August....long August on Full-Time

For some reason, this month seems longer than others....hmmmm I am in such a transitional phase of my life. SO much is changing and shifting. So much of who I am and what I believe in has become so foundational for my existence.

My daughter has made leaps and bounds. She is in a full-time typical early learning center setting with an aide and is gearing up for part-time Kindergarten this Fall. She is so excited about all of her school supplies and her new bookbags. Yes two bookbags. One for the Fall /Winter and one for the Spring/Summer!

I am working full-time doing something near and dear to my heart. I am the Children and Youth director for inner-city and "at risk" youth. I am touching lives and being sooooooooooo blessed in the process.

My diet has been so-so. Financial problems are making it nearly impossible to be 100% raw. The movement doesn't like for you to admit that very obvious fact that we all can't grown and pay for all that food. Well,, I am doing about 60% raw right now. I feel great and am actually not that worried about it for once. I am always vegan of course, but am worried about strength and feeling good...both of which I do. Of course it was a period of sluggishness and bad bowels when I came down off of my 100% raw high, but I don't fret. When my money gets better, I will be back at it. There are no laws....no rules...I make them as I go and so long as I am conscious of where my food comes from and that I remain vegan at ALL times regardless of anything else.

So that's my update for now. I know that things will regulate and slow down and I should be able to post more regularly. I'm in CA for another week and then it's back to the grind on the East Coast. Full-time job, Full-time school, Full-time single mommie Full-time Vegan

:)

Summer Updates

Okay...so this summer has been bananas. Literally...I've eaten a ton of bananas. I have been working out and still eating lowfat raw vegan. I actually had about 2 weeks where I ate cooked vegan, and got extremely extremely ill. :(

I'm doing really well with the diet and don't necessarily feel like calling myself anything really. I guess I keep defining it b/c so many people ask. I eat the foods that I love that love me back. I am feeling at an all-time high these days...physically, emotionally, and spiritually. My meditation practice has evolved tremendously and I am dedicating a great deal of time to my love of fitness.

I am training smarter these days and not longer. I also got a full-time job and am putting Kennedy in daycare AND Kindergarten!!!!!!!!!! So right now is the process of evaluations, therapeutic aides, paperwork and trial runs. She is such a big gyrl and is so ready for all of this. I set the bar high for her and every time she surpasses it!

I turned 29 and had a blast in NYC for my birthday. Kay turned 5 last week and have a 4-5 day long celebration!

I just wanted to update everyone and to say that things are really moving along. I am crazy busy, but will be making a new site soon for my personal training (raw vegan style!!!!!!!!!!) I can't wait!

Start today taking care of yourself....

Things I'm Grateful for Today :-)

Today I was feeling kinda ...blah... The weather was kinda crappy and I just have a ton to do. Kennedy told me that I will feel better if I say what I'm happy about. She's so brillant. So I decided to do just that.

As I settled into goddess pose tonite, I ran thru my mind what I am truly grateful for today in this moment. I wanted to share it..

It's so important to stop and have feelings of gratitude in the midst of any troubles that may be going on in your life. It sends a unique signal to the universe that you are happy with what you have and in turn...you get more it.

I'm grateful for...

*My beautiful and amazing daughter who teaches me everyday

*My mom- whose strength amazes me everyday

*My fit and lean body

*Being able to eat the best food on the planet

*Having a wonderful townhome to live in

*My evening meditation that brought me extreme clarity about something

That was just a few, but tonite I will go to bed with a heart that is overflowing with love and life's possiblities. What are you grateful for?

Low Fat Update

Ahhhhh I am feeling sooooooooooooooo strong these days. I found an excellent way to get more calories in... my mango banana smoothies are KILLER and soooooooo filling. Instead of grazing ALL day and running the risk of improperly combining fruits in my tummy, I am eating LARGER amounts at one time and then waiting about 4 hours to eat again. This is working best for me.

Yesterday (Friday) I worked out twice. I am so in love with Summer. It took 8 months to come here on the East Coast, so I am soaking up every warm filled day. At the gym yesterday am I did....

*pushups (on knees) on the medicine ball
*lunge combinations
*tricep dips
*assisted pullups
*cable kickbacks
*jumprope
*stairmaster
*elliptical (warm up 10 mins)
*reverse medicine ball crunchI felt so powerful going thru the workout!!

Today I did ....
*elliptical warm up (10 mins)
*jumprope in between sets of ...
*squat jumps*skull crushers
*bicep curls
*hammer curls

I want to get some more greens into my diet and some more salad in the evening. I just need to make a trip to the store...guess tomorrow's the day for grocery shopping. The farmer's market will be back on Tuesday so I will make it over there to get a ton of stuff, but in the meantime I am keeping it super simple and making sure to eat enough. I truly am seeking the best and most vibrant health ever and if that's true, I don't need to get on the scale until I I feel like I have my diet/workout figured out...don't want to get back into a bad thought pattern. The truth is that I feel strong, feel healthy and feel fit.:)

I have a ton to say about the raw vs gourmet debate out there on the next post. Can't we all just get along??? Geez

Guess What I've been doing????

Hey !! I have been so busy finishing the first year of my PhD program... phew! now it's time to finish my Master's thesis (I know the order seems weird)

I have been 80.10.10. Yep you heard me right... HIGH FRUIT. I have never felt better. Actually, last summer without listening to anyone or anything other than my body and wallet, I was 811rv and doing heavy yoga and have never looked or felt better. This decision came after eating some cooked GLUTEN FREE VEGAN food with Kennedy. I felt like shyt and slept for hours and hours and still needed to sleep the next day on her nap and with her at bedtime!

Oh no, I did NOT get into raw so that when I ate something else I would feel like warmed over shyt. I did a reevaluation about why I got into raw and what is my real purpose for eating. As someone who has had serious problems with food, I HAVE to ask myself these questions and sit patiently to get the answers.

When I close my eyes and listen to my still heart, I know that low fat raw vegan is the ONLY way that all of the bad food cravings go away and I feel effortlessly amazing. It was an easy decision and I haven't struggled. Unfortunately in this movement (as with life) people are so critical and judgmental feeling that there is ONLY ONE right way to do this diet or any other. There is no one way. I still promote an 80% raw diet most all the time. It is what fits most comfortably in people's lifestyles.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE 100% RAW to experience VIBRANT HEALTH! I honestly believe that anyone who tells you otherwise has a product to sell. I am going to try not to be judgmental, b/c people have to make a living and goddess knows that as I am writing my ebook, I hope people will buy it. But I am not going to push an agenda or my "products". I believe in true lasting health AND beauty. I believe that we are entering into the time of the rise of the goddess and women have got to stop hating themselves ("I hate the way I look...eat...dress...my hair") and resurrect the innate confidence and wisdom that we have.

So, yes 100% low fat raw vegan is what's best for ME and my body, but may not be what works for you. I do believe strongly in a plant based vegan diet with at MINIMUM 70% raw. I believe in juicing, green smoothies, a solid multivitamin, sunshine, laughter, skin brushing, exercise (yes yes yes), enemas/colonics, and rest.

I know some 100% gourmet eating raw foods who feel like shyt. They hardly eat "fresh/real" raw food. And I know someone who eats about 70% raw and lives in vibrant health!!! The difference is that my cooked friend laughs all day...she works out and doesn't stress. My raw friend is killing herself to stay raw by overeating dehydrated chips/crackers/cookies that she gets at the WF near her house. No one is right or wrong, but I would take vibrant health over a "title" any day.

I know that gurus have their place in the movement. They helped ME get into raw food and for that they are right on the money, but if you want long lasting VIBRANT, ABUNDANT, GLORIOUS HEALTH...stick more with real, water rich, raw foods and watch your health soar.

I still love my uncookbooks and preparing raw gourmet for family and friends, but for me, I am taking it simple and easy. Water upon waking (plain, can't afford to put lemons in it anymore!), 16-24 oz green juice (cuke based always), fruit (most likely bananas or mango)...workout... green smoothie (2 fruits +greens), afternoon more fruit, dinner either fruit or a salad with 1/2 avo and tomato or a fruit salad (greens + 2 fruits). My taste buds are changing and I am feeling better already.

I had one day of "detox". I felt bloated and constipated and craved salt. I also haven't had any salt/ oils/ concoctions either. But now I feel much better. Today was a little off, but that was due to emotional stuff really.No exercise today either, so that didn't help. Tomorrow I will go strong with my workout...no worries.

I went thru my pantry and gathered all my superfoods on one shelf. OMGoddess!! about $400 worth of stuff. Lawd knows the reason I went raw was because I was innately drawn to the fresh fruits and veggies... the colors, the crunch, the juiciness of a fresh mango. how in the world did I start to think that 100s of bagged powdered potions would lead to extreme health?? It just doesn't feel right to me anymore. I don't know why. Who knows in the winter I may change my mind. I reserve that right!

So, be brave. Listen to yourself. You know what version of this diet is best for you.Who knows how long you will live? Who knows what the universe has in store for any of us? All I know is that I want to feel amazing everyday and I want my daughter to see me being the best version of myself. I support you all in whatever version of this journey that you take.

As always email with any questions.

In light and love,
Jayna'

Life is so Short (Celebrating Sr K. Pattabhi Jois)

Ahhhhh Where have I been? In mommie mode. My daughter has 3 new specialists in a high-tech neurocenter 2 hours from our house. The results were grim. I went into survival mode. I have been researching, reading and testing her. She is of course fabulous, but I am just now being able to breath again. I have been working out regularly and pushing myself in that area. I have been eating raw and incorporating some cooked quinoa and a few steamed veggies every now and then. I'm off nuts again (had another bad experience) and am making sure to get my green juice and smoothies often.

I decided to spend a little time posting about K. Pattabhi Jois and his contribution to the world of yoga. I cried when I found out that he passed. Ashtanga has changed my life. Although I currently practice more of Jivamukti yoga (by DVD) than anything else, my background is Ashantga...forevermore. And I am eternally grateful to this being of light for bringing it down into this realm of being. He was 93 and lived an amazingly long, healthy and happy life. His devotion to Ashtanga was so inspiring and I was privileged enough to be taught by one of his DIRECT students Melanie Fawer. She had (not sure if it came back after Katrina) a studio in New Orleans. I own her DVD and find it wonderfully specific to Jois's style. Her studio offered Mysore classes and the DVD felt like my own personal Mysore style class (minus the instruction's manipulations of course).

If you want to read what others are writing about him. Check it out on Yoga Journal's Discussion Board HERE . So today, remember that life is short and in the grand scheme of things if you are wondering about or stressing about eating raw or working out or making time for family/friends...remember this: wherever your intention lies, you heart and life will follow. If you design a life that supports health and happiness, then health and happiness will be your rewards. It's inevitable...law of attraction.

To learn more about Ashtanga or K. Pattabhi Jois, please check out the following link and enjoy the following videos:

Ashtanga's Main Site







After my mourning, I will post something upbeat and motivating!

Green Detox Days 13 &14. Closing and Thoughts on Cleanse

Okay poppies. Sorry for the 5 day delay, but things can quickly get hectic around here. Okay I don't have my notebook for my food intake for last two days of the challenge, but I did NOT finish strong!!! I was disappointed in myself, but circumstances arose that couldn't be helped :(

On Sat. Day 13, I was invited to the Mother-to-Mother Luncheon for mommies of kiddos with Autism. I was meant to be a day of pampering and enjoyment. They went to great lengths to make me a wonderful vegan and gluten free meal (the only one in the bunch). I was STARVING and the event was 4.5 hours. I had a small green smoothie that morning. Small for me is 3 cups. I decided to eat the wonderful smelling meal. Oh my...big mistake. The organic sauteed rice and veggie dish seemed like a good idea, but let me tell you, it WAS NOT. Oh my oh my. Sick as a dog! Seriously. Sick as a dog.

On Sun. Day 14, I went to the infamous Arnold's Way (more on that tomorrow when I can upload the photos and stuff). Got a few gourmet raw dishes and....SICK AS A DOG! Had to stop at the Whole Foods and go to the bathroom. As a result some of my eating spiraled a bit out of control for a few days. That coupled with my inability to get to the gym and I just went into a mini depression. Seriously. Okay depression may not be the best word, but you get my point. Tonite I am determined to get to the gym even if it's for 30 mins to ride the Ubike or Rbike and just get myself together. My stomach is still killing me from my poor choices and I am determined NOW to get it together. My daughter told me today to eat a fruit salad! She is such a sage.

Okay, so I have a new plan and a new challenge for myself. I really need to keep it simple and get back to the basics. So starting tomorrow I am doing green juice EVERY morning (even if it's only 8-12 ozs) and then green smoothies. Mono meals at lunch of fruit and then mono meals of fruit before a night time salad. No nuts, no flax crackers. My fat will come from tahini, avocados, and olives. I am excited about it and know it will work well. I will put the details in my next post. I will check in daily like I did before. Also, I previewed some new DVDs and have to put their reviews up after I actually do them.

So, overall the cleanse was fantastic. It reminded me of what it's like to truly eat raw food. What drew me to this lifestyle was the simplicity of it and the spiritual awakening I received by uncomplicating my life. For that reason alone, I am glad I did the cleanse. I am so ready to find the joy and simplicity in the next phase of this cleanse.

Taking a deep breath and about to just reboot and start again...ahhhhhhhhhhh. As always, I am 100% honest and hope that the honesty of my struggles inspire others to push forward as well.

Green Detox Day 12 & Attitude

Hi Poppyseeds!

Today is 73 degrees!!!!!!!! It was 35 when we got up. I actually was hungry at lunchtime. I wanted to CHEW a kale salad!! I realize that maybe I will make a green soup for tomorrow's lunch. You all know how I feel about hunger. I know my fasting friends will tell me that hunger is their friend, but it ain't mine. I made a quick tasty smoothie that cured that hunger though. I also am PMSing (due within 8 days) and really wanted something sweet. I picked up Larabars, but they are for dessert and snacks starting AFTER my detox. Below I will list the AWESOME smoothie that I made earlier.

Today's Menu & Food Plan

*green smoothie: spinach, celery, strawberry, cinnamon, chia, ice, water (2 cups)

*green smoothie: 3 cups of the same as above

*green smoothie: celery, banana, spinach, cinnamon (1 c)

*cantaloupe and 1.5 cs of celery, banana, spinach, cinnamon smoothie with chia seeds

*kale salad (red/yellow peppers, cucumber, dulse, sauerkraut) with cayenne tahini dressing and veggie flax crackers

*"Green Chocolate Smoothie" with 1 key lime Larabar broken up in it while I watch a movie

As I get closer to my period, I honor my body wanting some more fat and a bit of something sweet and delicious. So I came up with my

"Green Chocolate Smoothie"

*spinach

*2 frozen bananas

*hempseeds

*yacon syrup

*raw carob

*cacao

*water

*2 dates

Put hempseeds, water, dates, yacon syrup, spinach, carob and cacao into blender and blend for 20 seconds. Then add 2 frozen bananas. Blend. Serve...yum

Today's Exercise

*BW 21 squats

*cable kickbacks

*deadlifts (romainian)

*seated calf raises

*glute machine

*abductor

*adductor

*weighted obliques

*ab knee ups on bench

*plie squats

*on my way back for 20 mins of intervals and BW abs and stretching.

Okay onto attitude that doesn't rhyme with gratitude for nothing!! When I have an attitude of gratitude, I am soooooooooo grateful for every and anything that I have. Today I am so grateful for the sunshine, my daughter finding a medicine that helps with ehr seasonal allergies and doesn't make her brain go haywire, my beautiful home, my 11 year old VW, my fit body, raw foods, my knowledge of raw foods, Kennedy's dad....the list goes on and on.

If you want to make a change, it's as simple as changing your MIND. Tell yourself that YOU are in control...NOT the bag of cookies, NOT your husband/boyfriend/friend who brings over doughnuts right after you worked out. YOU YOU YOU are the driver of the bus. You say where it stops and starts and WHO it picks up. So, if you wanna pick up some new healthy habits, start now...today and decide that in the sunshine you will take a 20 minute walk and drink an extra 4 cups of water. Heck, make a green smoothie ( smiles ChocolateOrchid) even if you use an old beat up blender. Make it happen. TODAY'S THE DAY!!!

Green Detox Day 11

Can you believe it's Day 11 already!!!! I am feeling so many changes in my body and my spirit. I am getting really creative with my smoothies and adding chia seeds is really helping to keep me full. I am making smoothies every time I am hungry and always having one ready beforehand.

Today I had a great workout at the gym. I was kinda out of it when I went in and just told myself I would do my strength training and go back and do my cardio later, but decided I would get it all done while I was there. I realized in the past few days that my "Friends" at the gym are always stopping me and chatting thereby prolonging my time in the gym and cutting into my high heart rate. I decided that I would go in focused and talk ONLY after I was done. This made a major difference!!

Today's Menu and Food Plan

*green smoothie: spinach, celery, fresh strawberries, orange, banana, sesame seed mylk and chia seeds (2 cups)

*green smoothie: (same as above) 1 qrt

*green smoothie: kale, spinach, frozen mango, frozen banana, sesame mylk, water, 2 tbsps hempseeds

*green smoothie: 1 frozen banana, 1 lemon, spinach, vanilla, ice, water

*kale salad: kale, red pepper, veggie flax crackers, cayenne tahini dressing, yellow peppers

*4 dried figs with 1 c vanilla hazelnut tea

Today's Exercise

*10 min warm up on elliptical

*21s (bicep curl)

*dips

*lat pull down

*assisted pullups

*hammer curls

*preacher curls

*shrugs

*weighted obliques

*intervals on treddy

I worked up an awesome sweat and felt amazing as I chugged my smoothie with Kennedy on my way out of the gym. I have lots of reading to do tonite and may go back to the gym and sit on the Ubike and get some reading done. I am not sure yet, maybe not...hmmm

Okay, some days I go back and eat something before bed other than what I list on my food menu and plan. Last nite I had an orange before bed and a few nights I added sauerkraut and dulse to my salad. No big deal.

Check out this awesome video by my buddy Philip. This is EXACTLY my way of thinking. Simple is best. Yes I do make my flax crackers, tortillas, desserts, etc, but the MAJORITY of my raw diet is S-I-M-P-L-E



Check out his smoothie video too.



You should be inspired to eat and be raw now!!! Grab a green smoothie no matter how large or small... just make one. I used a $20 blender from Wal Mart (yes wal mart :( ) until it blew up!!! I saved and got my Vitamix and I use it 3-5 times A DAY. Just get started. Smoothies, Salads, Fruits... THAT IS RAW FOOD. !!!!

Green Detox Day 10

Today I have a lot on my mind and am feeling ....blah. I haven't been that way all day, but I am feeling sad right now. I can't say why, but am in the dumps a bit :(

Today's Menu

*hot water with lemon


*smoothie: mango, strawberries, banana, spinach, ice, water

*water

*kombucha (strawberry)

*smoothie: sesame seed mylk (made it today), spinach, banana, orange, lemon, fruits of the earth, chia seeds

*sweet kale salad (kale, raisins, walnuts, sliced banana) dressing (tahini, water, agave)
I didn't like this salad very much. I ate about 1/4 of it and stopped.

*small kale salad with cayenne tahini dressing and veggie flax crackers and 1/2 tortilla

My stomach is feeling too full. I have a very uncomfortable feeling. I am hoping that after a good night's sleep I will feel better.

Today's Exercise

*cardio day.

*20 mins treadmill

*20 min jumprope

*no abs b/c I was bloated

I am off to clear my mind and write in my journal. I promise tomorrow's post will be much more inspiring.

Green Detox Day 9 and Thoughts on Motivation

Okay. I don't always feel like (or have time to) edit the post, but yesterday I decided to add saukeraut to my dinner salad...yummmmm...

Well, today is amazing....amazing....amazing. I went to bed early last nite. My body was tired and I listened to it. I woke up renewed and ready for Tuesday! It was foggy and cold, but I found enough MoJo to get dressed for the gym. When I got there, I wasn't feeling it. But told myself to jsut get thru my plan and then I could leave. Ha!! I got inot it alright. My MoJo came back and I was so glad that I did it.

Today's Menu and Food PLan (going off memory here)

*Kristen's Raw energizing smoothie...yum

*same smoothie post workout with chia seeds this time

*32 oz grapefruit juice with e3live in it

*a variation of Kristen's Raw kiwi vanilla smoothie (I added strawberries...yummmmmmmm) with chia seeds

*kale salad with red pepper, cayenne tahini dressing, veggie flax crackers, tortillas.

*dried figs and vanilla tea while watching the biggest loser tonite

Today's Exercise

*10 min warmup on Ubike

*21 squats

*cable kickbacks

*glute machine

*deadlifts

*seated calf raises

*plie squats

*adductor

*abductor

*weighted abs

*sauna 5 minutes

Going back in 45 mins for cardio and more stretching. I felt powerful today.

Onto a topic that I get many emails about... motivation. This email came today....

How are you? It’s been awhile since we last chatted but I just have to ask you….WHERE does your motivation come from? I mean I read your blog and it sounds really wonderful but how did you start to put one foot in front of the other to get it going? I have tried and I always say I will start tomorrow and Jayna tomorrow will come and go and I do NOTHING!!! I should be motivated because I want to be healthier, my skin is all messed up and I have gained weight…I took my son to the doctor last Tuesday a week ago today and girl I got on the digital scale and it said 201 I have never been this heavy in my life, that should have been my motivation right there. Every time my husband wants to take family pictures I say NO are you crazy because I have gained weight and I truly do not like what I see in the mirror. L Email me when you can.

I've been writing a lot lately about starting . Starting is the only thing you have to worry about. I mean STARTING every single day. Don't worry about doing it right, doing it enough, or doing it better or the same as anyone else...including me. Just wake up everyday knowing that you will START ....not necessarily finish, but START your plan to take care of your body. For me it boils down to this.... what do I think I'm worth?? When I thought I wasn't worth much, I ate crappy food and didn't exercise. As I started to value myself more, I put more time into ME.

What is it that you are hiding from? Looking better, feeling better?


I know it sounds crazy, but we can be AS afraid of the best parts of ourselves as we can be the bad. Sometimes we fall into a role where we are the "fat" one or the "ugly" one or the "poor" one and we don't know what to do if you don't fit that role anymore.

I am motivated by looking and feeling fantastic! Not according to anyone else's standards...just my own. Actually, my doctor told me that I was 10 lbs overweight! I am only 5'0" and I look great. I feel phenomenal and I have muscle...but she told me to lose 5 lbs "even if it's 5 lbs of muscle". Needless to say she isn't' my doctor anymore.

If you want to take family pictures, use that as your goal. Make an appt at a studio 2 months from now and use THAT as your motivation. Anything that works.

I want to tell you that you can have the body and mind of your dreams if you just START TODAY.


Imagine...if you start today, next week you will have ONE week of eating right and diet under your belt. How does that sound? I am no authority,but I can say as someone who grew up on New Orleans fried chicken and gumbo that me being where I am is anything short of miraculous. If I can do it so can you. Just start today. Walk around the block, drink 4 extra cups of water, do some stretches and jumping jacks...ANYTHING to get you on your way.

I'm rooting for you.

I love you.

Green Detox Day 8 & Weekly Recipes

Okay green poppies!!!!!!!!!

Day 8 is breezy. First of all let me talk about yesterday. I felt so great on my juices until dinner. I was light and crisp. I got a ton of my schoolwork done at the library and was soooooooo focused. I didn't' feel true hunger until I got in the car to go home and then I was ravenous!!!! I got home and made a wonderful smoothie. Remember I mentioned yesterday that it was my first time making it? Well, it was sooooooooooooo delicious that I had it again this morning!!!!!

Jayna' Zing-ba-da-Bing Smoothie

*2 bananas
*1 orange
*1 lemon
*spinach
*kale
*ice
*water

Blend and love it up and enjoy!!!

Last nite I did yoga and five minutes of abs and read myself to sleep. Well, before that, I did a warm water enema. I am much better at these now. Thank goddess. It was highly successful. I felt soooooooo full of energy when it was over. I got to bed really late so I was truly dismayed to wake up at 6:30 am to rain and cold darkness outside!! ARG. I wanted to crawl under the covers and sleep the day away, but did I? Uhhhh no!!! I got Kennedy ready for school (finally back in session) and showered for the gym. Yes I did say shower FOR the gym! My clothes were ready to go so I made it there in the storm and was slow to warm up, but ended up having a BLAST.

Today's Menu and Food Plan

*green smoothie (Kristen's Raw Recipe!!) "Senergy Smoothie" celery, banana, cinnamon (plus chia seeds)

*zada-ba-da-bing smoothie: orange, lemon, spinach, kale, banana, chia

*Kristen's vanilla kiwi smoothie (want the recipe?? buy the book!! hahahahaha)

*1 c strawberries, 1 orange (maybe)

*kale salad, red pepper, tahini dressing, cucumber wrapped in my tortilla shells (recipe below), veggie flax crackers (recipe below)

*dessert (I feel like dessert today and I'm a queen so I get what I want) key lime larabar, 1/4c macadamia nuts, steamy mug of vanilla tea

Made it to the gym in the storm and cold for upper body and a little cardio. Will go back after my meeting tonite with Kennedy and do some real cardio.

Today's Exericse

*10 min treddy warm up

*lat pull downs

*preacher curls

*lying tricep extensions

*dips

*hammer curls

*alternating bicep curls

*obliques

*weighted abs

*shoulder press

*jump rope for intervals ...about 15 minutes

I hopped a shower and made it to the next town to the store and was STILL able to get Kennedy early from school! Oh yea oh yea. This is the power of raw and of getting up early. I am truly seeing on this detox now that I have ONE WEEK DOWN! that nothing has changed my life more than greens. I feel truly amazing. The best ever and I won't be as drastic as to say I will eat exactly this way for ever (b/c I love my gourmet raw restaurants) but I can say that this will be the basis and mainstay of the way that I do eat. It has cleared up so much energy for me to concentrate on other things. I am consuming the same amount of calories, most times MORE and I feel great. I truly do. I am curvy in all the right places and fit and strong. I don't give a rat's ass what the scale says or anyone else. Well, I look great so I guess that's easy to say!!!! :)

This week's recipes are....

Veggie Flax Crackers (by Jayna')

*2 c dark flax soaked in 4 cups of water

*1 red pepper

*2 carrots

*1 zucchini

*1 tbsp red pepper flakes

*2 tsps celtic sea salt

Put in food processor and whirl it around! I made some circle shapes, some square and broke the rest into croutons and odd shapes. I put them on 150 for 40 mins and 105 for 18 hrs after that. I store em in the fridge and they can last for a month!!

Tortilla by Raw Chef Russell James

For the tortilla

*3c peeled courgette (zucchini)

*3T olive oil

*2t lemon juice

*Pinch cayenne

*1t ground coriander

*1/2t salt

*1/2c flax meal

• Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth.

• Add flax meal and blend again until smooth.

• Pour mixture onto 2 dehydrator sheets and spread evenly into a circle on each.

• Dehydrate for 8 hours at 105 degrees F, or until able to peel of the sheet.

• Once the dehydrator sheets are removed, return to the dehydrator for 30 - 60 mins, until both sides are dry to the touch but still pliable.

* Flax meal is flax seed that have been ground in a coffee grinder or similar, to produce a fine flour.

These two recipes will be able to get me thru my week along with Kristen's tahini dressing and I will make more of that dressing this week...yum yum! I will take the flax cracker that I made into a pizza crust and put veggie guacamole on top. I will use the wraps for marinated veggies and such.... It will be a great healthy week.

I'm already thinking up my next challenge. I can't tell you yet b/c I may change my mind and do something else, but I think I know.

I hope that you all have done something wonderful for yourselves today. If not, stop right now and commit to SOMETHING. Even if it's ten minutes. Commit everyday to taking steps that get you closer to optimal health.

I love you.

Green Detox Day 7

Okay. I'm at the library for school so I have to be super quick. I'm feeling amazing today. Tons of clarity, energy and good feelings. I feel powerful and strong. I haven't weighed myself and I don't intend on doing so until the end of my "detox". My jeans still don't fit, but I feel amazing and that's all that matters. I look pretty hot too, so that doesn't hurt!

Today's Menu & Drink Plan

*hot water and lemon

*green juice: carrot, celery, cuke, ginger ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

*juice: strawberries, cuke, celery, lemon

*Raspberry kombucha

*green juice: cuke, celery, kale, apple, lemon

*(2 oranges) I brought them along in case I am not done by the time I'm really hungry. I prefer to make it home and have my green smoothie, but I DO NOT believe in starving one's self.

*green smoothie: spinach, kale, banana, orange, lemon, chia seed (this will be a new one, we'll see how it goes)... I made it up this morning in my head.

Today's Exerices

*official Day of Rest DOR

*few minutes of yoga before bed is the plan

Kristen's Raw Book Review and Skinny Bitch DVD Review

Okay okay okay....

Kristen has done it again !!! When her books Easy Raw Vegan Salads & Dressings and Easy Raw Vegan Smoothies, Juices, Elixirs & Drinks arrived in the mail I was jumping up and down!!! Now that is getting warm outside and with my green detox going, I am truly looking for inspiration and I certainly got it!!!!! As you may know, I have moved from a really messy raw vegan to a cooked vegan back where I belong to a raw vegan and this time it's all about being simple. When I was last supper healthy on the raw diet, my diet was really simple and plain. I still love to throw together something messy and fun, but for the mental and physical clarity... veggies and fruits are where it's at. And in that order!

Kristen's Easy Raw Vegan Smoothies, Juices, Elixirs and Drinks gets 2 thumbs up. Oh my goddess...I found so many wonderful fruit AND veggie smoothie recipes. I am really trying to find more smoothie/soup type recipes. You can NEVER have too many veggies in your system. Period. With recipes like Beauty and the Beast, Love Nest Maca Smoothie, and island Oasis Girl. you will honestly get get bored with these recipes and there are SO many other ways to mix and match em!! And another thing I love about Kristen's books are that she always starts off with her Raw Basics chapter. She includes answers about why you should go raw and the top tips for storing and keeping produce. This book is loaded with information and tips all throughout it! I really want to try the Cinnamon Pecan Milk with some dried figs next week for dessert! yummmmmmmm Trust me, if you wanna shake things up this summer and are looking for very ORIGNIAL tasty smoothie recipes that you can make in a cinch, grab a copy of this book. You will NOT be sorry that you did!

Okay on to the next book! As a true lover of salads, I was sooooooooooo elated to read Kristen's awesome book on salads and dressings . Oh my oh my. My creativity went buzzing. Her Cayenne Tahini Dressing is most likely going to be a stapel for me. I love tahini and usually just throw it on a salad with lemon juice and stir, but this will make it last much longer and give it extra zip! I'm so excited to try it. With recipes like Italian Bread Salad, Summer Picinic Slaw, The Best Chopped Salad Ever (favorite of mine), and Latin American Fiesta Vinaigrette how could you possibly get bored!!!??!?! If you think salads ahve to be boring or plain, you are sooooooooooo wrong. Honestly, Kristen has been the only raw chef's whose dressigns I have truly truly enjoyed. Somehow she knows just want to put in em...seroiusly. She catered a CSL event that I went to and I had 5 plates of her salad/dressing recipe. People were laughing!!!

The DVD title reads "Get into Skinny Bitch shape with teh help of this dance based aerobic workout routine, which focuses primarily on tightening your booty. Ballet moves mixed with plenty of bouncin/ around will help you shed pouds, grow stronger and feel awesome."

First of all, I am a Giant Rory Friedman fan. I love all the Skinny Bitch books that I own. I also own their first 2 workout dvds. This one was cute and great, but I didn't even sweat. I think if you are in good physical shape it won't be a hard core workout, but can provide something different and dancy. Perhaps you can do this on your day of rest from working out. Did I enjoy it?? yes. Would I recommend it for someone trying to lose weight if they only have about 20lbs to lose? No. I would however recommend their other two dvds. They are so fun and easy to do!

Green Detox Days 5 & 6

Hi Green Buddies!!!

Lo siento that I couldn't post last nite. Didn't get to bed until MEGA late and didn't wanna get out the comp, etc. So here goes! Yesterday was cool. It has finally gotten warm here in PA and I have decided that in the evenings before dinner if I am really hungry I will eat some fruit... quick exit...no problemo. I did this yesterday and it helped me until I got home. Remember... I am NOT in the business of going hungry... EVER.

Day 5 I ate....

*green juice 12 oz (cuke, celery, apple)

*green smoothie (orange, spinach, banana, chia seeds) 48 ozs

*green smoothie (4 frozen bananas, hemp mylk, vitamineral greens, fruits of the earth powders)

*1 orange, strawberries, banana.

*kale salad with red pepper, tahini, herbamare, sundried tomato flax crackers, cucumber, saukeraut, and 1 mango

*8 oz strawberry kombucha

Yesterday was CRAZY fitness day. I had my MoJo going and I knocked it out. My legs were literally shaking when I left. Oh yea...the only way to do it. Go hard or go home. That's what I tell myself when I walk into the gym!

Day 5's Workout

*21 squats

*abductor machine (first time)

*adductor machine (first time)

*seated calf raises

*standing cable kickbacks

*glute machine

*leg press

*obliques

*weighted abs

*short 8:30 warm up on elliptical

THEN, I went back in the afternoon for cardio. Some jump rope, few sprints on the treddy, some more abs, chatting with folks, stretches and a few minutes of relaxation.

Today's Plan got off to a great start. Day 6 is rocking and I am so proud of myself. I feel so strong and confident. My cravings are diminishing and that's truly the first time that I can say that...ever. I KNOW it's the green intake.

Today's Menu

*water with lemon

*green smoothie: 2 bananas, spinach, fresh strawberries, 1/2 lime, 1/2 cuke, ice water, chia

*8 oz kombucha

*green smoothie: spinach, frozen banana, strawberries, 1/2 cuke, fresh strawberries, hempseed mylk, chia seeds, dulse

*2 oranges

*red leaf lettuce, 1 avocado, 1 tomato, sauerkraut, herbamare, dulse. The rest of my sun dried tomato flax crackers

*hempseed mylk with cacao and 1 frozen banana and dried figs

Today's Exercise (already done!)

*6 mins jump rope

*15 mins Ubike intervals (calm)

*weighted abs and obliques

*4 mins jump rope

*15 mins Ubike SS

*stretches

Today I have tons of schoolwork and it is soooooooo gorgeous outside. Kennedy is gone with her dad and I am inside paying bills and about to get started with my work. I hope that you are finding the beauty and sunshine in this day. If not, go wash your face, take a deep breath and choose to start again. After all, if you don't do it for yourself...who will????

I love you.

***edit*** I decided to have Kristen's Tahini Dressing with my salad...oh my goddess I was licking the bowl. Also, I changed my late nite smoothie to a new wonder. hemp mylk, frozen bananas, carob, dates...oh my

Green Detox Day 4

Hi Goddesses!!!



Today I was hungry. what's up with that???? So I just had extra green smoothie. I made the HUGE mistake of getting home really late and eating my dinner. I kinda overate. And I ate really quickly, which means I didn't realize that I had overeaten until too late. Oh well, tomorrow's a new day.



Today's Menu


*strawberry kombucha

*green smoothie (spinach, strawberry, blueberries, banana, chia seeds) 12 oz

*green smoothie 30 oz of same as above

*green smoothie celery, strawberry, organe, banana, chia

*green smoothie vitamineral greens, fruits of the eart, chia, orange, 2 bananas, strawberry

*2 oranges

*1 mango, kale salad (kale, red pepper, tahini, herbamare, lemon juice), flax crackers and corn chips with nacho cheeze sauce and dill cashew cheeze

*dried figs and water


Today I exercised and felt great. I had tremendous power today for some reason!! Ha! I know why.



Today's Exercise

*quick warmup on the elliptical

*upperbody circuit...in no order

*alternating bicep curls

*dips

*incline pec flyes

*weighted abs

*weighted obliques

*hammer curls

*tricep extensions


Tomorrow I am hoping to see my hunger subside a bit. I have a busy day and will bring along enough smoothie to last and last.


What have you done today to get you closer to your goals>??? What can you do tomorrow? Remember it isn't the big steps that matter most, it's the small CONSISTENT ones that you make that matter the most. I'm not all talk. I have walked the walk. I have been grossly overweight and clueless about raw. You can do this. You CAN DO THIS. Your health and the health of the planet depends on it.

Til tomorrow :-)

**edit** I forgot to mention that I went to the gym twice today. Early am for strength training and then in the afternoon for cardio. Was bored to do the cardio so I did about 15 mins of jumprope and 10 mins of treddy also some weights.

Green Detox Day 3

Okay lovely ladies,


Today was effortless again. Wow, this detox is so easy. I am going to try to lessen my fat intake tomorrow nite. I have no interest in going NO fat for this detox though.


Today's Menu
*few ounces kombucha

*hot water and lemon

*32 oz green smoothie: spinach, apple, blueberries, frozen banana, chia

*16 oz of the same green smoothie

*green smoothie: spinach, apple, strawberries, 2 bananas chia

*2 oranges

*red lead lettuce salad. 1/2 red pepper, tahini, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, herbamare

corn chips, Nacho cheeze sauce, flax crackers

*dried figs and 16 oz strawberry kombucha


I am not trying to feel hungry at all on this detox, so when I am I have a green smoothie. I am also going to do only green juice on Sunday until dinner and do green smoothies at nite. This is going to be great. My energy has been so great too. I did an enema the other day and will do another one tomorrow. The goal is 3 a week. This is a new practice for me. I have had to read TONS of information before I wanted to commit to doing this. I understand philosophically why this is the right thing to do.



Today was only cardio and abs.

Today's Exercise

*6 mins jump rope

*15 mins elliptical

*2 mins jump rope

*15 mins on treddy (8 min jog, 5 mins HIGH incline, few mins cool down)

*9 mins stairmaster

*50# weighted abs

Tomorrow is the busiest day of the week for Kennedy and I. We may skip a thing or two, but we have tons to do. I will definitely tell you have the detox goes tomorrow and any new insights. Today I thought about how badly I want to get back into my yoga practice. I have been waiting to find the best class (no go so far). The only studio that I tested out that I love is crazy expensive..uh..NO. I am very private with my yoga practice. I love doing it at nite by candlelight. I have yet to truly be in a yoga class without my ego present... or worrying if anyone is looking at me, etc. I got out my favorite yoga tape and will start it tomorrow. However, TODAY, I will be doing 5 sun salutes before I go to sleep with one restorative pose or two before bed.


I am feeling so clear on this detox...so focused, so ON point. I feel great and am thinking that I will definitely KEEP a few days a week where I do green smoothies until dinner time. I have a plan for my day of juice too. I will tell you more about it as the week comes to a close, but this week I have definite plans for getting my schoolwork and fitness plans in this week.


I hope that you all are starting TODAY to take care of yourself. Even if it's one small green smoothie just so that you feel motivated to start today.

Green Detox Day 2

My princess and I at the

Autism Awareness

Fair

Ok. Yesterday was very successful. I normally don't do well on "detox" programs like juice feasts or ones with lots of steps, so this is perfect for me right now. It is actually wonderful not to worry about what I am going to eat or consume during the day and all I do is have my green juice and smoothie ready. I think I may be saving a bit of money right now as well!! Oh yea oh yea. I felt amazing energy throughout the day. I'm serious. I don't believe in being hungry, so when I felt hunger I drank a green smoothie. My mental clarity and focus was DEAD on.

Today's Menu and Food Plan

*2 oz grape kombucha

*water

*green smoothie- spinach, banana, orange, chia seeds

*green juice- broc stalks and florets, cuke, celery, apple

*green smoothie- spinach, apple, frozen banana, few frozen strawberries, chia seeds

*kale salad (kale, red peppers, nutritional yeast, with sun dried tomato flax crackers and yesterday's famous nacho cheeze sauce and my fermented dill/paprika cheeze, and sauerkrat)

*before bed: 1 orange

Today's Workout (completed)...in no particular order. 3 sets

*10 min warmup on crosstrainer

*Front Squats BW (21s)

*lunge with core rotation

*donkey kicks with crossovers

*leg lifts

*bridge with 25# plate

*deadlifts (50# BB)

*seated calf raises

*jump rope between sets

*weighted abs

*weighted obliques

I was toast when I was done. I was so ready for my green smoothie, that I always keep in my gym bag!!!

Today I am off to do some schoolwork catch up and go to the tiny health food store that is 30 mins away for a few necessary items for Kay and me. She wants to play the Wii tonite, so I guess I will and I am making a challenge for myself during the biggest loser tonite. I will do 50 ball crunches before every commercial segment is over. Oh yea...my abs should be toast tomorrow. That's exactly what I want.

What are you doing to get closer to your dreams and goals? I was coaching someone today in the gym and telling her that STARTING is the hardest part. Once you start, you are already on your way. When you start, you are no longer living for the future when you start, you are living in the gift of the present. It's the same for raw food and fitness... just s-t-a-r-t. I promise you in 30 days you will look back and be so happy. It doesn't have to be perfect. You don't' have to have a vitamix and dehydrator to start with raw food. You can start the good ol fashioned way...in the produce section with a basket of bananas, apples and oranges. But just start.

I am going to start getting new DVDs from netflix for fitness and taking one day out of the week to try them and them report about them online. I may start with some DVDs that I already own, but a few people have asked me about it and I think it would be great to share that with you all and hopefully motivate a few people.

So, keep your heads up and pull sunshine into your life today. And if you are living anywhere near the East Coast on this rainy, freezing day, you should try to MORE SO. I'm off to do work while Kennedy naps...have an awesome day.

Warm hugs,
Jayna'

14 Day Green Detox

Hi Goddesses!

Yesterday was a DOR from working out and dedication to my schoolwork. I did 5 mins of abs and ate a ton of food!!! I made so many yummy things for the week and had a nice Sunday Easter meal with Kennedy.

For the week I made Kristen's cheezy hemp nacho sauce. (recipe below). Oh my goddess this sauce is rawmazing!!! I am serious. I had it on corn chips last nite with the fermented dill/paprika cashew cheeze that I made for the week. I also made some corn chips and sun dried tomato flax crackers. I made a HUGE smoothie with celery (my new favorite smoothie green), strawberries and bananas with chia seeds gelled. I was ready to go!!!

This week will be a breeze now. OF course I still have things to do to prepare for my days, but it will be much easier.

Now...onto the real deal.....

Jayna's 14 Day Green Detox

*Green juice and smoothies until dinner time (about 6 pm)

*3-4 L of water per day

That's it! Simple and to the point. Finally getting warm up here on the East Coast (although this morning was 29 degrees) and am just ready for some internal spring cleaning. I am not going to go all out and say that I want to do a juice feast because I don't. Neither do I want to give myself a thousand rules like skin brush 7xs a day...etc. I will report everyday about my progress.

This morning I was still digesting my dinner so I had...

Today's Raw Food Menu and Plan

*warm lemon water

*12 oz celery, banana, straw, chia smoothie

*30 oz kale, banana, straw, chia smoothie

*24 oz juice (cuke + celery + apple)

*22 oz spinach, banana, straw chia smoothie

*kale salad with 1 avocado, red pepper, nutritional yeast, lemon juice with sun dried tomato flax with Kristen's cheezy hemp nacho sauce

*8 oz juice (cuke + celery + apple)

Edit*** Later in the day I had 3 tbsps e3live, 1 orange, and some grape kombucha****

Workout

*jump rope

*treddy (jog for 12 minutes)

*hardcore fast paced upper body circuit

CHEEZY HEMP NACHO SAUCE

By Kristen Suzanne of KristensRaw.com

Yield approximately 1 1/2 cups

1/3 cup water1 clove garlic2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice1 red bell pepper, seeded, rough chopped (approximately 1 cup)1 cup hemp seeds2 1/2 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes1 tablespoon chili powder*2 teaspoons tamari, wheat-free1/2 teaspoon Himalayan crystal salt1/2 teaspoon garlic powder1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper1/8 teaspoon turmeric powderBlend all of the ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy. This can be stored in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

Saturday Food & Exercise

Hey Green Peeps!

Today was a busy day. Rain turned into sun and I started feeling motivated to get things done.
Today I was snacky. What's up with that? Maybe it's the cardio... Anyway, I didn't mention yesterday but I gained 20 lbs on cooked food. YES 20 lbs!! I was so tired everyday, the soy made me feel terrible and heaven forbid when I ate wheat....sprouted or not! Terrible! I have lost 9 of the 20 lbs already and just feel so much more mental clarity and alertness. I love my body though. 11 extra pounds and all. I am not in a race with anyone to look any certain way. My goal is cellular health and longevity of life so that I can properly care for my little gyrl. She is the real reason. When you become a mommie, you have to change. It isn't about you anymore. So, I am very Ghandi with my message to her. I am NOT one of those moms who screams, "Eat your veggies!". I am the mommie who is eating veggies and says, "honey, do you want some?"

I live by example, not by order. I choose to do it this way. And the result is a well adjusted amazing kiddo (Autism and all) who shares, loves music and art and makes her own juices daily. So enough of that...onto the food intake.

Today' food

*water

* cuke + celery + apple juice and 1 orange

*green smoothie: 1 banana, apple, spinach, water, ice, 3 tbsp chia seeds

*organic freeze dried fruit munchies

*1/4 c kombucha

*pasta and raw marinara

*3 oranges and fresh strawberries

*dried figs and vanilla hazelnut tea + 1/2 c raw organic cashews

*cereal : buckwheat crispies, 1/2 banana slced, 1 c sliced strawberries, agave, 1/4 c walnuts
hemp seed mylk

Today's Exericse

*25 mins crosstrainer

*10 min jog on treddy (slight incline)

*upper body circuit + abs (dips, alternating bicep curls, shoulder press, tricep extensions, hammer curls, front raise). I was sweating and felt great afterwards.

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday and the Bunny is bringing Kennedy some homemade fermented nut cheeze with hempseeds! She (yes our bunny is a gyrl) is also bringing some teddy bears, oranges, apples, strawberries and a raw chocolate bunny. Kennedy won't eat the raw chocolate. That will be all mine. She will take the fruits over choc or candy anyday! The closest she gets to candy is GF/CF/SF vegan gummy bears and freeze dried fruit! She loves it. She has leaky gut syndrome so the probiotics in the nut cheeze are good for her gut. I am not sure if I can get to the gym tomorrow, but will definitely hula hoop on the Wii with Kennedy for about 30 minutes.

Exercise & Friday Menu

Keeping it short. I'm so busy this weekend. Tryna catch up on schoolwork and get organized. I was out at the library most of the day. So I brought along a bag of raw goodness with me. I was really hungry for some reason today, but perhaps tomorrow will be a lighter day. I am really craving greens. I will possibly start off tomorrow with a simple green juice. I'm thinking cuke + celery.

Exercise
15 jog on treddy
Body Weight lowerbody exercises and abs

Menu
orange
smoothie (celery, spinach, blueberries, banana)

2 bananas 2 oranges

26oz green smoothie (2 bananas, frozen berries, spinach)...forgot to put my chia seeds in for bulk

kale salad (red pepper, tomato, kale, tahini, herbamare, lemon juice)

cereal (buckwheat crispies, fresh strawberries, sliced banana, agave, walnuts, goji berries, hemp mylk)

1 mango and 1/4 cantaloupe

I'm back!!!

sOh my goddess I thought the sun would neva shine here on the East Coast. I have been sooooooo busy. I know people say that when a raw fooder/exerciser doesn't post, it's because they fell off some invisible wagon. Well, let me tell ya folks I haven't fallen off anything. As a matter of fact, I really need to get on here and do some serious updating to my recommended blogs and photos...all kinds of stuff.

So what have I been up to?? ok... I feel like I opened Pandora's Cooked Vegan box when I started eating cooked again. OUCH. I felt a little like crap too. I think b/c I had been 100% for so long and was kinda bored, not impressed with my muscle definition etc that I thought of cooked foods. One of my lovely readers told me in an email that she could "see it coming" for months. I guess I did too. Well, the grass ain't always greeener on the other side!! I know that eating an 80%-100% raw diet is optimal for our health and that 80% in my opinion is kinda all you need for true health if the other 20% is real food and not lab made chemical shit balls. Long story short, I'm back 100%. About 6-7 weeks of cooked gluten free at some points, soy free at others..etc, I still felt shitty. 2 days back on my green smoothies and it was heaven. So, the lesson I learned from all of this is that whatever I was searching for I am not anymore! I love raw food and I love being raw. I am not eager to go back to 75 ingredient recipes, but I like to keep it simple and delicious like my lovely friend Kristen does. (And BTW for the reader who emailed me and thanked me for sharing Kristen's info here...NO PROBLEM!) She is the real deal. She is one of the first people I consult when I make changes along my journey. Her spirit is amazing and she is truly a gift in this movement. I am soooo lucky to know her ;--)

About the gym.... still going strong. Loving it of course. I've been doing a bit more bodyweight stuff and I actually am starting yet again my early morning routine at the gym or using my myriad of at home DVDs starting tomorrow. Kennedy is out of school for the next few weeks and she enjoys going to the gym, but I don't her to be there long. So if my workout is done I can just go sit in the sauna and read my schoolwork!!!! This week I am a bit beyond in 2 workouts because I have been so exhausted, but I will be going late tonite and tomorrow morning again with Kennedy. I've also been playing the Wii fit a bit more. I'm telling you as the sun shines out here now on the East Coast, I feel a clouded weight lifting off my shoulders. I can breathe again.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My raw food intake has changed a bit from before cooked. Well, let me say what happened on my "cooked experiment". Grains and I do NOT agree. I felt groggy everyday, super fatigued and when I ate soy (cheese, tempeh, seitan, etc)... I was sooooooooo congested. I'm serious. I could hardly breathe. I got a massage and my head felt like it would explode. There was so much sinus pressure, it was ridiculous. I am having NONE of those problems anymore. Quinoa is great steamed, but it left me with heartburn every time I ate it!! Every time!

Now back on raw I'm getting in plenty of green smoothies....fresh fruit....my favorite of all times (kale salad) and some yummy Dr. Cow Cheese. I have a new love affair with tahini and am going to buy Kristen's Easy Vegan Salad Dressings recipe book . I love all of the dressings that she has made that I've tried. In the beginning of my raw journey, I wasted so much money and time trying to make raw dressings, that I quit and only still use lemon, but once I started trying her dressings....I'm NOT kidding, I redefined my thoughts about raw dressings being only olive oil and apple cider vinegar.

So, I am hopefully gonna be back to regular posting, well at least a few a week and hope that I can continue to encourage others along this path. I am truly convinced now more than ever, that anyone can find a way to make raw food work for them.

Realizations about Health and Happiness

I have been having trouble posting to the blog...sorry about the absence.
Things have been insane.Kennedy is much better now. She spent almost 8 days in the hospital. I was so nervous. I slept terribly and ate a ton of dried fruit and nuts JUST to survive. I was so hungry and used her hospital windowsill as a makeshift restaurant for salads and smoothies. Yes I did bring my tiny blender. I had an epiphany in the hospital. This news may shock some (but please keep the mean emails to yourself this time :-), I don't want to be 100% raw anymore. Raw= YES. 100%= NO. There were so many "healthy" versions of fresh brown rice and sauteed veggie options and instead I was eating 3xs the calories in nuts and almond butter b/c it's raw??? Bullshit.
As I changed my mind about a few things, I started doing research (of course!) about the history of cooked food and the reliability of comparing myself to an ape who only eats leaves and bananas. I then started seeking out people who are REALLY healthy who eat cooked foods (of course with lots of raw) and I got inspired. More inspired than I have in a very long time. I read up about macrobiotics (still tryna figure that one out...advice?) But definitely got in touch with the process of being grounded and centered.While in the hospital sleeping an average of 2-3 hours a night (broken up between the 24 hour day), I wrote in my journal about perfection. No such thing. And I don't want to play into any of it anymore.
So I take the labels away. Do I still consider myself raw? Yes I do and always will, but I won't put a percentage with it unless some asks me for clarification. I still of course advocate for the raw diet, just as I do for the vegan diet...forevermore, but as soon as I tightened the reins from around my neck, I felt free again.
I have been eating healthier than I have been in a long time and I'm religiously taking my enzymes. My cooked meals come mainly as my last meal of the day and I feel wonderful. Of the 7lbs I gained, I have lost 2 lbs and counting. People had me thinking that the second I ate an ounce of cooked food that I would gain 900 lbs.I decided that with school starting, I am NOT setting that high of a bar for exercise. You all know I am the mom of an awesome mostly-at-home 4 year old kiddo with Autism. I am SO busy. I spent a ton of time that I could have been doing schoolwork at the gym. So as it begins to warm up, I will get in my garage on my treadmill and go for early morning walks when school picks back up for Kennedy. She's been out for 4.5 weeks now. And I will use my weights in my house and get to the gym when I can. She loves it there and that is always a plus.So my diet has been something like this:green juice and fruit til noon.salad with greens, avo, veggies of all kinds (maybe lightly steamed broc, but most likely not)green smoothie snackdinner 1/2 or whole baked sweet potato, salad, steamed veggies. OR brown rice sauteed with olive oil garlic onion and veggies with a huge salad and TWO enzymes.I know that writing every morsel, taking pictures of all of my food and obsessing about if something is 100% raw while still eating packaged "raw foods" and "chips" and "bars" and thinking that whole foods like yams, and lentils = death.
How did I let THAT happen???I am not sure what works for everyone, but I do know what works for me. MODERATE exercise NOT excessive. TONS of raw foods in their natural states and not 75 step ingredient raw food combination dinners (although delicious when I can get to a raw restaurant) and some GROUNDING cooked WHOLE foods.I feel better than I have in a long time and I hope my honestly inspires someone else to know they do NOT have to try to attain something...some goal like 100% raw thinking it will be the KEY...it won't. I was 100% for a year and half. that was long enough to know it wasn't working for me.
I love being vegan and will never be anything but vegan....but I encourage others to find what works for them and then WORK IT!Speaking of gourmet raw...I went to CA and ate at my favorite south of the Bay raw cafe'....yum yum, yum.
I did stay 100% raw while in CA and AGAIN wished that i had transitioned to more cooked before I left b/c there were really healthy vegan whole food options there and I didn't eat any of it b/c I didn't' have my enzymes and I was afraid of getting sick in any way while out of town. I'm making a lentil veggie soup for tomorrow nite, I will keep you posted.

Gearing Up for Surgery

My daughter's surgery is tomorrow (Wednesday) please send her blessings and healing energy. I am nervous, but getting myself into a space of calm for her. She feeds off of my emotion and I need to be still...strong...ready.

Watching my new president take the oath of office while pouring tears from my eyes, I truly realized that ANYTHING is possible. Even for my little gyrl with Autism. The world is ours. This surgery will be tough, but we will get through it. She will be stronger and breathe better because of it!

As far as food and exercise are concerned- I haven't been to the gym b/c I've been busy nursing her to health and I've been waiting until too late in the evening to eat. That leads to binging on a few too many nuts or eating too big of a portion (huge salad with all the fixings) and waking up groggy with undigested food in my belly.. .arg! Anyway, I am hoping all of that comes into more of a normal speed after Kennedy and I get home from the hospital in the next few days.

To the hospital I am taking....
*3 quarts of frozen fresh apple juice
*2 quarts of frozen fresh orange juice for me
*oranges
*apples
*vitamins/b12
*ice pops (organic) for Kay
*rice organic ice cream for Kay
*a book
*laptop with kiddie dvds
*my journal and some crystals

This is a quick cute story...for Kennedy's delivery NOTHING had gone as planned. So there I was 6 weeks early in full active (Sorry we disconnected your epidural as soon as we put it in so you have no medicine) PAIN. Before all that- I had decorated my room with tie dyed throws and daisies and flowers, I put on all my crystal jewelry and did my hair. I wanted her to see her mommie for the first time looking like a princess!!! I will do the same for her tomorrow. I will decorate the recovery room and her overnite room... :)

If you have healthy kids in your life...be thankful. If you have sick kiddos or kiddos with different abilities (formerly known as disabilities) hug em tight tonite.

In light and love,
Jayna'

Happy MLK day and Enjoy the videos!

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!!! Kennedy and I are reciting the speech and sing old negro spirituals!!!

At this time in American history I am moved to tears. My soul is open and I am so grateful for the changes that our country has made and excited about the progress we STILL have to make. I want my daughter raised in a world where she knows that the color of her skin won't inhibit her in any way. And while I know that people will see her differently and attempt to limit her b/c of her different ability (formerly known as disability) and her black skin, she can always look to the president and say, "YES I CAN"!!!!!

Enjoy the speeches



c





If you want to be moved to tears. Watch this video

Snacking, Schoolwork, Angela Stokes and Exercise

Ok...what's up with my late nite snacking??!?!? ARG! Well, it was a hot cuppa yerba mate' + honey and some dried black mission organic figs....then later grapes, but still. I was watching a movie so I identify the trigger, but geez!!

Today I will be at the library from about 2-5 when they close and then try to head to the gym from some cardio and abs...then home early enough to hang with Kay and stay up late tonite finishing up some assignments. Tomorrow I will get up and do some at home yoga and then head to the library for an allllllllll day study/work-a-thon. I have so much to do and little time to get it done in. Ahhh working on my procrastination- this is a big one for me. Don't worry, I'm getting there. Any thoughts or suggestions??? I would be eternally grateful ;-)

Angela Stokes is one of my absolute favorite people in the world. Her amazing spirit and endless loving kindness is a gift for the world to witness. She truly has a handle on understanding food addiction and the connection between spirit and body.

Check out this awesome youtube video with her making juice. I TOTALLY will start squeezing my juice when I am looking to have juice only days (to eliminate the pulp)



Check out this short video on using exercise bands. I get lots of emails from women who can't get to a gym (or afford one), and who can't afford or get access to dumbbells...well watch this short clip. You can get strength training bands from Target/Wal Mart/Craigs list...really inexpensive.

I will be doing this workout when I am in the mountains of California in 2 weeks! Also, the other videos are short cardio ones. NO EXCUSES!!!! No equipment? No problem!! Come to my blog and just get it done!!







Best of luck to you as you focus on true health and passion.

In light and love,
Jayna'

Making the Most out of what you've got!

Hey Green Poppie Seeds!!!

Yesterday was a blistering freezing day in PA! Geez...cold cold cold! Kay and I got up in the morning and headed to the gym. I worked upper body like a madwoman!!! I felt so strong when we left.

Well, last nite her dad took her to special needs gymnastics and I decided to finish my cardio at the gym. Well, I had eaten 1 c cooked steel cut oats with berries and flax oil before going. It was 2 hrs before and I felt like I had cement on my chest. OH NO!!! 20 mins into it, I couldn't handle it. Had to quit. And I was NOT happy to stop a workout. This proves two things: 1) no more steel cut oats for a while; 2) eating "light to heavy" is truly what works best.

In fairness to me, I was supposed to be done exercising for the day. Anyhow, I got off the machine and into the hottub for 20 mins. Totally wasn't paying attention and it fried my new patent leather watch! ARG!.... :)

Today was a great day. -5 degrees this morning, but it was great. I had some business to take care of in the way of school stuff and then got to the gym late. Only had 45 mins before I had to run to the store and get Kay from school.

I did a 10 min warm up and 2 sets of about 6 lowerbody exercises. I pushed hard on the last set. Had my post workout shake of (soaked goji, soaked chia, banana, frozen straw and I forgot my vitamineral greens)

Today I've been cleaning and clearing. Wanting to organize. I mean really cleaning. I was on my hands and knees scrubbing my kitchen and downstairs bathroom floors!!! Reorganizing some things...oh yea.

This weekend is the last time that I have to complete the rest of my coursework from last semester. Wish me luck. Kennedy seems to be catching a cold and with 2 doctor appts and surgery next week, that will NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT be good...so send some well vibes her way. Tomorrow I will douse her with tons of zinc, vitamin C, echinacea, goldenseal and smooth move tea to get the gunk out of her bowel.

I am all about making the best out of what you have. Can't afford a juicer right now??? Check this out. It totally works too. I am going to CA at the end of the month and I will be bringing a tiny blender that can fit in my suitcase and my nutmylk bag for my green juice!!! I'm bringing my exercise bands and resistance bands too. NOTHING stops me. I make the most of all that I have. Try it!

Check out this cool video about how to juice wihtout a juicer

Workout Wednesdays

Just wanted to make a post ...a short and simple one.

I want to start "Workout Wednesdays" where I post my workouts and my food for the day.

Well, Wednesday is normally a cardio day so it will be kinda boring....sorry. Next week I will list my POA and maybe that will be a little more interesting.

Short and simple
Morning: 40 mins cardio. 30 rbike (reading a magazine). 20 mins on treddy (incline intervals)
About 100 various ab exercises (roman chair, medicine ball twists)

Tonite: spinning 50 mins, 40 abs (medicine ball twists)

Menu:
8:20 am 32 oz orange juice, flesh of one orange (wanted green juice but totally too lazy to clean the juicer after I made Kay's juice for school)...and yes I have 3 juicers and didn't wanna get them dirty either!

11:00 (post gym) smoothie 3 tbsp soaked chia seds, soaked goji berries, 1 banana, 1.5 cs frozen mango

12:20 8oz dried black mission figs (yes dried) was hungry, Kay wouldn't nap (couldn't go into kitchen for "real" lunch) ate em all before I knew it (bad Jayna' :)

3:30 huge kale and pea sprout salad with 1/3 c hempseeds, 1 avocado, 1 c cherry tomatoes, juice of one lemon, celtic sea sat. 32 ozs of orange/cranberry juice ("oh don't drink while you eat Jayna' !!!") I know I know, but I was thirsty and it looked good. I'll do better with that tomorrow

6:45 (post spinning) smoothie: vitamineral green, soaked gojis, soaked chia, 1 banana, 1 c frozen strawberries

8:15 (too late I know I Know) 1c COOKED steel cut oats, 1/2 c fresh blueberries, 1 tsp flax oil.

Tip of the Week
*Get a cute basket for your living room. Put a jump rope, strength training bands, and a few LIGHT hand weights in it. During one of your favorite shows...use the commercials and make a challenge for yourself: "I will do 30 bicep curls... I will do 20 knee pushups... I will do 40 crunches" and you'd be surprised what you can get done by the end of the Biggest Loser!

Revelations:

*gotta stop eating so late... it's my struggle right now
*need to get in tons more water
*stop being lazy and make the damn green juicer...just have TWO dirty juicers
*be better prepared for snack time so that 8 ozs of figs don't wind up in ur stomach before lunch. I woulda enjoyed em much better with a cuppa tea...damn!

Tomorrow my quinoa will be sprouted, but I am holding off on that as of yet and will likely eat some steamed veggies with my monster salad at dinner time.hmmmm of course I'll take photos and keep you posted.

Tomorrow is "Rock it Upper Body" day for me... don't know when I can get it in. If I try to go early I have to be done by 9:30 b/c Kay has therapy at a hospital 20 mins away... if I go later... she has preschool hr at the library from 1:30-2:30 and the daycare doesn't open until 4.... hmmmm I think 4 pm will be best. I totally dont' want to be rushed ....hmmmm

Well, I hope you are making time for fitness!!!! Every little bit counts.

In light and love,
Jayna'

Live Your Truth

It's interesting how when we stop to breathe.... to listen to ourselves and drown out any outside noises, we are then tuned in to our authentic nature. All decisions seem easy and things that previously required tons of effort are effortless.

Something inside of my brain has shifted.... clouds are clearing and focus has set in. Didn't they say when you eat anything cooked you get really foggy and disoriented?? Well, I feel like if you look for that to happen then it will. My experience was quite different.

I'm still researching sprouted/cooked grain ideas. And will very slowly introduce them. I have some quinoa sprouted now and will report tomorrow how that meal goes over tonite. My goal is eating simply and cleanly. ONLY. I am through with the labels. Technically I am vegan and always will be (karmic reasons), but all other labels can go...they serve NO purpose. I want to exit the "Raw Elitist" mindset before it's permanent.

Anyway,


For your spirit.... check out this amazing video by Esther Hicks via Abraham



If I had an iphone I would be plugged into Hicks 24/7. The message of the video is to help you understand how/why you get and most importantly DON'T get what you want. What level are you vibrating on?? What level are your thoughts vibrating on??? "What I am thinking and what I am receiving are always a vibrational match".

Today I did 40 mins of cardio and am going to spinning class tonite with Kennedy. I believe that I may lightly steam some broccoli tomorrow nite or maybe tonite if I get home early enough to eat it before bedtime. I haven't been good at all about NOT eating late. I have been eating too late at nite and waking up still digesting food. This means that overnite instead of my body's work...my body has been working on digesting heavy food and therefore storing it as FAT. Oh no!!! Time to make a change Jayna'!

So I am working on a cleaner and clearer life in all areas of my being. Simplicity. Honesty. Authenticity. Simply going after....focusing on.... what brings me joy... makes me feel good. No label, definition, explanation.... it just is.

Join me on this journey towards authentic living will you?

With love,
Jayna'

Making changes daily

Okay.... day 3. NO cooked steel cut oats. I had a heavy leg day planned, but my buckwheat concoction before bed made me wake up with gas and a tummy ache. It was TOO late to eat... too heavy of a meal... and ouch did I feel it. SO... plan B. Consume my new buckwheat porridge AFTER THE GYM. I ate an apple and 1/2 a banana before going.

My new buckwheat porridge recipe is called Buckwheat Applesauce Fruit Porridge.

*soak one cup of buckwheat over nite
*risnse well in the morning
*blend with 1/4 c water, 2 tsps yacon syrup (or agave), 1 tsp vanilla
*pour into a bowl
*add 2 skinned and diced apples to blender to make applesauce (I left mine chunky)
*add applesauce to bowl with buckwheat porridge
*add diced apples and sliced bananas and blueberries.

I have a picture of it, but didn't upload it. I will do that later.

I also have some quinoa sprouting. I will try it that way before cooking it, but have no problem with just steaming it with a few broc stalks and having it with a HUGE salad.

Nashima left a great recipe for steel cut oats:

"I have also been incorporating more oatmeal lately and it feels really great to have food that is a little more dense. I don't cook it but make raw version: I soak steel cut oats together with flax seed overnight. Sometimes I add prunes, goji berries or a date or two. The next morning I put the soaked mixture in the blender and blend it until it's smooth. I then put it in a bowl, add some water, stir in some chia seeds, cinnamon and whatever I feel like and let it sit for 20 minutes. Done! "

That sounds amazing and anything that adds those powerhouses Chia Seeds and Goji Berries. That will be great!

My dear friend Tina gave me this recipe...

*1 cup steel cut oats
*5 dried calimyra figs
*1 cup fig soak water
*1/8-1/2 tsp cinnamon
* pinch allspice agave to taste (about a TBS is good)
*soak oatmeal in about 4 cups water - in airtight glass container - in fridge for 24-48 hours
* soak figs in 2 cups water for 2 hours-to-overnight
*put 1 cup of the fig soak water into blender and blend until smooth...
*add drained oatmeal, agave and spices (can also add either walnuts or almonds
*if you like if you have a dehydrator, you can even put it in there to warm it a tad before eating

I am SOOOOOOOO trying this one!!!!

Now that I feel I have a better grasp on hearty raw protein packed breakfast meals... I will tackle quinoa for dinner meals....ahhhh. I am sprouting some now and will see how I like it raw tossed with veggies etc. If not, I will sprout and then put over heat for 3 minutes (real heat) with veggies seasonings....THEN I will move to full cooked after that. Today I can say that I feel full....strong and powerful. I worked my legs EXTRA hard in the gym and they were shakin like vegan bacon!!!!

Here are a few videos about raw quinoa..... Enjoy!

Food Combining and the Simple Approach to Raw

I love Natalia Rose... I always have. I have had your book The Raw Food Detox Diet for quite some time and as I started thinking about optimal cellular health and not labeling anything, I decided to dust off my copy and read it again ...yea right like I have dust on my shelves! :-)

Under a section that she entitles "Raw Done Right" she says...

"Although a 100-percent raw food diet would certainly be ideal for humans living in a 100-percent natural state, we live in a world riddled with unnatural elements. For modern people like us, there is a safe way to carry our tissue/cell quality to a much higher level with raw foods. But we must do it within the context of who and where we are today... Taking this approach to becoming a raw foodist will bring you far more success than a worthless label. You will gain the confidence of perfect health and a renewed, glowing body."

Under a section that she entitles "Raw Revelation #3: Keep the Goal in Mind" she says...

"Your goal is superior cell health, not an exclusively raw food diet. Raw is a means of reaching that goal. To achieve this goal, you need enzymes from raw foods, maximum elimination of waste matter those enzymes draw up and tempered amounts of cooked foods- to avoid autointoxication and keep ur emotional, social and psychological states intact".

However, the mini-chapter that struck me the most is something I've struggled with in the raw community for a long time. This thought that "so long as it's 'raw' ".... Under a small page/chapter she calls "Raw Revelation #5: Don't be Dense" she says (and I agree)...

"Dense raw foods are just as clogging as many cooked foods. One of the biggest mistakes in teh popular raw food movement is trying to mimic mainstream diets with raw food substitutes...The point of eating raw foods is to eat light foods- not, for instance, to create a heavy loaf out of nuts. You may as well be eating a meat loaf as far as your digestive system is concerned! On the Raw Food Detox Diet, you can eat raw most of the time, but when you want, say a piece of fish, you can eat a piece of fish- not dense, sprouted, dehydrated 'unfish' "

I agree with almost everything Natalia has to say in her book. I don't follow her personal approach if consuming only green juice and fruit until about 6:30 pm where she has pre-dinner veggies and then has a large dinner at 7:30... I want my metabolism higher than that. There is some argument about whether or not a high metabolism is important, but HEY there's an argument about everything in this raw food/fitness world. Everybody thinks they have the answer...guess what...they don't!!! Only YOU know what's best and works for you.

How great would it be if you ate 100% raw and hated sprouting/soaking??? How would your food serve you if it weren't made with love? The same goes for your cooked junk food. How does that food love you? IT DOESN'T. It serves a short temporary sense of pleasure. I know 100%, b/c I ate that way for YEARS!

I've studied food combining as long ago as 2001. Shame on me that I've never truly put it into practice. My approach to my cellular health is much more along those lines now. I would rather eat quick exit foods with TONS OF raw food and wonderful enzymes than to eat these messy combinations of nuts/dehydrated garbage balls. Seriously.

I still love my dehydrator... fruit leather=yum. Flax crackers= still yum (don't' want em as much anymore though).

My revelations have led me to realize that I don't want to eat many nuts anymore. Perhaps it was the food poisoning at christmas (damned cashews!) or the slow, dragged feeling I get when I eat them, but I just don't want them anymore. Almonds, Brazil nuts can stay... all others must exit. Now what will I do for the crust to all my raw pies!??!?!?! I have to create a soaked-seed based crust to use I guess or an almond one...hmmmm I can get more creative later.

Okay about my exercise breakfast... I had the GF steel cut oats again this morning... I'm not sure it's working out yet... here's what I mean. Last nite at bedtime I felt like I had cement in my stomach. OUCH! It wasn't so bad b/c I took great enzymes. Anyway, I went to bed and this morning I did awake hungry. I felt good about that. I feared I would wake up feeling full until bedtime.

In keeping with revving up my metabolism, I had some green juice then the oats... I think it's too heavy for the morning. In anticipation of such a thing, I researched online some recipes for raw oatmeal (without raw oat!) and came across the following inspiring videos. Check em out. I soaked some buckwheat last nite and made Kevin's "Buckwheat Porridge". It wasn't delicious, but it could grow on me. I also needed more agave. I will make it with honey tomorrow....I've had enough of the uber sweet agave.








My point in all of this is to aim for SIMPLE , clean eating. That is a part of why I wanted to eat this way in the first place. So starting tomorrow I will make a newer improved version of the buckwheat porridge adding my homemade applesauce (no skin) to it and see if it's more palatable. I will of course keep you posted.

And for the person who sent the mean email my way... I am NOT a raw food sell out. I am honest. I am human. And I am doing what is best for me. I am not offended by your words. I am sorry however that you feel the need to be so disrespectful and hope that peace and harmony find their ways into your heart. If you don't like what I write here on the blog please feel free not to read it. I get an overwhelming amount of emails from readers who DO appreciate it and my honesty. I hope that you can find something here that inspires you and if not, I sincerely hope you find it somewhere else. Raw love to you....

Okay until next time.
In light and love,
Jayna'

1st cooked food item in almost 19 months!!!!!!!!!

Okay. I did it.I woke up. Meditated.And decided today was a DOR (day of rest) from exercise and I wanted to try my cooked experiment when I didn't have much to do. I waited until 2 pm to go out to the store. Bought the Gluten Free Steel Cut oats that I researched, fresh berries, frozen berries and headed on the snowy road home. I was actually quite hungry already so thought this was a perfect time to test everything out. Here are my steps.....

The first bite was familiar. I was eating very clean and of course vegan when I decided to go 100% raw. I was training heavy and hard at the time and decided to take a break from going at it so vigorously perhaps that is why my transition to raw wasn't difficult. I was only doing yoga and walking at the time. As I chewed it, I payed attn to how it felt in my mouth. I let it cool off substantially before I ate it. Afraid it would burn my stomach!!!

I slowly and carefully ate the entire bowl....1 c cooked oats and took my enzymes and b vitamin...drank 12 oz green juice and played the Wii with Kennedy. I feel fine. I feel REALLY FULL. Which is something I haven't felt in forever, but it's a good full. So starting tomorrow, I will have this meal BEFORE I workout and see if I feel/see any difference in my performance before/after. My goal in 2009 is live by my own rules, create 100% optimal ecstatic blissful health and to experience true freedom. More on the freedom later!

So, as I alter and adjust this diet to fit my lifestyle at this time, I will keep you updated and posted on how it all evolves. I hope in writing about this transition and journey, you are encouraged and motivated to do what feel good and right for YOU. No one knows your body, your cravings, your idea of optimal health, but YOU. Take your own power in 2009 and harness the ability to listen to your soul, your heart and your body and follow the path that is best for you. Are there centurions who eat cooked food?? YES. Is raw food amazing and promotes the best digestion ever? YES. Is there a middle ground where you fit in all of this? YES. My challenge to you is to find it....search it out...try it on... keep what fits, discard what doesn't.

In health,
Jayna'

P.S. I am going to do some simple exercises here at home with Kennedy... I feel powerful and strong and ready to go!!

GF Steel Cut Oats

It was interesting to truly pay attn to it cooking.

I didnt' cook it as long as the package suggested. I wanted to "chew" it.

I love my Omega 3's

Add berries + flax oil

Sitr and serve

I let it cool off and took a huge bite. Yum!

I feel good about my decision. I even bought quinoa to sprout or cook and add to my nitetime meals. I will do this in a few weeks. Right now, the oats is all I will try to handle.

Here is a great article about cooked vs raw...and oatmeal... Click here to read it

Okay, I'm off to play with Kennedy and wash her hair (wish me luck***).

Have a great nite,

Jayna'

100% Raw ??? New Year oh yes...

Okay. For a while I lost my desire to write. Just didn't.....wanna. So I didn't. Of course I had a 20 page "New Year Rev-olution" article ready to go, but figured you'd find hundreds of those on blogs and magazines. (I hope you did).

I've been training (exercising) really strenuously these days. I have also been pondering something for a few months now. I am no 100% happy on my 100% raw diet. I know I know. Everyone is supposed to be overflowing with joy and grace to be 100% raw. so shhhhhhh When I wasn't lifting heavy weights, it didn't matter as much to be all raw. My body was naturally leaner and when yoga and walking were my only exercises of choice for a while it didn't bother me. However, I'm noticing more and more that I am not feeling well. No colds or flu... just blah. I don't blah and blah don't' like me!!! TIME FOR CHANGE!

I've researched... read and re-read books and then it hit me like a ton of bricks. The reason I am sensing struggle with this is b/c of the label "100% raw" WTF????????? I'm supposed to be more evolved than that. I'm not supposed to care what anyone thinks. blah blah blah.. See? More blah. I also didn't wanna feel like I let anyone who looks up to me to their 100% raw guidepost down. Hope I didn't, but I gotta do what's best for me. (how harsh did that sound? hahaha) So, after careful consideration and peptalk with my idol Kristen I will be adding some gluten free organic steel cut oats to my morning routine. Green juice until 11 and noon was a big NO NO. I was running out of steam during my workouts. I have also been STARVING later in the day and resorting to eating more nuts/avocados as a way to feel fuller for longer. Well, oatmeal is a super nutritious. Read this article on oats to learn more about them.

Do you see that photo there? That is Alicia Marie, fitness model . She is gorgeous. How can we argue that ONLY a raw food diet makes you healthy when LOOK AT HER!!!! I have never been one into RAW-ligion feeling that this is the only way by any means. I have always advocated for health. True Alicia eats clean and that means tons and tons of raw fruits and veggies alongside her lean protein and cooked grains. For karmic reasons I've been a vegan for going on 8 years and for NO CIRCUMSTANCES will consider eating animal flesh again. But Alicia's lean body gives me something to envy (in a good way) and aspire to.

Previously a typical day looked like:

Wake up...water with aloe and lemon
Green juice about 20 ozs
1 banana
Crazy intense workout
Small green smoothie (greens+fruit+hemp)
kale salad with flax crackers
AFTERNOON HUNGER STRIKES ABOUT NOW!
Way too many nuts
Salad with avocado
green juice about 20 ozs
LATE NITE CRAVINGS
more nuts maybe...

FUTURE days will look like:
Wake up....water with aloe and lemon
preworkout: bowl of amarath or steel cut gluten free oats they do exist click here with ground flax and fresh berries

CRAZY INTENSE WORKOUT

postworkout small green smoothie with hemp

salad with one small avo

fruit as a snack

dinner will be a lofty salad with seaweeds (extras) etc...then I will gradually add a sweet potato or cooked grain.

All I know is that 2 summers ago I was in the best shape of my life. Low bodyfat and I was 80-90% raw. I ate 95% whole foods (sweet potatoes, beans, brown rice, quinoa, amarath, ezekiel products). I have been 100% raw for over 18 months now... my body should be exactly how I want it to be. And if I know I saw better results and felt better eating a different way, I would be crazy not to re-adopt that lifestyle. I will ease into my cooked oats b/c I don't want to assault my tummy with something cooked. I fare I will handle it nicely. I will take enzymes and drink green juice an hour after I eat it. Slowly over the next few months I intend on adding other cooked items like sweet potatoes (still debating...so starchy!), quinoa and Ezekiel toast/bread. I want to remain gluten free so that Celiac daughter lovely Kay won't EVER have to be turned down away from my food. I guess I could eat it when she wasn't awake or around...hmmmmm.

So there you have it people. I may be the only person in history who researches how to go back to eating cooked food!!! I am not caving into some junk food crappy craving. I am not running back to my old fat gyrl midnite doughnut eatings. I am focusing now instead of 100% raw on 100% HEALTH. And that means something totally different to me now that my raw diet has evolved. Will I still consider myself AND call myself raw??? HELL YEA! If this doesn't work out will I go back to eating all raw? HELL YEA. Will I prob have all raw days in between? HELL YEA! Still juice a lot? HELL YEA... okay you get the point.

So THAT'S my New Year's post. Don't' feel you have to do anything. Take your time this year. Breathe. Be gentle with yourself and do what is best for you today. If what's best changes tomorrow. Go with the flow.

By the way, I adore you Kristen. Check out my lovely cross country gal pal here at KristensRaw

New Year's Hugs and love,
Jayna'

This post never went thru! hmmmm

I wrote this on Dec. 30 and it never posted...hmmmm . It wasn't done, but I will post it anyway!

Wow!!!!!!!! The Christmas holiday is over and my heart is overflowing. My beautiful and precious daughter had an amazing day. I couldn't sleep (of course. I never do). I had the camcorder and camera ready for action before she woke up. The second that I heard her make a peep, I "sprang from the bed to see what was the matter" ...(okay I know, Christmas is over) and she was slow to warm up. She was soooooooooooooo excited to see her 4.5 foot dollhouse! Oh me oh my, I wanted to climb in and take a nap in that thing.

Off to play!

Quick Holiday Post

oooooOOOOHhhhhhhh .....Here is a poem titled Autism Night Before Christmas by Cindy Waeltermann. Please read it here. It brought me to tears both last year and this year. Read it HERE.

Sometimes people don't realize the victory we parents of kiddos with Autism feel..... I'm taking time right now to think about that....

This video by the beautiful and amazing Angela.




I've been so busy lately. I promise to get to your emails really soon. I am making jambalaya (not raw) for Kennedy's dad. I made a HUGE plate of pralines for his office for Kennedy to bring over yesterday. She was so excited. I will post all about her Christmas and what this season has meant to us.

Off to do that... go to the store (last minute things) and will be up all night wrapping and assembling gifts!!

Oh yea... I've not been eating the best (all raw though), but have been getting to the gym. My tummy is NOT happy right now, but I will get her back on track. She knows I love her very much. I'm chugging grapefruit juice right now.

p.s. Check out my amazing friend Kristen's EASY Raw Holidays ebook . Only $6.95 and downloadable NOW. You can run out and make ONE raw dish or hey ALL raw dishes this Christmas day or weekend. ... BBL (be back later)

Photos from NYC & Quick Blurb

Vanessa aka Chocolate Girl's party was a blast. She looked gorgeous as always and the event was amazing. Just think...live b-boxing, breakdancing, spoken word, poetry, live artist painting the scene and David Wolfe. Need I say more?

Jayna' and the Raw Chocolate God D. Wolfe

Philip and me having a blast

It's a shame how gorgeous I am

My "Fuck Cancer" hat. Oh yea..got diagnosed and beat Cancer this year. :-)

Random photo of my princess being a...well, princess

The gorgeous Britainie

Me and Brit




Raw Power Men having a moment

Brit admiring her sundae

Yummy Pure Sundaes

Okay. I wanted to do a super long detailed post about NYC, but I am so busy I can't get it all in.I had a blast though. Drove into Jersey, got my hotel and relaxed for the first time in months. Decided to meet up with my BFF Britanie at Pure Takeaway for dinner and then headed to Pure (restaurant) for a sundae and glass of water.

Took a cab in the brisk air to the venue. Stood in the wrong line for the club...HA. Got searched by a super bi-curious female bouncer who rubbed my ass! I was like, 'Ummmmm.... chill out"

Anyway, I danced the nite away. Ate tons of raw chocolate and laughed til I couldn't laugh anymore. Had a nice chat with David Wolfe. Actually thought I should lick his elbow and see if it tasted like raw chocolate, but decided that should happen on our SECOND meeting.

(as of now)...been going to the gym, working out at home and not doing great with my raw. Am still 100% but when I am not doing green juices, I feel less than optimal and my body knows it. Got tons of juicing ingredients and tomorrow is a new day!!!

Enjoy the random photos

Making it Happen Winter Wednesday

Woke up all thru the nite to more and more snow. Rain... then ice.

Okay no school for DD so no gym for me right?? My 5 am wakeup didn't workout today. I got up but was so tired I couldn't brush my teeth straight. I went back to bed until 7:30 when DD got up. That is really sleeping late for her!

I set up my laptop in my bedroom and did a cardio DVD for 30 mins. She was whining and asking me to play with her and I am so proud of myself for finishing it. I said to myself, "When she's 16, she won't remember the 30 mins of crying she did when she was 4" That eased the guilt

Ive been cleaning for a playdate and mom just called to say she can't drive b/c of some medicine. Well, guess what????? It's all good. Her house is 8 mins from our gym!! We will go there, hang for a big, exchange gifts (my gosh I took all my money buying her son a gift!) it didnt cost a lot, I just didnt have any :-)

Then I will pack DDs dinner and eat there...run to the gym and get home. What a splendid plan. Today will be legs...ahhhh I miss them. Home in time to put her straight to bed and do my schoolwork.

All things work out for the good.

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I typed that earlier before I left home. I'm back now. The playdate broke my heart. I was getting really upset when I was there, but I like to follow Kennedy's lead. When we got in the car she said, "Mommie don't ever bring me there again. He doesn't like me. He's a mean Gus". I assured her that I wouldn't and that wherever mommie is...it's safe and secure. sigh

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Since I've been back from NYC my diet has been simple. I had bad diarrhea for one day after I got back. My stomach couldn't handle the pressure. It was all really good food, just too much too many times a day.

Now I'm back simple. Greens. Juices. Smoothies. Massive fat filled salads. Few raw chocolate bites while sipping yerba mate'. Life is good.

@ Gym I did...

WU: 10 mins on crosstrainer
Smith squats 70x2x1 90x1x12
Calf raises 20sx2x30 20sx1x45
Split squats 15sx1x10 15sx2x8 (each leg)
Ab Knee ups 20....30....25
Leg Press 90x3x15
Standing side kick 15sx1x10 (each side) 15sx2x15 (each side)
Ab Knee ups 20....15.....12
Bridges on ball 10, 10, 10 (held for 10 secs between sets)
Cardio 5 mins on treddy and i FELL OFF!! Geez it's Christmas time and no one stopped to help me. On one hand it's great that they were so focused...but they WERE laughing!!!

I just can't stay away..

Oh me oh my.... I woke up at 4 am after only 3 hours of sleep and while I thought I would be really exhausted, I was revving to go. When Kennedy got up at 6:30, we were ready to start our day. At about 9:30 I asked if she wanted to go to the gym. She has been telling me that she misses the "old" gym. I don't miss the old gym. Too small and it's shaped like a circle so EVERYONE is always staring at you. Well, the "new" gym doesn't have the greatest daycare and since Kennedy IS the most important thing.... I think I will resign up with the old gym. Since I have already cancelled, all I have to do is reinstate. No new fees, just pick up where I left off. I am in a short contract at the "new" gym so that means 2 GYM memberships right now!! I won't lie... I kinda like that. ;-) They are both not really close to the house, but the old gym does have a branch closer than the new one. It's just that Kennedy only likes the daycare at the far one... okay long story short(er)... we drove 30 mins to the old gym today. Kennedy was happy. I had a kick ass workout... 3 hours of sleep and all and I will 9 out of 9 reinstate my membership and pay for 2 gyms and cut costs somewhere else (damn!)

I gave it my all today working out. It's like if you don't see a lover for weeks and then you're all over them. Well, that's me and my weights. I made a new playlist and got busy. Great great great workout. What I didn't count on was the blizzard that came blowing our way!! Oh my. I looked out the gym window and saw the blankets of snow and thought, "I could leave"... nah I'll do 10 more mins and then we can go. It was a fun ride home. Slow, but fun.

I will do a post about NYC later or tomorrow. I had a blast. I drove alone. Did a lot of meditating on the way there and had an enjoyable relaxing day before the party. It was so much fun to be around crazed raw cacao lovers and yes oh yes I DID meet David Wolfe. yes we chatted about raw chocolate for a second. yes we stared into each others' eyes for an eternity. oh my life long connection. He IS amazing.

more later. off to kiss Kennedy and find something fun to do in here since we are snowed in!

Warm fuzzy hugs,
Jayna'

Buy this Book!!!

Okay. Everyone knows (right?) that I want to write a book about raw foods...its powers... its magic. How to go raw...etc. Well, I feel that there are great books out there, but there is something missing. Well, my dear gorgeous friend Kristen wrote an amazing book Kristen's Raw The EASY way to get started & succeed at the Raw Food and Vegan Diet & Lifestyle . Oh me oh my this book talks about everything you would want to know about starting and continuing on this lifestyle. I am serious. I'm not just saying that because I love Kristen's goddess energy. She's the real deal and this book is the best thing to get BEFORE the new year to help you organize your thoughts.

There are chapters with titles like "How Raw Works", "Cravings", "Setting Yourself up to Win", "Where are you Today?", "Travel in the Raw" and "14-Day Sample Meal Plan". WoW. I couldn't put this one down. If I had this book when I first started out, it would have made a major difference in my ability to be successfully raw YEARS ago.

Go read about the lovely Kristen and see all of the ebooks and paper books that she offers Here at her cute website . And also check em out here at AMAZON .

I'm not the only one who believes so... read her reviews on Amazon!

I snuck in !

Okay, before you think I meant the movies, I snuck into the gym. I know I know, "DO YOUR SCHOOL WORK!" Well, I read some of my book on the rbike.... I couldn't help it. Kennedy was off from PreK and we didn't have any therapies or doctors this morning...so I went! I had a blast. Felt soooooooo great when I left. It was just what I needed. I know , I sound like a junkie. But I am. A health junkie and I need my fix. MY fix is gym+anything green...ahh yes. Warm feelings.
At the gym, I kept it light and easy and didn't have much time, but hey it did the trick.

My box arrived from One Lucky Duck and I feel like one lucky duck! I ordered chocolate macaroons and the oatmeal raisin cookies. I'm GF (b/c my daughter has to be) so I don't really do oats so I didn't care for them as much, but the macaroons were consumed while drinking really warm tea with wild honey and watching Girlfriends- one of my favorite shows ever invented! Of course Kennedy was napping while all of this happened....what a great day.

I didn't get much schoolwork done today b/c I went out to dinner with Kay, her dad and a few of his friends. I'm on a different wavelength than they are so I mostly tuned into Kay with her radiant light and had a fun nite munching on celery sticks.

Tomorrow is a planned walk outside in the cold followed by at home yoga and grocery shopping before I have to get Kay from school. Perhaps on Thursday and Friday I can sneak back into the gym.

Hope that you are making the most of this holiday season and giving others before you give yourselves. Don't worry, I walk the walk . Those cookies and macaroons? My mom is getting 1/2 in the surprise "happy you're raw" package I mailed for her today.

Smile!! It'a a rawonderful life

Big warm fuzzies,
Jayna'