30 Day Salad Challenge

Happy New Years Veggie Lovers!

2014 means yet another Fresh Start, so why not start out with a fun and veggie filled challenge to get the year going strong?

Every January I set new goals for myself, and this year I have some big ones:

1.) Lose 10 pounds by my 26th Birthday (January 30th 2014)
2.) Pay at least $10,000 of my loans off in 2014
3.) Let go of things that I cannot change and focus on what I can change.

The first goal is an ongoing goal to move towards my ideal weight of 130lbs. Right now I am 166lbs. I plan to be 155lbs in 28 days.

In order to better grasp how I have gained so much weight during the last few years, I had to look back and evaluate my daily routines and habits. In considering this, I determined that my weaknesses fell in over consumption of sweets as well as over consumption of alcohol. I may not have drank any alcohol at all Monday through Friday, but on a typical Friday or Saturday night, I might go through 5-10 beers each night depending on if Beer Sports, such as Flip Cup or Beirut were involved.

A 12 oz Bud light is 110 calories.
This means that 5 beers = 550 calories, and
10 beers = 1100 calories.

...not very "light" after all.

I also evaluated what I was eating on a daily basis. As a whole, I was eating approximately 1200-1300 calories a day, which is in the range of what I should be consuming.

However, many times, what I was consuming was high-carb and high-simple-carb related, such as Bagels, Bread, and Pasta.

In December, I decided to abstain from alcohol consumption as a whole. I'm not going to lie-- it was hard. Between free after-work Happy Hours and Holiday parties, it seemed that everyone was drinking every other day. It made me realize how many opportunities I really had to drink. I was strong and aside from 1 mimosa on Christmas Morning, I met my challenge and lost 5 pounds.

I had a few glasses of wine on New Years Eve and decided that I should continue this challenge into January. Being more conscious of what I am putting into my body is going to be key in keeping my weight in check.

This brings us to the key topic of discussion:

THE SALAD CHALLENGE!

I thought it would be fun to dedicate an entire month to getting to know salads a bit more intimately.

Disclaimer: Even though I have been vegetarian for over 6 years, I have never been a huge fan of salads

So, I'm compiling all of my favorite salad recipes, and learning new ones to get better acquainted with my raw veggies. Salads for dinner, and left over salad for lunch. LETS GET IT ON.

I will attempt to post daily and share my recipes for anyone who would like to jump on the salad train with me.

Today I have a simple Garden Salad

Mixed Greens-- (baby spinach, arugula and romaine)
English Cucumber
Grape Tomatoes
Red Pepper Hummus ( 1 Tbsp)

with a dressing of 1 Tbsp EVOO, 1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinaigrette, a splash of Braggs Liquid Amino ( adds salty flavor) and cracked black pepper.

I also brought an Avocado and some grapes as snacks today.

Join in and follow along as I continue my journey and if you have a favorite salad recipe that I should try, share in the comments!

Until tomorrow!
VEG-OUT!

Fresh, Healthy, Icecream!

Found this on the wonderful world wide web:

NO CHEMICALS IN THIS ICE CREAM!!!!!

3 cups (2 cans) coconut milk

1/4 cup cacao powder

1 ripe banana, mashed

4 ounces dark chocolate, chopped

1/4 teaspoon sea salt<

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup creamy almond butter

Topping: Toasted Almond Slices, Banana Slices, and Dark Chocolate Chunks

work outs

I found this on a vegan site I sometimes get emails from. Super great Youtube channels if you're looking for cheap, at home workouts!

Acidic vs Alkaline foods in your Body

Hi Friends!

I know it has been a little while since I've posted, but I have been super busy with some really important stuff.

Anyway- yesterday I watched this awesome documentary called "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead." about this guy Joe who is fed up with his Fat and Sick lifestyle, and decides that he will go on a Juice Fast for 60 days to better his life.

It was an inspirational documentary and got me thinking about juicing. I've wanted my own juicer for awhile now, so I'm buying one on Amazon. ( I have a boatload of giftcards for Amazon anyway, so I figured now's the time!)

I also started researching why these juice fasts actually work. Part of the reason is that, as American's, our food intake is Highly Acidic. This plays into factors of:

1) Needing over the counter and perscription Acid Reflux, Acid Control meditcation.

2) Draws nutrients out of our essential nutrients such as Calcium, to regulate our system.

and 3) Assists in slow metabolisms, low energy, and weight gain.

This Video: is super informative, and if you don't understand how acidity plays a role in your body, it really breaks it down like you're a kindergartener ;)

Enjoy!

Where do you get your PROTEIN??!!

I just finished another delishous lunch, completely free of animal products/bi products, but packed with nutrients and PROTEINNNNNN! (insert mean muscle face here)

Simple enough, we cooked up some brown rice and quinoa in veggiestock/water and threw in some spices, salt and peppah'

Then we sauteed some tempeh in a 'honey mustard' sauce. I usually use Agave, but we got had some honey left over from the pre-vegan stage, so I figured, why waste it?

we threw in some frozen veggies: mixed peppers, corn and carrots, with an onions we pre chopped and threw in the freezer as well.

after they sauteed all together, we mixed some of the rice/quinoa in a bowl with the veggies and tempeh on top

Ta-Da! Delicious, nutritious, easy, and cheap dinner.

How much protein is exactly in this meal? (figure in about a 1/2 cup rice/quinoa, 1/2 cup tempeh and 1/3 cup mixed veggies)

1/2 cup Tempeh: 15g protein

1/4 cup brown rice: 4g protein

1/4 cup quinoa: 5g protein

1/4 cup corn: 3g

that equals: 27 grams of protein in ONE MEAL!

Not to mention its completely balanced, you have your good-carbs, and your veggies too!

Cholestoral? ....Zilch!

Fat? .... <6grams!

sugar? ... <6 grams! ( and you dont have to add the agave/honey in at all if you dont want!

Peace out cubscouts! get'cha veg on!

Jazzy Vegetarian Radio Show

Good morning Veg-heads! I follow a lot of Veg-style blogs and facebooks and this one came up! I thought it was super cool because I've never heard of a Vegetarian Radio Show. I havent gotten too deep into it yet, but from what I can tell, you can learn some new recipes and veggie tips from her, so check it out!! http://www.jazzyvegetarian.com/links.html

Healthy Transformation

*** WARNING: Long post :) ***

The other day, I was asked to write something about my own transformation, from being a chubby, junk food addicted, highschooler/college student to a well informed, active and healthy young adult. I'm not going to lie- I used to drink Pepsi and eat snack packs like it was my job. My regular breakfast consisted of a large Chocolate Chip and sugar encrusted Muffin from Dunkin Donuts, along with a Large, Iced Caramal Latte, Extra Sweet, with whipped cream on top. This lasted throughout most of College as well, because even though I became a Vegetarian in the fall of my Sophomore year, I still had little restricting me from large quantities of sugar, dairy, cheese and fast food. I was the typical College student- Loved Pizza, chinese food, Ramen Noodles, Pop Tarts, Sugary Cereals and survived off LOTS Of coffee and sugary energy drinks. Every year I gained more weight, but I also gained more knowledge from my frustration. I would research healthy recipes and vegetarianism and collect recipe books... but I would make excuses that I just didnt have enough time to exercise.

Throughout college I took 5 to 6 classes each semester and worked 2 to 3 jobs at the same time. I was an active sorority sister and philanthropist--- I was extremely busy. I didn't stay up all night partying, and honestly didn't drink that much, but the combination of my food choices, and excuses for not exercising were catching up to me, and before I knew it, I was graduating college at 155 pounds. I went from my highschool weight of 120 to gaining an extra 35 pounds in 5 years.

I decided enough was enough. I had all the tools to live a healthy and happy lifestyle, and I wasn't going to make any excuses anymore.

I started reading, researching, and watching youtube videos on health, diet, and exercise. I collaborated ideas with friends, asking about diets that worked and exercises they knew were effective...and then in January of this past year, I took the plunge- I became Vegan. I knew about all the fats and sugars and extra calories that were in my favorite milk, cheese and egg dishes, and I had enough information to know how to supplement and replace those items with dishes that were healthier and just as delicious. I cut out all animal products and animal bi-products from my diet. That was step one. I dropped 5 pounds in a month!

Step two was really getting serious about exercise. I never enjoyed exercise and always made excuses why I couldnt do it: The gym was expensive. It was too far away to drive. I don't have enough time to do a "full" workout. I'm too tired. I'll do it tonight. I'll do it tomorrow. I walked to class, so that counts. I didn't eat -that- bad today.

I had to tell myself... SHUT UPPPP!!!! I was straight up lying to myself and I knew it. My complexion sucked, i was fat, unhappy and unhealthy.

After college, I was fortunate to be working full time at a job that had a small gym downstairs with a few treadmills, an eliptical, a bike, some weight lifting machines, yoga balls, and resistance bands. I decided I would set my alarm to 6am, go to work in my gym clothes, work out and change there to be upstairs and at work by 8am. I joined a work Healthy Team Challenge for a 3 month period, and when that was about to end, I joined a Biggest Loser Competition at work as well. I went to the gym for an hour every morning, at first, speed walking on the treadmill, then jogging, learning how to do intervals, and long uphill speedwalking. I changed it up a little every day, and then started incorporating weight lifting. I looked up simple exercises I could do with resistance bands for my arms, back, chest, and legs- and incorporated those exercises into my routine.

I knew that in order to keep myself excited about exercising, I would have to have consistancy, but I would also need to switch things up enough to keep it fun! I joined some Zumba and Pilates classes at the local YMCA and started doing that a couple times a week.

I thought of things I always wanted to do that were healthy for me: Learn how to hoola hoop and learn Yoga. I got myself a cheap hoola hoop to pracitce at home and joined Yoga at Love&Healing, in Trumbull. It was enlightening, and in the first class I could already tell that my posture was inproving and that the stretches and exercises were toning my muscles. Plus it was SUPER relaxing!

Nobody likes to run. If you do, you're lying or you're a freak, sorry! haha... no, but seriously, nobody says "Man, I just can't wait to run today! I love that feeling that my heart is about to give up and I'm so hot and sweaty that I just want to die!" Noone. says. that. But, it's just a great way to get in shape! If you love the outdoors, go to your favorite hiking trails and incorporate that. If you live by the beach, run along it! If you have a school by your house, run the track! It's free, and its great for you. If you have a bike, do that too! Like to rollerskate/rollerblade? Get on it! Skateboard? Sure! There is so much you can be doing to better yourself for little to no money at all. Just be active. Once I learned that, and got into the routine, it became natural. I wasnt making excuses anymore- I was just waking up and going.

and you know what? I had enough hours in the day. And my energy was improving! I wasn't falling asleep at my desk anymore, becasue my body was up and moving. The key is to find things you enjoy, get into a routine (we are extreme creature of habit) and stick with it! If you tell yourself you're not going to be able to do it, you wont, and if you tell yourself you can, you WILL! Don't stress. You're blessed :) Think about all that you have, how lucky you are, and how much your health and yourself matter!