Words About Transitioning to Vegan

This week’s update I decided to do differently.  I have been inspired by two of my subscribers to write this update. This week’s video has two vegan recipes—chocolate cake and potato salad.  Click here for the Video of the Week.

Nicole’s Week:
Friday June 29 –Monday July 2, I exercised my butt off.  Well maybe I did not exercise my butt off, but I got it done.  Tuesday July 3 – Thursday July 5, my Aunt Sally came to visit, and I did not exercise.  I did partake in grilled veggie burgers and veggie dogs for this week.  I drank two bottles of wine this week; it’s a holiday week—American Independence. 

Words about Transitioning to Vegan:
Sogirlgems on Youtube is working on transitioning to a vegetarian diet.  She is doing a 14 day fast to get her weight out of the 120s.  I notice that she is eating.  I want to be clear on the definition of a fast.  A fast is to go without food.  There are different types of fast.  Some of the fast that I have done are the master cleanse (water, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper) and a juice fast (fresh fruits and vegetables that I juice).  Both of these fasts taught me that I can go without food and still function. 

Watching Sogirlgems video made me think about my own obsession with weight.  When I was extremely overweight, people (in general) did not make eye contact with me.  In general, people (especially men) ignored me or looked at me with fear in their eyes.  I had one guy tell me that I was fat and ugly and that no one would go out with me, so I should date him.  Of course, I told him to fuck off.  But this sort of thing happened often, I walked into a restaurant one day and these men mooed at me like I was a cow.  I decided to be alone rather than deal with it.  So, I know how hard it is to carry extra weight and to be treated as less than because of it.  To this day, I feel like I have to be thin to be accepted--to be acknowledged.

I’ve watched Mowet100 struggle over the last year to be vegan, so that she can lose weight.  The vegan lifestyle is a practice; there is no perfection.  If you look at the transition as an all or nothing deal, then you set yourself up to fail.  Take the veganism in steps.  First, eliminate the red meat from your diet.  Next, prepare one meat free meal a day.  Build up to being vegan.  Once you have freed yourself from meat and the hormones & chemicals in the animal, you can work on the dairy.  I want to pause because dairy is some of the most addictive food items that humans can eat (other than meat).  Dairy creates mucous in the body and clogs the human lymphatic system.  When you free yourself from dairy, the vegan diet will become easier, almost effortless.     

A mini message to Sogirlgems:
I know that it can be hard to cut the meat out of your diet.  Girl, you can do it.  I see that you are making salad the main meal and adding veggie dishes to the meals of your family.  Keep up the great work!!!!!  

Love:
As we begin a new week, I send some love to all of you.  Remember to stay focused, but give yourselves a break on this journey.  As always, I enjoy hearing from you.  Message me!  Comment! Let me know how you are doing. 

The Whole Kale



Kale Chip with cashew cheez.  Yummy!

I know that it may appear difficult eat vegan, but only if you look at it from a “Whole Hog” or the “Whole Kale” point of view.  Veganism is a practice.  Each day a person must consciously choose to eat a plant based diet, which may include as much fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, legumes, and grains that she wants to consume.  Let go of the "difficult" thought.  There is a new way to see your transition to a vegan diet, which is to think about all of the foods that you can consume, and to think about the bounty the earth provides for her creatures (yes, you are a creature of the earth) .  Put yourself in the space of gratitude and abundance rather than the space of lack and missing. In other words, think about the good stuff you can eat!

Juice Fast Continues Day 7

It is the end of the day and a time for reflection.  I told myself at the beginning of this juice fast I would not push myself beyond my limits, and  I would set a goal for seven days.  After the seven days, I would decide if I will continue an additional seven days or stop.  The decision is to continue with the juice fast. 

There is a need to release more.  Maybe I am release more than weight?  I feel like I am release old attitudes, or thought patterns that no longer serve me. There is more time to spend examining my thoughts and my relation to others because I am not spending time preparing foods, or obsessing about those comfort items that help me numb my self to the world around me.

I dreaded this day because this was the day that I would take my brother to the Social Security office (SSI) to replace his lost card.  Who wants to spend the day ( a hot day) in a bureaucratic web of lines and numbers?  I don't.  I barely slept last night because I had the TV on (another one of those no-nos that I do when I know I shouldn't). 

I made orange juice and gave some to my brother.  Actually, he asked for it after smelling the aroma of fresh orange in the air.  My body worked on 8 oz of orange juice and 32 oz of water.  I could not believe that there was no headache, and I was relatively tolerant to the other humans waiting at SSI to take care of the business of being counted.  While we sat and waited for my brother's name to be called, I guzzled almost a whole bottle of water.  I immediately felt fresh.  My eye sight seemed to come in focus.  

The amazing part of the day was that I was able to drive in a relaxed manner without any anxiety.  I even drove on the freeway, and felt completely secure in my abilities to manipulate my car (Red Daughter).

I want to move, so I was looking at neighbors that I'd like to live in.  I got to see it before it can happen.

Two Hours of Exercise

Today was a triumph.  I got up at 6 am, and I sat at my computer.  I did not write, but I made it to my computer.  I looked at a blank word document for a long time then I checked my email.  I hung out on facebook--commenting and friending.  I watched a few videos on youtube.  I printed my resume and cv, so I can update them. 

I had breakfast ( a bean burrito) and drank tea.  At 10:15, I went to the gym where I did two hours of exercise.  I did zumba and yoga.  The yoga tore me up.  I had to rest in the child pose for a little bit.  I might have been worn out from the zumba. 

I came home took a hot shower, started my laundry, watched Goonies (in English and Spanish at the same time). 

Yes, today was a productive day.  The major accomplishment was getting to my computer before the world awoke, and I did that.  Now, tomorrow, hopefully I will write. 

A walk: the Pee Man and the Cyclist

This semester has not been the best for my girlish figure.  I started strong with exercise and eating healthy meals then the filing in one of my teeth fell out.  My tooth got infected.  I got terribly sick.  Finally, I had root canal, and I got even sicker.  The first two months of the semester I spent ill.  I did not exercise, and I started drinking (the Chardonnay) to numb the pain.  When the tooth pain went away, I started eating to numb the pain of the cold the symptoms and deal with the stress. 

The semester will be officially over for me December 14^th; it is the day I perform my last radio show. 

How much weight have I gained since August (the beginning of fall semester)?  I’d hazard a guess at maybe 15-20lbs.  I can still fit my clothes, but my jeans are tight, and I don’t want to wear tight clothes. 

What have I done to be healthy today? 

The morning did not start off well.  I was still pissed at my mother because of the conversation last night and the one a few days ago.  She does not want to listen.  I sent her an email telling her I am done talking to her.  Every time I speak with her, I feel like shit afterwards.  I’m done. 

Late in the morning, I walked for an hour.  It felt nice to move my body.  Plus, I did my favorite exercise, which is walking outside.  Sadly, while I was walking on the levee, I saw a young man who began to change his clothing in public.  He put a cigarette in his mouth, sat all his shit down, walked toward a tree and began to urinate in public.  I could not believe it.  As I walked by, I tried to look the other way.  Actually, I looked the other way.  I even put my hand up to cover my face.  He turned around and walked away from the tree towards me and said, “Good morning.”

I walked faster as I said, “Good morning.”   It had to be one of the most uncomfortable moments I’ve experienced so far this year. 

About twenty minutes later as I walked around the bend, the cyclist who always calls me “leather” appeared.  He stopped his bike and asked me, “How does it feel to be a mother in-law?”  I tilted my head from one side to the other like a puppy hearing a human make the guttural “aaahhhh” sound. 

“You’re not leather” he said.  I slightly shook my head left to right or right to left.  My eyes got big; I could feel them, and I know I had a goofy smile on my face.  I could not believe the cyclist was talking to me.   With a big smile, he continued “I’ve been calling you leather all this time.  You look like a woman I know who lives on the other side of the levee named leather.  Her son just got married.”

I smiled.  He said a bunch of other stuff, but I did not pay attention because I was checking out his body.  I was also in shock because this was the first time he ever stopped to talk to me.  The cyclist has a very nice figure.  He is extremely healthy! 

I told him, “it’s okay.”  Then I said something similar to “have a nice day” or “Merry Christmas.”  I cannot remember.  I’ve been drooling over the cyclist since summer 2010.  He smiled and spoke.  I don’t know what he said—remember I was in shock.  He got on his bike and road off.     

Holiday Party

On the second day of my health kick, I went to a holiday party. And yes, I indulged in the food.  I ate some type of fried vegetarian pot sticker.  I have to give it a better effort because I started the day off processed.  I went to Taco Bell where I ate two fresco bean burritos and a soda.

I have to remind myself it is a practice not a perfection.  The good thing is that the food I eat now to numb my feelings with is healthier than it would be if I weren't vegan.  Before, I ate hamburgers, met pizza, roasted chicken, cheese in all its incarnations.  Now, I eat bean burritos, veggie dogs, fires, and potato chips when I want to stuff my self.

I also need to work on not eating when I am stuffed. 

Today, I did not do too much better.  I ate chips for breakfast, but I did wake up at 5:30, and I went right to my computer to write.  I did not exercise.  I planned to go to the gym and do zumba and yoga instead I got back into the bed.
  
Right now, I feel stuffed.  There is a heaviness.  See, it is possible to gain weight and be unhealthy while practicing a vegan diet. 
Tomorrow is a new day!    

Declaration For My Life

This is the first post of my new blog, and with this post I am setting my intention.  August 21, 2010, I will begin a new phase in my life.  I want the gift of vitality--the gift of health.  I am committing myself to a Raw Food Lifestyle.  I am not saying diet because I truly believe the raw food is a lifestyle.  I even give it an article because to me the raw food exists, and it lives to bring human-beings to consciousness.  

My declaration taped on the wall

I went to Vital Life Foundation, and found this declaration for my life, which I will fill out for my first post. These are the questions that I meditated on before making my declaration: 
1) How do I want to think?  2) How do I want to feel?  3) How do I want to believe?  4) How do I want to conduct myself?  5) What do I want to put into my body?  6) What is my purpose?

After I completed my declaration I taped it to the wall in the place where I will see it often.  

DECLARATION FOR MY LIFE

This is a powerful tool for setting my intention and reminding me where I want my life to go.

I am

I am responsible for my life. I am here to live a happy and fulfilling life. I am connected to all living beings.

My guiding principle is compassion. I believe in ultimate good and kindness.

I am an educator. I am a teacher. I am a writer. I am here to live and be in the now. I think clearly with a loving heart.

My purpose is to love, nurture and help other beings using my gifts as an educator, a teacher, and a writer.

I trust the flow knowing that I am guided to the most compassionate and loving people, places, and actions.

I love and nurture myself, so I can love and nurture others.

I know nothing. I trust me. I have free will.

I am open to receiving the information the universe has for me. I am open to the highest potential the universe has for me.

I allow thoughts to float on the wind free of attachments.

I put only wholesome foods and beverages into my body.

I breathe deeply to live.