Arlee's Raw Blends 1 Day (modified) Juice Cleanse

Perhaps it was because it was the first time I'd worn a bathing suit in year, but while I was gorging my way through the three-day eating-fest that was my Fourth of July weekend, it occurred to me that I might want to kickstart a healthier way of eating sometime soon.

 

So, with a belly full of veggie burgers and dogs, onions rings, and various ice cream novelties, I stopped at the new Arlee's Raw Blends in Princeton, NJ Monday morning to see how a 1 day cleanse would work. The gentleman working didn't seem to think the fact that I was vegan had any bearing on what cleanse was appropriate for me; this may or may not have had something to do with the fact that I'd told him the last thing I'd eaten was a funfetti cake. He suggested the Relieve cleanse, which is pretty much for your everyday person looking to start a healthy regimen. I don't really know if this means it's easier or harder on the body or tastebuds, but I took his word for it because although I'd tried to do my homework online prior to my visit, I found that their website left a lot to be desired in the way of information and no one responded to my email inquiry.

I tried a few juices before purchasing, which was great because I did make one swap of one I'd never be able to get down (beet) for one that would be easier for me to swallow (carrot). But overall it seemed like so much juice: six 16-ounce juices totaling 96 ounces. I ultimately opted for the 8 oz bottles vs. the 16 oz bottles because I am not that big a drinker. To his credit, the gentlemen who helped me did point out that I wouldn't be eating and recommended the suggested large bottles, but still; I agreed to bear the responsibility of the decision and it worked out just fine. With the smaller bottles and the water in between I did not feel at a loss for more liquids- and certainly would never have been able to consume double the amount I drank.

Arlee's uses locally grown, 100% organic produce to make their cold-pressed juices. While they're glass bottled, I was a little surprised that the juices were bottled so far in advance- the expiration dates on mine varied by 2 days, which left me wondering exactly how far in advance they were bottled. 

Juice #1 was the kale blend #2, which contains kale, cucumber, celery, apple, lemon, and ginger; it made my lips pucker and my eyes squint on every swig. I disliked it so much that it was 4 hours until I felt ready to try something else. I should note that another patron requested the kale blend #3 while I was in, but they didn't have any in stock; maybe that's better?

Juice #2 was the pineapple blend, which contains pineapple, apple, lime, and mint; this was really refreshing and something that would probably go really great with vodka.

Juice #3 was the carrot blend, which contains carrot, celery, apple, and lemon. It was pleasant enough, but not as good as the pineapple.

I skipped the 2nd kale juice of the day, along with the lemon cayenne; they're just not my jam. So, I ended the day with the almond blend, which contains almond, distilled water, cinnamon, vanilla, and agave. It had a pleasantly sweet taste, but seemed thinner than the mass-produced almond milk I usually buy. The cinnamon was in abundance and scratched my throat a little, but I was pretty hungry before I drank it so didn't mind much.

There was no time during the day that the juice did not quell my hunger, so I can't say it was a hardship in the least. I'm not sure if I would bear the expense of another juice cleanse any time soon, but the 1 day really was a breeze and it kickstarted a smoothie week for me which has put me on the right track. I am still bitter about having to skip this and am currently doing my best to resist this, but it's a process!

Good Belly 12 Day Challenge

When the nice people at Good Belly contacted me to see if I'd take their 12-day challenge, it was a sign; I was in the throes of a weekslong, unhealthy eating binge.  Unfortunately, just when I was about to begin the challenge, I was hit with a 24-hour stomach flu that left me feeling nauseated every time I ate most things- for weeks after.  When a friend asked me why I hadn't done the challenge yet and I was recounting my tummy woes, I realized there was actually no better time to begin.

After being reflexively told by the third Wegman's (after 2 Whole Foods) I tried that they didn't carry it without even checking, I decided to find it on my own; it was in the refrigerated aisle of their "Nature" section.  They only had the four-packs (it also comes in quarts) and I decided I should try each flavor in order to offer the fairest review.  I chose mango, blueberry, and two strawberries- based solely on the fact that I assumed the low stock meant that it was the most popular flavor.

I think the cashier suspected the worst.

I opened the first one right there in the car and the humor I found in the adorable smiley-face cutout was slightly off-set by what I perceived to be the faint scent of vitamins. 

I held my breath and peered in: the color was really appealing and the strawberry bits didn't hurt either; I took a tentative sip and was pleasantly surprised by a really refreshing and natural tasting strawberry juice. 

I did catch a waft of the vitamin smell again at the end, but it was wholly incongruent withe the taste of the beverage so it didn't bother me.  That evening I noticed that I hadn't had a stomacheache all day, but had no way of knowing if it was a coincidence or not.

Next I decided to try the blueberry, which I had not realized was blueberry acai. When I peeled off the top I caught the same whiff of vitamins, but I confidently took a sip and found no trace of a vitamin taste whatsoever.  I'm not familiar with the flavor of acai, but this was very pleasant- kind of a berry/blueberry with a color that was more pink than purple.

Also noticed the bottom of the cup for the first time:

Unless it's accompanying Thai coconut sticky rice I'm not much of a mango fan, but on day 3 I decided it was now or never.  The vitamin smell was more pungent with this flavor, and after my first sip there was a corresponding aftertaste that I did not think I could get past, but I did.  By the fourth sip I didn't notice it anymore, so maybe it was just my predilection for berry flavors that made me prejudiced.  While I wouldn't choose mango Good Belly over the others, I wouldn't necessarily turn it down.

When I was about a week in, a friend asked how I was doing with the challenge.  I told her that the product tasted great (it had already become a refreshing, afternoon treat), but that I was disappointed that there seemed not to be a challenge community of any kind fostered by the company.  Then I realized that, as a reviewer I hadn't "signed up" for the challenge, which is how you receive your coupons and see that "your questions are answered."  I decided to do so and received my first email within the hour.

The format was cute, but the information was a little vague.  For instance, "Every shot or glass has the digestive helpers your body needs," doesn't necessarily answer the question, "What is Good Belly?" Despite not providing any definitive information about what probiotics were or why I needed them, I learned when to drink, how much to drink, how to get coupons, and where to buy.  What I was still missing, though, was what I should be expecting as a result and any information on the "challenge."

So, I sent an email, "...how do I know if it's working? Should I be doing anything else to improve results?"  I received an response only a couple of hours later,

"In terms of what to expect, everyone's GoodBelly experience is a little different since we're all unique. That being said, I do get a lot of anecdotal feedback from fans who report positive changes in gas, regularity, bloating, and even increased energy levels and clearer complexions. It really runs the gamut! I encourage you to complete the challenge and see what changes you notice :)" 

While I appreciated the candor and enthusiasm, I was really beginning to wonder if the company cared that the average consumer didn't know what Good Belly- and probiotics in general, even was.  [UPDATE: thanks to commenter kitwocky, I took another look and, sure enough, I'd inexplicably missed the tab of info.)

The next day I received an email that contained information about 3 giveaways and 2 recipes: both vegan, although not labeled as such (Good Belly packaging is labeled vegan).  After that I received an email telling me to feel free to ask any questions.  A few days later one suggested that I put my Good Belly in a smoothie that included two vegan recipes.  Finally, after 12 days since I'd signed up, I received another cute e-newsletter encouraging me to keep in touch and offering another coupon.

Overall, an appropriate amount of contact, but a questionable amount of information [UPDATE: info can be found on the website, not necessarily on the packaging or in the e-newsletters] and no discernible "challenge."  It's not very hard to add the consumption of 2.7 ounces of juice to your day and there were no other suggestions regarding what the rest of your diet should contain- even for at least those 12 days.  For the first few days I tried eating all whole foods.  About halfway through I added in some sweets for testing purposes and noticed no difference.  What I can tell you, is that my post-stomach flu tummy woes disappeared.  Again, I can't scientifically confirm or deny Good Belly's influence, but that's what happened, so I wouldn't hesitate to reach for Good Belly if I found myself in the same situation again.

But Good Belly doesn't seem to be marketed to people who are experiencing stomach issues; "for daily digestive health" seems to suggest that it's something everyone needs on the regular.  Is that true?  Are there enough people that believe that?  Or, that will see the admittedly cute smiley face container on social media and blindly give it a go?  I already knew what probiotics were because, as an unhealthy vegetarian in my teens, my doctor prescribed them to prevent oral candida.  What is the draw to the average person who may or may not have heard of probiotics before?  Is it just the lure of the "challenge" and the possibility that there is a quick fix to general "digestive woes?"

There's a "love it or it's free" guarantee, but besides the taste, I'm still left wondering what it is that I'm supposed to be loving.  Still so many unanswered questions- such as, if I hadn't already been experiencing stomachaches, how would I have gauged my digestive health as a result?

I love that this product is organic, dairy-free, and vegan.  I really appreciate that it worked for me and would recommend it as an option under the same circumstances.  

Vegan MoFo Day 14: #$@%! Green Juice

I lied.  I didn't unfriend Lula's.  I never intended to unfriend Lula's.  In fact, it gives me no small level of comfort to be reminded that Lula's continues to serve the incredible flavors I've enjoyed in the past and will continue to enjoy in the future- even though I'm not doing so right now. 

This is a list of flavors that Lula's posted the other day:

Pumpkin, Rosewater Pistachio, Vanilla, Mint Chip, Chocolate, Cookies 'n Cream, Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookie, Banana, Maple Walnut, Strawberry, Coffee

Let that settle into your consciousness for a minute.

Now consider that this is what I drank for breakfast.

Do you notice any incongruity?
Yesterday morning I had the best of intentions with my green juice.  I purposefully omitted the cucumber because I thought that might be what was upsetting my stomach.  I prepared celery, green apple, and, per CSD's recommendation, "sweet" broccoli stems- hoping for the best. 

At some point during the morning's juicing episode I thought the juicer was broken.  I became a bit frantic because that would have meant I had dirtied the machine and not even gotten any juice out of it.  Worse yet, I'd just gotten it for goodness sake; broken already?  It took me a moment to realize... that I wasn't disappointed. 

When I figured out what was wrong and confirmed that it was, in fact, intact and in perfect working order, I began to wish that it wasn't.

During the juicing process, I somehow managed to splatter on my shirt again, much as I'd done previously with my smoothie. I didn't notice the green juice on my pants, however, until about 1pm.

As if that wasn't bad enough, as I was transferring the countless parts of the juicer to the sink for washing, I somehow managed to drip green juice on my toe.  Green juice on my toe.  Not appropriate.  I do believe that somewhere between that incident and my third, grossly un-enjoyable sip was when I officially acknowledged the end to this green juice charade.  I know that CSD says juicing is the quickest way to ingest nutrients, but I'd rather eat any of the greens that I've been trying to juice than drink them; I'll take my chances with the nutrients.

last minute to-go breakfast

For lunch there was- yep, more kale salad.  It might be boring to read, but it's good no matter what.

Dinner brought leftover lentil walnut pate that I'd been thinking about ever since I first made it.  This time, served with carrots in lettuce boats.

I also had a small scoop of these grains with a little Bragg's.  Random, but I was tired, hungry, and in cleaning out the fridge mode.

And now, I will amuse myself with all kinds of possible fates that could accidentally befall my juicer.

Vegan MoFo Day 6: Cleansing AND Exercising?

And the cleansing continues! 

Once again, I got to bed a bit later than would be ideal.  Then I got up significantly earlier than usual, in order to have enough time to do everything I needed to do before work to prepare for "breakfast" and lunch.

The cayenne in the warm, lemon water kicked my butt again upon first swallow.  After a few, significant sips I began to have the sneaking suspicion that the combination of the sour mixed with this seemingly innocuous spice might have been the culprit for my nausea yesterday.  Since unusual flavor combos aren't usually my thing, I decided against finishing the mug and will tomorrow try just lemon water.

Perhaps my veggies weren't as juicy today as yesterday, because I needed to use the same 2 cukes, 1/4 apple, and twice as much celery to wind up with the same amount of green juice.  

I was ready with my ice cubes (although the temperature outside didn't warrant it), and again drank while I cleaned...then finishing while I read the Day 2 cleanse page in Crazy Sexy Diet.  14 ounces of juice is a lot to stomach so early, but I can't very well tote my juicer to work with me. 

Have you ever seen those sumo wrestlers whose bodies are so big that they can't put their arms down?  That's what I felt like when I got up this morning.  No, I didn't become uber muscular overnight, but it would seem that the little bit of exercise I did really antagonized my muscles...and they were protesting en masse. 

The last time I "exercised" was a month or so ago, when certain fit "friends" forced two of us unwillings to walk across a bridge. For no apparent reason. Well, to be fair, we did want to be on the other side. But that's what trains and cabs are for. Not that it matters, but I think it was the Manhattan bridge.  Well, I can't be sure; maybe W'burg?  Either way, it was longer than it looked, the weather was hot, and our footwear was inappropriate; as you might imagine, our dispositions were less than sunny. Thankfully, Soy & Sake (or, more specifically, lychee martinis) was our destination or surely the two of us would have veered away from the group at the first opportunity. Point being, I still haven't recovered.  So when a friend pointed out recently, "you...need to get off the couch and on a bridge...", I conceded that I did have to move a little in order to attack this cleanse full force.  But, ouch.

For lunch I finally had my previously prepared raw kale, carrot, and cauliflower salad with sweet dijon vinaigrette (CSD p. 209); it was really good and thankfully not soggy from having been in the fridge a couple of days.

While I was preparing dinner I had a few Marcona almonds.  I'm thinking I should be eating this earlier- say, mid-afternoon.

For dinner I made a raw kale, sweet pepper, carrot, and cauliflower salad with dino (lacinoato, but dino is more fun) kale for the first time.  The leaves are much hardier than I'm used to; my jaw actually got tired of chewing!

I much prefer my curly kale, but the creamy avocado cumin dressing (CSD p. 210) more than made up for it.  I bet it would make a great dip, too. 

Then I sauteed asparagus, mushrooms, black soybeans, red onion, and a sprinkle of yesterday's rice medley with toasted sesame oil, Bragg's, garlic, and lots of freshly ground black pepper.  It was really good!  I don't know why it looks like I only had asparagus stems; I had plenty of tips as well.

This morning I almost left the house with my CSD book in my arm instead of my pocketbook, that's how much I've been carrying it around these past few days.  I'm definitely going to have to take a step back, relax, and read a novel for my own sanity.  I admit I am overwhelmed with how time consuming this is.

The instructions in the book are a little like watching Suze Orman.  Now I love me some Suze; she makes terrific sense and has great ideas about how you should distribute your money amidst savings, retirement, and emergency funds (among others).  The problem is, there's only so much money to go around!  Same with Kris Carr and time- she has lots of great suggestions for cooking carefully, eating thoughtfully, meditating regularly, exercising often, making sleep an 8 hour priority, etc.; it's just that there's only so many hours in a day.  I won't break down my paycheck for Suze, but look at it this way.  CSD suggests 8 uninterrupted hours of sleep.  When you subtract 10 hours for work plus commute, that leaves only 6 hours to do everything else- of which I don't want to spend 5 shopping, washing and chopping!  But, I will.  For now, I will. 

Overwhelmed, but in it.