Day 2

So yesterday went pretty well, and while I didn't end up drinking as much as I was apparently supposed to, I did manage to drink a LOT OF JUICE! Most of my concoctions included Kale, Spinach, Carrot, Cucumber, Apples, Oranges, etc. All VERY good, surprisingly. Especially for someone that normally would not eat those greens at all.

Had no caffeine yesterday, so by 7pm my head was hurting BAD! In fact, I woke up with the same headache today! I also felt like my brain was so foggy, and my eyes couldn't focus properly! However, I lost 1.5 lbs LOL I dont put much stock in that loss, but its nice to see the numbers roll down even if its temporary.

Today is day 2, and I decided to have a protein shake this morning and have fruit I actually chewed; I made up my juice for later though. It consists of Apples, Kale, Fresh Ginger, & Cucumber. Again, very good tasting. Going to do things a bit differently today, to see if I can ward off the severe head pain.

To Health!

Juicing...

Today I began a 3-5 day plan which includes pretty much only drinking juice made up of fresh fruits and vegetables. I got the idea after watching the Documentary called "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead", (look for it on Netflix or Hulu) which chronicles the struggle of Joe Cross, an Australian man who at 40, found himself very overweight, out of shape, and suffering from a immune system disorder as well as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. For 60 days, he had nothing but fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, etc. Most of which was consumed in a juice form.

So, that all leads up to today, for me. For 3 days I will do nothing but freshly juiced fruits and vegetables, at least three times a day, while also drinking tons of water. After 3 days, I will reassess my situation and determine if I want to go further on this plan, up to 15 days. I'm tired of feeling like crap, being addicted to caffeine and sugar, and nothing I do ever seems to give me the jump-start I need to live a totally healthy life. I rarely eat enough vegetables because I don't like the taste of most, but when you make them into a juice mixed with apples or oranges, they take on an entirely new flavor! One that I can definitely handle and enjoy.

Ive not told many people that I am doing this, because I know I will hear that im not being safe or what Im doing is unhealthy. But at almost 33 years of age, its time I take back my life and begin making serious and long term changes for my body, so that I will be around another 33 (or more, hopefully!) Im glad to have a supportive husband who has agreed to drink his way to health with me. That means a lot, and its nice to have someone along for the ride, even if it has to be part time.

Here's to health!

Week in review...

I did it again; I started a blog and then left it alone for an entire week. I hate that. I will say that I thought about writing here every single day over the past week; I just never got the opportunity to sit down and do so.

I did not make it to Sprouts, as the weather was HORRIBLE which means the roads and the people driving upon them would be even MORE horrible. Instead, we went to Starbucks and watched the rain fall. Not so bad after all!

The entire week I was playing "single mom", while J was out of town on business. I have to say it was one of the more uneventful weeks ive had while solely caring for the kids! Score!
Unfortunately, I got another one of my superbad headaches and was pretty much useless all that day. I used to get migraines every day for weeks on end, then suddenly they just go away. Maybe its stress, maybe its what Im eating/drinking. Its hard to figure out at times.

Today is Mothers Day...one of the more sentimental holidays in our repertoire. Twelve years ago today, I found out we were going to have a baby...now that baby is almost as tall as I am, can wear my shoes, and fits into Junior sized clothing! A few years later, we were delighted to know we would have baby number two....now THAT baby is a sporty tomboy who loves her Mommy VERY much, and is always attached to my hip. And lastly, a few years after that, we discovered we would be having our final child; a boy. That boy came into the world, guns blazing and if his fight to live was any indication of what was to come, we wouldve known that he would be strong willed and full of personality.

So, today we honor the mothers of the world. Those who's babies are just newly born;those whose babies are grown up and have their own children, giving their moms the special role as grandmother; those who's babies were taken from them all too soon but who's memory remains deeply imbedded in their hearts, minds and souls; and all the mommies in between. Every one special and important in their roll as caretaker, teacher, friend, psychologist, cook, maid, chaperone, chaffeur...the list just goes on and on.

Thank you, Mommies.

A New Food Adventure...

Tomorrow, I will be taking an adventure to Sprouts. In case you do not know what Sprouts is, its basically a Farmers Market but in "chain" store form. Im thinking about adding in some interesting new foods into my diet, mostly whole grains and seeds. You know, the good stuff (yet to be determined). I know many people who just RAVE about this store, and since its one of those places that popped up while I was living overseas, I will try it and hope to find what I want and at decent prices.

I thought I had created a worldly palate as Ive aged, but I realize how many things I still do not like to eat, or just things ive been afraid to try. Two things I absolutely will NOT eat are Celery and Cilantro. Bleh. Just typing them makes me feel queasy. Yet, Celery and Cilantro are in SO many recipes these days. I just cant do it, no way, no how.

However, I do love seeds and nuts (MOG- mind out of gutter) as well as some whole grains. Im desperately wanting to love cooked oatmeal but its just so wrong. It isnt so much the flavor as it is the texture, or mouth-feel. I know the benefits of oats and I am willing to try them a few more times before I completely say No. Im experimenting with overnight oats, and something tells me cold oatmeal will be no better to me than hot.
The recipe I am using is as follows:

1/3 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup Almond Milk (Vanilla)
little less than 1/2 cup of Water
1/3 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Dash of cinnamon

Mix all of the ingredients into a container that you can cover, and set in the fridge overnight.

The idea is that the oats will absorb the liquid then voila! Fabulously wonderful creamy Oatmeal. Sounds wonderful doesnt it? Ill be the judge.

I got Almond milk today and love it! While I should be drinking the unsweetened variety, I really feel like I have to go at this with baby steps. Like I still cant drink plain soy milk; it has to be chocolate.
My friend Danielle has a dandy little dessert recipe she calls Chocolate Cherry Soft-Serve, and its fantastic! Especially if you enjoy the flavor of semi-sweet or dark chocolate.

Forgive the sloppiness of the cup, as I used a froth mixer to combine and it splattered the mix everywhere! Plus, I wanted this to be more like an ice cream type deal and it froze a bit too much! Either way, its fantabulous and guilt-free for the most part.

Mix up some frozen cherries, 2 T. almond milk (or more if you want a bigger serving), and 3/4 tsp. cocoa powder. I mixed the milk and cocoa together first, then added in the cherries. Yum!

I also have this Peanut Butter that I am not totally sold on. Now, if you know me, you know that PB is one of my ALL TIME FAV FOODS. EVER. Period. You would think that because I love it so, that I would love almost every kind there is. Then this stuff was brought to my attention:


Its called "Naturally More" and it boasts having 10g of Protein, 4 Carbs, and 4g of Fiber. Its unsweetened and fortified with Flax oil , seeds and wheat germ. Its "eh". My husband was quite dramatic when I handed him a spoonful of this stuff, saying it was awful and pretending to gag. Its not THAT bad. But its thick, and crunchy but not in the usual crunch PB kind of way. The verdict is still out on this product, but its definitely an option if you want PB in your life, in a somewhat healthier format.

Two posts in one hour?

Someone call a doctor, I think she has blog fever.

Well, not exactly, but whatevs.

Ive been religiously reading a friends blog about her weightloss journey and her amazing change in eating habits. Her entries are inspirational, even motivating. But she has decided to eliminate most animal food products from her diet (or at least that's what I'm gleaning), and eating somewhat Vegan.

I was thinking about it, and making a mental inventory of the vegetables/nuts/grains etc that I like and I realized I could probably never survive as a Vegan, much less as a Vegetarian! I would most certainly lose weight from that eating lifestyle because id never eat!

So, Kudos to those former animal product turned Spelt eaters. You're better than I!

Everything's better with a smear...

I wish I knew how I am so quippy, snarky, and downright full of wit , IRL (in real life), but when it comes to putting my sarcastic laced thoughts to type, I am at a constant loss. Somehow, I always know what to say to get a laugh or twenty..sometimes, I even crack myself up. Im rarely at a loss for words. Yet, this is so painful!

Blah.

Maybe I should use this as a venue to express my random thoughts, my innermost feelings... I guess I dont like feeling so vulnerable and thats what "writing" is to me.

Oh well...I guess for now, I will go ponder Chia seeds, and how I can integrate them into my daily life. Sound fun? Not so much.