Showing posts tagged blueprint123
A “BEAUTIFUL” SCHWAG BAG
Check out the goodies you are playing for in the MTM New Year’s contest.
Some of my favorite brands I have been posting this year about have sent in products for you to enjoy! Here’s the rundown:
- Go Smile - Touch Ups (for those of you who love red wine and coffee)
- Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Nail Polish (this stuff stays on FOREVER!)
- Philosophy - be somebody lotion
- June Jacobs - Perfect Pumpkin Peeling Mask
- Altru - Incense
- Eve Pearl - Dual Lip Gloss (I can’t live without this stuff)
- A FREE 3 day Blue Print Cleanse (You Know how much I love the BPC!)
- Jouer “Lip Loves” Holiday Exclusive Gloss Set (Love this line but I haven’t written about it yet)
- Burn Candle
- Shimmer Strips by Physicians Formula (an all natural makeup line)
Ok, so the products are all for women, but guys, you can still enter and make your favorite girl’s day!
(Full Disclosure: I requested my favorite brands and they sent in products for free.)
CLEANSE COMPARISON
Last week I completed a 4 day juice cleanse followed by 2 days of raw food all provided by Red Carpet Cleanses.
As you know, last year I detoxed with a 3 day “Foundation” juice cleanse from BluePrint and the 5 day L.O.V.E. Fast (Live. Organic. Vegan. Experience.) cleanse from Organic Avenue.
So you probably want to know, what’s the difference, which is the best, is one of them easier?
OVERVIEW
First, review a basic breakdown of the three cleanses. All three use fresh ingredients that only last a couple of days. Deliveries for RCC and OA come daily, BPC can drop off 3 days worth of juice at a time.
(BPC = BluePrint, RCC = RedCarpet, OA = Organic Avenue)
- BPC 3 day “Foundation” - 6 juices = 3 green juices, 2 fruit juices, 1 cashew milk
- RCC juice cleanse - 6 juices = electrolyte lemonade, 2 green juices, 1 carrot juice, 1 banana smoothie, 1 cashew milk
- OA L.O.V.E. Fast- 1 elixir, 1 fruit juice, 1 green juice, 1 smoothie, 1 soup, 1 small salad, 1 coconut milk/water
(All three companies offer other cleanses as well.)
WHY?
You also need to know my goals in cleansing:
- Detox my organs
- Repair my diet
- Restore a normal appetite
- Decrease cravings for processed sugar
SO WHAT DO I THINK?
Following are my conclusions on the three cleanses.
- DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY
While OA has the most hearty offerings, it incorporates many veggies I really can’t stand. However, there is no way I could ever finish all of the stuff they sent for one day because it was so substantial. So if you’re a veggie lover, this would be the easiest cleanse by far because it’s closest to a normal diet.
BPC and RCC both offer 6 juices a day. RCC is a little easier because like OA it offers a sweet smoothie mid-day that is delicious. That boost in energy and moral keeps you motivated until your nighttime cashew milk. OA’s smoothies are by far the best because they offer a variety that often includes chocolate.
Both OA and RCC (soon BPC) offer raw food cleanses as well if you are fearful of going to straight juice on your first attempt.
- THE GREEN FACTOR
Obviously green juice is the a big component of the cleanses.
Hands down OA’s is the worst, but you only have to drink it once a day (and it’s followed by the smoothie).
Most people would say BPC offers the best green juice because it’s sweetened with green apple. I like it as well, but the celery sometimes gets to me.
RCC gives me the option to exclude ingredients like celery in all of their juices so it was more enjoyable.
Out of the 6 juices offered by BPC and RCC, I usually only drank 5 because the green juice twice in RCC and three times in BPC per day became redundant.
- COST
OA L.O.V.E Fast = $450/week ($90/day) including delivery in NYC
BPC = $65/day (for 3+ days including delivery in NYC), $85/day including overnight shipping to anywhere in the US
RCC = $90/day (including shipping in LA)
Honestly, if you’re serious about cleansing and getting your diet back on track, I think it’s worth the investment. You receive juices and recipes you can’t replicate on your own, the support of a nutritionist, and everything you need for the day so you don’t have to think about what to do next.
- PORTABILITY
BPC is by far the easiest if you’re on the go. They have a cute travel bag with a little ice pack to keep all of your juice cool. RCC offers a cooler tote, but it’s a lot more cumbersome.
OA comes in glass bottles so it’s not easy to throw in your purse (although I have).
- THE GOOD STUFF
There is always one juice in a cleanse that I crave months later. In OA, I love the smoothies so much that I go buy them separately when I’m in NYC. They have chocolate, mint chocolate chip, goji berry, and blueberry flavors for these nutrient-packed mixtures. Delicious!
Both BPC and RCC offer cashew milk at the end of each day. Such a treat after a long day of veggie juices. I prefer BPC’s - it’s like a vanilla milkshake. RCC’s is good as well, but not as thick.
RCC’s midday smoothie tastes the best, but I feel like the electrolyte lemonade you drink first is the most notable. According to September, the combination of the flax oil with the sulpher in the lemons and pears energizes you instantly. RCC also uses hexagonally structured water and adds probiotics to the green juice to generate good bacteria in your body.
- SHIPPING
At this point BPC is only one that ships, although I believe OA will do upon request. RCC should be shipping soon!
- DIY CLEANSING
My first attempt at cleansing I tried to do it myself and it didn’t work at all. I was starving and had no idea how to nourish myself properly despite the fact I was following a menu I found online.
As I stated before, I think it’s important to have the support of a nutritionist to help explain your body’s reaction and how to cope with hunger. September from RCC will be offering coaching soon so you can do it yourself with assistance.
- BOTTOM LINE
I enjoy them all for different reasons. When experiencing each, I received the positive effects of cleansing and felt rejuvenated by the end.
If I had to choose ONE - I think for me RCC would be my favorite because I like all of the juices they provide in the day, and I need the midday smoothie and the evening cashew milk to keep me mentally satisfied.
You need to asses what your goals are and then review the menus to see which will help you accomplish them. On any cleanse, I suggest getting a colonic and maintaining a light exercise regimen to fully detox your body.
You’ll find there are so many benefits to cleansing. Notable improvements will occur in your health, skin, emotional well-being, stress level, and sleep schedule.
**Full Disclosure: BPC and RCC were provided for free. I received a 10% media discount for Organic Avenue.
“Holy Hell Does This Look Amazing!”
“Holy hell does this look amazing!! I’ve been wanting to do a cleanse.. but there aren’t any vendors in Michigan :( I checked out Blueprint and it’s so expensive to ship.. just not in my budget at the moment.
Mary - any shipping friendly suggestions!? or places you know of?” — Blogger Kristin
Unfortunately cleanses are expensive. There’s really no way around it. But let me explain what you pay for:
- A guarantee you are getting all of the vitamins and nutrients your body needs when not eating food.
- Delicious juice that isn’t thick. If you’ve ever tried to make a tasty green juice, it’s not that easy. They also have special machines that cold press the fruit so you get just the juice with all the nutrients without the pulp.
- You don’t have to THINK about what comes next. There is a set schedule to keep you on course because at times you will want to deviate.
- After you buy all of the ingredients that goes into these juices, it probably would cost about the same. All of the fruits and veggies are pesticide-free and organic.
- Nut milk, which isn’t the easiest thing to make, is very necessary on a cleanse so you get protein and fat.
- Personal Support. In each of these cleanses, I have always been able to reach out to a nutritionist in the company to ask questions and get advice on how my body reacts to the cleanse. This is priceless! (And if you’ve ever been to see a nutritionist, you know their service is expensive!)
At this point, BluePrint is the only one of the cleanses that ships. (They offer free shipping to one state per month. Right now it’s Illinois. And if you get a group, the rate per day decreases as well.) Organic Avenue says they can, but I haven’t tried it that way yet. For first time cleansers, I would definitely make the call to investigate. September from Red Carpet has been taking meetings to get shipping started ASAP.
In the meantime, September will be starting cleanse coaching packages so you CAN do this on your own. She is also very attentive and always reachable via email to answer questions and offer support.
Although I make cleansing seem easy, it takes strength of mind to complete. And you really need a schedule and counselor to support you.
BluePrint Update!
I’m in love with this Blueprint Cleanse #6 gifted to me by Mary. Deliciousness in a bottle.
The cashew milk tastes like a vanilla milkshake!
Seeing this post on Sarah’s blog, I thought I’d give you an update on the new things happening at Blueprint.
Putting Food On The Table
Zoe and Erica, founders of the BluePrint Cleanse, are sponsors of Robert Verdi’s Survival of the Chicest gifting suite so they stock the fridge full of juice. This year, as I blogged earlier, they brought their new line of raw food (that should launch soon). It’s so good, if you didn’t know it was raw and healthy, you wouldn’t even ask.
Free Shipping!
Many of you wonder about shipping BPC. They do ship, but it can get pricey. Now every month, they choose a specific state and ship there for free. This month it’s Illinois. Plus, if you do it with a group of people you can receive a group discount. So if you’re looking for a summer detox and live in Illinois, now is the time to give it a shot!
West Coast Comparison
Now that I’m living on the West coast, I will be exploring more resources available out here instead of shipping in my favorite stuff from NYC.
I’ll be starting my first cleanse of 2009 on Monday with the 3 day juice cleanse from Red Carpet Cleanses. Constructed by September Death (pronounced “deeth”), It’s similar to BluePrint offering green juices and nut milks but with different recipes. I’ll provide a full breakdown on Monday.
**Both Blueprint and Red Carpet cleanses are free for me to review. Erica and Zoe of BPC are personal friends, but that does not have any bearing on my comments. As always, you will get my honest opinion without persuasion of any kind.
BluePrint is now delivering organic raw dishes along with their juices.
This is a lettuce avocado spring roll and soba noodles with a spicy almond sauce they are serving at Robert Verdi’s Survival of the Chicest Lounge.
Delicious!
On the east coast, another weekend of healthy living was going down in the Hamptons.
BluePrint’s Camp BPC is an event chalk full of luxurious wellness like yoga, nutritional consultations, massages, raw cooking classes and facials. All this pampering is held at a stunning Elle Decor-esque estate in South Hampton.
Sounds fabulous doesn’t it?!
Erica (looking lovely there on the left) and Zoe are two fierce, female entreprenuers that have pursued their mission vigorously, throwing no detail to the waistside. The Blue Print Cleanse juices are extractions of the best fruits and veggies have to offer and prepared consciously to protect you and the environment.
BPC(juices, not as a “cleanse”), Organic Avenue, and Nutrilite are all efficient, organic, and easy ways to get the vitamins and minerals your body needs on a daily basis. It’s pretty damn hard to eat perfectly every day (not to mention expensive), so there is no shame in getting a little help.
More to come from experience with Nutrilite on Thursday. As for BPC and Organic Avenue, you know I’m a huge fan! I wish my juices and smoothies tasted that good.
I’m not going on a cleanse, but I am making an effort to clean up my diet and get some serious nutrients while I’m in NYC.
BluePrint juices are actually more portable in their plastic bottles, but I love Organic Avenue’s smoothies. They’re thick, hearty, and not too sweet.
As I type, I’m enjoying a YOUNG LOVE green juice (spinach, cucumber, and celery). I honestly can’t remember the last green juice I had, so it’s actually refreshing. Also pictured are the blueberry spirulina smoothie and the mint chocolate chip smoothie. I’ve been looking forward to both of them for weeks now! In between each smoothie, I try to drink a bottle of water and eat fresh veggies.
Dinner tonight is at one of my favorite spots: BLT Market in the Ritz. I love Laurent Troundel’s seasonal offerings, but I usually end up getting the black cod (one of his signature dishes).
(Organic Avenue Media Discount = 10%)
Looking H-O-T in Karen Zambos, Erica Huss (co-founder of BluePrint Cleanse) hosted a liquid lunch and introduced two new delicious juices (video to come soon).
Look who’s excited to start a cleanse. Well, Greg is gung ho for the BluePrint juices, but isn’t sold on a Colonic. All part of the process babe!
No more complaints, BluePrint delivers to your doorstep, wherever that may be.
I’m not sayin’ it’s cheap. What I am sayin’ is that it’s worth it. If you’re going on a cleanse, you want to drink juice that tastes good and you can trust is good for your body. Not to mention you should have schedules and guidelines on how to carry out the cleanse.
Go to www.BluePrintCleanse.com to learn more about their 3 levels of detox.
And afterwards, the retox is so much fun!
Mary’s Health Habits
Here’s what I do in my commitment to a healthy lifestyle:
- Cleanse 3x a Year (BluePrint or Organic Avenue - Cleansing is not for the faint of heart so I pay* for them to provide everything I need and keep me on schedule)
- Colonic at Release (during cleanse)- Sometimes I get a little backed up during a cleanse so this not only helps, but because of my cleansing diet, the crap on the walls of my colon are exfoliated and released.
- Vegan Daytime Diet - During the day I eat veggies and some fruits. Mostly a hearty salad. Sometimes a starch slips in when I’m craving bread or a vegan cookie. I can’t give up cookies. Sorry, can’t.
- Snack - A piece of fruit, nuts, or I save the cookie until snacktime :)
- Protein or Starch Dinner - When I’m being REALLY good I choose one or the other to go with veggies. But usually, I just eat a little bit of everything including dessert. Wine always. Cocktails sometimes.
- Exercise - 5 times a week. I have to. It’s my therapy with the benefit of keeping my organs healthy and my body looking like a young boy.
*I have paid full price for Organic Avenue but do not pay for BluePrint. BluePrint does not pay me to write about it. I just f-ing love the juice.
Oh thank goodness it’s here! I have not found a single juice bar in Houston besides Jamba Juice (yuck!). And you can just forget about green juice. So I called for reinforcements. BluePrint to the rescue!! It’s safe to say I’m addicted to their delicious juices. Totally worth the shipping charge. Open the box and all of the juice is as cold as if you pulled it out of the fridge.
Best way to start the day: Spin class and a BluePrint green juice (or Hugo’s if you’re in LA). By the grace of God I woke up at 5:45am after only 4 hours of sleep to hit a spin class and 30/60/90 at Equinox (Greenwich). The early hour and 45 minutes of sweating doesn’t make for a pretty me now (obviously), but I clean up real nice. Right now I’m awaiting the arrival of Miss Asha to try out 30/60/90 that she swears by. I liked Danielle’s spin class (which I can’t say about any of the others I’ve attended at Equinoxes in NYC), so I’m excited to try Megs’ class. Now where is she….
The most valuable thing I learned in the past week was the effectiveness of food combining.
It should be no surprise that the FDA doesn’t have our best interest at heart when it comes to our diets. For instance, when they tell you a big, hearty breakfast is the best way to start the day….they’re lying. Not sure why or who’s paying them off, but a big breakfast in fact slows you down and makes you want to crawl back into bed.
After a little research and a couple phone calls, here is what I have learned about eating properly:
- You should start the day with fresh pressed juice (not bottled or pasteurized) and keep meals light and simple all day. The less energy your body uses to digest food, the more it can expend on your activities. You will feel more energized the less you eat. Fill yourself, don’t stuff.
- You should always start meals with veggies. In fact, it is best to eat only vegetables and fruits throughout the day, keeping your meals light. (Refer to combining chart above)
- When you do add protein or starch to your meals, you should only add one and not both. It’s best to add them for dinner only.
- Transit time of food increases (digestion is slower and requires more energy) when you add in starches and proteins. You should wait a while before consuming more food because otherwise the new food will putrefy while it sits on top of the previous meal.
- If you have bread (starch) at dinner before your meal, skip the salad appetizer, it can no longer be useful.
- If you are going to go wild, do so at dinner. This way your body can expend all energy on processing the food while you sleep.
Food Combining Equations:
Protein + Starch = Nope
Protein + Fat = Nope
Starch + Fruit = Nope
Veggies + Protein = Yay
Veggies + Starch= Yay
Starch + Fat = Yay
Now the question is, what are proteins, starches, and fats?
PROTEINS: beef, chicken, fish, pork, lamb = good. eggs, nuts, beans, lentil, soy, cheese, dairy = harder to digest
STARCHES: whole grain bread, pasta, rice, all grains (millet is the best), potatoes = good. beans, lentils, popcorn, soy, corn = harder to digest
FAT: Oil, avocado, olives. nuts, coconut, soy, eggs, dairy, cheese = harder to digest
THE BEST VEGGIES:broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, carrot, red pepper, yellow pepper, turnip, parsnip, mushrooms, eggplant, artichoke, celery, cabbage, kale, asparagus, summer squash, bok choy, bean sprouts, swiss chard, collards, broccoli rabe.
MY CONCLUSION
I don’t know about you, but this whole concept is pretty new for me. While on the LOVE fast, I analyzed how they mapped out my meals (light juices in the morning, to green juice and smoothies during the day, a soup and small salad at night, ending with coconut mylk). I’m not sure if I would buy into the whole “eat light during the day and save the heavy meal for later” if I hadn’t experienced the effect and felt the added energy I had. We’ve all been taught the opposite: to eat heavy during the day so you can burn off the fat and calories before bed. WRONG! Trust me when I tell you, it makes a world of difference when you take the time to reconstruct your diet. It’s not easy, but you’ll feel the benefits.
Moving forward, I will continue juices and salads for 2/3 of the day. I’m excited to incorporate BluePrint because their juices actually are pretty tasty and easy on the go.
**Disclaimer: I am not by any means a health expert, but merely sharing my experience in hope that you will learn from them and assess your own diet.
L.O.V.E. vs. BluePrint Cleanses
INITIAL THOUGHTS
After revisiting the L.O.V.E. Fast (Live Organic Vegan Experience), I realize, as hearty as it is, I don’t really enjoy most of the juices, soups, and the one small small salad I get per day. I’m not drinking most of them because they just don’t taste good. So after the delicious smoothie mid-day, I’m hungry for a good 8 hours afterwards.
On election night, I discussed the BluePrint cleanse with Julie, owner of Soul Cycle, and the girls. After hearing their stories, I realized that despite the fact the juices are thin, I would probably be able to handle it. Here’s why:
- I LIKE the juices they send. The green juice doesn’t have parsley which makes a huge difference for me.
- There are enough juices to sustain me for a day.
- The cashew milk at the end of the day (which is when I feel the hungriest, and most cranky) is DELICIOUS and would let me go to sleep in peace.
If you are aren’t a picky eater, the LOVE fast is great. But, I just can’t handle all of the unfamiliar flavors.
Over the holidays, I’m going for Blue Print to supplement my diet and keep me healthy around all of the crap at the parties. Further explanation of how and why using it to supplement your diet is healthy to come soon.
