Cleanse Update #2

So, I'm on day 5.  I hopped on the scale today, just to see how I'm doing half way through.  I was down 5 1/2 lbs!  Motivation to keep it up.  It did suck going to the movies and not having popcorn and sitting through a whole Packer game without an adult beverage and snacking on cucumber instead of chips, but it's paying off.  Just 5 more days.  No, I'm not going to go back to eating garbage and I definitely plan on curbing my drinking after this is over.  The whole point of this is to teach yourself to eat healthy again and remember how good it feels to wake up on a Sunday morning without a hangover.  I do feel really good and my skin looks great.  Your body truly is the result of the choices you make!

A Little Lunch

Spinach, eggplant, tofu, mushrooms and quinoa.  Vegetarian and gluten free!

Cleanse Update

Just a little update on how the cleanse is going.  I'm on day 4 and doing ok.  I have plenty of options for  food and meals so I'm not that hungry.  I made a veggie chili with no salt added tomato sauce and tofu.  Not as good as regular chili, but it's filling and tasty enough.  I have also been doing egg whites scrambles with veggies and homemade salsa.  Probably my favorite thing so far.  I miss coffee and wine and meat.  I really miss fish, but I'm holding strong.  My big challenge for the day is going to be no popcorn at the movies.  Sadness.  I will be strong with cucumber slices in hand.

Cleanse Time!

Once again, it's cleanse time!  After all the holiday drinking and eating, I am more than ready to be nice to my body!  I never use pills or fancy packaged cleanses for this.  I go with all natural, clean foods.  This year I am doing 10 days of only fruits, veggies, legumes and egg whites.  Why egg whites?  Because I still work out and want to maintain my muscle mass.  What I'm not going to consume is alcohol, caffeine, meat, grains, dairy and any processed foods or sugar.  The natural sugar in fruit is ok, but I will be only eating it before 2 pm.  Nuts are also out this year because of the higher fat content.  I would love anyone who wants a clean start to join me in this cleanse. You can start any time.  Just pick a day and go for it.  

A few pointers to keep in mind:

1) Workouts are going to be less intense because of the low carbohydrate consumption.

2) You have to be prepared.  Prepare and pack your meals for the day.  Otherwise you will get hungry and then it is much easier to make bad decisions when you are starving.  

3) Eat every two to three hours. You aren't going to be eating the normal amounts of protein  and grains to keep you full for long periods of time.  

4) Drink non-caffeinated tea and plenty of water.  It will keep you from thinking about food so much.

5) Don't give up and don't cheat!  What's the point of going to all the trouble of you're just going to cheat yourself.

6) If you can't do the whole cleanse because of heath issues or other reasons, do as much as you can.  Something is always going to be better than nothing.    

You know you are ready for a change.  Stop waiting for the right time.  Just go for it!

Get the Stank Out

So you've washed your gym clothes and they still smell like sweat.  This is a problem all avid exercisers have experienced at one time or another.  There are all these wonderful technical fabrics out there these days that move well, breath well and are so much more functional than the traditional cotton, but man, do they hold onto stink.  Most traditional detergents just mask the smell.  They smell fine when you take them out of the dryer, but the moment you start to sweat, there it is!  The best everyday detergent I have found for my clothes is the Tide Febreeze Sport, but even that can't fight through the really bad stuff.  I have tried some of the more expensive detergents made specially for this situation.  I found that Penguin Sport Wash didn't do a darn thing.  My Tide worked better.  I also tried Win High Performance Sport Detergent and that worked a bit better.  I actually bought a bottle for my clients for Christmas one year, but it's expensive (about $7 for a 21 oz bottle that will do about 14 loads).  Plus you can't find it at your local grocery store or Target.  If I have to order my detergent, it's probably not gonna do much for me because it's not gonna happen.  So then what?  Well, I have actually found a cheap, easy way to get that smell out of your clothes (and it works on musty smelling towels too).  Ammonia!  I know it sounds kinda gross and no, it doesn't smell very good going into the washing machine, but the end result is worth it.  Use a cup of ammonia and about half the detergent you would usually use and wash my laundry like normal.  Voila!  No more stink.  I do this a out once a month or as needed.  Like I said, it also works on musty smelling bath and dish towels.  Give it a try.  It's like having new clothes all over again :)  

AnitGravity or Aerial Yoga...My new favorite activity!

My new favorite fitness activity is Aerial Yoga.  Basically is combines yoga and aerial arts to create a completely unique experience.  It combines core strength, upper body strength, lower body strength, balance and flexibility to give you a total body workout.  The main apparatus is the hammock.  The hammock is made of a fabric the is light, but strong.  The anchoring is very safe and studios often use the same items that are used in rock climbing.  Some of the benefits of this unique activity is spinal decompression from inversion poses, the ability to hold challenging yoga poses longer with the support of the hammock and the ability to get deeper stretches with less strain.  I have been taking Aerial Yoga for about a month now at the ZenZen Yoga Arts studio here in Milwaukee.  I find it both challenging and fun.  I have found that the stronger you are in your core and upper body, but more advanced poses you can do.  Hanging upside down for any period of time isn't the easiest thing at first, but you get used  to it.  I always leave feeling tired, but my back and neck feel so good!  The best part is cocoon pose at the end.  Just like a little bit of heaven.

Check out zenzenyogaarts.com for more info on Aerial Yoga!  

Vampire pose

AntiGravity® Yoga...A preview :)