Spring Cleanse 2012 is on! Week One

Salmon Tacos - dinner night #1.

It's that time of the year again!  Spring is here, the sun is shining, and after dealing with a bad back and weathering through the heavier foods of winter and holidays past, (including eating a chocolate Easter bunny meant for my husband the night before I started the cleanse) it's time to get back to eating clean and feeling lean - inside and out!

It's time to load up on healthy and energizing foods; let go of a few pounds (and a few bad habits); get creative in the kitchen and luxuriate in some concentrated self care.  All under the loving and nourishing guidance of Julie Vance and Carolyn Knobel - the creators of  Yoga Niche's  2012 Spring Cleanse.

Kale and Radicchio Salad

This is my second cleanse with the Niche and I am loving all aspects of it.  This year's plan includes seafood (though not a lot) and is dairy and gluten free   Last year's was vegan - and it was a great way for us to transition into a diet free of animal products.  In fact, we were eating a vegan diet right up until my back went out in December and we were faced with holiday meals and entertaining.  Right now we are "flexitarians" - eating mostly vegan/vegetarian at home, and flexible when out at a friend's.  (I still chafe about contributing to animal suffering - but at least we're contributing less than we were two years ago.)  

Thai Noodle Pesto - no animals in here!

Cleansing is in part about releasing toxins,  Along with eating whole grains, fruits and veggies; sipping on lemon or spa water, herbal teas and a variety of cleansing elixirs to help move those toxins along - this is also an important time to take good care of yourself.  To pamper yourself with massage, yoga, acupuncture, facials, gentle exercise - whatever makes you feel good inside.  If your job is less than pampering - it's a good idea to take some time off if you can. 

Last year I got a few massages for self care, but this year, I'm doing things a little differently. This year, I'm investing in myself in a completely different and decadent way.  This year -drum role please - I bought myself a Vitamix blender!  

The Vitamix's inaugural blend

I heard about the Vitamix blender in last year's cleanse.  Oh how great it was they said.  Blending smoothies to perfection, making ice cream and soup, paying bills, doing laundry, and picking the kids up from school.  (ok - maybe not those last few.)  Sounds great I thought until I checked out the Vitamix website and saw the triple digit price tag.  Spend that much on a blender?  You gotta be friggin kidding me.  No thank you, I'll pass.  I'll covet you but pass.  

Then Costco started offering it, a client made me a shake with one during a lunch meeting, and I was back,a year later, at the cleanse.  Still great they said.  Still blending like a pro. And yup, still priced at $450 plus.  When the universe gives you a nudge though - you really ought to listen.  I grappled with myself a few more days - and then finally, in the spirit of self care, decided to take the plunge.

Radish Refresher (breakfast) on old blender

 

Radish Refresher (breakfast) on the Vitamix

Oh.My. God.  If you, like me, have been on the fence about this thing - I only hope you find a way to bring it into your life.  (in a legal and healthy way of course ;-)  You will not regret it.  You will only kick yourself for having waited so long - enduring little lumps of ice in your not so smooth smoothies if your blender is anything like mine was.  I am giddy with joy.  Really.  Giddy.  I am so happy I invested in myself.  (Because up until recently - I've been pretty good at socking it away for my future self, but more miserly on investing in my current self.  But that's a topic for a whole other post.)

For now - I'm going to revel in the joy of giving myself this gift.  My new "precious".  The plan, once the cleanse is over, is to make a smoothie every day until they cost just $1 a day to make.  That's a lot of smoothies.  But oh - how enjoyable they'll be!