CSD - Day 8 & 9

Day 8: "The New Normal"

I'm hearind this phrase a LOT lately. Things are changing in every profession - people are being asked to do more with less, and boy can we feel it! Bad new is that acid overload begins with stress. Good news is that we're not alone - breathe deeply together.

In regards to CSD, it is welcome to become the New Normal for me! It stinks to miss out on friend time, so once the cleanse is over, I might make some exceptions for gluten and maybe a little dairy when I eat out. But when I cook at home, I'll keep it pretty much the same. Everything has been delicious and so healthy! And the Green Juice still looks really pretty in my pink bottle (glad I chose that color!).

Last night I spent some quality time in the kitchen making some quinoa-mango-cilantro filling for lettuce wraps (yum). Then I met my darling Nia at Vito's for a nightcap. I had seen the bartender at a coffee shop last Sunday and told him I might now see him because I'd be on a 21-day cleanse. I was mistaken, because he makes some mean fruit juice cocktails (fresh squeezed!). Thanks, Justin!

Day 9: Nori Roll Tuesday

Told you they'd become a standard! So easy and delicious. My featured ingredients this time were dates and asparagus.

I have to share that I get to see Mt. Rainier every morning just like I used to see Mt. Hood.

Today has been uneventful. I feel great and work is going very well. Tonight I'll be going to a Tacoma Rainiers game with my girls Brenda (MedRecs) and Margaret (HR) from work. We won tickets in a raffle. Happy Administrative Professionals Week, Ladies. I'll post a picture later.

Benefits so far:

* my resting heart rate has lowered

* my mind has become clearer - especially when I slow down and deep breathe (this is now my go-to for moments of stress or when I overload on tasks)

* my allergies aren't as bad as they were on my bike ride a few weeks ago (I'm attributing this to the neti pot use)

* my black pencil skirt fits again!! (While this diet isn't about weight loss for me, I do remember a moment in time before even going floating when I looked in the mirror and thought, "Well, I guess this was bound to happen. Getting older means moving up in jeans sizes, right?" Not so.)

* gotta say it one more time...I'M NOT STARVING! (that is as long as I eat lunch at work)

CSD - Day 5, 6 & 7

"May I be happy and free. May I be loving and loved. May I be healthy and whole."

Friday Successes: 

* I implemented a 3 Strikes You're Out rule in the car - made it by with only 2 each way

(For those who know me well, you may have experienced some of my road rage and intense, let's say, driving style. My goal was to stay calm and collected to keep flash floods of acid from stress or anger out of my body.) 

* Jogging after work was great! I found a nice little route that allowed me to end at the local produce store. And I saw these horsies while running to "Judy and the Dream of Horses" by Belle & Sebastian. 

*Sober Karaoke until 1am with my roommate, Cayla!: Was 1 of 6 people singing karaoke all night

Saturday:

I decided to make Saturday my fasting day (the cleanse calls for one a week, so 3 times total), because I didn't want to feel extra tired on Monday at work. Boy was I wrong about how I'd feel! I had about 4 green juices all day and I only felt hungry and tempted to eat solid food when I was around solid food. One of my juices was purchased from Healeo at 15th and Madison, because juicing wheatgrass at home regularly requires a LOT of wheatgrass. 

Check out my Crazy Sexy Patio Time Glow (and 2nd green juice of the day)! 

Saturday morning I woke up and made 2 green juices to take with me downtown. I met Allie for makeovers with NARS and to do a little spring shopping. Then I headed home to get some sun on my patio and relax some before my Aunt Shannon and cousins (Deitrich & Elise) came over. We walked to Capitol Hill to play in the park and take a peek at Value Village. It was very nice to see them - they're growing up so stinkin fast! 

Saturday's Thought: There's a pretty basic prayer that I've been keeping with me for about a month now. It goes 

"May all beings everywhere be happy and free, 

and may the thought, words, and actions of my own life 

contribute to that happiness and to the freedom for all." 

I like to think of specific people one at a time and intentionally wish them happiness and freedom. In short, it's teaching me to ease up on the things I try to control about other people. (Yes, I've called it many things throughout my life, and I've just come to terms with the fact that I tend to be controlling. What I'd like to get out of this cleanse is the ability to LET GO - hense the 3 Strikes rule in the car.)

Sunday: 

Today was all about veggies and sunburns! Happy Earth Day, by the way. 

The Capitol Hill Farmers Market opened today and I was definitely there to gather some fresh produce. It was a nice treat, but it's not the most cost-effective way to grocery shop. This week, however, I am much more in touch with what I have vs. what I need. 

Then I got pretty burned while watching a pickup softball game and crafting with Danielle. The sun has been so refreshing! 

Goals for the week: 

Preplan meals! I got good at this, but I don't want to lose momentum. 

Don't forget your Multivitamin at work over the weekend again, Leslie! 

Work on Birthday Project

Check out The Fire Start Sessions (I need to look at it before I commit to going for it. I'm afraid it will change my 5-year plan and I can't have that!) 

Sleep for 8 hours! Not 7 or 7.5. 

CSD - Day 4

"Let your goals, no matter how big, be and feel real to you."

Today felt stressful at times. I think I'm stressing a little too much about the whole eating and exercising 3 hours before bed. I think it's important, but I can't be super rigid about it. I especially don't need to stress out about it. 

Dinner was quite a concern to me tonight as you can see in the following clip:

I just finished re-reading the sections about Fasting & Exercise. 

Saturday will be a fasting day for me. I will drink filtered water and as much herbal tea as I want. I will also have anywhere from 4-infinity green juices. Filling my body with lots of nutrients and oxygen! My body will be getting a break from digesting solid foods. 

I was discussing why exercise is good for you with my lady friends on Wednesday night and I spit out the answer I guess I've always thought was true - you sweat out all the toxins, right? Well, it turns out that exercise is good for you because it 

1) allows the body to heal faster than normal (8x faster), 

2) floods your body with oxygen (dis-ease's worst fear), & 

3) pumps acidic waste away from your tissues via your lymph. 

"Your tissues depend on lymph to provide oxygen and carry off wastes. If the lymph doesn't circulate, then the tissues suffocate in their own acidic waste products...If you recall, lymph is circulated by a pump call move your ass!" 

CSD - Day 3

Two Things I have learned in the last 6 months: 

"Be Gentle with Yourself. Be Good to Yourself." 

To me, this implies that I need to challenge myself in moderation. One thing at a time, Les! And in the meantime, be sure my body and mind can handle what I throw it's way.

Today I learned officially that I become a different person at work. I've done a lot to change my own job over the last month or so - to coincide with being gentle & good to myself - but I haven't done a whole lot to intentionally work well with my co-workers. Incorporating this new lifestyle at work is going to be my #1 challenge that I am hoping 3 weeks of focus will change. I might just have to continue on the cleanse if I don't get a handle on it...

Anyway, things I learned today:

* I must eat lunch at noon - no later - or I get really grouchy!!

* I can do situps again! (this doesn't have to do with the cleanse, but since I've been doing yoga regularly, I've really strengthened my core, which is resulting in better posture and tummy fat loss)

* I'm struck EVERY morning (3 so far...) that I'm doing this routine AGAIN. Normally, I might say, "oh, leslie, you did so good. Time to Treat yo'self!" But I'm actually enjoying it and feel like it's allowing that seed inside of me named "commitment" to possibly sprout a little. I need more chlorophyll aka Liquid Sunshine aka Green Juice! 

"Chlorophyll is a powerful blood builder. That's right, the blood of the plant literally helps heal and detoxify the blood of the body. It increases red blood cell production and enhances the cells' ability to carry oxygen." - CSD