It was almost eight

First of all, there is a mistake with the title of the last post, it was not days 5 and 6 but 6 and 7. Yes, I completed seven days, and almost eight. I really wanted to add the juices and smoothies to this week, and I did, yesterday for lunch. I made a juice with the recipe of the book I bought last week, and let me tell you, that thing was not tasty at all! It took me forever to drink it and it left a strong after flavor, perhaps because of the ginger root. As soon as I finished it, I immediately felt like I had to vomit. I felt really bad. I did not vomit though, the felling went away after a while. 

Detox Juice ingredients

-beets

-cucumber

-ginger root

-celery

-parsley

-lemon

-carrot

Later in the afternoon, I felt hungry and even more when I started making dinner, and by the time dinner was ready I made me a plate and ate it! Yes I did! What a bummer :( I really didn't enjoy it either. It seemed like my body was not prepared to receive such meal- ravioli with ground turkey- after eating so healthy for seven days. I didn't even eat that much but I felt sort of guilty for not even beginning the week I wanted to have. Oh well, I guess like Joe said "You hit the wall". Who knows what was on the other side, I would have like to know.

I guess it was not that bad for being my first time. It made me realize the importance of what we put in our bodies and how our bodies respond to it. And even though we eat pretty healthy at home, it is always necessary to clean our bodies of the bad stuff that has been accumulated throughout the years; so I am thinking that I can definitely do a seasonal detox, we'll see...

Detox day 5, 6 and volleyball

This weekend I completed days 5 and 6 of the four week detox plan. I am pretty convinced that I am not going to do it for 4 weeks. Even though I have not felt hungry, I do miss eating some other stuff.

Saturday was a fun day. We went to see our niece Kayla played volleyball and I have to say that she is one of the best players in her team if not the best! We got to see the grandparents, sister-in-law, brother-in-law and nephew. After this, we headed to Whole Foods to buy some of the veggies I have not been able to find at the stores in Tuscaloosa, to start my juices for detox/fast for this week. I love Whole Foods, they have so many neat things, all natural, organic products and things you can't find everywhere else. I told Joe that I could come to that store and be there all day, just browsing every single aisle and product, as a matter of fact,  I told him that we should go and have a Whole Foods date :)

Saturday Detox Menu:

-Before breakfast: cup of hot water with lemon

-Breakfast: Apple, carrot and cucumber juice

-Lunch: Broiled vegetable soup (onion, garlic, tomatoes, eggplant, red bell pepper, sun-dried tomato, herbs) with wheat-free bread

-Dinner: Pear, spinach and walnut salad from Nothing but Noodles. (I skip the blue cheese)

I did not dry-brushed my skin that night because I was too tired, I just went straight to bed. zzzzzz....

Sunday was also a good day. We went to mass in the morning, and then we went to see our niece to play volleyball again. In between games, Joe, my mother-in-law Sarah, Kielan  our nephew and I had a little soccer match and that was really really fun! Girls vs Boys. The girls also created a score celebration dance, so much fun and pretty funny too :) Boys won 6 to 5. Grrr! 

After our soccer match we went back inside to see the next volleyball game. The game was really good and a little nerve-racking because they kept scoring points and the two teams were even most of the second half. Even though our niece's team did not win the game that would had taken them to the championship, we were all very proud of her for doing such a great job as team captain and for putting so much effort and talent into the game. Go GA 5! 

On another note this was my Sunday Detox Menu:

-Before Breakfast: Cup of hot water with lemon

-Breakfast: Tropical smoothie (pineapple, papaya, almond milk, yogurt) and wheat free bread

-Lunch: Hummus with carrots, red bell peppers and celery

-Dinner: Broiled vegetable soup

-Tea

Detox day 5 and TRUE GRIT

Yesterday was day 5 of the detox, and it went well until dinner time when Joe and I went out to eat. We went to Wintzell's and there was nothing on the menu that I could eat, so I sort of cheated and had their new Citrus Shrimp Mandarin Salad with cilantro dressing. I was pretty tasty, but I felt like I cheated a little...

This is what I ate yesterday:

- Before breakfast: Cup of hot water with lemon

-Breakfast: Fresh fruit muesli ( Strawberries, raspberries, apricots, oats, hazelnuts )

-Tea

-Lunch: Hummus with raw vegetables (carrots and celery)

-Tea

-Dinner: Cheat dinner at Wintzell's

After we went to eat, we went to the movies and watched TRUE GRIT, great movie. I had a little trouble understanding some parts because some of the actors -specially the main one- had a very strong southern/drunken accent, and as many of all you know, English is my second language. Despite that, we really enjoyed it and we highly recommend it. Really good, you have to go see it. No wonder why is nominated to ten Academy Awards!

Enjoy your Saturday! Maybe you can go watch this movie :)

Detox day 4 and juicing book

I finished day four of the detox program, and I have to say that I can already tell a difference in the way I fell physically. I feel lighter and more rested. However, fighting temptation was difficult yesterday. While I was making dinner for the boys I wanted to eat the piece of chicken I was cooking, it looked SO GOOD in the skillet; but I didn't. Again, I want to do it right with not cheats.

While talking during lunch to Joe about this detox, he suggested I did it for one more week, this time introducing  juices and smoothies and I think I will; if I'm going to feel the way I'm feeling now, and what I mean by that is not hunger, then I will. 

Last night I found this book at Barnes and Noble. I'm gonna try to read it over the weekend (hopefully), if not I'll jump straight into the recipes, and exchange some of the dishes in the menu I'm currently doing for the juices and smoothies. We'll see how that goes...

On another note, this is what I ate and did yesterday:

-Before breakfast: hot cup of water with lemon

-Breakfast: Cup of yogurt with tablespoon of sunflowers

-tea

-Lunch: Chickpeas and tomato salad with goat cheese (chickpeas a.k.a garbanzo beans, tomatoes, red onion, romaine lettuce)

-tea, handful of hazelnuts

-Dinner: Stuffed Eggplant (Brown rice, eggplant, tomato, pine nuts, onion, garlic, cinnamon, tomato paste, lemon juice, black pepper)

-White peach tea

-Dry-exfoliated skin, shower, body lotion, sleep.

Have a wonderful weekend everybody!

Final note: I have no idea why some spaces between paragraphs are not showing in the last posts, I checked it, fixed it, it looks good on the draft but not on the final...who knows.

Detox day 3, exercise,snow

 Day three was a bit different, and what I mean is that I felt a little hungry in between lunch and dinner. I felt a little dizzy also, but I had a handful of Brazil nuts and a cup of my tea and I felt much better. Also, I have to shyly say that I was pretty gassy fuzzy. Ha! There, I said it. Part of keeping you all updated isn't?

I also exercised while little David slept his nap, and Anthony exercised along with me. He stretched the way I was doing it, and that was pretty cute and funny. When I was doing some sit ups, he grabbed his sword and pointed it at me like a drill sergeant directing a boot camp. At one point he actually said: "Come on mom you can do it!". I guess he saw me struggling so much that he decided to give some words of encouragement :)

That being said, this is what I ate and did yesterday:

-Before breakfast: Cup of hot tea with half a lemon

- Breakfast: One boiled egg, wheat-free toast with honey and a banana.

-Lunch: Spring Clean Salad (Watermelon, apples, endive, celery, lemon and olive oil)

- Exercise

-Cup of tea and Brazil nuts

-Dinner: Wheat-free pasta with red hot sauce (Tomatoes, tomato paste, olives, lemon, onion, garlic, basil, parsley)

-Dry-exfoliated body, shower, read, sleep

If you have any questions about all this detox thing or any other thing, post a comment, I'll be more than happy to answer it.

By the way, is it snowing where you are? Because here in Tuscaloosa started to snow last night and today it looks so pretty outside! We already went to play with the snow, but that didn't last long. After 10 minutes of playing Anthony decided to make a snow angel and when he got up he was pretty upset because his booty was cold,and wet, so he chose to go back inside. David, on the other hand was enjoying it quite a lot, he was eating the snow, and HE LOVED IT!- after a few bites, anyway. He loves eating ice anyway, thanks to my mom, a.k.a Bita for abuelita in Spanish. She is my sunshine!

The boys in action! 

Detox Day 2 and School Registration

Yesterday, I completed day two of the detox program. It went better than the first one. I had no cravings other than the yummy looking pasta my Grandmother Diane a.k.a Nana made for dinner and the toasted garlic bread, oh my! So good, she is a wonderful cook and lady! I love her :) By the way, I did not eat one bite of pasta, I wish I could have though.

Anyway, I am very surprised on how I've been satisfied with each meal, and part of that feeling I believe is the focus I have to do it right, and to finish it the way it should be, no cheating, not even one animal cracker, if you know what I mean...

This is what I ate and did yesterday:

-Before breakfast:Cup of hot water with lemon 

-Breakfast: Half of a Cantaloupe filled with strawberries and raspberries

-Lunch: Plate of tuna with whole grain crackers (The book actually does not call for this, but I was out of the house and since I can have tuna, this is what I went for)

-Drink: Hot tea ( Yogi tea  is my favorite brand of teas. So from now on when I say I had a cup of hot tea, this is what I had) 

-Dinner: Garden Paella and fresh fruit salad

-Cup of hot tea

-Dry-exfoliated skin with exfoliating gloves

-Took a shower, applied lotion, read, went to bed.

I think this will be my daily detox routine from now on. I need to incorporate some exercise and meditation to it for it to be fully complete, but with the chores of the house and taking care of the kiddos, I don't seem to find the time to do it, although I need to.

So, now let's change the page and let me tell you about the school part of this post. 

I have a very sweet, smart, gentle, fun, funny, loving, kind, playful, social little boy who despite the entertainment I provide him at home, and all the painting, coloring, puzzle time, reading, pretend time etc etc, he wants to go to school. He is ready. He grabs his little Elmo backpack, fills it up with toys, books and a bunch of other stuff, and tells me that he is going to school. He tells me:"See you later mom, I'm going to school to see all my friends and we're gonna do some finger painting!" And what do I do? I kindly smile to him and tell him: "Have fun my love, see you later..." Yes, part of me is not ready to let him grow up and continue onto the next stage he is so ready for. Part of me wants him to be always at home with his momma because she thinks... (I had to stop, I started to cry, I can't help it..), because she thinks he will be safer with her, and nobody will give him the love and patience she gives him. But also, part of me tells me it's okay, and because I love him and his brother more than anything in this world, I will let go and I will joyfully see him grown into a more amazing guy than he already is. He will learn, he will make friends and have fun. 

That being said, he has officially been registered to start preschool in the fall, three days a week, half day. Also, I'm looking to enroll him in some summer program he can go to, and again, half day, three days a week, or something like that.

Yes, this was a long post, sorry if you were not prepared for it, but I couldn't help it. There is a bunch of family who reads it and this is what this blog is about, to share with you all what goes on in our household.

Detox Day 1

For a long time I have been thinking of detoxing. I've heard it all over, heard its good for you and it will get you into good eating habits if you already don't have them. 

But what is DETOX?

From what I've read, it is the  process of cleaning and eliminating from the body, in a natural way, all toxins that can potential harm you. It helps to regulate your digestive system and immunity, as well as to identify trigger foods or food allergies. Detoxing will give you better health- fewer colds, minor illness, improve skin disorders, headaches, stomach aches, etc. Give you a more restful sleep, improve mood and inner harmony, improve your appearance- reducing bloating, toning muscles, skin becomes more hydrated, and one of my favorite, less puffiness under you eyes!-etc etc. There is so much about detox! In fewer words, IT IS GOOD FOR YOU.

Following both pregnancies I wanted to do it, but I after I researched, I found out I couldn't do it because I was breastfeeding, and  had to wait until I quit doing it because otherwise, all the toxins my body was eliminating would ended up in the breast milk. So I waited and waited, read, got lazy and somewhat coward to give up the all the goodies, like cookies, bread, chocolates, coffee, ice cream, chicken, wine, etc.

During the month of January, I got sick twice, first I got the flu and then a really bad throat infection, that I could not even swallow my own saliva! I never ever get sick, maybe a cold once a year and not even that. So after being so sick and with no energy I decided it was time. I started yesterday and it went well. All I had to do was to focus my mind into the whole detox plan prior to starting, and on day one, to really try  and not get one of those animal crackers that seat in our kitchen counter. Believe me it was not easy to see them and not grab one. What's wrong with just one I thought? Just one! NOPE! I slap my hand and left the kitchen. I'm so proud of me! :)

I started the detox program with a menu I found on this book. The book is short, easy to read, it has a shopping list, recipes, and a lot more. Right now, I'm thinking of doing it only a week, but the food is so good that I may do it for two-the menu is all the way to four weeks-; we'll see how this week ends. Also, if I begin the second week, I may change the day menu and add some of these smoothies.

So far, I feel good. I'm not hungry and I'm content. It is a little difficult to fight off temptation, but I'm focused and I know I can do it. 

This is what I ate and did yesterday:

-Before breakfast: Hot cup of water with half a lemon. ( I did this everyday of last week)

-Breakfast: Fresh Fruit Muesli.

-Lunch: Tomato and Zucchini soup.

-Snack: Handful of Brazil Nuts (This is not on the book)

-Dinner: Baked Potato (I was surprised when I read this), Broiled salmon and mixed leaf salad.

-Hot tea a couple of hours before bed (This is not on the book)

-Dry-exfoliated skin from feet to chest with these.

-Took a shower, applied lotion and went to bed.

How did I wake up this morning? Rested, very rested. I don't know if it's coincidence or maybe David slept through the night , I don't know, but I woke up feeling good.

I will keep posting the detox progress as it goes. Wish me luck, because every time I see those animal crackers, I want to open that bucket and grab one. Just one.

(picture source)