"I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls."
Audrey Hepburn



Monday, October 7, 2019

How To Get Started: 40 Day Transformation

Step 1: 
Go to ishoppurium.com
add "40 Day Transformation - Fat Burning" to the shopping cart {leave selections as-is}
add BiomeMedic to shopping cart {removes Glyphosate, restores gut health}
Click Checkout
Create Account
use Giftcard Code: jessbefitness {will save 25%}

{breakdown is $7.50 per day}






Step 2:
Go to Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/jskaaren
Friend request me, send a direct message request to join the Facebook Support Group - 40 Day Transformation! This is an amazing group of support for questions, recipes and inspiration!

Step 3:
Checkout the "Shopping List" blog post for tips on groceries to purchase
Go to Pinterest and start saving inspirations for Whole Food Plant-based recipes

Step 4:
Take BEFORE photos, measurements and record your starting weight. This is highly recommended because the scale doesn't always show the amazing progress our bodies are making! Once you calculate total inches lost after 40 days you will be amazed!
* don't let the scale mess with your head, I did a weekly weigh-in but lost more inches than pounds and gained muscle during my 40 days
* take your photos in a swimsuit, or shorts and a tank top - make sure the clothing is tight-fitting so you can see the shape and areas that you want to notice the changes in
* put your hair up in the photos and use good daytime lighting and a plain background
* for measurements, I like to use this guide Body Measurements

















40 Day Ultimate Weight Loss
@JESSBEFITNESS

First 30 Days:
Enjoy all of the plant-based whole foods you like. Pinterest and Instagram are great resources for inspiration and recipes. Don’t forget about our Facebook Support Group for questions, advice, and recipes also! It’s a great team of support with many doctors present too.
The difference between vegan and plant-based is focused more on whole food nutrition, not processed fake animal products. Think about, avocados, nuts, beans, fresh fruits, and veggies. Rice and potatoes are great too, but try not to go overboard. Avoid bread unless Ezekiel sprouted bread. Try to avoid fried food and saute in veggie broth instead. I’ve compiled a list of Melissa Hanson’s recipes for dressings and sauces (blog post) that are tasty and easy to prepare.
Avoid alcohol during the entire transformation and use these 1st 30 days to start reducing the coffee intake in preparation for the final 10-day portion (the cleaning/detox part).

Breakfast
5 super amino’s 23
* vegan protein (30g per serving) for lean muscle support so your body can burn fat
* take thyroid medication 1 hour before

1/3 c power shake
* the power shake can be taken with the super aminos or apart
* take thyroid medication 1 hour before
* add more or less water to the power shake depending on your desired taste
* add a little nut milk or blend with fruit if needed

Lunch/Dinner/Snack
Eat plant-based foods


Bedtime
Fiber
1 tbsp TartCherry
* try to take one hour or two hours before bedtime
* mix the TartCherry with sparkling water and lime for a fun mocktail
* mix the Fiber with nut milk and cinnamon for a bedtime dessert if desired
* mix TartCherry and Fiber together!

Last 10 Days:
This is the final stretch where you’ll see all of your hard work really starting to show daily. This portion is the detoxing, cleansing portion. Review and prepare based on the suggested Flex Foods list provided in the LifeStyle Guide. Plan out your schedule for the times that work best with how you end your day and start your day. Think about when you want to eat and when you want your last meal to be. Set alarms on your phone to alert you when it’s time to have a snack, shake or your supplements so you don’t miss a beat and never become hungry or grouchy! Never leave home without a few snacks or a power shake! You can have the Aminos 2 hours from the Power Shake or together. Here’s my preference and what I did personally.


Example:
6:00 am - thyroid meds
7:00 am - Power Shake, 5 Super aminos, 1 super lytes, 1 BiomeMedic
9:00 am - Snack #1 
11:00 am - Power Shake, 5 Super aminos, 1 super lytes
1:00 pm - Snack #2
3:00 pm - Power Shake, 5 Super aminos, 1 super lytes
5:00 pm - Snack #3
7:00 pm - Fiber, 2 tbsp TartCherry, 1 BiomeMedic


Tips
* Alternate these every two hours or so. Melissa suggests snacking on all the whole food plant-based fruits and veggies you want. I like to follow the Flex Foods list and quantity during the 10-day portion.

* Don't get confused or limit yourself with the Lifestyle Guide that comes with the transformation. I like it for the Flex Foods list while on the 10 Day portion but that's about it!
* Remember there are 4 different types of Transformations: Cleanse, Weight-loss, Nutrition, Athlete (if you see cottage cheese or salmon or eggs this is for the Athlete transformation) However, for BEST RESULTS we recommend following a plant-based diet for 40 days to give your body a break from animal products!

* You can have super amino’s and shake two hours apart or at the same time it doesn’t matter

* For inspiration on what to eat look under the Instagram #JustinsLunch @forksoverknives.com

* You are welcome to add frozen bananas, peanut butter, almond butter, nut milk, fruit etc. to your shake

* Set up your smart order to get 200 bonus points, double points on each order and 25% off each time you order

* For Maintenance AFTER the 40 Days, try the CORE4 products and continue BiomeMedic to keep your gut clean and healthy!

* Ideas to limit animal products after the 40 Days: try Meatless Mondays, avoid dairy and find yummy alternatives like Kite Hill Cream Cheese or TreeLine Nut Cheese, Miyoko's Vegan Butter, or CHAO vegan cheese.

* It's easy to replace your favorites by finding plant-based alternatives rather than the idea of eliminating or removing them {mental games with our brains}

* ABOUT COFFEE: during the 40 days start to reduce your intake of coffee slowing replacing it with decaffeinated, but to not eliminate it until 3 days before the 10-day portion to avoid headaches and detox symptoms. During the 10 day portion, you will want to avoid it completely because it dehydrates your body and is hard on your adrenal glands and you want to be sure to stay hydrated and give those adrenal glands a break! During the 10 days portion, you can have a hot cacao latte made with nut milk and sweetened with dates or some maply syrup!




Saturday, August 24, 2019

10 Day Transformation



10 Day Transformation Preview

$186.75 Loyal Customer



Ideal Flex Foods
* 1 Avocado
* 1 Apple
* 1 cup Watermelon
* Unlimited Celery
*Unlimited Cucumbers
* 1 cup Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale or Spinach
* 1 cup Berries
* 1 cup Sauerkraut or Kimchi (no additives)
* 1 cup Summer squash (no winter allowed)
* 1/2 cup Carrots

Ideal Flavorings
* Organic tropic oil (Coconut oil)
* Freshley squeezed lemon
* Himalayan sea salt
* Raw honey
* Fresh herbs and spices

Ideal Flex Beverages
* Hemp, almond, coconut, or oat milk
* Kombucha
*Organic vegetable broth
*Decaffeinated herbal tea
* Coconut water
* Purium green drinks: Organic Kamut Blend, Organic Green Spectrum, Organic Barley Green Juice, Organic Spirulina, Chlorella, Power of 10 Veggie

Easy Flex Food combinations
*A green apple sautéed in cinnamon and coconut oil
* An avocado mashed with lemon juice and Himalayan sea salt - with cucumber "chips"
* 1 cup broccoli sautéed in coconut oil and fresh basil topped with 3 tbsp organic sauerkraut


Plant-Based Dressing and Sauces

from Melissa Hanson

















Listed Alphabetical 

substitute the oil for water in any of these dressings


Caesar dressing
- 1 cup water
- 4 tsp capers
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 4 tbsp nutritional yeast
Blend on high until smooth


Creamy feta
- 15 oz organic sprouted tofu
- 1 or 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1 tbsp salt (or less)
Mix all ingredients together in blender/Vitamix


Croutons (Gluten-free)
- Gluten-free bread
- Coconut oil
- Salt


Hummus Dip
- 1/4 cup avocado oil + additional for topping
- 4 large garlic cloves
- 1 tbs fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 1 tbs fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 2 cans cannelloni beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 tbs red wine vinegar
- salt & pepper, to taste

1. Heat avocado oil in a pan over medium heat. Add garlic, thyme, and rosemary and sauté for 2-3 minutes, or until garlic is fragrant and begins to soften.
2. Add beans, avocado oil, herbs, red wine vinegar, and salt & pepper to blender. Blend on high until dip is smooth and creamy.

3. Pour dip into a bowl and top with a drizzle of avocado oil and any additional optional toppings. Serve with chips or raw veggies


Mayo
- 1/2 cup rice milk (or soy)
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 tsp mustard
- 4 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 cup soaked cashews
- 1/5 tsp salt


Nacho cheesy dressing
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 1/4 c water
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/4 c lemon juice
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 c raw almonds
- 2 tsp Braggs aminos
- 3.5 tbsp nutritional yeast
Blend in Vitamix for 2 minutes, add a splash more of water for thinner consistency. Keep in the fridge for 5 days


Nacho cheesy sauce
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cup raw almonds or cashews (soaked overnight)
- 2 tsp Braggs aminos
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 3.5 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/2 cup olive oil or avocado oil
Mix all ingredients together in blender/Vitamix, store in an airtight glass jar for 2 days in the fridge or freeze in ice cube trays and blend later


Oil-free hummus
- 3 cans garbanzo beans
- liquid from one of the cans of beans
- 1/4 cup lemon
- 2 tsp salt
- sprinkle cumin
- 4 cloves garlic
Mix all ingredients together in blender/Vitamix


Oil-free hummus #2
- 2 cans chickpeas
- liquid from one can of beans
- 1/8 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp cayenne
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/8 cup lemon
- 1.5 tsp salt
Mix all ingredients together in blender/Vitamix


Pad Thai dressing #1
- 2 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tbsp soy sauce or Braggs aminos
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- water to thicken
Shake all ingredients in a glass jar


Pad Thai dressing #2
(family size)
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1.5 inch ginger
- 3 cloves garlic
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp tamari
- 1/2 tsp salt
Pulverize ingredients in Vitamix until silky smooth. Store extra in the fridge in a glass airtight container



Parmesan cheese #1
- raw cashews
- garlic powder
- Himalayan salt
- nutritional yeast
Gently pulse in blender


Parmesan cheese #2
- 1/2 cup pine nuts
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp Himalayan salt
- 1/2 c nutritional yeast


Pesto 

- 1 cup water
- 1/8 cup lemon
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups basil
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 cup cashews
- 1 cup nutritional yeast
Mix all ingredients together in blender/Vitamix


Pesto (oil-free)
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1/2 c raw almonds
- 1/2 c nutritional yeast
- 2 handfuls of fresh basil
Mix all ingredients together in blender/Vitamix


Pesto (cashews)
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1.5 c water
- 1-bushel basil
- 1/2 c cashews
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 c nutritional yeast
If possible, soak raw cashews for three hours before blending (or in very hot water for 15 min). Blend all ingredients until completely smooth


Tahini dressing - creamy
- 2 tbs Braggs amino
- 2 cloves garlic - large
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 2/3 cup tahini
- 1/2 cup water - add more as needed
Mix in blender until smooth. May want to double or triple recipe


Tahini dressing #1
- 1 tbs tahini (or 2 tbs)
- 4 tbs water
- 2 tbs Dijon mustard (or) Nutritional yeast
- 1/8 tsp sea salt
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder
Shake all ingredients in a glass jar


Tahini dressing #2
- 2 tbs tahini
- 4 tbs water
- 1/8 tsp sea salt
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder
Shake all ingredients in a glass jar


Tahini dressing #3
- tahini
- maple syrup
- horseradish
- thicken with water


Tahini Zucchini dressing
- 2 peeled zucchini
- 1/2 cup raw tahini
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 tsp cumin
- juice of 2 lemons
- pinch of cayenne
- 1 tsp salt
Mix all ingredients together in blender/Vitamix


Tomato basil cashew dip
- 2 cups raw cashews (soaked overnight or 3hrs)
- 6 cherry tomatoes
- big handful of basil leaves
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tsp salt
- pepper to taste
Blend all ingredients on until smooth
Serve with rice crackers or raw veggies

40 Day Transformation Shopping List


My Plant-Based Shopping List

[ ] blueberries
[ ] strawberries
[ ] celery
[ ] carrots
[ ] cucumber - persian
[ ] zucchini
[ ] mushrooms
[ ] green beans (fresh and frozen)
[ ] cauliflower (fresh and frozen)
[ ] broccoli (fresh and frozen)
[ ] mini peppers
[ ] avocado
[ ] cabbage shreds
[ ] arugula salad mix
[ ] bag of lemons
[ ] apples
[ ] fresh ginger
[ ] organic sprouted tofu
[ ] soy chorizo
[ ] white beans
[ ] kidney beans
[ ] almond butter
[ ] capers
[ ] chili powder
[ ] garlic powder
[ ] cashews (raw and roasted/salted)
[ ] almonds (raw and roasted/salted)
[ ] nutritional yeast
[ ] horseradish (for dressing)
[ ] tahini (for hummus and dressing)
[ ] dijon mustard
[ ] extra virgin olive oil
[ ] olives: green and kalmata
[ ] chia seeds
[ ] almond flour crackers by simple mills (sprouts/whole foods)
[ ] gluten free oats
[ ] plaintain chips
[ ] rice crackers (gf)
[ ] gluten free macaroni noodles
[ ] sparking water (lime)
[ ] kite hill - cream cheese alternative
[ ] kombucha
[ ] raw kraut
[ ] gomacro bars / lara bars
[ ] raw cacao
[ ] local honey

Thursday, August 22, 2019

40 Days and Beyond

My 40 Day Transformation

 

Over the 40 days, I lost 10.2 lbs and 10.25 inches! I’m so shocked, I never expected these results!

Within the first days I noticed an incredible amount of energy without the need or craving for coffee. Then my skin started to clear up, glow & was more firm. The next benefit was sleeping through the night, waking up before my alarm feeling rested. Then the weight and inches started dropping! I’m full and satisfied eating plant-based and my crazy cravings are extremely reduced if not gone!

Life after the 40 Day Transformation has been so easy and enjoyable. I'm still making progress and taking my Aminos and Power Shake for breakfast, then plant-based meals for lunch and dinner. Before bed, I'm taking the fiber and tart-cherry. The only supplements I'm taking are the Amino Acids, BiomeMedic, and Hair Skin and Nails. There's no way I'm ready to stop taking the Core4 products that fueled my days during the 40 Day Transformation. I can feel the difference when by body takes in these nutrients.

Who's ready to make some changes too? There are 4 types of 40 Day Transformations.

Nutrition
Weightloss
Parasite
Athlete

Give your body a break from the bad and add in the good! It's time to invest in your health!
CLICK HERE!


Friday, July 12, 2019

40 Day Transformation: Day 30



I can't believe it's already been 30 days! Today marks the final 10 days of the 40-day transformation!

During the last 30 Days, I’ve been slowly and safely preparing my body by removing processed foods, reducing caffeine dependence, and learning how to eat plant-based meals.

I'm truly enjoying eating plant-based. I feel full, satisfied and not deprived. My skin is softer, I've lost a few pounds and inches while gaining muscle and my resting metabolic rate has increased which means I can eat 1,500 calories without gaining weight! I've been able to continue my cardio and weight training. I've been able to adapt while hanging out with friends, dining out, and even on vacation.

Every week I take progress photos and weigh myself at home. I also go to my doctor's office weekly to weigh-in on their InBody scale which gives a more accurate picture of body fat percentage, water retention, muscle mass, and my resting metabolic rate. I can't wait to share my before & after progress with you!

During these final 10 days, the plan changes into a more structured routine of plant-based "Flex Foods" to be enjoyed between the Power Shakes. This means for the next 10 day's I'm having 3 Power Shakes per day and 3 Flex Food meals. 

There are actually 4 plans to chose from. There are other options for Athletes, Parasite Cleanses and Nutrition based plans! I picked the Weight-loss Transformation because I want the best results and I've been wanting to see if I could successfully do plant-based eating for 40 days. 

Contact me to find out which one works best for you and I pass along a GiftCard!


Saturday, June 22, 2019

40 Day Transformation: Day 10

Hello Friends,

It's been exactly 10 days since I started the 40 Day Transformation! Let me tell you about it.


As of Day 7, I was able to wear my go-to black skirt that I had grown out of in December. So that was exciting and I've also dropped a little weight already and clothes are fitting better.  I don't wear shorts, not ever, not even in summer, and I haven't since 2002. But, I took my "Before" pictures in a bikini {which I will not be sharing} so I decided to throw on some shorts and a tank top to have some before pictures that I can share when it's time.

You might look at me and think that I don't need to lose weight. That might be your opinion and I appreciate it, but I actually weight more than I ever have. The scale was climbing and my body fat % needs to drop because it's in an unhealthy range. I'm literally miserable in my own skin, in a bikini, in a one-piece, in workout clothes, in regular clothes. I'm miserable and my body is begging for a change!

Since January I've been working with my Naturopathic doctor on balancing my thyroid and hormones. I've finally got things balanced but the scale kept climbing. I even have a personal trainer but the scale was still climbing and my clothes weren't fitting. Everyone agrees the answer must be my diet and nutrition. My doctor also believes that I have gluten intolerance and suggested that I avoid gluten. I've tried cutting calories, counting calories, meal prepping, grain-free, gluten-free, Whole30 and low-carb with no success.

It was sometime last year when I stumbled on a product with a promise that a trusted friend was sharing. It definitely caught my attention because it's organic, plant-based and helping people lose weight. As mentioned in my previous post, I was vegetarian in the past so trying a 40-day plant-based challenge didn't seem like a big deal. I still delayed because once I commit to something it's 110%. Therefore, committing to eating plant-based for 40-days {for me anyway} meant not going back. But that's not the same for everyone. Many people can do this and do go back. Many people repeat this program or commit to doing it yearly or every 6 months. The important part is listening to your body and following a program that you feel confident and comfortable doing. I made the decision to finally order it in May. However, I still waited to actually start because of a few planned vacations. I didn't want to be tempted and waiting for the right time to start gave me time to be fully prepared and excited for success.

Here's the deal... the day starts with Super Aminos which is the vegan protein supplement that is quickly absorbed into your muscles and gives you the energy to start your day. For breakfast, you have the Power Shake. It tastes like a delicious green tea latte. For lunch and dinner, eat organic delicious-satisfying-food. After dinner, there's a fiber drink that taste like an oatmeal cookie and a tart cherry drink that's full of antioxidants to help with inflammation and melatonin for sleep. You do this for 30 days. The last 10 days you have the Power Shake 3 times and eat all fruits and veggies. This is when the results and all your effort from the last 30 days really start showing off!

I've also added into my program a supplement called Biome Medic because it's proven to remove 74% of Glyphosate (Roundup) from your body to restore your gut health and supercharge your body's cleansing progress. People have reported better skin, no bloating and weight loss just from taking the Biome Medic alone!

The 40-Day Transformation I chose is the Fat Buring Program. It's all organic, vegan, non-gmo, gluten-free and farm to factory in Long Beach, California. It costs about $7.50 per day. You're basically substituting the bad for good. If you can't afford $7.50 a day to be healthy than you certainly can't afford to be sick. 

Here's the LINK with a $50 coupon for you or to share with someone you know who wants to make a change!

Stay tuned for more updates...

Peace, Love & Hugs,
Jess


Friday, June 21, 2019

I'm Back!


It's been a long time since I've written on this blog! It was started in 2009, just shortly after my Mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 Stomach Cancer. The following eight years I wrote monthly on a blog that I created to keep our friends and family updated with her battle {The Fight Against Cancer.} It was a stressful and intense time but those 8 years were actually some of the very best years we've ever had because we appreciated every moment.


Since Mom's passing in 2015 my life and my body have not been the same. It's amazing what stress and sadness can do to a person. Then to make it even worse our beagles developed some health issues. I've spent the last three years caring for them and making sure they received the best treatment and lived their final years happy without any suffering.  Sadly we're now beagle-less and still recovering emotionally from losing our last beagle six months ago.


So there you have a summary of my last ten years and I left out other stressful times not worth mentioning. With that being said, it's time for me to heal. I do not regret exerting my emotions and finances to help any living being but in order to help others, you also need to help yourself. It's time to help myself.

Prior to Mom's battle with cancer, I was a vegetarian for two years. My decision to stop eating meat was motivated by cruelty to animals. The reason why I stopped being vegetarian is a long story for another day but the desire to go back has never left. If anything the desire to become vegetarian, vegan or plant-based has been increasing over the years. Especially with all of the delicious bloggers and Instagram pages posting the most amazing recipes like Melissa Hanson, Alternative Pantry, Jason Wrobel, Veggie Vixen, Veggiekins, Six Vegan Sisters, Panaceas Pantry, Torre Washington, Vegan Vultures, Lilsipper, Minimalist Baker, Erin Ireland, Easy Animal Free, Elana's Pantry, and other inspirations.

With that being said, I've finally made the decision to join some friends on a 40 Day Transformation which means following a plant-based program for the next 40 days. In my next post, I'm going to tell you all about it and I'll be posting my story with updates and progress along the way!
Stay tuned...

Peace, Love & Hugs,
Jess