HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I know the year has already begun and I am late, but still wanted to say it.

Where to begin….

For myself and others, 2016 was a rough year. A year of lessons and trials. It was the year of the 9, 2+0+1+6 = 9 and that my friends means endings. You may have found yourself ending a relationship(s), ending a job, the ending of lessons and the end of our president’s reign in the U.S. Well let me tell you, that is over with. The year of the END if over. It is now the year of the 1. The year of BEGINNINGS!!! Yayyyyy This is a year for the new. New careers, jobs, relationships… you name it!! Regardless of who is in office, who you are dating, who your friends are or are not, or where you work, don’t let that stop you from being the BEST you that you can possibly be. This is your year to shine.

I know I have been slacking on my blogs but I will be back. That is a goal of mine to blog at least ONCE at week unless something major happens to blog about. This year, I will be focusing on more of the healing and faith aspect of health. Still all about the holistic health and wellness but spirituality too. I am open to suggestions for topics so don’t be shy.

I am still in the rebranding phase but still open for business. So look for the new brand coming your way, revised services and products will be listed on my other social media outlets.

Wishing you well on your journey in 2017!! Thank you for the follow and the support.

Day 10 – 10 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse

Day 10 people!!! (which was yesterday) This is it. I am DONE!! Yay!!!

Ok, so here is my assessment of this 10 day cleanse. While I am disappointed that I did not lose any weight, I will take in to consideration a few factors. One being that fact that I did not do the three smoothies a day with snacks in between and the fact that I was bloated and was about to get my monthly lady visit. I did, however, lose inches. At the start of this I was a whopping 37 DD. I am now back down to 35 DD. YAY!!

As I stated in my last post, everyone’s journey will be different. While some people will lose the 10-15 pounds, others may not. It’s important to map out your own journey and be comfortable with your results. I gained some positive results during this cleanse. I gained a healthier outlook with regards to eating clean. Doing this cleanse helped me to re-establish my healthy eating habits. I am more conscious of what I choose for snacks, how I snack and when I snack. It also helped me to be more organized with regards to eating clean.

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.” – Jim Rohn 

Blogging about the 10 day cleanse forced to me to be accountable and face up with talking about any setbacks and shortcomings that I may have had along the way. I feel like I have more clarity. When you eat toxic, you become toxic. I have a lot of energy and I don’t have that run down feeling at around 10 am. When you feel good on the inside, it shows on the outside.

I liked the process of making smoothies in the morning and having smoothie after I work out as opposed to having to make dinner at 7 or 8 pm after I come from the gym. I have decided to keep this routine going for the duration. “It’s not a short term diet, it’s a long term lifestyle change.”

Thank you for following me on this journey. I hope that you will continue to follow my blog and visit my website NUBODI for more information on me and what I have to offer you for your spiritual and holistic health and wellness journey.

Day 9 – 10 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse

Day 9 (was yesterday) I woke up feeling a bit blah. I was disappointed that I have not lost not ONE single pound. My mind went to wondering where I could have gone wrong. In the book there are two plans. I chose the second plan as I don’t want to lose a LOT of weight and I don’t want to lose weight that fast. That would be one solution, was the fact that I chose that plan and two would be a lift and do squats. Building muscle. Now I would like to believe that my muscle gain is the reason but the fact is, it is not true. “Reality: A pound is a pound is a pound—unless you’re defying the laws of physics. No substance weighs more then another one unless it actually weighs more. Simply put: One pound of fat weighs the same as one pound of muscle.” says SHAPE magazine. Others have weighed in on this discussion as well. “Common sense tells us a pound of muscle and a pound of fat have to weigh the same, but they do differ in density. This means if you look at five pounds of muscle and five pounds of fat side by side, the fat takes up more volume, or space, than the muscle.” was noted by Everyday Health online.

Visually, I look thinner. I feel thinner but my clothes are saying NOPE. We are still the same. Weight loss is a gradual process. One not to be rushed. We tend to believe that if we work out today, we will reach our weight loss goal TODAY. When I started lifting weights, I would look in the mirror EVERYDAY looking for my arms to be the guns that I believed them to be or hoping that my abs to look like a washboard. When actuality, it took me at least four weeks to even see a difference. This, of course, is just referring to muscle gain and not weight loss. Some will see a difference in ten days while others may not. It’s important to walk your journey without comparing it to others or you will most certainly discourage yourself and possibly quit the journey before you see the fruits of your labor.

Stay tune for the final day. Day 10

 

 

Day 8 – 10 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

I am almost there!! Woot Woot!! Day 8 people. I feel amazing. I think someone in my office told me I had TOO much energy. Not that my energy level was low before but its on 5000 now.

I have come to realize, I am going to have to do better with my snacking selection. While I like peanut butter and I like celery… I don’t like the two together. But I ate it. I like apples and I like peanut butter but I don’t like to two together. Now apples and that Nutella!! OMG that is something I can stand behind. While eating healthy is important, it is also important to eat healthy foods that you like. Eating healthy foods that you don’t like will only sabotage what you are trying to do. That is why it is important to prepare with making a list of healthy foods and snacks you can eat before going to the grocery store.

I am pretty serious about my snacks. I like to munch on food all day (basically every two hours). The rumor is, eating six meals a day “keeps your metabolism humming, staves off hunger, and controls blood sugar.” But according to WebMD, there is no science behind that. I like to eat and if I am going to eat, it mind as well be healthy. So my snacks have to be filling. As a vegetarian, I have to be sure to get enough protein and that includes protein in my snacks. For my height, weight and body type that I am trying to achieve, it is recommended that I get 110 grams of protein a day. My snacks generally consists of sunflower seeds, almonds and apples but that can get pretty boring and will make want other things. Occasionally I will buy the KIND bars. I love them but they can contain added sugar. To reduce the amount of sugar in your snacks, its easier and cheaper to make your own. I like this peanut butter energy bites recipe that I found on Pinterest. It only has 5 ingredients, no baking involved and takes 10 minutes to prepare.

Today I did better with preparing for my day out. I woke up later than my work week and had a smoothie. I tried to time my next meal with lunch and it worked. It’s all about organization and preparation in the key to weight loss and a good health and wellness regime.

Stay tune to day 9.

Day 7 – 10 day Green Smoothie Cleanse

   Day 7 of my 10 day green smoothie cleanse. Coming down the home stretch people. I must say that I have a NEW relationship with the bathroom at work. ☺ In addition to your two or three smoothies a day, you still to drink water and detox tea (or herbal or green tea). Drinking a smoothie is a meal. While it is liquid, you still need to be hydrated with water.

“The body of a human baby is made up of approximately 75-80% water. As we grow older, this figure decreases and averages to about 60 to 65% for men and 50 to 60%. Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply. Based on a resting state, the average adult loses approximately 1500 ml/day (approx 1.59 qt/day) water through urine everyday. This figure will increase depending on how active you are.

� Water loss through perspiration / sweat and expired air (water lost through vapor when you exhale) is harder to measure but it is estimated to be around 500-800ml (0.5 to 0.8 qt.) a day. Again, this figure will increase depending on how active you are – if you exercise everyday, or you have a lifestyle where you are regularly physically active you will lose more water.

� Water lost through fecal matter is approximately 100ml a day.

� Females lose additional water through vaginal discharge – approximately 50 ml/day

So tallying up those figures, an average adult loses a base 2150- 2450 ml (2.27 – 2.59 quarts) of water every single day.”

Today for me was different.Weekends are busy. I wake up later than usual and so I wasn’t on a regular smoothie schedule. Upon waking, I drank some green tea. I had some sunflower seeds, grapes, a few almonds and I hit the road early. I didn’t bring a smoothie with me so I bought a green smoothie by Bolthouse. I had my snack later and made a tasty dinner in the evening. To stay on track, it is important to prepare for a busy day and the possibility that you might not make it home to your homemade smoothie. Bring water and snacks to keep from buying out or purchasing unhealthy snack options.

Stay tune for day 8.

Day 5 – 10 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse

     Today is day 5. I have completed my first 5 days of the 10 day green smoothie cleanse. YAY for me!! Happy Cinco De Mayo

I feel great. Amazing. Lots of energy. At this point, I can’t tell you how much weight I have lost. I didn’t weigh myself because my gym, who will remain nameless, doesn’t believe in having scales as they say it is body shaming. And of course I don’t own one myself. I also did not go to the gym during these 5 days. I wasn’t feeling well the first two and decided not to go the rest of the week because I wanted to see if not working out during this cleanse would make a difference. I will go the next 5 days.

This cleanse wasn’t so much about losing weight for me as it was more about getting back on track with clean eating. These smoothies and tea help to flush out all of the crap I have been eating and back to healthier habits like shopping ahead of time, preparing meals and being mindful of my snacking. Establishing healthy eating habits takes commitment and dedication. Knowing what to eat and preparing ahead of time can alleviate self sabotage.

I will admit my nightly routine needs improvement. If I prepare my clothes in the evening, that would shave off an extra 10 minutes in the morning staring in the closet wondering what to wear and then having to iron the clothes as well. I like making the smoothies in the morning. Even if I was running late, I can take my smoothie with me on the road. NO excuses. Each day gets easier and better. Healthier.

Stay tune for day 6.

 

Day 6 – 10 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse

Well it is day 6 people. Four more days to the end.

Have you ever had one of those people in your life that does NOT read directions before diving in? Like not reading the FULL directions before trying to put together IKEA furniture? Well that would be me. I look at the pictures and assume I know what I am doing.

My smoothie prep

Same case with these smoothies. The instructions say to blend the leafy greens FIRST then everything else. Not reading the entire book first is probably why my green smoothies look like a scary brown mess. It’s all good though, it’s all going to the same place. 🙂

So today we had a chip and dip contest. I told myself that I would NOT try any but I did. I sampled three of the dips, few chips and a few pretzels. After I left I could immediately feel a funny sensation in my nose and felt a headache coming on. I’ve felt this before when I would have dairy such as ice cream. I recall one of my coworkers saying that one of her dips had cream cheese in it which would be the culprit for me.

After having done a cleanse and starting to eat clean, when you began to reintroduce other foods you will be able to notice how your body reacts to it.  The first time I did an herbal cleanse, I did it for 30 days and lost some serious weight. People said I was starting to look funny and it freaked me out. So I started eating, and eating flour type foods like breads and pasta. I wanted to eat healthy so I thought and ate ALL wheat products. I broke out in hives. It was so bad my skin burned. After a day or two of the herbal cleanse, my skin cleared up. Many people are eating foods that they have an intolerance to and don’t know it. By doing a cleanse or detox, your body expels the toxins and waste that has been stored in the body. It’s important to reintroduce foods into the body slowly one by one while paying attention to the body’s reaction to it. This way you are you sure to know what what’s good for your body. Signs of discomfort like headaches, stuffy nose, stomach aches and other symptoms can let  you know what foods are good for your body.

Many people are eating foods that don’t agree with their bodies but are not sure which foods are the culprits so they continue to eat everything that they have been eating ignoring the signs. The discomfort some have experienced hasn’t been enough for some people to do a cleanse or detox. It was enough for me. Is it enough for you?

Stay tune for day 7.

Day 4 – 10 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse

Today is day 4 of NO CHOCOLATE. I meant, day 4 of the 10 day green smoothie cleanse. 🙂 It’s not that I crave chocolate, because of the vitamins that I take and all of the healthy fruits and leafy greens in my smoothies, I don’t have cravings. I just miss chocolate. I love chocolate actually. I can eat chocolate all day. I love chocolate cake, chocolate protein shakes, chocolate chip cookies… Just CHOCOLATE!!

THIS JUST IN: One of the members of our organization sent us treats… cookies and BROWNIES. I opened the box, smelled the delicious brownies and kept it moving. 😦 None for me. I will work out my frustrations at the gym this evening.

I feel good. No complaints. AND I am not even HANGRY. Life is good. Even the dark circles under my eyes are clearing up. Dark circles under eyes can be caused by many things. “Pigmentation irregularities — these are a particular concern for people of color, especially blacks and Asians, Sun exposure, which prompts your body to produce more melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color, thinning skin and loss of fat and collagen — common as you age — can make the reddish-blue blood vessels under your eyes more obvious, fatigue, allergies and more.” Doing a cleanse or a detox helps to rid the body of toxins as well as helps to remove excess waste.

I am enjoying the smoothie cleanse process. The preparation part was what I thought would kill me but it actually doesn’t take that long to prepare and make a smoothie. Now CLEANING up my mess is another issue all together. The other day I saw what resembled green smoothie on the wall near the light switch. Can’t imagine how that got there.

Stay tuned to day 5.

 

 

 

 

Day 3 – 10 day green smoothies

Yesterday was a rough day. I had a headache most of the day that only got worse by the time I left work. I ran all of the scenarios that it could be, not enough water, not enough protein or this terrible pollen that the Washington, D.C. area has. There was another possibility that I did not think of until today. When your body goes through a detox, one of the side of effects could be what is a called a healing crisis. “This occurs when the cells release toxins into circulation but the elimination organs (skin, lungs, liver, kidneys, bladder & GI tract) are not able to eliminate them quickly enough. The toxins remain in circulation and can affect the brain stem region leading to nausea, poor coordination, headaches, fatigue, malaise, fever, etc.” In my case, it was the terrible pollen. My face hurt, my head ached, migraines begin and I cannot see. If untreated, I get an upset stomach and start vomiting. Well this is how I woke up this morning.  

Today I only drank green tea, water and had one smoothie this evening. Tomorrow should be better.

Stay tuned for day 4.

Day 2 – 10 day green smoothie cleanse

Ok so before I begin, let me explain what a cleanse is and is not. I have had a LOT of questions (questions are good) and hopefully I can provide the answers. People always ask me why are you eating if you are doing a cleanse? Normally, I would do an herbal cleanse. My favorite cleanse is by Renew Life products. An herbal cleanse is a combination of herbs (depending on which ones you take) that cleanse the colon, kidneys, bladder, intestines and liver during a particular period of time. I generally do an herbal cleanse a few times a year. You can still eat when you do an herbal cleanse, hopefully you are eating better while doing it. A fruit cleanse or a smoothie cleanse is basically a cleanse togive your body a rest from the whole digestive process. “Digestion time varies between individuals and between men and women. After you eat, it takes about six to eight hours for food to pass through your stomach and small intestine.” That was by the Mayo Clinic. With juicing and doing smoothies, you don’t have the process of breaking down foods. While you can lose weight, these are not diets and should not be used for such.

Now on to my Day 2….

Fyi, this is a very nice stock photo of a perfect green smoothie. MINE on the other hand, do not look like this. Mine are brown and scary looking!!

I had a rough night. I went to bed with the WORST headache. I thought that my headache came from starting the smoothie cleanse and not having enough protein or water. As a vegetarian I have to be sure to get enough protein in my daily diet. I woke this morning, headache was gone. Got to work and headache was back. After hearing the complaints from my co-workers about allergies, I found my culprit. Me bringing up my headache was part of the reason why I did not prep the next day. In the book, there are two programs. One where  you have three smoothies a day and the other where you have two smoothies and a full meal. I chose the second program as I would like to continue after I get through this.

My intent was to get up at 4:50 a.m., work out, shower, dress, shine and I am out the door. Instead, I woke up at 4:00 a.m. having to pee SO bad. I didn’t look at the clock with the idea of go to the bathroom and then work out. That would be a smart and dedicated person. I laid there for a minute until I couldn’t take it anymore. I got up, went to the bathroom and got back in bed. Yep, I laid there until the alarm went off at 5:20 and THEN rolled out of the bed at 5:30.

I intentionally did not prepare for my morning smoothie as I wanted to see how long it would take me to make it in the morning and how it would affect my morning routine. Most of my clients or students complain that making smoothies or juicing would take too much time out of their day. Actually, putting on my makeup takes the longest of my morning routine. I made my smoothie and got on with my day.

Now keeping in mind that I downed my first smoothie at 6:00 a.m., I was ready for my first snack by the time I got to work. My snack of choice was an apple and a 100 calorie pack of almonds at around 9:30 a.m. I tried to hold out until noon to have lunch but I was fading fast and seeing stars. After lunch I had TWO, count them, two snacks before I had my next smoothie for the evening. All and all it was a good day I’d say. Tune in for Day 3.