The first annual February In The...

In the what?! Are you tired of me leading you on already? Out with it right? What is this mystery project that I have been eluding to this past week. Alright, here it is. I'm really excited! Introducing the first annual February-In-The-Raw.

February-In-The-Raw is project that I was inspired to do after enjoying three glowing and (mostly) peaceful months pre-move-to-midwest. This project is going to consist of 28 days of a raw vegan - but none the less delicious - diet. Why a raw vegan diet? I hope after the 28 days - if you'll please join me on this quest - you'll appreciate why.

What does this all mean? Why raw foods?

Raw foods are a living source of nutrients. A raw vegan diet consists of nutritionally-dense living organic uncooked and unprocessed foods to optimize health and alkalizing the body. Cooking food kills it, destroying many of it nutrients. Some forms of cooking, lightly steaming or boiling, damages the food but does not render it completely devoid. However, many raw foodist believe heating food over 118 degrees  kills the food, destroys the enzymes within it and changes the structure of the cells which create a toxic harmful substance. At the rate our elimination system works, eating cooked foods is consuming acidic toxins faster than your body can eliminate them, disrupting the acid/alkaline balance causing a range of problems from cancers and diseases to excess weight and psychological disorders. In thought, it is as if one would be eating rotten apples. The fruit is dead, void of nutrients and is harmful to the body, ultimately causing you to be ill. Same is the thought of cooked food.
 
As I stated before, February-In-The-Raw was inspired while I was in Boise. Previous posts here and also here all touch on a time when I was finally coming into my own - sans ED - and finding happiness. I tribute this discovery of self to adhering to a semi-raw vegan diet (semi-raw to me was 80% of each meal was raw while the other 20% was cooked foods). I had done quite a bit of research on finding happiness within and being healthy mind, body and soul, which kept leading me to a raw vegan diet. I started reading articles and books, listening to podcasts, and speaking to other bloggers on their experience as a raw vegan. After much research the vote was unanimous, in order to determine fiction from faux I had to try it for myself. And that is just what I did. 

I had never felt better. I felt this glow this livelihood within me that others said radiated everywhere. I felt confident, healthy, at peace. I did go through a short phase where I felt extremely tired and emotionally challenged, but after discussing this with other raw foodist, they explained this was my body's way of reacting to the elimination of toxins from my entire body. They described it as detoxing each and every cell of years of built up toxins, stress, anxiety, things I had internalized both physically and emotionally. They were all being flushed from my body. After this, I felt radiant.
February-In-The-Raw as I mentioned before is going to be 28 days of a raw (semi-raw) vegan diet. I choose February to launch this project because it is the shortest month of the year so it was a great chance for me to test it out. On this quest of raw veganism, I am going to be consuming as many fresh fruit, vegetables, sprouted grains, nuts and seeds, all while not skipping on flavor, nutrients or originality. Along the way I will be sharing with you recipes, answers to questions, exercise tips, alternatives methods to health and wellness and of course my ups and downs.

Here is what we have to look forward to this week (weather permitting):
Many different recipes for Green Smoothies, salads, raw soups and raw desserts to start with, followed by raw oats, raw wrap, and raw sandwich recipes.

So welcome to the first annual February-In-The-Raw! I hope you will all join me on the soul searching quest to health and happiness. 



**One of my final research papers for a class I did last semester was on reversing diabetes with a raw vegan diet and the information I found was amazing. Check out Choosing Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days, a truly inspiring documentary proving diabetes is curable on a raw vegan diet.  

Beautiful roses and spouted grains

Hello everyone! I hope your having a fabulous weekend. Thank you all for the posts and words of encouragement so far. They have been such a blessing and an inspiration!

In light of my upcoming event - which you'll have to wait until tomorrow for the final revealing - I decided to start the week off right with a very healthy and semi-raw (hint hint) recipe that I'm sure you all will love. Not to mention can all do effortlessly. All you need are a few ingredients and a blender (or food processor) and you are well on your way to Hummus Heaven! Behold my super easy, succulent and healthy hummus recipe.

Hummus Basics:

1 can Garbanzo beans
1 lemon - juiced
1 tbsp Braggs liquid aminos
2 tbsp seseme tahini
1 tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Place all the ingredients into the blender or food processor on high speed.

You may need to stop every few seconds to scrape down the sides and ensure everything is blending well together.

After 5 - 10 minutes here is what you'll have.

A flavorsome spread to put on anything your heart desires: sandwiches, wraps, salads, vegetables, cardboard (it's that good!). If you can dream it, you can do it. And the best part is, this is just the basic recipe that you can play with. Add some sun-dried tomatoes for a touch of sweetness or maybe some roasted broccoli for a little something different. Like I said, if you can dream it, you can do it.

What I'm really excited to put this hummus on are these, Food for Life Ezekiel 4:9 Prophet's Pocket Bread.

Based on a recipe from the bible, Ezekiel breads are created from sprouted grains which are incredibly nutritious because sprouting grains before baking them produces a living substance. What does that mean? Many things that everyone needs to know.

Germination changes the composition of the grain or seed. Think of it as a seed of an oak tree. It has all the potential to becoming a 100 year old beautiful giant, but it must be given the proper circumstances to become a tree. Same goes for any grain or seed. Germination allows the dormant seed to become alive.

 Sprouting increases many of the vitamin content such as vitamins C and B. Carotene increase somewhere around eight times the amount of nongerminated grains and more importantly sprouting neutralizes phytic acids which inhibits absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and zinc. Sprouting also neutralizes enzyme inhibitors that can have the ability to neutralize our own enzymes in the digestive tract. Lastly, sprouting produces numerous enzymes that assist in the digestive processes.

How is this different from any other grain or seed that creates our delectable breads and pastries you ask? Well unfortunately when grains are not given the opportunity to germinate or sprout, they do not contain the nutrients sprouted grains do and they retain the naturally occurring antinutrients which make digestion of grains rather difficult. Sprouting also makes the grains alkaline which are essential in creating internal pH balance and maintaining good health. And you are not eating a living substance,  but rather almost to the equivalent of eating a rotten fruit or vegetable. After all, you want your fruits and vegetables fresh and living, why not your grains.

Here is a great article on the topic of sprouting. I hope you all found this information eye opening and at least somewhat interesting.

Well tonight is going to be full of homework and reviewing articles for class and for the project. I hope everyone is getting excited tomorrow's revealing!

*Isn't this rose beautiful? I had such fun photo shooting it!

Where did the week go? It flew by so fast, I had a hard time believing it was Friday. And as a side not, only 4 months from today my wedding! It's a good thing I am slightly a control freak in a sense because 90% of the planning is done, otherwise I'm sure I'd be a little tense right now.

Like I mentioned the other day, I'm starting a new project coming in February so I've been doing quite a bit of research on the topic. Trust me, I'd like to share with you this mystery project, but you will just have to keep checking back in to see what all the hype is about. For now, I'll only give you a slight hint, it has to do with reviving health through delicious recipes and a slight amount of "detoxing". I use the term detoxing loosely not in a sense of weight-loss or the likes, but it does describe what will be happening both physically and emotionally. Are you confused yet? Good, I have to keep you coming back for me somehow.

Back to the slight control freak I had just mentioned. I can't say I used to be this way, but rather it stemmed from the ED and also from the lack of structure growing up. To say I embraced dominance with warm  open arms is a small understatement, after all being in command of every little detail of my day - more like what I consumed (or not) within that day - was ultimately what the ED wanted. And so it started, first by way of calories, to foods, to ingesting certain foods at certain times under certain circumstances and eventually to complete manipulation of my diet to mere nothing. Unabbreviated and relentless control, perpetuated by and fueled for the ED.

In this healing process, I have begun to release myself of this sense of ultimate domination over what I intake and many other phases of my life. However, it has been probably the most challenging aspect of this journey. Letting go of the compulsive habits and mentality is difficult to do, but I am getting there. Not meticulously measuring and counting each facet of meals has been the most freeing feeling. I no longer write down and calculate everything I eat, nor do I eat the same exact thing everyday. It may be similar in a sense - salads, oats, smoothies - but I have found myself enjoying the opportunity to spice it up with something new and different. I have even discovered a (gasp!) love for food and preparing it.

During my time in Boise while I was without the stability and support - physically, not emotionally - of the Train I had to find my own strength which led me raw (or semi-raw) veganism. I had never felt such clarity, such vigor, such freedom in my own skin - and from the ED. However since moving back to the Midwest I slipped back into a slight rut, not trying many new recipes or even really enjoying the process of fabricating each meal, and subsequently losing that sense of self I had found.

This passion for discovering new recipes, techniques and freedom is what led me to this upcoming project I will be launching in February, in hopes that I will be not only be as strong and healthy as I was in Boise, but far more being that I have already begun to find my way without it. Not to mention I have so much love and support surrounding me pushing me to that final step to achieve freedom and peace of mind.

I hope you'll all join me on this new project. This is all I can divulge at this time, but come back tomorrow and you will all be in for a real treat, the first annual February In The.... oops!...not yet.

Ready for the world

A great day under the belt is all I needed to feel back on track. I feel rejuvenated, reenergized and ready to take on the world.

(This was taken during one of my trips to Hawaii. I thought it illustrated how I'm feeling)

The day didn't start off like any other day, well it did as far as my breakfast - big green smoothie with a heaping scoop of vegan protein powder -, but upon waking I vowed to be the creator of my emotions and the ruler of my disposition. My holistic counselor taught me that what we put out into the universe is what we receive, if I want happiness and love, I need to put out happiness and love. I decided on the word Positive as my emotion and state of being because I felt it blanketed all areas in my life both physical and emotional. Positive. Positive. Positive. I said it to myself three times and felt this radiant glow in my chest. I was putting my heart in charge.

I did start to feel a little anxious and slightly worried midmorning because soon (very soon) after my breakfast, I had hunger pangs. Usually the ED starts rattling off unrealistic and untruthful excuses to these early signs of hunger, but I refused to let it get in edgewise and soothed the pains with a half almond milk half almond cream chai tea latte. Super rich and creamy spiced tea hit the spot and held me over for my workout and during the hour it took to shower and get ready. ED 0, Burns 1. Positive. Positive. Positive.

Lunch was the last of my mexican red quinoa from the other day on top of kale, a mix of vegetables and greens. I added some chickpeas for a little extra protein. Something about eating raw kale that makes me feel so nurturing of myself, it is incredibly nutritious and one of the best greens to add to your diet. It's like taking a dose of health and longevity. Kale is great source of protein and essential nutrients such as omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, folate, calcium, vitamins A, D and K. I do recommend easing it in though, it can be a hard green to get your taste buds to get accustomed to.

After lunch, I was off to my first day of my new job. I'm currently working as a temp athletic trainer at a university here in Kansas City, but there is a great chance for me to get hired on for the full-time assistant position. I was a little hesitant to even take the temp position due to my not such positive experience at my previous position, but knowing that I am good at what I do (ED 0, Burns 100), I decided to give it another shot. And my am I glad I did. It was so refreshing and inspiring to be back in a positive work environment again - even with being sadly understaffed and very overworked. Took me back to my undergraduate days at Simpson. Today was great and I'm already looking forward to tomorrow. Positive. Positive. Positive.

I packed for a dinner out tonight al fresco, or more like al BarnsandNoble. The Train has graduate classes on Wednesday nights and isn't home until late, so I hit up the book store to do some research on a project I'm going to be starting in February. You'll have to stay tuned to see what it is.

After a few hours of diligent scouring of many different vegan raw cookbooks (oops! almost gave it away!) I packed it up to call it a night. I vowed to myself to make tomorrow just as great as today and to keep my heart in charge.

I am the creator of my own emotions and I am the ruler of my disposition.

To learn is to grow

Hello everyone! I hope you're Tuesday is shaping up to some thing wonderful! Thank you for the wonderful responses to the other day's post, they are magical to me.

I knew this journey was going to be a learning experience for me, but I never knew how much I would learn about myself, about others, and from others.  I am learning how to be more forgiving, more respectful and more expressive of myself. Empowering my inner voice of compassion has given me the strength to do such things. I am also learning how to identify things that I wouldn't have had I not written them down, read them and had you all acknowledge them. But there is one thing that I did not expect to learn that I am, learning to talk about this honestly and truthfully with the Train.

For those of you who do not know, an ED creates an immeasurable about of shame and embarrassment - even more so for those of us who specialize in health and nutrition as I do. This remorse makes the ED extremely challenging to talk about with anyone, especially and particularly those we love. But being so honest with all of you, it struck me that I need to be as honest with the Z man. I'm going to push myself to let go of the shame, release myself of the guilt, fully open my heart and be forthright and sincere with the man I love.

So today I wanted to share with everyone a wonderful recipe that I was inspire to make - and put my own mark on - after reading some of my fellow vegan foodie blogs. Angela, a vegan food enthusiast and baker like myself, from Oh She Glows had made Red Quinoa and Black Bean Vegetable Salad that sounded like something that could hit the spot, but after pouring over the recipe something wasn't working for me. Don't get me wrong, it sounded great, but it wasn't doing that thing for me. After gather all the ingredients and perusing through the cupboards, pantry, fridge, and freezer, I found what I was looking for. Mexican stewed tomatoes with green chilies. Yes, Mexican food is where I was headed and this is what I came up with.

Mexican Vegetable and Quinoa Salad:

1 cup Red Quinoa
2 tbsp olive oil
1 14oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 red bell pepper - chopped
2 cups diced mushrooms
1 package frozen corn - thawed
1 12oz can Stewed Mexican tomatoes with chilies - I went with medium, but you can choose your own heat level
1 cup cherry tomatoes - halved
1 avocado
1 tbsp cumin powder
1 tbsp oregano
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
 
Prepare the quinoa according to package. While the quinoa is cooking, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Place mushrooms and bell pepper in the skillet and cook until softened, about 7 minutes. Next add the corn, stewed tomatoes, and black beans, allowing them to cook down slightly, about another 7 minutes. Add the spices to the skillet, mixing well to allow them to become fulling incorporated. Lastly, off the heat, add the tomatoes and the avocado allowing them to warm through.

Once the quinoa is cooked, it takes about 30 minutes, add the remaining olive oil and fluff it with a fork gently. Combine the vegetable mixture to the quinoa and incorporate with a fork to ensure a light fluffy consistency. Add a heaping cup to some mixed greens and enjoy!

This salad is perfect by itself, added to mixed greens or romaine, or atop toasted bread. It is packed full of protein and essential nutrients thanks to the quinoa, vegetables, and healthy fats creating a light and yet satisfying meal.

With that said, I'm off to go spend the evening with the Train. I feel I have some ground to make up.  

"A nobody with nothing to show"

I actually said this to myself last night - more than once. These words literally played over and over again in my head, beating and beating away myself. What a terrible thing to say. I would never say this about someone else nor would I allow someone else to say this to me. But for some reason it's ok to say it to myself, repeatedly, until I am succumbed to nothing. I am in every sense my own worst and most horrible critique. 


Not that it matters, let us rehash yesterday's events. Why was I saying such belittling words to myself?

The day started like I imagined it would after a night of buffeting. I wanted to start fresh with a giant dose of green smoothie, but in the process, I cut some corners since last night was spent dining on piles and mounds of glutenous food. So rather than a full scoop of my protein, I opted for slightly less. Alright, about half as much as I usually use, but I reasoned with it because I - rather the ED - told myself I had eaten enough last night, I didn't really need the full scoop this morning. Low and behold, I was hungry about 1 1/2 hours after breakfast and had to persuade my hunger that it wasn't simple true, I couldn't possibly be hungry. How could I be, I'd eaten so much last night? Down went 2 camelbaks of water to prove my point. Point not taken.

 Rather than beginning to fathom I could possibly be hungry, I jumped on the elliptical in attempts to further prove my point. For an hour. At one resistance level higher than my usual. Just to be on the "safe" side. Upon barely finishing my workout, feeling terrible and finding myself listening more and more to the ED more clearly, I tried to wash it all away in a hot shower. Not such a big deal, unless like me you get overwhelmed by being overly hungry and rather than trying, I don't know, to eat something, you become afraid of all things food and become so anxious you avoid the whole thing entirely. In other words, no, I did not eat lunch, after not eating a very good breakfast, after working out longer and harder than typical, and being lightheaded with hunger.

At this point, I was at what I call, the point of no return. I knew that if I allowed myself to eat alone, I'd be on enemy grounds and ultimately binge, but by not eating I was continuing the dreaded cycle. My brain was on hyperdrive, battling back and forth, quarreling with the ED, trying to find my voice of compassion. I could hear it trying to fight for me, but the ED was like a vice, holding me down, twisting tighter when I started to resist.

Loosening its grip only slightly, I was able to silence the feud long enough to eat an orange and some carrots with hummus - one small feat, but no doubt a feat.

The Train and I had a nice evening planned of wedding planning, soy chai tea lattes and basking in our love as we discussed our wedding. Alright, I planned the last two things, the Train really only had any idea of the wedding planning. I would like to say this is how our evening ended up playing out, but on the contrary. It ended with disagreements over the wedding budget, me in tears and the Z man trying to figure out where our night had gone wrong and what I wasn't telling him. All I could tell him was "this all just drives the point home that I am still a nobody with nothing, after everything and all my hard work, I'm am nothing more than a nobody with nothing."

I heard the words ring over and over in my head. I tried to fight the words with thoughts of all my accomplishments, a college degree from a prestigious private college, a license and certification to practice athletic training, three quarters of a masters degree - to be finished in May- and a wonderfully fabulous man who loves me unconditional. Try as I might, these accomplishments got a KO from the ED.  

I felt defeated. I felt I had gone 10 steps forward only to go 12 steps back with no idea where to even begin. I didn't want to talk about it, I didn't want to eat, I wanted silence and peace within me only for just a second so that I could give myself a chance to pick up and start the healing process again.

After not such a good night's rest, I took a look back, evaluate and learn from last night, rather than allow myself to start the cycle over. But what had I learned, I had allowed the ED to ruin yet another day of my life?

I tried to say to myself today what I had said last night and I could not even begin to form the words. I simply do not believe them, nor looking back did I really believe them when I said them. I had allowed in a moment of weakness the ED a chance to speak. At a time when I was most vulnerable, I listened to it over my voice of love and compassion.

Be that what it may, I did learn for yesterday's events. I learned that even though nights like those happen, I grow stronger and more empathetic towards myself each time. I learned that even though I recognized a situation for a possible binge, which was a good thing, I need to resist the temptation to restrict out of fear and anxiety, but rather be merciful and oblige in what my body needs. I'm slowly learning to have some amnesia in a sense that yesterday's food and meals need to be forgotten and listen to what I need for today. I learned that even with each step back, it gets easier to return to where I was, and am even able to progress forward more firmly. I'm learning to fight and talk back to the ED, and to love and forgive myself.

I am not a nobody with nothing to show. I am someone with the entire world before me. I am me, learning and loving myself one day at a time.

It's cold outside, make sure to drink your greens

Ok, I can't say I'm happy anymore about these snowy days. Can someone please turn summer back on.

Because of the fridged -10 degree temperature and feeling a little under the weather - pun intended - I decided I was in serious need of a soul enriching green smoothie. Give my body that extra pow it needs to fight off any ill whether it be due to stress, anxiety, or the cold. I've mentioned before in previous posts my love and appreciation of green smoothies, but I just can not tell you enough the liveliness I feel from giving my body all the nutrients from this power drink. It has changed my life.

You can play around with the green smoothie and alter it to your own tastes - maybe you don't like kale, that's fine, spinach are wonderful greens for smoothies. Today's smoothie consisted of 1 bunch of kale, 1 (large) orange, 1 (large) gala apple, 1 cup of almond milk, and 1 Nutiva protein powder packet to give it an extra boost of green power.

The power of this drink, for me, goes far beyond it's nutrient. Starting the day off with a green smoothie makes me feel alive and diminishes any feelings associated with the ED, anxiety, cravings, fears, all I feel is alive and well.

For those of you attempting to live a life will less animal products, almond milk is a great substitute to dairy. I use Pacific original organic almond milk - I think it tastes better than the unsweetened. Pacific is a pretty reputable and trustworthy brand.

After battling the elliptical trainer for an hour and sweating  more than a cold drink in July, I was so beyond stir crazy from being stuck in the house for 2 days, I decided to risk the roads and take a trip to The Bucks. Starbucks to you who aren't delighted to be familiar with my lovely father - there's a little sarcasm in there for those of you who aren't catching that.

  Lunch consisted of a green machine smoothie with another packet of Nutiva for extra umph, a soy chai tea latte, an orange that I forgot to photograph and lots and lots of work on the Macbook. You would be surprised how refreshing it can be to sit in a crowded room full of people with the aroma of coffee brewing unless you have been stuck indoors for 2 days. Oh society how dearly I missed thee.

After soaking in all the wonderfulness that is people watching and getting a second hand high off of the many pots of freshly brewed coffee, I roughed it back home to make my favorite treat, muffins. I have a very loving bond with muffins. They were the first pastry that I was able to allow myself to treat myself to without the feelings of guilt and anxiety. I'm not sure why the muffin was the miracle worker that it was, but it definitely was the key that opened the door to other wonderful pastry perfections.

Good Morning muffins: make 16 muffins

Dry Ingredients

1 1/2 c whole wheat pastry flower
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp flax seeds

1 tbsp cinnamon

1/2 tbsp nutmeg

Wet Ingredients

1 tbsp Red Mill all-natural egg replacer + 3 tbsp water
1 apple - chopped
1 banana - chopped
1 c organic apple sauce
1 tbsp vanilla
1/4 c organic grade B maple syrup
1/4 c brown sugar
1/4 c all-natural peanut butter
1/2 tbsp olive oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Begin by combining dry ingredients in a large bowl and wisk together to incorporate. In another bowl place all wet ingredients and stir together until everything is well combined. Slowly, 1/3 at a time, combine the dry ingredients with the wet. Do not over mix, just stir together enough to allow everything to come together. Once combined, using an ice cream scoop, place the muffin mix into pre-greased muffin tins. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Allow to cool. Enjoy!

These are perfect for breakfast, snack, or a treat. I enjoy my muffins best with a steamy cup of my favorite chai tea latte and either Jess Merritt, Liz Norton, Andi Ostrowski, or any one of my wonderful girl friends. The Train and I usually opt for chocolate if we're going to treat.

Tonight is date night with the Z man. It's Japanese/Mongolian night for us which means Legends of Asia, an all you can eat Japanese & Mongolian buffet - stay tuned, tomorrow could be rough, buffets and I usually do NOT get along, too much food eeks me out and usually is a trigger to binge. I've been good about talking this over with the Train - not a usual thing for me - and he is very good at "holding my hand" through the process to keep all the anxiety at a minimal otherwise I would be a wreck. Wish me luck!

How do you get through anxious situations?