I feel great!

After being away for a week for a family funeral, I've gotten back into a good eating routine, including many of the super foods I've read about, and it is paying off! I'm in a great mood, and yesterday I wrote 15 pages of a story that's been brewing in my mind! And I only stopped because it was after midnight, but the ideas are still flowing.

Every morning, I get up and make my "super food smoothy" for breakfast which includes juiced kale, apple, ginger, cucumber and carrot. Then in the blender, I blend that with things like banana and blueberries and then I add in all my super-super foods.

 I've spent a TON of money on these at Whole Foods the last couple of shopping trips, but I'm hoping they'll last awhile. They include:

• Maca powder - Benefit, to name a few: An adaptogen, rebuilds weak immune systems, re-mineralize poorly nourished bodies, and increase energy and endurance.

• Aloe Vera - An antioxidant and cancer fighter, Oxygenates blood and energizes cells, hydrates skin and repairs skin tissue, heals internal digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, acid reflux - cleanses the intestinal tract, makes "sticky" blood "unsticky," and boosts the oxidation of your blood, plus circulation, Boosts cardiovascular performance and physical endurance, Stabilizes blood pressure and reduces triglycerides

• Cacao powder - Antioxidants, Neurotransmitters, Essential Minerals, Essential Fats

• Super green powder which includes Spirulina and Blue Green Algae - Nutrient-rich and highly digestible. It contains 60% high quality protein, carbohydrates, nucleic acids and enzymes. It is an excellent source of beta-carotene and many vitamins, minerals, and trace elements.

• and Royal Jelly - Contains an extraordinarily high concentration of vitamins B5, B6, and amino acids and is believed to be a potent antioxidants and a special rejuvenating substance that promotes tissue growth, muscle and cell regeneration

Then I make a large salad that serves as basically two meals with quinoa, pine nuts, onions, carrots, etc etc.

I toss together some cashews, cacao nibs, and goji berries into a sort of trail mix.

And then I usually bring some sort snack; apples, guac and pita chips, bread and organic peanut butter, homemade cucumber and avocado rolls.

 This is the book I've been reading to learn about all these amazing foods that you don't often hear about.

And here's a little instructional video I made to show how I make my super smoothies.

I've lost 20lbs on this journey thus far and the 2nd month isn't even over yet. The exercise part has been a little more tough to get a handle on. I'm loving the 2 hour hikes I get in on the weekends but during the week, I'm finding it a little harder to discipline myself. For example, last night I planned to go to the gym and clean my apartment, but I came home from work with this story idea in my head and part of it written at work, and I couldn't not sit there and let my fingers move until it was all out on the page.  And they just kept moving so I kept sitting. And then suddenly it was after midnight.

Oh! And I don't think I've mentioned it in any other blogs, but since I started the juice reboot, I've gone vegan (except for honey products)! I NEVER thought I'd say that, not in a million years. But as I keep telling everyone, I don't miss things so much. In fact, I'm discovering lots of new things I really like because I'm having to get creative. Except when I was with family who were noshing on comfort foods before and after the funeral, I'm not tempted to eat any of that stuff. Those brownies and sausage links and cheesy eggs did look delicious, but when I'm not limited to eat whatever is available in someone else's house, I have no trouble fulfilling my every food craving.
And I found when I crave, it's easy to see that it's obviously something I haven't had enough of that day. For instance, I'll crave avocado if I need more fat, or black beans or chickpeas if I need more protein. If I see someone snacking on a delicious sweet, I pop some cacao nibs in my mouth and am completely satisfied.

Hiking Tips for the Apocalypse

One thing I've discovered this month is that I am addicted to hiking. I love it. And not just when escaping flooding, enemy invasion, or zombies who can't climb hills well. I would go everyday if it weren't for the fear of Mountain Lions making me into a cheeseburger.

Tip #1 - Mountain Lions want to eat you.

"Sssh. I just want to cuddle."

There have been several sightings in the hills and neighborhoods around the trails I hike. Mornings and evenings are when they come out and unfortunately those are the only times on weekdays I'm able to go, so I'm limited to Saturday and Sunday.

So it's time to find out if punching a Mountain Lion is the only way to protect myself from these guys.

Tip #2 - Don't eat poison.

When the apocalypse happens, I may not have time to whip up several batches of superfood smoothies, so I've decided it's time to become knowledgeable about the wildlife of Southern California so I'll know which plants fit into my new "eat well" lifestyle (ie. the ones that won't kill me).

"I knew this plant was delicious before the apocalypse."- Hipster Raw Vegan

Tip #3- Carry something stabby.

Because MOUNTAIN LIONS!
 

Tip #4- Be open to social interactions.

I have several apocalypse contingency plans, one of which is being friendly with the neighbors solely for the reason that I may have to rely on them for supplies. But it may also come to a point where I'm injured on the trail somewhere because I just beat up a cougar and a stranger happens along.

"I come prepared for every situation, milady."

Now, my initial response would probably be to say calmly "I HAVE A KNIFE. I PUNCHED A CAT! DANDELIONS!!" I'm assuming, here, that I may be a little panicked and dehydrated. But the appropriate reaction might be to assess the stranger's danger level (I would still definitely say that to the guy above) and perhaps let him assist me. You never know, one might even find love on the road to apocalyptic salvation.

"I'm here to rescue you. I...I got a little warm on the hike up here."

Day 10 of Reboot

Well, it is day 10 of my 10-day Juice Reboot, and all I can do is daydream about eating a Double Double.

Words can't express how much I want to ingest this whole.

Not quite as good at handling what I craved as before I started the reboot, I'd say!  I'm not sure why, but I don't feel like this has done much to reboot me. It has just made me experience what it's like to be starving all the time. The smell of burnt toast in the work kitchen the other day had me salivating.

I haven't really gotten a kick of energy like I expected. I've been motivated to do more things, it seems, but I feel kind of in a fog and low energy and haven't done as much as I'd hoped, especially as far as working out is concerned. Maybe I've detoxified my body, maybe not, but I don't think I'll be doing another 10-day reboot. Possibly a 3-day. I'm going to keep incorporating fresh juice into my daily routine, but drinking 5 juices a day at about $25 a day is just too much, not to mention always feeling hungry and wanting to eat garbage. At least before when I switched my diet to mostly whole foods and veggies I wasn't craving the crap.

But I've lost 5lbs in the process and it's nice to fit into the jeans that were buried at the bottom of my drawer. Now I just have to keep focused as I come off the reboot, making sure to go back to the diet I had established before, instead of just eating everything in sight.

Oh my gosh, I have to go, 'cause I may very well lose my mind if I keep looking at that freakin' cheeseburger.

EDIT: Breaking the fast

Rebooting and Exercise

Someone asked me with concern last night, "You're doing a juice reboot during your exercise month?" Yep! The main reason is because I didn't get my juicer in time to do the reboot during Month 1. But, from what I've heard and seen about the reboot, I should have a ton of energy coming my way very soon. Yes, day two was rough and today I had to go home for a lie-on-the-couch break, but I did have a burst of energy to clean my kitchen after juicing this morning! I was tired of walking on 'food shrapnel" around the kitchen.

I may have to start wearing protective eye wear when juicing.

And, I'm finding how very intertwined all of my different months' focuses are becoming. For instance, the change in my diet will inevitably help with more energy for exercise, clearing up my skin and mind. The exercise portion will also help my skin and posture. Also the clarity of mind is making me want to work on things like the job search and hobbies.

But it's month 2, so lets talk about exercise! So far (in the last 7 days) I've hiked, biked, done an hour of elliptical twice, jogged, did yoga, and rested. I've also been making it a point to always take the stairs at work (something I've been slacking on in the last few months).

Through my research, I've found some core strengthening exercises I'm going to try tonight, including:

The Plank

Side plank

"Hey ladies"

V-sit

The Bicycle

The Bridge

And my reading has also helped me better define for myself what I want to get out of my exercise.

"A combination of healthy eating, determining your proper caloric intake, resistance training, and aerobic and anaerobic exercise done on a consistent basis will help you become lean and toned." -Sparkpeople.com

Lean and toned. That sounds like what I'm looking for.

Also, I got a good idea (also from Sparkpeople.com) what a good workout routine would look like:

"Should do cardio at least 20 mins per day. Cardio at least 3 days weekly. Strength train each major muscle group 2-3 times a week"

And I took a fitness quiz, with these results, which I totally agree with!

"For you, exercise serves a preventive, therapeutic purpose. You want to maintain a strong core, decrease pain, and stay active and limber as you age so that you can live a healthy, independent life. You're more interested in maintaining long, lean muscles and good posture than running a marathon or benching heavy weights."

 Sounds right!

Here's a little video of my reflections this evening:

 

10-Day Juice Reboot!

Well, I started a juice reboot last night. I'm kind of winging it since the Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead website only gives you plans that mix drinking and eating. I want to go the route of the guys in the documentary and just juice for 10 days. So for now I'm looking at their Long Weekend 3-day reboot and then branching off with other recipes I find, making sure to drink vegetable heavy mixes the most throughout the day and fruit heavy juices for only the morning drinks.

Check out what I'm drinking:

Here's Mid-Afternoon Snack and Dinner before...

And here they are, ready for drinking.

That's a lot of fruit and vegetables! But the cost adds up. About two days worth of food cost around $40. I hope my budget can hold out!

So far, I don't really feel any different, except a weird feeling in my gums...hmm. And more hunger pangs than usual. But being able to have a juice at Breakfast, Mid-Morning, Lunch, Mid-Afternoon, and Dinner doesn't leave too much time for tummy grumbling.

Month 2: Fitness!

Holy cow! I'm here. In month 2. I'm actually moving forward in my year plan! Who would have guessed my commitment would span this far!? Ok, maybe I'm jumping the self-congratulatory gun, but I'm pretty excited to have one month under my belt and to start on a new knowledge quest.

"'Knowledge Quest?' Nerd!"

So month 2 is fitness. But what does that mean exactly? That's what I've been trying to figure out today. Does it mean I have to work out everyday? Does it mean I should try to figure out the best total body work out?

I think I should start with some goals I'd like to achieve before I can really decide what course I'm going to take this month.

Obviously, I want to be fit, but not muscly. I want to run again, but, though I've done a couple 10ks already, I really don't know if I have the desire to try for a full marathon.  I guess since this project is about learning, I should start with the fact that all I do at the moment is simple cardio for workouts, like an hour on the elliptical while reading.

Maybe not quite as bad as this, though.

Another goal would be to better integrate exercise into my busy lifestyle. I find it very difficult to get up early to go to the gym, usually because I'm up latest night. And I'm up late all the time because when I get done from work everyday, I go to work on Production stuff. For the most part, I'm at work or working on Production stuff all the time. So making a daily (or maybe 5 times a week?) exercise requirement is probably a good place to start, and drawing lines in my personal life so that I give myself that opportunity everyday.

Perhaps, after I doing a little research, I'll make up a work out plan for each week and hone that as I learn more throughout the month.

Another goal I'd like to work on is strengthening my core. I have a (natural?) curve in my back that has been thought to be scoliosis, but I believe I just need to learn how to stand straighter and elongate my spine.  But maybe that's a question I'll resolve this month, too.

Also, I hate stretching and yoga is very painful and frustrating to me, so that's probably another thing I should work on.

I was going to use this picture to illustrate how I feel when I do yoga..but then I realized this lady is WAY better than me.

And I've never enjoyed muscle focused exercises (lunges, weight machines, free weights), but I'm guessing they are an important part of a well-rounded routine.


So, right now it looks like my goals for month 2 are:
Strengthening core
Stretching and limbering
Making time
Well-rounded routine.

Workouts I'd like to put into my routine:
Swimming
Jogging
Hiking
Yoga
Core exercises
Toning exercise

I think that's a good place to start. Now off to my gym to find out if they offer a free training session with my membership!