Day 5. SUCCESS.

I'm not sure watching FoodTV is the best idea. I'm really, really, really hungry. I truly cannot imagine how anyone does this for more than a day. Hell, I'm not even sure I can make it a full day yet. I was hoping that the fact that these Invigoration Cleanse juices don't actually skimp on sugar would mean I'd have no problem sticking to just juice, but I'm really struggling. I probably just need to go to bed sooner rather than later. But I still have another cashew milk "juice" and I'm sure as hell not missing that. I'm having ALL OF MY JUICES, DAMNIT.

They are talking about DUCK FAT on FoodTV. Why am I doing this to myself? OMG.

I would so break this cleanse for duck fat tater tots and a cocktail at Merchant's in downtown Nashville. The fact that I live in rural western-Kentucky is totally saving my cleanse right now.

I just want to at least last a full day. No booze, no food, just water and the cleanse drinks. Okay, and I had a cup of coffee, but there was coffee IN this cleanse, anyway. That is totally legit.

The Blue Print juices are smooth as hell, and most of them have been downright delicious. I would love to have easy access to them, not so much for the purpose of cleansing (I really don't dig the liquid diet. I miss chewing) but as a super healthy daily addition to my diet, when I don't have the chance to juice at home or break out the Vitamix for a green smoothie.

Okay - drinking my last one now, so we have a breakdown of the day:

At 7:30am I had a fresh squeezed lemon in room temperature water, which is how I've started almost every single day for the past five years or so. I taught a yoga class at 8am, and drank a ton of water during and after. My morning was a bit chaotic; I didn't get to my first juice until after 10am. I had a massage after work and didn't get to my fourth juice until a bit late, which didn't give me time to wait at least two hours between the last two juices, and I'm also planning to be in bed by midnight, which, according to the Blue Print folks, isn't idea (you're supposed to have your last juice two hours before going to bed) but hey - the fact that I actually made it through this is enough to celebrate! Now I just have to NOT bounce back hard - tomorrow needs to be full of nutrients and chewing, NOT binging.

I'll be interested to see how I feel tomorrow! If nothing else, it will feel good to be fully hydrated.

Now I better go to bed before I end up eating chips. I've actually done it! I managed a full one-day Blue Print cleanse!! WOO-HOO!

Namaste.

Days 3 and 4 and onto 5.

Oh, man. I wish I could write up the past two days and say that I stuck with all of my intentions and do another checklist of being awesome, and yet at the same time, I hope that my #realityyogi experience helps someone out there wanting to chuck it all because they fucked up. I don't believe in fucking up, anyway - I think it's all about balance and staying present moment by moment to what is happening -- I didn't fuck up, per se, but I did adjust based on what was going on in my life.

On Wednesday I followed the Blue Print Inspiration Cleanse through juice #4. And then I met the family for sushi, which was my niece Lily's choice because she had her sedated MRI the next day, and - I'll own up to it - I had beer and sushi. My sister and I talked and decided that it would make more sense to do day #2 of the cleanse on Friday seeing as we would traveling two hours round trip and be stuck most of the day waiting at the hospital for Lily on Thursday, so yesterday I started the day with lemon water and juice #5 from the Inspiration Cleanse, had a turkey-bacon breakfast sandwich and a non-fat cappuccino from Starbucks for breakfast, a big salad from the hospital cafeteria salad bar for lunch, and a steak, salad, and baked potato for dinner. It was a long, stressful day, and I can honestly say it was the right adjustment to make; I can't fathom being on a juice cleanse under the kind of emotional and physical stress that Lily's MRI days involve. And all told, it wasn't an awful day in terms of food, and I did stay hydrated.

So today, Friday, we're back at it. I'm following the Blue Print Invigoration Cleanse, and so far (I'm two juices in) it feels like a walk in the freakin' park compared to the Invigoration Cleanse. Which is not surprising; even the Blue Print folks point out that the Inspiration Cleanse, with its five green juices, is no joke and not for beginners. I was just attracted to all of those green juices and excited about watercress and dandelion (two things I certainly can't get where I live.) I would love to be able to incorporate those juices into my normal diet, but even the Breville juicer, which is supposed to be one of the best, doesn't do a great job with greens.

In any event, the coffee, cashew, cinnamon, and vanilla drink that I started out with this morning was absolutely decadent, honestly. The apple, lemon, cayenne, and ginger I just had was phenomenal. I was feeling hungry before I drank it, and I actually feel surprisingly satisfied now.

So today, day 5, my plan is to be super clean - no booze, no food, just this juice. Part of me wishes I could have a do-over on the Inspiration Cleanse because I really only lasted 12 hours/4 juices, but at least I can give this one a fair shot. I have a busy day at the studio - three classes, two privates, and a to-do list a mile long, but I'm going to have a massage after I close up here, and then take it really easy tonight. I haven't though through tomorrow yet, which I need to do at some point; Saturday is actually my busiest day at the studio and I need to stay fueled. I'll probably pack a green smoothie, some sardines, and see what vegetables I have on hand. I'll take Sunday off to get organized for the whole foods cleanse Kathryn Budig has in her new book, Aim True.

Namaste, friends.

Day 2 - aiming true

I have to admit that the preparation and work it takes to maintain a clean diet is INTENSE. I feel like I spent most of my time today in the kitchen cooking or washing dishes, or in the grocery store, or in the car getting from my kitchen to the grocery store and back again. The good news is that I have two prep-free days ahead - Rhian and I are embarking on two days of the BluePrint Cleanse. But that's also the bad news, because I'm really not sure I can possibly manage living on juice alone for two days - especially the first day - we're doing the Inspiration Cleanse which is five green juices and one cashew milk drink. On Thursday we're trying the Invigoration Cleanse which includes a coffee drink right off the bat, and has a beet juice and two lemon based juices. I'm looking forward to both days, although truth be told, I'm not giving up my three shots of espresso either day, or a glass or two of red wine at the end of the day, unless I feel really inspired for some reason to do so. Honestly, I am a big advocate of SUSTAINABLE, do-able changes, and after all of these years going up and down the scale, even while maintaining a relatively vigorous asana practice, I just know that when I go to far one direction, I tend to bounce over the other way. So with THAT said, if I need some quinoa and vegetables at the end of the day, in addition to six juices, I'm not going to go to into starvation mode. We'll just see. I am INCREDIBLY excited, though - I have wanted to do the BluePrint cleanse for FOREVER. I almost can't believe I finally have these juices in my possession!

So here is how today went.

I got 8 hours of sleep. Check.
I oil-pulled with coconut oil. Bonus check!
I had lemon and lime water and said hello to the sun. Check.
I drank more than enough water. Check.
I walked 30 minutes in the park. Check. GORGEOUS day.
I meditated for 10 minutes, and will mediate for 10 more minutes before bed.
I ate on point:
12:30pm-juice (beet, apple, carrot, ginger, lemon, beet greens) and a smoothie (parsley, beet greens, orange, grapes, lime, ginger, cayenne pepper, coconut water, flaxseed oil). Espresso.
5:15pm-spoonful of almond butter
8pm-salad (spinach and spring mix) with avocado and carrot/ginger dressing.
8:30pm-Easy Creamy Quinoa from Kathryn Budig's new book, Aim True, with sautéed kale, cabbage, and asparagus. Red wine.
11:30pm-apple with sunbutter
I had a shot of ACV and turmeric and crunched a few black peppercorns after dinner.
I took my probiotics. BAM.

So tomorrow it's juice and juice and juice (and juice and juice and...more juice) - two classes, two important meetings, and a massive to-do list. Given how clean and nourishing I've eaten the past two days, and the walking I've added in the past three days, I feel relatively prepared for a day of juice. Time will tell.

Namaste.

Spring Cleanse 2016 - Day One

I am fascinated by the patterns I see in my life. Thinking back on it today, I realized that it's not uncommon at all for me to move into a space of cleansing and rejuvenating during the spring. That's the positive spin; the more realistic spin is that between Thanksgiving and Easter I seem to do nothing but eat, and by the time April rolls around, I'm physically uncomfortable in my body and need to refocus on healthy choices. #realityyogi for the win.

But, it's all about balance. Someone once said to me, "everything in moderation, including moderation." I think that's a really good rule of thumb.

So this week I am focusing my practice on the following:

1) 8 hours of sleep a night
2) 20 minutes (minimum) of meditation a day
3) Clean eating; vegetables, healthy fats, fruits, protein (fish/chicken/beans), gluten-free grains (quinoa, brown rice, etc.)
4) lemon water every morning, apple cider vinegar/turmeric/black pepper every night.
5) water-water-water (fully hydrated every day)
6) 30 minute walk outside every day

Today I had:
9am-lemon water and coffee
11am-smoothie (orange, grapes, spinach, lime, ginger, cayenne, flax oil, coconut water)
2pm-sardines (wild planet)
4:30pm-spinach salad with red onion, avocado, and homemade carrot-ginger dressing / spoonful of almond butter
8:45pm-chicken-kale-quinoa soup / champagne (balance, remember?)
11:30pm-spoonful of tamari

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This month marks the first anniversary of teaching yoga in my own studio location. The last year has been an absolute blur, and yet it feels like I've been doing this forever. I'm so caught up in the day to day (to day to day) of building this business, and so focused on short term goals and managing the non-stop unexpected issues that need to be dealt with, that sometimes it's hard to stay present or to create the time to reflect. I keep trying to find the time to assess the last quarter, and to game plan for the next quarter, while simultaneously thinking about the future, and also managing the many other layers of my life... suffice to say I COMPLETELY understand the overwhelm my students and clients talk about and struggle with, and am living proof of the power of the practices I teach. Because god knows I would not be remotely sane without my yoga and meditation practices. ;)
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In honor of my teacher, Kathryn Budig, it's Aim-True April at hOMe. Kathryn's brand new book, Aim True, came out last week, and it's absolutely beautiful. There is a 5-day cleanse in the book that looks fan-freakin-tastic, although a shit-ton of grocery shopping and cooking. I'm going to try to pull it off next week, though. It's three fabulous meals and two snacks every day, and the kind of food I love (like a maple roasted brussels sprouts bowl, and baked avocado eggs, and steamed artichokes with lemon butter and wild arugula and peach salad...OMG YUM)