In Death Series Reading Challenge: January 2012

Interested in joining the Challenge? Anyone is welcome to join in at any time of the year at wherever in the series you currently are. See the sign up post HERE
and join the fun!

We have four new participants in the challenge this year. Please welcome Darlene, Lauren, Cassandra and Aisha!:)

Would you believe this post marks the two year anniversary of this challenge? Two years! .. and most of us are still not caught up yet! I'm trying to stay on track with one book per month, but it doesn't always happen. This month was overall a very slow reading month for me. I'm currently reading Born in Death, but haven't finished it in time for this month.

How did you do?

CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS:
Link up any In Death posts you made this month here. If you made a post on your blog, whether it be a review or commentary, please grab the link to your post and enter in the Mr. Linky below along with your name so we can find each other's latest In Death posts easily. You can also just use the link to your goodreads or other virtual bookshelf as well.

BOOK REVIEW:
... none ...

SERIES DISCUSSION:

Eve wasn't sure what it said about her that she was more comfortable in the morgue than in a baby boutique. And she didn't actually care. The cold white walls, the scent of death under the piney odors of cleansers were the familiar.
--Born in Death, p. 46

Oh Eve. We can't even fell sorry for her, thinking she is missing out on anything because the cause for which she chooses to devote herself is so heroic. No one will work harder to solve a murder and see that justice is served on behalf of the victims as Eve does. Of course, we all feel tremendous sadness and sorrow for the horrific childhood that Eve lived. I also sometimes think of Eve's adult life before she met Roarke and think those years must have been pretty sad as well--really only living and breathing her job, rarely if ever relaxing, having fun, sharing herself with someone, loving and being loved. The quality of Eve's life has improved tenfold since those days thanks to Roarke, her friend Mavis and numerous colleagues who are now also considered friends. She's come a long way, hasn't she? So if she's not comfortable with spa treatments, shopping sprees and baby boutiques, I can accept that.

What are your thoughts regarding the quote above?

Reflections on Week 3: Whole Living Action Plan

For the last three weeks I've been following the body cleanse plan outlined by Whole Living magazine in their January-February 2012 issue and on their website at wholeliving.com. The 28 Day Whole Living Action Plan is designed to cleanse your body of impurities that have built up in your body {primarily in your liver which gets taxed by the impurities in the food and beverages we consume} and establish healthier and cleaner ways of eating and living. Today is the last day of Week 3 for me... so only one more week to go!

To learn more about the cleanse, visit the link in the paragraph above for the wholeliving.com website.

How was Week 3?
This week was very similar to Week 2 a lot of ways, but I did feel as though I had more breakfast choices--and especially welcomed eggs and oats to fuel my morning workouts. I had a few small servings of brown rice during the week as well--1/4 cup one night with dinner and about the same in a homemade veggie burger two other days.

I thought I would have pounced on the opportunity to have grains back on my plate, but I actually preferred filling up on flavorful vegetables and salmon instead of the rice. That's a good sign to some newer habits setting in.. I hope! Here's a look at what I ate in Week 3:

• hot water with fresh squeezed lemon at start of day.
• green juice {I went to a friend's house and used her juicer!}
• Toasted Coconut Muesli
• egg and spinach omelet
• fresh fruit & vegetables
• steamed or roasted vegetables with olive oil
• Baked Sweet Potato with Citrus
• nuts & dried fruit mix {homemade}
• popcorn! {air-popped or popped on the stove top with olive oil}
• cinnamon poached pears
• mixed green salads with cilantro, radish, apple, and pecans, dressed with homemade pomegranate vinaigrette
• Chickpea-Brown Rice Veggie Burger
• Spiced Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
• oven roasted salmon
• Curry Vegetables {my own recipe}
• sushi {a treat! the only cheat was that the sushi was made with short grain white rice, not brown rice--but still gluten-free so it's technically okay}

What did I learn this week?
It's still really hard to deprive yourself of your favorite foods for so many weeks in a row. For example, my family had Thai take out one night this week and it was pretty torturous to eat sit at the table and sip my bowl of plain vegetable soup with all of that delicious smelling hot food laid out in front of me. I actually had to leave the room. But I chose to do this and it's only for several more days, so I'll stick it out.

How do I feel?
I'm feeling pretty good about the foods I've been eating over the last three weeks. Lots of different flavors, colors, textures and all so healthy! It's a good feeling knowing I'm doing something good for my body. I feel more tired at the end of the day than I did before doing this cleanse so I'm falling asleep earlier and sleeping more soundly, too. I don't know if this is part of the cleanse or the lack of my usual caffeine or if it's because I'm not eating enough calories to sustain my energy for my usual 18 waking hours. I used to get by on 6+ hours of sleep... now I feel I need at least 7 hours, if not more.

I've lost a total of 7 lbs. on the detox in the last three weeks so far.

What do I miss?
I still miss coffee, although interestingly, not necessarily first thing in the morning. I tend to look for a cup either mid morning or mid afternoon. And a cookie. Just one cookie. That's what I'm going to try to do when this plan is over.

As I forge ahead into Week 4:
This week is the bonus week of the cleanse. I can add lean chicken and beef and grains with gluten in moderation. Looking forward to having meat back in my diet, but I'm going to do my best to keep the number of servings of carbohydrates low this week--especially grains with gluten. I definitely feel sluggish and bloated when I eat the smallest amount above one serving of these foods.

Here's to healthier, whole living!

For more information about the Whole Living Action Plan 2012, visit Whole Living at wholeliving.com.

RECIPE: Curry Vegetables

I invented this recipe the other night when I was in the mood for something curry flavored to go with the oven roasted salmon I was preparing for dinner. It's very easy to make and you could easily substitute your favorite vegetables for any of the vegetables below. Broccoli, okra, red peppers and mushrooms would taste great in this dish.

Curry Vegetables
To serve as a main dish, add a 15 oz. can of chickpeas, drained, with the vegetables in step four.

1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1 small onion, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 " piece of fresh ginger, minced
1-2 teaspoons curry powder
1 small cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
2 carrots, sliced
1 potato, cut into bite-sized chunks
1 cup peas
1 tomato, finely chopped
2 tablespoons raisins, optional
salt & pepper
1 teaspoon garam masala
1/4 cup chopped cilantro, optional

1. Heat olive oil in a large pan {with a lid} over medium high heat. Add mustard seeds and stir until the seeds start to pop.
2. Add the onion, garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant and the onion begins to look translucent, stirring continuously--about 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the curry powder and stir for 1 minute.
4. Add the cauliflower, carrots, potatoes, peas and tomatoes, stirring until the vegetables are coated with the onion mixture and curry powder.
5. Add 1/4 of water and the raisins, if using, to the pan and immediately cover with a lid. Lower the heat to medium-low and cook for 2 minutes. Check vegetable mixture and add more water if necessary, to prevent the vegetables from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle the garam masala over the vegetables and put the lid back on. Cook for 2 more minutes or until the cauliflower, carrots and potato are fork tender.
6. Test for seasoning and add additional salt & pepper, if necessary.
7. Sprinkle dish with chopped fresh cilantro before serving.

Enjoy.




Weekend Cooking, a weekly blog event hosted by Beth Fish Reads. Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food related post to share--a food related book review (fiction or nonfiction), cookbook review, movie review, a recipe, random thoughts, gadgets, food quotations, photographs, etc. Please visit Beth's blog for more information and join the fun!

Get Excited for Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas & Book Giveaway

Oh how I wish I was giving away copies of Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas, but no. I'm afraid I'm going to have to sit tight and wait for this book's release just like the rest of you.

You ARE anxiously awaiting Rainshadow Road, too, right? Did you read the first chapter excerpt on Lisa's website yet? No?! What are you waiting for? Go read it HERE. Go ahead and read it right now. I'll wait for you....

So what did you think? I love this opening scene. Already I'm in love with the Pacific Northwest setting. I was lucky to visit the region two summers ago with my family, so I can attest to the grandness of it's natural and rugged beauty and I can see why Lisa Kleypas chose this particular setting for her Friday Harbor series. It truly is a majestic place and invokes a sense of both peace and wonder.

As for Lucy Marinn and Sam Nolan, in just one opening scene, we can see there's a subtle chemistry between them, don't you think? I can already tell their relationship is going to be a sweet discovery, although it's not going to be so straightforward. There's some obstacles in this love story of which we already know and I'm sure even more to come as the story progresses. One thing we definitely know about Lucy is her strong sense of caution when it comes to relationships with men, and who can blame her after the awful break up she's going through. Oh, but you haven't heard the details of that one yet, have you? Well, as a member of Lisa's Divas I was able to read the second chapter excerpt recently, and let me tell you the break-up is a tough one. I hope Sam is good at convincing Lucy of love and happily ever after. Although, to tell you the truth--he's going to need some convincing of the possibility of that, too! I can't wait to see how Lisa Kleypas brings these two characters together.

To help get you psyched for the February 28, 2012 release of Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas, I'm giving away three beautifully bound hardcover copies of the first book by Lisa that introduces us to Friday Harbor and the Nolan brothers.... Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor.

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor is the story of Mark Nolan and Maggie Collins, the owner of a very special toy store in Friday Harbor. This heartwarming story is so charming and will leave you believing in the magic of love.

You can read my review of Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor HERE. I can't believe I read it way back in October 2010! That was many, many books ago for me, but the characters, their story and the setting!--are still fresh in my mind.

Want to be entered for a chance to win Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor? Just follow these steps and rules:

• Leave a comment below telling me your favorite book by Lisa Kleypas and you're entered in the giveaway.
• Haven't read a book yet by Lisa Kleypas? Then leave a comment below telling me why you'd like to read this one. 
• Be sure to leave your email address in your comment if it is not easily found on your profile.
• Open to US and Canada only. It's out of my budget to mail outside these two zones--I'm sorry.
• Giveaway ends on Friday, February 3, 2012, 5 pm EST at which time I'll use random.org to select three winners.
• Winners will be notified by email and have three days to get back to me with their mailing information or their prize will be forfeited and another winner will be selected.

Good luck!  

To discover more about Lisa Kleypas and her books, visit her website at http://LisaKleypas.com.

There's also a great interview with Lisa that includes a lot of talk about Rainshadow Road at SmartBitches website HERE. The book giveaway is over, but do go read the interview with Lisa--it's very good!


NOTE: I'm one of "Lisa's Divas" - a group of select fans who share info & content related to Lisa's novels and get sneak peeks & swag in return. Including the copies of Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor provided for this giveaway! 

Library Loot XLVI

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries! This week's Library Loot is at Marg's. 


My first library loot post of 2012! Last year, 47 out of the 100 books I read were borrowed from the library! Can you tell I love the library? :)
Cookbooks:

   
Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Recipes from The Moosewood Collective.. lots of contributors!
Eat Well Live Well with Gluten Intolerance by Susanna Holt

Looking for some recipes that I can eat during the detox plan I've been following for the last seventeen days. 17 down 11 to go... To read more about the detox I'm doing, check out these posts.

Craft book:
Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts.
Woops. I borrowed the wrong book. I was looking for the Encyclopedia of Crafts. Oh well, I'll thumb through this one anyway. It's not like I have time to craft or sew anyway these days..

In fiction:



The Next Always by Nora Roberts
I've been on hold for this book for weeks and weeks. Finally it's my turn and the copy my library has is the large print one. I kind of don't want to read it now...





    
King Lear by Shakespeare, graphic interpretation by Gareth Hinds
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, graphic interpretation by Charles Dixon with Sean Deming, illustrated by David Wenzel.
Graphic novels of some classics that I've never read. I'm taking a short cut to gain some basic knowledge of these two stories I've never read.

In music:
Various cds including Eyes Open by Snow Patrol. There's a fun remix version of "Chasing Cars" on this album. I love it! ha! My favorite Snow Patrol song is probably "Run," but unfortunately that's on another album. Have you heard the Leona Lewis version of "Run"? SOoo good. It gives me goosebumps.

Bought from the used book shelf:
I couldn't resist at 50 cents each.

The Christmas Brides by Linda Lael Miller
High Noon by Nora Roberts
WhatHappens In London by Julia Quinn
The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn
Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn

What's your latest loot from the library? 

My Favorites of 2011 {Books}

Plus some random book and reading stats thrown in.

I'm finally getting this post up. I started it in the week between Christmas and New Year's and every couple of days I'd make a few tweaks, add some finishing touch, then get distracted, pulled in another direction, etc. You know how it goes. Anyway, here it is-- an overview of the books I read in 2011 by number, genre and favorites.

My 2011 Random Reading Stats: 
I guess I can't really say I read a balanced blend of male and female authors. I read books by female authors over male authors by nearly 8 to 1. Not that it bothers me in the least and I doubt these figures will be much different in 2012.

Male authors read ........ 9
Female authors read .... 69

I read an even 100 books in 2011 which was exactly my goal.  I worked hard at this in the last weeks of December! Some facts on the 100 books I read:

Books read from my shelves ............ 53
Books borrowed from the library ..... 47

Books published in 2011 .......... 28
Books published in 2010 .......... 27
Books published before 2010 ... 45

Books read by genre: 
Romance............................. 37
           Historical Romance............ 16
           Paranormal Romance ......... 13
           Contemporary Romance....... 8

Young Adult ...................... 15
           Urban fantasy/fantasy/PNR ............. 9
           Contemporary .................................. 6

Graphic novel ................... 14
          "Classics" ........................ 5
           Fantasy ........................... 5
           Non-fiction...................... 2
           Contemporary ................ 2

Mystery/Crime fiction..... 14
General Fiction.................. 9
Urban Fantasy .................. 5
Children's Literature.......... 2
Fantasy............................. 2
Steampunk........................ 1
Memoir ............................ 1

I'm happy with the mix of genres I read last year. I'd like to read more... just MORE of everything in 2012, but will make a conscious effort to read more fantasy and steampunk novels this year.

For anyone who's interested, curious or has nothing better to, you can browse my list of the 100 books I read in 2011 HERE.

Otherwise, keep reading for my list of favorites from 2011.

My favorite reads of 2011:
The titles with an asterisk * were published in 2011.

Favorite 'Aren't You Too Old to be Reading That', a.k.a Young Adult:
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Worth Every Single Tear:
The Story of Beautiful Girl * by Rachel Simon
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta


The Best Book Recommendation from a Friend:
The Guernsey and Literary Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

I would have completely missed this wonderful read had it not been for Amy sharing her copy of this book with so many blogging friends around the world.

Most Compelling Series:

Guild Hunters by Nalini Singh

Psy-Changeling Series by Nalini Singh

     Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh--definitely one of my very favorite reads of 2011.

Smart & Sexy Historical Romances:
Silk is for Seduction * by Loretta Chase
The Bastard * by Brenda Novak
    Honorable Mention:
    A Lady's Lesson in Scandal * by Meredith Duran

Best Blast from the Past:
The Bride by Julie Garwood

So Good I HAD to Read it AGAIN:
Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh
Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne

Most Heart-Pounding-Edge-of-Your-Seat-Thrilling Read:
Shadowfever *  by Karen Marie Moning

Most Guilty-Pleasure
a.k.a. What IS it about this series that keeps me coming back?
Lover Unleashed * by J.R. Ward

Surprise Favorite Reads:
Elfland by Freda Warrington
The Greyfriar * by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffin
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
I LOVED all three of these books to pieces. I cannot wait to read more by these authors.

Most Read Author of the Year:
Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb with 8 books
followed by Nalini Singh with 5 books

Favorite Cover Art: 
Elfland by Freda Warrington
A Lady's Lesson in Scandal *  by Meredith Duran



 

Were any of these books among your favorite reads in 2011?


Here's to a wonderful year full of great books in 2012!

Reflections on Week 2 : Whole Living {detox} Action Plan

I've just finished Week 2 of the Whole Living Action Plan that I've been following to cleanse my body of impurities, get control over sugar and carb cravings and establish better habits of eating clean {i.e. eating foods as close to their natural state as possible; no packaged or processed foods}.

Carrot Mango Herb Smoothie

How was Week 2? 
Although still challenging to avoid all grains, this week was significantly easier than Week 1. After having eaten ONLY fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and olive oil for a week, I welcomed the addition of seafood, legumes and organic soy in Week 2! These protein and fiber rich foods were more filling and I felt much more satiated after each meal. Here's a list of what I ate in Week 2:

• hot water with fresh squeezed lemon at start of every day.
• detox smoothies for breakfast {Carrot Mango Herb Smoothie is my favorite so far} 
• fresh fruit & vegetables
• steamed or roasted vegetables with olive oil
• nuts & dried fruit trail mix {also Dried Fruit and Nut Bites}
• mixed green salads with black beans and avocado, dressed with lemon or lime juice and olive oil
• red lentil soup
• tofu with red curry coconut sauce
• oven roasted salmon

What have I learned so far?
Be prepared! If you have a few plan-approved snacks prepared in advance, you'll reach for the right foods instead of being tempted by the foods you should be avoiding during the detox. The same goes for the meals. Have a big bowl of greens ready for salads so you can just assemble your salad and eat! Make a big pot of soup in advance and store individual portions in glass jars or microwavable safe containers--ready to heat up when you are.

How do I feel?
I felt really good this week. I have more energy again so I've increased the intensity of my workouts this week almost back to my normal levels. I also feel 'lighter' than I did before starting the detox--which is a good feeling. Not that I thought I felt 'full' or 'bloated' before, but I guess I'm just aware of it now that I feel so much better.

I've lost a total of 6 lbs. on the detox plan so far. This is keeping me motivated to stay on track, although I know this will probably taper off to a rate of 1-2 lbs. a week once I add grains back into my diet.

What do I miss?
Coffee, oh how I miss thee. One afternoon last week I really, really wanted a cookie and a cup of coffee. I survived.

As I forge ahead into Week 3:
In Week 3, eggs and gluten-free grains are re-introduced. I am already planning an omelet with spinach and tomatoes for breakfast tomorrow. I can't wait! I'll also be able to have oats again--I've missed them. FYI, oats are an essentially gluten-free grain, but many popular brands are not able to tout the gluten-free label because they are grown, stored and shipped in ways that may contaminate them with traces of wheat, barely or rye. Since I'm not gluten intolerant, I'm not going to worry about those trace amounts and I'll be digging into my store brand oats this week!

I think the return of eggs and oats in my diet this week will allow me to have a breakfast that will better fuel me for my regular full speed ahead workouts. We shall see..

I already have a few dinners planned this week with brown rice, rice noodles and the superpower grain quinoa. I've only had quinoa a few times in the past, so I'm looking forward to getting to know this grain again.


Here's to healthier, whole living!



For more information about the Whole Living Action Plan 2012, visit Whole Living at http://wholeliving.com.

My First Snowshoe Event

Today was the Romp to Stomp out Breast Cancer Snowshoe 5K and it was a blast! First and foremost, however, with the help of many generous friends, I am pleased to report that I raised $335 for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. Most of this funding is used to provide essential breast care education, screening and support to women without access proper medical coverage.

Thank you very, very much to those of you who made a donation on my behalf--your support is very much appreciated. Every bit will help stomp out breast cancer.

The evening before the snowshoe event, I drove up to the ski resort with one of my friends where we joined a group of women she knew who organized the rental of some condos at the resort. We woke up this morning to several inches of snow on the ground, which to me, made this event so much more exciting. It snowed all day while we were up there and I loved it!

The start line of the Snowshoe 5K. Go pink!

The snowshoe walk took place right on the slopes on trails marked off for walkers right alongside the ski trails. We shared part of the trail with skiers and other parts were just for the snowshoers. I had expected the snowshoe trail to be flat, but we actually had some decent inclines to walk up and down, making for a pretty decent workout! If you are a skier, the steep parts were walking up a blue trail. Of course, being the kickass athletes that we are {haha!}, three of us when up and down the steepest part of the trail three times before continuing on with the rest of the walk! ;)

A pic of me at the finish line. 

I had so much fun snowshoeing that I think I might invest in a pair of my own snowshoes!

Thank you again to those of you who supported my cause today. As always, I appreciate you wonderful support! xo

REVIEW: The Longest Night by Kathleen O'Reilly

Published June 1, 2004 by Harlequin
TBR Challenge 2012 : January : category romance

I just finished reading this book this morning and surprisingly, it's the first book I've read in 2012. I'm off to a very slow start with my reading this year. Hopefully it'll pick up from here.

The optional theme for this month's TBR Challenge was a category romance, so I pulled this one out of the pile. Having thoroughly enjoyed the O'Sullivan trilogy by Kathleen O'Reilly a couple of years ago, I thought The Longest Night would be a good choice. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations.

Cassandra Ward is gorgeous, sexy and single. When Cassandra walks into a room, men notice. Those who pursue her learn quickly that Cassandra is willing to play the game of seduction as long as her rules are followed. No emotions, no strings attached--Cassandra is not interested in a long term relationship and marriage is out of the question. Unfortunately, she operates this way because trying to be seen or treated any other way by men has always been futile. If you can't fight 'em, join 'em.

At one time, Noah Barclay turned down Cassandra's attempt at seducing him, not wanting to be one of her boy toys. However, it's been months and he can't get her out of his head. Determined to win Cassandra's attention and affection in a genuine relationship, he proposes to court her the good old fashioned way with dates and kissing only--something no other man has every offered her. Despite this being risky business of breaking her own rules of emotional attachment, Cassandra cautiously agrees. The question is can she truly open up to someone, be herself and fall in love?

The premise of this story is refreshing--a welcomed reversal of a gender stereotype. Unfortunately, it didn't hold up for me. Neither the characters nor the conflict were fully developed, leaving me wanting more on all those fronts. A lot more. For example, we learn that Cassandra was hurt badly by her first love who couldn't trust her, but we never really learn the details of what actually happened between them. This old love even comes back on the scene to try to win Cassandra back, but their dialogue only implies a major fall out over him trusting her, never fully revealing the story to the reader. Knowing Cassandra's past would have helped me relate to her in the present, and perhaps I would have felt more connected to her story. I kept feeling like there was more to know about her, but that information was just out of reach.

As for Noah, his character fell a little flat and well, one dimensional. Yes, he wanted more from Cassandra than just her body, but why? What was it about her other than his physical attraction did he fall for? Her strength, confidence and intelligence? Those are some of Cassandra's best traits that I saw--but if that's what Noah saw, too, it wasn't spelled out in the story. It would have been nice to know why Noah fell for Cassandra.

Overall, The Longest Night didn't impress me, but it was a quick read that entertained me on a flight home earlier this week.

GRADE: C

Reflections on Week 1: Whole Living {detox} Action Plan

Wow. It's been a week since I last posted. I have so much to share. One of the reasons it was so quiet here is because we went on getaway over the holiday weekend and even though I brought my laptop with me, I barely had any time to blog. But I'll tell more about our trip later. Tonight I want to take the opportunity to share some of my reflections on the detox plan I've been following. I think self-reflection is very important in our every day lives, but even more so when we're being challenged--whether that challenge be chosen or forced upon us. For me, putting my self-reflection to words helps even more. In the case of the detox plan, sharing my experience reinforces its purpose and my goals, which will then help me stay inspired and focused in the next week. Sharing it with you just makes it that much more fun!

If you missed my post last week about the detox plan, you can read about it in my previous post, Whole Living {detox} Action Plan. Basically, this detox plan is a food based plan that is designed to sort of reboot your digestive system by eating only pure, whole plant based foods, allowing your body to cleanse itself of impurities. At first this sounded far fetched. Detox your body? By eating vegetables, fruit and nuts? ... But the more I read about the plan, what to do, how it worked and why it's good for you, the more it made sense and the more I wanted to do it. And now here I am already nine days into the plan!

What do I want to get out of the detox plan?
First and foremost, I want to get rid of the cravings for simple carbs such as sugar and wheat based carbs. Foods like bread, pasta, rice, crackers, chips, cookies and other baked treats. If all goes according to plan, if I'm not reaching for those foods anymore, I'll be able to lose weight more readily. Another goal, which I've come to appreciate more as I've learned more about the chemistry of a body cleanse, is to clear toxins from my system and give me a clean start to healthier living.

How did Week 1 go?
It was tough! I had a miserable headache the first day from just after lunch until I went to bed. I'm sure this was due to caffeine withdrawal. I had lingering, mild headaches on and off for the next couple of days, but by the fourth and fifth days, I started to feel better--and different! Even though I was definitely tired in the late afternoon, I wasn't feeling sluggish or bloated anymore. Just wholesomely tired.

What have I learned so far?
I don't eat until I'm full ... I eat until I'm not hungry. Yes, there is a difference.

I start my morning with a mug of hot water with a squeeze of fresh lemon. Sounds terribly boring, but it is actually quite soothing. The lemon juice triggers your liver to release cleansing digestive enzymes

The detox plan is a restful, healing process. I thought I could do my regular workouts during the detox, but after not feeling so great a couple of hours after a tough workout on Day 3, I finally dug up some information on the plan that said Week 1 is a restful, healing week and vigorous exercise should be avoided. Stretching, walking and strength training is okay, but not heavy duty cardio. Oops.

You actually can stick to this detox plan while you travel. It was exceptionally difficult to do, but I did it with only a few minor infringements. I ordered edamame at a Japanese restaurant on Day 5 and only remembered that I wasn't supposed to have soy until Day 7 after I'd eaten most of the beans. Then on Day 6 I was famished and the only food available to eat were these absolutely delicious Indian snacks made with spinach and chickpea flour, which I ate. Again, I wasn't supposed to have chickpeas or other legumes until Day 7. I also had some sips of regular, unsweetened iced tea, which does have some caffeine. Again, it was what was available and I was thirsty! All in all, not such bad cheats while away from home for the long weekend. I forgive myself.

What do I miss?
Coffee!!! Is it the remnants of caffeine addiction or is it just something I really enjoy? The ritual, the smell, the taste?

Any surprises?
I can't believe that I ate ONLY vegetables, fruit, nuts and olive oil, kosher salt and freshly ground pepper for a week. No added sugar, no grains, no dairy, no meat, no alcohol and no caffeine for the last nine days. Except for a few sips of unsweetened iced tea.

I lost about 3 pounds in Week 1.

What happens in Week 2?
I can't believe today is the end of Week 2 Day 2 already, but it's true! Having come this far, I feel like I've sealed the deal and I'm sticking through to the end. In Week 2, seafood, legumes and organic soy are re-introduced. I'm hoping the addition of these protein sources will give me what I need to pick up the level of my workouts again. I miss running around, jumping, kicking and pedaling!

Here's to healthier, whole living!



For more information about the Whole Living Action Plan 2012, visit Whole Living at http://wholeliving.com/challenge-action .