Zucchini Cashew Soup

This soup is by far is my FAVORITE soup that I learned about while doing the Ultimate Reset. I still use it to this day!

Vegan and fabulous. Amazing flavor comes from the richness of the cashew and the zing of the Bragg's liquid amino's. You can substitute Himalayan salt or you don't have to you salt it all if it's excluded from your diet.   That's the beauty of this soup, you can really customize it to your personal taste and dietary restrictions. 

And then how you make it!  I normally toss my cashews in water in the morning and when I return from work I can literally be ready to blend it in 10 minutes.  I prefer it warm vs. cold but both ways would work fine!  

And then the fun part!! Love my Vitamix!

This is the nutrition breakdown below provided by My Fitness Pal.   This is an amazingly filling soup that I would not hesitate to serve at my next dinner party.  I love to season with my Bragg's and lots of dill and parsley.  You can modify it to your own taste!  Experiment and ENJOY!

Ultimate Reset Week 3 Review AND Results

This was my week 3 on the Ultimate Reset. If you want to know what the Ultimate Reset can do for you click and see a video on the clinical study ----> HERE!

In this phase you move into an all vegan menu. It wasn't that big of a transition after week 2. I continued to feel amazing and again relied heavily on the Reset in a Crunch during this week. I truly loved the fruit for breakfast. As well as the Miso Soup and Micro Green salads. It was all amazing.




The supplements change slightly, no more Detox or fiber supplement. Still lots of water. There was the addition of Revitalize.

My Experience/Results Week 3

Food was further simplified by the removal of grains and legumes from the menu. The meals mainly consisted of fruit and vegetables. My energy level was surprisingly really good. I still can't believe I have made it 3 entire weeks without coffee! That in itself is a miracle! Herbal tea was my wheelhouse and for my "treat" it was Starbucks Pineapple Kona Pop. That will be another regular in the rotation for me moving forward.


Remember that you are supposed to do minimal exercise. Stretching, light Yoga or walking. At this point I was getting anxious because I really do want to get back to my sweat. But with my injury I also didn't want to sacrifice my knee or foot further.


We did go out to eat during week three but I found THE most awesome Restaurant EVER G-Zen in Branford, Connecticut! They are amazing and if I had not done the Ultimate Reset I would not have truly appreciated the flavors and work that goes into making a vegan dish. And he flavor?? It was OUTSTANDING! It was in Vegan heaven. For Week 3 I avoided the rice, but the rest... well it was amazing!

I have five words for you... Raw Lemon Lavender Vegan Cheesecake. Do you notice there is no picture? Yeah, I ate every bit of it. Cashew based and beyond fabulous! I have to learn how to craft something as decadent as this. In the meantime I'll be returning to G-Zen many times in the future!





The rest of the week was basic in terms of the delicious salads, Miso and my favorite Wakame seaweed. I felt lighter and my skin looks fantastic. I sleep like a baby and no stomach upset, at all. It has made me aware that I really was eating so many more processed foods that I thought I was and how they made me feel. I think I fully expected to feel starving and lightheaded over this three week period.... Guess what. I did not!! I really felt nourished for the first time ever. I learned so much about cooking and tried so many different vegetables and foods I would never have known existed.

It was a culinary adventure! Now you won't ever get me to eat fennel bulb, cabbage or collard greens again. The taste did not agree with me one bit. My husband however, devoured everything I made. So I kicked those out of the rotation.

As for Vegetables? Fresh kicks frozen's ASS!! Yes I'm swearing.... because I didn't think it made that much of a difference. But YES it DOES!

Result Time

So what were my physical overall results? Here they are! My main goal was to maintain my weight loss and muscle gain from my last round of 21 Day Fix. Well I DESTROYED my goal!! I never imagined I would lose over 10lbs on this plan ever.


Not only did I lose pounds and inches but I also lost FAT! About 9 lbs of my loss was fat alone! That amazed me! I had a fear that I would lose much of the muscle I built. This was NOT the case!! If anything I was finally able to shed that layer of fat that was covering up my progress! The pictures don't lie!


The inches I lost came mainly from my bust (2") and my legs (another 6") and I lost another inch off my waist!!

This has been an incredible experience. At the beginning I would never have thought I'd even consider doing the Reset on a regular basis. However now, I think that I may do it annually.

If you have any questions about my experience ask them in the comments below. You can reach out to me as well if you are interested in learning more about this program or any other Beachbody programs by clicking -----> HERE

I would love to have you be part of a Challenge Group, you can reach out to me by filling out the form below, or checkout my Facebook Page!

Fill out my online form.

How to make your own miso soup!

This is a dish that I have come to love!  White miso paste is readily available at your local whole foods store. There are many other alternative grocery stores that you can find it in as well. They sell me so powder in the supermarket but I think you lose many of the health benefits of actual live miso paste. 

The four stages of making your own miso soup!  You start with: 

1 TBSP of White Miso Paste

2 TBSP of dry Wakeme seaweed

1 Diced Green Onion

Next add 2 cups boiling water

(I heat mine in a teakettle)

Then you let the magic begin as the seaweed rehydrates into lovely flat noodles like pieces. I season with a dash of Braggs liquid amino's (A better for you so I sauce alternative) and Himalayan salt. ENJOY!!

Ultimate Reset Week 2 Review

So here I would go, into Week 2 of The Ultimate Reset.   This is a Video Link for what the Reset can do for you ----> HERE!

So there is NO misunderstanding, Week 1 was definitely a challenge for me.  Not just because it was a different way of eating but I really felt like things were being taken away from me.  I realized pretty quickly that this was mostly in my head than in reality. I had plenty of food and could choose what meals I preferred over others.  With that said, I wanted to try as many of the recipe's in the Reset as possible and wanted to be open to the entire experience.  
By Week 2 I had Meal Prep under control.  I knew what things I could get ready in advance to help smooth the week along.  I also relied upon the Reset in a Crunch guide as well because I knew I would be traveling later in the week.  I needed to get my head around that since I really wanted to stay consistent in my progress and not head too far off course.  I explored options for dressings and packed my Shakeology for my afternoon snack.  I made sure to bring my own water bottle and supplements too.  

Week 2 you are moving away from animal proteins and more into legumes, grains and vegetables.  Chickpeas, pinto beans, brown rice and lentils.  

I found the Miso was something that I really loved as well as the Wakame Seaweed.  Both were easy to travel with and bring along.  I knew I'd be able to find salad's that would also fit into the plan.  finally, as long as I had my Vegan Shakeology, I knew I would have the dense nutrition I needed no matter where I was.   

My Experience/Results Week 2

So traveling added some complexity, as well as the fact that it was a celebration.  I stayed on track with salads, supplements and my water intake.  I did enjoy some celebratory beverages and a little off plan deserts one night.  I still managed to continue to lose and was at the 10 lb. loss stage at the end of Week 2!  I'd say it was a SUCCESS!

Airport Salad! Winning!

I don't think I've experienced this level of regular results in a VERY long time!  And on top of it, I am learning SO much about clean eating and how these foods impact my mood and health.

I wake in the morning feeling refreshed, not bloated.  My skin looks AH-MAZE-ING, even without makeup, I'm literally glowing!!  That is a shock since I have struggled with my skin my entire life!  

This week there was an addition to the supplements of "Detox".  This was a fiber based drink you had to take 3 times a day.  The first answer I will tell you is, NO it did not make some horrible after effect at all!  LOL!  This isn't a chemical laxative.  Its a natural fiber supplement so it aids in removal of toxins and waste.  You don't have to panic it will cause gassiness etc... most of the foods at this stage, in my experience did non of that.  That was another wonderful experience. Not feeling stomach sick or bloated!!  

I always felt GREAT!  Satisfied, not starving and not overly stuffed.  I think that we lose touch with how we are supposed to feel since we get so used to overeating.  We don't know what "normal" is anymore!

I'll echo what I said in Week 1- I have learned to SLOW THE HELL DOWN!  When you are cooking like this and eating mass quatity of salads etc..., you just have to.  One thing that really stuck with me... your stomach doesn't have teeth!! We are so used to gulping down our food we actually cause issues for our digestive track and stress it out.  

Also, we don't need to drink lots of water while eating.  Dilution of stomach acids while eating can actually cause gas and bloating.  

There are so many great things that I have learned again in Week 2, it's been an eye opener.  I actually love giving myself permission to slow down, without distraction and eat my meals.  It's been very peaceful and rewarding.  We are always so rushed, and I wanted to enjoy the fruits of my labor.  So what do I miss so far?  Oh my coffee for sure!! I just love it and I can't lie that I miss it.  But I have been sleeping like  a ROCK and that is something that I haven't done in years.  So I think the caffeine will be something that I'll have to introduce back gradually for sure!  I have to say I do like the occasional red meat, so that also is something I crave but it's in no way overwhelming to the point that I would cave at this juncture.  Ask me after Week 3! 

More to come!  Message me if you want more info on The Ultimate Reset and how you can join me in my journey!

The Ultimate Reset Week 1 Summary

This is my first week on the Ultimate Reset. And I have to say that I went into it with some apprehension. I have done the 3 Day Refresh before this with great results. So I imagined this would be similar. In some ways it is but in other ways it's very different. The 3 Day Refresh mainly being 3 days, could I do 21?? (Video on the Ultimate Reset ----> HERE)

Why Reset?

My reason for choosing this program is because I currently have an injury and I am not supposed to be doing any intense exercise. So I wanted to maintain my results and continue to eat clean. Many people use this program if they're struggling with their health, food cravings, or with their weight. Or even if they've been experiencing low energy and they feel sluggish.


Caffeine is removed as well although you can work with that with some exception. That was going to be tough for me, I don't drink a lot of coffee but LOVE my tea. So herbal tea it is for the next 21 days!






WHAT YOU GET & PHILOSOPHY: So this is what was in the box that showed up with all of these packets, DVD's and booklets. The nice thing about the program is that it come with two DVDs to help you 1. START the program as well as 2. COOK! I have to say that I definitely learned a lot. From as simply as how to make scrambled eggs to how to prepare a micro-green salad. (WTH is a Micro Green Salad? I know now! Picture a little further down the blog.)



Another aspect of the program is the supplements you will take along with your meal plan. This shows which ones you will use while on the Ultimate Reset. As well as what each one does for your body.

For instance, as you can see from the chart you will use Mineralize. Since you drink distilled water you add Mineralize (Himalayan Salt) since the water is stripped down.



The meal plan on this program is key since you are restricted with fitness to light Yoga, Tai Chi, stretching or 20 minute walks.

MY EXPERIENCE/RESULTS WEEK 1: 

So I have completed Phase 1 or the first week of the program called Reclaim. It was a learning curve for sure but I am AMAZED because I LOST 6.8 LBS THE FIRST WEEK. I was fit and in great shape before the program so I honestly did not anticipate a significant weight loss. For someone that is 5'3" that is significant! And I can say I don't feel as though it was a loss of muscle mass since I am eating horse size portions and do not feel starved at all! THAT is enough to motivate me to dig deep and keep going.

The purpose of Phase 1 is to begin to remove the stress on your digestive system to help get your body back into a healthy pH balance. You gradually remove meat from your diet.



This wasn't an issue for me since already curb my use of dairy and many of the vegetarian options they provide are very appealing to me.

Jicama

I will say that the shopping and preparation process for the plan was a challenge at first since it was new to me and I literally didn't know what some of the vegetables or seasonings were. For instance Jicama-- my new BFF. I have eaten it on some of my favorite restaurant dishes and NEVER knew it before! I'd never know that this was what it was looking at it in produce. It's crunchy and has a mild sweetness, and is amazing in salads or on it's own. So, see I'm learning!

BASICS OF THE PLAN: 

You have a list of foods and meals to prepare which make up 3 meals per day. You can have a snack and they give you a list of of foods as well or you can substitute Shakeology. Well I was all in on that because I needed something I didn't have to CHOP to be honest. All the fresh veggies need prepping so you do feel a bit like Bobby Flay or Top Chef. But they, in my opinion, have been DELISH! The only mediocre exception was the Temphe (fermented soy). You can bake it and it wasn't horrible, just not my first pick.

Micro Greens Salad

Water

Then there is the WATER. You need to drink at minimum half your body weight in DISTILLED water per day, optimally a gallon per day. All the water you use to cook should also be distilled. They don't want any impurities in the water and you will use the Mineralize in the water to add essential minerals. 

Finally the Supplements - you take them on a schedule and the important thing is that you take them on an empty stomach so don't get hung up on the timing listed below. Each week comes with a little card you can keep in your caddy to keep you sane and know what to take when.

CONFESSION TIME: 

 Did I cheat at all? Well I didn't completely. But I will say during the first week I did gobble up a baked chicken strip my kids left on their plate, OK 2. But I it was more of a panic moment that I wasn't going to be able to have animal proteins for a while! LOL! Did I have to talk myself out of a tree to NOT eat my daughters Christmas Peppermint Patty?? YES!! This is something that I know about myself. I'm an emotional eater and when I get upset I want to soothe myself with food. I have had to really consciously break myself from that habit and channel it to other things. But doesn't make me immune from it.

I started this on a vacation week so that took the stress out of it somewhat because I didn't have to prepare so militantly as I have in the past. But also I learned that it would take time to make the dinners so I could prepare for the lunches and just know that I'd have to allocate time to making my food.

With that said, preparation is YOUR FRIEND. There is also an AWSOME feature, Reset in a Crunch.


This saved me some days I just could NOT make the recipe listed or had not time. The chart broke it down neatly into what I could have that day that would work. Took the sting out of panic mode when I didn't have all the ingredients or didn't like the options for the day.

Making things ahead like pre-chopping veggies or making the dressing, baking your pumpkin seeds are also key.

One other important fact I learned SLOW THE HELL DOWN! Seriously. The meals do take some time to cook and guess what. That's not a bad thing. I actually found myself connecting more with my family because I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE BUT COOK. LOL! Really! I joke but I also found that I was taking the time to enjoy what I made and that using different spices made my food taste AH-MAZE-ING. I LOVE that I'm learning so much in this process. It is a process. I'm a soup making fool right now! That Zuchinni/Cashew Soup....OMG- I'm still floored how easy that is and how amazing it tastes!


So I am EXCITED to move into Week 2 and Phase 2 of this program. It has opened up so many new doors for me in my nutrition and knowledge about myself.

Keep following my journey and please ask questions. I won't hold back!!

For more info on the Ultimate Reset check out this video link and let me know if you'd like to know how you can start your journey! ----> Ultimate Reset

Creamy Garlic Dressing: Fix & Reset Approved

This is by far one of my favorite recipes!  One thing that I will never go back to is commercial salad dressing.  There is nothing like enjoying your salad and knowing that you aren't ruining it by the dressing you put on top.  This is quick and easy to make!  Trust me, the whole family will rave about it!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 to 5 cloves garlic, crushed
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp. Himalayan salt
1/2 tsp Dijon Mustard
1 tbsp unfiltered honey or Pure Grade B Maple Syrup

Place all ingredients in blender and blend on medium high for 30 seconds or until well mixed.  Store in airtight container in refrigerator.  If dressing solidifies when cold, let sit at room temperature until liquid.  Makes 8 to 10 servings.