A Day After Day 30 - Lessons Learned

*sigh* Well... I expected to gorge myself today. I didn't... here's what I DID do, however:

I started with cereal. It was horrible. It was one of my usual (PRE-30 Days) cereals - Honey & Almond Granola, and it was Cascadia Farms Organic. Now, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that brand. In fact, if you're going to eat cereal, that's a great brand. It's all organic ingredients, including the sweet parts, which is good. I'm not even sure if there is a preservative in it that's not organic. What was horrible for me was the sweet... it was TOO sweet for me now. I felt like I was starting my day with dessert... it just felt...well... wrong. So, tomorrow, I'll have my oatmeal with raisins, cinnamon, nuts, and a touch of honey.

For lunch, I had quinoa w/ raisins, spinach, almonds, red onion, greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, and a little garlic. VERY Mediterranean. A small bit of cottage cheese on the side was a nice addition.

I did not have dinner tonight. Frankly, I'm not hungry. I should eat, but I just don't want to. Instead, I'm having a nice, hot tea.

In between, however, I enjoyed more than one little Reese's Peanut Butter cup. In fact, I had 2 small ones today, along with a Reese's egg, and an Almond Joy egg. My "lady time" is coming, and I am finally able to cave to my chocolate craving. And I don't feel guilty. Whaddaya think 'o that?????

I don't want anymore chocolate. I treated myself, and now I feel as if it's enough, and may be for quite awhile.

Here is what I've learned...

• Eating fresh is expensive. I've spent almost twice on my grocery bill as to what I normally spend each month, and sadly, it was all for me. Very little for my family. Organic Milk, expensive and doesn't taste the same to me. I'll get used to it, but I miss my regular 2% milk. Can my conscience allow me to drink milk from farms that treat their milk cows the way so many farms do? Sadly, I'm not sure. I'll look for brands that are friendlier, with more heart.
• Fresh eggs from a farm and not in your grocer's case? Yep. I'm all for it and will continue. There is something very satisfying and loving in visiting the birds that seem to enjoy puttering around with each other, freely, fat & sassy, and with lots of energy. Almost smiling. They come to you excitedly. They don't run away. They are happy to see you. For that, I am grateful to my new friends Misty and Matt. May we always have a happy "Egg" relationship! (which reminds me... almost time to make another visit!)
• Cooking fresh takes time, patience, and skill... all of which I do not have enough of. You can't just open a box of something and dump it in the boiling water. Fresh veggies go quick in the saute pan, no doubt. No thawing, no prepping other than chopping, and everything cooks quickly. However, doing that 7 days in a row, and not being skilled & experienced enough to pull together new things is a downfall that I have right now. With more time, I'll find interesting recipes that I'll be familiar enough to make quickly.
• You must plan... fresh foods w/ no preservatives "turn" in a short time, so buying in bulk is out of the question, and you must plan in order to use them up before that happens. Maybe pickle the carrots, onions, tomatoes, and cukes... but that is something I don't know how to do yet. Dinners planned just for me is a tough thing to do. Most recipes are for several people, and trying to cut them back to feed just one is tough. Even with leftovers, you still have to move on them, and frankly, I was tired of the same thing as I tried to use them up.
• Be patient with yourself... some days, I was inspired to do great things. Others, I was just tired and searching for something to go with a piece of cheese. On those days, I was angry at myself.
• You can't be lazy when eating fresh, or you'll fall into the same rut as I did...
• The body has to adjust... one must be ready to feel up & down... just like any other change in nutritional habits, we have to experiment when it comes to making a change like this. I needed to allow myself to feel different and not dislike myself for it.
• Food is emotional! I love myself now for sticking with it and being good to myself, but some nights in bed, I loathed myself for wanting a big 'ol PB&J Sammitch!!! Or a box of crackers with a vat of store-bought hummus. I didn't eat it, but it's what I thought about until I dozed off.
• After awhile, cravings go away for the most part when you fill yourself with the good stuff. If I wanted cereal, I would eat a piece of fruit, or make myself a power shake with Ice cold cocoa soymilk and fruits & yogurt. It hit the sweet spot.
• Finally, I learned that this is not as far off my normal eating habits as what I thought it would be. It did cut out a few things that I usually gnosh on, and made eating out nearly impossible, but other than purchasing different brands so that it was organic, (Yogurt, milk, etc.) it is pretty much the same.

What I DO wish I could have done was more yoga this past week. My schedule is still tight, but my buns aren't!

I do love myself. I love who I've become, I love that I can follow a regiment on my own, and feel good about it. I love that my family is SO AWESOMELY supportive of these crazy things I do!!! I love that I have the best cheerleaders in the world in my daughter and my life partner. I love that I seem to have the respect of friends and co-workers, and they aren't looking at me like I'm a freak, but rather someone that is educated and knowledgeable on the subject. And I really love the fact that it isn't all about food, but it's about life. A WAY of life that includes a lot of love, a lot of dignity, respect for our world and our environment. Care for our local farmers, for the livestock, for life itself.

I am SO GRATEFUL, and I hope that more folks will join me in seeing what we can all accomplish together. I'll continue this route for as long as it feels right for me. Much love, Blessings, and Positive, White-light Healing energy to all!!!! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, and maybe want to join me in the next adventure!!!!

Stacy Milheiser

Vegetarian, Optimist, Mom, Life Partner, Cheerleader, and "Prana-Mama" (and none of those things necessarily in that order!)

Days 27, 28, & 29 - Chocolate, I've missed you!

For the past three days, I've had the cravings... not the sugar cravings, not the carb cravings, but the chocolate cravings. I know. Sugar/Chocolate/Carbs... what's the difference?

Tomorrow is Day 30. The final day.

Tomorrow, I'll give my summation. Tonight, I'll rest. I've been lazy all week, but I know it's because I've not taken the time to eat properly.

This weekend was a chance for me to try some Thai food... Um... YUM!!! I added more & more chili sauce and lime juice to it... although it was "heat", it was amazing flavor!!! Loved the flavor, and allowed the heat to make my lips sweat. :)

This morning, nuts, eggs, homemade wheat Irish Soda Bread, and cheese. (much too heavy to start off the day!) Lunch was grilled eggplant w/ roasted red peppers, feta, and pesto. On the side, a salad of fresh spinach, fennel, endive, carrot, apples, almonds, and topped with a tablespoon of organic balsamic vinagraitte. Dinner was apples & Havarti on said bread, and a tablespoon of natural/organic peanut butter drizzled w/ honey.

Hot tea.

Here's the thing... I cheated. It's day 29, and I had a handful of jellybeans, topped by a Hershey's coconut kiss. It's not a failure... it's Easter Sunday, and I GOTS t' have me some Easter candy, even if it IS just a little taste. :) You see, this hasn't been a time of punishment or guilt... it's been a time of experimentation, and my normal eating habits were simply challenged.

More on my final day. Tonight, I read, and I rest. And I smile on this past month. :)

Days 25 & 26 - The "Ice Cream" on the Corner

I had a boyfriend, many years ago, that was a really fun guy to be around. He could dance like no one I'd ever danced with before, or since. Although we didn't work out, there was one thing I wish I could have taken with me and given to every other boyfriend I had after him, and that was his ability to lead. He was so good that I had my girlfriends dance with him at least once before the night was up. He wasn't afraid to hold you close, find that button in your back that actually moved you where he needed you to go, and suddenly, you melted into him and you were Ginger Rogers. We danced well to all music, but he was especially talented during the blues. You wouldn't think that the blues would make you want to dance, but it did. When we held onto each other and moved on that floor, we CLUNG to each other, and MAN were we BLUE. People stopped drinking at their candlelit tables and watched us... others on the dance floor stepped aside so we could have more room to spin, dip, and stretch open, then pull faster back together. And the best dancing we did was to slow music, filled with deep emotion and sadness... it was prophetic in its way...

I hurt that guy... pretty badly, I hurt him. I was a selfish, uncaring person back then. I was too introspective. I was too analytical. I looked for reasons that it wouldn't work, and it was all because I liked ice cream. I didn't just "like" ice cream... I LOVED ice cream! I loved the creaminess, the cold, the sweetness, the rich flavors, the wide variety of ice cream, the ways you could dress it up, the pairings that could happen. I loved the creativity of a sundae. (You know, he wasn't actually hurt because of "ice cream"... that's only a metaphor for something else)

I always thought there was something "better" out there.. something that I just hadn't tasted yet. And each time a new flavor of "ice cream" came along and beckoned me, I just HAD to try it. No will power... no self control. I was young. I made odd choices very often with no purpose, other than a self-fulfillment and satisfaction that I thought I would find. In reality, there was nothing fulfilling about all that ice cream, and the kicker is, the more you eat, the less satisfied you feel. You always want more and more and more, until it makes you sick.

Cravings for ice cream and junk have, for the most part in my life, faded to a minimum. I realize that the very best that life has to offer is really very simple, clean, and pure. Pick it at its peak, treat it respect, don't dress it up with a bunch of extra stuff that will only mask what it truly is. Allow it to ripen with a lot of love and care, and I promise, it will be the richest thing you've ever tasted. And the VARIETY is unbelievable, if you just let it happen and allow it to permeate you.

I don't analyze anymore. I relax, and know that I have all the ice cream I need or want. I don't have to look inside myself to try to find answers... they just happen naturally, and I already know they come from me. I don't sit and ponder the reasons behind everything. That's just too tiresome and pointless... I'll know what I need to know, when I need to know it.

I still dance... I hope he does too.

Days 22, 23, & 24 - YIKES!! ALREADY????

Hmmmmmm... Why on earth would I skip so many blogging days? Am I that busy? Well... not too busy that I couldn't find the time, but frankly, just exhausted. Seems I can't just jot down a couple of lines. I have to let the thoughts come full-force. *sigh*

Let's see... why don't we just catch up on what has happened.

Sunday... Such a busy day! One thing that most folks don't understand is that when you choose to adopt a nutritional program that differs from the majority of the people around you, it seems to not only make YOU uncomfortable because your food choices are limited, but it makes THEM uncomfortable. Odd... Very odd... I never thought about how other people would treat you. We had a nice gathering on Sunday, at my brother & sister-in-law's church, with Palm Sunday services and my niece's christening. It was lovely. After, we were all invited for a luncheon in the fellowship hall, which of course, had nothing available for me to eat other than a veggie tray. When questioned why it was that I was doing this, ("Is this a diet you're on? Why are you doing this again? How much weight have you lost with this?" Etc.) I didn't know how to explain it in a way that they could quickly comprehend. ("No, this is not a diet... Yes, I'm doing this as an opportunity to test how easy it is to eat completely healthy & fresh...I lost about 7 to 8 lbs overall, but this isn't about losing weight... etc.")

The folks at the luncheon looked at me like I was a freak. I love my immediate family very much. They are a joy to be around... funny, light-hearted, filled with love. And fortunately, they understand me. However, there are moments that hurt. I know they don't do it intentionally. We all laugh, and I laugh with them. But I've been a vegetarian for a very long time, and I know it's not easy to understand when you've grown up with ham and bacon and steaks and pork chops and sausage and burgers and hot dogs. My family loves me very much as well, and they don't know how it hurts when they point out that what I do is weird, or that my daughter is so happy to eat somewhere else rather than I our own house. (which, by the way, is a load of bull... she eats like every other kid at our house... I don't force my habits on her when it comes to food... )

Oddly, it was one of the first times I was ever really aware of how "outside" you can feel. People feel bad because they don't have anything for you to eat... and you feel bad because they feel bad, and trying to assure them that it's no big deal is sometimes a tough thing to do.

After, I came home with one of my nieces. I was starving, so she and I went to an Indian restaurant where I knew the food was made fresh with fresh ingredients. It was a real treat to myself!

Yesterday and today were normal food days... Power shakes in the morning with soy milk, organic yogurt, fresh berries & a banana, and milled flax seed for Omega-3's. Lunches of salads & cheeses & fruits. Dinners have been the hardest. My carb cravings have been heavy, and I've satisfied them with Organic Whole-Wheat angel hair pasta, but my homemade pesto was horrible!!! And so, I resorted to a small jar of sun-dried tomato pesto. And ate far too much of all of it!!! I looked at the calendar, and yes, my hormones are starting to dance. This explains these carb cravings.

I need more greens to finish this out. Only 6 more days and we've reached out 30 day goal!! I'll head to Yoga tomorrow evening for some relaxation... Swing dance on Thursday, and yoga all weekend to finish off. I'll make Saturday and Sunday, the final two days, as detox days, with special recipes for my daily intake.

I realize I've not had any sugar as a sweetener (nor any type of sugar "replacement" other than honey) for 24 days!!! None!!! No foods with sugar, no added sugar, no corn syrup... nothing!!!

I don't miss it at all. Well... maybe just my cereals... :)

Day 21 - "Rearranged"

Today was one of those days that you don't want to pass up... The film "The Bucket List" has an incredible few moments, with lines spoken by Jack Nicholson's character, (and I paraphrase), "There are three things in life that I've learned... Never pass a bathroom, Never waste a Hard-On, and Never trust a fart."

I know, not pretty words, but most likely the truest and most honest observations ever made about the simplicities of aging. As I age, now in my 40's, I realize that there are many things that we can look forward to and realistically hold close, and there are other basic, biological facts that we must face. The same heart, the same mind, the same spirit, the same energy, and the same young, excited, curious girl is inside this body, looking out of the portals that are these eyes. But biologically, this body is a machine. And like all machines, it will eventually wear and tear, and need repair until it is beyond repair. The cells don't regenerate the same way they did when I was a child. Body parts are not longer developing, (unless we consider stuff dragging the ground as "developing") brain function begins to slow, as do our reflexes, and our systems begin to change with nature's path. Nature is an amazing woman, and we love her so, but we need to learn to commune with her so that our changes are expected and flowing rather than something we fight.

A few months back, I awoke in the middle of the night expecting to fully understand the whole "spontaneous combustion" theory... I felt a fire inside of me, making me sweat, my side of the bed soaked, my pillow wringing wet, the sheets stuck to me. Nausea welled it's way up, and I bolted upright, making my way in the dark to the master bath. Once there, I found that it wasn't nausea... that maybe I just needed to sit upright. The top of my head began spewing forth a fountain of perspiration, dripping down my forehead, my hair matted to my skull. What was happening to me???? My hands, my feet, my back! Oh, my back!!! I could almost see the steam coming off my arms!! I sat in the water closet, imagining myself bursting into flame, falling off the toilet and onto the floor. I could just see how the next morning would be... my daughter coming downstairs, looking for me, and finding me in a pile of ash, surrounded by fragments of charred nightgown, one burnt, bony hand clutching the toilet paper roll holder!

And then... it passed. I have a theory... Spontaneous Combustion is simply one of us having these nightly episodes, only it doesn't pass. It's nature's way of cleansing us from toxins that build up as we prepare to finish that phase of our life called "the Menstrual Cycle". Each month, as young, childbearing women, we release our "toxins" in various other ways. (I personally like to "release" them on my partner in the form of tears and angry rants for about two days!) As we age, we begin to learn to control those rants, but all the stuff inside of us has to come out, and it releases itself in the form of HOT HELL-FIRE STEAM!!!

Food is an amazing resource to help us deal with things that happen in our bodies. We turn to it for comfort, we mix it in different ways to help our bodies absorb it better, (tomatoes & avacado, oranges & spinach) we use it for medicinal purposes, (flax seed & salmon for the heart, bananas & orange juice for our muscles, herbs for everything from an upset stomach to stabilizing blood pressure) and we even use it for our outer appearances. (lemon juice to lighten our hair, honey & oatmeal for skincare, eggs as a shampoo/conditioner) We sleep better after eating certain foods and drinking certain teas, and we fight fat by eating more, but in the right combinations!

I've not had one of those episodes since that night. I'm not looking forward to them, but when they do happen, I've already warned my patient, loving, understanding partner that if he wakes in the night to find me roaming around in the back yard in the middle of winter, shoeless, to simply leave me be for a bit. Chances are, I just need to cool off. In the meantime, I'll do a little research on foods/herbs/combinations that will help ease these, or at least give me the strength and breath to move through them.

The three realizations from "The Bucket List"... All three things are definitely applying to my life right now! And yes... that's right... even the second one. :)

Days 19 & 20 - *Whew*!

I love cheese. I love everything about it... not the processed stuff. Not anymore, but the real stuff. The kind that comes in all different shapes & flavors. I especially love smoky cheddar, but it has to be the right time. Mild white cheddar works with lots of things... Gouda, Brie, Swiss, Muenster, Edam, Havarti, Parmesan, Cottage & Ricotta, Mozzarella, Provolone, Asiago, Feta, these are just the ones I remember right now!

I've eaten alot today. There's a reason... Psychologically, I feel I've not been eating enough. Who thinks that???? Every night this week, (except tonight... no class at the studio, and I needed a little break to show some consideration to my house and my dog) I've gone to hot yoga. THIS is one of the toughest workouts I've ever done my entire life. Maybe a 20-something year old gym freak who is also a runner might find it to be a breeze, but for myself and anyone else that has accompanied me, it kicks you flat and leaves you for dead the first couple of times. Last night, I barely made it through... ME???? I was such a dynamo this week! Feeling strong, powerful, balanced, smooth. Last night, I fell out of poses, got dizzy, fell over and didn't even realize it as it happened, saw stars, felt weak, tight, it was an odd practice for me. My thoughts kept going back to "not enough protein, not enough fuel to burn this fire, gotta get out of here." When you start thinking that way, you need to do a quick turn around and find a mantra to put you back into a positive place.

So today, I ate. I woke up to a cup of coffee, a small glass of OJ, a 2 egg omelette with kale, carrots, green onion, and garlic. Lunch was grilled eggplant on homemade wheat with carmelized onions & feta, along with a side of mixed, fresh cut sweet potato, zucchini, and sugar snap peas. Dinner tonight was whole wheat organic angel hair pasta w/ olive oil, sweet basil, and garlic. Finally, I just finished a dessert of red pears, cinnamon, honey, and melted white cheddar. Delish!!!!

I am full. I am really full. But I'm good... the occasional day of this won't make me feel bad, but isn't something I want to do every day! Yeesh!!!

And now, I will go cuddle my dog in my lap as we watch a movie. She is talking to me now, and telling me my tea is getting cold. :)

Days 17 & 18 - "Manna" from Heaven!

Last night after class, I realized I hadn't eaten since about 11am. It was 8pm, and even though it was late, I knew I needed to get something into my body. It's been working hard, and it needs fuel to keep it burning. About a block up from the studio is a place called "Manna" Mediterranean Grill. I had never been, had been referred to it by a friend, and knew this was the perfect time to try it. Even if the only thing I could get was a salad, I knew it would most likely be dark leafy greens and all the Greek fixin's with it!

I stepped in, and the place was bright. It looks like it was a former fast food restaurant, maybe some sort of chicken place or burger joint. It had the usual booths, and a counter to walk up and order. The difference was the menu, obviously, and you could see one of the owners, a young woman in her late 20's, or early 30's with a huge smile on her face and a scarf on her head, busy at work. This is a family owned-operated business, and you better believe you got the home-cookin'. Everything from stuffed grape leaves to Baba Ghannoug, to homemade hummus, Falafels, Shawarma, Gyros, the list goes on! If I were a meat eater, I'm sure the kabobs were fantastic. There is plenty of meat, featuring chicken, beef, and lamb. There is also plenty to make a vegetarian happy. I melted when I walked in, and caved by ordering the Vegetarian Falafel sandwich. I knew it was deep-fried veg falafels, and I knew it was on pita, but I couldn't help myself. What's the good news??????? Just as I was starting to feel like crying because I KNEW I had fallen off the wagon from my "30 Days of Fresh", the young woman came out to ask me how it was. I explained to her it was the most delicious thing I'd eaten in a long time, and how it affected my situation. He face lit up, and she told me she made everything fresh herself EXCEPT the pitas, BUT, they were ALSO freshly bakes, no additives or preservatives, and she drove to St. Louis and got them from a baker herself!!!!! The tomatoes were bright red & juicy, the cucumbers were firm, bright, and filled with flavor, the very light tzatziki sauce was barely there but added the perfect flavor, and the fried chickpea falafel was light with just the right amount of savory to make me think I was cheating!!!!

I wasn't. I was right on target. The only thing I did differently while there...I ate the whole thing! I left slightly uncomfortable, but satisfied, and still feeling good. I DIDN'T fall off the wagon, and I'm looking forward to trying the vegetarian combo platter next time!

To top off the last two days, I walked into yoga and was greeted by the instructor with a "WHOO!! Look at that body!!"

Yep... the old "Just Show Up" plan is working, and starting to show.

Day 16 - Seriously... is it this easy now?

Prana Mama - I read that in another blog attached to a site called "Yoga-Dork"... it's just a funny mess of silly yoga stuff that you don't get on other, more serious sites. It was a short story written by a woman, a "mom", who is sick of "yogis" putting her down, making her feel inferior because she isn't living the true "yogic" life. Apparently, there's a term called "Yoga Mom". In the 90's, they were billed as "Soccer Moms" with their SUV's, and their kids, and their busy lifestyle. And I must admit, I don't want to be classified by that term either. "Yoga Moms" are women with money, SUV's, kids, busy lifestyles, a Starbuck's Latte in one hand and a yoga mat in another, rushing to get the kids where they need to be, take care of the family at home, make sure the dog is let out, and then rushes to her class, still in her makeup, "pretending" to be yoga-minded.

Of course, "Prana-Mama" had to write an article describing this and her distaste with the term, the name that is meant to make someone feel false in their efforts. She was wonderful. She was clear, she made it known that no matter where you are or what you do, for those brief moments, she is able to escape the chaos, share a beautiful energy with others in the same situation, and simply...just...well... be.

I have lived a life of effort, and joy, and anger, and luck, and blessings, and made choices that made me go without things that make our lives easier. I have driven the junky car with no AC, windows that were broken, (or gone and covered with a garbage bag & duct tape!) doors that don't open, and radiators that overheat on busy highways filled with bumper-to-bumper cars in traffic jams. I've stuck a thumb out for some help before there were cell phones in every hand, no matter what your status in society. I've worn a backpack and made my way... I've wondered what it was like to have enough money to get the bills paid. I've taken cold showers because it took gas to heat the water, and that was something I considered a "luxury". I've hauled bags of laundry to a laundromat to find I only had a few quarters, so trying to combine the loads w/o ruining my clothes was a skill that I mastered quickly. I've stayed out late, singing in clubs, smoking clove cigs, sipping Gran Marnier (bought by someone else because THAT is the expensive stuff) and choking on the thick, night air. I've slept on the ground in the gorge, I've hiked the trails, and I've been a part of "the scene". I've survived on one meal a day, usually whatever I could make from some rice and some powdered cheese.

The only thing I haven't done is learn from a master Yogi. I didn't get to enjoy Yoga while I was living the "Yogic" life. I didn't meet anyone who introduced me to it. I'm not saying that is how all true yogis live...I'm saying that I enjoyed life, in fact LOVED life when I had next to nothing. I found ways to live, to experience, to run freely, to share, to taste, to laugh hard. I found that to go without is to experience TRUE joy and freedom, and there are moments that I miss that. I miss the first time I had a place with a washer/dryer. Can you imagine the jubilance that came with knowing I no longer had to shlep black garbage bags in the back of a beater to a laundromat? I wanted to wash ALL my clothes!! I wanted to wash my NEIGHBOR's clothes!! I found the reason for hardships is to appreciate the little things.

Appreciation for small joys... Appreciation for BIG joys! Big appreciation for ALL things that come into our lives. We MUST take a step back and look again at how hard we've worked to be where we are... whether it's carrying a Latte in one hand and a yoga mat in the other, or whether it's a simple, elegant life of quiet meditation and minimal items to be concerned with.

I'm not ashamed of my place in life. I'm not ashamed of what I drive, or the home I have, or the ability to pay for needs easier now than I ever did before. I enjoy my coffee, and I have a great yoga mat that was a gift from my Life Partner. I am blessed, fortunate, and hopefully, show my appreciation daily.

Life is easier now. It is easier to follow a "plan"... to experiment with things that I feel will make me a better person. It's not the money, it's not the job, it's not he place... it's the opportunities I have that make it easier. And we ALL have opportunities if we open our eyes to them. Stop complaining, stop worrying, stop being angry, resentful, and bitter. Just start breathing. Practice that Yoga. Look your day square in the eyes when you wake up. Put those feet on the ground, and take off, because it isn't going to wait for you.

I'm proud to be a Prana-Mama - Oh, and by the way, I drive a really cool vehicle now. *wink*

Day 15 - HALF WAY THERE!!!

I'm celebrating... I'm celebrating motivation, will-power, opportunity, breathing, blessings, and everything else that comes with this life. I'm celebrating the motivation that I can give myself, as well as give to others! I'm celebrating the will-power to do good things for myself... when I stopped smoking was the first time I realized how strong I was, and if I could do that, then I could do anything! I'm celebrating the opportunities we have to acquire fresh foods with very little effort. I'm celebrating deep, healthy, clean breaths of air. As a former asthma sufferer, I know what it's like to have a 50 lb weight on your chest when you only weigh 40 lbs! And I'm celebrating my family, my faith, my health, my abilities.

It's a day to celebrate life.

It feels like I just started this experiment. I'm halfway finished!! How can that be??? There are still things I miss... things that would make it easier. Hungry? Pour a bowl of cereal. Or grab a box of crackers and some spread...

The better choice... choose an apple and some cheese... nuts & dried fruits... VERY filling! Lots of tea, oats, grains. Spices are my friend.

I'll be working on some wraps this week. Tried it tonight with kale and it didn't work. Today, lunch was grilled eggplant on home-made wheat with fresh spinach, grilled onions, pepper, and feta cheese. The feta added a nice, pungent acidity that played off the sweetness of the onions. One small sandwich was very filling! Tonight was black beans & brown rice with kale leaves, carrots, cumin, chili powder, and salt & pepper. (I confess, I added a little bit of smoky cheddar, and THAT satisfied my umami!) Dessert was a thin, grilled slice of the bread topped w/ thin-sliced apples and my favorite Havarti! As naturally sweet as the apples & cheese are, next time, I'll add a little cinnamon... Now THAT's dessert!

Celebrations... we MUST do that daily!!! It reminds us to see the good stuff!!!

Day 14 - A Little Goes a Long Way

I awoke this morning with a plan for a day of driving... I drove non stop, mostly, from 8am to 5:30pm, with a couple of short breaks to stretch my legs and visit a restroom. It is Spring Break, and having family live about 7 hours away makes for a bit of a haul when my daughter goes for the week. However, they take pity on me and meet me halfway.

We stopped at a truckstop for breakfast on the way, and it was able to meet my needs... a small cup of oatmeal, some raisins, a cup of melon, and 1 egg over medium. I opened my meal with a teapot full of hot water and lemon wedges. The perfect beverage for a nice detox. For lunch, it was a little more difficult... the only thing in that area that even came CLOSE to fresh was a Subway, and not a good one at that. I had a salad. No spinach, as most have, but rather the only greens was a container of sad-looking shredded iceberg lettuce, which is the equivalent of crunchy water, and crunchy if you're lucky. (Maybe I got a little fiber from it... I can hope!) Thinly sliced, out of season tomato, some green pepper, black olives, THIN cukes slices, (and a tiny fella THAT one was!) some banana peppers, (for a slight kick!) a sparse sprinkling of parmesan cheese, (didn't want to risk if it was real...UGH!) and a drizzle of vinegar & oil. I believe the sandwich artist was counting pieces of whatever I asked for... VERY reluctant to add to that plastic black bowl. Let's just say that halfway through my consumation, the only thing left was the wilted lettuce.

I think that salad gave me the finger, if I'm not mistaken. I was hungry again 20 minutes later.

On my way home, I stopped at (oh good grief, dare I say it....) of all places.... a K-Mart just outside of St. Louis. I know, I know... NOT the place to go for anything healthy, so I didn't expect much. And I wasn't let down in my expectations... I stopped there for a) a bag of nuts & seeds trail mix, (if you can imagine, some of those bags actually contain NO preservatives! Only nuts & seeds!) and b) a MUCH-needed bathroom since 90 minutes earlier I had ingested so much fibrous water from my sad salad! I found the bathroom easily enough, (thank goodness for paper seat liners... what on EARTH goes through peoples' minds when they go in there? How badly do you have to go to break down 3 or the 4 doors???) but the trail mix was a different story. What an odd set-up that store was!! Jaclyn Smith would have pulled her sweater and bedding sets imMEDiately if she'd seen that place!

So, after the jaunt through the jungle that was K-Mart, I sat in my vehicle, ripped open the bag, (I was REALLY hungry, and I'm not ashamed to say it, but feeling a little dizzy as well...) and thrust my hand into the nut mix, throwing it into my mouth. It was HORRIBLE! It tasted like wet cardboard. And packing tape. Seriously... how do nuts, seeds, and raisins sealed inside a plastic, zip-loc bag, take on the flavor of the box & tape that was once it's shipping container? Is this indicative of the amount of time it sat in that box after being packaged, and before being unloaded onto the shelf? I was disgusted. And after I was disgusted, I was confused. My body needed the protein, so I ate a little. *sigh* I washed it down with a bottle of water, trying to get the taste out of my mouth.

Finally, this evening, because of this stupid food menu and intake schedule today, I gorged myself tonight. Perhaps not in the true idea of "gorging", but I certainly feel like it. I fixed a nice stir-fry with my usual brown rice, kale, spinach, carrots, onions, garlic, olive oil, cumen, ground red pepper, and chili powder. After having a medium sized bowl of that, I was still craving protein. I cut a THIN slice of bread and melted a piece of smoked cheddar on it with another small egg. Those EGGS are so wonderful!!!

My weakness right now? Cheese. I LOVE cheese!!! It fills me in ways other things can't... I think it's the fat content that satisfies me.

I'm full... and I'm done for the day. Usually, I LOVE looking at food magazines, (Vegetarian Times is wonderful!) but tonight, after all that savory food, I'm just going to bed.

Enjoying my journey, and looking forward to Silent Yoga in the morning, and yoga every night this week!

Days 12 & 13 - Nearly 50%

I'm noticing my upper half more... more muscle, more strength, more stamina, more oxygen, more focus, more smiles. I'm noticing less on my bottom half. Less... well... just less. Anyone outside of this body won't notice, but I do. I notice my pants are a little more comfortable. I notice a flatter belly. It's really all that's noticeable, but it's alot to me, because that's not what this is about. This is about doing the best I can do for myself for 30 days, and seeing the effects, the "by-product" of this time.

I notice that my Yoga practice isn't about what it was the first couple of years... the hard effort, or the heavy breathing, or the racing heart, or the dripping sweat anymore... it's about the alignment, the balance, the focus, the strength, the stillness. It's about focusing on my breathing and the way my body moves with THAT, rather than how my breathing reacts to how I move my body. Everything has a balance and a harmony to be reached... everything. And I'm beginning to understand that, after all this time. But I'm only beginning, and this is STILL only a tiny speck of what I can realize in myself.

I'll be 42 years old this summer. I love it. I love being over 40. I love having the choice to live well, then doing it. I love looking back at all the times I made excuses not to do something, then after a little time passes, realizing that if I had just "Shown Up", it would have been accomplished. Not because I didn't do them, but because it teaches me to simply do it now, and breathe in, not the accomplishment itself, but the journey to get there. Why are we so afraid of the journey? It isn't the final outcome that stops us, it's the journey. If we don't look at the outcome other than the initial visualization in order to PLAN for it, then we can just enjoy the adventure of the path that leads us there. We need to redirect our thinking from reaching a goal, to MAKING A PLAN to reach the goal, then following it. THAT'S the fun part!!! Do I really think I'm going to stop after 30 days? I may... I may not. I don't know that part yet.

In the meantime, I'm just enjoying my journey, and all the joys that come with it.

Days 10 & 11 - Gettin' Easy!

I had to skip the writing for a day...a) was too tired to put it into words and b) there really wasn't much new. The Food Diary thing is just dull, since this isn't really about the food itself. My body feels better, my sleep is great, I feel clean and flushed naturally, my hair and skin feel healthy and bright. I'm focused, and it's gotten pretty easy to only pick up the fresh, healthy, wholly nutritious foods!!

Whole foods provide the most in nutrients/vitamins/minerals. You get the whole thing, not just a portion. You eat a whole piece of fruit instead of drinking fruit juice, and you get the natural carbs/natural sugars/vitamins/minerals/fiber. Complete. Not that there's anything wrong with 100% juice, (which, by the way, we have ALWAYS limited ourselves to having in our home... NEVER juice "cocktail"...) but if you have the choice, take the whole fruit. The veggies are amazing, and frankly, I eat and eat and eventually, I've noticed that I can't eat as much. I literally am comfortable eating one serving. I don't want to finish the plate, even when it tastes incredible! (And fresh food does)

Another thing I've noticed is the way things smell... there are vegetable and fruits that I'm trying and had no idea what they smelled or tasted like!!! Endive!!! What the heck??? Where has THAT been all my life??? Just cutting into that is an experience for the senses that I've not had before! And Fennel! I can't WAIT for late spring, when all the produce really starts blossoming and becoming available here. This is SO awesome. And I'll do my very best to buy local, supporting our local farmers. SO happy!

Oh, and had my first egg from the farm... Delish!!!

I've not had any store-bought breads, wraps, crackers, nothing with any additives or preservatives!! It's easy... get through the first week, and the rest falls into place.

I miss chocolate milk. I drink organic white, but chocolate milk is High-Fructose Corn Syrup. My choice of sweetener is honey or molasses. And BOTH have a very distinct taste.

Each day, I have a physical activity that takes up my evenings as well... either Hot Yoga, (YAY!!! GREAT session at the studio tonight! LOTS of cardio and calorie burn with no impact!) or swing dance. Next week, I'll do a yoga session every night and get into the habit of a daily practice. Mind/Body/Spirit. I'm excited to see the changes that happen in all 3 areas after the 30 days are behind me. It is not just "30 Days of Fresh"... it is "30 Days of Awakening".

Day 9 - SWING!

My big fear was... well... everything about this. And yet I was so excited! Now, I just have so much going on that I don't notice that I'm only eating fresh!

I was fearful that I would run out of energy. I was fearful that I wouldn't be able to get past my cravings. I was fearful that I wouldn't be able to find the time to cook fresh for myself. All of that is past and I find that I still have energy, I don't crave my beloved cereal as much, (of course, now that I'm thinking about it.... *sigh*) and I seem to have the time. Although I'm eating much of what I would consider 'the same things'... rice, beans, veggies, etc... It's actually what I ate before. Only now, nothing from a box. Frankly, I can't believe that I've eaten nothing processed for over a week now! Nothing!

I'm so busy. I'm just so busy. I have fruit, I have veggies, I have grains, nuts, organic milk, eggs, cheese, fresh herbs, organic yogurt & cottage cheese, I have so much still!!! I'd better keep eating.

Haven't weighed myself, but I'm pretty sure I'm still where I am. The pants aren't noticeably looser anymore than they were before. That first week is the shock to the system.

Tonight was swing dance practice! I felt really good! LOTS of cardio for another hour straight. One break for about 5 minutes to change location and catch my breath. When did I stop being able to swing hard without breathing hard????

Tomorrow night is CG / DANCE again, and Wednesday night will be another high cardio hot yoga. Thursday is another swing night, and then we'll do an entire Yoga weekend.

Life is good. Will need to look at the natural fiber intake... the "personal" stuff has slowed down a bit. We'll see...

Day 8 - Fresh Eggs!

So, this morning's Yoga was lovely and butt-kickin', as usual. I always sleep like a baby after a yoga session, and today was no different. Although I had lots to do first before I came home, I was relaxed and frankly, just too tired to worry about things.

Today was egg day! Went to the organic/humane chicken farm and picked up 7 dozen eggs... and they are beautiful. All colors... white, cream, tan, brown, brown speckled, blue, and my favorite... Green! Green eggs! It's awesome. How did I grow up in the midwest and never have fresh from the farm eggs? Will try them in the a.m. for breakfast with half a ruby-red grapefruit.

Today, after yoga and our egg visit, I gave myself a treat of lunch out with my daughter. Where in this small town would we find a place that could cater to my present needs??? The Farmer's Daughter restaurant on the square!! Fortunately, they source locally, they use fresh, they bake their own breads, and top it off with a smile!!! Jesse & Justin were running the place today, and it was delicious!! Local Amish sharp, white cheddar, grilled between two slices of homemade sourdough w/ oats & flax, (Omega's, baby!!) and in there as well were 2 farm fresh eggs from a local farm, over-medium. I ate half, and saved the other half.

Snacked on nuts & raisins again, and lots of hot tea today... green tea w/ cranberry & pomegranate, and Yogi brand Royal Vitality, w/ Dong Quai. Tonight's dinner was brown, whole-grain rice with saute'd cabbage, onion, carrots, red bell pepper, cardamom, curry, and cinnamon. (can't get enough of those spices!) A side of sliced apple.

Hitting the hay... it's been a lovely, relaxing day. (did I mention I took a nap? Yeah... I took a nap! Can't remember the last time I took a nap!!)

I'm still diggin' the Fresh. 22 days to go!

Day 7 - New Flavahs! But at a Cost.

Last week, I didn't have time to really do some major grocery shopping in order to find what I would need for the week, so it hasn't been very diverse in flavors. Yes, I'm so in love with the flavors that I repeat them, but I'm looking forward to a new week with some new recipes. This week has been a real exploration in the initial "detox" from the normal things that go into my body: margarine (oils), fats, additives, preservatives, sodium, chemicals, all found in the normal things we eat. All "hidden" in things you wouldn't expect. (read a label... it'll burn you to see what's added!) Oh, but my beloved cereal is beyond suspect... even the "all natural, organic" has one or two ingredients that "help retain freshness".

I understand that additives & preservatives go into foods because they have to last from the processing plant to your supermarket. I get it, OK? Sadly, not only do we have to pay for the processing, but the shipping as well, and the packaging. And if it's name brand, we pay for the advertising. Once it's at the market, they have to have a mark-up in order to make a profit, keep their people working, pay for all their overhead, and stay in business.

That's a lot of cost above and beyond the food grower/producer. And every ingredient in that box of Shmokie-Jax is produced somewhere, then sold to the Shmokie-Jax maker, so there's MORE business that has to stay in business. Think about it!! Our reliance on processed foods is detrimental to the business and the profits.

I'm not on a soapbox. I'm not judging. I just am refusing, for the next 23 days, to fall for it anymore. (do you think anyone will lose their job because I'm not eating their product?)

Now, here's the kicker... Fresh, Organic, and non-processed foods are far more expensive in the supermarket. Why??? Seriously, why? Can someone teach me, because I DO want to learn. Why does it cost more to buy something that takes less to make? Why is a gallon of organic milk (free-roaming, humane treatment of cows, using no chemicals and no steroids to make them produce more) cost so much more? It's not like the stuff is FLYING off the shelves, and cows don't produce it quick enough. Why do we have to pay so much for items that have fewer ingredients, fewer processing steps, and practically no advertising????? Are the people that have organic chickens and happy cows and fresh, organic farming methods WAY richer than all the others? Because the money is going somewhere, but I'm not sure where...

This is why we are unhealthy. Because it's more acceptable to eat the junk than it is to try to eat the best. The junk is cheaper and easier to get. The good stuff is hard to find, and when you do, it costs so much more. I bought a gallon of organic milk, and it was nearly 2 bucks more than the other stuff.

And MY cow is smiling, because she is a happy cow.

Day 6 - Be Yourself

Evansville is a decent sized "small" city, a "large" town. It's on a river, it has some nice buildings downtown, some nice shopping on both sides, it has housing that covers both ends of the spectrum, it offers a little night life, and it's dropped right in the middle of mid-west cornfield country. When I was a kid, making a trip to Evansville was a real experience. If you went to Evansville from my town, you were doing some big time shopping, or you were going to a special restaurant. This was a real night out!

And then, you grew up, and went somewhere else, because this place was just too small for your big personality and your big goals!! You had to get out of these cornfields! You had big plans, Baby, and this little burg wasn't big enough to hold all your ideas! Besides, you were already a big fish in this pond, so you just KNEW that you would be an amazingly BIG FISH out there in the great places... the NEW YORK, the LOS ANGELES, the CHICAGO, the VEGAS, and everywhere else the people weren't a bunch of hometown hicks that drove tractors on the road, (WTH????) and every family owned a pick-up truck, (why????) and you wore one of two colors... John Deere green or Massey red. You were going somewhere that didn't make owning a hog and showing it at the local 4-H county fair your big project for the year. You were heading out to a place that you could prove your talents and knock people out with your sophistication and intelligence and people skills! You were going to make lots of money and live in a cool apartment with either everything you could want, or nothing at all but an awesomely inspiring view of a busy cafe street, and you would be bohemian and enjoy the latest live music and coffee. And frankly, you could go the rest of your life without the gossip that comes with these hokey little towns.

So you do this. You leave. And then, after a few years, you REALLY grow up. And you realize that you aren't a big fish anymore. You're just like all the other little fishes, just swimming 'round with each other, laughing, enjoying, starving, working, and searching.

And something makes you miss home. So you come back, and you give it a shot. And your priorities change... and you realize that it wasn't about all the hokey home-town stuff that you disliked. You just needed to go out and live a little, learn a little, and it helped you realize that all the towns and all the cities are the same. It just depends on how you see YOURSELF as to how much you enjoy your surroundings.

The great thing about being REALLY grown up, is that if you want to be a kid again, you can. Because you accept yourself. You can make your surroundings anything you want. It doesn't matter WHERE you are, but just that you are YOURSELF.

So go out, explore your own small town. Find the things in it that are special that you never knew existed. Visit that chicken farm and collect your own eggs, then go home and savor them, and see how nature loves us. Do it in your city... find that out-of-the-way restaurant that some guy who wants to be a big fish is playing his guitar, hoping to be discovered. Take a walk and really LOOK around, and you'll see that no matter where you are, you will be yourself.

I'm looking forward to discovering natural food options that I didn't know existed here. I'm falling in love with this midwest cornfield!!! More tomorrow on a local CSA farm after I find out more about it. Blessings!!!!

Day 5 - Need I Say More?

Monday, I took my daughter to the doc for her check-up. The normal routine... she's grown. A lot. She grew more than 4 inches since the last check-up. Her weight is healthy and in just the right range. I decided to get on the scale when she was done. I was mortified. I'm almost 5'3", (I WAS 5'2" for the longest time, but since doing yoga, I know it's the reason I've grown... I've been told it happens, but didn't believe it until now!) and that doctor's scale showed me much more than a healthy weight. So, I went out and bought a digital scale. I brought it home, stepped on it, and it said the same thing. Was I doubting the doctor's office? No... I wanted to check my new scale against the doc's to see if it was right. Sadly... it was right.

That was Monday.

Today, I stepped on my digital scale. I weigh 6 lbs less.

Now, I'm not saying I haven't been busy this week, and that my nutritional intake is the entire reason for this. Monday night was swing dance. Tuesday night was normal dance/guard practice, but I didn't do much. Last night was Hot Yoga.

Natural, whole foods. 6 lbs less.

Need I say more?

Day 4 - Um... Scary Bathroom Trips

Breakfast - On the run, but was able to eat an apple, an INCREDIBLE nut mix (much like my friends..HA!) with golden raisins, and mid-morning snack was... wait for it... mindless prune munching. Baaaaaadd thing to do. Especially at my other office with a few more women that use the restroom.

Lunch was terrific... black eyed peas with fresh vegetables, garlic, and turmeric. Very light, but warming at the sametime. The rest of my apple from lunch.

Hot herbal and fruit teas throughout the day.

So... I wasn't going to talk about the "personal" stuff, and I still won't, but as most folks know, the more you up your natural fiber/fresh veg & fruits/water intake, the more you will experience faster "outtakes"... And more of them. I guess Day 4 is when it really starts happening. When there is nothing artificial in the food, there is nothing artificial in your body, and believe me, your body knows it. You just start feeling cleaner. And all the natural fiber that the earth provides us is PLENTY to care for our systems!

There is no reason to do anything extreme or elaborate if you want to feel clean. Start with what you put into your body before you worry about what you want out of it. Nature will happen. I get so frustrated with all the diet garbage out there... the pills, the special meals, the high-cost programs. I'm not saying that they are ALL bad, but how many times do we look at things like that before we just look at ourselves and decide if we are doing everything we CAN do naturally first?

Hot Yoga class was tonight, and I was more balanced than I have been in a long time. It was hot, it was tough, and it made my heart and blood pump. Then, it was soothing and very releasing. (fortunately, nothing "released" while I was in there..HA!) Technically, you don't want to eat for about 2 hours before a class. If you do, your body is working on breaking down that food and it definitely drains the energy from you and can make you feel dizzy or ill in the hot room. So, I missed dinner. That's not good, but frankly, I really don't think I could get much down now, and at 9:30pm, don't think I WANT to before bed.

My usual snack is a bowl of cereal, while lying in bed, in front of the TV. I'm pathetic.

Not tonight... I miss you, cereal. I miss you big box of Wheat Thins and container of store-bought hummus.

26 more days to go. Sweet!!! The PLAN is good, and I showed up once again to where I needed to be today.

Day 3 - I Miss You, Cereal...

It's the rush I get when I open a fresh box of that sweet, chunky, crunchy Granola... you know, the kind that the oats are still whole and fall apart when that cold milk is poured over them. Not the kind that tastes like the box, but the kind with the raisins and the almonds and the coconut. And then, I look at the ingredients...

And they suck. Because there's a bunch of additives in there. So do I cheat and eat a bowl of the "Organic" stuff that has all-natural ingredients and only one preservative? No. I don't. I'll make my own granola. I've done it before, and it was great! It's not the same as the boxed, because mine doesn't have all the sugar, but I'm sure the more I make it, the more I'll tweak it, and it'll be just as good.

But, alas, I haven't the time yet. This weekend, Cereal, my friend, you will be mine again.

Now, how do I make a good Merlot myself in the next 27 days... hmmmm?

Day 2 - Really? A Boring Food Diary?

"Showing Up" for Day 2 was pretty relaxed. I don't want to keep a boring food diary for anyone but myself, and really, who cares! I'm not much of a foodie, I don't post pics of what I put together, and maybe I should because I LOVE seeing close-up pics of great food. I just know that I feel better about myself already, and that's what this is about... seeing how it makes me feel.

Hot oats w/ cinnamon, golden raisins, (no, I didn't dehydrate the grapes myself... should I have?), honey, and walnuts. (no, I don't have organic honey in the cupboard, but why waste good honey?) A nice, smooth cup o' Joe! (truly, nothing beats it in the morning, 'cept one thing, and then that cup o' Joe AFTER is really the best cup o' Joe ever!)

Remember that apple/Havarti grilled cheese on the homemade wheat? (yeah, made it myself... and it's HEAVY!) So good, I made two last night so I could have one for lunch today, along with some fresh baby spinach, carrots, and snap peas w/ a couple of drops of fat-free Italian. (Is that cheating? Can I overlook it since it was barely a teaspoon? Sure...) I snacked on nuts & sunflower seeds throughout the day, and for dinner tonight, whole grain brown rice mixed with olive oil, saute'd spinach, (I gotta pick up some kale and other greens this week) sun-dried tomatoes, shredded carrots, minced garlic, coriander, and red curry!! WOW!!

The beautiful part about this is if I have it on hand in the fridge, it's fresh, so it literally takes me minutes to put it together!! I made a batch of brown rice last night and have it in the fridge. Stir-fry? Chop up a bunch of stuff, throw it into the hot olive oil, and throw in the rice & spices. I timed myself at about 10 minutes. Sweet Monkeys!!!!

Right now, sipping my Chamomile and looking at how my body has dropped. What the hell??? When did the girl I was turn into the woman I became turn into the lady w/ the dangly bits???

On the contrary... I feel strong, smart, powerful, decisive, and energetic. My bits will dangle, and so will everyone else's. (that are all-natural, as I prefer) I'll continue to practice yoga, run the trails, take my girl kayaking, struggle with my camper, work with the marching band, teach swing dance, and do all the fun things I do because I am that girl that doesn't believe she is a lady w/ dangly bits. :)

Day 2 has been a good day. *note to self... get a better bra to teach fast swing dance*

Day 1

"Day 1"

Well, I showed up for Day 1 of my 30 days, and it was great! Only 29 more to go! Sundays are ALWAYS great. But, I was only able to eat twice today! I need to change that part... 3 times and a good snack... need to keep everything in the body level and balanced.

The morning started great. I awoke to the most beautiful day, with the sun moving in and out of the light cloud coverage. Of course, a cup (or 2!) of coffee, followed by a tall glass of ice water to prep for hot yoga.

There really is nothing better than Yoga in the morning, and if you're like me, I am not motivated enough (yet!) to do any type of structured bodywork at home alone. I prefer to go to a sweaty room, filled w/ sweaty people, lying around on sweaty mats, in oddly intimate shapes and poses, knees pulled up, rocking gently in the dark. I prefer to pay someone money to kick the living crap out of me! The first time I did a Hot Yoga class, I was only concerned with making it out of there alive. I was afraid the lights would come up and they would find me, lying there, shriveled up, lack of food and water. But only AFTER they realized that I was the one making body noises through the whole class. And the moment we finished, and I stepped OUT of the room into the cool air, I was hooked!!! I was addicted. It isn't for everyone, but it definitely changed my life and the way I looked at myself.

After class, I came home and fixed myself an omelette, w/ saute'd fresh spinach, red pepper, onions, fresh snap peas, olive oil, garlic, and black pepper. It was filling and satisfying, and I washed it down with cranberry/pomegranate green tea.

Another big step today - organic, humane chicken farm for fresh eggs! I'm SO lucky!! I found a farm online that happens to be on the outskirts of town that my daughter and I were able to visit today. We are now happy customers to the most fabulous people that love and respect their chickens, a duck, roosters, wild turkeys, and a fantastic black lab named Maya. Eggs only at that farm. We went into the henhouse to see where they laid, (and it was SO clean and cozy!) and the chickens all came to check us out. The owner, a warm, fantastic woman, picked up one of the chickens, held her in her arms on her back like a baby, and rubbed her fluffy feathered belly. Don't TELL me chickens are just dirty animals... they aren't. These are able to roam and eat fresh vegetation, seeds, insects, fruits, etc. And they are big, beautiful, and healthy. No chemicals/hormones to fatten them up... they are just lovely.

We'll start buying next week. :)

Tonite, I made homemade whole-cracked wheat bread, grilled a couple of slices in some olive oil, and topped it with fresh, creamy havarti and crisp apples. I'll have a cup of hot tea, and curl up in bed with a good book.

Day 1 has been a success.

The Plan: "Show Up"

The "Plan"

I read an inspiring quote by Woody Allen a couple of days ago - "Eighty percent of success is showing up"

It inspired me in so many ways. Such a simple phrase invoked a string of things that can be accomplished just by "showing up". To be a good parent, you have to "be there" for and WITH your child. To score any big success, you have to BE there. Your job? They notice when you are not just there, but REALLY there! Exercise? SHOW UP at the gym first, and the workout happens. Relationships take all involved to "be there", even if it's just casual and relaxed... The best ones I've ever had were when we were in the moment with each other. My friendships are most rewarding when I'm "there" with them. Now, that doesn't mean I have to "be there" for the friend every single time... I've been in SOME relationships that are just TOO freakin' needy. (wait... that has nothing to do with eating fresh... I digress)

All in all, showing up every time puts you further ahead than if you skipped occasionally, and I can say that I've learned tons by just "showing up".

The key to this 30 days is to "show up". Each day. But the kicker is I only need to take this a day at a time.

There are certain things I won't change yet. I believe that it's just NOT good for us to try to make a LIFE change to develop into habits over a weekend. We are human. We create habits by doing them for a very long time. Creating MANY habits at once is tough, it's daunting, it's not a long-lasting thing. It's that gym membership in January when you make the resolution to go 5 times a week when you've never been before, so you pay big money only to stop after a couple of weeks completely. I did a 3 month stint before. I only paid for 3 months because I KNEW I would blow

And so, the plan includes coffee. That is going to take me a bit to wean myself from, but for now, I'm human and would definitely appreciate myself more if I allow it to avoid the headaches

The thing about eating fresh, you must make a visit several times a week for foods. Many foods lose alot of there goodness once they're "opened" and we want them at their peak of flavor. Produce is a delicate thing. Will have to note how it holds up.
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And now, I'm off to Yoga after a hot cup of coffee, and a tall glass of water. .

PRE-experiment

In an effort to do something great for my body, my mind, and my energy/spirit, I will be attempting to eat only fresh/organic/unprocessed foods. The last time I went without my cherished cereal, it was ugly. Especially for the poor girl at the Border's Coffee counter who tried to help me with some good, strong, hot green tea.

Green Tea w/o the added flavor of some kind of fruit, tastes to me like hot grasswater.

As a Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian, I am interested in knowing how difficult this will be for me to uphold.... Please, feel free to comment and post as I share my experience with not only you, but with myself.

The plan happens tomorrow, and we will begin Day 1.