Heal Your Gut Challenge 2014

We are doing another challenge at the gym. Read up on it here.

My dietary goals for this challenge are to cut out goat cheese and sweat treats. I don't think any of the other challenge requirements will give me grief.

Physically, I'd like to see gains in bodyweight movements. I've been focusing on gymnastics this Fall, and shedding a few pounds is a sure way to improve your pull ups and push ups!

I've measured myself up again and pulled my old numbers from way back in summer of '11 (just for "fun"!):

*September 23, 2014*

Bicep: 11 1/4

Bust: 34
Rib cage: 29 1/4

Waist: 27

Hips: 34 1/4

Butt: 38 1/4

Above knee: 16 1/2

Calf: 14 3/4

June 10, 2011

Bicep: 12 1/2

Bust: 34 1/2
Rib cage: 31

Waist: 27 1/4

Hips: 33 1/2

Butt: 38

Above knee: 17 1/2

Calf: 15 1/4

February 16, 2011
All on the left side:
Bicep: 12 1/4
Bust: 36 1/2
Waist: 31 1/2
Hips: 35 1/4
Butt: 40
Above knee: 18
Calf: 12 5/8

Cashew Milk with cinnamon and agave

Makes just under one quart of milk:

• 1 1/2 cups raw cashews
• 3 cups of water for soaking
• 2 cinnamon sticks ground to a powder or 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3 cups filtered water
• 2 tablespoons agave

 

Place raw cashews in a clean bowl and top with 3 cups of water.  Cover with plastic wrap and let sit overnight, or for 8 to 12 hours.  Once soaked, place the cashews in a fine mesh strainer and run the softened cashews under cool water until clean and the water runs clear.  Set aside.

 

In a spice blender (mine is a clean coffee grinder), grind cinnamon sticks, one at a time, to a fine powder.  Place in a small bowl and set aside.  If you don’t have a spice grinder, measure 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon into a small bowl and set aside.

 

Combine cinnamon, cashews, filtered water, and agave in the bowl of a blender.  Cover tightly and blend on low speed, increasing to high speed, until smooth.

 

Place a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl.  Pour half of the cashew mixture into the fine mesh strainer.  With a spatula, work the liquid through the strainer.  The harder you press the cashew mixture, the more liquid you’ll release, and the more cashew bits you’ll get in your milk.  I happen to like this milk to be thick and slightly chunky.  Continue to strain the milk until all of the liquid has passed through the strainer.  Place cashew meat mixture in a bowl and set aside.

 

If you’d like a smoother milk, feel free to pass it through the strainer once more.

 

Store in an airtight container (I used an old one-quart milk jar) and place in the fridge.  Shake well before enjoying.

 

Milk lasts, in the refrigerator, for up to 4 days.

 

Inspired by this recipe.

Get your shit together

The Whole30 was like a fad diet for me. I ate well before I started, went hardcore for 30 days, and then fell into a bottomless pit of gross eating habits.

It makes me feel sick, but it's like I'm defying authority or something - a weird thrill? To hurt myself?
Gawd, what's wrong with me?

I sit here, typing this, as my gut churns and bubbles from the crap I ate at work today.

So I need to get my shit together. I need to do the Whole Ariane. Meaning, my whole body will feel good if I eat whole, good food. Makes sense right? Not complicated, no rules to abide by. Just whole food. Plain and simple.

I am really good at following a plan. I like the challenge, but I also like to break the rules.
Hence the failure of Whole30.
I did awesome, and then snap, terrible - breaking the rules is fun, right?

So I'm cooking.
I'm having a glass of wine if I want to. Because if I have a few drinks at a birthday party, I'll have fun, be happy, and won't want to break the rules! Magic.

This is the plan. It's a good plan.

Starting now, I'm Whole ArianeTM.