Clean: Days 3+4 and Dealing with Hunger

How is everyone doing on their cleanses? Yesterday I think I was feeling a little stressed out with some work and wedding planning stuff and noticed my resolve wavering a little. I tend to be a bit of an emotional eater and all I could think about was bread. And cheese. And chocolate. I just really wanted a tasty snack to make me feel better. 


The Clean book talks about hunger and the emotional connections we have to eating and food. Anytime I feel like I must eat, even though I know I've had enough to nourish my body, I read the passage below and it helps me to understand if I'm actually feeling hungry or if I'm trying to fill some other void:

When hunger hits you during the Clean program, it's not an obstacle. It's actually an excellent opportunity. Redefining what hunger means to you is one of the most important and life-changing aspects of Clean. Examining, questioning, and redefining that thing we call hunger will free you from the traps you might be in around food... As hunger creeps up during the day or evening, ask yourself, what does being hungry actually mean? Do you really know? Have you ever been truly hungry, or have you ever actually been "starving" - the word we unconsciously use when we're telling our friends that we really feel like eating right this minute? Probably the truth is that you have not. The body sensation you recognize as "being hungry" and that makes you eat whenever you feel it coming on may have nothing to do with your body's actual need for calories... Take a moment before reacting to the hunger to ask yourself, what is it that I'm feeling right now? This thing I'm calling hunger, where it it? Is it in my stomach, my guts, my chest, my heart - where is that body sensation? Then ask, what is the sensation? Everyone has different descriptions of this experience that they name "hungry."Stay with it, watch it, and try to distinguish its qualities. Is it hot or cold, does it feel like pain or pressure, is it fixed or moving, is it in waves or is it constant? By asking yourself those questions, you are directing your attention to this body sensation; it's literally putting the light to it so you can see it better... It might actually be a very different kind of need that has nothing to do with food: a need for company, for contact, for forgiveness, for acknowledgement, for purpose, or for security. (Clean by Alejandro Junger, 186-190)

This passage makes so much sense to me. It seems fairly simple, right? But it's not something we, as a culture, think about too often. 


Here's a lunch recipe for you that I have posted about before and is actually a recipe from the Clean book. It is one of my absolute favorites and never gets old no matter how many times I make it. Prep time is about 20 minutes. 


Quinoa Tabbouleh
2 cups cooked quinoa
1/2 cup dried currants
1/4 cup chopped raw almonds
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/4 cup chopped mint
1/4 cup scallions cut thinly on the diagonal
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup lime juice
1 teaspoon raw agave nectar or stevia
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 cup olive oil
Measure 1 cup raw quinoa and add to a pot with 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for approximately 15 minutes. Set aside to cool. Once quinoa is mostly cooled, mix all ingredients in a large bowl and let sit for 20 minutes to allow flavors to blend.

Wednesday Inspiration

My lovelies, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed some special moments with family and loved ones. Here's a little Wednesday inspiration for you; it's one of my favorite quotations by the wonderful Marianne Williamson. Happy Wednesday! XO

Quote Of The Day

Wednesday Inspiration

"I'm the hero of this story. I don't need to be saved."

A good reminder to us all. Happy Wednesday!


Source: Pinterest

Have an Auspicious Weekend!

Today, 11.11.11, is said to be one of the most auspicious days in the next hundred years! So, tonight at 11:11 take a moment to think about what you really want in your life. Ask your heart what it wants and manifest it. Gabrielle Bernstein will be live streaming a talk on this topic tonight which I am oh-so-excited about. You can sign up for her live talk on manifesting here and read about manifesting (and what it is) here. Have a wonderful weekend!

The Harry Potter Workout

Have you heard of the guy who lost 60 pounds by listening to Harry Potter in audiobook format while he ran on the treadmill? RunHundred just recently wrote an article on this and I found it fascinating. Such a good idea, don't you think? Read more about it here.

How to Stay Healthy When You Feel Lazy

We all have those days where we feel more sluggish than usual, a little less motivated, and all we want to do is lay around eating something indulgent. Here are some easy ways to stay on track when the laziness bullet hits you:

1. Make drinking water a habit. Many of us have a hard time remembering to drink water, especially when we're on the go. Before you get too dehydrated and start to feel crabby and tired, start training yourself to make drinking water a priority no matter where you are. Get into the habit of having a water bottle close by whether you are running errands or relaxing on the couch.

2. Food needs some thought. There's nothing in the fridge, you forgot to eat breakfast, and now you're ravenous. On your free days, don't throw your diet plans out the window. Keep with your normal routine; eating that bowl of oatmeal in the morning will get you on the right start and make your free day that much more productive.

3. Set a limit to your vegging. You deserve a rest, especially if you've had a long week. But that doesn't mean you have to spend hours on the couch. Since it can be hard to motivate yourself to get moving if you are sitting comfy, schedule something fun that you know you have to get to - dinner or a leisurely walk with a friend, or a movie date. You'll look forward to your plans and you'll be happy to get out of the house.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Source: Fitsugar.com

Low-Fat Diets: Grossly Misrepresented

Have you heard of Kris Carr? She's the incredible and inspiring author of Crazy Sexy Cancer and Crazy Sexy Life. In this recent article, she talks about the myths surrounding a plant-based, low-fat diet. It's fascinating and I couldn't agree more! 

Photo: Crazy Sexy Life

Inspiring Words

Ayurvedic Oil Self Massage

Sometimes by the end of the day I would give anything for a massage but don't have the time to go in and am reluctant to spend the money. I recently read on Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow's amazing newsletter, about Ayurvedic Self Massage. Here are some things you can do to relieve stress after a long day at work, before the day to prepare yourself, or as a mini break during the day. I tried it out and it really does help with calming the body and mind.

Quick Stress Fix:
If you have had a very stressful day at work, massage the head with coconut oil or cold pressed sesame oil. Massage the sides of he head, front, and back. Then use fingertips like you are washing your hair for 2-3 minutes. Then, when you have finished, grab parts of the hair and pull away from the scalp.

Feet:
Massage the sole of the foot between the second and third metatarsals. If a line in drawn from the base of the second tow to the heel, the point is one third of the distance from the toe. This point is a marma point pada Madhya. Press on this point, and if it is sore press gently and as it releases apply more pressure. This point on the foot calms the mind and relieves stress. Once you have done this on both feet then massage the feet with cold pressed sesame oil.

Head Marma Points: Press in very small circles in a clockwise direction.

• Kapala: On the middle of the forehead at the start of your hairline. This marma is helpful if you feel bound by time, constantly in a hurry, or anxious.
• Nasa Mula: On the midline of the forehead in between the eyebrows. This important marma brings order in the body, mind, and consciousness. It steadies the mind's thoughts and emotions to induce inner cal.
• Hanu is located in the depression between the chin and the lower lips. This point relieves stress and emotions. Hanu means pride. When this point is unbalanced posture can be affected. Hanu is a very important point to use for stress management.

Bottle to Bulb

Here's a little more light for you on this beautiful day. I found this video so inspiring. With no light their homes, these people found a way to make light bulbs out of plastic bottles. Amazing, isn't it? Makes you think about how we could all spread a little more (metaphorical) light around to each other. Have a sunny and healthy day!

Strength Comes in All Shapes and Sizes

Each one of these women is an Olympian athlete. All different shapes and sizes, all strong and beautiful; with the willpower and discipline to push themselves to the limit. I just find this picture so moving and inspirational. Happy Tuesday!

Photo: f**kyeahfeminists.com

A Little Tuesday Inspiration

Have an Inspiring Labor Day Weekend!

My lovelies, what are your plans for this long weekend? We are staying in San Francisco and happy to not have any real plans. Sometimes it's nice to just be. Here's an amazing story to start your weekend on an inspiring note. Enjoy! XO

Have a Wonderful Weekend.

My lovelies, what are you up to this weekend? Tomorrow we're going to the Palo Alto Festival of the Arts to look for some pretty things to spruce up our apartment. Then we're having a long-overdue date night complete with Delfina and a movie. I can't wait :). Have a wonderful and healthy weekend! XO

Let It Be

Have you guys heard of Gabrielle Bernstein? I never had until Mike's amazing sister and my good friend, Megan Hayes, told me about her and I am now completely obsessed. Gabby Bernstein is this motivational speaker/guru who dishes out the most wonderful advice on happiness, love, spirituality, and all the ups and downs of everyday life. I highly recommend checking out some of her videos. What she says makes so much sense and really gives you a different perspective on things.

Here is one of my favorite of her vlogs, where she talks about letting go and just "letting it be":

Have a beautiful Wednesday!

Photo: http://gabbyb.tv/

Dancer vs. Ballerina

Good morning, my darlings. Here's a little video I find so inspirational. Both of these dancers are so beautiful in their own ways, don't you think?

How To Reach Your Fitness Goals: Cartoon Style

I came across this funny little cartoon this morning. Isn't it great? This guy does all of the drawings himself and there are tons of them on his website. Have a healthy Tuesday! XO

Photo: vegantrash.tumblr.com

Happy Wednesday!

My lovelies, why don't you spice up your Wednesday with a little Pilates? XO

P.S. Try this Lunch Break Mini-Workout.
P.P.S. Here are two ab blasting exercises:  Perfect Ab-Blaster, Double Leg Stretch
P.P.P.S. How to Tone Your Booty

The Value of Meditation

I consider myself a bit of a closet hippie: yes, I enjoy pedicures, getting my hair done, and wining and dining... but I did go to UC Berkeley, and I have been known to hug a tree here and there, and I have a secret desire to grow some dreadlocks. Okay, maybe not the dreadlocks part, but you see what I mean.

So, in the midst of my busy schedule of running a small business, teaching, and trying to be healthy and active, I have started to realize that I really need some quiet time for my mind. A few months ago my friend Ashley and I went to Saraha Buddhist Center in the Mission to see if we could quiet our minds and find that peace and calm people talk about in association with meditation.

We attended a Tuesday evening group meditation led by a Buddhist meditation pro. Everyone was so nice and friendly that the minute we arrived I felt a feeling of calm come over me. Meditation is difficult. I find it very hard to make my mind stop racing. The harder I try the more my mind seems to want to think about errands that need running, chores, emails to write, phone calls to answer, and a million other to-dos. If I'm not thinking of my millions of commitments, it seems to just say to me, "Don't think! Don't think!". That in itself isn't exactly quiet and calm.

About 30 minutes into the meditation I did somehow manage to find a few minutes of complete calm. The person leading the group talked a lot about breath and how focusing on your breathing helps to clear your mind. Breath is something I can definitely relate to as breathing is such a fundamental aspect of Pilates. As I always tell my clients: it's a part of the exercise itself!

After the 1.5 hour meditation session, I did feel much more centered and relaxed. It was that feeling you get right after a really good nap: refreshed and happy :). Curious about ways to meditate on my own, I looked up some tips on meditation. Here is what I found:

• Stretch first. You will be able to sit (or lie) still for longer if your muscles are relaxed. It also helps to bring attention to the body and thus "inward."
• Meditate with purpose. Think of meditation as an active process. Focusing your attention on a single point is hard work so be prepared to be purposefully engaged!
• Be patient with yourself. Frustration can easily creep up when our minds don't cooperate, but be kind and patient to yourself and try to let those frustrations go.
• Listen to an instructional audio. There are some great meditation tracks on iTunes.
• Use a candle. Instead of closing your eyes, which can be a challenge for beginners, light a candle and look at the flame instead. (I tried this and it really works!)
• Get a meditation buddy. Just like a workout buddy, having a meditation partner can help to keep you motivated.

Am I now a pro at meditation? Nope. But I do find that even just taking 5 minutes a day to sit quietly and just BE, I do feel calmer, clearer-minded, and less frazzled by unimportant things (like San Francisco traffic). 

My lovelies, have you ever tried meditating? What has your experience been like? Have a peaceful day!

Photos: Oprah.com, Candlefind.com