It's About a Little Willpower & A lot of Water

Bring on the goods! 

After a week of giving up sugar, dairy and wheat I'm finally detoxed! I'd like to give Not A Model readers a little run down of my experience. So here it goes:

I found lunches easier than dinner changes. I usually eat healthy foods during the day so my body wasn't in total shock to the additions and subtractions to my lunch bag. My real challenge was in the evening.

After a long day at school, or a long commute all I want is a little comfort, and I'm not talking about the cuddling kind. I found it very challenging to not succumb to having that little piece of chocolate after dinner or that snack while watching television. 

As for side effects, during the beginning phase of the detox I was a little bit moody. Also, my skin became more sensitive and irritated. I talked to Raya from Diary of a Nutritionista and she told me both of these symptoms were normal for detoxing. The toxins were just coming through my skin (ick) and the moodiness was expected.

All in all, the detox left me feeling lighter. My stomach never looked or felt flatter (do I see a 6 pack forming?) and I was never bloated or felt overly stuffed. I would definitely recommend trying out a detox to give your body a little break. Always check with your physician if you're unsure about anything.

The climax and reward of my hard week? My sister the baker whipped me up a chocolate chip cookie pie. It sounds just as good as it tastes. I only had a sliver, while the rest was gobbled up by family and guests.

I do plan on incorporating some of the tips of the detox in my daily life. I will try to be more conscious of my sugar intake and try not to eat late at night. I'm glad I tried it out. It's all about willpower and testing yourself psychologically in a way.

If you're up for the challenge, try it for yourself. If not grab a fork and eat some pie!

Either way you win.

THE FOOD DIARIES: Pasta Pandemonium

“You can make pasta with painted nails?” my grandmother asks.

While driving over to her house today, I realized that my mint green nails would freak her out. I told her that the nail polish wouldn’t come off when we made the pasta. I knew that was her concern.

I’m not a great cook. I can only master “student dishes” such as: rice, ready made pasta, stir-fry and salads. Living away from home did not turn me into the next Giada De Laurentiis. However, I really want to learn how to cook. I knew the perfect person to help me out- my grandmother. Not only is she the greatest chef in the world (sidenote: every Italian person thinks their grandmother is the best cook) but it would also give me the opportunity to spend some QT with her. 

I believe everything tastes better homemade or grown out of a garden. My grandmother would never succumb to heating up a frozen dinner laden with preservatives. Her choice of snack is not a bag of Doritos.

Nonna Assunta (as we call her) and I chatted about cooking. She explained that back in her day if a woman didn’t know how to cook she was not considered a good candidate for marriage. It was a vital skill. She understands that today people don't have to know how to cook. They can buy their dinner if they want. She told me that I don’t need to learn how to cook for a man, but more for myself and eventually one day for my family. Smart lady eh?

My Food Diaries have begun. First on the list- HOMEMADE PASTA.

Start with eggs (it is your choice how many to use) and flour (we used half white and half whole wheat I like whole wheat because it is healthier. Make a mound and place the eggs in the middle. 

Mix until dough becomes firm and turn into a roll. Cut into circles.

 

Use pasta machine to flatten and lengthen the pasta. When ready, choose pasta setting and put through. We chose to make Spaghetti and Tagliatelle.

 

 

Let hang dry and then cook for a delicious homemade meal!

So that's the final product! My arms hurt and there is flour all over my phone and camera. My grandmother is a strong lady and I'm just learning.

It's all mouth watering worth it.