New Shoes

Tried out new shoes today on a short jog. I have been wondering how they would do because I bought a cheaper shoe this time. My daughter needed shoes, too, so we did a "buy one get one half off" and I bought NIKE and I never buy NIKE.

They were great! Better than my body since I haven't seen the inside of the gym in four weeks. Yes, shame on me. And my body is feeling it. My joints hurt when I don't work out.

This week I can't go because I have no one here to be with Grantmeister when I leave. So I'm going to just do it the old fashioned way: jog around out here in the woods. Works well.

Not feeling well today. Was up a lot last night because of sore throat, yucky eyes, and an earache.

I think I can attribute it all to really UNHEALTHY food for 3 days after eating so well for a while. It always lowers my immune system.

So today, one word: JUICE.

Kale, spinach, carrots, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, apples and oranges.

And lots and lots of reading on eating healthy. It always "reboots" my motivation.

Dr. Axe, Dr. Ornish, Christine Bailey, Rip Esselstyn, Dr. Fuhrman -- just to name a few.

What's on My Nightstand?

There are two books right now laying beside my bed ready to be devoured. After finishing the Engine 2 Diet Rescue book, I am going to move right into these next two.

"Forks Over Knives" we watched several months ago, so I bought the book last week. I can't wait to see what else is in the book that might not be in the documentary!

This book just looked like where we are headed. I browsed the "raw" section of books for over an hour and settled on this one. Praying it was a good choice after putting 4 others back on the shelves.

Review coming soon!

Juicing

Wade and I are juicing. We drink our nutrients for at least breakfast, but usually for breakfast and lunch each day. Wade doesn't love veggies and fruit, so he is getting so many different nutrients! We are drinking kale, spinach, cucumber, tomatoes, lemon, celery, peaches, apples, grapes, blueberries, oranges -- whatever is in the fridge.

And we are loving it!

Okay, I'm loving it. He is hungry and needs to find the perfect snacks for him. I am thinking nuts, fruit, and then a healthy dinner. He has lost 10 pounds in just over 2 weeks!

Guys. They always lose so much faster! Of course, he is way more disciplined than I am, too. :) He's not tempted by chocolate.

It does take so much fruit and so many veggies to juice. But it is so yummy. I've always struggled that juicing wastes so much of the fruit or veggie. I still struggle some with it, but I am buying my produce differently.

In bulk. No, I haven't started buying from Azure yet. But buying bags in the grocery store.

No, it's not organic. I can't buy all organic until we are in a different place financially. So I am buying what I can and scrubbing.

And juicing.

I feel great! My seasonal allergy struggle from last month is gone. Such a better answer than meds.

Want to see motivation on the screen? Google "Raw Rebecca." She has highly motivated and inspired me lately. Her blue jeans picture on Facebook has been saved on my phone for daily motivation.

The greatest part: We are getting healthier and healthier. After all of the reading I have been doing, I am so intrigued and interested in eating a vegetarian or even vegan diet. No decisions being made yet. Still researching.

This is the book I read the last few days. And I am loving it! I saw this guy on the Engine 2 Diet Rescue DVD a few weeks ago. He makes the changes in diet look so easy and appealing.

So this week I bought his book and I haven't been able to put it down. He spells out the whys of a plant-strong diet, the results of eating this kind of diet, as well as gives lots and lots of recipes to try. And they sound yummy!

Once I get my kitchen back (you'll have to see my other blog for this story), I will be trying his recipes.

PLANT-STRONG never looked so good!

Tip of the Day:

Eat a small amount of good fat with each meal.

What are good fats? Nuts, avocados, olive oil, and fish.

What does it do for you?

"Fat slows the rate at which sugar hits your bloodstream, and this allows your blood sugar levels to remain steady."

"Good fat also burns fat."

"Good fat also helps your body to absorb vitamins and minerals better."

"It (good fat) helps to cushion your joints from wear and tear."

(All quotes taken from book entitled "Clean and Lean Diet" by James Duigan)

So today I cooked my omelette in a very small amount of coconut oil (which gave it a very tropical taste!), took some fish oil (which I do daily), I will eat an avocado later today. Avocados are eaten everyday here!

And since I have come to enjoy a salad without any dressing, I will start drizzling a little olive oil over it to get in my healthy oils.

As I side note on oils -- though used in a different way -- I also use almond oil on my body each day. My chiropractor has suggested coconut oil as the best body moisterizer. I might try that one day. My girls have used it for their eczema.

Last night, my niece, who loves everything natural and is a wonderful massage therapist, suggested I also begin using geranium essential oil for my hormone changes that come with age. I plan on getting some of that today.

Oils. Good fats. All contributing to better health.

One change at a time. One day at a time. One meal at a time. One workout at a time.

In the end, I hope to change our family lifestyle.

WIN!

Having some "wins" lately and today was a good one for me. I crave -- C-R-A-V-E -- sweets in the afternoon, between 2-5pm. Today was just like any other day. Cravings started.

Drank water.

Cravings continued.

Ate blueberries.

Satisfied.

WIN!


Veggies/fruit today:
carrots
spinach (2 servings)
avocado (2 servings)
blueberries (2 servings)
onion
celery
banana

So far I've had 72 oz of water and still going.

Lean protein:
2 small organic eggs
1 slice of lean chicken
1 Tbsp of organic peanut butter with coconut (Have you tried this?!) :)


Worked out this morning, and for some reason, it kicked my butt! It was so hard for me this morning that I got really cranky with sweet hubby who was trying to tell me about another lower body exercise I could try.

But, no thanks! I was a crank-butt! Had to apologize and, thankfully, he laughed and forgave me. These hormones are going to KILL me or him yet! Ugh........

Feeling pretty good, but headed to someone else's house for dinner tonight. Thankfully, it's hubby's parents and she called today to say she knew we wouldn't want to eat the main dish so I am taking leftover grilled chicken that we had last night. We will have a big salad and chicken. I appreciate her being understanding and trying to help us change our lifestyle.

Good start to a new week. Every wise choice makes the next one easier.

Remember: Don't give up what you want MOST for what you want at the MOMENT.