Retracting a Plug for Meatless Mondays

If this isn't scary. U.S.D.A newsletter retracts a meatless Mondays plug. view the article at www.nytimes.com

Our Granddaughter has gone healthy

Hi everyone. My name is Erika. I’m Robin and Roy’s granddaughter. Without knowing it, Robin & I were both in the midst of making major lifestyle changes to the way we were eating. We found out through the grapevine about each other’s new lifestyles and are now trying to encourage each other to succeed........... A little about me… I’m a 36 year old single mother with a 7 year old son. I’m also a nursing student earning my bachelor’s degree. Our lifestyle is non-stop most of the time. There is homework, studying, clinical paperwork, clinical rotations, more homework, more studying, taking care of the house, the pets, and whatever else would arise. It left me no time to think about nutrition and fitness. Whatever convenience packaged meal we could grab was becoming our daily routine......... This spring when my semester was about to end I became restless. I knew I would only be taking an online class over the summer and would have time to figure this nutrition and fitness thing out. Late one night I was scanning through my Netflix movies and came across a movie titled “Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead.” I decided to stay up and watch it. It was the most motivating movie I had ever seen. Joe Cross, an Australian man was diagnosed with a debilitating autoimmune disease. He was 100 pounds overweight. He went on a whole plant based juice diet for 60 days. The statement he made in the movie sticks with me. He said, “When I was a kid I would fall down and scrape my knee. Back then I didn’t have to do anything and the wound would heal itself. I started thinking why can’t I do the same thing today? Why can’t I heal my body from the inside out and then it will take care of itself and I wouldn’t have to worry about it?” The movie follows him over the 60 days and the transformation is amazing. I was sold! I purchased a juicer a few weeks later and was ready to start my fast. The only problem was how could I stick to a long fast and still take care of my son over the summer. In reality the 60 day fast wasn’t going to happen. I started to investigate more about a whole plants food diet and discovered Forks Over Knives. After watching that documentary I was convinced I could do it. I could make a lifestyle change that would improve the nutrition for not only me, but also my son. From that point on I became a sponge for new information about this lifestyle. I’ve read numerous books, listened to audiobooks and searched many websites. Another favorite series I enjoy is the “Skinny Bitch” series. This is always a great motivator! The big change… Classes ended mid-May and within a week I had switched to a vegan diet. I started with The Engine 2 Diet. This taught me how to start a fat-free vegan lifestyle and overcome many obstacles. I found this diet extremely hard to stick to after a few weeks. I chose to incorporate oils and margarine back into my diet and was happy to have many more options for meals. It was also much easier to pass off vegetable based items to my son when they tasted similar to things he was used to. I was also able to bake pies and desserts that other family members enjoyed and couldn’t believe they were vegan. Each morning I wake early and exercise for one hour on my elliptical machine before I start my day. As of today, I’ve lost 30 pounds in only two months! I feel great and plan to keep on losing! I also plan to incorporate some strength training into my morning routine this month to start toning up too. The more I learn about this lifestyle the more I realize this is going to be the future for many people. We can’t continue to eat junk and chemicals we can’t even pronounce! This is the easiest lifestyle to live. All you have to do is eat all natural, whole-based foods. They are not that hard to find and not really that hard to fix. I enjoy not having to wait for meat to thaw out to prepare the meal, nor do I have to plan in advance what I am going to make. I look in the fridge, find a recipe online for what I have and throw it together. Most meals take less than half an hour to prepare. If you are considering the change don’t hesitate. It’s simple…eat whatever is in season, plant yourself a garden, start cooking meals at home again, be creative and live a long, healthy life that you and your family can enjoy together.

Udon noodle vegetarian stir fry

This was very good. I get the organic udon noodles from Costco.

Your body was built for motion

Quantum challenge Day 7 (yesterday) 103,383 steps or 51.69 miles walked in 7 days.

Day 6 as a vegetarian

Quantum Challenge Day 4

For years I have fought the battle of "no sleep". I refuse to take the prescription drugs Ambien or Lunesta. I just stay up late and hope that I get tired enough to sleep. So was I ever surprised at 6:30 am this morning. I slept through the night for the first time in years. My water glass was still full and my bed covers were still intact. Sweet!!! I know that I owe this remarkable feat to 15K+ steps a day and my now vegetarian diet. Oh, and I am happy to mention.....2 pounds down from Monday. This is going to be a great day!

Plant based, whole foods...now my way of life

A well-structured, plant based diet will meet all your nutritional needs for calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals--without calorie counting, portion control, or measuring. It's the easiest way to eat. Charles Darwin, said, "The normal food of man is vegetable." A plant based diet is a very simple one. It consists of avoiding anything that came from a source that ever had a face or a mommy. In other words, avoiding all meat (including fish), dairy, and eggs. What you do get to eat are the very best foods that Mother Nature offers: grains, fruits, vegetables,and legumes. It's not that hard. When my daughter wanted to go vegetarian about 20 years ago...I didn't know were to start. We didn't have the internet. I hit the library but two small shelves of veggie books were all we can find. So the poor thing had to "suffer" with "veggie" burgers and salads. A "veggie" burger 20 years ago had no flavor but salt. Gross! Tonight I am making chipolte black bean burgers on whole grain bread and smoky portobello mushrooms on the side. Costco sells these wonderful veggie burgers in a family size package but I found a more reasonable size at my Sunflower market. If you are considering a vegetarian diet go to www.vegweb.com for 15,000 recipes that will surely inspire you.

Quantum challenge Day 1

17591 steps today (Robin) and 11311 for my husband. What a great start! All vegan diet today. Breakfast: Steel cut oats with almond milk, blueberries, banana & walnuts Lunch: Whole grain sandwich with avocado, sliced tomato & sprouts sliced orange Dinner: Taco salad with lettuce, tomato, green onion, 1/2 c brown rice, 1/2 c black beans, green chilies & salsa WG tortilla toasted and broke into chips vegan and na

Got milk??? You don't need it

Eliminate Dairy. Casein, the primary protein in cow's milk, may well be one of the most potent chemical carcinogens ever identified (to learn more, read Colin Campbell's The China Study). Dairy products increase the risk for chronic diseases, and cow's milk in particular has been linked to an increased risk for cancer, juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, allergies,and many other conditions. HUMANS HAVE NO NUTRITIONAL NEED FOR COW'S MILK. My mom and dad both drank large amounts of cow's milk. Their cheese consumption was enormous. My dad passed away in 2010. I wish I had had this information just 5 years ago.....it might have saved his life. My mom has suffered with allergies for many years. Her "allergist" said she was allergic to cats. She doesn't have a cat. After long nights of reading and researching I asked her to give up dairy for two weeks. It was a fight and I know that she didn't give it up entirely but she did cut her consumption way back. Her nose stopped running, her ears unplugged, she couldn't believe it. That was just four days after cutting back. She not only feels better, but she looks better. Oh and she has more money in her pocket. Her need for kleenex is no longer.

Anxiously awaiting the QUANTUM challenge

Looking forward to a couple of new goals starting July 9, 2012. First I am going vegetarian for 6 weeks. Second, instead of 10K steps a day I am going to increase my workout to 15K steps a day. My husband is going to try this with me.....except he doesn't know that he is also going vegetarian. Haha See how long he can last. I guess less than 24 hours.

If there is an “American” game, it is baseball; an “American” dessert, apple pie. If there is an “American” disease, it is heart disease

In January 2012, I was 20+ pounds over weight and had been for over 5 years. I just couldn't find the right "diet" that fit me. Exercise was not the problem as I am a strong walker and jogger. But after reading about the ill effects of sugar, I started reading labels and watching my sugar intake. I decided to limit my sugar to 16 grams a day (4 teaspoons). By April of 2012 I lost 22 pounds, 2 dress sizes and 8 inches just by watching my intake of sugar. I am still amazed (shocked actually). I was never hungry and after a few days I didn’t miss the sugar. The scary "belly fat" is nearly gone and I feel amazing.