The fall season in Ontario is truly one of the reasons we endure winter. Summer is wonderful but fall means fireplaces, sweatshirts, apple pie, and everything pumpkin! I have created a pumpkin spice smoothie (PSS) that I just LOVE and have had so many others enjoy as well, so I wanted to share that with all of you :)
It's so easy, here's what I do:
I use a Blendtec blender but really any type will do

- 1.5 Cups of almond milk, coconut milk, or whatever type you like best! When I'm in Toronto I pick up fresh pressed almond or coconut mylk from Donna at Mylk Run (she has many other goodies too) 
- 3 Scoops of USANA's plant protein powder, Nutrimeal Free which is also super full of vitamins and minerals to help power your cells!
- ½ Cup of fresh pumpkin! I roast a pumpkin in the fall and then portion it off to cupcake sized servings to freeze and use at any time for smoothies. But at this time of year I am roasting pumpkins for pie anyhow so I just save some aside in the fridge. 
- Pumpkin spices: Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger, Vanilla. Use as you feel- more cinnamon and less of the others I find is less "spicy" for me!
- A handful of ice cubes
- ½ Scoop of USANA's Fibergy to bring in some extra fiber
- A teaspoon of MCT oil from Upgraded Self 
And BLEND! Enjoy and feel free to share any fantastic modifications you make!
xo Erica

     Sometimes it just takes making a commitment for a specific period of time to make a long term change. I've always been one for trying new eating programs and lifestyle decisions, "biohacking" to see what works best for me. When Julie Boyer showed me the 30 Day Whole Body Detox, I was all in! The "rules" include eliminating for 30 days: White sugar, dairy, gluten, and caffeine, and adding in: Plenty of fruits and veggies, exercise, lemon water, dry skin brushing, amazing vitamins, probiotics, and real whole foods. So technically is wasn't really a detox or cleanse- more of a healthy eating program that I wanted to stick to 100% for a 30 day window. Easy enough!
     Check out the website HERE to see more of the details. It was great to have such a supportive team online going through it. In the first 10 days I felt some of the withdrawal symptoms. I am a believer that good quality coffee is good for you! 1-2 cups per day. I am also happy to encourage a glass of wine here and there. And although I am "gluten-free" I have certainly found ways to have gluten-free treats and justify them. But for the 30 days I took all of those things out. 
    If you have never made a decision to do something like this before, it is a great idea to prep yourself- we have a recorded webinar that you can watch to help get you started. Schedule in your calendar less events that you might be tempted with, or have a game plan. I actually found it easier to resist temptation because I could just tell friends, family, serving staff, whoever, that I was "doing a cleanse" so I needed modifications. 
 After the first 10 days passed- which were not totally difficult but definitely showed some challenges, the next 10 days were a breeze. I was in a routine, feeling good, and really enjoying the recipes in the provided guidebook. The last 10 days was where I really noticed things though, this is where I actually felt lighter, I was sleeping significantly better, and I could feel my digestive system saying "thank you" for not giving it things difficult to digest. I was using digestive enzymes as often as possible too- just to allow my system to have that little oomph of help. 

Have you considered trying a detox? I highly recommend this one as a great way to start! It is easy to modify and adjust for different eating preferences, and doesn't require the elimination of many foods. Sugar, alcohol, dairy, and gluten are all very inflammatory which is why they are to be restricted in this program, and taking your omega 3 supplements, lemon water, and green smoothies will help reduce inflammation. Some side effects you may find- reduced pain, better digestion, better sleep, weight loss, softer skin, reduced anxiety, better breathing, or stronger nails to name a few. And if you can- aim to continue on after the 30 days! I picked a few habits that I had started and have kept up with them- lemon water with cayenne to start my day, a smoothie for breakfast, and staying gluten free! 

I 100% believe there is a different food program for every single person on this planet, why not try something new, see how you feel and make tweaks based on that. Let me know if you want to try this program, I can coach you through it!
<3 Erica
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