On Saturday after work we decided to go to “O Organic” on Crown st for lunch. It was delicious, if you’re a detoxer doing the challenge and your bored with eating at home, try it out for lunch. They are not open for dinner. Thanks to Sam for reminding me of this place.

You can buy loads of snacks and tinned tomatoes, vege broth ect with no sugar and gluten from “About Life” in Bondi and Rozelle. It’s worth checking out so you don’t get bored. I have discovered a new snack they are called “Kitz 4 seed Crackers”. They go well with Tahini or hummus. I have also bought some brown rice flakes to add to my amaranth in the morning

A friend said to me on the weekend to try not to call it a “detox” when I told her that I wouldn’t go back to eating sugar and wheat. Why not call it nothing and simply say, “I don’t eat wheat”, or “I don’t eat sugar” ect. This way what your really telling yourself is, that it’s not a short-lived experiment, but a change that you have made for good. I like this.

I have the weekend off! We head to Bowral for a friends wedding being sure to pack detox food with us food for lunch before the wedding and breakfast and lunch the next day.
The cottage was lovely on a property in Canyonleigh. We have decided that just tonight, we will break the detox as we really can’t expect to have our own meal. The reception is in a beautiful vineyard. We sip mineral water and watch other people drinking champagne and lovely wines. I really want a glass of red on this cozy winters night at this fairy tale wedding location, Nik also really wants a beer. So, we decided if we are going to eat what we want for the night, then we can have one drink with the main. The starter was a tasting plate of many little delights including one of my favourites, duck! The main was chicken or beef, I got the chicken with mushroon risotto which I was very pleased with.  The desert was rose crème brulee with rose fairy floss so delicately placed on top with rose macaroons on the side. I did avoid the bread at the start of the meal as I knew that would just add to the madness, but by half way through the main, I had  little painful niggles in my lower abdomen and my tummy felt bloated, I also started to feel tired. I enjoyed my glass of red that took about an hour to drink and all the food but honestly I felt heavy and bloated by the end of dinner. Hmmmm, amazing how quickly it can turn around.

We went home at about 10.30 back to our cozy cottage and woke up the next day fine, apart from my digestive system taking all day to kick into action. The more I do this, the more I know that I am going to kick wheat and sugar from my diet after this is done.

A “work from home” day today as my daughter is home from school sick. A little bit of TLC for her in-between getting ready to take the challengers on their journey, plus dealing with other business matters. Whilst looking after her, I pray that because I am going through this detox process myself that I don’t catch what she’s got as on a detox you can be a little more exposed to illness.

I have a massage in the evening with the wonderful Vicki and my muscles are not feeling as tight as they usually are. My body has relaxed, inside and out it seems. The changes just keep coming and its more obvious everyday that this is the best thing I have done in ages!

Breakfast
Quarter lemon squeezed with hot water
1 cup of Amaranth puffed breakfast cereal- 3/4 cup of soy milk I also added red quinoa to the puffed Amaranth mixture and its really good. Packed with protein.

Morning Tea
Protein shake with mixed berries, soymilk, a quarter of a can of coconut milk and desert spoon full of LSA (linseed, almond and sunflower mix, you can buy this at Woolies now) 
Protein powder- Phyto protein, pea protein isolates. Can be bought from Sydney Health clinic. Suitable for vegans.
Lunch
Brown rice stir fry with veges and tamari.
Dinner
Grilled fish with lemon, BBQ pumpkin, zucchini and mushrooms.

Snacks
Mandarins, pears, passion fruit, nuts, seeds, hummus, carrot sticks and flats. Herbal tea’s and 2ltres of water.

Tuesday I went in to the city. I sat here and thought what am I going to eat for lunch. So, I googled “Healthy Cafes Sydney” and found “Iku”. I had forgotten about this cafe, the only one I knew of before was in in Bronte, now they are all over the city. If you work in the city and forget your lunch, fear not, google for the closest one to you .There are loads of gluten free lunch options on the menu.

How am I feeling? Well, my stomach is no longer uncomfortable after eating like it was before I started this detox, my digestive system is working more efficiently. My sense of smell has heightened weirdly enough, and those cravings for sweets have lessened substantially. When they do come up, it’s because I haven’t eaten every 3-4 hours, so as long as I snack on nuts and seeds and fruit I am fine, and I feel sated.

It has been very interesting taking note of the thought process that precedes the craving’s. If you can pinpoint the thoughts that trigger them, then changing that thought pattern helps to stop the cravings. Creating a new, more positive thought or distraction will help to change your automatic response, creating cellular change therefore; creating new positive habits to your eating and drinking. I guess this is the same for a smoker, alcoholic or drug addict. What we put into our body is often driven by impulse from thought not genuine needs.

We teach this all the time in Pilates. Every time you perform a movement with the correct recruitment order of the muscles, then we are re-training our neuromuscular pattering and creating new habits for the body in movement. The body is a wonderful thing and there is no doubt that body and mind very much work together!

Breakfast
Boiled eggs on glutted free toast and avocado.
A soy dandy (tea substitue) – made with soy and Manuka honey to taste. One teaspoon per cup brewed in a tea pot. Can be bought from Sydney health clinic.
Dandelion- The common dandelion, enemy of well-kept lawns, is an exceptionally nutritious food. Its leaves and root contain substantial levels of vitamins A, C, D, and B complex as well as iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, manganese, copper, choline, calcium, boron, and silicon. In almost every herbal healing tradition, the root of the dandelion has been used for the treatment of a variety of liver and gallbladder problems. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the roots of various species of dandelions are also used as “herbs that cool the blood.” Dandelions are through to correct the physiological reactions triggered by intense emotions that cause eyestrain or red, swollen, and painful eyes. They are used in teas and poultices for abscesses and sores, especially on the breast. The promote lactation and clear painful urinary dysfunction.

Morning tea
Protein shake

Lunch
Mushroom and spinach salad. I bought this from About life in Bondi last night as I had a busy day today.

Dinner
Chicken breast baked and coated in duhka with steamed veges and brown rice.

Snacks
Nuts, pumpkins seeds, tamari almonds. Fruit, herbal tea’s and 2ltrs of water.

I also found these little yummy snacks called “Flats” The flavour I bought are zucchini and almond, and they are great with home made hummus or just as they are. I bought these from about life, but I also saw them at “Wholefoods House” in Danks st

Breakfast
Quarter lemon squeezed with hot water
1 cup of Amaranth puffed breakfast cereal- 3/4 cup of soy milk (unsweetened, check the carton when you buy it, malt free if possible) stewed apple, high protein mix sprinkled on top.
Morning tea
Protein shake with mixed berries, soymilk, a quarter of a can of coconut milk and desert spoon full of LSA (linseed, almond and sunflower mix, you can buy this at Woolies now) 
Protein powder- Phyto protein, pea protein isolates. Can be bought from Sydney Health clinic. Suitable for vegans.

Lunch
Salad of Brown rice with avocado, cucumber, baby spinach leaves, high protein nut mix and a tamari, orange, lemon and olive oil dressing.

Dinner
Lamb fillets with grilled sweet potatoes, green beans and broccoli.

Snacks
Nuts, pumpkins seeds, dried edamame. Fruit, herbal tea’s and 2ltrs of water.

At 10am I went to my usual meditation class, which was bliss. I can usually sit with my legs crossed with no problem but today my ankles were going to sleep. I breath through it and just accept where I am. I finish the day with a yoga class, nice.

Life becomes alot easier if instead of having that dialogue on repeat about how you like this, don’t like that, wish this was different, want more of something, or less of another, if you just watch, and accept where you are right now and even learn to appreciate it, even its hard. The truth is, we are lucky to have a lifestyle that allows us to take some time out and looking after ourselves. Some don’t have that option. Everything we have, right now is what we wanted. Somewhere on your life’s journey you’ve asked for what you have,  either by just thinking about it, day dreaming, putting plans into action or if you are religious, praying. Remember you asked for this so appreciate the good with the bad and this detox will be a breeze.
Breakfast
Quarter lemon squeezed with hot water
1 cup of Amaranth puffed breakfast cereal- 3/4 cup of soy milk (unsweetened, check the carton when you buy it, malt free if possible) stewed apple, high protein mix sprinkled on top.
Morning Tea
Protein shake with mixed berries, soymilk, a quarter of a can of coconut milk and desert spoon full of LSA (linseed, almond and sunflower mix, you can buy this at Woolies now) 
Protein powder- Phyto protein, pea protein isolates. Can be bought from Sydney Health clinic. Suitable for vegans.

Lunch
At About Life Café Bondi. If you get sick of eating at home there is one in Rozelle and one in Bondi. There are plenty of options for the detoxer here, I had mushrooms and tomatoes on gluten free toast. The Alkalizer juice- aloe vera, cucumber, lemon, aple and ginger.

Dinner
Chicken burgers with tamari marinated tofu, baby spinach, beetroot and cherry tomato’s.

Snacks
Nuts, pumpkins seeds, dried edamame. Fruit, herbal tea’s and 2ltrs of water.

If this is what having no wheat, dairy, caffeine and sugar do to your body then I am thinking that I am never going to have those things again.
I book in with Stephen to see if he can shift some of this pain, and, he did. A Pilates workout on my own also works a treat.

Breakfast
Quarter lemon squeezed with hot water
1 cup of Amaranth puffed breakfast cereal- 3/4 cup of soy milk (unsweetened, check the carton when you buy it, malt free if possible) stewed apple, high protein mix sprinkled on top.
Morning tea
Protein shake with mixed berries, soymilk, a quarter of a can of coconut milk and desert spoon full of LSA (linseed, almond and sunflower mix, you can buy this at Woolies now) 
Protein powder- Phyto protein, pea protein isolates. Can be bought from Sydney Health clinic. Suitable for vegans.

Lunch
Scrambled eggs on gluten free toast with goat’s feta and cherry tomatoes.

Dinner
Left over chicken from mothers day lunch, thrown into a tomato based sauce (made by myself from fresh tomatoes, basil salt and pepper) with Gluten free pasta.
“San Remo” does the best Gluten free pasta; I have been eating gluten free pasta for at least 6 months now. If you over cook it, it turns to mush so follow instructions. It really doesn’t taste that different.

Snacks
Rockmelon (buy a whole one and cut it up in chunks so it quick to grab or pack and take to work) mandarins, passion fruit, carrot sticks with hummus, nuts, seeds and herbal tea.

Thank fully, Nik was feeling OK and I had my “mothers day” cup of tea in bed. I dragged myself up out of bed up for breakfast and then got myself in the shower as we had my family coming over for Mothers day lunch.  Nik was cooking, so all I had to do was sit there and soak up the Mother’s day goodness. (Even that was an effort).

Lunch was lovely, but boy was it hard resisting Niks very delicious baked potatoes that are golden and crispy! Nik struggled with not having gravy on his roast. Usually we would have drunk some wine or champagne with lunch on a day like today, but I didn’t even feel like it.

I clearly amused my brother with how I felt, as he often jokes about the amount of healthy food that’s in my cupboards. He couldn’t believe that I would do this to myself in order to become “healthier”.

I really wanted to go for a walk in the afternoon but decided to rest up. So, it was ugg boots on and peppermint tea in front of the TV. I am desperate to do some exercise at this point.

Early to bed for me, early start in the morning.

Breakfast
Lemon tea
Boiled eggs on Gluten free toast with avocado.

Lunch
Roast Chicken
 with sweet potatoes, broccoli, and zucchini

Desert
Fruit Salad

Dinner
Left over baked veges with coconut rice from last night.
2ltrs of water
Herbal teas

Started teaching at 7.30am feeling pretty good and clear headed. It was a very busy morning with back-to-back clients till 12.30.

Feeling pretty good about it all and nibbled nuts and seeds when I could and drank a tone of water. At about 10.30 I could feel my energy dipping and concentration wandering so bought out the big guns and had my protein shake with coconut milk to keep me going. I don’t usually use coconut milk in my smoothies, but Matt from Sydney Health clinic gave me that tip for keeping energy levels.  I gave it a go and its delicious, this new one I am keeping.

During the shift I did have a faint headache in the background, but not enough to want to take anything. Decided that I should drink more water, which helped.

I also noticed that I was a feeling a little uncoordinated, and simple tasks like changing springs (which I do a million times a day) seemed clumsy and I had to stop and think more than I normally would. However, I also noticed that I felt a sense of calm throughout the morning until I needed that shake. My sugar levels must have dropped a bit.

Finished teaching and headed home. By the time I got there I experienced a mood shift. I felt grumpy and tired and really out of sorts. I had my lunch and sat outside in the sun hoping that this feeling would go away. It helped, a little bit. Trying to push it down and enjoy the afternoon we went Mothers day shopping, or at least I think I did. I felt like I was in a fog and continuously yawned as I floated around Bondi Westfield’s. By the time I had bought my mum a present, I was ready for bed.

Eyes glazed over and no longer listening all I could think about was my bed. Nik dropped me home and I became one with the dooner only to wake up 2 hrs later.

I felt a little better. Truth be told, I could have slept through to the next day. I put myself in the shower and then went about making dinner. I cooked something I had never made before (and it was really good).
I really wanted a glass of red whilst cooking and this was making me a little annoyed that I couldn’t have what I wanted, but I toughened up and continue cooking sipping peppermint tea.

Whilst the dinner was in the oven, I stewed apples for breakfast and cut up a bunch of carrots sticks to have in a zip lock bag for snacking.

You see, I think, that this kind of thing really brings out the child in you that wants to stamp her feet and say “ I want it!’ Just give it to me or I will stamp my feet and scream really loudly. Of course I didn’t do that, but I wanted to. I was doing these ones though- L

Dinner grounded me and I felt good about letting that cantankerous child go and enjoyed my night on the couch watching TV with Nik. We did both sit there with a frontal headache predominately over the right eye. Early to bed.

Breakfast

Quarter lemon squeezed with hot water
Scrambled eggs with avocado on gluten free toast

Morning tea

Protein shake with mixed berries, soy milk, a quarter of a can of coconut milk and desert spoon full of LSA (linseed, almond and sunflower mix, you can buy this at Woolies now) 
Protein powder- Phyto protein, pea protein isolate. Can be bought from Sydney Health clinic. Suitable for vegans.

Lunch

Left over’s from last night’s dinner (just as well I was hungry and need something fast when I got home)

Brown rice and vege stir fry with lamb with Tamari sauce (soy sauce substitute, wheat free, can be bought at Coles) Very yummy and filling.

Dinner

Baked Vegetable Curry and Coconut Rice casserole.
This I got from a vegan cookbook and was pretty easy to do. I suggest using a rice cooker for the coconut rice. We have a copy of this recipe to hand out.

Snacks

Nuts, pumpkin seeds, and apple, mandarin. Hummus and carrot sticks
2ltrs of water.

Not so bad, but really missed my cup of Earl Grey at 6.15am. Its pretty hard walking out the house without to start teaching. Taught till 10.30 then made my way to Vicki for a massage, it had been a long week and I still had to teach on Saturday. I thought it would be a great way to get me started as massage helps push out the toxins and of course relaxes the muscles and mind. A good mental preparation. This was followed by a quick nana nap (very indulgent) and taking the rest of the afternoon off  looking through my vegan recipe book to get some inspiration. I then went to see my favorite Physio Stephen Knight who does some very wonderful cranial sacral alignment work. He works on a deeper level addressing not only musculoskeletal issues, but on a visceral level, which can really help with gut and digestive functions. If you currently have trouble with bowels, gut, digestion, headaches, this I would recommend to assist with the detox process.

Nik and I went shopping in the evening to get all the goods, and stocked up our fridge with lots of fresh vege’s, fruit and meat.

We munched on our nuts and seeds while parusing the shopping isles but by the end we felt a little shaky, as we really needed to eat again. Guess one day with no caffeine or sugar is already taking its effect on me. Home to cook and relax.

So, there I am all set up! This is easy I think… off to bed very early as I have another early start.

-Breakfast

Quarter lemon squeezed with hot water

1 cup of Amaranth puffed breakfast cereal- 3/4 cup of soy milk (unsweetened, check the carton when you buy it, malt free if possible) stewed apple, high protein mix sprinkled on top. Stir in the pot till it becomes creamy, don’t let it boil just simmer for a few minutes, just how you would make porridge. Surprisingly yummy!

Amaranth- Organ super grains (very high in protein, gluten free)

High Protein Mix -Real Good Food, can be bought at Danks st Whole Foods House, or About Life Bondi or Rozelle .

-Morning tea

Protein shake with mixed berries, soy milk and desert spoon full of LSA (linseed, almond and sunflower mix, you can buy this at Woolies now) 
Protein powder- Phyto protein, pea protein isolate. Can be bought from Sydney Health clinic. Suitable for vegans.

-Lunch

Mushrooms, tomatoes and spinach on gluten free toast.

Cup of peppermint tea.

-Dinner

Brown rice and vege stir fry with lamb with Tamari sauce (soy sauce substitute, wheat free, can be bought at Coles) Very yummy and filling.

-Snacks

Nuts, pumpkin seeds, and apple, mandarin. Hummus and rice cakes
2ltrs of water.