I will be away from the computer, my phone, and all technology (and my entire regular routine) for 5 full days to fully immerse myself in the experience… Which will be the longest by FAR that I have been away from you guys since I started this bloggy 3 years ago.

Panchakarma is an Ayurvedic treatment for detoxification and purification that involves massage, herbal therapy, rest, digital detox and more (way more — I’ll elaborate!) and is a gentle, yet profound purification therapy designed to rid the body of toxins.

Needless to say, this chick has gathered a lot of toxins over the years. We ALL have. I threw my body off balance when I developed orthorexia and stopped listening to my body’s hunger cues, drank a ton of alcohol in college (and high school… #whoops), and I have my fair share of stress with the highest cortisol levels you could imagine. In Ayurvedic medicine, they believe my toxins are mainly stuck in my liver. (Which could be why alcohol sounds horrible to me 110% of the time.)

In other words, my pitta dosha is off balance, as there has been an increase of vata in my body — so this Panchakarma treatment will balance my doshic function on top of detoxifying my bod and giving me time and energy to recharge and get re-inspired away from technology and my daily life.

If you have nooooo idea what I am talking about when I say pitta and vata, then you may be interested in taking this dosha quiz.  Your dosha is kind of like your body’s blueprint — it corresponds to your specific behaviors, emotions, digestion, shape, appearance and more.

I happen to be a pitta dosha, the fiery and intense one (surprised?), and when pitta is off-balance all sorts of issues are caused. Digestion probs, stress levels skyrocket, sleep issues, overheating easily, having a short temper, getting affected by the tiniest things. That’s me… when I’m off balance.

In balance, pitta is awesome. Technically a balanced pitta has great digestion and sleeps incredibly well, is a great decision-maker and teacher, and is very grounded.

And right now, I can tell you, I don’t feel a whole heck of a lot of grounded-ness. And my digestion is WHACK, and I am a major insomniac.

So… Panchakarma is a good answer.

Also… DIGITAL DETOX. Need I say MORE?

What are some other reasons to do a Panchakarma?

Well, there are a ton. If you are feeling sluggish, depressed, unmotivated, having difficulty with digestion or concentration or any type of emotional issue — Panchakarma is a great thing to do.

For me, it’s mainly about the digestion and an intense desire to treat my body as well as possible and give myself the gift of major detoxification. On top of that, I am thrilled to have 5 days to myself to go through the treatment process and reconnect to my core and what I am most passionate about — and also to reconnect to my creativity away from the Internet.

I did a one day Panchakarma back in May (and wrote all about it here), and it was life changing. Just ONE day. The five treatments within the Panchakarma transported me to basically have an out of body experience. I felt more relaxed, at peace, and at one with the earth than I ever have before. Plus, it was a massively detoxifying experience — for the entire weekend afterward I was in bed, sleeping soundly and feeling insanely relaxed and rested.

I remember thinking during the treatment, “am I asleep or awake? I have NO idea” because I was that relaxed and peaceful.

For a Type A like me, that is pretty much unheard of in daily life — even when I do things like 90 minute massages or float therapy or restorative yoga / meditation.

How Did I Decide on This?

Well, as I mentioned above, the one day Panchakarma rocked my world. After I did that, I was talking to my own Ayurvedic practitioner Anjali about potentially trying a longer, more immersive experience. She suggested that I do a 5-day Panchakarma with her — and pretty much immediately I knew it was the right thing to do. I just had to find the 5 days to do it, with the 5 prep days factored in and about a month after the treatment to stay put and not travel.

For me, that is a LOT. I am usually highly on the go. And also, I am usually not feeling too great when it comes to digestion, sleep, and balanced emotions. So I decided to take a leap of faith and commit to it.

Ever since I committed, I have been more than looking forward to it — I’ve been yearning for it. I realized that I never take a break from life, EVER, to do something like this for myself.

Even when I go on vacation, I am very “on.” I am taking photos, posting on the blog blog, super immersed in Instagram communication with my readers and other bloggers, always on the phone with someone, making plans with someone else, etc.

I am never alone with my thoughts — and for a creative person like me, I NEED to be and want to be. I think I’ve just forgotten how to do that with all of the usual distractions around me.

So, here I am, about to embark on this experience. I am SOOO excited and nervous to see what it will be like. I’m sure it will bring up a lot — it’s a heavy detoxification emotionally, physically and spiritually… but I am ready for it. I am definitely ready to explore that part of myself.

I will see you guys in 5 days (or maybe 6… I will likely take another day to myself when I am coming out of the experience). I cannot wait to share with you. Being able to share my experiences with you guys makes my life 29843984 times better and more meaningful to me — so thank you for always being there. I promise I’m not going MIA, just reconnecting to my deepest self so I can share that with all of you. <3 Also — THOUGHTS?! Do share!

If you want to read more about Panchakarma, check out the articles below —

My One Day Panchakarma Experience, TBB

The Truth About Panchakarma, Banyan Botanicals

Everything You Want to Know About Ayurvedic Cleansing, Banyan Botanicals

I’m beyond stoked to tell you about the Alkamind lifestyle, otherwise known as the “Get Off Your Acid” cleanse. Again, just like with my soup cleanse post yesterday, I’ll remind you that I don’t like the word “cleanse.” I prefer using the words detox, lifestyle, commitment and experiment instead. So from here forward that’s what I will be saying.

After all, a “cleanse” of sorts is really just a commitment to your health and hopefully an overall permanent positive change to your lifestyle. That’s why we make healthy changes in our lives, yes?! So we can reap the benefits long after the “cleanse”/”detox” is over. Not to restrict ourselves only to binge out on the foods that we are restricting right when the detox ends.

Health is a journey, my loves. Wellness is a lifestyle. Once you learn to embrace those two truths, you’ll be amazed and how much beauty you can let in. 

My wellness journey in a nutshell:

I have come a long way over the past couple of years. Most of you probably know the story: I went from being a healthy plant-based vegan to a very restrictive plant-based vegan with an eating disorder, and then bounced back in an extreme sort of way to try to recover from my eating disorder and basically ate anything/everything to prove to myself that I was no longer sick.

Then I developed stomach ulcers, a parasite, more food allergies/anxieties, and a whole lot of “imbalance” in my life. During that time I wrote my book, and part of me was very fearful about putting my story out there knowing that I still had a long way to go until I reached full “recovery.”

Ya feel me? Big time fears! And on top of it I just didn’t feel good — I felt sluggish, bogged down, and desperate to figure out what was going to work for me and my very specific tummy issues.

Then came January 2016, and I was like woah. I need to make some changes. I want to feel better again. I am a wellness blogger with a serious passion for health, active lifestyle, and feeling my best — so why don’t I feel even remotely close to my best?!

Looking for a SOLUTION!

So with all of that, I went on a quest to prioritize MY health and get it figured out. This meant dealing with hormone issues, gut health problems, skin problems, anxiety, and overall mental health (yes, therapy, the best thing ever). I am doing a LOT to work on myself right now, and it’s pretty eye opening.

Challenging, but so worth it.

Get Off Your Acid!

One person I’ve discovered on this journey toward wellness is Dr. Daryl Gioffre – the go-to alkaline expert who has developed several programs to help people live a more balanced life, full of energy and OFF of their acid! He developed the “Get Off Your Acid” lifestyle, and his story in itself is so inspiring. He was a serious sugar addict — like, big time — and once he hit rock bottom with his own health he decided he needed to do something about it.

He discovered that by making changes in his diet and getting off of sugar by replacing it with alkalinity and nutrient-dense foods, he was able to mend his health problems and inevitably make hugely positive changes in his life.

Why is acid such a negative thing in our bods? Lots of reasons. It can cause us to feel bloated, sick, nauseous from food, inflamed, to hang onto weight, to be low energy, and so much more. We want our pH to be balanced and for our bodies to be slightly alkaline, which is much better for our immunities and overall for how great we can possibly feel.

Plus, the dangers of acid are far greater than feeling a little nauseous or bogged down… Acid can cause stomach ulcers (like the ones I developed!), and weaken our immune systems so that we develop serious illnesses easier than we would if our bods were in a state of health and balance.

EEK, right?

That’s why I love Dr. Daryl‘s approach.  His approach is one of moderation, not deprivation, and he aims to bring his patients to higher levels of health, fitness, and energy. #YES, yes and yes! His specialty is uncovering the root causes of chronic illness, which makes healthy changes more convenient and sustainable.

I am ALL ABOUT starting at the root cause and then moving forward from there, because all of our bodies are SO, so different, so Dr. Daryl’s approach is 110% in alignment with my own.

After I did my lengthy rounds of blood work and gut health testing with Dr. Lekkos in Santa Monica, I spoke to Dr. Daryl to make sure that even with all of my supplements and lifestyle changes the Alkamind detox would be okay for me to do.

The answer was yes, and I quickly found that eating alkaline foods and drinking Dr. Daryl’s Daily Greens & Daily Minerals drinks only helped speed up the healing of my gut and helped my digestion return to normalcy. I did it for one week, and I am so looking forward to seeing how my health progresses over time as I continue to incorporate his drinks and nutrient-rich alkaline foods into my daily life.

You guys already know that I ate a lot of alkaline, nutrient-rich soups for most of the week last week, all “Alkamind lifestyle” approved, and I can’t rave ENOUGH about how good I am feeling after 7 days straight of that routine.

I also used a lot of his recipes & advice — including some killer salads and smoothies that I will be making all the time in my kitchen from now on. The chunky monkey smoothie (YES, it’s as good as it sounds) was my absolute fav. I will be including the recipe for that in this week’s Loving Lately post!

I most certainly understand that health is such a process, so I don’t want to say my entire life has changed in a week and that my tummy probs have disappeared, but man do I feel like I am on the right path. It is so relieving and mentally calming to know that I am doing something that seems to be working.

Annndddd to teach you a little more about Alkaline foods, incase you have no idea what I’m talking about (wouldn’t blame you in the least!) here is a handy chart from Dr. Daryl’s website about the importance of having a healthy pH balance in our bods:

ALSO COOL: Both the Daily Minerals and Daily Greens products are 100% Raw, USDA and QAI Certified Organic, Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, GMP, Kosher Certified, and Vegan.

ALSO, ALSOOOO COOL: They are created using low heat dehydration at 88 degrees Fahrenheit, naturally preserving all of the chlorophyll-rich nutrients and active enzymes of the living food, keeping them as potent as the day they were picked. This gives this product a 2 year shelf life with no need for any unhealthy preservatives.

^ The high chlorophyll percentage in the Daily Greens drink made me super duper gassy & bloated in the beginning, so if that happens to you don’t fear. It just means that you  have a lot of acid you need to get off of… So the lifestyle is probably exactly what you need!

Check out his site & lifestyle, you’ll be happy you did.

AND if you’re interested in seeing in alkaline foods list, here is a great comprehensive one! Dr. Daryl also has a fab pocket guide!

Any questions?! I know I have been giving a lot more info about my health journey lately, and that’s because after four months of exploration and gathering details, I am finally ready to start sharing some of my findings. Would love to hear your thoughts and whether you have tried anything cool in the wellness space lately!! XO 

I also started with some warm water & lemon (a ritual I’ve recently gotten back into that I LOVE, and my digestion loves it too… #tummyproblife), a beef bone broth (newest ritual that I am obsessed with) & a nut and seed soup from Soupure in Brentwood.

Soupure was kind enough to gift me a 3-day soup cleanse to do over the weekend because my stomach has been such a mess, and I can’t even tell you how good I feel. I am still working out my food allergies and all sorts of other issues (BIG blog post on my blood work & routine with my functional medicine doctor, Dr. Lekkos, coming THIS WEEK) but my stomach feels so calm and back on the right track for the first time in FOREVER.

I coupled the soup cleanse with an Alkamind “Get Off Your Acid” regimen started by Dr. Daryl (more on that TOMORROW), who is awesome & has also helped me a lot with my stomach probs, and between the two my digestion is so much better and I haven’t been waking up feeling like a sick inflated balloon every day. #score

Soup Cleanse Deets

A lot of you asked me after I posted about the cleanse on Instagram how I navigated doing a cleanse after my restrictive diet past and previous eating disorder.

WELL, that is a great question.

I used to do a LOT of cleanses. Like a lot, a lot. If you’ve read my book, or if you are a long time blog reader, then you know this. 30-day juice cleanses and weekly 1-3 day juice cleanses were my jam back in the day.

Now, I would never do a full-on juice cleanse. I realize that I was using cleanses as a method of control, and to try to ease my anxieties about food in general because there were so many foods I feared at the time would make me not feel well or make me gain weight. Ahhhh, the struggle — I don’t miss it.

Juice cleanses are rough on our systems because there is very little protein and fiber in cold-pressed juice, and there is typically a high amount of fruit sugar which spikes our blood sugar and leaves us feeling hungry, shaky and out of whack.

That’s not to say juice cleansing can’t work well for someone who really needs a reboot and needs to get back on a healthier track — but for me, and for the majority of you, who I know try to eat healthy & live an active and mindful lifestyle, it’s probably realllllly not necessary at all.

SOUP CLEANSES are way different than that. First of all, I’d like to take this second to rid the sentence of the word “cleanse” at all, because it just has a negative/starvation connotation in my mind.

Let’s call it a soup detox.

Soups are full of fiber, because they are blended so they maintain a lot of the natural fiber from the ingredients that go into it. A lot of the soups I’ve been having are also full of protein — like the bone broths, nut & seed soups and strawberry cashew energizing soup.

PLUS, soups can have a lot more texture and consistency to them so you’re not straight up only having liquid. My soups this weekend had lentils, kale, chopped veggies, blended nuts, sliced asparagus, and I added beans & avocado to some of them.

ALSO… I am at such a more stable place in my wellness journey than I was back when I used to juice cleanse, so I feel comfortable doing something a little more controlled at this point. My digestion has been so bad that it was recommended by my Ayurvedic nutritionist that I do a lot of soupy foods — so this was also a healing experiment for me.

Now, when I get hungry on a “cleanse” / detox, I add more food! I snacked on raw sprouted almonds all weekend, ate lots of spoonfuls of coconut butter and tahini, added beans & avocado to my dinner soups as I mentioned above, sipped on all sorts of energizing teas all day long, and drank tons and tons of fluids to flush my cold out of me (I was SO sick last week + this weekend, ahhh!).

Also, if I had been hungrier, I would have added more. I have learned after everything I’ve been through to listen to my body above all else and give it what it needs to feel its best, be fueled & energized, and to be satiated and happy.

I now know that being “starving” on a cleanse or detox is so bad for your metabolism, adrenals, digestion and mental state. (OBVI.) And also, it makes you bounce back and be hungrier than ever, so any potential digestive benefits that could have been had are totally squashed by that extreme back and forth.

Souping is also warming in texture which in Ayurvedic teaching is so much better for our tummies and digestion than raw food and cold juices/smoothies.

I wasn’t hungry at all on my soup detox because I had a soup nearly every hour, meaning I had tons of good fuel to keep me going throughout my day. I even ran a 10k with my family and my BFF!

And don’t even get me started on BONE BROTH!!! Bone broth is my lifeline right now — I am obsessed with it, and I feel like it is really, really healing my gut and I am so thrilled to have found something that seems to be working.

To name a few things that bone broth helps with… allergies, anemia, anxiety, bone fracture, bloating, brittle hair/nails, colds and flus, Crohn’s disease, GI problems, detoxing, fatigue, food allergies, hypothyroidism, menopause, muscle atrophy, muscle cramps, osteoporosis, arthritis, slow metabolism, PMS, ulcerative colitis, weak immunity, insomnia, IBS/IBD, leaky gut, weak immunity.

BOOM.

I am going to do a full post on bone broth either this week or next to share with you guys, and I can’t wait.

AND I already made a second trip to Soupure this morning to pick up bone broths & their Superhero Nut & Seed soup to keep sipping on throughout the week as I get back to my regular food routine!!

XO — PS, more on my Soup Cleanse on SNAPCHAT (@jojoyounger) — check it out, yo!

Yesterday was full of spending time with people I love, going to yoga, catching up on IIN classes and going on long walks in the city. Oh, and leading TBV Summer Cleanse email thread. Anddd getting excited about the relaunch of TBV Store on Friday with some of our exciting new designs! Now that’s what I call a good Tuesday.

I’ve also been doing Gingersnap’s Organic Spirit Junkie cleanse this week, which I mentioned on Monday. It has been going phenomenally well so far. Why am I not doing TBV Summer Cleanse, you ask?! Because I did it last week to be fully prepared for all of this week’s cleansers and their questions, and because TBV summer cleanse is more or less how I eat on a regular basis. I wanted to partake in a solid food cleanse that was going to go a little deeper than my normal diet.

The Spirit Junkie cleanse is riiight up my alley, because it consists of two cold-pressed juices per day, a ginger lemonade, a raw salad, a raw green soup and a chia pudding. Solid food cleansing for the win! I’ve discovered over the past several months of cleanse experiments that while full juice cleanses leave me feeling amazing throughout and directly afterward, it only takes a few days for me to feel exactly the way I did before cleansing if not worse.

That’s because drinking only juice is not sustainable, and I am interested in sustainable lifestyle changes around here! Cleanses that involve solid food teach us better eating habits, remind us that we don’t need to snack throughout the day in order to feel good, and reinforces the “eat to live” mentally that I so believe in versus the “live to eat” mentally that it’s easy to fall into during a stressful work week when mealtimes are the only “fun” times that we have to look forward to.

I want to give a huge thanks to Jamie at Gingersnap’s for working with me to make sure I was choosing the right cleanse for my body and my current lifestyle choices. She is so knowledgeable and passionate about health, mindful eating and organic that it’s hard not to want to pick her brain. I am getting so excited for our event at Gingersnap’s next Monday. Hope to see many of you there!

Now, on to What I Ate Wednesday… Gingersnap’s Organic Spirit Junkie cleanse style!

What I Ate Wednesday:

Juice 1:

I have been starting each morning with a Ginger Lemonade that consists of lemon juice, ginger juice, cayenne, stevia and filtered water. I actually just finished one right now and my mouth and throat are on fire, thanks to the ginger and cayenne! Since the body becomes acidic while we sleep, it’s good to drink an alkalizing juice like this one first thing in the morning. Plus, it’s delicious. I absolutely love the kick that it has.

Breakfast:

I switched up the order that Gingersnap’s recommended, because this week I have been feeling like a heartier breakfast than a green juice. Having a chia pudding for breakfast seriously hits the spot, because it is filling and full of all natural protein to fuel me through my day. I have been alternating each day between vanilla and chocolate, and while they’re both amazing I would absolutely have to say that the chocolate is one of the most scrumptious treats in the world. I think I am going to stick with having these chia puddings for breakfast long after the cleanse. Oh, and it’s sugar-free! No agave or coconut sugar found here.

Juice 2:

I have been sipping on a green juice each day late morning after my chia pudding. I have been alternating between an all green juice and the GO “Kick” juice which has a little bit of pear in it. They are both delicious. I have to say that Gingersnap’s green juices are unparalleled by any other juice company in NYC. You know I am a huge fan of many juice places in my area, but no one has mastered the all green like they have. I appreciate a good green juice for the health benefits, but this one actually tastes like heaven! Score. (Oh, and I got my nails done this week as part of my DIY Health Retreat, sooo I had to show that off in the photo! Duh.)

Lunch:

Big green salad with some raw deliciousness in it like olives, seaweed, sunflower seeds, etc. I am so looking forward to today’s salad because I see that it’s topped with a whole lotta nutritional yeast… so flavorful and delish!

Juice 3:

Whenever I am cleansing, I pretty much live for the nut milk part of the day. On full juice cleanses I usually have my nut milk last, because it helps me from going to bed too hungry. But since the nature of this cleanse is very different than a juice cleanse, I like having this juice earlier in the evening to revamp my energy. It’s full of protein and tastes like a milkshake. And, like everything else on this cleanse, it’s sugar free. It’s made of almonds, xylitol, stevia, maca and vanilla. Holy yumness. Since I usually workout around 4pm, I have been having this when I get home from my workout and it’s a serious treat. BTW… Who doesn’t take selfies with their favorite juice?!

Dinner:

Raw green soup! It’s made from kale, cucumber, apple cider vinegar, nutritional yeast, spices and olive oil. It’s served cold. It is so flavorful and sooo delicious to drink after a day of yummy clean eats. I love the way having a light soup for dinner feels on my stomach. I go to bed feeling light and content, and wake up feeling amazing and energized. The first night I had the salad for dinner and my digestion was not as pleased, so I am finding what works best for me. Yahoo!

I am so in love with this Spirit Junkie cleanse… and I am almost in love with the name as the cleanse itself. It was inspired by the fabulous Gabby Bernstein, who I look up to in so many ways. If you live in the NYC area, I highly recommend Gingersnap’s. If you’re not a cleanse type of person, you should absolutely try it for the amazing raw food, the 100% reliable organic deliciousness, the cozy vibe and laidback atmosphere. I have been there every night this week to pick up my cleanse, but I have brought friends in each time to hang with me and grab a bite, and everyone has loved it.

What do your eats look like today? Do you like the sounds of the Spirit Junkie cleanse? Thoughts on solid food versus juice cleansing?

1. My mom and sister fly into NYC tomorrow morning to visit me for the weekend, and I am so excited! My mom has officially been to NYC six times since our first flight out here last April to tour The New School (holy cow, right?) but it’s my sista’s first time coming out and seeing my place and my new hood! I am in desperate need of a girls’ weekend, and I can’t imagine two ladies I would rather spend it with. Here they are, with the rest of my adorable little fam bam.

2. TBV Apparel launches THIS. FRIDAY. I am basically hyperventilating I am so thrilled about it. There have been some sleepless nights this month (and especially this week) setting up The Blonde Vegan Store and getting everything all squared away with the designs, sizes, styles, details… all culminating to the big reveal at the end of the week when I can finally share the tees with all of you! And yes, shipping will be international – TBV tees for all! Also, WorldLifestyle published an awesome article about the tees and a little Q&A with me… check it out! I can’t wait to take over their Instagram account on launch day.

3. Today marks Day 10 of my 10-day juice cleanse… wowee, it’s been an incredible, reflective, accomplishing, challenging yet enjoyable experience. I am certainly ready to get back to my main love in life come tomorrow morning – FOOD!

4. Today is my best friend in the whole wide world’s birthday. It makes me so sad that I can’t be there to celebrate with her, but I know she is living it up in LA today/tonight. Jilly Bean, I wanted to send you donuts to your door this morning to keep the tradition going… but I didn’t know how you’d feel about them waking you up at 8 a.m. buzzing into your apartment – so I’m sending you virtual donuts! (And real life presents/card…duh!!!) I’ll be NYC boss for you tonight.

SO, since I already dedicated last week’s What I Ate Wednesday to a day in the life of a juice cleanser, I thought I would use today’s post to quickly go over what I eat in a day on a cleanse and then share the deets of my 10 day experience with you all.

Day in the Life of a Juice Cleanser:

For details on which juices I was enjoying on my cleanse, check out last week’s WIAW. I won’t bore you with going over it all again.

Now, down to the reeeaal interesting stuff… how the heck was it going 10 days with no solid food?!?!

10 Day Cleanse Recap:

Days 1-6 were really not that difficult for me, with the exception of a little bit of hunger and tiredness on days 3 and 4, but nothing a few green juices didn’t fix. I went easy on my workouts, allowed myself to rest and sleep a bit more than usual, and I took the time to reflect on my experience and journal throughout. I found it incredibly liberating to free myself from the thoughts and worries that I have on a daily basis when it comes to food… or even just going to the grocery store and trying to decide what to get!

I saved a crapload of money (being the Whole Foods shopaholic that I am), and I found that a significant amount of time opened up in my day that is usually dedicated to preparing, cleaning up, consuming and planning meals. It was extremely nice to have a break from cleaning my Vitamix twice a day and sticking my whole body into the refrigerator to try to make room for all of my produce. And my roommate was certainly thrilled that for once in our lives my fresh fruits and veggies were not overflowing our kitchen.

My mental clarity totally remained in tact, which I was pleasantly surprised about. I have suffered on three-day cleanses in the past with fogginess and dizziness, but I think something about the 10-day mentality and also the amount of fruit juices I was adding in did the trick. The only times I found it hard to think were early in the morning before I’d had my first juice, since it sometimes took me over an hour between waking up and walking to Juice Press! (I’m a lazy bum in the mornings.)

Day 7 is when things started to get more difficult. Up until then, I was feeling pretty miraculous for transitioning from an all-food diet to an all-juice diet. I woke up that morning with a light headache and feeling exceptionally exhausted. I took that as a sign that my body was finally reaching the detox period, so I let myself rest. I cancelled my plans for the day and hung out at home… no working out, no yoga, no nothin’. Ummm, can we just take a second to realize how amazing that was? I never… I repeat, never, allow myself a full-on rest day with no plans. That in itself was so rejuvenating that it made the detox quite bearable.

Day 8 I woke up super starving. That’s the day that I added a smoothie with almond butter into my diet, and it was by far the best thing I have ever tasted in my life. I felt life coming back into my body… and it recharged me and fueled me through the day. Days 9 and 10 have been much easier, and I think it’s partially because I know I am nearing the end. Food is in sight, and I am excited about it.

Earlier on in the process I thought I was going to want to extend the cleanse. Now I feel as if 10 days was the perfect reset. I feel totally amazing and clean from all of the nutrients the juices have given me, and my digestive system got a real break. And it helps that Juice Press juices are ridiculously yummy.

And, ta-daaa, I lost about 7-8 pounds (I didn’t weigh myself beforehand so I am estimating), which definitely feels good. Everyone likes to feel lighter after an extended cleanse – it’s part of the body doing it’s detoxing job!

Overall, I am most thankful for the reflective aspects of the cleanse. Writing in my journal and working out some of my personal issues with food, digestion, and overall life stress has been exactly what I needed. I allowed myself to take out a whole lot more time for myself (weird sentence, but you get it)… and I feel very restored.

Thanks for reading, and thanks so much for supporting me throughout this journey. To anyone who is looking to do a cleanse, read my last several posts about deciding which type of cleanse is best for you before diving into one. If you’re looking for a good company, JPis the way to go, and they deliver throughout the US. Solid food cleanse? Check out TBV 5-day Plant-based Cleanse, of course!

What’s on your agenda of Wednesday Eats? What is exciting in your Wednesday today?!

Oh, and I also used the opportunity to take creepy juice selfies and send them to my friends and fan (they love me, I swear…):

And if you’re Jewish (like me!), hope Passover is going swell and you’re getting your matzoh in… hopefully dipped in chocolate, as well.

Let’s get down to today’s topics, shall we? A little ditty on micro greens (because I promised, and because they’re so freaking good for you) and a little update on my juice cleanse. Day 8, people! An entire week + a day of no solid food. Holy moly, right?

 What’s the Dealio with Micro Greens?

As a vegan food blogger and an overall fanatic of health and nutrition, you might be surprised to learn that before last month, I really had no idea what the benefits of micro greens were. Or, if you’re like me, maybe you’re not so surprised. What the heck are those little sprouty thangs anyway?!

Well, the awesome Brendan Davison from Goodwater Farms in East Hampton was kind enough to share his knowledge (and his greens) with me, and I am extremely grateful.

Small but mighty, micro greens, are whole plants harvested at the seedling stage that have been proven to contain four to six times as many nutrients as their full-grown counterparts (say what?!). Goodwater Farms currently grows mulitiple varieties from kale to red shiso, using organic certified soil sourced from New England that has been enriched with blood meal, kelp and compost, to ensure a richness of nutrients and minerals.

Micro greens are the very first true leaves of a vegetable or an herb. At this stage of a young plant’s life, energy and life are abundant and thriving. That’s one of the reasons why micro greens are more nutrient dense and rich in flavor than their older varieties. (Hi say to Brendan!)

Micro greens have been dubbed “potent nutrition,” and I’m here to tell you that they taste ridiculously fresh on top of it. You’ll probs never want to go back to your regular greens.

Ok, that’s a lie, because all greens are amazing in their own way (as long as they are organic, fresh and as local as you can swing it), but micro greens are certainly something you’re going want to add into your weekly grocery sweep.

What can you do with them?

A) Blend them in your smoothies (one of my favorite uses for them).

B) Use them as a salad topping.

C) Incorporate them into your stir-fries. They’re super amazing with mushrooms, spinach, cauliflower, cumin and a bit of coconut oil.

There you have it, folks! If you’re looking for a reliable brand please do check out Goodwater Farms – and if you’re in NYC, they’ll deliver!

Day 8 of my Cleansey Cleanse:

I’m going to keep this short and sweet, because I plan on doing a full write-up of my 10-day experience once the cleanse is through, but I have noticed some significant things while cleansing and I couldn’t help but share as I go along. 

Yesterday (day 7) was the first day that I felt legitimately hungry on the cleanse. I coasted through the first several days with little to no hunger, and every time I started to get a little hungry or weak I just sipped on a juice and it totally did the trick.

I have also been incorporating a smoothie into my cleanse each day since the cleanse is so long and I’ve wanted to have the energy to exercise and power through my work at the same time. Well, yesterday I skipped out on the smoothie because I wanted to do a full day of juice… and I think it really affected me.

I was starving by the time I went to bed, and I woke up throughout the night from some leg pain (wtf?) and hunger. When I woke up this morning I couldn’t get to Juice Press fast enough – I was ravenous!

I downed my first juice of the day (Series B: green apple, spinach, kale, lemon) and for some reason felt totally unsatisfied. An hour later I cracked open my Fountain of Youth (berry smoothie with hemp protein and coconut oil) and added a tiny bit of almond butter because I felt like I really needed the boost – WHEW I feel so much better!

Now I am pumped up and ready to finish out my last three days strong. And I am going to head to the gym today for a run, which will be my first run on the cleanse. Gave myself a weeklong running break post-half-marathon because I was so wiped out from it.

Oh, and for those of you asking whether I’ve lost weight on the cleanse… weight loss was not my primary goal, nor was it really on my radar when I began the cleanse – I was totally doing this for my internal bod and for the spiritual and emotional reasons I’ve mentioned in previous posts. But who doesn’t like to lose a few ell bees? I think I’ve lost about 7 pounds and I can’t lie and say that I’m not stoked about it!

How was everyone’s weekend? Going to try out some micro greens soon? How about a juicey juice cleanse? Bonus Question: Do you remember when you found out the truth about the Easter Bunny?!

This was actually my second half marathon, but since I didn’t properly train for the first one I was kind of treating this one like the first. My training got off to a great start, but from overexerting the crap out of my bod and neglecting to rest, I injured my ankle about a month and a half ago and wasn’t sure if I would even be able to participate in the half that I signed up for.

I decided that I was going to walk the majority of it and run as much as I could, but when I showed up yesterday and felt the overwhelming amount of energy from the women participating, I had a new sense of determination. The More Fitness Women’s Half Marathon is the largest all women’s half marathon in the country – who knew?! I certainly didn’t. The trail goes along the outside edge of Central Park and loops around 2.5 times. A.k.a: lots of hills, but amazing scenery.

I started out running at a slow pace, mildly panicked that my ankle was going to start acting up and I would either have to start walking, or (worst case scenario) not be able to finish the race at all. There must have been something in the air yesterday, because my ankle, for the first time since I had injured it, gave me no trouble whatsoever.

I breezed through the first four miles, loving the energy from the women around me and feeling amazing. I ended up walking every other mile or so from that point on, simply because I hadn’t been able to train for the last month and a half. In the end, I ran about ¾ of it (at a very slow pace) and came out feeling incredible. 

So many people came out to support, and their words of encouragement on the sidelines were absolutely what pushed me to keep going when my legs were killin’ me and my body was saying: WTF is going on, you never run up and down hills like this?!?!

The entire experience was very inspiring, and it reminded me how important it is to force myself out of my comfort zone more often. Even just waking up at 6 a.m. and being in Central Park as the sun was rising got my heart pumping a little faster and made me think about how beautiful this city really is. Life is a beautiful thing, people! Don’t you ever forget it.

I am thinking I want to find a race to sign up for in the fall, but next time I might look for one on flatland.

!!!10-Day Cleanse!!!

The other exciting thing I did this weekend was attend a talk at Juice Press given by health guru and raw foodie Fred Bisci. Fred is an expert on all things health and wellness, and he had a lot of interesting things to say about extended juice cleansing and the amazing health benefits that come from it. A few of the things that resonated most with me were:

A) When we are stressed out, we often turn to food as a coping mechanism. The best thing to do for the body when you’re in a state of stress or anxiety is to cleanse, and let the body heal itself from the inside out. With all of my digestion and stomach problems, I have been told that eating on a nervous stomach makes my symptoms a lot worse. I have had a lot of stress lately, and I think it’s time to step back and give my organs a real break. I’m hoping that once that happens, my mind will be able to relax as well.

B) Many people eat a very healthy diet and feel dissatisfied with the results that they see. That is because they have never cleansed and let their body get back to its natural state of balance, so they are out of touch with what their body needs. They eat too much, or too much of the wrong things, because they are not in tune with their bodies.

C) Cleansing for a short period of time (1 to 3 days) only scratches the surface. Long term cleanses give the most benefits.

D) When you don’t have to worry about food, you can reconnect with your inner being in a way that is not normally attainable. Cleansing is as spiritual and mental as it is physical. My meditation practice is something I have been wanting to reconnect to, and I am feeling like I need a real break to turn inward (and we all know I obsess about food a lot, so this is the perfect kind of break for me).

For those who don’t agree with cleansing (or extended cleansing especially), I just want to give you this disclaimer: I know my body. I know what works for me, I know what makes me thrive, and I know what I need in order to heal and feel my best. You can read more about my views on juice cleansing here, and also stay tuned for a whole lotta posting about cleansing in the next 10 days!

I know that I have been feeling off balance lately and I know that my body does exceptionally well on cleanses. I have never done more than a 3 day cleanse on just juice, but I have done 7 days on TBV plant-based cleanse (all fruits, veggies and nuts) and I know that giving my digestive system a break is the best way for my body to reset itself and to give myself a clean slate. Also important to note: I am doing this cleanse as much for my mind as I am for my body.

Mainly, I am doing it because I am excited about it!! I am beyond motivated and very much looking forward to the benefits that cleansing will bring my mind, body and spirit. Cannot wait to share this journey with all of you.

And a h-u-g-e thanks to Juice Press for A) introducing me to the amazing Fred Bisci and B) for providing me with my yummy juices for this 10 day journey. I am so lucky to be working with my favorite juice place in the city. Stay tuned to read about my journey over the next 10 days… I am so excited to share with all of you. And if you want to hop in and join me for a 1, 3, 5 or even 10 day cleanse at any point, DO IT! I would love, love any and all support from fellow cleansers. Love you all! And keep on with the #fallinlovewithyourself challenge, I will be picking this week’s winner tomorrow evening!

I am a fan of one to three day juice cleanses when they are done for the right reasons. The most common misconception about juice cleansing is that it’s a sustainable way to lose weight, and that is simply not the case. A juice cleanse should be done to give your body a clean slate, give your digestive system a rest for a few days, and to become more in tune with your body so that you can properly listen to the signals its giving you.

A juice cleanse should not be done as a quick fix, a way to lose weight or as a method of instilling self-control. The real self-control comes in when solid foods are reintroduced. Do you know how many people juice cleanse (miserably) for three days, obsess about finishing, pass the finish line and then gorge themselves on food (healthy or unhealthy food, gorging is never good) and all of the benefits are canceled out?

It makes me sad that there is so much confusion around juice cleansing. Many people dive into cleanses for the wrong reasons (and/or think that they are the #1 source of knowledge on health and fitness because they’ve had a few green juices), and others criticize and dislike cleanses for equally inaccurate reasons. If a juice cleanse is done in a mindful way, it can be a great tool to get back in tune with your body, get your digestion on track and to fuel your body with the nutrients of veggies and fruits.

Here are a few tips I have for determining which type of cleanse is right for you:

Where To Begin?!

A) If you’re looking to make a lifestyle change and transition into a healthier and/or vegan diet, I would suggest doing a cleanse that involves solid food. I sell a 5-day plant-based cleanse program on my site that includes 1 smoothie, 2 juices, and 2 solid food recipes per day. This type of cleanse is sustainable and it teaches you how to eat and prepare healthy, balanced meals. A lifestyle change is necessary if you are looking for a healthy and maintainable way to lose weight, eat healthier and feel better in a long term way.

B) If you already eat a very clean diet and you want to amp it up for a few days to get your digestion flowing or lose some bloat and water weight, a juice cleanse is the way to go. Sometimes one day can do the trick if you are looking for a little recharge, but usually three days is the perfect amount of time to see and feel a real change. By the end of the three day period, you will be able to better listen to your body, fuel it well and give it what it needs.

C) If you are feeling extremely out of balance and you aren’t sure whether a juice cleanse, a solid food cleanse or a gradual lifestyle change is the way to go, I would suggest beginning with a very clean diet regime (such as a solid food cleanse) from anywhere from one week to one month, and then following it up with a three-day juice cleanse once your body is adjusting to eating healthier foods. At the end of that period, you can reevaluate how you feel and decide which foods you want to reintroduce into your diet. The elimination of red meat, poultry, refined sugar, dairy products and wheat products is the best place to start.

When I’m feeling out of balance and I need a health boost I usually choose to do a one-day juice cleanse followed by a week or so of eating 100% clean. Since I already eat a very clean diet, this just amps it up for me and wipes my slate clean from anything I may have overindulged in (raw chocolate? Chocolatey steel cut oats? Raw vegan peanut butter cups? Yes, yes and yes.)

The juice I went with this week was a local NYC brand, Jus By Julie. Not only do their juices taste delicious, but they use raw and pure ingredients blended fresh daily to achieve the utmost health and deliciousness. Jus By Julie uses a “blended and not pressed” method so that all of the nutrients stay in tact in the juicing process – meaning that all of the natural vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antioxidants are flowing through your bod throughout the day.

Jus By Julie is based in Brooklyn, but they ship all over the US. If you’re looking for a yummy and sustainable company that combines greens with delicious fruity juices like “Chia Berry” and “Not So Chunky” peanut butter and banana combo, you should definitely pop over to their website.

My favorite juice by far was the “Choco-Nana” (you know I’m a chocoholic…) which is a combo of chocolate, banana and water. It seriously tasted like chocolate milk. I could hardly even handle it.

And, Jus by Julie has been kind enough to provide $40 off any order with a $100 minimum for all of YOU! The code is: VEGAN40JUS. Heck yeah, got my own vegan code because I love y’all so much

I was planning on doing a one-day juice cleanse today, but in the spirit of my #fallinlovewithyourself #tbvchallenge (read a few posts below for details!) I decided to totally listen to my body and spread the juices out over a three day period instead. I am eating somewhat of an 80/10/10 lifestyle right now, so the juices were the perfect in between-meal snacks for me this weekend.

Question of the day: What kind of cleanse do you most enjoy? Are you a juice-happy kinda cleanser, or do you need solid food to function best?

But before we get started — I’ll give you a little update on my non-food-related life. (Ok, let’s be real, my life is always food-related… but you know what I mean!)

A) Tomorrow I am headed to Los Angeles, my home for the last four years and the city where almost all of my closest friends and family live. I could not be more excited to arrive, enjoy the sunshine, party it up for my best friend’s birthday, connect with awesome people in the L.A. health community, take classes at my beloved Yogaworks, hit up my favorite restaurants (Rawvolution, Cafe Gratitude, True Food Kitchen and Feed Body+Soul to name a few… think I can drag my non-veggie friends with me to these all weekend?!), go to the beach, see my family (cannot WAIT to squeeze my nieces into a million pieces) and do something veryyyy exciting for TBV — skip to E) to check it out.

B) After spending the weekend in L.A. I’m flying to Mexico — yahooo!! I will spare you the deets since I’ve written about it in a previous post and I am sure to be postin’ up a storm while I’m there. Let’s just say I am so stoked for paddle boarding, beach yoga, reading by the pool, the freshest fruit I’ve ever had, running on the beach (if this darn ankle heals fast…) and enjoying time with my favorite people ever. My fam bam.

C) I will write more about this in an upcoming post, because I can assure you there are a lot of details to be had, but… I have officially registered in the Institute of Integrative Nutrition to get my health coaching certification!!!! I can’t even tell you how over the moon I am about it. There is nothing that makes me happier than discussing health with all of you and guiding you toward a healthier, happier lifestyle, and now I will be able to do that with the utmost legitimacy. The class starts in May and I am freakishly ready — cannot waaaiiitt to give you more details the moment I am able to.

D) I just started reading the book Happy Belly by Nadya Andreeva of Spinach and Yoga. It was recommended to me by a friend over at WorldLifestyle because she knows how much I have suffered with my stomach issues and digestion. The book is all about finding balance with your tummy/digestion, and it draws on the Ayurvedic principles of health. I am learning a lot so far — I can’t put it down!

E) Ok, I’ve kept it from you long enough… Thursday night in L.A. I will be doing a photo shoot for my upcoming TBV apparel line!!! That’s right. TBV clothes. T-shirts to be exact. That’s where we are starting at least. We have FOUR different styles, both men’s and women’s, and they will be on sale within the next month. Stay tuned for the rockin’ ad campaign that’s sure to be plastered all over my social media after this shoot. I will be working with my extremely talented friend Tynan Daniels, who has taken all of the beautiful photos for this site (minus the food photos — that’s me), and my babe-a-licious friends who conveniently double as models

Now… WIAW, lovas!

A)   It’s the first Sunday of the year. I can’t imagine more of a “clean state” kind of day than that. I hope you are relaxing, reflecting, and enjoying today as you should every Sunday!

B)   The Blonde Vegan 5-Day Cleanse Program starts tomorrow!

C)   My dad drank a full glass of one of my smoothies this morning for the first time and he loved it. He actually requested it after tasting the Banana Peanut Butter Orange Dream smoothie I made yesterday. This was a super exciting occurrence because despite my consistent attempts to turn my parents vegan, my dad is terribly stubborn and usually won’t even taste a smoothie or juice. Transitioning him to a “smoothie for breakfast” kind of guy is my newest goal!

I may or may not have cleared out Whole Foods today in preparation for the cleanse… think I am ready?!

I also want to answer a few questions I keep getting about the upcoming cleanse program:

Cleanse FAQ:

Q: Will the cleanse be available on the blog after this week (January 6^th – January 10^th?) Can I purchase it in the future and participate whenever is most convenient for me?

A: Absolutely yes. The cleanse will be available for purchase on the blog from now until the end of time (or until I create an updated version!) and once you purchase it you can do it whenever you’d like. I will always be available for questions and to provide inspiration. The email thread of all of this week’s cleansers (160+ and counting!) will not always be available, but if there are several people planning on cleansing on any certain week in the future I am happy to create another thread.

Q: Do I need a juicer to participate in this cleanse?

A: You do not need a juicer, but if you have one you will definitely be using it. If you don’t have one, you can easily make your juices in a blender. (That’s what I do, and the recipe pages in the cleanse will explain how to do so.) You also have the option of buying one or two juices per day at your local health food store or from Whole Foods to supplement the cleanse. If you do not want to juice yourself and you do not want to buy juices, you can also eat extra fruits and veggies throughout the day rather than juicing. So no, you do not need to buy a juicer for this cleanse.

Q: If I am hungry throughout the cleanse, what can I snack on?

A: You can snack on any fruits, veggies or nuts throughout the cleanse. If you are hungry you are encouraged to snack! This cleanse is not about going hungry. I would suggest having half a banana with a tablespoon of almond butter, a bowl of berries or some sliced carrots and homemade guacamole (just use avocado, cherry tomatoes, onion and fresh-squeezed lime!). Those are a few options of many.

Q: How do I join the email thread?

A: Once you have purchased the cleanse, you will automatically be on the list for the email thread. I will be sending out the first email tonight around 8 p.m. California time.

Q: How much will my groceries cost for the cleanse week?

A: It depends on where you shop, whether you buy organic (the cleanse program will explain which fruits and veggies are most important to buy organic) and exactly how much you buy of everything. My best estimate is that you will spend about $70 on groceries once you have purchased all of the fruits, veggies and nuts that you will need for the week. There are definitely ways to make that number lower and ways to make it higher.

Many other questions are addressed in the Cleanse FAQ, and any other questions can be emailed my way. I am so looking forward to doing this cleanse with all of you this week. This week marks my one year vegan anniversary, and there is no way I would rather spend it than by sharing this awesome healthy lifestyle I have found.

Especially after the holidays, being sick with tonsillitis, having a week of downtime because of my sickness, and a serious travel day from hell on Friday, this cleanse is exactly what I need. I am not just participating in the cleanse because I am leading it, I am participating in it because I fully believe in its benefits and I need this restart button just as much as everyone else.

I thought that was important to share because I think readers often have the conception that I feel perfectly wonderful all the time, and that is not the case. I still overindulge and have to work on my health and balance every day. A sugar-free, granola-free, dried-fruit-free, processed-food-free and entirely plant-based week could not be more necessary for me right now.

I am someone who needs to feel entirely balanced in order to feel fully alive and my very best, and I am so looking forward to feeling that way again after a few days of cleansing.

I am also thrilled to have my mom, several of my close friends and all of YOU on board this week. We are all in this together, and that is by far the best part. One more day… hope you are as excited as I am!

Without further ado… *drum roll please* you can purchase the cleanse here:

The Blonde Vegan 5-Day Cleanse Program

Recap Time:

What does the cleanse include?

1. The cleanse includes a total of 25 original recipes: 1 smoothie, 2 juices, 1 salad and 1 soup or roasted veggie meal per day along with food photos, full nutrition information, and mini-blog post style stories to go along with each recipe.
2. There are introductory pages that tell you what to expect before/during/after the cleanse, how to prepare, a grocery list, the benefits of this type of cleanse program, and of course a personal story about how this cleanse came to be.
3. You will be added to an email thread with me and a group of others who are doing the cleanse at the same time as you. (This is totally optional, but most people find that it’s very inspirational to have a group to report back to and gain motivation from!) I will be available to answer any and all questions all throughout the cleanse; before, during and after!

What is this cleanse all about?

–       The TBV 5-Day Cleanse is an entirely plant-based cleanse designed for people who want to detox their bodies without starving themselves. Yes, I am a fan of juice cleansing, but I am way more a fan of transitioning into a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. This program is based off of the cleanse I did one year ago that turned me vegan!

–       You will start each day with a smoothie for breakfast. You will have 2 juices throughout the day and solid food meals of fruits and veggies for lunch and dinner. You can have all the fruits and veggies you’d like when you get hungry. Dessert? Grab a banana, a bowl of berries, or a sweet potato drizzled in cinnamon.

–       Avocados and nuts are OK in small amounts if you feel like you need an extra boost. This cleanse will challenge you to avoid legumes, grains, dairy, eggs, meat, soy, corn, wheat and refined sugar for the 5 days. This will serve to detoxify your body, provide yourself with nutrient-rich properties from plant-based foods, boost your energy and aid in weight loss.

Why cleanse?

–       Your body and your digestive system need a rest once in a while. Our systems work hard to process and digest the food we eat each day. Imagine giving it a break for 5 days straight and letting it reboot and heal from the inside.

–       Cleanses aid in avoiding disease, firing up our metabolism and eliminating body stress. Because we are ridding our bodies of built up toxins, we are able to relax and relieve ourselves of all sorts of things that make us feel nasty.

–       Detoxification, shedding unwanted pounds, feeling light and awesome, challenging ourselves in a healthy way, and finding the best version of ourselves. Unless you eliminate certain foods from your diet, you’ll never know what works for you and what does not work for you.

Why this cleanse?

–       This cleanse is different from other cleanses on the market because a) you are eating solid foods throughout, b) it is not about a quick fix, it’s about finding balance and a lifestyle challenge, and c) you will have a motivated group of people to chat with during your cleanse, and you will have me to answer your questions!

Who is this cleanse perfect for?

–       This cleanse is perfect for all sorts of people. If you have never cleansed before, this is a great program for you because it will ease you into a plant-based diet and you can balance your cravings by eating nuts and solid fruits and veggies. If you are a hardcore vegan cleanse-lover, this cleanse is also great for you because it is entirely plant-based and will get you back down to the basics. In my experience, it worked for me when I was transitioning into veganism and worked equally well when I had been a full plant-based vegan for months. Both times I felt light, energized, amazing and lost weight.

–       It is also perfect for people who are looking to incorporate more plant-based recipes into their lives and get ideas for healthy meal/smoothie/juice ideas.

When do I do the cleanse?

–       Once you’ve downloaded the cleanse, you are free to start it whenever you’d like, and do it as often as you want to. I do an entirely plant-based cleanse the first week of every month. These recipes are completely reusable… whether or not you are cleansing! I will be participating in the cleanse the first week of the New Year, and that is when the first group email thread will take place. Who doesn’t love a good post-holiday cleanse to kick the year off to an amazingly healthy start?

How much does it cost? Why isn’t it free?

– The cleanse costs $25 per person. I wish I could provide this cleanse for free, but it costs a lot of time and money to compile a beautiful PDF, a list of worthy recipes, and to buy all of the ingredients. Most weeklong cleanses on the market begin at $300+, so consider this a steal.

I’m interested! What should I do now?

–       Download the cleanse at The Blonde Vegan 5-Day Cleanse Program!

–        Email me at www.theblondevegan1@gmail.com and I can put you on a list for the email thread. Also feel free to email me with questions about the cleanse, what to expect and any additional information. I am here to answer any & all questions!!!

–       Get EXCITED! It’s going to be fun, and you’re going to feel amazing.