VEGAN--ISH IS MORE LIKE IT



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 Hi Gorgeous Ones!

The pic above is funny. A few of my friends say that I may sprout any day now. Lol.

Anyhoo, I feel sooooo much better today. Not quite back at 100, but well on my way. I was delighted to watch Oprah's show yesterday. It was about how she and 300 some odd members of her staff took on a "vegan for a week" challenge. I thought it was so cool and at times, funny to watch.

Vegan - a strict vegetarian; someone who eats no animal or dairy products at

I absolutely loved that so many people actually took on this challenge, and at least tried. Now, don't get me wrong. Personally, I'm not against eating meat, fish or eggs but at this point in my life I've decided to eat a mostly vegan diet. So although I hate labels, for clarification purposes, vegan-ish is more like what I'm doing. For me, meat, fish and eggs will be eaten in small amounts and not too often. And most importantly, they have to be raised/farmed with the highest ethics involved. Yes, it is more expensive but so is healthcare and big pharm. On top of which, the previous two can really eff you up on so many levels.

That being said, on to the point of this post. Just wanted to share a couple of dishes that I've experimented come up with on my own.

Awesome Dinner (or Lunch) Salad

Ingredients:  Green Lettuce, Romaine, beets, carrots, red onion, raw sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, avocado and vegetable tempeh. All are organic and quite tasty together.
Dressing: 1 part evoo to 2 parts raw apple cider vinegar. I then added some oregano, parsley & basil herbs to it.
Tempeh : Lightly browned in evoo
Seasoning: Pristine Sun Fire Salt
 

Tempeh is cake of soya beans that is made by removing the hull of cooked, soya beans, mixing with a rhizopus culture, and incubating for a day or two. The culture helps hold the soya beans together in a cake form. It is common to find tempeh made with added ingredients such as vegetables or grains. Eaten in Indonesia and Ceylon as a staple food. And it's packed with protein.

 
Sundried Tomatoes Quinoa w/Veggies
 

Now, I'll be the first to admit that this doesn't look all that appealing but the flavor is awesome. I love the lift that the sundried tomatoes gave it. Only next time, I'll be sure to cut them up into smaller pieces.
I prepared the quinoa per package instructions which is similiar to preparing rice on the stovetop. I put the onion and garlic in with the quinoa. Then I added the veggies.

Ingredients: Quinoa (keen-wah), red onions, spinach, broccoli.
Seasonings: Pristine Sun Fire salt and garlic

Quinoa: Though not technically a grain, quinoa can substitute for nearly any grain in cooking. Actually the seed of a leafy plant, quinoa’s relatives include spinach, beets and Swiss chard. Due to its delicate taste and rich amounts of protein, iron, potassium and other vitamins and minerals, it is quite popular. It is also a good source of dietary fiber and is easily digested.

Quinoa is an ancient crop that grows in poor soil, dry climates and even mountain altitudes. It is native to the Andes, but is also grown in South America and the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

references:
http://www.soya.be/soy-glossary.php
http://www.goodhealthinfo.net/mdr/glossary.htm
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-quinoa.htm
 
Check back on tomorrow to read about my final thoughts/experience on Carolyn Akens Body Rejuvenation Detox program.
 
Talk to you all tomorrow!

Post Title → VEGAN--ISH IS MORE LIKE IT

DETOX UPDATE III - THE HOME STRETCH

Well peeps,

I'm in the home stretch of the detox. With 17 days of Carolyn Akens Body Rejuvenation Detox program under my belt and 4 more days to go. I'm armed with a sizable amount of leafy greens, fruits & veggies accompanied by some whole grains to make it thru the next few days.

I must say that I have enjoyed this journey. Although I can't say that I've missed one or two things that I was in the habit of having or just plain enjoyed. I can say that, for the most part, it has (and still does) feel great treating my body to nothing but good whole, clean foods. I love that feeling. I swear making a serious conscious effort to do right by your body is a form of love; self-love that I've never quite understood until now.

I've already planned out my juices & smoothies for the rest of my detox. And I'm really excited about them. I'll be trying some new combo's with veggies I've never juiced with before like cabbage & collards (tried for 1st time last week). I've done dishes with quinoa ("keen-wah") and steamed some veggies that I've never considered steamable. All in all, I'm having fun.

Anyhoo, I just wanted to drop in with a quick post on my detox experience so far. My full review/experience/results will be posted next Thursday.

{{Hugs}},

Post Title → DETOX UPDATE III - THE HOME STRETCH

DETOX UPDATE II

A simple salad I made that was so delicious.

Woo hoo!! Hi Gorgeous!

Let me start by saying that I feel good. I really do. =)


*Forewarning: There will be some content in this post that you may consider tmi. Just so you know.*

For those of you who may not know, I'm on Carolyn Akens Body Rejuvenation Detox Program , which lasts for 21 days.  I am rounding out my 2nd week on it. Woo hoo!!

On to the details:

This past week has been much better than the end of last week. Let me give you a glimpse into the day-to-day detox happenings for me.

Thursday
Felt good. Noticed how my pooch (stomach) is going down. Felt nauseas later on. (Story on that coming later in post). Had a couple of foul-smelling loose stools. Felt better after eliminating though.

Friday
Woke up feeling better. Still experienced some slightly loose stools.

Saturday
Felt good. That is until another wave of nausea hit. Story on that coming later in post.

Sunday – Wednesday
Felt & feeling great! Great physically and emotionally. I’m more inclined to workout this week. And I’m amazed at the energy and vitality that I’m feeling. I really am. Not sure what I expected but, it’s like I want to run and keep on going.



Okay. So here’s the breakdown on my bouts with nausea:

I had to take my daughter somewhere after school. And with a limited window of time, she grabbed something from the fridge. A hotdog. Once the hotdog was ready, we hopped into the car to be on our way. As the car doors closed, I was engulfed in this serious hotdog aroma. At first, it smelled absolutely magnificent to me. I thought, “Oh God. That smells sooo good.” Not a minute later, I was thinking, “Oh God. That smells soooo.... awful.” It’s funny now but it was not a cute situation to be in. From that moment on, I felt horrible and just wanted to be home. About an hour & a half later, we finally got home and I commenced to drinking the lemon water. I even tried some fresh coconut juice I'd gotten from the Farmer’s Market. None of which helped. Eventually, I had the urge to use the bathroom which was exactly what I needed to do. Eliminate the toxins thru excrement that were jacking my body up. And so it happened and I felt much better.

Saturday’s instance was quite similar. A friend of mine was having a business event that I was determined to attend. Well, at least, show my face at. I couldn’t stay long because I had to pick up my daughter from her ever-time changing cheer practice. Little did I know that it was best that way. When I got to my friend’s home, they were still getting prepared for her event. Her sister was putting the finishing touches on her hair & makeup. Her hubby was in the kitchen frying up some chicken. Yes. That was it right there. I smelled it and thought, “Hmm, haven’t smelled that aroma in awhile.” You know the one, that home-fried chicken smell. Anyhoo, I was okay for most of the time that I was there. Even had a few pieces of fruit. But an interesting thing happened once I got in my car to go pick up my daughter. I noticed the fried chicken, or better yet, fried chicken grease aroma was still with me. It was in my coat and clothes. So as I’m driving in this closed-up car, I’m noticing this scent more and more. And not in a good way. Damn! Here we go again. So this time, I took it upon myself to purchase an enema to help the process. Cause I hate feeling like I need to hurl.

Needless to say, after all was said and done, I felt much better.

And oh…. I’ve now graduated to green, odorless poop. I know. Tmi.

Lol.

Post Title → DETOX UPDATE II

DETOX EXPERIENCE & UPDATE

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Hi Beautiful Ones!


Here's what's been going on with me so far on Carolyn Akens "Body Rejuvenation Detox Program", which I started on this past Monday.


So here’s the day-by-day rundown on my experience so far:


Monday – Went well. I felt good. No cravings. No worries.

Tuesday – Woke up to a slight headache. Eventually went away. Came back for a visit & stayed later on in the day thru the bed time. Panicked a bit because I was stuck in the house and couldn’t restock on dwindling supply of produce. Did get in a nice walk outside.

Wednesday – Better day. Restocked on produce. Slight headachey off and on, but took Carolyn’s advice to drink lots of water & juice. Be glad when folks go back to school/work, so that I can really get into my meditation. Planned menu for rest of week and weekend.

I honestly haven't had any cravings. Which is a little weird because I kind of expected it. Or maybe it hasn’t hit me yet. I believe because I am being nourished with wholesome juices, smoothies and greens. Not to say that certain foods haven’t crossed my mind. Case in point: I was so excited about getting in the car and driving to the Farmer’s Market & Natural Foods Warehouse that I was about to include a trip to Whole Foods. No sooner than I thought about Whole Foods, did sushi pop into my mind. I think it just came out of my anticipation of getting out of the house after being cooped up. Either way, I quickly reminded myself about why I was doing a detox.



Here's a more detailed description on my Tuesday trip ("walk outside").
I got enough produce to get me through to Wednesday, the day I’d have more dinero to stock up til next week. As the media has shown the entire world, the South, mainly ATL, was put to a standstill by the snow, which was then topped with ice. So I slightly began to freak out come Tuesday when I looked at my dwindling stash. I ended up walking to the nearest grocery store (Kroger) for some detox tea, organic lettuce and distilled water. No biggie. I wanted to get out. And the walk was great exercise. Try walking in snow, some slush and dodging icy patches and you’ll be guaranteed a good workout. Plus it was absolutely wonderful to get some fresh air, albeit was freezing. Anyhoo, got to the store and all the lines were ridiculously long. Seriously. Let me break it down to you. When the 15 or less register’s line starts from there and ends midway in the frozen section aisle, we’ve got a problem. On top of which, the self-checkout section was totally closed because “the system needed repair”. Mk. But I digress, there was absolutely no water and the organic produce was slim pickings.


But it was all good. No worries. I kept it clean with what I had and managed to get a green smoothie and a salad out of what was left to accompany my own juice. Woo hoo!


*Side Note: Even before I embarked on this detox, I began considering going 100% vegan for a set amount of time. Like 30 days, a couple of months or so. Just so you know, it is something I’m considering. Off and on, I’ve been researching a lot of vegan cookbooks, checking their ingredients and whatnot.

Things I’ve noticed….even more.
There are WAY too many food and restaurant commercials on tv. It’s ridiculous but I do know the game of it all, so I just turn away or turn the tv off. Definitely cutting down on the media. I can see how people’s plans to live a healthier lifestyle can be thwarted and derailed by being into the television too much. My plan is to go for an entire day without the television or radio. Ideally, I’d love to shut down social media, television and radio for awhile. Not sure if I can successfully make that happen but I’m willing to give it a try.  Also, looking forward to a doing all juices for a few days of the detox.



STAY TUNED FOR:

EXERCISE & MEDITATION EXPERIENCE DURING DETOX

UPDATES ON DAILY DETOX EXPERIENCE

FULL THOUGHTS ON EXPERIENCE OF C.A. BODY REJUVENATION DETOX PROGRAM

Til next time,

Post Title → DETOX EXPERIENCE & UPDATE

IT'S DETOX TIME FOR C.O.

Hola Beautifuls!

I intended to get this post up earlier but wasn't feeling too hot. Let me tell you. Proper sleep and rest is VERY important.

Anyhoo... I hope everyone survived the holidays with little to no weight gain. I managed to come through without gaining weight. So I'm happy about that. I'm sure I could've trimmed down some more had I continued to work out consistently and lowered my holiday indulging some more. Am I upset about it? Not at all. I enjoyed my holidays.

Seeing as this is the New Year and I discussed going thru Carolyn Aken’s Body Rejuvenation Detox program as my Phase I of 2011. Read here where I talked about my plans. I’ll be starting on this coming Monday and ending 21 days later.  In all honesty, I was a little freaked after I committed to it. I went thru the Oh-my-God-What-have-I-done-Can I-really-do-this phase. And the short answer was and still is, “Yes.”

So after releasing the fear, I embraced this part of my journey. And now I’m looking forward to it. Actually, I’m kinda excited about it! And as part of this journey, I’ll be posting here every Thursday on my experience during this process. Partly, to help me stay through the process and hopefully to show others that it is doable.


Be sure to check out Carolyn Akens site. Her testimony is proof that you can achieve a healthy you. Plus she’s a sweetie.

What are your plans to finetune your health?....

Post Title → IT'S DETOX TIME FOR C.O.

MY VEGA LOVE



Vega products

   Hi Beautifuls!

 

I’ve noticed something about my workouts. I function better off of smoothies and shakes before working out. I honestly thought that I needed to eat solid foods before working out but I’ve seen (and felt) the difference between the two. And when I say, "before a work-out", I'm referring to breakfast and all things an hour or so before I exercise. When I’ve only had shakes, smoothies and/or juices, I have more energy during and after the workout. When I’ve eaten solid foods before a workout, I feel a bit sluggish and have to push more thru a workout.


 
Anyhoo, I want to tell you all about a product that is really turning out to be a plus for my workouts, as far as recovery and energy is concerned. I’m using Vega products that I won some months ago thru a giveaway by FitBottomGirls.com.

 

The products that I'm lovin' for my workouts are the Vega Sport Natural Plant-Based Performance Optimizer and the Vega Sport Natural Plant-Based Performance Protein powders.
 
Vega Sport Natural Plant-Based Performance Optimizer

 

• Provides immediate & sustainable energy.
• Increases endurance, aerobic & anaerobic capacity.
• Enhances mental focus & motor performance.
• Reduces stress & enhances immune system function.
• Replenishes electrolytes lost during exercise.
• Reduces inflammation, joint & muscle pain.
• Improves body composition & reduces body fat.
• Supports healthy weight management.

 

 

Vega Sport Natural Plant-Based Performance Protein

 

• Improves exercise performance.
• Maintains strength in workouts.
• Increases muscle protein synthesis.
• Develops and maintains bone strength.
• Assists in muscle cell repair after exercise.
• Reduces inflammation, soreness and fatigue.
• Reduces length of recovery between training.
• Provides immune support following exercise.

 

It honestly took me a minute to get used to the taste of these. Both products seemed to have a bit of an after-taste, but it seems that I suddenly am fine with it. Don’t know why. I just am. I just know that I think this is a great product for those who exercise and are looking to use high performance supplements and/or meal replacements natural, plant-based, and healthy.

If you'd like to know more about the Vega company, here are their company principles.

• Plant-based whole foods are the true future of optimal health
• Raw, alkalinizing foods are the best defense against illness and disease
• Nutrient density is more important than calories
• Food should provide energy, not drain it
• Food should energize through nourishment, not stimulation
• Avoid common allergens to reduce food sensitivities
• It is possible to grow a younger body

 

And based on my experience, I can vouch for a few of these. Don’t know about you, but I can’t help but love a company with these types of principles. You can find out more about Vega products and purchase them at MyVega.com.

Vega Complete Whole Food Health Optimizer

One of my fav products of theirs is the Complete Whole Food Health Optimizer, in Vanilla Chai flavor. Yummm. Often, when I go to refill on this, the stores are temporarily out of this particular flavor. Bugs the crap outta me but is certainly a testament to its great taste. I recently discovered my love for the Chocolate flavor, also. All I do is add a frozen banana and unsweetened Hemp milk and the result is a delicious and quick smoothie. When I’ve been in a crunch, meaning without Hemp milk or Almond milk, I use filtered water. Still tastes delicious.

I am definitely continuing use of their products as a part of my daily regimen.

Post Title → MY VEGA LOVE

BECAUSE I'M WORTH IT.....The Series

Hi Gorgeous Ones!


As I mentioned last week, I’ll be posting weekly on my journey to greater health & fitness. Over the weekend I was out-of-town in Gatlinburg, TN with my daughter, which entailed some elements that slightly threw me off. Will discuss that further in Friday’s post. Outside of that, I worked out that Friday morning which was the day we left. I didn’t get in any “deliberate” work-outs during our trip but I can say that I got an extra good amount of daily walking in.

My 1st workout since then was on Tuesday. I haven’t made it back to the gym yet, so I’ve been gettin’ it in at home with my trusty work-out dvd’s by Gilad and Jillian Michaels (You know, the hellified fitness coach from "The Biggest Loser"). You may think that it’s not possible to get an authentic workout outside of a fitness gym but it really is. As long as you have the genuine desire and drive to get to a specific goal it’s doable. Great workouts and exercise can be done just about anywhere. Trust me. I’m giving up the same amount of sweat as I do when I go to the gym.

My weight hasn't fluctuated, which is a good thing. it did cross my mind though, as I ate some fries with a veggie burger while in Gatlinburg. Oh! I also had a Coke Zero while on the road. I know some of you may be thinking "What's the big deal with that?".  Lately, I've stayed away from diet sodas for some of the reasons here and here. I caved in late Sunday night for a caffeine buzz. Had to make sure I stayed awake while on the road and coffee would've made me need some extra stops. So I definitely have to find another and healthy option for when I'm on a road-trip like that.

If you know or have heard of anything, do share. I'll research it and see if it's something I could try. And in the meantime, will look for other options myself.

So, what have you done for your own heatlh, wellness and fitness?.. You know you're worth it.

Peace,

Post Title → BECAUSE I'M WORTH IT.....The Series