Ultimate Reset Day 12 I want a BEER!

As our journey through The Ultimate Reset continues, we have learned how to eat better, how to plan meals and how to remember to take supplements everyday. Together, we have consumed approximately 24 gallons of water.  ( Yes we now have a drinking problem along with a peeing problem)

Our weight is down and our clothes are looser .  We are starting to feel good.  It's amazing how food can effect the way you feel.  By only eating "clean whole " foods and no meat or dairy, we have had a sense of "well being"  and happiness.  There were times it got a little rough and the daily stresses made us long for a nice cold beer but we didn't cave in!  We stuck to our guns even while bowling again this week.

We have learned that just fruit for breakfast isn't quite enough for Jim most days,so I added 1 cup of oatmeal  and that seems to keep him satisfied until lunch

 I have enjoyed chickpeas and avocado with kale for breakfast and found I Love it!  Very satisfying and yummy.

You should really try it !!! You can even mash the chickpeas and mix it with the avocado.



I have been able to use my Ninja Blender for meal preps and have discovered how easy it is to make soups and bisque

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The Sweet Potato and Roasted Red Pepper Bisque was very good and satisfying. Served it with sauteed apparatus with almonds. We will definitely have this again!

We will start back with our run training this weekend ( have to still go easy for a week or so as our bodies are still getting used to the new changes)  . We are hoping with this new way of eating and the weight loss, that we will gain more strength and endurance and who knows.. maybe some new PR's will come out of it!

More to come as the days continue.. and yes...a cold Corona is still on my mind...


Pam

Sweet Potato and Roasted Red Pepper Bisque

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Ingredients

• 1 sweet potato (aka garnet yam)
• ¼ red bell pepper
• 1 cup vegetable broth or water
• 1 tsp. finely grated peeled ginger root
• 1½ tsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tsp. miso paste, diluted in 1 tsp. hot water
• Tamari or Bragg^® Liquid Aminos, Himalayan salt, and herbal seasoning (to taste)

Directions

Peel and cube sweet potatoes. Cook in boiling water until tender. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, roast a whole red bell pepper on gas stovetop or grill, turning frequently until evenly charred on the outside OR in your oven at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, turning every 10 minutes or until skin is charred.

Put pepper in bowl and cover with towel for 10 minutes to steam. Clean off skin and seeds by running under cool water. Remove seeds, cut in quarters, and chop one quarter into ½-inch cubes. (Set remainder of pepper aside for another use.)

Place sweet potato, pepper, broth or water, ginger, oil, and miso in blender. (If you want chunky soup, set aside some chunks of pepper.) Blend thoroughly, adding more liquid to achieve desired soup consistency. Transfer to a pot and gently heat on low until hot. Add tamari or aminos, salt, and seasoning as desired. Serves 1.

Nutrition

• 220 calories
• 7 g fat
• 1 g saturated fat
• 0 mg cholesterol
• 530 mg sodium
• 35 g carbohydrate
• 6 g fiber
• 3 g protein
• 509 mg potassium

Ultimate Reset Phase 1 ~ I can go without meat!

Today was our last day of Phase 1 of the Ultimate Reset -Reclaim.  We have changed the way we eat and have eliminated meat in this stage. There have been several new vegetables on our plates and we have really enjoyed trying them.  My kitchen looked a war zone at times, but I have really enjoyed preparing and serving our meals. We have eaten breakfast together all week, ( something we didn't use to do) and I love it!

Overall, the week went pretty good. Only had a couple of days that were somewhat rough, but nothing bad. Just a feeling of tiredness and achey and was cold a lot.  Day 5 brought a feeling of euphoria and renewed energy.

I am down 5 lbs and Jim is down 7. We feel really good and looking forward to the next 2 weeks. I am so glad we are doing this together and supporting each other. We even made it through bowling night and Karaoke night without a Corona!  GO US!

I want to share my favorite recipes from our 1st week. These are for 1-2 servings so you can adjust them as needed. We will continue to make these after we have completed  our program.


Enjoy!

Stay tuned for Phase 2 !

Roasted Root Medley

Ingredients

• ¼ medium-sized yam, washed and cut into 1-inch chunks
• ½ large carrot, washed and cut into 1-inch chunks
• ½ large beet, washed and cut into 1-inch chunks
• ¼ yellow onion, peeled and cut into large wedges
• 2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
• Himalayan salt (to taste)

Directions
Preheat oven to 400° F. In a bowl, toss all ingredients together. Spread on a cookie sheet and bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until tender, turning once or twice to prevent burning. Serves 1.

Lentil-Lime Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked green lentils
• ½ cup grated raw carrot
• ¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• 1½ tsp. sesame oil (or more, to taste)
• 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (or more, to taste)
• Bragg® Liquid Aminos or Himalayan salt (to taste)
• ¼ tsp. ground cumin (or more, to taste)
• Herbal seasoning (to taste; optional)

Directions
Cook lentils until tender, but don't overcook. (Or use low-sodium canned lentils.) Add carrots and stir. Stir oil, lime juice, salt, and spices together in a small bowl, then gently stir into the lentil mixture. Let sit, covered, in refrigerator for 2 hours. Adjust seasonings if needed. Even better the next day! Serves 1.

Nutrition

• 320 calories
• 8 g fat
• 1 g saturated fat
• 0 mg cholesterol
• 50 mg sodium
• 48 g carbohydrate
• 17 g fiber
• 19 g protein
• 944 mg potassium

Zucchini Cashew Soup

Ingredients

• 1 large or 2 small zucchini, cut into chunks and steamed
• ¼ cup raw cashews
• Himalayan salt or Bragg^® Liquid Aminos (to taste)
• Herbal seasoning or fresh herbs, like basil or dill (optional; to taste)
• Steamed vegetables (optional; for chunky soup)

Directions

Soak cashews in enough water to cover for 1 hour; drain. Combine cashews, zucchini, salt or aminos, and seasonings in blender and mix until smooth, adding water as needed for desired consistency. Pour into saucepan and reheat gently, but do not boil. For chunky soup, add steamed chopped vegetables of your choice. Can also be served cold. Serves 1.

Nutrition

• 250 calories
• 17 g fat
• 3.5 g saturated fat
• 0 mg cholesterol
• 30 mg sodium
• 21 g carbohydrate
• 4 g fiber
• 9 g protein
• 1,036 mg potassium

Why do you ask?

Over the last couple of years I have ran into people who want to know why I run or why I eat healthy. Some even pick on me or laugh at my food choices.  They have even tormented me by waving 'fast food" in front of me saying it wont kill you!  LOL  They are right,a cupcake or cookie or even a cheese burger every once in awhile isn't  that  bad and wont kill you , but a daily regimen and over eating can. Especially eating fast food or foods that are processed. I have watched several people in the last few years face health problems at a fairly early age.  Is it fair? No, but life isn't about fair. It's about living and that is what I intend to do!

So in order to "live" I need to focus on me and what I can do to help prolong my life.  I am 48 years old ( I usually lie and say 37) and I have a teenage daughter that is 15.  I want to see her graduate high school, college and go into her career. I want to see her marry and start a family. I can't imagine her going through life without me or me not being physically able to help her or enjoy future grand kids. I lost my mother to breast cancer when I was 17 and I will do everything I can to keep myself healthy so my daughter hopefully does not have to endure that. My Dad was recently diagnosed with cancer in his intestinal tract. This has lead me to change the way I eat and what I eat. I am opting for a "cleaner" way of eating meaning less processed foods. Anything that can sit on a shelf for month is not good for you. It contains chemical that could possibly increase your cancer rate .


I began running a few years ago with the help from a Girl Scout who set up a couch to 5k group in our community. I was instantly hooked! I loved it and have continued to run ever since!  I have set goals and reached them which in turn made me set higher ones. I personally believe everyone should run if they are able. ( if they cannot run do to physical disabilities then I run for them with my heart)  To be a runner does not mean you have to run far or fast. You just have to run !  I have a commitment to exercise and research shows it is vital to your health. You are never too old to start! My running goal for 2013 is a full marathon ( 26.2 miles) I have already registered for one so there is no backing out.

Back in the spring of last year I worked out with a group of high school kids every morning at 5:45 am. We did INSANITY. What a great program! Those kids showed up every morning to face the intense cardio workouts like champs!  The INSANITY workout lead me to research the company that is behind the workout. That is how I discovered Beachbody.  I read about other companies that offered nutrition and supplements but only Beachbody offered  the complete package, workouts plus nutritional support. I immediately signed up as a coach!  I love all of the support of my team! I have learned so much about health and fitness which has lead me to pursue a certification as a Personal Trainer. I have a long way to go but I will get there. I want to help others start to become more active and take control of their health, not only for themselves but for their loved ones.



So now when people ask me why, I just say.."I do it for the ones I love"


Pam~

Ultimate Reset Day 4 Craving things like CRAZY

So today is day 4 of our Ultimate Reset journey.  Thought it was going to be a good day. Woke up refreshed and happy and then a few hours later started to feel tired and my muscles ached. They say this is part of the process and that the worst days are 3-5.  So seeing how I breezed through day 3, I guess it is to be expected.  I wont let this feeling get me down and I will see this to the end!

Day 4 meals were REALLY good. Started the morning with oatmeal and blueberries along with a side of Greek yogurt topped with pure grade B maple syrup ( my fav)

Morning went smooth, stayed full and satisfied. Around lunch time was when it hit me..... aches, pains and I was freezing! ( again this is part of the process)   So i prepared my lunch, which was huge, and i could barely eat it all!! Vegetable roll, lentil lime sale along with a micro salad.

Holy cow that's a lot of food!! I did manage to eat the majority of it.

My daily water intake has been a gallon a day. So yes...still making frequent trip to the bathroom. Getting used to it now though.
Throughout the afternoon as I sat on the couch resting and studying, my mind started wondering to FOOD!  I wanted chocolate, coffee, cereal... oh the many things that went through my mind.. STOP THINKING ABOUT FOOD!!!
Finally it was time for my daily "shot of Alkalinize" followed with a lime chaser.  Waited 30 minutes an had my snack of a boiled egg and saltines

 After snack time I had to pick my daughter up from school, so that helped get my mind off of food. ( She says I have joined a food cult) LOL  Crazy teenagers with super metabolisms...grrrrr  LOL

Time to prepare for our dinner feast.. what a mess my kitchen was but the end result was a YUMMY vegetarian meal of Quinoa with veggie stir fry and a cucumber and tomato salad.  I will make this again!

Here is the recipe for the cucumber and tomato salad

Cucumber and Tomato Salad

1 cucumber cut
2 Roma tomatoes 
1/4 cup chopped red onion 
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 
1/2 tablespoon fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon of fresh mint

Toss together in bowl and serve
 ( serves 2)

After dinner I really wanted a cup of coffee.  I never drink coffee at night so that was strange. Anyways  I put my kitchen back together and finished up my water. Looking forward to a new and hopefully a little more energy!

Bring on Day 5!

Pam

Ultimate Reset : Day 2 Bye- Bye Meat

Ultimate Reset Day 2

I woke up today with a slight headache, but felt better soon after rising. ( wish i could say that about our poor little dog who coughed all night)

We enjoyed a nice warm breakfast of oatmeal with blueberries and a side of Greek yogurt sweetened with pure grade b maple syrup. This was very satisfying on a cold rainy morning. ( sorry forgot to take pics)  We both agreed that the oatmeal kept us feeling fuller longer today than the eggs from yesterday. 

I felt a little more organized today than yesterday.  Starting to get the hang of things and the timing of supplements.  I also prepared a few thing in advance so that REALLY helps. 

Lunch was our last of our meat products. It consisted of a tossed salad with chicken and balsamic vinegar.  ( I really like Balsamic Vinegar as a dressing) I savored every bite of my chicken and chewed it as slow as I could to make it last as this is the last meal we have with meat for the next 19 days.

WATER WATER WATER AGAIN=PEE   Although not as much as yesterday but still many trips. (probably TMI but hey it's part of my journey...LOL)

So with the rainy day, I stayed home and started studying for my Personal Trainer certification. It's been awhile since I had to study so I really had to focus and go slow.  

I set a reminder on my phone for my Alkalinize (aka "shot time" It really isn't that bad, sorta like salty spinach with grass. I chased it with a squeeze of lemon.

Felt pretty good this afternoon, had a burst of energy and sort of a euphoric feeling so I wiped down counter tops and stone back splashes  with Mr Clean (Gain scented is the bomb!) along with door knobs and the trash can. Pretty productive I might say...

Snack Time!!  woohoo!  I worked up an appetite . I had a boiled egg and 6 saltine crackers 

I prepared our dinner and discovered I LOVE KALE!  I steamed it for 3 minutes and then squeezed fresh lemon juice and tossed it with a few pine nuts. OMG! I scarfed it down!   Just one serving of kale gives you more than your daily quota of immune-boosting vitamin A, bone-strengthening vitamin K and vitamin C.  YOU SHOULD BE EATING THIS!!!

The rest of the meal was great because it was a bit Mexican. Black beans and rice with corn. This will make a great "meatless Monday " dish.

BLACK BEANS AND RICE

Recipe:  

1 can black beans

1 cup fresh or frozen corn 

1 cup cooked brown rice

1/4 teas. cumin

1/2 - 1 tea chili powder ( depends on your taste)

salt and pepper

Cook beans til hot and drain. Mix with rice, corn and add seasonings.  Cook on stove top until everything is warm . 

Serve on corn tortillas and top with salsa, cilantro and guacamole or sliced avocado 

Hard to see my food on my plates, but they are so pretty!! 

Well day 2 has come to an end.. pretty good day!  ( except I am feeling a bit hungry now that it is bedtime, but I will drink some more water and sleep on it)

See ya tomorrow!

Pam

Ultimate Reset Day 1- Can you say Pee???

As many of you know, Jim and I have started our Ultimate Rest today.  We planned and shopped over the weekend.

 Purchased several new vegetables like jimaca .  I really liked it and looking forward to more recipes for it.

Our day started with our supplements and water then we feasted on scrambles eggs with spinach and 2 slices of whole grain toast with extra spinach on the side. Pretty yummy actually. 

WATER + WATER+ WATER+ WATER = MANY TRIPS TO POTTY!!

I swear , I cannot go more than 15 minutes without going to pee! How can I get my meals cooked and planned? But out with bad and in with the good. Hope I do not have to get up during the night. We shall see.

Before I knew it it was lunch time. Micro Salad was on the menu. I usually eat salad so this was easy for me. Topped it with a few cashews.

 Look at all of those veggies! YUMMY. What veggies do you put in your salads? Ever try new ones?

Then came the dreaded time...Alkalinize 

 Thanks to the Reset Facebook page and tips from several bloggers about just drinking it like a shot . Who doesn't want to do shots right? I shot it like a champ! I found that if I mix it in a non see thru cup it is easier, then you do not see the yucky green. But overall...not bad so far. Time will tell. 

I did get in a little shopping and found this cute peacock! Had to have it!  Decided I want o do my kitchen in peacocks.  ( that's for a separate blog LOL)

After my shopping I started preparing for the next few days.. Made a couple of things ahead of time and packed Jim's supplements and snack for tomorrow. Then it was off to pick up my daughter who insisted upon a sonic drink and cheese sticks!!  YIKES  but I was strong because I do not drink soda  but the smell of cheese sticks was driving me crazy!! 

Finally dinner time.. this took a bit of preparing but I got it done. I am not a big fan of salmon but this was really good! I couldn't even eat it all.

So Day 1 is DONE! Feel pretty good so far, except it is now late and I am exhausted! Stay tuned for day 2!

Good night all

Pam

Cancer Sucks!

My Dad was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer in August. He has under gone a round of chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the tumor enough for them to operate to remove it. The surgery went well, they said they removed all of the tumor but would send off samples of surrounding tissues. The test results confirmed that the cancer has spread into the fatty tissues ( not sure what that is) and they changed his degree of cancer to stage 3.5 with a recurrence rate of 60 percent. So yes, this sucks.

After his first round of chemo, he lost about 25 pounds, and then after surgery he lost another 12 or so. He is still somewhat weak but they will start round 2 of chemo soon.  So this could be a rough round for him as it will be stronger than the first.

I have been physically active and have had healthy eating habits for about 4 years now. I have decided that in 2013 I will focus harder on my health, my fitness, clean eating, and my  over all well being.  I refuse to give my body a place to " grow" cancer. I want to do all I can to prevent any type of disease or need for medication. I will treat my body with more love this year and watch what I put in it.and how I treat it.

I'm starting my journey with Beachbody's Ultimate Reset. It is a 21 day detox/cleanse. ( sort of like an oil change for your car) I will rid my body of built up toxins in my digestive tract which will allow my body to better absorb nutrients from my food.  I am also trying to eliminate any processed foods and sugars from my diet.

Processed foods have added chemicals to prolong self life.. YUCK !!!  My theory is .."if it has a mama or grows from the ground " it is OK to eat. I have found several blogs that support clean or whole foods with some outstanding recipes! I have gone into survival mode and have been reading all I can on health and fitness and their benefits. I sincerely believe that eating right and exercise can help ward of illness. After my 21 days, I will start my marathon training with a new outlook and a few less pounds!


Is there someone you know who is battling cancer? Has it changed your perspective on life?




Blessings
Pam