Day 2...Exactly how important is the cabbage?

So day two of my mini-cleanse, diet, or whatever you want to call it. Annnnd, it isn't going too well.

I went shopping last night and bought all of the ingredients for the cabbage soup recipe...that is, all the ingredients except the cabbage.

Do you think that it is an essential ingredient?

So, I am now doing the mushroom, tomato, celery, green onion, green pepper...... diet. Oh, and I just had a chocolate croissant.

This is so not going according to plan...

If anyone is interested in following and doing this diet correctly, here are some deets.

Day 1: Cabbage soup and all the fruit you want except bananas. Drink unsweetened tea, black coffee, cranberry juice, or water.

Day 2: Cabbage soup, all the low-calorie vegetables you want (except beans, peas, or corn), and a baked potato with butter.

Day 3: Cabbage soup and a mixture of the above fruit and vegetables.

Day 4: Cabbage soup, up to eight bananas, and two glasses of skim milk.

Day 5: Cabbage soup, up to 20 ounces of beef, chicken or fish, up to six fresh tomatoes, and at least 6-8 glasses of water.

Day 6: Cabbage soup, up to 3 beef steaks, and unlimited vegetables.

Day 7: Cabbage soup, up to 2 cups of brown rice, unsweetened fruit juices, and unlimited vegetables.

Recipe (there are a few different variations on this):

1 package dry onion soup mix

2 bouillon cubes, either chicken or beef

1 celery stick (not the whole stalk), diced

1/2 head green cabbage, diced

3 carrots, sliced

2 bell peppers, sliced

6 large green onions, or 1 large yellow, white or purple onion, diced

2 cans of tomatoes, diced or whole

Cooking spray

Salt, pepper, parsley, garlic powder, soy sauce to taste (or any other seasoning you like)

Spray a large pot with cooking spray and saute all vegetables except cabbage and tomatoes until tender. Add cabbage and about 12 cups of water. Toss in bouillon cubes, soup mix, and seasonings. Cook until soup reaches desired tenderness; add tomatoes.

Day 1 of Post Canada Cleanse

Hi All,
As promised, I plan to share daily updates on how I am preparing for my New Year's fete! Last night was my last night of overindulgence (no, really, it was)! Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to go to the grocery store so today I am working on a modified cleansing diet although, I am leaning towards the cabbage soup cleanse (The idea of unlimited consumption is really compelling).

Breakfast:
Green Tea with lemon

Lunch:
Chicken Noodle Soup with plain rice cakes

Snack:
Soy Yogurt (or low fat, whatever I can find in midtown Manhattan) with rice cakes

Dinner:
Black Beans, Soy Cheese, Tomato, Cilantro and Onion salad (um, that sounds a lot like salsa, huh?)

Everything (but the chix noodle soup) is from the GNC WELLbeING cleanse that I did a few weeks ago. This will be a good way to ease into the more challenging cabbage cleanse I plan to do.

Post Holiday Cleanse

It has been an exercise in futility to try and eat healthy as we are knee deep in the holiday season! In fact, it was just this afternoon that I so innovatively combined two homemade red velvet cookies and cream cheese frosting to make a really "cute" red velvet cookie sandwich- bleck.

So, with that, I have decided to count my loses, do my best, and let the holiday run it's course. That is, the Christmas holiday.

I have the unique privilege to attend the wedding of a great friend over New Years (January 2 to be exact). The bride looks fabulous, but I too would like to fit into my dress (which is still TBD).

So, in between my French Canadian Christmas (think mega meat pies and piles of poutine from Ashton) and my friend's wedding (slash BC reunion with people I haven't seen since graduation), I am considering doing one of the following cleanses.

Blueprint Cleanse- em, probably going to opt against this one as it is absurdly expensive for us out of NYC-ers. Actually, after further review, it is absurdly expensive even for you NYC-ers.

MasterCleanse- yep, the Beyonce one! And no, I am not concerned that the broken English is the website, should I be? (Get it?! I wrote in broken English!).

Cabbage Soup Diet- Hmm, the word "yum" doesn't necessarily come to mind, but I do feel that this cleanse resonates so well with the Irish in me (although, if corned beef was included, I would be a whole heck of a lot happier! Thinner, probably not. Happier, absolutely).

What are your thoughts? Anyone else have any other ideas? And I dare someone to say exercise and a healthy diet...really, I dare you.

Stay tuned for my return from O' Canada, and I will get started on the day to day updates.

Everything in moderation, folks. These cleanses and diets are really only designed for short-term use so, just as we do with our cosmo consumption, (or not), manage responsibly :)

And for the record, I have sent out two "First to Post" samples (girls, you should be receiving shortly). The first to comment on this post will get the Obagi Cream! And then the sampling program is over until I start another one!

Kate's Christmas List

Hi Guys,
Just thought it would be fun to exchange Christmas lists! This is what I am asking for this year!!! What are you hoping to find under the tree!

Hermes Farandole Bracelet:
I really like this bracelet. Enough to wear on its own or to layer with other bangles and accessories! And it is Hermes...

Marc Jacobs Leather Clutch in Magenta:
I think this bag is great for a night out. Just big enough to fit in the necessities- lip gloss, credit card, and cash! The magenta is a fun color, too!

Tory Burch Bombe Glazed Leather Tote in black:
So right now I have a Target tote...and I love it. But I can't help but feel like I need something a little more "grown up" and stylish when it comes to work. This bag is big enough to fit work files as well as a pair of flats for my commute!

Treesje Dean Rebel Piped Lambskin Satchel:
I thought that this satchel was super cute and would be a welcome alternative to the Tory Burch bag above. Very sleek and sophisticated!

Michael Kors Webster Nylon Cosmetic Case in red:
Currently I am using a free makeup case I received from work. It's sad...especially because it has my work logo on it. It's fake patent leather so just envision how much "class" it screams when I have to take it out in public. I think this Michael Kors bag is a bit more sophisticated and a stylish way to keep your cosmetics!

Kate Sommerville Glow Kit:
This should come as no surprise to anyone who reads my blog, but I really want this! I am starting to fall in love with Kate Sommerville products (I have taken a brief hiatus while testing Perricone products- stay tuned, will have a post on that shortly). I just love the way her Total Vitamin Antioxidant Face Serum makes my skin feel!

Reebok Easy Tones:
I know, judge me. I have seen women walking around the streets of Manhattan with different variations of this product, but according to some trusted sources, the Reebok Easy Tones are the real deal. If I get them this holiday, I will be sure to let you know!

Ugg Slippers:
These just look soooo cozy and warm. Our condo has super high ceilings and despite heating, it can be a bit chill on ground level. These are cute to wear around the house and the best part, they have treads on the bottom so if I have to run outside quickly, they won't get ruined. The same cannot be said for my current slippers!

Samples, Samples are so fun! Samples, Samples...get you some!

Hi All,
Hope everyone is doing well! I want to introduce a new series on my blog, "First To Post, Most To Post". To encourage community chatter among you (as well as demonstrate my supreme influence over purchasing consideration for females 25-34- that's for you potential brand marketers!), I will award the first person to post on my blog with a small sample. And for the person who posts the most, you will get a larger sample. Finally, the person who can get the most people to follow, will receive the largest sample.*

Starting today, posts will be tallied. On Friday afternoon, the final scores will be calculated and I will notify you personally to let you know you've won.

Here is a list of this week's products provided by The Plastic Surgery Group

First to Post:

SkinCeuticals Skin Firming Cream- (less than 1 fl. oz) touted as a "powerful treatment...designed to correct early environmental skin damage", the cream helps to firm and repair skin while accelerating skin's ability to repair itself.

Most to Post:

SkinCeuticals Emollience- (less than 1 fl. oz) Three nutrient-rich Brazilian sea algae activate the nourishing and hydrating effects of this moisturizer. Emollience also includes oils of grape seed, rose hip, and macadamia to restore and maintain moisture. According to the brand, this is a great moisturizer for cold & dry environments.

SkinCeuticals Renew Overnight Dry- (less than 1 fl. oz) This overnight skin-refining moisturizer contains a 10% hydroxy acid blend to gently exfoliate the skin for a healthier appearance.

Most to Follow:

Obagi Nu-Derm Healthy Skin Protection SPF 35 (1 fl. oz.- note, sample is SPF only, not entire system) The Nu-Derm System is a prescription-strength skincare system that transforms your skin at the cellular level. By addressing the signs of photodamage and restoring the healthy function of your skin cells, this system is clinically proven to result in younger- and healthier-looking skin.

For more details on these products and many more, feel free to reach out to Marika Chornyak or Ruth Trinchillo at the Skin Care Center.

Always test a small patch of skin to ensure that you will not have any negative reactions to these products.

*All samples and sampling program pending availability- eh hem, so this means keep sending me samples all of you brand marketing folks out there!

Make sure to check out my latest posts and polls and vote!

At Home Beauty Products

Hi There,
Welcome to week two of "Kate Says This About That"! Thank you for reading, voting, and commenting (all three of you!). Keep it up!

For today's post, I wanted to share some insight on at-home beauty products. Many of my reviews are dedicated to retail brands, but I believe that the same results can be achieved with items you either already have in your home or you can buy in aisle 6 of your grocery store.

So for today's first budget beauty post, I want to recommend Mediterranean Sea Salt!

This isn't like normal table salt. It's much more granular and looks more like the salt you would put on your driveway during a snow storm than the kind you would put in your food.

What do you use this for? Well, keep some in your shower in a cute dish or mason jar and use it to exfoliate daily!

Sea salts are added to all sorts of expensive scrubs, but you can get the same results just by using this culinary slash cosmetic concoction.

Try crushing the salts slightly and combining with a little lavender scented baby oil (creating a paste-like scrub) and you can moisturize as you exfoliate. Make sure you rinse well as the salt can be drying if left on your skin and always test any at-home products on a hidden patch of skin to make sure you won't have any reactions.

Dedicate most of your scrubbing to knees, elbows, shins, and your behind (yep, exfoliation is said to increase circulation which can help diminish the appearance of cellulite...yum!).

Let me know if you give it a whirl and what you think! Stay tuned for other budget beauty ideas as I experiment with some of these recommendations!

Do you like experimenting with at-home beauty products? Take my poll and let us know!

IIWP Edition 1

Welcome to the first edition of my "If I Were President" blog post! Within this series I will share my thoughts on the little changes I would make that would increase my quality of life immensely. Please keep in mind that most of my bill proposals completely disregard the needs of the greater whole and therefore, this is why I will likely never be voted in to any kind of political office.

Now, I can't say "if I were president, I would move to Brazil" because that is just unpatriotic. However, if I were president I would sure as heck institute a mandatory 30 day paid vacation schedule that is currently in effect in Brazil.

Additionally, for a country that prides itself on the diversity of its population, I would mandate that all religious and national holidays be observed in the work place.

I abide by the strict rule that I work to live, I don't live to work. And I really think that the world would be a better place if we embraced that as our mantra!

Check out which countries get the most vacation days and see where the US nets out!

Perricone MD Sampling Promotion

Hi Girls!

Happy Thursday! I hope everyone is looking forward to the weekend!

Short blog for today! I wanted to tell you all about an amazing promotion that I discovered by clicking on one of my ads (yes, that's a hint).

Perricone MD Sampling Program

I have actually never tried any of Perricone MD products, but I hear good things (And they have a serum/moisturizer combo for $30 that I cannot wait to try. I will definitely tell you how it works out).

What's great about these mini's is that you can experiment (at a relatively low cost) and figure out which products work best for you without splurging!

Also, become a fan of Perricone MD on Facebook and automatically be entered to win daily giveaways and product prizing.

Here is Perricone MD's Twitter page, too!

Enjoy! If you make a purchase, post a comment and tell us which one you went with!

Whaa Wednesday Edition 1

As promised, I will dedicate most Wednesday posts to sharing complaints about my daily experiences. I realize it takes a step away from the beauty product spin, but let's see how it goes for a few weeks and take it from there.

I know complaining can be annoying- that's why I will keep it to just one day- but there is something cathartic about vetting your frustrations and having the whole world (or at least all 16 of you) hear me out. So with that said, here is your first official "Whaa" post.

Commuting from Jersey City provides me with the distinct privilege to ride on, not one, but TWO trains in the morning (jealous much?)! There is a secret pact among us "bridge and tunnelers" - an agreed upon terms that you must initial before earning your PATH Smartcard. It's a code of commiseration that says, "I will abide by these rules and resist the temptation to rest my bag on empty seats when people are standing. I will not lean up against a pole denying all other passengers from a secure hold and despite my size, I will not take up two seats because I, like the rest of the 245,999 people on the train only paid $1.75 for this seat....so on and so forth...so help me God."

For the vast majority of the 246,000 of us who ride the PATH daily, we all agree on these terms. We empathize when another passenger turns to us and says, "ugh, another crowded commute, mind if I just loop my arm through yours for some support- better yet, let me just lean on you- can't seem to find any pole space?".

Yes, there is a sense of solidarity among us all that encourages newspaper sharing, good hygiene, breath mints, and an offered cough drop from time to time (this actually happened, and despite that saying "never take candy from a stranger", I figured my PATH-mate could do me no harm. Additionally, I felt compelled to accept as I coughed incessantly from Christopher to 33rd St with 492,000 eyeballs questioning whether I had the Swine).

Despite these peaceful terms, every now and again a person will do something that is just reckless- disrupting our agreed upon order.

You know who I am talking about...that person who comes onto the train with a backpack large enough to fit the contents of an Upper West Side, fully furnish, studio apartment.

At first, I give them the benefit of the doubt- "He's going to take it off, I have faith" I will tell myself as I glare at the overstuffed LLBean monogrammed bag. But as each person piles in and awkwardly maneuvers themselves around this individual (perhaps bumping into his bag a little harder than necessary to prove the point), it becomes clear that he honestly does not see the error of his ways!

And when this happens, I can't help but get excited about the onslaught of comments that will soon be flung in his direction. The PATH-people, when in their pack mentality, have an uncanny ability to criticize.

So, the lesson here folks is...when riding on crowded trains, just take your backpack off and rest it on the floor. If you decide to keep your backpack on, just make sure I am close enough to hear everyone make fun of you.

I needed to add this link as I find it absurdly hilarious that one could possibly extend so much effort as to create an extensive wikipedia post on...the back pack.

But then again, I guess the same could be said about my blog.

Do you take public transportation and have any grievances? Share your comments below and take my poll!

Product Purgatory Edition I

There are millions of products out there that tout results but just can't deliver. For today's post, I want to introduce "Product Purgatory". I am writing this to save you mullah! Save your dollars and spend it on products that actually work.

In this piece I will highlight one product that I have purchased or sampled that just has not made my cosmetic cut.

I urge you to speak up and comment if you have had a different experience! Should the pros from the community outweigh the cons that I've experienced, the product will be purified of it's venial sins and will maintain it's rightful place in my medicine cabinet.

Should we decide to forever hold our peace, then these petulant products will be removed from our repertoire immediately!

Product Purgatory 12/8/2009

L'Oreal's Skin Genesis: Multi-Layer Cell Strengthening Daily Treatment, Serum Concentrate

Approximate Price: $22.99

Based on yesterday's post, you know my affinity for serums. So imagine my excitement when I found that L'Oreal created one at such a great price! However, my excitement was quickly replaced with the immediate need to wash my face...repeatedly. I refrained in the name of product testing...but I was not happy about it. Here's why.

1. How about some hair spray...for your face!

With anticipation brimming I tore open the package ready to sample and fall in love. However, at first pump I detected the unmistakable scent of...hair spray? Seriously!

I recently checked the ingredients online: Water, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., BIS PEG/PPG 18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid....

Always the intellect, I thought it would be interesting to cross- check this list of ingredients with my hair spray- Tigi's Bed Head Hard Head Hair Spray. Read it and weep...

Alcohol Denat. (SD Alchol 40), Isobutane Hydrofluococarbon 152A, Octyacrylamide/Acrylayes/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolyme, Aminomethyl Propanal, Triethyl Citrate, PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone...

The third most concentrated ingredient in this serum is the primary ingredient in my hair spray!

Now, I know what happens when I drink too much alcohol so I can only imagine the long terms effects on my skin had I incorporated this product into my daily regimen.

After researching a bit online, I found that Alcohol denat. (or denatured) is often added to serve as an antifoaming agent, cosmetic astringent, solvent and viscosity decreasing agent. Now, I don't claim to be a scientist, but last time I checked, aside from an astringent, I don't think any of those qualities do anything to enhance my skin.

Read more about alcohol denat here.

**I am not kidding...I really don't claim to be a scientist so if alcohol denat has amazing skin enhancing qualities, than by all means call me out (within the comments section- we really need to start using that functionality, folks).

2. Tacky people...I am ok with. Tacky skin care products...gross.

The texture of this serum is actually really smooth and almost silky when you first apply it to your skin, but after a few seconds it becomes sticky and viscous (em...wait, remind me again what one of the functions of alcohol denat is...).

3. Jack...Jack S.

And here it is boys and girls. This product did nothing for me. I felt that this serum didn't really absorb into my skin and that it just sat on the surface. The consistency was so sticky that when I would smile, it would almost glue my wrinkles shut- an interesting tactic to hide wrinkles but completely ineffective in the long term.

In the morning when I washed my face, I could feel the serum rehydrate and literally slide off my face. Gah-rows.

It's a no for me, L'Oreal Skin Genesis Multi-Layer Cell Strengthening Daily Treatment, Serum Concentrate (and, while I am at it, what is up with the absurdly long name? I mean, really? 11 words? Is that truly necessary?).

Has anyone else tried this product? Can you either validate or denounce my claims? Cast your comments now!

Oh! And my ads are up (just incase you didn't notice the offensive 300x250 unit dead center on top of the page). If you find anything remotely interesting, click away!

Kate Loves Kate Somerville

Happy Monday, everyone! I promise to do my best and have a post for you every Monday morning to help reduce Monday morning misery. And stay tuned for a few franchises coming up this week entitled "Whaaa" Wednesdays and "If I Were President" (IIWP) Fridays!

Here it is girls, happy Monday ;)

I am a closet beauty product junkie and you should expect to read a lot about beauty product reviews on this blog. One look at my home and you can find any number of skin lotions, serums, elixirs, emollients, and more piled into every nook and cranny of my bathroom.

My justification...I just haven't found my "go-to" beauty products. Let me rephrase that...I just haven't found those "go-to" products that allow me to look my husband in the eye and tell him the full price (plus tax) of my recent beauty product purchases.

BUT, I can say that I am one step closer to committing to a product line.

Let's backtrack....

While preparing for my wedding back in July I visited Lifebooker.com (in addition to my blog, this should also be bookmarked for any beauty buff recessionistas- sorry, only avail in LA and NYC).

From the robust roster of aestheticians and spas, I narrowed my search down to Rose Alcido's The Beauty Nook. The reviews were solid and the prices with the Lifebooker.com discount were, dare I say...justifiable?

So on a Friday night in early spring, I hoofed it over to her salon. I arrived early so figured I would just relax in the waiting room. I signed in at the lobby and eagerly took the elevator up to floor 10.

Expecting to be greeted by relaxation and bliss, I was alarmed to find that I had entered...the twilight zone. This was not what I had expected. I immediately felt that I had taken the elevator back to high school. The long halls were spotted with identical brown, metal doors resembling closed classroom- I easily envisioned that there were actual classes being held at that very moment.

With a sudden sense of panic and confusion, I slowly mazed myself down the narrow hallways.

I eventually found suite 1005 and while gratefully realizing I was in the right place I went to open the door. It was locked. Confused, I stepped back, reread the sign, checked that I had the right day and time, and even considered that maybe the spa was closed and planning to open up on my behalf for my 7p appointment.

After about 5 minutes of knocking and a colorful internal monologue (how dare I get stood up by an aesthetician?!), I was finally greeted by Rose.

Rose graciously welcomed me in (and then of course I felt guilty for cursing her). Her "nook" was exactly that; a small, cozy office with a side room where she performed her services. She handed me a questionnaire and returned to finish up with another client.

After scribbling down my list of beauty products and denying to have used Retin-A within the last 4 weeks (I still had a smuggled stash that seemed to do the trick even though it was years beyond its expiration date!), I came across a question that I had never seen on a spa questionnaire. I forget the exact phrasing, but it asked what my family's heritage was.

Interesting. I was confused by the question and wondered whether I had read it wrong. After re-reading, I wrote "Irish" timidly and added "born in US". Little did I know that this seemingly irrelevant tidbit would be the key to unlocking an essential beauty secret!

While willingly surrendering myself to Rose and the "Glowing Me" facial, I casually answered a few questions she had about my skin regimen. When she asked about my moisturizer I admitted to using quite a few- Olay, Philosophy, Aveeno... but then I added casually that I never feel that my skin is actually moisturized. No matter how much moisturizer I used, it always seemed oily and dry at the same time.

"Kate, you have to use a serum"- as if she wanted to add "duh" at the end of the statement, Rose opened my eyes up to an entirely new medium of facial moisturization. Apparently my Irish skin didn't absorb heavy cream moisturizers and they would just sit on the surface making my skin greasy but never moisturized. Over time, this is probably what had contributed to clogged pores and break outs.

After the facial I agreed to pay (gasp) $120 for her "I'll Never Tell" Serum (and for those of you who know my husband, you'll never tell him how much it actually cost!). It was an obscene amount of money to spend on what could not have been more than 1oz of product but I could already feel the results after she had used it during the facial.

It lasted me about 4 weeks- max. But I was hooked and had to get my serum fix. I considered buying another vile of the good stuff, but despite my addiction, my better judgement took hold and I felt it best not to test the stability of my marriage this early on in the game by spending way more than was reasonable.

Weeks, months went by and I noticed my skin was again becoming dull- as if there was a layer of residue that my moisturizers just couldn't get through no matter how often I exfoliated, cleansed, repeated.

But one night in November, I was biding my time before a girls' dinner and found myself in a Sephora. While looking through the overwhelming amount of make up options, I remembered that they had a rather large selection of skincare brands.

I found a representative and asked her if she might have any serums. At which point she asked if I could tell her the ingredients- optimistic that I might be getting closer, I listed off ascorbic acid first and she immediately cut me off and said that it would definitely not be in her area as her area was "only natural and...". I cut her off at that point and ran to the other side of the store where they had unnatural- but really great- products!

After squirting several samples I finally found one that had the same consistency as my original serum. It was Kate Somerville's Total Vitamin Antioxident Complex Serum.

$65 bucks. SOLD! I realize that $65 isn't necessarily what one would call "cheap", but when comparing to the original, it looked like a good deal to me!

Within a week I felt the ruddiness on my forehead disappear and my skin stayed moisturized throughout the day!

It is a great option if you have trouble with thicker moisturizers. The serum seems to cut through residues on your skin and seeps in to really moisturize and replenish. I imagine that the more fluid-like consistency is what makes this product so efficient. Per "Kate's" directions, it is recommended you use this serum under another daily moisturizer. Currently I alternate between a few but I do plan on testing out one of her moisturizers. In fact, I have Kate Somervilles "Let It Glow" Kit on my Christmas list!

If Santa deems me deserving, I will certainly let you know about all of the products in the gift set. Girls, I think we have a winner!

Tell me about the skin moisturizers you love and vote on what works best for you!

**For the record, despite my name and my product junkie prowess, I am not Kate Somerville.

Fresh Start for a Fresh Blog!

Hi and welcome to my blog!

This is officially my very first post! Consider yourself lucky if you have stumbled upon this via search and consider yourself doubly lucky if you are my friend and I have (forcefully) asked for you to follow my blog.

The objectives of this blog are far from being confirmed, but at this point, my primary reason for writing is to share my (often useless) opinions on anything and everything.

With that said...let's get right to it!

I am two days short of completing a body "cleanse"! Has anyone ever tried one? This was my very first time and it was provoked by a series of confidence-defeating events.

Event 1:

A few weeks before Thanksgiving, I realized that I had begun to slide down a slippery high-sodium-and-saturated-fat slope so I decided that, for the first time ever, I would sign up for the local Turkey Trot. It seemed like such a good idea at the time...when I was sitting in the comfort of my cubicle and my energy exertion consisted of "click" when I submitted my donation.

Although I ran surprisingly well for not having worked out for weeks, I definitely suffered the consequences of overly aggressive pride maintenance- I am not exactly sure why I felt compelled to run in the "27 mins or under" category nor do I understand exactly why I felt the need to race a 12 year old kid (who later casually slalomed his way through the crowd and to the finish line. For the record, I am convinced he was taking performance enhancers).

Needless to say, for the rest of the long weekend, stairs were a challenge.

Event 2:

I had started to notice that my pants were a little snug. While pulling on a pair, I used the belt loops for some additional leverage and ripped one right off as I was mid-thigh...isn't that just fabulous?

Event 3:

My underwear lines were getting out of control. Although always present, they were extreme and would leave an outline in my skinny jeans...after I had taken them off (I realize that "underwear lines" and "skinny jeans" really shouldn't be in the same sentence...sorry for the visual).

So, when arriving home on the Sunday after Thanksgiving- armed with serious doses of both motivation and disgust- I went for a jog and finished up right in front of my local GNC. This was no coincidence. I needed something to help jump start my healthy living regimen (for the next few weeks until I start to slack again) and I knew just the thing.

GNC WELLbeING be-Cleansed

Complete Detox Kit

http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3480814

I had been eyeing this cleanse for a few months. Unfortunately the reviews online were not raving with positive feedback, but I decided to go for it. I figured that at the very least, it would keep me focused and inspired.

Admittedly, I did not weigh myself before starting, but I will say, that after three days, I had lost 3 lbs from my average body weight! I realize that a lot of that weight loss is water weight and, as much as I hate to admit it, there is a very good chance that my average weight had decreased as my muscle mass had begun to atrophy and was replaced with it's lighter nemesis, fat.

But regardless it felt great!

Now, for some FAQs

Q: Do you eat during the cleanse?

A: Yep, I know myself well enough that I would not be able to do a non-food cleanse for a week. The menu is lean but livable and I was surprisingly satiated throughout. Did I occasionally crave chilaquiles from the Taqueria, yes. But then again, when am I not craving chilaquiles...

Q: Did I find it challenging in terms of BM's? (yes, I actually got this question)

A: No. And that's all I have to say about that...

Q: What does it require?

A: The detox kit comes with four bottles of liquid, 7 packets of pills, and a menu (I realize that any normal person might wonder what was in those bottles and pill packets. Well, I am not normal, therefore I did not wonder, and thus, I do not know).

For the first two days you consume one bottle of liquid mixed with 4oz of water in the am and one in the pm. You take a packet of pills throughout the cleanse. The menu is just a suggestion, but I followed it pretty closely. Although buying everything at the supermarket was pricey and some ingredients were not available (if someone could please tell me where "ghee" can be found, I would be eternally grateful), I justified it by saying that I wouldn't be buying lunch or eating out for a week and that it didn't matter if I had every item on the list. What mattered was that I was trying (it makes sense in my head so just go with it).

Q: Any side effects?

A: Not really, aside from feeling lighter and leaner, I have not had any side effects. Some reviews mention bloating, but I didn't find this to be an issue.

Q: What are the challenges?

A: Aside from staying motivated and sticking as closely to the menu as possible and not faltering (too often) when it came to my cravings, the only other challenge was trying to convince my co-workers that I wasn't pregnant when I didn't drink at our office Christmas party.

Q: Did I cheat?

A: Yes, in fact, as I write this blog, I am sipping on a glass of red wine (what's the weekend with out wine? It's red, I hear it's good for the heart!). And, at aforementioned office Christmas party, I was ravenous so had two mini-veggie burgers and a ginger ale. And finally, I would occasionally shovel a handful of soy cheddar cheese into my mouth while preparing a dried apple and almond sliver salad. The silver lining...I actually like soy cheese!

So, what do you think? Would you ever try a cleanse? Take the poll at the top right of this page and tell us!

Share your thoughts and recommendations on other cleanses!

Thanks for reading!

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