As I type, I am sipping my last juice of the 3 day cleanse. This time it's a beet, carrot, celery and cuke combo and it's quite delicious! (There's actually one more, but I simply cannot stomach the kale, avocado, garlic, kelp and hemp oil mixture. It's too much to bear. I'll give it to Mr. X.)
This time around was much better than the maiden voyage. I think just the fact that I didn't have to make the juices was psychologically a relief. There was nothing worse than being so hungry and having to wash, cut and make the juices myself, followed cleaning that darn juicer. Not to mention, I'm sure the juices I got from juice bar were more balanced with the vitamins and minerals that I needed at different times throughout the day. There were also some smoothies in the mix which provided a heartier, more filling drink around dinner time.
The first day was the most difficult. Around dinner time, I started sweating and shaking and thought I might pass out. I kept saying to the boys, "Mommy just needs to lie down for a little while. Please don't do anything that will cause me to freak out on you." They complied, thank goodness.
I took a yoga class on day two and felt great. I had energy to hold steady my most favorite balance pose, ardha chandrasana, with a little left over for an end of class urdhva dhanurasana. So all in all a very good day.
So as I was packing my bathing suits today I was feeling better about having to put one on next week. The past three days have definitely been worth the brief sacrifice and occasional grumpiness. Though I'm pretty sure my kids will tell you they're looking forward to me eating something tomorrow. Ahhh, the things we (I) do for the sake of beauty or whatever you want to call it.
Enjoy your week. I'll think of you fondly as I lay in the sun with my toes in the sand. Actually, I probably won't. Talk soon.
Peace and love.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Here I Go Again!
For those that have been reading the blog since its inception (thank you!), you know the reason the whole thing started was to document a juice cleanse that Mr. X and I were doing. You also know how miserable I was during the cleansing process, particularly on day two and three.
Why am I doing this again you may be asking yourselves? Well, in my never ending battle to lose 5lbs., coupled with a much anticipated trip next week which will require me to be in a bathing suit, it seemed like a good time. Nothing flattens the stomach better than a few days without carbs, gluten, alcohol and sugar. So in that respect, I am looking forward to it.
Inevitably I will be grumpy, will most likely have a headache and may snap at you if you see me. Please don't hold it against me. I will be in an altered state. I promise to be back to my cheerful self by Monday.
In the meantime, I wonder what I should eat for lunch?
Peace and love.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Ole!
I've heard from some of you in the last few days wondering where the heck I've been. Things have been so crazy around here in the last week that my head is spinning. Between appointments during the day, to working, to after school activities, to yoga immersions, I just can't keep up. I've felt a bit like I'm drowning actually.
I also realized that I haven't posted a recipe in a while. So for all of you that have been trying out my recipes, here is a delicious one that my friend, D., made while we were on a ski trip in New Hampshire not long ago. D.is also vegan and a really good cook to boot. So in honor of St. Patrick's Day (my second most hated holiday after New Years), here is a great kale and potato enchilada recipe. Ole!
Potato and Kale Enchiladas with Roasted Chile Sauce
(Veganomicon)
Serves 4 – 6
Ingredients:
Enchilada Chile Sauce
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
3 large green chilies, roasted, peeled, seeded and chopped (or be lazy like me and use canned ones!)
2 - 3 tsp. chili powder
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. marjoram or Mexican oregano
1 can diced tomatoes with juice
1 tsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
Potato and Kale Filling
1 lb. waxy potatoes
1/2 lb. kale, washed and chopped finely
3 Tbsp. olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/4 cup veggie broth or water
3 Tbsp/ lime juice
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 tsp. salt
12 - 14 corm tortillas
Method:
Preheat the oven to 375 and have a shallow baking dish ready to use. You may need two.
Prepare the enchilada sauce first:
In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, saute the onions in oil for 4 - 7 minutes, until softened. Add the remaining sauce ingredients, bring to a simmer and remove from heat. Puree with a blender until the mixture is smooth and even.
Prepare the filling:
Peel and dice the potatoes, then boil until tender. Drain and set aside. Heat the oil and garlic over low-medium heat, stirring occasionally until the garlic is slightly browned. Add the kale, sprinkle with salt and raise the heat to medium stirring constantly to cover the kale with oil and garlic.
Partially cover the pot to steam the kale until it has wilted – 4 to 6 minutes. Remove the lid and mix in the potatoes, vegetable stock, lime juice, pumpkin seeds and salt. Use the back of a wooden spoon to mash some of the potatoes. Cook for another 3 – 4 minutes.
Ladle a small amount of the enchilada sauce into the bottom of the casserole dish. Heat a corn tortilla (30 seconds in a fry pan) dip the tortilla in the enchilada sauce so that it is covered in the sauce.
Place the soaked tortilla on a plate and place some potato mixture inside. Roll it up and put it in the casserole dish.
Repeat with each of the enchiladas until you have lined them all up in the dish. Cover with enchilada sauce (saving some for topping) and cover with foil, place the casserole dish in the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for a further 10 minutes. Top individual servings with the remainder of the enchilada sauce once cooked.
I am telling you this dish is absolutely amazing. It takes a little time to prepared but totally worth it! Even the carnivores in your house will love it!
Happy cooking everyone!
Peace and love!
I also realized that I haven't posted a recipe in a while. So for all of you that have been trying out my recipes, here is a delicious one that my friend, D., made while we were on a ski trip in New Hampshire not long ago. D.is also vegan and a really good cook to boot. So in honor of St. Patrick's Day (my second most hated holiday after New Years), here is a great kale and potato enchilada recipe. Ole!
Potato and Kale Enchiladas with Roasted Chile Sauce
(Veganomicon)
Serves 4 – 6
Ingredients:
Enchilada Chile Sauce
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
3 large green chilies, roasted, peeled, seeded and chopped (or be lazy like me and use canned ones!)
2 - 3 tsp. chili powder
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. marjoram or Mexican oregano
1 can diced tomatoes with juice
1 tsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
Potato and Kale Filling
1 lb. waxy potatoes
1/2 lb. kale, washed and chopped finely
3 Tbsp. olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/4 cup veggie broth or water
3 Tbsp/ lime juice
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 tsp. salt
12 - 14 corm tortillas
Method:
Preheat the oven to 375 and have a shallow baking dish ready to use. You may need two.
Prepare the enchilada sauce first:
In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, saute the onions in oil for 4 - 7 minutes, until softened. Add the remaining sauce ingredients, bring to a simmer and remove from heat. Puree with a blender until the mixture is smooth and even.
Prepare the filling:
Peel and dice the potatoes, then boil until tender. Drain and set aside. Heat the oil and garlic over low-medium heat, stirring occasionally until the garlic is slightly browned. Add the kale, sprinkle with salt and raise the heat to medium stirring constantly to cover the kale with oil and garlic.
Partially cover the pot to steam the kale until it has wilted – 4 to 6 minutes. Remove the lid and mix in the potatoes, vegetable stock, lime juice, pumpkin seeds and salt. Use the back of a wooden spoon to mash some of the potatoes. Cook for another 3 – 4 minutes.
Ladle a small amount of the enchilada sauce into the bottom of the casserole dish. Heat a corn tortilla (30 seconds in a fry pan) dip the tortilla in the enchilada sauce so that it is covered in the sauce.
Place the soaked tortilla on a plate and place some potato mixture inside. Roll it up and put it in the casserole dish.
Repeat with each of the enchiladas until you have lined them all up in the dish. Cover with enchilada sauce (saving some for topping) and cover with foil, place the casserole dish in the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for a further 10 minutes. Top individual servings with the remainder of the enchilada sauce once cooked.
I am telling you this dish is absolutely amazing. It takes a little time to prepared but totally worth it! Even the carnivores in your house will love it!
Happy cooking everyone!
Peace and love!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Keep it in your pants, yoga dude!
Where to begin, where to begin???
I have been hearing about Bikram yoga for years now but had never tried it. Until yesterday. I was looking forward to trying something new, I really was. I was mentally prepared for 90 minutes in the heat. I had my mat, my towels, my water, I was ready to go.
I stepped into the studio and BAM! the heat hit me like a ton of bricks. I placed my mat on the damp, carpeted floor (yuk). I put my towels on my mat, sat down and began breathing slowly in and out of my nose. One by one people came into the studio and placed their mats down.
As I glanced towards the waiting area, I noticed a shirtless guy in very, very small shorts. The shorts seemed to be made out of a bathing suit type of material. Oh lord, I thought to myself, if this guy is going to be practicing like this, I may just pass out right now. Sure enough, in struts Mr. Penis Pants, and plants himself in front of me and to the right. Now, let me just say, this guy was in OK shape, he wasn't fat and disgusting or anything, but he was strutting like a peacock around the studio in his penis pants. Barf.
Class began and all was going well, with the exception of the crazy drill sergeant instructor that kept shouting things like, "No smiling. No talking. No drinking water!" No drinking water?? WTF is this crazy b$%tch talking about? It's 105 degrees in this room and I will drink water when I darn well please thank you very much!
For those of you that are not familiar with Bikram yoga, the class is a series of 26 poses, done in a particular order and the order never changes. You can go to a Bikram class anywhere in the world and it will always be the same. Oh, and did I mention it's done in a 105 degree room?? Anyway, the poses are not difficult, what's difficult is managing the heat.
So it goes without saying that you sweat A LOT in a Bikram class. You sweat from places on your body that you've never sweat from before, like your shins and forearms. Sweat drips down your body and your clothes cling to you like saran wrap.
Which comes to my next observation...Mr. Penis Pants. Oh Lord almighty if those shorts were any more stuck to him he'd have been naked. It was so unbelievable and shocking that, like a train wreck, it's hard to look away. And this guy could have cared less, he was proud to be showing off his package in all its sweaty glory!! I had to refocus.
Thankfully I did and got through the rest of the class. But let me tell you, when it was over I bolted out of there like my house was on fire.
I'll chalk this one up to new experiences. But I can assure you, that is the last time I will be seeing Mr. Penis Pants.
Namaste.
Peace and love.
I have been hearing about Bikram yoga for years now but had never tried it. Until yesterday. I was looking forward to trying something new, I really was. I was mentally prepared for 90 minutes in the heat. I had my mat, my towels, my water, I was ready to go.
I stepped into the studio and BAM! the heat hit me like a ton of bricks. I placed my mat on the damp, carpeted floor (yuk). I put my towels on my mat, sat down and began breathing slowly in and out of my nose. One by one people came into the studio and placed their mats down.
As I glanced towards the waiting area, I noticed a shirtless guy in very, very small shorts. The shorts seemed to be made out of a bathing suit type of material. Oh lord, I thought to myself, if this guy is going to be practicing like this, I may just pass out right now. Sure enough, in struts Mr. Penis Pants, and plants himself in front of me and to the right. Now, let me just say, this guy was in OK shape, he wasn't fat and disgusting or anything, but he was strutting like a peacock around the studio in his penis pants. Barf.
Class began and all was going well, with the exception of the crazy drill sergeant instructor that kept shouting things like, "No smiling. No talking. No drinking water!" No drinking water?? WTF is this crazy b$%tch talking about? It's 105 degrees in this room and I will drink water when I darn well please thank you very much!
For those of you that are not familiar with Bikram yoga, the class is a series of 26 poses, done in a particular order and the order never changes. You can go to a Bikram class anywhere in the world and it will always be the same. Oh, and did I mention it's done in a 105 degree room?? Anyway, the poses are not difficult, what's difficult is managing the heat.
So it goes without saying that you sweat A LOT in a Bikram class. You sweat from places on your body that you've never sweat from before, like your shins and forearms. Sweat drips down your body and your clothes cling to you like saran wrap.
Which comes to my next observation...Mr. Penis Pants. Oh Lord almighty if those shorts were any more stuck to him he'd have been naked. It was so unbelievable and shocking that, like a train wreck, it's hard to look away. And this guy could have cared less, he was proud to be showing off his package in all its sweaty glory!! I had to refocus.
Thankfully I did and got through the rest of the class. But let me tell you, when it was over I bolted out of there like my house was on fire.
I'll chalk this one up to new experiences. But I can assure you, that is the last time I will be seeing Mr. Penis Pants.
Namaste.
Peace and love.
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