My Name is Claudia

Day 3 of Fit2Go Meals. On today’s lunch menu: chicken lasagna, marinated vegetables, and tomato soup. I like.

maryrambin:

As you might have read over the last couple of months, I’ve been trying to cut flour (notably bread) out of my diet. (Although, you’d be surprised, flour is in EVERYTHING!) That sounds pretty normal for women these days.  But honestly, it’s sucked.  I love bread!

Which is why I was excited to run across an an article in Natural Health Magazine that listed white flour alternatives, most of which I didn’t know about.

The article started:

“White flour is a lot like Paris Hilton.

It’s bleached, it’s boring, and you can’t escape it.”

—Allison Young

Preach on sister.

She describes the distinctions between our options:

• Coconut
• Spelt
• Wheat
• Garbanzo bean
• Almond
• White whole wheat flours

Each has it’s own pros and cons depending on what you’re making.  But overall, surprisingly garbanzo bean seems to be the healthiest! For more info, click through and read the whole thing.

The picture of the quinoa flour above I found on Naturally Ella, which seems to be a great resource for healthy recipes.
If you have experience using an alternative flour, post it in the comments below.  It’s always nice to hear how it’s played out for people in their own kitchen.

Original Article

Mary’s blog is always a good resource regarding living a healthy lifestyle. Above she offers living a flour-free diet (!!!).

blueprint cleanse: day 3

yesterday was my final day on the cleanse. i will say by yesterday it was much easier than the first day in regards to the taste of the juices. i was pretty used to them, and like i said before, i actually felt pretty full everyday on the cleanse. 

so, i’m done. what are my final thoughts? 

1) would i do it again? maybe. i’m not opposed to the detoxing of the body, but i’m not sure it’s worth the $191 price tag (and that’s with a 15% discount). especially now that BPC has a book with recipes for a 3-day cleanse.
2) did it leave me feeling satisfied all day? yes. not only did i feel satisfied, but i felt alert and felt good about all of the fruits and vegetables in my system.
3) even though i wasn’t hungry, i missed HOT foods. i also hate the fact that i had very little protein in my system. i would’ve loved to have added some chicken or lentils to my diet.

overall, i’m glad i did it. i was curious and wanted to try it, so i did. it has definitely made me more aware of what i’m putting in my body. and although i love to indulge now and then (as everyone should), i’ll try and maintain healthier eating habits.

(photo via glam blog)

blueprint cleanse: day 2

how do i describe this cleanse? today it’s definitely gotten easier. the juices that didn’t taste as good aren’t as bad as i originally thought. it definitely keeps me feeling full and i don’t feel hungry. however, here are my complaints thus far:

1) when i go out to eat with my co-workers, it’s a little tough smelling delicious food at the table
2) again, i feel full, but i think the thing that bothers me is that my “meals” are cold. i’m DRINKING raw fruits and veggies and they’re refrigerated. sooo, yeah. 
3) (TMI alert) i’m peeing. A. LOT. and yes, just pee. think about it, i’m not eating solid food. i’m literally DRINKING my meals.

overall, i still feel good and alert. but i’m not entirely convinced of what this cleanse supposedly promises, which is to have me feeling better and craving fresh fruits and veggies when i’m done. i don’t think when i’m done i’ll be craving cold carrots. i think i’m gonna want to eat a piece of chicken or something.  

one day left.

the blueprint cleanse: day 1

i’m not sure how familiar any of you are with the blueprint cleanse. i first read about it on various blogs and since then i’ve done research to find various opinions about the product. 

This is how their website describes their product: This Cleanse will gently rid your body of impurities, regain an alkaline balance and normalize digestion and metabolism. Too often, a cleanse stirs up detox symptoms that are far too intense for the “average” person. BPC is designed for people that would like to give their insides a rest while simultaneously going on about their daily lives. One needn’t gamble with extremes to feel the benefits of a Cleanse…eating whole, unadulterated food that’s packed with enzymes will allow your body to cleanse itself.

Also, (according to the website) here are some of the other POSSIBLE benefits:

• boosts immune system
• alleviates allergies
• provides rest for the digestive organs
• encourages physical rejuvenation
• promotes normalized blood pressure

i’m on day one of the cleanse, and so far so good. they provide you with six juices a day, so you’re constantly drinking one of the beverages. but i have a feeling once nighttime falls, i’ll be a bit hungry. the first and third juices have been the worst tasting thus far (essentially the same juice with celery, kale, cucumber, lemon, etc), but it wasn’t too bad. i have a feeling tomorrow will be the real test as to how my body is responding to these cleanse juices. i should also say that i’m doing this not as a “fad diet” or quick way to lose weight, but to really detox and continue with healthier eating habits.

fyi: the juices are shipped anywhere in the u.s. for $85/day, or you can pick up the juices at various spas across the country for $75/day. i paid $75/day for three days, but i also have a 15% discount code from the website more than mary, which brought my grand total to $191 and change. i’ll keep you updated of my progress over the next 3 days.

(photo above: juices that arrived to my office this morning, taken with my iPhone)