Triple Frontal Helix

Yesterday I went to Showtime Tattoos in Tuscaloosa, AL and got a Triple Frontal Helix.

I've been going back and forth on getting this...and I finally just did. I was mostly held back by how painful I thought this was going to be...so before I could dwell TOO much on it...I set the coordinates into our new GPS and was able to not think about it until we reached our destination . By the time we got there all I had to do was walk in...and I knew with everyone watching me I wouldn't be able to turn back.

The process was fairly easy...I filled out a release form, I looked at the guys portfolio and certifications, he explained the procedure for me...and then the fun started. Unlike other piercings, the frontal helix is done on such a small area that a clamp is needed to hold the ear in place/still. Honestly, the clamp was the most painful part. He placed the clamp on my ear, told me to breath in and then breath out...and when I did breath out the needle went in. I didn't feel the first piercing. Seriously, I did not feel the needle...only the clamp.

The second hole was the most painful and that was only because the clamp had to cover a part of the first piercing...but the pain only lasted a minute or two and again, I didn't feel the needle. Thankfully, by the time he was ready for the third piercing (the top ball) he didn't need the clamp anymore because the area was a little larger to work with. The third hole was completely painless and quick.

I did feel like a champ at the end though...the guy was telling me that they don't get very many requests for a Triple Frontal Helix because most people only have the balls for one. I guess I have some cojones. Though honestly, once you've had a needle go through your eye (countless times, I might add)...getting your nose or your ear pierced doesn't really seem that bad.

I think the process took all of 20 minutes (from looking at his portfolio, to looking at my wonderful new helix) and it was waaaaaaay less painful than when I had my nose pierced. The only down side is I normally sleep on my right side...and for the next couple of weeks I won't be able to do that. Boo. But this morning my ear feels completely normal and the swelling has all but disappeared. Thank goodness.

In about 6 weeks I will be going back to Showtime to order my permanent jewelry (because as much as think I look cool now, I really don't want these huge, stainless steel balls in my ear permanently) and have it professionally placed (because knowing myself...I would somehow mess up this simple procedure and cause my ear to become infected). This is the look I would ultimately like to have:

I will keep you posted on my wonderful Triple Frontal Helix. <3

Conversations with Carnivores

Sooo...I am starting to notice something...whenever I talk to someone (mostly my mom and a dear friend of mine) about what I eat (aka my delicious vegan food), they always tell me what they are eating too. Which is totally cool, I love swapping food stories...it's just funny HOW people do it now:

Me: So yeah, my tofu actually came out delicious.

Carnivore: You know what I'm eating tonight?

Me: No, what?

Carnivore: Salmon/bbq/chicken nuggets/ice cream..And it's SoOoOoOo good!! Num num num.

Me: Oh, yeah...that does sound really good!

Carnivore: It is really good.It really is.

I love how people think that my conversion to veganism was a response to flavor. Like one morning I woke up and thought, "Ice cream, bacon...SHRIMP?! EWWW ew ew ew!! How can you EAT that?! It tastes so disgusting!!"

LOL

No.

I am a vegan for health reasons. And I like the eco friendly benefits from it as well. But it was not because I'm boycotting flavor. So yes. You don't have to sell me on how yummy cake is. I'm well aware of it. And yes, I miss it. And cheese.

But I still will try to sell you on tofu. Unfair? Maybe. =)

With Disney drawing closer...I'm starting to prepare...I feel like I'm nesting in my preparation. What does that mean? I keep coming across TONS of things I want/need/want for my trip. My favorites (so far):

Carry On Luggage Backpack Duffel Brown and Beige by Alonkka on Etsy

Yellow Hand Painted Carry On with Elephant from BrightWall Studios

The Scuba Hoodie in Paris Pink from Lululemon

The Studio Pant II from Lululemon

The Keen Newport H2 Sandals

Mmm...a girl can dream, right?

Vegan #2

I found this 57 Health Benefits of Going Vegan on a nursing website and I want to pass it on. Basically it is going to list 57 AMAZING benefits going vegan will give you!! The text below was taken from nursingdegree.net.

Vegans are frequently misunderstood as fringe eaters with an unnatural passion for animal rights. While many vegans do feel passionately about animals, its time for others to see that a vegan diet and lifestyle go way beyond animal rights. Following a healthy, balanced vegan diet ensures a host of health benefits as well as prevention of some of the major diseases striking people in North America.

Nutrition

All of the following nutritional benefits come from a vegan diet full of foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, and soy products.

1. Reduced saturated fats. Dairy products and meats contain a large amount of saturated fats. By reducing the amount of saturated fats from your diet, you’ll improve your health tremendously, especially when it comes to cardiovascular health.
2. Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates provide energy for your body. When you don’t have enough carbohydrates, your body will burn muscle tissue.
3. Fiber. A diet high in fiber (as vegan eating usually is) leads to healthier bowel movements. High fiber diets help fight against colon cancer.
4. Magnesium. Aiding in the absorption of calcium, magnesium is an often overlooked vitamin in importance to a healthy diet. Nuts, seeds, and dark leafy greens are an excellent source of magnesium.
5. Potassium. Potassium balances water and acidity in your body and stimulates the kidneys to eliminate toxins. Diets high in potassium have shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
6. Folate. This B vitamin is an important part of a healthy diet. Folate helps with cell repair, generating red and white blood cells, and metabolizing amino acids.
7. Antioxidants. For protection against cell damage, antioxidants are one of the best ways to help your body. Many researchers also believe that antioxidants help protect your body against forming some types of cancer.
8. Vitamin C. Besides boosting your immune system, Vitamin C also helps keep your gums healthy and helps your bruises heal faster. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant.
9. Vitamin E. This powerful vitamin has benefits for your heart, skin, eyes, brain, and may even help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. A diet high in grains, nuts, and dark leafy greens is full of Vitamin E.
10. Phytochemicals. Plant-based foods provide phytochemicals, which help to prevent and heal the body from cancer, boost protective enzymes, and work with antioxidants in the body.
11. Protein. That protein is good for your body is no surprise. It may be a surprise to learn that most Americans eat too much protein and in forms such as red meat that are not healthy ways of getting protein. Beans, nuts, peas, lentils, and soy products are all great ways to get the right amount of protein in a vegan diet.

Disease Prevention

Eating a healthy vegan diet has shown to prevent a number of diseases. Find out from the list below what you could potentially avoid just by switching to a healthy, balanced vegan way of eating.

12. Cardiovascular disease. Eating nuts and whole grains, while eliminating dairy products and meat, will improve your cardiovascular health. A British study indicates that a vegan diet reduces the risk for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Vegan diets go far in preventing heart attack and stroke.
13. Cholesterol. Eliminating any food that comes from an animal and you will eliminate all dietary cholesterol from your diet. Your heart will thank you for that.
14. Blood pressure. A diet rich in whole grains is beneficial to your health in many ways, including lowering high blood pressure.
15. Type 2 diabetes. Not only is a vegan diet a weapon against Type 2 diabetes, it is also "easier to follow than the standard diet recommended by the American Diabetic Association." Read more about it here.
16. Prostate cancer. A major study showed that men in the early stages of prostate cancer who switched to a vegan diet either stopped the progress of the cancer or may have even reversed the illness.
17. Colon cancer. Eating a diet consisting of whole grains, along with fresh fruits and vegetables, can greatly reduce your chances of colon cancer.
18. Breast cancer. Countries where women eat very little meat and animal products have a much lower rate of breast cancer than do the women in countries that consume more animal products.
19. Macular degeneration. Diets with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens, carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes, can help prevent the onset of age-related macular degeneration.
20. Cataracts. Much the same way macular degeneration is headed off by a vegan diet, cataracts are also thought to be prevented through the intake of the same fruits and vegetables. Produce high in antioxidants are also believed to help prevent cataracts.
21. Arthritis. Eliminating dairy consumption has long been connected with alleviating arthritis symptoms, but a new study indicates that a combination of gluten-free and vegan diet is very promising for improving the health of those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
22. Osteoporosis. Bone health depends on a balance of neither too much or too little protein, adequate calcium intake, high potassium, and low sodium. With a healthy vegan diet, all four of these points set a perfect scenario for preventing osteoporosis.

Physical Benefits

In addition to good nutrition and disease prevention, eating vegan also provides many physical benefits. Find out how a vegan diet makes your body stronger, more attractive, and more energetic.

23. Body Mass Index. Several population studies show that a diet without meat leads to lower BMIs–usually an indicator of a healthy weight and lack of fat on the body.
24. Weight loss. A healthy weight loss is a typical result of a smart vegan diet. Eating vegan eliminates most of the unhealthy foods that tend to cause weight issues. Read more about weight loss and a vegan diet here.
25. Energy. When following a healthy vegan diet, you will find your energy is much higher. This blog post in Happy Healthy Long Life describes how NFL tight-end Tony Gonzalez started eating vegan and gained energy–while playing football.
26. Healthy skin. The nuts and vitamins A and E from vegetables play a big role in healthy skin, so vegans will usually have good skin health. Many people who switch to a vegan diet will notice a remarkable reduction in blemishes as well.
27. Longer life. Several studies indicate that those following a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle live an average of three to six years longer than those who do not.
28. Body odor. Eliminating dairy and red meat from the diet significantly reduces body odor. Going vegan means smelling better.
29. Bad breath. Vegans frequently experience a reduction in bad breath. Imagine waking up in the morning and not having morning breath.
30. Hair. Many who follow vegan diets report that their hair becomes stronger, has more body, and looks healthier.
31. Nails. Healthy vegan diets are also responsible for much stronger, healthier nails. Nail health is said to be an indicator of overall health.
32. PMS. When switching to a vegan diet, many women tell how PMS symptoms become much less intense or disappear altogether. The elimination of dairy is thought to help with those suffering with PMS.
33. Migraines. Migraine suffers who go on vegan diets frequently discover relief from their migraines. Read more about the food-migraine connection in this article.
34. Allergies. Reduction in dairy, meat, and eggs is often tied to alleviation of allergy symptoms. Many vegans report much fewer runny noses and congestion problems.

Too Much in the American Diet

The typical American diet not only consists of too much food, it also relies on too much of unnecessary food products or toxins. The following list explains how a vegan diet can eliminate these problems.

35. Animal proteins. The average American eats twice as much protein as necessary for a healthy diet and much of that is from red meat. Getting protein from beans and grains is much healthier and reduces the risk for osteoporosis (see above).
36. Cow’s milk dairy. The human body is not designed to digest cow milk and cow milk dairy products, yet the idea of milk being healthy is pushed through advertising. As many as 75% of people in the world may be lactose intolerant and many people suffer from undiagnosed milk allergies or sensitivities. By eliminating cow’s milk from your diet, you are improving your overall health.
37. Eggs. Many nutritionists believe that the number of eggs in the American diet is too high. While sometimes disputed, it has been shown that eggs can raise cholesterol levels.
38. Mercury. Most of the fish and shellfish consumed has mercury in it. While some fish have less than others, it is almost impossible not to be putting mercury in your body when you eat fish.
39. Sugar. Most people have heard that Americans consume way too much sugar. Relying on other sweeteners that are not synthetic, processed, or derived from animal products is a healthier way to eat. Many vegans do not eat processed sugar due to the fact that most of the cane sugar is refined through activated charcoal, most of which comes from animal bones.

Other Benefits

In addition to the health benefits above, following a vegan lifestyle and diet also provides these benefits as well. From helping the environment to avoiding serious bacterial infections, learn other benefits to eating the vegan way below.

40. Animals. Many people begin a vegan diet out of concern for animals. Whether opposed to the conditions of animals intended for food or eating animals in general, going vegan will help your conscience rest easily.
41. Environment. Growing plants takes much fewer resources than growing animals. By eating vegan, you can help reduce the toll on the environment.
42. E. coli. E. coli comes from eating contaminated red meat and is the leading cause of bloody diarrhea. Young children, those with compromised immune systems, and elderly people can become extremely ill or die from E. coli. Eating vegan means completely avoiding the risk of E. coli infection.
43. Salmonella. Another gastrointestinal illness from animal products, salmonella food poisoning is closely related to E. coli. The most frequent way people contract salmonella food poisoning is through contact with raw eggs or raw chicken meat from chickens infected with salmonella. Again, going vegan means eliminating this risk altogether.
44. Mad cow disease. It’s safe to say that most people would want to avoid contracting a fatal, non-treatable disease. One way to ensure you don’t get Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is by not eating animals infected with mad cow disease. While the incidence of mad cow disease is not reportedly so high in North America, it does exist.
45. Global food supply. Feeding grain to animals meant as food sources reduces the amount of food that is available to underdeveloped nations. Many people will go hungry while that same food they could be eating is given to animals raised for slaughter. Eating vegan ensures that you have removed yourself from the participation of this imbalance.
46. Hormone consumption. Eating animals that have been given hormones to speed growth (a common practice in the meat industry) means those hormones go into your body. Not only can this disrupt the natural balance of your hormones, but some of the hormones given to animals have shown to cause tumor growth in humans.
47. Antibiotics. Antibiotics are frequently given to feed animals, which can lead to bacterial resistance. Many of the antibiotics used to treat human infections are also used in feed animals.

Healthy Eating

A vegan diet can be a much healthier way to eat. Find out how to combine the vegan diet with other ways of eating for an even more healthy way to go or discover ways to keep your vegan diet healthy but more convenient with the resources below.

48. Raw. A raw diet lends itself to veganism by the very nature of its design. Find out how to combine live and vegan diets with Raw Inspirations.
49. Organic. Eating organic and vegan is super easy to do. Use some of the recipes from this blog for help with meal ideas. The posts have slowed, but you can always search the archives for some great ideas on how to live and eat organic and vegan.
50. Fat-free. Vegan eating is typically pretty low in fats anyway, but the FatFree Vegan Kitchen shows you how to make some delicious vegan food that is always fat free.
51. Gluten-free. Due to allergies, Celiac’s Disease, or whatever your reason you avoid gluten, find out how to combine the best of gluten-free with vegan cooking in the Gluten-Free Vegan blog.
52. Eating out. Eating out isn’t usually associated with eating healthy, but a vegan diet ensures there will be a lot less of the bad things in the food you choose. Find eating out options around the world for vegans here.
53. Lunch. Maintaining a vegan diet means you are likely to take your lunch more often than most people. Vegan Lunch Box offers recipes, tools, and ideas for carrying great vegan lunches every day.
54. Dinner. Coming up with new dinner ideas is challenging for everyone–regardless of what type of diet you follow. Check out this amazing selection of vegan dinner recipes accompanied with mouth-watering photos of each preparation on Dinner with Dilip.
55. Dessert. While not all the recipes on My Sweet Vegan are for dessert, you will find a large selection of sweet vegan recipes with the most delicious-looking photos.
56. Wine. Pairing vegan food with wine may be challenging for those who rely on the old standard of "white with fish and red with meat." Read this article for ways to compliment your healthy vegan diet with a tasty glass of wine or this blog entry for specific pairings of wine and vegan food.
57. Fun. These ladies know how to kick it with vegan cooking. Post Punk Kitchen offers some great recipes with a ton of fun infused in them. Be sure to go through the archives for more yummy food ideas.

Vegan #1

Hello again. Is it me you're looking for?

If you are here then yes, yes it is. And I'm back! So what's been up with me? Not too much. You know...work, working out, life. What I really want to blog about is...FOOD.

I believe America has a horrible relationship with food. We are ignorant and complacent to what we put in our mouths. We are okay with feeding children happy meals (aka crap) instead of good, wholesome foods (because let's face it, Johnny is picky and won't eat THAT and we don't want Johnny to starve so we'll take him to the drive through). We are okay with obesity. We have come to believe that Big is Beautiful and girl, let's celebrate it! Now, let me make this clear: Anorexia, bulimia, eating disorders are not beautiful either. But Big is NOT Beautiful. You may be a wonderful, loving, beautiful person...but being overweight and unhealthy are not things to celebrate. Eating fruits, veggies, grains, legumes, drinking water, exercising...being healthy...THAT is beautiful, that is something to celebrate, encourage, and promote.

So, how am I trying to live better in my life? Make positive changes in my body?



There are SOOOOOO many misconceptions about veganism.

1.) Foods restrictions: So what can you eat if you don't eat meat...or dairy...? Is that really ALL people eat? Meat and dairy? What about vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, legumes? There are so many MORE foods that I eat than those I don't.

2.) Bland food: Don't you miss cheese? Don't you miss bbq or bacon or anything that tastes yummy? Honestly...yes! I LOOOOOVE me some cheese. I miss it. But you know what? The food I eat is still yummy. It's called herbs. It's called learning to love natural flavors over chemically added flavors. I don't feel like I'm missing out on taste. Neither does my husband. Veganism is a relatively large movement...there are chefs devoted to making great tasting vegan food. It's out there...you just have to be willing to experiment and cook.

3.) Proteins. Ugh. No. I'm not writing about this and where I get it (tofu, quinoa, spinach, mushrooms, legumes...just a few examples). Instead, here are some cool websites regarding protein and vegans: Protein in the Vegan Diet and Where Do Vegans Get Protein? What I will say...you don't need nearly as much protein as the media will have you believe (and gee, I wonder who is backing those statistics??). You only need .36 grams of protein per pound of body weight. That means I only need 46 grams of protein a day.

"The average man in the US eats 175% more protein than the recommended daily allowance and the average woman eats 144% more."
{Surgeon General's Report on Nutrition and Health, 1988}

"Osteoporosis is caused by a number of things, one of the most important being too much dietary protein."
{Science 1986;233, 4763}
"Even when eating 1,400 mg of calcium daily, one can lose up to 4% of his or her bone mass each year while consuming a high-protein diet."
{American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1979;32,4}

"Increasing one's protein intake by 100% may cause calcium loss to double."
{Journal of Nutrition, 1981; 111, 3}

4.) Calcium. If you don't drink milk, where do you get calcium? Easy. Calcium-fortified soy milk and juice, calcium-set tofu, soybeans and soynuts, bok choy, broccoli, collards, Chinese cabbage, kale, mustard greens, okra, grains, beans (other than soybeans), fruits, and vegetables...

5.) Dairy, what's wrong with dairy? What's wrong with lactose based foods? Interesting. Did you know that when our body digests lactose, it is actually forming acids in our bodies that eat away at our bones? Want to know how the process works? Acid and Alkaline Substance in the Diet.

"Consumption of dairy products, particularly at age 20 years, were associated with an increased risk of hip fractures... metabolism of dietary protein causes increased urinary excretion of calcium."
{American Journal of Epidemiology 1994;139}




I have been vegan for close to 2 weeks...and I LOVE it. My body feels fantastic. It really makes me think about the food that I'm eating, how it is processed in my body, how I use it for fuel. It makes me take into account my husband's health too. And you know what? It makes me think about how my loved ones can benefit from adopting a *more* vegan lifestyle.

Do I want you to become a vegan too? Heck yeah, I do! Do I expect you to become a vegan? No. Will I still love you? Absolutely. What I really want people to consider is cutting back on the amount of meat you eat. Cut back on all that dairy. Cut back on all those chemicals and sugars. Maybe try out meatless Mondays...try incorporating 1 or 2 days a week with no meat. Try some ALMOND milk on your cereal or in your coffee (I LOVE this stuff, especially the vanilla one!). Maybe indulge in dessert once a week instead of every night. Find out what all that meat and all that dairy is doing to your body. Find out how it is processed. Find out how it is processed in your body.

Some of my favorite documentaries on this are:
1.) Food Inc.
2.) Forks Over Knives
3.) Killer at Large: Why Obesity is America's Greatest Threat

Seriously. Check these out. They are not just informative but entertaining too. When I say seriously I mean seriously.

Happy Birthday to Me...I turned 23!!

Thank you everyone for all the fabulous birthday wishes. I spent my day not in my usual birthday fashion (i.e. shopping and eating) but it was still a great day.

What happened on my birthday?

1. I was supposed to work all day but ended up only working my morning shift. Which was so much fun. I was in the pre school classroom and the kids were great (they sang me happy birthday) and we made no bake pumpkin pie. It was soooo yummy. And then we  had pizza for lunch. Fantastic, right?
2. After work I took my dogs out to a field and played with them. They loved it, I loved it, and the best part was later that night I had tired dogs. The best.
3. I picked up some dinner from the commissary. I decided I didn't want to be eating horribly all month long, so we are doing our big, yummy, calories filled dinner on halloween in honor of both my birthday and trick or treating.
4. Ken picked up some peanut butter pie from The Sweet Shop here in town. SOOOOOO good. It is ridiculously rich though, and I didn't finish it. He did put 23 candles on my slice. So sweet.
5. We chilled the rest of the night...watching movies and just being homebodies.
6. The next morning I slept in and then got ready because it was Career Day here at Columbus. Basically...bunches of planes and jets come out for a static display and we get to walk around on them and explore them and talk to the pilots and crew. It was really fun.
7. We went over to one of Ken's friends house later and did dinner and a movie.
8. Sunday we just hung out and cleaned and played with dogs.

And now it is Tuesday. And back to work. And having to wait for another year for another birthday. Boo.

I realize I don't write much about my work...there really isn't much to say...but yesterday truly made me happy. I was out on the playground playing and talking with the 2 year olds when I stopped for a minute and crossed my arms and scanned the playground (keeping track of all those little nose slugs...eww...lol) when one of the little boys came up besides me, looked up at me, then crossed his arms across his chest and started to scan the playground to. Later he gathered me a bunch of little purple flowers. Love him. Moments like that really make me love my job. I can wait for little nose slugs of my own...It's nice giving them back to their parents at the end of the day.

So what's going on this afternoon? A run, exercising my dogs, commissary shopping, taking some tests at work, and working this after noon. Sigh,

Bulldozer

I love my dogs.

I love my dogs.

I love my dogs.

Does anyone want to take them? Seriously?

About 2 months ago Moose knocked out his first metal panel on our porch. Fine. Fixed it. Since then he  knocked out it's neighbor panel...and the original panel again...and the neighbor panel again...and the original panel...again. I finally, finally fixed them...again.

A week ago, after taking my dogs on a nice, long walk...I came home and Moose ran up the stairs, down the stairs and into the wall. Leaving a large dent.

Today the little bulldozer knocked out the stupid panel. AGAIN. I'm sorry. It's been one demolition too many. Seeing my dogs sprint around the backyard, unfazed by their reckless ways, made me frustrated. And I look like a crazy lady yelling at her dogs in the backyard. My hair added a nice touch to this...it was sticking up every way possible (note, do not wash hair before bed). So...I'm sure the whole neighborhood thinks I'm a mean person thanks to my depth perception challenged dog.

I love my dogs.

I love my dogs.

I love my dogs.

To top my morning off...the first thing Ken tells me is the cats caught a cockroach. Nice job cats. Except they didn't eat it. They just like to hit the dead insect around the floor. And of course my husband just leaves it to the cats aka leaving it for me to pick up.

UGH!!

Can we move out of the South now? I am so tired of it. I am so frustrated with the bugs. I hate our dust bowl backyard. And the shotty craftsmanship of our house is really getting annoying. Granted, my dogs are big and can be hard on things but they aren't THAT hard. Moose shouldn't have been able to dent the wall. Thin metal panels were not a wise material choice. Not to mention all the stains on my carpet from the past year are reappearing. Even the stains that were cleaned with a carpet cleaner...even the stains that were professionally cleaned. Really?! Does this happen to other people?!

Remaking Racheal #6

Alright, so a real substantial blog post regarding what is on everyone's mind...and by everyone...I mean my guilty conscience (Shhh, inner Racheal!)...my workout/eating regime over the past two weeks.

BASICALLY military pay is not an exact science...and we were overly underpaid a paycheck back. Overly. What this basically meant was no new food for two weeks. No fresh fruit, no frozen fruit, no fresh veggies, no frozen veggies. And while I was thankful to no longer drink my veggie shakes...my body rebelled and it rebelled badly.

The past two weeks my stomach has been werid, that place between upset and just gas, my face and back have been breaking out like no one's business. I haven't broken out like this since I was 13/14. And just when I thought I was getting nice adult skin. Nope. And my energy levels have been all over the place. Oh, and the pay was kind of a moral blow. All of this combined to make a less than achieving Racheal.

I know, I should push through, I shouldn't let these things effect me so much...but I find my diet and my exercise are directly related. The better I eat, the more motivated I am to workout. The more I workout, the more motivated I am to eat well. Also, when I eat well my body feels amazing. I don't think it works to eat junk and workout a lot...at least not for me.

So where does this leave me? Well, I still have been running over the last two weeks (unlike my personal timeline for p90x, I better be able to run in February. I can't push that back) but I have not been doing p90x regularly. I'm sorry, beachbuddy. =(

Today was supposed to be my day 30, with new measurments and pictures...but with how badly I've eaten over the past two weeks and not doing p90x regularly...I feel I need to push through for another 2 weeks. And I've lost my day 0 pictures and measurments when my laptop died. So...I don't think those pictures are happening today. I'm sorry blog world.

But all is not lost. I'm now drinking a health shake (yay!) which I believe I finally perfected.
Ingredients:
Banana
Apple
Orange
Broccoli
Spinach
Cucumber
Carrots
Avacado
Tofu
Green Machine (Naked Juice)
Acai Machine (Naked Juice)
Scoop of Super Foods

All you can taste is the fruit. YAY!

130 days to the Disney Princess Half Marathon!! Whoohoo!! I'm pumped and I am putting together my gear wishlist!

1. Injinjin Socks. These are toe socks that help keep your feet dry and prevent blisters from forming between your toesies...
2. The Ultimate II Running Belt from iFitness.
3. The Hydration Add On.
4. Women's 3/4 Stabiltyx Tights in Black & Raspberry.
5. Women's Ventilator Web Top Long Sleeve in Black & Raspberry.
6. A yet to be determined heart rate monitor.

I feel running would be golden if only I possessed these items. Well...for that I would have to really enjoy running and I'm not there yet. However, hopefully this would make running more comfortable.

Where have I been all my last three weeks?

WOW I have been neglectful to my blog. Someone should call protective services and get this blog a new blog master. I'm so sorry, I will try to be better about posting updates on my humdrum life.

1. We have run out of food. SOS (save our stomachs, I know, clever): Meaning, I have not been partaking in my daily shakes. On one hand, I am thankful. No more vile green shakes. On the other...it makes me really nervous for my first picture update on Monday...I wish my diet was still in line with my exercise. =(
2. Moose ran through one of our metal sheets on our patio. Again.
3. Moose ran into our wall...and made a dent. I think I'm seeing the beginning of a pattern. My dog needs glasses.
4. I ran 5 miles a little over a week ago! Since then I have been running between 3-5 miles every other day(ish)!! I'm thinking this half marathon idea isn't so crazy any more.
5. My hours have increased at work. Which is lovely to go from 0-15. Especially with the death of my laptop and Ken's car breaking down here and there. Life sure is fun. And expensive. Thanks for the hours working parents! Again, shouldn't we be using my hard earned dollars on more important things? Like wardrobe and shoes and books and workout gear and vacations?
6. I have FINALLY crafted the opening to my story. I still have a ton of research to do. If anyone knows a good skazka or basnya to tell me, I would love to hear one! I'm looking for Russia's most famous, most AUTHENTIC folk/fairytale. And reading Cyrillic isn't a strong point of mine...actually reading Cyrillic isn't an ability of mine at all...so the Russian websites with this information are hard for me to process. And my hubby is too busy playing pilot to translate. I think he has silly priorities.
7. Speaking of my story, I have come up with a list of why writers are the craziest people you will ever meet.
1. We have imaginary conversations in our heads all day.
2. And all night. We lose sleep over said imaginary conversations.
3. We eavesdrop on every one's conversations...not because we care who told who what or who did what or any of that...but how who told who what...we eavesdrop to pick up speech patterns and rhythms and flow and special little sayings. And no, we are not being rude, it's part of our job.
4. We will spend YEARS on a basic idea, MONTHS on the opening paragraph, WEEKS on the opening sentance, and DAYS over the opening word. For a lot of us, writing one paragraph can be a huge success on most days. You cannot evaluate a writer's work based on how much they write. I figure a writer only writes 20% of the time...40% on formulating ideas and 40% on research. Of that 20% over half of it is editing. Gross.
5. 90% of what we write, ideas and people we painstakingly craft into life, gets thrown away. And we start all over again.
6. We are constantly at war. We love to read. The best writers are the best readers. Personally I find a love/hate relationship with books. I obviously cannot live without written word. I'm addicted to it, I admit it freely. But I also get crazy jealous over other writer's and their work. I love it, I envy it. I can't live without it.
7. Imaginary characters are some of our bestfriends.
8. We are more at home in our minds than in...anywhere else. If we aren't talking or activly listening, chances are we are lost somewhere in our heads working on that damn story again. Yes, even when we are surfing the web, when we are cooking dinner, when we are working out, when we are driving, when we are eating, when we are showering, when we are playing games, when we are working, when we are dreaming...even when we are blogging.

I'm sure other people can be equally crazy, but I have my doubts. Maybe the artists.

Untimely Death

Sad news. My laptop died. Very very very sad news. I have been eyeing a Mac Book Air BUT...too soon for my laptop to die. So I am sharing a laptop with my husband...meaning less time to use a laptop...meaning less time to post about life. Goodness.

In happy news, I ran 5 miles on Monday. Of course it took me an hour to run it but still...I ran 5 miles and I ran an hour straight. It's a great starting point!

Seriously, America? Seriously?

Move over Snuggie and Pajama Jeans, there is new adult comfort wear on the block: The Forever Lazy.

We are glorifying this? Forever LAZY? Why can't we be something else? Forever Creative? Forever Inspiring? Forever Developing? But no, we Americans are Forever Lazy. I have quite a few problems with this.

1.) It's flattering on no one. Once you are 6 months there is no longer a need for you to be in a onesie.
2.) There are convenient pee and poop flaps. Because really, pulling off your pants to go to the bathroom is just too difficult and time consuming.
3.) Doesn't America have a problem with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc.? Shouldn't we as American's be moving and eating better and not wearing onesies while we raid the fridge for TV snacks? Why are we encouraging this?


I don't see how anyone can support America or Capitalism or any of our great ideals when we support this kind of product. If you order one please stop reading my blog. I now have a headache. And will be going to bed kind of shamed.

Pumped Up Kicks

I have the most wonderful parents. Why? The reasons are too many to list (though because they have a fantastic sense of humor, are deeply loving, and are my best friends, just some examples)...so I will just say this: When I sent pictures of my horrendous running shoes as a joke, they went out and bought me an amazing new pair.Yes. I know. Complete surprise and totally welcome. They finally arrived today and yes, it made my day! Hopefully it makes my workouts so much more enjoyable...guess I have to keep running now. Dagnabit!

*NOTE this was written 9/29...it is now 10/2. My computer hates me right now. I'm sorry.

I went from THESE:

To THESE:

Yes. Totally awesome new fancy running shoes. Notice the intact tread? My feet sure do. =)

The weather is FINALLY starting to cool off (though I still maintain it feels more like August than October, but hey, the South is weird that way). At least the bugs seem to be dying. Good.

We took the dogs out on a really nice walk yesterday. Afterwards we wanted to let them loose in the baseball fields across the street from us but there are signs posted prohibiting pets. This is unreasonable for 2 reasons. 1.) They are not our pets, they are furbabies. Okay, no. Really. They are dogs, I understand this. 2.) They NEVER use these baseball fields...they sit empty and lonely and without purpose. So instead of risking a reprimand from security forces, we went behind the houses where there is a play ground and a little loop set back in the field next to the tree line. We let the dogs off their leashes and walked the loop two times. I LOVE our dogs. They are so much better than yours. It's true, I'm sorry. They never stray, they run ahead but stay within a certain distance, they make sure we are okay, they are happy and silly and so much fun. German Shepherds are simply the best. They crashed when we got home.

Last night (while the dogs crashed) we went and saw 50/50. It was actually funny...and there were a couple of moments I wanted to cry (I didn't, but I wanted to). It really made me grateful for my minor problems in life. Ken and I also split a medium popcorn, though by the end of the movie over half the bag remained. Everything seemed fine, I was feeling good and not guilty at all, and the movie trip seemed like a great reward for all my hard work and healthy eating over the past 3 weeks. However, around 2:00 a.m. in the morning...I got ill. Violently ill. I spent the night camped out by my toilet.

Here's the odd thing about eating healthy: Your body becomes addicted to healthy foods, just like it becomes addicted to unhealthy ones. For the past three weeks I have been cramming my body full of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and dairy and my body adjusted to being loved. Last night the popcorn was loaded with butter and salt and my body felt violated and poisoned. I'm sorry body, I should have known better.

It amazes me...I used to be fine eating junk all the time. I guess your body becomes accustomed to being poisoned by excess salt and sugar and chemicals (and yes, I do call it poisoning). At least...I think I used to be fine...but last night was a wake up call. For the past three weeks I have slept soundly through the night. There is nothing odd about this statement except prior to cleaning up my eating habits, I used to wake up 3-4 times a week with horrible heartburn and extreme nausea. Since eating clean, nothing. No midnight throw up sessions. Do you think my diet had something to do with this? I do.

As much as I love eating out...I love feeling healthy more. I love having energy and not being sick. I forsee eating in a lot from now on. Yes, I still live off of shakes but I cook a couple of times a week. This week I'm going to be experimenting with a healthy chow mein recipe and a healthy whole wheat pizza recipe. Mmm...I'm super excited. Though I realize I need a chef's kitchen now. And chef tools. My new wishlist:

1.) Jucier
2.) Food Processor
3.) Pasta Maker
4.) Meat Grinder
5.) Bread Maker
6.) Stand Mixer
7.) Ice Cream Maker

And I really want to learn how to can and preserve my own fruits and vegetables. I guess I will have to grow those fruits and vegetables first. One day, not today. Or this year. Or this Columbus. Our backyard is sand. Like beachsand. Nothing grows in our backyard.

Time to get to work. Stories don't write themselves. Though they should. As a side note, why can't math problems really be about disney songs? I could be a math rockstar.

I would invite Edgar Allen Poe to my dinner as well.

Annabel Lee

It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.

I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea;
But we loved with a love that was more than love-
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me.

And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.

The angels, not half so happy in heaven,
Went envying her and me-
Yes!- that was the reason (as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.

But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.

I love that Sarah Jarosz decided to make this into a song. Music only wishes it could be poetry.

Eating Clean

I realize I have not *actually* posted what clean eating is (it's hard to tell what it is from the title). Like I said, it is NOT a diet. It is a lifestyle. There is no calorie counting, there is no food you have to avoid (though with clean eating you are supposed to avoid any artificiallity), there isn't any gimmicks. I chose to eat most of my food in the form of shakes, though that isn't necessary. I would much rather gulp my veggies than chew them. And yes, I still miss junk food. But it has been getting easier. Here are the basic guidelines (taken from thegraciouspantry.com).

1. Eat Lots Of Plants – Eat food that is straight from nature. (Some people say “as close to the way nature made it as possible”. But I think that leaves too much wiggle room – in my humble opinion) Eat mostly foods that are off a tree, bush, plant or vine, and you’ve pretty much got it covered. The idea is to stay away from anything that humans (food corporations) have altered in any way.
2. Include Meats - Eat meats that are whole and straight from the butcher. Don’t buy pre-packaged meat products because you never know what’s in them. When possible, buy whole meats and grind them yourself. You’d be surprised what’s in ground turkey meat! You can also select a few turkey breasts and ask that the butcher grind them for you. Many butchers are more than willing to accommodate.
3. Enjoy Grains - Eat grains that are still complete and haven’t been broken down into “glue”. Stick to brown rice, whole wheat and other whole grains.(For a list of foods to stock your pantry with, check out this list.)
4. Read Labels I don’t know how many breads I’ve picked up at the store that say they are whole grain. But when I take a look at the ingredient list, white flour is the second ingredient after whole wheat flour!
5. Eat Fewer Ingredients. Try not to purchase foods that have more than 3-6 ingredients in the ingredient list. And be sure you recognize each and every ingredient. If you find a “mystery ingredient” such as “spices”, contact the company! Ask them what they consider to be spices. If it’s anything other than honest-to-goodness herbs and spices, avoid it! And remember, if you can’t pronounce it, it probably shouldn’t go into your body.
6. Eat 5-6 small meals per day. This may seem like a lot at first. But remember, you are eating smaller portions. If you really have a hard time with this, prepare your regular three meals and a snack for the day, and divide lunch and dinner in half. You’ve instantly got 6 small meals!

RemakingRacheal #5

ephemera-inc.com

Thank you, ephemera, for the wonderful and witty wake up call. It has been nearly a week since my last (substantial) post. And what has happened in that time? I have begun to see results. Though minor. I doubt anyone else would see them but I do, and the best part is I feel them. That's great, but my mind is going, "Uh-oh". Usually around this time I start to feel a lot better...and I think, "hey, I'm seeing results (though minor)...it's okay if I miss one workout, right?" Well one would turn into two, two into four...and by the end of the week I would lose all motivation.

It is SO much easier to not care. To not think about the food I'm putting into my body. To not push my body to sweat (it hurts!!). But where is that getting me? So, I promised myself 90 days of P90X. 3 months. Even though I'm feeling results (yay!) I'm going to maintain my commitment. Only 68 more workouts to go!

Today, I admit, was difficult. I craved EVERYTHING but (and I'm sorry readers because I believe it is due to natural reasons when once a month I NEED chocolate pizza sugar peanut butter chocolate chicken nuggets chocolate). I am happy to report I did not give into my cravings and stuck to my clean eating routine. For everyone who doesn't know what clean eating is, basically it's fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and lean proteins. It's avoiding anything artificial which is a food philosophy I LOVE because really, do our bodies need aspartame, preservatives, and added hormones? Sure, you aren't consuming as many calories, but our bodies weren't designed to consume these ingredients. If you're going to have a coke, have a coke. Just don't have one every day. That is my food philosophy.

Speaking of aspartame...I recently read an article that Penn State has been using the virus AAV2 to combat breast cancer. The virus is harmless to people but destroys cancer cells. I'm excited to see if they will be able to use this virus on all forms of cancer. Ken thinks we are now just waiting for a real life I Am Legend. Silly Ken.

Ken, my wonderful husband, just got home from taking his car in for an oil change...and a new serpentine belt...and other malfunctioning parts. We JUST had a bunch of work done on his car a few months back...and now we are having more. I realize that cars need maintenance but seriously?! We JUST did this. My car needed stuff next, not silly Ken’s car. And wouldn’t that money be better served on clothes and shoes? I would much rather spend it on a shopping trip. Oh, well. I guess that’s part of being an adult. Lame.

I had to groom the dogs today. Why? Because my dogs are super hairy. Don't believe me?

Brushed out Lynx (she really needed it)!

Brushed out Moose (such a sad face, Moose!).

Okay, I lied. We actually got a fifth creature. That's right. It lives in my vacuum cleaner. Look at all that hair! And it is like this every month! But I love them. Moose always takes it personally when I groom him. He sulks the rest of the day and hides behind Ken. He is such a sensitive dog.

I'm pretty sure that my cats believe they are dogs. Lola keeps going into the dog's kennels. She will walk in, explore, and come back out. But today I found her sleeping in Moose's kennel! It was so strange and silly.

We're hoping she grows into it. =)

And just because Mac is too cute.

The flash was too much for him...he had to cover his eyes from the light! Such a silly kitty.

It is THAT time of the week. That's right, Modern Family. So excited!



The Evolution Continues!

"Life is an endless struggle full of frustrations and challenges, but eventually you find a hair stylist you like."
-Author Unknown

I woke feeling and looking like this:

(Rob, we really must stop meeting like this...I'm a married woman, for goodness' sake!)

So I took myself to the bathroom and attempted to smooth and style my hair:

 

I decided a hat was the best course of action. And before you ask, my husband realizes he is a very lucky man. Very lucky indeed.

I'm thinking this hair cut needs to happen sometime soon...I can only imagine what the future holds for me:

There will be a real post later. I have to digest my shake...I'm not obsessed with shakes or anything.

RemakingRacheal #4

"I'm a slow walker, but I never walk back."

-Abraham Lincoln

Things that made me smile today:

1.) A call from my grandma.

2.) A break through with my story.

3.) A 2.5 mile run and P90X yoga (Okay, this didn't make me smile while I was doing it, but AFTERWARDS I smiled pretty wide).

4.) My blueberry cheesecake shake.

I have come to the realization, as simple as it is, the habits you don't think about are the easiest to maintain and the hardest to break (like eating dinner in front of the TV? Guilty.). FOR instance, yesterday marked a week without soda...and I didn't crave one for the whole 7 days...and by the time I did realize I haven't been drinking soda (which put it in my mind and made me "sort of" crave one again) I had gone so long that I had a pretty good record going and didn't want to start over; it is added motivation to avoid all that sugar.

It is really hard for me to get into the habit of moving. I sit/stand/stare at and work up my work out to be so much more than it is...by the time I actually get around to doing it I have built it up to running up Mt. Everest and lifting a semi. Once I start moving I appreciate it isn't as bad as I make it out to be, that I actually enjoy working out, and I'm so much happier afterwards. It's all in my head. It's one thing to say, I believe in loving myself, and another to act on it. I love myself so I need to make life changes...and the biggest ones are mental...and the ones you don't even realize you are doing.

Tonight I cooked dinner (Yay! A break from the shakes, which, by the way, I am working on...no more Vile Greenies). I made a chicken, veggie whole wheat pasta dish with a vegan "alfredo" sauce. I added a bit too much garlic and didn't have a couple of the ingredients (mainly a Thai paste).

 The Veggies (Broccoli, Peas, Spinach)

My ingredients to make the sauce (yes, that is not vegan butter but I'm not vegan so it's okay).

FINALLY whole wheat ELBOW macaroni!

I think I got too excited on the noodles...too much macaroni.

End Product. Conclusion? Ken enjoyed it...I thought it was okay. I doubt I will be making this again, no matter how healthy.

Are you looking for a low calorie, super yummy, sweet, shake? TRY this! It's a blueberry cheesecake shake.

Ingredients:

3/4 c Frozen Blueberries (though I use fresh)

3/4 c Skim Milk
1/2 c Cold Water
1/2 c Cottage Cheese (low fat)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp Cinnamon-ground
4 tsp splenda (though I will be using 2 tsp sugar, I hate artificial things)

Calorie Count: w/splenda 100, w/sugar 132 (give or take a few blueberries)

I want to start drinking these in the morning so I need to add some extra components. I don't like having just one type of fruit, so I'm going to add strawberries, swap the 1/2 cup of water with 1/2 cup of milk, and add some tofu for protein.

<3