Abstainers vs. Moderators with Vanessa Barajas – Episode 22: PaleOMG Uncensored Podcast

One of my close friends and fellow bloggers Vanessa comes on the show to chat about life, food, and how she came to understand she is an abstainer, not a moderator. Just a quick apology – she didn’t have the best internet connection so some of the responses and timing are a little off. And I’m still working on some of the echoy sounds going on with the podcast! Sorry for any inconvenience!

[powerpress]

Links in post:

• Clean Eating with a Dirty Mind
• Clean Eating with a Dirty Mind Cookbook
• Maple Hill Greek Yogurt
• WholeMe Grain Free Granola
• Moderators vs Abstainers Pop Sugar Article

Thank You to the Sponsors:

Aaptiv is a fitness app that gives you custom workouts with the voice of an elite trainer and an amazing playlist, walking you through the class or workout or training session! They have unlimited workouts such as race training, ab workouts, spinning, strength training, and even more! I’ve been using it for stretching workouts after my CrossFit or Orange Theory classes! To get motivated or simply just get to stretching this 2017, try Aaptiv out for FREE for 30 days using the promo code PALEOMG. Sign up here and try it out for 30 days now!

Eating Evolved is a Fair Trade Certified and Rainforest Alliance Certified chocolate that is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, organic and paleo chocolate sweetened only with coconut sugar! And they make my favorite chocolate treat – their coconut butter cups! They prove that chocolate is food, not candy! And right now you can try all my favorite Eating Evolved products in a special bundle pack! Original price for my favorite 6 items is $43.94 and right now you can get it for just $35 plus shipping. Click here to get 20% off your bundle! Here’s what you’ll get in your next Eating Evolved box:

• Almond Primal Chocolate Bar
• Caramel Sea Salt Coconut Butter Cup
• Classic Coconut Butter Cup
• Sweet and Salty Roasted Coconut Butter
• Chocolate Spread
• Hot Chocolate (with Collagen)

Episode 22 Transcription:

Juli Bauer: As you may know, I am all about that exercise. But one thing I am not all about is stretching. I hate it. I usually stretch for about 15 seconds, then I get distracted. It’s called ADHD, guys. Luckily, I’ve been stretching every day now thanks to my fitness app, Aaptiv.

I’ve told you about this a couple of times on the podcast, but if you haven’t hear about it, it is a fitness app you can listen to to do workouts, or stretches, or core workouts, running workouts. They have it all. But since I’ve been going to Crossfit and Orange Theory classes, and I’ve been super sore; I come home, I simply turn on my Aaptiv app, and I’ll run through a 5-7 minute stretching little play list. There are ones that are way longer than that, but I’m just not f*cking there yet, guys. 5-7 minutes; that’s all I’ll give. But it’s perfect. I’ve been doing those after my classes, and then trying just a little bit longer ones on my rest days, like today.

So, the cool thing about this, why you’re even still listening, is because you can try Aaptiv out right now for 30 days for free. 30 days for free; trying a ton of their different workouts that you can do anywhere in your house, at the gym, in the park; whatever. So all you have to do, you just go to www.Aaptiv.com. That’s A-A-P-T-I-V and use the promo code PALEOMG and then that’s all you do. Do you know how to spell PaleOMG? If you don’t, get it together guys! You’re listening to the podcast PaleOMG Uncensored. But just to help you out, that’s P-A-L-E-O-M-G. Think pale-OMG. Ok? That’s all you have to do. And if you don’t remember any of this, just go to www.PaleOMG.com and in this post about this lovely podcast, I’ll have all the links and the discount code so you don’t have to think about anything. It’s awesome.

You know what else is awesome? That people have been doing this. People have been trying these workouts. I just got a comment this week from a lovely listener named Brittany, and she said, “I just want to say thanks for introducing me to Aaptiv. It’s the perfect wind down after Orange Theory or Crossfit. Love mixing these simple to follow workouts into my daily routine. You’re the best for sharing all these apps, meals, workouts, and more!” Stop it, Brittany. I love you; you’re the best! Anyways. Go try Aaptiv out. Let me know what you think; come to the blog and let’s try it out for 30 days together. Discount code PALEOMG guys. Get it!

This is Juli Bauer from PaleOMG and you are listening to PaleOMG Uncensored.

Juli Bauer: So before we get started today, guys, I absolutely have to tell you about Eating Evolved. Two things I love most in this world is chocolate and more chocolate. So when I found out about Eating Evolved a few years ago, and their gluten free, dairy free, soy free, and paleo coconut sugar sweetened organic chocolate, I had to try it. I know; that’s a mouthful. But it truly is, guys. So once I tried their coconut butter cups, I was hooked. Imagine those peanut butter cups that you all know so well, but I probably can’t say because I’ll get sued; but, imagine them made with Fair Trade Certified and Rainforest Alliance Certified chocolate, filled with satisfying coconut butter and no sketchy ingredients. All made by an adorable couple in Long Island. They’re so cute. They treat their chocolate like real food; because that’s what it is. Chocolate is food, not candy, and that’s the slogan that they stand by.

And since they are the greatest ever, they let me create my own bundle pack with all my favorite Eating Evolved products, so you can try them all out at discount. In the bundle, this is so cool, guys. In the bundle, you’ll find my favorites, including the almond sea salt primal chocolate bar; it has slivered almonds and some salt on it. It’s so good. Their caramel sea salt coconut butter cups, and their classic coconut butter cups. If you want a treat that’s going to be satisfying and not make you crave a whole bag; like a whole bag of chocolate chips that I’ve sat down and eaten in one sitting, these are for you. So you get the primal chocolate, you get caramel coconut butter cup, a regular classic coconut butter cup; you get the sweet and salty roasted coconut butter, which you just eat straight up with a spoon; it’s so f*cking good; they’re chocolate spread, that’s to die for, and their hot chocolate that has added collagen in it. And I’ve been added collagen into my day to day life hoping that my hair grows down to my butt cheeks. It’s all so good.

So, the original price for all these items is almost $44; $43.94. And right now, you can get that for $35, plus shipping. So all you have to do is go to www.eatingevolved.com/paleomg, and you can check it all right there. You can see all the ingredients, all the simple ingredients. You can find out more about the awesome people behind these products. But try this stuff out; it is so good. It is so freaking good, and it’s real food that makes you satisfied and happy to eat chocolate; not wanting to eat 4 pounds of chocolate, you know what I mean? It’s so good.

So go support good people; that’s what live is all about. www.eatingevolved.com/paleomg; now go get that chocolate and be happy guys.

6.01

Juli Bauer: Well hello guys! Welcome to the podcast. Just a quick reminder, if you’re new to the podcast. It will most likely be explicit language, explicit content, and explicit shenanigans. That’s what the E stands for next to my podcast; explicit.

But anyways. Today is a very special day because I have a very special lovely guest on. Her name is Vanessa Barajas, and she is a star. I met Vanessa probably 3 to 4 years ago when I was in California writing my second cookbook. She walked into this house that I was at holding a homemade dessert and champagne, and she was like, “Hello! I’m here!” it was wonderful. So I fell in love with her instantly, and then fast-forward a few years later, we both came out with a cookbook around the same time. We went on a 20-day book tour, and that’s a long f*cking time to be on a trip with someone; especially when you’re carpooling through Texas. Luckily, we’re both kind of bad drivers, so it was ok. So now we’re these friends that have inside jokes that no one else understands, and we laugh until we almost pee ourselves. It’s the best kind of friendship.

Anyways, Vanessa’s cookbook is Clean Eating with a Dirty Mind, as well as her blog, www.cleaneatingwithadirtymind.com. But she is a woman of many talents; welcome Vanessa to the podcast. Hello beautiful.

Vanessa Barajas: Whoo! Hello everyone. Thank you for that amazing intro, Juli.

Juli Bauer: It was a big long winded.

Vanessa Barajas: I kind of feel like I could sit here all day. But it’s great, it’s not often that you just sit there and someone is dousing you with all these compliments, and you’re like; oh, oh wait, tell me more about myself.

Juli Bauer: That’s not what your boyfriend does for you every single day?

Vanessa Barajas: No.

Juli Bauer: {laughs}

Vanessa Barajas: Definitely not. No, I wish. He kind of makes fun of me more than anything. Like, at my expense, because he thinks it’s funny. And I’m like; hey.

Juli Bauer: Well, you guys have been together for like 47 years right?

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah. Closer to 57.

Juli Bauer: {laughs}

Vanessa Barajas: It’s been a long time.

Juli Bauer: And you have two cats; what are their names?

Vanessa Barajas: I do, I’m totally the quintessential cat lady. I have a really big cat, he’s very fat, hence his name is Fat Cat. And then I have a little one who is about half the size, and her name is Jell-O.

Juli Bauer: Well, when I got to meet both cats when I came to your house, and they were both not really into me whatsoever. Maybe because I give off that vibe of, “I hate everyone.” But they felt me out; they were not into me.

Vanessa Barajas: They knew that you had a dog, and they were like; “Aww, this b*tch likes dogs. She doesn’t like cats; what’s she doing here? Why’d you let her in our house?”

Juli Bauer: {laughs} It’s very true.

Vanessa Barajas: I’m sure that they loved you. {laughs}

Juli Bauer: So, Vanessa, if you have not heard of her, she wrote this amazing cookbook, Clean Eating with a Dirty Mind, and she lives in this apartment with the tiniest kitchen you have ever seen, and she made this cookbook; how many recipes are in it ?

Vanessa Barajas: Over 150. So, Juli is not kidding when she says I have the smallest kitchen. It’s probably 3 square feet; I mean it’s ridiculous. So it was really challenging writing such a large cookbook in that kitchen. Especially because I have a crappy oven. It has hot spots, so I always have to cook everything on the right side of the oven.

Juli Bauer: {laughs}

Vanessa Barajas: And then for some reason, it’s crooked, so if I have something on the left-hand side, it tilts down, so I can never get this kind of even cook. So it definitely presented some challenges. But I survived. {laughs}

Juli Bauer: And all her photography is so beautiful. So now once you see this cookbook, and you’ve actually heard how small her kitchen is; and then you had to take photos, too, right there near your kitchen, moving back and forth; it’s f*cking insane. Her cookbook is beautiful. But; Vanessa is a woman of many talents, and she has like 47 jobs. It’s not just cookbook author.

Vanessa Barajas: I know. {laughs}

Juli Bauer: She has a lot of jobs. What are all the jobs, other than like you being in the CIA. What are all your jobs?

Vanessa Barajas: Ok, so I’m definitely a covert CIA operative, but that’s kind of more in my spare time.

Juli Bauer: Yeah.

Vanessa Barajas: So in my normal time, I actually work full time for Go Pro, the action camera company, which is awesome. And then I also do; I’m the social marketing director for a women’s ski and snowboard company called Coalition Snow; check us out. A couple; actually it was last year, I got super, super into snowboarding. It’s completely taken over my life. In fact, I’m actually new car shopping right now because I need something with all wheel drive that can get me to and from the snow, and have cargo room for all my gear. It’s literally taken over everything. I do that about 15 or so hours a week; sometimes 20. It’s our busy seasons right now in the winter. And then on top of that, I have the blog and all my cookbook stuff.

Juli Bauer: Amazing.

Vanessa Barajas: So, I definitely, there’s definitely no rest for the wicked. I don’t know what I think; I think I just get super into things, and then I’m like, oh! I just have to immerse myself in it and make it my entire life, and that’s how I end up getting myself into these situations.

Juli Bauer: But that is what’s so awesome about you. When you go in; you go balls deep into things. {laughs}

Vanessa Barajas: {laughing} I totally do.

Juli Bauer: So what’s awesome that you work so many jobs; but, ok there’s the thing about Vanessa and I, we usually only see each other once a year, because we’re like best friends but we never see each other. Because you know, things aren’t convenient. So if it’s not convenient, we won’t see each other. But we only see each other at PaleoFx, and this year is a little bit different because we’re also going to ExpoWest next month. We both decided that in the last minute.

Vanessa Barajas: Yes.

Juli Bauer: And, Vanessa invited me on this f*cking yacht trip. A yacht trip, you guys.

Vanessa Barajas: Whooo!

Juli Bauer: Let’s act like we’re super cool, and we get to be on a yacht; because we do! But she invited on this yacht trip; it’s through the Bahamas, right? I booked it and didn’t really read about it.

Vanessa Barajas: Through the Caribbean.

Juli Bauer: The Caribbean.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, Juli was all; whatever, take my money. I’m going on it.

Juli Bauer: {laughs} Yeah, I don’t know the difference between the Bahamas and the Caribbean, anyways. So, which trip are you most excited about? LA, Austin, or the Caribbean?

Vanessa Barajas: Well, Juli, I think I’m just actually excited that I get to see you three times this year instead of our normal one.

Juli Bauer: For real. For real.

Vanessa Barajas: But I think; because I did the same Caribbean trip last year, and it was the coolest trip I’ve ever been on in all my life. You’re just on a boat, and they just stop at all these different islands. So I feel like you get to see more, because it’s not like you just fly into one place and you’re kind of stuck there. It’s like, you’re literally seeing all these different islands. We’re going to get to see St. Martin, St. Bards, and Anguilla, which I’ve heard Anguilla is one of the most beautiful islands in the world. So I’m super excited about that. There’s unlimited booze; so it’s like we’re just going to get to be turnt; and the water is so warm and we’re going to snorkel. I’m so excited for that.

But I’m also really excited for PaleoFx, because then we get to see everybody. It’s like our family; our paleo family gets to all be together.

Juli Bauer: And PaleoFx is in Austin every year. So usually all we do is we go there and we eat out for every single meal, and then we feel like massive slobs by the end of it, even though we’re eating clean. But we’re having cocktails with every meal. And then remember those kimchi loaded fries that we had?

Vanessa Barajas: Oh my god.

Juli Bauer: So good.

Vanessa Barajas: Those were so good. And the Gelato, like grass-fed gelato after every meal. Or Lick ice cream.

Juli Bauer: It’s so obnoxious with the food.

Vanessa Barajas: Butter coffee from Piknik. {laughs}

Juli Bauer: Yes! Oh my god, so much butter coffee.

Vanessa Barajas: So good.

Juli Bauer: Like, do we really need butter in our coffee? Ok.

Vanessa Barajas: I know, but we do.

Juli Bauer: So we need to actually do active things this next time around. Like go paddle boarding down whatever river they have.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, lets. Yeah, I’m totally down. And that’s actually one thing that I really love about traveling with Juli; we’re totally super into working out so we can always be workout buddies. And then it’s like either we’re in a hotel making up hotel workouts, or we’re like, you know; in the Caribbean, I have this fantasy of us doing these really cool beach WODs, and swims, and runs and stuff. Or we’ll just hit up Orange Theory, which is always great for an awesome workout.

14.53

Juli Bauer: Well that is the perfect little leeway into this next conversation, so thank you for that. So I’ve been doing Orange Theory a ton lately; and this is all thanks to Vanessa because she introduced me to Orange Theory when we were on book tour. And we did Orange Theory workouts in almost every city that we went to. And then I didn’t do it for like a year until recently, and I decided to take it back up. But you have done all kinds of different workouts. And when we were on book tour, you were doing mostly Orange Theory and yoga, but then I know that you dabbled back into Crossfit. So what kind of exercise are you into right now?

Vanessa Barajas: So yeah, I’m always kind of all over the map with my exercises, just because I’m kind of the person that I’ll do something for a certain period of time, and then I’ll just get bored with it; and I’m like, ok I want to try something new. So right now, at Go Pro, we actually have this really kick ass gym that’s on site. It’s almost like a Crossfit gym meets a super nice Equinox gym; it’s just awesome. They’ve got everything you could ever imagine. So I’m actually just working with a few of the trainers there, and they kind of mapped out this whole kind of nutrition plan and a workout strategy for our Caribbean trip, because I’m going to have to be next to you in a bathing suit. {laughs} So I’m on it.

Juli Bauer: {laughs}

Vanessa Barajas: Like I’m getting serious. {laughs} So they kind of mapped out this whole workout plan for me to do over the next 7 months or so, which is basically kind of a lot of the stuff that I’ve seen you doing on your Instagram lately. And then I also I know the kind of Crossfit on Broadway workouts that you’re kind of doing with your Crossfit gym. It’s kind of more like that.

And then I’ve just always been one of those weirdoes that I like to run by nature, like I just enjoy running. It’s kind of therapeutic for me; a little cathartic. It just gets me out of my head. I can just put on music and just hit the road. So some of that. And of course, I always like to fit in an Orange theory workout. Just because Orange Theory; it’s really fun to me. It’s kind of like you’re working out in a club. The lighting is all dark, and the music is all loud. I like having them just telling you what to do. Because if it’s just me, if I’m trying to do a workout by myself in the gym, it’s like; I’m like, oh I’ll just be lazy. Or I’ll cut my reps a little short or whatever, you know.

Juli Bauer: Totally.

Vanessa Barajas: But when you’re in Orange Theory you really have someone on you, and I need that, and I enjoy that.

Juli Bauer: I totally agree with that. What’s so funny; how tall are you, like 5’1”?

Vanessa Barajas: 5’2” {laughs}.

Juli Bauer: Ok, sure. {laughs} So Vanessa is very short.

Vanessa Barajas: I’m like, give me that extra inch I want that extra inch! {laughs}

Juli Bauer: And I’m 5’7”, and so when we were doing Orange Theory together, I’d be on the treadmill next to her, and she’s running so fast! I was like, what the f*ck? I was like, sh*t, I better up this. I have like 10 feet on her, I need; I have 10 feet of legs on her, I better up my speed. So now whenever I’m on the treadmill, I always think; what would Vanessa do. And I up my speed because of you.

Vanessa Barajas: {laughing}

Juli Bauer: It’s crazy. It’s crazy how fast your little short legs will go.

Vanessa Barajas: I like that. Yep, they’re my little getaway sticks.

Juli Bauer: {laughs}

Vanessa Barajas: {laughs} I’ve gotta keep those puppies, keep ‘em at it, you know?

Juli Bauer: {laughs} Good job.

Vanessa Barajas: {laughing}

18.21

Juli Bauer: So I’m going to run through this fun little question and answer round, and then we’re coming to the full topic of the day. So I have these little questions for you; just pretty much what I’m interested in right now. Because as you know, I’m a little self centered. So I’ve been really loving cocktails lately; and from what I know about Vanessa Barajas, she is one hell of a cocktail girl. She loves her cocktails. Vanessa loves her booze.

Vanessa Barajas: I do.

Juli Bauer: So Vanessa, what is your all-time favorite cocktail? All time.

Vanessa Barajas: My all-time favorite cocktail would have to be a Moscow Mule.

Juli Bauer: What? That simple?

Vanessa Barajas: But. It has; yeah, that simple, just a Moscow Mule. But it has to be; I’m super particular about it. It has to be a certain kind of ginger beer; I really like the Bundaberg ginger beer the best, and then I’m kind of a vodka aficionado, so I prefer Kettle One. So it’s always like a Kettle One Moscow Mule with the Bundaberg ginger beer; and then I like the little sprig of mint on top, and then it’s like I have this whole kind of recipe worked out that I just make myself at home. And then there’s a couple of really good places; I live in San Diego, so there are a couple of good places that make amazing Moscow Mules that I’ll go out to. And it’s just my favorite; I don’t know. It’s simple, it’s to the point, and it’s refreshing, too. I feel like I drink one; it’s just so refreshing.

Juli Bauer: It is. It’s totally refreshing.

Vanessa Barajas: I want one, like right now. {laughs}

Juli Bauer: Right, you should. You’re kind of sick; I heard it’s really good to drink a lot of alcohol when you’re sick.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, just so everyone knows I don’t normally sound this nasally and kind of annoying and kind of mannish at the same time; I am actually getting over a cold, so. Hopefully next time I’m a guest on Juli’s podcast I’ll sound a little more normal.

Juli Bauer: Never again! Ok, so my favorite cocktail, and why I’ve been thinking about this, I just had this last Friday, is at a restaurant here in town and I want you to try it when you come into town because it’s so good.

Vanessa Barajas: Ok.

Juli Bauer: It has coconut milk, it has gin, I think it’s Hendrix gin, which is my favorite gin and the only gin you should really drink.

Vanessa Barajas: Oh it’s my favorite; my favorite too.

Juli Bauer: It’s so good. Other gins just taste like ass. What else? Coconut milk, gin, sparkling water, and lime juice. And it’s so good!

Vanessa Barajas: Ooh!

Juli Bauer: It’s so good. And it’s that simple.

Vanessa Barajas: Oh my gosh, I have to try that. It sounds amazing.

Juli Bauer: You should totally make it. Ok, next question. What is your biggest pet peeve, Vanessa?

Vanessa Barajas: Oh my gosh. I feel like I have so many. I feel like there needs to be different categories; like, am I driving, am I in public, am I at home?

Juli Bauer: That’s true.

Vanessa Barajas: I think, you know overall, probably my biggest pet peeve, it just drives me crazy. This happens a lot at work; I’ll walk into the supply room or into the kitchen, and people just leave cupboard doors open.

Juli Bauer: Yeah.

Vanessa Barajas: Like animals.

Juli Bauer: {laughs}

Vanessa Barajas: I mean, like how hard is it to open a cupboard, take what you need out of it, and then shut it again. Like, it’s literally the easiest thing on planet earth. And I’ll just walk into the kitchen, or walk into the supply room, and there are just all these random doors open everywhere. And it’s like; what the hell? It just drives me crazy. And it always reminds me of that scene in the Sixth Sense too, where she walks into the kitchen and then all the cupboards are closed, and she turns around and they’re all open again.

Juli Bauer: {laughs}

Vanessa Barajas: So then I kind of started to freak myself out; and I’m like, “Oh my god, there’s dead people in here. There are dead people in the kitchen at work and in the supply room!”

Juli Bauer: At least if they’re dead then you don’t have to work with them.

Vanessa Barajas: {laughs} So that’s probably; that’s literally my biggest pet peeve. I just; I get so irritated. And then I have to take time out of my day; I’m over here working 3 jobs, and I’ve got to take time to go shut all these damn cabinets that people can’t shut themselves. Ugh!

Juli Bauer: Yeah, that’s f*cked up. That’s f*cked up. And have you ever thought about loading; or propping a; what’s it called, one of your Go Pro cameras to find out who these hooligans are and fire them.

Vanessa Barajas: Catch the culprit

Juli Bauer: Yeah!

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah.

Juli Bauer: Because then you can fire them.

Vanessa Barajas: It’s not a bad idea. That’s actually a really good idea.

Juli Bauer: If you can’t adult next to the water cooler, then you should not have a job. I think that’s just fact.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah. Agreed.

Juli Bauer: Ok. Ok. We’re on the same page.

Vanessa Barajas: And it’s like; you know, maybe I need to get some crazy spring loaded cupboards, or something; so then you have to literally sit there and hold it open to get what you want and then it just slams shut again or something.

Juli Bauer: Yes!

Vanessa Barajas: And if you’re finger is stuck in there? Sorry! Don’t know what to tell you.

Juli Bauer: What a genius invention. You should go to Ikea with that; trademark.

Vanessa Barajas: {laughs}

Juli Bauer: Ok, my next question for you. So, this is; I’ll answer it already. I’ll answer it first. Because, did you watch the Grammys the other night?

Vanessa Barajas: I didn’t.

Juli Bauer: God dammit.

Vanessa Barajas: But I’ve heard stuff about it.

Juli Bauer: Ok.

Vanessa Barajas: I’m just not a big Grammys or Oscars type person.

Juli Bauer: Yeah, because you’re an adult. So who watches the Grammys anymore? I don’t know why I did. But, my husband turned it on so we watched it. And I was thinking the other day; I’m like, what celebrity would I want to meet. And f*cking Adele had the best speech of the night, and she’s just so cute, and so adorable, and so my question is if you could meet any celebrity, who would it be? My answer is Adele right now, because she’s just adorbs. Who would yours be?

Vanessa Barajas: I love that because I love Adele, and she looks like she’d be so much fun to hang out with, and she has that chipper British accent so I feel like I could make fun of her a lot and imitate her accent, and then she’d get pissed off and be like, “Shut up, you’re a stupid American.”

Juli Bauer: {laughs}

Vanessa Barajas: But then I’d be like, “Ah, come on Adele, we’re friends. Sing me some songs or something.” So I really like that choice. I think that’s great.

Juli Bauer: Your right.

Vanessa Barajas: Mine is kind of like a tie.

Juli Bauer: She can get away with anything because she has her accent.

Vanessa Barajas: Oh totally.

Juli Bauer: I cuss and everybody hates me to guts, but if Adele cusses it’s adorable because of her accent.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, it’s like cute. It’s charming.

Juli Bauer: Yeah.

Vanessa Barajas: Like really, could you do it more please?

Juli Bauer: Yes. Dammit. Sorry, what were you going to say?

Vanessa Barajas: She’s awesome. So wait, so you switched because I remember yours used to be Mindy Kalin when we were on book tour.

Juli Bauer: Yeah.

Vanessa Barajas: So you’ve officially switched to Adele?

Juli Bauer: I’ve switched to Adele. Mindy Kalin; I just haven’t really seen her stuff lately. I am watching the Office back from the start, and she has just some random parts in there. But you know, I think it’s Adele. I think Adele would cuss more with me, and I like her for that.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah. And she drinks, too, so you guys could get hammered together.

Juli Bauer: Yeah, I could show her my new favorite cocktail.

Vanessa Barajas: That’d be fun.

Juli Bauer: Yeah.

Vanessa Barajas: She’d like that. Ok, so mine is a tie. There’s actually this radio show; you know this.

Juli Bauer: Oh yeah! {laughs}

Vanessa Barajas: There’s a radio show in LA called the Woody Show. And I’m like; they just kind of feel like family at this point. I’ve followed them since they were in the Bay Area, so I’ve probably listened to them since 2006. Every single day I listen to their podcast on my drive to and from work. And I actually in my book, at the end of my book, you know in the Thank yous. I forget what it’s even called. The Acknowledgements; thank you that’s what it’s called.

Juli Bauer: Thank you {laughs}.

Vanessa Barajas: So I ended up giving them a shout out. I was like; dude, the whole time I was writing my book that was one of the things that got me through the really hard times, when I’m like; why did I sign that stupid contract? Why am I even doing this? And I would just put them on, and laugh my ass off, and bake and I would forget that I was working. I just kind of got in my zone. So I ended up wanting to give them a shout out and thank them. And it was actually cool; a couple of the people on the show now follow me on Instagram, and we kind of chat and stuff, so that’s pretty cool. But they’re kind of not really a celebrity; it’s a group of people first of all, and second of all, they’re just radio DJs, you know what I mean?

Juli Bauer: {laughs}

Vanessa Barajas: It’s not like they’re like Harrison Ford or something like that.

Juli Bauer: Yeah, yeah. They’re not making millions; they’re probably making $10,000 a year.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, yeah. But then if I have to pick a real celebrity celebrity, I would probably pick J.K. Rowling.

Juli Bauer: Oh sh*t!

Vanessa Barajas: Basically because I’m obsessed with Harry Potter.

Juli Bauer: Yes!

Vanessa Barajas: And dude; have you seen her on Twitter?

Juli Bauer: Oh my god!

Vanessa Barajas: She kills it.

Juli Bauer: The best.

Vanessa Barajas: You cannot; I mean, she is so boss.

Juli Bauer: So boss.

Vanessa Barajas: That it’s just like; Oh, oh. Nobody can try to get anything over on J.K. She’s just on it. And I love that about it. I imagine myself having this really nice dinner with her, and I could just ask her all the questions I wanted about Harry Potter, and she wouldn’t get sick of it, because she wrote Harry Potter. So then it’s like, we could just talk about it for hours. It would be awesome. And then I would just want to sit; shut down Twitter trolls with her too; it would be really fun.

Juli Bauer: It’s so funny; I’m almost positive I talked about that in my last podcast, because she is so f*cking hilarious. I’m guessing she was maybe talking sh*t about Trump; I don’t know, somebody was pissed she was talking sh*t, and she was like, you can burn my books, I still got your money b*tch!

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah.

Juli Bauer: She’s just so badass.

Vanessa Barajas: She just shuts it down.

Juli Bauer: Shuts it down!

Vanessa Barajas: She’s so awesome.

Juli Bauer: God I need to pick up reading her Twitter more often so I can shut it down. I’m not good at shutting it down. That’s’ a good answer. That’s a really good answer.

Vanessa Barajas: {laughs} Thanks.

Juli Bauer: Ok. Well, since you listen to your radio people; do you listen to podcasts ever? Are you a podcaster, since you’re on this one right now? {laughs}

Vanessa Barajas: I don’t. I’m like, podcast suck!

Juli Bauer: {laughs}

Vanessa Barajas: No I’m just kidding. I have actually listened to your podcast a couple of times, like kind of when I miss you.

Juli Bauer: Aww.

Vanessa Barajas: I’m like, I need some JB in my life.

Juli Bauer: You’re the best.

Vanessa Barajas: So then I listen, and I feel like we’re together again and it makes me really happy.

Juli Bauer: {laughs}

Vanessa Barajas: I just; I listen, there’s a couple of Christian podcasts that I listen to that are just kind of local churches in my area. I like to Cassy Joy of Fed and Fit, her podcast sometimes is really good. And then that’s kind of it; I feel like the Woody show really kind takes a lot of my podcasting over, you know?

Juli Bauer: Yeah, yeah. You only need the Woody show.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah. That’s kind of it. But I saw you’re all into these really cool ones; like weird murder mystery ones and stuff like that.

Juli Bauer: Yeah, are you a person who’s into murder? {laughs}

Vanessa Barajas: I’ve just been peeping on your Instagram. {laughs}

Juli Bauer: Thanks.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, I’m super into murder. I’m like, can we just everything murder? No, but speaking of, I did really get into that OJ Simpson; what was that show that they had on FX?

Juli Bauer: Yes, who didn’t?

Vanessa Barajas: Where they, I was like so into that. And I was like; I think it was because when that all happened I was kind of too young to really understand all the intricacies of the trial.

Juli Bauer: Totally!

Vanessa Barajas: And how everything went down. And then rewatching it; I was like, oh my god, this is so fascinating.

Juli Bauer: Yeah!

Vanessa Barajas: It’s just insane.

Juli Bauer: They had another one that wasn’t with actors or actresses; it was like a documentary, pretty much, but it talks about everything that was going on in the world leading up to that, like civil rights. Just stuff we didn’t understand because we were so young. That one was really, really interesting. I don’t know; I forget what that was on. I want to say HBO or something. But because they show really f*cked up graphic stuff from the murder scene, so it has to be on one of those, I don’t know, TV shows that they can put that on. But that was really good; I’ll find what that is and give that to you.

Vanessa Barajas: Ok.

Juli Bauer: Because, don’t worry, I’ll find out all murder things and get them to you, because I love all murder podcasts.

Vanessa Barajas: I know {laughs}.

Juli Bauer: I was listening to My Favorite Murder before we hopped onto this call. So just all things murder over here. But.

Vanessa Barajas: {laughs} Yeah, just keeping it light and airy; no biggie. Ok.

30.53

Juli Bauer: {laughs} Let’s go on a different path. Kind of opposite than murder, hopefully. Do you watch The Bachelor?

Vanessa Barajas: I do not. Dun, dun, dun!

Juli Bauer: Oh my god! I literally…

Vanessa Barajas: I know. I know you’re like the biggest Bachelor fan.

Juli Bauer: I hate you {laughs}.

Vanessa Barajas: I know; can we still be friends? Promise you’ll still be my friend?

Juli Bauer: No! I just started sweating, because I’m like; well what are we ever supposed to talk about now?

Vanessa Barajas: {laughing} We have absolutely nothing in common. It’s not like we don’t live for food or anything like that.

Juli Bauer: You know, it would just be so much fun. Usually I talk about whatever happened on the podcast, whatever happened that week on The Bachelor; but you know, since you’re not into it, we’ll just ruin this whole podcast episode. It’s totally fine.

Vanessa Barajas: I know. Podcast ruined! Might as well shut it off.

Juli Bauer: {laughs}

Vanessa Barajas: No, but you know what show that I actually did start watching?

Juli Bauer: What?

Vanessa Barajas: That I’m like crazy into, is This is Us. Have you seen it?

Juli Bauer: No. This is Us. Is that with Mandy Moore?

Vanessa Barajas: It’s on ABC. Yes. Yes. And Milo Benta blah, blah, blah.

Juli Bauer: That looks very emotional. It looks like an emotional roller coaster.

Vanessa Barajas: It; ok, it totally is. I’ll be honest; I haven’t made it through a single episode without crying my eyes out.

Juli Bauer: Hell to the nah.

Vanessa Barajas: But it’s so good. Like it’s so good. I’m obsessed with it. So I’ve been watching that. I watch the us, you know, like Walking Dead. I want to check out that new 24 Legacy that they have.

Juli Bauer: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I saw that.

Vanessa Barajas: And then I kind of started; you know how you started watching The Office all over again from the beginning?

Juli Bauer: Yes.

Vanessa Barajas: I started doing that with Lost. Remember that show Lost from way back in the day.

Juli Bauer: Yes.

Vanessa Barajas: I was like; I’m going to watch Lost all over again.

Juli Bauer: I loved it when it started, and then I was like, “What the f*ck is going on? Do they even know what’s going on in the show? I think they lost all vision of what they expected to be.”

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, it’s super weird. Yeah, it totally just gets crazy. I remember that too. I’m like; wait, are they calling this show Lost because they’re lost on an island, or because you never know what the hell is going on?

Juli Bauer: {laughing} The producers are so lost.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, they’re on drugs or something. But I was like; I haven’t watched that show in a long time, so I was starting to get back into it.

Juli Bauer: Do you have Netflix.

Vanessa Barajas: I do, yeah.

Juli Bauer: So you should watch the show Wentworth. Have you ever heard of that?

Vanessa Barajas: Ok. Nuh-huh.

Juli Bauer: Wentworth. Write it down. Stop what you’re doing.

Vanessa Barajas: It’s like W-E-N-T. Wentworth?

Juli Bauer: Yes. Yes.

Vanessa Barajas: Wentworth. Ok. I know; stop this podcast, stop recording, just write it down. Write it down!

Juli Bauer: {laughs} It’s like the Australian version of Orange is the New Black, but it’s so good.

Vanessa Barajas: Huh. Ok. I’ll have to check it out. And then somebody else told me that new show, the Santa Clarita Diet is actually pretty good with Drew Barrymore.

Juli Bauer: Oh, yeah!

Vanessa Barajas: Where she’s like some weird.

Juli Bauer: She’s a zombie!

Vanessa Barajas: Like, I don’t know if she’s like a zombie; yeah, and then she has to eat everybody. So it’s like, eh, I’ll check that out.

Juli Bauer: I’m totally down for anything Drew Barrymore.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah. And then of course, I can’t wait for Game of Thrones.

Juli Bauer: Ohhh!

Vanessa Barajas: Just a little fun fact for everybody; Juli will text me after every Game of Thrones episode and be like; wait, what just happened? {laughs} and I’ll have to explain the whole episode, but then it’s hard for me too because I’m like, well it was that one guy from this episode where this happened and it’s just all over the place. But I am excited for that, because it’s going to be the last season, so.

Juli Bauer: What?! Are you serious?

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah.

Juli Bauer: What?

Vanessa Barajas: It’s going to be the last season.

Juli Bauer: Stop.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah.

Juli Bauer: What the f*ck.

Vanessa Barajas: And it’s weird too because this book hasn’t even been written because George R. R. Martin types with one finger, so I don’t know. The book is nowhere near being completed.

Juli Bauer: {laughs} He types with one finger? {laughs} What?

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, literally types with one finger. He’s been working on this book; I’m not even kidding, like 10 years. Realistically, probably like 5. But forever.

Juli Bauer: Why doesn’t he have someone else type it up for him. Why would he do that?

Vanessa Barajas: Dude. You would think, because you’re like a bajillionaire. So you could have someone feeding you grapes, and then just dictating to them what they need to be typing.

Juli Bauer: {laughs}

Vanessa Barajas: I have no idea.

Juli Bauer: Where did you find out this information about typing with one finger?

Vanessa Barajas: {laughing} Just because it’s taken him so long to do the last book, and everybody’s like waiting for it and he’s just not doing it. So, and he’s like, no it’s not right yet, it’s not right yet. Like, isn’t it? Just get it out into the world dude.

Juli Bauer: What? Oh well damn.

Vanessa Barajas: So we’ll see what happens.

Juli Bauer: I cannot wait for that. Ok, this is my last question and then we’ll actually get to the whole reason that you’re on this f*cking podcast in the first place.

Vanessa Barajas: {laughs} Cool.

Juli Bauer: But, my last question is, what is your favorite snack right now? Because I am super into Maple Hill Greek yogurt; I just started trying that.

Vanessa Barajas: Oh yeah, that’s good.

Juli Bauer: Oh my god, it’s so good. And Diane Sanfilippo told me; she was like, I forget, but they strain it differently so it’s actually way better for you than most Greek yogurts, some kind of sh*t like that.

Vanessa Barajas: Huh.

Juli Bauer: But I’ve been adding in the grain free granola; I think it’s Whole Me, and they have a lemon chia granola, and I put that in it, and it is so good. And people always ask about snacks, so I wanted to know what your go-to snacks are recently.

Vanessa Barajas: You know, it kind of depends. I’m at work all the time, right, so that’s kind of mostly when I’m snacking. And then at work we kind of have random snacks; some are healthy and some are just total garbage. So obviously I’m trying to stick with the healthier stuff. So a lot of times I’ll do; this is going to sound so boring. But pistachios, because I really like pistachios, and then I feel like the fact that you have to open each of them individually doesn’t let you just start shoving handfuls of nuts into your mouth.

Juli Bauer: {laughs} Yeah.

Vanessa Barajas: Not that everybody doesn’t want handfuls of nuts into their mouths.

Juli Bauer: So many. So many. All the nuts!

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, everybody does. And then the other thing I’ll do is we have hardboiled eggs, so I’ll take a little paper coffee cup, I’ll put two hardboiled eggs in there, and then I’ll do like a tablespoon of that delicious Primal Kitchen chipotle mayo, and then a little salt and pepper, and then I’ll mash it up and kind of make a quick egg salad. It’s like 2 second egg salad. And then everybody jokes around because we’re like; we only have these limited food options in the kitchen, so we joke around, like it’s like jail food. Especially in Orange is the New Black; they’re making weird stuff with Fritos or whatever they can get from the commissary.

Juli Bauer: {laughs} Yeah.

Vanessa Barajas: Like who has the most creative recipes. So my simple egg salad was actually a pretty big hit.

Juli Bauer: So obviously your office always smells like farts.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, farts, just nonstop farts.

Juli Bauer: Yeah.

Vanessa Barajas: And then; I’m just kind of a fan of protein bars. Like I really like RX bars a lot, especially the new, what is it, the maple salt one.

Juli Bauer: Yes!

Vanessa Barajas: It’s to die for. It’s like you’re just eating a big chunk of caramel or something like that.

Juli Bauer: Oh my god, totally.

Vanessa Barajas: So good. So I really, really like that. Any kind of protein bar, I’m pretty stoked about just because I feel like; I’m always busy and so it’s just something I can get down and it’s going to keep me satisfied until I can hit my next meal.

Juli Bauer: Love it. Those are all great ones. Larabar has a ton of new bars that you should check out, if you’re into bars.

Vanessa Barajas: Oh, yeah.

Juli Bauer: They have a crunchy one, they have a superfoods one that has like chia seeds in it. Oh my god, they’re all so good, you should check those out.

Vanessa Barajas: I got those little bites that you posted.

Juli Bauer: Ah; yes!

Vanessa Barajas: The brownie, the mint brownie or whatever they are. Those are so good.

Juli Bauer: So good.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, and I love their chocolate chip cookie bar that they have, too.

Juli Bauer: Hell yeah.

Vanessa Barajas: It’s probably my favorite.

Juli Bauer: You should try the peanut butter chocolate chip.

Vanessa Barajas: Ok, I’ll try it.

Juli Bauer: Ugh, it’s so good.

Vanessa Barajas: Sounds delicious.

Juli Bauer: So good.

Vanessa Barajas: Ugggh, so good.

39.14

Juli Bauer: {laughs} Ok. So let’s get to the real topic; the whole reason I even had you on this podcast in the first place {laughs} other than to talk snacks and cocktails. So, Vanessa is one of the few people in this world that I actually like. Her and Cassy, who I already had on the podcast.

Vanessa Barajas: {laughs}

Juli Bauer: You know, there are very few people out there. So when I asked Vanessa to be on the podcast, since she has so much free time, you know.

Vanessa Barajas: {laughs}

Juli Bauer: Well, she was like; she gave me a topic, luckily, which is great because I hate coming up with topics, and I keep running out of them and then I just pull sh*t out of my ass and it sounds stupid. So, she said; she was like, hey we should talk about Moderators versus Abstainers. Because, I, Juli Bauer, am a Moderator, and Vanessa is an Abstainer. So, she sent me this little article from Popsugar, and I’ll link it on this blog post so you can find it there. But, it talks just the difference between a Moderator and an Abstainer. So I’m just going to talk about the difference real quick, just the quick two things about each one, and then we’re going to talk about why you’re an Abstainer.

So, a Moderator, which is me, is if you find that the occasional indulgence heightens your pleasure and strengthens your resolve; or you get panicky at the thought of never getting or doing something. An Abstainer is if you have trouble stopping something once you’ve started, and aren’t tempted by things you’ve decided are off limits. So I, I like to have something, a couple of bites of it, and Vanessa has to steer clear from it because she’ll just go all at it.

So, how did you become a self-proclaimed Abstainer? How did you even figure this out? Because I’ve heard a lot about this lately, but I haven’t done much research in it.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, you know what; I always thought that it was interesting because when you’re reading stuff like, how to lose weight or how to become healthier, it’s always like, “Everything in moderation.” And I’m like, what does that even mean. And then I see people like you where you can make a batch of cookies to put on your website, and you’re fine having two, and then freezing the rest and then unfreezing two, eating those. Or you’re fine to just have a cocktail once a week when you’re at dinner; once every two weeks when you’re at dinner. And you do really well with moderation. And I’ve always tried that approach, because I’m like; well they say moderation is key. So if I can just do what I’m doing healthy, and then maybe give myself one meal during the weekend or something, and then have whatever it is I’m craving, whether that’s; it’s always usually sweets. Whether that’s chocolate or cookies or ice cream or whatever, and then I’ll just go back to eating healthy.

And then what I started to realize was; every time I gave myself that “cheat meal” or cheat day, it would take me another three or four days to get back on the wagon. And so then I just kept interrupting my progress. I would start doing really good, feeling really healthy, my clothes are fitting better. And then I’d be like, cool I’m going to have a cheat day, and then it would just throw me off the rails. And it’s just something that’s been a pattern my whole life. Especially around the holidays. I’ll do really good leading up to the holidays, and then it’s like, I’ll have one day where I’m just not on my A game and then that throws me off for the entire month of December. And then all of a sudden, it’s just I’m eating whatever I want all the time; I’m drinking whatever I want all the time; January comes and I’ve gained 10 pounds that month.

So I was like; ok, obviously the moderation thing, that’s not going to work for me because that’s just not how I’m built, it’s not how I’m wired. I think, especially after reading this article; I was like, oh my god this makes so much sense. Because I’m that person where I’m very, very successful if I just exclude all of the temptations from life. And it doesn’t; I don’t feel panicky by that. Because I know it’s not going to be the last time that I get ice cream. It’s not going to be the last time that I eat cheesecake or a brownie, or whatever. I just know that for right now I can’t have those things in my life, and I’m fine with that. And it sets me up for more success.

Even, like right now; I’ve been trying to do this whole nutrition plan and this whole working out thing and even the trainer that I’m working with; he’s like, “Go ahead and give yourself that free day where you let yourself kind of eat what you want, whatever you’ve been craving, and then jump right back on it on Sunday.” And I’m like; you know what, that just doesn’t work for me. If I give myself that one day it’s going to turn into a week, and then it’s going to be that much harder for me to get on track. It’s just easier if I just don’t even have it at all.

And then your body just gets used to it; you know it’s like anything else. When you stop drinking alcohol for a little bit, or you get rid of the sugar, your body is really good at adapting to stuff like that, and it just for me it’s harder to eat it and then have to not eat it again than it is to just give it up completely. And I know that, you know, if it’s a special occasion, say it’s my birthday or like on vacation; you know I’m going to kind of loosen up a little bit; and be like no I’m not going to have that, or I will have that. But I think that’s also why elimination diets, like paleo, kind of work better for me, because I work better with a set of rules. If someone is like; you can’t eat that, you can’t eat that, you can’t eat that; but you can have all these things, I’m like, cool. I’m that person that focuses on the things that I can eat rather than the ones that I can’t. And that’s just kind of how I’ve always been wired.

So once I figured that out, and I read this article; I was like, “Oh my god, that makes so much sense!” I always just thought I was like some weirdo that had no self control, and then I’m like; no that makes sense because I do; basically in this article, it talks about a girl that lost 100 pounds realizing that she couldn’t do moderation. Moderation just didn’t work for her, and she realized she was an Abstainer. And I’m like; I’m an Abstainer too, so that just makes me really happy to know that I’m not some weirdo that can’t moderate. So it’s like; I want to be that person that can just have stuff in moderation; but I can’t even keep sweets in the house. If there’s a bag of chocolate chips left over from baking; I have to just throw it away. I can’t even be around it or have it, because I’ll eat it.

Juli Bauer: So, are your things that you have to stay away from just sweets? Are there other things that you just are like, I’m not having that altogether.

Vanessa Barajas: It’s mostly just sweets, because that’s always been the biggest temptation for me and that’s the hardest for me to kind of resist. It’s also; you know, when I come home from work at night, and I’m starving, if I see a bag of chips or something, I’m just going to grab it and start eating it. Chips; you know how they always say you’re either the salty person or the sweet person; I’ve always been the sweet person. Salty stuff; like chips and pretzels, I can say no to that kind of stuff all day. It’s just like; if I’m starving, then I’m just going to grab whatever I see first. So I need to just make sure that those foods aren’t in my house; especially with the sweets. Because I’ll just go to town and eat it.

So I just always make sure that it’s not in the house, and then I make sure if I do want it, then I can only have it in a single serving portion. So that means, if I’ll go out to a nice dinner or something, I’ll order dessert because that’s just one single portion, and there’s no way for me to overdo it because all I get is what they give me. And I’m not going to be like a fat ass, and be like, “Oh, can you bring me another one please?” {laughs} You know what I mean?

Juli Bauer: {laughs} Yeah.

Vanessa Barajas: {laughs} I can kind of just stop right there and be like; cool, I got my dessert, I feel great, and then I don’t have to worry about coming home the next day and having something in the house that I’m going to want to eat. That’s just what I found works for me.

Juli Bauer: That’s so cool, and crazy, because I’m the complete opposite. It’s just crazy that we’re polar opposites on this. Because for the longest time, before I even knew what an Abstainer and a Moderator was, I thought I was an Abstainer, that I just couldn’t have something because if I had it then I’d want it 10 times more. So I would tell myself I couldn’t have something; and then like a child I would want it a million times over. And once I got my hands on it, then I couldn’t physically stop.

So probably three or four years ago; I was like, f*ck this. I’m not holding back, I’m going to eat what I want when I want and I’ve been gluten free for 7 years, and I stay that way. But I started just eating more of what I was craving, but then I wasn’t craving it like I had before. So I would have one cookie, and that craving would go away, and that feeling of, “Oh my god, I need it!” would go away. So that’s how I kind of figured out that I was a Moderator.

And it’s just so weird, because to me, when people are like, “How do you eat stuff in moderation?” I’m like, well I don’t know, I just have what I’m craving and I don’t hold myself back, and that’s what makes me feel the best. It’s just so crazy that we can be wired completely different, because I need to say I can have something, because then I won’t crave it. It’s just so weird that our bodies are so different like that. And I think it’s hard to figure out, also, what you are. Like you said; you’ve been doing that your whole life, and come to find out, that doesn’t work for you.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah. It’s super interesting, because for so long we were just fed that kind of, just everything in moderation. And you know, it’s funny how you say that by you eating the one cookie or whatever it is that you’re craving, then it takes your craving away. I always wanted to be one of those people, and I’m like; why don’t I fit into that mold? Why aren’t I one of those people? Whereas with me, it’s just so much easier if I just don’t even have it and then I don’t crave it at all. It’s like, once you know, if I were to make a batch of cookies. I always have the best intentions when I’m doing stuff like that, and then I’ll end up eating five or six in one sitting. And then I’ll feel like crap about myself, because I’m like; why can’t I be that person that can have one or two cookies and then put the rest away and be ok.

Juli Bauer: Yeah.

Vanessa Barajas: I just think that’s something that you just kind of have to figure out how your behavioral patterns are, and instead of telling yourself, “This is wrong,” or “I shouldn’t react this way when this happens,” you just have to accept and be like; ok, this is who I am, this is how I’m wired. Now, how do I get around this? How do I work around it? For me, it’s just to completely make these certain foods off limits, and I’m totally ok with that. It doesn’t bother me. Because I know eventually I will eat it again, it’s just; it’s not conducive to what my goals are right now, so I’m not going to have it.

50.17

Juli Bauer: So, how often; say you’re craving cookies, and you’re staying away from that, how often do you have something like that?

Vanessa Barajas: I’m definitely more of a person that is; I’m kind of guided by occasions. So if it’s just like a normal Tuesday, and I’m like; oh my god, I’m super hardcore craving chocolate or ice cream or something, I just won’t have it because it’s a Tuesday in the middle of the week and I don’t really care that much about it. But if it’s like Valentine’s Day; it was just Valentine’s Day, and obviously that’s a holiday that’s centered a lot around chocolate. So everywhere that day I was seeing chocolate here, seeing chocolate there. And I was like; you know what? I really want chocolate. I just want a chocolate; like a chocolate bar. Plain chocolate, I don’t need anything fancy. And so I went to the store and I just bought myself a regular Hershey’s bar. It wasn’t anything super fancy. I was just like; you know what, this is all I really want. This is like 200 calories; obviously it’s not the most paleo or cleanest chocolate or whatever; but I’m like, you know what, it’s Valentine’s Day. This is what I want; I’m just going to eat it. So I ate it, and then that’s all I had was that single bar, and I was like ok. I feel satisfied and now I just don’t feel like I need to have chocolate for a while.

So you know, it’s like I kind of just look to occasions; special occasions. I think the next special occasion coming up will be like my boyfriend’s birthday, so maybe if we go out to dinner that night I’ll have a dessert. But I just find the longer I go without it, the less I even think or crave it. I’m almost doing myself a service by just not eating it, or even taking a bite or anything like that, because then it’s all I can focus on. Whereas, you’re the person where if you can’t have it then it’s all you can focus on, and I’m the person where if I just take one bite, it’s all I can focus on until I basically binge and then feel guilty about myself afterwards.

Juli Bauer: So how do you come back from, say a vacation, like our vacation coming up to the Caribbean, where obviously we’ll be enjoying food and having lots of cocktails. How do you come back from that sort of thing where you’re indulging a decent amount, for a good amount of time; you know, a week straight. How do you get back on track after that?

Vanessa Barajas: So that’s a great question, because that’s always the hardest thing for me, is getting back on track and that’s why it’s just easier for me to abstain. So usually when I come back, there’s definitely that period of where I’m like; ok, it’s just going to suck for a couple of days. I’m going to be going through sugar withdrawals, I’m going to be craving alcohol. Because it’s like; once you reintroduce alcohol back into your body, it’s just like sugar, you start craving it, you know? So it’s like I have to wean myself off of that, and it’s like anything. The first time you started doing paleo and you just kind of had to eliminate all these foods, and you just felt like crap. So you kind of have to just suck it up.

I’m also, by nature, a super organized person, so it’s like, I have this weird thing where I have to start diets, or eating better, or if I’m like, “Ok I’m cleaning up my diet right now.” I have to start it at the beginning of the week. I can’t just do it on a Wednesday or a Thursday, I’m just like, no that’s dumb. I need to start it when the week starts. So that’s why New Years’ is always really good for me, because I have that crazy holiday period, and the I’m like, ok January 1st. it’s like a fresh clean start.

So usually that’s what I do. If we get back from vacation, I’ll wait until; for some reason Saturdays are a good day for me, because I feel like it’s the weekend, that’s kind of when my week is starting all over and resetting. So I’ll usually just wait until a Saturday and then kind of start over. I always wanted to be one of those people that’s like, “Oh, it’s Tuesday, I’m just going to change everything right now and start eating healthy again.” That’s another thing I am, by nature, not. I need it to be in my head, this kind of organized version of it. So that’s what I’ll do.

I think another important thing is actually you talk about it in your latest cookbook, Juli Bauer’s Paleo Cookbook, about not; what is it, failing to plan is planning to fail.

Juli Bauer: Hell yeah, girlfriend!

Vanessa Barajas: And that kind of always stuck with me; like yeah. It just makes so much sense. So if you’re planning on making a lifestyle change, and getting healthier, you need to set yourself up for success. So I think one of the big steps is kind of learning all these behavioral patterns that you have; but then it’s like, you need to go to the grocery store and stock your kitchen with stuff that you can grab when you’re starving and you’re walking through the door, and you’re like; just give me anything. You know; have fresh fruit, have a protein bar; have all that kind of stuff handy so you’re not trying to reach for the chips or the cookies or anything like that. And I think just being kind of aware of that and not bringing that stuff into the house; that just helps me a lot too.

So when I’m at the grocery store, sometimes I’ll be like, “I’m just going to buy myself one little treat.” And I will, and then I’ll eat it when I get home, and then it’s gone for the week. But another kind of cool tidbit that I heard was; you know, how to kind of judge if you’re hungry, because I think that’s another problem that people these day have. They start eating for either emotional reasons or just because they’re bored and they just want something to do.

So a good way to kind of measure your hunger is; would you eat an apple? Are you hungry enough to eat an apple? So I started kind of asking myself that, you know, I’m like I feel hungry, I think I’m hungry. Ok, well if I had an apple right here, would I eat it? And sometimes I’m like, no an apple doesn’t sound good right now. But you know what does sound good is some ice cream. And then I’m like; ok, I’m craving something for an emotional reason right now. I’m either bored or anxious or happy or whatever, but I’m not eating for the true reason of my body being hungry.

And then sometimes I’m like; “oh my god I’m starving; yes, I’d eat like 5 apples right now!”So I’ll kind of just check in with myself from time to time, and ask myself those questions, and make sure that I’m kind of staying within my plan and kind of my emotional state of mind and all that stuff.

Juli Bauer: I love that, that’s awesome. Do you; when you’re going on vacation, as an Abstainer, are you say, “I’m going to eat whatever I want,” or are you usually trying to keep it in check? What’s your goal as an Abstainer when vacations come up or those longer special occasions, other than just one night?

Vanessa Barajas: That’s funny that you ask that, because I always start out vacation with the best intentions.

Juli Bauer: Don’t we all.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah; like the first 3 to 4 days of vacation, I’m pretty on it. I’ll usually pick one meal that I want to kind of be a little relaxed at, and then I’ll just try to eat really healthy the rest of the day. So I’ll choose salads, and something light like eggs and vegetables for breakfast. And then if I want to go out for dinner, then that’s when I’m having steak and potatoes and my chocolate dessert. But then I feel like I get to day 5, day 6; and I’m like, “YOLO!”

Juli Bauer: {laughs}

Vanessa Barajas: And then I’m like, “Bring it!” And then I just kind of eat whatever I want. And then I’ll even notice myself; the transition happens so quickly where I’ll be on vacation, and there will be something there that’s just, you know, on the table that you could eat. Like at a restaurant, they’ll just bring something out; like your chips and guac or chips and salsa or something. Whereas if it was a normal time, I’d be all, “No, that’s fine, I don’t need to have the chips.” But if I’m on vacation, I literally can hear my brain be like, “Oh you should eat those chips because you’re on vacation.” And then I’ll eat them, and be like, what’s up, I’m on vacation, I can do whatever I want.

Juli Bauer: {laughs} Yeah.

Vanessa Barajas: Like calories and stuff don’t count here.

Juli Bauer: Never.

Vanessa Barajas: So it definitely does that switch. It will be interesting, because every year before I go on vacation, I’m like; “No, we’re going to eat healthy, it’s going to be great.” And then by day 5, it’s like all bets are off. And I’m sure a lot of that has to do with the alcohol consumption. Because I’ll notice, obviously like anything else, when I’m not drinking as regularly, my food choices are a lot better.

Juli Bauer: Yeah.

Vanessa Barajas: And then when I am drinking, it’s like, “Oh yeah, give me the truffle fries.” You know what I mean?

Juli Bauer: {laughs} Yeah.

Vanessa Barajas: Give me the nachos. I’m just not making good food choices. So it definitely helps me when I’m not drinking. But obviously on vacation I’m going to be drinking, so it’s just kind of like, I think also keeping yourself in check by having a food diary. I always use that app, My Fitness Pal. So just by monitoring, kind of keeping track of what I’m putting in my body, I can just kind of get an overall sense of; ok, this is what I’ve eaten for the day, I probably need to start cleaning it up a little bit tomorrow. Or sometimes I’m just like; screw it. I’ll deal with it when I get back; which is always the worst, because then it’s just that much harder. But you know what; I think that’s part of it, too. It’s life, you know what I mean. Sometimes you’re on vacation; just enjoy yourself and don’t worry about it so much.

And if you’re like me, as an Abstainer, just realize it’s going to be hard when you get back, but I feel like if you can just suck it up for like 3 days; I feel like 3 days is kind of that golden rule. If you can go without sugar, or go without alcohol for 3 days, it’s going to get easier from there. It’s just those first couple of days are so hard. Same with starting out an exercise routine; or any kind of routine that you’re not used to doing. It’s like; always give yourself that 3 days, I feel like. And then you’re like, you know what? This is fine. I can totally do this.

Juli Bauer: Love it, Vanessa. I love it. We’re like the complete same person but complete opposites at the same time.

Vanessa Barajas: {laughs}

Juli Bauer: That’s what’s so great.

Vanessa Barajas: We’re like, identical, but not at all. {laughs}

Juli Bauer: But not at all. Ok; here’s a weird question. One of my friends is pregnant with twins, but they’re not identical and they’re in different sacs. Are all identical twins in the same sac? I don’t’ really know this stuff about twins. Or birth. Or having children.

Vanessa Barajas: I have no idea. I know; I don’t either. Like, I have panic attacks. Like I’ll accidentally walk through the baby aisle in Target, and I’m like; oh my god, what is all this stuff? How do people know how to use this? What does that machine do? Oh my god.

Juli Bauer: It’s very, very overwhelming.

Vanessa Barajas: And then I run because it’s so; yeah, it’s so overwhelming. So I don’t know how any of that works. Or with people; you’re like, how old is your kid? And they’re like; oh they’re 48 months.

Juli Bauer: Yeah, stop.

Vanessa Barajas: And you’re like what; I don’t even know what that is. How many years is that; I don’t even know.

Juli Bauer: Yes! Pregnancy, when they talk about pregnancy in weeks, I’m like; I have no idea how long 22 weeks is.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, totally.

Juli Bauer: Like, I can’t even do the math, the simple math, to figure that out. I don’t know why people can’t; whatever, we’re just not pregnant. We need to get pregnant and get it.

Vanessa Barajas: Do you totally like pretend?

Juli Bauer: Yeah, “Oh my god, that’s so great!”

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, just so we understand. “I’m like 22 weeks.” “Oh my god, you’re 22 weeks! That’s amazing!” And I’m like, oh my god, I have no idea what that even means. You might as well have said something in Chinese.

Juli Bauer: Yep. Yep. That’s kind of how I feel about all baby stuff.

Vanessa Barajas: So funny.

Juli Bauer: I went to a baby shower this past weekend, and had to buy diapers, and I’m like; I don’t know what f*cking diapers to buy!

Vanessa Barajas: {laughs}

Juli Bauer: How are you supposed to know this stuff? And I’m like, I’ll just buy the biggest box. You’re having twins; you deserve every diaper in the world right now.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah.

Juli Bauer: God that; could you imagine having twins?

Vanessa Barajas: And they’ll get there eventually, if the size is off. No. Oh my gosh, no. that’s the crazy thing in that This is Us show; they have triplets. They have 3 kids. I’m like; I can’t even imagine one let alone having 3. It’s just so crazy to me. I have so much respect for people that have kids; it just seems so exhausting.

Juli Bauer: Oh my god, it looks like the worst. The worst.

Vanessa Barajas: I can’t imagine.

Juli Bauer: All the props to the women out there who are having babies and having triplets, or twins. Or just one baby inside of you. Props to you ladies.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah props. Shout out!

Juli Bauer: Shout out to all them ladies out there.

Vanessa Barajas: Shout out.

Juli Bauer: Our uterus, or whatever a baby is housed in, will be empty for a little bit {laughs}.

Vanessa Barajas: {laughing} A fallopian tube.

Juli Bauer: Yeah.

Vanessa Barajas: What a weird word; fallopian. Fallopian tube.

Juli Bauer: It’s a really gross word, let’s stop saying that {laughs}.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, ok I don’t like it. {laughs}

Juli Bauer: Well thank you so much for being on today, Vanessa, and taking time out of your sick day to be on the podcast and to talk about fallopian tubes with me. I really appreciate it.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah! Well thanks for having me. I hope that my Nyquil Days makes sense to anybody that’s listening to this. Because I am heavily DayQuiled right now.

Juli Bauer: Heavily drugged. She’s always heavily drugged!

Vanessa Barajas: Heavily drugged. I know {laughs}. But no.

Juli Bauer: Sorry, sorry. Go ahead.

Vanessa Barajas: No, I don’t even remember what I was going to say. It’s the Dayquil.

Juli Bauer: Dammit. {laughs} Well, ok. Let’s just do a summary of today.

Vanessa Barajas: Ok.

Juli Bauer: I think the whole reason you were on is to help people decide if they’re a Moderator or Abstainer. So take all this helpful information in; hopefully it helps you figure out your sh*t, if you need to stay away from food or if you need to just have a little nibble here and there. But I’ll link the little post that Vanessa sent to me in the blog so you can get it there. And guys, let’s welcome Vanessa back another time, because she is a doll. A doll face. Maybe we’ll record in the Caribbean together.

Vanessa Barajas: Oh, that’s such a good idea. You know what we should do? We should have a drunken podcast.

Juli Bauer: Oh f*ck.

Vanessa Barajas: We’ll just get crazy drunk, and it will be so great. Actually I think everybody would hate us, and they would hate it. But we’ll have fun doing it, and that’s what is important.

Juli Bauer: Yes. And you know what, I get so much hate mail every single day, that it doesn’t matter. We’ll just get wasted, because then we will not care.

Vanessa Barajas: {laughs}

Juli Bauer: Vacation YOLO wasted.

Vanessa Barajas: So down. I wish we could do it on inner tubes in the water, but I feel like electrical equipment and water don’t really go together.

Juli Bauer: I don’t know; we’ll test it out. We’ll test it.

Vanessa Barajas: Ok.

Juli Bauer: Ok.

Vanessa Barajas: It’s going to be cool. Everybody always asks if it’s the show; is it Under Deck? On the Deck? I don’t know.

Juli Bauer: Oh yes; um something Deck.

Vanessa Barajas: What’s the show called.

Juli Bauer: I don’t know. Below Deck!

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, totally.

Juli Bauer: Below Deck.

Vanessa Barajas: Top Deck; Below Deck! There you go. {laughs} I’m like, Top Deck?

Juli Bauer: Yes. Top Gun.

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, Below Deck. Everyone is like; oh my god, is it like that? I’m like, no. definitely don’t have people waiting on us hand and foot and we’re not all bougie like, “Oh I want the caviar instead of the shrimp cocktail.”

Juli Bauer: Well that’s what I was totally planning to be like, so. It’s my vacation too!

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah, but kind of; yeah {laughs}. But it’s going to be so much fun. Just last time was so fun. I can’t wait. We’ll definitely send everybody lots of pictures and do lots of social posts. And yeah, we should totally record something for your blog. Maybe we could do something about; like how to eat healthy while you’re on vacation in a foreign country, where they might not have all these crazy cool options like we have here in the states.

Juli Bauer: Well, we can’t be drunk for that episode, then, because we don’t make the best choices while intoxicated {laughs}.

Vanessa Barajas: {laughs} We’re like; “oh wait, truffle fries? Did somebody say truffle fries?”

Juli Bauer: Yeah. “Is this Little Debbie snack cake paleo?”

Vanessa Barajas: Yeah. “is this gluten free and sugar free? Yeah, cool.”

Juli Bauer: {laughs} Yeah, yeah.

Vanessa Barajas: I’m going to eat it.

Juli Bauer: Ok well Vanessa, it’s been a f*cking hour so I’m going to let you go. Thanks for being on. Thanks for being such a gem. And I cannot wait to have you back someday.

Vanessa Barajas: Thank you! Thanks everyone for listening.

Juli Bauer: Have a great day everyone. I’ll see you soon. Bye bye!