Things I love Thursday! Amy's Mac n Cheese

Sometimes, you just crave comfort food. Remember those splurge calories I talked about? This is a great time to use them!

I am a big fan of Amy's products. I have been eating her dinners & wraps well before I went vegan because I love the company's commitment to using organic ingredients and producing products that are great tasting and good for you!

When I discovered Amy's had a Vegan Mac n Cheese, I jumped for joy! I have a few of my own vegan mac n cheese recipes I fall back on, but the convience of this is great. It is also soy-free, gluten-free, tree-nut free, and kosher! I think just about anyone could eat this!

Proudct Page Link

Splurge Calories

Let's talk 'diets' for a minute. First off, I advocate lifestyle changes as opposed to fad diets. Think 'going vegetarian' or 'cutting out processed foods' as opposed to 'Atkins' or 'Nutrisystem'. Diets always made me feel constricted which just made me want to rebel agaisnt the diet!

It takes time to learn what works for you. For me, it is having a certain calorie limit each day, and trying to maintain a good balance of carbs, fat, and protein. Even when you figure out what fuels you well and keeps you healthy, who doesn't like a treat from time to time? For some people it is a "cheat meal" once a week, for others it is a piece of chocolate or glass of wine each night. For me, it is what I call splurge calories!

Each day I allot 100-150 calories of my calorie limit to what I call "splurge calories". Some days, I just want some pasta with my lunch. Some days, I just want an iced latte after work! Planning these calories ahead of time allows me to enjoy my little splurges, without blowing my calorie limit for the day! And if I don't have a workout planned for the day, the splurge calories go away! It helps to not deny yourself of the things you enjoy - plan for them - and you won't overindulge later.

There you have it, splurge calories! How will you spend yours? Let me know in the comments!

Beachbody Ultimate Reset - Day 22: Life After the Reset

Day 22! I graduated! First of all I want to give a shout out to my support team, Hazel, Katie, and Sean - without y'all I would have thrown the towel in early on! Thanks for being rockstars :)

I am meeting with my personal trainer later this week and after that I will be able to post all of my final results. I like to have her measure me since so that the measurements are consistent. I can't wait to share my final results & before/after pics! Ok, maybe I'm not super thrilled about the 'before' pictures but hopefully sharing my story will inspire others to take on a health challenge of their own. That's what its all about - sharing the information I have gained & hopefully inspiring others to do the same!

To be honest, I was a little nervous about going into this week. The UR guide gives general ideas of what to do in weeks 1, 2, etc after the reset but I was so worried about undoing all the hard-work I have done the past 21 days! I am also gearing up for starting a TurboFire/Chalean Extreme hybrid program, and want to make sure I am incorporating the optimum combination of fat/protein/carbs. Anyways, here is what I ate today!

Started off the day with some steel cut oats with 1/2 a banana, agave nectar, and cinnamon. This was my first try of steel cut oats and I give them a thumbs up! I made enough for my parents and I since I was home for the holiday weekend. They are looking to shake up their eating habits so it was great to be able to share this meal with them! They also got to see me prepare some of the UR meals this weekend - and liked the idea of eating less foods that are processed! How cool!

Hearty Breakfast

My fiance and I were going to go out to lunch today to celebrate the end of the Reset. In the plan they say if you have to eat out, find a vegan/vegetarian restaurant because these types of places will be most likely to accommodate your dietary needs. That works for me - I have lots of favorite vegan restaurants in and around Detroit (where I was visiting this weekend). Unfortunately they were ALL closed for the holiday - all 3 of my favorites! Instead, I decided just to make my favorite meal from one of the restaurants - Enchiladas Calabaza. These enchiladas are squash or pumpkin filled and seriously are so yummy! I have made this dish before, but never when I was vegan. I was able to find Daiya (the best vegan cheese!) to make this dish completely vegan friendly!

Enchiladas Calabaza

Lastly dinner - and a tip! I find cooking to go much smoother if you just have everything prepped and ready to go. This way, you won't be scrambling around for missing ingredients while your creation is burning on the stove-top.

Let's do this.

Today's dinner was pretty simple, I was really just craving some fresh veggies! I did a stir-fry with broccoli, asparagus, zucchini, and red pepper. I used about a tablespoon of coconut oil to caramelize some onions, added the veggies with some garlic & ginger and then finished it off with Bragg's & Nori Gomasio! All done in about 7 minutes!

Stir-fry Veggies

 Be sure to check back tomorrow - my Reset Graduation present to myself is scheduled to arrive! I can't wait :)
I hope everyone had a great memorial day weekend and that you were able to spend some time with family and friends! Most of all thanks to those who have served so we can enjoy all the freedoms of this great country we live in. I am PROUD to be an American!

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Interested in Beachbody's Ultimate Reset? For more information click here!
http://myultimatereset.com/LauraLou831

Monday Mantra - Opportunity

Finishing up the Ultimate Reset has taught me you never know what you can accomplish until you try! What challenge will you take on this week?

Beachbody Ultimate Reset Day 20 - Plan Ahead

Day 20 is now complete and I am officially one day away from completing the Reset! Although some days this week have felt like they were dragging on, I can't believe how fast the entire  3 weeks has gone by!

Today was my nephew's first birthday party. Where I was faced with this. My kryptonite. The almighty cupcake:

I wanted to eat one so bad. This situation is a great example of how crucial a tool like a support forum is when taking on a new fitness/diet challenge. While idly helping set other things up for the party and sending lustful gazes towards the cupcakes, I posted to my support group on Facebook what I was feeling. Within 5 minutes I had a response from one of my fellow team members, 'One more day, hang in there!'. And that one small sentence of encouragement snapped me back into reality and made me realize I did not want to throw away the past 20 days of hard work and discipline for one cupcake! (Thanks Hazel!)

I believe this to be a common dilemma. You are committed to a fitness program for x amount of days and there always seems to be a birthday/wedding/BBQ/aunt's dog graduated puppy kindergarten/party that you MUST go to. My best advice is simple, plan ahead. For starters, don't show up hungry. The food choices at most gatherings are subpar and probably not on your plan (unless you hang out with dietitians on a regular basis, in which case - kudos to you!). Eat a small meal before you/ arrive, and take a bottle of water with you. Drink lots of water, it will keep you full. If you feel like you must eat at the party to be nice, go for fresh veggies or fruits, avoid sweets and processed carbs.

Even better, bring your own dish to pass! Summer is a great time for fresh veggies that can easily be incorporated into a stellar salad. Or whip up one of your favorite recipes from your current meal plan - just make about 4x the amount. You can share your food - and nutrition tips - with others, without feeling like you have to starve at the gathering.

Another tip I have is just to keep yourself busy and away from anything that might be tempting you. Is cake your downfall? Offer to take in the main course serving dishes to wash or collect plates & cups that people are done with to keep your mind off of desert. Is the chip bowl calling your name? Leave the room and find some kiddos to play a game with - they love the attention!

Today I'm proud to say I made it through the party without a single slip-up. I brought over my Jicama-Avocado salad and got to talk about jicama with my soon to be in-laws. How often does that ever happen!? :)

One last though along the lines of planning ahead. Day 21 is soon to be upon us and I will have officially graduated from the Reset. I have been dreaming of the things I will eat on Day 22 this entire time. However, I don't want to just throw the last 3 weeks of clean eating & redefined habits out the window. If you know me, you know my love of coffee. And I honestly can't think of what drink I will get on Day 22 now that I am 'allowed'. I'm not really craving it. The post-Reset guidelines say to wait 4 weeks before reintroducing caffeine. So maybe I'll try a small (super tiny) glass of decaf and see how I feel.

I have decided to start up a hybrid Chalene Extreme/TurboFire schedule 2 weeks from the end of the Reset. I have been going through their meal plans to gather info on how they recommend you fuel your body to power through the workouts. I'm then finding recipes in 2 of my vegan cookbooks, Let Them Eat Vegan! by Dreena Burton and Appetite for Reduction by Isa Moskowitz. I have always admired Dreena for sticking to what I consider the vegan basics. Eating whole foods - veggies, grains, legumes - in their unprocessed forms and making them taste great! Simplicity at its best. And Isa has been a longtime favorite cookbook author/vegan rock-star of mine. One of the first vegan cookbooks I owned was Vegan with a Vengeance and it changed my life. Isa (&Terry) taught me what the heck to do with a bock of tofu and how to veganize the comfort foods I held near to my heart! Hopefully I will be able to share my meal plans over the next few weeks as I start up my new exercise program!


For me, its all about structure, about planning ahead. What works for me might not work for you, but maybe give it a try and see what happens!

ONE MORE DAY! Cheers!

Beachbody Ultimate Reset Day 18 - Finding the Positive

One of my motto's has always been "Sunny is a state of mind, not a weather pattern!". I once wrote it down at work one day, put a happy carebear sticker on it, and gave it to a co-worker who was in a bum mood. She still has it up in her cube!

The point is that your mood is what you make it. I have had a lot of things thrown at me lately, especially at work, but I can't let these things get me down. I have the choice to react to a situation in a positive or negative way. I can only control my internal reaction and not the external factors surrounding me.

I have said it earlier in the Reset, but I am really noticing how I comfort myself with food when faced with a stressful situation. Whether it is wanting to go get the largest latte I can find, or taking an extra half hour at lunch to go eat out instead of what I brought, I run to food a lot more than I realized. I am super happy with my physical results on the program so far (down 10lbs!) but even if this wasn't the case, I am learning lessons that I can take with me even after the Reset is done!

So what are your triggers? How do you react? Remember your mood is how you make it! Choose to be sunny - it definitely rubs off on others!


Day 18 Pictures

Dinner - I wasn't sure how I would feel about roasted fennel reading the recipe. It does have a licorice-like flavor, but in a good way. Steamed asparagus & broccoli are good as always!

My perfect-tea maker came! If you have been following me on this journey, this was one of the gifts to myself for completing the reset. I realize I am only on day 18, but I decided to buy something I have had my eye on for awhile to celebrate the end of the Reset. It should be here Tuesday! Can't wait to share what it is :)

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Interested in Beachbody's Ultimate Reset? For more information click here!
http://myultimatereset.com/LauraLou831

Beachbody Ultimate Reset Day 17 - Hitting a Wall

Day 17. Today I hit my wall.

I'm tired of eating just fruit for breakfast.
I'm tired of eating a salad. Every. Day. For. Lunch.

And I'm the one who was vegan BEFORE the reset even started!

Week 3 has been the toughest for me. There was a point today that I wanted to throw the towel in, leave work, drive to Starbucks get a iced latte, and then drive over to my favorite vegan pizza place downtown. But to do that would be throwing away all my efforts of the last 2+ weeks. I don't want this post to be completely negative. Today I learned a lesson of balance.

My motto I repeat to myself when I have these urges is 'keep strong and keep moving on'. I feel like that may be a quote, or perhaps a mix of quotes, but it works for me. It reminds me of how far I have come on this cleanse. How much I have improved my health, even in a short period of time. No one ever said it would be easy. In recent memory, this is one of the hardest things I have done mentally. A great deal more self-control is required that I imagined.

It's hard when your roommate is cooking pasta and you just want a little bowl to yourself.

It's hard when your whole family is enjoying cupcakes & coffee for mother's day and you are sucking down herbal tea.

It's hard when it seems like every person at work is ordering french fries and you are stabbing your fork at - wait for it - a salad!

It's in these moments I have to center myself and collect my thoughts and remind myself the things I've learned through this process. To listen to my body and what it needs (lately - sleep!). To appreciate the flavor and completeness of food in its simple, whole form. And to balance.

I miss playing around with recipes to make them vegan. There is such a vast variety of things to eat (I see about 20 vegan cookbooks from where I sit right now) and I feel so limited on this plan.It is encouraging to see people on the message boards want to adapt a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle after the cleanse is complete. I hope they seek out resources to keep their kitchen lively & entertaining. There is so much potential in the world of vegan eats and I hope they don't get stuck in the rut I feel I am right now. Weeks 1 & 2 were easy; there were new recipes and I felt like I was actually cooking things. Not like now where I  just steam a huge pot of broccoli and roast an entire squash and call it a meal.

Day 17. 4 more days of the reset to go. I  have heard some people hit their wall on days 10 or 11, so I am grateful that at least mine came later. I took a long walk today, to clear my thoughts, get out of the house for a bit, and just be free. It was quite therapeutic :)

If you are on this journey with me or simply reading along, I encourage you to 'keep strong and keep moving on' whenever you hit a roadblock in life. The greatest rewards in life often come through hard work and perseverance. In the end, I know the effort will pay off!

Beach Body Ultimate Reset Day 15 - Graduating to Phase 3!

Weight Day 15: 148.2 (-10.2 lbs) 
Feeling: Energized, despite 0 caffeine for the past 2 weeks!

I am officially into Phase 3: Restore! I have been loving the amount of energy I have, especially around 2pm when everyone else is having their mid-afternoon crash and running out for coffee! Will I drink coffee after the Reset is done? Sure, but the important thing is I have learned to not depend on it as an energy source. Sleep people! It cures all :)

Another perk of this 'minimalist' cooking as I like to call it is that I really notice the true flavor of things. Most vegetables on this plan are either steamed or quickly sauteed. Seasonings include a little bit of oil, a little bit of salt, and not much more. Simple. Amazing.

A few dishes from recently:

Dinner Day 14 - Roasted Corn & Edamame Salad

Part of Day 15 dinner - Garlic Veggies (I ate the sweet potato too quick to get a photo!)

 I'm excited for this week, also a little worried about how things will go when I lack a structured plan. I have never stuck to a meal plan this long, and I enjoy the shopping lists and recipes all laid out for me. I also need to think of what my next workout program will be. It is getting nice out in Michigan and I would like to run a 5k or 2 this summer, but I also want to work on toning up. I am getting close to my goal weight, but would really like some muscle definition! I am thinking about a hybrid Turbo Fire / Chalene Extreme plan to supplement my yoga & running. Now I just need to find time to fit it all in!

Until next time - cheers! Have a coffee for me!

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Interested in Beachbody's Ultimate Reset? For more information click here!
http://myultimatereset.com/LauraLou831

Monday Mantra: Love Your Body

I saw this posted by Beachbody. Pretty good thing to focus on!

Beachbody Ultimate Reset Day 14 - Two Milestones

Phase 2 wraps up this evening for me. That means the end of the Detox packets for me! Wohoo! To be honest, the taste did not get to me as much towards the end of the week. I even stopped drowning it in lemon juice half way through the week. Still, I'm glad to be done with the stuff!

A celebration...

3...2...1...AND DONE!

There are some more things for me to celebrate. This week marks two HUGE milestones in my fitness journey. First, I have officially got into the 140s for the first time, seriously, EVER. I am so pumped! Even when I did weight watchers I never broke 155. And I was always starving on weight watchers - not fun!

The second milestone I can celebrate is fitting into a SIZE SIX jeans. A six! A SIX!! I never thought I would be a size six. This week I've noticed my jeans have definitely felt loser. I think I am losing the bloat that used to constantly hang around my stomach. For the heck of it, I tried on some size 6 jeans at the mall yesterday. They fit! Such a great feeling :)

Of course I want to share some food pictures with everyone. Bring on the yummy!

Steamed Veggies and Baked Squash w/Tahini Sauce - Jon shared dinner with me!

Squash soup and a big salad! I took some fattoush salad from a local Mediterranean restaurant and added it to my greens. Finished it off with pumpkin seeds!

Coconut Greens - a dish I was surprised I loved! Adding the coconut milk and caramelized onions is a great trick! 

It's hard to believe it is the end of week 2 already! Although some days have been a mental struggle for me (I just want a cookie!) these 14 days really have gone by fast. See you in Phase 3!
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Interested in Beachbody's Ultimate Reset? For more information click here!
http://myultimatereset.com/LauraLou831

Beachbody Ultimate Reset Day 12 - Learning About Myself!

I didn't get to blog yesterday (day 12) but I really wanted to share with everyone things I have been learning about myself throughout this reset.

Yesterday was a tough day for me at work. I came in at 7am (early, with the hopes of leaving early) to an email about an extremely urgent issue requiring a process I had never lead on my own. Of my team of 4, one is out on vacation travel, one does not get in until 9 and one was scheduled to leave at 11am for her daughter's graduation lunch. Immediately, stress hit. To make a long story short, our team forged ahead and got through the issue. Many thanks to them for their hard work and effort to help me learn in this situation.

I noticed something though, during the day. Every time I had a two second mental break I kept thinking "I want a frappuccino"..."I want french fries"....etc. Pre-reset, my Friday 'tradition' was to go to Starbucks after work and get a frappuccino. I used to think of this as a reward or celebration of getting through the week. Yesterday made me realize that stress triggers my cravings for comfort food. This is HUGE for me. In the past however many years of my life (probably since college started) I have NEVER made this connection. And its my commitment to the Reset that helped me realize it.

Another thing I have learned on this journey is to eat when you're hungry. Sure there are a few days that my stomach is growling before dinner, but I drink 8-12oz of water and it helps subside that feeling until it is time to eat. I look at the meal plans each day and sometimes think "that's it??" but really we are getting a balanced diet of 1400-1600 calories each day. That is around what I eat normally, but this is WHOLE foods packed full of nutrients that provide energy and help keep me fuller longer.

I guess my big takeaway is to learn to listen to your body. Going through a Reset is an excellent way to do this. Your body knows whats up, take its advice!

Photo: http://www.theeconomicaleater.com/

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Interested in Beachbody's Ultimate Reset? For more information click here!
http://myultimatereset.com/LauraLou831

Beachbody Ultimate Reset Day 10 - Taking Time to Smell the Roses

Get out and smell the flowers!

It may or may not have said that in the Reset book, but that is what I did today. I feel like I make almost daily trips to the grocery store these days because I'm always forgetting something for dinner or something I need for breakfast the next day. If its only a few things I just walk up to the grocery store that is close to my apartment. It is nice to get out and enjoy the sunny weather we have been having lately!

One gripe of this cleanse - I feel like we buy a lot of produce that we don't end up eating. For instance, having to buy a whole head of bok choy and only needing a 1/2c. Normally, I would plan out recipes for the week to use all the produce I buy. So in a way, I am looking forward to planning my own meals again. I will definitely incorporate some of the recipes from the Reset into my reprotiore though. There are some great vegan ones!

Like this one:

Quinoa Lentil Pilaf

Today I was really craving something sweet. I did not have an afternoon snack, because I wasn't really hungry for it. So instead, about an hour after dinner, I made up this treat!

Warm Apples with Cinnamon & Agave

I guess it being the end of day 10, I am officially half way done with the Reset! I am so happy I decided to do this challenge. No regrets!

Be kind to one another :)

Beachbody Ultimate Reset Day 8/9 - Bring on the Detox...

Weight Day 8: 154.2 (-4.2 lbs) 
Feeling: Slightly cranky!
Water Intake: 104-112oz each day

I have graduated on to phase 2 of the reset, which means I get the pleasure of drinking this awesome stuff 3 times a day:

Yeah. No fun. Makes alkalinize taste like candy! At first I thought it was the texture getting to me, but really I think it is the smell. I can't quite place what is off to me about the smell, but last night (day 8) I contemplated not eating dinner just so I wouldn't have to drink this stuff!

Also I was hoping that this stuff would get things moving! I have felt pretty bloated since week 1 and have not been as regular as normal. Thank goodness for the support groups that Beachbody set up through Facebook. Did some posting & reading on there and feel assured that my problem should go away soon (sorry if this is TMI - I'm just trying to be honest!)

Overall, I am feeling good. From time to time I feel physically tired, but mentally I have felt really alert the past few days. I almost want to attribute being physically tired to all the stress I have in my life now. I need to get to yoga class or get a massage, I just have been short on time lately (and would honestly rather sleep - I love sleeping!). Also, I am accustomed to hot yoga, which seems it would be too taxing on my body right now. I might try to go through some poses tomorrow in my living room just for some deep breathing and mental relaxation.

Food! We all love food pictures :) Here are my dinners from the past 2 days:

Pinto Beans & Rice, Steamed Veggies

Sweet Potato & Roasted Red Pepper Bisque, Grilled Asparagus

The pinto beans & rice meal was not my personal fav, but it did have good flavor. I have seen a lot of people on the message boards say they really enjoy it. Its kind of ironic since I do beans & rice a lot for dinner normally, and these positive reviews are all coming from meat eaters :) It was also the second or third meal I've prepared at my apartment that my roommate has exclaimed 'OMG that smells SO good!' So maybe it does have potential!

I am still enjoying the simplicity of just steaming veggies, adding a little lemon and salt, and enjoying their flavor. I never thought before that steaming veggies is really a quick way to go. I usually buy canned veggies, heat on the stove, and eat. Yes, prepping fresh veggies takes a little more time (and a lot more room in your refrigerator) but I am really digging the flavors!

Until next time! Cheers!

P.S. I really want a cupcake.

Beachbody Ultimate Reset Day 5/6/7 - Weekend Recap

Sorry for the lack of posts over the weekend! I ended up going to support my fiance at his bodybuilding show in Ohio this weekend. I am proud to say he won 2nd in his class (Men's Open Tall) and best abs! He does natural bodybuilding and works very hard to achieve his goals! Have to brag on him a little :)

As far as the reset - I think I can honestly say this is the first time I have stuck to a diet, to a plan, to WHATEVER, when I have gone somewhere other than home for the weekend! There were MANY temptations this weekend (biggest one? French Fries) but I just kept telling myself, "It's only 21 days. You OWE this to yourself! 21 days! You can do it!" It's nice to have the support of my fiance, who is used to carrying his food around and saying 'no' to all the foods you want to eat when everyone else offers them to you. It took a bit more planning than usual, and I had to get over my insecurity of eating in front of people when they aren't eating, but I was able to stick to the plan - even out of state!

A few of my favorite meals from the weekend:

Roasted Root Medley

Zucchini-Cashew Soup with Dill

Today, of course, is mother's day. I got to spend some time with my soon to be in-laws and also got to see my mommy before returning home.

Check out what I started!

Salads for everyone!

I also started thinking about things for 'post-reset' life. I decided I want to reward myself for completing this challenge! I read in the cleanse materials you aren't supposed to pick your coffee habit back up right away. So while at the mall today, I stopped by the Teavana store and picked up some Java Mate (basically tea that tastes like coffee - and has 1/4 of the caffeine!). Right now I have a tea ball, but I think I'm going to pick up one of these to help with brewing. They use them in the store and they are so cool!

I have had my eye on this tank from lulu lemon for AGES. I've been taking a break from all intense working out, including hot yoga, so this will be great when I finally make it back to class!

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Happy Mother's day to all the mom's I know!

Beachbody Ultimate Reset Day 4 - Energy Levels on the Rise

Feeling: Great!
Water Intake: 80oz

I woke up today feeling really energetic! I actually woke up a full HOUR before my alarm went off, but I'm lazy and hung around in bed sleeping on & off until it was time to get up. If you know me, you know I love sleep!

Breakfast was a medley of strawberries, bananas, and grapes. 1 pc of toast. I missed the fact that we could have a serving of yogurt - more on that later. I really didn't think a fruit salad would keep me full until lunch, but it did!

I switched up lunch & dinner today. I wanted to give the sushi rolls another try, so I thought I would save that experiment for dinner. Lunch worked out pretty well though, and is something I could easily do again. Steamed veggies & some quinoa. Perfect.

Dinner I had a second attempt to make a sushi roll. Here we go...

Ta-da! Thanks to my coach Sean Dorsett for the Saran wrap tip!!

Now for my story of the day. I completely read over the fact we were able to have yogurt with breakfast this morning! I don't eat yogurt normally, but I picked up a couple of these at the health store nearby:

When I got home from work, I popped one of these into the freezer and then enjoyed it after work as fro-yo! This plus my herbal coffee Teecinno was the perfect after dinner treat.

I am amazed at how much energy I have right now. I love the way eating these whole foods is making me feel & how much I am appreciating the flavor of everything in its natural state. Another bonus - I weighed myself this morning and I am down 3 pounds!!

Until Friday :)

Beachbody Ultimate Reset Day 2/3 - Attack of the Headache

Day 2
Feeling: Achy, Headache, Nauseous
Water Intake: 88oz

Day 2 was a bit rough for me. I developed a headache during the day that by the time I got home made it almost impossible to do anything. I have only had a headache this bad a few times in my life, and usually just sleep them off. I did what I had to do to make food for dinner / lunch the next day but I struggled. The headache also made me nauseous which obviously didn't help things. I was able to sneak in a nap while some food was cooking and got to bed early.

Oatmeal & Blueberries nothing too fancy :)

Greek Salad - no olives; Substituted baked tempeh for grilled chicken

Day 3
Feeling: Small headache, not great/not terrible
Water Intake: 90oz

Day 3 I woke up and still had a small headache. It has been a dull headache most of the day, but not as debilitating as yesterday. I also feel less groggy and better able to keep my focus today. Nausea is also gone, thank goodness :)

Breakfast was the same as day one. It is so filling, and pretty quick to make! I might have to sneak it in to my regular rotation once the Reset is done! Lunch included this awesome lentil salad

Also for lunch was a microgreen salad like on Day 1. These two salads kept me pretty full, but I did eat a snack because I thought it may be late before I was able to eat dinner. I had 1c of strawberries along with some Almond Dream "yogurt". I've never had the Almond Dream yogurt before, it was awesome!

Dinner was fun to make. I've been craving sushi lately, and although my roll didn't stay together very well, this roll, the salad and the miso soup made me feel like I was eating in my favorite sushi restaurant!

I still have a small headache, so it will be another early night for me. See you all tomorrow!

Beachbody Ultimate Reset Day 1 - The Reset Begins!

Feeling - Good, somewhat tired
Weight - 158.6
Water Intake - 84 oz

Day 1 is in the books! I woke up excited and ready to go. After staring at the supplement guide for what felt like the 100th time, I took my first supplements of the day and got to work making breakfast/getting ready for work.

This is probably the best breakfast I've had in a long time:

Tofu scramble, steamed kale, whole grain bread

Super filling, the wholeness & simpleness of the ingredients was refreshing. I felt like this would give me energy & last me well into lunchtime.

I was most worried about craving coffee today, being that I am in an office full of coffee addicts and I looooove the smell of coffee. I was able to resist the cart of coffee rolled into my 8:30am meeting, and when my co-worker and I made our usual Starbucks run, I opted for green tea. I needed to drink something other than water.

Speaking of which. Water. Lots of water. I used to think I did well to hydrate myself daily, but I am beginning to realize I never came close even to 64oz that is recommended! This afternoon I made some jazzy ice cubes to perk up my water for tomorrow:

Chop up lemons & limes

Add water & freeze!

Dinner was also very yummy. I was surprised at how much flavor the marinade gave this tofu. I wasn't expecting a lot with the ingredients, but I was pleasently surprised.

Marinated & baked tofu, steamed lemony asparagus & boiled baby potatoes

Right now I am feeling good, tired (but it is 10:45 pm) and I have a small headache. I am sure the caffeine withdrawl will hit soon. As far as the supplements go, I just have two thoughts. I find it interesting we are basically adding salt to all the water we are drinking. Luckily it is not too strong where it feels like you are drinking an ocean. Also, despite my <3 for all things green, Alkalinize gave me some trouble this afternoon. I searched the forums for some tips and tomorrow I'm going to try a supplement shot - lick of Himalayan salt, shot of Alkalinize, suck on a lemon. I hope for the best!

Until tomorrow! Cheers!

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Interested in Beachbody's Ultimate Reset? For more information click here!
http://myultimatereset.com/LauraLou831

Monday Mantra: Jer 29:11

Today's reflection is a bible verse. My small group is studying on the Holy Spirit, and this one of the last verse's in this week's lesson:

Jeremiah 29:11 For  I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Today I would like to remember that even when I feel like I am wandering, I am on a path to God's greater plan. To remember that I can call out to God as Father and as Abba, and that He has given us the Holy Spirit as a comfort in our time of need.

Running in the Rain

Tomorrow starts the 21-day reset - I am so excited! Reading over the program, I think the hardest thing for me will be no caffeine for 21 days. I am not totally dependent on coffee to wake me up in the morning or to give me energy, but I am one of those people that truly enjoys the flavor of coffee. So, today I thought, heck I will treat myself to one last frappuccino before the reset begins. In order to enjoy my treat sans guilt I decided to go run in a small little park/shopping area we have near where I live. I figured I would run for about 20 mins, pick up a frappuccino during Starbucks Happy Hour (I'm cheap!) and then enjoy while I finished up some homework.

Unfortunately while I was driving to the park, it started to rain. I can't stand running in the rain...the puddles annoy me, I feel like I'm going to slip, and I had no running jacket with me. Most days I would just wait on better weather. This frappuccino meant a lot to me though (ok maybe I am addicted!) so you gotta do what you gotta do!

A ray of sunshine in the rain :)

Cheers to one last drink before the Reset & here's to a successfull program!

Special Series: Beachbody Ultimate Reset

Today I finished up shopping for all the food I will need for week 1 of the reset. Yesterday I took a trip to the local health food store, since I knew they sold ingredients like raw agave, miso paste, etc but also because they sell nuts/grains/legumes in bulk. The trip set me back about $85, but a lot of the food I purchased will be used throughout the cleanse.

Check out all this produce!!

I don't think I have ever bought this much produce for a week, and I'm a vegetarian! Looking through the meal plan, I actually thought I would be hungry on some days, but after this trip I am confident all these fruits and veggies will fill me up!

Tomorrow I'm going to try to prep & cook most of my meals, at least what I need through Wednesday. My days tend to get hectic, and our coach reminded us to not put any roadblocks in our way!

Stay positive, and Happy Derby day!

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Interested in Beachbody's Ultimate Reset? For more information click here!
http://myultimatereset.com/LauraLou831

Reset: A New Chapter

I am super excited to say that starting next week I will be taking part in the Beachbody Ultimate Reset. This is a 21 day cleanse split up in 3 phases to help your body RECLAIM and rebalance itself, RELEASE harmful toxic compounds that may be stored within, and RESTORE your system to its maximum health (http://www.ultimatereset.com/). Somewhere along the way of me purchasing Beachbody products I got paired up with a very inspirational coach, Sean. He put this 21-day challenge out to our team, and 4 of us will be making the journey together.

So why reset? And why start blogging again?
The reset caught my attention because it adheres to the principles I believe in. "Let food be thy medicine" - Hippocrates. If you put junk in, you're going to get junk out. And you're going to feel...junky. The reset program is focused around whole foods (mainly vegan) eating - which is something I do already. As most people feel at some point in their life, I feel like I've been in a rut lately.

"Are you tired? Have you been feeling sick?  Run-down? Having trouble with your digestion? Do you have hard time losing weight?" These are questions the reset pose to you. And unfortunately, I can answer "yes" to most of them. I am taking this awesome OPPORTUNITY to get back on track and treat my body right!


I have seem some people do video-logs of their day-to-day experiences on the cleanse. I'm more of a blogger, and this blog is something I've wanted to revive anyways. I have committed to 21-days on the cleanse, and hopefully 21 days of blogging will get me back on track here too!


There you have it. I'll post about the good, the bad, and the ugly. I believe in this system, and even though I expect the ups & downs of any detox program,  I know the results will be worth it. Come along on my journey :)

Photo Credit: http://www.yogafromthehearttx.com/