Hello my fruity ones!
I am writing because my former roomate has reminded me I have not written in several months. I returned to work back in July, and I am really at a good place! My son is back in day care about five days a week --- and seem to be liking things alot.
Anyways, I have been able to easily fit the raw diet into my daily life. I have went without coffee for discrete periods. However, for the moment I enjoy arriving to work, and stopping by the little coffee shop at the hospital. It is a small business after all! Over the last week or so I have been juicing 6 large naval oranges, and drinking the juice with the pulp for breakfast. I do this over the course of the morning. Lunch is 6 very ripe pears. Pears can be difficult for some people to digest. If this is you --- just peel the fruit first, because it is likely the pectin in the skin. Dinner has varied, but it could be a salad, with some more fruit or some other raw dish.
Yesterday, I looked up some additional recipes online. I found a few good recipes on the 'choose to be raw' blog. I then adapted them based on what I had in my kitchen! These recipes are crowd pleasers, even non - raw, non vegans would like them.
Spanish Rice:
1/2 cauliflower
1/2 cucumber
1/2 red pepper
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 to 2 tsps braggs liquid aminos
1 TBSP nutritional yeast (sold at the health food stores)
1/2 tsp of cumin
1/2 tsp of coriander
Pulse all of this in the food processor.
Topping:
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1/4 cup cashews (soaked for 1 hour)
1 tsp of "Mexican seasoning" (bought this at Whole Foods in the spice aisle)
Pulse all of this in the food processor.
I chopped up romaine lettuce (5 outer leaves), tomato and onions and put the "rice" on top, and lastly the cheese. This recipe was very easy, and pretty.
Just wanted to let you know, nutritional yeast, is not considered raw. However, many raw chefs use it to flavor recipes. It tends to taste a lot like cheese. It is a great source of B vitamins and protein. It contains about 7 grams of protein in two tablespoons. I would recommend using the "cheese" sparingly as you want to stick to the 80 10 10 standard. I would say this makes enough for 1 to 2 servings with a little extra "cheese."
It has been interesting to see people's reaction when I tell them about what I eat. I like it, because it gives me a chance to brag about vegetarianism/veganism. I am at the point where I don't want to go back to a cooked lifestyle because I feel so good where I'm at. I have become quite passionate about it. I have even found a friend at work with similar ideas. Until next time ... PEACE AND LOVE
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Updates - New smoothies and dressings!
I can't believe it has been over a month since I blogged. I am doing very well. I continue to live a high raw vegan lifestyle (80/10/10). Over the course of time I have slowly gravitated back to raw vegan foods. Although I still struggle with dairy products from time to time (I'm working on it!) I really feel better on the raw foods. At the moment, the only non - raw component of my day is my homemade salad dressing - which I will share with you below! I will be returning to work full time next week - so I have to take my raw show on the road. So it will be interesting to see if and how things change in that environment.
Here is what I ate today (and pretty much the whole week):
Banana and kale smoothies
Banana and cinnamon smoothies
Great big salads with my miso - mayo dressing
Lovely dark organic cherries
Personal watermelons
Peaches
The summer is just wonderful for this way of life. It is totally normal for me to sit down with a big spoon and devour half a full sized watermelon. In case you are wondering - I eat about 2000 calories a day. That is enough to fill me up - give me energy - and keep any cooked food cravings under control. So not the 2500 Plus I was once aiming for, but not too much lower. I still find myself slimming down in the right places. I am currently down to about 122. Which is pretty much baseline for me. (That's down from 130 at the beginning of the year). I am also taking a vitamin D supplement called vitashine. It is pretty cool because it is a tasteless spray.
I have another raw achievement to announce ... not only have I given up diet soda, but also coffee products. It has been a week since my last coffee and I am doing very well. I have noticed less irritability, nervousness and agitation. I have a two year old at home ... and a husband ... LOL so as you can imagine agitating moments arise, but lately I am able to take everything and deal with it appropriately. Where as before I would find myself wanting to rip someone's head off, yell, scream or stomp. I feel more like me! Also, I was having troubles with an energy dip in the afternoon, which I no longer experience. I hope I can keep it up when I return to work full time! Thus far --- all good. What is soooo bad about coffee? It is nothing short of a drug. It gives you "false" energy which you should be getting by sleeping properly and energizing your body with proper foods. It can lead to adrenal fatigue in some unlucky individuals. It's best to use it sparingly.
Here is my recipe for the white miso dressing. This makes a pretty small amount considering my salads are GARGANTUAN. However, I like to keep my fat intake under 10%, so I go easy on the dressings.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon Vegan - mayo
1 tablespoon sweet white miso (organic and lower sodium)
1 teaspoon organic brown rice syrup
1/8 cup water (Adjust based on preferences)
I simply mix the "mayo" and miso together thoroughly. Then I slowly add water to get it to the right consistency. It will be thin and white, but not watery. Add the water sloooow. After words I mix in the sweetner. I prefer brown rice syrup for added sweetness. I don't really like stevia and agave is kinda controversial.
I want to also leave you with a yummy green smoothie recipe too.
Ingredients:
4 large leaves of dinosaur kale - stems removed
6 organic bananas (I like 1 of them to be frozen)
1 to 2 cups of water
Add all the ingredients to your blender. High power is the best! If you don't have one ... use the highest setting and pulse it until the kale is well processed. It will all turn a beautiful green color. Don't knock it until you try it. This is a large portion, so you may want to cut it in half. For me, this is 1 meal. It makes about 1 liter of liquid. I find the kale and banana both have strong tastes, and they sort of cancel each other out. So it's not exceedingly strong. Hard to explain - just try it!
Peace and LOVE!!!
Here is what I ate today (and pretty much the whole week):
Banana and kale smoothies
Banana and cinnamon smoothies
Great big salads with my miso - mayo dressing
Lovely dark organic cherries
Personal watermelons
Peaches
The summer is just wonderful for this way of life. It is totally normal for me to sit down with a big spoon and devour half a full sized watermelon. In case you are wondering - I eat about 2000 calories a day. That is enough to fill me up - give me energy - and keep any cooked food cravings under control. So not the 2500 Plus I was once aiming for, but not too much lower. I still find myself slimming down in the right places. I am currently down to about 122. Which is pretty much baseline for me. (That's down from 130 at the beginning of the year). I am also taking a vitamin D supplement called vitashine. It is pretty cool because it is a tasteless spray.
I have another raw achievement to announce ... not only have I given up diet soda, but also coffee products. It has been a week since my last coffee and I am doing very well. I have noticed less irritability, nervousness and agitation. I have a two year old at home ... and a husband ... LOL so as you can imagine agitating moments arise, but lately I am able to take everything and deal with it appropriately. Where as before I would find myself wanting to rip someone's head off, yell, scream or stomp. I feel more like me! Also, I was having troubles with an energy dip in the afternoon, which I no longer experience. I hope I can keep it up when I return to work full time! Thus far --- all good. What is soooo bad about coffee? It is nothing short of a drug. It gives you "false" energy which you should be getting by sleeping properly and energizing your body with proper foods. It can lead to adrenal fatigue in some unlucky individuals. It's best to use it sparingly.
Here is my recipe for the white miso dressing. This makes a pretty small amount considering my salads are GARGANTUAN. However, I like to keep my fat intake under 10%, so I go easy on the dressings.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon Vegan - mayo
1 tablespoon sweet white miso (organic and lower sodium)
1 teaspoon organic brown rice syrup
1/8 cup water (Adjust based on preferences)
I simply mix the "mayo" and miso together thoroughly. Then I slowly add water to get it to the right consistency. It will be thin and white, but not watery. Add the water sloooow. After words I mix in the sweetner. I prefer brown rice syrup for added sweetness. I don't really like stevia and agave is kinda controversial.
I want to also leave you with a yummy green smoothie recipe too.
Ingredients:
4 large leaves of dinosaur kale - stems removed
6 organic bananas (I like 1 of them to be frozen)
1 to 2 cups of water
Add all the ingredients to your blender. High power is the best! If you don't have one ... use the highest setting and pulse it until the kale is well processed. It will all turn a beautiful green color. Don't knock it until you try it. This is a large portion, so you may want to cut it in half. For me, this is 1 meal. It makes about 1 liter of liquid. I find the kale and banana both have strong tastes, and they sort of cancel each other out. So it's not exceedingly strong. Hard to explain - just try it!
Peace and LOVE!!!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Living the high raw vegan life! And my vegan pizza recipe
OMG! It's been awhile since I have blogged. I don't know where to start!
Since the last time I wrote, I have stopped pursuing the raw lifestyle. It was a difficult decision to make because I really really like the idea of it. However, I just couldn't make it stick. And frankly I felt a bit unbalanced! I certainly love all my fresh fruits and veggies --- but the amount of calories required to really thrive on a raw diet is just way more than I care to ever eat. At first I was cool with it, but then it totally turned into a JOB. LOL. I also realized I simply don't love fruit enough to eat it as a staple...PERIOD. Moving on.
I told you about the KIND DIET by Alicia Silverstone, and I have been cooking recipes from that book like a mad woman. I totally recommend this book to anyone interested in veganism (or just interested in incorporating some meat/dairy free recipes into their collection). Pretty much this book is helping me re-create my kitchen, my shopping lists, and everything. I don't know about you, but I am honestly not that creative, and I have my "go - to meals." This book can teach you how to turn your kitchen into a VEGAN one, and many books honestly don't do that effectively! Plus since there are lots of grains and beans incorporated in the recipes, it is not very expensive.
At this point I consider myself to be eating a "high raw" diet because I try to incorporate as many raw foods into my meals as possible, especially breakfast and snacks. Right now, breakfast, snacks, and a portion of my lunch is raw. I also try to keep my salt/fat intake low, as this was an important component of the 80/10/10 principle, and something I believe in. (If you are just now tuning in --- this is a high carb, lower protein/fat dietary model). Here is an example of what I ate today:
Breakfast: Two bananas in carob sauce (carb powder, bananas, dates, water)
Snack: Soy latte from starbux (they use organic soy milk!) and an organic peach
Lunch: Vegan pizza (recipe to follow)
Snack: One banana in carob sauce
Dinner: Millet w/vegetables and steamed kale with sesame dressing
Snack: Peanut butter crisp
My dinner and desert BOTH came from the KIND DIET!!!!
Here is my recipe for vegan pizza:
Ingredients: Whole wheat tortilla, onion, garlic (1 small clove per pizza), cilantro, mushrooms, black olives, sundried tomatoes in olive oil, vegan mozzarella cheese, arugula lettuce - there are no exact amount because you can make your pizza as big as you want!
Preheat oven to 400 Degrees. Place tortilla(s) on a baking sheet. Layer with sundried tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, sliced onion, chopped garlic, black olives. Shred vegan cheese - I recommend Follow your heart brand cheese - and sprinkle on top! Cook pizza for fifteen minutes. Top with fresh cilantro (the leaves off a few sprigs) and arugula. Eat up! So easy, fool proof and GOOD! Also, if you don't buy fresh herbs, it tastes really good with italian seasoning too.
I haven't talked a lot about my work out schedule as of late. I am still focusing a lot of energy on yoga. I take the classes at my gym three times a week. I really am seeing so much improvement in my flexibility and strength. Not to mention - just learning to breathe, relax and exist in the moment is so valuable to me. I feel like it is medicine for the soul. Anyways - I recommend it to everyone I know. I really think everybody would benefit. Other than that, I just jump on the stair climber once a week and attend a zumba class on Saturday. I haven't been doing a lot of weight lifting. Although we do quite a bit of body weight exercises in yoga class. I want to start doing lunges, squats, push ups, pull ups, and other body weight exercises on my own more. At a minimum I want to continue my yoga classes, two days of cardio and 1-2 days of body weight exercises.
Until we meet again friends - Peace and Love!
Since the last time I wrote, I have stopped pursuing the raw lifestyle. It was a difficult decision to make because I really really like the idea of it. However, I just couldn't make it stick. And frankly I felt a bit unbalanced! I certainly love all my fresh fruits and veggies --- but the amount of calories required to really thrive on a raw diet is just way more than I care to ever eat. At first I was cool with it, but then it totally turned into a JOB. LOL. I also realized I simply don't love fruit enough to eat it as a staple...PERIOD. Moving on.
I told you about the KIND DIET by Alicia Silverstone, and I have been cooking recipes from that book like a mad woman. I totally recommend this book to anyone interested in veganism (or just interested in incorporating some meat/dairy free recipes into their collection). Pretty much this book is helping me re-create my kitchen, my shopping lists, and everything. I don't know about you, but I am honestly not that creative, and I have my "go - to meals." This book can teach you how to turn your kitchen into a VEGAN one, and many books honestly don't do that effectively! Plus since there are lots of grains and beans incorporated in the recipes, it is not very expensive.
At this point I consider myself to be eating a "high raw" diet because I try to incorporate as many raw foods into my meals as possible, especially breakfast and snacks. Right now, breakfast, snacks, and a portion of my lunch is raw. I also try to keep my salt/fat intake low, as this was an important component of the 80/10/10 principle, and something I believe in. (If you are just now tuning in --- this is a high carb, lower protein/fat dietary model). Here is an example of what I ate today:
Breakfast: Two bananas in carob sauce (carb powder, bananas, dates, water)
Snack: Soy latte from starbux (they use organic soy milk!) and an organic peach
Lunch: Vegan pizza (recipe to follow)
Snack: One banana in carob sauce
Dinner: Millet w/vegetables and steamed kale with sesame dressing
Snack: Peanut butter crisp
My dinner and desert BOTH came from the KIND DIET!!!!
Here is my recipe for vegan pizza:
Ingredients: Whole wheat tortilla, onion, garlic (1 small clove per pizza), cilantro, mushrooms, black olives, sundried tomatoes in olive oil, vegan mozzarella cheese, arugula lettuce - there are no exact amount because you can make your pizza as big as you want!
Preheat oven to 400 Degrees. Place tortilla(s) on a baking sheet. Layer with sundried tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, sliced onion, chopped garlic, black olives. Shred vegan cheese - I recommend Follow your heart brand cheese - and sprinkle on top! Cook pizza for fifteen minutes. Top with fresh cilantro (the leaves off a few sprigs) and arugula. Eat up! So easy, fool proof and GOOD! Also, if you don't buy fresh herbs, it tastes really good with italian seasoning too.
I haven't talked a lot about my work out schedule as of late. I am still focusing a lot of energy on yoga. I take the classes at my gym three times a week. I really am seeing so much improvement in my flexibility and strength. Not to mention - just learning to breathe, relax and exist in the moment is so valuable to me. I feel like it is medicine for the soul. Anyways - I recommend it to everyone I know. I really think everybody would benefit. Other than that, I just jump on the stair climber once a week and attend a zumba class on Saturday. I haven't been doing a lot of weight lifting. Although we do quite a bit of body weight exercises in yoga class. I want to start doing lunges, squats, push ups, pull ups, and other body weight exercises on my own more. At a minimum I want to continue my yoga classes, two days of cardio and 1-2 days of body weight exercises.
Until we meet again friends - Peace and Love!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Raw versions of chocolate sauce and guac!
Hola veggies!
I am starting to think I should call this blog my fruity life --- because that is what I eat the most! Anyways, if you haven't figured it out already my 100% raw challenge went down the tubes! I have been kind with myself as of late. I am still sticking to it the best I can though!! We have been making lots of changes are the home --- and last week I had no kitchen sink to wash my food or appliances. I slipped a few times and ate some dairy during the week. No biggie, moving on!
I read a book called the Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone. I really liked it! It is of course about trying veganism. It gives you several different choices though, Flirt, Vegan or Superhero. I think it is wonderful that she gives you choices based on where you are in your veggie journal. I recommend it! The recipes are really yummy looking. (FYI: Superhero = the vegan diet plus principles of the macrobiotic diet - lots of whole grains, vegetables and the occasional sea vegetable to round it out). I tried this wonderful recipe with collards, and it had such a subtle sweet taste. No problem getting your greens in there! Check it out!
I tried two recipes for you! Both totally delectable! One is dessert - like but I totally ate it for breakfast!
Carob "chocolate" sauce
3 TB carob (or raw carob - which can be purchased online)
3 pitted dates
1/2 of a banana
Water as needed
Simply put all the ingredients in your blender - add enough water to give you the texture of chocolate sauce. I poured it over bananas. Talk about HEAVEN. Makes quite a bit of sauce. Enough to cover 7 bananas or so. Carob is good because it does not contain caffeine like cacao or raw cacao. Plus it is low in calories, fat free and low in sugar (1TB = 25 cals/0 fat/3 grams sugar).
Raw guacamole
1 avocado
Cherry tomatoes
Fresh cilantro
1-2 tsp lemon juice
This was amazing! Totally didn't think it would be that good - but it was. I ended up using about 10 cherry tomatoes and probably the leaves off ten sprigs of cilantro. I tossed everything into the food processor so it would be very smooth. At the first bite I longed for garlic or scallions, but on my raw diet those ingredients tend to be a bit much for me. (So feel free to toss a scallion in or a bit of fresh garlic if you just need to). I used organic romaine leaves as my "chip".
In case your curious, here is what I ate today:
Breakfast: Bananas in carob sauce
Lunch: Strawberry - date - banana smoothie
Snack: Apple
Dinner: Romaine dipped in raw guac and roasted red skin potatoes
2700 calories / 83% carbs / 5% protein (about 40 grams)/ 12% fat (about 37 grams)
I even made it to the gym. I did 25 minutes on the stair climber, hamstring curls, calf raises and squats. Finished off with a few sun salutations. I feel so good today. My body feels nourished, light and on a natural high. Anyways, it's about time for me to sleep! Until next time --- Peace and Love!
I am starting to think I should call this blog my fruity life --- because that is what I eat the most! Anyways, if you haven't figured it out already my 100% raw challenge went down the tubes! I have been kind with myself as of late. I am still sticking to it the best I can though!! We have been making lots of changes are the home --- and last week I had no kitchen sink to wash my food or appliances. I slipped a few times and ate some dairy during the week. No biggie, moving on!
I read a book called the Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone. I really liked it! It is of course about trying veganism. It gives you several different choices though, Flirt, Vegan or Superhero. I think it is wonderful that she gives you choices based on where you are in your veggie journal. I recommend it! The recipes are really yummy looking. (FYI: Superhero = the vegan diet plus principles of the macrobiotic diet - lots of whole grains, vegetables and the occasional sea vegetable to round it out). I tried this wonderful recipe with collards, and it had such a subtle sweet taste. No problem getting your greens in there! Check it out!
I tried two recipes for you! Both totally delectable! One is dessert - like but I totally ate it for breakfast!
Carob "chocolate" sauce
3 TB carob (or raw carob - which can be purchased online)
3 pitted dates
1/2 of a banana
Water as needed
Simply put all the ingredients in your blender - add enough water to give you the texture of chocolate sauce. I poured it over bananas. Talk about HEAVEN. Makes quite a bit of sauce. Enough to cover 7 bananas or so. Carob is good because it does not contain caffeine like cacao or raw cacao. Plus it is low in calories, fat free and low in sugar (1TB = 25 cals/0 fat/3 grams sugar).
Raw guacamole
1 avocado
Cherry tomatoes
Fresh cilantro
1-2 tsp lemon juice
This was amazing! Totally didn't think it would be that good - but it was. I ended up using about 10 cherry tomatoes and probably the leaves off ten sprigs of cilantro. I tossed everything into the food processor so it would be very smooth. At the first bite I longed for garlic or scallions, but on my raw diet those ingredients tend to be a bit much for me. (So feel free to toss a scallion in or a bit of fresh garlic if you just need to). I used organic romaine leaves as my "chip".
In case your curious, here is what I ate today:
Breakfast: Bananas in carob sauce
Lunch: Strawberry - date - banana smoothie
Snack: Apple
Dinner: Romaine dipped in raw guac and roasted red skin potatoes
2700 calories / 83% carbs / 5% protein (about 40 grams)/ 12% fat (about 37 grams)
I even made it to the gym. I did 25 minutes on the stair climber, hamstring curls, calf raises and squats. Finished off with a few sun salutations. I feel so good today. My body feels nourished, light and on a natural high. Anyways, it's about time for me to sleep! Until next time --- Peace and Love!
Sunday, April 22, 2012
How to cope when your significant isn't vegan/vegetarian
HAPPY EARTH DAY!
I am so excited for myself. I am totally patting myself on the back. This week has been raw-some! I ate ALL vegan, and predominantly raw. Last weekend was awful, so I am happy to be back on track. Ultimately, I would be happy to be 100% vegan and continue raw eating everyday, except maybe two meals a week. I think that makes for a nice balance. I just love the way I feel now!!
I was inspired to write because tonight was the dreaded PIZZA NIGHT. Growing up we always had pizza on the weekend, and my whole family looooves it (including my extended fam LOL). I did a little research and figured out some vegan friendly options at local chains. If you are considering transitioning to veg...and you are going out to dinner...always figure out where you are headed and look up the restaurant online or call them. You can find out what options are available to you!
We always order from Papa Johns, and I am happy to report that their sauce and original crust are vegan. I do not think the thin crust is vegan (according to internet sources). Anyways, I ordered a small veggie pizza and added pineapple. At home, I sprinkled a little italian seasoning on it. Very satisfying! And you know what!? IT WORKED! Whatever comfy - feel good thoughts/memories I associate with pizza were totally satisfied. Even my husband was happy I would not be "left out." I don't care what anybody says --- many people associate foods with good vibes, which can make eating a new way kind of uncomfortable. But it is do -able. I would like to mention a chain called Mellow Mushroom is another great vegan pizza joint. SOOOOOOO GOOD. And they even carry vegan cheese!
I feel fortunate to be married to someone who is supportive of my decision to transition my diet (although he is not at the same place). Anyways, how do I cope with having a non - veg spouse?
1) Be nice! Although I feel passionate about eating a vegetable/fruit based diet, I don't guilt my husband for his dietary decisions. I simply highlight the reasons why I love to eat this way. I find focusing on the positives is a great way to get people to listen to you. Then they will not become defensive. Be respectful!
2) Don't put up with criticism! However, understand your loved one may be concerned about your health. Be prepared your loved one might be concerned about your nutritional status. Explain to him/her you DO get protein. That being said - make sure to do your research! Supplement your vitamin B12 and D! Quote: "I don't care as long as your not sitting up in the hospital with malnutrition."
3) Be prepared! If you all are going out to eat, or to a gathering make sure you are prepared. My husband reminds his parents I don't eat meat before we go over there --- that way there are no awkward moments. Just as I mentioned above, look up the restaurant first. My husband expects that when our waiter arrives to the table I have questions and specifications. If all else fails, eat before you go. You go out to eat to be with the people you love.
4) Offer him/her a vegetable based meal or side dish on a regular basis. Many people don't know what vegan/vegetarian options are available. Now my husband eats broccoli with his breakfast everyday! He no longer eats red meat in his spaghetti, he enjoys plain whole wheat noodles and sauce.
5) Be a shining example :-D You will have great energy, an awesome bod and health. Everybody is going to want to know your secret!
If anybody in your life is interested in vegetarianism/veganism ... I recommend the documentary Forks and Knives. It definitely highlights the positive aspects of the lifestyle in a non threatening way. If you want to scare them, show them Earthlings.
Peace and Love! Go recycle!
I am so excited for myself. I am totally patting myself on the back. This week has been raw-some! I ate ALL vegan, and predominantly raw. Last weekend was awful, so I am happy to be back on track. Ultimately, I would be happy to be 100% vegan and continue raw eating everyday, except maybe two meals a week. I think that makes for a nice balance. I just love the way I feel now!!
I was inspired to write because tonight was the dreaded PIZZA NIGHT. Growing up we always had pizza on the weekend, and my whole family looooves it (including my extended fam LOL). I did a little research and figured out some vegan friendly options at local chains. If you are considering transitioning to veg...and you are going out to dinner...always figure out where you are headed and look up the restaurant online or call them. You can find out what options are available to you!
We always order from Papa Johns, and I am happy to report that their sauce and original crust are vegan. I do not think the thin crust is vegan (according to internet sources). Anyways, I ordered a small veggie pizza and added pineapple. At home, I sprinkled a little italian seasoning on it. Very satisfying! And you know what!? IT WORKED! Whatever comfy - feel good thoughts/memories I associate with pizza were totally satisfied. Even my husband was happy I would not be "left out." I don't care what anybody says --- many people associate foods with good vibes, which can make eating a new way kind of uncomfortable. But it is do -able. I would like to mention a chain called Mellow Mushroom is another great vegan pizza joint. SOOOOOOO GOOD. And they even carry vegan cheese!
I feel fortunate to be married to someone who is supportive of my decision to transition my diet (although he is not at the same place). Anyways, how do I cope with having a non - veg spouse?
1) Be nice! Although I feel passionate about eating a vegetable/fruit based diet, I don't guilt my husband for his dietary decisions. I simply highlight the reasons why I love to eat this way. I find focusing on the positives is a great way to get people to listen to you. Then they will not become defensive. Be respectful!
2) Don't put up with criticism! However, understand your loved one may be concerned about your health. Be prepared your loved one might be concerned about your nutritional status. Explain to him/her you DO get protein. That being said - make sure to do your research! Supplement your vitamin B12 and D! Quote: "I don't care as long as your not sitting up in the hospital with malnutrition."
3) Be prepared! If you all are going out to eat, or to a gathering make sure you are prepared. My husband reminds his parents I don't eat meat before we go over there --- that way there are no awkward moments. Just as I mentioned above, look up the restaurant first. My husband expects that when our waiter arrives to the table I have questions and specifications. If all else fails, eat before you go. You go out to eat to be with the people you love.
4) Offer him/her a vegetable based meal or side dish on a regular basis. Many people don't know what vegan/vegetarian options are available. Now my husband eats broccoli with his breakfast everyday! He no longer eats red meat in his spaghetti, he enjoys plain whole wheat noodles and sauce.
5) Be a shining example :-D You will have great energy, an awesome bod and health. Everybody is going to want to know your secret!
If anybody in your life is interested in vegetarianism/veganism ... I recommend the documentary Forks and Knives. It definitely highlights the positive aspects of the lifestyle in a non threatening way. If you want to scare them, show them Earthlings.
Peace and Love! Go recycle!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Day 10
I really dig the new look of Google's Blogger! Just had to add that in!
Hola veggies!
Welcome to "day 10" of my so-called daily record of my raw experience. I think I am getting a little bit better at remembering to log on here. I hope someone is benefiting from this too. So yesterday I ate some cooked, but remained predominantly raw. I had banana smoothies in the day, but ran out of food and ordered beans n' rice vegan style from Chipotle. However, I noted the spices were a little bit much. I really think my taste buds are becoming more sensitive --- so the likelihood of me going back there soon is lower. I also enjoyed an hour of bellydance.
Today was cool! Here is what I ate:
7 banana smoothie (coconut and cinnamon)
Starbux run!!! Soy latte
7 banana - mango - spinach smoothie
Large salad with orange - sesame dressing (iceberg, cucumber, carrots, tomato)
Apple and 2 peaches for dessert!
Water - drank it - don't know how much!
Calories around 2000 probably.
I found a cool recipe for salad dressing in the "Easy to be Raw" book by Megan Elizabeth --- I mentioned previously in my blog. Check it out! The dressing had a little kick to it, and contained mustard seeds and sesame seeds. Definitely made dinner more interesting. My peaches are so delicious, and my apples are equally amazing. I bought them both organic, from Whole Foods. SO divine!
I didn't make it to the gym today. I wasted so much time searching for my lost key that I missed my yoga class.
Sleep last night was okay. 1030 - 445 and 600 - 840 I woke up frequently during the latter portion.
Everything is cool on the digestive front. Last time I popped on the scale I was 125 (from 130) last week which is likely because I have lowered my sodium intake by staying predominantly raw this week. My skin is still improving but not 100% clear. My energy level has been great. I feel peaceful and patient (which is important when you have a two year old).
I liked today's menu simply because I had variety. I recently finished off a 40 pound banana box! LOL. I only wasted two. Anyways, I just bought enough bananas to eat ten per day for the next three days. Tomorrow I will probably throw in some fresh pulpy orange juice too to get me over the mid day slump!
That's all I got for you now! Peace and Love
Hola veggies!
Welcome to "day 10" of my so-called daily record of my raw experience. I think I am getting a little bit better at remembering to log on here. I hope someone is benefiting from this too. So yesterday I ate some cooked, but remained predominantly raw. I had banana smoothies in the day, but ran out of food and ordered beans n' rice vegan style from Chipotle. However, I noted the spices were a little bit much. I really think my taste buds are becoming more sensitive --- so the likelihood of me going back there soon is lower. I also enjoyed an hour of bellydance.
Today was cool! Here is what I ate:
7 banana smoothie (coconut and cinnamon)
Starbux run!!! Soy latte
7 banana - mango - spinach smoothie
Large salad with orange - sesame dressing (iceberg, cucumber, carrots, tomato)
Apple and 2 peaches for dessert!
Water - drank it - don't know how much!
Calories around 2000 probably.
I found a cool recipe for salad dressing in the "Easy to be Raw" book by Megan Elizabeth --- I mentioned previously in my blog. Check it out! The dressing had a little kick to it, and contained mustard seeds and sesame seeds. Definitely made dinner more interesting. My peaches are so delicious, and my apples are equally amazing. I bought them both organic, from Whole Foods. SO divine!
I didn't make it to the gym today. I wasted so much time searching for my lost key that I missed my yoga class.
Sleep last night was okay. 1030 - 445 and 600 - 840 I woke up frequently during the latter portion.
Everything is cool on the digestive front. Last time I popped on the scale I was 125 (from 130) last week which is likely because I have lowered my sodium intake by staying predominantly raw this week. My skin is still improving but not 100% clear. My energy level has been great. I feel peaceful and patient (which is important when you have a two year old).
I liked today's menu simply because I had variety. I recently finished off a 40 pound banana box! LOL. I only wasted two. Anyways, I just bought enough bananas to eat ten per day for the next three days. Tomorrow I will probably throw in some fresh pulpy orange juice too to get me over the mid day slump!
That's all I got for you now! Peace and Love
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Day 9 ... But whose counting anyways?
Hi veggies!
Yesterday went okay. Here is what I ate/drank:
Pasteurized OJ & a soy latte
7 banana smoothie (with cinnamon and dried coconut) x2
Apple and celery salad
A ton of water
Just over 2000 calories, and definitely around 80/10/10 (Maybe closer to 90/5/5)!
Anyways, the good news is the coffee tasted bitter, and because of this --- I didn't crave any today. The taste just didn't seem right. It was also "pizza night" at my house. Which is usually THE WORST for me. However, I didn't crave it. I am not sure if it is psychological but after eating raw for a period of days, or even for breakfast and lunch...eating something like pizza leaves me feeling greasy and heavy. Like I have rocks in my belly!!! The garlic flavor also becomes rather offensive to me. I believe my senses have heightened in that way. Yay! That means maybe this is getting easier. I was up for cuddling with my husband versus hiding in an oversized t shirt. So I hope he won't offer me pizza anymore!
Last night I had an odd rest. I went to bed at 1100ish (bad). Then I couldn't really sleep very well for the first time in awhile. I actually had a nightmare about the SATs. Who the h*ll has nightmares about the SATs at 30 years! This one here! Ridiculous. Going to bed earlier tonight...
In terms of exercise --- I have been all about yoga. There is a class almost everyday at Gold's Gym. I can put my son in the little gym daycare as well. Works very well with my schedule! I love the improvement in my flexibility. I also feel like I am gaining strength and balance! I love a good challenge. I can't attend my belly dance class as often as I would like, so this will suffice at the moment. One thing I have realized it is important for me to have an outlet for my creative energy. I am so grateful for my practice!
Rolling right along ... peace and love!!!
Yesterday went okay. Here is what I ate/drank:
Pasteurized OJ & a soy latte
7 banana smoothie (with cinnamon and dried coconut) x2
Apple and celery salad
A ton of water
Just over 2000 calories, and definitely around 80/10/10 (Maybe closer to 90/5/5)!
Anyways, the good news is the coffee tasted bitter, and because of this --- I didn't crave any today. The taste just didn't seem right. It was also "pizza night" at my house. Which is usually THE WORST for me. However, I didn't crave it. I am not sure if it is psychological but after eating raw for a period of days, or even for breakfast and lunch...eating something like pizza leaves me feeling greasy and heavy. Like I have rocks in my belly!!! The garlic flavor also becomes rather offensive to me. I believe my senses have heightened in that way. Yay! That means maybe this is getting easier. I was up for cuddling with my husband versus hiding in an oversized t shirt. So I hope he won't offer me pizza anymore!
Last night I had an odd rest. I went to bed at 1100ish (bad). Then I couldn't really sleep very well for the first time in awhile. I actually had a nightmare about the SATs. Who the h*ll has nightmares about the SATs at 30 years! This one here! Ridiculous. Going to bed earlier tonight...
In terms of exercise --- I have been all about yoga. There is a class almost everyday at Gold's Gym. I can put my son in the little gym daycare as well. Works very well with my schedule! I love the improvement in my flexibility. I also feel like I am gaining strength and balance! I love a good challenge. I can't attend my belly dance class as often as I would like, so this will suffice at the moment. One thing I have realized it is important for me to have an outlet for my creative energy. I am so grateful for my practice!
Rolling right along ... peace and love!!!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
What to expect when going raw!!!! Continuing my raw challenge...
Hey veggies
I am completely blanking on what day it is in my challenge. However, yesterday was oh so perfect ---I have got to share. Anyhow, coming out of the weekend I was a bit off. I didn't exactly stick to my raw challenge. One night I ate a 7 layer burrito from taco bell which has cheese on it. And the next night I found myself at Chipotle eating beans and rice. I tried to think about what is making me "fail." I can improve my water intake, and eat more! Also, for some reason I believe the coffee sort of decreases the appetite.
I also wondered if perhaps I am in over my head. However, my body told me "Please go back to the raw diet and STAY raw!" My once clear face appeared quite bumpy. My belly looked bloated. I just felt heavy and more tired. It is such a stark contrast!
I am on a raw journey, so if I fall I just get back up and continue on my way.
Here is what I had yesterday:
7 banana smoothie w/cinnamon
7 banana smoothie w/cinnamon
1L fresh OJ with all the pulp
Small iceberg lettuce salad (with apples and strawberries) and strawberry dressing (which contains a little avocado)
7 banana smoothie w/dehydrated coconut and cinnamon
LOTS of water!! Woot!
I definitely probably ate near 3000 calories!
Here is my "recipe" for my banana coconut smoothie:
7 bananas, 2 TBS of finely shredded coconut, 1 tsp cinnamon, water as desired
I just mix it all up in my blender and go! I used organic, shredded and dehydrated coconut. The coconut I bought was also reduced fat, so it was likely exposed to temperature, but I won't sweat the small stuff. It helped me eat bananas!!! Also, it did not contain sulfites, which is key too!
As promised I can share with you what to expect when you go raw 80/10/10 style!!!
1) EVERYONE is going to ask you where you get your protein from! Fresh fruits and vegetables eaten in abundance can provide all you need. Not to mention nuts and seeds help too! No worries here. Besides too much protein is hard on your kidneys!
2) Skin changes! Your skin will clear up. You may have a small period of time where it gets worse before better!
3) Easy digestion. IN/OUT in 24 hours! No need for colonics enemas medication...
4) Decreased body odor. Forget your deodorant in the morning, no biggie --- you won't stink! I didn't believe this at first, but it is true!
5) Energy for days. You will cut down on or no longer need stimulants. I used to thrive off of DDP *diet dr pepper* Don't need it nor want it.
6) You will be helping out the environment. Fresh fruits and veggies often do not require excessive packaging. You will be making less trash in this way!
7) You won't be criticizing yourself for eating too much of this or that. This is a lifestyle of abundance. However, you might want to count calories to make sure you eat enough!!!
8) Peace of mind, that you are doing the best thing for your body and health. No worries about metabolic diseases such as type II diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity or other illnesses related to meat/processed foods/sugars.
9) In time, your weight will balance out. That means if you are overweight, pounds will shed, if you are underweight, you may gain.
10) You will experience a greater sense of peace. It feels good to know you can eat and exist in such away that does not require other living beings to suffer. I feel so blissful!
Peace and love!!!
I am completely blanking on what day it is in my challenge. However, yesterday was oh so perfect ---I have got to share. Anyhow, coming out of the weekend I was a bit off. I didn't exactly stick to my raw challenge. One night I ate a 7 layer burrito from taco bell which has cheese on it. And the next night I found myself at Chipotle eating beans and rice. I tried to think about what is making me "fail." I can improve my water intake, and eat more! Also, for some reason I believe the coffee sort of decreases the appetite.
I also wondered if perhaps I am in over my head. However, my body told me "Please go back to the raw diet and STAY raw!" My once clear face appeared quite bumpy. My belly looked bloated. I just felt heavy and more tired. It is such a stark contrast!
I am on a raw journey, so if I fall I just get back up and continue on my way.
Here is what I had yesterday:
7 banana smoothie w/cinnamon
7 banana smoothie w/cinnamon
1L fresh OJ with all the pulp
Small iceberg lettuce salad (with apples and strawberries) and strawberry dressing (which contains a little avocado)
7 banana smoothie w/dehydrated coconut and cinnamon
LOTS of water!! Woot!
I definitely probably ate near 3000 calories!
Here is my "recipe" for my banana coconut smoothie:
7 bananas, 2 TBS of finely shredded coconut, 1 tsp cinnamon, water as desired
I just mix it all up in my blender and go! I used organic, shredded and dehydrated coconut. The coconut I bought was also reduced fat, so it was likely exposed to temperature, but I won't sweat the small stuff. It helped me eat bananas!!! Also, it did not contain sulfites, which is key too!
As promised I can share with you what to expect when you go raw 80/10/10 style!!!
1) EVERYONE is going to ask you where you get your protein from! Fresh fruits and vegetables eaten in abundance can provide all you need. Not to mention nuts and seeds help too! No worries here. Besides too much protein is hard on your kidneys!
2) Skin changes! Your skin will clear up. You may have a small period of time where it gets worse before better!
3) Easy digestion. IN/OUT in 24 hours! No need for colonics enemas medication...
4) Decreased body odor. Forget your deodorant in the morning, no biggie --- you won't stink! I didn't believe this at first, but it is true!
5) Energy for days. You will cut down on or no longer need stimulants. I used to thrive off of DDP *diet dr pepper* Don't need it nor want it.
6) You will be helping out the environment. Fresh fruits and veggies often do not require excessive packaging. You will be making less trash in this way!
7) You won't be criticizing yourself for eating too much of this or that. This is a lifestyle of abundance. However, you might want to count calories to make sure you eat enough!!!
8) Peace of mind, that you are doing the best thing for your body and health. No worries about metabolic diseases such as type II diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity or other illnesses related to meat/processed foods/sugars.
9) In time, your weight will balance out. That means if you are overweight, pounds will shed, if you are underweight, you may gain.
10) You will experience a greater sense of peace. It feels good to know you can eat and exist in such away that does not require other living beings to suffer. I feel so blissful!
Peace and love!!!
Friday, April 13, 2012
Day 3 was an Eeeeepiiiic FAIL! On to day 4....
ARGH! Yesterday = epic fail. After several days of low calories in...I ended up eating cooked food...non vegan cooked food...pizza. Epic fail. I was kind of pissed at myself. Not going to lie. I normally don't beat up myself, but I was taking jabs at myself yesterday. Anyways, I am over it now. I realize I must make sure I eat enough. Having days of 1600 calories just won't cut it on this 60 day trial. Yesterday started okay with a 7-banana smoothie, and raw orange juice for lunch. Then my husband came home, and asked me if I wanted some pizza! Geez! Totally caved. Pizza is the last thing besides coffee I am having troubles letting go of...
Today I woke up and was ready to go. Here is what I ate:
Breakfast: 7banana and 3date smoothie
(soy latte- from Java Jeffs)
Lunch: 7banana and 3date smoothie
Snack: 4banana and strawberries
Dinner: "cauliflower" rice and iceberg lettuce (and chopped apple) and strawberry dressing (strawberries,dates,avocado,lime)
Water: 1 L
Calories-2710! 90/5/5 Fat around 40 grams, Fat about 20 grams
Exercise: I wanted to do yoga, but my husband needed me to do something around the house instead.
Side effects: Great energy this afternoon. I was able to sit down and work on my paper with a clear mind. Actually quite full until now. Beginning to be a little hungry...
Skin still looks more clear. Sore from yoga the previous day. Pottied like a champ!
Overall thoughts: Generally, I felt good about the day. My 40 pound box of bananas is quite yummy. I still have cravings for beans and rice. Coffee didn't taste great, will go ahead and cut it out for the next few days. Also,since adapting to a raw foods lifestyle, the taste of onion has become overbearing/unbearable. I had an old red onion in the fridge, and I went ahead and tossed it. I love the energy from eating pure foods!! I am looking forward to tommorow. Peace and Love me friends!
Today I woke up and was ready to go. Here is what I ate:
Breakfast: 7banana and 3date smoothie
(soy latte- from Java Jeffs)
Lunch: 7banana and 3date smoothie
Snack: 4banana and strawberries
Dinner: "cauliflower" rice and iceberg lettuce (and chopped apple) and strawberry dressing (strawberries,dates,avocado,lime)
Water: 1 L
Calories-2710! 90/5/5 Fat around 40 grams, Fat about 20 grams
Exercise: I wanted to do yoga, but my husband needed me to do something around the house instead.
Side effects: Great energy this afternoon. I was able to sit down and work on my paper with a clear mind. Actually quite full until now. Beginning to be a little hungry...
Skin still looks more clear. Sore from yoga the previous day. Pottied like a champ!
Overall thoughts: Generally, I felt good about the day. My 40 pound box of bananas is quite yummy. I still have cravings for beans and rice. Coffee didn't taste great, will go ahead and cut it out for the next few days. Also,since adapting to a raw foods lifestyle, the taste of onion has become overbearing/unbearable. I had an old red onion in the fridge, and I went ahead and tossed it. I love the energy from eating pure foods!! I am looking forward to tommorow. Peace and Love me friends!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Today is day 3 of my 60-day 100% Raw vegan Challange
DAY 3
I have not updated my blog over the last two days! So I am here to catch up. I am trying to keep really good record of everything for my Dad, who is interested in taking a similar challenge at some point.
Anyways, yesterday I underate for some weird reason. I normally am starved by the time it comes to breakfast. However, I had no appetite, and ate my first meal at 1PM. I would not recommend that!!! Yesterday's fruits and veggies:
Breakfast:skipped :-(
Grande Soy latte (from Starbux!)
Lunch: Cauliflower "rice" and a small smoothie (2 bananas, 1 mango, 1 cup strawberries)
Snack: Vega bar (raw snack bar from Whole Foods) and orange juice
Dinner: Iceberg lettuce, chopped apple with strawberry dressing
Calories: under 2000 78% carbs, 13% fat (slightly under 30 grams), 9% protein (35ish grams)
Water: Just 500 ML
Exercise: Nothing really, helped my husband paint a little bit.
Sleep: 10-445 and 445-830
Side effects: Cranky by 3PM! Definitely need to pump up the fruit content of my lunch. Things like cauliflower rice, greens, etc. are awesome for nutrients, however more carbs are needed to maintain energy and sanity! I had to stop at the store and pick up something fast.
Comments: I still dabble in coffee. I sort of go back and forth on whether I should cut it out/incorporate something else like tea. Something about my lattes are so comforting in the morning! Anyways, I got my recipe for cauliflower rice off a forum. I honestly don't loooove it. I feel like something is missing. Jalopeno? Scallions? Maybe you can figure it out!
Cauliflower rice recipe:
1 head cauliflower
3 stalks celery
1 cucumber
3 tomatoes
Handful fresh cilantro
1 to 2 TB lemon juice
Just put it all in a food processor.
I also found this recipe for "strawberry shortcake" dressing on a forum too!
1 cup strawberries
1/2 avocado
3 dates
Juice from 1/2 a lime
Mix in the blender
This is a really yummy, sweet dressing. I actually think it would taste best with romaine lettuce.
Goals:
Drink 2 liters of water.
Eat more *which will be easier because I just bought a 40 pound box of bananas and a lot of oranges!
Peace&Love
I have not updated my blog over the last two days! So I am here to catch up. I am trying to keep really good record of everything for my Dad, who is interested in taking a similar challenge at some point.
Anyways, yesterday I underate for some weird reason. I normally am starved by the time it comes to breakfast. However, I had no appetite, and ate my first meal at 1PM. I would not recommend that!!! Yesterday's fruits and veggies:
Breakfast:skipped :-(
Grande Soy latte (from Starbux!)
Lunch: Cauliflower "rice" and a small smoothie (2 bananas, 1 mango, 1 cup strawberries)
Snack: Vega bar (raw snack bar from Whole Foods) and orange juice
Dinner: Iceberg lettuce, chopped apple with strawberry dressing
Calories: under 2000 78% carbs, 13% fat (slightly under 30 grams), 9% protein (35ish grams)
Water: Just 500 ML
Exercise: Nothing really, helped my husband paint a little bit.
Sleep: 10-445 and 445-830
Side effects: Cranky by 3PM! Definitely need to pump up the fruit content of my lunch. Things like cauliflower rice, greens, etc. are awesome for nutrients, however more carbs are needed to maintain energy and sanity! I had to stop at the store and pick up something fast.
Comments: I still dabble in coffee. I sort of go back and forth on whether I should cut it out/incorporate something else like tea. Something about my lattes are so comforting in the morning! Anyways, I got my recipe for cauliflower rice off a forum. I honestly don't loooove it. I feel like something is missing. Jalopeno? Scallions? Maybe you can figure it out!
Cauliflower rice recipe:
1 head cauliflower
3 stalks celery
1 cucumber
3 tomatoes
Handful fresh cilantro
1 to 2 TB lemon juice
Just put it all in a food processor.
I also found this recipe for "strawberry shortcake" dressing on a forum too!
1 cup strawberries
1/2 avocado
3 dates
Juice from 1/2 a lime
Mix in the blender
This is a really yummy, sweet dressing. I actually think it would taste best with romaine lettuce.
Goals:
Drink 2 liters of water.
Eat more *which will be easier because I just bought a 40 pound box of bananas and a lot of oranges!
Peace&Love
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Raw vegan + springtime = HAPPINESS!
Hola Veggies!
I am so excited to be writing. Life has been too busy. My husband has been doing so much to our home. Things have been nutty. Not to mention I am trying to teach my son to use the potty.
Anyhow, I really didn't think I would still be at it. However, I am still living a high raw lifestyle. Occasionally I slip and eat cooked vegan foods, or even --- gasp* cheese. I am working on this. In the end I would love love love to be as close to 100% as possible. And if not --- stick to vegan foods. Old habits die hard! I have really been figuring out you have to really put away the calories to be successful on this diet.
Since my earlier writing I have become less obsessed with a certain body image. I still continue to work out, but it is more for health and wellness. My husband seems to be happy with me with or without curves. So why should I care so much?
At any rate, I want to report some goodies since I have been high raw. My face has cleared up. I no longer use harsh cleanser or antibiotics. I have to use a loooot less make up. And if I don't want to, it's not a terrible thing. My body odor has diminished. After a 100% raw day my breath is completely neutral the next day. Although I have been working on putting away more water, I appear less bloated. Likely due to the lack of salt in my diet. And poopin' / peein' LIKE A DREAM! No constipation ever! And like always sleeping like a rock.
If you are just joining me. This is what I am doing: I eat a high raw vegan diet. No added salt/sugar/heavy spices. I eat 80/10/10 style. 80% of my calories from carbs, 10% from protein, and 10% from fats. I try to eat over 2000 calories. That's right --- this is a lifestyle of ABUNDANCE. Not restriction! I have a good B12 level. However, I am going to be starting to supplement my vitamin D. There is a vegan D3 supplement on the market, which I will be ordering soon. I drink a ton of water, several liters a day. And i go to bed early too - repair occurs overnight.
I want to share with you a few ideas for yummy meals on the go. I have been thinking of sooo many but I will jot a few quickly below.
High raw "chocolate" breakfast shake:
4 to 5 bananas (chilled/frozen), 2 tablespoons hemp seeds, 2 tablespoons raw cacao or carob powder, 1 cup almond/soy milk/water
Throw it all in a blender. Delicious!
Hemp seeds are pretty cool. They provide essential fatty acids and protein. If you are not totally raw you may want to go with a non dairy milk base.
Cinnamon shake:
3 bananas (chilled/frozen), 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1 cup almond/soy milk/water
Combine in your blender.
Green shake:
5 bananas (chilled), 2 cups strawberries (frozen), 2 cups spinach, dates, water as needed
Combine in your blender. I like to add about 3 to 4 dates for sweetness. I chop them up and put it on the bottom of the blender with the spinach. Just add enough water to get your blender going. I use organic medjool dates which are fresh and not hard or dried up. If your dates are more dry, soak them prior to using them in the smoothie. Just toss them in water to make them more smooshy.
Here is what I ate today: I was VERY busy with my two year old. So I drank a bunch of meals! Normally I like to snack on whole fruits like apples and oranges.
Breakfast: Green smoothie
Lunch: "Chocolate" smoothie
Snack: Green smoothie
Dinner: Giant celery/strawberry apple salad
Snack: Cinnamon smoothie
PEACE AND LOVE my friends!!!
I am so excited to be writing. Life has been too busy. My husband has been doing so much to our home. Things have been nutty. Not to mention I am trying to teach my son to use the potty.
Anyhow, I really didn't think I would still be at it. However, I am still living a high raw lifestyle. Occasionally I slip and eat cooked vegan foods, or even --- gasp* cheese. I am working on this. In the end I would love love love to be as close to 100% as possible. And if not --- stick to vegan foods. Old habits die hard! I have really been figuring out you have to really put away the calories to be successful on this diet.
Since my earlier writing I have become less obsessed with a certain body image. I still continue to work out, but it is more for health and wellness. My husband seems to be happy with me with or without curves. So why should I care so much?
At any rate, I want to report some goodies since I have been high raw. My face has cleared up. I no longer use harsh cleanser or antibiotics. I have to use a loooot less make up. And if I don't want to, it's not a terrible thing. My body odor has diminished. After a 100% raw day my breath is completely neutral the next day. Although I have been working on putting away more water, I appear less bloated. Likely due to the lack of salt in my diet. And poopin' / peein' LIKE A DREAM! No constipation ever! And like always sleeping like a rock.
If you are just joining me. This is what I am doing: I eat a high raw vegan diet. No added salt/sugar/heavy spices. I eat 80/10/10 style. 80% of my calories from carbs, 10% from protein, and 10% from fats. I try to eat over 2000 calories. That's right --- this is a lifestyle of ABUNDANCE. Not restriction! I have a good B12 level. However, I am going to be starting to supplement my vitamin D. There is a vegan D3 supplement on the market, which I will be ordering soon. I drink a ton of water, several liters a day. And i go to bed early too - repair occurs overnight.
I want to share with you a few ideas for yummy meals on the go. I have been thinking of sooo many but I will jot a few quickly below.
High raw "chocolate" breakfast shake:
4 to 5 bananas (chilled/frozen), 2 tablespoons hemp seeds, 2 tablespoons raw cacao or carob powder, 1 cup almond/soy milk/water
Throw it all in a blender. Delicious!
Hemp seeds are pretty cool. They provide essential fatty acids and protein. If you are not totally raw you may want to go with a non dairy milk base.
Cinnamon shake:
3 bananas (chilled/frozen), 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1 cup almond/soy milk/water
Combine in your blender.
Green shake:
5 bananas (chilled), 2 cups strawberries (frozen), 2 cups spinach, dates, water as needed
Combine in your blender. I like to add about 3 to 4 dates for sweetness. I chop them up and put it on the bottom of the blender with the spinach. Just add enough water to get your blender going. I use organic medjool dates which are fresh and not hard or dried up. If your dates are more dry, soak them prior to using them in the smoothie. Just toss them in water to make them more smooshy.
Here is what I ate today: I was VERY busy with my two year old. So I drank a bunch of meals! Normally I like to snack on whole fruits like apples and oranges.
Breakfast: Green smoothie
Lunch: "Chocolate" smoothie
Snack: Green smoothie
Dinner: Giant celery/strawberry apple salad
Snack: Cinnamon smoothie
PEACE AND LOVE my friends!!!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Happy St Patty's Day!
Hi Veggies!
I hope everybody is having a safe and relaxing holiday! :-) Anyways - It donned on me that I haven't been updating ya'll on my status as a wanna be raw vegan. Today went really well for me. This is what I ate:
Banana and peach smoothie
Apple celery and ginger juice
Banana and peach smoothie with a raw vegan taco
Salad
Banana ice cream
Lots of water!
Since I last logged on here, one of my prized possessions --- my espresso machine --- is in need of repair. I took that as a sign from God to ditch the daily habit. I spent the entire week in denial and in the Starbucks drive thru. FINALLY, I was able to survive without it today. I am OBviously addicted because without it I can become anxious! I will not give up coffee forever, but simply my daily habit. At least that's the plan.
I wanted to share the recipe for raw vegan tacos which I found on another blog called: Foods for Long Life. Here is the link: http://foodsforlonglife.blogspot.com/2009/05/celebrate-cinco-de-mayo-with-delicious.html
I copied and pasted it for your convenience --- but check out the site!!!!
4 leaves of organic butter lettuce, washed
1 cup raw walnuts (NOT soaked)
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon Nama Shoyu soy sauce
1 small avocado, diced
1 small yellow or red bell pepper (or ½ cup diced tomatoes)
3 tablespoons minced red onion
1 tablespoon minced jalapeno (more or less to taste)
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, minced
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon sea salt (more or less to taste)
Please walnuts, chili powder and Nama Shoyu in a food process and blend just until the walnuts are course and resemble ground meat. Set aside. Gently combine the avocado, bell pepper, red onion, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice and salt. Place 1/4 of the nut meat and 1/4 of the salsa on each of the butter lettuce leaves and serve immediately.
I tried to alter the recipe a bit to fit into my low fat meal plan. I also try to avoid additives, such as salt. I used Braggs Liquid aminos instead of the soy sauce because I have that on hand. It is still pretty salty --- but you don't need a large amount. I also didn't use the avocado because the walnuts are predominantly fat. I used a lot more salsa and less "meat" per taco as well. Stringent followers of the 80 10 10 lifestyle do not like to use spices. However, I have no problem with them! And so I added the chili powder and such. It was REALLY GOOD. REALLY EASY. Try it! Or one of the many other recipes from that blog. (Vegan - but not all raw).
I have been a bit lazy in terms of my work out routine. My husband has been working more, and we usually hit the gym together. Thus if he can't go, I often don't. However, that isn't going to fly if I want to see results. I have changed my workout plan to higher reps/lighter weights for toning purposes. And also to avoid injury, as I still consider myself a beginner in weight training. I learn more each time I go!
I talked to my old roomie about green smoothies today! She was looking for yummy recipes. I find it is best to experiment when it comes to smoothies. Personally --- I recommend using young tender greens, like baby spinach. I started with a smaller amount (about 1 cup per smoothie). The basic "recipe" for my green smoothies is 1 to 2 cups of greens (spinach or kale), 4 bananas, and 2 cups of another fruit, such as peaches. Sometimes I add two dates for more sweetness. I always put the dates and greens on the bottom of my blender. I add small amounts of water until I get the desired consistency. I usually start with 4 to 6 ounces of water and increase as needed.
My wonderful parents brought me a juicer when they came into town a week or so ago. I am in love with my juicer. It is produced by Breville, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in buying a juicer because it is easy to use, and fairly easy to clean up. I have found sipping fresh juice is a must for me, just because the volume of food you eat on a raw diet varies from the standard diet. Often times I undershoot --- as you def need to eat more on a raw diet. Anyways, keeping fresh juice is a good way to keep the appetite at bay and avoid the take out until you can get home to your fresh fruits/vegetables. My favorite juice recipe:
4 apples
3 carrots
Piece of ginger (About an inch sized piece)
But you can pretty much just play with it.
Peace and Love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope everybody is having a safe and relaxing holiday! :-) Anyways - It donned on me that I haven't been updating ya'll on my status as a wanna be raw vegan. Today went really well for me. This is what I ate:
Banana and peach smoothie
Apple celery and ginger juice
Banana and peach smoothie with a raw vegan taco
Salad
Banana ice cream
Lots of water!
Since I last logged on here, one of my prized possessions --- my espresso machine --- is in need of repair. I took that as a sign from God to ditch the daily habit. I spent the entire week in denial and in the Starbucks drive thru. FINALLY, I was able to survive without it today. I am OBviously addicted because without it I can become anxious! I will not give up coffee forever, but simply my daily habit. At least that's the plan.
I wanted to share the recipe for raw vegan tacos which I found on another blog called: Foods for Long Life. Here is the link: http://foodsforlonglife.blogspot.com/2009/05/celebrate-cinco-de-mayo-with-delicious.html
I copied and pasted it for your convenience --- but check out the site!!!!
4 leaves of organic butter lettuce, washed
1 cup raw walnuts (NOT soaked)
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon Nama Shoyu soy sauce
1 small avocado, diced
1 small yellow or red bell pepper (or ½ cup diced tomatoes)
3 tablespoons minced red onion
1 tablespoon minced jalapeno (more or less to taste)
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, minced
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon sea salt (more or less to taste)
Please walnuts, chili powder and Nama Shoyu in a food process and blend just until the walnuts are course and resemble ground meat. Set aside. Gently combine the avocado, bell pepper, red onion, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice and salt. Place 1/4 of the nut meat and 1/4 of the salsa on each of the butter lettuce leaves and serve immediately.
I tried to alter the recipe a bit to fit into my low fat meal plan. I also try to avoid additives, such as salt. I used Braggs Liquid aminos instead of the soy sauce because I have that on hand. It is still pretty salty --- but you don't need a large amount. I also didn't use the avocado because the walnuts are predominantly fat. I used a lot more salsa and less "meat" per taco as well. Stringent followers of the 80 10 10 lifestyle do not like to use spices. However, I have no problem with them! And so I added the chili powder and such. It was REALLY GOOD. REALLY EASY. Try it! Or one of the many other recipes from that blog. (Vegan - but not all raw).
I have been a bit lazy in terms of my work out routine. My husband has been working more, and we usually hit the gym together. Thus if he can't go, I often don't. However, that isn't going to fly if I want to see results. I have changed my workout plan to higher reps/lighter weights for toning purposes. And also to avoid injury, as I still consider myself a beginner in weight training. I learn more each time I go!
I talked to my old roomie about green smoothies today! She was looking for yummy recipes. I find it is best to experiment when it comes to smoothies. Personally --- I recommend using young tender greens, like baby spinach. I started with a smaller amount (about 1 cup per smoothie). The basic "recipe" for my green smoothies is 1 to 2 cups of greens (spinach or kale), 4 bananas, and 2 cups of another fruit, such as peaches. Sometimes I add two dates for more sweetness. I always put the dates and greens on the bottom of my blender. I add small amounts of water until I get the desired consistency. I usually start with 4 to 6 ounces of water and increase as needed.
My wonderful parents brought me a juicer when they came into town a week or so ago. I am in love with my juicer. It is produced by Breville, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in buying a juicer because it is easy to use, and fairly easy to clean up. I have found sipping fresh juice is a must for me, just because the volume of food you eat on a raw diet varies from the standard diet. Often times I undershoot --- as you def need to eat more on a raw diet. Anyways, keeping fresh juice is a good way to keep the appetite at bay and avoid the take out until you can get home to your fresh fruits/vegetables. My favorite juice recipe:
4 apples
3 carrots
Piece of ginger (About an inch sized piece)
But you can pretty much just play with it.
Peace and Love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Vegan "ice cream" (Oh --- and no more wholesalers for me!)
Hello Veggies!
Happy Friday!
I wanted to update you all on my progress with the raw vegan lifestyle.
Things have been going pretty well. I have been whipping up green smoothies to get in the vitamins and minerals I need to build muscle. Today --- for breakfast and lunch I made a green smoothie with about 4 to 5 bananas, 1 cup of frozen strawberries and 1.5 cups of fresh baby spinach. I threw in a few dates for calories. Very good. I really can't taste the spinach, and even my son liked the taste.
I have decided to nix the trips to the wholesaler. For one, I like variety and that is just to darn much fruit to have at one time. My bananas turned ripe soooo fast. I ended up having to freeze all of them. I cut them into pieces, wrapped them in plastic wrap and stuck them into freezer bags. The grapes started growing white fuzz (and I was unhappy to notice they had been treated with fungicide.) The oranges are hit and miss. Yesterday I sat down with a couple of them and they were just unripe. FYI oranges don't ripen once picked, thus you must make sure to pick ripe fruit from the store. The mangoes are nothing to write home about. This may have worked better if I had a whole family to feed. However, it is easier for me to just hand pick my fruits/vegetables and spend a little extra. The Triad farmer's market will be hoppin' soon. I'll check it out.
With all the frozen bananas on hand, I opted to make ICE CREAM. Here is what I used:
The equivalent of 4 bananas *frozen chunks
Unsweetened and organic almond milk or water
Add ins: carob chips, fresh fruit
Anyways, I added the bananas to my blender and added enough liquid to get it going. However, you want to avoid adding too much liquid --- then it turns into a smoothie. Everybody's blender is different. I don't have a fancy one, and I ended up adding about 1/3 cup of almond milk for my frozen bananas. I also tossed in some carob chips (vegan chocolate chip equivalent). The consistency was like a Wendy's frosty. Very convincing. My son liked this one too.
Again, I have to boast about pink lady apples. Buy organic ones. So good. And they taste very good chopped up with raw celery. Celery is an awesome food. If you are adhering to a raw vegan diet and crave something savory as opposed to sweet --- this can be your go to food!!!
FYI - I continue to drink almond milk for now --- it is packed with goodies like vitamin B12, D, E and calcium. I can't beat that!
I have wonderful news. I am building muscle!!!!!!! I entered the Gold's Gym Contest back in January. It has been about six weeks. I didn't think that I would see much of a difference just because I have been toying with my diet quite a bit. However, at my weigh in I learned I gained two pounds, lost two percent fat, lost one inch around my waist, and a bit at my thighs/hips. All in all, I think it is safe to say I have gained muscle! As I see it, eating more calories has really helped. I have been drinking a couple of liters of water per day too.
At the moment I probably eat over 75% raw on average. Trying to get as close to 100% as possible. I'll keep you all posted!
Peace and love!!!
Happy Friday!
I wanted to update you all on my progress with the raw vegan lifestyle.
Things have been going pretty well. I have been whipping up green smoothies to get in the vitamins and minerals I need to build muscle. Today --- for breakfast and lunch I made a green smoothie with about 4 to 5 bananas, 1 cup of frozen strawberries and 1.5 cups of fresh baby spinach. I threw in a few dates for calories. Very good. I really can't taste the spinach, and even my son liked the taste.
I have decided to nix the trips to the wholesaler. For one, I like variety and that is just to darn much fruit to have at one time. My bananas turned ripe soooo fast. I ended up having to freeze all of them. I cut them into pieces, wrapped them in plastic wrap and stuck them into freezer bags. The grapes started growing white fuzz (and I was unhappy to notice they had been treated with fungicide.) The oranges are hit and miss. Yesterday I sat down with a couple of them and they were just unripe. FYI oranges don't ripen once picked, thus you must make sure to pick ripe fruit from the store. The mangoes are nothing to write home about. This may have worked better if I had a whole family to feed. However, it is easier for me to just hand pick my fruits/vegetables and spend a little extra. The Triad farmer's market will be hoppin' soon. I'll check it out.
With all the frozen bananas on hand, I opted to make ICE CREAM. Here is what I used:
The equivalent of 4 bananas *frozen chunks
Unsweetened and organic almond milk or water
Add ins: carob chips, fresh fruit
Anyways, I added the bananas to my blender and added enough liquid to get it going. However, you want to avoid adding too much liquid --- then it turns into a smoothie. Everybody's blender is different. I don't have a fancy one, and I ended up adding about 1/3 cup of almond milk for my frozen bananas. I also tossed in some carob chips (vegan chocolate chip equivalent). The consistency was like a Wendy's frosty. Very convincing. My son liked this one too.
Again, I have to boast about pink lady apples. Buy organic ones. So good. And they taste very good chopped up with raw celery. Celery is an awesome food. If you are adhering to a raw vegan diet and crave something savory as opposed to sweet --- this can be your go to food!!!
FYI - I continue to drink almond milk for now --- it is packed with goodies like vitamin B12, D, E and calcium. I can't beat that!
I have wonderful news. I am building muscle!!!!!!! I entered the Gold's Gym Contest back in January. It has been about six weeks. I didn't think that I would see much of a difference just because I have been toying with my diet quite a bit. However, at my weigh in I learned I gained two pounds, lost two percent fat, lost one inch around my waist, and a bit at my thighs/hips. All in all, I think it is safe to say I have gained muscle! As I see it, eating more calories has really helped. I have been drinking a couple of liters of water per day too.
At the moment I probably eat over 75% raw on average. Trying to get as close to 100% as possible. I'll keep you all posted!
Peace and love!!!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Found a wholesaler! Back on the fruit wagon!
Hi Veggies!
I am happy to report I am still on the fruit wagon!
It has been three wonderful days of raw bliss.
Well, aside from my daily soy latte! (Can't do without that!)
I must say it has been relatively easy and quite satisfying.
I now find that if I allow myself to eat naturally (not thinking and calculating and restricting) -- I tend to eat around 2500 calories of raw goodness. I typically start the day with smoothies, and end with salads.
Yesterday's menu:
1) x2 banana mango date smoothies (each one is like a liter)
2) Celery apple grape salad
3) Kale blood orange and pumpkin seed salad
4) Banana - sun warrior raw protein - raw cacao smoothie
80/10/10 and 2600 calories! 60 grams of protein, just under 30 grams of fat, close to 560 grams of carbs!
Today's menu:
1) Banana mango date smoothie
2) Big bowl of apples and grapes (half an Asian pear) --- just nibbled these all afternoon
3) Celery with organic raisins on top
4) Oranges
2500+ calories
I already feel better. I really miss beans and rice, however I feel so good on raw foods...I don't think it is worthwhile. In just three days my sleep has improved tremendously --- it is just more deep. I love it. I also have more energy to chase Seth, and I am not irritable. At the gym I have improved endurance, though my strength remains the same. My belly is poochy from the fruit by the end of the day, but in the morning it appears to be more flat (Probably due to less salt intake!) All in all --- I think we all can benefit from incorporating more raw foods into our diet. As I see it, when the body expends less energy on digestion it can tend to other "work" in the body. It's a win win!
Anyhow, I found a wholesaler in my area named W.R. VERNON. If you are in Winston Salem NC, you must look them up. I haven't actually eaten the produce yet, however I was able to pick up large quantities for cheap. I bought nanas, oranges, grapes, mangoes, and celery! For example --- I took home a 40 pound box of nanas for just under twenty bucks. This will def last me a little longer than a week. I had the guy pick me up a nanas with a little green in them, so they can have time to ripen a bit. I picked up 9 mangoes for under ten bucks. They are beautiful too. The celery was just 0.75 cents per stalk. Even if you aren't a raw vegan, and just like produce it is worth checking these places out. You can go with your friends to buy large quantities and then split them, because you do really save cash. Google wholesalers in your area and see what you can find!!!
From a workout stand point I continue to lift with my husband. He is kind of like my personal trainer. We worked on building back strength today. We did an assortment of rows with all kinds of different hand positions to hit the upper and lower back. We used about four different machines. We also did lat pull downs. We only performed two reps of ten. However, my husband said that is enough since we use a variety of machines to work the same muscle. I only did ten minutes of HIIT on the stair climber today. That's fine because I want to build muscles!
My last bit of advice is watch your fat and embrace your fruit! Fruit is good! Xxxxx
Peace and Love!!!
I am happy to report I am still on the fruit wagon!
It has been three wonderful days of raw bliss.
Well, aside from my daily soy latte! (Can't do without that!)
I must say it has been relatively easy and quite satisfying.
I now find that if I allow myself to eat naturally (not thinking and calculating and restricting) -- I tend to eat around 2500 calories of raw goodness. I typically start the day with smoothies, and end with salads.
Yesterday's menu:
1) x2 banana mango date smoothies (each one is like a liter)
2) Celery apple grape salad
3) Kale blood orange and pumpkin seed salad
4) Banana - sun warrior raw protein - raw cacao smoothie
80/10/10 and 2600 calories! 60 grams of protein, just under 30 grams of fat, close to 560 grams of carbs!
Today's menu:
1) Banana mango date smoothie
2) Big bowl of apples and grapes (half an Asian pear) --- just nibbled these all afternoon
3) Celery with organic raisins on top
4) Oranges
2500+ calories
I already feel better. I really miss beans and rice, however I feel so good on raw foods...I don't think it is worthwhile. In just three days my sleep has improved tremendously --- it is just more deep. I love it. I also have more energy to chase Seth, and I am not irritable. At the gym I have improved endurance, though my strength remains the same. My belly is poochy from the fruit by the end of the day, but in the morning it appears to be more flat (Probably due to less salt intake!) All in all --- I think we all can benefit from incorporating more raw foods into our diet. As I see it, when the body expends less energy on digestion it can tend to other "work" in the body. It's a win win!
Anyhow, I found a wholesaler in my area named W.R. VERNON. If you are in Winston Salem NC, you must look them up. I haven't actually eaten the produce yet, however I was able to pick up large quantities for cheap. I bought nanas, oranges, grapes, mangoes, and celery! For example --- I took home a 40 pound box of nanas for just under twenty bucks. This will def last me a little longer than a week. I had the guy pick me up a nanas with a little green in them, so they can have time to ripen a bit. I picked up 9 mangoes for under ten bucks. They are beautiful too. The celery was just 0.75 cents per stalk. Even if you aren't a raw vegan, and just like produce it is worth checking these places out. You can go with your friends to buy large quantities and then split them, because you do really save cash. Google wholesalers in your area and see what you can find!!!
From a workout stand point I continue to lift with my husband. He is kind of like my personal trainer. We worked on building back strength today. We did an assortment of rows with all kinds of different hand positions to hit the upper and lower back. We used about four different machines. We also did lat pull downs. We only performed two reps of ten. However, my husband said that is enough since we use a variety of machines to work the same muscle. I only did ten minutes of HIIT on the stair climber today. That's fine because I want to build muscles!
My last bit of advice is watch your fat and embrace your fruit! Fruit is good! Xxxxx
Peace and Love!!!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Raw Desserts!
Happy Belated V- Day Veggies!
It has been a little while since I have updated my blog! I still plan to keep a regular written log of my diet/exercise.
Although I want to quit at times --- I am still playing with the idea of the raw vegan diet. For some reason, I am simply drawn to the idea. Many people boast of clarity of mind, clear skin/eyes, easy digestion, increased energy, and more aside from the obvious health benefits. I am just so curious as to if any of this is true. And it is just so simple. I know the days I was able to commit to it, I guess it was like a five day span, my sleep quality was greatly improved. So I have decided to let loose and have fun. It doesn't matter if I get it right or not --- just as long as I am satisfied, fit and happy!
Anyways, here is a sample of what I ate today:
Breakfast - LATE!!! Soy latte from Starbucks
Lunch - ON the run!!!! Veggie sub at Subway on flat bread w/brown mustard
Snack - 2 bananas
Dinner - Giant celery/apple/grape salad (my fave!)
Dessert - Strawberry brownie bites w/ sun warrior raw protein-banana smoothie (unsweetened soy milk base)
I must must share with you the recipe for the " strawberry filled brownie bites." I adapted this recipe from raw chef Megan Elizabeth McDonnell. (It was posted on a raw forum). Google her for other recipe vids!
Anyways, I changed up the recipe based on what I had in the kitchen.
Ingredients: 4 strawberries / 5 dates / 1/4 cup raisins / 1 teaspoon raw cacao powder (purchased at Whole Foods) / 1/8 cup finely shredded coconut (plus a little extra for garnishment)
1) In your food processor combine dates, raisins, cacao powder, and coconut. The mixture will be sticky.
2) Simply take half of the mixture and form into a ball around a whole strawberry. Repeat to make two balls.
3) Roll the balls in a little bit of extra coconut.
4) Place on a plate with the 2 additional strawberries and enjoy!
SO Good! Very rich---and sweet! Without the excess fat! Warning: Dates are not low in calories, and this is not a low cal dessert. However, it is easy.
Here is what I did for exercise:
10 minute HIIT on the treadmill. I worked my shoulder with my wonderful husband. We did a bunch:
Several different shoulder press machines (including the military press machine) and weighted shoulder shrugs.
I love working out with my husband, I am lucky to have found someone who values fitness just as much as I do! (Had to add in a little Valentine's Day mushiness!) Anyways ---
Peace and Love!
It has been a little while since I have updated my blog! I still plan to keep a regular written log of my diet/exercise.
Although I want to quit at times --- I am still playing with the idea of the raw vegan diet. For some reason, I am simply drawn to the idea. Many people boast of clarity of mind, clear skin/eyes, easy digestion, increased energy, and more aside from the obvious health benefits. I am just so curious as to if any of this is true. And it is just so simple. I know the days I was able to commit to it, I guess it was like a five day span, my sleep quality was greatly improved. So I have decided to let loose and have fun. It doesn't matter if I get it right or not --- just as long as I am satisfied, fit and happy!
Anyways, here is a sample of what I ate today:
Breakfast - LATE!!! Soy latte from Starbucks
Lunch - ON the run!!!! Veggie sub at Subway on flat bread w/brown mustard
Snack - 2 bananas
Dinner - Giant celery/apple/grape salad (my fave!)
Dessert - Strawberry brownie bites w/ sun warrior raw protein-banana smoothie (unsweetened soy milk base)
I must must share with you the recipe for the " strawberry filled brownie bites." I adapted this recipe from raw chef Megan Elizabeth McDonnell. (It was posted on a raw forum). Google her for other recipe vids!
Anyways, I changed up the recipe based on what I had in the kitchen.
Ingredients: 4 strawberries / 5 dates / 1/4 cup raisins / 1 teaspoon raw cacao powder (purchased at Whole Foods) / 1/8 cup finely shredded coconut (plus a little extra for garnishment)
1) In your food processor combine dates, raisins, cacao powder, and coconut. The mixture will be sticky.
2) Simply take half of the mixture and form into a ball around a whole strawberry. Repeat to make two balls.
3) Roll the balls in a little bit of extra coconut.
4) Place on a plate with the 2 additional strawberries and enjoy!
SO Good! Very rich---and sweet! Without the excess fat! Warning: Dates are not low in calories, and this is not a low cal dessert. However, it is easy.
Here is what I did for exercise:
10 minute HIIT on the treadmill. I worked my shoulder with my wonderful husband. We did a bunch:
Several different shoulder press machines (including the military press machine) and weighted shoulder shrugs.
I love working out with my husband, I am lucky to have found someone who values fitness just as much as I do! (Had to add in a little Valentine's Day mushiness!) Anyways ---
Peace and Love!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Read your labels!
Evening Veggies!
The weekend is here. Probably the hardest time to stick to dietary plans, so make sure your refridgerator is stocked with healthy foods.
I have been doing some soul searching, and I decided for the time being to apply the 80/10/10 diet (low fat - high carb vegan diet), however to also incorporate a healthy cooked vegan dinner into the mix. I really like the concept, however I am looking for a lifestyle...key word LIFE. And I honestly can not see myself happy with eating no cooked foods forever. So I came up with a happy medium. Thus I will still apply the macronutrient ratio, eat plenty of calories (2500 per day), eat mostly fruits/vegetables/nuts/seeds. If for some reason I feel compelled to take it a step further I will...but for right now...this is best! I never felt like I was "missing out" when I transitioned to vegetarianism. And I certainly don't want to develop that mind set now!
Today my son was in daycare and I decided to go to Whole Foods. I am happy I did because they were selling organic oranges for about 80 cents/pound! I stocked up for sure! I love apples from Whole Foods too. Mmmmm! I can not wait until the spring and summer because then I can do some shopping at the local farmers market, and probably pick out cheaper organic produce. I also bought a nifty solution called REBEL GREEN which can be used to clean fruits/vegetables, ridding them of chemicals, pesticides, and other unwanted yuckiness transferred on the surface of the food during production. Unfortunately, I thought I bought vegan cheddar shreds, because on the label it boasted no badness whatsoever, including lactose. HOWEVER! some "veggie" cheeses actually contain casein, which is a milk protein!!! I opened the package and used some of the cheese before realizing this! It was good...but I will not be buying this product in the future. Transitioning to a veggie based diet is a process or journey, therefore I know eventually my diet will be 100% animal product free. No use in sweating the small stuff OR wasting food. That's just not my style. That being said, vegans must check labels carefully! Hell, we all should! You need to know what you are consuming! I know for a fact DAIYA brand cheese is vegan. Alternatively, simply stick to whole foods in their most natural state.
Here is what I ate today:
Breakfast = 4 banana/strawberry/3 date shake
Snack = 5 banana/strawberry shake
Lunch = celery/red pepper/tangerine soup
Snack = Unsweetened organic soy milk w/espresso
Dinner = Vegan (almost) style tacos and grapes
(Organic wheat tortillas, vegan boca crumbles, lettuce, avocado, fresh salsa, tofutti "sourcream", veggie cheese)
Calories = between 2000 and 2500
76/12/12
Here is what I did in the gym:
Legs legs legs. I am still healing my arm. Leg press, machine squats, knee flexion/extension machines, abductor/adductor machines, calf raise machine. I am thinking about beginning a daily yoga practice for flexibility! However, I will elaborate on that much later.
I just want to leave you with a tidbit about exercise and SEX! I was reading the magazine Fitness. There was an article which discussed an experiment regarding women/self image and exercise. In the article, women who saw magazines with thin models had decreased libido than women who did not. In other words, insecurity and poor body image equals unhappy sex life. However, self satisfaction and confidence of course, is a plus. Another interesting factoid was that satisfaction improved following exercise due to blood flow, which of course prompts "desirable responses." All in all --- I took away that you need to be happy in your skin no matter where you are in your fitness journey. Also, this is just another reason to work out. Not to be raunchy but a healthy sex life is part of overall wellness for many of us. And I am all for that!
Peace and Love!
The weekend is here. Probably the hardest time to stick to dietary plans, so make sure your refridgerator is stocked with healthy foods.
I have been doing some soul searching, and I decided for the time being to apply the 80/10/10 diet (low fat - high carb vegan diet), however to also incorporate a healthy cooked vegan dinner into the mix. I really like the concept, however I am looking for a lifestyle...key word LIFE. And I honestly can not see myself happy with eating no cooked foods forever. So I came up with a happy medium. Thus I will still apply the macronutrient ratio, eat plenty of calories (2500 per day), eat mostly fruits/vegetables/nuts/seeds. If for some reason I feel compelled to take it a step further I will...but for right now...this is best! I never felt like I was "missing out" when I transitioned to vegetarianism. And I certainly don't want to develop that mind set now!
Today my son was in daycare and I decided to go to Whole Foods. I am happy I did because they were selling organic oranges for about 80 cents/pound! I stocked up for sure! I love apples from Whole Foods too. Mmmmm! I can not wait until the spring and summer because then I can do some shopping at the local farmers market, and probably pick out cheaper organic produce. I also bought a nifty solution called REBEL GREEN which can be used to clean fruits/vegetables, ridding them of chemicals, pesticides, and other unwanted yuckiness transferred on the surface of the food during production. Unfortunately, I thought I bought vegan cheddar shreds, because on the label it boasted no badness whatsoever, including lactose. HOWEVER! some "veggie" cheeses actually contain casein, which is a milk protein!!! I opened the package and used some of the cheese before realizing this! It was good...but I will not be buying this product in the future. Transitioning to a veggie based diet is a process or journey, therefore I know eventually my diet will be 100% animal product free. No use in sweating the small stuff OR wasting food. That's just not my style. That being said, vegans must check labels carefully! Hell, we all should! You need to know what you are consuming! I know for a fact DAIYA brand cheese is vegan. Alternatively, simply stick to whole foods in their most natural state.
Here is what I ate today:
Breakfast = 4 banana/strawberry/3 date shake
Snack = 5 banana/strawberry shake
Lunch = celery/red pepper/tangerine soup
Snack = Unsweetened organic soy milk w/espresso
Dinner = Vegan (almost) style tacos and grapes
(Organic wheat tortillas, vegan boca crumbles, lettuce, avocado, fresh salsa, tofutti "sourcream", veggie cheese)
Calories = between 2000 and 2500
76/12/12
Here is what I did in the gym:
Legs legs legs. I am still healing my arm. Leg press, machine squats, knee flexion/extension machines, abductor/adductor machines, calf raise machine. I am thinking about beginning a daily yoga practice for flexibility! However, I will elaborate on that much later.
I just want to leave you with a tidbit about exercise and SEX! I was reading the magazine Fitness. There was an article which discussed an experiment regarding women/self image and exercise. In the article, women who saw magazines with thin models had decreased libido than women who did not. In other words, insecurity and poor body image equals unhappy sex life. However, self satisfaction and confidence of course, is a plus. Another interesting factoid was that satisfaction improved following exercise due to blood flow, which of course prompts "desirable responses." All in all --- I took away that you need to be happy in your skin no matter where you are in your fitness journey. Also, this is just another reason to work out. Not to be raunchy but a healthy sex life is part of overall wellness for many of us. And I am all for that!
Peace and Love!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Happy February!
Hi Veggies! Happy February!
Today is the 1st, and the 1st day of my daily log. I am so proud of myself today, because I adhered to my diet.
Today I started off with a workout after drinking about 500 ML of water. It worked out well! I used the stair climber and treadmill for forty minutes. Interval training, like always. I worked out my quads with the knee extension machine and seated leg press.
By the time I finished up at the gym ... and my son and I got home, it was already 1130, but I still felt okay! Working out on an empty stomach was great. I felt like I had more energy.
First thing: Unsweetened soymilk w/espresso sprinkled with cinnamon :-) --- pre workout
Brunch: Strawberry/banana/date shake (I know I said I wasn't going to mix nanas and strawberries, but it's what I have in the fridge!)
Snack: V8
Lunch: Strawberry/banana/date shake
Dinner: Salad: Butter lettuce, cucumber, grapes, apples, celery with avocado/herb/lemon/date dressing
Snack: Orange
That may not seem like a lot, but both shakes together were over 2 liters! Over the course of the day I took in about 2000 calories (85% carbs 9% fats 6% protein). You also may notice I drank a V8 today, and this is because I am on a medicine which actually induces hyponatremia (or low sodium!), thus my doctor ordered me to drink V8 once a day since my diet contributes VERY little sodium.
As I reported earlier, I will continue to take a multivitamin, and vitamin D. My doctor also recommended 15 minutes of sun three times a week because taking the supplement ALONE, will not replenish my stores. We need the sun's energy to activate vitamin D!
I actually have quite a bit on my mind today about emotional eating, and body image acceptance. But --- I will save this for another day.
I am trying to make a practice of going to bed early, and waking my son up earlier, so we can all sleep well though the night. He recently developed a practice of waking up at 3AM singing at the top of his lungs for an hour before falling back asleep!
As always,
Peace & Love
Today is the 1st, and the 1st day of my daily log. I am so proud of myself today, because I adhered to my diet.
Today I started off with a workout after drinking about 500 ML of water. It worked out well! I used the stair climber and treadmill for forty minutes. Interval training, like always. I worked out my quads with the knee extension machine and seated leg press.
By the time I finished up at the gym ... and my son and I got home, it was already 1130, but I still felt okay! Working out on an empty stomach was great. I felt like I had more energy.
First thing: Unsweetened soymilk w/espresso sprinkled with cinnamon :-) --- pre workout
Brunch: Strawberry/banana/date shake (I know I said I wasn't going to mix nanas and strawberries, but it's what I have in the fridge!)
Snack: V8
Lunch: Strawberry/banana/date shake
Dinner: Salad: Butter lettuce, cucumber, grapes, apples, celery with avocado/herb/lemon/date dressing
Snack: Orange
That may not seem like a lot, but both shakes together were over 2 liters! Over the course of the day I took in about 2000 calories (85% carbs 9% fats 6% protein). You also may notice I drank a V8 today, and this is because I am on a medicine which actually induces hyponatremia (or low sodium!), thus my doctor ordered me to drink V8 once a day since my diet contributes VERY little sodium.
As I reported earlier, I will continue to take a multivitamin, and vitamin D. My doctor also recommended 15 minutes of sun three times a week because taking the supplement ALONE, will not replenish my stores. We need the sun's energy to activate vitamin D!
I actually have quite a bit on my mind today about emotional eating, and body image acceptance. But --- I will save this for another day.
I am trying to make a practice of going to bed early, and waking my son up earlier, so we can all sleep well though the night. He recently developed a practice of waking up at 3AM singing at the top of his lungs for an hour before falling back asleep!
As always,
Peace & Love
Monday, January 30, 2012
My Green Chopped Salad
Hi Veggies!
I have been thinking, and I believe this may be a more useful exercise if I try and write each day, updating my diet/exercise. That way you all can share this experience with me...and perhaps learn from my mistakes! Because believe me! I am making a few. LOL. Note: Strawberries and bananas actually do not make a great smoothie together. This is because sweets fruits and acid fruits do not combine well. Sweet fruits combine well with sub acid fruits.
Sub acid fruits combine well with acid fruits.
There are resources on the Internet that briefly describe food combining. However, this is important with fruit. Poor combinations = bloating + farts!
I learned that yesterday, I looked preggers by lunch time.
Anyways, I am so proud because I actually made-up my first raw recipe. I have no illustration, because I gobbled it down very quickly.
1 cup green grapes
1 peeled apple
3 stalks of celery
Always wash everything well! Peel and chop your apple. Cut the grapes in half. Chop your celery. Toss together in a bowl! Done!
That's 1 - cereal bowls - worth, you will likely want to multiply it if you are sharing or eating a substantial meal. I would probably triple/quadruple it, and eat it as my dinner.
All the tastes really compliment each other well. Plus, you need to make sure you are getting vegetables in your diet. Especially, if you are a high carb-low fat raw vegan! Not to mention, this recipe is great if you are looking for something less sweet. I ate it with a little orange juice on the side, and I am set for the night.
Unfortunately, I pulled something in my arm tossing my son about the other week. It isn't hurt very badly. However, I noticed my one arm was way weaker during my biceps strength exercises. My form was compromised, and my husband suggested I not lift all week. Boo! So...I will stick to straight cardio and leg exercises all week! No cheating. I am into week 4 of the Gold's Gym Challenge, and I haven't been progressing well. Mostly, since I have been "transitioning" to raw veganism. However, my hope is with a daily log, I can hold myself a little more accountable and keep track of the progress I do make!
Peace and Love!!!! See you tomorrow...
I have been thinking, and I believe this may be a more useful exercise if I try and write each day, updating my diet/exercise. That way you all can share this experience with me...and perhaps learn from my mistakes! Because believe me! I am making a few. LOL. Note: Strawberries and bananas actually do not make a great smoothie together. This is because sweets fruits and acid fruits do not combine well. Sweet fruits combine well with sub acid fruits.
Sub acid fruits combine well with acid fruits.
There are resources on the Internet that briefly describe food combining. However, this is important with fruit. Poor combinations = bloating + farts!
I learned that yesterday, I looked preggers by lunch time.
Anyways, I am so proud because I actually made-up my first raw recipe. I have no illustration, because I gobbled it down very quickly.
1 cup green grapes
1 peeled apple
3 stalks of celery
Always wash everything well! Peel and chop your apple. Cut the grapes in half. Chop your celery. Toss together in a bowl! Done!
That's 1 - cereal bowls - worth, you will likely want to multiply it if you are sharing or eating a substantial meal. I would probably triple/quadruple it, and eat it as my dinner.
All the tastes really compliment each other well. Plus, you need to make sure you are getting vegetables in your diet. Especially, if you are a high carb-low fat raw vegan! Not to mention, this recipe is great if you are looking for something less sweet. I ate it with a little orange juice on the side, and I am set for the night.
Unfortunately, I pulled something in my arm tossing my son about the other week. It isn't hurt very badly. However, I noticed my one arm was way weaker during my biceps strength exercises. My form was compromised, and my husband suggested I not lift all week. Boo! So...I will stick to straight cardio and leg exercises all week! No cheating. I am into week 4 of the Gold's Gym Challenge, and I haven't been progressing well. Mostly, since I have been "transitioning" to raw veganism. However, my hope is with a daily log, I can hold myself a little more accountable and keep track of the progress I do make!
Peace and Love!!!! See you tomorrow...
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Eating lots and lots of fruit isn't that hard!
Hi Veggies!
Last time I left you all, I was still figuring out raw veganism. I have made a little progress since my last entry. Let's just call this day 2 of complete rawness. (No cooked food, 80% carbohydrates, 10% proteins, 10% fats, with a prenatal vitamin). I still find it incredibly frustrating to buy fruit only to realize it is tasteless/not ripe. You will NOT survive on sub par fruits and vegetables. Therefore, I recommend finding a farmer's market, co - op or buying as much organic goodies as possible. Personally, I don't taste a difference between organic/regular bananas. On the other hand, my apples MUST be organic. I bought a bunch from my local grocer. They were so bland, and I had planned to eat 5 of them. Torture! I got through it...but I am slowly learning how to get the most bang for my buck!! I'm not afraid to buy some frozen raw fruit for my smoothies. Just in case I'm in a hurry! Get fruits ripe, and get enough of them!
Initially, I pieced together a "meal plan." However, it didn't work out well. Too many odds and ends, and meals. Now, I stick with about four meals a day, and things are much easier. I basically drink two large banana based smoothies for breakfast and lunch. For lunch and/or dinner I have a big salad. If I am still hungry later, I eat some whole fruit. I also have NO idea how to create a raw meal, and I had troubles googling meals that would be appropriately high carb/low fat. You will find many of the raw food resources include high fat recipes with lots of avocado, nuts and seeds. Again, my goal is to maintain a fat percentage around 10% of my daily caloric intake. I decided to buy a book called Easy to be Raw by Megan Elizabeth, and I found a salad dressing I love love love consisting of mangoes. If you are interested in this lifestyle or just want to incorporate some raw foods in your diet, I highly recommend the book. I also made stuffed peppers from the book, and although they are nothing like the kind I grew up on, I definitely enjoyed them. Very happy!
The hardest thing for me still is to get in the calories, however the smoothies have been a remedy. These smoothies are gargantuan, and it takes me awhile to sip them. For example, today I made one with 4 frozen chopped bananas, and almost 2 cups of chopped mango. I just added cold water to make it pourable. I drank this with a HUGE salad with cucumber, tomato, green onions, cilantro and mango dressing. The best thing about raw dressing is you can add as much as you want! My goal at the moment is to take in above 2000 calories a day. I am not sure why, but even if you are overweight, it is essential to take in at least 2500 calories a day as a woman on this diet. We shall see, if I start to balloon -- you will know first. Ha!
Anyways (in the last few days!) my energy level is higher, and I find myself getting more done around the house. I can chase my two year old from one end of the house to the other. At the gym, my endurance has definitely increased. And "elimination" is EASY! This week I have not been strength training because I pulled something in my rotator cuff. I am sure of it!! It hurts when I lift my arm laterally! I believe I played a little too rough with my son over the weekend! Anyways, it is wise to rest when your body calls for it. I will be doing a leg work out only. I have been focusing on 30 to 40 minutes of interval training every other day. Which apparently melts fat!
Speaking of workouts -- I tried creatine supplementation for the first time the other week. I got a free pack with my sun warrior raw protein. My husband uses the powder before his work outs for extra "juice." He told me to make sure if I take it to "cycle" it, and only use it for 8 weeks at a time. He added, that vegetarians usually feel the effects more than meat eaters. Well...they sell it in GNC. Seemed harmless enough. BUT with in ten minutes of taking it my muscles started tingling all over. First the tops of my hands/feet, then my legs, and travelled up. I nearly flipped out, and my husband had to calm me down. When we arrived at the gym (somehow - because I was driving!) I was quite twitchy and I couldn't sit still. If you saw me, you would have thought I was on something. It worked though, I zipped around the gym lifting faster and heavier than normal. I felt great! Anyways, the twitching/itching tingles died down in an hour. What the heck!? WHY do I get the crazy side effects!?
In the future, I hope to get all the energy I need from my fresh fruits when I stick to the raw lifestyle 100%! TBA.
Lastly, I just wanted to let you all know it is possible to be a healthy and happy non meat eater! I got my blood drawn at my doctor's office:
B12 - Perfect!
Cholesterol 119 (under 200 desirable) Triglycerides 54 (30 - 150 acceptable) HDL 53 (more than 40 desirable) LDL 55 (less than 70 desirable)
Note ---- my normal values are not perfect, just rough estimates. In fact, I believe LDL levels can be more high in people with out cardiovascular risk factors (such as family history of heart disease, etc.) But you get the general idea!!!
Anyways, Peace and LOVE!
Fear not, I will bring you some yummy visual aids shortly. I have been taking pics of all my creations!
Last time I left you all, I was still figuring out raw veganism. I have made a little progress since my last entry. Let's just call this day 2 of complete rawness. (No cooked food, 80% carbohydrates, 10% proteins, 10% fats, with a prenatal vitamin). I still find it incredibly frustrating to buy fruit only to realize it is tasteless/not ripe. You will NOT survive on sub par fruits and vegetables. Therefore, I recommend finding a farmer's market, co - op or buying as much organic goodies as possible. Personally, I don't taste a difference between organic/regular bananas. On the other hand, my apples MUST be organic. I bought a bunch from my local grocer. They were so bland, and I had planned to eat 5 of them. Torture! I got through it...but I am slowly learning how to get the most bang for my buck!! I'm not afraid to buy some frozen raw fruit for my smoothies. Just in case I'm in a hurry! Get fruits ripe, and get enough of them!
Initially, I pieced together a "meal plan." However, it didn't work out well. Too many odds and ends, and meals. Now, I stick with about four meals a day, and things are much easier. I basically drink two large banana based smoothies for breakfast and lunch. For lunch and/or dinner I have a big salad. If I am still hungry later, I eat some whole fruit. I also have NO idea how to create a raw meal, and I had troubles googling meals that would be appropriately high carb/low fat. You will find many of the raw food resources include high fat recipes with lots of avocado, nuts and seeds. Again, my goal is to maintain a fat percentage around 10% of my daily caloric intake. I decided to buy a book called Easy to be Raw by Megan Elizabeth, and I found a salad dressing I love love love consisting of mangoes. If you are interested in this lifestyle or just want to incorporate some raw foods in your diet, I highly recommend the book. I also made stuffed peppers from the book, and although they are nothing like the kind I grew up on, I definitely enjoyed them. Very happy!
The hardest thing for me still is to get in the calories, however the smoothies have been a remedy. These smoothies are gargantuan, and it takes me awhile to sip them. For example, today I made one with 4 frozen chopped bananas, and almost 2 cups of chopped mango. I just added cold water to make it pourable. I drank this with a HUGE salad with cucumber, tomato, green onions, cilantro and mango dressing. The best thing about raw dressing is you can add as much as you want! My goal at the moment is to take in above 2000 calories a day. I am not sure why, but even if you are overweight, it is essential to take in at least 2500 calories a day as a woman on this diet. We shall see, if I start to balloon -- you will know first. Ha!
Anyways (in the last few days!) my energy level is higher, and I find myself getting more done around the house. I can chase my two year old from one end of the house to the other. At the gym, my endurance has definitely increased. And "elimination" is EASY! This week I have not been strength training because I pulled something in my rotator cuff. I am sure of it!! It hurts when I lift my arm laterally! I believe I played a little too rough with my son over the weekend! Anyways, it is wise to rest when your body calls for it. I will be doing a leg work out only. I have been focusing on 30 to 40 minutes of interval training every other day. Which apparently melts fat!
Speaking of workouts -- I tried creatine supplementation for the first time the other week. I got a free pack with my sun warrior raw protein. My husband uses the powder before his work outs for extra "juice." He told me to make sure if I take it to "cycle" it, and only use it for 8 weeks at a time. He added, that vegetarians usually feel the effects more than meat eaters. Well...they sell it in GNC. Seemed harmless enough. BUT with in ten minutes of taking it my muscles started tingling all over. First the tops of my hands/feet, then my legs, and travelled up. I nearly flipped out, and my husband had to calm me down. When we arrived at the gym (somehow - because I was driving!) I was quite twitchy and I couldn't sit still. If you saw me, you would have thought I was on something. It worked though, I zipped around the gym lifting faster and heavier than normal. I felt great! Anyways, the twitching/itching tingles died down in an hour. What the heck!? WHY do I get the crazy side effects!?
In the future, I hope to get all the energy I need from my fresh fruits when I stick to the raw lifestyle 100%! TBA.
Lastly, I just wanted to let you all know it is possible to be a healthy and happy non meat eater! I got my blood drawn at my doctor's office:
B12 - Perfect!
Cholesterol 119 (under 200 desirable) Triglycerides 54 (30 - 150 acceptable) HDL 53 (more than 40 desirable) LDL 55 (less than 70 desirable)
Note ---- my normal values are not perfect, just rough estimates. In fact, I believe LDL levels can be more high in people with out cardiovascular risk factors (such as family history of heart disease, etc.) But you get the general idea!!!
Anyways, Peace and LOVE!
Fear not, I will bring you some yummy visual aids shortly. I have been taking pics of all my creations!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Memory Lane
Hi Veggies!
Here it is mid January, and I am still getting ish together! Hahaha!
I am still attempting raw veganism consistent with the principles in the 80 10 10 diet book (otherwise known as a high carbohydrate, low fat lifestyle.
Up until the weekend, I did beautifully. However, Sunday afternoon I ended up at Chipotle in dire need of rice and beans! I will be on back and track tomorrow. (I had some more rice and beans today!)
Whenever you make a lifestyle change, never use the words fail OR start over. Simply figure out what the h*ll happened and move onward. It is perfectly pointless to beat yourself up and/or dwell on these factors. Most people, especially when transitioning into veggie lifestyles will occasionally get a taste for "off limit" foods. Especially, if you have been eating the same thing for years. Added stress from abusing yourself will likely UN motivate you and keep you from reaching your optimal goals! So I will list some mistakes I have made!
1) If you choose to embark upon a high carbohydrate/low fat lifestyle, make sure you have RIPE fruit. And that you know how to even find it. Whole Foods had strawberries on sale this weekend, and so I grabbed a couple of baskets. They were just plain bland! I figure this is probably because a) this is not strawberry season or b) they aren't ripe! This weekend, I let my banana supply dwindle down, and woke up Sunday to only two edible ones. The others were all green. This aggravated me, and I happily rewarded myself with Chipotle later! Lesson learned. Be prepared! This can apply to any dietary lifestyle, if you are hungry, it will be very easy to swing by the drive through.
2) If you experiment with new recipes make sure you have something to eat in case you screw it up. Lol. Saturday evening, I decided to make a dressing with oranges and tomatoes because I noticed many people blending fruits for salad dressings. Well my small smoothie blender is not synonymous with an actual blender blender. I ended up having to add lots of water, and the outcome was plain gross. (Both appearance and taste.) In the end, use a cookbook or trusted source, unless you are prepared to eat something else if your "creation" goes wrong!
3) Lastly, accept that if you are trying new things, you are bound to find things you LOVE and things you HATE to eat. This weekend I bought 20 organic medjool dates from a local grocery store. They are a common staple of raw diets, mostly because they are high in calories. Even my Dad recommend I try them. I have an aversion to wrinkly foods, but I bought them, and constructed a banana-apple-date "cake." It was very very very good. It kind of tasted like Cinnabon. However, this evening I tried a persimmon for the first time because people boasted how good they are. Keep in mind ONE costs like a dollar and some change. Anyhow, I flat out hated it because it tastes melon - y, and melons are the one fruit I really don't like. *And now persimmons.
I remember when I first transitioned to vegetarianism sometime in college. I looked through cook books for my cheapest options. The first dish I ever cooked was some sort of black beans wrapped in tortilla shells baked in mystery sauce. It was dry, bland, and gave me gas. However, as a broke college kid I felt obligated to sorta finish it. The next weeks continued with more beans cooked up in unimaginative ways. Simply because I wanted to make sure I had all my protein. I didn't even like beans back then. However, with time, and practice I learned that one can be as simple or elaborate, cheap or expensive as they want on a plant based diet. I learned how to make all my favorites like chili and pizza. In fact, now I love beans! Lol.
I am trying to keep these experiences in mind as I transition into this lifestyle. My best piece of advice to people interested in transitioning to vegetarianism is to do research first. Also, stay away from processed products. Stick with whole foods. That being said, there are a lot of delicious morningstar farms/boca/etc products to get started. However, I encourage you to use those in moderation! Also, be creative. Although you can take your favorite meals and make them vegetarian, don't forget to look for new recipes!
As for my workout plan, I have decided to trash the full body routine I wanted to incorporate into my regimen. I will stick with one muscle group a day. This has worked, no reason to re invent the wheel! I will continue occasional spinning classes, and HIIT *high intensity interval training.
Today I emailed my body idol bikini fitness competitor Erin Moubray! She encouraged me to eat plentifully, but increase my training to get the results I want! I think this is the best advice! Anyways it is bed time, so PEACE and LOVE!
Here it is mid January, and I am still getting ish together! Hahaha!
I am still attempting raw veganism consistent with the principles in the 80 10 10 diet book (otherwise known as a high carbohydrate, low fat lifestyle.
Up until the weekend, I did beautifully. However, Sunday afternoon I ended up at Chipotle in dire need of rice and beans! I will be on back and track tomorrow. (I had some more rice and beans today!)
Whenever you make a lifestyle change, never use the words fail OR start over. Simply figure out what the h*ll happened and move onward. It is perfectly pointless to beat yourself up and/or dwell on these factors. Most people, especially when transitioning into veggie lifestyles will occasionally get a taste for "off limit" foods. Especially, if you have been eating the same thing for years. Added stress from abusing yourself will likely UN motivate you and keep you from reaching your optimal goals! So I will list some mistakes I have made!
1) If you choose to embark upon a high carbohydrate/low fat lifestyle, make sure you have RIPE fruit. And that you know how to even find it. Whole Foods had strawberries on sale this weekend, and so I grabbed a couple of baskets. They were just plain bland! I figure this is probably because a) this is not strawberry season or b) they aren't ripe! This weekend, I let my banana supply dwindle down, and woke up Sunday to only two edible ones. The others were all green. This aggravated me, and I happily rewarded myself with Chipotle later! Lesson learned. Be prepared! This can apply to any dietary lifestyle, if you are hungry, it will be very easy to swing by the drive through.
2) If you experiment with new recipes make sure you have something to eat in case you screw it up. Lol. Saturday evening, I decided to make a dressing with oranges and tomatoes because I noticed many people blending fruits for salad dressings. Well my small smoothie blender is not synonymous with an actual blender blender. I ended up having to add lots of water, and the outcome was plain gross. (Both appearance and taste.) In the end, use a cookbook or trusted source, unless you are prepared to eat something else if your "creation" goes wrong!
3) Lastly, accept that if you are trying new things, you are bound to find things you LOVE and things you HATE to eat. This weekend I bought 20 organic medjool dates from a local grocery store. They are a common staple of raw diets, mostly because they are high in calories. Even my Dad recommend I try them. I have an aversion to wrinkly foods, but I bought them, and constructed a banana-apple-date "cake." It was very very very good. It kind of tasted like Cinnabon. However, this evening I tried a persimmon for the first time because people boasted how good they are. Keep in mind ONE costs like a dollar and some change. Anyhow, I flat out hated it because it tastes melon - y, and melons are the one fruit I really don't like. *And now persimmons.
I remember when I first transitioned to vegetarianism sometime in college. I looked through cook books for my cheapest options. The first dish I ever cooked was some sort of black beans wrapped in tortilla shells baked in mystery sauce. It was dry, bland, and gave me gas. However, as a broke college kid I felt obligated to sorta finish it. The next weeks continued with more beans cooked up in unimaginative ways. Simply because I wanted to make sure I had all my protein. I didn't even like beans back then. However, with time, and practice I learned that one can be as simple or elaborate, cheap or expensive as they want on a plant based diet. I learned how to make all my favorites like chili and pizza. In fact, now I love beans! Lol.
I am trying to keep these experiences in mind as I transition into this lifestyle. My best piece of advice to people interested in transitioning to vegetarianism is to do research first. Also, stay away from processed products. Stick with whole foods. That being said, there are a lot of delicious morningstar farms/boca/etc products to get started. However, I encourage you to use those in moderation! Also, be creative. Although you can take your favorite meals and make them vegetarian, don't forget to look for new recipes!
As for my workout plan, I have decided to trash the full body routine I wanted to incorporate into my regimen. I will stick with one muscle group a day. This has worked, no reason to re invent the wheel! I will continue occasional spinning classes, and HIIT *high intensity interval training.
Today I emailed my body idol bikini fitness competitor Erin Moubray! She encouraged me to eat plentifully, but increase my training to get the results I want! I think this is the best advice! Anyways it is bed time, so PEACE and LOVE!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Raw veganism Day 2: Citrus Kale Salad
Hello veggies!
I am writing extra late at night because I can not sleep! I feel like running or dancing, but not sleeping. I drank a cup of espresso around 5 PM, and I also took a little afternoon nap. Recipe for disaster. Anyhow, I want to take the time to update you on my raw vegan (somewhat 80/10/10) lifestyle, and share another recipe.
The most challenging part about eating this way is getting enough calories in! Today I managed to take in around 2,500 calories. I ate above my protein requirements today. I am pretty happy with this value, here is what I ate:
1) 1 banana with a smoothie (2 bananas, pineapple, kale leaf, and orange juice)
2) 4 bananas
----worked out!
3) 1 banana with a smoothie (2 bananas, 1 mango) and 1/2 red pepper with 1TB hummus (eye balled it!)
4) 5 apples (sliced and peeled) (espresso)
6) citrus kale salad
7) protein shake with almond milk
I have noted some positive changes. I no longer am hungry, nor do I crave sweets. LOL. Pretty much by eating every 2 to 3 hours, and eating larger volumes I never felt empty. However, I never felt too full or sluggish. More or less...just right. I suppose, since I ate mostly fruits/vegetables I never had the post lunch sleepiness. My energy level was superb. I had an abundance of energy during my workout, and felt "light!" (Not to be gross!) But I peed often today, and very clear, despite not drinking a ton of water outside of my workout. I was also rather regular! :-) All in all, I feel good. Like I said, I feel like dancing.
According to the 80-10-10 manual, one pound of green leafy vegetables should be consumed daily. I did not make it! I am slowly trying to fit more into my daily menu. However, I invented a citrus kale salad today. I am sure it isn't anything too new. However, it is simple, and healthy and delicious. Here is what I combined:
About 2 to 3 cups of shredded curly leaf kale
4 oranges, peeled and chopped
0.25 cup of raw pumpkin seeds
I tossed everything together. Except I used 1/2 of an orange for juice, and squeezed it on top of the salad. Kale has a bitter taste, so it was a nice contrast. There was more orange in the salad than kale! It was also very filling. If you have never tried raw pumpkin seeds before, I encourage you to do so. They make great salad toppers/snacks. I purchased mine from the bulk bin at Whole Foods. One quarter cup of pumpkin seeds contains under 200 calories, almost 10 grams of protein, and contain many goodies like omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin A, B, E, zinc and iron to name a few. Very good for vegetarians/vegans.
I have decided to make some changes to my exercise regimen. I ran into my spinning teacher today, and I feel guilty I haven't taken the class in awhile. I am going to incorporate one class in per week. Hehehe. I am going to adapt an exercise routine I found in Oxygen magazine. Basically, there are about ten strength exercises targeting all the areas of the body, and they all utilize dumb bells. You perform one set of 12 to 15 repetitions, weight should be heavy enough to be a challenge. In between each exercise you perform intense cardio like jump - squats, high knee runs, or jump rope movements. Then you repeat the routine two more times. I will be doing this three times a week. Lastly, I will continue my once a week dance class, and maybe a yoga class too. Everything but belly dance is at my gym, and I am in the habit of going to the gym six days a week. Therefore, even though I will only be strength training three times a week now...I still want to keep my routine of going most days of the week. I am kind of excited, because this will kick up my cardio a little. Which means results for my contest!
I also found an awesome recipe in the Oxygen magazine for lentils and quinoa, which I would like to include on my blog. However, I am sitting in the dark, and clearly can not see it to copy it here. However, I think it is a good recipe for protein/complex carbohydrates. It is also very portable, and would be great even if you eat meat.
Next time I update my blog, I will include a picture of the kale salad. I think I feel the sleepies coming. Peace and Love!
I am writing extra late at night because I can not sleep! I feel like running or dancing, but not sleeping. I drank a cup of espresso around 5 PM, and I also took a little afternoon nap. Recipe for disaster. Anyhow, I want to take the time to update you on my raw vegan (somewhat 80/10/10) lifestyle, and share another recipe.
The most challenging part about eating this way is getting enough calories in! Today I managed to take in around 2,500 calories. I ate above my protein requirements today. I am pretty happy with this value, here is what I ate:
1) 1 banana with a smoothie (2 bananas, pineapple, kale leaf, and orange juice)
2) 4 bananas
----worked out!
3) 1 banana with a smoothie (2 bananas, 1 mango) and 1/2 red pepper with 1TB hummus (eye balled it!)
4) 5 apples (sliced and peeled) (espresso)
6) citrus kale salad
7) protein shake with almond milk
I have noted some positive changes. I no longer am hungry, nor do I crave sweets. LOL. Pretty much by eating every 2 to 3 hours, and eating larger volumes I never felt empty. However, I never felt too full or sluggish. More or less...just right. I suppose, since I ate mostly fruits/vegetables I never had the post lunch sleepiness. My energy level was superb. I had an abundance of energy during my workout, and felt "light!" (Not to be gross!) But I peed often today, and very clear, despite not drinking a ton of water outside of my workout. I was also rather regular! :-) All in all, I feel good. Like I said, I feel like dancing.
According to the 80-10-10 manual, one pound of green leafy vegetables should be consumed daily. I did not make it! I am slowly trying to fit more into my daily menu. However, I invented a citrus kale salad today. I am sure it isn't anything too new. However, it is simple, and healthy and delicious. Here is what I combined:
About 2 to 3 cups of shredded curly leaf kale
4 oranges, peeled and chopped
0.25 cup of raw pumpkin seeds
I tossed everything together. Except I used 1/2 of an orange for juice, and squeezed it on top of the salad. Kale has a bitter taste, so it was a nice contrast. There was more orange in the salad than kale! It was also very filling. If you have never tried raw pumpkin seeds before, I encourage you to do so. They make great salad toppers/snacks. I purchased mine from the bulk bin at Whole Foods. One quarter cup of pumpkin seeds contains under 200 calories, almost 10 grams of protein, and contain many goodies like omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin A, B, E, zinc and iron to name a few. Very good for vegetarians/vegans.
I have decided to make some changes to my exercise regimen. I ran into my spinning teacher today, and I feel guilty I haven't taken the class in awhile. I am going to incorporate one class in per week. Hehehe. I am going to adapt an exercise routine I found in Oxygen magazine. Basically, there are about ten strength exercises targeting all the areas of the body, and they all utilize dumb bells. You perform one set of 12 to 15 repetitions, weight should be heavy enough to be a challenge. In between each exercise you perform intense cardio like jump - squats, high knee runs, or jump rope movements. Then you repeat the routine two more times. I will be doing this three times a week. Lastly, I will continue my once a week dance class, and maybe a yoga class too. Everything but belly dance is at my gym, and I am in the habit of going to the gym six days a week. Therefore, even though I will only be strength training three times a week now...I still want to keep my routine of going most days of the week. I am kind of excited, because this will kick up my cardio a little. Which means results for my contest!
I also found an awesome recipe in the Oxygen magazine for lentils and quinoa, which I would like to include on my blog. However, I am sitting in the dark, and clearly can not see it to copy it here. However, I think it is a good recipe for protein/complex carbohydrates. It is also very portable, and would be great even if you eat meat.
Next time I update my blog, I will include a picture of the kale salad. I think I feel the sleepies coming. Peace and Love!
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