I have encountered another "first" here in Teeccino Land. This past Wednesday night myself and the other girls in the office headed down to Leadbetter Beach here in Santa Barbara and supported an event called Nite Moves. What is Nite Moves you ask? Nite Moves is a local 5K run/1K ocean swim event that occurs every Wednesday night during the summer months. It costs $20 to participate each week but with this registration fee comes free food, drinks, and entertainment. Oh yes, and the Teeccino Girls! Who would want to miss that?!
I found out about this event from a flyer I picked up at a local coffee shop. As the events coordinator here at Teeccino, I have a radar out for any local and non-local opportunity that Teeccino can be served at and enjoyed. This sounds like an easy task but herbal coffee is such a foreign idea to most that I have to make sure the demographic will be open to the idea. This one was easy. As an athlete myself, I know how important it is to eat healthy on a regular basis in order to reinforce the efforts going into tough workouts. Unlike regular coffee, Teeccino is non-acidic and drinking it daily will not cause any extra acid to build up in the muscles. In fact, Teeccino is full of potassium which can help with muscle cramps and replenishing electrolytes. A must for any hardcore coffee drinker that is trying to get in shape for the summer and wants to cut back on stomach acid and heartburn.
As for the event itself, it was so much fun! The location was ideal and the weather was pretty cooperative. A little windy but tolerable. My only real concern was that our brand new outdoor canopy was going to fly away at any sudden gust of wind- yes, there are stakes that go with it but they were nowhere in sight this night. We had people coming to sample Teeccino both before and after the event started and great music all the way through the night. A sidenote about the music, there weren't any words to the songs which was quite nice because it really sent me into beach mode. Very relaxing! The night hardly felt like work. Tons of families were out to enjoy the evening as well as college students and thirty somethings. The ideal crowd for Teeccino.
My ultimate goal for this event was local awareness and I think I succeeded. We had some people who had never heard of us before and were very interested and others that were loyal Teeccino drinkers and knew exactly where to find us. I will definitely sign us up to participate again! Shoot, I may even join in the run!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Erewhon 30th Anniversary Expo
Yesterday was yet another fun day in my Teeccino world! Despite having to wake up while it was still dark outside to get myself down to LA for event setup, I'd say the day was quite a success!
Erewhon Natural Foods Market in Los Angeles, CA held a vendor expo in honor of its 30th Anniversary. Lots of different vendors from the health food world were there to sample out their products to Erewhon shoppers and of course hand out free samples- Teeccino being one of them. As a side note, these events would be nothing without free samples as many shoppers come seeking items they can take home and try out in their normal routine. I think overall people are scared to try new products that they have never heard of before or otherwise sound way too good to be true. Hopefully everyone who took a Teeccino sample will incorporate it into their regular brewing method...Fingers crossed.
This was the first event for our newest team member Kelly and our French intern Fatima. Kelly has helped organize events in the past so this was a no-brainer for her. She brought lots of great ideas to the set-up process and was very enthusiatic working the table. It's so nice to work alongside someone that has the same vision as I do. Fatima was a little hesitant to greet people at the table as the product is a new concept for her and English is her second language but after a few hours of watching the pros (Galen and myself) she was right up there with the rest of us. I was so proud! I'd say they both learned a lot at this event and will be ready to go for the next one!
We had some very interesting neighbors at this event that I have yet to see at any other. We had "Sacred Steve" to our right with his delicious chocolate bars and the Follow Your Heart restuarant with their chicken-less chicken. Both representatives were really excited to be there and provided some much needed comic relief throughout the day (this included a rainbow Willy Wonka costume). Thanks guys! This is really helpful once you start answering the same questions over and over again for 7 hours.
As for myself, this was the first event that I managed 100% by myself. I have organized and worked several others in the course of my past 2 years with Teeccino but I've always had someone with more experience by my side. Thankfully everything went smooth from beginning to end, with the exception of the health inspector who tried to close everyone down, and I was ecstatic about the whole experience! I knew that I had it in me to take charge and perfectly execute so it was nice to have the freedom to actually do so. I hope to do many more events by the time this year is up. Keep a lookout for us!
Overall, I think everyone benefited from us being at the Erewhon Expo. As a team, we all were pushed into new directions and forced to learn from the experience. Erewhon and its shoppers were given great exposure and the opportunity to try new flavors that have never been tasted, and Teeccino was able to add another notch to its event belt. Way to go!!!
Erewhon Natural Foods Market in Los Angeles, CA held a vendor expo in honor of its 30th Anniversary. Lots of different vendors from the health food world were there to sample out their products to Erewhon shoppers and of course hand out free samples- Teeccino being one of them. As a side note, these events would be nothing without free samples as many shoppers come seeking items they can take home and try out in their normal routine. I think overall people are scared to try new products that they have never heard of before or otherwise sound way too good to be true. Hopefully everyone who took a Teeccino sample will incorporate it into their regular brewing method...Fingers crossed.
This was the first event for our newest team member Kelly and our French intern Fatima. Kelly has helped organize events in the past so this was a no-brainer for her. She brought lots of great ideas to the set-up process and was very enthusiatic working the table. It's so nice to work alongside someone that has the same vision as I do. Fatima was a little hesitant to greet people at the table as the product is a new concept for her and English is her second language but after a few hours of watching the pros (Galen and myself) she was right up there with the rest of us. I was so proud! I'd say they both learned a lot at this event and will be ready to go for the next one!
We had some very interesting neighbors at this event that I have yet to see at any other. We had "Sacred Steve" to our right with his delicious chocolate bars and the Follow Your Heart restuarant with their chicken-less chicken. Both representatives were really excited to be there and provided some much needed comic relief throughout the day (this included a rainbow Willy Wonka costume). Thanks guys! This is really helpful once you start answering the same questions over and over again for 7 hours.
As for myself, this was the first event that I managed 100% by myself. I have organized and worked several others in the course of my past 2 years with Teeccino but I've always had someone with more experience by my side. Thankfully everything went smooth from beginning to end, with the exception of the health inspector who tried to close everyone down, and I was ecstatic about the whole experience! I knew that I had it in me to take charge and perfectly execute so it was nice to have the freedom to actually do so. I hope to do many more events by the time this year is up. Keep a lookout for us!
Overall, I think everyone benefited from us being at the Erewhon Expo. As a team, we all were pushed into new directions and forced to learn from the experience. Erewhon and its shoppers were given great exposure and the opportunity to try new flavors that have never been tasted, and Teeccino was able to add another notch to its event belt. Way to go!!!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Back in the Habit
To cleanse again or not to cleanse? That is the question. At least, that is the question I have been asking myself lately. It's been a good month since I completed the Teeccino 21-Day Optimal Health cleanse and unfortunately I've started to notice myself reverting back to my old sugar and caffeine habits. I continue to consume tons of fruits and vegetables with as many meals as possible but my craving for sweets afterwards has come back along with my craving for Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf! Ahhhh!
After I finished the Teeccino cleanse I was feeling pretty confident that I would be able to stick to no added sugar and limited caffeine intake in my daily diet for quite some time. This lasted for a couple of weeks and then it happened, I started going back to my favorite coffee shops and I incorporated chocolate back into my life. At first I didn't think anything of it because I had shocked my body with the deprivation of these things for 3 weeks that I was bound to want them again. But now, I'm letting my will power slip a bit and I'm feeling like the cravings are starting to take over. Cravings and guilt that is.
I feel really guilty anytime I reach for something sweet or caffeinated post cleanse and I can't tell if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I'd say a combination of both. Of course I cannot cut out everything I once loved because that would just make life no fun. I can however be better about how many I allow myself to indulge in on a regular basis. I thought that one treat a day (whether caffeine or sugar) was an ok amount, and it was at first, but now that number is starting to jump to 2 or 3 as each day passes which I know is a bad sign. I need to nip that habit in the butt right away before it gets out of control.
I have continued to reach for Teeccino in the place of coffee at home but the coffee shop experience is one that I love. There are yet to be many local coffee shops serving Teeccino at the times I want coffee so I'm somewhat out of luck there. I guess I need to step it up and start brewing it to-go at home again. As for sweets, well they are creeping up on me all the time. I just need to replace them with fruit or start my tasty chocolate protein powder back up again. This protein powder allowed me the best of both worlds!
I guess the point that I'm trying to convey is that it is very easy to let caffeine and added sugar creep back into your life once you have cleansed your body and cut them out. The guilt of knowing that I could go without them stops me from consuming them at times but it's not enough. I really need to refocus on the things that I am eating and cut out whatever I know is unnecassary. I may not commit to another 21 day cleanse so soon but I can commit to a healthy lifestyle, which includes routine evaluations of what I am consuming. I know it's worth it! I know I can do it!
After I finished the Teeccino cleanse I was feeling pretty confident that I would be able to stick to no added sugar and limited caffeine intake in my daily diet for quite some time. This lasted for a couple of weeks and then it happened, I started going back to my favorite coffee shops and I incorporated chocolate back into my life. At first I didn't think anything of it because I had shocked my body with the deprivation of these things for 3 weeks that I was bound to want them again. But now, I'm letting my will power slip a bit and I'm feeling like the cravings are starting to take over. Cravings and guilt that is.
I feel really guilty anytime I reach for something sweet or caffeinated post cleanse and I can't tell if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I'd say a combination of both. Of course I cannot cut out everything I once loved because that would just make life no fun. I can however be better about how many I allow myself to indulge in on a regular basis. I thought that one treat a day (whether caffeine or sugar) was an ok amount, and it was at first, but now that number is starting to jump to 2 or 3 as each day passes which I know is a bad sign. I need to nip that habit in the butt right away before it gets out of control.
I have continued to reach for Teeccino in the place of coffee at home but the coffee shop experience is one that I love. There are yet to be many local coffee shops serving Teeccino at the times I want coffee so I'm somewhat out of luck there. I guess I need to step it up and start brewing it to-go at home again. As for sweets, well they are creeping up on me all the time. I just need to replace them with fruit or start my tasty chocolate protein powder back up again. This protein powder allowed me the best of both worlds!
I guess the point that I'm trying to convey is that it is very easy to let caffeine and added sugar creep back into your life once you have cleansed your body and cut them out. The guilt of knowing that I could go without them stops me from consuming them at times but it's not enough. I really need to refocus on the things that I am eating and cut out whatever I know is unnecassary. I may not commit to another 21 day cleanse so soon but I can commit to a healthy lifestyle, which includes routine evaluations of what I am consuming. I know it's worth it! I know I can do it!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Earth Day- Santa Barbara
Finally, for the first time, Teeccino was able to attend Earth Day here in Santa Barbara, CA. One would think that a local Santa Barbara herbal coffee company committed to environmentally friendly practices and creating new trade worldwide would be a shoe-in for something like this but the health department had its own reasons for keeping us away time and again. Not this year!!! With a little help from our newest team member Kelly we got ourselves into the event and into the hearts of thousands of Santa Barbara residents.
The day got off to an interesting start as the streets surrounding the event site were loaded with cars and vans needing to unload their supplies for the day, with hardly enough parking to accommodate them all, and disgruntled residents coming out to let the volunteers know that they were upset about vehicles blocking them from leaving their home. Let's just say I found a driveway that was ok to park in and right near our booth! A miracle to say the least. The clock was now ticking and I needed to get a move on! Since I arrived on the scene alone I roped in a couple of volunteers to unload the van and was on my way to a great event.
The weather was unseasonably HOT for Santa Barbara and I was breaking a sweat by 9am. Can you believe that?! I actually brought a sweater and a pair of jeans just in case I got cold as the evening rolled in. Not today folks. I think I can speak on behalf of everyone at the event and say that it was hot as hell out there (90 degrees is hardly warm for some people but for us by the beach, it was uncomfortably warm. Call us spoiled). The shade was everyone's best friend.
The Teeccino booth was happening from the time the event opened to the time we started to close down. I'm actually shocked at how many people were tasting hot coffee as sweat rolled down their foreheads and they were gasping for water. True coffee drinkers right there! We had some iced Teeccino available at our booth, which went in a matter of 2 or 3 hours, but the rest was steaming hot. Adults, children and students alike were all pleasantly surprised by our product and really interested in drinking it for several different reasons. Yes! This has been a goal of ours for years as we knew the hippie-folk in Santa Barbara would love the stuff if they only knew it existed. It was fun to see the reactions on people's faces too when I told them we had been around for 14 years. Jaws on the floor for sure!
Outside of our booth there was lots of activity going on. Food, live music, and tons of other vendors were all there to celebrate the Earth and all of the ways that we can come together and make a positive change in this world. It was nice to be surrounded by so many like-mided people, including small children. Tye die shirts were everywhere, or no shirt at all, and the theme of "One Love" was all over the place. A great time!
The Earth Day event was definitely a success for Teeccino. Despite the team being a little thrown off by the heat, we were at the top of our game. Caroline, our fearless leader, was a brewing goddess and kept our Teeccino supply stocked all day. Elizabeth and Galen kept a smile on their faces throughout the day and successfully spread the word to again thousands of Santa Barbara locals. Fingers crossed that they all incorporate Teeccino into their daily brewing ritual. As for me, I was definitely hot and exhausted by the endbut walked away from Alameda Park feeling great about my efforts and the impact that I hope I made on many Earth Day supporters. Go TreeHuggers!
Check out pictures of the event on Teeccino's MySpace and Facebook page.
The day got off to an interesting start as the streets surrounding the event site were loaded with cars and vans needing to unload their supplies for the day, with hardly enough parking to accommodate them all, and disgruntled residents coming out to let the volunteers know that they were upset about vehicles blocking them from leaving their home. Let's just say I found a driveway that was ok to park in and right near our booth! A miracle to say the least. The clock was now ticking and I needed to get a move on! Since I arrived on the scene alone I roped in a couple of volunteers to unload the van and was on my way to a great event.
The weather was unseasonably HOT for Santa Barbara and I was breaking a sweat by 9am. Can you believe that?! I actually brought a sweater and a pair of jeans just in case I got cold as the evening rolled in. Not today folks. I think I can speak on behalf of everyone at the event and say that it was hot as hell out there (90 degrees is hardly warm for some people but for us by the beach, it was uncomfortably warm. Call us spoiled). The shade was everyone's best friend.
The Teeccino booth was happening from the time the event opened to the time we started to close down. I'm actually shocked at how many people were tasting hot coffee as sweat rolled down their foreheads and they were gasping for water. True coffee drinkers right there! We had some iced Teeccino available at our booth, which went in a matter of 2 or 3 hours, but the rest was steaming hot. Adults, children and students alike were all pleasantly surprised by our product and really interested in drinking it for several different reasons. Yes! This has been a goal of ours for years as we knew the hippie-folk in Santa Barbara would love the stuff if they only knew it existed. It was fun to see the reactions on people's faces too when I told them we had been around for 14 years. Jaws on the floor for sure!
Outside of our booth there was lots of activity going on. Food, live music, and tons of other vendors were all there to celebrate the Earth and all of the ways that we can come together and make a positive change in this world. It was nice to be surrounded by so many like-mided people, including small children. Tye die shirts were everywhere, or no shirt at all, and the theme of "One Love" was all over the place. A great time!
The Earth Day event was definitely a success for Teeccino. Despite the team being a little thrown off by the heat, we were at the top of our game. Caroline, our fearless leader, was a brewing goddess and kept our Teeccino supply stocked all day. Elizabeth and Galen kept a smile on their faces throughout the day and successfully spread the word to again thousands of Santa Barbara locals. Fingers crossed that they all incorporate Teeccino into their daily brewing ritual. As for me, I was definitely hot and exhausted by the endbut walked away from Alameda Park feeling great about my efforts and the impact that I hope I made on many Earth Day supporters. Go TreeHuggers!
Check out pictures of the event on Teeccino's MySpace and Facebook page.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Post Teeccino Cleanse
So here it is Easter morning and I'm prepared to come off of my cleanse. I've been thinking about this day non-stop for 20 days and constanly day- dreaming of all of my favorite treats that I can overindulge in now that I made it to the end. I guess you could say this day is bittersweet because I've grown so fond of my new eating habits that I know will be pretty hard to keep yet I want so many things that I have been depriving myself of for weeks. So I put myself together for the day and head to Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.
Once at the coffee shop, I was somewhat hesitant to order. What caffeinated drink do I go for first?! I thought of sticking with my normal order but I changed it up and went for a Hazelnut latte instead (my Hazelnut Teeccinos have really sparked a new tastebud!) As I waited for them to make my drink I assessed how many people were ordering large coffees and just about everyone in front of me in line did, and they got whipped cream! Talk about overkill! There's no way I could drink that much of a sweet drink in one sitting let alone my small latte over here. The first sip of my highly anticipated coffee was very anti-climatic and I was immediately overcome with guilt. I had displayed such will power for 3 weeks to just let it all go for what? Sure I got a little boost of energy to hide some Easter eggs but not enough satisfaction to warrant a new recurring coffee/caffeine addiction. I think I'll stick to my Teeccino and spakling water.
Easter is definitely the day to overindulge on sweets. I made sure that I had a solid sugar-free breakfast in the morning as to not let myself fill up on candy and tried to keep myself in check all day. Unfortunately, this did not work as well as I had planned. Besides the coffee drink, I had some Reese's Pieces and a piece of lemon jello cake. It doesn't sound like much but after not having any suger for three weeks your body really feels the difference. Along with feeling guilty (I do this to myself mind you) I just felt somewhat poisoned. I know that I can go without these things and knowing that they can creep right in in a matter of 12 hours is kind of scary. I could have passed up the cake but the plate was forced into my hands and I would have felt bad if I didn't eat it. Let's just say, I went home and threw out all of the snacks I had been eyeing and saving for this day to come. Again, just not worth it!
Looking back at the cleanse, I'm still feeling very positive about the experience. Sure I was disappointed that I didn't lose much weight and I had to be a party pooper at a few social gatherings but I was doing myself a huge favor by cutting sugar and caffeine out of my life. I stand firmly behind my decision to take part in this crazy, hard cleanse! I'm not planning on going back to my normal comfort foods (chocolate I love you but you gotta go) and I'm going to try to keep as many fruits and vegetables in my daily diet as possible. Of course, I will allow myself treats from time to time but nothing like I used to eat.
As for my energy recovery from mono, I would say that it has returned and then some. Eating foods based around a structured diet helped to keep my immune system up and burnouts low. I am getting better rest than ever and up for any activity that comes my way. I'm sure having more energy for working out will help me kick those few extra pounds I wanted to lose that hasn't entirely happened for me "yet."
For those of you considering trying the cleanse, DO IT! You will find out things about yourself and your body that you never thought possible.
Once at the coffee shop, I was somewhat hesitant to order. What caffeinated drink do I go for first?! I thought of sticking with my normal order but I changed it up and went for a Hazelnut latte instead (my Hazelnut Teeccinos have really sparked a new tastebud!) As I waited for them to make my drink I assessed how many people were ordering large coffees and just about everyone in front of me in line did, and they got whipped cream! Talk about overkill! There's no way I could drink that much of a sweet drink in one sitting let alone my small latte over here. The first sip of my highly anticipated coffee was very anti-climatic and I was immediately overcome with guilt. I had displayed such will power for 3 weeks to just let it all go for what? Sure I got a little boost of energy to hide some Easter eggs but not enough satisfaction to warrant a new recurring coffee/caffeine addiction. I think I'll stick to my Teeccino and spakling water.
Easter is definitely the day to overindulge on sweets. I made sure that I had a solid sugar-free breakfast in the morning as to not let myself fill up on candy and tried to keep myself in check all day. Unfortunately, this did not work as well as I had planned. Besides the coffee drink, I had some Reese's Pieces and a piece of lemon jello cake. It doesn't sound like much but after not having any suger for three weeks your body really feels the difference. Along with feeling guilty (I do this to myself mind you) I just felt somewhat poisoned. I know that I can go without these things and knowing that they can creep right in in a matter of 12 hours is kind of scary. I could have passed up the cake but the plate was forced into my hands and I would have felt bad if I didn't eat it. Let's just say, I went home and threw out all of the snacks I had been eyeing and saving for this day to come. Again, just not worth it!
Looking back at the cleanse, I'm still feeling very positive about the experience. Sure I was disappointed that I didn't lose much weight and I had to be a party pooper at a few social gatherings but I was doing myself a huge favor by cutting sugar and caffeine out of my life. I stand firmly behind my decision to take part in this crazy, hard cleanse! I'm not planning on going back to my normal comfort foods (chocolate I love you but you gotta go) and I'm going to try to keep as many fruits and vegetables in my daily diet as possible. Of course, I will allow myself treats from time to time but nothing like I used to eat.
As for my energy recovery from mono, I would say that it has returned and then some. Eating foods based around a structured diet helped to keep my immune system up and burnouts low. I am getting better rest than ever and up for any activity that comes my way. I'm sure having more energy for working out will help me kick those few extra pounds I wanted to lose that hasn't entirely happened for me "yet."
For those of you considering trying the cleanse, DO IT! You will find out things about yourself and your body that you never thought possible.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Teeccino Cleanse: Day 19
As I near the end of the "Teeccino 21- Day Optimal Health" cleanse I am finding myself asking a lot of internal questions about my experience. Did I succeed? Was this cleanse worth it? Were there noticable changes in how I look and feel? Did I lose weight? Have a ditched any old habits and adopted new ones? Will I go back to sugar and caffeine? And as I sit here on Day 19, feeling good and full of energy, I can answer each of these questions with a smile on my face!
Did I succeed? Yes! Despite my fears that 21 days would just be way too long to go without some of my favorite foods, I can say that I do have the will power and strength to give up caffeine and sugar. There were definitely days when I wanted to cheat or throw in the towel to uncontrollable cravings but I didn't. I found a way to make it work for me and stuck to my cleanse. I'm sure I probably consumed sugar in something I ate over these past 3 weeks without knowing it but I made every conscious effort possible to avoid it. As for caffeine, I know I did not drink a drop! I miss my yerba mate and occasional coffee shop stop like crazy but I'd say it was much easier to give up caffeine than sugar, especially with Teeccino at my fingertips. I turned to my Teeccino several times throughout the last 19 days and will continue to brew it in place of nighttime snacks and dessert.
Was this cleanse worth it? Definitely! I would say cutting out caffeine and sugar was a major eye opening experience for me as I was clueless as to how much I was actually ingesting. Knowing that diabetes runs in my family I should have been more aware of my intake and now I will surely keep a closer eye on the sugar content in my daily diet. This cleanse also helped me prove to myself and others that I have the ability to do anything I set my mind to no matter how inconvenient or hard it may be. A personal success anyway you look at it!
Were there noticeable changes in how I look and feel? Everyday! I have a renewed energy source that I was worried had been depleted forever. I'm waking up in the morning ready for the day and staying up through the evening as long as I need to. I have also noticed a much more postive demeanor about myself that had been hiding behind exhaustion for months. Being tired all the time was making it hard for me to be excited about co-curricular activities that normally bring joy to my life. If I had the option of a nap or a run, I'd usually take a nap. But now, I crave the run. I want to not only burn off excess energy but also incorporate more workouts into my new way of eating. Did I lose weight? Only a couple of pounds but my body has truly taken on a new form. I'm feeling slim in areas that I once thought were a stagnant problem and I'm starting to know the exact places that sugar is going straight to to hide. Despite my body getting rid of bad stuff, my skin is looking great and feeling very youthful. My natural glow that was being overpowered by exhaustion has reappeared on my face and is ultimately making me a happier person. My hair feels strong and healthy and my muscles are starting to form again in places that were once problem areas. I think that if I keep caffeine and sugar to a minimum I can really make some progress on my overall body image.
Have I ditched old habits for new ones? Of course! Now that I know I am capable of doing a cleanse like this I really want to adopt some of the new eating habits. I will continue to replace sugar and snacks with fruit, despite an occasional splurge on chocolate I'm sure, and keep my caffeine intake to a minimal. As I once heard someone say, "use caffeine like the drug that it is!" I will try as hard as I can to only drink coffee when absolutely necessary. Otherwise, it's Teeccino for me! Or there is always Pellegrino and Iced Tea to switch it up. In general, I will really be keeping a close eye on what I'm eating to fuel my body and what I am doing physically to reinforce my eating habits. I truly believe that I will feel better about myself physically and emotionally if I stop mistreating my body with food.
In the end, I highly recommend the Teeccino cleanse to anybody willing to make a change for themselves. It is a hard, long, and somewhat annoying process but you will love yourself for it!
Did I succeed? Yes! Despite my fears that 21 days would just be way too long to go without some of my favorite foods, I can say that I do have the will power and strength to give up caffeine and sugar. There were definitely days when I wanted to cheat or throw in the towel to uncontrollable cravings but I didn't. I found a way to make it work for me and stuck to my cleanse. I'm sure I probably consumed sugar in something I ate over these past 3 weeks without knowing it but I made every conscious effort possible to avoid it. As for caffeine, I know I did not drink a drop! I miss my yerba mate and occasional coffee shop stop like crazy but I'd say it was much easier to give up caffeine than sugar, especially with Teeccino at my fingertips. I turned to my Teeccino several times throughout the last 19 days and will continue to brew it in place of nighttime snacks and dessert.
Was this cleanse worth it? Definitely! I would say cutting out caffeine and sugar was a major eye opening experience for me as I was clueless as to how much I was actually ingesting. Knowing that diabetes runs in my family I should have been more aware of my intake and now I will surely keep a closer eye on the sugar content in my daily diet. This cleanse also helped me prove to myself and others that I have the ability to do anything I set my mind to no matter how inconvenient or hard it may be. A personal success anyway you look at it!
Were there noticeable changes in how I look and feel? Everyday! I have a renewed energy source that I was worried had been depleted forever. I'm waking up in the morning ready for the day and staying up through the evening as long as I need to. I have also noticed a much more postive demeanor about myself that had been hiding behind exhaustion for months. Being tired all the time was making it hard for me to be excited about co-curricular activities that normally bring joy to my life. If I had the option of a nap or a run, I'd usually take a nap. But now, I crave the run. I want to not only burn off excess energy but also incorporate more workouts into my new way of eating. Did I lose weight? Only a couple of pounds but my body has truly taken on a new form. I'm feeling slim in areas that I once thought were a stagnant problem and I'm starting to know the exact places that sugar is going straight to to hide. Despite my body getting rid of bad stuff, my skin is looking great and feeling very youthful. My natural glow that was being overpowered by exhaustion has reappeared on my face and is ultimately making me a happier person. My hair feels strong and healthy and my muscles are starting to form again in places that were once problem areas. I think that if I keep caffeine and sugar to a minimum I can really make some progress on my overall body image.
Have I ditched old habits for new ones? Of course! Now that I know I am capable of doing a cleanse like this I really want to adopt some of the new eating habits. I will continue to replace sugar and snacks with fruit, despite an occasional splurge on chocolate I'm sure, and keep my caffeine intake to a minimal. As I once heard someone say, "use caffeine like the drug that it is!" I will try as hard as I can to only drink coffee when absolutely necessary. Otherwise, it's Teeccino for me! Or there is always Pellegrino and Iced Tea to switch it up. In general, I will really be keeping a close eye on what I'm eating to fuel my body and what I am doing physically to reinforce my eating habits. I truly believe that I will feel better about myself physically and emotionally if I stop mistreating my body with food.
In the end, I highly recommend the Teeccino cleanse to anybody willing to make a change for themselves. It is a hard, long, and somewhat annoying process but you will love yourself for it!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Teeccino Cleanse: Day 15
So it is Monday and once again I have made it through a weekend of being surrounded by sugar. A friend of mine threw a get together at her house on Saturday and after looking at the table of food and snacks she provided I realized I could eat nothing. Oh, except bananas. It was quite a display of will power on my part not to take a bite of a donut, homemade chocolate chip cookies, nutri-grain bars etc. Instead, I ate some fruit that I brought with me and a little bit of lunch meat. I've noticed that I pack extra snacks everywhere I go now just in case I can't eat what is offered. Fruits and nuts being the easiest to transport.
Most of the food I ate over the weekend was stuff that I have already mentioned in the blog. Fruits and vegetables were my staples, nuts, and I added in some shrimp tacos for variety too! I must admit that burritos and tacos are my favorite craves since I have been on this cleanse and I never get tired of them. I can stuff numerous vegetables in with some black beans and cheese and be full for the rest of the day! It's just important to check the sauces and tortillas for sugar as things you may never expect have sugar hidden inside.
Sleep is something that I never feel I get enough of however over these past two weeks I have been feeling much more awake and rested. My usual nap on the bus has now turned into a chapter or two down in my book, and I have actually been able to see the ending credits on a movie that I started to watch after 8pm. Normally I fall asleep within the first 5 minutes of either of these things. I have to blame the food and drinks that I was consuming on a normal basis. Not having caffeine or sugar in my diet has made me see how much these two things in combination can exhaust my adrenal glands. I was constantly relying on one of them to give me a pick-me-up, instead of tapping into my body's natural energy source, and feeling disappointed when I suddenly started to crash. Without the two, I'm ready for anything!
I also credit this new found energy to the vitamins and supplements I have been taking. My mom started the pattern of taking a daily vitamin at a very early age so that has never been a problem for me. It is however difficult to take 6+ vitamins over the course of a day. I have had bad experiences in the past where too many vitamins lead to nausea and stomach aches and you can imagine my fear of taking all of these with only fruit in my system. To my surprise, I have yet to feel sick or weak after taking vitamins with just about every meal and I can feel the difference in my mood and energy every time. I recommend consulting with someone who is experienced with herbs and the affects they can have on the body to ensure that you are taking what you truly need. Nothing is worse than wasting your time on something you won't benefit from.
My mood and energy is a constant reminder that this cleanse is really working for me :)
Most of the food I ate over the weekend was stuff that I have already mentioned in the blog. Fruits and vegetables were my staples, nuts, and I added in some shrimp tacos for variety too! I must admit that burritos and tacos are my favorite craves since I have been on this cleanse and I never get tired of them. I can stuff numerous vegetables in with some black beans and cheese and be full for the rest of the day! It's just important to check the sauces and tortillas for sugar as things you may never expect have sugar hidden inside.
Sleep is something that I never feel I get enough of however over these past two weeks I have been feeling much more awake and rested. My usual nap on the bus has now turned into a chapter or two down in my book, and I have actually been able to see the ending credits on a movie that I started to watch after 8pm. Normally I fall asleep within the first 5 minutes of either of these things. I have to blame the food and drinks that I was consuming on a normal basis. Not having caffeine or sugar in my diet has made me see how much these two things in combination can exhaust my adrenal glands. I was constantly relying on one of them to give me a pick-me-up, instead of tapping into my body's natural energy source, and feeling disappointed when I suddenly started to crash. Without the two, I'm ready for anything!
I also credit this new found energy to the vitamins and supplements I have been taking. My mom started the pattern of taking a daily vitamin at a very early age so that has never been a problem for me. It is however difficult to take 6+ vitamins over the course of a day. I have had bad experiences in the past where too many vitamins lead to nausea and stomach aches and you can imagine my fear of taking all of these with only fruit in my system. To my surprise, I have yet to feel sick or weak after taking vitamins with just about every meal and I can feel the difference in my mood and energy every time. I recommend consulting with someone who is experienced with herbs and the affects they can have on the body to ensure that you are taking what you truly need. Nothing is worse than wasting your time on something you won't benefit from.
My mood and energy is a constant reminder that this cleanse is really working for me :)
Friday, April 3, 2009
Teeccino Cleanse: Day 11
I woke up this morning feeling very proud of the fact that I am officially halfway through the cleanse. Over these last 11 days this cleanse has consumed my life, I normally plan my days around when I get to eat, and really taken over my ability to be spontaneous about what I choose to eat. This of course is not a bad thing however it has put a damper on a few of my outings. Take the grocery store for example, I roamed the aisles of Trader Joe's like a mad-woman checking every label of every item I picked up to check for sugar. I'm sure this is routine for some shoppers but not me. Yeah, I scan the label every now and then to check the fat content or whether MSG and partially hydrogenated oils are present but I have never been one to specifically look at every ingredient list. Not only did it take more time to shop but it turned me away from some of my regular purchases that I may never pick up again. My biggest disappointments: dried fruit and bread. There was only one package of dried mangos that did not have added sugar. Otherwise, every dried fruit option was covered with invisible white stuff. And bread, oh how I love bread, but I feel like I can only eat 2 kinds: sourdough and rye. Most of the whole grain options had sugar or honey and the rest were just rock hard! Talk about having to love variety in my life!
Another disappointing outing was The Habit. For those of you who don't know what The Habit is, I feel sorry for you. It is one of the best fast food hamburger places I have ever eaten at. In fact, I enjoy it more than I do In-N-Out. Sadly, my experience this time was not so great as my normal charburger order turned into a dry (no dressing or mayo) albacore tuna sandwich on sourdough with no cheese. Boring!!! I think the girl at the counter thought I was crazy as I stood there asking myself permission to have half the things on the menu. I'm also one of those girls who puts ketchup on my ketchup but this night, not a possibility. Damn this cleanse. Fast food in general is something I try to stay away from but fast food without ketchup is definitely something I will avoid. I'd say the best part of this visit was the unsweetened iced tea. Finally something besides water!
As a side note, I don't eat as much fast food as it sounds. It's just that in some ways I have stopped caring about the fat content of things and turned my attention to sugar. Another reason to work out harder too!
I seriously contemplated a "cheat treat" for making it through 11 days without sugar and it took every bone in my body to not eat a handful of jelly beans. I would have been fine with even just 1 jelly bean but I did not give in. Instead I brewed a cup of Hazelnut Teeccino and then brushed my teeth. I rememer Pamela Anderson say once that she controls her portions and snacks by brushing her teeth right after she eats. Surprisingly, it works! I went to bed feeling positive about the day and the cleanse, despite my disappointing outings, and knowing that the second half of this cleanse is going to get easier everyday. I'm confident I can stick out 10 more days!
Another disappointing outing was The Habit. For those of you who don't know what The Habit is, I feel sorry for you. It is one of the best fast food hamburger places I have ever eaten at. In fact, I enjoy it more than I do In-N-Out. Sadly, my experience this time was not so great as my normal charburger order turned into a dry (no dressing or mayo) albacore tuna sandwich on sourdough with no cheese. Boring!!! I think the girl at the counter thought I was crazy as I stood there asking myself permission to have half the things on the menu. I'm also one of those girls who puts ketchup on my ketchup but this night, not a possibility. Damn this cleanse. Fast food in general is something I try to stay away from but fast food without ketchup is definitely something I will avoid. I'd say the best part of this visit was the unsweetened iced tea. Finally something besides water!
As a side note, I don't eat as much fast food as it sounds. It's just that in some ways I have stopped caring about the fat content of things and turned my attention to sugar. Another reason to work out harder too!
I seriously contemplated a "cheat treat" for making it through 11 days without sugar and it took every bone in my body to not eat a handful of jelly beans. I would have been fine with even just 1 jelly bean but I did not give in. Instead I brewed a cup of Hazelnut Teeccino and then brushed my teeth. I rememer Pamela Anderson say once that she controls her portions and snacks by brushing her teeth right after she eats. Surprisingly, it works! I went to bed feeling positive about the day and the cleanse, despite my disappointing outings, and knowing that the second half of this cleanse is going to get easier everyday. I'm confident I can stick out 10 more days!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Teeccino Cleanse: Day 10
While on the bus to work today I found a quote in my current read that reminded me of the cleanse...
"It only takes twenty-one days for the average person to form a habit. If we train them to be happy, they start being happy."
Wow, how perfect is this?! If I train myself to thrive and exist without sugar and caffeine, then I will. What a concept. So far this statement has been true for me and I can feel my eating habits transform everyday. I'm learning to love fruit more than sweets and I'm learning to appreciate the smell of coffee without having to actually indulge in a cup. I guess I cheat a little with the smell of coffee when I drink Teeccino but who is keeping track.
I'm about halfway through the cleanse and feeling amazing! I still see slight changes in the way my body looks everyday and I'm really starting to notice where the sugar goes as far as extra weight on my body. It hasn't caused a significant weight change YET but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that my bikini is going to look pretty dang good after this. I'm confident too that I will be able to keep up the eating habits and I have been mentally training myself to not want sweets throughout the day. Trust me, I really really want to take a cookie as they are passed around the office but I will not. It just means more exercise and for some exercise=punishment. I have the strength and will power to last 11 more days! I'm doing it!!!!
"It only takes twenty-one days for the average person to form a habit. If we train them to be happy, they start being happy."
Wow, how perfect is this?! If I train myself to thrive and exist without sugar and caffeine, then I will. What a concept. So far this statement has been true for me and I can feel my eating habits transform everyday. I'm learning to love fruit more than sweets and I'm learning to appreciate the smell of coffee without having to actually indulge in a cup. I guess I cheat a little with the smell of coffee when I drink Teeccino but who is keeping track.
I'm about halfway through the cleanse and feeling amazing! I still see slight changes in the way my body looks everyday and I'm really starting to notice where the sugar goes as far as extra weight on my body. It hasn't caused a significant weight change YET but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that my bikini is going to look pretty dang good after this. I'm confident too that I will be able to keep up the eating habits and I have been mentally training myself to not want sweets throughout the day. Trust me, I really really want to take a cookie as they are passed around the office but I will not. It just means more exercise and for some exercise=punishment. I have the strength and will power to last 11 more days! I'm doing it!!!!
Teeccino Cleanse: Day 8
Instead of writing down what my feelings are about the cleanse, I thought I would keep a journal of what I ate today and pass that information along. It can be difficult to find things to eat after you purge the sugar out of your cabinets but I'm doing it. Despite some serious cravings for Easter candy and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf I have been sticking to this cleanse like a crazy person. Check out today's menu:
Breakfast-
Breakfast-
- Oatmeal with sliced mangos
I added a little bit of milk to my bowl and it was delicious! A new crave!
Snack-
- Raw almonds
- Monterey Jack Cheese Stick
Nuts have become my go-to snack when I want something other than fruit, and cheese is always at the top of my list for a quick snack.
Lunch-
- Trader Joe's Black Bean Soup
- Trader Joe's Soy & Flaxseed Tortilla Chips
This was definitely satisfying and really filling. Watch out for the chips, they are addicting!
Snack-
- Fruit Bowl- Cantaloupe and grapes
Fruit is the new chocolate according to this cleanse so I indulge whenever I can. Be careful not to burnout on your favorite fruits too quickly as you will feel like there is nothing to eat.
Dinner-
- Trader Joe's Spinach & Chive pasta with Vegetables
This pasta is fabulous and to keep it light I tossed it in olive oil and sprinkled it with cracked pepper. The vegetables I included were red and yellow bell pepper, tomatoes, black olives, asparagus, and shallots. I made extra too so I could eat on it for lunch the next day.
Dessert-
- Teeccino!
I know this doesn't seem like a lot of food but after so many days of eating like this it has become the norm. I haven't felt like I have overindulged at all and my habit of reaching for dessert after every meal is now out of sight, out of mind.
I did weigh myself again today and I have yet to lose any weight. I'm not sure why this is after such an extreme overhaul of the foods I was eating but I think it will eventually melt off. I'm stepping the exercise up a notch!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Teeccino Cleanse: Day 5-7
The first few days of the Teeccino cleanse were relatively easy because I was behind a desk the majority of the days. It is hard to be tempted by coffee or sugar when you are locked into a convined space, far away from the outside world, with your lunch and snacks brought from home. Now that Friday is here, I'm worried...
I started off the day with the usual piece of sourdough toast and substituted my normal 2 eggs for a fruit bowl. This particular fruit bowl consisted of strawberries and bananas but I have started to get creative with them as the days go on. For lunch I was craving a tuna melt of my own kind but realized that both the mustard and mayo I was going to use to prepare the tuna had sugar in them so I was forced to scratch that idea. As I wandered State St. in Santa Barbara I pondered where on Earth I would be able to find something to eat and I settled on Chipotle. Now I know this is a fast-food type of restuarant but I have always liked their food and found that the burrito bowl allowed me a fulfilling lunch with no sugar. Lettuce, vegetables, beans, and guacamole treated me right this afternoon and my unsweetened iced tea washed it all down perfectly. This sitting helped squash the idea that I had to eat only food that came from my own kitchen.
The evening consisted again of vegetables and salad but I did find myself craving something sweet. I mean it was Friday, normally I treat myself to something decadent after a long work week. But this week, not an option. I thought I would try a Jamba Juice to sip on instead while I got my pedicure but realized that even the "all fruit" smoothies had 50+ grams of sugar in them! What?! This was an outrage! How can a place that advertises food and drinks for a healthy lifestyle stuff their products full of sugar?! I already cringe when I see people drink a jumbo smoothie from this place, but I silently convinced myself that maybe they were drinking an "all fruit" one and that it was ok. Now, I know it's not ok. This small statistic has erased my want or need to ever go to Jamba Juice again!
The remainder of the weekend went pretty smooth as far as eating was concerned. I stuck with my usual fruits and vegetables and finally started eating oatmeal for breakfast instead of eggs and toast. A little fruit in my oatmeal replaced my normal brown sugar and a little bit of milk gave it the perfect consistency. I continued to fight cravings for the weekend coffee shop experience but refrained and made Teeccino at home instead. I drank a couple mugs a day to help myself from giving in. I highly recommend the Chocolate Mint or Hazelnut. I replaced my creamer with Horizon Half and Half as I found that even Silk soy creamer had evaporated cane juice in it. I wasn't sure that this counted as added sugar but my thinking was anything that was derived from sugar cane is probably out.
I opted to be designated driver on Saturday night as I'm cutting out alcohol during the cleanse. Slightly dreading the bar scene, I found myself sitting with a glass of Crystal Geyser mineral water and lime wedges and loving every sip! It was so much more refreshing than I had ever imagined and it curbed my want for a sugary cocktail immediately. For those who are prone to a pomegranite margarita or sex on the beach you should try this. It may not give you the buzz you are looking for but you will wake up feeling good about the night! I know my body loves me these days.
I started off the day with the usual piece of sourdough toast and substituted my normal 2 eggs for a fruit bowl. This particular fruit bowl consisted of strawberries and bananas but I have started to get creative with them as the days go on. For lunch I was craving a tuna melt of my own kind but realized that both the mustard and mayo I was going to use to prepare the tuna had sugar in them so I was forced to scratch that idea. As I wandered State St. in Santa Barbara I pondered where on Earth I would be able to find something to eat and I settled on Chipotle. Now I know this is a fast-food type of restuarant but I have always liked their food and found that the burrito bowl allowed me a fulfilling lunch with no sugar. Lettuce, vegetables, beans, and guacamole treated me right this afternoon and my unsweetened iced tea washed it all down perfectly. This sitting helped squash the idea that I had to eat only food that came from my own kitchen.
The evening consisted again of vegetables and salad but I did find myself craving something sweet. I mean it was Friday, normally I treat myself to something decadent after a long work week. But this week, not an option. I thought I would try a Jamba Juice to sip on instead while I got my pedicure but realized that even the "all fruit" smoothies had 50+ grams of sugar in them! What?! This was an outrage! How can a place that advertises food and drinks for a healthy lifestyle stuff their products full of sugar?! I already cringe when I see people drink a jumbo smoothie from this place, but I silently convinced myself that maybe they were drinking an "all fruit" one and that it was ok. Now, I know it's not ok. This small statistic has erased my want or need to ever go to Jamba Juice again!
The remainder of the weekend went pretty smooth as far as eating was concerned. I stuck with my usual fruits and vegetables and finally started eating oatmeal for breakfast instead of eggs and toast. A little fruit in my oatmeal replaced my normal brown sugar and a little bit of milk gave it the perfect consistency. I continued to fight cravings for the weekend coffee shop experience but refrained and made Teeccino at home instead. I drank a couple mugs a day to help myself from giving in. I highly recommend the Chocolate Mint or Hazelnut. I replaced my creamer with Horizon Half and Half as I found that even Silk soy creamer had evaporated cane juice in it. I wasn't sure that this counted as added sugar but my thinking was anything that was derived from sugar cane is probably out.
I opted to be designated driver on Saturday night as I'm cutting out alcohol during the cleanse. Slightly dreading the bar scene, I found myself sitting with a glass of Crystal Geyser mineral water and lime wedges and loving every sip! It was so much more refreshing than I had ever imagined and it curbed my want for a sugary cocktail immediately. For those who are prone to a pomegranite margarita or sex on the beach you should try this. It may not give you the buzz you are looking for but you will wake up feeling good about the night! I know my body loves me these days.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Teeccino Cleanse: Day 4
My addiction to sourdough toast with organic peanut butter for breakfast has carried on for four days now and I don't see myself stopping the habit anytime soon. In fact, I look forward to my piece of toast everyday and try to curb my carb intake throughout the day just so I don't feel so bad when I go for seconds. This also means that I have yet to find something good to eat for breakfast in place of my usual granola, yogurt, muffin or cereal. Eggs do the trick but I don't want to eat 2 eggs every single morning and bacon would be fabuolus but I had to break that addiction a couple of weeks ago when it was pointed out that I eat meat with every meal. Of course this is an exaggeration but it can be true at times. I'm a country girl, give me a break! I love me some bacon and sausage! I just have to learn to eat them in moderation. Water is still a must in the morning too which has surprisingly replaced my glass of OJ or juice. Teeccino would be great here too however I haven't found the time to go and replace my french vanilla creamer. As you've probably noticed I love vanilla flavored stuff. It's just too bad that vanilla=lots of sugar!
I've been spreading the word that I am on a cleanse and the reception I have been getting is surprisingly positive. Many eye brows have been raised but it's not a look of "What the hell?" but instead one of curiosity. A lot of people seem like they might actually consider it themselves and as soon as I mention bikini season they are really open to the idea. I have a friend who says she is on a low carb diet, which is another display of great will power on her part, but I have found that this cleanse is the exact opposite of that. In addition to fruits and vegetables, I've been eating many more foods full of carbs, fat, and protein. Normally I would feel guilty about this but I'm starting to convince myself that this is the type of diet I've been needing all along. I can already feel the sugar tube around my waist starting to fade and my energy levels are the same if not better than they were when I was putting down sugar with every meal. *I was told once that diabetics hold more weight around their wasteline...what does this say about me?
I went on a run again today after work and this one was a little more difficult than the one earlier this week. I don't think it was because of the diet, I think it was because my body was still sore after not running for a few weeks. I also ran on the beach which can make your legs feel like 100lbs each. Again, I just had to remind myself that I was burning fat, not sugar! I also did some workouts with weights and that felt great. I can already see a difference in how my body and muscles look. For those who hate to workout, find some kind of motivation that will help encourage you to get out and do it or workout with a buddy.
Dinner consisted of salad, lots of vegetables, and chicken sausage. See, if I can't have bacon in the morning, I find a way to have sausage at night :) It was much more filling than I had anticipated and I went to bed feeling very satisfied with the day. Neither stress or anxiety have been giving me any problems and my cravings for something sweet are fading entirely as I know I just cannot have them. Why torture myself?! I never thought this was possible as I live by the motto dessert after every meal. Go cleanse!
I've been spreading the word that I am on a cleanse and the reception I have been getting is surprisingly positive. Many eye brows have been raised but it's not a look of "What the hell?" but instead one of curiosity. A lot of people seem like they might actually consider it themselves and as soon as I mention bikini season they are really open to the idea. I have a friend who says she is on a low carb diet, which is another display of great will power on her part, but I have found that this cleanse is the exact opposite of that. In addition to fruits and vegetables, I've been eating many more foods full of carbs, fat, and protein. Normally I would feel guilty about this but I'm starting to convince myself that this is the type of diet I've been needing all along. I can already feel the sugar tube around my waist starting to fade and my energy levels are the same if not better than they were when I was putting down sugar with every meal. *I was told once that diabetics hold more weight around their wasteline...what does this say about me?
I went on a run again today after work and this one was a little more difficult than the one earlier this week. I don't think it was because of the diet, I think it was because my body was still sore after not running for a few weeks. I also ran on the beach which can make your legs feel like 100lbs each. Again, I just had to remind myself that I was burning fat, not sugar! I also did some workouts with weights and that felt great. I can already see a difference in how my body and muscles look. For those who hate to workout, find some kind of motivation that will help encourage you to get out and do it or workout with a buddy.
Dinner consisted of salad, lots of vegetables, and chicken sausage. See, if I can't have bacon in the morning, I find a way to have sausage at night :) It was much more filling than I had anticipated and I went to bed feeling very satisfied with the day. Neither stress or anxiety have been giving me any problems and my cravings for something sweet are fading entirely as I know I just cannot have them. Why torture myself?! I never thought this was possible as I live by the motto dessert after every meal. Go cleanse!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Teeccino Cleanse: Day 3
Ok, I woke up today bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and still dying of thirst! I immediately gulped down the biggest glass of water that I could find. Let's just say my body is still adjusting to my non-sugar diet. I was also starving which I believe carried over from last night and I'm betting this is due to my body burning through the fruits and nuts that I have been eating to replace my normal sweet snacks so quickly. Although a little uncomfortable, I think these are good signs. I'm really starting to get the hang of this cleanse and I'm finding ways to get creative with what I CAN eat, and I'm not really missing the crappy stuff. Yahoo!!! Take note that there really are a lot of things that I CAN eat despite the amount of things that I cannot.
A couple of things that I cannot have that were a part of my daily intake are Yerba Mate and Chocolate. Despite it being naturally caffeinated Mate had to go. This was definitely disheartening but I have turned to a pleathora of herbal teas in its place. The Organic India Tulsi Teas are fantastic and they help with other things too like stress. With 18+ flavors it's hard not to find one I like. I'm treating it as kind of the placebo effect for Mate too since it's so similar in terms of consistency. As for coffee, I no longer have to worry if my stop at the coffee shop in the morning is going to make me late for the bus. A mental break to say the least. In terms of chocolate, this is where fruit comes in. Although fruit doesn't seem anywhere near equivalent to the satisfaction I get from a slab of chocolate it is really working for me. I just trick myself into thinking that my strawberry is coated in dark chocolate goodness.
I had a couple of tempations today that I normally would have not recognized had I not been doing the cleanse. First one, the 2 liter bottle of Pepsi staring at me from inside the work refrigerator. I brought a small, cornmeal pizza from Trader Joes today for lunch and the Pepsi would have gone great with it! Despite my co-worker telling me to have a glass in jest I stuck with my water. My water however didn't do the pizza justice since I slightly burned the bottom of it.
My second temptation, a Pampered Chef party. Welcome to a party of wine and the most delicious trifle you have ever seen. Chocolate, bananas, graham crackers...you name it, it was in that trifle. I did good though and stuck to the veggie platter and some unsweetened, non-caffeinated iced tea. A little bit of the casserole was in order too but I don't think there was any sugar in it (I helped make one as an example and I eyeballed every ingredient!).
After three days of no sugar and no caffeine I'm feeling pretty good. When I feel the need for sugar, I go for a run or workout. When I feel the need for caffeine, I drink a glass of water and start a new project. When in doubt, call a friend and make them distract you from your craving. You should try it, it feels great!
A couple of things that I cannot have that were a part of my daily intake are Yerba Mate and Chocolate. Despite it being naturally caffeinated Mate had to go. This was definitely disheartening but I have turned to a pleathora of herbal teas in its place. The Organic India Tulsi Teas are fantastic and they help with other things too like stress. With 18+ flavors it's hard not to find one I like. I'm treating it as kind of the placebo effect for Mate too since it's so similar in terms of consistency. As for coffee, I no longer have to worry if my stop at the coffee shop in the morning is going to make me late for the bus. A mental break to say the least. In terms of chocolate, this is where fruit comes in. Although fruit doesn't seem anywhere near equivalent to the satisfaction I get from a slab of chocolate it is really working for me. I just trick myself into thinking that my strawberry is coated in dark chocolate goodness.
I had a couple of tempations today that I normally would have not recognized had I not been doing the cleanse. First one, the 2 liter bottle of Pepsi staring at me from inside the work refrigerator. I brought a small, cornmeal pizza from Trader Joes today for lunch and the Pepsi would have gone great with it! Despite my co-worker telling me to have a glass in jest I stuck with my water. My water however didn't do the pizza justice since I slightly burned the bottom of it.
My second temptation, a Pampered Chef party. Welcome to a party of wine and the most delicious trifle you have ever seen. Chocolate, bananas, graham crackers...you name it, it was in that trifle. I did good though and stuck to the veggie platter and some unsweetened, non-caffeinated iced tea. A little bit of the casserole was in order too but I don't think there was any sugar in it (I helped make one as an example and I eyeballed every ingredient!).
After three days of no sugar and no caffeine I'm feeling pretty good. When I feel the need for sugar, I go for a run or workout. When I feel the need for caffeine, I drink a glass of water and start a new project. When in doubt, call a friend and make them distract you from your craving. You should try it, it feels great!
Teeccino Cleanse: Day 2
I woke up this morning feeling physically pretty good, hungry but nonetheless good. Again I scoured the kitchen for a breakfast item that didn't contain added sugar and came up with a really bland bowl of oat bran. Bland because I couldn't add my normal sweet fixings of maple syrup, brown sugar, regular sugar, or chocolate syrup. Instead I resorted to some cinnamon and quite frankly it was awful. I would have added some milk but I didn't have any and the rice milk that was in the fridge had loads of sugar in it (I get the Vanilla kind :) ) Needless to say, I was hungry again in less than two hours.
It's very surreal to actually be on a cleanse after watching so many of my old roommates and sister routinely put themselves on one. I never thought that I would actually have a want or need to do one but it's happening, and I'm a little upset with myself for disregarding my family history of diabetes as blantantly as I have been. I mean come on, when I can't eat about 75% of my kitchen cupboards then I know I have a problem. But, admitting I have a problem is the first step and I'm sure that by the time this 21-day span is up I will have new and different eating patterns.
I forced myself to finally go on a run during my lunch break today and it felt amazing! I've been telling myself to do this for sooo long, I mean I'm in Santa Barbara where it's near perfect weather everyday, and the entire time I kept mentally reminding myself that I'm burning fat, not sugar. I have felt for awhile now that my workouts are somewhat stagnant as far as weight loss is concerned and it finally dawned on me that I've just been burning off sugars. Without a diet full of that evil white stuff I might actually lose that little bit on the hips that makes me dread bikini season. Two-Piece here I come!
Oh wait, frozen yogurt here I come...not! Despite my intense cravings for some sugary goodness I managed to drive past 5 different yogurt and ice cream shops on my way homefrom Barnes and Noble. Talk about focus and will power. Not only was it hard to concentrate on reading my book while the constant aroma of Starbucks was coming my way but now I'm having to pass up my favorite topping buffet. Luckily I have my Teeccino to help curb these cravings as well as a chocolate protein powder that is so much more delicious now than before I started the cleanse. Keep a lookout for the name of this stuff in a future post.
My final thought today, why am I so thirsty? I've been downing so much water over these past couple of days and I'm wondering if it's a symptom of suddenly quitting sugar. Nothing quenches it! I'll see if this thirst persists and try to find a cure...
It's very surreal to actually be on a cleanse after watching so many of my old roommates and sister routinely put themselves on one. I never thought that I would actually have a want or need to do one but it's happening, and I'm a little upset with myself for disregarding my family history of diabetes as blantantly as I have been. I mean come on, when I can't eat about 75% of my kitchen cupboards then I know I have a problem. But, admitting I have a problem is the first step and I'm sure that by the time this 21-day span is up I will have new and different eating patterns.
I forced myself to finally go on a run during my lunch break today and it felt amazing! I've been telling myself to do this for sooo long, I mean I'm in Santa Barbara where it's near perfect weather everyday, and the entire time I kept mentally reminding myself that I'm burning fat, not sugar. I have felt for awhile now that my workouts are somewhat stagnant as far as weight loss is concerned and it finally dawned on me that I've just been burning off sugars. Without a diet full of that evil white stuff I might actually lose that little bit on the hips that makes me dread bikini season. Two-Piece here I come!
Oh wait, frozen yogurt here I come...not! Despite my intense cravings for some sugary goodness I managed to drive past 5 different yogurt and ice cream shops on my way homefrom Barnes and Noble. Talk about focus and will power. Not only was it hard to concentrate on reading my book while the constant aroma of Starbucks was coming my way but now I'm having to pass up my favorite topping buffet. Luckily I have my Teeccino to help curb these cravings as well as a chocolate protein powder that is so much more delicious now than before I started the cleanse. Keep a lookout for the name of this stuff in a future post.
My final thought today, why am I so thirsty? I've been downing so much water over these past couple of days and I'm wondering if it's a symptom of suddenly quitting sugar. Nothing quenches it! I'll see if this thirst persists and try to find a cure...
Teeccino Cleanse: Day 1
The thought of doing a cleanse would have never crossed my mind two years ago but since I have entered the natural foods industry and started working for Teeccino it has become much more of a reality. In the past I have heard horror stories about cleanses and how miserable they can be as well as seen first hand how meticulous you have to be about what you choose to eat, and drink, and when for that matter. Why on earth would I ever want to put myself through this? Well, with summer around the corner and a countdown to a tropical vacation in place I thought what the hell! I'm officially doing it!
I was diagnosed with my third case of mono earlier this year, which put a real damper on my birthday celebrations, and I've been looking for ways to build my immune system back up since. I have been told that cutting out added sugar from my diet will help me strengthen my immunity, and giving up the caffeine will certainly help my adrenal glands recover. I'm not sure how long this case has been in my system but I am determined to come back from it stronger and healthier than I was before it attacked. Teeccino cleanse please be my answer.
The cleanse is fairly basic: no added sugar and no caffeine for 21 days. Substitute added sugars with fruit or natural sugars and caffeine with Teeccino. How hard can this be?! After a weekend of binging on all of my favorite sweets and several caffeinated drinks, I woke up on Monday morning starving and scouring for something without sugar. Now I thought I was pretty thorough about the types of food and drink I was purchasing but come to find out almost everything in the fridge and cupboard had added sugar. Isn't this why I stopped shopping at Vons and started shopping at Trader Joes??? I was a little upset by this eye-opening realization but at least I know what changes I can start making in the future. I settled for 2 scrambled eggs and a piece of sourdough toast. Best piece of toast I have ever eaten! Oh yes, and a huge glass of water.
Once I arrived at work I was feeling pretty good about myself. I found something without sugar to bring for lunch and the goody drawer at my desk was depleted of all chocolate and everything bad. I'm off to a fabulous start! I weighed myself on the office scale so I could have a marker for my expected weight loss and successfully turned down an office run to go get dessert. If you knew how great the desserts are that surround our office you would know that this was an amazing display of will power. Go me!
The evening was pretty smooth as I encouraged my boyfriend to do the cleanse along with me (despite the caffeine, he's addicted) and went to bed feeling like this was something that I could easily do everyday. Let's see how I feel in a week.
I was diagnosed with my third case of mono earlier this year, which put a real damper on my birthday celebrations, and I've been looking for ways to build my immune system back up since. I have been told that cutting out added sugar from my diet will help me strengthen my immunity, and giving up the caffeine will certainly help my adrenal glands recover. I'm not sure how long this case has been in my system but I am determined to come back from it stronger and healthier than I was before it attacked. Teeccino cleanse please be my answer.
The cleanse is fairly basic: no added sugar and no caffeine for 21 days. Substitute added sugars with fruit or natural sugars and caffeine with Teeccino. How hard can this be?! After a weekend of binging on all of my favorite sweets and several caffeinated drinks, I woke up on Monday morning starving and scouring for something without sugar. Now I thought I was pretty thorough about the types of food and drink I was purchasing but come to find out almost everything in the fridge and cupboard had added sugar. Isn't this why I stopped shopping at Vons and started shopping at Trader Joes??? I was a little upset by this eye-opening realization but at least I know what changes I can start making in the future. I settled for 2 scrambled eggs and a piece of sourdough toast. Best piece of toast I have ever eaten! Oh yes, and a huge glass of water.
Once I arrived at work I was feeling pretty good about myself. I found something without sugar to bring for lunch and the goody drawer at my desk was depleted of all chocolate and everything bad. I'm off to a fabulous start! I weighed myself on the office scale so I could have a marker for my expected weight loss and successfully turned down an office run to go get dessert. If you knew how great the desserts are that surround our office you would know that this was an amazing display of will power. Go me!
The evening was pretty smooth as I encouraged my boyfriend to do the cleanse along with me (despite the caffeine, he's addicted) and went to bed feeling like this was something that I could easily do everyday. Let's see how I feel in a week.
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