Unprocessed challenge

Ok, so I'm jumping in almost half-way, but better late than never, right???!!!  My journey to a healthier me has lead me down some amazing roads, and I found another turn today.  I am constantly looking for clean, healthy recipes that my family would enjoy.  GreenLiteBites is one of my new favorites.  I like that I can save my recipes and print both a grocery list and the recipes. Today, while searching, I found another site that is hosting an Unprocessed Food challenge this month.  I know I'm late, and when I begin, it will be even later, but I will begin this challenge... Monday!  :)

This Sunday I have two jobs.  Job 1- clean out my closet and switch over to fall clothes (while gathering a bag for GoodWill of clothes that no longer fit me because of my healthier lifestyle and AdvoCare).  That won't take too long.  Job 2- clean out the pantry.  This is the perfect time to rid our home of all those unhealthy processed foods that litter our shelves and fill us with toxins!  My kids may not be too happy, but they are going to help (enter long-suffering eye roll from my daughters)!  We are then going to go grocery shopping and see the difference between what's on the perimeter and what's in the center of the store!   I will post pics of our pantry when we are done.  DON'T judge.  This is a journey- remember, I'm just getting started!

Enjoy today, and wherever you are in your journey!
Jeni

Was that on purpose?

I love getting a good night's sleep...  Ok, I bet I would.  It is a rarity in my bed to sleep all night, uninterrupted, blissfully until morning.  Typically a small, yellow haired girl will sneak in and need retucked into her own pint-sized pillow top.  However, with a new perspective, that's not so bad.  In a few years I will miss that little giggle as she whispers (quite loudly) our names and pulls us from our sleepworlds. 

Lately, I've realized that every waking moment in my life (even when I am awoken by my daughters) is another moment to fulfill my purpose.  My purpose to be the best mom I can be, to be the best wife I can be, to be the best person I can be.  Because, I've learned that I cannot be good at anything, I cannot be a leader, a teacher, a friend, I cannot have solid footing in any arena unless my feet are solidly planted in my home. 

We went to Success School in Dallas, TX, last week.  Success School is AdvoCare's biannual convention for others to learn about the company, the business, and the products.  We spent time with amazing people who love helping others.  We listened to the AdvoCare science and medical board talk about our products and how they help so many people be WELL- not just lose weight, that's a nice byproduct, but truly find wellness and healthy living.  We learned about the newest products from the people who made them.  It was amazing to hear directly from the doctors themselves.  What a decorated group we have in the science and medical board!

Success School was so much more than that, though.  We learned that the founder of our company wants more for us than to just make money.  It's really so much bigger than that.  Our purpose is to be the best person we can be, and that starts at home.  One cannot make a difference outside the home until there is strength, love and peace within the home.  We left Dallas with God in our hearts, with love in our hearts, and with a stronger purpose. 

What do you dream?  What is your purpose?  It's yours to be had.  I believe this, now more than ever.  My purpose sits on my lap, helps me in the kitchen, loves to play soccer, reads at night, smiles up at me, lets me wipe away tears.  My purpose is a gift from God...  even when they  wake me up at night.

Recipe post for you...

I had my first attempt at a fully vegan meal, and it was delicious!!!!!  It's a vegan lasagna.  I adapted a Pinterest recipe, and used soy meat and vegan cheese.  These are the main ingredients I used, besides the tube polenta, which I got in the organic aisle at Kroger.

The sauce is delicious, too.  I got it at Whole Foods in my attempt to find a LOW SUGAR marinara.  Most have around 6 grams of sugar, this has only one!  It's great, and Pat loves it, too!

All you do is layer the ingredients as you would with any lasagna.  I sauteed some onions and garlic for a few minutes, then threw in the soy meat (strange consistency in the package, but just like meat in the pan).  Instead of noodles, you slice your polenta and use the slices in the noodles' place.

The recipe called for an 8x8 pan, which I do not have, so I used an 8x11.  I would suggest getting two tubes of polenta for anything other than an 8x8.  I didn't feel like I had enough.  Also, I used only a clove of garlic, but would suggest more.

Of course, I cannot locate the exact recipe I adapted, so here's what I did:

Polenta Lasagna

One tube polenta (organic)
One jar pasta sauce
1 lb soy meat or other meat substitute
1 pkg soy cheese or other cheese substitute
1-2 cloves garlic minced
half onion minced
salt/pepper to taste

Pour a small amount of sauce into the bottom of the pan and top with the first layer of polenta.  Then layer meat/onion/garlic mixture, cheese and more sauce.  Top with another layer of sauce and then repeat.  Finish with a layer of cheese.

Bake at 350 covered for 20 minutes, uncover and bake until cheese is melted on top.

The next time I'd make it, I think I would layer some spinach leaves in there, too.

When I find the original recipe (not vegan), I will post!  Sorry about that.

I AM healthy!

I recently had a conversation with a friend that went something like this:
ME- hi
HER- Stop losing weight!!!!!
ME- I am not trying to lose weight (for once in my life), I'm eating clean and providing my body what it needs to work at its best.
HER- Right... (laced with sarcasm)

It's funny. I have spent the vast majority of my life counting calories, fat, carbs, points, whatever- all in the name of weight loss! I completely stop doing that, look instead at ingredients, and I am thinner, fitter, stronger and healthier than I have ever been... And no one believes me!!!! The irony!

So I think I've figured out why. When people struggle with their self-image it's easy to seek out a quick fix. Counting points or calories is easy. The actual diet of the person doesn't always change, but their perception of their diet does. It works for weight loss, but in the end most (not all) gain it back. Otherwise we'd all pay for the points counting club one time and be done... Me? I paid 4 times. Get the idea? My girlfriend found it easier to understand depriving myself over changing my lifestyle. Too much effort.

Tomorrow we are heading to the lake to soak up some sun an build castles in the sand. I'm looking forward to the time to relax and unwind. I plan to sleep in and stay up late. The only thing I will count are the stars in the sky. Ought to be plenty.

Starting CrossFit

Today we start our latest endeavor- CrossFit. I'm excited to try a new workout and ready to get stronger!

This is the perfect picture for me, today....

Last night I went back to my past life- sorta.  I went to see such a fun band in one of my favorite outdoor venues, with my family.  Because it was a park, we brought a picnic (our tradition- we see this show every year).  Usually that is not the healthiest fare.  We throw chips, dips, sandwiches, pop and beer in the cooler and roll out.  Usually we will grab a box of cookies from the store, too.  Cheap, easy, good enough.  Not now.  Instead I packed edamame salsa (w/black beans, chickpeas, red onions cilantro, red peppers and a vinegar dressing), organic blue corn chips, a shredded rotisserie chicken, a soy/ginger vegan vinaigrette, and blueberries/raspberries for dessert.  We did bring some beer, but for the kids we brought organic apple cider and water.  That was NOT cheap, but was so yummy!  I brought almonds, too, for later when we needed to munch on something.  It wasn't easy to pass on the iced sugar cookies and Kettle Corn sold hot from the vendor!  We did though! 

I guess my point is that eating well isn't the norm.  For most it's a part-time gig.  I can safely say that I put in a good 40+ hours a week, but I don't profess to be an amazingly healthy eater 100% of the time.  I bet my chicken never got a cold because of the antibiotics it took growing up.  I know that my beer was not the best beverage choice.  I'm learning though.  The more I know, the easier it's becoming.

I am going to try a full vegan meal this week.  I'm making polenta lasagna.  I have my meal schedule made and I will post recipes (well, the good ones).  I will try to post pics, too. 

Here's the deal... I know they won't all turn out good.  I know I will crash sometimes and eat something bad for me.  I know I will have the hardest time eliminating beer and wine from my diet.  I know that everyday is a new step on this journey to wellness.  I know that I'm healthier today, fitter today, happier today, than I have been ever.  That makes it all worth it.

Thank God I can drive...

Remember when you were a kid? Riding your bike was the only form of transportation you could control...
I can remember riding for hours all over my neighborhood. I lived in the sticks, so we never really had to be concerned with traffic or HELMETS! I would ride probably three or four miles to Sybil's house just to see if she wanted to ride back to my house (no cell phones either). It was leisurely and I loved it.

It wasn't until high school that I was hit with the realization that riding my bike is actually a great form of exercise! Of course, that was also about the time I realized that I needed to exercise! I had a four mile square of God's country to ride and I hopped on my yellow Huffy 10-speed and pedaled that expanse daily. That was probably the first time in my life that I understood that I was in control of my fitness and my body. I continued that trek all summer and when school started back up I went to KMart and bought myself some new clothes!!!

Fast forward another 20+ years...
Today I rode about 7 miles with a dear friend of mine. First of all, it is NOT as easy to ride as it was when I owned Eagle Road and flew around on my ten speed. It's damn hard! At one point I had to "stand" and pedal just to get up a hill! Had I not been with a friend, I might have gotten off and pushed my bike...

And I do not remember getting off my bike and having to get my "land legs" again! I remember throwing my bike to the ground and running off to play tag or kickball (notice I didn't say I was going to play Atari)!!!

Let's be honest.... Somewhere along the way someone must have changed bikes altogether. They decided that biking is a sport, not a past-time and made it hard for the common person to ride. That is certainly the reason I am still sweaty (in 55 degrees), my legs are aching, and my arms are sore??? It can't be me- right?