meats or processed foods.

After 3-4 weeks when my symptoms are gone (I still get some headaches) I can reintroduce these single foods (one at a time) and I'll discover what I do and don't react to and what I can or should not eat. Simple!

I'm feeling great with more energy at the 3 week point and I've lost 10 pounds easily during that time. I have not starved myself, on the contrary, I eat whatever I feel like eating, quite a few times a day, but yeah, only within my allotted food choices. I'm guessing that wheat and dairy are the biggies for me and I DO NOT want to even try reintroducing those back in, but just stay away from them.

I've been experimenting with some different grains that I can eat. Here is a quinoa breakfast I had:

 Warm Quinoa with Walnuts and Cinnamon

And surprise—Jeremie loved it! He's having to eat whole grains to help control a blood sugar related problem. I've also made spelt pancakes and spelt bread which I wouldn't eat but a small portion of (one pancake or once slice of bread/day). No, these are not raw foods, but nevertheless, healthier versions of the allowable cooked portions of my meals.

Hey, I'm also psyched in that I applied for an RN position Friday that sounds almost a perfect fit for me, being that I quit nursing so long ago. But I love learning about the science of medicine and nursing and being involved in helping people. I'm praying it's going to work out. God's timing and intervention is no joke to me, and His hand is directing my life.

P.S. July 27th, 2012
That RN position never materialized though it was nice to know I was seriously considered a candidate for it. I decided not to pursue allopathic nursing at this stage of my life and I took a nice, un-stressful job in a lawyer's office. Anyway, I'm having fun learning lots of things and doing some writing that I've wanted to do.