February 18

breakfast: raw milk

lunch: masala dosa

dinner: carrots, apple, green beans, tofu

workout: Callanetics 10/10

It's so nice to go on a weeklong holiday - just to get away from everything. A change of venue, new people to see, new things to do, new foods to eat - it's just great to experience something different every now and then.

Danish

breakfast: pear, raw milk

lunch: mushroom and chickpea tart

dinner: broccoli, roasted turnips, kale with garlic, half cheese danish

I made danish for the first time today. I changed the recipe a lot - replacing the wheat flour, using maple syrup instead of sugar, cream cheese instead of ricotta - and they came out perfectly. They are so light, fluffy, and delicious. No one could tell they weren't made with wheat and sugar.

I'm so surprised how easy danish are to make. You'd think it's be this intense laborious process, but you just throw some ingredients together, chill them, roll out, chill, turn into danish, let rise, and bake. Most of your time is spent doing nothing. I think the total amount of labor involved is about 40 minutes and that's spread out over hours.

February 3

breakfast: quinoa flakes, raw milk

lunch: tempeh and vegetables in lemon-coconut sauce

dinner: bread with raw butter, apple, yogurt with dried apricots

Okay, that's a pretty strange dinner. But it's what I really, really wanted. And it tasted soooo good.

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.

January 1

breakfast: granola

lunch: pasta primavera, salad

dinner: sauerkraut, olives, lemon kale, cannelini beans, baked potato

December 23

breakfast: pear, beaufort

lunch: huevos rancheros, salad

dinner: cranberry beans, baked potato, broccoli, passionfruit

workout: Callanetics 10/10

I've switched to workout out every other day. It's nice to have a couple of days off a week now, especially as the holidays come closer and the weather gets colder. I think my body enjoys have the days off. I'm seeing more changes in my legs, hips, and back.

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 10

breakfast: cream of rice cereal with apricots and toasted cashews, raw milk

lunch: lentil soup

snack: 2 pears

dinner: pasta primavera

workout: Callanetics 10/10

I can't believe this is only day 10. This month has been so absolutely crazy. With everything that's happened, I'd ordinarily have skipped a couple of days, but my friend drastically needs to lose weight and if doing Callanetics every day with her for 19 days helps, then it's worth it. She's gone down almost a clothing size already without changing how she eats. She also has a lot to lose so I imagine she'll lose the first couple of sizes pretty quickly. At least it's great motivation for her to keep going. Also, the workout doesn't have all the jumping and stuff that many cardio programs do, so it's easier on her joints.

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.