The Cleanse is going really well.  I love that I’m trying so many new things and my energy level is great!

Funny what I don’t crave – the thought of fried food makes me nauseous.  Not that I ate a lot of fried foods before, but I did have a penchant for tater tots and really good fried chicken.

And what I do crave – ice cream.  I have never eaten a lot of it.  Right now I would run over my own mother for a bowl. (Just kidding, Mom!!!)

I ran 3 miles on the treadmill last night to test my new running shoes.  The guy at Fleet Feet recommended inserts, so I’m testing those too.  The jury is still out.

What I don’t like:

• The inserts feel hard (not rocks, but harder than just shoes)
• Inserts make me feel like my heel isn’t deep enough in the shoe
• The show may be a bit narrow… they do stretch though…

What I like:

• With the inserts, my overpronation problem felt much improved
• The length is perfect
• The laces don’t slip (they are the wavy kind)
• They are pretty  🙂

Sooooo… I’m not sure what to do.  I will definitely need a couple more treadmill tests before deciding.

Side note: I used to run exclusively on a treadmill and couldn’t imagine running without a TV.  Tonight I realized I now much prefer running outside and was bored to tears on the “hamster wheel.”

I had work  to do and was up until nearly 1 am, so no Whittle My Middle.  However, I got up this morning and did it!

Here’s the latest:

• Front plank: 90 secs
• Side plank:  60 secs each side
• Torso twists: 40 reps
• Plank ups: 14 reps
• Boat pose: 25 reps
• Bicycle: 2 sets of 30 reps, 1 set of 40
• Side plank w/ twists:  15 reps each side

Has anyone ever heard of the snack cake diet? I am considering it after my cleanse… 😉

Rutabaga fries. They almost taste like real fries.  Seriously.

I like mine extra crispy

These fries are really, really good.  I’m pretty sure the San Francisco McDonald’s franchises are going to begin serving them with Happy Meals (sans toy, of course).

Rutabaga Fries

• 1 rutabaga
• 1T olive oil
• 2 rosemary springs
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp sea salt (ground to “flaky” texture)
• 3-4 shakes of cayenne

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Peel rutabaga and cut into thin fry-like slices. Toss with extra virgin olive oil.

Rough chop rosemary and mince garlic.  Sprinkle over rutabaga slices.  Add sea salt and cayenne.  Toss until each piece is coated.

Spread evenly on non-stick baking sheet.  Place in oven ~20 mins, turning twice.  Remove, taste, and adjust spices as needed.

Note: Omit the cayenne if you don’t like you nose to run!

How about some vegan cheese sauce with that?  We can’t have real cheese on our cleanse, but this isn’t bad.  It definitely doesn’t taste like actual cheese, so I hesitate to call it that… but there weren’t any leftovers!

Cheesy Vegan Non-Cheese Sauce

• 1/4 C Tahini sauce
• 1/4 C EVOO
• 1 T Miso Tamari

Place ingredients in mixing bowl and combine until smooth.

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Whether it be food, running, low-rise jeans, etc… are you ever shocked by how your preferences change?