My Cleansing Adventure

Well, last week I made it for three days on just vegetable juice and then a couple more with some smoothies thrown in (plus a colonic!). It felt fantastic, especially because I didn't care about food. Food didn't have control of my mind. I also realized that I was afraid to transition back into eating. I knew that I was visiting a friend from college and Valentine's Day was approaching. Both events included dinners at restaurants. I definitely fell off the wagon once again, but I'm realizing that its ok to fall off as long as I don't fall down the rabbit hole.

I've gotten back into creative writing lately and it feels fantastic! I'm so inspired by the fun stories I've been reading. Speaking of which, I'm almost done with "All Together Dead" by Charlaine Harris. Once I've finished this series (one more book to go!), I'll start the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. It may sound ambitious, but my dream is to write a series:)


I've been loyal to the gym for the past seven days! It feels great and I think its finally paying off. 30 minutes each day switching between cardio and weights. Sometimes I play squash with my hubs too:) Next weekend is my sister-in-law's baby shower. I can't believe that we're going to have a new baby in our family. Its so exciting!

My three day fast!

I feel clear, calm, and rested. Peaceful even. On Monday I juiced three times (30 oz. the first two times, 15 oz. the last time). My first two juices were a combo of romaine or spinach with cucumber, lemon or ginger, and pear or apple. I ended the day with a tomato, cucumber, garlic, basil, and sea salt juice (which I ate like a soup). On Tuesday and Wednesday I started the day with a pear juice in addition to the three other juices (so yummy!). My juice hero, Kris Carr, guided me on the fast and gave me to salt tip. Sea salt is super important during a fast, keeping our blood pressure at a healthy level and balancing our electrolytes. Read about Kris' fast here.

This morning, I went to the colon hydrotherapy. It made a WORLD of difference. For the past couple days I've been feeling low energy and a little blue. After the colonic I felt mentally clear, upbeat, and focused. I still feel fantastic. I juiced all day and made a smoothie for dinner (spinach, banana, and cacao). I plan to have another smoothie in the morning and then juice all day. I may end up going out for dinner tomorrow night, I plan to stay raw and just have veggies.

The question I've been mulling over lately is, whats next?

Back in the Saddle

Its been another successful week so far and I feel great! I'm in Woodstock for this week and the next, so I have one of my favorite vegan friends to help me stay motivated! We made a deal last night to ban sugar (no chocolate!), cut down the vino to a glass (or two) a week, be loyal juicers until lunch, and fast until dinner on Wednesdays. Today was a fasting day. Check out KC's blog about the day. It isn't tough if you have someone doing it with you...I know from experience that its more difficult on your own, but you can do it! Plus, its nice to have someone to share the juice making/juicer cleaning duty with.

I've also been going to the gym every morning. It feels fantastic! I am going to kick it up a notch once I meet with a trainer on Monday. One thing I definitly need to do more is STRETCH! Wasn't I a yoga teacher at one point...?

I'm reading the forth book in Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series: Dead to the World. I love it. I am so happy that I've rediscovered how fun and relaxing a good book can be:) I still have three more to read after this and then I'm going to read Stephanie Meyer's newest novel, The Host.

Check out the Freeminer Birds website for some updates! They have two more shows coming up and the new album, Fill the Shelter, will be out soon!

Staying on Track...lots of greens, lots of exercise (and lots of reading)!

So far, so good this week. I've been filling my diet with big, beautiful salads, juicing every morning, staying raw until lunch (which is mostly raw anyway), staying away from sugar (even chocolate!), and waking up early every morning to go to the gym! It was rough this morning, but I still made myself get out of bed. Its always great once I get there, but its so tempting to stay in my warm bed (especially with my husband snoozing next to me).

I'm on the third book in the Sookie Stackhouse series and it is keeping me quite entertained. Its light and fun and takes my mind off whatever I need to let go. I find reading to be one of the best stress relievers. I have trouble relaxing because I like to be busy, so reading lets me tune out, but still be "doing" something. Sitting around watching tv too much makes me feel lazy and depressed. I always used to force myself to read something that would be "good" for me, but now I realize that its fun to read things that are just plain entertaining. I'm sure its good for my brain regardless of whether its William Faulkner or Charlaine Harris.

Time to juice!! Right now I am enjoying a cucumber, romaine, pear combination:)

ps-I've been listening to a rough cut of the Freeminer Bird's next album and its SO good! I'm trying to book more shows for them in Rochester (NY), so if you know of a venue, drop me a line:)

Confessions of a Chocolate Eating "Vegan"

OK, maybe if I write about this, I'll realize that there is MILK that comes from COWS in chocolate (well, at least the kind that I've been eating). Its like I think that if I don't look at the ingredient list, the milk doesn't exist. Being out of my comfort zone and without my lovely vegan friends has led me into a black sugar addiction hole. Ugh! I've also been terrible about exercising. Blah, blah, blah...

That's enough with the self degradation and pity though. I have dusted off my juicer (which I lugged back to my in-laws house for the holidays) and I've been juicing for the past three days. My morning bagel (that I was becoming quite accustomed to) has been pried from my hands and I'm sticking to juice only until noon. Baby steps.

The chocolate is everywhere. Those shiny green and red wrappers cry out from their ceramic Santa bowls and glass Christmas tree dishes. Its like I become temporarily insane every time the thought of a dark chocolate covered pistachio nuts cross my mind. I really need a slap in the face. Get it together woman! Not only does the sugar make me feel like complete crap (plus my skin is freaking out and my pants aren't getting any looser), I feel like a hypocrite wearing my "Make the Connection" sweatshirt. Hello! Make the connection! Anybody in there?!

Here is the plan for tomorrow (I've said this to myself the past five nights, but maybe if I write it here I will finally follow through): Juice in the morning, salad for lunch, as much fruit as I want, and salad with Amy's vegan pizza for dinner. I'll report back on New Years Day. Wish me luck.

ps-I LOVE Lori's Natural Foods Market in Rochester, NY. All this city needs now is a juice bar and some vegan restaurants (not to mention a vegetarian restaurant).

Fasting Part III

After my last post, I had another cup of tea and took some coconut water mixed with fresh lime juice on the road. It wasn't until 6 o'clock that I became hungry and drinking water helped to calm my stomach until I got home at 9. I taught two yoga classes and felt high in energy and had a clear mind the whole time. Right now, I'm sipping 20 oz. of juice:)


My Second Juice of the Day:
3 Carrots
2 big handfuls of Baby Greens
3 Broccoli Stalks
1 Lemon
1 Lime
1 inch of Ginger

I didn't have to add Stevia because the carrots and broccoli add sweetness:) The ginger makes the juice nice and spicy! I am very pleased with this juice and I'm glad that I used some different veggies. Its nice to branch out! I feel very calm. I don't know if I will break the fast tomorrow, I'll just see how I feel.

xo,
Sundari

Green Juice, Kris Carr's Documentary, and A New Earth

I am drinking my Green Juice as I type this entry. Today's juice consists of:
1/2 cucumber (peeled because it is not organic)
1 head of celery
3 handfuls of Mixed Spring Greens
1 Lemon
1 Apple
1 Mango

I forgot the ginger this morning! Side note: I find mixed spring greens to be more palatable than Kale or Romaine (alone), so if you are struggling with drinking your greens, try this option. Extra tip: It is best to drink your green juice within 15-20 minutes of juicing. The juice will begin to oxidize and lose much of its nutritional value if you let it sit longer.

I feel like I'm back on the juicing band wagon. I received Kris Carr's documentary yesterday in the mail and watched it with my husband last night! It reinforced many of the habits I've adopted over the past year (juicing, dry brushing, yoga, eating raw as much as possible, meditation, etc.). This is a documentary for everyone! It will open your eyes to so many ways of improving your mind and body health.

I also would like to share a passage that I was reading yesterday from A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle:

"A vital question to ask yourself frequently is: What is my relationship with the present moment? Then become alert to find out the answer. Am I treating the Now as more than a means to an end? Do I see it as an obstacle? Am I making it into an enemy? Since the present moment is all you ever have, since Life in inseparable from the Now, what the question really means is: What is my relationship with Life?The question is an excellent way of unmasking the ego in you and bringing you into the state of Presence." (Tolle, A New Earth, p. 203)

I find this "exercise" to be very effective and I wanted to share it with you.

Be Well,
Sundari

Juice Analysis, Organic Produce, and Inspiration

I've been a little worried about my juicing habits lately because my urge to juice was dwindling. Even this morning (after two days without juice) I was questioning whether I could keep this up. After doing a full yoga practice, it was back. I went downstairs and juiced away! The picture to the left is what I started with.

I was curious about which nutrients I was benefiting from in this juice, so here the analysis I came up with, using The Complete Book of Juicing by Michael T. Murray. I listed the key benefits of each vegetable, fruit, and root.
Celery:

• Potasium
• Sodium (electrolyte replacer)
• Coumarins (increases activity of certain white blood cells, tone vascular system, lower blood pressure)

Carrot:

• Highest vegetable source of provitamin A carotenes
  

Cucumber:

• Skin contains Silica (strengthens connective tissues, i.e. muscles, tendons, and ligaments)

Ginger:

• Excellent Carminative (promotes elimination of intestinal gases)
• Anti-inflammatory

Lemon:

• Rich in Vitamin C and Potassium
• Contains Limonine (promising anti-cancer properties)

Apple:

• Pectin (improves the intestinal muscle's ability to push waste through the gastrointestinal tract)
• Ellagic, chlorogenic, and caffeic acids (anutrients with significant anticancer properties)
  

And here is the result of those veggies and fruits plowing through my Breville juicer:

I am going crazy trying to figure out where to buy produce and which produce to buy. Until yesterday I thought that any produce bought at Whole Foods was organic. Not true! Anything marked "Conventional" is not organic. Bummer.

Also, I wonder about the integrity of companies like Nature's Promise. Nature's Promise is easy to find at the cheaper, chain grocery stores in Baltimore: Giant and Super Fresh, but how great are these fruits and vegetables really?

I am excited that Kris Carr has brought up the idea of a book club in her blog. I am interested in reading, Michael's Pollen's book, In the Defense of Food and it would be nice to share the experience with her community.

I am working on a fiction novel at the moment, but my interest in writing a creative non-fiction novel is increasing as I become more inspired by my pursuits in alternative health and wellness. Also, I feel inspired each day by information coming from blogs and books that I am drawn to make a contribution as well. Its like the idea is at the tip of my tongue, but it hasn't come to fruition yet. I am going to have faith that it will come in its own time and I just have to keep on this path. With that thought in mind, I should get back to other writing projects. Peace and love:)

Balance

I've been playing with my balance lately and discovered how easy it is to fall, especially when it comes to my diet. I fell off the deep end with half of a medium sized Papa John's Garden pizza (more cheese and white flour than I've consumed in months). I couldn't sleep- heart racing, cold sweats, scattered thoughts. I was miserable! I had a pizza hangover the next day. In college, half a pizza, a six pack of beer, and half a pack of smokes were a regular part of my diet and my body surrendered to this pattern. Now, my mind and body revolts!

Thank goodness I had my green juice to fall back on the next morning. Since experimenting with a juice fast, becoming vegetarian, and adopting other healthy habits (dry brushing, tongue scraping, neti potting), I am comfortable with giving my stomach a rest in the morning. I used to throw food in my mouth as soon as my feet hit the ground in the morning. Now, I'm ok with waiting until noon to eat if I don't feel ready, although I usually drink my juice around 10am.

I am also finding balance in my yoga practice. For a few months following my stay at the ashram, I was putting all of my energy into teaching and ignoring my personal practice. Over the past month, I have found new joy and confidence in my personal practice. I've also taken it up a notch and I am working my way toward the handstand. This is a pose that my mind tries to tell me that I cannot accomplish, but I am ignoring those thoughts and focusing on the handstand a few minutes each day. It was the same situation when I approached the headstand. My body simply did not have the strength at first, but everyday I tried to get a step further in the pose, until eventually it just happened. I feel as fulfilled by achieving this pose as I do about getting my Master's degree. It taught me that I can achieve things that my mind perceives as impossible and that is priceless.

Day 13

I'm drinking my Green Lemonade and still loving it as I type this blog. I've lost a few pounds since Day 1. Shambhala meditation will have to wait until next week because of some grant writing that can't wait. There is a Open House at Baltimore Yoga Village this Sunday January 13, which should be a wonderful event, including: two free yoga classes in the morning, free food by nutritionist Lucas, free chair massages, and an Art Show. Check out the website for more details. I am finding heavier foods less appealing and gravitating more towards juice, salads, and soups. I feel full faster and food isn't running my life. I feel nourished.

Day 7

I like the Green Lemonade more each day. Its almost 12:30 and so far today I've had 32 oz. of Green Lemonade and a pear. I am taking more time to take care of myself, my husband, and my home lately. I don't get as stressed out about these tasks either. One thing that I have not done since returning from the ashram is meditate. I'll make every excuse not to do it-like writing in this blog. I'm going to meditate right now actually. I'll write about it later.

Day 5

I've found a nice balance. I made a carrot-sweet potato soup last night for dinner. I was planning on juicing, but the cold weather had me craving warm soup. It was delicious, but I felt VERY full afterwards. I was a little hungry in the late evening, so I made my second salad of the day around 9pm. My energy, mood, and state of mind is improving every day. Right now, I am sipping 32 oz. of Green Lemonade:) I have also been eating a little 70% Dark Chocolate each day. It keeps my sweet tooth at bay. I don't know exactly why, but I am having an easier time taking things less seriously, slowing down, and enjoying myself. I am looking forward to visiting the Sivananda Yoga Ranch in a couple weeks for a weekend retreat. Hopefully some friends and yoga students will join me!

Day 4

I was surprisingly rested this morning when my alarm went off at 6am. Usually it is a struggle. I didn't get to sleep until midnight, which is something I want to work on. I would like to get at least 7 hours of sleep per night. I think that I do best on 8 hours, but thats not realistic most of the time. I have had two cups of herbal tea this morning and I'll be juicing some "Green Lemonade" soon. Green Lemonade is described in my last post. Yesterday I juiced twice, snacked on raw almonds and a Lara Bar, and had a BIG salad for dinner with homemade salad dressing. Today, I plan to juice this morning, pack some raw almonds, a Lara Bar, and a piece of fruit, juice again in the late afternoon and have a salad for dinner again. We'll see how it goes!

Overall, I have noticed that my mood is improving since adopting this diet. I don't have severe ups and downs and I feel more optimistic. I also feel more clear-headed and mellow. I am committed to following this diet for as long as possible and I don't see the end coming soon!