detox over

So, after eight days I broke the detox (on purpose) in spectacular fashion with a big pumpkin soup and the most delicious sourdough bread roll ever to exist. Even the thin spread of Nuttelex on top tasted like food from the heavens.

Maybe it was that amazing because I have not eaten a single crumb of bread or flour in over a week, but MY GOD it was good. I didn't even realise my love for bread until I did this detox- it's strange what you miss. I was at a barbeque at Skye's on Sunday and I nearly broke in the face of a giant loaf of sourdough. I was sweating. With Luke and Skye's encouragement I stayed strong, but I advise that if you ever becomes even slightly bored or uninspired with food, do a strict detox. It'll get you inspired again. Trust me.

Me & my detox diary

I got too busy to fill out the rest of the food diary days on here, which I apologise for! Just for reference, I might start putting them on here in case anyone else is interested in doing a similar detox. I have been busy doing assessments for my Naturopathy course, and am still devouring the information like nobody's business.

So now I have a few days of eating my normal clean vegan diet, then I am crazily getting back on the detox train (all aboard!) on Monday to keep a few friends company while they do it. So that will be another week. I got headaches on the first couple of days, which I suspect was caffeine withdrawal, and after that I got flu-like symptoms (stuffy nose, sore throat, fatigue) but now I feel awesome. And a sense of achievement for completing it.

High five, everybody!

detox day two

Detox notes
I have eaten a lot of vegetables even in the past two days alone, so that is probably the best part of this so far. I slept last night, but had night sweats so that was a bit disruptive. Breakfast was amazing this morning. I drank a lot of herbal (non-caffeinated) tea today, also noticed that I had a slight headache for most of the day. I was pretty hungry, but the herbal tea helped.

Time hasn't really been on my side this week so I have been super unprepared food-wise; when I got home from work (past 8pm) and discovered that I didn't have the vegetables that I needed for dinner, I absolutely lost my shit. Luke and I went to the store immediately. Maybe I am detoxing my negative feelings!

Poor Luke. He is so supportive, even of my detox week! A couple of the girls at work are interested in doing this next month, so perhaps I will repeat and do it with them the next time around too. It's nice that people are interested and want to get on board!

Super delicious breakfast

Breakfast:
Bob's Red Mill Hot Cereal (wholegrain) with 1/2 punnet fresh blueberries and coconut milk
1 glass chlorophyll

Lunch:
Large baby spinach salad with pumpkin, raw walnuts, pepitas and dressing (apple cider vinegar, flaxseed oil, orange juice, salt and pepper)
1 cup herbal tea

Dinner:
Vegetable chilli (zucchini, capsicum, grape tomatoes, mushrooms, cayenne pepper) with polenta

Dessert:
1/2 punnet blueberries

Snacks:
2 dates with almond butter
2 prunes and a handful of walnuts
1 banana
Coconut flakes, sultanas and 4 brazil nuts

first day of detox food diary

Today was day one of eating to my rules for the week.

Detox notes

I felt like it went pretty well overall. I worked a split shift, so was able to get a couple of hours of good-quality sleep in the middle of the day- I have been very fatigued lately, so I felt like I needed it. I have been waking up in the morning so grumpy and have been struggling to get out of bed, so sleep is important. I was quite hungry today, especially in the afternoon, but pleased that I ate so many vegetables. Even on a vegan diet it is easy to get unbalanced and become too dependent on carbohydrates and packaged snacks like dried fruit bars or nut bars.

She is the best sleeping buddy ever

Breakfast: 

Oats with mixed berries, LSA, coconut oil, coconut milk, maple syrup.

1 glass chlorophyll

Snack: 

1 cup green tea

1 large banana

Lunch:

1 cup miso soup with wakame

2 dates with almond butter

1 pink lady apple

4 brazil nuts

Snack:

3 prunes

1 small handful walnuts

1 steamed carrot with Bragg's All Purpose seasoning

1 cup herbal tea

Dinner:

Massive bowl of stir-fried mixed vegetables (purple cabbage, snow peas, onion, carrot, broccoli) with organic tofu, tahini and raw peanuts

Dessert:

1 date with almond butter

detox plan

As I explained in my last post, I have been feeling totally weird and out of sorts lately, and needed to re-balance. So...I started a detox today! I am intending to do it for the whole week, starting today and therefore finishing next Tuesday. It will be difficult, especially since I will be cutting out (vegan!) chocolate and bread, but hopefully it will let my body feel better and centre my mind.

No to:

• No processed food at all, including bread, wraps, natural corn chips, and chocolate
• No coffee
• No flour or flour products

Yes to:

• Fresh and dried fruit
• Spinach leaves instead of wraps
• 3 litres of water per day, and herbal tea (including green and chai)
• Heaps of vegetables, cooked and raw
• Raw nuts and seeds
• Wholegrains (e.g. brown rice, buckwheat, oats)

Supplements

• Milk thistle tablets 3 per day (with breakfast, lunch and dinner)
• B12 tablet 3 per week (Wednesday, Friday, Sunday)
• Iron tablet once in the week
• Zinc tablet once in the week
• Magnesium tablet if I get leg cramps at night time
• Daily probiotic

unbalanced

I am feeling so emotional and worn out today. I have a headache, my ears are blocked and I am fatigued to the core. I started crying last night for reasons unknown and just couldn't stop, and negative thoughts were just circling round and round, and at the back of my mind I was thinking I feel so awful and unbalanced!

How do I get re-balanced so I feel happy and calm again??

I think maybe it would be a good time to go on another wholefoods-only stretch (but oh, how I love bread!). And put emphasis on eating lots of vegetables, wholegrains, a bit of fruit and a shitload of water and herbal tea. I can't start today because I already had toast for breakfast, and a cup of coffee- I was feeling very run-down and uninspired- but perhaps I can start tomorrow. I wish I had more time to do some cooking, but I am working a lot this week. I will just have to fit it in.

And maybe buy some Australian Bushflower Essences "Emergency" or "Calm and Clear" mist for the next emotional breakdown. I sprayed "Space Clearing" all over the bedroom this morning to try and clear all the negativity from last night. I feel like it worked a bit.

Self-explanatory

On the plus side, I have been doing well submitting my assignments. Three down, one assignment and one exam to go for mid-semester. Then things won't be due again until December. I do love this course- just the fact that I am actually doing the work is testament to that, as I am the world's worst procrastinator.

study break

I have spent most of the day working diligently on an assignment for my Communication subject, which I actually find pretty interesting. I still love my studies, and I am so glad that I didn't let fear of the unknown stop me from enrolling in this diploma.

I just took a bit of a study break which I spent outside with Toto (she is surgically attached to me today). I did some nice yoga stretches on the grass with the sun warming my back, she licked my face when I was defenseless in downward dog, and we had a wrestling match. I won, because she weighs about three kilograms. Then we planted the little punnet of lettuce I got yesterday.

My lunch was a colossal bowl of vegetable chilli with coriander, natural corn chips and some soy yoghurt with a couple of sneaky medjool dates with almond butter for dessert. I eat way too many of those!

Ashley Hart is super hot

Hey little grape tomato

I love my little baby

I hope the weather stays like this for the coast trip with Grace tomorrow. It would be nice to have a swim, even though the water temperature of the ocean will still be very chilly.

trips to look forward to

I booked tickets yesterday for The Wellness Warrior Tour! 

I AM SO EXCITED. 

I have been reading Jess Ainscough's blog for quite some time now, and am very much looking forward to seeing her speak in person. There are also some unnamed special guests, so hopefully they will be some of the other amazing health bloggers that I stalk. My Mum is coming with me so we will get to spend some girl time together in Sydney. As you know, I have missed her a lot while she has been away staying with my grandma, so this will be amazing in itself. I wish Fern could come too, but we are all in a pickle money-wise so I don't think that it's an option. Sorry Fern! Love you!

Also, this weekend I am going to the coast with Grace. It should be pretty relaxing, and I can't wait to get some sand in my toes and breathe in the ocean air. There is really nothing more soul-nourishing, I reckon. I am stupidly nervous about this trip, only because I have been a housebound hermit for a year (thanks, glandular fever) and am not used to socialising that much anymore. Sad, I know! But I am telling my insecurities to go fuck themselves. I will cook Grace and her mum (who we will be staying with) some yummy vegan food and have a good time.

I am very pleased to have energy, and getting my life back after feeling ill for so long. I am pretty sure I am ready to say goodbye to that particular chapter.

Very excited