stir fried veggies with shrimp and rice

I’ve been focusing on the things I’ve had to give up while doing this Cleanse as well as on my pursuit.  This week, instead of focusing on those foods that I’ve been avoiding, I’m going to focus on new discoveries.

I forgot how much I like bok choy, stir fried with some broccoli and shrimp served over brown rice…yummy!

I don’t like broccoli cooked as much as I like it raw.

I can’t believe that I never had celery with peanut butter as a snack.  Well maybe its because I don’t like peanut butter BUT celery with Almond butter (yes, I know I’m weird) is one of my new favorite snacks.

I really enjoy cooking and this cleanse is making me cook more often and get creative.  Still working on the creativity though

I am adding Cayenne Pepper to almost everything.  That little zing makes everything taste better.

In Trader Joe’s the other day the cashier was talking about using avocado in lieu of mayonnaise when making tuna.  I stopped using mayo over a year ago so I thought I’d give it a try.  It was good but still needed a little something…so I added some cayenne pepper!

Medjool Dates are the BEST THING EVER!  How I never tried these before I don’t know but now I am in love!  Watch out avocados you have a new rival!

So those are some new discoveries this week.  What about you?  Anything new you want to share, any new recipes or ideas?

Don’t forget to visit with Karen over at Journey Back to Self to see what she has learned this week.

And if you want to try the 21 Day Cleanse, go visit Melissa at Wellness with Melissa.

When I hear the word CLEANSE, I immediately think of those all liquid cleanses where you only drink lemon water and don’t eat a thing.  Or remember the cabbage one?  Or the one where you only ate orange food?  You may have the same reaction when you hear the word cleanse.  Well this week I started a 21-day cleanse with my friend Melissa who is a Health & Wellness Coach.  There are two reasons I am doing this cleanse.  One, because Melissa asked me, and two, because I can still eat real food!  Oh and three, because I already cut most of these foods out of my diet already so I didn’t think it would be too difficult.

Here are a couple of things I have learned so far on this cleanse.

• For me, its been about being more mindful of how I eat than what I eat.  Savoring each bite and slowing down.
• I have had to plan ahead more.  Making a batch of quinoa and roasted veggies to have on hand.  Because several nights a week I get home after 8pm, this has been great to have at the ready.
• I can still go out to eat and make good choices and if I want to enjoy a beer or glass of wine with dinner, then I should go ahead and do that, as long as I’m not going to beat myself up about it afterward.

I still have 17 days to go on this cleanse, so it will be interesting what else comes up for me in the days to come.

Also on the health and wellness front, I had a great conversation with Karen over at Journey Back to Self yesterday and her recent health challenges.  Go over to her blog and see what she has been facing these past couple of weeks.

And don’t forget to check out my friend Melissa’s blog, Wellness with Melissa!

Sitting in a cool, old-school hotel lounge having cocktails and spying Armand Assante sitting at the next table.

Going to the same diner every morning for coffee and eggs.

Watching the skaters at Rockefeller Center than perusing the streets for bits of trash that seem interesting.

Kicking aside the trash every trip up and down those 3 flights of stairs to ‘our’ apartment.

Spending the evening watching Jonatha perform, while looking out on Columbus Circle, with some of your dearest friends.

Giggling into the night.

Being helped up from a pretty scary fall with only a bruised knee and torn jeans.  Then walking into the museum and being handed a bandaid at the exact moment the scrape started to bleed.

Discussing a fun project that could turn into something great and be the exact thing that propels me forward.

Getting a massage from a guy who used to be a welder and changed careers in his 50′s (I’m guessing on the age), showing me its never too late to pursue a dream.

Spending time with friends who I don’t see often enough and yet it feels like we just saw each other yesterday.

Eating good food, drinking good wine and laughing…alot.

Its sort of like that….

Guacamole made tableside - Rosa Mexicana, NYC

Last week I spent several days in NYC with some wonderful friends, including the lovely Karen over at Journey Back to Self.  We ate, we drank, we walked, we talked and we laughed…alot!  I then headed to PA, to spend time with more wonderful friends and continued to eat and drink…alot!

I love traveling and spending time with friends and when I get in social situations tend to throw my healthy eating habits out the door.  Its not like I ate donuts AND ice cream (that was someone else who shall remain nameless), but I did indulge in a bit of wine and cheese and chips and guacamole and margaritas, oh the margaritas!  I did not have toast with my morning eggs but did have diner coffee every day.

All of this to say that sometimes its hard to stick to your guns and its OK to indulge once in awhile.  I did put on a pound or two while on vacation and while I did try to order healthy meals off the menu (salad, egg white omelet, fish), I find it harder to stay on the healthy path while traveling.

I’m not sure where I’m going with this or what lesson to take away other than life is meant to be enjoyed!  And well I truly enjoyed my vacation to NYC and PA, spent with great friends, eating good food, drinking good wine and laughing…and laughing…and laughing some more.

I missed my post on Friday and now its Monday so that accounts for the 6.3.

This past week was a bit of a downslide for me.  I ate out more than usual including a hamburger and fries that tasted great but a few hours later made me feel sluggish.  I had chicken pot pie that was delicious and a brownie sundae with my sister.  I had beer and wine and more cheese than normal.

I am noticing more and more how various foods make me feel.  I am learning what gives me energy and what saps it, what makes me bloated and what fills the hunger without any side effects.  I feel like I have a long way to go but one step at a time.

Since I am heading out of town for the rest of the week I’m sure I will be tempted with all types of foods I’ve been avoiding…that’s what happens when you go on vacation.  I am sure that I’ll have a lot to share when I return next week.

Until then, check in with Karen at Journey Back to Self and please feel free to share your journey here.

Even though I haven’t been taking many photos recently I wanted to get back in on the lovely Bella’s 52 Photos Project.  I looked through some photos from the past couple of months and found a few where I got really close.  I love playing with the macro function and would really like to get a macro lens but that’s just not in the cards right now.

I am hoping that Bella’s prompts will get me to pull out my camera more often.  I’ve missed taking photos.

Wheatless Waffles from Trader Joes

Its a new year and I see all kinds of people making resolutions to get healthy, eat better, lose weight.  At the Pilates studio, we are starting to see some new faces, people looking to turn over a new leaf.  My cousins are starting a Biggest Loser contest amongst the family.  Everyone on a pursuit to get healthy.

Karen over at Journey Back to Self and I started this pursuit to encourage each other but hope we can do that for you too.

The holidays were a bit of a challenge to eat healthy.  I did give in to temptation a time or two…hello cheesecake.  But I did learn a few things that I want to share.

• it wasn’t nearly as hard as I thought to not eat every single cookie that was put out.  one or two and I was good
• taking just a little bit of all the food that was put out was satisfying
• when eating out, I’m still learning what to eat.  I went to PF Changs and had some rice noodles with chicken and shrimp, I was so bloated afterward and the next day felt like I had a hangover without the booze…crazy!
• I am still learning what my trigger foods are, what makes me bloat up, what makes me dehydrated, etc.  Its a process and it takes time…learning patience.

The weight loss as remained pretty constant, around 8 pounds total to date, although I am feeling better physically so I’m not as concerned that the pounds aren’t melting away.

How about you?  Any revelations over the holidays?  Anything new you have learned on your pursuit?

Please feel free to link here.  And don’t forget to go visit Karen to check out what she has to say this week.

definition:  the state of being comfortable

a. freedom from pain or discomfort
b. freedom from care
c. freedom from labor or difficulty
d. freedom from embarrassment or constraint

Over the past few years, I have not made resolutions but instead have focused on a word that encompasses what I want to bring to that new year.  Last year, I chose two words, Trust and Balance.  I worked a lot last year on trusting myself and others and bringing balance to my life.  I’m still working on both of those.

This year when thinking of a word, I pondered a few but the one that stuck with me and kept playing over and over again in my head is EASE.  Not Easy as in I want my life to be easy but Ease as in quit fighting so hard.  Ease on down the road…don’t make things harder then they need to be.

We will see what 2012 holds for all of us.  I think its going to be a good year indeed.  And I hope that all of you incorporate some EASE into your life too.

It has been a challenge the last week and a half to stay on track with my goals.  I was traveling part of the time and this week has been busy getting ready for the holiday.  I’ve been sleeping in late (or should I say oversleeping) every morning so my breakfasts this week have been protein bars (pictured above).  I like these particular bars because they have 20 grams of protein and I don’t know about you, but I need crave protein in the morning.  And if I’m planning on getting a workout in, its a must.  I would much rather enjoy some eggs or oatmeal with fruit and nuts but this week I’ve been rushed so these bars have done the trick.

I did indulge a bit while traveling in LA so my weight loss had a little set back.  I enjoyed prosecco at the big book launch and fries with oysters which is Christine and my traditional meal.  I have decided not to beat myself up about it because I enjoyed every single moment.  I’m learning what food means to me, what it represents.  I’m not quite ready to share that yet but I will very soon.

I’m learning some very interesting lessons on this pursuit and I can’t wait to share more in the new year.  I think I’ll be taking a week off for the holidays and will see you back here in 2012!

Now go check out Karen’s latest post as I think she has some good stuff to share.

And if you are joining us on this pursuit and want to share, be sure to link up here.