Cleanse

How’s everyones’ week going?!?

I’ve been painting up a storm, but also been doing my first ever cleanse.  I’m doing Shannon’s Smoothie Cleanse over at Balance Studio.  I don’t know what I would do without her motivational emails each morning.

Sipping smoothies and painting!

The above photo sums up my day.  Sipping beautiful pureed fruits and veggies while painting (and also running after a 3 year old).  I’m working on the above armoire right now.  Can you see it in the background?  I can’t wait to share how it comes out!

I wish I could tell you I was feeling fantastic and had tons of energy….

But I don’t.  I feel foggy, very foggy and tired and the caffeine headache is killing me.  My house, as many do, runs on love, laughter and caffeine.  Lots and lots of caffeine to tell you the truth.  The cleanse is only 5 days (I thought it would be easy peasy as I love my salads and fruit).  But I am struggling without the coffee.  This is day three.  I’m hoping the rest of the week goes a bit smoother.

On Sunday we went and stocked a trolley full of fresh produce for all of Shannon’s recipes (I didn’t have everything I needed from our CSA):

Fresh veggies and fruit at Whole Foods Market

Despite the headaches, I’m enjoying really tasting fresh food.  Each morning I’ve been drinking water with lemon and it is lovely.  I also have been slicing up avocado and eating dates.  So yummy! I feel like since I started this my taste buds are coming alive and I can taste all the food I’m consuming better. Avocado is so creamy and slightly salty and buttery.  Dates are so sweet and lovely.  I don’t think I ever ate a date like that!  Perhaps, my taste is better because I’m not downing the coffee and all the snacks.

On the cleanse all the food must be pureed (but I’ve had some salads and cut up fruit).  Sometimes I just need that satisfaction of crunching food.  The idea is that by consuming uncooked fresh fruits and vegetables you will rid your body of toxins and in turn having boundless energy and be rid of any food addictions.

You may be scratching your head wondering why I am doing this, but for a while I’ve been feeling a bit unhappy with my fitness and health and just thought this was the kickstart I needed.  Start fall with a fresh start!  I always think I’m being so healthy with eating all my fresh veggies and eggs from Sweet Georgia P’s but I also snack on the kids’ snacks and finish what they don’t eat.  So I’m taking this time to see when I would have grabbed those gold fish or popped the extra chicken finger in my mouth.

I’m also hoping this enables me to get more fresh produce into my daily meals and snack choices.  On the cleanse I’ve enjoyed this gaspacho style smoothie – I put it in a bowl to feel like I was eating soup!

Gaspacho Smoothie

I love starting the morning with this watermelon smoothie – fresh chunks of watermelon and ice pureed in the blender.  What are you drinking this morning?  Please don’t tell me you all are having lattes and cappuccinos  because I’ll be very jealous over here.  The cleanse ends on Friday and I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to a big bowl of pasta on Saturday night to celebrate my mom’s birthday.

Watermelon Smoothie