I'm in love with green tea!

Oh, Kiss Me Organics, you had me at hello!

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I love tea, especially herbal blends. But sometimes I need a little more kick, and that's when green tea calls me. It has caffeine, but doesn't give me the shakes or upset my stomach like coffee does when I overindulge. As for cooking with green tea, that's new for me. It was, anyway, until Kiss Me Organics asked if I wanted to try their Organic Matcha Green Tea.  Not only did they send the tea, but they included a cookbook and additional recipes.

Why Matcha Green Tea?  It helped me (and others) come out of a coffee addiction without leaving the detox symptoms of quitting cold turkey.  It has antioxidants, boosts metabolism (which helps with the 2 pm slump and calorie burning),

I've enjoyed my Matcha hot, iced, in smoothies, and in green tea soy (and almond milk) lattes.  Kiss Me Organics sent an e-book filled with recipes for drinks, cocktails, dips, baked goodies, and more.  If course, I had to put my own spin on the ones I tried. I made the Refreshing Matcha Cooler (page 16) with raw instead of steamed broccoli, raw beet greens in place of the steamed spinach, raw carrot instead of juice, a lime wedge instead of juice, and almond milk instead of yogurt. Oh man, it was fab!

If I thought my family would go for it, I'd go all out with some of the baked sweets year round.  Come

St.Patrick's Day, a cake or cupcakes with a Matcha non-dairy icing will grace the table.  I know some Chocolate Rum Matcha Truffles (page 35) will hit the table before then.  Striped Pig Distillery's Rum and a coconut cream should work nicely here.

Get your bag from Kiss Me Organics on Amazon for $25.  Kiss Me Organics offers excellent customer service and follows up to share additional recipes and tips. If you don't like it, return it within 30 days for a full, no questions asked refund.

Cheers!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Lentil Shepherd's Pie - vegan, gluten-fee, and cheap

Yeah, it was a win.

I love planned-overs (you know, deliberate leftovers) and prepping ahead for future meals. I've learned to cook large batches of beans and freeze some in quart or gallon-sized bags, chop harder veggies and store for snacking and cooking, and generally try too cook extras most nights because of a teen boy and hungry hubby.  Last night I discovered a mash up of leftovers and pre-prepped veggies and decided to go with something different for us - Shepherd's Pie. The veggie potpie from a few weeks back went over well, so I decided to play with the veggie filling a bit by adding lentils to make a heartier dish. Served with simple mustard greens, dinner was a huge hit.

Lentil Shepherd's Pie

2 cups cooked lentils
1 cup mashed potatoes
2 celery hearts, diced
3 carrots, diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 cup peas
rosemary, thyme, and garlic to taste
TBS soy sauce (gluten-fee, or Tamari. If gluten isn't an issue, use regular or low sodium soy sauce.)
1/2 TBS nutritional yeast
1/4 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook lentils and set aside. Saute celery, carrots, and onion in water until soft, then add 1/4 cup water. Stir in herbs, soy sauce, and nutritional yeast; simmer until water reduces. Add lentils and peas, and cook until heated through.

Pour veggies into a prepared 8" or 9" square dish (or whatever casserole dish you have handy) and top with mashed potatoes. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

In place of the herbs, soy sauce, nutritional yeast, and 1/4 cup water, use 1/4 cup of your favorite broth or stock.

Have you turned your leftovers into something new?

Semi-Wordless Wednesday: Southen Season is a foodie paradise

Hubby and I finally stopped into Southern Season this past Sunday.  Imagine a cooking school, gourmet grocer, beer and wine shop, coffee shop, kitchenware gift shop, and restaurant under one roof.

So many nut and soy butters, so much time.

Yes, a huge section of just jellies, jams,and preserves.

SC's own Vegetable Kingdom dressings!

Yes, chocolate pumps!  Several options available.

Retro cookie tins ready for filling.  

We didn't eat this time, but will check out Southerly from breakfast, lunch, dinner, or bunch sometime.  Gluten-free and vegan options are available at all serving times.

Have you been to Southern Season  yet?

Semi-wordless Wednesday: Puree Organic Cafe Revisited

Once again,. Puree Organic Cafe proves that vegan organic fare is delicious for veggies and omnis alike.  

Ah, date night.  Sometimes Hubs and I can easily agree on where to dine and sometimes we can't.  When it comes to veggie dining, options on Charleston are growing, but we have our favs and tend to stick with them.  If you haven't noticed, we like Puree Organic Cafe in Mt. Pleasant, SC.  A lot. It's on our short list of vegetarian places in town that hubby really likes. We stopped in to try to new dinner menu and were thrilled with the results.  

Instead of his beloved Deep South, Hubby went with the Rainbow Row ($21).  

Old Charleston Spice braised seitan, with sautéed collards, mini corn cakes, and sweet onion jam.
If you want seitan, this is the place to get it.  Seriously.  Go get some.

I opted for the Eggplant Parmesan ($18).  

House-made almond Ricotta and gluten-free pasta made it my first choice. 

Of course we had coffee and desert. Almond, soy, and coconut milk are options. 

Hubby's Coconut Crème Brulée ($9) was yummy. 

My Mexican Chocolate Cheesecake from Unbaked was fantastic!   

We met Chef and she was as friendly and delightful as well. See why we like it?  It was all even better than it looks.  Clean, gluten-free, organic eats from people who love what they do. Check the conversation on Facebook.  We're not the only ones who love them.  



   

Happy Herbivore Light & Lean is coming!

I've made no secret of my love for Happy Herbivore Lindsay Nixon.  I found the blog while searching for cleaner and lighter vegan alternatives for the food I love.  Her cookbooks are my go-to when someone asks me for healthy recipes and I've picked up her meal plans from time to time.  Her twists on Southern favorites are loved by the omni family, too, and as I've mentioned before, pleasing the man and boy is not always easy.

When Lindsay made the announcement about her newest book, I pre-ordered it (In March) and scored!  I receive an excerpt with 14 recipes and a bonus book.

Happy Herbivore Light & Lean includes more of the low fat,whole food vegan recipes I love and workout plans. If you pre-ordered,you've seen some of the goodness this book has in store.  The Meatloaf Bites and Carol's Cabbage Soup are particularly yummy.  If you're looking for something sweet, her Blueberry Yogurt Muffins are a delight.  Pair one with fruit or hash browns for breakfast, snag one for a snack with coffee or tea, or have it for dessert.  

For the blog tour, I asked Lindsay three questions about her her favorite forms of exercise and her advice for someone new to the clean plant-based way of eating.  

Me:  In your blog you mention snowboarding a lot.  Besides hitting the board, what is your favorite type
of exercise?

LN: I go hiking almost every day when it's not winter. I also really enjoy yoga year-round.

Me:  That's great!  I love yoga, too. Finding activities I love helps me look at exercise as fun and not a chore. Now on to making a change in general.  Do you have any advice for someone just making the change from a sedentary lifestyle and SAD to active and whole food plant-based?  Should he/she go all in or take it one step at a time?

LN:  I can't recommend the meal plans enough!  Or my 3-day reboot or 10-day cleanse immersion 
 program. Every person is different. I find most people have the best success doing
 a 180-approach, just rip off the band aid, as I say. Other people need a more gradual approach. Make every meal you can a healthy plant-based one, and start walking on your lunch break. Start with 5 minutes if you have to, then add on. Then start walking in the morning before work. Little by little!

Me:  I thought I was a 180-degree person, but with the family I've found it easier to make gradual changes. Converting their favorite recipes is sometimes a challenge.  Have you converted all of your favorite foods into whole food goodness?  How difficult was it?

LN:  Yes! Some recipes proved more challenging than others but for the most part everything has translated quite beautifully and many times, I like the new healthy version way better.

Appreciate your time, Lindsay - thanks!

While I recover and figure out how to get into a sustainable workout routine, eating clean helps me keep on track.  If you want affordable, easy, clean, quick, and delicious recipes with wide appeal, check out the Happy Herbivore blog and books.  Light & Lean is going to be awesome!  Get a sneak peek on Amazon and keep your eyes open for more from me on the recipes.

 

Playing with booze at Charleston's Striped Pig Distillery

Hi.  I'm Sherrie and on occasion I really like my booze.  Vodka is my usual first choice, but rum, wine, and a good pint work equally well.  Hubby and I were fooling around one Saturday afternoon and decided to stop by Charleston's first distillery since Prohibition for a tour. We went for the tour and left with a bottle. 

Striped Pig Distillery opened earlier this year with plans for a grand opening shortly.  The beautiful facility is open to the public (21 and up) from 3-7 pm Wednesday though Friday and noon-5 for tours and tastings.  We were warmly greeted by Todd and our tour started. 

How gorgeous is this still?

Reclaimed wood and lots of light are everywhere.  Ingredients are in plain sight, too. Local non-GMO corn and molasses from Savannah are right there for us to see.  We learned how finely they mill the grains, how long each batch takes, and how excited they are about their products.  After a little ooh-ing and ahh-ing, we moved on to the bar for the main event.

Love the focal point!  A local artist whipped it up.

 

 

Neat bar table, eh?

We tried the Striped Vodka, Striped Shine, and Striped Rum. We started with my beloved vodka.  I liked the flavor and warmth. Striped shine is straight-up moonshine, but with a cleaner taste than expected.  It burned so good.  Rum is something I usually mix, but I easily drink Striped Pig's Striped Rum straight up. It is the best rum I've had to date. 

After all was said and done, we decided we had to have a bottle of limited edition rum.  Sorry if 43 is your lucky number because that one is ours. 

Swing by and pick up your favoite spirit from 10-7 pm Monday through Friday and noon until 5 on Saturday.  Remember, the tour schedule is different from the store hours during the week. Shoppers have t-shirts, barware, and spirits to choose from. I see booze as holiday gifts this year.  

Follow Striped Pig Distillery on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for daily updates on events like their packing party.   We're sorry we missed that one. 

Cheers!

What's shaking? More Vegg, lentils, and other food stuff.

The Summerville, SC area apparently.  Another couple of quakes hit this past week.  Neat, eh?

Other than quakes, it's the same old except in the kitchen.  I'm playing with The Vegg still and loving it more. The french toast and tofu scramble with cheesy grits were awesome!  And easy!  I didn't follow recipes from The Veg Cookbook, but used it in my usual recipes.

Tofu scramble and grits with Vegg, nutritional yeast, garlic, a little Earth Balance,
and hot sauce.  Yeah, baby! 

French Toast made with Vegg, homemade raw cashew milk,
cinnamon, and turmeric.  Agave Nectar-topped with fruit on the side.  

Tonight is breakfast for dinner night, a family fav.  Pancakes, grits, scrambles (eggs for them, tofu for me), roasted potatoes, pear compote, and gluten-free cinnamon rolls are on the menu.  And yes, Vegg will play a role in there.

Today (and tomorrow) the plan is to play with lentils.  I'm challenging myself to come up with several ways to use them without making hubby bored.  So far, lentil soup/stew, curry served with greens, lentil loaf, shepherd's pie, and lentil 'meatballs' with marinara come to mind.  I'l let you know how it goes.

For now, I'm out.  I am so stoked that I get to play with food for a living and for fun.  Feeling lucky, that's me!

Ahh, Vegg. Nummy goodness.

So I received a package The Vegg Cookbook and a package of Vegg.  I wasn't sure what I could do with it before I started playing with it, but so far, so good.

Hubby and the Boy don't always care for my vegan goodness when tofu is a main ingredient, but last night they tore into my experiment.  I had Soyrizo on hand I needed to finish up and wanted a grab and go breakfast besides overnight oats or chia pudding,  A breakfast casserole seemed perfect, so I went for it.

Soyriso Vegg Breakfast Casserole

2 TBS Vegg
1/2 cup non-dairy milk (I used homemade raw cashew milk)
1 lb.firm tofu, divided
4 oz. Soyrizo (Trader Joe's version is gluten-free)
3 small or one large potato, diced
1 medium onion, diced

Preheat oven o 350 degrees.  Blend Vegg and milk, then add 1/2 of the tofu and blend until smooth. Saute potatoes and onion until browned.  Add tofu and cook until heated through.  Add potato mixture to an 8x8 glass dish and pour Vegg mixture over it.  Stir to combine, then bake for 30 minutes.

Inhaled by a tofu-hating teen boy and tofu-tolerating husband.  I call that a win.

What I'm reading these days

Your friendly neighborhood Sherrie has a cookbook problem. I know it and own it.  I read them like novels and can tear through one in a couple of days.  I also have a money problem, so I pick most of my books up from the library, Mr. K's (used and new, but always cheap), and free Kindle books (for reading on my Kindle app).  I've wanted to hold books more than reading text on a screen lately, so I've hit the library practically every week. Here's a sample of what I've gone through in August alone.

I first heard of Angelica Home Kitchen thanks to an early 90's copy of Vegetarian Times.  Back then I was playing with the idea of he veggie life and loved the idea of a all veg restaurant. Good book, great recipes.   

This one needs no intro.  I checked it out for more ideas on healthy whole food vegan goodness.  I like it, but don't think I need to add this one to the permanent collection. 

Between the abundance of rain, a bad spine summer, and crazy schedules,  our garden is a sad, bare wasteland.  Except for mint and huge tomato plants which may or may not bear fruit.  Microgreens, baby vegetables, and sprouts, oh my!

And, you know, I cannot leave anything these two touch unread.  And hubby is a pie addict.  Vegan versions of his beloved blueberry, pecan, and key lime pies will be mastered! At some point.

No pictured are Crazy Sexy Kitchen and Crazy Sexy Diet.   I have the Kindle versions, but can't spend all my time looking a a screen.

So, what are you reading?

My stalker

I cannot leave the room without this guy following.  If I close a door, he waits patiently for me to open it.  He literally lean against me when I lose my balance and keeps me upright on wonky days.  On painful days (like the past few days), he snuggles when I need it and just watches to make sure I'm ok.

Or maybe I'm giving him too much credit.  He's a goofy ball of love. Good boy, Victor.

Still here

I'm around, but not as active here as I should be.  New posts are on the way.

Oh, the food! Semi-Wordless Wednesday

We eat well around here!  Y'all jelly?  :-)

Thoughts on Father's Day 2013

Let me start by saying that I am exhausted, in a lot of pain, and wide awake. This one may ramble a bit. Short and rambly – my new style? Nah. Maybe. We'll see.

Sometimes I really miss my dad. Father's Day is almost here and it's one of those times. My brother is celebrating his second and hubby is celebrating his 15^th (technically 14th, but R was born two weeks later. I count it). My brother, husband, and kids didn't get to meet dad, so it's weird in a way to have them celebrate him.

He'd be beaming at the mention of his grandkids. I know this because he beamed with us. When we didn't work his last nerve that is. There are many pictures of all all smiling together. Real smiles, not the family portrait smiles. And baby bro looks so much like him that it blows me away.

I envy those who still have their dads. By 'have' I mean have a good relationship with him as adults. Believe me, I know you can have someone in your life but no really have them. But that's a whole other series of posts.

Miss you, dad. I'd like to think that on some level you know how I'm doing. I think about what it would be like if you were sill here. You would like hubby. And the kids. You'd like our house. You'd be blown away by baby bro – his brilliance, sense of humor, and the resemblance. And you'd be totally wrapped around baby girl's finger. She is something else.

Happy Father's Day, Dad, Hubby, and Baby Bro. You all rock.

So much to share!

Hi, all.

I guess I'll start with the geek. What? Embracing my geek instead of hiding it relaxes me.  Relaxation is good for the cardiovascular system.  Not to mention the mind and spirit.  I can't believe Doctor Who is over until November!  And it ended on the weekend after the kids gave me this.

Yes!  Whovian for life!  Tom Baker was my first Doctor.  Who was yours?  I feel the sadness/excitement about Supernatural, too. I love the Winchesters and still mourn Bobby.

On the home front, the dogs and kids are giving me this look a lot lately.

I'm not sure what I'm doing or not doing that warrants the 'you crazy,' face.

I'm eating a lot of this for breakfast with fruit and extra walnuts.

Vegan, gluten-free goodness makes me happy.

On the health front,well, things are what they are.  I will be moving slower for longer than anticipated,but as long as I get back to me, I'm happy.  Until then, pain, stiffness, and physical  therapy are mainstays.  And the drugs, oy.  Caffeine is out because the mix of it and my meds are dangerous for me.  No one likes stroke level blood pressure.  And sodium consumption has to come down even more.

But that's ok. I'm pulling out Eat to Live, my Happy Herbivore cookbook collection, The Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook, Appetite for Reduction, Crazy, Sexy Diet, and The 21 Day Weight Loss Kickstart books for inspiration. And cooking more from the heart.

Oh, and did I mention that the physician's assistant said I should go for nutritional and alternative therapies in addition to the traditional ones?  I could have hugged her.

When I work, I stand every 30 minutes so I can stretch a bit. PT schedule is three days a week in addition to work at home.  Yoga, Pilates, Tai Cheng, and walking primarily with light resistance.  And the handy dandy foam roller  is on hand at all times, too. why did I wait so long to get you?

Until next time, do what you need to do to improve your health.  Small steps are better than standing still.

**Disclosure: The book links are affiliate links.  TheTai Cheng link goes to my Team Beachbody shop.

Random chatter

I love my husband! This was a surprise gift. 

'Ello. I'm still feeling the love after last night's Supernatural Saturday. Not a Whovian or into Orphan Black?  Give them a watch. Trust me.

What else is happening?  Well, turns out I'm not the only one in my family with back issues. Dad had some and had to wear a hard core back brace on occasion.  Thanks, dad. Cardiovascular issues and spinal issues.  But seriously, I wish you were still her so I could hassle you a little.

The spine is still kinda crumbly, but I'm going to work with instead of against them.  Can't lift or jump or run right now?  That's ok, doc.  Low impact cardio? Sweet!  Shaun T, Tai Cheng, Pilates, yoga, walking, and body weight resistance to the rescue!  I won't overdo it. I'll star with 2-3 days of more than walking and add more as I get stronger.

Shaun T and low impact don't seem to go together, right?  But before Insanity, there was Hip Hop Abs and  Rockin' Body. Besides, I love dancing. I spent many, many nights (weeknights and weekends) dancing and still have random afternoon dance breaks.  And, you know, he is very nice to look at and listen to.  I mean inspirational.  I meat hot.  I mean motivating.  Actually, he's all of the above.

 Interested in Rockin' Body or Hip Hop Abs?
'They're on sale for $19.95 each right now.  

So, do you want to share random chatter with me?  Food, drink, fitness, dance, other? Give me a shout.

Until next time, peace.

Guest post - Spring into Action to Prevent Diabetes

Diabetes is no joke.  It's touched so many people and their families.  While we may not be able to prevent Type 1, Type 2 can be effectively managed with nutrition and exercise.  Carolyn Fallon wrote this excellent post on making the needed changes easy and fun.  Carolyn blogs at Full on Fit -- give this a read and follow her blog.  

My 13-year-old cousin was recently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.  Since then, the importance of health and nutrition has become a central theme in my family. We now work together to stop this disease from
invading again. Diabetes prevention isn't just theory; studies have shown that if you control your weight, eat healthy and stay active, you can prevent or dramatically delay the onset of the disease.

Since March (was) National Nutrition Month, it’s a perfect time to make positive changes. Unfortunately, the excitement of spring can make us forget our New Year’s resolutions. Little slip-ups can quickly turn
into obesity and sedentary living, and those conditions lead to Type 2 Diabetes. Therefore, it’s critical to make our health a priority all year.

Here are some great tips we’ve discovered:

Anti-Diabetes Nutrition Tips

Healthy Snacks
Instead of serving potato chips and cookies, keep healthy snacks like fresh fruits or vegetables readily available. These natural foods are packed with cell-building nutrition and fiber instead of sugar and poor-
quality carbohydrates that can trigger overeating and lead to obesity and diabetes.

Whole Grains are Best
Choose whole grains whenever possible. Fiber-rich whole grains digest slowly; they don’t cause sudden blood sugar spikes that lead to large releases of insulin.

No Sugar!
Lower the amount of sugar your family consumes by switching to water or low-calorie, natural beverages like unsweetened brewed iced tea instead of sodas. This will help keep blood glucose stable and keep from
adding on extra weight.

Kiss Fast-Food Goodbye
Say good-bye to greasy, deep-fried foods that don’t offer any nutritional value. Stir-fry, bake, grill or broil foods, and use non-stick sprays instead of heavy fats and butter.

A yummy recipe for the whole family to enjoy: Sour Cream Fruit Dip

1 cup low-fat sour cream
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier or Amaretto
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix all ingredients together and serve with fresh or lightly grilled fruit.

Spring in Your Step

Flower Walk
Plan a family or neighborhood flower walk. Gather a list of local spots that boast lovely blooms and map out a walking path to visit them. This is a low-impact activity that is appropriate for almost any age or fitness
level.

Take Advantage of Yard Work
Plant a garden and mow the grass. Yard work burns plenty of calories, and spring is the perfect time to take advantage of it. Expect some soreness from the bending and stooping. When you finish your own
yard, volunteer to help your neighbors with theirs.

Play Like a Kid Again
Plan activities with the whole family. Instead of indoor games, take competitions outdoors and incorporate physical activities into the game’s rewards or participation requirements. Games such as tag, kickball, capture-the-flag, etc. are all fun for all!

Get Fit
Go to a fitness class, or rent some fitness videos and exercise together as a family right from home! My cousins love coming to my house to do Zumba and Yoga. What’s even better is the great benefits of such fun
activities – according to orthopedic doctors from Syracuse’s Orthopedic Center, yoga is great for people of all ages because it increase balance, posture, flexibility, and bone and joint health. Plus, it increases our
bonding time in an activity that everyone can do at their own level and pace!

You can find many creative ways to encourage activity and healthy eating. Above all, make good habits fun, and enjoy a happy, healthy spring.

Carolyn is a 20-something year old with a passion for life, fitness and overall well-being. She is an avid cycler, golfer and has been known to bust some serious moves on the dance floor. Check out Carolyn’s blog at http://fullonfit.blogspot.com/!

Long time, no post

I'm alive.  Kinda.  Between health issues, meds merry go round, and life in general, time flew and I did not get here.  My bad.

If you want to see my daily ish, find me on FB, Twitter, Instagram, and/or Tumblr.

Forgive me?  I have good stuff coming.  Starting next post.

March Challenge - You in?

I'll hit the big 44 on March 30 and am celebrating the milestone by kicking up the wellness a notch.  Care to join me?  

You don't have to buy anything.  You just have to commit to 30 days of something better for you health.  Cleaner eating, regular exercise, mediation, less coffee - you decide.  Me, I'll be eating cleaner (vegetarian, good fats, lots of produce and good protein) and starting Chalean Extreme (strength training for increased strength and fat burning).  These are my goals, my plan for the month (and beyond).  What are yours?

The goal is to push beyond where I am now.  I am my own competition.  Well, and hubby in a way.  We challenge each other to move toward our goals and sort of compete to see if my home workouts or his gym workouts are better.  I know home workouts are better for me, period.  The hermit in me would rather get my sweat on without the potential audience.  The dogs watch, but they get bored and move on.  I'm sure people are focused on their own workouts at the gym, but in my mind, they're peeking over at the limping big girl, wondering why she's bothering.

I know.  It's my messed up way of thinking.  I'm working on it.

But for March, it'll be a better focus on better eating, lifting heavy four days a week, and at least one cardio workout on a fifth.  For cardio, I'll mix it it between my favs.  Why Chalean Extreme?  Shorter workouts (which my aching back will appreciate), lots of lifting (which I love), and less cardio (not my favorite thing).  I lift now, but I don't think I'm lifting enough or following the most effective routine.  So I'm turning to an expert.

So, what do you say  - wanna kick it up with me in March?  Join me here, G+, or on Facebook.  How will you challenge yourself?

Until next time, peace!    

So, who has the Sherrie Voodoo Doll?

Whatever I did to offended or upset you, I'm sorry.  

The funky, instant rash on my hand was genius.  And your timing?  Flawless.  Not only did you make it happen and fade before my doc's appointment, you brought it back a day and a half later.  Nice.

This ick kicking my butt?  Great move.  I feel like crud and cannot think clearly.  And having the fever kick in today?  Well done.

Now please, I beg you, please cut it out.

I'll be going back to bed now.

Semi-Wordless Wednesday: Owie

My ankle is just another in a long line of bone and joint issues.  But that's ok.  I will not let it defeat me!  I might have to sit still for a while - well, kinda still - but I'm still working toward my goals.  I'll just be hobbling for a few.

Progress, baby!

My progress may not me the same as yours, and that's okay.  Progress is the goal.  Consistency is key.

I am sore and hate every second of it, but am walking on air!  Another three pounds, gone!  Another few inches, gone!  While my official measurement day is a week away, I decided to take a peek.  After this past few days of pain, I needed something to make me feel like the work is paying off.  It's paying, baby! 

Clean eating + working as hard as I can = progress.  My progress may not me the same as yours, and that's okay.  Progress is the goal.  Consistency is key.   It took me a long, long time to learn that.  It finally clicked and things are moving in the right direction.

I will get through this.  I will continue to work within safe parameters while working hard.  I will continue to get stronger.  I will continue down this path.

Here's to finding the path that is yours.  And finding success on it.

Until next time, peace.  

Party, party!

Oz is my boy!  He's getting older but is still a puppy.  

So I set a first set of goals. - and beat some!  I've hit or surpassed my goals for my hips, waist, arms, and body fat!  Yes!  I'm getting closer on weight, thighs, and blood pressure! Yeah, baby!  

I need to set some more, but first, celebration!  With time outside on this gorgeous day.  With my fav walking buddy.

Peace, all.  

Changes

**This is a crosspost from my SparkPeople blog.**

Happy 2013!  What are your plans on this first weekend?  Changes are on tap for me and mine.

My workout plans included Les Mills Combat, but my body has other ideas.  I wasn't going all Combat for every workout, but once or twice a week with Tai Cheng, 10 Minute Trainer, and yoga in the mix.  But my back, shoulder, and hip have decided that that's not going to happen.  I have to pull back and go gentle.  So Tai Cheng with walking and occasional strength training is the new plan.  I'll still hit the gym with hubs on occasion, but the bulk of my plan is on the gentler tip.

My food plans included a low gluten veggie menu, but my tummy said nu-uh.  I cannot have some things without major tummy distress.  So the fab cake I made, although nummy chocolate vegan goodness, is off the table for me because I used wheat flour.  I also need to watch the starchy stuff for the same reason, so it's a lower carb veggie menu for me.  I'm still on the PCRM Vegan Kickstart, but doing my own menus.  100 net grams of carbs seems to be my max, so I'm sticking with that.   That is high as far as most low carb people are concerned, but it's my top average overall.

No bad changes, just necessary ones considering my body and what works best for me.   And that's what it's all about right?  Doing what's best.

What are you up to?

Until next time, peace.