Guest Post: Erin explains it all

 Erin (on left) and I in NYC...moments before we decided to consume greasy diner food at 2a.m.

Back in 2008, my Maid of Honor, Erin, went through a gut twistingly awful break up that left her couch bound and despondent.  When she was finally able to change out of her pajamas and hold a conversation without crying, I suggested that she do a detox (Natalia Rose's Raw Food Detox Diet) to exorcise all the negative emotions that had taken up residence in her body.  Just like undigested food, undigested emotion can hunker down in your body and wreak havoc on your physical and emotional well being.  For that reason, negative emotions need to be properly processed and then expelled.  Doing a detox is a great way to get that ball rolling.  A few months after Erin's first cleanse, I bought Natalia Rose's Detox for Women.  Since she had such great success the first time around, I begged asked Erin to do it with me.  I also begged asked Erin to keep track of her progress since, at the time, I was contemplating starting a health blog and wanted her take on things for future use.  When Erin found out I was revisiting Natalia's cleanse this month, she dug out her old notes to share with you.  Thanks, Erin!!

-♥ J :)

Erin's Log Day 1: Time to starve the yeast!

I'll tell you what: if Natalia is right, and it is in fact YEAST that's been causing all of the weird little ailments I've been battling for most of my life, then hell YEAH I'm ready to starve that little bastard!  However, I will definitely be making modifications because Jen told me that I'm allowed to and what Jen says, I do.  Plus, I’ve already been doing stage III of Natalia’s regular ol’ detox for about two months and I feel like I’ve finally hit a good point of equilibrium.  My goal for the next 30 days is to slightly amp up what I’ve been doing, while maintaining a program that I can still manage with my schedule and social life.

Now, I actually started this whole detoxification process in an effort to get over a bad break-up.  I figured (and well...Jen told me) that I had so much garbage in my system from all of the vodka, beer, and buffalo wings that I regularly consumed when I was with my Ex, along with the many emotional toxins that came with the trauma of the break-up, that it only made sense that I clean out my system in order to move on.  I recommend this to anyone and everyone trying to get over a break-up!  Not only has the detox actually given me something proactive with which to occupy my time, but I’ve turned something negative into something very positive.  I’ve discovered some very valuable things about myself and about the relationship that I’ve literally been trying to flush out of my system.  As a result, I’m completely over his poisonous, dark cloud, overeating, bacon-lover ass, and I feel fantastic! 

But, it has definitely been a roller coaster.  Over the past two months , I’ve experienced a litany of detox symptoms -- both good and bad.  I’ve had days when I felt incredible and sparkly all over, as well as days that I’ve fallen off the wagon HARD.  Examples:

• Good: feeling lighter and at peace, have had revelatory dreams that provided insight into some difficult feelings and encouraged me to release the past, felt motivated to detox my apartment (which may be even more necessary that detoxifying my body)
• Bad: throbbing headaches, exhaustion, overwhelming sadness and fear
• Sparkly: skin looks luminescent, beginning to see definition in my abs again, decrease of cellulite on backs of legs, overall happiness and hopefulness
• Girl Overboard!: started my Good Friday dinner with a dirty martini, followed by wine and beer, and then proceeded to exist on a diet of primarily pizza and chocolate covered graham crackers for the next four days…Ummm, yeah.

Point is, I think I’ve survived the worst of it and now I’m ready for the next level.  I shall unleash the infamous “Erin Beat-Down” upon the yeast!  As for modifications – my day will most certainly begin with coffee and I will stick with my berry grapefruit shake in the morning for breakfast.  I will cut back other fruits and 86 the nuts (insert giggle).  I’m thinking that I can still have a gluten-free grain at one meal per day because that hasn’t seemed to bother me.  I will stick with that and see how I feel.  I go out to dinner often, so I’ve set a rule of chicken or fish with vegetables and a two-wine limit.  And that should do it! 

Natalia Rose: Detox 4 Women

Reasons why I love nutritionist Natalia Rose:

1. While she doesn't encourage drinking coffee, she is not militant about giving it up. As long as the coffee is consumed on an empty stomach, Natalia feels it is not a major disruption to the detox process.
2. On Natalia's plan, you can have a moderate amount of red wine and dark chocolate.  'Nuff said.
3. She changed my life.

I'm not being dramatic when I say Natalia Rose changed my life.  Ok, I am being dramatic, but that doesn't make it any less true.  Natalia's books Raw Food Detox Diet and Detox for Women forever changed my approach to eating and nutrition.  A vegetarian since high school, I had always considered myself a healthy eater.  Little did I know, a lot of the foods that I considered "healthy" were actually causing me to feel exhausted and puffy.  When I went on Natalia's plan I experienced the following...

The Clean Up

I could look at the Clean portion of this month's cleanse in one of two ways: 

1. An epic failure in that I did not quit coffee, I barely followed the rules, I missed that gum(!) was on the avoid list and accidentally ended the week in a feast of cake pops and wine.

OR

2.  A really good try.

I am going to go with option number 2, because that is just the barrel of sunshine and pixie dust that I am.  Also, I really did give it the old college try.  And by "college try" I mean the way that I tried in college…half-assed and full of caffeine...  

Clean Lasagna

Wow.  How amazing does THIS RECIPE for Vegetable Lasagna with Cashew Cheese look???  Cleanse or no cleanse these are some seriously drool worthy photos.  It doesn't seem like the lasagna is that difficult to make, either.  I mean it's definitely more of a challenge than millet and broccoli, but I think I can branch out. ;)

-♥ J :)

P.S.  Today is Day 1 of the Natalia Rose Detox for Women portion of the cleanse.  More info on that, as well as a Clean recap, coming up.

Recipe by Frank Giglio

Photos by Jenny Nelson

Millet, Millet and More Millet

When some people detox, they use that time to expand their cooking repertoire.  They'll try new foods, test new recipes.  They will use that time to hike well beyond the outermost limit of their comfort zone, eager on a quest to chart new territory.  I am not those people. When I detox, it takes all my brain space to remember that tortilla chips are not on the approved list.  Therefore, I like to pick a cheap and easy base dish that I can incorporate into many dishes throughout the week.  

This week I was all about millet (as evidenced by my food logs below).  Millet is a super filling grain that is really nutritious and easy to digest.  It has a mild nutty flavor, so it works with almost any seasoning.  One night I had it with lemon and olive oil; another with dijon vinaigrette.  Last night, I ate it as a snack with some hummus.  It also works hot or cold.  I made a huge vat of it on Monday that fed John and I for many meals over the last three days.  And I'm still not sick of it!  (Although, John might be…)

-♥ J :)

Basic Millet Recipe
via Arrowhead Mills
Makes 4 servings.
Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole millet
• 2 cups boiling water (or low sodium vegetable broth)
• 2 tsp oil (I use olive oil.)

Directions:

1. In a heavy skillet, heat 1 tsp of oil.  Add the millet and toast gently until the grain is tan.  
2. Bring the water (or vegetable stock) to a boil.  Add grain to water.
3. Stir; cover and simmer gently for 25 to 30 minutes to desired texture or until all of the water is absorbed.

Clean Food Log: Day 2
-12 oz. coffee (I know...I know.)
-17 oz. coconut water
-4 oz. coffee
-Carrot Pineapple Smoothie

• 16oz. carrot juice
• 1 cup frozen pineapple

-Vanilla Almond Smoothie

• 2 tablespoons Vega Shake and Go Vanilla Almond Smoothie powder
• 1/2 tablespoon Navitas Naturals Maca Powder
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon almond butter
• 1 1/2 cups almond milk

-2 cups romaine with broccoli, brussels sprouts, avocado in dijon vinaigrette
-1 cup millet
-1/2 cup lentils, 1/2 cup sauteed spinach, 1/2 cup yams

Clean Food Log: Day 3
-12 oz. coffee (Yep.  Still drinking coffee.)
-Vanilla Almond Smoothie

• 2 tablespoons Vega Shake and Go Vanilla Almond Smoothie powder
• 1/2 tablespoon Navitas Naturals Maca Powder
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon almond butter
• 1 1/2 cups almond milk

-4oz. coffee
-lentils, spinach, broccoli with millet. Side of yams with avocado.
-16oz. Green Juice

• romaine
• kale
• spinach
• celery
• parsley
• cucumber

-millet with broccoli and hummus

Coming Clean

I might suck at this cleanse.  It is only Day 2, so the jury is still out, but MAN ALIVE I feel like I am pushing a boulder uphill.  And not because the program is particularly difficult.  In fact, it is fairly easy and pretty much in line with the way I usually eat.  I think the trouble is I really don't like following plans.  I like gathering information.  I like learning new things.  But then I like to be left alone to implement them into my life at my leisure.  I don't like things that are too strict or bossy.  This may be why I've never gravitated to boot camp style workouts.  At a certain point, I don't like people telling me what to do. 

That being said, here's the deal with Clean.  To put it simply, in a day you are supposed to have two liquid meals, one solid meal and a snack.  (Now you see why I felt like I was describing the Slim Fast Plan…)  Two of your meals being in liquid form is supposed to help the stomach heal itself by alleviating the constant busy work that is digestion.  However, unlike other plans, the liquid meals are supposed to be nutrient dense ensuring that you are getting everything the body needs without taxing it or causing it stress.  Dr. Junger gives this as an example of a typical day on Clean...

Spring Detox Day 1: Expectation vs. Reality

Expectation:  Today is the day I quit coffee.  How exciting it will be to finally get all my energy from the Sun's universal life giving power.  I will drink in the day with new eyes, finally clear headed and pure of heart.  I will have hot water with lemon.
Reality:  Not a chance.  It's 8:30am.  I've woken up late and I'm still exhausted.  I compromise and decide to not have my coffee right away.  I last four minutes.

Expectation: Exercise is my friend.  It will get my chi flowing in such a way that brilliant ideas will bubble forth like a well timed geyser.  I will greet the day with my cup full of creative possibility.
Reality:  The couch is my friend.  I sit there beyond the point of reason.  I finally change into my workout clothes, pop in a Tracy Anderson DVD and lace up my sneakers.  Being so close to actually working out sends me back to the couch…where I call Erin.  I beg her to stay on the phone with me until I feel like working out.  We're on the phone for an hour and a half.

Expectation: Time to post about Clean.  I will explain all of the programs virtues in an artful yet comprehensive manner.  People will finally understand the merits of giving their digestion a break and ridding their body of potentially harmful allergens.
Reality:  I got nothin'.  Every thing I write sounds like I'm describing the Slim Fast Diet.  I heat up more of the coffee I'm not supposed to be drinking.

Expectation:  My To Do list is my bitch.  I am a moving, shaking warrior princess of accomplishment.  I contemplate running for congress.
Reality:  My To Do list is laughing at me.  It's shouting, "Hey, 'warrior princess'….why don't you spend some more time checking Facebook.  Maybe someone posted a dancing cat video on your wall."

Expectation:  Day 1 of the detox is a huge success.  I already feel my soul a buzz with the interconnected light of all being.  I am one day closer to peace and total balance.
Reality:  Hmmm…coffee good.

-♥ J :)

P.S.  Rough start notwithstanding, I will have my food log up later today.  (She says optimistically...)

And the detox winner is...

"Mellow-do-what-you-can-plant-the-seeds-of-change" detox!! Woo-hoo!!  Let's give both our contestants a hand!!  "All-out-take-no-prisoners-balls-to-the-wall-crazy" detox put up a good fight, but ultimately the thought of an obsessively strict detox made me want to crawl back under the covers.  Besides it's spring!!  This a time of exploration and growth.  It is a time to plant new ideas and see which ones bear fruit.  I've always said that detoxes aren't about chaste perfection, but rather they are about challenging habits and exploring a new way of living.  Let's approach this detox from a place of curiosity and adventure; a place of infinite possibility for unlimited growth. 

I have three favorite detoxes.  I couldn't decide which one to base this month's plan on..so I decided not to decide.  Instead, I will feature a different detox every week.  They have a lot of main principles in common, so switching it up shouldn't be too jarring.  Here's the plan:

Week 1: Wean Week
Ummm...When I say "Week 1", I mean right now.  So, put down that donut and let's get started!  This is the time to cut back on or eliminate the foods that can be major allergens.  Giving yourself a week to ease into things can prevent such annoying detox symptoms as headaches, skin irritations, fatigue, etc.  This week say your goodbyes to:

• Gluten
• Soy
• Dairy
• Sugar
• Alcohol
• Meat
• Eggs
• Caffeine

Week 2:  The Clean Program
For Week 2, I will follow a plan based on Dr. Alejandro Junger's book Clean.  I've talked about this plan on the blog before.  For this week, I will see if all the great things I've heard about Clean are true.

Week 3:  Detox for Women
I've done Natalia Rose's plan before with great results.  Based mostly on juicing, this week will be a terrific follow up to Dr. Junger's elimination diet in Week 2.

Week 4:  Crazy Sexy Diet
Kris Carr's program is more like a permanent way of eating than a detox.  Her book will be the perfect transition back to "real life."

Also as part of the detox, I will aim to (gulp) meditate 20 minutes a day and do some form of exercise 30 minutes a day.  So, there you have it.  Spring 2012 Detox is underway!! Be sure to like the Happy Healthy Belly Facebook page to stay up to date with all the latest detox info.

-♥ J :)

P.S.  We all know that I am a blogger not a doctor, so ALWAYS check with a qualified healthcare professional before undertaking any new nutrition program.

Spring Detox 2012 Shopping List

I'm heading over to Whole Foods in a bit to get a jump on my detox shopping for the week ahead.  I still haven't decided what kind of detox it's going to be.  I'm wavering between an "all-out-take-no-prisoners-balls-to-the-wall-crazy" detox or a "mellow-do-what-you-can-plant-the-seeds-of-change" detox.  Hmmmm…what do you think, Veggies??  Any preferences??  Regardless, the shopping list is the same either way.  Until tomorrow…

-♥ J :)

Spring Detox 2012 Shopping List
Fresh Fruits: 
Apples
Pears
Bananas

Frozen Fruits:
Blueberries
Raspberries
Pineapple
Mango

Fresh Veggies:
Avocado
Cucumber
Beets
Lemons
Celery
Baby carrots
Spinach
Sweet potatoes
Mixed greens
Romaine
Kale
Tomatoes
Scallions

Frozen Veggies:
Broccoli
Spinach
Artichoke hearts
Brussels sprouts

To Drink:
Organic Orange Juice
Unsweetened Almond Milk 
Yogi Green Tea Super Antioxidant

To Spice:
Olive Oil
Apple Cider Vinegar
Dijon Mustard
Garlic 
Seeds of Change Marinara Sauce (dairy-free)
Nama Shoyu 

Nuts:
Almonds
Walnuts
Sesame seeds
Unsweetened Almond Butter

Beans:
Lentils
Garbanzo Beans

Grains:
Buckwheat Soba Noodles
Quinoa
Millet

Earthy-crunchy Extras:
Choc-a-lot Vega Shake and Go Smoothie
Raw Maca Powder
Chia seeds
Raw Chlorella Powder
NuNaturals Stevia

Ballet Beautiful, indeed.

After I saw this video on Cup of Jo yesterday, I immediately ordered these DVDs from Ballet Beautiful.  I've wanted them for a while, but had resisted because of the workout video ban.  Finally, I could resist no more.  What can I say??  Ballet is my kryptonite.  

-♥ J :)

P.S. More ballet.
P.P.S.  I've been threatening one for a while now, but I think the time has finally come.  Have your fun this weekend, Veggies, because Spring Detox starts on Monday.  Woo-hoo!!!  Check back in this weekend for my detox shopping list.

I feel the need…the need for greens.

Over white wine and vegan dip at Amelia's Wednesday night, Grasie mentioned that she was halfway through Kris Carr's 21-Day Adventure Cleanse: Crazy, Sexy Diet.  "Wow, so you gave up coffee, too??" I marveled.  Grasie said it wasn't that bad.  "When I get up, first I'll have hot water with lemon...maybe with a dash of cayenne."  Hot water and lemon.  I've always wanted to be the type of person who wakes up with hot water and lemon.  It seems so serene and civilized.  That type of person wouldn't stumble out of bed in ill-fitting pajamas, unable to muster so much as a "good morning" without half a cup of coffee in their system. That type of person probably does this:

"And then I'll have Yerba Mate," Grasie continued.  "Maybe I could do that.  Maybe I could do Yerba Mate," I rationalized.  "But you already said that you are not giving up coffee this year," Amelia shouted from the kitchen. "You already wrote it on the blog."  Amelia also reminded me that I had promised to eat smaller portions as I reached for seconds of the delicious, crack-like dip she had made.**  Apparently, Amelia is a very comprehensive reader.

"Do you have any interest in doing the Kris Carr cleanse with me?" I asked John when I got home.   "And what would that entail exactly?"  "Basically no coffee, alcohol, meat, dairy, gluten or sugar for 21 days.  And we'd have to meditate everyday for, like, 15 to 20 minutes…among other things.  And in the morning we drink hot water with lemon."  John just stared at me.  "Well, we could just do our best," I prodded.  "It will be fun!!"  John didn't look like he thought it would be fun.  

But it will be fun!!!  Come on, Veggies!!!  We can start on Monday!!  Anyone up for a little cleansing???  Anyone???

-♥ J :)

**The dip Amelia made was the Cheesy, Oozy Guacamole Bean Dip from Alicia Silverstone's book The Kind Diet.  Since I was too busy inhaling it to remember to take a picture for you, here is a video of Alicia herself whipping up a batch.

Budget Detox: The Simple Answer

Oh, Veggies, if you could see my computer. I've been sitting here for over an hour (hmmm…more like 3 days) trying to write your Budget Detox.  After starting eight different versions, three separate shopping lists and procrastinating on Facebook** twice (maybe more than twice...) I have come to the conclusion that this topic is much larger than one post.  Therefore I have decided that I'm going to write you a bunch of posts.  Yippee!!!  Yay for posts!!!  So, where should we start???

You want to detox.  You want to do it on the cheap.  Well, then let's start with the principle of Occam's Razor that generally recommends when selecting among competing hypotheses the one that makes the fewest new assumptions is correct.  In other words…the simplest answer is the right answer.  Let's keep it simple...

Natalia Rose Detoxes the World

Still wondering why any sane person would even consider doing a detox when there are so many more interesting things to do like…bludgeoning oneself with something heavy???  Well, put down that brick and have a gander at this.  In the video below the incomparable Natalia Rose (her name is Natalia even though the video title says Natalie...) gives the whats, whys and hows of all things detox.  I can not wait for her new course PhDetox at the end of the month!!  I will be there with pencils sharpened and green juice in hand.  

-♥ J

The Detox Files

Happy Friday, Veggies!!!  For those of you playing our home game, today marks Day 5 of Fall Detox 2011.  Since Monday I have been juicing during the day and then having a hearty vegan meal for dinner.  Even though this week was really busy, I found that juicing was surprisingly easy to stick to.  This was due in part to the discovery that Earth Bar, one of my favorite places to get fresh juice, now sells juice in prepackaged bottles! 

 I bought three days worth, so I would have them all ready to go whenever I wanted one.  The cost of the juice broke down to about $30 a day.  That's a little steep but, for me, the convenience was worth the price.  Besides, a lot of the popular juice cleanses charge up to $80 a day, so I felt like I was getting a deal. 

HOWEVER (big however), do not get discouraged if that is out of your budget or you don't live near a fresh juice bar.  Next week I am going to cover some cheap and easy ways to get your detox on without having to sell off all of your belongings.  Until then, here is my food plan from the beginning of the week.  Let me know if you have any questions!

-♥ J :)

Monday

10 a.m.- Green Juice: romaine, kale, spinach, celery, parsley, cucumber

12 p.m.- Coconut Bliss Smoothie: organic coconut meat and water, coconut manna, vanilla bean, extra virgin, raw, organic coconut oil, agave ice

4 p.m.- quinoa with broccoli

8 p.m.- Green Juice

Tuesday

10 a.m.- Green Juice

12 p.m.- Citrus Cleanse Juice: orange, green apple, kale, lime

4p.m.- quinoa with broccoli and lentils

6 p.m.- Gt's Kombucha

8 p.m.- Green Juice

Wednesday

10 a.m.- Liver Cleanse Juice: beet. apple, carrot, lemon, ginger, aloe

12 p.m.- Chocolate Supreme Smoothie: raw cacao, banana, raw almond butter, almond milk, agave 

3 p.m.- Citrus Cleanse Juice

6 p.m.- Green Juice

8:30 p.m.- Bill's Tender Greens Salad (Tender Greens Nicoise: NO tuna. NO egg. SUB grilled vegetables) vegan butternut squash soup and a side of hummus

Mmmmm....so yummy.

Let's get this party started!!

Without further ado…I present to you…
Fall Detox 2011!!!  (I tried to come up with a catchy title like this one, but nothing stuck...)
Specifics will follow, but the gist of my plan is this:

The NO's:

• Gluten
• Soy
• Dairy
• Sugar
• Alcohol
• Meat
• Eggs
• Corn
• Coffee

Sheesh.  When you put all that stuff up there in one lump, it makes this seems like a positively irrational idea.  
Oh, well.  Too late to back out now...

I will be modeling this detox on Natalia Rose's book Detox 4 Women.  If you are really interested in improving your health, I can not recommend this book enough.  When Erin and I did Natalia's Raw Food Detox Diet a few years back, we both agreed that it was the best we've ever felt…ever.  Natalia's philosophy forever changed the way that I approach eating and nutrition.  Now, don't let the title fool you.  There is nothing "girly" about this book.  The fundamentals work just as well for men as they do for women.  It is a four week plan, but I'll be using this week as my transition week.  It is always a good idea to give yourself a week to prep rather than diving straight into a detox.  Doing that will cut down on a lot of the detox symptoms that can occur when embarking on a new way of eating.  I will use this week to do my food shopping, quit coffee, eliminate the "foods" listed above and generally get all my vegetables in a row before the hard core juicing starts on Monday October, 10th.  Here's my shopping list, Veggies.  Let me know if you have any questions!

-♥ J :)

*Read HERE about the detox we did back in the spring.

Fall Detox 2011 SHOPPING LIST
Fruits and Veggies:
Apples
Frozen blueberries
Frozen strawberries
Avocado
Cucumber
Beets
Lemons
Celery
Baby carrots
Mixed greens
Romaine
Kale
Frozen broccoli
Frozen and/or fresh spinach
Frozen artichoke hearts
Frozen brussels sprouts
Scallions
Sweet potatoes
Butternut squash
Spaghetti squash

Condiments and Dips:
Unsweetened Almond Milk (rice milk if you have a nut allergy)
Almond Butter
Olive Oil
Apple Cider Vinegar
Dijon Mustard
Garlic (powder or fresh)
Seeds of Change Marinara Sauce (dairy-free)
Earth Balance Soy-Free Natural Buttery Spread
NuNaturals Stevia
Nama Shoyu (soy sauce)

Nuts:
Almonds
Walnuts
Sesame seeds

Beans:
Lentils

Grains:
Organic brown rice 
Buckwheat Soba (like this one)
Quinoa
Millet

One small step for Veggies...

Sean: "I have completed a week without dairy.  I have noted marked improvements in the consistency and range of my (singing) voice, and my skin is clear, which I don't think has been the case since I was 12.  This is my quote for your blog."

Me:  "Wow!!!  And that was after only one week!!!  Think of how great you would feel after 3!!!"

Sean:  "Mmmmm.  That's a long time..."

I tend to get overexcited.  Especially when it comes to health.  I truly believe that one small change to your diet can bring such a big change to your life that it will then in turn bring change to the lives of your friends and family, which will then bring change to the lives of THEIR friends and family and so on and so forth until that very first small change (that you thought no one would even notice!) will cause such a huge ripple effect that it will bring ginormous change to the whole wide world!!!  

See what I mean?? Overexcited.  

I am telling you this little parable, because I am about to post the "rules" for the detox.  They might seem strict, so I want to stress to you that this is just what I am doing with my little overexcited self.  You have to decide for yourself what works for your body.  Follow as much or as little as you like. Don't get frustrated and adopt an  "Eh.  That looks exhausting.  Pass the jalapeno poppers." attitude. Remember, even the tiniest change can yield huge results.  And, as always, please, please, please consult a medical professional before starting any nutrition program.  

-♥ J :)

*Up later today:  Detox plan and shopping list.

And it's Detox for the win!!!

After much procrastination…I mean, deliberation…I have decided to do a fall detox.
I got this email from Charli the other day. I took it as a sign.

Hi Jen!
Just wanted to link you and Stacey on this. She's trying to eat healthy and is considering doing a cleanse, so I thought you'd be a good resource for books, info, recipes, etc. Have at it, you two!
Cheers,
Charli

Now, fall may seem like a strange time for a detox. It's not a "change-your-life-this year-is-going-to-be-different" New Year's detox. It's not a "good-buddha-do-I-really have-to-appear-in-front-of-people-in-a-swimsuit?!?!" summer detox. It's not even a "I-am-going-clear-out-all-the-clogging-goopy-junk-from-my-life" spring cleaning detox.  By the time fall rolls around, you may just feel like throwing on a bulky sweater and calling it a day... 

You were saying…

photo via  A Cup of Jo

Happy first day of fall, Veggies!!!  How will you celebrate the new season???  I will be welcoming fall by drinking some beet juice, attempting to make butternut squash and watching this movie:

I will not, however, be donning any flannels or knee-high boots (like these…sigh) since it is still an impressive 80 degrees in LA.  Silly LA.  Anyway, the debate in my brain about doing a fall detox rages on.  These inspiring (and hilarious) responses to Wednesday's post may wind up being the deciding factor.  

Anthony wrote:

"Hey Jen Jen! Thanks for the mention in your blog! I made it 20 days with only juicing.  My cholesterol dropped 160 points and my blood sugar 5 points and I'm down 21 pounds and still counting. I actually crave the juice now.  I dare say that the thought of pizza makes me sick (please god forgive give me)."

Cara posted on Facebook:

"I just bought a juicer, so I am very excited about integrating that into how I eat. It makes eating so much easier on the days when nothing sounds good and I don't feel like chewing. (Yes, I have a number of those days.)" 

And my brother, Sean, texted me the following:

"I'm quitting dairy for a week.  I better sh*t rainbows."

What do you think?  Fall detox or (vegan) apple pie with mulled cider?  Hmmm...maybe both.  I'm giving myself until Monday to figure out the "Hows" and "Whys" but until then….

I want to hear from you, Veggies!!!  I am taking requests.  What do you want to talk about??? Right now in the request queue are pleas for a thorough gluten explanation and more recipes with lentils.  Email me, tweet me, post on the Happy Healthy Belly Facebook page.    Anything you want to see a post about…let me know!!!  
Happy Weekend!!!

-♥ J :)