Melting Away

Well, I am still going strong.  Adding more exercise and new all vegan recipes this week. It's weird this week all of the sudden inches are melting off. It's great to see my body responding so well!

I have had some temptations this week, but I have remained strong.  I missed eggs this week, but every time I am tempted I think of the poor male chics that are thrown in the garbage or ground alive because they are not valuable to the egg industry and I quickly don't miss eggs. 

Feeling Great and Losing Weight

Well, here I am on day nineteen of my 100% vegan journey.  I am feeling great!  Some of the benefits I have notices are the following: I am sleeping better, I have more energy, I feel better emotionally & physically, I dont feel bloated anymore, my conscience is clear that I am not supporting cruel industries, and my family is eating more produce as a result!

It is really weird to me how I suddenly found a whole new willpower. It took strength to pass up certain things in the beginning.  I struggled with cheese, bacon and eggs the most in the beginning. Now as time has gone I have had a paradigm shift. It is almost like I don't view those things as food or even an option anymore. My feeling better physically and in my conscience combined with the education I have been providing myself through articles online, magazines, books and documentaries have made a huge difference.  I find myself wanting to share with others my newly found and renewed knowledge with others.  I just can't ignore what I knew before this vegan pledge and what I now know in addition to that.

Some of my favorite things to eat are black beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, cilantro, bananas, brown rice, muesli, almond milk, figs, apples, carrots, spinach galore, kale, soups, oatmeal.  Below are some pictures of my nummy foods. 

I am finding it like a fun and positive adventure instead of a negative challenge to find ways to eat vegan while out in public and asking questions of my server as well as researching online too.  I look forward to having my own place again so I cqn entertain friends and family and be able to prepare my vegan recipes and shock and awe them with the deliciousness!!! 

Until next time...live aloha.

Three in the Bucket

Whelp three days in the bucket and I don't feel deprived, hungry nor have headaches.  :D  I have  been about 50% raw though, not fully but I am eating fully vegan and loving it.  I actually slept really hard last night once I finally fell asleep.  I have been struggling with insomnia a lot lately so I was up until 2am last night but I slept really well once I did go to sleep.

So the other day I was on Pintrest and this get well gift idea actually disgusted me.  They are cookies shaped like pills in a mason jar with a pretend rx label.  I get the sentiment and all that and it's a creative idea; however the fact that our society, pharmaceuticals and western medicine have brainwashed us. 

Hippocrates put it best when he said "Let food be thy medicine."  I am trying and testing this theory out myself.  I get a lot of headaches and instead of just popping pain killer I stop to think about it and sometimes document my headaches and migraines. 

Well, thanks for taking the time to read this.  This year is off to a good start for me and I hope the same is for you.  Attitude is everything!

Hugs & Aloha!

Self-Care

I am not one for New Year's Resolutions, but rather goal setting.  This year as of January 1st I took the thirty day vegan pledge at The Vegan Society.  They match you up with am mentor if you like.  Mine has already emailed me and she is fabulous and local too!  Many have asked me to keep track of my journey and post pictures and recipes so here I am.  :)

Today is day three of my vegan journey and I feel great so far.  I am not hungry, nor have I really had any cravings.  I found will power from somewhere and I do not know where!  On New Year's Day I was even able to pass us one of my favorite (old favorites) soups that my mom makes.  It is a fabulous pumpkin soup recipe from Paula Dean, but it has bacon grease inside the soup and is topped with bacon too.  I might try to toy with this recipe and make a vegan version of it.  Anyone reading this that has a substitute for bacon grease please feel free to suggest. I was thinking coconut oil.

I have been on a healthy journey as last year I found myself at my heaviest, with a knee injury that really knocked me down and on seven months of short term disability  medical leave.  I found myself having a pity party, depressed, down, hopeless and feeling trapped in my own body and mind.  With God, prayer, self-realization and a good friend from middle school who works at a gym I have slowly but surely climbed out of the pit of depression that I was in. Don't get me wrong I still struggle with depression almost daily, but I am doing far better.  

Self-care is not a thing that our society, especially in the U.S. supports.  People may act like they do or even say they do, but don't you recall hearing "she is selfish" or "he is selfish".  To me being selfish to a very small degree is healthy.  You must make sure that you love yourself enough to take and in some cases make time to care about yourself and for yourself.  Some examples of what I am referring to are prayer, sleep, spiritual well-being  mental health, journaling, simple things like brushing and flossing, eating right.  There are so many small things that we put off daily for ourselves.  If we take care of our temple we are able to love others more readily and help others when called upon.  If we are unhealthy and unhappy how are we going to be a blessing to anyone?

All that to say, I have never been consistent at blogging, but I have been asked by some friends to document my thirty day vegan journey with pictures, recipes, honesty and encouragements   So here I am writing away for me and for you.  I hope you enjoy my thoughts, tips and realizations.  I will do my best to post something daily be it a picture, thought pattern or realization.  Blessings to you!

Hugs & Aloha!  <3