The Virgin Diet

I have truly come to believe that more then exercise we are what we eat, and what we eat has such a huge effect on how our body reacts, and how it feels! Just a year or so ago i would have been the last person to give up, or go without any kind of food. For one I just love food, cooking and eating it soo much, and second i just could care less it was not a priority for me at all. Now that I have given up all seven of the foods discussed in this book my life has completely changed, I have already lost 20lbs just by eating good. I have also come to realize that all the foods I am going without, have been replaced by foods that taste 10 times better that make me don't miss any of the food I going without. Not going to lie that looking in the mirror, shopping for clothes and fitting in smaller sizes, not having to wear as much makeup because I have clear skin for the first time in my life, and having more energy are just some of the benefits that I  have learned to get used to and thoroughly enjoy!!! HAHAHAh! Its great do an experiment for 3 weeks and see the results for yourself, then you can decide if its worth it or not for you! This is a lifestyle not a diet, eating plan, or new year resolution. This is a till you die way of life. Once you try it you will be hooked I promise! Listed below is information about J.J Virgins book as well and her doctor that she has been researching with. This is not the only eating plan I follow, I kind mix and match different programs as well as a strict workout regiment through body building. com! I am working on getting my certificate in nutrition and personal fitness training so please feel free to ask me any questions or share recipes or other facts that have contributed to your healthy way of life. This is an area of life that I have come to be very passionate about and all I want is to see people happy, healthy and loving life both spiritually, physically and emotionally. God Bless.

About JJ
JJ Virgin, CNS, CHFS
“Your body is not a bank account. It’s a chemistry lab.” — JJ Virgin

JJ Virgin is one of the nation’s foremost fitness and nutrition experts, an accomplished public speaker and media personality. Her 25 years in the health and fitness industry, the past 10 in holistic nutrition and functional medicine, have earned JJ recognition as the go-to weight loss expert who can unlock the door to lifelong weight management through her sensible, no-fail approach to nutrition and fitness.

JJ is author of NY Times bestseller The Virgin Diet: Drop 7 Foods, Lose 7 Pounds, Just 7 Days. The Virgin Diet has also been a bestseller in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, and numerous other media outlets. JJ is also the author of  Six Weeks to Sleeveless and Sexy, published by Simon & Schuster Gallery, and co-starred on the TLC reality series, “Freaky Eaters”.

Internationally recognized as an expert in overcoming weight loss resistance, JJ is responsible for turning the most challenging weight loss resistant cases into stunning successes where clients get lean for life. JJ has worked with high performance athletes, CEO’s, and A-list celebrities from around the world, including Gene Simmons, Ben Stiller, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tracie Thoms, Janeane Garofalo, Carrie Otis, Stephen Bishop, Benny Mardones, and Superman Returns star Brandon Routh. JJ appeared for two years as the nutrition expert on the top-rated Dr. Phil Show, and made appearances on Bonnie Hunt, ABC’s Extreme Makeover, NBC’s iVillage Live, and the E! channel’s Modern Girl’s Guide to Life. She’s authored numerous articles and is frequently featured on nationally syndicated radio shows, at international conferences, in national magazines, newspapers and websites.

JJ is a member of Mensa, a UCLA graduate and chronic student having taken 40 graduate courses (and counting) from 6 different graduate and doctoral schools including Biomechanics from California State University Northridge, Sports Medicine from University of Miami and doctoral level courses in Exercise Physiology, Nutrition and Aging from USC. She is a Certified Nutrition Specialist, a Certified Health and Fitness Instructor with advanced certifications in Nutrition, Personal Training and Aging and Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition.

“JJ Virgin is unlike any other practitioner I have ever known. She is a true combination of genius, innovator, and expert. This rare combination, coupled with her compassion and true desire to help empower individuals to commit to themselves is a rare and priceless gift. I have 110% confidence whenever I refer a client, friend or family member to her!!” Tami Walsh, M.A., President, TEENWISDOM.COM

“If I could make one person America’s Nutrition and Fitness Czar, it would be JJ Virgin. I don’t know anyone who would do a better job of getting this country fit and healthy again.” – Robert Crayhon, MS, CN

“JJ distills the truth about nutritional science into bite size chunks, then serves it all up in a delectable fashion so you can get to work on your health immediately.” – Rebecca James Gadberry, Chairman/CoCEO, YG Laboratories, Instructor, Cosmetic Sciences, UCLA Extension

“JJ Virgin designs a program to suit your individual needs that is sensible, easy to follow and delivers great results!” Carol Shaw, owner/founder Lorac Cosmetics


Meet my Medical Director
Dr. Mikell Parsons
Dr. Mikell Suzanne Parsons is a doctor of Chiropractic, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist and a Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition and Neurology. Formerly, she was Assistant Professor of Clinical Sciences at the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic and Naturopathic Medicine in Bridgeport, Connecticut where she taught women’s health, obstetrics, gynecology, geriatrics and EENT.

Dr. Parsons is a former Attending Doctor and Clinical Instructor at the Texas Chiropractic College in Pasadena, Texas. Before moving to Connecticut, Dr. Parsons maintained a multi-doctor practice of chiropractic, clinical nutrition and natural-medicine in Houston, Texas for 7 years. She lectures throughout the United States and Canada on clinical nutrition, women’s health issues, and the management of soft-tissue disorders. Previously, Dr. Parsons was in practice at a multi-disciplinary integrated medical practice in Milford, Connecticut where she specialized in women’s health and functional medicine.

In December of 1998, she was a contributing author of the critically acclaimed textbook “Instant Access to Chiropractic Guidelines and Protocols” published by Mosby, Inc. and in 2010 she contributed to Claudia Anrig’s “Second Edition of the Pediatric Chiropractic Textbook.” Dr. Parsons also currently publishes her own bi-monthly Ezine available on her website.

In the year 2001, she was the host of the radio talk show “The Multicare Health Hour” and has continued her media outreach as a reoccurring guest on the Central Valley Today show. She has also been a consultant for Whole Health Professional Consulting and Educational Services, an organization that provides clinical consultations to physicians of all types in order to help train them in functional medical management of difficult patients, as well as providing professional educational seminars in order to help train doctors in the methods of clinical nutrition, herbal therapy, and functional medicine.

Currently she is the founder of the Natural Path Health Center in Fresno, California where she continues to specialize in chiropractic, nutrition and chiropractic neurology. She is also the Medical Director of Holistic Health Consulting, Inc, a Medical Corporation.

The 7 Foods List:

1. Soy - Most is genetically modified (GM). Our bodies are not designed to process GM foods. Therefore, ALL GM foods should be avoided.  In addition, soy has very high levels of estrogen-like compounds that interfere with our natural hormonal balance.
2. Corn - Most is genetically modified, like soy, and should be avoided. It is a grain found in most processed foods that converts to sugar in the body and contributes to chronic illness such as Type II Diabetes.
3. Gluten - Found in grains, especially wheat.  It makes grain products "sticky." It interferes with digestion, especially in Celiac patients who are highly sensitive and contributes to "leaky gut" syndrome.  It also increases inflammation in the body due to its omega-6 content.
4. Dairy - Name an animal that drinks milk after it has been weaned from its mother.  Name an animal that drinks the milk of another animal. From this perspective, dairy is very unnatural to our diet. Commercial dairy is especially harmful because of its pharmaceutical content and because homogenization and pasteurization destroy much of its nutrition, including its natural enzymes.
5. Sugar and artificial sweeteners - The average American consumes more sugar in one day than our early ancestors did in an entire year. Sugar leads to increased insulin production, insulin resistance, and Type II Diabetes. Artificial sweeteners are man made and our bodies are not designed to process them. They are neurotoxic and contribute to a wide variety of health problems.
6. Eggs - Many people are sensitive or allergic to eggs. Follow the elimination guidelines below.
   
7. Peanuts - Many people are sensitive or allergic to peanuts.  Follow the elimination guidelines below.

Berry Cobbler

I made this recipe to take to a friends house and let me tell you, we ate it up!!! It was soooo sooo good! I was looking for something simple to make other then an apple/pear crisp that always seems to be my go to. So I experimented with this recipe and it turned out amazing.

Ingredients:
4-6 cups of Mixed Berries (blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, rasberries, and I also threw in some peaches)
1 Cinnamon Crumb Cake Box Mix (Krusteaz Brand)
1 1/2 cup Oats
1 Stick of Butter
1-2 tblsp Water

Directions:
1. Combine fruit and 1/2 cup of the white cake mix.
2. Pour into greased non stick baking dish.
3. Next combine all the rest of the ingredients mix until combined.
4. Butter needs to be chilled and cut into very small cubes and mixed in.
5. Pour crumbly dry mixture over the top of the fruit and bake uncovered for 30 min at 350 or until fruit filling is bubbly.
6. Serve right out of the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or cool whip.

Tomato Roasted Red Pepper Vegetable Soup

This soup is sooo easy you just everything together and let it cook. Its super healthy for you and soo yummy to eat on cold winter rainy days. My family made little quesadillas on corn tortillas with pepper jack almond cheese inside. We also really like these vegeterian meatballs from Trader Joes. We heated some of those and dropped them in the soup. Delicious!!!! 

Ingredients

1 Box Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Soup (I get this from Sprouts)
1 Box Vegetable Broth (Low Sodium)
Broccoli
Cabbage
Eggplant
Onion
Bell Pepper
Red Potatoes
1 Can White Beans
Zuccini
Minced Garlic

Instructions 

1. In large skillet saute onion, peppers, garlic and diced up potatoes. Cook until soft.
2. In a medium sauce pan blanch all other veggies until almost soft because they will continue to cook some in the soup and you don't want mushy veggies.
3. In a large crockpot on medium heat mix together all the veggies, beans, broth, and soup mix. Stir to combine and let simmer until veggies are cooked and soup is heated through.

Banana Walnut Pancakes

Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour ( I used rice/oat flour)
1 cup quick or rolled oats ( I used oat bran instead because it has less calories)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg ( I used all egg whites)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon honey
1 to 1 1/2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or skim milk) (depending on whether you like thin or thick pancakes)
1 banana, diced
Cooking spray for pan
1/4 cup almonds

Directions

1. In a bowl, mix the flour, oats, baking powder, salt, egg, cinnamon, and honey. Stir in the soy milk to the desired consistency. I like my pancakes to be neither too thin nor too thick, so I added 1 1/4 cups of soy milk. Stir in the bananas.
2. Place a skillet on medium heat (I use a square-shaped griddle). After spraying the pan, pour batter into 4-inch diameter circles (using about 1/4 cup of batter).
3. While the pancakes are cooking, hand chop the almonds on a cutting board with a sharp knife.
4. Once the pancakes begin to bubble, flip them and cook for another minute or so on the other side until golden brown.
5. Serve three pancakes with sliced bananas and chopped almonds. They're delicious like this, or for a sweeter breakfast, pour on two tablespoons of real maple syrup.

Makes 12 pancakes (four servings).

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

I LOVE pizza, it is one of my favorite foods ever!! When I switched over to healthier eating, well pizza is something I thought I had to completely give up.........that is until I came across this recipe. It was sooo yummy and more importantly satisfies your pizza cravings. Enjoy!

Source: greatist.com via Hannah on Pinterest

Califlower Puree

Source: daydreamkitchen.com via Jane on Pinterest

Of course I leave out the heavy cream and I use non fat greek yogurt instead. I also just leave out the butter or you can use a non fat no cholesterol, no sodium butter spread. Since I have cut completely back on my carbs this is an awesome alternative for mashed potatoes for any party or holiday meal!

Out with the Old In with the New

For those of you who follow this blog of mine called the Recipe Box, you start to notice a change in the coming days and months. My entire life style and eating habits have done a complete 180 turn. I happy to say that I am never ever going back to the way I used to live and eat. I have had such a change of heart in the last 4 months and my perspective on life and the importance of being healthy has completely changed. 

I used to be the girl who made fun of her mom when she would be super picky about what she ate, and who had to get up early every morning to get her daily workout routine in. We her example has slowly but surely rubbed off on me and I am proud to claim that I am now the weird obsessed health girl that I used to make fun of. In the past I have eaten whatever I want, whenever I want. I was the girl who worked out in the summer just to get into enough shape to be able to wear a bathing suit for a few months. Ever since middle school I have constantly struggled with my weight and never could seem to maintain a healthy lifestyle growing up. I defenitely gained the freshman 15 and all throughout college, with different relationships and poor sleeping habits my weight increased more and more. Since recently graduating from college a year ago I now have the time, discipline, and means to begin to habitually live a healthy, balanced lifestyle. 

My workout routine consists of going to the gym 5 times a week and taking 2 rest days to recover. I enjoy going to better at a decent time so that I can wake up early and get my workout in before the day kicks into full gear. This eliminates excuses of being to busy or the day just getting away from you. I love lifting heavy weight and that is what the majority of my routines look like with the normal cardio mixed in for fat loss, and ab work to keep a strong core. 

I dont like calling my meal plan a diet but rather just that a meal plan. I have strictly cut out any kind of sodium, salt, and carbs from my food intake. When I say carbs I am referring to bread and pasta, on the other hand I do eat good carbs that your body gleans nutrients from such as brown rice, sweet potatoes, and potatoes. I eat tons of fruits and veggies, and nuts. I switched over to dairy products made out of almonds such as cheese and milk. I will still eat fat free greek yogurt and monzerrela since these are very good for you in moderation. Since dairy products have a huge connection to belly fat I can certainly go with out it, especially since I love the taste of almond cheese and milk. YUM!!!! My eating habits also contain high amounts of protein since this is what supports lean muscle growth, I get the majority of my protein from a supplement as well as fat free turkey, chicken and white fish. 

The reason I have been able to adapt to this way of eating is because the taste of the food I get to eat is delicious! It makes it so much easier to stick to something when it fits into your life and you are not depriving yourself of things you want or need. The best way I have found to stick to eating clean as I call it, is finding substitutes for those foods that are bad for you so that you can still feel like you are satisfied. Also with the high intakes of protein as well as eating controlled portions every 3 hours of the day ensure that you don't over eat or eat unhealthy fast food which is where most of peoples weight problems come from. 

With all that said I bet you are on info over load.........I know I was when i first heard about this whole plan. I wont be posting blan boring recipes on my blog now that I have gone health freak but I will be posting recipes and then explaining the diffferent ingredients I would swap out to make the dish way less calories and actually healthy for you. The choice is up to you but I can speak for myself, in just the past few months Iv made these changes I have lost over 10lbs and I feel the best I have ever felt in my whole life. Give it a try you cant go wrong. 

Please feel free to comment with any questions, comments or concerns you may have. I would be happy to be help you see yourself to the best you!! Blessings