Plan of attack for a healthier me!

As you know, one of my new year's resolutions for 2013 is to be a better healthier version of me.  That means body, mind, and soul!  

So here's my plan of attack: 

1.) We're starting off the year with a sugar cleanse.  I know that I have been eating WAYYY too much refined sugar since I started working at the bakery, and in turn so has John (poor guy - I basically wave the cupcakes under his nose when I bring them home).  So to get our bodies readjusted, we're going without for a little while.  Here is what we're going to be cutting out:

- sucrose (refined sugar).  All cupcakes, sodas, sweets.  You know, the OBVIOUS bad stuff. ;)  This also means no honey, agave nectar, or syrups.
- glucose (sugar from carbohydrates).  Yep, that means no breads, crackers, pastas, etc. Brown rice pastas, brown rice, and quinoa are fine!
- fructose (sugar from fruit).  I know it sounds crazy, but we're trying to starve our bodies of sugar right now!  

Once we're clear of the sugar, we'll start introducing the good sugars (fruits & whole grains) back into our diets again.  What's great about this cleanse is that fruit will taste so much sweeter when we have it again - it'll be a dessert all by itself! :) 

I'm going to stock up on healthy groceries, and try out some new recipes.  I absolutely love finding new & amazing recipes to try that are delicious AND nutritious.  I live for this stuff! 

Maybe something like Grilled Polenta & Balsamic Vegetables?  YUM! 

2.)  I'm going to yoga this upcoming Sunday!  No excuses!  Kendra, do you hear me?  :)  (Kendra and I have been trying to get our acts together to go to a free yoga class near her house for a while now!  We've been a few times, but we really want to go more regularly).

The free class is SO AWESOME, and for the last few weeks I've totally wussed out.  I definitely want to make it a habit of going every Sunday - I always feel so amazing afterward, so it should be easy!  This one is good for my body and soul too.

3.)  Get out of bed early, and get my body moving and improving daily.  I know this will take some time to get in the habit of doing every day again, but it's important to me.  I plan to start slowly (aim for 2-3 days a week), then work up from there.  I tend to set the bar a little too high early on and failing quickly, so I'm trying a different tactic.  It's my basic plan to do anything active - whether it's a workout video, a long walk, a jog, or a few sets with weights!

So those are my 3 basic steps for now.  I know the hardest one will be #1 for now, but that's only a starting off point - a springboard to shoot me towards better health.  The first few days are always the hardest, but I know I can do it!  

How are you going to attack your goals in the new year?  

Images via Pinterest. 

No Impact Man!

I rented the documentary film No Impact Man from the library recently, and last night I watched it.  If you haven't heard of it, it's about a man and his family living in New York City that decided to waste less and go without their regular luxuries for an entire year - not only to see the impact that it made on the planet, but how it would effect others - and to see if it was even possible to live that green!  

Here is the trailer: 




Honestly, I thought the film was very inspiring.  I think a lot of people are intimidated by making green choices in their lives, and they think that they need to go to the extreme like he did.  But really, it doesn't take much.  And after watching this film, I realized I could be doing more. 

I have been doing things little-by-little to make my life more green, and to tread lightly on the earth.  

Here are a few things that I've taken on over the past 5-years or so (that you could do too if you feel inspired!): 

- I went vegetarian (Meat production is one of the biggest pollutants on the planet)

- I stopped driving my car so much (I try to bike / walk as much as possible, and if I need to go farther ride my scooter)

- I bring a to-go cup with me to coffee shops and have them fill it (instead of wasting a paper cup)

- I always carry a re-useable water bottle

- I bring my own bags to the grocery store at all times (even if I have to walk back to the car because I forgot them), and if I don't have a bag with me I still ask for no plastic bag (and try to shove everything in my purse instead)

- I try to turn off lights and unplug appliances as much as I can (I'm always following John around the house and switching off lights as I go)

- I've started buying beans, rice, and other foods in bulk to save on packaging 

- I go to the Farmer's Market during summer & fall for all of my fruits & veggies, and buy local

- Most of the time I follow the toilet-flushing rule of "yellow, let it mellow - brown, flush it down" to cut back on water waste

- John and I have started composting our food scraps

- I have made the move to washable cloth handkerchiefs (instead of tissues, even though John still thinks it's gross)  

- I try to shop at thrift stores or do clothing exchanges instead of buying new clothing and accessories 

- We use cloth napkins, cloth dish towels, and sponges as much as possible (instead of paper towels)

- I buy natural cleaning products (although after watching this film I realized it's frustrating that we can't re-fill  them, and I'm still using a lot of packaging)

- I make my own vegetable broth now instead of buying the packaged kind with our leftover veggie scraps.  I keep them in the freezer in a container until I have enough to boil, then after using them I put them in re-used glass jars, and compost the scraps!

Just to name a few things! 

But after watching this movie, I realized there's still more that I could be doing.  I mean, I know that I work hard at being green and not being wasteful.  As the film pointed out, we're a consumer culture - and right now we have all been taught since childhood to throw things away because it's unsanitary not to.  We're a disposable culture, and it's killing our planet.  

No Impact Man (Colin Beavan), and his adorable little girl!

I guess it made me think of the other things that I could be working on more.  I need to stop using the damn plastic bags that are provided for bulk products, and for produce.  Ugh - plastic everywhere!!  For something that we make so disposable, why do we make it out of PLASTIC - that NEVER decomposes!!  It doesn't make any sense.  I'm going to get mesh / cheesecloth bags to bring with me from now on instead, and just keep them with my grocery bags.  


Also, even though it takes a while for us to use them, I hate that we still get paper towels.  We could easily get some more dish towels and re-use them over & over - just wash them in between!  I'm going to work on that too. 


I want to ride my bike / walk more.  I already do it a lot, but I'm going to make less excuses about it.  I want my scooter to be last resort, and I want my car to be VERY last resort (I mean, hailing or a freakin' snowstorm. Or if I'm being chased by bears).  I want to take the train instead of driving, and carpool more as well. 


I also would like to work on buying less packaged goods.  I feel like I've made a big step over the past few years with making the move to non-canned beans (and cooking them myself from bulk), but I'd like to move towards also making my own spaghetti sauce (which is pretty darn easy), and my own soups more often too.  It's not hard to do these things, it just takes a little planning!  And I'm pretty good at planning (most of the time). ;)


And last (but not least), I would like to work harder at eating seasonally, and buying locally as much as possible.  I am pretty good about this with fruit as I usually don't even like how fruit tastes when it's out of season.  But I could be better about my veggies, and learn how to love my root veggies in the winter time, and wait for the peaches when they come in season!  


Now, if only I could figure out how to get John to cut back on eating so many bananas! ;)  

What are YOU doing to help the planet, and make things better for the next generation? 



Here is a link to the No Impact Man blog for more information!

Yoga Beautiful

I came across this video a while ago, and I finally found it again.  It's so beautiful!



Isn't it amazing what our bodies can do with training?
I think that our bodies are so beautiful when they are strong - inside and out.  Not thin.... STRONG. :) 

Kendra and I were going to a free yoga class once a week at a local college, but unfortunately they just ended due to summer break (doggone it)!  I guess we'll have to figure out another way to mooch free yoga classes now, huh?  Haha!

Of course we aren't anywhere close to where this girl is (shoot, I can barely do a headstand, let alone a handstand), but it's nice to dream isn't it?  :) 

A Post-Holiday waistline.... Pre-Holidays!?

I knew my weight was getting up on the higher end lately, but I didn't realize how much until recently...

... I had a very overdue doctor's appointment, which included a visit on the scale to get my weight.  I cringed at the thought (I haven't gotten on a scale in probably a year), but stepped up, and waited for bad news. 

It wasn't just bad news.  It was the news that I've reached my highest weight so far in my 30-years of life.  Yikes.  

I've always been aware of health, and very into nutrition for healing, buying and supporting organic / local food companies, etc.  I love fruits and vegetables - LOVE them - but I also love cheese, chocolate, pizza, ice cream... the list goes on & on. 

I still jog 3x a week with Stacey, but that's just not enough considering I've probably been inhaling anywhere from 500-1,000 calories more per day than I should be!  

I know that part of the reason is because I moved in with John.  No, I don't blame him!  But I think a lot of people hit this point in life when they move in with their significant other or get married.  They kinda let themselves go a bit.  I know I sure as hell did!  I know John will love me no matter what, so why not have another helping of pasta?  Why not stuff myself silly?  

I'll tell you why.  

I don't love myself right now.  To be honest, I think it's been causing some problems in my life.  Laziness, lack of motivation, stress, tiredness - they've all been around, and I know I've been ignoring them.  I never minded a little bit of jiggle, but this has gone too far.  I don't even like catching my reflection in the mirror when I'm getting dressed.  I don't like this body. 

And no, before you say anything, it's not just about getting thin.  Yes, it would certainly be great to not have my jeans pinching, have my belts fit again, and to be able to snap my damn snowboarding pants shut.  But it's more about being healthy and vibrant, and feeling good about myself.  Feeling sexy and energetic and happy.  That comes from within, and I don't like how I feel on the inside - and I think it's been showing on the outside.

The holidays make it really difficult to eat right, and normally I just give up around this time of year, and vow to get "back on track" with my new year's resolutions (as I'm sure most people do).  But this year, I gotta start a little earlier.  There's no damn way I'm turning down pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, but I'm going to be more careful with my portions / second helpings / alcohol consumption.  It's amazing how quickly it all comes on, and how long it takes to make it go away again... 

Sigh.  Have any of you out there reached this point?  Have you ever fallen into bad habits due to a relationship change?  Any thoughts or advice? 

Thanks - I needed that!

Every now & then I get totally surprised by blogging.  

When a blogger that I adore who has a gajillion followers comments on one of my posts - it totally makes my day!

Even better, when someone from Sweden (or some other land far-far away) starts following my blog & commenting on things.  I absolutely love hearing from people an ocean away that can relate to what I'm writing! 

The best, when you make a friend out of a fellow blogger.  That's just plain rad. 

Today though, I got a little piece of advice from someone who came across my blog - that made a big difference.  Not this blog, mind you, but this blog (that I started when I attempted a Total Body Transformation).  And I gotta say, it was just one of those things where you think... "Wow.  Why the heck didn't I think of that?"

Here's her note: 

"Hi there!!
I stumbled upon your blog... and just want to say this:

Don't let food run your life. Whether you're eating it or restricting yourself from it... Don't let it be on your mind all the time.
Don't feed the disease of disordered eating. Don't let diets be your only option.

Exercise because you want to, not because you need to. Eat until you're full. Don't cut out everything that you like.

I'm no expert, but I have lived a life of disordered eating and eating disorders... and I'd hate to see someone so beautiful (a stranger!) beating themselves up over a few pounds and some ice cream.

Get comfortable in your own skin... it's the only one you're ever going to get."

I hope she doesn't mind that I posted this (please tell me if you do and I'll take it down)!  I just felt like this was something worth sharing.  If you go and read my post that she's referring to, you'll see that I went on a helluva rant.  I beat myself up, and criticized myself, and really didn't get anywhere because of it. 

I gotta say, this note made me feel a lot better about everything, and better about me.  I don't know why I beat myself up about being a little overweight - it's the small changes that make the difference, not never eating ice cream again, or feeling depressed if I eat a slice of pizza. 

I want to feel good about myself, but in the long run.  Not just for a couple of months.  In order to do that I just need to make small changes (ex: not go for seconds, stop snacking late at night, choose fruit instead of ice cream, but if I really really want ice cream just have a small amount, etc).  

I always thought that I loved myself just the way I am.  But the truth is, I struggle with my body image just like every other girl does!  Sure, I can strut my stuff and love my curves, but there will always be a tiny part of me that wants to be thin.  But I love food way too much to get there.  And you know what?  That's totally okay.  I'm healthy, I workout regularly, and I'm working hard to make the right choices.  That's what matters. 

Thank you so much for helping me to remember that.  You know who you are! :) 

FOOD MATTERS - Documentary

"One of the few free choices that people have is what we will, and will not eat".

Please take an hour of your time to watch this documentary, "Food Matters".  It's important, relevant, and powerful, and I believe in everything they say with it. 

A "New" Approach to Health from Jamie Simko on Vimeo.

Also, if you haven't read any of Michael Pollan's books ("The Omnivore's Dilemma", "In Defense of Food", etc), I would highly recommend you do so! 

Educate yourselves - for your own health, your life, and the life of your children & grandchildren!  :) 

Eating out (when you're eating right)

I ALWAYS struggle with eating out when I'm trying to be healthy.  

I go in with the best intentions - psyching myself up mentally to make a good decision.  Just ask for no cheese.  Get the sauce on the side.  Don't be afraid of the 'to-go' box.  Get a water instead of a beer.  You can do it! 

Then the minute I sit down, it usually goes out the window! 

Luckily I've been able to stick to it a lot more lately since I've been doing my TBT.  But for lunch it's easier - for dinner, I want to indulge!  So I've kind of been avoiding going out to dinner the last few weeks. 

Beth's Tips on how to eat out (When you're eating right!) 

1.)  Start at the beginning of the menu - and stop there! 

What I mean is, order an appetizer instead of a full meal - or a soup / salad combo.  This is a great thing to do for dinners because the portion size will be much smaller, and it'll be cheaper cost-wise.  Bonus! 

 Green Chili from Illegal Pete's - with a side of pesto sauce & whole wheat tortilla

2.)  Get a water with lemon OR soda water with lemon instead of a soda. 

Diet soda is just as bad for you as regular soda - just in a different way.  Adding lemon to your drink will make you forget that it's not some other tasty beverage!  So many people forget that their drinks contain calories and sugar too - why add that on?  You won't even miss it.  And lemon in your drink is a bonus too, because it aids digestion.  

3.)  Remember: You don't have to eat salad just because you're eating out! 

Personally, I love salads.  But I don't love them ALL the time.  When I eat out, I want to enjoy different things!  Want a burger (or a veggie burger)?  Get one!  Just ask for it without the bun, no cheese, and extra lettuce leaves.  It's just as delicious, and more flavorful without the high-calorie (most likely white flour) bun getting in the way.  And that little ol' cheese slice?  That's about 100-150 calories right there!  Is it worth it?  Meh, you won't even miss it.  Get a side of roasted veggies instead of fries - your tummy (and tastebuds) will thank you.  

4.)  Skip dessert, and go for a yummy-flavored gum instead.  

I have a sweet tooth, for sure.  I love finishing my meal with something sweet.  Amazingly, chewing gum has actually helped me to curb this habit a bit, because it gives me the satisfaction I'm looking for without any additional fat / calories / sugar.  Also, chewing gum helps saliva production which is great post-meal to prevent cavities.  Extra makes a delicious line of "Dessert Delights" - all flavored as your favorite desserts.  My favorite is Key Lime Pie (SO good), and the Mint Chocolate Chip.  They're amazing - trust me.  And no, I'm not getting free gum for life for this (darn it)! 

5.)  Get your sauce / dressing on the side.  

This goes for salads, stir-frys (if possible), and anything else that comes doused in sauce.  Dunk your fork first, then take a bite of food.  You'll still get the yummy flavor of the sauce or dressing, but you'll use about a 1/2 of what you'd use if you dumped it all on top.  Trust me!  

Build-your-own-Bowl from Tokyo Joes - with sugar-free Teriyaki sauce on the side.

6.)  Tell a funny story (a long one). 

Is your friend doing all of the talking while you're shoveling food mindlessly into your face?  Well, take a break.  Set down your fork, and speak up.  This will give your food time to settle in your tummy.  When you're ready to pick up your fork again, think: "Am I still hungry enough to finish this?" - and see what your tummy tells you.  

7.)  Get a to-go box as soon as you realize you're full. 

I've never been the type of person that's been able to ask for a to-go box the moment I order, then put half of it away before starting to eat.  I love food presentation, and it just ruins it when you've scraped 1/2 of your plate away already.  But once you're full, get that to-go box ASAP - chase the server down if you have to.  I will pick at my food until I've finished all of it, but if I put it away quickly, I'm good to go! 

8.)  Go somewhere you KNOW has a lot of healthy options, and plan accordingly. 

It's always good to be prepared before you go out to eat.  When you've decided on a restaurant, go online and view their menu so that you have a plan before you get there.  It's so much easier to sit down and have an idea about what you want, rather than just winging it and being tempted with everything else.  Always have a back-up plan food-item too, just in case they don't serve your first option anymore (since menus do change frequently). 

Well, that's pretty much all I have for now!  I know a lot of it sounds like common sense, but it's always nice to have a reminder, right?  :)

The time has come...

...for me to jump-start my life! 

I just started a new blog HERE to track my progress while taking on a Total Body Transformation.  A bunch of the girls that I play derby with have already started the program, and it's about time that I got started as well.  Here are the basics of what I will be taking on in order to change my body (inside & out) and my life! 

Vigorous exercise 5x a week!  This does not just mean derby practice.... this means working out regularly (and vigorously) at least 5x / week.  This will be a heckuva challenge or me, as right now I work out about 3-4x a week tops.  

As far as healthy eating goes....

NO-NO'S
NO SUGARS
NO WHITE BREAD / RICE
NO ALCOHOL
NO CHEESE
NO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS

YES-YES’S
LOW SODIUM
WHOLE GRAINS (limit breads, pastas, and tortillas)
PROTIENS (egg whites, tofu, beans, natural peanut butter, nuts, lentils, tempeh, seitan, quinoa)
FRUITS & VEGGIES
 
The good part about this is that I will get 1 cheat day a week where I can have some indulgences.  I will probably try not to go TOO overboard on this, because I know what it's like to get over a sugar withdrawal, and boy - it's rough!  

I will be tracking my progress on my new blog (I already posted on there with my goals & such), so feel free to follow me there, and keep me in check!  I will be posting my daily food diary and workouts so that I can be held accountable. 

So wish me luck!!  If anybody wants to join me on my journey, please let me know!  It's always nice to have a buddy. :)

 

Oh my gosh... I think I love the Diva Cup!

OK if you're a dude. Stop reading now.

HOWEVER, if you're a cool dude that doesn't flip out when he hears anything along the lines of "menstrual cycle" or "period" then keep reading. I would hope my male readers would be mature enough to not get grossed out by that by now. For cryin' out loud.

Anyway, I just got my first Diva Cup! For those who don't know what this little device is, it's a menstrual cup. It's not just that though. It's a safe, environmentally-friendly way to take care of a lady's monthly icky-time.

I have been hesitant to try this for a while, because I wasn't sure what to expect. I was worried that I would feel it in there, and that it would be too complicated. However after a horrible bout with back-to-back yeast infections (gross, I know), I decided that I needed to change something in my lady-parts department. Tampons just seemed to be aggravating things, and pads are SO not an option. Not just for the uncomfortableness, but for the amount of packaging and TRASH that pads create. I don't even use tampons with applicators (O.B. brand) to cut back on pollution.

But the greenest way to go is not disposing of anything at all, and the menstrual cup does just that. You use it over and over again - ZERO WASTE! Friggin' awesome! And it doesn't mess with your lady parts.

After more research I decided to give it a try. It just seemed too good to be true, but ladies seem to absolutely love it. To read more FAQ's about the Diva Cup - click here.

Last night I thoroughly read over the instructions and made my attempt at working the lil' cup. And guess what. It's AWESOME!! I was worried I'd be able to feel it, that it would be gross or slip around, and so far so good.

Yes, in the beginning the steps are kind of a pain in the ass. It's not as simple as 1.) insert, 2.) pull string, 3.) dispose. But it seems to me that the extra work is worth it, and it does come easier with practice.* Shoot, I couldn't even put on fake eyelashes a couple of years ago (same with contacts), and now I'm a whiz!

Oh, and did I mention that you can wear these babies for 12 hours at a time!? YES - 12 whole wonderful hours!! I feel like I have to change a tampon every 4-6 hours depending on the day. And there's still a chance I might leak! EW! With these babies they guarantee that if you're following the instructions you won't get any leakage, even in 12 hours. Whoa. That's pretty awesome.

I'm wearing white underwear today just to be sure!
Long live the Diva Cup!

*Ok, remember when I said this? Well, I'm on day 2, and I have already got the hang of it!! Please ignore my previous statement about it being a pain in the ass in the beginning. It's weird the first time, but that's it! Yep, it's official. I'm a Diva Cup Convert!!

A Skinnier Version of Me

After the big New Orleans trip and a bit of indulging, I realized it's time for me to get back on track. Summer is around the corner yet again, and I need to shape up or ship out!

OK, not really ship out, but you know what I mean.

My ultimate goal is not necessarily to be "thin".... although losing a few extra pounds would definitely be a welcome bonus! I really want to be the healthiest version of me that I can possibly be, and believe it or not in these photos I was NOT at my healthiest.

These pics were snapped about 6 or 7 years ago on a family vacation to Pawley's Island, SC. I had a few less tattoos then. ;)

I was working out (running, the elliptical machine, light weight lifting) about 5-6x a week, and eating a very strict diet.

I was also smoking regularly (YUCK), and the "very strict diet" I referred to was Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet (no vegetarianism or veganism back then for sure).

If you've ever done this diet, you know that this is the strictest phase, and that you're supposed to slowly start incorporating the other healthy things back in during Phases 2 & 3. Well, I got PSYCHO about my tummy pooch, and refused to leave Phase 1.

All I ate 3x a day was a serving of meat (chicken, fish, or steak) and a side of vegetables, with as much salt & butter as I wanted.

Sure, I lost a lot of weight! I wasn't having ANY sugar at all - but that included the sugar from fruits, and I wasn't having ANY carbohydrates at all - even the good whole grains!

I may look happy in these pictures, but I wasn't healthy that's for sure.

SO - although I would LOVE to get to the fitness level that I obtained when these photos were snapped, I never want to go back. I've quit smoking, quit meat & dairy, am eating tons of fruits & veggies & whole grains every day, and much more aware of what is a healthy diet, and what is not!

What I DO need to change though is my workout routine. Although 2 hours, 3 days / week of derby practice ain't too shabby, it's still not enough. Especially at the very sedentary stare-at-a-computer-all-day job that I have (as a lot of people do).

So this is my way of proclaiming that it's time to step it up a notch! Gym: hellz yeah! Workout buddies: come & get me! Pump class: Why the heck not!

Summer, here I come!

Day 1 of Veganism - and the first day of the rest of my life!

The last time I read The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone (and posted about it HERE), I didn't actually READ the entire thing to be honest...I just skimmed, then went straight for the recipes!

Well, I got the book as a Christmas gift this year, and now that I'm really reading it word for word, I'm even more in love! It has really inspired me to GO VEGAN again, and to give it a real shot for the rest of my life. I've gone back & forth on the idea for a while now, and I'm really going to do it. Shoot, if I can quit smoking and go vegetarian... I can do ANYTHING! :)

Today for breakfast I had a slice of Ancient Grain Spelt toast topped with Tofutti sour cream, arugula, and vegetarian baked beans. I even made a smoothie with a banana, a pear, frozen blackberries, ground flaxseed, and iced green tea. Who says vegans are missing out? NOT ME! It was DELICIOUS.

For lunch I had an Apple Curry Veggie soup that was SO easy to make over the weekend, and is so ridiculously delicious that I'll be eating it all week! I got it from the How it All Vegan cookbook that I utterly adore, and wrote about in this post.

Tonight is book club and I made my favorite Vegan Shells & Cheese recipe to share with the girls. I hope they love it as much as I do!

I have some pics coming soon too!

Veganism... again?

After my ridiculous amount of gorging on breakfast burritos while camping this weekend (photos will be up soon of that trip!) I have decided to try & give Veganism another go. It'll probably be a casual attempt - mostly just eating that way at home, and avoiding it as much as possible when out. It'll be more of a "healthy change" that I really need than anything!

Not only did I eat about 5 delicious homemade breakfast burritos on a 2-day camping trip (ummm yeah... they were REALLY good though), but when I got back into town and didn't feel like making dinner, I ordered a ginormous cheesy pizza.... ugh. Yes, it was wonderful, and I haven't had pizza in ages! But I've been over indulging quite a bit lately, and I need to get myself back under control.

It's kind of funny - I thought making the roller derby team would whip me into shape, and I'd drop pounds like crazy! Although I've been gaining strength, I haven't really lost any poundage - and I think I've actually been eating more since I'm so friggin' hungry after practices.

SO long story short, after this week - I'm cleanin' out the fridge, stockin' up on healthy goodies, and giving my body the stuff it needs to be a well-oiled-derby-playing machine... and not a big ol' slug! :)

UPDATE - I've been finding motivation today on the "Oh She Glows" blog. This girlie comes up with some awesome looking vegan recipes, and her weight loss is really inspirational. Check it out!