Squeaky Clean

Three cheers for my sister-in-law Cara who just finished 21 days (plus seven "re-entry" days) on The Clean Program by Dr. Alexander Junger.  Some of the ailments that prompted Cara to start the cleanse were achy joints, dry skin and an irritated gut.  In addition to all that, a two month regime of pain medication following surgery on her shoulder left Cara feeling "pretty toxic."  Craving a change, she set out to get her body back to a place where it could "heal and detox itself with the proper nutrition from a balanced diet."  

After 21 days following the Clean diet, not only did Cara's chronic acid reflux symptoms disappear, but she lost some weight ("When your underwear fit looser, you know you've seen a shift in weight.") and she noticed an increase in her muscle strength.  Cara's before and after photos also showed her progress.  While she is a stunning(!) girl to begin with, by day 21 Cara had a positively goddess like glow.

"I can honestly say this is the best thing I've done for my health and well-being ever," Cara says.  "I feel so great and so healthy and have a new commitment to maintaining a healthy program of diet and exercise. It feels too good to let it slip away. If you are thinking of doing a cleanse or just something better for your body, give this a try. I am a devotee for sure!"

What do we think, Veggies??? Anyone up for a fall detox??? 
Even if you are not, here is a delicious soup recipe that Cara created while on the cleanse.  It seems so hearty and filling.  Perfect for a crisp fall evening…

-♥ J :)

Cara's Clean Cannelini Bean Soup
INGREDIENTS:
-1 can cannelini beans
-2 tbsp coconut milk plain yogurt
-1-2 cups organic chicken, vegetable or mushroom broth (add enough to create desired consistency)
-1 tsp cumin
-1/2 tsp onion powder
-1/2 tsp garlic powder
-1/2 tsp salt (or dulse)
-1 tsp lemon thyme
-1 scoop of pea protein powder (optional)

PREPARATIONS:
1. Puree in blender.
2. Heat slightly or go cold, whichever you prefer.

Ain't no money in the cure...

"The money's in the medicine...that's how a drug dealer makes his money, on the comeback."

-Chris Rock

Hmmm...This movie looks very interesting.
-♥ J :)

My Lunch with* Tracy Anderson (*Term "with" may not apply…)

This weekend John and I traveled out of town for our friends' wedding.  Saturday afternoon, as we sat down to a quick lunch before the ceremony, John turned to me and said, "Hey, isn't that your hero?"  My first thought was, "My mom is here?!?"  But as I turned around I saw that our fellow luncher was not my mom but rather my guru, my motivator, the voice in my head telling me to work out…Tracy Anderson.  The reason that John recognized Tracy so easily is because he has stared at her face in our living room at least 5 days a week for the better part of the year.

John: "You should say something to her."
Me: "NO!!"
John:  "What?!  Why not?!  You love her DVDS!  You think she is terrific!  She would want to hear that!"
Me:  "No!  Stop it!  I am not doing that."
I wasn't going to do that for two reasons:

Ice Ice Baby

Fall may be just around the corner, but LA has cracked the 100 degree mark all week long.  Faced with this plight, I did what any resourceful lady would do…I cruised the Whole Foods freezer section for treats.  Here's what I found:

Rush Bowls: Meal in a Bowl blended fruit
Blended guava juice, acai berries, mango, banana with a gluten-free "granola" topping???  Yes, please.  These bowls are (as per their name) a complete frozen meal in a bowl.  If you want to eat yours right away, they can be defrosted in the microwave or, if you are saving it for later, the "bowl" can sit out at room temperature for two hours.  There are six different flavors all with fun names like "Yoga Bowl" or "Power Bowl."  I picked "Beach Bowl" in the hope that I may actually  find myself eating it on the beach this weekend.  A girl can dream…

So Delicious Coconut Milk Minis: No Sugar Added Vanilla Bar
These chocolate covered bits of heaven are lucky they made it from the car to the house.  Not because they were in danger of melting, but because it took every bit of  self restraint I could muster not to gobble them up on the car ride home.  Dairy free.  Soy free. Gluten free.  Less than 1 gram of sugar.  Are you still reading or did you immediately run out to buy some??  I would not hold it against you if you did.  And even though the bars are called "minis," they are still a really good size.  That did not, however, stop me from inhaling two of them.  Don't look at me like that.  I ate my dinner first...

-♥ J :)

I want these workout videos...

In addition to eating our weight in pasta last weekend, John and I had a visit from Steve and Charli.  While Steve and John were off discussing something of substance, Charli and I drank vodka smoothies and googled exercise videos. (Don't judge my fun…)  We furiously debated the cost of workout videos and plotted our next exercise adventure.  Charli's video spending limit caps off at $30. ( "I am NOT spending more than that!!!  Don't be ridiculous!!!") I, however, will spare no expense when it comes to working out…and have the video collection to prove it.  After my last purchase of Tracy Anderson's Metamorphosis, I banned myself from buying anymore videos.  However, these videos are so enticing that I can feel my resolve weakening.  What do you think??  Which one would you try??  Or are you like Erin who HATES working out in the house??

-♥ J :)

P.S.  Looking for a FREE workout???  In celebration of their opening week, Moksha Yoga LA is offering FREE hot yoga from Sept. 17th- Sept. 23rd!!!  They are also having a huge pre-opening sale on selected yoga packages.  Check them out HERE.


1.  Ballet Beautiful
This video's creator Mary Helen Bowers trained Natalie Portman for Black Swan.  Ballet Beautiful claims to make "the elusive shape of a ballerina'a body..attainable for everyone."  Honestly, they had my money at "ballet." At an affordable $21.99, even Charli is willing to give this one a whirl.

2. Brazil Butt Lift  Workout

The before and afters on this infomercial are pretty impressive.  The Brazil Butt Lift Workout claims to have "secret triangle training" that uses "specific angles of movement to target and sculpt specific areas of your butt, hips and thighs".  Sounds like a fancy way of saying you'll be doing a truck load of butt exercises.  This workout is a little over $60, but you get six different videos as well as a bunch of free gifts.

3. Insanity
I think the name sums it up.  A 60-day total body conditioning program, Insanity touts itself as an "extreme home workout dvd."  No weights or equipment needed for these 45 minute videos.  Insanity uses your own body weight to get you "the hardest body you've ever had."   This system comes with ten videos (plus four free gifts) and will cost you $120.  Well…it will cost me $120, because I know eventually I will wind up ordering it.  That's right.  I am just that insane. :)

Legends of the Fall

Oooh, I love me some fall*. You can say what you want about New Years, but for me September will always be the symbol of new beginnings. "Back to School" is all potential, fresh starts and another chance to get it right. (Not to mention the new school clothes!!!)

This weekend I gave summer a proper, lazy send off by sleeping in, staring at trees and eating whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. One of the things I wanted to eat was pasta. Lots and lots of pasta. However, in keeping with the lazy mood, I didn't really feel like exhausting myself with such frivolities as shopping for ingredients or…thinking. Hence the Lazy End of Summer Spinach "Pesto" Pasta was born. I grabbed what was already in the house, mushed it all together and voila…dinner. Sure, a lot of things about this recipe could be perfected, but I figured there is plenty of time for that kind of ambition come fall.

-♥ J :)

*Happy Healthy Belly has a bunch of fun fall adventures coming up!!! Trips, lectures, maybe a change of season detox….Stay tuned!!

Lazy End of Summer Spinach "Pesto" Pasta

serves 4 (or 2 very hungry people…)

Ingredients:
-1 lb. brown rice spaghetti pasta 
-1 lb. frozen organic spinach
-juice of 3 lemons
-3/4 cup olive oil
-garlic powder to taste
-lemon pepper to taste
-red pepper flakes to taste

Directions:
1. In a large pot (like this one) bring water to a boil.
2. Meanwhile, steam entire package of spinach. Set aside.
3. When water is boiling, add entire package of pasta.  Cook for 8 minutes.  (Be very precise when cooking brown rice pasta.  A minute too long results in a gummy-goo mess.) Drain and set aside.
4. Put half of the reserved spinach along with the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic powder and lemon pepper in a blender.  Blend on LOW until ingredients are roughly chopped.  (I added a splash of the pasta water to this mixture to thin it out a bit.)
5. Pour "pesto" over pasta and fold in remainder of spinach.  Garnish with red pepper flakes and enjoy!

Gone Veggin'

"How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then rest afterward."

-Spanish Proverb 

Back on Tuesday, Veggies!  
-♥ J :)