Cody and his first big dog friend, Sunshine, circa October 2009[/caption]
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Say-it-with-pictures Sunday
[caption id="attachment_620" align="aligncenter" width="523"] Cody and his first big dog friend, Sunshine, circa October 2009[/caption]
Cody and his first big dog friend, Sunshine, circa October 2009[/caption]
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Follow Friday
Happy Herbivore has to be one of my favorite spots on the Internet for plant-based, no salt, sugar, oil recipes.
I love the website so much I bought both Happy Herbivore and Everyday Happy Herbivore for Kindle.
Lindsey's recipes are very approachable, quick and yummy. Check her out if you're new to plant-based eating.
I love the website so much I bought both Happy Herbivore and Everyday Happy Herbivore for Kindle.
Lindsey's recipes are very approachable, quick and yummy. Check her out if you're new to plant-based eating.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Say-it-with-pictures Sunday
[caption id="attachment_589" align="aligncenter" width="523"]
These two make me happy every.single.day![/caption]
These two make me happy every.single.day![/caption]
Friday, October 12, 2012
Follow Friday
Stumbled across this guy on Twitter. I can't remember who followed whom first, but the Healthy Fellow has some great information over at his website.
It's not necessarily all ETL friendly but he is a natural health consultant, so, there is info over that that we "nutes" can find useful.
It's not necessarily all ETL friendly but he is a natural health consultant, so, there is info over that that we "nutes" can find useful.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Does a plant-based diet reverse diabetes?
"It may seem like a vegan diet is just too difficult to start and sustain. 'Diabetes is difficult,' says Barnard. 'Yes, people may think eating a vegan diet sounds hard–but ending up on dialysis and going blind is what is hard.' " -- Care2 story
[caption id="attachment_580" align="alignleft" width="198"]
Photo courtesy of Ambro at freedigitalphotos.net[/caption]
Many many of the doctors and researchers into nutrition as healthcare believe so. And they have documented cases of patients who have reversed their diabetes by shunning the Standard American Diet (SAD) and meat.
Care2 recently had a story of a woman who reversed her diabetes and Dr. Fuhrman has a book coming out in December that addresses the use of a plant-based diet to reverse diabetes.
I don't have diabetes, thankfully. I have had relatives who had it. One relative in particular was incredibly aggravating about how she chose to take the advice of her doctors and diabetes educators. Other diabetics I've known have been frustrated by the advice of their doctors and diabetes educators, especially after they've gone plant-based and gotten off their medications.
[caption id="attachment_581" align="alignright" width="199"]
Photo courtesy of artemisphoto at freedigitalphotos.net[/caption]
I know many many many people reiterate over and over again that you can't get enough protein on a plant-based diet and that's just not true. You get all the protein you need on a plant-based diet, and you don't have to count or measure.
I know it's not for everyone, but since it's vegetarian awareness month, I'm just trying to provide resource options for those who are interested in plant-based eating.
[caption id="attachment_580" align="alignleft" width="198"]
Photo courtesy of Ambro at freedigitalphotos.net[/caption]Many many of the doctors and researchers into nutrition as healthcare believe so. And they have documented cases of patients who have reversed their diabetes by shunning the Standard American Diet (SAD) and meat.
Care2 recently had a story of a woman who reversed her diabetes and Dr. Fuhrman has a book coming out in December that addresses the use of a plant-based diet to reverse diabetes.
I don't have diabetes, thankfully. I have had relatives who had it. One relative in particular was incredibly aggravating about how she chose to take the advice of her doctors and diabetes educators. Other diabetics I've known have been frustrated by the advice of their doctors and diabetes educators, especially after they've gone plant-based and gotten off their medications.
[caption id="attachment_581" align="alignright" width="199"]
Photo courtesy of artemisphoto at freedigitalphotos.net[/caption]I know many many many people reiterate over and over again that you can't get enough protein on a plant-based diet and that's just not true. You get all the protein you need on a plant-based diet, and you don't have to count or measure.
I know it's not for everyone, but since it's vegetarian awareness month, I'm just trying to provide resource options for those who are interested in plant-based eating.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Say no to pinkwashing, Part II
I know, I know, back-to-back posts about why I hate the pink ribbon campaign.
But after writing this post, which included a story by an acquaintance whose mother died of cancer, I decided to hit the grocery stores and see if I could visually demonstrate my point (as well as hers). BINGO, I found it, so this is a show-and-tell of sorts.
See, one of the things Sharon talks about in her post is the fact that the companies raising money for various cancer charities are producing many of the products that cause or accelerate cancer.
And she's correct. Here's what I found on the shelves of just one store.
[caption id="attachment_646" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
One of three products I found on the shelf that's helping in the fight against breast cancer[/caption]
So, I decided to take a look at the ingredients list on the side panel and here's what it shows.
[caption id="attachment_650" align="alignright" width="1024"]
Ingredient list[/caption]
Sugar appears a few times there. Let's look at what Dr. Fuhrman has to say about sugar and cancer, shall we?
"Although different transport mechanisms are used to get fructose and glucose into cells, their metabolism is thought to be similar once they enter cells. However, these scientists found that in human pancreatic tumor cells, metabolism of fructose and glucose occurs via different pathways, both leading to cell proliferation. Keep in mind that both sugars led to increased cell proliferation at similar rates - that is, this study did not show that fructose is "worse" than glucose, just that they stimulate proliferation by different mechanisms. Glucose was used by the cancer cells for energy production, whereas fructose was used to generate nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). This study was the first to show that cancer cells could differentiate between fructose and glucose, and that they could use fructose as efficiently as glucose to fuel cell growth." -- from a piece he wrote for VegSource.
You don't have to take his word for it, he lists the studies at the end of the article.
Here's another product that's fighting the good fight
And, its ingredients
And, finally, off the store shelf, let's not leave out the BPA-lined canned goods
And, there's THIS information from the Breast Cancer Fund, which actually seems interested in PREVENTION.
Finally, what I was looking for was delivered straight to my mailbox, in the form of a grocery store ad with a pullout section promoting the products that are in it to win it in the fight against breast cancer
What do we see in the ad? Well, fake food. Products with sugar (or high fructose corn syrup, which the corn lobby would like you to call corn sugar thank you very much), as well as dairy, which has been linked to cancer.
So, there you have it. My little experiment has taught me that if I want to contribute to any cancer charity, the Breast Cancer Fund may just be that charity because they are focusing on environmental causes and as their little tagline says "Prevention Starts Here." OH, and to stay out of the center aisles of the grocery store.
But after writing this post, which included a story by an acquaintance whose mother died of cancer, I decided to hit the grocery stores and see if I could visually demonstrate my point (as well as hers). BINGO, I found it, so this is a show-and-tell of sorts.
See, one of the things Sharon talks about in her post is the fact that the companies raising money for various cancer charities are producing many of the products that cause or accelerate cancer.
And she's correct. Here's what I found on the shelves of just one store.
[caption id="attachment_646" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
One of three products I found on the shelf that's helping in the fight against breast cancer[/caption]So, I decided to take a look at the ingredients list on the side panel and here's what it shows.
[caption id="attachment_650" align="alignright" width="1024"]
Ingredient list[/caption]Sugar appears a few times there. Let's look at what Dr. Fuhrman has to say about sugar and cancer, shall we?
"Although different transport mechanisms are used to get fructose and glucose into cells, their metabolism is thought to be similar once they enter cells. However, these scientists found that in human pancreatic tumor cells, metabolism of fructose and glucose occurs via different pathways, both leading to cell proliferation. Keep in mind that both sugars led to increased cell proliferation at similar rates - that is, this study did not show that fructose is "worse" than glucose, just that they stimulate proliferation by different mechanisms. Glucose was used by the cancer cells for energy production, whereas fructose was used to generate nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). This study was the first to show that cancer cells could differentiate between fructose and glucose, and that they could use fructose as efficiently as glucose to fuel cell growth." -- from a piece he wrote for VegSource.
You don't have to take his word for it, he lists the studies at the end of the article.
Here's another product that's fighting the good fight
And, its ingredients
And, finally, off the store shelf, let's not leave out the BPA-lined canned goods
And, there's THIS information from the Breast Cancer Fund, which actually seems interested in PREVENTION.
Finally, what I was looking for was delivered straight to my mailbox, in the form of a grocery store ad with a pullout section promoting the products that are in it to win it in the fight against breast cancer
What do we see in the ad? Well, fake food. Products with sugar (or high fructose corn syrup, which the corn lobby would like you to call corn sugar thank you very much), as well as dairy, which has been linked to cancer.So, there you have it. My little experiment has taught me that if I want to contribute to any cancer charity, the Breast Cancer Fund may just be that charity because they are focusing on environmental causes and as their little tagline says "Prevention Starts Here." OH, and to stay out of the center aisles of the grocery store.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Say no to pinkwashing
I've been anti-pinkwashing for a while now for a variety of reasons (money doesn't really go to preventing breast cancer, I don't believe big pharma will ever allow a "cure" to be found, I don't agree with the political motivations of some of the groups that raise money for this "cause," money from the purchase of pinked items doesn't go to cancer prevention and precious little to finding a cure, I could go on and on and on.)
Thankfully, an acquaintance shared on Facebook a 2011 blog post she wrote about boycotting the pink ribbon. I think she says best my latest reason for avoiding the pink ribbon. Here are some points from that blog post, you can read the full post here.
[caption id="attachment_594" align="aligncenter" width="523"]
Illustration courtesy of scottchan at freedigitalphotos.net, altered by me[/caption]Why I’m Boycotting the Pink Ribbon
Posted on October 4, 2011
My Mom died of breast cancer. It’s still hard to say that, much less to believe it, even after two and a half years. She was diagnosed when she was in her early 40’s, and I still remember how shocked we all were when we learned that the small lump she had found herself in the shower, the lump that the doctors were all but certain was benign, was in fact, cancer. She initially had a lumpectomy and radiation therapy, and all was well for a few years. But the insidious disease came back, and she had a mastectomy and chemotherapy next. I still remember taking her for her first wig fitting and how embarrassed she was about letting me see her bald head. She was always so brave, taking every step her doctors recommended along the way, and much to everyone’s surprise, including her radiation oncologist, who referred to her as a “walking miracle,” she fought this battle off and on for a total of 26 years. In the end, the cancer metastasized to her pelvic area, and she had to have a double nephrostomy so as not to suffer damage to her kidneys. My Dad stood by her every step of the way, flushing and changing her nephrostomy bags dutifully, helping her in the restroom, getting her out whenever she was strong enough to go. She always loved to go out to eat….food was her passion in life. And it’s a little ironic to me that although she was overweight for most of her life, no medical professional ever talked to her about her diet, or even her weight, throughout all of the years that she struggled with this disease. Meanwhile, I was so strongly affected by watching her and what was happening to her that I began to gradually modify my own health habits and relationship with food, believing somehow that it would protect me from suffering the same fate. I began exercising daily, religiously, for at least an hour, and I also gradually began to move towards a vegetarian diet. I often encouraged my parents, and particularly my Mom, to eat more vegetables, to stop eating so much fatty meat and sweets, but my words had little to no impact. I wish now that I could turn back time and refuse to allow any animal-based or processed foods into my home, but at the time, I didn’t know about the strong connection between these foods and their ability to turn on cancer genes and/or feed cancer cells, so I allowed my parents to bring their own food and eat it here when we were together for holidays and other gatherings.
**************************
I am “fighting breast cancer” this year by informing everyone I know, in as many ways as I can, about the benefits of eating a whole foods, plant-based diet. I truly believe that if my Mom had been given this order by her doctor, she may have made some changes and lived a better quality of life. She may have learned how delicious real food can be, how great you can feel after you eat it, how you don’t have to worry about counting calories and controlling portions, and how it doesn’t lead to excessive weight gain and digestive discomfort the way that animal-based and processed foods do. I’m currently working with some clients who have changed their diets gradually to include these delicious, plant-based whole foods, and they are looking and feeling amazing. And I know that this is the best way that I can personally “Race for the Cure.” The cure lies in knowledge and in prevention, not in a new drug with all kinds of short and long-term side effects or a new, expensive treatment that takes a heavy toll on the body and may or may not be effective. The cure lies in informing and educating women, men, children, that what is on the end of their forks truly is medicine, and will profoundly affect their bodies and minds both immediately, and in the long-term. We are not victims of our genes; genes may load the gun, but it’s the choices we make that pull the trigger. I lived for years in extreme fear that I would find a lump or get a bad report after a mammogram. I was terrified to go through what my Mom endured. And now I feel secure that by making the dietary and lifestyle choices that I have, I am doing the very best for my body, my mind, my spirit, and my family. I want to find the cure and fight this disease every bit as desperately as I did when I participated in the walks and purchased every product I could get my hands on that displayed the pink ribbon. But I know now that it’s not about making more money for these companies that are not really in it to win it. It’s about taking responsibility for my health, educating myself and others about the reality of where the breast cancer risks really are, and making whatever changes are necessary to minimize exposure to these risks. If we all work together and inspire each other to move towards a healthier lifestyle, then maybe we won’t need to race anymore, other than for the thrill of it.
I wrote a similarly-themed post about my mom a few months back.
(I had a conversation with a work friend about this issue Wednesday, and we both agreed, they might as well just add pink ribbons to cigarettes to raise awareness. The same friend shared this post with me by a breast cancer patient who is no longer alive.)
Another friend posted THIS about the pink ribbon campaign.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Say-it-with-pictures Sunday
[caption id="attachment_561" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
Photo courtesy of Matt Banks at freedigitalphotos.net[/caption]
Photo courtesy of Matt Banks at freedigitalphotos.net[/caption]
Saturday, October 6, 2012
ETL has made me selfish
I've learned a ton about nutrition in the last several months. The most important thing I've learned is that it's OUR choices that cause and promote disease. I'm afraid to admit that has made me incredibly selfish.
I use the term selfish in the most unselfish way (I know, that doesn't make sense, but stick with me).
See, here's the thing, we all choose how we feed our bodies, what we put into them. We can continue to feed them with the Standard American Diet (SAD), or, we can choose to feed ourselves healthy, whole, plant-based foods. One choice will result in immediate satisfaction, the other will result in real, long-term health benefits.
I find myself wanting all the people I love in life to choose the latter, not the former. I want, like you can't believe, to have the people who are still in my life to live long, healthy, prosperous lives. Even if they don't go all the way. Just add some more plant-based goodness to the diet.
I am very selfish that way, and I think that's the best way I could ever be selfish.
Here are two people I wish would've been able to embrace this lifestyle with me <3
[caption id="attachment_574" align="aligncenter" width="484"]
My Mom and Dad at my brother's wedding in the 1980s[/caption]
I use the term selfish in the most unselfish way (I know, that doesn't make sense, but stick with me).
See, here's the thing, we all choose how we feed our bodies, what we put into them. We can continue to feed them with the Standard American Diet (SAD), or, we can choose to feed ourselves healthy, whole, plant-based foods. One choice will result in immediate satisfaction, the other will result in real, long-term health benefits.
I find myself wanting all the people I love in life to choose the latter, not the former. I want, like you can't believe, to have the people who are still in my life to live long, healthy, prosperous lives. Even if they don't go all the way. Just add some more plant-based goodness to the diet.
I am very selfish that way, and I think that's the best way I could ever be selfish.
Here are two people I wish would've been able to embrace this lifestyle with me <3
[caption id="attachment_574" align="aligncenter" width="484"]
My Mom and Dad at my brother's wedding in the 1980s[/caption]
Friday, October 5, 2012
Follow Friday
I was going through the folks I follow on Twitter to weed some out and stumbled across the account for this website.
Vegan Break provides "bite-sized vegan videos." Not all recipes are ETL friendly, but this is a useful site nonetheless.
Vegan Break provides "bite-sized vegan videos." Not all recipes are ETL friendly, but this is a useful site nonetheless.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Interview on health: Vegan Radiance
[caption id="attachment_506" align="alignleft" width="292"]
Courtesy of Vegan Radiance[/caption]
Lauren from Vegan Radiance was kind enough to agree to an email interview with me. I found her on Facebook about the time I started my plant-based journey and she's truly an inspiration.
First a little bit about her
I’m looking forward to my half century birthday next year. My goal is to be healthier at 50 than 20. Getting to this point has been….a journey, but, I’m loving it now. By day, I’m a corporate meeting/event planner, but in my past life I owned my own wedding cake business, worked for an NBA team for 13 years in community relations and marketing and worked for the world famous, Zig Ziglar motivational speaker. I have two adult children and an angel of a grandbaby to whom I can’t wait to give a green smoothie!!
1. You define yourself as a Nutritarian, how long have you been a nutritarian and how did you come to living this life?
I’ve been a Nutritarian for 1 year and 4 months. Hear me…It was NOT my goal to eat a whole foods/plant based diet. As a matter of fact, Memorial Day weekend 2011, my only goal was to grill some 1" thick steaks and relax with some beers; but, the universe had other plans. I awoke and distinctly "heard" a voice say…"You need to stop eating meat." I did not question it. That night, after a meatless day, I searched my cable guide for any kind of food documentary that might offer some guidance. I found the movie, "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead". Little did I know that movie would change my entire life. The movie itself and Joe’s journey healing himself on a juice fast was inspiring and brought me to tears. I watched it twice before realizing there was a doctor in the movie, Dr. Fuhrman, giving Joe powerful information on nutritionally dense foods and the health connection. I did an internet search for Dr. Fuhrman and I tell you, it was like sun rays shot out of my computer when I found my way to what he calls NUTRITARIAN eating. I soon discovered he had a book, Eat to Live, which lays out a whole foods/plant based way of eating. I ordered it immediately, read it as fast as I could, went to Whole Foods on June 4, 2011—book in one hand, shopping cart in the other and the rest is history.
At first I received immediate gratification as the weight just melted off my body. I had never experienced anything like that. I lost the first 20 lbs with no exercise. After I completed the first 6 weeks eating nutritarian, I went for a full metabolic blood panel test with my doctor so I could get a glimpse of what was going on inside my body. The results were astounding! My cholesterol levels, protein levels, everything was excellent! That really motivated me toward my main goal of getting off of not 1 but 2 high blood pressure medications. After the first 6 weeks, my doctor cut one of my meds in half…at my 11 week visit, he took me completely off of them. That was one of the greatest days in my life. I cried tears of joy!
[caption id="attachment_507" align="alignright" width="640"]
Courtesy of Vegan Radiance[/caption]
I love good..no, make that great tasting food. I am a foodie. I love presentation. When my children were little , even if we were having a meager meal, I’d try to make it look fancy. I think it makes things taste better! It’s no different with nutritarian cooking. Discovering neat ways to assemble the food in fun, exciting ways brings me joy. Whoever said don’t play with your food? That’s silly!
I have always loved to bake more than cook. I can remember as a little girl receiving an EZ Bake Oven for Christmas….then I graduated to using a real oven. My poor dad had to endure many, many experiment desserts (Thanks dad!) And, my mother always made delicious food from scratch. My grandmother had a master’s degree in home economics, and I can remember her teaching us to make homemade candies and breads.
4. What changes (any and all, not just weight loss) have you noticed since going ETL?
I could type for days about this. Luckily I kept a journal of the changes because it’s so easy to forget I ever had any ailments after I started feeling healthy. My allergies cleared up immediately-no more stuffy nose, sneezing, watery/itchy eyes. My feet stopped hurting, and my joints (knees, back) Oh! My back was a big one. Slowly, I noticed month by month any PMS symptoms I used to have completely disappeared including cramps… I went through the cold/flu season with no sickness. I have not taken an aspirin, gastro intestinal medication, my mind cleared and I could think easier, with more clarity and focus than ever before. I slept deeply and naturally fell asleep and awoke. My energy increased, I could now jog 3 miles with no stiff/achy recover the next day. My hair and nails grew like crazy!
5. What do your workouts look like?
Again, the only reason I got up off the couch was at the urging of my doctor. I was enjoying lounging around eating raw vegan ice cream and losing weight. I began a jog/walk combo for about 3.5 miles a few times/week. I challenge myself by walking UP the down escalator. It’s like having my own personal Stairmaster. I throw in a few squats and pushups and that’s it! I also live in a walking town, so me and these legs put on a lot of miles just walking around town. Love it!
[caption id="attachment_527" align="alignright" width="448"]
Mini Peanut butter/banana/chocolate frozen treats, Island salad plate (Hail to the Kale Salad in cucumber), edamame, mixed greens), Green Smoothie with mandarin oranges, dessert plate (strawberry popover, strawberry blossom cupcake, Apple sturdel muffin, raw vegan brownie) -- courtesy of Vegan Radiance[/caption]
6. What does a typical food day look like for you?
Morning-Green smoothie (kale, banana, mango, unsweetened almond milk and flaxseed)
Lunch – Huge (I mean I start with a salad bowl) SALAD…loaded with any combination of the good stuff like romaine, celery, onions, pears, pepitas, orange slices, pecans, snap peas, green peppers, broccoli, shredded cabbage and topped with a homemade dressing.
Dinner –In the summer, I like to sauté veggies and serve over quinoa. In the winter months, I go more for comfort foods like casseroles. I can make some really great nutritarian casseroles using marinara, veggies, nutritional yeast, onions, quinoa pasta, or wraps…mmmm Check the photo gallery on my FB page.
7. You seem to travel a bit, how long did it take you to be bold about your way of eating when out?
I started Eat to Live June 2011. The 2nd week of June I was scheduled to go on a 10 day business trip where food was actually much of the focus. I thought, “Why, oh why did I start this nutritarian thing now..I must be crazy!!” It was a turning point. Was I going to use this as an excuse (again) or change my life? I learned a lot on that trip which taught me, we can do what we decide to do. I called ahead to the hotel and upon arrival they had a refrigerator in my room and a blender!! The bellman drove me to the grocery store to stock up on produce. The restaurants were more than willing to accommodate the way I asked for food prep with no oil, salt and sugar. (They did not all succeed, but they tried!) And my coworker would bring me plates of fruit and veggies everyday out of support. All I knew at that early stage was eat fruits and veg, eat fruits and veg.
The best tips I can give for eating nutritarian on the road are:
8. What do you say to anyone who says they just can't do it, that it's too extreme?
I’m very aware not everyone is ready for nutritarian eating. They love hearing about my results, but just about everyone has that moment when they look at me and say, “I could never give up ______”. I don’t expect everyone to come this way. I just try to live my life in hopes that I will be consistent enough over the next years to be an example of good health. Everyone has to do what’s right for them. But every once in awhile, there’s that one who jumps in both feet….that understands like Dr. Esselstyn says, preventable, open heart surgery…now THAT’S what I call extreme.
9. What tips do you have for anyone new to eating the ETL way?
Stay plugged in. I used to listen to Nutritional Wisdom audio programs on Dr. Fuhrman’s website every day. I would listen while doing the dishes, eating my meals, exercising. I had a lot of reprogramming to do around nutrition. It’s free.
Read the book Eat to Live. I know everyone likes a quick fix…but taking the time to read the book really made the difference for me. I understood what I was doing and why. It made sense.
Find a supportive community. 4 weeks into Eat to Live I found a Yahoo support group. They were my rock. Kept me motivated, informed and let me vent. Great family!
Although Dr. Fuhrman offers so much free info I joined his member center. Not required by any means. It’s only $ 3.99 a month (that’s less than one of my lattes) and allows you access to recipes, daily emails and a host of other support tools.
10. What do you get from having a Facebook page that inspires others?
I had a friend my age pass away from a heart attack in 2011. Just about everyone I know has some ailment and I’m learning so much of our sickness is connected to what we are eating. I’ve tried every diet out there over the years with no lasting success and certainly no health benefits. All I know is…it worked for me. And if telling my story through this FB page helps someone….then I’m happy! I really wanted to name my page Nutritarian Radiance…but no one could spell it and I just thought folks could quickly identify with the word vegan first, then find out about Nutritarian eating.
I actually get so inspired back! I don’t know who is doing the inspiring..smile. I decided (there’s that word again) to start the Vegan Radiance FB page January 17th, 2012. I had no knowledge of how to create a page, post photos….nothing. It still has some glitches, but I’ve learned in life we cannot let the glitches stop us! I decided to just give it my best and the though of helping just one person feel better, eliminate disease and live longer was enough.
If you're on Facebook, check out the Vegan Radiance page, Lauren's transformation has been amazing. She has inspired me constantly and I make certain to interact with her often enough that her posts show up in my newsfeed.
Courtesy of Vegan Radiance[/caption]Lauren from Vegan Radiance was kind enough to agree to an email interview with me. I found her on Facebook about the time I started my plant-based journey and she's truly an inspiration.
First a little bit about her
I’m looking forward to my half century birthday next year. My goal is to be healthier at 50 than 20. Getting to this point has been….a journey, but, I’m loving it now. By day, I’m a corporate meeting/event planner, but in my past life I owned my own wedding cake business, worked for an NBA team for 13 years in community relations and marketing and worked for the world famous, Zig Ziglar motivational speaker. I have two adult children and an angel of a grandbaby to whom I can’t wait to give a green smoothie!!
1. You define yourself as a Nutritarian, how long have you been a nutritarian and how did you come to living this life?
I’ve been a Nutritarian for 1 year and 4 months. Hear me…It was NOT my goal to eat a whole foods/plant based diet. As a matter of fact, Memorial Day weekend 2011, my only goal was to grill some 1" thick steaks and relax with some beers; but, the universe had other plans. I awoke and distinctly "heard" a voice say…"You need to stop eating meat." I did not question it. That night, after a meatless day, I searched my cable guide for any kind of food documentary that might offer some guidance. I found the movie, "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead". Little did I know that movie would change my entire life. The movie itself and Joe’s journey healing himself on a juice fast was inspiring and brought me to tears. I watched it twice before realizing there was a doctor in the movie, Dr. Fuhrman, giving Joe powerful information on nutritionally dense foods and the health connection. I did an internet search for Dr. Fuhrman and I tell you, it was like sun rays shot out of my computer when I found my way to what he calls NUTRITARIAN eating. I soon discovered he had a book, Eat to Live, which lays out a whole foods/plant based way of eating. I ordered it immediately, read it as fast as I could, went to Whole Foods on June 4, 2011—book in one hand, shopping cart in the other and the rest is history.
- What inspires and motivates you to keep going?
At first I received immediate gratification as the weight just melted off my body. I had never experienced anything like that. I lost the first 20 lbs with no exercise. After I completed the first 6 weeks eating nutritarian, I went for a full metabolic blood panel test with my doctor so I could get a glimpse of what was going on inside my body. The results were astounding! My cholesterol levels, protein levels, everything was excellent! That really motivated me toward my main goal of getting off of not 1 but 2 high blood pressure medications. After the first 6 weeks, my doctor cut one of my meds in half…at my 11 week visit, he took me completely off of them. That was one of the greatest days in my life. I cried tears of joy!
- I've seen you mention you used to own a cake business, have you always enjoyed to cook, where do you find your kitchen inspiration?
[caption id="attachment_507" align="alignright" width="640"]
Courtesy of Vegan Radiance[/caption]I love good..no, make that great tasting food. I am a foodie. I love presentation. When my children were little , even if we were having a meager meal, I’d try to make it look fancy. I think it makes things taste better! It’s no different with nutritarian cooking. Discovering neat ways to assemble the food in fun, exciting ways brings me joy. Whoever said don’t play with your food? That’s silly!
I have always loved to bake more than cook. I can remember as a little girl receiving an EZ Bake Oven for Christmas….then I graduated to using a real oven. My poor dad had to endure many, many experiment desserts (Thanks dad!) And, my mother always made delicious food from scratch. My grandmother had a master’s degree in home economics, and I can remember her teaching us to make homemade candies and breads.
4. What changes (any and all, not just weight loss) have you noticed since going ETL?
I could type for days about this. Luckily I kept a journal of the changes because it’s so easy to forget I ever had any ailments after I started feeling healthy. My allergies cleared up immediately-no more stuffy nose, sneezing, watery/itchy eyes. My feet stopped hurting, and my joints (knees, back) Oh! My back was a big one. Slowly, I noticed month by month any PMS symptoms I used to have completely disappeared including cramps… I went through the cold/flu season with no sickness. I have not taken an aspirin, gastro intestinal medication, my mind cleared and I could think easier, with more clarity and focus than ever before. I slept deeply and naturally fell asleep and awoke. My energy increased, I could now jog 3 miles with no stiff/achy recover the next day. My hair and nails grew like crazy!
5. What do your workouts look like?
Again, the only reason I got up off the couch was at the urging of my doctor. I was enjoying lounging around eating raw vegan ice cream and losing weight. I began a jog/walk combo for about 3.5 miles a few times/week. I challenge myself by walking UP the down escalator. It’s like having my own personal Stairmaster. I throw in a few squats and pushups and that’s it! I also live in a walking town, so me and these legs put on a lot of miles just walking around town. Love it!
[caption id="attachment_527" align="alignright" width="448"]
Mini Peanut butter/banana/chocolate frozen treats, Island salad plate (Hail to the Kale Salad in cucumber), edamame, mixed greens), Green Smoothie with mandarin oranges, dessert plate (strawberry popover, strawberry blossom cupcake, Apple sturdel muffin, raw vegan brownie) -- courtesy of Vegan Radiance[/caption]6. What does a typical food day look like for you?
Morning-Green smoothie (kale, banana, mango, unsweetened almond milk and flaxseed)
Lunch – Huge (I mean I start with a salad bowl) SALAD…loaded with any combination of the good stuff like romaine, celery, onions, pears, pepitas, orange slices, pecans, snap peas, green peppers, broccoli, shredded cabbage and topped with a homemade dressing.
Dinner –In the summer, I like to sauté veggies and serve over quinoa. In the winter months, I go more for comfort foods like casseroles. I can make some really great nutritarian casseroles using marinara, veggies, nutritional yeast, onions, quinoa pasta, or wraps…mmmm Check the photo gallery on my FB page.
7. You seem to travel a bit, how long did it take you to be bold about your way of eating when out?
I started Eat to Live June 2011. The 2nd week of June I was scheduled to go on a 10 day business trip where food was actually much of the focus. I thought, “Why, oh why did I start this nutritarian thing now..I must be crazy!!” It was a turning point. Was I going to use this as an excuse (again) or change my life? I learned a lot on that trip which taught me, we can do what we decide to do. I called ahead to the hotel and upon arrival they had a refrigerator in my room and a blender!! The bellman drove me to the grocery store to stock up on produce. The restaurants were more than willing to accommodate the way I asked for food prep with no oil, salt and sugar. (They did not all succeed, but they tried!) And my coworker would bring me plates of fruit and veggies everyday out of support. All I knew at that early stage was eat fruits and veg, eat fruits and veg.
The best tips I can give for eating nutritarian on the road are:
- Pack your own snacks (Lara bar, apple, raw nuts)
- Research ahead of time the city you are visiting. Perhaps there’s a vegan restaurant nearby. Many restaurants have menus you can view online ahead of time. Call them ahead of time. Research the word “vegan+city”
- Determine ahead of time you are going to stick to your nutritarian plan. It’s worth it.
8. What do you say to anyone who says they just can't do it, that it's too extreme?
I’m very aware not everyone is ready for nutritarian eating. They love hearing about my results, but just about everyone has that moment when they look at me and say, “I could never give up ______”. I don’t expect everyone to come this way. I just try to live my life in hopes that I will be consistent enough over the next years to be an example of good health. Everyone has to do what’s right for them. But every once in awhile, there’s that one who jumps in both feet….that understands like Dr. Esselstyn says, preventable, open heart surgery…now THAT’S what I call extreme.
9. What tips do you have for anyone new to eating the ETL way?
Stay plugged in. I used to listen to Nutritional Wisdom audio programs on Dr. Fuhrman’s website every day. I would listen while doing the dishes, eating my meals, exercising. I had a lot of reprogramming to do around nutrition. It’s free.
Read the book Eat to Live. I know everyone likes a quick fix…but taking the time to read the book really made the difference for me. I understood what I was doing and why. It made sense.
Find a supportive community. 4 weeks into Eat to Live I found a Yahoo support group. They were my rock. Kept me motivated, informed and let me vent. Great family!
Although Dr. Fuhrman offers so much free info I joined his member center. Not required by any means. It’s only $ 3.99 a month (that’s less than one of my lattes) and allows you access to recipes, daily emails and a host of other support tools.
10. What do you get from having a Facebook page that inspires others?
I had a friend my age pass away from a heart attack in 2011. Just about everyone I know has some ailment and I’m learning so much of our sickness is connected to what we are eating. I’ve tried every diet out there over the years with no lasting success and certainly no health benefits. All I know is…it worked for me. And if telling my story through this FB page helps someone….then I’m happy! I really wanted to name my page Nutritarian Radiance…but no one could spell it and I just thought folks could quickly identify with the word vegan first, then find out about Nutritarian eating.
I actually get so inspired back! I don’t know who is doing the inspiring..smile. I decided (there’s that word again) to start the Vegan Radiance FB page January 17th, 2012. I had no knowledge of how to create a page, post photos….nothing. It still has some glitches, but I’ve learned in life we cannot let the glitches stop us! I decided to just give it my best and the though of helping just one person feel better, eliminate disease and live longer was enough.
If you're on Facebook, check out the Vegan Radiance page, Lauren's transformation has been amazing. She has inspired me constantly and I make certain to interact with her often enough that her posts show up in my newsfeed.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I'm on Facebook
Well, I've always had a personal Facebook account, but now there's an Imperfect Nutritarian page set up, so if you follow this blog and you're on Facebook, check it out and like me :)
You can also find me on Twitter, tumblr and de.licio.us, where my user name is beingnutritarian because all manifestations of imperfect nutritarian were taken :(
You can also find me on Twitter, tumblr and de.licio.us, where my user name is beingnutritarian because all manifestations of imperfect nutritarian were taken :(
Have you thought about going plant-based?
[caption id="attachment_523" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
Photo by vanillaechoes at freedigitalphotos.net[/caption]
Monday was World Vegetarian Day, which kicked of vegetarian awareness month. Unlike some causes that are raised in October, I can actually get behind raising awareness for this cause. I think we are all already quite aware of what wearing pink means.
But, I digress. It was a coincidence, I'm sure, that a co-worker brought me the Sept. 24 lifestyle section from the New York Times, which featured a piece on how vegan eating is becoming mainstream in, where else, California. This made me smile because I currently have thoughts of California swirling in my head, specifically, the San Diego area.
To celebrate this month of awareness raising, the North American Vegetarian Society has a contest going. Convince your non-veg friends to give up meat for the month and pledge to do so at the WVD website and they'll be entered into a drawing for up to $1,000.
So, if you've thought about it, what better time than the month set aside to raise awareness for plant-based eating (and maybe win some cash).
I'm going to try, this month, to focus on veg friendly resources for anyone interested in learning more.
Photo by vanillaechoes at freedigitalphotos.net[/caption]Monday was World Vegetarian Day, which kicked of vegetarian awareness month. Unlike some causes that are raised in October, I can actually get behind raising awareness for this cause. I think we are all already quite aware of what wearing pink means.
But, I digress. It was a coincidence, I'm sure, that a co-worker brought me the Sept. 24 lifestyle section from the New York Times, which featured a piece on how vegan eating is becoming mainstream in, where else, California. This made me smile because I currently have thoughts of California swirling in my head, specifically, the San Diego area.
To celebrate this month of awareness raising, the North American Vegetarian Society has a contest going. Convince your non-veg friends to give up meat for the month and pledge to do so at the WVD website and they'll be entered into a drawing for up to $1,000.
So, if you've thought about it, what better time than the month set aside to raise awareness for plant-based eating (and maybe win some cash).
I'm going to try, this month, to focus on veg friendly resources for anyone interested in learning more.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Time to come clean
OK, OK, I admit it...I lost my way (or my shit) in a major way last week.
I don't know when it started, but on Wednesday, I decided I was officially an emotional wreck. I had a weekend upcoming that was causing me anxiety and I had an impending conversation I had to have with my sister. The meltdown was fast, furious and TOXIC.
I had been craving a burger for quite some weeks. After my emotional meltdown Wednesday, I called off sick on Thursday. I didn't have it in me physically or intellectually to exist in a work environment and I've learned that when that happens, you HAVE to take care of you and if that means holing your self up inside your home, so be it.
So I did, but that didn't stop me from making a trip to a fast food place. And, I did. And, I indulged in food that does NOT come close to meeting the standards I have set for myself. And, it didn't stop there. For dinner, I wanted PASTA. So, I indulged there.
The end result?
I ate too much meat, too much oil, too much salt, too many "bad" carbs. I was a MESS. The emotions continued to swirl within me for the next few days. I confessed my issues on a private Facebook group for us ETL followers. My support was immediate and certain. "Take care of you."
But, I did not completely take care of me (though I considered indulging as taking care of me).
Turns out, this time, in order to take care of me emotionally I "needed" to go off track (and, boy did I). I was better by the next day and the next and the next. But boy do I have a ton of guilt issues swirling around in my head for having done it while still maintaining this plant-based blog. Thus my "coming clean."
The biggest "emotional" issue, for me, is the boy. He's interviewing for a job in California (2,206.4 miles from where I am now). And, it's not that he'd be leaving me. Nope, that's not what stresses me out (though I'm sure it would if he was). We've talked about me going with him.
Wait, what?
Yep, that's right. This girl, the one who had a tough time moving 180 miles away from her hometown, is in serious discussions about moving an additional 2,206 miles from "home."
There are tons of reasons this stresses me out, but the biggest one was dropping that bomb on my sister.
Oh, how I dreaded the thought of that.
See, my sis and I have been close for only about the last 17 years (even though we are 41 and 53).
When I announced moving where I am, it was tough for both of us. But, it's only a 3-hour drive. TWO THOUSAND miles, not quite so quick a drive. I can't rush back for an emergency. She can't just decide to come visit for a weekend. It'd be all about planning and cost.
So, I finally steeled myself, and got up the nerve Sunday to text her there was something I needed to talk to her about. We discussed speaking Monday morning, but, she called me Sunday night. And, I told her.
And....turns out my trepidation about that was all self-imposed.
Because you know what? My sister loves me, a lot, and wants nothing but the best for me. And, my news was good news to her, which made it even better news for me. (Funny thing, that unconditional love. It is supportive, loving, and REAL.)
I still don't know if this move cross-country is going to happen. But I'm relieved that the first most anxiety-inducing part of the possible journey is over and that it went well.
So, now, it's time for me to clean up my act. I'm gonna do a smoothie fast. No chewing food, no eating out, the rest of this week. Just me and my Vitamix making me yummy drinks to quench my thirst and hunger. I need to clean up and re-detox and that'll be so much easier now that the most emotional part of what's been going on with me is over.
I love you sis, and I know you're reading :)
[caption id="attachment_565" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Me and my sister on her wedding day in 2004 <3[/caption]
I don't know when it started, but on Wednesday, I decided I was officially an emotional wreck. I had a weekend upcoming that was causing me anxiety and I had an impending conversation I had to have with my sister. The meltdown was fast, furious and TOXIC.
I had been craving a burger for quite some weeks. After my emotional meltdown Wednesday, I called off sick on Thursday. I didn't have it in me physically or intellectually to exist in a work environment and I've learned that when that happens, you HAVE to take care of you and if that means holing your self up inside your home, so be it.
So I did, but that didn't stop me from making a trip to a fast food place. And, I did. And, I indulged in food that does NOT come close to meeting the standards I have set for myself. And, it didn't stop there. For dinner, I wanted PASTA. So, I indulged there.
The end result?
I ate too much meat, too much oil, too much salt, too many "bad" carbs. I was a MESS. The emotions continued to swirl within me for the next few days. I confessed my issues on a private Facebook group for us ETL followers. My support was immediate and certain. "Take care of you."
But, I did not completely take care of me (though I considered indulging as taking care of me).
Turns out, this time, in order to take care of me emotionally I "needed" to go off track (and, boy did I). I was better by the next day and the next and the next. But boy do I have a ton of guilt issues swirling around in my head for having done it while still maintaining this plant-based blog. Thus my "coming clean."
The biggest "emotional" issue, for me, is the boy. He's interviewing for a job in California (2,206.4 miles from where I am now). And, it's not that he'd be leaving me. Nope, that's not what stresses me out (though I'm sure it would if he was). We've talked about me going with him.
Wait, what?
Yep, that's right. This girl, the one who had a tough time moving 180 miles away from her hometown, is in serious discussions about moving an additional 2,206 miles from "home."
There are tons of reasons this stresses me out, but the biggest one was dropping that bomb on my sister.
Oh, how I dreaded the thought of that.
See, my sis and I have been close for only about the last 17 years (even though we are 41 and 53).
When I announced moving where I am, it was tough for both of us. But, it's only a 3-hour drive. TWO THOUSAND miles, not quite so quick a drive. I can't rush back for an emergency. She can't just decide to come visit for a weekend. It'd be all about planning and cost.
So, I finally steeled myself, and got up the nerve Sunday to text her there was something I needed to talk to her about. We discussed speaking Monday morning, but, she called me Sunday night. And, I told her.
And....turns out my trepidation about that was all self-imposed.
Because you know what? My sister loves me, a lot, and wants nothing but the best for me. And, my news was good news to her, which made it even better news for me. (Funny thing, that unconditional love. It is supportive, loving, and REAL.)
I still don't know if this move cross-country is going to happen. But I'm relieved that the first most anxiety-inducing part of the possible journey is over and that it went well.
So, now, it's time for me to clean up my act. I'm gonna do a smoothie fast. No chewing food, no eating out, the rest of this week. Just me and my Vitamix making me yummy drinks to quench my thirst and hunger. I need to clean up and re-detox and that'll be so much easier now that the most emotional part of what's been going on with me is over.
I love you sis, and I know you're reading :)
[caption id="attachment_565" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Me and my sister on her wedding day in 2004 <3[/caption]Monday, October 1, 2012
Quick and easy salad dressing
I LOVE salad, and I also LOVE a good salad dressing. Since oil and dairy are out on Eat to Live (along with salt and sugar), we nutritarians have to rely on making our own dressings to flavor up the salads.
A great way to do that is typically just a flavored vinegar, or white or dark balsamic vinegar (lemon and lime juice also).
But, if you want even more flavor and substance, my absolute favorite dressing to make is to take already-prepared hummus and mix it with balsamic vinegar until it's at a consistency I like. Sometimes I want a thicker dressing. Other times, I want something thinner.
When I want a vinaigrette-type dressing, I take the balsamic vinegar, about 1/8 c., toss in a clove of garlic (chopped), 1 Tbsp. chia seeds and 3 Tbsp. water. I let it sit overnight, then deal with any consistency issues before I use it on my salad.
Dressings don't have to be complicated, and they don't have to be filled with oil, dairy, salt, sugar, etc.
A great way to do that is typically just a flavored vinegar, or white or dark balsamic vinegar (lemon and lime juice also).
But, if you want even more flavor and substance, my absolute favorite dressing to make is to take already-prepared hummus and mix it with balsamic vinegar until it's at a consistency I like. Sometimes I want a thicker dressing. Other times, I want something thinner.
When I want a vinaigrette-type dressing, I take the balsamic vinegar, about 1/8 c., toss in a clove of garlic (chopped), 1 Tbsp. chia seeds and 3 Tbsp. water. I let it sit overnight, then deal with any consistency issues before I use it on my salad.
Dressings don't have to be complicated, and they don't have to be filled with oil, dairy, salt, sugar, etc.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Say-it-with-pictures Sunday
[caption id="attachment_401" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
Photo courtesy of federico stevanin at www.freedigitalphotos.net[/caption]
Photo courtesy of federico stevanin at www.freedigitalphotos.net[/caption]
Friday, September 28, 2012
Follow Friday
While I am not doing their program, Sheleana and Caleb of Young and Raw are a constant motivation to me.
They post tons of interesting info on their Facebook page and at their blog.
And, if you want to go raw (and not crazy) they have a program for you.
Check them out.
They post tons of interesting info on their Facebook page and at their blog.
And, if you want to go raw (and not crazy) they have a program for you.
Check them out.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Interview on health: Another great success story
This week's interview is with Condalicia. She has gone from a high of 399 pounds to 263 pounds in about 17 months living a plant-based lifestyle. And, while she's not following Dr. Fuhrman's plant-based lifestyle, the changes she has made are remarkable.
[caption id="attachment_469" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Condalicia's side-by-side before and after photos (or, I should say 17 months in, because she has another 116 pounds she'd like to lose)[/caption]
Here's a little bit about Condalicia:
I'm 43 years old. I'm happily married to the most wonderful man in the world. SMILE. I have 2 grown kids. I babysit a 4 year old boy 5 days a week.
4) What keeps you motivated to keep on?
6) Any advice to people who just don't think they can go "that extreme" to lose weight and get healthier?
Nothing is too extreme when it comes to improving our health and making us healthy when we get old as well as now. Once your doing it doesn't feel extreme either. 2 weeks in and it really starts feeling so much easier to do.
Thanks for taking the time to anwer questions Condalicia.
[caption id="attachment_469" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Condalicia's side-by-side before and after photos (or, I should say 17 months in, because she has another 116 pounds she'd like to lose)[/caption]Here's a little bit about Condalicia:
I'm 43 years old. I'm happily married to the most wonderful man in the world. SMILE. I have 2 grown kids. I babysit a 4 year old boy 5 days a week.
1) How long have you been plant based and why did you go plant-based?
I started eating plant based April 10, 2011 so a year and 5 months ago. Main reason I started eating this way this time around was because I had a wonderful doctor that had me do an elimination diet to see what was making me so sick. Every time we added meats, or added oils or added salts back into my foods I'd start getting really sick again. I had done McDougall plan many years before and my husband back then now ex was totally against it so I went back to eating the way he wanted me too. So when I realized adding that stuff was making me sick I quickly went back and haven't looked back. I'm so much healthier now.
(If you're interested in reading more about the health concerns Condalicia had, visit her blog.)
2) You are not doing Eat to Live, or at least didn't start with ETL, where did you find your success?
I have been doing The Maximum weight loss program of Dr John A. McDougall's.
3) What changes have you seen?
Oh my I've had so many changes I was so sick that I thought I was going to die soon and now I'm so healthy that I think I'm going to live for many many years yet and give my hubby and kids issues for LONG TIME. laugh.
Here is a short list of some of Condalicia's physical complaints pre-McDougall, again, you can find the full list at her blog:
Irritability/Moodiness
Anemia
Stomach upset
Joint pain
Muscle cramps
Tingling and numbing in the legs, feet, arms and hands.
Weight loss/gain
General weakness and fatigue
Hair Loss
Insomnia
Fibromyalgia
Asthma
pneumonia
Bronchitis
High Blood Pressure
Diverticulitis
4) What keeps you motivated to keep on?
The change in my health has been a great motivator and so has my wonderful husband. Couldn't ask for better support then I get from him.
5) What's a typical day (food and exercise wise) like for you?
Oh my I pig out on veggies, potatoes, beans and fruit. I do try to limit fruit since McDougall limits them for the weight loss plan and I need to lose a lot more still. I've lost 163lbs and have about 116lbs or so left to go. Exercise I try to do something every day either walking, running on trampoline, exercise ball, and bicycling. Mainly bicycling. I love going for very long bicycle rides. 20 to 46 miles 2 to 3 times a week. going to be getting a gym membership soon as well.
6) Any advice to people who just don't think they can go "that extreme" to lose weight and get healthier?
Nothing is too extreme when it comes to improving our health and making us healthy when we get old as well as now. Once your doing it doesn't feel extreme either. 2 weeks in and it really starts feeling so much easier to do.
Thanks for taking the time to anwer questions Condalicia.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
This may be old news to some
[caption id="attachment_497" align="aligncenter" width="401"]
Photo courtesy of Suat Eman at Free Digital Photos[/caption]
Recently, I heard Serena Williams on a morning TV show talking about her U.S. Open win.
I don't really pay attention to sports, but something she said caught my interest. She mentioned her sister, Venus, had gone vegan and joked that she calls herself a "chegan," meaning she's not 100% perfect on it.
So, I started looking around and turns out that Venus has been diagnosed with Sjorgen's Syndrome. She's gone vegan in an effort to control her disorder, hoping to keep off meds.
She talked to CBS about it.
As if it really matters to her, I applaud her decision to try to avoid medications that would just cause other issues (such as lupus and arthritis) and go the whole foods route.
Photo courtesy of Suat Eman at Free Digital Photos[/caption]Recently, I heard Serena Williams on a morning TV show talking about her U.S. Open win.
I don't really pay attention to sports, but something she said caught my interest. She mentioned her sister, Venus, had gone vegan and joked that she calls herself a "chegan," meaning she's not 100% perfect on it.
So, I started looking around and turns out that Venus has been diagnosed with Sjorgen's Syndrome. She's gone vegan in an effort to control her disorder, hoping to keep off meds.
She talked to CBS about it.
As if it really matters to her, I applaud her decision to try to avoid medications that would just cause other issues (such as lupus and arthritis) and go the whole foods route.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Ignore what they say and keep on
I saw this posted on a Facebook page I follow and decided to repost it. I'm going to give as much credit as possible.
The original posting page was Sunshine's Journey to 199. She got it from Swim Bike Mom, where it was originally posted.
I couldn't find it at its original location and don't know if it was Swim Bike Mom's Facebook page or her website, so I've copied it from Sunshine's Journey. Here is what Sunshine posted:
[caption id="attachment_483" align="alignleft" width="382"]
Originally posted at Swim Bike Mom, shared by Sunshine's Journey to 199[/caption]
"And if this picture isn't enough to inspire you, then maybe the words from the woman in it will. Here is the reply from Jackie herself (pictured) in response to all the Facebook comments (some positive, others negative) when this very same photo was shared on the Swim Bike Mom page – just had to share.
"Thank you Swim Bike Mom for posting this [picture of me.] I am humbled and proud to be an inspiration and actually quite appalled at how some of the posters are treating this. I used to weigh 415 lbs. [and] walking to the mailbox was a struggle. Some people don’t just 'let themselves go' …[they] have actual medical issues that prevent normal every day activities. Say what you will but I got off my ass and did it.
And I consistently do it. I do it for me, not you …and I inspire and amaze myself every day at how far I am able to push my body mentally [and] physically. I feel bad for people who can’t look at any picture of ANY athlete and not be inspired.
Honestly, hearing how this photo has inspired folks, I hope it goes viral! I want everyone to know that it IS ok to be any size and still compete. I am comfortable enough with myself to truly appreciate any praise I get from athletes who [have] finished while I’m still out there encouraging me. Triathlons are truly the only sport I have ever been involved in where people genuinely care about others…I am proud of myself, my unbelievably supportive teammates at the Atlanta Triathlon Club and those online like Swim Bike Mom who takes this for what it is. Inspiration for anyone to get out there and do it. If I can inspire just one person, then I have fulfilled my purpose.
I don’t hear [the] negativity, only the passion I have in my head and heart to achieve anything I set my mind to. I would encourage anyone to watch my progress as I train for the Half Ironman in Augusta on September 30th. Many people half my size wouldn’t even dream of trying to even enter such an event. But I'M DOING IT! First, last, dnf, at least I started and will continue to follow my dreams…. FOR ME.
I hope that all of us encourage others to be their best and are proud that ANYONE attempts these activities. If you can’t applaud every athlete, especially those of us who it takes twice as long to finish and twice as much effort to move twice as much weight across the line, then I feel sad for you that you can’t appreciate the beauty in life and everyone’s journey. FYI the day after this race, I swam the Ridges 5k open water swim from GA to NC… so anything is possible if you put your mind to it!!! I wish all of you good luck and hope to hear about all of your successes (and not so successes on your journeys) as well!!! -Love, Jackie"
I don't know you Jackie, but I admire you. As an aspiring runner, all I can say is you go! I am appalled by the behavior of human beings toward one another. A while back, a friend on Facebook commented on the status of a friend of hers. Because of FB's wonderful settings, I was able to see the original post. The original poster posted a status about some jackass who saw her running and said something to the effect of "Run fat ass, run" as he drove by her. I don't know the original poster but it made me think of another blog post I'd seen.
It takes a great deal of courage, and energy, for someone carrying extra weight to drag themselves out there and get it done. They should be encouraged and applauded, not made fun of and despised.
After I shared this photo on Facebook, another friend shared it from my page and she shared it with this perfectly appropriate quote by Teddy Roosevelt:
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
The original posting page was Sunshine's Journey to 199. She got it from Swim Bike Mom, where it was originally posted.
I couldn't find it at its original location and don't know if it was Swim Bike Mom's Facebook page or her website, so I've copied it from Sunshine's Journey. Here is what Sunshine posted:
[caption id="attachment_483" align="alignleft" width="382"]
Originally posted at Swim Bike Mom, shared by Sunshine's Journey to 199[/caption]"And if this picture isn't enough to inspire you, then maybe the words from the woman in it will. Here is the reply from Jackie herself (pictured) in response to all the Facebook comments (some positive, others negative) when this very same photo was shared on the Swim Bike Mom page – just had to share.
"Thank you Swim Bike Mom for posting this [picture of me.] I am humbled and proud to be an inspiration and actually quite appalled at how some of the posters are treating this. I used to weigh 415 lbs. [and] walking to the mailbox was a struggle. Some people don’t just 'let themselves go' …[they] have actual medical issues that prevent normal every day activities. Say what you will but I got off my ass and did it.
And I consistently do it. I do it for me, not you …and I inspire and amaze myself every day at how far I am able to push my body mentally [and] physically. I feel bad for people who can’t look at any picture of ANY athlete and not be inspired.
Honestly, hearing how this photo has inspired folks, I hope it goes viral! I want everyone to know that it IS ok to be any size and still compete. I am comfortable enough with myself to truly appreciate any praise I get from athletes who [have] finished while I’m still out there encouraging me. Triathlons are truly the only sport I have ever been involved in where people genuinely care about others…I am proud of myself, my unbelievably supportive teammates at the Atlanta Triathlon Club and those online like Swim Bike Mom who takes this for what it is. Inspiration for anyone to get out there and do it. If I can inspire just one person, then I have fulfilled my purpose.
I don’t hear [the] negativity, only the passion I have in my head and heart to achieve anything I set my mind to. I would encourage anyone to watch my progress as I train for the Half Ironman in Augusta on September 30th. Many people half my size wouldn’t even dream of trying to even enter such an event. But I'M DOING IT! First, last, dnf, at least I started and will continue to follow my dreams…. FOR ME.
I hope that all of us encourage others to be their best and are proud that ANYONE attempts these activities. If you can’t applaud every athlete, especially those of us who it takes twice as long to finish and twice as much effort to move twice as much weight across the line, then I feel sad for you that you can’t appreciate the beauty in life and everyone’s journey. FYI the day after this race, I swam the Ridges 5k open water swim from GA to NC… so anything is possible if you put your mind to it!!! I wish all of you good luck and hope to hear about all of your successes (and not so successes on your journeys) as well!!! -Love, Jackie"
I don't know you Jackie, but I admire you. As an aspiring runner, all I can say is you go! I am appalled by the behavior of human beings toward one another. A while back, a friend on Facebook commented on the status of a friend of hers. Because of FB's wonderful settings, I was able to see the original post. The original poster posted a status about some jackass who saw her running and said something to the effect of "Run fat ass, run" as he drove by her. I don't know the original poster but it made me think of another blog post I'd seen.
It takes a great deal of courage, and energy, for someone carrying extra weight to drag themselves out there and get it done. They should be encouraged and applauded, not made fun of and despised.
After I shared this photo on Facebook, another friend shared it from my page and she shared it with this perfectly appropriate quote by Teddy Roosevelt:
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
Monday, September 24, 2012
Sustainability, you're doing it wrong
The boyfriend was kind enough to take me to a couple apple orchards Saturday. It's fall, after all, and I have been craving apples.
Turns out, the miles we drove were completely unnecessary. I could've bought the same apples I ended up with at the grocery store.
See, we had a warm February and March, and then a hard frost in April. That killed local tree fruit. There are no local apples, peaches, pears. Heck, even other crops were done earlier than usual at some local farms this year.
One orchard owner told me some orchards have closed, others have resorted to buying from orchards in other states. Some of those orchards are even trying to take advantage of our local folks by charging exorbitantly.
I posted a Facebook status lamenting this fact. Here's what I said: "Turns out, thanks to the effed up weather this year, if you're buying apples in Indiana, they probably aren't FROM Indiana, according to one orchard owner . So sad."
Several people responded, including a farming friend (he raises free-range pigs, turkeys, chickens and ducks). And, he and I had a lovely conversation about how U.S. food policy MUST change because as it is now, only factory farms can thrive and the government only subsidizes corn and soybeans, which can be used for a variety of things that have nothing to do with feeding this country's citizens.
The part of his response to my status which hit home for me was this: "Is it really any wonder that most ground in Indiana is planted to corn and soybeans? Is it really any wonder we have the messed up food supply we have? Its really encouraging though to see that a larger number of people are actually starting to care about food."
No, it is not any wonder. When corn can be used for corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, fuel, and cheap animal feed AND our government sends money hand over fist to these mass producers of soybean and corn (which are really just frankenveggies having been altered to be able to kill insects without pesticide and to be impervious to pesticides), it is no wonder.
And, this weekend, as I drove through rural northeast Indiana and saw the corn and soybean crops (which didn't fare much better this year because of the brutally hot and dry summer), I thought, "what if?"
What if all those acres and acres and acres were used to feed animals naturally and to grow food that could sustain the counties where they're grown. We'd have an affordable, local food supply. We could all eat closer to home, we could reduce our carbon footprint and we would all probably be healthier and happier in the end.
Imagine fields full of green veggies that can go farm to table instead of pseudo-veggies that go from farm to manufacturing plant to table.
[caption id="attachment_475" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Photo courtesy of mack2happy at Free Digital Photos[/caption]
Turns out, the miles we drove were completely unnecessary. I could've bought the same apples I ended up with at the grocery store.
See, we had a warm February and March, and then a hard frost in April. That killed local tree fruit. There are no local apples, peaches, pears. Heck, even other crops were done earlier than usual at some local farms this year.
One orchard owner told me some orchards have closed, others have resorted to buying from orchards in other states. Some of those orchards are even trying to take advantage of our local folks by charging exorbitantly.
I posted a Facebook status lamenting this fact. Here's what I said: "Turns out, thanks to the effed up weather this year, if you're buying apples in Indiana, they probably aren't FROM Indiana, according to one orchard owner . So sad."
Several people responded, including a farming friend (he raises free-range pigs, turkeys, chickens and ducks). And, he and I had a lovely conversation about how U.S. food policy MUST change because as it is now, only factory farms can thrive and the government only subsidizes corn and soybeans, which can be used for a variety of things that have nothing to do with feeding this country's citizens.
The part of his response to my status which hit home for me was this: "Is it really any wonder that most ground in Indiana is planted to corn and soybeans? Is it really any wonder we have the messed up food supply we have? Its really encouraging though to see that a larger number of people are actually starting to care about food."
No, it is not any wonder. When corn can be used for corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, fuel, and cheap animal feed AND our government sends money hand over fist to these mass producers of soybean and corn (which are really just frankenveggies having been altered to be able to kill insects without pesticide and to be impervious to pesticides), it is no wonder.
And, this weekend, as I drove through rural northeast Indiana and saw the corn and soybean crops (which didn't fare much better this year because of the brutally hot and dry summer), I thought, "what if?"
What if all those acres and acres and acres were used to feed animals naturally and to grow food that could sustain the counties where they're grown. We'd have an affordable, local food supply. We could all eat closer to home, we could reduce our carbon footprint and we would all probably be healthier and happier in the end.
Imagine fields full of green veggies that can go farm to table instead of pseudo-veggies that go from farm to manufacturing plant to table.
[caption id="attachment_475" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Photo courtesy of mack2happy at Free Digital Photos[/caption]
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Say-it-with-pictures Sunday
[caption id="attachment_414" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
Photo courtesy of federico stevanin at www.freedigitalphotos.net[/caption]
Photo courtesy of federico stevanin at www.freedigitalphotos.net[/caption]
Friday, September 21, 2012
Follow Friday
I stumbled across this blog while looking for a "cheeze" recipe.
The Vegan Epicurean is worth a visit if you are looking for whole-food, plant-based recipes. Check it out.
BTW, the cheeze dip was PERFECT for Mexican dishes. YUMMY!
The Vegan Epicurean is worth a visit if you are looking for whole-food, plant-based recipes. Check it out.
BTW, the cheeze dip was PERFECT for Mexican dishes. YUMMY!
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Interview on health: Chef AJ, a plant-based chef
"Your diet can be your undoing or your salvation," Chef AJ in Unprocessed.
[caption id="attachment_448" align="alignleft" width="199"]
Courtesy of Chef AJ[/caption]
This week's interview is with plant-based chef extraordinaire Chef AJ. I am not kidding when I tell you that when Chef AJ appears in one of the plant-based groups on Facebook, it is cause for celebration. Her first book, Unprocessed, is full of fantastic plant-based recipes. And, she's working on a second book -- this one will be low fat or fat free with no nuts included.
[caption id="attachment_449" align="alignright" width="280"]
Cover of Unprocessed, courtesy of Chef AJ[/caption]
Before we go any further, I just want you to know that in Chapter 2, Chef AJ goes into detail about her "long and hard road" to the dietary conclusions she speaks of in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 is appropriately entitled "Why should you listen to me?"
Let's take a look at how Chef AJ answered my interview questions (they are posted here unedited by me). She responded concisely but I must tell you, don't mistake her concise answers for disinterest in her topic. She is a rabid advocate of the plant-based lifestyle.
Let's start with some bio info on our Chef AJ, which includes a few sentences on why she wrote Unprocessed.
1) Tell me some basic biographical info about yourself. Age, how long you've been a chef, info about your new book and how you came to write your first book and any other bio info you want out there.
And, speaking of that next book, it is called The UNPROCESSED 30 Day Challenge.
If you are interested in learning more about Chef AJ, check out her website at www.eatunprocessed.com and, while you are there, check out the video clips of "The Chef and the Dietitian." Chef AJ and Julieanna Hever make cooking plant-based meals fun.
I want to extend my warmest regards and appreciation to Chef AJ for agreeing to this interview. And, please, if you think you might want to eat plant-based but don't know where to start, check out Unprocessed.
[caption id="attachment_448" align="alignleft" width="199"]
Courtesy of Chef AJ[/caption]This week's interview is with plant-based chef extraordinaire Chef AJ. I am not kidding when I tell you that when Chef AJ appears in one of the plant-based groups on Facebook, it is cause for celebration. Her first book, Unprocessed, is full of fantastic plant-based recipes. And, she's working on a second book -- this one will be low fat or fat free with no nuts included.
[caption id="attachment_449" align="alignright" width="280"]
Cover of Unprocessed, courtesy of Chef AJ[/caption]Before we go any further, I just want you to know that in Chapter 2, Chef AJ goes into detail about her "long and hard road" to the dietary conclusions she speaks of in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 is appropriately entitled "Why should you listen to me?"
Let's take a look at how Chef AJ answered my interview questions (they are posted here unedited by me). She responded concisely but I must tell you, don't mistake her concise answers for disinterest in her topic. She is a rabid advocate of the plant-based lifestyle.
Let's start with some bio info on our Chef AJ, which includes a few sentences on why she wrote Unprocessed.
1) Tell me some basic biographical info about yourself. Age, how long you've been a chef, info about your new book and how you came to write your first book and any other bio info you want out there.
| I am 52.5 years old and have been a chef and culinary instructor for 13 years. I got so tired of hearing people tell me all of the reasons why they couldn't eat healthy. These really are just excuses. I kept hearing my students say how hard their lives were, and that was the reason they couldn't adopt a whole food plant based diet. So I decided to tell my story. And I included over 100 really easy, delicious free recipes. I am proud to say that "My IQ is higher than my cholesterol" (My LDL is 57 mg/dl!)2) What prompted your journey to plant-based eating? How long have you been plant based?I have followed a plant exclusive diet for over 35 years. At the age of 17, I was pre-vet at the University of Pennsylvania and the first day on the job working for a veterinarian he wanted me to cut the heads off of live salamanders. I did it one time and it was such a horrific experience I immediately stopped eating and wearing ALL critters. I guess you could say it was what Oprah calls an "AHA moment"3) What do you say to those who say they could never go plant-based? Never say never. While this may, in fact, be true for some, it's not necessarily going to be true for you. It's just their food addictions talking. Often when people get fat enough or sick enough and are headed for coronary bypass surgery or daily injectable insulin, they change their tune. If the ear biting Mike Tyson could go vegan then anything is possible! 4) You recently dropped even more weight by taking nuts out of your diet, what do you say to those who say you need the healthy fat? They are right, but we don't need as much as most people, especially overweight people are eating. You can get all the essential Omega 3 fatty acids you need by eating 1-2 Tablespoons of ground flax seeds, chia seeds or an ounce of walnuts a day. You can get all the fat you need from WHOLE FOOD sources, no one needs to consumed processed oils, EVER!!! 5) What is the single most important kitchen item to have when eating plant-based? Well, I am going to answer that question differently today than I would have 9 months ago when I got my first Cuisinart electric pressure cooker at Costco for $69. Now I use it every day and even travel with it so I can eat my greens everyday. I can make entire meals in 10 minutes or less!!! 6) What is your favorite plant-based meal? This is probably going to sound boring but right now it's so hot that my favorite meal is fresh watermelon with fresh banana ice cream made in the Champion Juicer. When it gets a bit cooler my answer will be Jocelyn Graef's Portabella Mushroom Chili over a baked potato (the recipe is from the Low-Fat Herbivore and she is graciously allowing me to share it in my next book) |
And, speaking of that next book, it is called The UNPROCESSED 30 Day Challenge.
If you are interested in learning more about Chef AJ, check out her website at www.eatunprocessed.com and, while you are there, check out the video clips of "The Chef and the Dietitian." Chef AJ and Julieanna Hever make cooking plant-based meals fun.
I want to extend my warmest regards and appreciation to Chef AJ for agreeing to this interview. And, please, if you think you might want to eat plant-based but don't know where to start, check out Unprocessed.
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