January 27

breakfast: oatmeal

lunch: yogurt with apricots, baby bok choy with garlic, rice

dinner: split pea soup, bread with raw butter

Perfecting Gluten-Free, Wheat-Free Muffins

breakfast: granola

lunch: salad, roasted cauliflower and potatoes

snack: muffin with raw butter

dinner: baked unstuffed shells, swiss chard, carrots

I think I've finally perfected a gluten-free/wheat-free muffin recipe. The key seems to be soaking the grains in either buttermilk or yogurt to soften them and bring out the flavor. It also has the added benefit of reducing phytic acid and increasing mineral absorption. This time I soaked them for 24 hours and they came so soft, tender and fluffy - just like the real thing.

Do Nothing Day

breakfast: vegetarian sope

snack: pecan pie larabar

lunch: salad, brown rice pasta with marinara sauce and mozzarella

dinner: cereal

It was so nice not to workout today. A bit strange, but nice. I am glad I did Callanetics for 19 days in a row. I used to never exercise, hated in fact. So to do such a big committment, to put up with the soreness, and to be maybe half a clothing size from a size 6 is amazing to me. I started this blog less than six months ago at a size 12. I'm almost at my goal. I'm really in awe that it's happened and that it's been so fast and easy. There were some setbacks along the way where I couldn't work out because I messed up my back and what not. But I'm here now. The finish line is so clearly in sight. I don't know or care how long it takes because I know I'll get there.

Callanetics - Day 4

breakfast: cream of brown rice with toasted cashews and dried apricots

lunch: honey-lime marinated carrots, pickled cucumbers, pasta with pepper

dinner: vegetable soup

workout: Callanetics 10/10

I'm tired today. I wonder why. I'm guessing the tiredness will go away as my body gets used to working out every day. We'll see...

Callanetics - Day 3

breakfast: granola

lunch: 1/2 egg salad sandwich, carrots

snack: apple

dinner: brown rice cream

workout: Callanetics 10/10

I'm really liking the changes I'm seeing in my obliques. They're really starting to get some nice definition.

One thing doing this bootcamp has really shown me is how much easier, yet intense, Callanetics becomes the longer you do it. I'm so much better at relaxing with every move than when I first started all those months ago. It really allows me to work mucles much more intensely and deeply. I can only imagine that this means that if you ever took an extended time off from Callanetics that when you started again not only would your muscles be a lot sorer, but your results would come even faster.

I wish Callan was still putting out books, etc. so that I could get more info on exactly how Callanetics works - the theory and science behind it.

Callanetics Day 2

breakfast: buckwheat granola

lunch: kitsune soba, sauerkraut

dinner: open-face gf peanut butter-broccoli sandwich, raw cheddar

workout: Callanetics 10/10

I'm wiped from everything I did yesterday. Still got in a workout today. It's managed to wipe me out even more. It's 5:30 but I feel like going to bed. My arms, back, and legs are feeling tonight's workout. Interesting to see what the next 17 days will bring. I realized today I should have measured before starting, but as usual I didn't. At least the results of Callanetics are so visually obvious it doesn't matter. Size 6 here I come!

Callanetics - Day 1

breakfast: gluten-free pancakes, raw milk

lunch: falafel salad

dinner: gluten-free peanut butter toast

workout: Callanetics 10/10

Today is the first day of the 19 day Callanetics bootcamp. I have to admit that if I hadn't agreed to do this with my friend, I wouldn't have worked out today. Between doctor appointments, taking my mother to the airport, and a myriad of other things, I would have just gone to bed without doing a bloody thing. So, I guess this bootcamp is just as good for me.

Not Gonna Do It

breakfast: cereal, apple

lunch: cumin-lime chickpeas, corn tortilla, roasted parsnips and carrots

dinner: eggplant with basil-garlic sauce, lemon tofu, brown rice, pickled cucumber, steamed kale

I'm not working out today. It feels kind of rebellious. I think sometimes you need a day where you just say no...let the little gremlin inside of you out to be mischevious.

November 24

breakfast: corn tortilla with tahini sauce, pear

lunch: roasted potatoes, sauteed spinach, chickpeas

dinner: salad, steamed kale, baked potato

workout: Callanetics 10/10

I know you're supposed to do Callanetics for 3 days straight after you've taken a week off from doing it, but I just don't feel like it. I had tremendous results in the very beginning without ever knowing about the 3-day-rule. I think I might just skip it this time and see what happens. Although, this is only day 1 so who knows how I might feel tomorrow.

November 23

breakfast: oatmeal with peanut butter

lunch: vegetarian chili

dinner: baked sweet potato, sauteed cabbage, apple

Milk Toast

breakfast: milk toast

lunch: vegetable soup

snack: milk toast

dinner: fried potato, steamed broccoli with tahini sauce, buffalo mozzarella

I know, it's really odd food today with all that milk toast. I haven't been able to eat for the last two days with the cold a cashier was so kind to give me on Saturday. Why didn't she stay home from work?

I've been wanting milk toast for days and finally had some today. It's the perfect comfort food. The only thing that would have made it better (a lot better, really) was if it had been made with bread made from my grandmother's recipe. Milk toast just never tastes right to me unless it's made with that bread.

Ouch!

breakfast: raspberries, granola with yogurt

lunch: sunshine burger, salad

dinner: roasted vegetables with thyme, cumin and orange juice; ginger-garlic tofu; chocolate pudding cake with raspberries

I've had a very sore throat since I woke up today. I was at a store yesterday and the cashier had strep throat. I hope I haven't caught anything from her. I think there's something to be said about not going to work when you're sick - all you do is infect everyone else.

So Hungry...

breakfast: cereal

lunch: sope, 1/2 quesadilla de maize

snack: granola with yogurt, raspberries

dinner: broccoli, chickpea and carrot bake, cereal, raw milk

I was so hungry today. It felt like just a few minutes after I was done eating, I was hungry again. I'm not sure what caused it. I haven't been more active lately or eating less than normal.

November 10

breakfast: banana, raw milk

lunch: huevos rancheros, spanish rice, salad

dinner: salad, brown rice tortilla pizza

workout: Callanetics 10/10

I had huevos rancheros for the first time today. I've never tried them before because I don't really like eggs, but my only other option was a chili rellono. I hate peppers more than eggs, and I can't have the wheat. I was quite surprised that it was actually good. The salsa completely covered up the flavor of the egg.

November 10

breakfast: cereal

lunch: baked sweet potato, cauliflower, tofu

dinner: brown rice pasta with marinara, salad

November 8

breakfast: pear, raw milk, gf peanut butter toast

lunch: sope

dinner: hummus, salad, piece Jaques Torres dark chocolate covered coconut

I think I'm going to have to buy new pants. I've been putting it off because shopping has never really been my thing. However, my pants are so loose they're now making me look fatter than I am. It's nice to think I have to go shopping for a size 8 - a single digit. I'm fairly certain I'm that size now given how droopy all of my pants are. I think it's still something that I'll have to see to believe, but it's nice to know that I'm either there or extremely close.

I don't really know how it makes me feel. My goal is still a size 6 and give the lumps I still have in some places I definitely think it's the right goal for me. I think because it's what I'm focused on, a size 8 just seems like part of the journey and is simply a signpost along the route. Don't think I'm complaining or upset because it is a very nice sign. I think I'm just experiencing a happy ambivalence. I think that if I do find that I am an 8 I will be quite ecstatic. It's just today I'm in droopy 10's.

Devil in an Apron

breakfast: cereal

lunch: Madras thali

dinner: rasberries, cottage cheese

workout: Callanetics 10/10

I went to two different Whole Foods today trying to find Devil in an Apron's chocolate covered pecan pie. Both stores have decided not to carry it anymore. However, I was told that if I wanted to drive several hours away, I could find a store that had it. Instead, these stores near me have decided to carry an extremely poor quality chocolate. I won't put the name on here because I'm sure the creator is proud of the product and doesn't think it sucks as badly as I do (as well as everyone I know). Why replace a locally made, organic product that can compete internationally for awards with something that makes Hershey's look like it's equivalent to La Maison du Chocolat and Michel Chaudin?

I remember when Whole Foods first started. It really tried to be about organic, quality food. Now the shelves are filled with conventional products. As the company evolves, every time I go into a new store, I can really tell the company has never had a business plan and understand why the owner did some illegal activities to promote his business that's gotten him to trouble. I wish Whole Foods hadn't put so many good health food stores out of business.

November 4

breakfast: banana, peanut butter

lunch: potato and bean enchilada

dinner: butternut squash with mint and toasted cashews, chard a la Lucy's teahouse, steamed tofu, quinoa

I'm so glad the election is over after today. Regardless of the outcome for anything, it's going to be so nice not to hear about it anymore, not to see commercials...just for everything to be gone. Living in a country obsessed with an election for 2 years has been tiring. I understand how important everything is, but I'm glad it's over.

November 3

breakfast: apple, pear

lunch: teahouse greens, buffalo mozzarella, tofu salad

dinner: potato and bean enchilada

workout: Callanetics 10/10

October 30

breakfast: oatmeal, banana

lunch: tofu with carrots and sesame seeds, pickled cucumber, rice

dinner: vegetable soup

workout: Callanetics 10/10

I'm really starting to get some nice definition in my legs. I haven't really been paying attention to changes in them because I'm more interested in my stomach. But it's nice to see cuts developing, inner thighs toning up, etc. I'm becoming a whole new person.