Tag Archives: 21 dsd

Homemade Sunflower Butter

Game changer alert! I had never tried Sunflower Butter until a few weeks ago.  I guess I just never had the opportunity and I sure wasn’t going to buy a $12 jar at Whole Foods just to risk not liking it.  Well when I tasted my first spoonful of Sunflower Butter, to my surprise it tasted much more like peanut butter than any other nut butter I’ve had!

IMG_2532

Peanut butter is one of those things that I randomly will realize I haven’t eaten it in a few years and really crave it. Sunflower butter to the rescue!  Since I’m on the 21 Day Sugar Detox and on a ‘homemade’ kick right now, I thought I’d give it a go and make the sunflower butter at home!

Now it definitely takes a little more time and attention than Almond Butter, but it is definitely worth it!

Sunflower Butter – No Sugar Added

Ingredients Continue reading

21 Day Sugar Detox – Recap

I did it!  I completed the 21 Day Sugar Detox!  To be honest, those exclamation points are a little exaggerated from how I really felt waking up this morning (Day 22).  Maybe because today was Tuesday, maybe because I didn’t change my diet that drastically over the past three weeks, or maybe I’m just no fun.

unnamed

All of that aside I do feel like I accomplished something and proud of the self-control I had throughout the detox (except for one cheat meal) My body is grateful for how I’ve treated it over the past three weeks, that I can tell you for sure.

My favorite part of committing to this sugar detox was all of the fantastic recipes in Diane’s book.  It will remain on my kitchen counter far beyond my sugar free days.  I definitely recommend this detox for anyone.  If you already eat paleo / primal, it will help you stay on track throughout the entire week and also figure out if any certain foods are causing any problems.  If you do not eat paleo or primal yet, then I absolutely recommend the 21 Day Sugar Detox as a jump-start into the lifestyle.  Here’s my recap:

My Favorite Recipes

photo (2)

photo (3)

Cinilla

photo 2 (2)

photo 2 (3)

photo 3 (2)

Results I’ve Felt or Seen

  • Less bloating
  • No random stomach aches / digestive issues
  • No hangovers (from eating or drinking bad)
  • Clarity, refreshed feeling
  • Skin is just starting to clear a bit

Food/Drink I Missed the Most

  • Honey Almond Butter
  • Dark Chocolate (100% is no bueno)
  • Blueberries
  • Cottage Cheese
  • Ketchup
  • WINE!!

How I will transition now that I have finished the detox:

Diane suggests that you introduce foods back into your diet one at a time.  Eat that one food a few times throughout the day and then not again for two days.  This will help determine which foods cause certain reactions.  Being that it’s the middle of the week, I didn’t have a big “Woo hoo I completed this sugar detox now let me stick my face in a bucket of candy bars” type of desire.

I started small and had what I missed the most.  I had a RIPE banana with Justin’s Honey Almond butter this morning.  It’s funny the almond butter only has 3 grams of sugar but it tasted extra sweet!

2013-10-10 11.21.23

This weekend is Andy’s birthday and we are heading to Vermont for a ski weekend.  I am sure I will indulge a bit (or a lot) at that point – so will report back!

Did anyone else just finish the 21 Day Sugar Detox?  What is the first food you introduced back into your diet?

21 Day Sugar Detox Update and Why I Had One Cheat Meal

I can’t believe I’m on day 16 of the 21 Day Sugar Detox!  I’m feeling great overall.  Physically I feel like I have been less bloated than normal these past couple of weeks.  Changing my diet along with practicing yoga more has led me to feel a little bit slimmer.  I didn’t weigh myself before the detox because I’m really not too concerned with a number on the scale.  As long as I’m feeling good, then I’m happy with the results!

I was going to title this post, “It’s okay to slip – up” or “I get knocked down, but get up again”, but I realized that would be lying.  I didn’t accidentally slip…I intentionally decided ‘I am going to cheat tonight.’  So here is why I had one cheat meal:

It was Saturday night.  I just got out of my very first day of Yoga Teacher Training and I was feeling amazing.  I was in the best mood and so happy!  Andy told me that our friends were coming to town to go to Capital Grille for dinner.  Now Capital Grille isn’t just any restaurant, it’s one of the best steak houses in the country!

This is when I decided that I was going to have a cheat night.  I figured it was an overall pretty fantastic day and not to mention one that I will probably remember forever…so steak, cheese, and wine it was!

We had prosciutto wrapped mozzarella drizzled with balsamic.

photo 5 (2)

 

For dinner I had a dry aged steak over a truffle (something) puree.  That’s pretty awful that I already forget what exactly it was huh?  All I know it that it tasted delicious!

photo 3 (4)

 

For sides I ate lots of grilled asparagus!

photo 4 (3)

 

I had a few glasses of red wine!

photo 1 (5)

 

And most importantly had a great night with great people.

photo 2 (6)

 

So yes, I cheated for one meal on the 21 Day Sugar Detox.  I am okay with that, because I am a person who can get right back to business the next morning.  Everyone is different.  Some people may slip up and it may lead to more and more “cheating.”  We have to remember we are human and not perfect.  Yes I did make this 21 day commitment but I was okay with taking a night to enjoy myself and time with good friends to celebrate just absolutely amazing life can be in certain moments.

How easily do you get back on track after “cheating”?