Days 22-25

Day 22

I had really bad menstrual cramps on day 23 that rendered me useless. Ever since I could remember this curse has been upon me. My Mom still tells me to this day that it runs in our family and recounts the years she herself spent in pain. Like her and many other women who suffer from menstrual pains, I’ve tried pills, heating pads, milk chocolate, sweatpants-whatever could make me feel comfortable. But nothing ever really worked. Even when my doctor has put me on birth control in the past, although it slightly helped with symptoms, I couldn’t help but wonder what else the pills were doing to my body. Since then I’ve wanted to find a more holistic approach to menstrual symptoms, particularly cramps.

I’d read in Life-Changing Foods that the wild food Nettle Leaf helps to relieve menstrual cramps. I’d already had one cup that day so I wasn’t sure that it was a good idea to have anymore. But the pain was excruciating and I didn’t really have anything to lose. I didn’t have any pain medications in the house so I was willing to try anything.

I boiled some water ands sucked down two more cups with a half drop of the tincture each in it and ended up falling asleep on the couch from the pain. When Mando came home, I woke up and was able to talk to him a little because the pain had gone down. Within an hour, I was up cleaning and making dinner! I couldn’t believe it, the pain was pretty much gone.

Squash pasta made with a spiralizer! Recipe below

What we ate…

Lemon cayenne water (A)

Mango, cilantro, wild blueberry, banana smoothie (AM)

Banana, cacao arribe, maca, coconut water, raw almond smoothie (AM)

Dates (AM)

Nuts (AM)

Banana (A)

Sweet potato raw cacao nibs, raw honey, banana, cinnamon (A)

water (AM)

Leftover curry (AM)

3 cups of Nettle Leaf Tea (A)

Recipe for Squash ‘Pasta’

4 squash

3 cloves garlic

1/2 onion

1/4 cup cherry tomatoes sliced

himalayan sea salt

black pepper

Coconut oil

Spiralize squash on your desired setting. Heat coco oil in pan and cook minced garlic until fragrant, 30 seconds. Then add onion and cook 30 more seconds before adding squash. Add roasted tomatoes. This will add the needed moisture to help cook the noodles. Cook 5-10 minutes depending on your desired texture of noodle. I like mine to be soft but not soggy-still have a bite to it. Once finished put over mixed greens.

Day 23

Mando and I went to another march at city hall to show our support for anyone that feels unsafe in our country after the muslim ban. It was another beautiful, peaceful day. Mando and I stayed as long as we could stand the cold listening to some people speak and feeling connected to our community. We broke a rule by stopping off to got coffee and a tea to keep warm but we didn’t care.

Saturday morning smoothie!

Day 24

Today Mando and I woke up pretty cranky. Me because of my cramps and being tired of the cleanse and him because he was tired of the cleanse. He told me he was feeling weak and quitting that day but later took it back.The fact that it was Super Bowl didn’t help. All the treats, food and booze surrounding us made it difficult to stick with it. He ended up having a few beers during the game. I wasn’t interested and did some coloring in my adult coloring book while the game was on in the background.

As far as food goes, we pulled it together and got some assorted plant-based snacks that would interest us instead of me slaving over the stove to create something spectacular. I wasn’t in the mood. We even pulled some tamales out of the freezer for Mando’s brother so that he would have something to eat while we watched the game.

This day again proved to me that as long as you surround yourself with the right foods that you enjoy that are nutritious for you, you will win.

What we ate…

Mango, wild blueberry, banana, strawberry, filtered water, cilantro smoothie (A)

Marinated mushrooms, artichokes, beets, olives (AM)

Guacamole, romaine lettuce wraps (AM)

babaganoosh, hummus, carrots (AM)

Celery juice (AM)

pomegrante bark (AM)

roasted potatoes (AM)

water (AM)

nuts (AM)

Day 25

Back at work where I’m lucky I can eat the food and drink the juice on this plant-based diet! It took me a while to get here but working for a company that I love to supplement my career working from home is one of the things that makes me happiest. I wouldn’t be able to work for a company whose morals and values don’t align with mine. I have tried before and it has put my life off balance. It’s so important to your health that you surround yourself with people you love on a daily basis.

What we ate..

Pineapple, wild blueberry, banana, cilantro, filtered water smoothie (A)

Walnut taco salad (A)

Banana, caco, maca smoothie (A)

cold brew coffee -about 4 ounces (A)

Baked potato stuffed w/veggies, salad (AM)