Friday, April 17, 2009

Last Day of Clean Month/Fun Packages

Hi everyone! I know you are feeling the TGIF as much as I am! Today is the last day of clean eating month! I had written up a great post about this month on my laptop, but it is STILL not fixed :(. So here is just a quick summary:

I have really learned a lot this month about what more natural eating can do for your body. My tummy has been functioning VERY well and I never felt that "overstuffed" feeling after meals. I also (bonus) lost a few pounds. I think the biggest surprises for me were how easy it was to give up bars (which had become a very regular part of my diet), that Starbucks treats do not require flavored syrup to taste good, and that natural, healthy snacks are much more filling than their faker packaged counterparts. I am definitely going to be increasing the percentage of my eats that are "clean" and am hoping to have 85-90% clean days. I have been missing packaged pasta and a few of my other favorite "treats." To finish up clean eating month, I will be having a clean din din tonight of eggs, asparagus, fresh fruit, and potatoes!

Ok- I received two fun packages yesterday. First, POM juice- I can't wait to review this juice and use it in some recipes:


And....the BEST baked goods ever from Gina.

Macaroons, chocolate macaroons, and super charge me cookies!!! She also included a VERY sweet card. Let me tell you- I had a nibble of a macaroon yesterday and it is clearly the BEST cookie I have ever tasted! I plan to gobble another few tomorrow after clean month ends! Thank you so much Gina!

Today will be filled with work, teaching body step, enjoying my clean eating and relaxing! What is your Friday looking like?

45 comments:

Alison Can Read said...

I'm glad your clean month went so well. It's nice to have the opportunity to learn about your body.
My Friday is looking pretty basic. Nothing too exciting. I think I'll go shopping and then improvise something to cook for dinner and maybe watch a movie.

Red Head, Yellow Dog said...

great review of clean month!! what drinks have you been getting at starbucks that are "clean" ? I am usually at a loss of what to get beyond drip coffee or iced passion fruit tea (yum!)

I like the goal of staying 85-90% clean. That is definitely a goal I have for myself as well!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Great goodies and Clean Month progress, girl!!

My Friday = personal-training, schoolwork, and episode 12 of VG TV :-)

Krista said...

It's been a month already?! Holy Hannah!!! Glad to hear it was a success for you!

Sara said...

Like I said before, I'm so impressed that you stuck with the clean eating for a month. I would love to try it, I just need to get the motivation to do it!

Anonymous said...

I can't believe you've already done it for a month! Crazy! Thanks for reviewing - I really need to try and do it myself but I'm being too much of a scaredy cat!

Anonymous said...

I am glad your clean eating has gone so well! :)

Holly said...

Wahoo - congrats on one whole month of clean eats! You are seriously my hero. I was done after a week. ;-) It does feel amazing, though! Love those clean eats. Have a great Friday, girl!

The Blonde Duck said...

I'm glad your clean month went good. You have much more self discipline than me!

Sharon said...

Oh wow, awesome job with the Clean Month!!

Balance, Joy and Delicias! said...

congrats on finishing the clean month! you've done a great job doing it and inspiring me to try it too! I will see how it goes! :)

lauren said...

great job and results from clean month - major props to you for doing that! super jealous you get some famous gina macaroons!

Bec said...

Wow great job on the clean month!

Michelle @ Find Your Balance said...

You really do have great discipline, congrats on your great month and i'm so glad to hear it helped your stomach issues! Friday plans, well I'm headed down to NYC as we speak and staying with a friend in Hoboken while I attend another class weekend at IIN!

amanda said...

I am still slightly confused
about the whole clean eating
technique. I'm going to look into
it and maybe give it a try. Mmm.
You've been so stellar with it!

Yay for fun packages!

K from ksgoodeats said...

Glad you had a great experience with clean eating!! I've noticed since I cut out the gum/sweetners I haven't had any stomachaches or headaches so I'm glad you experienced the same with your tummy issues :)

Happy Friday!!

Unknown said...

CONGRATS on such a successful month of clean eating! it's amazing how good it can make you feel. i like to believe i eat pretty clean, but bars are such a huge staple. if you said they were pretty easy to give up, maybe i can finally do it!
i'm so happy you liked the goodies and that they arrived there safely :D
have a great night <3

Esi said...

Congrats on the clean eating. You have done so well with it. Can't wait to see what you come up with for the Pom!

Anonymous said...

I'm glad your month of clean eating went well! I agree that natural foods are so much more satisfying! I think I just grab the junk out of habit and convenience.

Trying To Heal said...

i'm so glad your clean eating month went so well! and that package looks awesome!

Jennifer said...

I've been trying to eat healthier too, not TOTALLY clean like your month, but I've replaced the 100 calorie packs, fat free pringles, pretzels, and other prepacked nonsense with more fruits and veggies. I have found like you, I am totally satisfied with this, and I feel so much better! And fruits and veggies are so much lower in calories, that I can eat MORE! (which I like!)

Nutritious is Delicious said...

Friday = relaxing, blogging and movies! Goodness, Gina is on a giving spree! How sweet!

Anonymous said...

you have been AMAZING in this challenge, erica!! HUGE congrats :D i'm so glad you got a ton out of it, and what treats are waiting for you on the other side!!

Pearl said...

oh gina is so sweet! look at those macaroons! wow :)

and yaay on clean eating!

Heather said...

what a great accomplishment - a month of clean eating! good for you - glad it turned out so well :)

Aggie said...

Congrats on a month of clean eating! You really inspired me Erica!

Zesty Cook said...

Oh Nice goodies!!!

Unknown said...

ooh, gina's macaroons are da bomb!!! lucky you ;-) congrats on a fabulous month!

Evelyn Fisher said...

Congrats on finishing your clean eating month. I always feel better about myself when I know exactly what is going to into my body...the good stuff at least. Have a fun rest of your weekend.

Becca said...

Way to go on the month of clean eating. Thanks for keeping us informed about your thoughts regarding it!

The Purple Carrot said...

Wonderful summary of clean eating month, Erica!

elise said...

tgif times a million!!!!!! congrats on finishing the clean eating month, hopefully you can still incorporate some of it on a daily basis, since it seems it went well.

oh, and hooray for packages :)

Maria said...

Yahoo for you and your clean eating! Glad it went well for you! I am not into packaged bars, I look at the calories and fat, etc. and can't do them. Am I missing something???
I finally ate real food yesterday and worked out. Went running today too! I am so glad I am better! I guess I got a good cleanse for the week:)
Fun packages too! I have never tried POM. Hope you are having a good weekend!!

Elyse said...

Glad the clean eating went so well!! And what a wonderful care package from Gina. Sounds like a great way to end the week. Have a great weekend!

Diana said...

congrats on a big accomplishment! looks like this challenge has taught you a lot. and bonus that your pom and cookies can fit within your new lifestyle too!

HEAB said...

Erica,
I really enjoyed following along with your clean eating month. I did pretty well with my own challenge minus the coffee creamer slips. :)

I'm with you on the bars, and I'm just trying to eat PURE or Larabars. Some of the ones I used to eat had a ton of ingredients I couldn't even pronounce. Planning on sticking with nothing but the basic ingredients from now on.

Love Gina's macaroon and Gina herself. Glad you got to experience some Gina love. :)

Enjoy your Sunday!

Megan said...

mmmmmm MACAROONS!!

yay for clean eating, you are so hardcore for sticking with it! glad you had good results :)

<3

Megan said...

p.s. my sister and her hubby are moving to Charleston and I totally thought of you!! I'm hoping she'll love it there.

Lori said...

It is hard to believe that so much time has passed. I loved reading your recap and the lessons you have learned through your clean eating. I agree with you about the coffee drinks for sure. I switched just just plain lattes a while back and it is a lot less expensive too. :) Congrats on your hard work and sticking to your eating plan!

I Run for Fun said...

I am so proud of you! You are an inspiration. I am sure you will keep up the clean eating too.

Diana said...

Congratulations on making it through your clean month of eats! It's been so inspirational to read about how well you've done.

Can't wait to see what you cook up with the Pom juice! :)

RhodeyGirl/Sabrina said...

great summary. you have inspired me to eat more clean foods. love the simple stuff.. fruits, veggies etc, and am going to eat many many more of them!

The Blonde Duck said...

And I do love meat. Oh, how I love meat.

Danielle said...

You're going to love the POM juice I can't wait to get to the store and buy some more!

Anonymous said...

Yay! I'm so glad to hear that your clean eating has helped with the tummy troubles. I definitely find that the days where I eat cleanest are the days that my tummy issues are nowhere in sight. Funny how that works. Now if I could just REMEMBER that, it would be awesome ;o)

Hurray for Gina's goodies! YUM!