CSD Cleanse :: Holiday Style

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Or is it?!

Today marks day 14 of my vegan Crazy Sexy Diet cleanse!  It's crazy{sextdiet} {heyoo!} to think 2 weeks are already down and I've only got one week left.  I've been flying through these first 2 weeks pretty much without even giving it a second thought.  It's interesting to me how when I was first contemplating the cleanse through the holidays, I would run through the holiday parties/social events I'd have and it seemed so intimidating.  I've had about 5 Holiday parties/friend dinners + 1 Broncos game + co-hosting a girlfriend Christmas party this evening and secretly, I haven't missed the cocktails, cookies or cheese platters at all.  Crazy, right?  I KNOW what I'm about to say doesn't make sense, but this thought came to me last Sunday after Sara and I had 6 people over to the house to watch Sunday night football.  After everyone left I thought "Man.  I like my friends more when I'm sober."  What does that even mean?!  I have no idea.  I think I was referring to how I remember so many more one-liners and you catch the little things people do, or don't say when you just sit back with warm cider and watch every one else enjoy their brandy + warm cider and let loose.  It's entertaining to say the least.

It was important for me to do this cleanse for a number of reasons.  { first } It seemed impossible not to drink or over-indulge in food over the holidays.  I wanted to prove that little voice wrong.  Also, I was sick of the excuses I was telling myself.  "I'll cleanse the first week in January!  Wait for the holidays to be over!  Detox then!"  I was beyond ready to jump into it and leave the excuses be.  { second } I've been eating out and indulging in an adult beverage or 7 way.too.much. since we've been back from Washington.  I would eat and drink to my hearts content simply because I  SO excited to be back around my friends and family. I wouldn't even realize I'd almost put back an entire bottle of wine in a few hours.  All moderation was thrown out the window and that really bothered me.  { third } A few years ago, my dear friend Tim showed up at all our events; Christmas Tree decorating, Fakesgiving and various dinners in between and didn't drink a drop of alcohol at any of them.  Of course at the time I was like  TIM.  WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU.  YOU ARE PREGNANT AREN'T YOU.  And he replied so simply by saying "Beth.  My entire life, whenever someone has offered me a drink I've taken it.  I'll survive a holiday season without any alcohol."  That quote of his has been hanging out in a little corner of my brain for a few years now and it hugely stuck out to me when I was debating starting this cleanse between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  { fourth }  There is a reason the vegan lifestyle is so appealing to me.  Not just because eating meat (sa-eriously) grosses me out, but also because my body just doesn't react well to dairy.  I wouldn't go as far to say it's an intolerance, but I just doesn't process it well.  When we lived in Bremerton, we were rockstars at meat + dairy in moderation.  We never ever (everever) brought it into the house (unless we had guests) and when we went out to dinner, if we felt like a meat entree, we got a meat entree!  But those times were pretty few and far between.  Here however, it seemed like each and every time I'd meet friends for drinks + brunch + lunch + dinner I was eating either meat or diary saying "Oh whatever, it's just this one meal."  But one meal a day for a few weeks in a row really added up and I just didn't like how much of it I had been eating and most importantly how I'd been feeling.  { fifth }  I had gotten pre-e-e-e-e-ty dependent on coffee.  Raging headaches if I hadn't had a cup by 11:30a, huge mood swings, feeling just all around lethargic.  One of the most liberating things to come from this cleanse so far has been freeing myself of the coffee dependancy.  The direct hand off of that has been I've been drinking herbal teas like a BOSS.  I bet I go through about 3-5 different bags of tea each day, and I can usually get between 2-3 cups of tea from each bag.  Do the math.  I will go back to enjoying a cup of coffee when this is over, but maybe just a cup a day?  A cup every few days?  Every few weeks?  We'll see, but I will put fourth so much effort not to go back to a cup or 3/day.

Kris Carr recommends that every 7 days on the cleanse, you do an all juice + smoothie + tea detox day.  I got pretty {un?}lucky with my first detox day because I had a really gnarly stomach flu.  I didn't even have time to miss regular food, because even a juice that I'd usually take down in 4 minutes I would have to force myself to drink over like 2 hours.  Yesterday was my 2nd juice + smoothie detox day, and I felt like it went really well!  I had a slight upset stomach during the evening, but after reading more about it late last night, turns out it was likely just toxins being released, whichhhhh was the whole point of the detox day.  They aren't the easiest days to get through, but isn't that really the point?  To go outside your box and push yourself to do something you know you are fully capable of doing?

Wow.  I feel like I've been going on { and on and on } about this when all I had set out to do was say weeeee I'm on week 2 and 1 week to go!

The cleanse is up on Christmas Eve, which couldn't be more perfect timing.  We always go to my uncle Joel's for Christmas Eve dinner in California, and I'm already looking forward to a bowl of his noodle soup and a glass of what I know will be a lovely and local glass of wine.

Click, click!

Two clicks to see what has made me smile so far today:

one and two.

SNOW in the mountains, plus a Crazy Sexy Diet COOKBOOK?!

Dude.  It's bound to be a good day.

Soup tease.

I subscribe to this blog called Finding Vegan, right?  It's basically a newbie vegan's dream in that it posts vegan recipes by the dozens daily.  Truly by the dozens.  You don't believe me?  Ask the 38 unread blog posts in my Vegan Foodie folder of my Bloglovin' page.  ANYWAY, I digress.  This morning, as I was perusing said Finding Vegan site, I come across this lovely image.

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We all know I'm craving a hot bowl of homemade soup lately, so I think to myself:  "Humm..something creamy that's vegan?  (which is very hard to come across b/c all things that make life wonderful, rich and creamy is most certainly not vegan)  I want to check this site out!"

So I do.  

And what happens?!

I CAN'T READ A D@MN THING.

http://www.chaudronpastel.fr/2012/07/02/video-creme-angelique-courgette-sans-gluten-vegan/ 

The world can be so cruel.  

No hot, creamy, homemade vegan goodness in a bowl for this girl.

Wahh wahh.

Very Vegan.

12 days down, 9 days to go!  It's madness to think I'm already over halfway done with my cleanse.  There isn't too many updates to give, other than it's actually been a breeze for me.  Like I said before; vegan isn't too far off from my day to day diet to begin with, so it was just a matter of getting committed and serious about my eating habits.

Highs of the cleanse:
I feel ahhhhhmazing!  I had this new kick of energy where I'm not dragging ass in the mornings, or through the afternoons.  I'm waking up earlier than I would to get in a yoga class, run or gym workout.  Before, getting up before 7:45a was unheard of.
My water intake has basically tripled.  Besides the 3L I drink a day, I've discovered my new favorite drinks: Iced chamomile tea, and water + cayenne pepper + lemon juice.  Don't knock it til you try it! It is the perfect morning replacement for my cup{s} of coffee.
I'm saving money.  Fresh produce really doesn't have to be that expensive if you do it right.  I have found myself going to the grocery probably 4-6 times a week, and that doesn't phase me in the slightest.
I get to try so many new recipes!  I'm using new grains, new veggies and new methods of cooking, and that gives me a high no whiskey or wine can.
"Is that why your skin is glowing?" Is what I heard after telling a coworker I went vegan for a few weeks.  His response was so appreciated and much welcomed after all the haters in the work place.


Lows of the cleanse:
Socially, it's incredibly difficult.  And I mean this in a variety of ways.  You can't just go places anymore without tons of planning ahead.  Prepping your host on what you are doing as to not insult them when you don't eat what they have prepared, asking what the host/hostess is planning for a menu to see if you need to eat before going, even making a plethora of salads/sides to bring with you so you know you will be able to eat.  It's not so much that I'm complaining, but this is just really different for me.
People think they can say anything.  I've heard it all.  From implying I'll turn into a b!tch {exact words} on the 5th day of my cleanse, to being vocal about not believing I'll make it through, to knocking what I'll bring to eat for breakfast or lunches, telling me to just call them when the cleanse is over so we can actually hang out.  You guys - people can be mean.  This really was difficult for me the first few days, to where I quit eating at work and would just drive home for lunches.  All I wanted to do was ask "Do you want to talk about how incredibly processed, jam packed with sugar and incredibly unhealthy that little ditty is that you are getting from the candy machine right now?!" Though I didn't, smiled and would take another bite of my lunch.  I was talking to H about it and he reminded me that I'm not doing it for them, or for anyone's approval.  I'm doing it for myself.  So now I drink my green smoothies in clear glasses, in addition to my cayenne water.  Let the haters hate!
I won't lie, I do miss coffee {and the occasional glass of wine}.  Even though I can't believe I lived 26.89 years without knowing of this cayenne water glory, nothing can serve as a replacement to my cup of jo in the mornings.  So I will look forward to that {and also sharing a bottle of wine with friends, family and H when we get together}.  But until then, I'll turn to my BFF, H20.

A lot of people ask if I will continue being a vegan after the 21 days are up.  I have a really hard time answering that, though I can say with confidence that I feel like the vegan lifestyle really fits me.  However, will I have chicken wings from time to time?  Yes. {Have you met my boyfriend?!  I think he'd marry them if he could.} Will I enjoy a burger or steak every now and again?  I'm sure of it.  But this has unquestionably changed the way I view food, grocery stores, menu's and food blogs.  Plus, if I'm feeling this great, why not {Minot}?  Also, I have right around a kabillion vegan recipes pinned and bookmarked that I simply must make.

And now, allow me to photobomb you with some of my latest nibbles!











































































I also have been house-sitting a lot the past 2 weeks, so I hope you enjoyed the variety of plates I used!

May peace, peas and carrots be with you!

DYK? Vegans can eat buffalo wings, too.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, ok - maybe not wings per say, but you can bet your pretty patooey that this recipe will be in the recipe rotation in the upcoming weeks, if not this week!  I truly squealed when I read this.  My first thought was that there was tofu or tempah in there, but when I heard it was my most favorite vegetable?!  Stick a fork in me and call me Sally.

Thanks for putting up with me and my probably really boring posts about vegan food, but this is such a thrilling adventure for me!  Yes, food is thrilling to me.  And yes I need a hobby.  Tell it to Sally.  I'll be too busy eating wings.

DYK? Oreos are vegan.

LADYGAGASAYWHAAA?!

Yeah, I didn't know either until yesterday.

http://voices.yahoo.com/are-oreos-vegan-might-surprised-11185218.html

Beth happy.
Beth happy.
Beth happy.

I won't rush out and buy like 5 bags of these { maybe more like 1.5 }, but I'm so glad I know for if/when/why/how/where/who I get a sweet-tooth hankering.  Though I did find this recipe on Pinterest last night { my deepest apologies to anyone who follows me on Pinterest ::ahemahemPeltyahem::, but I'm going Vegan Pinning CRAZY! } and fully intend on making these soon, too.

http://tasty-yummies.com/2012/01/30/no-bake-oatmeal-chia-chocolate-chip-cookie-balls-vegan-and-gluten-free/

Why?  Because Dark Chocolate is also vegan!!!

BAM!  That JUST happened.

I'll let your blown mind settle for a few...

Ch-ch-ch-changes, changes.

I haven't talked about it on the blog lately, but I know all you readers are no stranger to how sick I was last year, then again this year a few months back.  Same as last year when I was sick, there was no resolution.  We made some progress this time around with some abnormal test results we wanted to chase, but ultimately I'm as healthy as a spaghetti squash.  Again, same as last year, my doctor and I started out on the same page, which slowly turned into a nasty break-up when his only solution was hardcore narcotics which would work more as a band-aid then actually accomplishing anything.  I knew after our road trip, I wanted to try either a new doctor, or form of medicine - but I just wasn't quite sure what it would be.  While we were out and about, we stayed with our dear friends Ryan and Lindsey in SLC.  The 4 of us had gotten back from dinner while Ryan and Hunter were walking to the grocery store to get ice cream for the freshly picked garden rhubarb crisp Lindsey and I were making.  (Who cares if it was like 10pm.  When the craving strikes, who are we to say no?)  Lindsey opened their fridge to get out the fixins for our impromptu dessert, when I saw a blender half full of this glorious green mixture.  To anyone who might not be quite the vegetable lover, it might have looked like rather disgusting and like "sludge", but to those of us who are more in tune obsessed with veggies I knew exactly what it was.  A Green Monster, baby.  I got super super fuper super duper excited, and asked her if she was on the Green Smoothie train also.  And whattdya know?!  She was, which was pretty sweetness.

Don't worry, this isn't a huge blog post about how my friend girl crush also drinks green smoothies.  This is actually going somewhere.

That green smoothie conversation lead to one of her recent book reads, Crazy Sexy Diet.  She started out by saying "Well I recently did this cleanse...." and my first thought was "NOT THE CABBAGE SOUP DIET AGAIN."  However, the more she started talking about this cleanse, it sounded more like a new lifestyle and way of eating versus a cleanse in the traditional sense.  The scariest part to me was when she said "No drinking or coffee for 21 days."  Actually, let's be honest.  Booze?  Yeah, it is a fun social event but I can most certainly take it or leave it.  No coffee for 21 days?  God save us all.

Essentially it is 21 days of strictly vegan eating, lots of green smoothies, tea, water, meditation and exercise.  I thought a lot about what she had told me of the book and the cleanse on our way home.  After really talking to Hunter about it, we concluded the food portion wouldn't be too far off from what I was currently eating.  I've never been a big meat eater, and between Hunter and I, we could both have a meal of just veggies and various grains and be happy as an avocado in guacamole.  { I'm cracking myself up over here with the veggie metaphors, FYI }.  I took to the mindset that if a doctor can't figure out what was causing me so much discomfort and pain, possibly I could figure it out by what I was, or wasn't putting into my body.

One of the first things I did when we got back to Denver was order the Crazy Sexy Diet book.

And then proceeded to read it in 2 days.  Yup.  It's that good.

Kris Carr was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer, and opted to take on the battle herself versus sitting in a hospital bed waiting more treatment and medicine.  { I'm paraphrasing.  Read the book for the full story! }  Besides the book being so insanely inspiring, it is packed full of information, statistics and REALLY amazing recipes.  I knew the second I cracked the book that yes, I would most certainly be doing this cleanse she challenged you to at the end of the read.  I have to say, I've learned SO much from this book and am totally inspired.  { Have fun eating lunch or dinner with me, because I won't let you put a piece of cooked vegetable or meat in your mouth without me getting at least one tidbit in, and I wish I was joking. }  Last week was my "Ween Week", which was slowly removing any meat, dairy, caffeine and alcohol from my diet.  Today marks day 1 of the 21 cleanse!  It will be a really wonderful challenge but I am so up for the task.  I look forward to more energy, a new appreciation for raw foods while enjoying the morning and night suggested meditation.  

What does this mean for you fancy faces?  Tons of blog posts on what new foods I've been trying, how it's been going and my favorite green smoothie combinations.  { Current favorite?  Big handful of spinach and kale.  Cucumber, avocado, banana, strawberries, Almond Milk, oats, flaxseed, protein powder, echinacea powder all blended with ice. }  Poor Hunter has already had to sit through several sessions with me and his tablet on Pinterest browsing "Vegan recipes" for far to long than I'd care to admit.  I cooked this last week, and holy shizuka was that better than sex cake!  No seriously, it really was better than any refined sugar, calorie saturated cake you could come up with.

It's day 1 at 11am and can you believe I don't have a caffeine headache?!  I can't.  Apparently that ween week really was good for something.

I'll continue with the updates through the days and probably hours, so I hope you's bitches are looking forward to tons and dozens photos of veggiesssssssssssssssss!  Not like that would really be anything new.