Accomplishment

YES!!! I actually finished the cleanse. It was a real eye opener..let me tell you! For three weeks i didn't have one stomach pain, i didn't feel bloated and i felt really, really good! Don't get me wrong the first few days of this cleanse were super hard and the change of eating habits was stressful, but the out come of it all was completly worth the agitation of my first 3 days, I'm going to continue eliminating meat for a while longer and i am going to eliminate most dairy products all together. Caffeine, sugar and alcohol are back into my diet, but not like they used to be. Also, Gluten-free is the way for me. Ive become very picky about what i eat now and i keep it as nutritional as possible.

Success!!!

- Maria

All Done!

We are done with the cleanse ! It definetly was not as difficult as I thought it was going to be. I am going to have a little bit of meat and a little dairy this week to reintroduce it into my diet and see how I feel. I suspect totally giving up dairy is what has made my stomach feel better but this way I will know for sure. Even if I do go back to eating meat/dairy/gluten I am definetly going to only eat them sparingly.Before the cleanse I ate meat two times a day and now I realize how much that really was.


I have lost about 5 pounds and feel good. This week I will be joining the gym to bring my weight loss to the next level. Though it is a very difficult lifestyle to maintain in it's entirety I definetly have learned things I will continue. We did it ! Let's celebrate with a drink :)

Keep Moving Forward

Enlightening

Not only have I been feeling great lately, but I also lost of couple of pounds which makes me want to continue my new healthier eating habits after the 21 days is completed.

- Jess G.

Keep In Mind

"When you chase a dream or goal, you learn about yourself. You learn your capabilities and limitations and the value of had work and persistence". - Nicholas Sparks


15 days completed!

Coconut Oil

A great alternative to butter is coconut oil. Great for a boost of energy, better digestion, and improved immune function, coconut oil tastes great on veggies, in rice, or on popcorn.

There are many other uses too- check them out here.

Weekend Away

This weekend I went to New Jersey for a big 50th birthday party. I amazed myself by declining lots of food I normally wouldn't have thought twice about having. I had a black bean corn taco with lots of veggies. I munched on chips & salsa and was fine not having any alchohol or cake. When I declined , no one pressed me to know why.

For breakfast this morning everyone had bagels spread thickly with cream cheese while I had some oatmeal and fruit ; the best I could do given the choices I had. I simply explained I couldn't have dairy and there were no further questions.

I feel good, I  am down about 3 pounds, and I am so proud of myself for sticking with this ! I think we are all learning more about  how we react to the things we put in our bodies and how we can make decisions based on this awareness. Doing this cleanse was an excellent decision.

-Jess C.

So Normal

I've gotten so used to eating the things that this cleanse requires and eliminating others, that its become a normal routine for me. I don't find myself picking up things and looking at the ingredients anymore...its just not necessary, i know whats good and whats bad! I honestly might eliminate a few items out of my diet for the long haul...i am really enjoying how i feel!

The girls came over this Thursday night for dinner. I put out some hummus and chips for them to eat while making quinoa with  peppers/tomatoes/celery, butternut squash soup with sweet potato and a side of edamame...it was all so delicious! After we ate we went for a walk around my neighborhood ( major girl-talk haha), came back, had some licorice root tea and watched a movie. This cleanse has become a way of life...its very normal for us now, i really enjoy feeling my health coming back full force- adios bad eating habits!

- Maria

We Love Kale!

One of our favorite foods on this cleanse is kale. It is a nutritional powerhouse. Read some of the reasons why here.

Kale & Avocado:
Mash up an avocado and mix in in with a small bowl of kale. Add chopped tomatoes and chia seeds . Done!

Kale Chips are also a great crunchy snack. Available at health store foods or make your own.

-Jess C

Feeling Great!

My body is responding so well to this cleanse. My stomach has never felt this good.   Before starting the cleanse my stomach would always feel bloated at the end of the day, but I haven't had any of these feelings.  I am considering staying vegan and gluten free after I have completed the cleanse.

Breakfast: Banana

Lunch: pecans, lara bar

Dinner: Grilled ca bobs with tofu, peppers, mushrooms, onions, and zucchini,  corn on the cob, grilled asparagus, and kale salad

Dessert: Pineapple and popcorn 

Jess G.

Halfway Point

Today marks our halfway point of the cleanse! Yesterday my co-workers had pizza and cupcakes for lunch.  I was fine skipping the pizza for a big salad but really wanted a cupcake! I did , however, maintain my willpower.

My stomach feels really good- I have not felt bloated at all. My next goals are to increase my water intake and exercise more. I am feeling better every day.  :)

-Jessica C.

Woah

HOLY CRAP!! Have i really made it over a week eliminating coffee, dairy, meat, sugar, alcohol and gluten out of my diet!?! I'd be lying if i didn't say i miss dairy, but honestly... i feel great!

Happy cleansing.

- Maria

It's About Being Better Than You Were the Day Before & Self Respect

Hungry

I was so hungry yesterday and I feel like all I did all day was eat!

Breakfast: Oatmeal and Pear

Lunch: Broccoli and chips & guacamole

Snack: pineapple, plum and protein bar

Dinner: Salad with beans, corn, peas, veggie burger, & avocado

Dessert: two nectarines

-Jess G.

More Reasons to Eat Fruit!

Levels

Since my energy levels have finally come back, today i will be incorporating the gym with my cleanse!

My Workout Playlist of the Week

"Sweet Emotion”-Aerosmith
"Dance Again"- Jennifer Lopez

"Lose Yourself” - Eminem

"These Days” -Foo Fighters

"In the End" -Linkin Park

"Harder to Breathe” -Maroon 5

"Hips Don’t Lie” -Shakira
"It’s Beginning to Get to Me” - Snow Patrol

"Payphone" - Maroon 5

"Levels" - Avicii

"Paul Revere"- Beastie Boys (RIP MCA)
"The Fixer" -Pearl Jam

"Mystery Mountain" - Journey
"Suddenly I See" - KT Tunstall

"Californication" Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Notion"- Kings of Leon  
"You Give Love A Bad Name" - Bon Jovi 
"Little Lion Man" - Mumford and Son
"Maria, Maria" -Santana ( Of course )

"Boston"- Augustina (cool down song)

-Maria

Carb Cut-back

I have realized that since cutting out animal products, I have been eating many more carbs. In an effort to cut back, I tried to eat carbs only one meal today.

Breakfast- Irish steel cut oats with blue agave nectar and apples
Lunch- Shirataki noodles(only 40 calories for a whole bag!) w/ peanut butter
Dinner- BBQ Tofu "ribs"  ( don't taste like ribs but have a good tangy bbq-like taste with almost no sugar)
- Jessica C.

Mother's Day...Italian Style

Today my mothers side of the family decided to get together and celebrate mothers day in unison. We all gathered at Sleeping Giant State Park and enjoyed an Italian style picnic full of pasta, bread, cheese, potatoes, rice, sandwiches, cutlets, bruchetta, fruit, chips and dip, cake etc etc. Due to this cleanse, I was super limited to what i could eat. I stayed clear of the picnic tables and enjoyed the day with my aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings playing games and laughing over stories of the past. The food I consumed today was mostly veggies & beans, some potatoes, hummus and little bit of fruit.  I was extremely surprised at how well disciplined I was about not touching any of the homemade foods that were in front of me...the craving just weren't there.

Finally...a successful day on this cleanse! HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!

- Maria

Night Out

Yesterday evening the three of us  went to the Red Lentil Restaraunt  in New Haven, CT. Even with all our restrictions,we were each able to find a dish we could eat  and it was delicious! We definetly will be going back again.

Appetizers:

Beet-Potato Latkes

Sweet potatoes, beets, thyme dates, and granny smith apples, pan seared and served over a bed of greens, accompanied with apricot marmalade and cilantro vinaigrette.
$7.00

Corn Chips and salsa $3.00
Guacamole $2.00

Entrees

Butternut Squash Polenta

Grilled polenta, oyster mushroom ragout, warmed sesame asparagus drizzled with cilantro sunflower seed pesto.
$13.99

Pistachio and Herb Encrusted Tofu with Corn Cake

Fresh herb and pistachio encrusted tofu, pan seared corn cake, and sautéed greens with red pepper and jalapeno relish and cilantro chutney.
$14.50

Millet Loaf with Local Farm Seasonal Vegetables

Millet loaf baked and served with Ethiopian spiced Tempeh, accompanied with Marjoram pesto, midsummer garden ratatouille, and carrot sage béchamel sauce.
$13.99

- Jessica C, Maria & Jess G.

Dreaming of Soda

 Here was my Day 4...

My body has stopped craving caffeine! I woke feeling great today and was full of energy all day despite my dream last night where I cheated and had a diet coke which made me feel amazing.

Breakfast: Banana

Lunch: Salad with beans, sprouts, and pecans

Dinner: Gluten free pizza with veggies

Exercise: Walked a mile and ran three miles

-Jess G.

Bam

                                 Now that's what you call a gluten- free, dairy- free, meat-free lunch!!  

                                                 (Grapes and snap peas were portioned out)

-Maria

Energy

I am feeling good today but I am tired..My food choices are starting to become pretty routine but I think I need to add in more exercise to  keep my energy levels up.

Some natural energy boosters :

-Eat Chia Seeds- full of B vitamins , protein and fiber- sprinkle some in your yogurt or on your salad.They are available at stores such as Whole Foods.
-Take a 10 minute walk: You will be energized for up to two hours according to a study in Personality and Social Psychology
- Drink green drinks in the place of coffee for non-jittery energy

I have been drinking Cavalla  in the morning.. cocoa that brews like coffee but is caffeine and sugar free.It tastes best when made in the french press. Besides being yummy and comforting, it is also full of antioxidants.

Also check out:
10-fantastic-ways-to-fight-fatigue

- Jessica C.

I Can't Get No...Satisfaction!

There are days where i feel no matter how much of something i consume, i can't seem to feel full and then i have days like today where i am literally forcing myself to eat something. It's a battle between evil & evil (consuming too much & not consuming enough). Hopefully this cleanse will help me find my happy medium...I'd like to feel normal.

Breakfast- Banana

Lunch- Tomato and quinoa

Dinner- Hummus and flax crackers

Snack- Scoop of peanut butter

-Maria

Your Life

My Goodness

I am Exhausted!!! Being vegan takes a lot outta of a girl...

Breakfast- Non sugar, chocolate vegan shake
Snack- Kale with avocado & Banana chips
Lunch - Brown rice pasta with soy butter and basil
Dinner- Vegan bean burger with squash on the side
Dessert- Vegan lemon cookie with no gluten, no sugar (split with Jess C.)

***Ciao Ciao Day 3***

More to come tomorrow...Buona Notte!!

<3 Maria

Refreshing

I’m starting to listen to my body and only eat when I am hungry instead of eat because it is " time to eat".   Today I felt energized but did not eat much food.  I am challenging my old way of eating and really paying close attention to the signals my body gives me. 

Breakfast/Lunch: Watermelon, banana, apple, orange juice, and chia seed smoothie.

Dinner: Spaghetti Squash with tomato sauce and Salad.

-Jess G.

What Would You Do If You Knew You Could Not Fail?

Some people have noticed and asked about my change in eating habits. Usually after I explain the 5 items I have given up I get the following two responses:

1. OMG! I could never do that!
2. What can you eat????

 I've actually surpised myself so far with my willpower. I stopped eating animal products several days ago and have gotten over the horrible hump of caffeine withdrawal.I have found many new things to eat and started to make some choices I would like to continue after the cleanse. I am not sure if I could eat this strict forever but I certaintly have become aware of many places I can be making better choices.

When I wasn't sure what I was going to eat in the cafeteria today I realized there was lots I could eat at the salad bar. Having healthy snacks on hand, such as nuts or dried fruit, also helps.


-Jessica C.

Day Two: Jess G .

Today was not as easy as yesterday.  I was really craving coffee today.  I had a full 8 hours of sleep, there was not a reason for me to be so tired, but I found it hard to get the motivation to get anything done.  Around 2, I had such a bad headache, but once I relaxed for a minute and had a glass of orange juice , I felt much better.  Also, after my chiropractic adjustment I had a burst of energy.  Hopefully I feel better Wednesday!

Breakfast: Brown rice and millet flake cereal with almond milk and banana.

Lunch: Claire’s Corner Copia Bean and Escarole Soup and a Roasted Veggie Salad.

Snack: Orange Juice

Dinner: Kale with tomatoes and cannellini beans over quinoa spaghetti and salad

Dessert: Watermelon

PICTURE DAY

                              BREAKFAST (Vanilla Chai,-non sugar vegan shake)

                                LUNCH (Dry bananas and a non-gluten bagel w- peanut-butter)

                                 MULTIVITAMINS (Shaklee woman's multivitamin)

                                  DINNER (Angel hair Tofu with chickpeas, tomatoes and basil)
                                                    Day 2

Instead of me just writing out what i ate today, i figured I'd give you all a visual too...

Side Note: I also ate dried snap-peas for a snack, but i forgot to take the picture. Lets be serious though, who really wanted to see that anyways?? :)

- Maria

Ouch

HOLY HEADACHE! This caffeine withdrawal is not going to be fun.

-Jessica C.

Encouraging

                                                        Getting it done...no matter what!!

Day One: Jess G

The last five days have been a blur for me. I read all three 50 Shades of Grey books.  One of the main characters in the book, Christian Grey, is a control freak and when he does not have control he feels that his life is out of control.  As I began to cleanse this morning I could not get the idea of Christian’s need for control out of my head.  We have very little control in our everyday lives but the one thing we have complete control over is what we put into our bodies, how we choose to nourish our bodies.  I am in control of my health and I like this concept.  I am creating my own destiny.  Day one done!

Breakfast: Vegan Sugar Free Protein Shake

Lunch: Tomato and Cucumber Salad

Dinner: Salad with veggie burger

Day One: Maria

Tonight I'm in one of those moods where I honestly don't feel liking saying much. The food I ate was good, but not as fulfilling (I'll miss you cheese and meat)...I also feel super restless. I think I just feel this way because i completely eliminated 5 major food items out of my diet and my body is in shock. Hopefully in a few days I'll feel as amazing as everyone keeps telling me I'll feel. Day one, completed!


Took my Shaklee multivitamins- http://www.shaklee.com/products.php?sku=20283


Breakfast: Gluten-free toast with unsalted peanut butter
Lunch: Quinoa with Veg
Snacks: Flax chips with hummus, Mango strips, Almonds, Banana
Dinner: (with Jess C): Quinoa pasta with cannellini beans, fresh lemon and tomatoes


20 days to go....

Day One: Jessica C.

I am excited yet scared to begin the cleanse. But really- what am I afraid of? That I won't be able to complete it? That I will feel ackward in social situations? That my cravings will be too intense? So far everyone has been supportive, even if they are a bit perplexed.

Armed with a full lunch box, I had lots of healthy goodness to eat today:

Breakfast: Gluten free bagel with coconut oil, Cavalla (caffeine-free coffee-like drink)
Lunch: Salad with chia seeds and sprouted veggie burger crumbles
Snacks: fruit, flax crackers and hummus, nuts
Dinner: Quinoa pasta with cannellini beans and tomatoes

 Made it through day one okay. 20 days to go!

Follow Us On Our Journey To Wellness

We are preparing to begin our 21 day cleanse! We will be following the advice given in Kathy Freston's book : " The Quantum Wellness Cleanse" . We will be cutting out the "Big Five": 1. Animal Products: Meat and Dairy 2. Alcohol 3. Caffeine 4. Sugar 5. Gluten. Follow our progress by entering your email in the box below. You will be updated each time we post. We will be updating daily on what we eat (pictures included), how we feel and struggles we encounter. Three girls, three different backgrounds, three different opinions, ONE goal...Health!

Thanks in advance for everyone's support! This won't be easy, but it will be worth it! Also, please feel free to send vegan/gluten free recipes/coupons our way!( Stevia in the place of sugar is ok.)-Wish us luck!

Maria Buontempo: Bio

I was brought up in a traditional Italian household where I was raised on an authentic Italian diet of pasta, bread ,cheese & meat. Food surrounds my life, whether it comes from my upbringing or my way of adapting to new things, I just always feel the need to eat…even when i'm not hungry!

 Being the youngest of four I was always babied into getting my way. My father and I started this “tradition” where he and I would go out to eat once a week (sometimes twice) after school. He would pick me up, drive me to a restaurant and we’d eat whatever I was in the mood for. After two hours of being home, dinner was ready. I remember in the beginning struggling to eat dinner because I’d be so full from eating two hours prior, but after awhile I adapted to it and eating large consumption's easily became a habit- It’s not my dad’s fault, I just love eating :)

With 28 aunts and uncles and about 70 cousins, we have a LOT of family events. Weekends are filled with weddings, baby showers, baptisms, communions…you name it, we have them. Food and cookies are the most important aspect of our family functions. Everyone outside of our family is always astonished when they see pictures of or hear about the amount of food we ingest, but to our family it’s normal.

My environment, mixed with my love of food has established an addiction that is so strong, not much can stop it. In fact I am semi- lactose and sensitive to red meat , but I enjoy them so much, I‘d take stomach pain over eliminating them out of my diet.

 My goal for this cleanse is to become more attentive of what I am feeding my body, change my poor eating habits and become self aware. I want to feel in control of myself, rather than food controlling Me- with that in mind, Carpe Diem!

Jessica Giacalone: Bio

As long as I can remember I have always loved food. I enjoy all different kinds of food. I come from a family where everything revolves around food. Both my parents cook very well and would make a wide range of food for dinner including Italian, Asian, Irish, and American. Having an eclectic palate has made it easy for me to adapt to eating anywhere: friend’s houses, restaurants, and on the go. Three and half years ago I decided to make a big life change and become vegan. From the day I started I loved the way eating a diet of mostly vegetables made me feel. After nine months I started to eat dairy products, but decided to still omit eggs. I love my diet and find it really easy not to eat meat.

Gluten: I try and eat very little gluten because I am aware of the effects it has on our digestive tract, but find it hard to stick to a completely gluten- free diet because of the cost and availability of gluten free items in social settings. I feel 21 days without gluten will benefit me and should not be very difficult. I love quinoa, brown rice, and millet.

Alcohol: I am not a big drinker, but I occasionally enjoy a glass of wine at the end of the night to calm me down. Instead of alcohol on a stressful day, I will have a cup of chamomile tea.

Caffeine: Coffee! I love nothing more in the morning when I have not slept. I try and limit my caffeine intake staying away from sodas and energy drinks. On some days I enjoy a mid-day coffee for a pick me up.

Sugar: I very rarely have refined sugar or sweetened baked products. When I do need to use sugar I replace it with stevia, honey, or agave nectar.

Meat/Dairy Products: Being vegetarian comes naturally to me after 3.5 years without them.. Dairy products can be difficult not because of milk but because of cheese. I love anything with cheese.

I am really excited about the adventure we are about to embark on, but also nervous about life for 21 days without coffee and cheese. I am also very confident that the health benefits of this cleanse are going to surpass any anxious feelings I may have during the process.

Jessica Carraro: Bio

I am a communications professional and part-time grad student. My family is Irish, Slovakian and Italian. Our meals usually consist of a meat with a side of scratch and side of vegetable. I think I can best describe my reasons for doing this cleanse by talking about the “BIG FIVE” I will be eliminating:

Animal Products : Meat/Dairy: I eat meat often- mostly chicken but I LOVE a good steak. Too much dairy bothers my stomach so I already try to avoid it.

 Alcohol: I generally only drink at social events and since the cleanse will not be during the holidays I don’t anticipate a problem.

Gluten: After reading Kathy’s book I learned that gluten causes inflammation, which seems to be common in many health conditions, including dry eyes( which I have). I know there are many good gluten-free alternatives so I am not worried about giving this up.

 Sugar: I do occasionally get intense sugar-cravings, especially when I am stressed, but I will have to try to replace sugary snacks with fruit.

 Caffeine: I have begun to cut down on my caffeine intake this week . As I poured part of my large coffee cup back down the sink I was sad. I was pouring out increased focus! More energy- right down the drain! But I know this will be better than cutting it out cold turkey. I am definitely addicted to caffeine.

 I am ready to feel healthier and though this cleanse will be difficult I am looking forward to seeing how it makes me feel.