From Detox to Lifestyle ...

Why the blog sabbatical? Did the detox whittle me down to nothingness, rendering me unable to blog? Or did my life just become an empty shell without a 21-day detox on which to focus 24/7. Well, I've learned there is more to life than diet. It's hard work keeping up. Being clever on cue. Even here in la la land where the d-word is on the tip of every tongue. Or maybe not because it might have carbs!

Reports are that I've been eating. And admittedly there have been times I have strayed. Celebrated the 21 days with some sushi ... and ate TUNA! Shocker! There was the 4yo birthday party otherwise known as "carb central" where I had the half sesame bagel with a schmear. Passed on the Sweet Lady Jane pink and green butterfly cake (trust me, those colors do not occur naturally in the world). Felt the bagel sitting there while the Frenchman made bubbles around small humans using hula hoops (don't try this at home). My stomach was trying to decide friend or foe. Turning it around, getting a good look. Finally digested it but not without a fierce fight. The gluten monster within. I ate some pita bread today--and let me tell you it was delicious, the half I had. But I haven't really been "bad". Unless you count the jelly beans on Friday. I've lost about 6 or 7 lbs for sure if not more. Wardrobe malfunction big time. The quandary is does one tailor or wait (weight) for it all to come back?!!

We had our 3rd guest since "The Detox" and I made a roasted chicken with roasted asparagus. Very simple. Beets (yes, roasted) and fresh mozzarella salad to start. All on the diet. All inhaled in minutes. Another happy customer.

Went to see "The Hurt Locker" the other night (NO popcorn she beams proudly). Seriously difficult to watch--like experiencing a 2 hour time bomb about to go off! Go see it. Now of course you will because Ms. Bigelow (the former Mrs. James Cameron. Take that "King of the World"!) just won the BAFTA for best director. It's awesome. You can download on directv on demand too. But the big screen is best because you can't cut your toenails and watch at the same time (sorry). This film demands your undivided attention.

I finally made the tofu peppercorn dressing from M Chaya Cafe!! I emailed the catering director and asked for the recipe. What I got was a list of ingredients without any measurements and a statement that if I wanted to order the dressing in "large quantities" they would be happy to oblige. I might because I could bathe in this stuff!! I didn't put any garlic in it but it was sublime to say the least. Non-dairy lusciousness. I would challenge anyone to tell the difference. You can also see some of the other dishes made by the owner/chef in a video but still no measurements. Next I'm going to try the Macro Burger to which I had a teensy weensy addiction to a while back (as in a 3x week for lunch jonesing dts full on addict). Crazy delicious.

I haven't eaten nor have I had a hankering for any red meat. Yet. Or real sugar. Okay the jelly beans but they were small (handfuls ...). And I had 3 squares of milk chocolate that we got for V Day. I couldn't have just one. I had to have 3. And I only knew I had 3 because the wrappers lay before me and scrunching them into one didn't really make me feel any better. And then there was the TJ lime juice popsicle. The popcorn doesn't count as corn isn't really cheating ... and it wasn't movie theater disgusting oil-laden corn (which is much easier to excuse while you eat it in the dark theater!). It was my fav Smart Pop from Orville. Seriously though, does anyone even touch Mr. Redenbacher?? A man who was obsessed since 4-H with developing the perfect popcorn. A moment of silence please (he died in his Jacuzzi!!).

A friend asked me tonight where I found the detox rules because of course I didn't dig into my shekels and have the book shipped (after going to no less than 3 bookstores I gave up). It's printed in London where the doc is from so the waiting and the cost just didn't seem to fit my agenda. You can click here and get some info from other sites. The diet promises: To return your body to its natural alkaline balance by altering the pH of your system with food. The diet will improve your metabolism and break your cravings for toxins like caffeine, sugar, and salt (oops). Forget Dr. Joshi's site as it's pretty much promoting him and him and him (re: show him the money). So you might think because Gwyneth made the doctor famous that it's all a bunch of hooey. But I'm living proof that it's not (what's left of me anyway). I did a lot of research and pieced it all together, even the liver detox mix that we haven't done. Now that's just overkill--my liver likes a little toxin now and again. There's been a little Belvedere rearing its head in a glass or two.

Yes we are continuing the detox. From Tiger. They should just send him to Haiti to help clean up that mess where he won't even be able to think about s-e-x. What is up with his BS? Desperate times. Going back to my original thought--golf is not a sport, it's a recreation. Sweat=sport. Curling=no sweat. Downhill skiing=sweat. Bobsledding=spandex hideousness (see detox diet).

I'm still experimenting with coffee. Permanently. Cranky just isn't my best feature. And medicine has proven (real mds) it reduces the risk of Parkinson's and diabetes!! AND the Institute for Coffee Studies (do we really care that it's funded by the coffee industry?) says that it reduces the risk of suicide. Coffee is literally a lifesaver! Need a cuppa now!

For those that are keeping track, my heel spur (which looks like a misplaced fang) is finally on the mend! No flip flops and consistent icing have been key. Along with my gentle massaging of the plantar fascia (mmmm). The running sneakers with my D&G suit may not win any fashion nods but I can finally walk without constant pain. Soon back to running and a real sport, tennis.

Back to food ... Z now likes garbanzo beans. He has made a deal to try new things and says "I tasted something new and I liked it!". Or not. I think mostly because he is ridiculously obsessed with balls. Brussel sprouts can't be far behind (a personal fav)! We had quinoa pasta for the first time tonight. Texturally much more similar to traditional pasta than the brown rice one and way better for you. "Kitchen sink" dish with green chard, garlic, onion, asparagus, basil, parsley and lemon juice. I didn't have any stock and wasn't inclined to use any wine (except a wee bit in my stemless Riedel but it still came out yummy. The wine was from the Zagat monthly wine club (V Day gift), a vibrant, bright pinot grigio that went well with the dish. And without. Once in a while you just need the grape!

DAY 20, 21 ... AND 22: EMBERS A-GLOW GLOW

Early mornings as I wrote in previous blog. Try 4:30am"ish" on Saturday. Not quite sure how I'm functioning on so little zzzs. And if by "glow" Dr. Joshi means you will "resemble a racoon", I'm a shining example! Honestly though, my skin and hair have improved in every way--and if you can "stomach" the conversation, my internal system is working 'round the clock. Even so, a colonic wouldn't be out of the question some time soon.

The food has been pretty tame except for dinner last night which turned out to be spectacular. A nice finale after the usual fare of gf pancakes, gf millet bread sandwiches and yogurt. What started out as simply chicken with thai rice noodles and peas ended up as an amazing soup-like dish with cayenne spiced chicken, broccoli, peas, spinach, fennel, onion, carrots and garlic. All cooked with chicken stock and garnished with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime. Soooooo good. The previous night's pre-play dinner is worth an honorable mention. Tilapia coated with herbed and spiced brown rice flour and sauteed, served with haricot verts (that's green beans to you non-foodie non-francophiles). We followed Saturday's dinner with a play worthy of NY ... but here in LA. Imagine that, we do have good theater! Go go go to Female of the Species with Annette Bening. She steals the show, even making David Arquette look decent. Funny and poignant from beginning to end.

Stayed on the detox today though I can't seem to kick the coffee, that singular vice o' mine. Case in point: I even consumed inferior beans this morning after realizing my lack of Peets ... and have already set the pot on a 6:10am auto with the same crappy blend for my 7am spin. Even though my heel spur doesn't seem improved at all 3 months later. Went to the podiatrist and I rested, iced and did the stretching exercises. Apparently, I need to stow the Havaianas for 6 months and not walk around barefoot! Sacrilege here. I might get arrested! At least they didn't say no Uggs!

So the diet continues with modifications. We had sushi tonight but nothing fried or "mayonnaised". We had beer. One each which was fine but could have done without. And I'm eating popcorn as I write this!! My other "singular" vice. Back on the wagon tomorrow. Might add a nightshade vegetable or two. And some evil vinegared substances on occassion--jalapenos and mustard for sure. I did hear those wine bottles chattering at me as I steal passed--"I have luscious vanilla notes with fabulous legs. Drink me". How do I resist THAT come on! I imagine I will give in sooner than later. That said, I'm not going to be an "everything in moderation" gal. I'm liking my "glutenous" free ways. Stay tuned ...

DAY 19: THE MORNING AFTER ...

As I savor my second cup of Peets, a necessary "evil" this morning. The Olympics are being highlighted on the Today show and I'm getting familiar with curling. really? is sweeping a sport??) I'm trying to recall day 19. Well, technically night 19. No pics thank you very much.

Yesterday started innocently enough with an egg white sandwich on gf bread with soy cheese. Mashed expertly between layers of the forman grill. Yum. And yes, accompanied with a cup of joe (or 2). Kudos to me for having tea later in the morning at a biz meeting IN a Peets. Rethinking the caffeine free living long term. At least until the sleeping pattern gets under control. Woke up at 5am this morning after going to bed at 1am. Not pretty.

Had a delicious lunch with L at M Chaya Cafe--our usual chopped salad with tempeh, veggies and tofu peppercorn dressing and a couple of brown rice sushi rolls. We also had a "tonic" of beets, celery, kale and LOTS of ginger. Spicy goodness. Snacked later on the usual soy nut/almond mix and then ... we let the games begin.

Off to The Tar Pit, a new restaurant from Campanile's Mark Peel, to test our mettle on a menu that I didn't write. L remarked on how foreign it was to have someone else cooking! Indulgence thoroughly appreciated. We started with vodka cocktails ... well that was the intention, but unfortunately our appetizers came before our drinks. Not a good sign. We tried to be as detox friendly as possible and shunned the pig ear pasta and wild boar meatballs (nothing on the menu was over $20). The oysters on the half shell were perfect but there were 5?? Odd ... we followed that with a yummy albeit salty octopus salad and spicy tuna tartare (on cucumber slices). No bread at all. The coq au vin blanc was piping hot with cippolinis and lardons (so not on the detox). My favorite dish. All in all, it was a tame diversion from our usual restrictions ... and then we moved on to Bar Centro at the SLS, designed by Philip Starck, which has "pretty food for pretty people". Cool loungey space, crawling with the wannabes of Hollywood. We were cocooned in a cushy booth with our friends and ordered some apps (yes we were on a progressive dinner, still hungry from the first!)--sweet potato chips with greek yogurt (totally on the diet except for the tamarind sauce drizzled on the dip) and guacamole in thin jicama cups. And a "few" signature cocktails. Everything was worth the detox detour with one of the highlights being our server, Hailey, who was delightful and made our evening even more debaucherous, I mean entertaining. We had to be home by midnight or Cinderella L would turn into a pumpkin. We missed the mark by a hair.

Overall I feel good. I'm back to my fighting weight and looking forward to continuing the diet principles as a foundation. With a little vodka and coffee to liven things up a little.

DAY 18: DETOX (SLIGHT) DETOUR

The morning started with a bang. I have one word for you--Peets. No teeccino. No alkaline substitute. Pure and unparalleled Peets. Z woke up in the night and while I may have dozed off a bit, the sleep was not sound. After the first sip, to say I saw g-d would not be far from the truth. Wanted to elevate the Major Dickasons' status to General. Jury is out on whether the P bag will be gracing the counter top come Monday.

We had the steel cut oats this morning with melted bananas and that addictive raw honey. Bliss in a jar. It really is the simple things that bring the most pleasure--including food at its most basic. I was fueled (with "batteries" as Z would say) for my day and went to the noon spin with Eileen my fav instructor. Of course given my absenteeism I couldn't keep my usual "top of the class" pace with the 20 and 30 somethings. Me? Competitive? Nonetheless I had an amazing workout complete with rushing endorphins. Went to TJs and WF afterwards for some items, particularly because I read about gf falafel and thought I would make it for dinner. Because we were having an old friend over that I hadn't seen in some time--and I have a penchant for experimenting on a dish I've never tried (much less mastered) on dinner guests.

By the time I arrived home, Z had recovered from his morning nausea and had eaten the last banana and a peanut butter "crabby patty" (doesn't anyone watch spongebob??). I'm considering installing a "banana cam" to find out where they are all going! Dole is going to give me a key to the plantation. I was very happy with the tofu and veggie leftovers from last night with the chili yogurt. Yum. Tried to get Z to try it but I think I need to have the tofu in a different form--like in the shape of a pterodactyl.

I made the tahini sauce while monitoring Z in the kitchen. Later he helped me make the falafel ... and witnessed me slice the top of my thumb while sharpening the knife! He loved the blood and gore and was not so fond of me covering it with the band aid. Our guest brought her ukulele and sang for her supper serenading Z in the bath with old favorites like "Z in the Bath" and "He's so Clean".

The recipe calls for gf flour. I can't imagine "real" flour making these taste any better. I fried the patties in a little olive oil on the stove, finished them off in the oven and served them on brown rice with the tahini sauce (extra on the side) and a mixed salad with fresh mozzarella. Coincidentally our guest has been gluten free for a while. The dinner was a home run! Good thing I didn't serve chicken pot pies! We had to have some vodka because we couldn't let our guest drink alone. Rude.

Coffee and vodka in the same day. I haven't had even an ounce of bread. Or sugar. Even bigger--not one condiment. Not even mustard which I was convinced was the glue that held me together. Justification has its rewards ... is there detox anonymous?

DAY 17: COUNTDOWN TO THE GLOW.

I had to make pancakes this morning. Up since pre-dawn (sounds and felt very jurassic), pre-sesame street, pre-garbage trucks (now that's early!). Needed pancakes (I use the Arrowhead Mills gf mix) and got everyone on board. Made yogurt with bananas and almonds to put on top. I made 9 and we ate ... 9. You do the math. 250 calories for 2. I rest my case.

No lunch today, unless you count the soy nuts and rice crackers I "found" in the car. So far so good, no signs of food borne illnesses. Took Z up Runyon Canyon in the late afternoon. Literally took Z up Runyon. Oy. He found a piece of quartz (our 1st word of the day) and was determined to find more--searching every nook and cranny on the mountain.He was dawdling (our 2nd wod) with every pepple and puddle so I put him in the stroller, all 50 pounds of him, and pushed him up the hill. Most of it anyway. I pulled out a banana midway and gave it to Z to take a bite, but only got a peel handed back to me. Nice sharing with Mommy. The view at the top was so spectacular (thank you rain), even Z commented on how much he could see! On the way down, Z was blocked during a course of green light/red light (he was in green mode!) by a wayward but determined french bulldog. Face plant in the path. His comment (to the captive audience of RC goers) was "good thing the dog had fur to protect it". Whew. Just a little scraped pinky and a wonderful adventure.

By now I am beyond famished and dreaming of a burrito (very romantic). I decide to make it vegetarian and sauteed cubed tofu spiced with chili, cayenne and cumin, kale, spinach and chard with onion and garlic (that song sounds vaguely familiar). Then I got the good brown rice tortillas from WF (these are not cardboard like the TJ brand) and put on pinto beans with the mixture and topped it with soy cheese. Melted it in the microwave and served it with mashed avo and chili yogurt, brown rice and a salad (forgot to take a pic but trust me it was beautiful). Not Poquito Mas ... but satisfied the craving. Yummy.

4 days left. We are going out on Friday night to the new "it" restaurant, The Tar Pit, and meeting friends for drinks after. Doing as little damage as we can ... in foresight. But let me tell you. There will be drinking. And most likely some not so gluten free substances. And we will delight in every morsel. To be continued ...

DAYS 16: BLOGGING BLAHS CURED

I can barely remember yesterday (for which I may be thankful), except that I was overcome by pure exhaustion. Couldn't even think about blogging. So I will compose 2 today to (over)compensate for my lack of consistency. It doesn't help that the weather has been somewhere between Seattle and the Antarctic (a slight exagerration. perhaps.). Someone who knows me well (hint: I sit down with her for a "50 minute hour" and then fork over some $) told me I really need to find the time for my workouts. Need a routine. Peets and my 7am spin class were a winning combo not too long ago ... teeccino and spin just doesn't have the same ring, does it?

We had oatmeal yesterday morning--the Bob's Mill gf. My memory is perfect for that since it was such a treat with melted bananas and the special organic raw honey from WF. Like a banana brulee for the gluten challenged! For lunch, I made a soy cheese sandwich in the forman grill with fresh arugula and leftover pesto on the new gf millet bread. I couldn't believe how "real" it tasted. And the truth is I didn't miss the dairy or the wheat. My digestion has speeded up which explains the constant growling.

I'm sure there was a soy nut snack inhaled somewhere in the day whilst working away on the computer. We picked up Z after school yesterday and he was going on and on about going to the sushi place, Wa, (it's really good for you LA folk) we like in the same place as his gym (at least someone is going ...). I told him it's not on the diet to which he protests "but Mommy, I'm on my sushi diet". Maybe he knows something we don't because he's looking mighty dapper these days! We stopped for a smoothie from BodyFactory (LOVE them). Even the small is just too large for Z so we got it split into 2 cups (drum roll) and L had a teensy weensy sip (a quarter of a straw) just "to test it for Z". He of course was slurping away in the back enjoying the sweet pineapple, banana frozen nectar talking about "brain freeze". We went to Wat Po for some release of our own while he gymmed. This place is the bomb. Usually. But L had some guy that she thought might have done some serious damage to her neck. Not relaxing. If you go (don't let this horror story deter you, mine was good and we have always had a fab experience) ask for a woman. The men will beat you up. Unless you like that sort of thing, feeling like you've gone 10 rounds. Ahhh. That sounds relaxing.

Dinner was "special sticks" (shhh, you don't say "fish" to a 4yo), corn and sweet potato fries ... and WE had my "famous" brown rice spaghetti (Tinkyada brown rice pasta rocks!) with chicken, kale, chard, garlic, onion and broccoli, reduced with chicken stock. My new tactic of making more backfired because I just kept going to the pot and "picking". Z ate (and by ate I mean "slurped") a bowl too with all the goodies in it! A new staple in the house to be sure.



I really think the exhaustion is all that detox partying we've been doing! We must cut that out! Those late night yogurts and teas.

DAY 15: DETOX BREEZE

Same time, same bat channel. No matter what time the boy goes to bed, he gets up at 7am. How is that? I couldn't muster the energy to go to WF and get more teeccino so we did a "mini-cheat" with the combo. Desperate times. I made eggs and turkey bacon for Z, so just made them for us too (minus the bacon of course!), with some onions and spinach. And I had a leftover pancake with the banana-yogurt combo. Scrumptious. Keeping those on the radar big time. Got xantham gum (it's bacterium that thickens stuff so click it to learn something new) today so I can make up muffins with the gf baking mix--banana of course.

I went to the office unprepared for snacks or lunch (quelle surprise) so got a butternut squash soup at WF. Read pretty much every label in the store. They have an entire gf section in the BH store which fascinated me (that tells you a lot about my life at the moment ...). I got us some more gf bread and the brown rice wraps too. And some cracker snacks for L that I think she'll love. We are doing well with the no gluten, but I'm particularly fond of eating less dairy and sugar. I think maybe I've become lactose intolerant. Not pretty (you know what I mean). I wasn't a massive consumer but the body is a fine-tuned machine and even the subtlest of changes makes a difference. Take for instance, hmmm vodka. More on that later.

I got home from work and devoured a banana. Well I don't remember actually eating it but the peel was in my hand so one would assume. I made an impromptu pesto for dinner with arugula and basil, toasted pine nuts, olive oil and lemon. Stellar. Served it on wild sockeye salmon (that I started on the stove and finished in the oven) with brown rice and sauteed garlic, kale and chard. Thank goodness for the pesto because the quality of the fish was not great as was the unfortunate fact that it was overcooked. Still, it was a nice change. Especially the vodka (at least we didn't have the wine), which ended up really being my slip since L only had a few sips and hers had soda. My first real slip (are we counting the coffee? really?) I have to say I feel guilt-free (as opposed to gluten free). It was better than good. Belvedere leaves you "edge free". Take that Mr. Gluten!

It's 10:30pm and my stomach isn't growling. A first, I think. And even though I wasn't necessarily doing this detox for weight loss, I'm finding that a lot of my clothes are hanging on me. Not a good look. Shabby T. So if you're thinking about doing this detox (and you should be) keep the tailor on speed dial! I did think today in the car that since a large part the world is going in the non-dairy direction, we should start a company that does everything soy LesSoyMan. No?

DAY 14: CRUISING THROUGH DAZZLING DETOX

Sunday mornings are for waking up late and relaxing with the NYT (don't touch my crossword puzzle. please.) and Peets, going out for a nice brunch with bloody marys (extra horseradish!), and maybe a run or hike at the beach. Now back to our regularly scheduled program ...

We did wake up late, if by late you mean 6:45am. L tried to let me sleep in (thank you for the thought) but with the yogi oh movie (or whatever those japanese playing cards are called) blaring from Z's room, dewey's ansy "I need to go out" dance and the mere fact that I can't go back to sleep once I'm up, I found myself mapping out the day in my head. The gf pancake mix was front and center as I think my body is craving for some substance. L brought in the lw (lemon water) ... and followed up with what I thought was teeccino until I saw the twinkle in her eye. "I mixed it with Peets." My mind said "no", but my body said "ooh yes" (hmmm. now why does that feeling seem so familiar??). This was a special Sunday treat. Buzz. Check.

I made the first batch of pancakes with Z as my sous (so what's wrong with a little eggshell crunch amongst family?). I gave him two with some syrup (only real maple in our house) and gave L and myself one. All I can say is there was a second batch quickly whipped up on the heels of the first. Outstanding. I had mine with nf plain yogurt and bananas. Next time I will add some chopped almonds! L had hers with honey and bananas. With a sparkle in her eye (might have been residual from the brewed combo but I'm convinced it's attributed to the golden cakes!), L said these were worth every penny. Now if only the Griddle could offer gf cakes ...

I went to the gym (not a typo) with Z (he goes to kid's club for his "muscles") and actually did weights and cardio. Almost felt heroic. Afterwards, we raced home as I had a showing and an open house. Of course, I forgot I needed food so L and I threw a cold turkey burger, hb egg and a banana into my bag. I was beyond hungry (can you say crank monster?!!) by the time I was able to eat around 1:30pm and the growling didn't help (and it wasn't coming from my tummy!). The demon was also calmed with some hot tea and the super bowl (no, I am NOT one of those football girls, it was on for the "guests"). Not too shabby environs if you have to work! A buyer came through the house and we were chatting about the detox to which he said "you don't need a diet". Doesn't that mean it's working! Bingo!

Had a snack upon arriving home of rice crackers with the never ending tub o' hummus (which we did finally put to rest) and watched the remainder of the game while doing the NYT puzzle (my addiction). L and Z went to Home Depot (is there a better time to go than when every HD junkie and his/her mother is in front of the tube watching men with tight asses be obsessed with a ball). She did report back that there were a gaggle of nuns (I'm sure that is the right vernacular) exiting with plants in tow. They are dialed in for sure!

While I love to cook, I'm starting to feel a little too much at one with the "kitchen" (is barefoot and pregnant far behind?) so need to address making larger quantities in advance. I threw together a stir fry with kale, spinach, onions, garlic, broccoli and chicken, spiced with thyme and cayenne over brown rice. Finding I like the taste and texture of the basmati over the long grain if anyone is interested. I don't think L was impressed with the dining experience as I saw her eyeing Z's dinos. Or perhaps she was just glazed over from the day's mommy duties. I offered vodka as a consolation prize but I think an hour of reflexology would have elicited a better reception. We are still alcohol free. Stunning. In every way.

My metabolism continues to streamline and like clockwork, I was hungry again at 10pm. Went into the kitchen and made the yogurt concoction, mine with added soy nuts for some extra pizazz.

I'm not missing very much at the moment. Feeling clearer and cleaner, whether real or imaginary (I think I can, I think I can ...).

DAY 13: DETOX OVERLOAD

Oh how time flies! Day 13 is upon us and apparently the glow is starting to rear its toxin-free head. Started as usual ... EARLY (you know it's early when sesame street hasn't even started yet!). I took one look at L and knew that coffee would be needed (and discussed), the real stuff that's grown in places like Columbia and Costa Rica. And then shipped to Peets where they roast the beans to perfection before freshly grinding them for our little pound of pure heaven. No. We don't wake up to that now. We stay comatose to the chickory, barley blend masquerading in our brewmaster, which seems to know it's spewing out an imposter, pleading with me to reach for the other bag as if I'm contaminating it (and why I ask myself does that "other" magic brown bag remain in its prominent place on the countertop?). And why you might ask am I talking to my appliances? In the least, I should have a vodka before a full on conversation.

So breakfast was the standard yogurt ala no glucose substances, eaten mostly standing up and running out the door. I'm sure the good doc would not approve but real life just doesn't allow for seated dining in a tightly scheduled morning. Off to the office and the Mac store for repairs. That's an experience to behold. Apple on a weekend. Are we all kicking ourselves that we didn't see this coming 15 or 20 years ago?? It's a virtual candy store with stellar service. I bow to them. And to think I was a PC for all these years. A true regret. Now ... if only the iphone weren't at ATT we'd be totally synched!

We snacked on crunchy green beans from TJs on the way to a birthday party for a friend of Z's (who asked from the backseat "are those on your diet"? Scary.). There were a number, let's just say 25 for a nice round number, of other 4-5 year olds in a very active fun house kind of place. Think jumpy house and a rope climb to a tunnel slide (I had to do the first time with Z and had a claustrophobic attack that paralyzed me in the enclosed slide. I had to be talked down by a sympathetic mommy. Having palpatations just writing about it!) that delivers you to a large pool filled with balls that you can jump into ... or throw at your mommy. I was overstimulated so I can only imagine how the kids felt! Of course, L and I could only drink water as there was pizza and cake and powder doughnuts, which reminded me of a bad late 70's krispy kreme nightmare in Birmingham (as in Alabama). Need I say more? Not a good day for detoxing and by the time we got our semi-glow selves out of there we were a bit worse for wear. Just plain cranky. Raced home to leftover dal mix from last night with rice and leftover quinoa from the other night (starting to see a pattern here?). I also whipped up a little green salad for some fiberous crunch. Always with fresh lemon and evoo (extra virgin olive oil), just the way L likes it.

I can't remember if I snacked but I think nothing more than a couple of carrots between lunch and dinner. I went grocery shopping while z napped. Bad idea. Kind of like the birthday party but with adults. Did I remember it was the day before the super bowl? Not a chance. I could hear what everyone was making as I made my way through the throngs. Nachos, chili, "the little hot dog things", more chili (is that some sort of bowl tradition??), burgers, and ice cream (LOTS of ice cream and why was I on THAT aisle? A girl can dream ...). I was successful while I dodged carts in getting gluten free oatmeal (you think it already is right? but it's grown next to wheat and gluten crops so it gets gluten from nearby ... but Bobs Mills and some other cos grow their oats separately (free range if you will) and undergo tedious testing to ensure the product is gf. learn something new every day.) and gf pancake mix (they say on the bag that they will be "fluffy" so I'm a believer). And 300 bananas. Forgot the grapefruit for the liver detox. Oops.

Dinner was turkey burgers by request (I take them occasionally :)) and my famous "monster mash" (called such because I started making it around halloween so Z and I made up the name to go with the song): pureed steamed cauliflower in the blender (or cuisinart) with chicken stock and then s&p to taste. I also make it sometimes with lf milk. And maybe I will try rice milk next time. It's just like mashed potatoes is the point. Delish. And we had a small salad with fresh mozzarella (gotta have some real cheese once in a while).

My stomach is growling at 10:30pm AGAIN. What's up with that? My metabolism is just zooming along. And L told me my skin looks good (was it bad before?) and "those sweats were a little tighter before" (she probably said they are looser now but that's of course not how I "heard" it). We came this close to having a vodka tonight--I even put the bottle on the counter next to 2 glasses which seemed to be enough for us. I see a little slip on the horizon which the doc says is okay as long as you get back on the detox wagon. Giddy up.

DAY 12: UNEVENTFUL DAY OF DETOX

The morning was the usual fare: Z, lemon water, teeccino, egg white burritos with avo and goat cheese. Pouring rain and cold. Not feeling the glow this morning. Worked from home this morning so had lots of tea and water.

For lunch, we had leftover pasta (yummy) and soup. I also had 1/2 a baked sweet potato, which felt like cheating. I read today about the liver detox mixture Dr. Joshi recommends: grapefruit and lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and ginger all blended. Can't wait. Not.

I devoured 2 rows of the rice crackers (not the styrofoam ones but the real crackers) as a snack and a few soy nuts with almonds. Just depressing with the weather so stayed in and played with Z after school. Decided to cook dinner early since I'm obsessed with the menu. I soaked some mung beans overnight and then cooked them with lentils. I added sauteed onions, garlic and ginger and we loved it over the brown rice. Made a green salad with lemon and evoo. L mentioned she wanted a glass of wine. Could have had it but why enjoy ourselves when we are committed to being cranky?!

Low energy today could be weather related or maybe I need to have honey or something to rev it up a few notches. Will try that because I need to drag my butt to the gym! That's for the toxin release and my own high. Meanwhile I haven't weighed myself, but clearly I've lost a few lbs. I'm learning a lot about myself. I think the detox has helped with my patience as I'm not as quick to react negatively. Getting the swing and I think the next leg of the diet will be a breeze. Missing coffee big time though.

DAY 11: STARTING TO GET THE GROOVE

We got to sleep in this morning until 7:30 (thank you z!). Made the usual lemon water and put on the coffee (sub)--just the process of filling the carafe with filtered water gave me a jolt! And today I figured out the proportions (desperate measures) so much so that if I didn't have such a discriminating palate, I would think I'm drinking coffee from some mediocre diner. Heaven. Breakfast was on the fly so the usual cereal mix, bananas and soy/rice milk. Z even had soy milk (granted it was vanilla) and never uttered a peep (about the soy anyway).

Discovering that I have to pack snacks not just for Z but also for L. Admittedly, it's tough to figure out what to eat. It's a continuous struggle. You go to the refrigerator, first line of attack, and stand there for minutes, door open, looking at everything but nothing pops or you just can't eat it. Then to the pantry where the experience is less chilly but results in the same frustration. At this point, your blood sugar is low and you are going to eat, horrors, almonds yet again. Hence a snack pack for L. Okay, so today it was almonds but I threw in some soy nuts as a surprise. Wacky.

We went to LACMA today, my first time since the Broad was built. Shame on me! L bought a membership to support the arts and off we went to see Koons, Johns, Warhol, Beuys (ok I'd never heard of him until today), Serra ... the big guns. Disappointed that the second floor was undergoing remodeling so missed quite a bit but it still felt uber satisfying. The building itself, designed by Renzo Piano, is amazing. And the coffee ... did I say that out loud?? Oops. We fell off the wagon a wee bit with a double soy latte. One must be alert to fully appreciate the art and the artist. And as L said, it is hump day after all (in our insular detox world).

Post the "falling" we went to M Cafe for a tasty lunch treat. It's macrobiotic ... in an amazing foodie kind of way. We had garden and salmon rolls sushi (there were 2 before the pic. L.) and the chopped salad with tofu dressing. Okay so there's a little apple cider vinegar in it. I had them show me the ingredients from the secret bound recipe notebook which I wanted to grab (if by grab one means "steal"). Sue me. Coffee and vinegar in the same day. Still a champion detoxer!



There was no snacking between lunch and dinner since dinner basically came on the heels of lunch. We had an appointment early evening and Z had to eat too so just made it all at once. And of course we were hungry because NOTHING seems to fill us up. And it's not because we are so "efficient" either! But tonight was different (why is tonight different from all other nights? look it up, people, it's part of passover!) because we actually were full. I made the leftover broccoli/pea/arugula soup and brown rice pasta with chicken, thyme, parsley, red chard, garlic, onion, chicken stock and olive oil. It was scrumptious (as z would say)! He didn't even eat his pizza but had some pasta instead! We even shared some with the sitter (which was hard to part with considering tomorrow's grazing factor) and she loved it ... or said she did anyway as we forced it upon her!

No workout today but making a commitment to be better. Not sure if it's an energy thing, psychological or what but it's just hard to get to the gym (or the garage :)). Need to release the toxins for the glow. Mantra. Ommmm.

DAY 10: GOING HUNGRY

The morning was early per usual but I had a mission to accomplish--a friend told me about teechino, a coffee substitute. Granted we can't have the vanilla or hazelnut but on my quick run to WF (which opens at 7am btw!! who knew?) there was the perfect answer for us. Most importantly, I got to dust off the beautiful coffee maker and perform the daily ritual. All about the process! We liked it okay (it's not Peet's) with the soy milk. I think we had put the little bag on a pedestal and although it disappointed us a bit, we now have a peets sub. Thank goodness because we are going to try to stay off the java post detox. Scary. I made breakfast burritos with egg whites, scallions and goat cheese. And a little cheat with avos, I think. Then detox list says no avos but you can have guacamole. Makes no sense. Maybe we can have wine but no grapes?!!

Not exactly bounding with energy today. Forgot to bring a snack when I left the house for work and didn't get home until after 2pm. Inhaled 2 rice cakes with hummus and a banana. Not exactly gourmet but did the trick. L only had almonds while she was out all day with Z. Never a good idea! I worked out on the Octane in the garage. What a treat to have her so close!

For dinner, I made the broccoli and arugula soup I saw on Gwyneth's blog (my new bff). I added peas and used veggie stock instead of water and added the lemon in the bowls. I made organic quinoa with turmeric and curry and served it with fried tofu. It was all delish. Might need a nosh of something tonight. I'm like a human sieve, this diet just doesn't seem to keep me sated.

Opted out of the snack. Just too exhausted to deal with the kitchen. And prep. Time is crawling along but we're almost half way there! Still the glow eludes me ...

DAY 9: CAN YOU SAY "LEAN MACHINE"?

Woke up a bit later this morning and even though the patter and the barking were ever-present, the edginess wasn't. I feel good and more alert. L said I look leaner which is happening with minimal workouts. No mention of a glow. Almost halfway through the detox and no glow? What a ripoff!

Had the soy milk with cereal yet again (L was living on the edge with rice milk) ... so the breakfasts are not so jazzy unless I make eggs. Maybe breakfast burritos tomorrow.

Had clients and caravan today with only a handful of almonds. Not at my best when I'm hungry. A bit cranky, you might say, as I was running through a $23M estate in BH. Agents used to serve food. No wonder the market isn't humming! Made it home without incident to make our grilled chicken, arugula and fresh mozzarella sandwiches. Not very flavorful without mustard. I'm a condiment queen! Chips are just a vehicle for the salsa. I like lots of sauce. Mmmmm ... I want something smothered in sauce. LIke enchiladas. Or eggplant parmigiana.

Needed a coffee around 4pm today around the time of our office meeting. Coincidence? And what about those chocolate covered strawberries that escrow sends every Tuesday? Saboteurs.

We had our first friend over for dinner since the detox. She seemed to enjoy the limited menu: almond crusted tilapia, brown rice and steamed asparagus with lemon. I really wanted a glass of wine at the beginning of the night, but the feeling passed. Personally, I was starving after dinner and came to learn that L was too (after H left). We had to have what's become our nightly indulgence, the yogurt banana almond parfait. I've been on the detox long enough that I feel similar guilt as when I eat a pint of Vanilla Swiss Almond! (that's not a misprint, I wrote "pint"). That's just wrong. Doesn't really matter since L is still talking about going to the colonic capital of the world--Santa Monica--and extracting everything I've consumed since I was 12yo! Might as well have Haagen Dazs.

Clearly, I need to add some interesting soups, rice noodles, sweet potatoes and other delectables to the menu. We are getting bored. Time to step it up a notch.

I still miss popcorn. That will be my first order of business on day 22. With a movie.

DAY 8: ARE YOU SURE VODKA ISN'T GLUTEN FREE?

Awoke to the usual pitter patter of stomping feet, dog barking and overall 6:30am mayhem. And you would think a little hot water with lemon would be just the thing to calm one down ... and you would be wrong. What you need is a cup of g**#*#& coffee!! But I'm fine and the morning was over in a snap. Uneventful bowl of soy milk (with added calcium and vitamins of course) with gluten free granola (yep--tastes and chews as good as it sounds), bananas, diced almonds (thank goodness for these little gems!) and puffed styrofoam, I mean brown rice.

I snacked on another banana and some almonds at the office where in my desk sits a teasing jar of jellybeans. When I open the drawer I swear I hear "eat me". Little devils. Hateful.

I come home for lunch and fix us a salad with the still delectable roasted chicken. I eat more almonds in the car when I pick up Z from school and take him to his afternoon date (note to self: do not keep a full bag of almonds in the car!).

Had some challenges today ... and wondered aloud why I chose to be free of caffeine and alcohol at the same time! Where's the f*en glow people?? Now the leg pain is gone and I'm breaking out. I'm beginning to think my body liked my old diet and is rebelling against this faddy english doctor bs. No, really, I'm fine.

Dinner was turkey burgers with just s&p and thyme with a side of fried rice that had some broccoli, spinach, carrots, onion and fresh ginger. Not pretty (hence no pics) but yummy! Wanted ketchup and looked longingly as Z dipped each piece of his burger into the glistening red dollop.

Going to TJs for a late night emergency--we have run out of bananas. Horrors. Might make my new concoction of yogurt with bananas and almonds. Yogurt is the new Haagen Dazs, next on Oprah. Seriously. I'm in need of a martini.

ONE WEEK DOWN, TWO TO GLOW!

Woke up at 6:30am to the pitter patter of Z and I was NOT rearing to go. Need more sleep but feel better overall. Made a delightful breakfast of detox eggs florentine (forgot to take pic!!). Sauteed onions and added spinach, gluten free bread (it's really good toasted!!) spread with goat cheese and two perfectly poached eggs beautifully set atop. It so didn't need a sauce! We followed breakfast with a family hike in Runyon to work it off and dragged Dew again. She was a sport even though it was hotter today, poor thing.

For lunch, I heated the roasted chicken breast with brown rice and the caramelized carrot/onion mix from the roasting pan. Amazingly simple and delicious. Nothing beats a good roast chicken! Today was the Tu B'Shevat festival at Z's school, the big fundraising event, and we participated by running his class booth and L going solo into the silent auction (danger will robinson), junk food and games. I ate nothing. Admission of guilt: before the fest, we cheated. A little teeny bit. We were both craving coffee (6:30am and 4yo son=caffeine), so pulled the car over, went into a cafe and came out with a lovely, toxic Costa Rican brew. The guilt was soon dissipated and replaced by blissful smiles. 4 sips each. Maybe 5. Says a lot about the potency when the system reacts that quickly. Amen.

Now that the Aussie open is behind us, I can solidify the menu. And get back to my clients ... if they don't get blinded by my new glow. For the record, the leg pain is pretty much gone.

The detox is easier as we go forward (and that's not the coffee talking). Cheating is part of the game, Dr. Joshi says, just get right back on the program "if you have a piece of organic chocolate". Hmmm. Wonder if he would say that about a tub of pesticide popcorn and diet coke. I MISS THAT!!

Imagine my surprise when I found a case of wine on the doorstep yesterday ... a pre-valentine gift from L, a year subscription to Zagat quarterly wine program. Nice! She's torturing me. And yes, I said yesterday because I actually left it on the porch until I had to bring it in before I picked L up at the airport. I opened it this morning, drying my tears as I lovingly caressed each bottle, placing it on the shelf to gather dust.

Snack today was carrots and rice crackers with the homemade hummus. Z comments on the garlic breath, "stinky" so my secret plan is to get him to try it so we can be a garlic breath family. Stick together I say!

Dinner is almond crusted sole with sauteed kale and chard and a salad with fresh mozzarella, lemon and olive oil. My condolences to the heirloom tomatoes that won't be joining us this evening. We really wanted to turn our bubbly water into wine. Very sad indeed. And how is it that my stomach is growling at 8:45pm and I feel famished?? Nothing seems likely to satisfy me so I will immerse myself in the grammys that await on our dvr. Yes, I am still missing POPCORN.

Onward to week 2.

DAY 6 WAITING PATIENTLY ...

Woke up again at 4am even though I cheated with an ambien yet again. Legs are intensely aching. Even took an anti-detox muscle relaxer which didn't take the pain away or put me to sleep. I look like the night of the living dead. Make-up won't even cover up the black pockets under my eyes. But enough about how great the detox diet is thus far ...

I'm having my tea water realizing my ambitious menu planning will take more energy than I can muster at the moment. Going to the gym today to see if that helps my legs and fatigue. Something. Breakfast is the yogurt special.

Miracle ... Z, Dew and I walked Runyon Canyon this morning and voila, pain started going away. Then I went spinning and even less pain. Movement is key to getting the toxins out! Delish lunch of the grilled goat cheese, fresh basil sandwich with some cayenne, avocado (cheater) and gluten free rice thins. I'm roasting a whole chicken for us to have this week. The aroma in the house reminds me of my great grandmother, who was an amazing cook, though I'm certain one of her key ingredients was schmaltz.

I'm still foggy from lack of sleep this week and finding it difficult to focus. Hoping the leg situation is cleared and I will get 8+ hours tonight (right honey?). L is coming back from NY tonight so all will be better regardless. Z and I went over to our neighbors for a play date, and Eric puts the new Bon Appetit under my nose and asked me if I could make the Milk Chocolate-Caramel Tart with Hazelnuts and Espresso (I made a banana cream pie with chocolate crust for him a few weeks ago). I told him not until after the detox plus a few because I will want some of that!

The roasted chicken came out beautifully. I stuffed it with lemons, sprigs of rosemary and thyme, salt and pepper, and a head of garlic cut in half (crosswise). I sliced an onion and threw in a bunch of baby carrots with lots of thyme tossed with olive oil and s&p and put the chicken on top in a roasting pan. Cooked at 425 for about 1.5 hours (5lbs). I only had a taste but it's super moist and delish as were the roasted veggies!

I made dover sole with kale and spinach for dinner. And the requisite brown rice. I'm not craving sweets anymore--not even ice cream! Feeling better in the legs and overall. Just need to sleep and will be much closer to the glow.

I missed tuna fish today. Sometimes you just want a simple tuna sandwich ...

DAY 5 BLAH

So I woke up with the pain again in my legs which scared me, like I might have some nervous system disorder. Searched the internet and found a writer for the Guardian who was actually treated by Dr. Joshi and created a blog which is quite funny and he says he had the same pain And the doc said it was the toxins surfacing. Incredible that I had that many toxins when I thought I ate so well--what was I putting in my body??

Breakfast was nice today. Egg whites with a piece of gluten free toast. Yummy change. The cooking and the thinking about what to cook is very time consuming. As is waiting for the ATT man. Captive. Ate a banana.

Read about the bowel movements today and we should be having at least 2 a day. Then why are we happy with our one?! Even my bowels aren't efficient enough. Long road ahead. Still on the fence about the colonic. And now there is lymphatic drainage suggested too which really gets the toxins moving out. If the leg pain persists I will have to drink a bottle of wine with a filet!!

Having a hard time with the pain. Distracting. Made a brown rice tortilla thingy for lunch again--chicken, goat cheese, organic brown rice and the avo sauce. The wrap is a little too "cardboardy" for my taste. Not sure I'll be giving up my burrito fixes after this--maybe sub a whole wheat tortilla. Need heat too. Some hot sauce or maybe get some fresh hot peppers!!

Big bonus: today I learned we can have almonds, walnuts, yams, sweet potatoes and winter squash, like acorn. Looking at these pics, I see we need a splash of color in the food. More herbs. orange squash, red lentils. All coming up.Getting those this weekend for L's return so our menu will be expanded. I feel lethargic and unmotivated. When does the "hop out of bed in the morning" quality kick in? Need some vanilla swiss almond ala haagen daaz. mmmm.

Just made delish hummus. I doubled the recipe because it will be my snack ... but still struggling with movie night without popcorn. What to do? Had 2 rice cakes with hummus for a snack. Always better homemade!

Simple Hummus

1 can organic garbanzo beans (reserve liquid)
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup reserved liquid from beans
olive oil
salt
3-4 tablespoons tahini
fresh parsley

In blender or food processor, grind garlic then add rest of ingredients. Add olive oil, salt and more liquid to taste and for texture.

ATT never came so I called and went through the maze to get to a repair operator who basically said "just because we say 12-4pm doesn't mean he comes to the house between those times. he is working on the line right now where he thinks the problem is". Oh. So when they tell you to be home they don't really mean it. A"tt"holes. Still no dial tone and intermittent internet. And then they tried to sell me on their latest and greatest product, U-Verse. Tape 4 programs at once. I can't even watch the ones I tape now (except the tennis). Simplify I say.

I'm peeing all the time now. I've had at least a liter plus of water already and carrot juice and 10 gallons of green tea. My liver must be happy. But my legs ... Oy.

So now the ATT guy finally shows up at 5pm and says he hasn't been working elsewhere, that the rule is he needs to call then show up at the house (clearly not within the allotted window). Lots of issues and there isn't any available cable between us and the main street. Might be repaired by Monday ... sounds like credit to our phone bill to me.

Spent so much time getting Z ready for the sitter and making his dinner, I actually forgot to eat and found myself at Arclight with few options, walked around and almost went for sushi then baja fresh for chicken and rice, but none of it seemed right. I had my green bean snacks from TJs. Raced past the concession, shielding my eyes from the glory trough of popcorn. Even the apple sausage was calling to me. But I stuck it out--huge for me. Crazy Hearts. Big thumbs up. go go go. Thought I would make something at home but just had a banana and my tenth green tea. And watching Federer as my main course. Ahhh.

Hoping the leg pain is gone in the a.m. and the deep dark circles under my eyes. This is good for me, right?

DAY 4

Woke up at 4am and couldn't fall back asleep. Hope this isn't a side effect of the diet. I keep reading people sleep better! Thinking of sneaking a gluten free ambien tonight. My muscles have a deep ache today in my back and legs, probably from inertia. Need to get on that new Octane L got for our "gym"/garage. She could use more attention.

Breakfast was the same old ... need to change that tune to eggs tomorrow. Doesn't that look delicious?? Z had my favorite cereal this morning and I'm sure he saw me eyeing it.





Must say I'm happy as a clam even though I'm not allowed to eat one. It's gorgeous outside, sunny and 70. That's yummy! Need to look up the special grapefruit mixture for Dr. Joshi's diet that we need to have once weekly. Hurry back L so we can cleanse. And what about the colonics? To be discussed ...

Booked a sitter for Friday night so I can go on the town to a movie and not drink or eat! I can sit through a movie without popcorn. If you put me in a straight jacket! Will need to arm myself with snacks.

Back from my 11am appointment who said I looked "depleted and tired". Ouch. The anti-glow. Certainly it will all turn around. Soon. For lunch, I had a salad with the avocado dressing. Just veggies and some goat cheese. Portion control will work itself out because of boredom. Working on a spreadsheet for more interesting meals ... yes, that's so me.

Had some rice cakes with guacamole on them for a snack. And then shared my edamame with Z while he ate his "special sticks" (don't say "fish" to a 4yo) and sweet potato fries. I made a chicken paillard for dinner with a salad. L went out for dinner in NY and aced it! Chicken with veggies. I can feel her glowing from here.

Very tired from the early rise so it's early to bed ... after some Aussie open of course. The leg pain has subsided so I think working out tomorrow is in order, before I'm captive in the house for ATT and their inane 20 hour window!

18 DAYS TIL THE GLOW ...

Yesterday was Day 3 on the detox. With good intention, I'm trying to blog daily but I got sucked into the Australian open vortex last night. Amazing tennis!! So here is yesterday's experience. I "enjoyed" the unsweetened soy milk with gluten free, sugar free granola, puffed brown rice and banana much more without the migraine. And I found some kombacha green tea at WF I like ... not on par with my darkest of dark nectar of the gods, Peets Major Dickasons, but for a non-toxic beverage it's tops. L said she's feeling great and her jacket is already fitting better. She's off to NY which may be challenging for the diet but I composed a list of dos and donts and sent her with a stellar gluten free lunch. Good luck love.

I thought I would go spinning at lunch but had to get some work done so another day passed without exercise, except for the dog walk. Thank goodness for Dewey! Lunch was a brown rice tortilla (seriously) which was far from pliable but somehow satisfied my burrito craving ... chicken, goat cheese, fresh basil, caramelized onions and my special avocado dressing:

Lime Avocado dressing

Dressing

1 clove garlic, peeled
1-2 ripe avocado
juice of 1-2 limes (to taste)
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne or chili powder
pinch of salt

Combine all in a food processor or blender, play with the water and oil to get desired consistency. Great on salads!

Snack time. Guilt. I cheated on 20 tortilla chips--no gluten but clearly as I was devouring each morsel (sans salsa) I felt like a cheater. Didn't even tell L (sorry honey). Back on track the rest of the day. Had a banana before dinner.

Dinner was brown rice topped with a stir fry of tofu, asparagus, broccoli, onions and garlic with fresh parsley. It was yummy and I need to demonstrate more portion control. Not my strong suit.



What I really missed today was hot sauce!! That can't possibly be toxic ...

DETOX DAY TWO

Woke up tired this morning and thought "coffee" please but made the luscious lemon water instead. Not the cure for the incessant hammering taking place inside my head. Neither is the 4yo cuddled beside me who has no idea why his mommies may be a bit cranky--thank goodness for Elmo's World. I can't get it together to eat before taking Z to school and lose it on the phone in the car with ATT because they transfer me to Kentucky to repair my phone service! I would have to do more than detox if I had no phone or internet living in Kentucky!! I stop at whole foods on the way home to find gluten free muesli which is impossible without cranberries or some dried fruit or nut--so I come home eons later with some rice cakes and assorted items from the raw section. And a loaf of gluten free bread that can also serve as a dumbbell.

Breakfast:

I can see L has already foraged for breakfast as I eye the remnants on the counter upon my return ... banana peel, yogurt container. But she is excited to see what I have discovered in my hunting and gathering mission. I make nonfat greek yogurt (we are supposed to have "live" cultured yogurt but are not in possession of that elusive item as of yet) with banana, gluten free granola and puffed brown rice. And a splash of honey. Delish. I'm hungry. I then find some expired multi-vitamins and have a few for good measure since I'm not sure of my next meal.

Snack:

Rice crackers with pumpkin seed butter, one of the hunting items. I really liked it despite the ghouly green color. A little sticky to the gums but yummy and satisfying. L said she "doesn't really think she'll be eating much of this". Enough said.

Lunch:

We returned from Home Depot (who doesn't like a good romp around the depot?!!) and are famished. I think just the IDEA I'm on a diet just makes me hungry. L grabs the salad and dover sole leftovers from last night and I'm trying to think about what to concoct while the construction site in my head is building a skyscraper! I decide on the 25 pound bread with goat cheese, fresh basil. lettuce and scallions. I put that in our panini maker (aka "George Forman grill" circa 1999) and voila, a scrumptious (as Z would say) sandwich.

Snack (again):

L and I are working in the bedroom together because we have to hijack a neighbor's signal (what moron doesn't secure his wifi these days??) until "Kentucky" comes to fix ours. I'm not very productive today as I'm tired and the head is not cooperating, teasing me with the mantra "coffee ... coffee". We are in need of sustenance and I return from the kitchen with hummus and mini rice cakes. We devour the entire container. Of both.

Dinner:

While Z is having the delicious turkey meatloaf leftovers, I marinate chicken breasts in lime, cilantro, cumin, chili powder, s&p and jalapeno, make brown rice with chicken stock and carrots and steam some asparagus. I would eat this any night, detox or not. But it's especially delicious tonight.

I'm exhausted but feeling good about the diet.

What I missed today: Ice Cream.

What I'm grateful for today: Love

Day One Dr. Joshi's 21-day Detox

L and I decided to go on a "cleanse" and thought Dr. Joshi's looked the most sensible (re: the easiest). I didn't buy the book because I read that it's repetitive and got the information from other blogs and posts. Basically, it's getting the body to be alkaline as opposed to acidic. Pretty simple. There are of course recommendations for vitamins and special detox concoctions that we will try to adhere to but overall it's just a sensible low carb, low cal diet that creates a "glow". Which is what attracted me. Who doesn't want a "glow"?? Not sure where the glow happens but I'm open.

Day one:

No coffee in the morning. Hellish. Not only for the caffeine but the ritual. I like rituals. Love. But okay we skip it for the daily lemon and warm water. Except for lemon and limes the only fruit allowed is bananas because most fruit is picked before it's ripened therefore non-alkaline. Simple. I'm a fan of bananas but I can see the road ahead will be slippery ...

We follow the lemon water with green tea (drink LOTS of this throughout so be close to porcelain) and try to rummage for breakfast since I didn't really prepare as well as I should have. There is some plain yogurt and A banana which we have to split. L isn't a fan of plain yogurt so needs some honey for palatibility. I think because I know I'm on a diet, I'm starving but I have to take Z to school and go to the office. Without detox snacks. Not even sure what those are yet but I'm unarmed. And dangerous. I have the beginning of a headache from Peet's withdrawal.

L and I decide lunch will be at M Chaya Cafe (yummy) where we can order lots of items on the diet. No brainer.We have the chopped salad, garden roll sushi and a side of broccolini and lentils. Except for the cucumber, I think we did okay. Delicious. (and bonus plug, as a member of KCRW we got an additional 15% off!).

After a few meetings and a journey to the grocery store, where we wandered aimlessly reading labels and jonesing for some java--we broke down and had some. So desperate to stop the hazy minds, we lapsed on day one at our not so fav Starbucks for a fix. Upside: we used soy milk and were more pleasant.

Dinner was our best effort with Dover sole as the starring role with an amazing salad of romaine, arugula, broccoli slaw and an avocado dressing, recipe to follow.

Today I missed chocolate. And java. Feeling tired. Have not been to the gym and the Doc says to exercise 3x weekly. Getting on it.

Will start documenting with pics starting tomorrow.