Play this twice today...

Oh me oh my. I found this some time ago and haven't stopped being "WOW-ed" by it yet. Enjoy.

Simple Long Day

Today was a long day. Only slept 5 hours...and had a super packed day. Kay had therapy and then we went to the store....went to preschool hour at the library.....back to store to pick up my coconuts (oh yea oh yea)....then came home and played like Spiderman's mom and grandma- yea busy indeed.

I had an interview today all about the glories of raw food and fitness and about how this lifestyle is accessible to ANYONE , EVERYWHERE- regardless of race, financial struggle, emotional connection to food etc.

AFTER the interview, I went to the gym (9:30 pm in 25 degree weather) and got a second wind when I was there. I am really starting to love working out at nite...I'm sure that will change as ice and snow stick to the ground.

In no order I did...

• DB parallel butt squats


• DB calf raises


• Step ups on bench


• standing side kick with DBs


• Oblique hangovers


• Standing back butt kicks with DBs


• DB wide lunges (only 2 sets)


• Dead Lifts


• Plie Squats


• Jump rope b/t each set for 25-30 seconds


• few sets of roman chair abs

I warmed up on the rbike first and read a gossip magazine...did a bit of yoga at the end. I feel great. I realize the raw vegan hemp Cesar dressing I make is giving me heartburn when I work out...I think I"m overdoing the dulse and especially the ground mustard seed!- ouch. I forgot what heartburn feels like. Me no like-y!

On a spiritual side, I have been feeling connected and one with this universe- even more so than ever. My daughter is blossoming and blooming and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be her mom and guide her as she guides me in this world....lucky me.

So what are you doing right now to be aware and grateful for the small things. As we approach the warm, fuzzy holiday season ...isn't there something you can do to show your gratitude to those you love? To your body????? Think of somethings...leave a comment, send an email or just tell your: What can I do to show gratitude for my body and spirit this season? Make a plan and make it happen. I'd love to hear about it.

In light and love,
Jayna'

Cacao...Period

I blog about my great days ...well today wasn't one of them. I was just overall down...just not feeling great about anything.... a little overwhelmed with sad thoughts and nothing positive.

I decided that I could stay that way or realize how/why I got there. Well, I didn't juice, I didn't meditate...no excuse why I didn't do either ....just didn't. So, I got off my arse and made a change. I am a list person...so got my purple paper and pink pen and got busy. The list is personal so sorry I can't share :-(, but it was eye opening.

I decided that all wasn't lost.... I made a power cacao shake (recipe below) and went to the gym and rocked it out!!!!!!!

Power Cacao (Get off your ASS) Smoothie

2 bananas
1 tbsp cacao
2 tbsp lucuma
ice
almond mylk
blend.... and feel the love

From one of my favorite books "Naked Chocolate" , David Wolfe and Shazzie say "Chocolate truly is a food for the heart - 'blood', due to its magnesium, antioxidants, love chemicals and esoteric properties. Cacao opens the heart center. It heals not only on the physical, chemical level, but also on emotional, spiritual and metaphysical levels."

After my smoothie, I felt euphoria and love.... I decided to switch up my plan and go to the gym AT NITE!!!!! I loved it! Kay stayed home with her dad and I was able to focus just on me. I wen to just sit on the rbike so I could say that I went...but decided to really workout!!

I did.....

• 30 mins rbike while reading


• upper body (below)


• 5 mins cybex...no way and it hit my shins on the way off...damn!


• 15 mins rbike while writing notes

Upper body circuit style

• isolated bicep curls


• tricep extensions


• arnold press


• shrugs


• tricep kickbacks


• oblique hang overs


• hammer curls


• each circuit was divided by 2 min runs on treddy at 5.9-6.0

Tomorrow is Thursday...Kay has therapy mid morning and a new preschool class at the library in the afternoon. If I can time it right, she and I can go to the gym afterwards (may be sensory overload) when the daycare opens....maybe we'll break up the time between, but I will get there for Lower Body...or I'll go at my new favorite time... NITE TIME!!! It is just an ingenious idea- now I can focus on my schoolwork when Kay is at school instead of getting my workout in.... hmmmm all last winter I went at 4:45 am, but this go round, I may enjoy it at nite. I will play with both ways....going at nite for the rest of this week until I go to New Orleans next Wednesday for Thank You Day , and then trying 5 am when I get back.. Okay let me get off of here. It's midnite and I'm just thinking out loud.

Peace and cacao filled bliss to you!!!,

Jayna'

P.S. for those who have read about people NOT agreeing with cacao....follow your body and your gut. I do whatever I want to...so cacao is alright with me!

Neurotypical Kiddos, Menus and More

I have been busy doing nothing this week. Haven't done much in the way of school work, and have just been spending oodles of time with my precious Kennedy. I signed her up for a children's workshop at Lowe's; signed her up for story time at the library- although we had a terrible experience before a few years ago. The parents were looking at me like, "Keep that child away from my angel". I wanted to say, "look people, I don't want my kiddo acting like those neurotypical brat brains you have". This is obviously not to say that all typical kiddos are brats...of course not!!! But those in that class were , and Kennedy and I were better off to leave and we did!! So, we'll try again!

Okay, so I've had a lot on mind. I got a message from one of my bestest dearest friends and it reminded me of all the conversations we have had about being raw and this whole "lifestyle". Ahhhh what a thought. AS I think about what being raw means to me, I am confronted with the reality that raw has now become a part of me. I do not struggle, I do not entertain thoughts about raw food...that was from a lifetime ago it seems. It's almost as if my brain cells remember cooked vegan food and every now and then I can taste something in my mouth! I don't pine for it...oftentimes I don't try to raw-replicate it....I just associate the food memory, with the actual emotional memory of it and get to the root cause of it all. After I do that, it's easy to see that it's not a "vegan hot dog" I crave, it's the memory of that super fun day in New Orleans when I attended a bbq of my childhood bestfriend and they were so excited to talk about raw food! Thoughts of warmth, family, grace and friendship that I oftentimes miss here in Harrisburg.

About working out....I have taken two days off. I know I know. Sunday I took Kay to the gym and she played with her new friends and I got focused... I did 35 mins on the rbike while reading my schoolwork, 25 mins on the elliptical while watching Jack Lalanne's new infomercial, and then a 20 minute mismosh of a workout (full body-which I rarely do).

I did (in no particular order)

• parallel squats



• ball roll ups



• lunges



• ab knee ups on bench



• bicep curls



• arnold press



• tricep kickbacks



• deadlifts



• standing side kicks



• calf raises

I felt great when I was done. Well, the snow is on the ground...yes first snow of the season ARG! and I can imagine getting out to the gym on some days when Kay is not in preschool will be difficult b/c driving in hard snow ain't my deal..... so I will be doing DVDs at home...it will so fun to see if Kennedy will "let me" get away with doing them or if I'll have to get up at 5:30 am to get em done like usual.

POA for the rest of this week....

Wednesday- Cardio + Upper Body + Yoga at the gym

Thursday- ? Either DVD + Lower Body @ home; or, Cardio+ Lower Body @ gym

Friday- Crazy Cardio Day (DVD at home...then Cardio Cinema at gym)

Saturday- Cardio + Upper Body

Sunday- Cardio + Lower Body

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am going to make some zuchinni bread wraps and eat them with the recipe for marinated veggies that go inside of the enchiladas I am also gonna make. Of course, I will blog it and give the recipes, the sources of the recipes, and the photos. I am waiting on pay day...I told y'all, I'm as real as real gets and raw food is expensive!!! I am looking to make the wraps so that I can have something to wrap up the enormous amount of veggies I'm trying to eat.

My menus are downstairs so I can't tell you exactly what I ate for those few days....alright alright....hold on let me go down and get em!

on November 15, 2008 I ate....

green juice (broc stalks, kale, lemon, apple, cuke)

green smoothie (1 c froz pineapple, 1/2 banana, spinach, e3live)

apple with cinnamon

salad, 4 oz guac, pico de gallo

strawberry, apple cobbler

2 c green juice with more cobbler

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On November 16, 2008 I had...

green juice (broc stalks, celery, romaine, carrot, apple, lemon)

green smoothie (1 c froz cherries, 1/2 banana, spinach, e3live)

1 nori wrap (spinach, tomato, 1 avo, onion) straw cobbler

1/2 c brazil nuts

smoothie: cuke, spinach, straw, 1 whole lime, 1 avocado, shredded coconut on top

straw cobbler

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

November 17, 2008 I had....

***this was a bad day (yesterday)...ate too late and too many nuts...ouch

green smoothie (cuke, spinach, 2 apples, lemon) + 1 banana

salad (1/4 c pumpkin seeds, 1.5 tomato, avocado, lemon); banana

1 c almonds, 2 bananas

smoothie (3 bananas, cacao, agave, ice)

1 apple

*after a function*** tons of brazil nuts with a smoothie (1 c frozen cherries, 2 bananas, ice)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On November 18, 2008 I had....

1 banana

1 banana

1 avocado diced with tomatoes. smoothie (froz strawberries, 1 banana, spinach)

1 apple

1 apple

smoothie (cuke, 2 c frozen strawberries, spinach, lemon)

1 apple

(about to go to the store and get a fruit salad)

AS you can see my stomach was so overwhelmed and bloated from yesterday that I could barely eat heavily today. For one of the first real times, I listened to my body instead of shoveling it with "feel good" raw foods.

Well, I'm off to do tons of stuff. I have some great stuff I wanna share with you all, but it will have to be in my next post. I hope you are staying positive....being gentle with yourself and staying true and authentic to who you truly are.

Simple & Delicious

Delicious!

Strawberry Apple Cobbler and Loving my Gym

Hey Alkaline PeaPods!!

Yesterday was a busy day... Kay went to school and I had things to do around the house so decided to forgo the gym and workout at home. I had a blast! I did kickboxing for 45 minutes and then some random hip hop dance before showering and running to the library before meeting her therapist at school. I was so grateful for the 15 minutes that I had to read a magazine in total quiet....ahhhhh it is the small things in life. I found myself taking forever to decide which magazine to get! I told myself to enjoy the moment and just get one that appealed to me. I wrapped myself up in 15 straight minutes of bliss and then checked out.

I met Kennedy's therapist at school to discuss a few things. We are on the same team and they all just understand that MOMMIE BEAR runs the ship!! No one tells me what Kennedy can't do...no one tells me what's too much for her. I am her mother and I know her better than anyone else on this planet!

Today I made a celebration dessert for myself and realized that I could have done without the crust and the crumble topping (recipe below). For me as a nutlover that was big news to myself!! OH me oh my...greens are curing me of my terrible sweethtooth (unless you count the midnite Coconut/date/banana smoothie from the other day ;-)

Kay and I got to the gym later than expected today, but I knew I would push it out with all my might in my short time. A little time is better than no time peapods! I absolutely love my new gym. I just feel at home there. Everyone is doing their own thing. Unlike the other gym where everyone stares at you constantly. I dont' mind or care...I go about my business, but it is annoying and interrupts my flow. Today I did 35 mins on the elliptical (while watching 90210- the original), and went into the women's gym (am loving the quiet in there) and did a mish-mosh of fullbody stuff. In no order I did.

• squats


• tricep kickback


• lunges


• deadlifts


• ball roll ups
  
• oblique hangovers


• arnold press


• bicep curls
  
• ab knee ups
  

I think that's it. Tomorrow we are gonna try to get there a little earlier and it's a cardio + abs day so I'm excited.

I decided to make a dessert for myself tonite so I headed out in the nitetime rain to get the ingredients. I wanted something sweet and kinda heavy, but kinda light. This was a great choices. Here is my modified version of Cafe' Gratitude's "I am Lovely: Strawberry Apple Cobbler

For the crust

4 1/2 c pecans (do not soak)

3 tbsp well-packed dates

2 tbsps cinnamon

1 tbsp vanilla

1/8 tsp sea salt

For the Filling:

8 c sliced apples

5 c sliced strawberries

1/4 c lemon

1 tbsps vanilla

pinch of salt

To make the crust: In the bowl of your food processor fitted with the "S" Blade, process for 1 minute 3 cups of the pecans with the cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. Continue to process while adding small amounts of the dates. Then place in a bowl and add remaining 1 1/2 c pecans. Press the crust into your pan, setting aside 1 1/2 cp of this crust mixture for the topping.

To make the filling: Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Evenly distribute the filling on top of the crust. Then crumble the remaining crust on the top.

Jayna's Substitutions: I took an extra cup of strawberries and put in the food processor until liquidy, I mixed in with the berries and apples.

I wish I wouldn't have added the extra pecans...it was just too much for me.

I can honestly say that I will make the "filling" part again without the crust or at least only 1/4 the crust and topping! yum yum

Tomorrow is a busy day ...duh... I have laundry to do that I put off today so that Kay and I could go to lunch together. We went to a Mexican restaurant where I had a plain salad with guacamole and pico de gallo...she had chips and salsa and a salad. She gets so excited when we go out to eat b/c she always eats at home!!! Well, today she ate some locally grown organic cabbage and a side of sweet potatoes (steamed with cinnamon and agave) ...she LOVED it!

I'll be back tomorrow with something uplifting and fun!

Simple Day of Gratitude

Okay couldn't get to the gym...freezing rain and all. I decided to take a nap instead of workout!! oh yea...it felt great. I rarely if ever nap during the day.

I had tons of great greens today. I am loving how alkaline my body is.... I'm not seeing the results from my strength training that I want to so I think it's time to rev things up. I know that it's 80% diet....so that will be my first focus.

Short thoughts...I'll leave you with this....

Today I am grateful and happy for my daughter Kennedy's smiles
Today I am grateful and happy for my 10 year old car that loves me and is covered in bumper stickers
Today I am grateful and happy for my education- studying all nite is a joy of mine
Today I am grateful and happy for warm herbal tea
Today I am grateful and happy for hot long detox baths
Today I am grateful and happy for dancing in the dark
Today I am grateful and happy for just enough money to pay my bills and buy groceries
Today I am grateful and happy for avocados
Today I am grateful and happy for green smoothies

What are you grateful for?

Lemme Keep it Real

Hey Goddesses!

Okay about the title...I do NOT struggle with being raw. If I did, I wouldn't be raw 100%. I don't believe that if food brings you stress it's helping you. I know some very happy people who eat 80% raw and 20% cooked vegan and they are healthy, vibrant, wonderful people. And alternatively I know some 100% raw fooders who feel caged, trapped, and stuck. This is NOT me. I love raw foods and always find a way to make it work for me. I think this is because I don't subscribe to any "plan" or follow any "guru". I just do me. My struggle lately has been with wanting to feel full. I know that spiritually this means I am looking for fulfillment in other areas of my life. I've been meditating, but always have short amounts of time due to my hectic life, but will have to seriously sit and see where this is all coming from. With that said I am deciding to make better "filling" choices. I will report how it's all going. I wonder if after the total consumption of almond bar yumpots and me deciding to ease it down on the desserts has left me craving something...hmmmmm I did find a gorgeous recipe that I've been eyeballing forever that I am gonna make this weekend. I will make one dessert a week and freeze in portions-grab, defrost and enjoy!

Exciting news!!!!!!!!! I made a rawtastic new green smoothie today. My freaking tongue was screaming "oh yea!! oh yea!" Of course I will post it below. I am just so in love with greens lately. Imagine my sad face when I realized I am out of spinach!!! OMGoddess.... I couldn't get Kay to come with me to the store b/c it's too cold out for her sensory comfort so I had to bear with it and use romaine! It's okay...that's a part of keeping it real- accepting things and using what you have on hand.

Rawtastic Green Alkaline Superdisco (part of the title is courtesy of my idol Kris Carr)

1 cuke

tons of spinach (until I used it all and in the second one I used romaine)

one lemon peeled

strawberries (I used a few frozen)

1 apple

ice

I served with shredded dried coconut on top...oh my oh my...it's a must try. I'm serious!

Today I went to the gym later than expected. Kay didn't have school and didn't want to leave the house early (as you can tell she and I compromise on things) I am so not the mom who says "You better get going!" No, my approach to parenting is gentle and calm. She is my partner in this. We both grow and learn and I want her to feel listened to and supported...not bossed around. Okay back to the point- I did make it in time for yoga.

So today's exercise is as follows (no order)...

• 1 hr yoga


• standing side kicks with weights


• parallel butt squats


• step ups


• calf raises


• lunges


• deadlifts


• ab knee ups on bench


• oblique hangovers

Maybe I left one or two exercises out, but for some reason, I wasn't feeling my workout. I didn't do 3 sets, I did 2, but I made the second one really count. Whatever, I listen to my body. Training is privilege NOT a chore. So I only do and eat what feels good to me.

Tomorrow is therapy for Kay early in the morning so it's a mystery if I'll get to the gym. It was supposed to be a DOR, but b/c I missed Monday I was tryna get it in....no worries, I'll work it out.

Today I felt super lazy about kitchen stuff. I wanted to do tons of things, but didn't do em. Today on November 12, 2008 I ate....(no green juice today :(

• green smoothie (1/2 banana, 1 orange, e3live, spinach, ice) and 1/2 banana


• huge salad of spring mix, 1 avo, 1/4 c pumpk seeds, lemon juice, sea salt. And 2 savoy cabbage leaves with the salad wrapped in..yummm


• 1 banana and 2 dates (rarely if ever eat dates plain...it was hard to get down, but wanted something sweet and didn't wanna run the blender and wake up Kay)


• rawtastic green alkaline superdisco (recipe above)


• 2nd rawtastic green alkaline superdisco (except with romaine)


• 1 apple with cinnamon


• small salad...same as above except 3/4 avo instead of 1 whole

See what I mean? That's a ton of food!! I know it's really cold outside (low low 30s), but something's gotta give. At least I'm getting loads better and am craving greens and not nuts and dried fruits (banana chips= yum)

I will listen to what my body says but maybe it's time for a cleanse. Recent things have happened in my life which may financially allow me a tiny teeny bit of room to buy extra groceries and perhaps do a crazy alkaline superdisco 10 day detox, cleanse fest!! Oh my I'm getting excited. I will have to manifest that!

Happy Birthday MOM & other Raw Good Stuff

Hey Fit Peeps!

I couldn't blog yesterday b/c after I left the doctor, I had a terrible stomach ache= the cashew ice cream from the night before! I am so convinced that all nuts HAVE to be soaked and then dehydrated before I will consume them...even pecans, walnuts...all of em!! I felt like crap. Well, I wanted to workout before the doctor but had some stuff to straighten out at the library and it took forever!! So yesterday was a DOR so I just have to adjust this week's workout schedule accordingly.

I have been craving salads.....lots of em. That's weird b/c it's really cold outside, I thought I would want more dehydrated stuff, but my body gets tired of it after a while. I'm sure I'll be concocting something soon, but for now...I'm keeping it simple. Although I did just see a raw pizza recipe that I will most likely try this weekend when I get more free time.

Last nite I took off from schoolwork to rest my achy belly and do some recreational reading. I'm really enjoying poems by Mary Oliver right now.

When I Am Among the Trees

When I am among the trees,

especially the willows and the honey locust,

equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,

they give off such hints of gladness.

I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,

in which I have goodness, and discernment,

and never hurry thorough the world

but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves

and call out, "Stay awhile."

The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, "It's simple," they say,

"and you too have come

into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled

with light, and to shine."

-Mary Oliver

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm shining....are you? If not, what can you do NOW , TODAY that can help you to walk towards living an authentic and full life? Do you need to hit the public library and find some books/ meditation CDs that will bring you closer to your Source? Can you call ONE trusted friend to discuss your innermost feeling and then feel free to start again? What can you do? Can you journal, paint, draw, color your dream life? Because once you do that, it's only making and taking the steps to have it happen. I believe in you...you should too! So today, so one thing that gets you closer...ONE thing. You can handle it.

Today, Kennedy and I got up and headed to the gym. Oh gyrl oh gyrl.. I worked it out!! Maybe I was subconsciously thinking about missing yesterday so I pushed it hard. I felt great. I started by reading some schoolwork for 10 mins on the rbike for my warmup . Then I worked upperbody (in no particular order)

• isolated bicep curls


• tricep kickbacks


• ball roll ups


• ab knee ups on bench


• pushups


• tricep extensions


• shrugs


• oblique hangovers


• lateral raises


• bent arm row

I followed each full set (after all exercises were done) with a 2 minute hard run on the treddy to keep my heart rate up. Then finished the workout off with 20 mins on my best friend the Stairmaster. Got Kay and headed home. I had a yummy, simple salad for lunch. It was simple b/c I need to get to the store and didn't have more ingredients!! hahahahaha

Simple Tuesday Salad

• Spring Mix & Romaine


• 1 avocado diced


• 1/4 c pumpkin seeds


• 1/2 lemon juiced


• sea salt

Tomorrow Kay is off from school and she and I are hitting the gym for kickboxing and yoga and then going to the library. We are gonna make GF playdough from scratch and maybe bake a GF apple pie. I will see how she feels. I really want to get her eating more raw, but truth is being 4 and having Autism =not wanting to try new things. I will continue to go Gandhi with it and let my life be my message and as she grows she will continue to make better choices. She's already vegan (since conception), GF (for 2 years), soy free for a year...so she's doing great.

With my tummy ache I really wanted fruit. My body was asking for simple and easily digestible foods. Yesterday November 10, 2008 I had...

green juice (broc stalk, cuke, celery, apple, lemon, kale)

green smoothie (1 c froz straw, 1/2 banana, spinach, e3live)

huge salad (simple salad's recipe above) with 1 cup grapes

1 c grapes, 2 sliced bananas and 1 c sliced strawberries

blended fruit bowl of 2 oranges, 1 banana, 1 c froz straw with 1 sliced banana stirred in

Well, I'm off to do some schoolwork and then play with Kay. Hope you find a way to tap into your bliss today.

Finding a Way to Make IT HAPPEN!!!!

My daughter was at the Obama headquarters. She's four ...there are doughnuts on the table and all she sees is Barack and Biden. You go Kennedy!

Hey Green Goddesses!!

The past week (esp the past few days) have all been about making it happen. Everyone knows that I have a kiddo with Autism. Everyone knows I"m a full time grad student getting a PhD and that I live 1200 miles away from any family and friends and I'm a single mommie...so what??? I still have to get tons of stuff done everyday! Kennedy is a GF, soy free, vegan and I'm 100% raw= tons of stuff to make and clean daily. I am committed to my physical fitness...have to fit that in. Kay has part time preschool and tons of therapy/doctor appts. Point is...Instead of thinking of all the things I can't make time for in my day, I started becoming creative about how to make time for them in my day!

Example: When Kay has her breakfast and watches a show (about 10-12) minutes, I come upstairs, light my candle and inscence and meditate at my altar. CHECK! We go to the gym together and though she prefers the other gym, this one is cheaper and has more equipment for mommie so she's getting the hang of it. Workout...CHECK! I have tons of schoolwork to do daily, so that must wait until she's in bed, but if I can get her to help me out a bit while she's awake (putting on a dance contest in the kitchen while I wash the dishes...) then it gives me more time for schoolwork when she's asleep. No time for a long hot bath?? Get in the tub and commit to finish reading ONE article while I soak... bath and one article read... CHECK! Oh my...I'm awesome.

Couldn't post yesterday b/c I went with a friend to see Changeling with Angelina Jolie . OH me oh my... it was disturbing. Well acted, written and cast...but so disturbing. I left feeling a bit weird. But I do recommend you see it (hahaha)

For the past two nights I've had ice cream really late. Not sure what's going on there so I asked myself if I am missing something else "sweet" in my life. What am I trying to "stuff" down that I'm confronted with late at night??? Can't discuss the finding here, but let's just say I put the problem to rest.

Yesterday November 8, 2008 I had...

green smoothie (1/2 banana, 1c froz strawberries, spinach)

energy soup with one tomato chopped in 1 c grapes

2 apples sprinkled with cinnamon

big salad (1/4 c pumpkin seeds, 1 avocado, lemon, onion)

1 apple sprinkled with cinnamon (snuck in movie) well people were crunching popcorn they couldn't even tell!

cookies and cream ice cream (recipe from the other day)

At gym... I had an amazing workout yesterday. I really pushed myself. In no order I did.

DB squats

DB lunges

Calf Raises

Single leg press

Isolated glute machine

Torso twists

Ab knee ups

Deablifts

Warm up on elliptical 10 mins

So that brings me to today. Today I went to the gym and was thinking to myself, "I really need to get some reading done for school. Kennedy won't let me do it at home and I also needs to work out...hmmm" So I brought one school book and a highlighter to the gym. Brought Kay to the daycare, kissed her "see ya later" and hopped on the rbike. I read and pedaled and 35 mins FLEW by. I hopped off...went to pee (TMI) and then got on my favorite machine of ALL time... THE stairmaster. Read a bit more and went into the locker room to journal. I am a big time journal writer. I have to write. When I'm not writing, I know that I am off center. Then Kay and I came home. I was starved!!! And had lunch.

Plan of Action (fitness wise for this week)

Monday- At home kickbox DVD

Gym 45 mins yoga (will have to leave early to make it to the doctor)

Tuesday- Gym cardio + upperbody+ abs

Wednes- Kickbox at gym+Yoga

Thursday- DOR (day of rest) maybe late evening yoga (will see how Kay feels and weather is)

Friday- cardio + lowerbody+ yoga

Saturday- cardio+ abs

Sunday- cardio+ mishmosh full body weight workout.

My point of this blog post is to think of ways that you can get everything you need to get done..done! It may not be easy. It may require (oftentimes it does) sacrifice and sweat, but is it worth it to you? Are YOU worth it to you.

So I'm off to play with Kay and run a few errands. Have to think of a creative way to get some reading done today..hmmmm ;-)

Working it All Out

Cranberry Carrot Juice

Hey Green Goddesses!

Okay. It's almost midnite I have to be brief. I was behind on my schoolwork this week campaigning for Barack and had to try to start catching it all up today...no easy feat. So I have to get some rest b/c my eyeballs are burning. (how great of a description was that?)

Well, today after Kennedy went to school I had 2.5 hours to do a ton of stuff. I meditated and some wonderfully revealing life changing revelations happens and then headed to the gym. I went as a guest to Kennedy's dad's gym....um...no. It was so big I got lost!!! I did however get a good workout. I worked upper body and did a small cardio warmup.

Workout
11 mins stairmaster
3 sets of each (this wasn't the order)

• bicep curls
  
• tricep dips
  
• seated shoulder press
  
• assisted pull ups
  
• one armed lat row
  
• bent over rows
  
• pushups
  
• roman chair abs
  

I had a great smoothie today. I've been trying to find ways to cuts excess calories...I know a raw foodist who thinks about calories?? Well, food is food and it DOES have calories! I tried great smoothie that I think I remember reading from Kristen a while back. I will give it my own title, but I am sure she had one.

Applelicious Fall Green Smoothie

• 1 apple chopped
  
• two handfuls of spinach
  
• ice
  
• cinnamon
  
• vanilla
  
• blend and enjoy!
  

I was so surprised that with no banana it was super delicious and a definite one for my Fall "apples are in season and cheaper" rotation!

On that note I've decided to make my own version of the raw diet. It's now officially called "High Green Raw Vegan". If someone steals my title, let me know! That's if it doesn't exist and I don't know about it. For me, I realize that the key to vibrant health, is green green green green. I am serious. It really resonates with me and I will giving myself a High Green Raw Vegan test run. I think I'm already on one, but I will still be more conscious of it and post my menus for you here.

Oh yea, last nite after my post, I decided to watch a good movie and make an ice cream. So much for my mindful calories. Well...I told you I don't' like restriction. Hahaha. It was so good

Late Nite "Get it Right" Banana/Cacao Cookies n Cream
(could that title be any longer?)

• 1/2 oz cashews
  
• 1/3 c cacao nibs
  
• 2 bananas


• tons of ice
  
• 2 dates (soft or soaked for a bit)


• blend and enjoy
  
• I added another 1/2 oz of cashews after I was done, but any other nut would do.

I know I know... but it was delicious. I woke up with that "not digested" belly feeling. I felt it at the gym too. I know better than to eat heavy that late at nite.

I've decided to try something out. I will keep a semi calorie count for a few days just to get a ball park of what I'm consuming. I have a few staples for my High Green conscious days coming up... I'll keep you posted about them

Foods/Drinks for my High Green Raw Vegan Diet Plan

• soups
  
• juices
  
• smoothies
  
• ice screams


• salads
  
• collard wraps
  

Tomorrow Kay and I are headed to the gym early (lower body!), cleaning and smudging. I will be catching up on more schoolwork and then going to the movies with my friend who I hardly get a chance to see.

Today, November 7, 2008 I had.....

1/2 quart green juice (broc stalks, lemon, apple, kale, cuke, celery)

green smoothie (1/2 banana, spinach, froz strawberries, e3live

two apples

collard wraps (onions, tomatoes, sprouts, spring mix, 1 avocado)

2 cups of grapes and 1/3 cantaloupe

strawberry swirl sorbet (2tbsps hempseeds blended with water to make hemp mylk, 2 c frozen straw, 1/2 banana...blend.. fold in 1 c fresh strawberries)

peppermint tea

1/2 quart of green juice (broc stalk, lemon, apple, kale, cuke, celery

Kennedy Okays the New Gym

Kennedy and I went to the new gym for her first time. The equipment for the kiddos is nowhere near as nice as the old gym, but it was fun. She had a blast. I just had a biopsy on election day so I have been kinda outta the exercise loop and today jsut did some cardio to ramp it up a bit! I did 45 mins and felt really good when we left. I"m sooooooooo happy that she liked the new gym!! I love it. It is HUGE...just tons of space. Tomorrow I will be back to lifting (weights) and I am so excited. I know..very few people get as excited as me about weight training, but it is such a privilege to take care of our bodies. We have to harness that inner goddess that says, "I am worth it."

Last year I would get up at 4:45am in the snow and ice to get to the gym for 5:20 so that I could have an hour workout before having to be back home BEFORE Kennedy and her dad got up so that I could make THREE different breakfasts! I was so dedicated to my training and really to myself that it didn't matter to me that I missed ALL the shows on tv so that I could sleep early and get up for the gym. It would be 10 degrees and I was shoveling snow off of my car and dodging dear on my way to the gym, but once inside...it was brightly lit, warm and full of energy. It was like my little secret with myself. Well, now i live alone so Kay has to come with me to the gym and she's a big enough girl that she can handle herself there...Autism and all. I'm so proud of her...SO proud of her.

Cardio Breakdown

• 20 mins stairmaster


• 15 mins elliptical


• 10 min rbike


• 5 mins stretching


• 
  I kept it semi short because I wasn't sure how Kay was doing in the daycare. I see now that she loves it so next time...I will crank it all out! Tomorrow's workout will be done while she's at school.

As it gets colder I will be working out a bit more at home...especially if it means going in the evenings. I will have to see how Kennedy lets that play out, but I will work on it!

Okay...EATING... OMGoddess ladies. I am in trouble. I have really been feeling lately that I'm eating too much food. Well, guess what? I AM.... today I decided to play around with the caloric intake of a few of my days of food from like last week. I'm averaging 4200 a day!! OMGoddess I almost flipped out. I have gained a few pounds...but I was cool with that until now. Oh no! Overeating is a sore topic for me anyway, but hell no...4200 is ridiculous. I noticed it's really from like too many hempseeds... too many avocados... little too much oil on my kale salads... it all ADDS UP big time. Adds up to pounds on my ass! Well, I won't start anything crazy like calorie counting, but I am definitely making smarter choices. I'm only 5'0" tall. 5 lbs looks like 15 on a tall skinny girl (in no way am I expressing a desire to be tall or skinny). So..with that in mind...I'm cooling it on the crazy heavy desserts and snacks until I get these 6lbs under control. How do I know it's six? Well, it started when a pair of my favorite jeans were a bit tight and then at the doctor's office for the biopsy... I saw the scale and said, "What the fudgeballs???"

I'm all about being proactive... time to move my ass..put down the hemp and nuts and make a change. I don't wait until the new year to do dittley squat..it happens NOW!

November 6, 2008 I ate....

• water


• herbal tea


• green smoothie (hemp, spinach, frozen strawberries, 2 bananas)


• collard roll ups (1 avocado, onion, tomatoes, sprouts)


• green smoothie (1 banana, 1 c frozen berries, e3 live, spinach)


• ice cream/smoothie (frozen strawberries, hemp mylk, 1 banana with fresh straw folded in)


• 1/2 qrt green juice (broc stalks, celery, kale, cuke, lemon, apple)

Hope you are having a great day and thinking GREEN . I sure am!

A New Day. POA. Cleanse Smeanse

Ok... started my "cleanse"....no no no. I can't afford to do a cleanse right now. By "afford" i mean... MONEY. That realistic thing people don't talk much about in the raw movement. It will cost me a small fortune to buy what I need so I am revamping a cleanse and will keep you posted. What I am doing is trying to consume CRAZY amounts of greens. I think I may have to invent a new phase of the raw diet and call it something cool like "Greenie RV"...green raw vegan... it's a working title. ;-) Anyway, today I got some beets and am excited about the juice I will make tomorrow...strawberry, beet, orange, carrot...yummy I can taste it already!

I haven't slept in days due to the campaign so I will have to send you a rocking post tomorrow, but just know that I haven't been to the gym in about 5 days (election fervor) and that for about one day my eating slipped...I grabbed a few too many nuts, not enough greens and I felt like crap and had gas outta this world. My body is so sensitive. Just know ...whenever I say "slipped" i NEVER mean off of raw foods... I just mean, I don't make the best raw choices. It's cool b/c Kennedy will tell me, "mommie, get a green smoothie!" I love it!

Someone asked me for my POA (Plan of action) for the week as far as workouts. Sure... I can list that. But just know...with a kiddo with Autism..it can EASILY change. I have truly learned to go with the flow...either grab a quick 15 workout at home and be grateful for that, or accept that today it can't get done and do it tomorrow. I think when we all realize what our true goals are...we are better off. I truly want to be fit and healthy. I like curves and a strong body. Some people like the waif look...whatever blows your hair back. After you establish THAT, go after the plan that will get you that body. Trust me.. I worked hard for the body you see. I still work hard. I have lost over 70 lbs and I'm only 5 feet even... NO INCHES PEOPLE! Most people can't even tell that I've lost that much off of my short frame. I'm saying all that to say... everyone tells you workout for the summer. Workout RIGHT NOW... FOR right now. So what if the holidays are around the corner. It's better to gain only 5 lbs this Holiday season than to gain the 20 you might have if you didn't start working out. Maybe you'll lose pounds this year...who knows?

POA

• Thursday- (cycle) gym rbike cardio 1 hr at nite (wait for babysitter)


• Friday- (cycle) gym rbike 1 hr (while reading school work) Upper body...going heavy weights, low reps


• Saturday- (cycle) warm up on rbike. lower body. cardio intervals on rbike


• Sunday- intervals on treddy, abs

(during my cycle...I take the "heavy" days (2) OFF totally, then do my cardio on the rbike normally or precor. Imma be trying a new made up lifting routine so I'll keep you posted to see how it goes. A random lady did tell me in the store that I had a nice butt. Gee go squats!!!!

I will talk to you about the cleanse update and the gym rants...

Please Go Vote! Vote Barack

I just left the polls. I didn't sleep last nite. I was up all nite meditating and praying for the state of our country. Our world. My daughter's life and my daughter's daughter should she have one. I have volunteered to bring people to the polls and to entertain children who are in the lines with their parents. I've offered to buy .99 cent menu food (I know) just to keep people in line.

I'm so proud right now...so excited. My ancestors are smiling down today.... GO VOTE. VOTE BARACK...VOTE FOR CHANGE!

Election Day Green Smoothie

tons of spinach

1 small bag frozen berries

2 bananas

1 cup hemp mylk

I took it to the poll and sang Negro spirituals in my head as I sipped it. They were having a bake sale...selling all kinds of processed, refined, sugar junk garbage. They were looking at my smoothie like it was the unnatural thing in the room!!! BTW... I was the only Black person at my poll and was NOT offered any samples of their baked good garbage. i told her that I didn't mind b/c I would rather eat my vegan shoes. She stared at me like me and my green drink were from Mars...oh well!! Go Barack... Go Green Smoothies!!!!!!

I'm short on time so this post is COPIED straight my homegirl Kris Carr's blog. Sorry I couldn't make it more personal, but just know that I am GLUED to the news...feeling so grateful for this historic moment in history that I get to be a part of and loving every second of it. Please do your part and get out and rock the vote!! My ancestors died to give me this opportunity and I will be there bright and early. BTW...my voting poll is deep in McCain land....I'm going with my head held high!!!!

From Kris...

"I've got two words for you... One Day! That's all we've got, one day. So here's a concept: let's vote... then volunteer. Contact your local organizers and see how you can help. Drive someone to the polling place who's in need, knock on doors, hand out fliers. And if you live in a swing state like Ohio, North Carolina, Missouri, and Pennsylvania - hustle baby hustle!

Here are some voting basics:

1. Find your polling place by clicking here or calling 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

2. Voter ID laws vary by state, but always bring your ID!

3. Not on the list? Make sure you're at the right polling place, then demand a provisional ballot

.4. If voting by machine with paper record, verify the record is accurate.5. Know your rights when you go to vote: http://truth.voteforchange.com/

6. Need legal help? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

7. Your cell phone camera is a valuable tool for democracy. Record video of any problems and upload to watchdog sites. One of them is Video The Vote. You can also interview other voters who had problems outside the polling place - as long as you stay the legal distance.

Even Oprah had a hard time at the polls, gang. If you see something fishy, say something. Double, triple check that your vote was counted and that your choice was correct. Let's avoid the Gore debacle at all costs."

VOTE OBAMA 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Short Day, Recipe and Crazy Cardio Plans

Real quick post.

Today I took a crazy class at the gym. Normally classes aren't my thing and I just lift heavy on my own, but I love my new gym and the classes are super fun. (did I just say "super"?) Anyway, I have been having a sweet tooth lately so I made Kristen's Pecan Spice Delight Cookies and hemp banana ice cream. OMGoddess...I am full up to my eyeballs and it was so easy and I'm serious...so fast.

Pecan Spice Delight Cookies
(this is Kristen's photo. mine weren't nearly as "camera ready". I put mine on a powerpuff gyrl plate.)

Yield 3 cups cookie batter

1 1/2 cups pecans (soaked and dehydrated if possible)

1/2 cup unsweetened, shredded dried coconut

1 tablespoon (or more!) lucuma powder

pinch Himalayan crystal salt 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup raisins

10 dates, pitted

Process all of the ingredients, except for the raisins and dates, in a food processor, fitted with the “S” blade, until coarsely ground. Add the raisins and dates and continue processing until the mixture begins to stick together when pressed between your fingers. Roll and form into desired shapes and sizes

I'm serious. Check out some of her ebooks right HERE . it's hard to tell you how to pick just one, but seriously consider the Desserts ebook. I make something from her uncook ebooks at least 3-4 times a week...I'm so serious. She's the real deal. ;-)
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Hemp Banana Ice Cream

1 cup hempseeds blended with 1 cup water until creamy
Add 2 frozen bananas
Blend and enjoy

I don't have a photo for it because quite frankly didn't wanna go upstairs and get it and I knew I'd be making it again!
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The first week of the quarter is over and I did so well. It is crazy amounts of reading, writing, arithmetic (just kidding), but I love the work and it is so engaging. I find myself wanting to make 36 hours out of 24 sometimes. Kennedy asked me before bed (as she does every nite) "What are we gonna do tomorrow?" I told her we are trying a new gym and she is so excited. I am too about tomorrow. My chest and triceps are so sore from pushing it hard the other day.

What I like to do is lift in supersets or with 60 seconds of cardio between sets for 2 weeks out of the month and then lift heavy (heavy weights, low reps) for two weeks out of the month. Well, I am taking a small break from focusing on lifting and doing a bit more cardio which is usually not my thing. But I have been wanting lots of "heavy" and denser foods b/c of the freezing East Coast weather and I am just doing what feels natural to my body right now.

I'll be back tomorrow with news about the 7-10 day cleanse I'm about to embark upon. Nothing crazy..just digestion reload time. I never set specific days b/c it seems like too much of a way to fail to me. I do what I feel is right.