routine

March 14, 2013

my morning routine, which i am not willing to give up for anything, which I will wake up EARLY for, consists of:

*morning coffee. my absolute fav is the Dunkin Donuts blend for Keurig.

*writing (called Morning Pages if you are familiar with The Artist’s Way). This is stream-of-consciousness writing and helps me be creative/productive throughout the day.

*reading. this is almost ALWAYS from a self-improvement book. it feels good to start the day with new ideas and motivations.

it’s the most peaceful time of the day and I cherish it. sometimes, I get so excited for it that I can’t fall asleep the night before (truth!). it’s my little morning treasure.

(photos via weheartit)

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Organization

March 13, 2013

I’ve been itching to play with Illustrator. For fun and not for class. So I made this. :)

It’s pretty much an accurate reflection of my current desktop. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t stop myself from saving to desktop. And then I end up creating a giant folder called “temp”,  which only sometimes gets sorted. Ay yi yi.

Some things…

  • Doing handwriting on a wacom tablet is HARD! I sure hope it gets easier.
  • Half my time goes into scaling/sizing this stuff, and then adjusting between vectors and rasters, and then saving so it’s still readable. The art is rarely the time consumer. It’s the sizing and saving and switching between programs that kills me.
  • I had fun!

Happy Wednesday.

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lost & found

March 11, 2013

I’m feeling so AH lately. Excited, anxious, nervous, scared. I’m coming up on my last quarter at FIDM. And then…rubber meets the road time. I’m freaked. I feel pulled in so many directions. I think I know what I want to do, and I have overarching goals, but I’m scared to limit myself and miss out on something fun. On the one hand I feel incredibly free, to be at this crossroads, to be able to choose my life ahead of me. On the other hand, I feel completely lost, out of focus, and just plain scared. I’m lost and found.

(photos via weheartit)

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Paris daydream

January 18, 2013

xo girlgonegraphic

(photo sources: 1|2|3|4|5|6|7)

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Quinoa: the jury is still out

January 14, 2013

The past few days my body has been craving carbs! And when I eat too much meat…I start thinking of Dr. Atkins and how he died from that heart attack…and that maybe I shouldn’t be eating so much meat??!! This whole experience has been about finding what my body really wants. Not what any program tells me, but listening to intuitive hunger. I thought I would experiment with quinoa tonight. People love it in the vegetarian community! It has a low glycemic index and it’s not supposed to spike your blood sugar like pasta and rice. It just has some good street cred.

I was proud of myself for whipping this up with stuff I already had in the house: quinoa, cranberries, almonds, caramelized onion, chia seeds, and a squeeze of lemon.

The result? Major bloating! It was yummy to be having something different, but it left me wanting more! I easily had a good 2.5 servings. While they tasted good…it left me wondering, is this really good for me? I felt like I was overeating a bit, and it didn’t give me a complete feeling of satisfaction. Now, a few hours later, I feel completely fine again. So, quinoa, I’m not sure if I love you yet. Maybe it’s ok for a carb punch as a small side portion, but not a main meal.

In other news I’ve started a new blog dedicated to eating well (with particular focus on emotional eating and Whole30-like topics). A big reason I’ve wanted to change my diet the past month and half was to address poor eating habits and emotional eating. The more I’ve been researching and writing about it, the more I’m feeling like I want to connect with other people and discuss it more. So from now on, I’m going to leave GirlGoneGraphic as a design blog (its original purpose) and keep writing about food on the new blog: DanielleMarie.TV. Hope to see you there!

 

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Cupcake (mind) Wars

January 5, 2013

Oh man. I have to tell you guys what happened today. I was headed to the bookstore and they conveniently have a cupcake shop at the same mall. Cupcakes and Cake Pops were my FAVORITE things prior to Whole30. They were my goto indulgence, and whenever there was a chocolate-cake-anything on a dessert menu, I would choose that over a fruity one. Anyway. I decided that I would allow myself a cupcake. Afterall, i’m not a calorie freak. This was a very conscious decision, and I decided this in a very calm mindset before I even left the apartment. I think it’s great to treat yourself every once in a while and in moderation.

And do you know what happened?? IT WAS TOO DAMN SWEET! I REALLY REALLY wanted to like it. I tried to convince myself that it was OK, that these had been my old favorites, and how could I NOT like them? But all I could taste was powdered sugar and butter. The cake was too dense. The frosting was too much. I was bummed!

So this got me thinking. I wonder how many things I’m telling myself that I’m craving that would actually be enjoyable anymore? My taste buds have been cleaned and refined now, and although the Whole30 program felt like a punishment at times, perhaps it was really a gift? I mean, I THINK I still like sweet things. I haven’t experimented enough to know for sure.

I also got really tired about 10 minutes after eating it. And my brain went off: *make another cup of coffee* Ah! Do you see that? See those conditioned habits coming through? Eat sugar, have a sugar crash, then caffeinate! Bad!

I’m beginning to think that all these cravings are just psychological and in my head. If today was any indicator, my body definitely prefers the whole foods I’ve been eating. I feel lucky to be able to taste real food again. So to all those currently doing a Whole30 and who feel they are missing out, trust me when I say you aren’t!

(photo source)

 

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January Eating: Adapting the Best Parts of Whole30 & Customizing It

January 3, 2013

Hi folks!

I’m back in Los Angeles and getting into my old routine here. After finishing Whole30, I took 5 days off from any “eating plan” and started trying some of my old foods again. I didn’t exactly go about it in as scientific way as possible. I sampled cheese, bread, wine, oatmeal, chocolate, and even my old favorite breakfast sandwiches at Caribou Coffee. I took it slow at first, just having a few bites of this or that. I still haven’t tried milk and I’m afraid to. I was trying to be forgiving because I was on travel and without a kitchen, but towards the end of the 5 days, I have to admit that some of the meals were sitting like a brick in my stomach. And I hope this isn’t TMI, but for the first time in 30 days I was having gas again. Totally not a good sign.

So I did a run at Whole Foods today and got a mostly paleo menu picked out for the week. I say mostly because I am choosing not to be a maniac about it this month. Eating is such a hard thing. I’ve gone through periods in my life where I’ve lost weight simply by cutting down portion sizes (and still keeping my favorite foods). This is my preferred method of weight loss, but it didn’t address the emotional eating side of things, which is why I wanted to do Whole30. It is my goal over the next few months to turn this paleo plan into a more manageable lifestyle plan, while addressing (and quitting!) emotional eating completely in the process. Because, hell, I LOVE CHOCOLATE, and I don’t think there is any reason to be denied of that. I’ll be posting all my significant findings, of course! :)

The first order of business this morning was breakfast. Throughout this entire process I’ve tried to become a more intuitive eater. I walked into the grocery store to buy some fruit. I asked my body: “Body, what do you want this morning? Don’t you want some nice fruit and nutbutter?”

Body: “No, I want Kale!”

So I had kale. For breakfast. THERE ARE NO RULES!

I’m pretty sure my body needed the veg recharge.

I’ve also discovered that you can make your own nutbutters at Whole Foods. Did you know this? I’ve always shied away from the BULK section of grocery stores. I never really learned how to use the machines, and I guess I’ve just never really tried? But I got a little tutorial from someone this weekend and looky here, now I’m dishing out my own cashew butter! Fancy huh!

I picked up some detox salad from the salad bar:

I also treated myself to a fresh green juice. This would have been a big no-no on Whole30 (they don’t like juice because they feel it’s a meal replacement..or something). But I’m saying yes-yes to this. I watched the lady make it right in front of me. In went cucumbers, parsley, spinach, kale, and an apple. Very fresh!

And finally, after dinner, I allowed myself this chocolate maté tea that my friend gave me for christmas! I’ve been sooo curious to try it and it did not disappoint!

So that’s how it’s been so far, post-Whole30! I’m determined to customize the idea behind eating whole foods into something that is manageable and keeps me healthy and sane!

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Whole30 – The Final Wrap-Up

December 31, 2012

I FINISHED WHOLE30!!

Summary of the Program:

*  Lost 8 lbs!

*  Feel happy, lighthearted, and full of energy

*  MUCH more conscious of what I’m eating

* Paved the way for good habits ahead

YAY! This is my post-whole30 pic! I am feeling preeeeetty good with everything. I’ve spent the past 30 days without ANY processed foods. I’ve cut out ALL added sugars as well as dairy and wheat. The program had its ups and downs, but in the end I’m REALLY happy that I went through with it. It taught me a lot about buying the right kind of groceries. I never used to buy fresh meat/seafood, but now I walk right up to the butcher and get the best kind of meat for my body. I plan my meals and never leave myself in a situation where I have to eat garbage. It’s been a whole uplifting process of taking better care of myself.

The results of the Whole30 span beyond weight-loss. This has been a whole attitude adjustment. When I’m feeling better myself, I’m a MUCH happier person to others. I felt like I wanted to be more social, that I was happy and energized, and just more willing to go with the flow. There was never a nagging voice in my head of “oh, I SHOULD start eating better soon” because I WAS. I was finally taking care of it.

I asked my boyfriend (who is a photographer) to take these studio pics for me for an upcoming website I’m launching. I also thought it would be a great Whole30 wrap-up to feel confident and have an endpoint to look forward to.

Here are the benefits I’ve experienced coming off the program:

Less Snacking/More Solid Meals
I’ve mentioned it in a previous post here, that Whole30 takes the fun out of snacking. If you are a person who likes to munch on something for the pure enjoyment of food (and not hunger), this program can really help get you back on the straight and narrow. When I would ask myself “Am I hungry? Hungry enough to eat broccoli?” if the answer was no, I just waited until the next meal.

No Emotional Eating
I am seriously guilty of this. Eating for reasons other than physical hunger: procrastinating, for pleasure, to avoid something, to sit in front of the TV and not really think about anything. You are forced to put so much thought into all your food choices and really TASTE them on this program. Because I was paying attention all the time, I didn’t use food to manage emotions, which is HUGE. This benefit alone made the entire experience worth it.

Glowing Skin
My skin has been very clear ever since the second week and it requires very little maintenance now (less moisturizing).

Weight Loss
I lost 8 lbs! woohoo! That is exactly the recommended amount: up to 2lbs/week. I also know that because the program forces your body into an efficient fat burning machine, this was the REAL DEAL. Not just water weight. Beyond the number, my pants are loose and I can wear my old dresses again. I feel like I lost more.

Heightened Taste Buds
This part is really fascinating to me. It’s like learning to taste food all over again. I’ve been sampling non-Whole30 foods after I finished, and everything tastes super SWEET! Bread, wine, BACON! These all have a sweetness I never noticed before. It makes me hyper-aware when I’m eating something that has added sugar.

No Heartburn
My heartburn to acidic and citrus foods has vanished. I’m not sure what the culprit was yet, but I previously thought it was the direct food items (tomatoes, lemons, chili). But it’s not! I can eat those now without a problem. I’m keeping a close watch on this as I bring foods back in.

I can’t say it enough that I’m JUST HAPPIER!!! :) I take an optimistic outlook on everything, and I don’t feel sluggish/tired/down.

Right now I’m taking a few days off of any eating guidelines and in January I will be maintaining a mostly paleo diet. The results and the way I feel are too good to turn away from. It’s never THAT hard to say “no” to bad foods, and feeling energized is always worth it.

If anyone is considering Whole30, please feel free to reach out to me. It’s been so positive and I think everyone should experience this. It’s a serious gamechanger and I needed it. Thanks for following along and for your continued support. Have a happy healthy New Year!

-Danielle

(photos by Silver City Photography)

 

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Whole30 – Day 30

December 31, 2012

WOOOOOOH!!!!! Made it! Finally!

Summary of the Day:

*  cabin living

*  seared scallops

*  last day reflections

I’m sitting here in a beautiful snowed-in cabin in the woods of Minnesota. It’s absolutely silent outside. There are no sirens, car horns, or crazy people screaming on the street. Life is good! There is a fire crackling to my left, and my legs are wrapped in a fuzzy blanket. I feel blessed to be living this great life.

Now, onto food stuff. Before the drive to cabin, we went grocery shopping at Whole Foods. We bought the ingredients for my final meal on Whole30: seared diver scallops with mustard greens and parsnips. A great way to go out! (I had some help with these, as in, I didn’t cook them at all. muahaha. boyfriend duties at their finest!)

(plating over the woodfire stove)

And also, some tea in the REALLY FUN snowflake mugs. Oooh, I am a sucker for holiday goodies!

I decided what kind of treat I want to break the Whole30 streak on, and that is a beautiful meat, cheese, and cracker tray. (Along with a bottle of red). I don’t want to overload my system, but I’ve really been craving cheese. The wine, well, I’ll just have to take it slow. Whole30 is not a sustainable lifestyle, and it’s not meant to be. I’m going to carry over as many positive lessons as I can, but continue living in this world (which unfortunately includes a lot of added sugar and WHEAT products).  So that will probably be my breakfast tomorrow!

When I was at the cheese shop today the lady behind the counter was asking me about Whole30 and how I felt about it. I told her: It’s been great, I have a lot of energy, I feel clean, BUT… I’M READY TO BE OVER IT! :) I’m proud of myself for sticking to my commitment and learning so many new things about food and cooking and taking care of myself. There are so many lessons that I will take with me. But oh man, I GET CHEESE TOMORROW!!!

I’ve found the Whole30 in itself to be purposeful, but very restrictive: no processed foods, no added sugar, no fake sugar, no “natural” sugar like agave, no dairy, no wheat, no preservatives, no legumes, no peanuts, no quinoa, etc etc. You have to be very creative to cook a variety of things. It also began to feel like a punishment when I started feeling like “aw, this has 2g of added sugar in it, I can’t have that!” So, I will do the best I can to keep the added sugar out, but it’s not going to rule my life.

Until tomorrow, when I weigh myself and give my final-final wrap up. Goodnight peeps!

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Whole30 – Day 29

December 27, 2012

Summary of the Day:

* sooo excited to be done!

* Whole Foods salad bar, revisited

* soda water with a lime, AGAIN

Ooooh one more day! I am BEYOND excited! I wasn’t sure how I would feel, if I would be panicky about it all coming to an end…but I’m not! I’m ready to be able to make healthy choices on my own but not limit myself so much.

Lunch today was a Whole Foods salad bar:

It did the job, but they didn’t have as many options as the other WF location. Dinner was also at Whole Foods – I forgot to snap a picture, but I found an approved beef tenderloin and garlic chicken skewer which was beautiful when heated up.

I ended up going out to a place called the Marvel Bar with some friends tonight. I really really really wanted to try a handcrafted cocktail. I felt like this was a HUGE test! I’ve come so far, but I had a little devil voice telling me “oh come on, what is one day? Just have a drink tonight, you will enjoy it!” but I KNEW I would be disappointed if I sold myself short. I mean, what’s the point of putting in all that work and not seeing this thing through? I was tempted, but I wanted to walk away from the night proud and NOT disappointed. It would have been too easy! So I had my usual: soda water with a lime.

Ok, I’m EXHAUSTED. Too much partyin’! ;-) I will be at a cabin for the next few days and I kind of doubt there is wireless, so if not I will report my final results upon my return. Have a great weekend everyone!

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