Lentil Stew

Frickin' freezing outside!! I had some leftovers so I decided to make a stew! One of my favorite things to eat when I was a kid and I was freezing my too-cus was my mom's homemade beef stew. I found this recipe online and thought it was missing something, so I changed it up.

Lentil Stew

1 tbsp vegetable or canola oil
1 onion diced
1 carrot sliced
4 cups vegetable broth (*I used 5 cups)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 cup dry lentils (*I used 2 cups cooked lentils I had left over)
1/4 tsp pepper (*I used 1/2 tsp)
1/4 tsp thyme (*I used 1/2 tsp)
2 bay leaves
*** I also added 1 lb of red potatoes and 2 white mushrooms, both diced

Saute the onion and carrot with the oil for about 3-5 minutes, until the onion becomes clear.
Add vegetable broth, lentils, onion, carrot, potatoes, mushroom, pepper, thyme and basil to a stew pot. (I don't even know if that is what you call that ginormous pot. That is what I call it. The big one....). Heat to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook until lentils and potatoes are soft. Remove the bay leaves and stir in the lemon juice. Yummy in my tummy!

Being Healthy is a Way of Life

When I was at the gym this morning, I was thinking about all of the reasons that I go. I know that some people work out with a gym partner, but for me being at the gym is time that I get to be with myself and my thoughts. If I'm not running, I spend the time on the elliptical or the bike reading a good book or one of my most recent fitness magazines. Going to the gym turns a bad day into a good one for me. Sometimes I feel as though I am releasing bad energy and letting in the good. Although, having the motivitation isn't always the easiest - being healthy is a way of life.

I don't think that I am the picture of perfect health, but I have had several people ask me for advice. One of the most recent questions is "What diet did you go on?" or "Were there any pills that you used?"

The answers to these two questions are: I eat clean and no way. I take a multivitamin every day. That is it. I know that some people who lift weights take pills, but hopefully it is under the supervision of a certified trainer who knows what is safe and what isn't. The eating regimen that I was on for the competition was crazy strict, but it was clean. 'Diets' in general are poop. Some diets can be a good jump start for your metabolism if you are planning on maintaining a healthy lifestyle to follow, but starving yourself and then eating pizza and beer are not the answers. Healthy eating is a way of life, not a temporary fix. 80% of what your body looks like comes from what you put into your mouth, not how much time you spend on the treadmill.

The most important part is, I work out and eat healthy for me. No one else. It has to be for you, or it just won't stick. Fitting into a smaller size is just an added bonus! Being healthy and losing weight can't start when you walk into the gym doors and end when you leave. It is a lifestyle.

None of us are perfect, in fact there were times prior to becoming vegan that I had to ask Chris to put the Nutella in his locked safe so I wouldn't eat the entire jar....again. If you can't make it to the gym, go for a long walk. Don't beat yourself up for having a cookie, but just don't eat the whole jar.

Our Turkey-less Thanksgiving

Needless to say, my Thanksgiving was turkey-less. We did not eat To-Furkey because….well….To-Furkey? That sounds frickin nasty. I love tofu in lots of things, but it is turkey or no turkey for me. I LOVE thanksgiving! So….here are the recipes for the yummies that we ate.

Thanksgiving Lentil Casserole

(I found this one on vebweb.com, I highly suggest making a gravy with it because it is good by itself but gravy gave it some extra phizazz J)

2 cups brown rice (I used lentils)

½ cup cashews or walnuts chopped (I used ¼ cup of each)

2 slices of whole wheat bread chopped into small cubes

1 cup of vegetable broth

½ cup of soy milk (I used almond milk)

2 tbsp nutritional yeast (I used 3 tbsp)

1 rib celery, diced (I used 3 ribs)

1 small onion, finely chopped

3 tbsp olive oil

Herbs to taste: sage, majoram, thyme, pepper, rosemary (I used about a tsp of each)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 8 or 9 inch casserole dish with cooking spray

While rice (lentils) are cooking, sauté the celery and onion in the olive oil. Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl. Spread into a casserole dish and bake for 45 minutes. That’s it! Super easy!

Golden Mushroom Gravy

This was frickin’ amazing! YUMMMMMMMM! I got this one out of my ‘1000 Vegan Recipes’ cookbook by Robin Robertson

1 tbsp olive oil

½ cup chopped onion

1 cup cooked or canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 ½ cups vegetable broth (I ended up using about 2 cups)

1 ½ cups sliced white mushrooms

1 tsp thyme

1 tsp savory

1 tsp sage

Salt and pepper

Heat oil on medium heat in a medium saucepan. Add the onion, cover and cook until softened. Add the chickpeas and ½ cup of veggie broth. Stir until all ingredients are softened

Take chickpea/onion mixture and put into blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Set aside. In the same saucepan, combine the remaining veggie broth and mushrooms and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to low and add the chickpea mixture to the mushroom and veggie broth. Add all of the spices and stir. You can serve this right away or store it overnight. I made this the night before and when I reheated it, I had to add more broth. I served it over the Lentil Casserole.

Ginger Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Apples

What the yum?! I got this one out of my ‘Appetite for Reduction’ cookbook. Her recipes are also at the Post Punk Kitchen blog that I follow. This was SOOOO simple and yummy!

1 lb apples (about 2 average sized apples. I used fuji) cut into chunks

2 lb sweet potatoes or yams cut into ½ inch chunks

 *the recipe says to peel the apples and potatoes, but I LOVE the skins so I left them on

¼ cup water

¼ tsp salt

1 tbsp agave nectar

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp ginger

Bring water and salt to a boil. Add the apples and potatoes. Cover and reduce heat to low. Stir often. Slowly let them steam so they don’t burn. Steam for about 20 minutes until they are soft and tender. Drain. Mash with a potato masher. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Serve. YUM!

The Salad

Literally, this was nothing special. I just mixed dried cherries, spinach, cucumber and tomatoes. The best part was the dressing. I used Walden Farms Balsamic Vinaigarette…..um what…no calories. None. All natural. Check out Walden Farms website. Some of their stuff frickin rocks!

Vegan Walnut Brownies

Ok, so these are NOT necessarily good for you. I tweaked the recipe a bit, though…sooo they are better than they are supposed to be. I will give you the regular recipe and I will put in the changes I made.

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar (I used 1 cup of sugar and ½ cup of stevia)

¾ cup of cocoa

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 cup water (I used 1 ½ cup water)

1 cup oil (I used ½ cup of oil)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix up all of the ingredients and spread into a greased, square pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes (*because of the changes I made, I had to increase the baking time to 40 minutes).

Thankfulness....

So, I know it is not Thanksgiving yet. It is Thanksgiving Eve. I was trying to figure out what to write about and then I realized that tomorrow is meant to be a day of reflection (and the anniversary of pilgrims taking over Native American land....but let's not focus on that.....I wonder if Thanksgiving ever makes Native Americans angry????).....back to being thankful.

So, today I am going to write a list of the things that I am truly thankful for:

1. My dad. I love him more than words. I love everything about him. He embodies kindness. He is the most giving person I will ever know and loves everyone he knows for who they are. He helped me become vegan and for that I am thankful.
2. My health.
4. Iggy. I literally want to eat my nephew.

5. Chrissy.....yep that hunk o' man before you is all mine.

6. Pogo....yes even the practically incontinent dog
7. My friends and family. Too many to name.
8. The great outdoors....they have given me serenity many times....so perhaps I should thank the Indians???

9. My eyesight....as crap as it is.
10. Carbs....I love you!

This is hard.....there are so many things and so many people that I am thankful for in my life. I will spend the rest of the night preparing for my vegan thanksgiving and thinking about all the people that I am so very thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

What DO you eat????

So, I run into this question just about every other day. Along with "Where do you get your protein?" and "Where do you get your calcium?" and "What about essential fatty acids?"

Unfortunately, our society has been led to believe that we NEED meat. We NEED milk. We NEED eggs. Truthfully, we do not. Let me start with the milk thing. Humans are the only living species that drink milk from another animal....think about it? Gross. When a human mom begins to lactate, she does so until the baby is weened off of breast milk. Cows are the same. However, in our society, we hook these cows up to machines for the rest of their lives sucking milk out of them constantly so they are continually lactating. Sound morbid? It is. Let's take that one step further. So these cows are hooked up to a machine that is constantly sucking at it's udders. Overtime the udders become infected and the pus that forms is mixed into the milk that is sucked out...and we drink it. Yum! Under normal conditions, a cow produces about 10 gallons of milk a day. Under USDA approved farms, a single cow is made to produce over 100 gallons a day by injecting cows with hormones. Still sound yummy? If you are a meaty, no problem. Just please please please buy organic. So, where do I get my calcium? Easy. Here is a list of delicious foods that calcium lives in besides the overly advertised cow milk.

Fortified grains, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, cabbage, kelp, seaweed, watercress, chickpeas, broccoli, red beans, soy beans (soy milk!), tofu, spinach, tomatoes, seeds and raw nuts. Pretty much anything green. There are also calcium fortified rice milks and juices. In fact, one serving of cooked collard greens has a higher calcium content than an 8 oz glass of milk.....interesting.

Alright. Meat. We are taught by many that meat is ever so important. White meat is told to be one of the purest forms of protein...and it is. Animal protein. Red meat also has protein, but it is also filled with all of the fantastic crap that fills our arteries and makes us have hypertension (known in the health industry as The Silent Killer), heart attacks and open heart surgeries. Recent studies have shown links to animal proteins that increase the risk of certain cancers. Feel free to read The China Study or Forks or Knives...or read this link: http://www.cancerproject.org/survival/cancer_facts/meat.php
So, if you believe any of this stuff then that means if you eat lots of meat you will get cancer....but of course that is as long as your heart doesn't kill you first. Last night I saw a comic who made a funny joke about dating a vegan with a "tofu dick" (aka limp dick) because he didn't eat meat. Although this is hilarious, it isn't true. Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of erectile dysfunction. Think about it. There are no bones in it, just blood. If the blood can't get to it, then no boner for you. When I worked at the Senior Clinic, whenever a patient complained of E.D. the first thing the doc did was check his cholesterol. True story.....
Anyway, once again. I don't give a shit if you eat meat, but stick to the healthy stuff which isn't fast food and it sure as hell isn't bleeding. A bloody steak tastes fantastic, but in moderation. So, where do I get my protein?

Quinoa and other whole grains (quinoa has 18 grams of protein per serving!), beans, lentils, legumes (thank you indian food!), tofu, soy, nuts, seeds, nut butter, seitan and meat substitutes. Oh and my favorite. Vegan protein powder.

Essential fatty acids. Ok, so even when I was in nursing school I was taught that we get our essential fatty acids (the omegas) from fish. What do these things do? These essentials nutrients are needed for metabolism, but your body cannot create them so you HAVE to get them from food. They are omega-3 and omega-6. Turns out, fish isn't the only place and you don't have to take a shitload of vitamins either. Here is the list:

 Omega-6: Veggies, fruits, nuts, grains, seeds.....yeah, seems too simple. It is just that simple. There are also some oils you can get it from (safflower, sunflower, corn, soya, evening primrose, pumpkin and wheatgerm)


Omega-3: Flaxseed, mustard seed, walnut oil, hemp seeds, GREEN LEAFY VEGGIES, grains and spirulina. The best part???? DARK CHOCOLATE!!!!!


Ok, so there are a lot of things I CAN eat. A ton. The issue is basically going out to eat. I have to look at the menu ahead of time. The most sure fire way for me to KNOW it is vegan is to buy and prepare it myself. Do I care if you eat meat? NO. I do not care at all. Eat in front of me, next to me. I don't care. I haven't felt this healthy in my entire life and it is fantastic. No steak could replace it. I have been virtually allergy symptom free with the exception of the eye incident, but last year I missed over 13 days of work due to allergies and migraines. This year, I have missed 2 and a half. These are my opinions and my decisions, but I think it is always important to remain open minded. I know we have had meat and milk drilled into our heads for years....but why not go against the system? These organizations are run by the government and they aren't always the most honest. I leave you with a quote.

“The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.”~ Thomas Edison

The Bucket List

When I started this blog I thought it was mainly because I wanted to hold myself accountable for health goals that I wanted to reach by my 30th birthday. 7 months have passed since said birthday and as I begin this journey into the "dirty thirties", I can't help but think that perhaps I am having some sort of a quaterly-life-crisis (that is of course assuming that I will live to be 120).

I have found myself reflecting a lot on my life, my choices and what I want to accomplish. To say that I regret anything would be a lie. I regret nothing. Everything that I have experienced has brought me to this point in my life and for that I am thankful. It is best to have no regrets. What happens, happens. Some say things happen for a reason, some say it is destiny, some say shit happens. Regardless, it has been my life's mission to live without regrets. Perhaps this is why I find myself in such a pickle today.

When I was having breakfast with my father a few Sundays ago, he mentioned how happy he is that I am "checking off my bucket list". I smiled and wondered "Is that what I'm doing?"

I think that I thought (wording?) that I would have accomplished more of the things on my list at this point in my life. I have come to the conclusion that when I started this blog, it was subconciously more than just a goal-setter. I was setting out a mission. Holding myself accountable to accomplish all of the things I want in life.

When I was 13, I thought that by the time I was 30 I would be "settled down".......

let me stop things right there. Who in the fuck came up with the phrase "settled down"? Seems to me it is a nice way of saying chained to a house, a spouse and kids. Not that I am saying those things are bad, but that is what it sounds like. Like when you "settle down" you buy your house, pump out some kidlets and wait to die.....but I digress.

Ok, so at 13 I thought I would be 'chained' to all of those things. White picket fence, the dog, the kids, the whole shit-in-a-bag. Happy, right? Turns out that isn't what I wanted. I got married. I got divorced. I bought a house. I sold the house. I got a dog. He shits in the house....hmmm......I took in a homeless Mexican dog, what can I say?

So now I am thinking perhaps I should start a bucket list. Don't get me wrong, I love kids....but I still don't know if that whole package is for me. I can barely remember to feed my dog each day and sometimes I think he is passive aggressive about it.....is that possible?

So, here it is. I will begin my bucket list. Here on this blog.....where to start?

Focus! Focus! Focus!

Finding motivation this last week has NOT been easy. I've been reading the Hungry Runner Girl Blog, Making Goal Lists and catching up on my new Oxygen Magazine that came in the mail....but, tis the season. All I have wanted to do this week is put on some sweats and curl up with a good book. (I am currently reading "What's Your Number" HILARIOUS! Love me some chick lit.) Maybe eat some toast, or possibly some mac n cheese....or some more pancakes.....

Do you see this downward spiral?

I have my workouts and I have the tools, but I am lacking that extra *umph* of motivation this week. I thought it might help for me to list some of my to do's on here:

1) one hour of cardio every other day with a run on the off days 6 days a week
2) lifting 6 days a week in a 4 day rotation
3) eat every 3 hours clean proteins and carbs.....mmmmm carbs
4) I get a coffee every day....this is not negotiable....sorry Shane

OK, now that is out of the way. Let's discuss some other things. Things like one of my favorite new carbs.

PANCAKES!!!

I love them. Delicious. I have been making instant at home with all natural pancake mix, almond milk and water (you don't need the oil, just use water instead). You can even add ground flaxseed or protein powder....whatever you like!

I went with my padre a few weeks ago to Sage Cafe. It is a vegan restaurant dowtown that serves delicious homemade breakfasts on Saturdays and Sundays. We each had almond and apple pancakes with blueberry syrup.

YES! I took a bite and then remembered to take a picture....but look at how delicious they are! You can check out their menu at http://www.sagescafe.com/

I'm Allergic to Ugly....

"I hate ugliness. You know I'm allergic to ugliness" - Imelda Marcos

I had an interesting run in with ugliness last night. Ugly comes in all shapes and forms, but I think the worst is meanness and being judgmental.

My good friend called me crying after another friend of mine was mean to her. My heart sank. I wished I was with my friend on the phone so I could give her a hug and I also wish that I could hug the friend that was mean. They are both good and loving people. I think sometimes we use others as targets to make ourselves feel better when we don't know what else to do.

The older I get, the more I learn how little I know. It is easy to pass judgment. Easy to assume what you would do if you were in someone else's shoes. We are all guilty of it, whether it is intentional or not.  My dad always tells me two things that “people generally do the best they can with what they know” and “it is important to love people for who they are, because most people really are good”. I think this is true.

What works for one, may not work for another. People are just people, after all. We are all just trying to figure this whole life thing out and it is inevitable that we will make mistakes along the way. Some mistakes hurt others, some just hurt us. This is just a part of life that each of us should accept. These choices we make are not ammunition we use to hurt others, especially not at the age of thirty.

When I was working on a spinal cord injury unit at the hospital, I took care of people with all different backgrounds. Gangsters, ex-convicts, illegal aliens, Christians, homosexuals, white supremist, etc. Literally I saw it all. No matter what the situation though, my dad's advice rang true. All of these people were good and loving and were just trying to do the best they could with what they knew. I have cried with a gang member and his mother. I have hugged a man when his boyfriend was dying. I have helped a Mexican with no insurance or social security number get better and find a home. I have prayed with a family when their daughter was sick. I have cried when an ex-convict who had become my good friend decided to die. All of these people were good. They have all made choices in life that have affected them positively and negatively. Who am I to judge?

Next time you think you know what is best for someone, next time you think you know how the world works....remind yourself that you don’t. No one knows. We are all just trying to do the best we can. Love people for who they are. It doesn't mean you should be everyone's best friend, but remember that hurtful words still hurt.

Giving Thanks....

What a year! I know it has been some time since I blogged. Since the competition that I missed on October 8th, some funky things have gone on in my life.

2 days before the NGA competition I woke up with my right eye swollen shut. BAH! I went to the doctor and they determined that it was seasonal allergies. The doc said that even my sclera (the white part of my eyeball) was swollen. They gave me allergy eye drops and benadryl. I couldn't compete for a few reasons.

1) The NGA does not give out Quasimoto look-alike awards (if they had, I would've nailed it)
2) I can't walk in my back pose on stage the entire time
3) I couldn't wear my contacts and I literally can see about 6 inches in front of my face....me + heels + stage + posing + blindness = fall on my ass
4) They won't let you wear bedazzled eye patches

*sigh*

So, no comp for me. I figured 'That's ok! I will be better in a week and start training for next year!'......

Since then, my eyes have become swollen 2 more times. This last Tuesday I woke up with both of them swollen. I was blind. Chris had to drive me to the eye specialist where the doc told me "They look angry and beat up, no contacts for 3 to 6 months." They gave me a steroid to take and I go back in on Tuesday. Between that, my comp and my Raynauds I have been feeling pretty beat down by life recently.

Over this past week I missed two days of work because I was unable to stare at a computer screen, my eyes are photosensitive. Without being able to look at a computer or a television and without being able to drive, I had a lot of time to reflect. I cried a lot, I ate a shit ton of pancakes (yes, I am PMSing) and when I was done I started thinking about how much worse things could be.

So my eyes are mad at me. Ok, I will take care of them. My hands hurt sometimes and my feet as well which make it difficult to be in the cold....I will just keep trying. The vegan thing doesn't really suck at all anymore and I can continue to do it and it has truly helped me.

When I was little, my mom used to tell my brothers and I several Mexican 'words of wisdom'. A lot of them have stuck, but when I was reflecting on the attitude I choose one in particular comes to mind:

Always be thankful for what you have, because no matter how tough things are for you someone always has it worse.

Mami may be a little loco, but she was right. I have a loving family. I have loving friends. My immune system might be 'on the fritz', but overall I still have my health. I have food (sometimes too much). I have a roof. I have a warm bed. I have my sanity (most days). I can have carbs (thank you, thank you!). I have my whole life to live still and figure this shit out. By Thursday I had come to the conclusion that my autoimmune-allergy-for-the-love-of-humanity stricken body could eat a bag of dicks and go fuck itself. If there is anything I have learned being a nurse, I know that things could always be worse and the mind is the most powerful thing we have.

So, this November I am giving thanks. Thank you for the challenges in my life, without these I would not be who I am. They make me stronger. Thank you to my patients, family and friends. You help me stay focused. Thank you to my mother for helping me stay grounded, always. XoXo

Fat Free Vegan Apple-Banana Breakfast Muffins

I just made these muffins tonight! They are soooo yummy. This recipe calls for apple juice, so there is no need for any butters or oils - hence the fat-freeness. Best part is they are insanely easy to make.

2 c flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c sugar
1 1/2 c apple juice
1 apple diced
2 ripe bananas mashed

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix it all up and pour batter into lightly greased muffin pan. Fill each cup about 2/3 full. Bake 35 - 40 min or until muffins raise and are golden brown.

Vegan Goods!

Chris and I went to dinner last night at the Blue Plate Diner. It is on 2100 South and 2100 East in Sugarhouse. Very delicious, locally owned diner that is known for their reasonably priced comfort food. I have been there before, but not as a vegan. VERY vegan friendly menu. There are actual vegan dishes listed on the menu! YUM! I ordered the hummus dip and vegan burger with cajun fries. Delicious!

It was nice to splurge out of my current diet comfort zone and have a burger and fries! I have also been looking for vegan dishes that are quick to make and HEALTHY. I am not a fan of any frozen foods, really. Prepackaged foods are generally loaded with sodium and other poisons that are poop. I was in whole foods the other day and stumbled across this 365 brand vegan PIZZA!! If there has been anything that I miss, it is cheese and pizza. They carry a roasted vegetable pizza that is only 150 calories! Sodium is high, 380 mg, but I was willing to sacrifice a little salt for a pizza. I cooked this up this afternoon and added some Daiya dairy-free cheese in Mozarella and Cheddar flavor. It was divine.

Hooray for instant vegan food! 365 also makes a gluten-free vegan pizza on rice crust. The one I chose was whole wheat.

No NPC for me....

Everything has been going wonderfully. I met with my trainer, Tiffany Heugly, on sunday to go over some of the NPC posing. I am leaner then I was at the NGA show. I was exhausted, but ready to go on stage. Still continuing with the vegan diet and I had yet to even have as much as a sniffle from allergies in over 6 months.

I woke up Thursday morning and my right eye was as swollen. It was as though someone had cut a golf ball in half and covered my eyeball with it. My eyes were watering, my sneezing had returned. I went to work that morning, then went home early and went straight to the doctor to reveal my worst nightmare. It wasn't an infection, it was my allergies again. The doctor said that it was "quite impressive" and that even my sclera (the white part of your eyeball) was swollen. He gave me a prescription for allergy eye drops and told me to put ice on it and take benadryl. I am not allowed to put my contacts in until the swelling is gone. I can see about 5 inches in front of my face. Glasses are not an option on stage.

I told my trainer and it turns out that both benadryl and panitol (eye drops) cause water retention. I had been on a diuretic to do the exact opposite. No good. My eye was burning. I can't even put lotion on my face, let alone a spray tan and stage makeup. So, here I am quasimoto, blind, sneezing, bloated, swollen eyes and face.....beautiful. Does NPC give a sympathy award?

I pulled myself out of the show. If I can't give 100% I don't want to do it. The down side?

Today is the day of the show. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little emotional. The up side?

My goal was to be in the best shape of my life. I am. I weigh the same I did when I was 17. I have leaned out a ton and all I have to gain is more muscle from here on out, so when I compete in the spring I will give those girls a run for their money.

Chris has been wonderful. I couldn't ask for better support or a better friend. When I asked him if this made me a quitter, his response was "You've done ALL the work already. That's not quitting."

I have had more support and love from friends and family and I am overwhelmed with happiness.

Tiffany and Shane Heugly are AMAZING!! They did everything that they could think of to help me to still compete. When I left the gym on sunday, Tiffany said "whatever happens, you've already won." It was that little sentence that helped me decide my health was more important than one show. They have had nothing but positive reinforcement and encouragement.

I got to eat chips and salsa. Oatmeal. A latte. Vegan mac n' cheese. Awesome!

So, that is my story. I will continue to update you with my off-season training and some yummy new vegan recipes!

Love, Sum XoXo

P.S. My before and after pics are up on teamheugly.com under women's results and there are some more pics under paparazzi 2

NGA

It's been a while since I have posted anything. If I told you my schedule, it might make sense why. I have been getting up each morning at 3:30 am to do 1 to 1 1/2 hours of cardio. I work from 6:30 to 2:30, then I go back to the gym to do another 1 to 1 1/2 hours of cardio and 30 to 45 minutes of weights. This is my schedule Monday through Friday. I have virtually no carbs in my diet and my fuel tank is running on empty. On Mondays I have a yoga instructor course at SLCC from 5:30 to 8:30 at night. Last night I cried myself to sleep......because I was so tired.
Is it worth it?
YES
The results that I have seen, the people that I have met and the strength that I have found in myself have all made this worth while. The NGA was a whirlwind. I spent the week working out, going to the gym, going to hair appointments, going to makeup appointments, practicing posing, getting up before sunrise, exfoliating and shaving (yes, shaving) my entire body. I was spray tanned in the nude by my adorable pregnant trainer, Tiffany. Tiffany has now seen every part of my body, including the 'little miss muffet'. I had to buy black sheets so the spray tan, which turns you into a different ethnicity, wouldn't stain my nice bed sheets. I drove home from tanning wearing ONLY a silk robe so it wouldn't wear off.
The day of NGA my nerves had vanished and it was so refreshing to sit backstage with not only 50 plus people that UNDERSTAND what you have gone through, but also people that are genuinely nice. Everyone was so eager to help each other. A huge group of practically naked girls, helping fix each other's suits and hair. There wasn't even a bathroom stall, just a giant open room with a toilet so we were even doing THAT in front of each other. I can say that I have carried on a conversation with one of the buffest women I have ever met while sitting almost naked on a toilet.....peeing in a dixie cup with a hole in it so my tan doesn't smear.
You might think I'm crazy. I am. A little. We don't know our limits if we don't push the limits. We cannot become truly great or realize our true potential without pushing ourselves past our comfort zone. I have one life and I intend to live every minute of it. Perhaps a bodybuilding competition isn't something you want to do and that is okay. My advice is find that somethihg that you have always wanted to do, but you are terrified of and DO IT. Pour your whole heart into it. The reward will be worth it.

Some Things I've Learned about Nutrition....

So, I've dedicated a lot of my time in the past few years to educating myself as much as I can about nutrition. Here are some little nutritional tidbits/rules to shop by that I have learned and would like to share. Maybe these are things you already know, but maybe I can help some people make some smarter choices:

1. Circle the Store First: Oldie, but a goody. Stores keep the most healthy of the healthy on outskirts of the store. Think about it. The dairy, produce, meat, seafood, whole grains....all of these things are NOT in the aisles. Do a once-around first and usually your cart will be almost full by the time you get to the 'bad' aisles. Aisles 3-11 are usually FULL of the junk. Check it out. True Story.

2. Do Lunges and Reach High: The most caloric, most highly processed foods sit in the aisles at EYE LEVEL. Supermarkets charge manufacturers for the placement of their food and food marketers use this as a way to pass the cost to you. Reach up or kneel down in the aisles and you'll find the better choices.

3. Fewer Ingredients: The fewer ingredients, the better something is for you. Usually. Have you ever looked at the label of some over processed food? There are usually about 20 things listed. #1 almost always being sugars. Yuck. That brings me to my next rule...

4. Read Labels: I taught a nutrition class at a local community center for free this last fall. What did I learn? People do not read labels. It astonished me. Not only do people not read them, they don't know how to read them. Labels list foods in order of weight. For example, if the first ingredient is sugar (aka dextrin, dehydrated cane juice, dextrose, fructose, fruit juice concentrate, lactose, maltose, maltodextrin, saccharose, sorghum, sucrose, xylose...there are even more hidden names for sugar) then what you are holding in your hand is mostly sugar. So watch "whose on first" when it comes to the list of ingredients.

5. Sugar is the White Poison: I just went over some of the names for sugar, now here is the clencher. Sugar is bad. No bueno. I'm talkin white simple sugars. This sucks, I know. This has been the HARDEST thing for me. Sugar sends your metabolism into a slow tailspin that puts fat in all the wrong places. There are, however, excellent sugar and sweetening substitutes like Stevia. Yum!

6. Stay Away from the Soda: Soda contains approximately 7 to 9 teaspoons of refined sugar. Even the diet sodas can be detrimental to your health because they are full of aspartame or splenda.

7. The Truth about Deli Meat: Another 'look at the label'. Most processed meats contain a chemical soup of nitrates, nitrites, sugar, sodium and preservatives. Many of these have been found to lead to cancer. Yucky.

8. The Truth about Carbs: Ok, we all know someone who has lost weight on the Atkins diet. Why? Eating too few carbs puts the body in starvation mode and muscles begin to burn their own protein for energy. Sound like a good idea still? Here is another carb-fun-fact. Sticking with a consistent diet of high protein, low carbs over an extended period of time causes calcium loss and kidney damage. Stick with yummy complex carbs like whole grains, potatoes, broccoli (my favorite), oatmeal, apples....the list goes on. These are GOOD FOR YOU!

9. Lots of Color in your Diet = Fatloss: I'm talkin greens and reds and yellows and oranges. Your meals should look like a rainbow and I'm not talking about the package on the food. Eat clean and you'll never have to count another calorie again.

9. USE YOUR NOGIN! There are a billion books out there about losing weight and nutrition. We see tons of commercials each day and advertisements in magazines about what we should and should not eat. There are countless numbers of documentaries on foods. The bottom line is, use your head. You KNOW what is healthy. I am all about research, but frankly, I don't agree with everything I read and hear.

That's all for today! I hope this sheds some light or at least reinforces what some of you already know. I'm off to the gym. Again! XoXo

Monotony...monotony....monotony

I spent the last week in Marysville, Washington assisting my little brother following an ACL and double meniscus surgery on his right knee. He is 19 and helpless. I was able to get all of my workouts in. Apparently having a VIP Golds Gym membership only works in Utah and does NOT transfer to other states. The super-ghetto Golds in Marysville, however, was gracious enough to give me a one week free membership while I was up there. I learned a few things. Staying across the street from a Starbucks. Bad. Golds Gyms in Utah. Good. If I hadn't known better, I would've guessed that the Golds Gym I was working out in was the original and it had never been remodeled. There was an average of about 10 cars in the gym parking lot at any given time, sometimes less. This explained to me the amount of morbidly obese people I saw bumming around Northern Washington. Thanks to stress, I was able to get 100% of my workouts in and then some. Unfortunately, the monotony of the diet is seriously getting to me. That and PMS. I ate healthy, but what I was eating was certainly a far cry from the broccoli and protein shake diet I have been so loyal to. It was nice to get a break, but now that I am back I am meeting with my trainer this Saturday in a bikini to discuss if I am ready. I am thinking, probably not. I am continuing to slim down, but I don't think I am close to what I need to be. My trainer continues to text me positive vibes and has been fantastic the entire time. We will see. Stay posted to see if I actually get to compete on September 10th! Dun dun dun!

Why Not a Marathon Too?

So, I have been working out like crazy. It is starting to get to me. I am tired most of the day. I am doing 2 a days of 1 hour of cardio 6 days a week. So, I started thinking......

Why not train for a marathon too?

I am hoping, that with all of the weight lifting I have been participating in, that my IT band will resolve. My ass was virtually muscle-less, resulting in severe IT in October of 2009 following the Other Half in Moab. The furthest I have been able to run since has been 6 miles. Maybe, with all this lunging and squating and pressing, I will have the muscle to "back it up". I have wanted to run another full marathon since I graduated nursing school, but my IT has gotten in the way. 26.2 is calling again.

If this all works out, I will be ready to run the Tuscon Marathon on December 11th.

With all of that being said, I will attempt for the first time in almost 2 years a 7 mile run tomorrow morning. Wish me luck!

Keep strong and carry on....

Last few days have been more difficult than ever. I am currently continuing to lift 6 days a week, which equates to about 30-45 minutes each day. My trainer has increased my cardio to 2 hours a day, 6 days a week. I am tired 100% of the time. I am attempting to wake up at 4 am each morning to get 1 of my 2 hours of cardio in, but sometimes my body rejects the early morning rise. I am beginning to crave carbs like crazy! First competition is 31 days from today. I received my heels in the mail and I have picked out my suit, just waiting to meet with one of my trainers on the 26th to approve the suit so I can order it. Taking it one day at a time!

7 weeks.....

Seven weeks until the first show. I am definitely leaning out, but not at all ready. My trainer increased my cardio again to 50 minutes twice a day. It is kicking my ass. I never thought that I would say this, but thank god for "rest day". I used to hate rest days. Getting me to sit still was almost impossible, but today I woke up thinking "Praise the Lord, no gym today!". I am getting more and more excited with all of the changes that I am seeing. The diet has been fairly easy to stick to to until these last few days. I am PMSing and all I want to do is chew and munch and eat carbs! Oh well, it is worth it in the end. Chris continues to be an excellent support and is so sweet.
I've been getting a lot of questions concerning my main source of protien, since I am vegan. I am taking two protein supplements that I alternate every other meal and I am having 5 meals a day.

They are actually quite yummy. Both are soy and one is also wheat based. 7 more weeks to go! Wish me luck!!

Staying Motivated

I apologize for being oober-neglectful (oober is a word) recently. I have been training at my new job and my trainer recently increased my cardio to 90 minutes a day which has been bogarting some of my time, but in a good way. Here is how my progress has been coming along so far.

The first three weeks:

 Bloat city. I had to pee every 30 minutes and by about 4 pm my stomach looked like I was 'with child'. Very frustrating. I continued to consume 90 oz of water a day. I continued to eat ALL of the broccoli. I switched it up to one of the other approved vegetables, string beans, and it was worse. So, broccoli it is. I talked with my trainer about some "digestive issues" and carried on. I kept weighing myself every day and although I know muscle weighs more than fat, I couldn't keep myself from becoming mortified as the numbers continued to creep up and I was convinced that I would soon have to start shopping in the maternity section if this kept up.

What is happening now:

Bloat? Gone. My trainer told me to "STOP weighing yourself!", so I did and I must admit I am much happier. I am able to start wearing some regular shirts again. Phew. I was afraid I'd have to start telling people when I was due. My cardio has been increased, so I wake up at 4:30 am and do 45 minutes of cardio and then do another 45 minutes after work and lift. I started using lemon juice on my broccoli and it has magically created, not only a tolerable meal, but one that I enjoy. No more sugar cravings. Those are gone for good, but I do believe that the gum industry is happy to have me as a consumer. Extra makes this amazing sugar-free gum that tastes like your favorite desserts. They are amazing!
I went camping last weekend. I brought all of my food and it worked out well. Raw broccoli and cauliflower with Walden Farms calorie free dressing.
I continue to pee often, but about once an hour.
All in all, staying motivated seems to be getting easier. Especially now that I am beginning to see changes in the photos I have to send to my trainer each week. I keep thinking about the comps in September and October and I get butterflies in my stomach! So exciting. This experience is proof to me, once again, that ANY goal can be achieved as long as you stick to the program and consistently remind yourself of the light at the end. Keep your goal in sight. Remember that the foods you put in your body are YOUR choice. You have to choose what it is that you want to achieve. Some days are easier than others, but it is worth it in the end.

I Love Broccoli, I Love Broccoli, I Love Broccoli

I hate Broccoli. I'm pretty sure I do at this point. It's only been 2 weeks! Everything has been going well. Yesterday was my first "wall". After ten hours at work I didn't want to look at any vegetables, but I ate the damn broccoli anyway.

Last week, the day after my 200 lunges, I felt fine. The next three days were filled with soreness. I had to talk myself through my 1 hour cardio each day and, literally, ice my ass at night so I could sleep. I did legs again yesterday. I did NOT think I could make it through the entire 200 lunges and 80 squats. I did it anyway. I did it with good form. I did it tired and had to talk myself through each step, but I did it.

The moral of this story? Don't let anything stand inbetween you and what you want. If you want to run a marathon. Run it. If you want to do a tiratholon. Do it. If you want to compete, compete. There is no feeling that I can compare to finishing my first full marathon. The sense of accomplishment is amazing.

Was I tired? Yes, but knowing what I can achieve by being diligent in my efforts helps me stay focused. Sometimes pulling up pictures of competitions helps me to stay focused.

Doing a little at a time also helps. I did 50 lunges at a time. I would do 50, then sit and talk myself into doing the next 50.

It doesn't matter how old broccoli and string beans become, how tired I am or how sore I get. The end goal that I am striving to achieve is much greater than the few moments of discomfort I endure to get there.

Bloated.....AND Broccoli for Breakfast??

Got my protein in the mail Tuesday afternoon. They are both delicious! The workouts have not been that bad. Today was probably the most difficult, but leg day usually is. I did 200 lunges, 80 squats, 48 leg extensions, 48 leg curls, 48 extensions on the leg press, 96 calf raises and one hour of cardio. The diet? It is bland and IT WILL get old, but it hasn't so far. The only issue I had at first was the option of having veggies at every meal.....including breakfast. I am vegan so there is no veggies-in-my-eggs option. The worst? The bloating! I am bloated 24/7! I am drinking almost 100 oz of water a day and I feel like I am going to explode! By the 4th meal I feel like I am forcing the shake in. This is supposed to only last for about a week and then my body will adjust.
The best part? My new story about having to explain my diet. So NOW I also get to explain that, not only am I vegan, but I can only eat the food on this regimen for the next 14 weeks. No excuses. No cheats. No substitutions. My new boss wanted to take all of the new employees out to dinner last night and I was asked in front of everyone why I declined. So I explained the competition, which was followed by "Well what CAN you eat?". When I gave the list, one of the new nurses said "That sounds obsessive! That is TOO extreme."
I don't like that term.
Am I obsessive? No.
Do I have a goal that I want more than anything? Yes.
Did I pay my trainer a pretty penny to kick my ass and tell me what to eat? Sure did.
Seems silly to pay all that money, not to stick to his advice.
When I went to the gym today, the guy behind the desk that I see everyday said "Good afternoon Ms. Dedication". I like that better. :)

Operation Shred

I received my training schedule and diet from my trainer this afternoon. Yippee!!! Starting "Operation Shred" tomorrow. So far, my regimen will consist of 45 minutes of lifting and 1 hour of cardio 6 days a week. The diet is a "starter" diet that we will adjust as needed. Because I am vegan, he has found some alternative protein sources that I will be using at each meal. I am eating every 3 hours and will be eating 5 times a day. Worst part? I have to drink more than 80 oz of H2O a day. I am usually lucky to get in 32 oz. I will be interrupting work quite a bit the next few weeks with my frequent potty breaks. I can't wait to get started! Chris has even signed up to work out with me. This consists of waking up at 4:30 am. We will see how long he can tolerate that. Poor thing. My last meal? Vegan mac n cheese, a vegan chocolate chip cookie and I made homemade vegan brownies. That is a lot of crap, but it will be the last crap for the next 14 weeks. My first competition is an NGA comp at Bountiful High on September 10th. Can't wait to get started! I want my abs to look like this:

Vegan Banana Bread

I had two recipes and some of the ingredients for each, so I improvised. It turned out really well! YUM!

Vegan Banana Bread

3 ripe bananas

1/3 c canola oil

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

2 c all purpose flour

1/2 c sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

zest and lemon juice of 2 lemons

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 bag of vegan chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a 9 inch loaf pan and set aside.

In a blender or food processor, puree the bananas. Add the oil and vanilla and blend until smooth

In large bowel combine everything else. Fold in the banana mixture, stirring just until it is mixed.

Pop that bad boy in the oven and bake for 35 - 40 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean.

Hello. My name is Summer and I am a Vegan Health-Nut.

I feel compelled to write again about my choice to be vegan. No, take that a step further. I feel compelled to write about the reactions I get from people in regards to my eating choices. I was talking with my friend, Melissa, earlier this month. She competes in figure competitions (my idol) and we got on the subject of people's reactions when your response is "No, thank you." when offered something you choose not to eat. "It is hilarious how people get so offended!" She said. The funniest part is HOW MANY people become offended.
I have often found that when I tell people "no thanks" at work functions, the immediate response is peer pressure! "Oh, come on! Look at how skinny you are, you can have one brownie!" or "How about this, instead? Aren't you hungry?" or "Are you sure?"
My response: "No, it's ok. No thanks." It is most often at this point that people become offended. "Are you dieting?" or "Why not?" or "I made this for this potluck so everyone could have some!"
I choose NOT to tell people that I am vegan, because I have found that a TON of people intially tag you with a snotty-too-good-stamp. When I wasn't vegan, but I was also still a health nut, I received many of the same responses ESPECIALLY when I informed people that I never eat fast food. The best question before I was vegan was always "Why?"
Why do I choose to be healthy? hmmmm......I dunno.
Eating healthy is a choice. I don't judge you for eating your whopper or brownie or whatever so STOP IT with the judgemental looks and attitudes. I feel like an alcoholic coming out of the closet everytime I am forced to tell people I can't have something since I am vegan or I am lifting or I am getting ready to compete.
I have never felt pressured in my life to smoke a cigarette, but I have often felt cornered by coworkers when it comes to eating something they have prepared for everyone to eat that doesn't fit into my diet regimen.
I also find other assumtions quite amusing, like "She can't, she is vegan or something." or "She doesn't hang out because she is training." Bullshit. Bullshit. Bullshit.
I am happy to explain to anyone what being vegan is like. Honestly, it's not that big of a deal. It isn't very hard for me because I naturally don't eat a ton of meat. I do spend time at the gym each day, but it equates to about 2 hours. There are 24 hours in a day, so it is obviously silly to assume that I am unable to participate in something simply because I go to the gym.
On the flip side, there are those that have wonderful and warm responses and do not pass judgement. To you folks, my response is thank you for being adults. I recently started a new job and all of the staff there have been nothing but nice when I have said "No thanks."
I am off my soapbox. :)
I met with my trainer again this afternoon. I went to the NPC show on Saturday and all of his contestants placed and one took the overall! YAY! I can't wait. Sending my pic to him tonight and the diet and training workouts start on Sunday. I haven't been so excited since I signed up to run my first full marathon!

Vegan Brownies with Tofu Frosting

Is this healthy? No. I start training next week. I found a new trainer that has a ton of experience training vegan figure competitors. I will be competing in September and October! So, in the meantime, here is some sugar for my sweet tooth since I won't be having any more for the next 16 weeks.

Vegan Brownies:
1 c all purpose flour
1/2 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 c canola oil
3/4 c unsweetened coconut milk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 c vegan chocolate chips (optional)
1/2 sweetened shredded coconut (optional)
 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 inch square pan and set aside. In large bowl mix dry ingredients.
Add wet and mix thoroughly. Pour into greased pan and bake for 35 - 40 min or until toothpick comes out clean.



Tofu Chocolate Frosting:

1 package silken tofu (approx. 12 oz) patted dry

2 tbsp lemon juice

4 tbsp powdered sugar

3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp vanilla

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and puree until very smooth.

Finished Product:

 I went to the NPC at Cottonwood highschool last night and was blown away. More motivation for the September and October shows. More updates and news to follow. I should be getting my meal plan from my trainer sometime this week!



Baba Ganooj!

Mazza. A little cafe on 9th and 9th. Middle Eastern Food. Best part? Vegan options! Delicious. I ordered the Baba Ganooj, mostly because I hoped that the food tasted as fun as it is to say. I also ordered Fattoosh, only because it rhymes with Baba Ganooj AND it has the word "fat" in it. Here is the Fattoosh.

Yummmmmmy! Chris took me out to dinner to congratulate me on my new job that starts on Thursday. We ended with dessert at City Cakes and Cafe which is 100% vegan and amazingly dangerous. I could eat all of their goodies in one sitting!

http://www.citycakescafe.com/

I have also tried the vegan version of cream cheese, Tofutti. It is delicious on yummy bagels. Here is a picture of it on my desk at work:

On another note, I met with the trainer last week who has given me an estimate on training for the October Fitness Comp. My body fat was measured, SUPER FUN (sarcasm). I think I had a constipated look on my face the whole time at the thought of someone pinching my fat and measuring it. Attractive? Yes. Luckily I was less than 20% so I am able to train to compete in October. I am meeting with another trainer this week to make my decision on a trainer for the fall show.....dun dun dun. I will keep you posted on who is the winner! When I say "you", I mean all 4 of you that read this. Thanks for staying true to being fans on my bloggy. So exciting.

Holy Cravings!

Hello everyone. I would like to inform you that it is.......PMS WEEKEND! Yippee! I am positive that Chrissy is also ecstatic to announce that the weekend is almost over. I went to the doctor about 7 or so months ago to inquire why I feel sad once a month. Anything will make me burst into tears. I thought something must be wrong so I asked a medical professional. Her response? "Um, that's normal. The older we get the more our hormones change." My response? "That is not a satisfactory response."
Oh well. So, I try to work out more during these times and attempt to be more aware of my mood swings and irrational outbreaks. All of the books and workout magazines I read give loads of advice for "dealing" with cravings. They tell you to "not give in" or "pretend you are eating it". Are they serious with this shit? I have found that in this irrational state, the WORST thing I can do is deny myself of these cravings. Seriously? Who wants a 30-year-old-PMSing-chocoholic on the loose? I crave chocolate, carbs and anything that is set in front of me. I could cry at any given moment for NO reason at all! I am positive that if you were to ask Chris, his response would also be "Just GIVE HER THE DAMN COOKIE!" Poor thing. I have been making him breakfast, lunch and dinner in efforts to even out my ridiculous mood swings. What a trooper. This weekend I almost cried in the middle of the mall because Lolabella had a gorgeous pair of heels that were insanely expensive and then I almost cried again because they didn't have them in my size. Not a "glistening tear"......niagra falls. What the hell?!?
So, here is my recipe for a delicious batch of vegan chocolate chip cookies. I made them last night. They are all gone now. :)

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies (aka Summy Mood Stabilizer)

2 cups unbleached flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinammon
1/2 bag vegan chocolate chips
1 cup raw sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c water

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degress. Mix flour, baking powder, salt, cinammon in a bowl.
2. In another bowl, mix sugar, canola oil, water and vanilla.
3. Add the chips to the dry mix and then mix the wet trying not to overmix.
4. Bake handmade dough balls on an ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 9 - 12 minutes.
*The recipe called for 1/4 water, but I found that the extra water is needed so the dough doesn't get too "crumbly" and is easy to ball up.
HAPPY PMSing!

OK, So No Zumba Yet.

Yes, it is true. I missed Zumba. I will TRY to make it this week. On a different note, I did make it to the gym 5 times this week and put in 60 minutes of cardio every day and lifted every day but one. HAHA! I also met a massage therapist/nutritionist/personal trainer from Texas that wants to train me for October's fitness competition!! YAY!! Chris bought me a BE-A-UTIFUL set of golf clubs for my birthday that I can't wait to use. Now, if this damn rain will ever stop maybe I will get to. Made some vegan curry for dinner tonight and off to climb and cardio tomorrow. Another wonderful day! Also, the shirts I ordered for Pogo and myself for Chris' races this summer came in the mail.

Doing What We Love

Sorry, it has been a while. I must confess that I have been in a bit of an emotional slump. True to my nature, I have been studying and researching my habits to see what has brought this on. I have recently gained back 5 pounds, I feel that working out has lost it's pizzazz and I have been snappy and fiestier than normal (I am half Mexican so this can be translated to "Hella-Fiesty"). I feel that my slump is the result of a gradual decline in the "fun" in my workouts and activities. I work more and play less. Going to the gym has become a task and since running has been all but removed from my regimen, I find myself desperately trying to replace it with something. I read in Gretchen Rubin's "Happiness Project" that "what you enjoyed as a ten-year-old is probably something that you'll enjoy now."

Solution?

When I was ten, I was in gymnastics and I loved to dance. These activities carried on into my adulthood and I was part of a Utah "Hip-Hop" breakdancing group about 7 years ago. I dropped out as soon as the organizer began insisting we dance to Maroon 5 and Britney Spears. Aside from the sparse visits to the club, I don't really dance anymore. So, much to my dislike, I am going to participate in a Zumba class tomorrow night. I despise workout classes at the gym. I workout alone for a reason. I love the solitude. The only class that I really have found myself to enjoy is Pole Dancing, but I got a little uncomfortable when the instructor told me to pretend I was "dancing for my best client."

I made an "agenda" of the muscles that I will be working out each day and hung it on the fridge. I know that this is task oriented and may sound like it takes the fun out of it, but the fun part is getting to check it off when I have done it. This week I have done back, biceps, chest, triceps and shoulders.

I will blog more often. This makes me feel better and holds me accountable. I will inform my "followers" of the Zumba experience. I will leave time to walk Pogo.

I Wish My Hands Were Magic......

If you could have any magic powers what would it be? When I was little, I watched this TV show about a girl who was half alien and if she put her fingers together she could freeze time. She could make anything manifest into thin air just by closing her eyes and imagining it. I often wish that I had this power. I always tell myself that if I did I would be at 15% body fat regardless of what I ate, have a six pack and I would take all calories and fat out of ice cream and cupcakes. YUM! I went to see a newly injured paraplegic patient this afternoon and talked to him about coming to my unit for an extended period of time for rehabilitation following his spinal cord injury. His response to me was "Will you make me walk again?". It's days like these that cupcakes lose their luster and I wish I had the power to heal.

"Strength Does Not Come from Physical Capacity, It Comes From an Indomitable Will." - Ghandi

Headin Back to the Gymie Gym....

So, I took about 2 weeks off of my routine at the gym after my birthday. I was still going, but I wasn't lifting as much. I started lifting again on Monday and Note To Self: Never stop lifting again. I have been sore ALL week! Currently, I am doing 1 hour of cardio 6 days a week and lifting 5 days a week. With the weather bringing us some sunshine, I have even been able to make it out on a few runs. Worst thing about being vegan so far has been discovering the sweets and pasta recipes! I am officially hooked on vegan mac n cheese! I have made vegan chocolate chip cookies and they are DELICIOUS! Tonight I made carrot curry soup....if you have congestion, this soup will clear you right up. It was supposed to be carrot curry, but I added potatoes and almond milk. These recipes will come later this week.

I went to the outdoor expo at the South Towne Expo Center yesterday. Do not confuse this with the O.R. show, because these two are definitely NOT the same. I was a little dissappointed. There were more booths for spas then there were actual outdoor gear booths. We live in Utah, right? One of the best outdoor states in the country. Maybe next year will be better.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Vegan Bean and "Cheese" Enchiladas! I found this recipe on vegweb.com as well and it was AMAZING!!!!!!

Bean and Cheese Enchiladas
1/2 c flour
1/2 c nutritional yeast
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 c vegan butter
1 tsp mustard
2 (10 oz) cans enchilada sauce
2 (14.5 oz) cans of beans (any kind you like, I used pinto and black)
2 medium onions chopped (I used one)
1/2 c salsa (optional)
1/4 c cilantro
10 tortillas

1. Cheese Sauce: In large sauce pan combine flour, nutritional yeast, salt and garlic powder. Whisk in water and heat on medium until sauce is thick and bubbling. Remove from heat and add mustard and vegan butter.

Mix well and set aside 1/2 cup of the cheese sauce.
2. Except for 1/2 cup of enchilada sauce, add the rest of the ingredients to the cheese sauce in the saucepan. Stir to combine.
3. Coat the bottom of a 9 X 13 pan with some of the reserved enchilada sauce. Place a tortilla in the pan and lightly cover with enchilada sauce. Spoon filling into the tortilla, then roll and push it to one end of the pan. Continue this until all tortillas are filled.

* Like the true mexican I am, I stack my tortillas cuz I'm a busy gal and I don't have time for this rolling business. I place two tortillas on the bottom of the pan, spread some of the filling on top then cover with two more tortillas until all of the filling is gone. I finish it off with two tortillas on top and cover it with the left over cheese sauce and encilada sauce.

4. Pour the rest of the enchilada sauce on top and spread reserved cheese.
5. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 - 45 minutes.

I love me some INDIAN!!!

Feel better now than I did this morning and overall better than yesterday. I have an appointment with Dr Gleich on Friday to "discuss" things. Still not too hot on the immunotherapy idea and still bound and determined to fix this shiz with my diet. After my run last night I made Chana Masala! YUM! Totally vegan and totally amazing. In fact, it was so good I couldn't stop saying that at dinner "My God, I am AMAZING." For someone who used to hate to cook, I am quite enjoying it. I think the whole vegan factor helps as well. It makes me feel like I am tricking whoever is going to eat, which is usually me but that is quite alright.
I found this recipe on VegWeb.com. I changed it a bit, however, to make it creamer. Here is the recipe:

Chana Masala
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 medium onion chopped
1 large garlic clove minced
1 tbsp curry
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 15 oz can of chickpeas, drained
4 tbsp of coconut creamer
1/2 tbsp lime juice (because I forgot to buy a lemon)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp red pepper
2 tbsp vegan margarine

Step Uno:
Heat oil on med/high heat and saute onions until brownish :)

*feel free to make fun of my "chopping" abilities

Decrease heat to medium and add garlic, curry and paste (mmmm, paste.) Stir and let simmer for 2 minutes.

Step 2:
Add chickpeas, coconut creamer, lime juice, salt, black and red pepper. Add margarine, stirring through to melt it.
Here are the brands that I used. They are all vegan/organic. Check the labels! Not everything that states it is organic or vegan is. A USDA stamp of approval means nothing, so use your head.

Stir and simmer for 5 minutes more or until chickpeas are softened and dish is hot.

Last step:

Serve over rice. I used Whole Foods 365 Brown Rice.

YUMMMMMMM!
This recipe is totally vegan, but if you are not vegan you could add anything you wanted like carrots, chicken, potatoes, etc. I added the coconut creamer. The recipe called for 3 tbsp of liquid from the can the chickpeas came out of.....blech.