Reset Your Post Holiday Body and Tastebuds

It was the day after Christmas and I started my day off with a cup of organic coffee with just a wee bit of whipping cream (which is usually not part of the equation but was left over from making creamed corn :-)) and a rice cake with almond butter.  Now, this usually hits the spot, but I noticed this morning, that my mouth was not quite happy.  It wanted something sweeter and was rebelling a bit.  Could be that I had indulged in just a few extras over the holidays?  No over the top indulging but enough to feel a few pounds heavier, puffier, and a slowed down digestive system as well.  I needed a Reset!

When we eat or drink sugar and processed foods, there is a trigger in our brains that gets turned on to make us want more of these things.  The sugar, bad fats and anything with white flour and artificial flavorings, act like a powerful drug, turning on our dopamine and serotonin receptors sites which are our pleasure centers in the brain.  When this gets out of hand, a Reset Day or Days is/are needed.

 A Reset Day  is basically eating simply and cleanly for an entire day or more wherein mostly vegetables, lean protein and good fats are eaten, all organic, if possible.  I teach this reset day in my 5 week class to Transforming Your Body and Mind click here to find out more ». Some people become more addicted than others to sugars and they will need to eat from The Reset Menu longer than others to let their brains and mouths settle back down and be tamed again.

Once you get back on track from the Holidays, I strongly recommend incorporating a Reset Day every Monday to help recover from weekend social eating.   If you are one of those who tends to get a bit more addicted to sugar, salt, bread, and processed foods, or if you've indulged while on a vacation, you may need to incorporate the Reset Menu for 3-7 days, in order to get things back on track..

 Below is a sample Reset Day Menu to help you get started.  

Don't forget to get your body moving again, as well.  Yoga and exercise are both so important in keeping your dopamine, serotonin, and endorphin levels balanced and you feeling happy.

Your Sample Reset Day Menu

Breakfast Options:

                        2 egg omlette with ½-1 oz goat cheese, 1/3 avocado, chopped tomatoes and 1 chopped basil leaf and micro-greens

                                        *

                                                         Energy Shake

                                               8-10 oz-Water or coconut water

1 Tbsp Almond butter

1 Tbsp Chia seeds

Handful of spinach

¼ cup frozen berries

1 Tbsp ground flax

1 scoop high quality protein shake (optional)

Ice

Lunch Options

2 -3 cups field greens, ¼ cup almonds or chopped walnuts, 2 Tbsp pomegranate seeds, with 4 oz cooked shrimp or salmon (optional) (dressing

      *

2 cups butternut squash or tomato soup, with 1 cup frozen green beans, topped with 1/4 cup goat’s milk greek yogurt

     *

Gazpacho and 1 oz either sheep/goat cheese or vegan cheese, and 10 red grapes

      *

Cerviche and a small tangerine or orange
    *

Energy Shake

Dinner Options:

Sautéed or Grilled vegetables (1/2 red onion, 1-2  Zucchini, 1 cup mushrooms, etc) top with Manchego cheese  or vegan nut cheese or 2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast or 4-6 oz grass fed steak-(similar to a fajita without the tortilla)

      *

6-8 oz of wild caught fish grilled or baked, steamed broccoli, or mashed cauliflower*,  and spinach salad with balsamic and olive oil

Snacks:

Detox Green drink * *You may either juice this or blend. 
Skinny Vanilla Dessert** 

Allowed beverages:

Water-at least 64 oz

Green tea

Organic coffee

Sparkling water

Water with dash of cayenne pepper, stevia and lemon-(this is a great kidney flush and digestion flush)

Only sweetener allowed is Stevia

**Recipe is available on this blog.