Showing posts with label Master Cleanse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Master Cleanse. Show all posts
36 Hours Later, A Delicious Dish Is Born
Delicious Dish: Steamed Veggies w/ Sweet Tahini Sauce
Thirty-six hours -- the amount of time I lasted on The Master Cleanse. It was supposed to be 240 hours or 10 days, but a mere day-and-a-half after I started, I stopped. I am a little disappointed but very happy to be eating solid food again. As much as I would like to beat myself up over not lasting very long, we all know that self-rejection is not the way to go. I am very proud of myself for committing to this "exercise" and trying it out. And because I took it seriously and prepared myself properly, I ended up achieving some of my other health goals.
1) I no longer crave caffiene or need coffee in the morning.
2) I went solid vegitarian for a week and I honestly felt "clean" on the inside. Now, I plan to eat more vegetarian down the road.
3) I learned a lot about the Master Cleanse and I can forsee recommending it to clients one day -- if it is something they can truly benefit from.
So after 2 days and lack of a decent meal, I had an overwhelming desire to cook. But with a limited amount of food in the kitchen and without a solid idea in my mind, I was left to choose from what could be found. My source of inspiration: Tahini! A little internet research (like less than 3 minutes) on what could possibly work with tahini and not congeal and I was on my way. The result was rather tasty and sister approved! I am calling it Steamed Veggies w/ Sweet Tahini Sauce. It really is the easiest thing in the world, perhaps the trickiest part might be having the ingredients in your house.
Steam your favorite veggies. I steamed broccoli, carrots and spinach. Make sure you have at least one color contrast with your veggies and there must be some greens amongst them.
Cook up a favorite whole grain. I suggest brown rice with this dish.
Make the Sweet Tahini Sauce.
-1/2 C Tahini
- 2 TBSP Tamari Sauce
- 2 TBSP Olive Oil (Extra-Virgin, always)
-2 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar
-1/4-1/2 C leftover water used from the steamed veggies- pour enough to get the consistency you like
**(contains extra flavor & vitamins/minerals from veggies)
- 2 TSP Agave Nectar (more if you like it a little sweeter)
- Salt to taste (sea salt, if you have it)
My advice is to stir each ingredient in as you go along. This way you can taste it and adjust as you like.
Put your veggies on a bed of the brown rice and drizzle with the desired amount of Sweet Tahini Sauce. Enjoy :)
Oh and by the way, Jimmy is still on the cleanse. Yes, he lasted longer than me. He is awesome, and he is trying to make it until Friday!!
*Contemplating switching to a smaller font...thoughts/concerns/comments? :)
The Lemonade Taste Test
It's a lovely Monday night in Manhattan and I thought I would do some cooking and while at it test out the lemonade beverage I've committed to drinking for ten days straight. If you happenend to read the Master Cleanse Me post from a few weeks ago, well, this is the drink that will be "master cleansing me."
I whipped out the ingredients and went to work, well aware of the time alloted to me before The Bachelor starts....
2 TBSP Fresh Sqeezed Lemon Juice
2 TBSP Grade B Maple Syrup
8 oz good, filtered water
1/10 TSP Cayenne Pepper
A spoon to mix! Voila...And I have to admit that I actually enjoyed the taste. Sweet and spicy! I can understand why Pure Food and Wine has a Master Cleanse Martini now!
Lemonade and Maple Syrup
Kitchen after making just one glass of lemonade
I feel a little better now knowing that the Lemonade Drink actually tastes pleasant. But I am having serious fears about this cleanse. The whole part about going 10 days without eating solid food has really got me. I learned that it is actually better not to tell people that I am planning to do the Master Cleanse. They just look at me like I am crazy and the conversation ends with me doubting my abilities to endure the full ten days.
Despite my doubts, I have managed to do the necessary prep work for the cleanse. I have weened off my morning coffee, eliminated my post-lunch chocolate, and plan on eating vegetarian for this week. I wish I could say the same for Jimmy though -- right now as I type, he is out eating some of the best fried chicken the city has to offer at The Red Head. I keep telling him that he is going to have it rough with this cleanse, but he thinks he'll last longer than me!
Alright, I am off to enjoy my dinner while I can...
Just A Little Decaf...
I am eliminating coffee from my daily routine all in the name of the Master Cleanse that is coming up quickly (9 days left to the start). I have also decided that today I will not have my post lunch chocolate fix -- Adora chocolate calcium and chocolate covered goji berries...ahhh sadness :( But I need to get rid of the good stuff (addictive) so that I crave less of it when I am on the cleanse.
Just a little status update on the cleanse...I have not made a lot of progress on gathering supplies. I still need to buy the pH strips, but I may end up ordering them online. Does anyone know what kind of store could possibly sell these? Home Depot? I did discover that I have the juicer attachment that hooks up to our Kitchen Aid. But Jimmy needs to get a juicer of some sort for his cleansing. Ahh me...okay, so glad it is Friday. Off to enjoy my oatmeal and do some work :)
Oatmeal w/Bananas, Cranberries,Walnuts, Cinnamon & Maple Syrup
Ohh, and how could I forget? Tonight Jimmy and I are going to a cooking class at Rustico Cooking Studio! It is an Italian Home Cooking class, check out the menu!
-- Butternut Squash Ravioli w/ Sage-Scented Butter
-- Filet Mignon w/ Leek & Chianti Glaze
-- Cauliflower Gratin w/ Smoked Mozzarella & Pancetta
-- Hazelnut-Chocolate Cakes w/ Vanilla Bean Ice Cream & Bittersweet Chocolate Sauce
Sounds healthy right? It will be lots of fun, we will take pics :)
MASTER CLEANSE ME
A cleanse is not something that should be done on a whim and I learned that there is A LOT of physical and mental planning that goes into the process. Besides making sure that you buy top notch, organic ingredients, it is recommended that you wean yourself off caffeine, chocolate, medications, and meat a week before you start. In addition, you must mentally prepare for the “withdrawal-like” symptoms that you will probably endure during the ten days of cleansing. The more toxic your body is before you start, the more likely you will have a rough experience. And by rough, I mean there is a strong chance you might just quit. Some possible cleansing symptoms are headaches, hunger, nausea, acne, aches, body odor, bad breath, and cold sores. Sounds like fun, right?
You are probably wondering why on earth anyone would ever want to subject themselves to such a painful process. Well, despite the outwardly awful side effects there is actually a lot of lure surrounding the benefits of the good ole Master Cleanse. The cleanse promises to “increase energy, balance your body’s pH, reduce swelling, alleviate allergies, flush the colon, improve skin and hair, rid the body of parasites" and of course help you lose weight. In the book there are tons of testimonials that go as far as people ridding their bodies of life-threatening diseases.
You might also be wondering if subsisting on a lemonade beverage for ten days is safe. According to the book and the endless testimonials in it, it is safe. The lemonade drink consists of fresh squeezed lemon juice, grade-B maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and good water. The maple syrup will be supplying the bulk of vitamins and minerals, as well as the energy you need to make it through the day. The lemon juice and cayenne (which also contain vitamins) will be acting to purify and detoxify your body and organs. The two together stimulate a natural cleansing process, ridding the body of toxins and excess mucus. It’s gross, but it’s true.
It is recommended that you stay on the program no less than 10 days to ensure a proper cleaning of your body. If you were to end halfway through the process it would be incomplete and all benefits would likely be negated. Some people stay on the plan even longer. I read about some people remaining on the diet for more than 30 days! When the full 10 days are over, there is a 3-day re-introductory phase to food, which involves drinking orange juice and vegetable broth. Also sounds like fun, but I bet these foods taste absolutely heavenly after 10 days of the cayenne pepper lemonade.
In the time that I have been reading this book, I have managed to recruit a partner in crime. Jimmy will be joining me on the cleanse, which we plan to start on January 25th. He is training for the Boston Marathon, and he hopes that the cleanse will jump start his body into full on marathon mode. There is a lot of prep work that we need to do, for instance, we do not have a juicer! I was thinking a manual lemonade juicing utensil might do the trick, but I need to do more research. I also need to make sure the pH of my Brita-filtered water is appropriate, and stock up on organic lemons, maple syrup, cayenne pepper and herbal laxatives. Yup, the diet calls for herbal laxatives. It will be one interesting experience! I promise to keep you posted on our progress starting January 25th!
Thanksgiving Detox
Oh sadness, the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday has come to a close and now we are left with only memories and muffin tops. The snug fitting jeans and the extra rolls make for an uncomfortable Monday as we get back to our regular weekly routine. It is time for a little detox to cleanse our systems and get ready for another holiday hit coming down the road. Together we can de-puff our bodies, clear our food-fogged minds and reclaim the fit of our denim! Here are ten easy-to-follow tips that make detoxing easy to incorporate into your diet, starting right now!
1) Focus on eating raw, fresh foods. By this I mean mostly fruits and vegetables. Fruits and veggies have a high water content and are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. Most importantly, fruits and veggies do not have chemicals, preservatives (go organic!!) or fat-- all substances our bodies need a break from after such heavy eating.
2) Drink water! Aim to drink room temperature water as it is easier for our bodies to assimilate. Cold ice water can shock the system. Add a slice of lemon to your glass, which has an alkalizing effect in the body. As for the amount of H2O you should be drinking, divide your body weight in half and that number in ounces is the amount you should be consuming.
3) Hit the gym. Not only will this help burn some of the extra calories consumed this holiday, but you will sweat out nasty toxins and speed up digestion for a faster removal of, um, the waste that is sitting inside our bodies. Gross, I know...sorry!
4) Consider a shot of wheatgrass. Wheatgrass is a superfood that is EXTREMELY nutrient dense and cleanse-worthy. Just one shot glass is the equivalent of eating 2-3 lbs of vegetables!! How is that for healthy? Wheatgrass also oxygenates and purifies the blood and by doing so it removes any stagnant toxins sitting around. In addition to cleansing and feeding the body, wheatgrass has an energizing effect and reduces cravings! Check out your local juice bar or health food store and give it a whirl.
5) Avoid extreme foods. By this I mean, foods with a lot of sugar, salt, dairy, fat and caffiene. This is all in the name of giving your body a rest from the heavy eating that took place over the course of Thanksgiving and the leftover days that followed. Focus on incorporating low-fat and natural versions of the foods you normally eat. Aim to get the fiber you need, which is about 26 grams a day for women and 30 grams a day for men.
6) Drink green tea. Green tea is loaded with polyphenols and antioxidants, which will help boost your immunity and neutralize free radicals inside your body. Not to mention green tea is a known metabolism booster.
7) Don't eat foods late at night. Choose a cut-off time that works for you, but it should be 2-3 hours before you hit the hay. This is the amount of time it takes for food to go through the initial digestion process. Also, night time/sleepy time is when our bodies repair and recover after a long day of work, so having an empty stomach allows your body one less chore and makes over-night recovery a lot easier.
8) If you can, go vegetarian for a week. Give your body time to recover from the turkey and tryptophan coma. Meat is a heavy, protein-dense food and it requires more time and energy for your body to digest. Treat your body and digestive tract to a rest.
9) Floss. I hope you floss on a daily basis, but if you don't please, please, please make sure you floss this week. You do not want the food to settle and embed itself into your gums. It is here, through the gums that bacteria can seep into the body. Not to mention, unflossed gums contribute to gum disease and halitosis -- permanent bad breath!
10) Eat garlic! Incorporate garlic into your diet as a seasoning (or if you wish, eat it raw). Garlic helps your liver produce enzymes that detoxify the bacteria in your digestive tract.
So there you have it -- tips and foods for you to consider as you aim to cleanse your body and rid that inescapable feeling of Thanksgiving fullness. Now that one holiday has come to an end there are more just around the corner. So use this week to de-puff and de-fog in prep of the holiday eating that lies ahead. Cheers!
1) Focus on eating raw, fresh foods. By this I mean mostly fruits and vegetables. Fruits and veggies have a high water content and are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. Most importantly, fruits and veggies do not have chemicals, preservatives (go organic!!) or fat-- all substances our bodies need a break from after such heavy eating.
2) Drink water! Aim to drink room temperature water as it is easier for our bodies to assimilate. Cold ice water can shock the system. Add a slice of lemon to your glass, which has an alkalizing effect in the body. As for the amount of H2O you should be drinking, divide your body weight in half and that number in ounces is the amount you should be consuming.
3) Hit the gym. Not only will this help burn some of the extra calories consumed this holiday, but you will sweat out nasty toxins and speed up digestion for a faster removal of, um, the waste that is sitting inside our bodies. Gross, I know...sorry!
4) Consider a shot of wheatgrass. Wheatgrass is a superfood that is EXTREMELY nutrient dense and cleanse-worthy. Just one shot glass is the equivalent of eating 2-3 lbs of vegetables!! How is that for healthy? Wheatgrass also oxygenates and purifies the blood and by doing so it removes any stagnant toxins sitting around. In addition to cleansing and feeding the body, wheatgrass has an energizing effect and reduces cravings! Check out your local juice bar or health food store and give it a whirl.
5) Avoid extreme foods. By this I mean, foods with a lot of sugar, salt, dairy, fat and caffiene. This is all in the name of giving your body a rest from the heavy eating that took place over the course of Thanksgiving and the leftover days that followed. Focus on incorporating low-fat and natural versions of the foods you normally eat. Aim to get the fiber you need, which is about 26 grams a day for women and 30 grams a day for men.
6) Drink green tea. Green tea is loaded with polyphenols and antioxidants, which will help boost your immunity and neutralize free radicals inside your body. Not to mention green tea is a known metabolism booster.
7) Don't eat foods late at night. Choose a cut-off time that works for you, but it should be 2-3 hours before you hit the hay. This is the amount of time it takes for food to go through the initial digestion process. Also, night time/sleepy time is when our bodies repair and recover after a long day of work, so having an empty stomach allows your body one less chore and makes over-night recovery a lot easier.
8) If you can, go vegetarian for a week. Give your body time to recover from the turkey and tryptophan coma. Meat is a heavy, protein-dense food and it requires more time and energy for your body to digest. Treat your body and digestive tract to a rest.
9) Floss. I hope you floss on a daily basis, but if you don't please, please, please make sure you floss this week. You do not want the food to settle and embed itself into your gums. It is here, through the gums that bacteria can seep into the body. Not to mention, unflossed gums contribute to gum disease and halitosis -- permanent bad breath!
10) Eat garlic! Incorporate garlic into your diet as a seasoning (or if you wish, eat it raw). Garlic helps your liver produce enzymes that detoxify the bacteria in your digestive tract.
So there you have it -- tips and foods for you to consider as you aim to cleanse your body and rid that inescapable feeling of Thanksgiving fullness. Now that one holiday has come to an end there are more just around the corner. So use this week to de-puff and de-fog in prep of the holiday eating that lies ahead. Cheers!
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