Asian Cabbage Salad - Ultimate Reset Phase 3

After 2 weeks of straight Greek or Microgreen Salads in the Ultimate Reset, I was so excited to try something new getting into Phase 3:: The Asian Cabbage Salad. It was so delicious!!

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
• 2 Tbsp sesame oil
• 1 1/2 tsp finely chopped ginger root
• 2 Tbsp Bragg Liquid Aminos
• 1/2 head Napa cabbage, shredded (4 cups)
• 1/2 medium carrot, shredded
• 1/4 medium red onion, thinly sliced
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
• Himalayan salt, to taste (optional)

Directions

1. Combine vinegar, lime juice, oil, ginger, and Bragg Liquid Aminos in a small bowl; mix well. 
2. Combine cabbage, carrot, red and green onions, cilantro, and salt (if desired) in a large bowl; mix well. 
3. Drizzle with dressing; toss gently to blend.
4. Let salad marinate, covered, in refrigerator for 15 minutes before serving.

Enjoy! 

- SY

Ultimate Reset - Phase 2 Overview

Good morning!!!

How are you on this lovely Monday morning? I am GREAT because I am officially 11 lbs lighter than I was 2 weeks ago! In week 1, I lost 7 lbs and in week 2, I lost an additional 3.5 lbs. I am sleeping better, focusing better, and just feeling better.

Here's the breakdown of Phase 2: 

Phase 2: Release

In week 2, you'll continue to refine your diet. You'll have stopped eating animal proteins and dairy and you'll be eating vegetarian meals (for veggie challenged people, rest easy - we've found a way to make it yummy!) You'll also be adding the next element in the Beachbody Ultimate Reset program: Detox. This supplement was designed to help optimize the body's ability to eliminate unwanted substances. It has been formulated with milk thistle, which has been used for thousands of years to help support healthy liver function. 

Although the Ultimate Reset is gentle, you may find you're releasing more than just your digestive tract. Some people experience skin breakouts, while others find themselves releasing toxic emotions or dropping negative habits they've been holding on to. 

After the freeing experience of a strong release phase, you'll now be ready to restore your body to ultimate health. 

Overall, week 2 was very good! I tried a ton of new foods, some I liked, some not so much. It was a downgrade from Phase 1 (no Southwestern veggie tacos!). But that's the fun in trying new things! I ate tons of salads, fruit, and vegetables.

To make it simple, here's my daily schedule: 3 cups of fruit for breakfast everyday, either the Greek or Microgreen salad for lunch everyday, an apple as a mid afternoon snack everyday, and a mix of grains (brown rice or quinoa) with tons of veggies!

Here are just some of the meals for the week! 

New things I tried: 

• Lentils 
• Millet
• Acorn squash
• Pinto beans
• Tahini
• Beets
• Collard greens
• Curry
• Blackberries
• Turmeric

The BEST part about this program is trying new things ... Pinto beans and rice I will make again, the Tomato and Cucumber salad I will make again, the Roasted Asparagus I will make again, the Sweet Potato and Roasted Red Pepper Bisque I will make again, the Stir Fried Veggies I will absolutely make again. 

So you see what I've been eating, here's how I am feeling mentally: 

First, the workouts. I NEED to sweat. I miss them. I've been doing yoga, walking, and stretching throughout the 21 days since you are not allowed to fully workout. I CAN NOT WAIT to get back into some Insanity or 22 Minute Hard Corps. 

I was also at a birthday lunch for my aunt over the weekend. There were 3 meal options and I had to be the complicated one to order a custom salad to match what can be eaten in the plan. Had to bring my own dressing.... etc. I had to say NO to wine. I had to say NO to appetizers. I had to say NO to cake... while they were all right in front of me. I also had to say NO to drinks and a night out with my cousins and brothers. It was tough missing out on the fun. 

Otherwise, I am sleeping LIKE A BABY! They say your sleep becomes deeper during the reset and you feel well rested, which is so true! I woke up super early on Saturday (6:15 I think?) and straight up cleaned for an hour. THAT NEVER HAPPENS! 

Cravings are pretty much GONE, which is amazing. Cookies, chocolate, Chik Fil A, Wendy's, Reeses PB eggs.. I can say NO and won't DIE. Holy crap! :) I literally used to think about them everyday. Derek wanted me to pick up Wendy's for him yesterday and didn't even have a temptation! He asked me how hard it was to not order french fries haha. I surprised myself and said it wasn't that hard actually! My overall mood is pretty positive. Clothes are fitting much better and looser. 

I know after this is over, I will have a choice. To go back to eating what I used to. Sure, I will absolutely go back to eating meat and drinking wine. No doubt about that. But I will continue to watch what I eat and stop with the mindless snacking now that cravings are gone. I want to continue feeling this great! 

Total weight lost: 11 lbs.
Total inches lost: 9.25 inches

Keep in mind, the Ultimate Reset is not a “weight loss program.”  It is a body and mind retraining, teaching you how to eat clean and detoxing your body.  Getting rid of all the chemicals, toxins and bad mojo junk in your body is what this is all about.  Weight loss will happen to most people, but if you try this and don’t have weight FALLING off of you, don’t get discouraged!  Some people lose 30 lbs, some people lose 3!  If you’re already a clean eater and you do this primarily for the body detox, you won’t see a lot of weight fall off because you probably don’t have that much to get rid of!

So come on guys!  Let’s change your habits too!  Trust me, if I can make it this far, you can complete it too.  It’s hard at first, but once you finish up that second week, you’re going to feel better than you’ve ever felt.  Not just physically, but emotionally.  You’ll have that boost of confidence that “if I can do this, I can do anything.”  You’re relearning how to eat, fuel your body and take care of yourself.  And that is a GIFT!

Cucumber & Tomato Salad - Ultimate Reset Phase 2

This is the PERFECT side dish for a summer picnic! Light, refreshing, and delicious!

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium cucumber, peeled and halved lengthwise, sliced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 Tbsp chopped red onion
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh basil leaves
• Himalayan salt, to taste
• Herbal seasoning blend, to taste

Directions

1. Combine red wine and balsamic vinegars, lemon juice, and oil in small bowl; mix well. Set aside.
2. Combine cucumber, tomatoes, onion, parsley, basil, salt, and seasoning (if desired) in a large bowl; mix well. 
3. Drizzle dressing over cucumber mixture; toss gently to blend. 

Serves ONE! 

Multiply the ingredients to make a big batch! 

- SY

Roasted Asparagus with Slivered Almonds - Ultimate Reset Phase 2

The roasted asparagus was served with the Sweet Potato and Roasted Red Pepper Bisque, and it was AMAZING! My husband HATES asparagus. He even said when he saw that I made it, "Ugh asparagus, my favorite vegetable" in the most sarcastic voice I've ever heard LOL. I made him try it and he was pleasantly surprised. He ate it all!

Ingredients 

• 15 medium asparagus spears, ends trimmed (1/2 lb)
• 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 tsp Himalayan salt
• 1 Tbs silvered almonds

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Arrange asparagus in a single layer on a baking sheet. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt.
3. Bake for 25 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Remove from oven. 
4. Sprinkle with almonds and serve. 

Enjoy! 

- SY

Sweet Potato and Roasted Red Pepper Bisque - Ultimate Reset Phase 2

I actually almost skipped this recipe because I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. SURE WAS I WRONG! Omg, this was a GREAT recipe. Apparently, when Ultimate Reset was created, they kept saying they hired professional chefs to make sure the recipes were just as delicious as nutritious. I wasn't sure if I believed but after 10 days of new recipes, I learned they were telling the truth!

Ingredients (1 serving)

• 1 sweet potato
• 1/4 red bell pepper
• 1 cup vegetable broth or water
• 1 tsp finely grated peeled ginger root
• 1 1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tsp miso paste, diluted in 1 tsp hot water 
• Tamari or Bragg Liquid Aminos, Himalayan salt, and herbal seasoning (to taste)

Direction

1. Peel and cube sweet potatoes. Cook in boiling water until tender. Drain and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, roast a whole red bell pepper on gas stovetop or grill, turning frequently until evenly charred on the outside OR in your oven at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes, turning every 10 minutes or until skin is charred.
3. Put pepper in bowl and cover with towel for 10 minutes to steam. Clean off skin and seeds by running under cool water. Remove seeds, cut in quarters, and chop 1 quarter into 1/2 inch cubes.
4. Place sweet potato, pepper, broth or water, ginger, oil, and miso in a blender. Blend thoroughly, adding more liquid to achieve desired soup consistency. Transfer to pot and gently heat on low until hot. Add tamari or aminos, salt and seasoning as desired. 

ENJOY! YUM YUM!

- SY

Pinto Beans and Rice - Ultimate Reset Phase 2

Beans and rice seem to be one of the staples in the Ultimate Reset, which is FINE BY ME! Along with the Black Beans and Rice, Pinto Beans and Rice was just as delicious!

Ingredients 

• 1/2 cup canned pinto beans, with liquid
• 1 cup cooked brown rice, heated
• 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp ground smoked paprika
• 1 dash ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp Bragg Liquid Aminos
• Himalayan salt (to taste)

Directions

1. Heat beans in medium saucepan over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, or until hot. Drain.
2. Add oil, paprika, cumin, coriander, Bragg Liquid Aminos, and salt; mix well. 
3. Gently fold beans into warm cooked rice. 

During the Ultimate Reset, the Pinto Beans and Rice were supposed to be served with 1 cup of steamed zucchini and 1 cup of green beans cooked with 2 tsp olive oil and a splash of lemon juice! 

ENJOY! 

- SY 

Ultimate Reset - Phase 1 Overview

I bought the Ultimate Reset kit a little over a year ago. When I first opened the book, I was intimidated. The book says, "You'll need to prepare physically and mentally for your Reset, so choose a time when you'll be able to focus completely on the task." So that intimidated me! The meal plan was scary and out of my comfort zone and I knew I had to give up my high impact workouts that I loved so much (because your insides will be receiving a huge workout so can't add muscle recovery to list). I needed 21 days. That's it.

When Beachbody's top coach, Melanie Mitro, said she was hosting an Ultimate Reset group with her husband, I took it as a SIGN because I know how much accountability groups WORK and GUARANTEE RESULTS! I reached out to her and said "SIGN ME UP!"

First of all, the Ultimate Reset is a program designed to help your inside get into amazing shape, just like your outside! It is MORE than just a typical cleanse. It's a 21 day commitment to clean eating and healthier living! AND it's actually A LOT of food!

I decided to do this program when I realized I've been eating foods I don't normally eat. Also, the mindless snacking got way out of control. Same with the wine! My cravings for MORE took over.

What benefits will you see in 21 days?

• Helps your body's detoxification process
• Helps you lose weight safely
• Helps improve energy
• Helps improve key measures of good health
• Helps boost mood as you get healthier
• Supports regularity
• Helps maintain healthy cholesterol within the normal range

I started the Ultimate Reset Monday, March 27th.

Here are the rules: 

1. Follow the meal plan.
2. Drink a gallon of water/day.
3. Take supplements 30 minutes before meals.

Phase 1: Reclaim

During these first 7 days, you'll begin to alter your diet, slowly removing foods like red meat and refined items that put stress on your digestive system and can tilt your body toward a more acidic state. You'll also be introduced to 4 of the 6 supplements that make up the Ultimate Reset program - Power Greens, Mineralize, Optimize and Soothe.

Because most of us are living in a slightly dehydrate state, in week one, you'll begin to properly hydrate your body, which is critical for optimal cellular function. Along with hydration, the Week One meal plan will provide you with the vital nutrition needed to help maintain the body's alkaline/acid balance.

Once your system has been primed, balance, and nourished, it will be ready to continue the detoxification process.

Now, to the food!

The food was actually DELICIOUS! I will definitely make some of these recipes again outside of the Ultimate Reset. I also tried some new things with ingredients, some I've never even heard of! 

Some new things I tried:

• coconut oil
• Bragg liquid amino
• Farina
• Walnuts
• Homemade Miso soup (miso paste)
• Created some new dressings! Creamy garlic dressing was delish!
• Plain organic greek yogurt
• Rolled oats
• Sesame oil
• Pine nuts
• New spices! (coriander)

Here are just some of the numerous recipes I tried. I definitely repeated the Southwestern Veggie Taco, Stir Fried Veggies, Quinoa Salad, and Oatmeal with Blueberries. And it's totally ALLOWED! You can repeat meals all week - as long as the meal is a recipe within that week! 

Results

The first few days were tough. I had to create a new routine, make new foods, stick to a new regime of clean eating and new supplements, no Shakeology, and no workouts! My cravings for chocolate, fried foods, and cheese were in full force. I was soo tired in the morning without my Energize and workout and it carried throughout the day. I slept terribly and had awful lower back pain. 

Around day 5, things really took a turn! I woke up feeling refreshed and energized BEFORE MY ALARM, which alone is a huge accomplishment. No coffee. No energize. No workout. And the energy lasted all day. 

They tell you before you start to do breathing exercises, walk or do yoga, stretch, go to bed early, pretty much just take care of yourself! I really took that to heart. I went to sleep around 9 or 10 at night and it felt GLORIOUS! 

And the cravings went away! I walked by a tray of cinnamon buns without even doing a double take! 

Overall, I am feeling GREAT! 

Total Weight Lost: 7.4 lbs

Total Inches Lost: 7.25"

Losing over 7 lbs and over 7 inches in 7 days is just PROOF that nutrition is so terribly UNDERESTIMATED! I worked out hardcore everyday and tried to make better food choices but never found to get the results I was looking for! Nutrition is such a huge part of weight loss, having energy and feeling great! If you take anything away from this post, let it be this - Fuel your body properly! You won't know how good you should be feeling until you actually feel it! 

I am so HAPPY I decided to start this reset. And you know what, I am stinkin' proud of myself! Never thought I'd make it through the first week!

Can't wait to see what Phase 2 brings!! 

If you are interested in learning more about this program, please reach out!