I’m so sorry I’ve been MIA since doing my 28-day raw cleanse. I ended the cleanse a day early when we arrived Utah for a snowboarding trip and I’ve been crazy busy with training ever since we came home! I wanted to follow-up with you all to let you know how the cleanse went and how I’m maintaining now that I’m in full marathon/half Ironman training mode. You heard that right – I decided to start training for the half Ironman in Kona on June 2 in addition to training for the Boston Marathon, so I’ve added quite a bit to my training load.
Back to my cleanse, I kept worrying that I wouldn’t feel the same uplifting effects that I had the two previous times I followed the Medical Medium 28-day raw cleanse. However, I was pleasantly surprised when all of the goodness started to take over my body! Just a quick reminder, this was a completely raw cleanse that consisted of all raw fruits and vegetables, no fats at all (no nuts, seeds, avocados, oils, nut butters, etc.). Eliminating fats really helped lessen the burden on my liver throughout the cleanse.
I won’t sugarcoat it, the first week was incredibly challenging. I had all of the cravings and kept questioning myself as to why I was doing this at all. Thankfully, it didn’t take long for my body to settle into the routine. By the second week I was already feeling the physical benefits of the cleanse, which included increased energy, improved training (my heart rate was lower, my muscles recovered more quickly, and I was getting faster), and relief from the bloating I had been experiencing.
By the third week of the cleanse I felt an extreme uplift in my mood. I started experiencing an overwhelming feeling of gratefulness and peace that I can’t even explain. My anxiety subsided significantly and I started to appreciate and enjoy each and every minute I have left on this beautiful island. Previously, in my funk, I was focusing on the fact that we had to move this summer and it was making me really sad. But by the third week, the gratefulness took hold and relieved me of my worries and sadness.
This trend continued into my fourth week. During this week I noticed that the bloating was almost completely gone, my abs (which had been missing since last summer) started to show themselves again, and my energy levels continued to elevate. The only reason I ended my cleanse on day 27 was because we flew to Utah and I was super cold and wanted something to warm up my body.
In Utah, we had an epic week of snowboarding while I continued to train for the Boston Marathon. That made my legs hate me a little bit but it was all worth it! When I got back to Hawaii I stayed mostly on my low fat protocol but incorporated lots of potatoes and I’ve been continuing that ever since.
My days lately have been filled with training and lots of eating. I usually run in the mornings and cycle or swim in the afternoons/evenings. Sometimes I do all three in one day. To keep my energy up I’m filling up on lots of dates, bananas, oranges, and potatoes. I’ve been trying to get a big salad in most days but it hasn’t really been hitting the spot lately. I think I’ve developed a slight salad aversion in these chilly winter months. For those of you that gawk at the fact that I’m chilly while living in Hawaii, we actually have had an unseasonably cold winter. It’s been great for training and sleeping, but it makes drinking a cold smoothie in the mornings pretty tough and my body has been craving more cooked foods.
Luckily, potatoes are one of my favorite cooked foods and they provide so many nutritional benefits! Did you know that potatoes are rich in Vitamins A, C, and B-complex and minerals like manganese, potassium, and magnesium? On top of that, potatoes are virtually fat free and full of fiber! Additionally, sweet potatoes are full of beta carotene, and vitamins C, E, & D! I like to incorporate both daily into my diet. Below I’ve included a recipe for my go-to dry roasted potato medley! Usually, I’ll have these potatoes and a steamed vegetable like broccoli or brussel sprouts for dinner and I’m always satisfied.
As for how I’ve been feeling lately, my mood is still in an upward shift. I’m still feeling overwhelmingly grateful for every moment I have here in Hawaii and I’m also so grateful for everything my body is willing to let me put it through. My body has felt pretty sore and worn out at times since I’m continuing to work while doing all of this training and I’m not getting enough sleep some nights. Luckily, it hasn’t had a huge impact on my mood. I’m going to take these tough final weeks of Boston training to work less, rest more, and make sure I’m taking the time I need to recuperate and stay healthy on this final stretch. The race is on April 15 so I’m in the final month!
Let me know if you try my potato recipe below and what you think! Thanks for reading, friends!
Surviving on Sunshine Dry Roasted Potatoes
- 6-8 Yukon gold potatoes (diced)
- 3-4 Sweet Potatoes-any variety (diced)
- 1 TBSP Cumin Powder*
- 2 TSP Garlic Powder*
- Himalayan pink salt and pepper to taste
*I use organic seasonings with no other ingredients
Directions:
- Preheat Oven to 425℉
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper
- Dice the potatoes and put them into a large mixing bowl
- Add the spices, salt, and pepper
- Mix thoroughly with a spatula or spoon
- Spread evenly on the baking sheets
- Bake for 35-45 minutes, checking every 10 minutes or so until potatoes are golden brown.
- Enjoy!
Surviving on Sunshine 