Anyway, the scale I bought happened to call for the rarest freaking battery in the universe (a round lithium battery that can only be found at equally rare hardcore electronic stores). If you know me, you know that I am the master at putting off errands… so for the past few months the battery went un-searched for. And I happily indulged in food & drink whenever I felt like it with no scale to answer to.

Uh oh? Uh oh… So when I finally got on Amazon to order a set of round lithium batteries last week, I knew what I was getting myself into. Funny thing is: the batteries still haven’t arrived, but when I got home the other night my roommate said, “you didn’t tell me the scale batteries arrived!”

My response: “They haven’t…”

After a second of being quite puzzled, we looked at each other and started laughing hysterically. The scale came with a battery in it. *Blonde problems*

In my defense, the scale did not appear to work when I first brought it home, so naturally I assumed it needed batteries. Regardless… of course I ran into the bathroom and hopped on the scale, and boom. Hello, 5 extra pounds of NYC food and drink yumminess. You’re now a part of my body.

Answer? Juice cleanse.

There are generally two types of responses you get from people when you tell them you are doing a 3-day juice cleanse. A) “You’re crazy.” B) “Count me in!” The first response is understandable. The thought of 6 juices per day in replacement of solid food has got to sound like a foreign concept to many people. But if you know why you’re cleansing, you will be on the road from an “A” response to a “B” response in no time. (Or not… cleansing is not everyone’s cup of tea!)

I for one am a huge praiser of the juice cleanse. For someone with lifelong stomach problems, a 3-day juice cleanse is like a gift from god. It means actually waking up with a calm stomach and not being bogged down by pain, indigestion and bloat. It means setting your body back on track so that even when you are finished cleansing, the results last with you for weeks and even months – depending on how clean you keep your diet once you finish!

** This cleanse is not to be confused with my TBV cleanse program launching in mid-December – that cleanse will include recipes, food photos, a downloadable PDF, and solid fruits and veggies. This cleanse is purely juice, and I am buying it from the brand Suja. 6 juices per day, and you drink one every 2 hours or so. No solid food. Dun dun dun…!

I’m going to hit you with some cleanse knowledge. Here are the Top 10 reasons, in my opinion, to juice cleanse:

1. Avoid diseases by cleansing our digestive system and relieving our body of built-up toxins.
2. Increases energy. By reversing toxicity in our systems, fatigue diminishes and we get an extra boost of energy! Woo!
3. Give your digestive system a break. The digestive system works hard to process and digest the food we eat each day. Imagine giving it a break for 3 days straight and letting it reboot and heal from the inside.
4. Purify your liver. Halloween is coming up, and I bet I’m not the only one who likes to celebrate a perfectly good holiday. During a juice fat, our liver gets a break from digesting complex fats. Now it can regenerate and assist in detoxifying.
5. Fires up your metabolism. The resting phase the body enters during a juice cleanse jumpstarts your metabolism when you resume eating. When there is no break for several months and years at a time, the body’s natural cycle of rest and activity gets interrupted and our metabolisms often get shot in the process.
6. Eliminates body stress. Because we are ridding our bodies of a build up of toxins, the body is able to relax and therefore relieve itself of stress that we’ve been holding onto.
7. Stimulates elimination of body waste. That’s right, a good cleansing program will restore the balance of your body in every way. When we have excess waste in our system, nutrients can’t be absorbed properly and we gain weight, become tired and irritable. Health issues can ensue as well. And who likes being constipated?
8. Pains and aches disappear. Built up toxins in our body can cause pain, and so can a sluggish metabolism.
9. Sheds unwanted pounds. The more toxic build up we have, the more fat the body manufactures to protect itself. We are also giving our bodies a break from the refined sugars, wheat, fats, carbohydrates etc that we shove into it every day.

10. Healthy glowing skin! The skin is the largest organ in our body, so naturally when we cleanse, the skin will release toxins as well. The skin spends so much time protecting our bodies, giving it a break and allowing it to replenish is one of the best things we can do for it.

P.S. I posted on Instagram last night about my cleanse, telling people to email me if they wanted to join so I could start an email thread for everyone involved. I am thrilled to say I got over 70 responses so far… we are going to rock this cleanse, and we are going to do it in style! With all of these friends to report back to and share our journey with, we are sure to have plenty of motivation. It’s going to be awesome! Email me at theblondevegan1@gmail.com before 5:00 p.m. today if you want to join us. Three days. 18 juices. LEGGO!

Lindsay is especially inspiring because she doesn’t even identify as the typical vegan, as she is 100% plant-based and oil-free. Can you say healthy?!  She has four cookbooks and a Happy Herbivore meal plan. As a young/new food blogger, Lindsay is a HUGE inspiration to me. Her recipe videos are awesome and super fun to watch. And she even has Happy Herbivore swag on her site store.

How cute is she?!

…Ok, no secret. I wanna be her one day. I definitely look up to this lady, and I am so proud to share this Q&A with her on my blog! She has some awesome answers to a lot of the questions us vegans have (and even more so for people transitioning into veganism!)

Q: How long have you been vegan?

A: I don’t identify as a vegan, but I’ve followed a plant-based (vegan) diet since December 2006. I was a vegetarian for most of my life before that.

Q: What inspired you to change your lifestyle?

A: My health was my main motivation for adopting a plant-based diet, though I am also moved by the plight farm animals and the environmental benefits of a plant-based diet.

Q: Have you always had a passion for cooking, or was it inspired by your transformation into the vegan lifestyle?

A: I was always interested in cooking, but it was mostly something I watched on TV or admired. I didn’t fancy myself as a cook and I wasn’t particularly good at it. I would often burn toast and think I was doomed. After I adopted a plant-based diet, my husband, who had been the primary cook, said I needed to learn — as he had no idea what to make for me now that I wasn’t eating any of the foods he normally prepared. I stumbled into the kitchen, taught myself, and the rest is history.

^ Happy Herbivore African Kale & Yam Soup.

Q:  Tell me about your HH meal plans.

A: My meal plan service (http://www.getmealplans.com) offers plant-based vegan meal plans for individuals and families. They’re nut-free, soy-free, oil-free and gluten-free. Each week we release a new meal plan complete with shopping list (no leftover ingredients!) and recipes. It’s perfect for those who are new to a plant-based/vegan diet and don’t know where to begin, busy people who need fast meals (everything takes minutes and can be made ahead on the weekend), people who need to lose weight, or want to eat better. I love them and use them myself.

Q: Favorite vegan dish?

A: Mashed potatoes. No question.

Q: What would you choose for your very last meal on earth?

A: Mashed potatoes, gravy, kale and cinnamon buns for dessert.

Q: Favorite snack?

A: Sweet potato. [Girl after my own heart!]

Q: I know you are soy-free and gluten-free – can you tell me about the importance of these two things on top of being vegan?

A: The meal plans are soy-free and gluten-free friendly (as well as oil-free and nut-free) to accommodate individuals with allergies and sensitive tummies. We want everyone to be able to utilize the meal plans. I have allergies and am very sympathetic to how challenging that can be. I want to make it as easy as possible for everyone to eat well. To eat whole foods, plant-based, no matter what dietary restrictions they have.

Of course you don’t have to be gluten-free or soy-free to be vegan. Soy products like tofu and wheat products like barley or wheat berries are beautiful, delicious additions to a healthy vegan diet, but they’re not required.

^ Happy Herbivore Black Bean Burger. Yum!

Q: How have you noticed an overall change in your life since changing your lifestyle?

A: This is where I have to clarify that I eat a whole foods, plant-based, no oil, diet. The absence of animal products qualifies it as a vegan diet, but I’ve worked with many clients who are “vegan” but their diet is filled with faux meat and faux cheese, French fries, potato chips, etc. All of which are vegan, but won’t lead them to feeling (or looking) their best.

Early in my journey I made those same mistakes: replacing my cheese with vegan cheese, my burgers with Boca burgers, etc. It wasn’t until I cut the processed vegan junk food out of my diet, and totally eliminated oil, that my health really started to blossom.

My skin cleared after decades of embarrassing acne. My chronic digestive problems were gone practically overnight. My migraines, which were frequent and severe, all but vanished. I started sleeping better. I had more energy. My mental fog lifted. I ran a marathon 10 months after changing my diet when I was too out of shape to walk a 5k the year before. I lost 30-40lbs effortlessly.

Q: Do you live with non-vegans/have close non-vegans in your life? If so, how do you meet in the middle and find the best of both worlds?

At this point I’ve converted pretty much everyone in my life. My husband, sister, and parents are all plant-based/vegan now. My best friend is 90% vegan, and has been vegetarian for years. He also ‘converted’ his sister. My in laws are all predominately vegan, nearly all my friends are vegan or at least vegetarian. I have a hard time thinking of anyone who isn’t. I’m a big believer in leading by example.

Before everyone was on the veggie train it was about mutual respect and leaving food politics out of our friendships.