Healthier Lifestyle day 7 and 8

I just tried the Zucchini soup I made, it was pretty bland but I ate it with some of my homemade zucchini bread and that made it doable. I went to Costco on Saturday and purchased vege-burgers which have been really nice when I want something tasty and meat-like to eat when the rest of the family is eating meat. I also got Mango Salsa and chips for snacking and some granola bars and some dried Mangos (for a personal dessert) which I learned I have to pace myself with and they do have sugar so I need to make sure I am careful not to eat too many of those.

Good news! When I weighed myself Sunday morning I was 2 lbs. lighter, I bet if I was even stricter I would have even better results. So that is helpful and incentive to keep up with this plant-based diet. My mother took me and H and E to a restaurant on Saturday night while the boys were gone and M was working. It was nice and frustrating at the same time. The menu had absolutely no vegan options, so I ordered several sides that I thought would go with my diet more. Seasonal vege's, green beans, mashed potatoes and side salad. The veges, green beans and potatoes had butter of course, the green beans also had bacon and the mash potatoes had gravy and the side salad was totally vegan only because I asked for dressing on the side, so I am realizing it is hard to go 100% but also happy with myself that I was able to be close to vegan by being creative and getting sides instead of something from the menu. I was full after having just the seasonal veges and a few bites of mashed potatoes (I tried to scrape off the gravy). I was able to take green beans and salad home to have later and that was nice.

I am trying to paint a little bit every day, because that gives me fulfillment. I have found I feel full and have plenty to eat I also make sure I am slowly replacing more vege type options for my family. I find fulfillment writing on my blog being out in nature. We went up to my dad and mom's cabin and listened to the river and even though it was raining a bit I didn't mind at all. Then we went further up to Aspen Grove and on the way it hailed and was crazy weather, but by the time we got to the top the rain and hail were gone and the autumn colors were full and deep and gorgeous. I had flashback memories as we found the amphitheater up there with it's castle like passage and stairs and balcony. H enjoyed being the prince and E the princess and J and I took turns being the dragon. Then when I went exploring as well and just enjoyed the cooler air the colors the scenery and appreciated how lucky and blessed we are to live where we live and to have our beautiful mountains so close. On the way home I stopped by Bridal veil falls and just breathed in the fresh air, enjoyed hearing the water crash on the rocks and the perfect evening it was. After having some food when we got home we sat as a family and played apples to apples and enjoyed our nice family time together.

The evening ended with a spectacular thunderstorm. I love thunderstorms though this one lasted pretty late and was pretty loud. It gives me a thrill maybe they are my haunted house. I hate haunted houses but thunderstorms I love there is that little bit of excitement, terror and anticipation associated with them. Because one of Mary's friends was over I had gotten a little more caught up on the house and I've been able to maintain that, when Haven was at school today I was able to pick-up sweep, iron 3 pants and 2 shirts, mend buttons on two items of clothes, do the dishes, make my bed, clean and sweep Haven's room and transfer laundry. I love days where I have enough energy and I can get things done. I'm looking forward to going to my writing group today and thought it is crazy there is satisfaction of figuring out everyones schedules and trying to make it all work, being creative in budgeting and family management and helping my children and their friends.

Healthier lifestyle experiment Day 5

My life is a jumble of chaos, driving everyone around and always over scheduled. So trying to find fast easy meals I have had to keep things simple. I however realize that by using canned beans and canned soups I also have been putting way too much sodium into my diet. So I'm thinking I'll have to prepared some meals this weekend if I can find even two hours of time I can make my black beans, some lentils and precook some meals I can keep in the fridge and bring out and warm up quickly when I am in a hurry and need something that meets the plant-based requirements. I'll often just grab a carrot and not even worry about peeling it or anything and snack on that if I need something. I should probably keep Fritos to a minimum too they are quite salty and though they add a crunch to dip them in beans I could alternate between crunchy vegetables and chips with the beans.

I had a small window of time this afternoon and I had only a few bites of honeydew melon as my only food all day so for my window of time before rushing out the door again, I opened a can of refried beans and had some fritos with that. I later used carrot dipped in refried beans and it was delicious so crunchy veges work too. I am going to hopefully make some quinoa/blackbeans/cilantro this weekend and that should last a few days as well for me. I still need to find a way to add more activity to my day. I tell you I'm so exhausted though. Also when my daughter works a late shift it is really hard to sleep myself until I know my family is all in and settled for the night.

I tried my hand at Zucchini Soup but I was in such a rush I did my own version of the recipe. For a 10 min. window before I had to take my son to the dentist this morning I grabbed a large handful of basil from the garden and chopped it up, cut up the old zucchini I had and picked a new zucchini and used part of that, sauted some onion and garlic in a pan and mixed everything with some water, lemon pepper, little salt and put it in the crockpot/rice cooker I have. I am planning on blending that and hopefully will make a decent soup for tonight for myself, I'll offer it to the family, but I think I better have some alternative option for them to eat. I'll give a recipe if it works out, I don't want to give a recipe until I've actually ate it.

If we can find a time to eat and I can find time to make something. I literally have four places I am suppose to be at 7 I am trying to figure out. Non-stop today, non-stop I need to find a way to simplify. I was thinking of getting my daughter one of those motorized scooter things if they have one that can be done manually or electrically the kind you stand up on and push with your foot. Then she could get to work on her own and school but driving the kids is also a time I connect with them. We'll figure it out, I do know sleep makes a big difference on my mental and physical and especially emotionally functioning.

Healthier Lifestyle day 3

Last night was horrible. I don't think they warn you about the side effects of changing to a plant-based diet. I am hoping if I can endure my body will adjust but just lets say there are some gastrointestinal side effects that aren't pleasant, that combined with the worst UTI of all time I was up almost all night. I had a sweet husband who took the kids to school in the morning and let me get enough sleep to function a little today. For lunch yesterday I made my famous black-beans that are quite tasty. It helps me to get started to use recipes I already am familiar with and slowly add more things.

Sarah's famous black beans

Saute 1/2 an onion (chopped) in some olive oil (eventually I may take out the oil)
add minced garlic (1-2 Tbsp) and chopped bell pepper (or can of chilies)
Then add 3 cans of black beans (liquid and all)
2 Tbsp Oregano
2 Tbsp vinegar (I use apple-cider when I am eating healthier)

I still have leftovers I'm planning on using for lunch today. This morning I had leftover smoothie from yesterday and a bowl of wheat flakes with almond milk on top. (The cereal wasn't totally sugar free eventually shredded wheat might be a better option for fast cereal). Yesterday evening I went to Mary's graduation from a class she was taking. I ate from the vege tray, fruit bowl and salsa and chips. I did have one indiscretion I ate a delicious frosted sugar cookie which I did regret. I think I should have taken 2 bites and would have been totally satisfied but I need to get over the idea of needing to eat the whole thing, if it is junk food I am not wasting food to throw away after I have my taste if it is something I really want to try. For my sugar craving that night I ate a peach.

Today I went to Sprouts during Haven's music class I stocked up on celery, cucumbers, apples, bananas and melon, more grapes. I also went to Michael's and splurged a little and bought a wreath that was 60% off (I've always wanted one for our house especially in the Fall). I also bought paints and brushes. I know you might think I'm crazy but I can't stand our new white door, I need to paint it. Gordon says I'm a tagger at my heart. I need to be creative and that white door is a canvas just calling to me. I did play the piano listen to my book and listen to music yesterday. I however wasn't as active as I wanted to me. My biggest activity was taking my daughter Mary to the store to buy a pretty dress for her graduation from her class. She is such a beautiful girl.

My goal today is to get enough sleep tonight, do a load of laundry, fold three loads of laundry and take a nap and still eat healthy. Haven't decided about dinner yet, but maybe sandwiches tonight or squash from my garden. I need to find a non-sugar way to use the large zucchini I have I'll have to look on-line and get some ideas.

Healthier lifestyle experiment day 1 and 2

I am going to be upfront, I have autoimmune issues, I have high cholesterol (239), low thyroid, I am 215 lbs. overweight by 70 lbs and live a pretty sedentary life. I am going to try for the next 60-90 days an experiment. Some of my siblings have been real advocates of a plant-based diet. My sister has bought me and mailed to me Eat to Live and How Not to Die. I've been reading those books and watched Forks over Knives, but I've had a hard time going over a week living a plant based diet. I also signed up earlier this month for a 100 day heart challenge my goal was to walk 10,000 steps a day. The bad news I haven't been able to do that once, though I am averaging 2,000 more steps then I used to. However, it made me realize how pathetic and inactive I am so I want to be stronger do more active things, things I can also include my hyper busy children in doing (hiking, going to the park, swimming, dancing etc.)

So here is my real quest to improve my life and if I can prove that eating healthier and being more active can work for someone like me then maybe I can convince my husband (who also has health issues) and my children (who love junk food) to try a healthier lifestyle and others that I love that this is realistic and good for all of us. I feel like I can't really advocate or ask anyone else to change if I can't prove to myself that it will work. Good news is I've lost 20 lbs over the last 5 months) I really don't eat horribly but I feel like I want more energy, be healthier so I can live longer and be there to achieve goals I have in life and be there for my family and those I love. So I am taking the next step to really improve recorded here in my blog what is happening so I can be accountable and move forward trying something new. I'd like to get my cholesterol checked again, and weigh myself through out and we'll see if changing my lifestyle does make a big difference.

Yesterday when I decided this I didn't start off great. My son's birthday we celebrated with German pancakes for breakfast covered with lime juice and powdered sugar. However, when I made the rest of the family BLT's for lunch I left off the bacon and mayonnaise and instead used flax-seed oil and garlic as the dressing for the sandwich. I added some bread and butter pickles, onion, lettuce, tomatoes on the whole wheat bread and it was delicious and filling. For dinner we were at cousins eating, they had spaghetti and meatballs and bread for dinner. I just didn't add meat balls and I didn't add butter to the bread. I skipped dessert and that night when I was craving something sweet I had a bowl of homegrown grapes from my dad's garden and fresh strawberries, so good, yum.

So far today I've made a delicious green smoothie. 1 peach, 1 banana, large handful of kale from my garden, flax-seed oil, part of an orange, lime juice and water all blended in the Blendtec. I also ate the other half of the orange, I totally think having fruit will be my salvation in maintaining this diet because I do have a strong sweet tooth but the fruit seems to fulfill that ache. I am hoping to be pretty active getting my house clean and recovered from the weekend, take my son to the park and for a nature walk and doing some yard work. I hope to harvest most of my Kale since it is getting colder and freeze some of it. I also have a ton of basil so hoping to make a pesto sauce I can use for some vegan dishes. I also find if I can mentally keep myself stable finding balance in my life then I can be more controlled in my diet and life choices. Therefore listening to a book I like while I am driving kids around all day, read part of a book, listen to music I love while I clean and do something creative and/or artistic, practice piano or guitar (I'm trying to teach myself that) today will also give me the fulfillment I need in other ways.

Day 6 and 7 plant-based diet

Lentil and Rice Casserole (based on recipe from Practical Cookery: Vegetarian)
My own adjustments from this recipe my sister shared (My kids approved)

1 c dry lentils
1/2 c rice
5 c vegetable stock
1/2 sweet onion, diced
2 minced garlic
14 oz can diced tomatoes
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 bell pepper, seeded and sliced
3 1/2 oz brocoli florets
1 tsp basil
salt and pepper

1. Put lentils, rice and vegetable stock in rice cooker for about 20 min.
2. Then add remaining ingredients to the pot
3. Keep in rice cooker for 10-15 min. or timer on rice cooker goes off and vegetables are tender

I made this last night, and everyone loved it. My slip-ups the last two nights have been cookies from Days (our local grocery store). I find I still need the comfort sugar food on really hard days. The baby more fussy and crying, my oldest crying with her new braces, overwhelmed with laundry, housework. There are more dishes with this diet, but I am starting to feel more energy so it makes up for that.

I went to the doctor yesterday, he thought it wouldn't hurt to test me again in a couple months and see if this diet has made a difference, he didn't know that it would. He also thought my pregnancy might have messed up my numbers as well and separating myself from the pregnancy as well might help my numbers too. So we'll see what a few months bring, but like one of my friends pointed out, it still is a good idea to keep eating healthy, living a better life style.

Day 4 and 5 plant based diet

So last night for fun I made homemade french fries (not the healthiest) but it was fun with veg i-burgers, asparagus spears. I boiled the asparagus in salted/lemon juice water and they came out a beautiful green. The kids have been eating the yogurt and drinking the milk with cereal so that helps me feel like they aren't going to waste.

I don't think milk is bad or eggs either, I told myself I would have them once a week, but I am almost afraid to breakdown and have them, so I think I will just chose a day and that is the day I have milk on cereal and egg for breakfast, I'm thinking Saturday morning would be good.

Anyways, so far it really hasn't been too bad, I get hungry more often, but if I feel hungry I just grab a few multi-grain chips, a handful of nuts, and maybe a strawberry and I feel full, a nice hold me over between meals. Off to the dentist now.

Day 3 plant based diet

Green Smoothie

2 1/2 c water
1/2 tsp honey or other sweetener
Juice from whole lime or 1/2 lemon
1-3 TB flax seed oil ( I just put in flax seeds)
Add to 5 C line: 3/4-1 lb raw washed greens (spinach, Romaine lettuce, kale, Swiss chard)--I also add carrots, celery, cilantro, or cucumber
1-2 bananas
1-2 frozen mixed berries
Any other fruit to taste (pears, apples, cantaloupes, apricots, oranges, pineapples, mangos)--I like the mixed tropical fruit from Costco

This is a recipe from my sister Mary too, I didn't have flax seed or even frozen fruit, but I made this at breakfast and the whole family seemed to like it even though it was very green.

I just snacked on multi-grain chips and nuts, finished my daughter's smoothie. I just got back from Costco and was impressed with the amount of healthy foods I could buy there. I got some more Quinoa, vegie-burgers, vegie-sausage, frozen fruit mix, granola bars whole wheat bread, flat-bread chips, almonds. (I decided I needed some easy convenience food for those hectic days)

For lunch I plan on eating some of my special oregano black bean recipe and rice that is already made in the fridge. So far just keeping it simple has been nice. Also, Honks (a dollar store) is a great place to reward yourself or find pleasure (a shopping spree) without feeling guilty and isn't food based. I bought needed hair bands, hair brush, laundry basket, garbage can, working pens, scissors, tape and cute little heart decorated baskets I can use for socks or toys in the babies room.

Tonight we are having a friend and her two boys over for FHE I had already said we would get a pizza (before my vegan choice) so I'll have Gordon pick up a 5$ one on the way home but then also offer vege burgers and/or a well rounded salad with kidney beans and a variety of healthy vegetables and maybe some crasins in it.