Healthier Living Experiment days 12, 13, 14, 15

Wonderful News! I lost 4 lbs this last week.(6 lbs total so far) I notice I have my energy, I feel more awake and intellectually stimulated, less heart burn and I think the diet is making a difference. I decided I might have meat once a week esspecially if we are eatting at someone elses house, but after the great sucess of feeling better and doing so well I am feeling pretty positive about the diet. I've been reading How Not to Die this weekend. I just am finishing up reading about the spices and am committed to finding ways to add tumeric and ginger and some of these other spices to my diet and recipes. I have found it helpful to keep the 12 daily dozen in the back of my mind making sure I eat beans, nuts, berries, lots of vegetables and greens, try to be a bit more active. I think one of my favorite ways to be active is be out in nature esspecially here in Provo and up the canyon it is so very, very beautiful and I love just walking around and looking at all the beauty around me and hearing the wind and the river and I feel so blessed to live in such a beautiful place. Yesterday half of my family was sick so I took E and M and her boy friend up the canyon and we walked around Canyon Glen then we went to Bridal Viel falls and walked around and enjoyed and later in the evening went up to the cemetary and enjoyed the beautiful view as the sun set and went and visited Thomas's and Grandparent's graves. It doesn't even feel like exercise when I'm just walking around enjoying the beauty around me. I must admit I love Fall and not looking too forward to Winter. I have kept my diet pretty simple and I think that has been key to me being able to do this diet and I feel full and satisfied physically. I work with what I have and what is on-sale. I have had a lot of apples for fruit, Strawberries and I just eat them or cut up an apple with whatever meal I'm serving everyone. I add Kale and make a smoothie out of whatever I have. I make my black beans every week and they usually last me for several days. I'll probably make Taco soup today and add some tumeric. I also just got a bag of potatoes from my sister Nikki and am planning on adding that to my recipes this week, I think I'm going to make a curry dish I invented a couple years ago but just take out the chicken.

Curry Dish

Peel and chop up Potatoes
Peel and chop up apples
Add dried fruit (dried apricot or crasins)
mix with a little olive oil (I might need to think of something healthier here)
add lots of curry

Cook in Oven 350 for 40 min.

Can be eatten plain or can be served over rice.

So far my whole grains have consisted of whole grain crackers and whole wheat bread, I am hoping to branch out and make oatmeal and some other options. I eat vege burgers, black beans, tomato/lettuce/pickle/cucumber sandwiches with onion and garlic and maybe flaxseed oil on them. I eat a variety of fruit I usually like to get one melon a week and some sort of berries and banannas and other things like that. I have been eatting zuchinni vegetable soup I am growing a butter-nut, a bannana squash and a pumpkin and two melons in my garden and Kale and Basil and hoping to harvest everything soon. I must admit I ate some pulled pork, just a little bit last night and I didn't feel wonderful afterwards, not horribly sick or anything and I really don't think it will harm me to eat meat once in a while but I am really starting to be converted to this plant-based diet based on how I'm feeling and my energy levels. I realized I feel less depresseed and want to do more things it is a good change for me something I really needed right now in my life. I'm hoping I can see as much improvement this next week.

Healthier living Experiment day 10 and 11

So you get perspective, my teenager begs me to take her to Days for butterfingers practically every day. My kids have almost finished off the bag of costco chicken dinosaurs that I bought on Saturday. My husband still enjoys a bedtime ice cream bowl most nights. My family most of them won't be satisfied with a meal unless there is meat in it. My teenager decided she is vegetarian but still mostly wants to eat junk food so navigating has been hard. However, I've been surprised and please I've been able to resist and have done pretty good even though I am surrounded by non-vegan temptations, I think it really helps that I am starting to feel better emotionally as well.

I have not slept well between insomnia and some gastrointestinal issues and bladder issues I have been getting up around 3 am the last few nights different reasons every night. I try to go back to sleep but is challenging and will play ticket to ride online but eventually get up and take my daughter to her drivers ed class. The good news is that I feel happier, I want to do things, I have more energy despite the lack of sleep, I am still hoping to get a little nap in today but I am not as sluggish as I would have been not getting sleep and I do think that has to do with the diet. So if I can get sleep and keep the diet that will be extra wonderful. I also feel lighter and my mind seems more keen and overall more positive.

Yesterday I ate my nuts, some whole wheat crackers, vege burger, black beens and made a zuchinni vegetable soup for dinner. I sliced apples and I am getting used to making food separate for the rest of the family and food for me and offering it to the family, like I made a kale salad from Costco mix and I wasn't the only one who ate it. Today I ate a bowl of black beans and wanted something sweet so cut up strawberries and added grapes and ate that, it hit the spot. I'm trying to find peace and perspective. I went to a religion class our Stake puts on this morning and it was uplifting and what I needed today. I am trying to paint, keep my house up do maintience every day and a load of laundry a day so I don't get overwhelmed and I listen to music while I do that. I visit with my teenager and her friends, help my younger children and try to get out of myself.

I do feel like I'd like to start taking on some simple projects and maybe eventually a class maybe on-line at first. My family's schedule is pretty demanding and I feel like I need to be here and avalible but I think I will look at some on-line or home options to improve myself and do things I love. I'd like to start writing music again and work on my writing more. Last night my husband and I cuddled and watched a movie but then it was pretty late when I got to bed and then up at 3 am made it extra tough. I need that time to connect with my husband so at the same time I don't totally regret it. It seems life is too crazy but I am trying to find peace and take things one step at a time and try not to worry about what I don't have control over.

Healthy living experiment day 9

Last night I cut up a bunch of carrots and celery, it helps to have out on the counter to snack on. So in the book, How Not to Die that I've been reading the author talks about 12 daily dozen. Just something I'm going to keep in the back of my mind while I go about my day.

1. Cruciferious Vegetables 1 serving
2. Greens 2 servings
3. Other Vegetables 2 servings
4. Beans 3 servings
5. Berries 1 serving
6. Fruit 3 servings
7. Flaxseed
8. Nuts 1/4 c.
9. Spices (like tumeric)
10. Whole grains 3 servings
11. Exercise 90 min
12. Water 5 large glasses

I think it might take me a long time especially on exercise but if I can just subconsciously keep this 12 daily dozen in the back of my mind it could be helpful.

This morning for breakfast I've mostly had carrots and celery left over from what I cut up last night. Then when my good friend was over visiting I cooked up some more of my black beans to have ready to eat. Hoping to stop by Sprouts and see if they have any good sales especially on berries. Then pick up supplies for painting downstairs. One thing I realize makes me happy is feeling like I am really helping and making a difference for someone.

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 Day 6 and 7

I am still having some abdominal discomfort as my body adjusts hopefully. I made a delicious zucchini bread yesterday with crasins and pecans in it, it did have some sugar but does make a nice healthier tasty treat if I just need a couple bites and something the family would eat. I also made a wonderful vegetable soup that was so simple.

Yummy Simple Vege soup with Zucchini

I diced zuchinni,
lots of onion, sliced carrots,
2 cans of diced tomatoes,
minced garlic and dried basil and oregano,
Water and put in crock pot (Even Haven loved it)

I also had a salad mix with some Asian dressing on Thursday that I had for lunch, so even though it is better to make my salads from scratch sometimes a pre-made salad mix can help give variety and convenience. I still haven't tried my zucchini soup, it doesn't look very appetizing but hopefully will taste better, if not I'll make the yummy soup again. I'll probably make some vege taco soup so I have beans ready to go for the next few days. I am hoping to make some homemade bread as well and raid my garden for basil to use and to dry, also I need to harvest my Kale still and check and see if more of my tomatoes have ripened. If they have then homemade bread with fresh veges would make a great sandwich.

I'm also trying to keep my budget down so trying to make from scratch more and use my garden. I told my teenager I'd buy her an electric guitar if she'd listen to and take notes during conference, but I need to find the funds for that now. Also the first installment of her China trip is coming up, even though she is paying for half of it we are trying to come up with the money for the other half. Then there are three other little rascals I am trying to balance and reward for good behavior I'll need to be extra creative. Haven't had breakfast yet but probably going to make whole-wheat pancakes in blendtec for family and blend up a yummy green smoothie for myself.

I have had a hard time with balance. I am even having a hard time keeping the basics of the house cleaning and need to recruit my family to step up and I am driving my kids all over the place, partially so I can connect with them but partially so I can also monitor and make sure they are safe and it is really time consuming and all the interruptions make it difficult. I have a hard time caring for all my children at once and making sure all of their needs are met. It is also hard not to be affected when those around you are going through emotional or mental difficulties and not want to take on their burdens and help them, it is a good thing but also draining and trying to deal with that is difficult too.

I am hoping to get some inspiration for what is best for our family and how to handle things during conference today. Praying for inspiration. I also have so many people I want to serve and friends I want to be there for as well as my family. I helped to move some family yesterday and my back has been hurting since last night and I need to make time to do yoga I think, my muscles tend to get tight easily and my most common head ache is a tension head ache if I could make time for yoga or tai chi I think I will find more physical and mental comfort.

Simplifying also a lot on my mind, any time I help someone move it is amazing to see the sheer amounts of stuff and junk, I want to get rid of all that in my house, in my life in my schedule in my obligations and try to prioritize and have better time management. I want to help my children be more independent, contributing and aware. I know there are things I can do to focus better. I find if I put music on while I work and do things I seem to be more productive and focused. I could cut out any games on my phone and watching shows so that I only have a set time I take for down time like a half hour in the afternoon and maybe some cuddle time with my husband at night etc. I really need to find a way to work with more then one child at once. I am very much an one on one person and also with my children but if I could manage better so I could be working with more then one child at a time that would help.

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 4

Last night went better. Still having some gastrointestinal side effects (gassy, softer stool, some stomach discomfort) but doing better than before. For lunch yesterday more blacks beans and added 5 scoop Frito chips to add variety.

I realized how I have just got into bad habits, my son had left ice cream on the counter and it was that perfect just soft state on top and I just started eatting it with a spoon not wanting to waste the ice cream before putting it back in freezer. I probably had 5 large bites before I realized what I was doing and shoved it onto the freezer.

There have been some challenges with the family being on a different page then I. So last night I gave the rest of the family some frozen pizza and cut up carrots and celery for dinner. I had a can of split pea soup along with cut vegetables for myself. I know the Progresso soup has too much sodium and isn't the healthiest but works as my convinence meal when I need one. Progresso also makes a good vegetable soup and lentil soup. Had a couple strawberries for sweet snack at night.

I found a good zucchini soup recipe online that was dairy free it also uses a lot of basil which I have in my garden. I'm planning on making that today. So far I've had honey dew melon for breakfast. I am also trying to have cut carrots and celery just on the counter for myself and family to snack on. I find that they work really well to fulfill that crunch when you need something crunchy to snack on.

I've had sick kids and driving kids around a lot so I have found it hard to be as active I'm hoping to get yoga or Tia chi in today at least. For personal growth I'm relearning some math concepts so I can help my daughter. I fit in a song or two on piano when I'm cooking or between things. I hope to start on the do it today. I might let the kids help me too.

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.

A few weeks later

So here we are a few weeks later. Guess what? My husband has lost 15 lbs, now under 300 lbs, and I'm so proud of him, for me I've lost 2 lbs. so sad, it just doesn't seem fair, but hey, 2 lbs is 2 lbs. I must admit I haven't been completely strict, which I think is healthy. So we do end up having meat and dairy probably around 2 days a week, but a lot less then we used to have, and just being overall more health conscious. I really do need to exercise along with everything, it just seems so hard with baby. Anyways, we're doing good, love my family, we've been home a lot with baby and sick kids and sick baby, but he is doing better just is attached at the hip with me it seems.

Day 10, 11, 12 Healtier living/ bird invasion

Quite an adventure, I thought I heard someone downstairs, thought it was my mother-in-law who is visiting and it was a bird flapping around, getting caught in the blinds and curtains. It was freaked out and so was I. I used a pillow as shield and wrapped a blanket around my head and slowly came towards it to open up the sliding door it kept trying to go out on. When I neared the bird, it ran under the hutch. My sweet neighbor ran over and we poked the bird out with a broom and fortunately it made it out the sliding door this time, both of us grateful for its freedom. Wow.

The eating better thing has been going well. Last night I had my nephews and my nephew's wife over she is vegetarian and my mother-in-law came into town who also eats little dairy and little meat so I was able to serve a minestrone soup I just made and left over dishes of quinoa and black beans, lentil and rice casserole, humus chips, water and everyone seemed happy and seemed to enjoy it. My son later made smoothies for those who wanted them.

I really am feeling more energy which I can tell, because even when I'm up a lot with the baby (who just started cooing yesterday sooooo cute) I still am able to function the next day. Gordon has lost 7 lbs, I can't claim that but I think especially if I start walking, even a little bit I'll start seeing some numbers like that though maybe not as fast.

My sisters have been sharing some new recipes with me, which I am excited to start trying, I think I am going to try the corn tortilla recipes this week for sure, I got most of the ingredients from the store today. My friend/sister Becky gave me a stuffed pepper recipe which I think the family will really enjoy a lot too.

Day 8 and 9 healthier living

Life is catching up with me
Overwhelmed, out of time, exhausted
Trying to eat right, do the right

Loved my mom's black-bean burgers
Guacamole, salsa chips with them, delicious
Made my kids eat my mostly-carrot soup

Recognizing the need to exercise, strengthen
Need for sleep, not able to get now
Needing to manage better time and efforts

Looking for more recipes, easy and tasty
Needing to keep it simple, need to keep it realistic
Find sanity in all aspects, balance in life

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.

Day 2 Sort of vegan diet

Quinoa and Black Beans (from AllRecipes.com)
1 tsp vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
3/4 uncooked quinoa
1 1/2 c vegetable broth (I use the Better than Bouillon vegetable base found in the spice section of Costco--cheap, organic, low sodium, and no MSG!)
1 tsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste
1 c frozen corn kernels
2 (15 oz)cans black beans rinsed and drained
1/2c chopped fresh cilantro
Serve with: lettuce, tomatoes, sliced avocado, and lime juice

1.Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat. Stir in onion and garlic, and saute until lightly browned.
2. Mix quinoa into the saucepan and cover with vegetable broth. Season with cumin, salt, and pepper. Bring to boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.
3. Stir frozen corn into saucepan and simmer 5 more minutes until heated through. Mix in black beans and cilantro.

This is a recipe my sister shared that we had last night, the whole family liked it, if anything I'd add even more cilantro oh, and I added 1/2 a sweet onion.

I had carrot juice, water and apple slices for breakfast this morning and am full, then we are going to my nephew's baby blessing and I'll probably just eat what they have there afterwards.

It made me feel really good to make the quinoa/blackbean recipe, it was a new receipe that fit the diet I wanted, easy enough to make and it tasted good, so I'm excited to try some other ones. This wasn't too hard, we did have to go to two stores to find the quinoa though.

Second day, feeling positive and not letting myself be discouraged by slip-ups (like having some peanut m&m's) I sort of justified it by telling myself the nuts were healthy and it wasn't like eating straight animal product, but I do need to be careful of the sugars too. I like my other sisters idea I should add some moderate exercise, I'll try I guess it is hard when I feel pretty tired still with baby.

Day 1 vegan type diet

So my sister's had me watch Forks over Knifes on Netflix. So it motivated me to try an experiment on my own. My health could definitely improve, I did not like the lab results I got last so... I am going to try a mostly vegan diet for two months and have my doctor retest and see how my numbers look and see if the diet really does make a difference for me. I will allow cheating if we are visiting family and friends during meals and I might have milk or yogurt with healthy cereal and occasional egg, but that is all. The focus will be whole grains, vegetables and fruit.

So far today on breakfast we had strawberries, bananas with soy milk on our oatmeal. Sides of carrot juice, strawberry/apple juice/ cantaloupe, it was delicious and wonderful.

Lunch was canned green beans (I am hoping to start lowering the canned goods), mufti-grain Chips from Costco, apple slices and apple/strawberry juice (made by my son). I'm also trying to drink plenty of water. So I just made this resolution this morning, but I really feel like it is worth trying, thus the blog, I'll try to keep this up daily.

Days >??? Day 9

Actually, I skipped a few days and can't remember what I'm on, we'll call it Day 9
Life is full and busy. We've had our nephew Jonathan visiting and have enjoyed that a lot. He is so polite and J. enjoys having a little brother/cousin around and Em. has enjoyed having a playmate during the school days. It has been snowing, snowing, though the nice sun came out yesterday and cleared off our walks. Laundry, cleaning. Yesterday was the first day in several days I had two hours together to even get focused on housework. I love my books on tape. Right now I'm listening to Enna Burning by Shannon Hale and Elantris by Brandon Sanderson, and the Bible written by Prophets.

Day 8

Granola cereal
Helped a friend (I think this is a temporary thing, and even more important then going to the gym. Life is choices, but maybe while I'm doing this I can try to come up with a routine at home I can do that can use on days where other priorities take over)
Wrote my second sci-fi poem
Had writing group with my friends
Watched kids, took son to Chinese tutor
Fast dinner, chow mein noodles, buffalo chicken, green beans, hash browns
Saw my daughter in her 5th grade wax museum she was Mary Cassatt
Went to bed at a decent hour

Day 7

Dutch babies (german pancakes) and juice for breakfast

Got a blood pregnancy test (negative)

Spent a wonderful day with the family, movie, dinosaur museum, farm, eating an Asian buffet for dinner, so delicious, and still got the kids to bed on time, it was so nice to have Gordon home for this holiday.

Then I cried, got it all out when I found out about the pregnancy test at the end of the day, this was our second procedure and I was really hoping it would work, I’m still sad and unsure if we should continue, and what my role and what I should be pursuing with my children growing up, they need me and I’ll be so busy, but should I be focusing on other things, try another procedure? Do we look at adoption, do we move on to this next stage of life, and what does that involve for me? My husband has been a great comfort and the three wonderful children I have. He just holds me and tells me three children are fine, and he loves me. Just what I need to hear, he is so supportive and just wonderful.