Flexitarian :)

I think it's time to update everyone....since I haven't blogged in ages. To start I have become interested in and tried many new and exciting things in the last few weeks. Basically since the beginning of March. February was a total wash, I was miserable unhealthy and at that point tired of looking outside and only seeing white! Then the rain came and so did the grass, which I think has helped my overall mood and disposition.

Anyhoo I read about a friend who started a raw diet and she also started juicing. I found this very intriguing and began doing research about this type of lifestyle. Another friend also mentioned she was going to try a cleanse for a few weeks from a book she was reading and I wondered about what she meant by this exactly. So one day walking through BJ's Wholesale I noticed a book with a white and brightly colored cover titled "Crazy Sexy Diet" by Kris Carr. This book is amazing! It is informative, scientifically backed by doctors and also truly inspiring for everyone. The best part is it's not a "diet" it is just a change in your lifestyle...exactly what I was looking for all this time.

So I don't want to share the book's every detail (because I do believe you should read it) but I will fill you in on how it has changed my life so far. I BOUGHT A JUICER!!!!!! Yes this is the biggest change in my lifestyle so far, I seem to juice everything. Ok well maybe not everything but green veggies that I thought should only be in a salad I now drink. My favorite juice recipe so far is....

Sarah's Green Breakfast
2 cucumbers
3 celery stalks
1 handful of parsley
1 small slice of Ginger root (1/4 in)

All items placed in a juicer and juiced... It makes about 16 oz

I also have found a few vegan foods and recipes that I enjoy. Pop chips are one favorite snack they are very similar to potato chips but healthy. One bag is 8 weight watcher points plus (I was told by my leader) and they are also a vegan food. I like the Salt and Vinegar flavor the best. I have tried the Original and Sour Cream and Onion they were just ehh in my book. I have also tried chocolate (avocado) pudding which is absolutely AMAZING!!!! It is a very chocolately thick texture, better then ANY pudding I have ever had and I usually don't even like chocolate. I found this recipe here at www.beautiful-vegan.com . On the right side of the page there is a recipe box and when you click on it there are a lot of great ideas. You can also freeze the pudding and have ice cream, my favorite. Speaking of ice cream I have also experimented with mashed frozen bananas which creates a smooth frozen treat. Yummy! And last but not least I made the most delicious strawberry banana smoothie yesterday. I sliced and froze 2 bananas over night, sliced up 2 cups of strawberries, added both of those to a blender with a cup of Unsweetened Blue Diamond Almond Milk and a tiny bit of agave nectar as a sweetener, it was sooooooo tasty. I want some now just thinking about it.

So looking back over the last month and a half I have thought so negatively about things because I have gained some weight back since the new year and it has really bothered me but after writing about all of these great new experiences I am happy about where I am today and the amount of info I have learned about my body and health, even if I am not losing a pound a week. But don't get me wrong in the long run I am still focusing on these ideas to have a healthier thinner me. So in closing I would like to refer to my self as a person in transition or in other words a "Flexitarian" and in the Sarah dictionary this means someone who is exploring her food options and could be leaning towards a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle but is nervous about making the official declaration.

Let me know your thoughts, recipe ideas or any other comments you would like to share. :)

All Done!

All done...with winter that is. Does anyone else feel unsure of their emotions these days? Trying to be happy and think positive but all I feel is lazy and tired. My brain is thinking get up and run, I really want to run. But then my body doesn't seem to move from the couch once dinner is cleaned up. I really could use a winter heat wave or a tropical vacation. Yesterday I realized how bad I needed the warm weather. I decided to check out Old Navy's sale wearing a short sleeve shirt and fleece because I thought it was sooo warm (35 degrees), how sad. But while shopping I came to a realization that I can't wait for Spring and the warm weather. I want to wear all of the cute, fun styles without feeling self conscious. Therefore I need to get my lazy, tired body off the couch and continue exercising. Before the new year I was able to drop 12 pounds but since then I haven't had much progress. I am ready to change my habits and change my body. Here's to positive thinking and going forward.

This morning I woke up, immediately put on sweats and sneakers then went running in my neighborhood for 20 minutes. It was exhilarating!! Also in the past month I read a great book and found an awesome website. Finally Thin by Kim Bensen and www.kimbensen.com, she is an inspiring women. I also found an english muffin with less then 3 points plus. Fiber one hearty wheat multigrain English muffins. The carbs are measured in mgs instead of grams which lowers the points by a lot! Another news update, I cancelled my WW subscription and I'm getting back on track on my own. I think my brain thinks about food differently while a WW member, almost obsessively and so I need to concentrate on my health in a different way.

I'd love to hear from you, the reader, how do you turn around the winter blues? Or what do you do to keep your body healthy?


Stay healthy and happy!
Sarah

Resolutions...

Happy New Year!

That being said many people make resolutions or promises to themselves without thinking it through just because it's a new year. But when you make these resolutions it is important to plan your attack for each day so your wish (oops I mean resolution) can be accomplished. Recently I learned about how to make a resolution or goal that could change your life. Your goal should be measurable, realistic and it should fit into your life. After much thinking I have two personal goals that I will concentrate on in 2011. First, I want to be a little less practical and a little more girly :) I was always the one to pick out comfy clothes and comfy shoes instead of something cute or pretty and I'm tired of being "frumpy". In the future I will work on stepping out of my comfort zone and picking items that will make me happy. The second idea is to try running another 5k or maybe multiple races over the next year. To reach my goal I will continue to lose weight to make running easier. I will also use the treadmill on the colder days but when I can I will get outside and run in the neighborhood. To measure my goal I will run at least twice a week and I will do Zumba the other days to stay active and as a race gets closer I will increase my running.

Ok, enough about me and my goals. What are your goals or what is your New Years resolution? I would love to hear about your goals and your plan of attack that will help you accomplish it.

Happy New Year!!! I wish everyone happiness, peace and health in 2011!!! :)