DAY 363 OF 365: OPTING FOR A RELAXING NYE

Another year's end is upon us and that means this challenge is fast approaching the finish line. I wish that I could tell you that I had an amazing New Years Eve planned, but instead I decided to have a quiet night at home. A night to enjoy the peaceful end to 2011 and usher in an amazing 2012. Tomorrow starts a new year and the continuation of an amazing healthy lifestyle. I have learned so much this year about my health and body and I am looking forward to enjoying that journey in 2012. So I am going to sip my pear and strawberry juice, enjoy a good movie and welcome in 2012. I hope you all have a safe and healthy New Years eve and I will see you next year! Till next year!

DAY 362 OF 365: LEG WORKOUT

So this morning was a full leg workout with arms and biceps flushed in. There were points during the session that I wasn't sure that I would be able to make it through. But I pushed through and I am better for it. By the time that we got to the arms and biceps I was pretty much spent. I can tell that JC is pushing me harder than usual since he is more determined than ever to trim up my mid section. He is even more determined now that I showed him the photo that I need to replicate. I just hope that I can survive his determination. Afterwards, I walked home, showered and enjoyed a nice big glass of green juice. Today's blend was a handful of kale, 2 lemons, a cucumber, 3 carrots, 2 green apples and 3 stalks of celery. Thought that I would replenish my body after that extensive workout. The rest of the day was spent working, doing some after Christmas sale shopping, and mattress shopping. Tomorrow the last bit of Christmas will be taken away as my beautiful tree will be recycled. It is kind of sad seeing a bare tree in my living room without any lights or ornaments. Just another sign that the year is coming to an end. Time for new resolutions and new beginnings. Well, time for me to relax with a good movie. One of the perks of being on vacations. I better enjoy it while it lasts since I will be heading back to the office next week. Till tomorrow.

DAY 361 OF 365: LOVE FINDING NEW BLOGS ABOUT JUICING

So as usual, I was surfing the web for a new blog to help me on my new path of healthy living and I came across "My Juice Cleanse: Because fruits & veggies love you back". Very informative and I love getting others approaches to a more healthy lifestyle of greens and juices. It really is all about cleansing the body and making sure that it has the nutrients needed to keep you living a balanced life. Do me a favor and check it out. Some great advice and some really tasty recipes. Here is the link to the site, http://myjuicecleanse.com
For me, stumbling onto this site was the best part of the day. Not only is it informative and stock piled with recipes, but it also has advice, tips and well lets face it, another person's point of view. For me the hardest part about this new lifestyle is keeping it fresh. I try to find new recipes and improve upon old ones so that I never become bored or over exposed to one flavor. Eating or for that matter, drinking, the same thing over and over again can become stale and that is something that I don't want to happen.
Seeing as there are only four days left of the "Challenge",  I have been trying to think about what to do with this blog after the fact. Do I continue it or do I allow to take another form? I have yet to make the final decision but I will let you know once I have figured it out. Until then, happy juicing and remember, a healthier lifestyle is a happier one. Till tomorrow.

DAY 360 OF 365: HARD DAY AT THE GYM

Happy Wednesday everyone. I am one sore guy! When my alarm went off this morning at 6:45am, it was a total shock for my body. I am pretty sure that if my body could talk it would have hit the snooze button, said F you and then went back to bed. It was not ready to say goodbye to the holiday vacation and say hello to reality. But, I forced myself to get out of bed and head on down to meet JC at the gym. Well, there was no catching up for me and JC. We just hit the ground running. JC has restructured my workout in order to slim down my mid section and tone up the muscle. I love how in the beginning, the weight was just flying off but now it is harder to shed the weight and tone up the muscle. There was actually a point while doing my weighted lunges that I almost fell over from exhaustion. But it was JC screaming in my ear to picture that body and finish strong. Now I realize that there are only 5 days left of this challenge, and quite frankly I am nowhere near where I want or thought I would be but guess what? The challenge may end in 5 days but thank god that this is a lifestyle change that will continue way after the challenge has ended. Oh, and that photo will now be revealed on March 31st. So with that I say goodnight. Tomorrow I need to pack up all the Christmas decorations and get my house back in order. Oh and I am sure there will be some juicing and gym time also. Oh and lets not forget a movie or two. I mean, I am still on vacation aren't I? Till tomorrow.

DAY 359 OF 365: A DAY OF JUICING AND CLEANING AND MOVIE WATCHING

So I don't know about you, but the coming down from the holiday high is hard. I just want to relax and watch movies and be a couch potato. And to make matters worse, it was a rainy and miserable day today. But, you will be proud of me because I juiced and prepared some healthy food while cleaning and organizing the house. It was also play day with all my new Christmas presents while I watched some good movies. So see, I was able to multi task and still feel like I had a productive yet relaxing day. Tomorrow is going to be another busy day and I get to have an early start as it is my first day back with JC since Christmas. I am already preparing myself for a extensive workout ending with me crawling home. But there is no rest for the weary because I have a jam packed day and I want to get to the mall to see if I can catch some of these after Christmas sales. I am in need of so new clothes and I am all about sales. Well with that I say goodnight. Till tomorrow.

DAY 358 OF 365: COMING DOWN FROM A HOLIDAY HIGH

I don't know about you but I had an amazing holiday and I can hardly believe that it has already come and gone. We spend so much time preparing and getting ready for it and within seconds it is over. But now it is time to get back to staying healthy. No more eggnog or cookies for me. Well I am going to crawl into my bed and get some rest. Tomorrow is a busy day that will consist of juicing, cleaning out my fridge, some healthy sorbet making and some gym time. Till tomorrow.

HOLIDAY BREAK

Taking a holiday blogging break. Be back Monday. Happy Healthy Holidays!!!

DAY 355 OF 365: GREAT WORKOUT

Another amazing workout with JC this morning. I left feeling sore and tired and ready to conquer the rest of my day. As soon as I got home I showered and had myself a nice glass of green juice. (cucumbers, celery, green apple, spinach and lemon). Very refreshing and satisfying after my intense workout. The rest of the day was spent cleaning and preparing for the holidays. Hard to believe that tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Where has the year gone? Sorry to keep this brief but I am exhausted after my busy day and the only thing that I am thinking about right now is curling into my warm comfy bed and calling it a night. Till tomorrow.

DAY 354 OF 365: I LOVE FINDING NEW RECIPES

Ever since I started this challenge, I have researched and searched for new healthier recipes. I love trying new things and in turn, putting my own spin on them. Add the things I like and take out the things that I don't like. That is half the fun. One of the sites that I found in my searches is called "Profile Living" and they posted their favorite juice recipes in a blog entitled, "For the body, Green Juicing". Below are the recipes. I have tried about half of them and boy, I have not been disappointed! They are great. Give them a try and see what you think. Props to profile living for posting some amazing Juice recipes. Well, back to christmas present wrapping for me. It is endless. Till tomorrow.

FROM PROFILE LIVING:

Top Delicious Green Juice Recipes:

1. Perfect Morning Essential: 4-6 Carrots, 4 stalks of Celery, 1 Lemon , 1 Macintosh or Yellow Apple
2. Hot Afternoon Boost: Up 4-6 Carrots, 4-6 stalks Celery, 1/2 bunch Cilantro, 2 Roma Tomatoes, 1 Lemon
3. Power After-Workout Drink: 1/2 Romaine lettuce, 3-4 leaves of Kale, 3-4 Carrots, 1/2 bunch Carrot top, 1 Apple, 1 Lime
4. Serious Detox: 1/2 sour green Apple, 1 Lime, 1 large Beet, 3-4 leaves Beet tops, 3-4 Carrots, 3-4 Celery stalks, small piece of Ginger
5. Excellent Craving Response: 3-4 large leaves of Kale, 1 whole stalk of Leek, 1 Lime, 1 large Tomato, 1/2 bunch Cilantro, 3-4 Carrots, small piece of Ginger
6. Delightful Green Snack: 1/2 of red Cabbage, 3-4 stalks of Celery, 4-5 leaves of Kale, 1 Lemon, 1 Lime, 1 Apple, small piece of fresh Ginger
7. Sweet Filling Delight: 3 cups fresh baby Spinach, 1 Lime, 1 large Tomato, 2-3 Carrots and 1/2 Carrot top bunch, 1/2 bunch Parsley, 1 stalk Celery
8. Quick Cleansing Drink: 2-3 Carrots, 4 Cucumbers, small piece of fresh Ginger, 1 Lemon, 1 whole Beet
9. Variety Vitamin Drink: 1 Lemon, 2 cups of Alfa Alfa Sprouts, small piece of fresh Ginger, 2 Carrots, 3 Cucumbers, 1/2 bunch Parsley
10. Exquisite Green Goodness: 3-4 leaves of Kale, 5 large Romaine Lettuce leaves, 1 Beet, 1/2 bunch of Cilantro, 1 Lime, 2 cups fresh Spinach, 1/2 Apple

Note 1: These recipes make roughly 24-28 oz. This depends the efficiency of your masticating juicer works dryness of the pulp.
Note 2:  Leeks and Cabbage are challenging on some juicers so check your juicer’s instructions.
Note 3: You may taste some bitterness in these juices. If you do, add an Apple or a Tomato for taste.

DAY 353 OF 365: A NIGHT OF WRAPPING GIFTS AND WATCHING CHRISTMAS CLASSICS

So after another crazy day braving the stores for the perfect Christmas gifts, I found myself home wrapping gifts under the tree. I even found such classics as "Scrooged" with Bill Murray and "Miracle on 34th Street". I felt that I had earned a relaxing night after my workout with JC this morning. We concentrated on back and arms to today and also cycled in abs. My body is still adapting quite well to the workouts and after each set I am feeling less and less exhausted. A far cry from when I first started and the warm up alone had me weak in the knees. Tomorrow I am going to be finishing up with the wrapping of the gifts and a general clean up of the apartment. Of course I will also be doing some intense green juicing tomorrow. I made sure to pick up some fresh cucumbers, green apples, kale, celery, spinach, carrots, lemons and limes. I am already salivating over the possibilities of juices. For now I am going to call it a night. I want to be well rested for the days work a head of me. Till tomorrow.

DAY 352 OF 365: CHRISTMAS SHOPPING SURE FEELS LIKE A WORKOUT

I spent the majority of the day doing my Christmas shopping or as I like to call it, fighting off the swarms. Between the pushing and the shoving and the crowds and dismay, I am surprised that I made it home in one piece. By the time I made it home I was sore and exhausted; almost like how I feel after my workouts with JC. The only thing that was comforting was my nice cup of warm spiced apple cider. I thought that I would share the recipe. Give it a try and see what you think. I use all organic ingredients and I have to say that your house will smell festive when it is all done. If you are feeling a little adventurous, add a little bit of brandy to your mug and you are sure to have a nice sleep. Till tomorrow.

Warm spiced apple cider

• 6 cups apple cider (organic)
• 1/4 cup real maple syrup
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 6 whole cloves
• 6 whole allspice berries
• 1 orange peel, cut into strips
• 1 lemon peel, cut into strips

Directions

1. Pour the apple cider and maple syrup into a large stainless steel saucepan.
2. Place the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, orange peel and lemon peel in the center of a washed square of cheesecloth; fold up the sides of the cheesecloth to enclose the bundle, then tie it up with a length of kitchen string. Drop the spice bundle into the cider mixture.
3. Place the saucepan over moderate heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cider is very hot but not boiling.
4. Remove the cider from the heat. Discard the spice bundle. Ladle the cider into big cups or mugs, adding a fresh cinnamon stick to each serving if desired.

DAY 351 OF 365: SORE ALL OVER

So I had a great session with JC this morning. The only problem is that my back is killing me. I am not sure if I slept wrong and then working out triggered something, but whatever the reason, I am sore as hell. It is my lower back and whether I am sitting or laying down, it is painful. I have been laying on the floor for awhile just because the firmness has relieved some of the pain. I am hoping that by tomorrow the pain subsides because I need to finish my Christmas shopping. Well, back to lying on the floor for a bit. Till tomorrow.

DAY 350 OF 365: THE HOLIDAYS ARE UPON US

The holidays are upon us and that means Holiday parties, and dinners and festivities, and well lets face it, sweets! When you think of the Holidays you automatically think of chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, eggnog, and warm spiced apple cider. As I type this blog, I am sitting on the couch with the Christmas tree lights on with a cup of warm cider; the perfect Christmas vision. Now, tomorrow morning when I am working out with JC I may regret the chocolate chip cookie or the warm spiced apple cider, but for now it is soothing and transports me back to my childhood. To the times when you anxiously awaited the arrival of the man in red. When you watched countless Christmas movies including Rudolph and Frosty and Santa Claus is coming to town. I am not ashamed to say, that I am still that little kid. However, I am careful not to over due it on the "Christmas Sweets" and I know that if I indulge a bit I will have to work out even harder at the gym. But for now I am going to enjoy my cider and tree and then tune into a Christmas movie. Tomorrow starts another week that begins at 7am at the gym with JC. Then off to do my Christmas shopping. I am very behind in the shopping and plan on hitting the mall tomorrow morning before it gets too unbearable. So with that I say goodnight and sleep tight! Till tomorrow.

DAY 348 OF 365: TAKING A MINI BLOGGING BREAK

So I am taking a mini break from blogging. I will be back on Sunday. Have a great weekend!

DAY 347 OF 365: WHO DOESN'T LOVE A GOOD SALAD?

So I tried this salad last week and I could not have been more pleased. I purchased this cook book called eat well and it's vision is eating healthy doesn't have to be boring or expensive. I think that is the issues that most people have with changing to a healthier lifestyle, cost and work. In this economy, we don't want to spend more than we have to and we also don't want to spend the entire day cooking. So this cook book addresses those issues and breaks it down for the typical person trying to "Eat Well".

Chicken & Mango salad with a chutney vinaigrette

This bright, tangy salad is a lovely way to make a meal of a purchased rotisserie chicken. Or, the next time you roast a chicken, roast two so that you'll have leftovers for this salad. Between the mangos, the red onion, the leafy green romaine and the nuts, this salad is chock-full of health-enhancing and disease-fighting antioxidants.

1/2 red onion
2 ripe mangos
4 cups of shredded cooked chicken
2 stalks thinly sliced celery
4 cups of shredded romaine
1/3 cup peanut or grape seed oil
1/4 cup champagne vinegar
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
2-3 tsp Asian Chile oil (optional)
2 large cloves finely chopped garlic
1/2 mango chutney
1/2 cup toasted cashews

Thinly slice the onion lengthwise. Rinse the onion under cold running water and drain well. Peel mangos with a vegetable peeler, cut flesh away from seed, and cut the flesh into 1-inch chunks. Put onion and mangos in a large bowl with chicken, celery and lettuce.
In a food processor, combine oil, vinegar, mustard, and Chile oil (if using) and process until blended. Add garlic and chutney and process until pureed.
Pour dressing over salad and toss gently. Serve at once or chill for up to four hours and mix well before serving. Garnish salad with cashews just before serving.

4 servings . source of vitamins . source of fiber


Well with that I am going to say good night. I am meeting with JC in the morning and then another busy day. I need some sleep. Thank god the weekend is here. However, I do need to finish my Christmas shopping and cookie baking and then of course there are more Christmas Classics that must be viewed. Does anyone remember Scrooged or Santa Clause, the movie? I can't wait. Till tomorrow.

DAY 346 OF 365: EXHAUSTED

So tonight is going to be short, sweet and to the point. Had an awesome session with JC that left me sore and had a fun night out with a friend. We had a nice dinner and caught up and laughed and it was just what I needed. I just got home and I am ready to pass out. So goodnight, sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite!

DAY 345 OF 365: 20 DAYS TO GO

OK, so it is very nerve recking knowing that there are only 20 days left of this challenge. Especially since I am no where near where I thought I would be. When I started this almost a year a go, I actually thought I would have the body of a super model. No seriously, I really thought that. It is a lot harder than it looks my friends. I have to give credit to these men and women who have these chiseled bodies and stunning physiques. It is not easy and it takes a lot of hard work, dedication and patience. I should also fill you in on a little secret. I am extending the challenge, and I am doing so because I can. Here is the reason behind that decision. If I am going to spend the money to recreate that photo, I am going to look pretty damn good and I am not going to rely on photo shop to make that happen. Besides, I am keeping with the lifestyle after day 365. It is not like I am going to stop going to the gym and drinking my green juice and eating my more healthy foods. So what I have decided to do is unveil the photo at the charity event that I am producing. We are looking for art work to display that falls under the realm of tasteful sex and well, I think you will agree with me, that photo would be perfect. Now the fun part is going to see if I can get Mr. Trevor Donovan to not only perform at the event but also recreate the photo with me and sell it to raise money for the charity. What do you think? Could be interesting and it certainly ups the anty on this challenge and for a good cause of course. Well, with that I must say goodnight. I am meeting with JC in the morning and then it is a busy day at the office followed by our secret Santa exchange. Always a fun time and then off to dinner with a friend and some more Christmas shopping. Wow, I am already exhausted just thinking of all that. Till tomorrow.

DAY 344 OF 365: BACK TO THE GRIND

Another weekend bites the dust and as quickly as my head touched my pillow, my alarm was going off, signaling another work week. The good thing was at least it was a restful and relaxing weekend which made it a lot easier to get up. I made myself a healthy breakfast of egg whites, toast with almond butter, some milk and a banana and off to the gym I went. Today was all about arms and back which meant no stairs and that my legs got a breather. We even threw in some abs work just for fun. The rest of the day was spent at the office and then home for some household chores and then a nice home cooked dinner and a movie. I thought I would post this recipe that I made for dinner. Quite tasty if I do say so myself.

Raspberry - Flavored Shrimp over Mesclun Greens
Serves 2 (which means lunch for tomorrow for me)

3 cups mesclun mix
1/2 pound medium shrimp
3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons of freshly minced shallots
4 tablespoons of raspberry vinegar
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
fresh raspberries as garlic (if in season)

Portion the mesclun mix into bowls.
Peel shrimp - leaving the tails for a nicer presentation and devein. Set aside.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a skillet over low heat. Add the shallots and cook for 2 to 4 minutes until soft and slightly golden.
Turn heat to medium high. Add 1 tablespoon of the raspberry vinegar and shrimp and cook until the shrimp are pink, 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Season with salt and pepper. Remove shrimp and place on top of mesclun.
De glaze the skillet with remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and 3 tablespoons of raspberry vinegar. Drizzle warm vinaigrette on top of the shrimp and greens. Garnish with raspberries.

Was the perfect dinner. Light and tasty and just enough left over to bring to work for lunch tomorrow. Well, I am ready to curl into bed and call it a night. Till tomorrow.

DAY 343 OF 365: JUST A GREEN KIND OF DAY

So I spent the day cleaning and shopping. I know what you are thinking. Dave, that is a boring Sunday. But it was actually a refreshing one. I stocked my fridge and cabinets with food for the week. I was able to fight off the crowds and get some Christmas shopping done before the crazies finally got to me and then ended the day relaxing at home. I prepped some meals for the work week, made some sugar free lemon sorbet, and juiced some greens all while watching some Christmas's classics on the TV. On a side note, I have become addicted to prunes. I know, weird. I don't eat them like candy, but I do enjoy a prune or two in the morning and one in the afternoon. I never liked prunes as a kid, and oddly enough I never really ate them as an adult. I only started eating them while I was at Rancho La Puerta on the retreat and now I can't live without them. At least they are keeping me regular.
Well I am off to bed. I am meeting with JC in the morning and I am sure that he will be have me run the stairs. My poor legs are starting to have nightmares about the them. I have this recurring dream that I am running up those stairs and never getting to the top. Oh God, is it foreshadowing something? Well, enough about my crazy dreams. Till tomorrow.

DAY 342 OF 365: CHRISTMAS FUN

OK, So I am such a kid around Christmas. Between decorating, baking and the holiday movies, I can barely contain my excitement. The hard part for me is baking healthy and portion control when it comes to the christmas cookies, eggnog, and such. I mean, it is not christmas without all of that, so I just need to be careful of how much I enjoy. I am nearing the end of this challenge and really learning that this was more than a challenge. Hell, after a month I realized it was more. It has become a lifestyle change and one that I am proud of. I am still enjoying the food I love, but in moderation. I am treating my body with the respect that it deserves and with the understanding that as I grow older, my body will too. So in order to keep this body working, I need to give it the fuel that it needs to perform. So instead of filling it with regular, I am just upgrading to plus. (a little gas station comparison).
Can I tell you my favorite part of the season? I love turning the lights on the tree, curing up on the couch with a hot cup of apple cider, and listening to christmas music. It is just so calming and relaxing. I could spend hours just sitting there enjoying the melodic tunes of christmas while the lights on the tree accent the beautiful memory filled ornaments. You see, it has become a tradition that every year we get an ornament for the tree that symbolizes our year, a major event, or just a special memory. So in essence, that beautiful tree holds my precious memories. There are even ornaments on my tree that my Nanny (father's mother) made. That is what christmas is all about really. Family! It doesn't matter what gifts you get or even what gifts you give. It is about being with family and the ones you love. Creating memories that you will keep forever. So with that I say goodnight. Another fun day tomorrow that will consist of grocery shopping, christmas shopping and some baking and christmas movie watching. Till tomorrow.

DAY 341 OF 365: EXHAUSTED

TGIF everyone. I had a long day today and I am extremely sore from the gym this morning. I think tonight might be an early night for me. I am looking forward to curling into my comfy bed and falling asleep. I am also looking forward to sleeping past 8am tomorrow. I have a full day tomorrow but it will be jam packed with Christmas fun. So for now I am going to bid you all adieu and say goodnight. Till tomorrow.

DAY 340 OF 365: FUN WITH RECIPES

There is nothing like trying out a new recipe. The fear of messing it up and the excitement of what it will taste like are common feelings that I have when I try out a new recipe. How about you? I thought I would share two recipes with you that I have recently tried that I loved.  The first is a new juice that I tried. I am always looking for new juice recipes as I never want to drink the same juice twice. The second recipe is from Greens, Glorious Greens. You can never go wrong with a greens recipe, well, unless you burn it, which I have done.

GREEN MACHINE

6 celery stalks
2 apples, stalks removed
2 cups alfalfa sprouts
1/2 cup italian parsley
1/2 cup mint leaves

Juice all the ingredients and stir to combine. Makes 2 medium glasses.


QUINOA WITH CHICK - PEAS AND SPINACH
serves 4

1 cup quinoa
1 cup water
3/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (about 2 oranges)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
zest from 2 organic oranges
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 organic raisins
1 cup cooked chick - peas
1 1/2 pounds spinach leaves that have been trimmed, washed, drained, dried and chopped (about 6 cups)
salt to taste
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4 toasted pine nuts
1 orange, cut into wedges

1. Rinse the quinoa well and drain in a fine mesh sieve. Combine water, and orange juice and bring to a boil in a 1 1/2 or 2 quart saucepan. Add the salt, orange zest, and the rinsed quinoa. Return to boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed. Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 10 minutes to fluff up.

2. While the quinoa is cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet that has a tight fitting lid. Add the onions and saute over medium - high heat for 10 minutes, until they have softened and started to brown a bit. Add garlic and saute until golden.

3. Add the raisins, chick-peas and chopped spinach. Cover and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, or just until the spinach has wilted. Adjust heat if necessary. Drain any excess water after cooking the spinach. Season to taste with salt.

4. To serve, fold the vegetables into the hot, cooked quinoa. Stir in cinnamon. Garnish with the toasted pine nuts and orange wedges for a final squeeze of orange juice.

DAY 339 OF 365: HAPPY HUMP DAY!

Happy Hump Day everyone! We are half way through the work week and that much closer to the weekend. I am so looking forward to another fun filled and relaxing weekend, though I do have to get my Christmas shopping done. I usually wait till the last minute but I think this year I will break that tradition and shop early. As much fun as last minute shopping can be, it is not worth being pushed around by psychotic crazies trying to get last minute deals.  Has anyone seen the YouTube video with the stampede trying to get the two dollar waffle makers? Or how about the woman that maced people to get the TV she wanted? Can we say crazy!
Today's session with JC was a demanding one. I was still sore from Monday's session and JC did not care. He knows that if he pushes me enough I will give it my all and challenge myself. The only problem with that is by the end of the session I want to go curl up in a ball and go to bed. But as much as it pains me to say this, it is worth the agony and soreness to see the results. I can see the difference in my face and chest and my shoulders have broadened. It is a far cry from the pale fat boy that started this challenge almost a year ago. Now don't get me wrong, I still have a long way to go even after day 365 comes and goes. But at least I am now living a healthy lifestyle that I am proud of. OK, enough of me blabbing. Time to call it a night. Till tomorrow.

DAY 338 OF 365: STILL RECOVERING FROM MONDAY

So I am still sore from Monday's work out with JC. Even as I sit here and type this blog my legs are screaming in pain. Lucky for me that I am meeting JC tomorrow morning. That was sarcastic in case anyone was wondering. Lets just hope that we are working on another muscle and that my poor legs get a break. I have a feeling that will not be the case though. Well, I am off to bed. I am ready to pass out. I have been enjoying the array of Christmas classics that are on each night. They are really putting me in the holiday spirit. The downfall is that it makes me want to drink eggnog and warm apple cider and have cookies. Till tomorrow.

DAY 337 OF 365: DAMN THOSE STAIRS

So today's workout with JC consisted of legs. Lots and lots of legs. I ran up and down the stairs with weights, and then proceeded to jump up and down the stairs. There was one point that I was so exhausted that I actually thought I was going to tumble down the stairs. By the end of the leg workout I was wobbling back and forth with a pair of shaking, uneasy legs. I must say though, these legs have never been stronger. There was also some abs work, with some cardio thrown in for fun. JC's goal now is to drop 2 inches in four weeks in my mid section. I guess all that complaining that I have been doing about not seeing a tighter mid section motivated JC. Now he is determined more than ever to see me with a six pack. Little does he know that I would settle for a two pack.
The work front has been great. I am slowing down a little which means normal hours and a life for me. I am actually enjoying the holiday season and I might even try and squeeze in some Christmas shopping this week. Tis the season, right? There might even be some cookie baking in my near future. This evening I got home and juiced some greens, and just sat on the couch in the dark watching the tree sparkle with Christmas carols playing in the background. Quite festive and relaxing all at the same time. A part of me wants to have a small holiday party. Not as big as the one that I had last year, but something small and quaint with a few close friends and co workers. But I am not sure that I want to deal with the hassle. So I will re address the whole party thing later this week.
Well I am off to bed. I am visiting the dentist tomorrow morning before work and we all know how fun that can be. Till tomorrow.

DAY 336 OF 365: SUNDAY DINNER AND A MOVIE

So today was more holiday cheer for me. The tree is now officially decorated, the house is festive and the smells of spruce and gingerbread linger throughout. I even had Christmas carols playing all day to get me in the spirit. Since I spent the majority of the day decorating and being all holly jolly, I forgot that I needed to go grocery shopping and prepare dinner. Silly me. So I popped over to the A&P and did some shopping and then back home to cook some pork chops marinated in apple cider, some root vegetables roasted in balsamic vinegar and some quinoa cooked in chicken broth and orange juice. The perfect ending to a wonderful day. The rest of the night was spent relaxing and enjoying my festive tree. Tomorrow it is back to work and a morning session with JC. I need to remember that even though it is "tis the season", I can't over do it with the holiday sweets and my guilty pleasure, eggnog. I did find low fat organic eggnog if that makes you feel better. Well off to bed. Monday morning is right around the corner. Till tomorrow.

DAY 335 OF 365: CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE

Today was all about Christmas for me. I went this morning and picked out a tree. I pulled out all the Christmas decorations and had Christmas music playing all day. I wish that I could say that I worked out or juiced or made a healthy meal, but instead I reverted to a child and let the season take over. I became giddy going through the decorations and sang along with Christmas carols while visions of sugar plums danced in my head. I even went out and picked up some eggnog and ingredients to make warm apple cider. I am pretty sure that tomorrow will be more of the same with a Christmas movie thrown in for good fun. I might even bake some cookies. Oh, my house is going to smell so festive tomorrow. Well, I am off to bed. Till tomorrow.

DAY 334 OF 365: A NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN

Every once in awhile you need a break from all your hard work to experience life and friends. Tonight was that night for me. Dinner, drinks and memories was the perfect combination for a fun night. Now the meal might not have been the healthiest, but the laughter and smiles were just what the doctor ordered. We need those healthy relationships in order to stay fit and healthy. We take for granted what a good laugh can do for the soul and how cleansing that it can be for the body. Ditch the negative and add the positive. Today was a great day for my career and social life. I am starting to remember that I am not living for my job but rather for myself. Life is too short to not experience all that it has to offer. So do yourself a favor, get out there and enjoy it. With that my friends I am off to bed. I have a condo to decorate for the holiday, a tree to pick out and maybe even some cookies to bake tomorrow. Not to mention some holiday classics to watch and carols to be sung. Till tomorrow.

DAY 333 OF 365: TIS THE SEASON FOR JUICING

This is the perfect season for juicing. Fall means the orchards are in bloom and the fruits and greens are fresh off tree or out of the ground. So I thought that I would share two new juice recipes with you. Since I started this challenge, I have started to try combining things that I think might taste good together. I mean, that is the fun part of cooking, don't you agree? Sometimes you hit it out of the park, and other times you hit it into the garbage. You learn and try again.

Minted Apple Orchard

6 apples, stalks removed
3 pears, stalks removed
1 cup of mint leaves

Juice all three and stir to combine.


Zapple

6 apples, stalks removed
2 zucchini
1 1/4 inch piece of ginger
ice cubes to stir

Juice all three and stir to combine


I am definitely looking forward to the holiday season and this weekend I will be picking out my tree and doing some holiday baking. I am doing some research on some healthier cookies but I am also baking the classics. I worked hard this year and there is no reason why I can't indulge if I use portion control. Well, it is off to bed for me. I have to be up and out of the house tomorrow morning by 7am for a meeting in the city. Sleep tight!

DAY 332 OF 365: TIP OF THE WEEK

So I am back with my tip of the week. Cucumbers are great juiced and even better for your face. After juicing your cucumbers, use the pulp or remnants of the cucumber that can not be juiced and use it as a face wash. You will see a huge difference in your skin. I do the same with lemons. Great for my pores. Well, off to bed. Till tomorrow.

DAY 331 OF 365: LOVE ME SOME COLLARD GREENS

Who would have thought that a leafy green would bring me such pleasure. I had a yearning for some greens and thought I would give the below recipe a try from Greens, Glorious Greens. I had heard rumors that collard greens were not the easiest to cook but took a chance that luck was on my side. What followed was pure Ecstasy. I have made a new friend in collards and I feel that I might be inviting them for lunch and dinner more often. Give the recipe a try and see if you fall in love too.

Collard Greens and Caramelized Onions

3/4 pound collard greens (6 to 7 cups, chopped)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
3 onions, sliced into crescents
3 cloves garlic, minced
salt to taste

Wash collards, remove stalks and stack 4 to 5 leaves. Slice into strips, approximately 1/4 inch wides and set aside.
In a large skillet or cast-iron pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and saute for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown and sweet. Take care not to burn. Add garlic and saute for another 2 to 3 minutes, until golden.
While the onions are cooking, bring 2 to 3 cups of water to a boil in a 10 to 12 inch skillet with a lid. Add collards, cover, and cook over high heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The greens are cooked when they are tender but still bright green. Drain in a colander and set aside.
Add greens to onions and garlic. Season with salt to taste and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes to heat through. Serve hot, drizzled with additional olive oil is you dare.


Well I hope that you enjoy this recipe. I know that I did. Now it is off to bed for me. Early session with JC in the morning before a hectic day of meetings at the office. Change is a brewing and that is always a good thing. Till tomorrow.

DAY 330 OF 365: BACK TO THE GYM

So today was my first day back to the gym since Thanksgiving and I am sore as hell. Between the squats and the chest and arm work that we did, I am surprised that I am able to type this entry in the blog. I have noticed that JC no longer takes it easier with me. The days of easing me into the workouts are over and now it is all about jumping right in and pushing my body till it can't go any more. One thing is for sure though, I need to go grocery shopping. I made a nice home cooked meal last night and took the left overs to work today, but now the fridge is looking pretty bare. Hopefully I can make it over to the grocery store sometime this week. I want to try out some new recipes this weekend and I am also craving my holiday guilty pleasure. It is not at all healthy or for that matter even good for me, but what holiday season would be complete without eggnog! With all my hard work at the gym and in the kitchen, I say I deserve some eggnog. Well, I am off to bed. Busy day at the office. Till tomorrow.

DAY 329 OF 365: I LOVE BRUSSELS SPROUTS

I love Brussels sprouts. I hated them as a kid but now I can't get enough of them. My mother gave me some fresh Brussels sprouts (not frozen) to take home from Thanksgiving and tonight I decided to cook them up. Try out my recipe and see what you think. I think that it was a hit with my dinner guests this evening.

Brussels Sprouts with Apples and Walnuts

2 lbs Brussels sprouts, cleaned and cut in half
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 apples, peeled and diced into chunks (baking apple preferred)
1 cup of walnuts, chopped
2 tbsp of maple syrup
salt and pepper to taste
fresh basil and garlic to taste

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the Brussels sprouts, oil, apples, salt, pepper, basil and garlic in a large zip lock baggie and shake up till it is mixed well and spread on a baking sheet. Bake the sprout mixture in the oven for about 35 minutes, mixing it occasionally so as to not brown on only one side. After 35 minutes, pull the baking sheet out and drizzle the maple syrup on the sprouts and sprinkle the chopped walnuts on top. Mix in and bake for another ten minutes or until nice and brown. Serve immediately.

Well, I am off to bed. I am meeting with JC in the morning. Should be an interesting session since this is the first time back since Thanksgiving. Wish me luck! Till tomorrow.

DAY 328 OF 365: BACK TO GREENS

So now that I am juicing more, it makes sense that I would get back into the habit of cooking with greens. This weekend I tried out a new recipe that I thought I would share. Of course it is from my favorite cookbook, Greens Glorious Greens.  I have to admit that I could have eaten this by itself, but it is the perfect side dish. This dish has a subtle flavor of basil and a zip of lemon juice. Try adding 1 cup of fresh corn for additional flavor, color and crunch.

Lemon - Basil Kale

3/4 pound of Kale (about 6 cups chopped)
2 cups of water
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
15 fresh basil leaves, washed and cut into fine ribbons
salt to taste
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Wash kale and strip the leaves off the stalks. Discard the stalks. Chop the kale into bit sized pieces. Bring water to a boil in a 10 to 12 inch skillet that has a tight fitting lid. Add the kale, cover, and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally until tender, approximately 5 minutes. Remove and drain.

Rinse out and dry the skillet, then use it to heat the olive oil over the medium heat, lifting and tilting the pan to coat. Add garlic and sizzle for 10 to 15 seconds, stirring constantly to prevent browning and burning.

Add basil and saute for 15 seconds more. Add kale and stir until heated through. Season to taste with salt. Stir in lemon juice and serve immediately.


Well all, I am about to retire to the couch with a good movie. Hard to believe the holiday season is upon us. I might actually tune into a holiday classic and try and get into the spirit. Until tomorrow.

DAY 327 OF 365: LEFTOVERS

So Thanksgiving is over and there are leftovers to be had. As with most holiday gatherings I ate way too much and had one too many drinks but catching up with family was worth it. The laughter was heard throughout the house and there was not a bored guest to be seen. Now I wish that I could tell you that I ate healthy, but lets face it, we all get a free pass around the holidays. It just means that I have to work out a lot harder and believe me, I will. So with that, I bid you good night. Till tomorrow.

DAY 325 OF 365: BREAK FOR THANKSGIVING

Holiday time is here and that means traveling and spending time with Family. Be back blogging on Friday. Till then, have a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

DAY 324 OF 365: THE PERFECT WEATHER FOR SOUP

I love the fall and the change of the weather. I love walking down the street seeing the leaves change colors and fall to the ground. To me, nothing says fall more than a nice warm bowl of soup and I thought I would post a recipe of this amazing soup that I tried. Straight out of the "Eat Well" cookbook from Williams - Sonoma, this soup is the pure essence of fall.

Curried Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut & Lime

Fragrant, sweet, and spicy, this butternut soup is spiked with unexpected Thai flavors. Pumpkin can be used in place of the squash; both will give the immune system a powerful beta-carotene boost.

1 1/2 Tbsp of olive oil
3/4 cups sliced shallot
1 tbsp minced or grated fresh ginger
1 clove minced garlic
9 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash (about 3lbs)
3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
salt
1 tsp Thai red curry paste
3/4 cup light coconut milk
2 tsp lime juice

Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add shallots and cook until softened, 2 - 3 minutes. Add ginger and garlic and cook until fragrant but not browned, about 1 minute longer. Add squash, broth, and 1/2 tsp salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook until squash is tender when pierced with a fork, about 20 minutes. Cool Slightly.

Put curry paste in a small bowl and stir in the coconut milk until well blended.

In a blender or food processor, puree soup, in batches if necessary, until smooth. Return to pot and stir in coconut milk mixture.  Heat soup just until hot, stir in lime juice and season to taste with additional Salt.

4 Servings - Source of vitamins - source of fiber


It is the perfect fall meal on a cold day. Curl on the couch with a nice warm bowl of this aromatic soup and enjoy a nice movie. You will not regret it. Enjoy and let me know what you think. It is even a nice starter to Thanksgiving Dinner. Till tomorrow.

DAY 323 OF 365: BACK TO JUICING

So for the first time in a long time I was able to juice, and boy did it feel good. It was just what the doctor ordered. With my crazy hours and hectic schedule, I was missing out on the fresh produce and juicing because it was just going bad from sitting in my refrigerator. I didn't have time to juice or even cook for that matter and because of that, all my groceries were just spoiling. But tonight, I juiced some carrots, spinach, apples, cucumbers and lemons and rewarded my body for making it through a challenging month. Greens really are the cure for everything. I ended up canceling my session with JC for today because of work so I am looking forward to meeting with him on Wednesday. I need a little gym action before the Holidays. We all know what happens when we are around turkey, gravy and stuffing. We help ourselves to second and third helpings. And after we think we couldn't eat another bite, we help ourselves to some pie. But that's what the holidays are for and that's why you have a gym membership! I think tomorrow I will have to do some more juicing and maybe even saute some greens. I say I give my body what it has been missing. And with that my friends I bid you goodnight. I am really loving being able to sleep for 8 hours. I could really get used to this. Till tomorrow.

DAY 321 OF 365: BREAK FROM BLOGGING DUE TO WORK

So I am back to crazy hours this weekend with about 2 to 3 hours of sleep so I am taking a break from blogging. I will be back Monday. Thanks for understanding.

DAY 320 OF 365: SORE AND TIRED

I have to say that the combination of soreness from the gym and the pure lack of sleep are not a great pairing. I basically crawled into bed right now and I want to pass out. JC kicked my ass this morning concentrating on cardio and arms, shoulders and chest. At one point he had me running up 2 flights of stairs four times in under a minute followed by weighted lunges. Needless to say, I was walking, or should I say waddling the rest of the day.
I am not doing that great on the greens and juicing this week. My work load has me so stretched thin that I am surprised that I even remember my own name. Hopefully next week I can get back to juicing and actually grocery shopping. For now, I will be happy that I am going to get 8 hours of sleep, something that I have been lacking. Tomorrow is another day at the office so I need all the sleep I can get. Till then my friends.

DAY 319 OF 365: NOT HOW I HAD PLANNED

So this challenge is not turning out the way that I had planned. When I started this lifestyle change back in January, I had not anticipated the work load and stress that I would be encountering. I feel like work has basically taken center focus and this challenge has been pushed to the sidelines. I am staying true to working out with JC and giving it everything that I have, but as JC said, stress is a catalyst for fat growth. So as I sit at the office, stressing about what needs to get done, I am undoing all the hard work that I put in at the gym. Now don't get me wrong, I am continuing to eat healthy, and work out, but I feel like it is not enough.
The hard part is going to be going into this holiday season and staying true to the healthier me. There is Thanksgiving, and Christmas and all the dinners and parties that go hand and hand with each. And let's face it, there is something about all the good food and desserts around the holidays that makes you powerless. Who can say know to a second helping of turkey and stuffing or a second or third sliver of pumpkin pie. So I guess I have another challenge a head of me. Oh boy, just what I need. Well it is off to bed for me. I am meeting with JC in the morning and I need my beauty sleep. Till tomorrow.

DAY 318 OF 365: A NIGHT OUT

OK so it is 1am and I am tired. Had a fun night out with friends and now I am ready for bed. Just what I needed after a long day at the office. Wish I had more to say. Till tomorrow.

DAY 317 OF 365: ANOTHER LONG DAY AT THE OFFICE

Short and sweet tonight. Another long day means an exhausted Dave. Tomorrow morning I am meeting with JC and I am sure I will leave sore and in pain. But it is all for the greater good. My toned, in shape body. Now if I could only go grocery shopping. My fridge is pretty pathetic. Eggs, milk and orange juice are all that occupies my poor fridge. I know, I know. Not very healthy, but I have been so busy I have not had a chance to stock it with fresh groceries. But I am hoping that this weekend will be a little less hectic and I can sneak away from work to get some healthy food to stock it with. OK, well time to hit the hay. I need a good nights sleep to prepare me for the work out that JC is going to put me through. Till tomorrow.

DAY 316 OF 365: JUST ANOTHER MANIC MONDAY

Holy crap I am sore. My alarm went off this morning and I knew what that meant. That meant my tired ass was about to be handed to me on a silver platter by JC. I was exhausted from a long weekend working and I was not prepared for what was about to happen at the gym. I was put through a mini boot camp to get my heart rate up. JC said it was time to kick my weight loss up a notch and start trimming up my stomach and toning up those abs. He actually had me doing lunges with weights, followed by me running up and down the stairs followed by squats. All that with no break in between. We did three sets of that. By the end my legs were shaking and then it was on to chest and then arms. I pretty much resembled a bowl of jello that had been dropped on the floor. Not a pretty sight. But I have to admit, as sore as I was, I felt energized. So I showered, got dressed and got myself a protein shake before heading into the office.
The rest of the day was spent casting away for Law and Order: SVU and Broken City and also planning for the charity benefit that I am producing in the spring. Long and busy day and all that I want to do right now is curl into bed and call it a night. Besides, it is almost 1am. Well, with that I say good night! Till tomorrow.

DAY 315 OF 365: ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE

Another day another dime. The majority of the day was spent at the office casting Broken City. I was up at 5am and finally made it home by 7:30pm. I slipped into my PJs, poured myself of glass of wine and just relaxed on the couch for a bit. I decided to make pork chops in gravy with some roasted broccoli for dinner. Simple yet delicious. The broccoli was coated with extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, cracked pepper, oregano and garlic. Roasted to a crispy perfection. I could have been eating broccoli chips they were that good. I ended the night with a bowl of peaches, curled up on the couch watching Once Upon a Time. Now it is time to call it a night. I have a busy week a head of me that will start with a morning session with JC. Till tomorrow.

DAY 314 OF 365: GREEN IS THE WAY TO GO

So with all the stress of work I wanted to get some juicing in this weekend. I need to keep up my energy and strength and lets face it, I need to catch up on my greens. It has been a while since I had some good green juice and my body was certainly missing it. So I thought I would post the 2 green juices that I tried today. Give them a try and let me know what you think.

Spinach Energizer

2 cups of baby spinach leaves
1 large cucumber
3 green apples, stalks removed
3 celery stalks
1 baby fennel
1/2 cup parsley

Juice the spinach, cucumber, apples, celery, fennel, and parsley in a juicer. Stir to combine. Makes 2 large glasses


Tummy Calmer

2 cups spinach leaves
1/4 small cabbage
4 fuji apples, stalks removed

Juice and stir to combine. Makes 2 small glasses.


There is something to be said about juicing. My body has actually gotten used to it, so going awhile without juicing kind of pissed my body off. So it was very happy with me today when we tried out these 2 recipes. Hopefully you like them as much as I did. Now it is off to bed for me. I have a 5am call time for Broken City tomorrow and I am not looking forward to that. I am pretty sure that my body is not either. So with that, I say good night! Till tomorrow.

DAY 313 OF 365: I NEED SLEEP

So by now you all know that I am lacking in sleep and my body is not happy about that. So right about now I feel it shutting down and telling me that it needs sleep or it refuses to work. So I have decided to listen to my body. I have opened the windows in my apartment, closed the curtains and I am ready to crawl into bed. I am shutting off my phone and not setting the alarm, only waking up when my body feels that it has recharged. So with that I say good night, sweet dreams and here is to Saturday. Till tomorrow.

DAY 312 OF 365: MISSING SLEEP

If I could spend an extra hour in bed, I would be a happy guy. Sleep has become a luxury that I can no longer afford. How sad is that. Well, at least I am still juicing and working out. I tend to put myself in auto pilot and pray that I don't crash. Coffee has become my friend, and hey, it keeps me regular if you know what I mean. TMI? Well, hey, I am in a sharing mood. Speaking of sharing, I tried this awesome juice recipe the other day. They call it dinner in a glass. Down a tumbler of this nourishing blend of detox that matches style with substance.

1 beet, scrubbed
10 to 12 carrots
2 green apples, stalks removed
2 spinach leaves
2 celery stalks

Juice the beet, carrots, apples, spinach and celery in a juicer. Stir to combine and serve chilled. Makes two large glasses. Perfect for lunch or a juice detox. I am thinking that after Thanksgiving that I will do a green juice detox and clean out this system. I need to detox and destress. Like JC told me on Wednesday, stress is the leading cause of fat growth. So give this recipe I try. I stand by it and recommend it for a dinner on the go, or a nice refreshing lunch. Time to get back to work. If you were wondering, I am still working crazy long hours and the more I write in the blog the less I am getting done at the office. So with that I say goodnight! Till tomorrow.

DAY 311 OF 365: 54 DAYS TO GO

It's kind of scary when you say it like that; 54 days to go. I mean really, where did this year go? I feel like I need to hit the pause button on my life just so that I can breathe and catch up. The lack of sleep due to my crazy hours is not helping any and today JC actually told me that stress is a factor in gaining weight. So, I keep complaining that my mid section is not getting tighter and the entire time it is due to the stress of all the crazy hours. Huh, so I guess I need a less stressful job to really be in shape or at least a job where I can get some sleep. I wish that I had something more exciting to post or a cool new recipe, but alas, I do not. I wish I could say that this weekend I will be testing out a new recipe or two, but instead I will be working at the office. I know, lame, but I have to pay the bills. So, it is back to casting. I still have a lot to get done before heading home. Till tomorrow.

DAY 310 OF 365: LACK OF SLEEP IS CATCHING UP TO ME

So I have begun to feel the effects of the lack of sleep I have had. Take it from me, two days of 2 to 3 hours of sleep is not good for the body. But, I am eating right and drinking lots of water, with my numerous cups of coffee. Lets just hope that I don't pass out of exhaustion tomorrow morning while working out with JC. Also, I should have you know that I have finally mastered the art of boiling eggs. Some may say that it is easy, but for me, it was the bane of my existence. The shells wouldn't peel off or the yolk would be dark brown, or well, they wouldn't be cooked all the way through. Needless to say, I wasn't good at boiling eggs. So I jumped for joy when I finally nailed this easy task. OK, so I am going to get back to work. I have a feeling that it is going to be another late night. Thank god that this films wraps it's week of night shoots on Thursday and goes back to a normal schedule on Sunday. Till tomorrow.

DAY 309 OF 365: GREAT WORKOUT

This morning I met with JC having only slept for about 3 hours. That is what happens when you have a feature film shooting nights and a television series that is filming during the day. We shall see how this week pans out with work and the gym. Should be very interesting. But the funny thing is, when I got up at 6:45am, I was full of energy. I thought to myself, maybe I should only get three hours of sleep every night. So I marched my little energetic self to the gym and cranked out an intense circuit training session with JC working every muscle. Quite impressive if I do say so myself. I felt better than I have felt in a long time. I was waiting for this energizer bunny to fade, but I was still going strong. So I showered and headed into the office for what was sure to be another hectic day in the world of casting. I even made sure to pack a healthy lunch and dinner along with some snacks for the work day. I have learned that if I am going to be stuck in this office I might as well eat right. As the hours go by I am starting to fade, dreaming of how comfortable and warm my bed would feel right about now. So here is hoping that I can maybe get at least 4 hours of sleep tonight. One can dream. OK, enough blogging. Time to get back to work. I have a movie to cast. Till tomorrow.

DAY 308 OF 365: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS MEANS A NICE NIGHTS SLEEP

I love waking up knowing that I gained an extra hour of sleep. Last night I went to bed with the windows open and this morning I woke up, relaxed, refreshed and ready to conquer the day. A cup a of coffee, some morning news and TV and then off to start the day. Had a great morning meeting regarding the charity benefit that I am working on for next spring and then off to work. I know, sigh. Working on a Sunday is no fun. Broken City, the film that I am working on is shooting Sunday thru Thursday and to make it worse, this entire week it is filming nights. Needless to say, I am a 24/7 bodega this week between Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and Broken City. Should make for interesting morning work outs with JC. Let's just hope that I don't drop a weight on me while bench pressing or pass out during my crunches. Guess that means extra proteins and vegetables, and hopefully some juicing to keep my energy up. I am not going to have a repeat of what I went through in August with the film Gods Behaving Badly. If you remember correctly, that work week ended badly when it came to my workouts with JC and my healthier me eating. I just need to have the determination and focus that I can get through this. Thank God that this film is only here for 11 days. OK, well I need to get back to work. It is going to be a long night and then I need to be up at 6:30am to get ready for my session with JC. Keep your fingers crossed that I make it through this film in one piece. Till tomorrow.

DAY 307 OF 365: EXHAUSTED

So I have been up since 5:30am and I am exhausted. Had a great meeting today for the charity benefit that I am producing in the spring and then got some work done around my condo. I even squeezed in some work for SVU and Broken City. I finally have a free minute and all I want to do is sleep. Thank god we roll the clocks back an hour tonight. So even though it is midnight now, it is really 11pm. Ok, time for me to call it a night. Till tomorrow.

DAY 306 OF 365: TGIF

Well we finally made it through the week. The only problem for me is that I will be working the weekend also. But, that's okay. There is an end in sight and that is what will get me through. I had a long day at the office today and tomorrow I need to be up and out of the house by 6am to be at a meeting for the charity benefit that I will be producing in the spring. It's extremely exciting, however, I wish that the meeting were a little later so that I could sleep in a bit. Looks like I will be taking an afternoon nap tomorrow when I get home before getting some work done for the office. I wish I could chat more, but it is almost 11:30pm and I need to be up in 6 hours. I need all the sleep I can get. Till tomorrow.

DAY 305 OF 365: HOLY CRAP THERE ARE ONLY 60 DAYS LEFT OF THE CHALLENGE

It is hard to believe that in 60 days this challenge will come to an end. It feels like only yesterday I was on day 60 of the challenge. Now here I am juicing and eating greens and getting up early every morning so that I can workout at the gym. Pretty amazing how different my life is 305 days into the challenge. The best part is that after this challenge is over, I am going to continue juicing and working out and living this healthy life style that I have embarked on.
So I thought tonight I would share a recipe that I prepared recently that I really enjoyed. The recipe is from one of my favorite cookbooks, " Greens, Glorious Greens". One of my new favorite greens is Kale. From just a simple kale salad with fresh lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil, to crispy kale chips, there are so many possibilities with this healthy leafy green. Did you know that one cup of kale contains more than 5 grams of fiber (more than a serving of oat bran cereal) but only 43 calories? That same cup provides the daily requirement for vitamins A and C, and 134 milligrams of calcium.

Stir-Fried Kale, Carrots and Walnuts

3/4 pound of kale
3 teaspoons of canola oil
1/3 cup of walnuts, coarsely chopped
2 large garlic cloves, peeled and coarsely chopped
2 quarter - size slices of fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, or to taste
2 carrots, peeled and cut into thin matchsticks
2 to 4 tablespoons water or chicken or vegetable broth
sea salt or soy sauce to taste

1. Wash kale and strip the leaves off the stalk, discard the stalks and then cut the kale into 1/8 strips. Cut slices in half and set aside.

2. Heat a large wok over medium - high heat. Add 1 teaspoon of the oil to the pan and swirl around to coat the bottom of the wok. Add the walnuts and toast, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute. Set aside to drain on a paper towel.

3. Add the remaining oil to the wok. Swirl again. Add the garlic and ginger and stir - fry for 10 seconds. Add the red pepper flakes and carrots and stir - fry for 1 minute.

4. Add the shredded kale and toss well to coat with oil. Press down on the kale, cover, and let cook for 30 seconds. Stir - fry again and then cover. Cook for 3 minutes longer, stirring contents of the pan about every minute to avoid burning the kale. The steam generated should be enough to complete the cooking process, but 2 tablespoons water or broth can be added during the cooking process if desired, to increase steam and tenderness of kale. Taste and season with sea salt or soy sauce. Remove ginger slices and serve hot, garnished with walnuts.

Give the recipe and try. Maybe this is a new side dish for Thanksgiving or a nice family dinner. Well, I am off to bed. I have a long day ahead of me. First up is meeting JC in the morning and then off to the office for some casting and then a meeting and then prepping for the charity benefit that I am producing in the spring. No rest for the weary. Till tomorrow.

DAY 304 OF 365: SORE

OK so today's blog is going to be brief. After an intense workout with JC this morning, my entire body is sore. We worked every muscle this morning and by the end I had sweat dripping down my face and back and I am pretty sure that I smelled pretty bad too. I spent the rest of the day wobbling around like a penguin and not to mention sitting down actually hurt. So as you might have expected, all I want to do tonight is collapse in my bed and fall asleep. Fingers crossed I pass out and sleep soundly. Till tomorrow.

DAY 303 OF 365: ANOTHER MONTH COMES TO AN END

Is it just me or has this year flown by? I can believe that in less than 65 days, this year will come to an end and a new year will begin. Clearly, I am not where I expected to be with this challenge. My body is not nearly where it needs to be for the photo and my life is not quite as "healthy" as I would want it to be. There have been a lot of factors that have contributed to this but the main culprits are these last couple of months with the crazy hours and my job treating me like a 24/7 bodega. Not to mention the sleepless nights full of anxiety of what the next workday will bring. But, I take it in stride and realize that I still have 62 days to get back on track and prove that a healthier fitter me can still finish first in this challenge. I am meeting with JC again tomorrow morning for what I foresee to be another intense workout. But you know what, bring it! I am ready for it. I am starting to dig myself out of this mini depression and I am clawing my way out to the life that I want. A friend just told me that we have plans Monday night and my first instinct was, wait, I can't because of work. You know what? Wrong response Dave. Instead, I am going to have my assistants cover for me Monday night, and I am going to have a great night and actually have a life. You know, the thing that I am clearly missing. Like I mentioned last night, part of a healthy life style is actually having a life. Enjoying the company of friends and family and enjoying the fruits of working so hard. So my healthier fitter ass will be out having a great evening Monday night. So I leave you with this little healthy snack that I whip up when I am looking for something light and sweet.

Baked Fruit
1 cup of mixed berries. I tend to use the frozen dole fruit. I thaw them out and mix them with 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and some sprigs of mint. I mix them up and place them in a baking dish and bake for about 30 minutes, give or take, in a 350 degree oven. The perfect light and sweet dessert. If you want to get really adventurous, get some fat free frozen yogurt and spoon the berries over a scoop of it. Yum!

Well, I am off to bed. Tired and I want to be well rested for my session with JC. Till tomorrow.

DAY 302 OF 365: HAPPY HALLOWEEN

So it was back to the grind for me as I started the day with a session with JC. I have to tell you, it took every bit of energy that I had to pull myself out of my warm bed and make the trek to the gym this morning. It wasn't just because it was nice and warm in my comfortable bed, but it was also because I knew what was in store for me at the gym. A week off from working out with JC meant that he was not going to go easy on me and he was going to hit me with everything that he had. Boy was I right. After our normal warm up, he put me through a circuit that worked every muscle in my body instead of concentrating on a certain muscle. JC felt that by doing this, we were giving the muscles a chance to re coup in between circuits, while at the same time giving the body a total workout. And you know what, he was right. I left the gym feeling energized and worked out and sore. Basically, a great feeling.
Now it was time to head into the office for a long day of casting. We were having a Halloween party at the office, and honestly, I was Debbie Downer. I brought a costume but ended up not putting it on. This is one of my favorite holidays and this year I just didn't have it in me to dress up. It was hard enough just making it through the day dealing with what I had to do. I know, where is my spirit? It is probably the same place as my life, non existent. But I had packed a healthy lunch and snack, and knowing that it would be a long day at the office, I even made sure to pack a nice dinner. Sad right, but at least I was prepared. But you know what? There is now a light at the end of the tunnel, and I am not talking about the challenge. I will keep you posted on that progress, but for now just know that I have a plan. Oh, and I have posted a juice recipe that I tried that I really liked. Try it out and see what you think.

Blue Moon
2 Cups of Blueberries
6 Small Peaches, pits removed
3/4 Inch Piece of Ginger
Pinch of Ground Cinnamon

Juice the blueberries, peaches, and ginger in your juicer. Add the pinch of cinnamon and stir and pour over ice. Makes 2 small glasses.

It is the perfect thirst quencher and the cinnamon gives it a great kick. Blueberries are a great antioxidant so I say anything that involves blueberries is amazing! Give it a try and let me know what you think. For now I am going to work on my charity benefit and then it is off to bed for me. Another day at the office tomorrow and I am sure that it will be just as hectic as it was today. So I leave you with this little diddy. Change is inevitable. It is the only way that we grow and evolve as individuals. Embrace it, follow it, and live it. Because after it is all said and done, we are only as good as the life we lived. Till tomorrow.

DAY 301 OF 365: A WHITE HALLOWEEN

So this weekend was anything but normal. For starters, it snowed. Not just flurries, but actual snow fall that accumulated to about 4 inches. It was cold and wet and did not feel like Halloween. But, it was fun and it reminded me that the holidays are just around the corner. It's my favorite time of year. Time to be with friends and family and not to be burnt out from working crazy long hours. So my goal this Holiday season is not only to remain healthy in my lifestyle, but also to remain healthy in my social life. That means actually having a life and spending quality time with friends and family. We take for granted how important a healthy social life is to one's health. Without social interaction outside of the office, I have started becoming situationally depressed, not wanting to leave the house because I am tired and drained from the office. Because of this I have missed out on so much fun with friends, and family and doing so, made me more depressed. So it will be my job to dig myself out of this depression and regain control of my life. I have realized that things need to change in order to regain my life, and I finally have the courage to make the change.
So before signing off I leave you with two of my new favorite juices.

Spring Clean
2 Large Cucumbers
6 Carrots
1 Large Green Apple, stalk removed
2 Celery Stalks, including leaves
1 Large Beet, scrubbed

Juice the cucumbers, carrots, apple, celery, and beet in a juicer. Stir to combine and serve over ice. Makes four small glasses.


Minted Apple Orchard
6 Apples, stalks removed
3 Pears, stalks removed
1 Cup of Mint Leaves

Juice the Apples, Pears, and mint leaves. Stir to combine and drink immediately. Makes 2 large glasses.

Hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I do. I am going to try and post a recipe or two with every blog. Now keep in mind that I am working crazy hours again so I will do my best to post recipes. Now it is time to crawl into bed and call it a night. Meeting JC in the morning. Should be an intense workout since I had to cancel my last two sessions due to work. Wish me luck! Till tomorrow.

DAY 299 & 300 OF 365: TAKING A BLOGGING BREAK.

So I am taking a blogging break this weekend. I will be back on Sunday to fill you in. I just wanted some time to relax. Thanks for understanding.

DAY 298 OF 365: MY BODY IS NOT HAPPY

This week has been one hectic and crazy ride full of ups and downs and my body is very aware. I was forced to cancel my sessions with JC on Wednesday and Friday because of work and my body was not pleased. As much as it may pain me sometimes to get out of bed and head to the gym, my body has gotten used to it and made it a routine. It was used to getting home cooked meals, green juice and fresh smoothies and now it gets take out and late meals thrown together. So now instead of being a happy and healthy body, it is a very disgruntled body that is not too happy with me. I promised that I was not going to let my work affect this challenge, but every day is becoming harder and harder to keep that promise.
This weekend marks my last weekend off until Thanksgiving. That means I will be 24 hours, 7 days a week. Not looking forward to that, especially since I am going to be maintaining this healthy lifestyle. Well, I am not going to focus on that. Instead, I am going to relax and enjoy this weekend. I will need to rest up for the work that is ahead of me. Now it's time to curl into bed and count sheep. I have to be up at 6am to head to a production meeting for Broken City, the new feature film that I am working on and then from there I am heading over to Law and Order: SVU for a concept meeting. Looks like another busy day. Till then.

DAY 297 OF 365: RUNNING AROUND TOWN

So I wish that I could say that I was running a marathon or running along the waterfront, but it was more like I was racing from meeting to meeting trying to get done all that I needed to during this hectic day. I was out of the house by 6:30 this morning so that I could make it on time for my production meeting for Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. That meant that I was not able to meet with JC this morning. It was frustrating because I don't want to feel like I hit a road block in my healthier lifestyle. From that meeting I raced back to the office to get some work done before heading out to a meeting for the film that I am prepping and then back to the office to cast for Law and Order: SVU. Before I knew it, it was 10pm and I was finally ready to call it a night and head home. It is days like these that remind me why I started this challenge. I need all the energy that I can muster up just to make it through the day and the healthier me now has more energy.  Well, I am off to bed. Another early morning at the office. Till tomorrow.

DAY 296 OF 365: THIS JOB IS THROWING A WRENCH IN MY CHALLENGE

OK, So  my work load is increasing and I am once again living at the office. I had to cancel my session with JC for tomorrow morning because Law and Order: Special Victims Unit moved my production meeting from this evening to tomorrow morning and I was forced to cancel my session Friday morning due to a production meeting for the new film I am working on. Mix in the fact the my hours are getting longer and longer, and well that is a recipe for a disaster. I am trying my hardest to stay focused on the goal at hand, but I am worried that this job will be destroying all the hard work that I have been putting into my body. I am starting to feel that being an extras casting director is a 24 hour job that I am ready to check out of. I know that may sound awful, but after 10 years, the healthier fitter me is starting to realize the life that I have been missing. I can tell you this much, working out has given me more energy to do things that I didn't realize that I wanted to do. Oh, did I mention that starting next weekend that I am working 7 days a week again until Thanksgiving? Yeah, not looking forward to that. So what I need to do is get my mojo back. I can't let this job create a road block in my challenge. Instead, I need to plow through that road block right to the finish line. Speaking of that finish line, this challenge might need an extension. I feel like there was a factor beyond my control (this job) that has been messing with my results. Is that allowed? I think it should be! So with that, I need to go back to work. Surprise Surprise, I am still at the office. Almost 10pm and I am sure that I will be here for another hour. Till tomorrow.

DAY 295 OF 365: MY LEGS ARE SORE

So I have mentioned how my legs are always sore after my workouts and for some reason don't seem to be adapting well. No matter how much JC works with me and my sore legs, they just don't seem to be getting better. We even took a break from working legs to see if they just needed to rest. They are getting stronger, but the soreness after the workouts does not seem to be going away. Anyone have any advice for what I could do for this situation?
Well, I am going to call it a night early. This past weekend was a hectic and crazy weekend and I didn't get that much sleep. After this mornings intense workout, my body wants a good night sleep. So till tomorrow.

DAY 294 OF 365: FUN IN THE KITCHEN

So today I was up and out of the house by 6:30am to judge a beauty pageant in New Jersey that was filmed for season 4 of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Definitely a fun and interesting day but needless to say I was tired and missing my nice warm bed. So when I got home today, I changed into my PJ's, and went to work in the kitchen to prepare a nice home cooked meal that I could enjoy while watching some TV. I made some quinoa that I cooked with chicken stock instead of water and I sauteed some asparagus in balsamic vinegar with toasted pine nuts. For the main dish I baked seasoned chicken with BBQ sauce. I have to say that I love cooking with seasonings. What could have been just normal BBQ chicken, was elevated to something else when I added seasoning to the chicken.
Now I am full and relaxed on the couch catching up on some Sunday TV watching. Tomorrow starts another day and another work week. If only every day could be as peaceful as I feel right now. But I know that soon my alarm will be going and then it will be off to the gym to meet JC. So for now, I am going to relish in this peaceful moment. Till tomorrow.

DAY 293 OF 365: SCARY NIGHT

So I was awoken this morning at 2am to the screams of a woman outside my window. She was screaming fire, fire and at first I thought I was dreaming. I quickly got up and opened the curtains to four buildings on fire. I could actually feel the heat of the fire from my apartment. It was the scariest thing to be that close to those flames and see black smoke and know that the lives of so many people were about to change. Peoples homes and belongings were destroyed and with in moments the flames had engulfed these buildings. Minutes later, four fire trucks, EMT and police had responded and it took them till about 5am to get everything under control and to put out the flames. I hardly got any sleep just thinking about what was happening outside my windows. I ended up sleeping in later than expected since I was up most of the night. I eventually got up and made some coffee and googled the fire to see if anyone was hurt. Luckily, it seemed as if everyone made it out unscathed. Their homes and belongings were not that lucky.
The rest of the day I spent cleaning and bill paying and basically just lounging before heading into the office for work. Now I am home and showered and ready to call it a night. I have to be out the door tomorrow morning at 6am as I am judging a beauty pageant tomorrow. I have to be there at 8am and it is being filmed for Season four of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. That's right ladies and gentleman, yours truly will be mixing it up with Teresa herself. So you will have to tune in next season to see all the fun I am about to have. So, I am off to get some sleep. I better make sure I stock up on my pageant crack! For any fans of Toddlers and Tiaras, you will get the reference. Till tomorrow.