I want to apologize to everyone.  Week one was not great.  It is really hard to transform almost 40 years of eating the bad stuff to a healthy plant based diet.  The first few day's I did get the typical headaches you read about with juicing.  The Detox part of this was not fun but it only lasted a few days and only one of those days was really awful. 

So what's been going on?

1 I have started exercising again, treadmill, walking outside, involving Bree and I am taking a Yoga class starting next week as part of my physical education elective for school.  I thought what great timing.  I even got to go on a neighborhood walk with my neighbor..... How awesome is that?

Bree enjoying fresh strawberries

 A wonderful little creek off the walking trail that I have driven by for a year and finally decided to walk on it. 

 I love the view from this walking trail,  I can't wait to see it in all it's glory in fall. 

 Isn't this just amazing. 

Bree decked out in her walking gear with water and fruit.  I am hoping I can set a good example for her to live by. 


2 My kids have started school and football has started and as anyone in America knows football games bring on a whole new list of tempting food..... the popcorn, the smell of pizza.... YUMO!!!! 
Anyway Bridgeport didn't win the game but I was so proud of how Bailey played....

I had to post this pic of him taking down the opponent...... He is 76. 

3 This past week has been lots of struggles.  As of Monday I am back on track and since this is now Wednesday I am doing really well now and feeling great. 

What I have learned this week.

Just because you are Vegan does not mean you are healthy.  There is a bunch of crappy Vegan food out there. 

Oreo's are vegan however they are also made of chemicals.  See what I mean.... You can be Vegan and still fat.  So I like to think of my goal of this now is to live a plant based diet. 

I am starting to get used to the green juices.  My dear friend made me a huge Green Juice on Saturday.... and I rocked it and proved to her I could get it down. My favorite juice so far is orange, pineapple and lemon.  You can throw a lemon or lime in any juice and it does not count as a "fruit".  You don't want to load up on all fruit drinks because they spike your blood sugar. 

If she is reading this a huge shout out to her for saving my life...... she is my Guru in all of this, graciously passing down all her info in a way as to not overwhelm me. 

Things I have been watching

Forks over Knives..... it's kinda slow compared to the other documentaries I have watched

Engine 2 Diet.... recipes for a plant based diet and I have used 2 so far.  He is a Texas Fireman who has helped his whole station go Vegan after on of the firefighters had very bad blood test results.

King Corn -  2 young men grow corn on one acre of land to track where is goes.  Good info about High Fructose Corn Syrup in this one.  Did you know those farmers can't even eat the corn they grow and that if you used ABC corn seeds to plant then you have to use ABC weed and pesticide killer because the corn plants are genetically modified to resist that pesticide.   This info makes my stomach cramp.   

And last but not least I wanna make a special mention of the next documentary.

Earthlings 
This is a documentary that Ellen Degeneres saw and went Vegan.  If you have seen the documentary "Food Inc" this makes that look like Disney World.  Joaquin Phoenix narrates it and it is simply like nothing I have ever seen before.  It is intense, thought provoking and profoundly sad.  I don't think I have ever cuddled my doggies and kitties more that after seeing this.  It takes a lot to make me physically ill and this film did the trick. 

So I watched this last night and today I am trying to wrap my mind around it all.

I am planning on trying to catch "Vegucated" tonight about a group of adults who go Vegan for I think 60 days.  

How about support?
In a nut shell my husband thinks I am nuts and is no support with this what so ever.  All he is concerned about is that I don't start acting like his sister who is a vegetarian or vegan.  I'm not sure which one.   And he wants to make sure our food budget is still in check with all the fruits and veggies I have been buying. 

My mom is on don't tell don't ask status.  I can do what I want and she's fine with it but don't tell her what she does not wanna know.  

My father.... he won't or can't even stay awake to watch the program about juicing. 

The world is not built for a person trying to embrace a plant based life style. Vegetarian and Vegan are bad words in society.  People automatically think you are a freak wearing your Birkenstocks with you hippy friends trying to save the whales as you smoke pot.   Just driving home from the grocery store I see the signs for the local Rib and Wing contest this weekend.  Tents are set up and vendors are arriving.... I wonder how many people would eat that if they had to butcher the cow themselves, or if they sat down and watched one of these documentaries.  I am not a preachy person at all but I am mad because I feel like I have had the wool pulled over my eyes for years.  We think our milk comes for TV cows roaming in the meadow.   This is a platform for me to talk about getting healthy and not animal rights but it is so important to know where your food is coming from.  It is no lie or secret that girls are developing breasts and entering puberty early because of antibiotics and growth hormones that are injected into the cows....... The Cow industry uses 75% of all antibiotics manufactured.  How flipping scary is that?  (source is the Documentary "King Corn"

Soapbox?
Good News..... I am doing this for my health and hopefully the health of my family.  I am not going to meet you for lunch and tell you where your food comes from.  I am not going to shove any of this down your throat.  This is a work in progress for me and I am seeking the answers everyday.  If you have a big fat steak in front of me at dinner that is fine.  I am not being selfish but this is about me.  If anyone wants info I am more than happy to share what I am learning and maybe if I like you I will even introduce you to my Guru.  (just a pet name I call my best friend who is living the talk and teaching me to be healthy. )   

I think an important part of this is sharing what I am eating....... I am having 2 to 3 juices a day and dinner.  If I need a snack I am grabbing something healthy....

I am loving naan Indian bread with organic pizza sauce with roasted onions, mushroom, and red pepper on it... the peppers, onions and mushrooms cook in their own juices.... no need to add oil. 

Hummus has been my go to...... that with a little handful of pita chips takes the edge off....

Gotta get your Omega 3's in their for weight loss so today I bought some Chia seeds to add to my food and before you ask I will save you.  Yes, those are the same seeds you get with your Chia pet kit.  How fun would it be to grow some with the kids eh?

 Another go to is nuts.  I found this nice mix at Giant Eagle,  You have to read your packages with nuts.  A lot of them are prepared and roasted in oil and additives.  These nuts are naked.  It is shocking how one serving of nuts really fills you up.... Now remember you can not sit and eat the bag because of the fat content. 

Lots of info in this last post but I wanted to get everyone up to date on my progress.  Now off to go make dinner....... black beans, brown rice and veggies, with a spring mix salad and roasted zuchinni with montreal seasoning on it.... YUMO!

Hello Everyone,

So I went out Saturday and I bought a juicer.  I purchased the same one used in "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" it is a Breville. 

It's all new and shinny......

And third this is my at my 20 year high school reunion.  It's so funny how you can feel one way in your head and then you see a picture of yourself and you wanna crawl into a hole.  But I have to post this picture.  It/'s all about being honest with myself and hopefully inspiring my dad through all of this

 

So tonight was my first juice, Carrot and Apple.  Honestly this is a taste I am going to have to get used to.  The juicer works really well.  Bree threw in the apples and carrots and Dominic stood by watching with utter disgust on his face although he wanted to try it. 

Advice for a first juice.  Add an extra apple,  use ice and a straw, and hold your nose if necessary.  I paced up and down my drive way in an attempt to dissipate the smell.  Everyone keeps telling me I will get used to this.  On a good note, all my talk about fruits and veggies has my daughter eating a banana for a bed time snack.... That alone encourages me to keep going.

Well I have been trying to post here and I hope I have finally gotten it down pat.

So why juicing?  I watched the documentary "Fat Sick and Nearly Dead" and my best friend was juicing and doing great and I want to lose weight but be healthy.  I want to change my whole diet to a plant based one.  Especially after seeing "King Corn"  All these little things have started to add up. 

I am 38 years old and for lack of a nice term. FAT  No make up or black clothes are going to change it.  My dad is over weight and diabetic.  I do not want to be my father.  He is sick, on a ton of pain killers for his back and unhealthy.  2 days ago he asked me to bring him up cinnamon rolls (3) and a tall glass of milk.  I love my dad and I did as he asked but I know that was one more step to killing him.  I love him and I want him to be around so maybe if I can do this and get healthy I can inspire him to get healthy to.