A few things I learned from doing the Warrior Dash.
1. After seeing these photos I am not having intimate relations till I have dropped 30 pounds.
2. I am stronger then I gave myself credit for. I struggled running. The sand dunes run nearly killed me as running in sand is not my friend. Endurance is KEY. I read on another review of a Warrior Dash that though strength is very important, your overall endurance is going to be what gets you through this event. So fellow Warrior Dash enthusiasts, I know I hate it too but cardio, cardio, cardio!
3. Now strength training. As I said before, this is important. I hate when people tell others seeking to lose weight to avoid weight training. Muscle burns fat, what builds muscle? Strength training. Don't go bat shit if you are worrying about bulking. Two times week is fine. I am a freak of nature and put on muscle like a mutated freak so I do have to be careful how much I do. But I'd say what you want to focus on for the Dash is lower body strength. I feel that lower body strength was more important than upper. There were a ton of climb/ running up things that you just have to have your lower half be on point. Make sure you do your squats and lunges. Incorporate stairs or stair climber machines into your routine. As far as upper body, practice planks which work the entire body. Triceps and biceps need to be dipped.
4. You do not have to do all the obstacles. If you are like me and a big chicken when it comes to heights and don't feel much for conquering your fear, then skip it. Some people feel that this takes away from the experience and people should be penalized for skipping. These people are stupid and suck. Some people simply can't overcome an obstacle physically or mentally but they signed up for the damn event because they wanted to give themselves that chance! Its their money, not yours. I skipped out on two events due to my fear of heights but I have no doubt that I could have done them. I will gladly give them a go next year.
5. Back to the number 2 topic. When I was much fitter and very briefly had a personal trainer I asked him two days after a very difficult work out, "Why am I not sore? I was absolutely exhausted afterwards." and he told me, " Your body is stronger than you give it credit for."
6. If you're thinking about doing the Warrior Dash, do the Warrior Dash! Seriously. You'll be FINE! The volunteers for the event were very helpful and it was a great crowd of people. I did exercise of course before I did the event but I'll be honest not nearly as much as I should have. Get your body moving.
7. Some people really don't like that the event is not timed. I am not a runner and I am not a competitive person, despite my Slytherin houses reputation (how cool am I?). I never thrived in competitive sport and still don't really care to watch them, so this does not bother me. My suggestion if you want to be timed, perhaps bring your own timer? I am sure they sell the water resistant ones you can attach to your clothes. Just make sure you don't lose it in the mud.
8. If you want to avoid crowds sign up early. Before noon is ideal. My friend Jen and I agreed on the 10:45 slot and I think that was perfect. Not a long line for the restrooms, no wait for the obstacles. It was good. When we finished around noon the place was PACKED. Bathroom line was out of control and I am sure there was a wait at each obstacle. Some reviewers said they waited 20 plus minutes to do a course. This sounds terrible. I am not a morning person, but avoid the crowds and you'll have fun.
9. If you feel tired or just need to rest a bit, do it. Its one thing to push yourself but you don't want to burn out early on. This isn't a race. There is no grand prize of a million dollars at the end. Have fun. Really.
10. This event really encouraged me to get in better shape. I know. I know. I say that a lot. But usually when I say it I say it after watching a graphic sex scene on Game of Thrones and thinking, "well fuck I need to get in shape" or after having a weird reaction to a barely tolerable food. My swollen lip syndrome that I seem to keep getting when I eat foods that could be mutated.
*Doctor update: This summer has been AWFUL for allergies. My doctor didn't think it was anything to be too fearful of but she thinks seasonal allergies are to blame, but it could still be an oral allergy reaction. But I can't get the blood allergy test for a while as its expensive and most insurances don't cover it. *
But this event really forces you to reexamine what you have done or are currently doing to your body. It really does test you physically and mentally. Its made me want to sign up for a 5K in the near future and another warrior dash next year. I am looking forward to both and am looking forward to changing my body to match my fitness enthusiasm.
My friend (pictured above) is doing Tough Mudder. A 10 to 12 mile long
course of some crazy crazy looking obstacles. I spent a day looking at
each obstacle like; nope, nope and nope! I wish her the best of luck
doing it. Will I do that in the future? If I have better health
insurance and am in impeccable shape then I would consider it. Like
Warrior Dash, if an obstacle freaks you out or you'd just rather not
take the risk, then skip it.
*Another medical update: shortly after this event I got an ear ache of epic proportions. It was the worst pain I'd ever felt. Imagine a 12 pound dumb bell attached to the side of your head that occasionally stabs you and you can't eat or sleep or turn your head without pain. Yeah... I had advanced swimmers ear and the two theories is I likely got too much contaminated muddy water in my ear during the run or and my long weight hair just infected my hair. Its been very warm and I have been sleeping with my hair wet, so I think this is the more likely culprit. Anyway. 7 to 10 days of antibiotics better and I think it is finally clearing up enough to where I can work out again. Come on universe, give my immune system a break!*
Please feel free to laugh. These photos are ridiculous! I love the one of me crawling through mud. I look like I am crying but I swear I wasn't!
SIKE! Is that still a thing? Sike? Whatever, if you were born in 2000
or later than you probably don't know. In which case, it means false or
just kidding, j.k as you all know.
I'm at work and
its kind of a slow well...there are people and parking was kind of balls
but they aren't buying by the truck load. Which is okay because I've
been on the internet all day and the few visitor questions keep me
busy.
I've been having trouble sleeping. I think this
is due to diet. I've been eating God awful and the reasons for doing so
are many. 1. I am depressed 2. I am depressed I don't make sufficient
money to get a head in the world 3. I am depressed that it does take
money to not just be happy but to be secure. 4. I'm depressed because I
am fat. 5. It makes me eat more. 6. The littlest things seem to set me
off and keep me up at night. 7. Because of all the above my body is
seriously causing a revolution from within......
I am
getting grotesquely sick from high fat foods. It started out as acid
reflux and then it got worse. IBS (please I won't describe it.), trapped
gas which feels like I am being disemboweled, tight pinching pain in my
chest that I was convinced was a heart attack that felt like this....
and
nausea so bad that I was dry heaving. It takes a lot for me to puke,
like too much tequila or one too many long island ice teas (early 20's)
and my body has never responded more negatively to food as it has now.
After
this feeling, I believe that Columbus's Curse is real. Let me explain.
Brown people are getting sicker. Hispanics and Native Americans are more
likely to develop gallbladder issues and insulin resistance due to the
American diet. No I am not attacking dairy or meat, but I am attacking
all processed foods that maybe once upon a time started out as a food
group but mutated into something else. Its killing us, especially the
brown people. Columbus's Curse is real.
I'm
making note of all the things my body doesn't like. So far anything
high in fat has been the death of me. I also had a cookie just a little
bit ago since I won't be getting a real break at work and I indeed feel
sick. I think its the combo of butter/sugar.
Foods I'll be consuming more of that don't seem to bother me:
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Lean protein
Rice- not fried
Potatos- so long as they are not fried.
Spelt bread
Greek Yogurt
Green Smoothies
handfuls of nuts
PHO!
Asian food that is not spicy
My
family has had gallbladder issues. Two aunts and a cousin had to have
theirs removed and I do not want to ever go under the knife unless I
absolutely have to. I know a woman who had her gallbladder removed who
ate some toxic shit and she didn't change her diet. She still has issues
with digestion and rather than solve that with diet she opted for
surgery. I'm an advocate for healthy lifestyle and I would suggest for
anyone with mild to moderate discomfort to try to adjust/change your
routine first before considering surgery. Obviously, if you are in
horrid pain please get the surgery.
Working out and
losing some fat will also help me of course. But I think cutting out the
fatty foods will do wonders for my waistline and high hopes of a future
sex life/career.. The past two or three weeks this has been the extent
of my work outs.
Other deep thoughts aside from the above.....
-The
first boyfriend of mine I took to a Homecoming dance ruined my
Hollywood ideal of a High School dance as his boner poked me in the
stomach for three dances. No I did not alleviate that boner and I bless
the stars I didn't.
- On that note as much as I'd like to
go on a date, I keep having flashbacks of really really stupid guys
I've dated in the past and it makes me want to scream and run. I'm
certainly not opposed but every time I'm like okay, lets open a
match.com profile I'm like uh nope! I do realize I run the risk of this
happening though when I do date someone I am really into....
-
As a potential dater I'd also like to be financially well enough to buy
any potential boyfriend a quality meal. Right now I can only afford to
buy a date a Costco dog. And also, if the date goes south I'd pay for my
own meal. I like to give the impression I can take care of myself and
don't need your stinking salad.
- My dog keeps
pissing on my rain boots for work which could mean one or two things. 1.
he is expressing his hatred for the place I work 2. Its July and I
should stop wearing my rain boots.
- I have been doing
another Amazon free trial deal and as much as I hate amazon and feel
that they are the Wal-Mart of the book world I wish I could afford the
100 dollar fee. Instant Streaming old school Degrassi Junior High and
Are You Afraid Of The Dark is so tempting.
- I need to read more.
- I took a hiatus from facebook and I still hate it but can't stop.
- 5 months from now I will be 30 and I am freaking the fuck out.
-
On a good note, I never wanted children in my 20s. Even in my early
teens I never thought I'd have them till I was much older (if I did
indeed decide to have them). I've officially made it beyond the half way
point of 29 and I can say I won't have a child in my 20s. Hells yeah.
- I can't stop eating cherries.
- I need to write more.
- I want new summer clothes but alas I am 1. Too poor for even the thrift store. 2. Too fat.
-
I'm out of here soon. I am hungry and even though I planned to hit the
health food store, I don't think I shall. I'll just eat my weight at
their bakery, even if it is vegan.
I'll be reposting this on my other blog too. Just can't get enough!
I promised updates on this website and damn it I will deliver it. Welp, for starters this was not a great paycheck for me. My place of employment was closed for two weeks and rather than reimburse its employees they made them use their paid vacation/sick leave if they had any. I didn't know about the closure till about six weeks prior so I did not know to save any of my leave so what little I had left went to that. How kind of them. Needless to say I could only afford the most basic of groceries which means garbage I should be avoiding at all cost. Next week will be a bit more tailored well nutrient rich foods as I can FINALLY go to the grocery store and buy grown up food and not, kid whose parents are out of town and left him 20 bucks to feed himself for the weekend groceries.
This week is about building my work outs though and trying to weasel in some decent food.
Monday = No work. Memorial day and I usually get Mondays off anyway. worked out on the elliptical. Got my daily fill of veggies, protein and fruit thanks to the parents BBQ.
Tuesday = Two day weekend for me after a long week, thankful for my hours but needed a break from, "Excuse me why is this not the glass museum?"
No gym though as I was hypnotized by The Walking Dead after my sister uploaded season 4 on her USB. I know the Governor aka Brian aka Philip aka David Morissey wanton sex god should be reason enough to get in shape as I plan to one day attract a sexy older man, but I just wanted the comfort of looking at his face. I did score my veggies and fruit fill of the day. Thanks Brian.
Wednesday: A carb heavy dinner with a mixed green salad. Crummy breakfast of food I should be avoiding. I know I know you can't out work a bad diet but that doesn't mean you should nix a work out. Working out is not just good for the waist line but also helps your cardiovascular system and your joints. All things crucial to longevity. So you ate some fries.....take your dog for a walk. He will love it and it is good for you.
Work out today: legs and abs, machine and squats.
Thursday: I can't shake this tired feeling. I've gotten roughly 8 hours of sleep for the past couple of nights but I could not bring myself out of bed this morning. I blame some of it on some of the garbage I'd been eating and my medication which makes me lethargic and gives me dry mouth. Cardio: Elliptical. On another note, I need to stop going to the gym after 8. Its just meat head city. Like Jersey Shore meets the Kardashians.
Friday: YES YES YES PAYDAY!!!!!! To celebrate I bought myself pizza. A food I really should NOT be having but just wanted. I was getting pretty sick of pb&j and cereal so I celebrated my money on some much needed pizza. The truth though....not that great. My favorite pizza toppings are bell pepper and pineapple, that veggie pizza was good but I was disappointed by the pepperoni which I usually do love. Not a fan. Sorry Dominos. No gym but I took a very fat and very happy fat Sir Winston for a long walk after dinner.
Saturday Night: Lazy Saturday. I did a pilates and yoga video in my room in the morning and later took Sir Winston for another long walk. I did do some baking though. I made these from my favorite (and probably will be my only favorite) vegan cookbook, Isa Does It.
Chocolate Chip Rosemary Cookies: I know what you may be thinking, rosemary & chocolate chips? Are you mad? NO and don't you dare question a fatties taste palette when it comes to dessert! The combo is very savory and the rosemary is subdued by all the other added flavors, ie coconut oil, brown sugar and vanilla. Here is the recipe and a photo of course;
ingredients
1/2 cup coconut oil
2 tablespoons of chopped rosemary, fresh
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup almond milk (or other non dairy favorite)
1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed
2 tablespoons of vanilla extract
1 and 1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 cup chocolate chips.
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a large baking sheet (your choice of grease, I just did pam)
In a large bowl beat coconut oil and rosemary till smooth. Add both sugars and beat for one minute.
Add the milk and ground flaxseed and beat once again, for about 30 seconds. Mix in the vanilla.
Add the flour, salt and baking soda and mix well.
Then add chocolate chips and mix.
Scoop about a tablespoon or two onto baking sheet and gently flatten with your hands. Each cookie should be about two inches apart.
Bake for 10 or 12 minutes or until the bottoms are brown. Let stand for a few minutes before serving or eat a hot cookie.
I think I promised this blog a long time ago a discussion on what I think is a healthier diet, an all meat Paleo type diet or a plant based vegan lifestyle? Well...like an estranged father from an unwanted child I did not deliver on my promises to make this blog more lively. But I am back and ready to discuss all health, hopes and fears topics with you all. I'd like to say that in my absence I was shacked up with a hot Danish man with a lot of money who just would not STOP indulging me and he bought me new tits and lipo. Not exactly, instead I just did not want to face this blog because though I am still on a pathway to a healthier me I am just a stranded hitchhiker with a broken leg dragging slowly but surely to my destination with no cars in sight.
I think a good health blog is an honest blog. Self discovery and health is not an easy road to take. I am and will never be one of those people who tries once at something and succeeds the first time. I also loathe these people. It can be a tough and ugly road and a different experience for many. One becomes unhealthy in body most likely because one is unhealthy in mind. I don't think people become unhealthy intentionally and I'd like to break the stigma that if one wants to lose weight just stop eating. If it were that simple our nation would be in better shape. Food is not meth, food is worse than meth because you can obtain it anywhere in the greater U.S of A. And one does not need meth to live, but one does need food and that's where the problem begins. What kind of food are you eating and what does that food represent to you? Notice how I say healthy and not thin. Thin does not equal healthy. :)
Our first video is an interview between a low carb radio host and a raw vegan cyclist activist DurianRider who I guess is also a youtube personality though I have not seen his other videos. DurianRider says he eats a ton bananas a day and blends dates into a drink he calls, "daterade" and he cycles for half of his day. The Primal radio host questions him about his diet and asks him what he really thinks makes people fat. Both DurianRider and the Host mostly agree that processed foods most pointedly processed starch is what is making Americans fat. The conversation focused mainly on how some people do well on fat foods than they do on sugar which even though DurianRider does not consume actual starch he does eat a lot of sugar via fruit. The Primal host also questioned DurianRiders method of persuasion from a meat eating diet to a vegan diet, calling all omnivores "morons" "stupid" and "sick". Whenever anyone talks about their diet, no matter what that diet consists of I exit the conversation. At that point you are informing no one but just practicing the fine art of self congratulations and guilt tripping. DurianRider half heartedly apologizes for the insults and says its just an image he feels he has to uphold. Obviously neither party is swayed to switch diets however, both come to the conclusion that regardless of what your diet consists of if you are healthy and happy then that is what matters the most.
Now our next video is super long. I admit I skipped around a lot but made sure I watched each of the health officials give their statements on nutrition. The host of this show is an extremely annoying woman with full house humor. I skipped a lot of her. I am just going to highlight some key points that stood out to me.
This debate starts with the pro meat side. I am going to call them the Meat Heads. The Plant Based group I will dub the Lettuce Brigade.
At 48 minutes one of the doctors of the Meat Heads discusses the effects of pasta eating. According to him after eating pasta about 75 percent of the population will feel sluggish and hungry again shortly. This is a response to a persons body making too much insulin. I speak from personal experience...this guy is spot on. Too much insulin = diabetes. However, I do not feel hungry if that pasta had meat and veggies in it. There is a difference between just pasta and butter and a seafood pasta with tons of veggies. Seafood pasta...drooling commence...
One hour and 28 minutes later a doctor notes "You don't supplement a bad diet, you correct a bad diet." Taking a stab at the diet pill/diet drink industry that is a multi billion dollar business that does not teach one how to be healthy but just tries quick gimmicks that make the public sicker. Being fat is not the main problem here being unhealthy and sick is OUR MAIN PROBLEM.
Now introducing the Lettuce Brigade:
One hour and 46 minutes into the debate: One man says the "Japanese society looks great and is not fat." Okay dude you're obvious fetish aside let me set you straight. The original Japanese diet the one they have been subsiding on for thousands of years prior to Americanization of their inner cities was, white rice, fruits, veggies, egg and seafood. Oh yes of course tofu. Seafood is a huge staple in their diets because hello, they are by water. The Japanese also took a long time eating their food and ate in smaller portions. Until recently though their population has noticed weight gain, heart disease and yes diabetes. This is due to as stated above the Americanization of their food. KFC and fast food is consistently on the rise in popularity and instead of preparing their food a lot of families bring home KFC. They also are not as physically active as their ancestors (same with us) and have noticed a rise in obesity. I also blame pollution for disease of course. I don't really understand this persons reasoning for mentioning the Japanese, as their original diet and diet of today does have meat as a staple.
I'd rewatch this at work but am unable to but I did love one of the Lettuce Brigade members said in regards to a low carb diet, "Make yourself sick diet. "Semi starvation." I speak from personal experience, this is exactly how I would describe it.
One hour and 55 minutes later Dr. John Mcdougall a huge speaker for the Lettuce Brigade and is often quoted by a lot of vegans for his medical knowledge. In fact now that I think about it I think he was the one who quoted the above statement about low carb dieting. Here is where the history nerd comes out. Read over if you do not want a history lesson. At an hour and 55 minutes into it he says, "If you look at the food royalty ate in the middle ages you don't have to wonder why they were fat." Sigh....the only "fat" monarch was Henry VIII before that sure Kings and Queens could be larger but not on the obese side that you see today. Queens and ladies of the court were shunned from being too athletic as they felt it was too masculine. They would take walks in gardens and maybe ride side saddled on a horse but it was not for sport. Also, women were pregnant every year because no birth control so they just grew fat because there was never time to lose the baby weight. And a large part of them being unhealthy was their excess in alcohol which bloats you. So....you were saying about how cheese and meat made them fat?
At two hours and thirty two minutes someone finally points out what everyone needs to be aware of. Thin people can get heart attacks. I have known two cases of heart attacks in healthy people. One was a 16 year old swimmer in high school. Anyway point being made was, thin people can get heart attacks, its not just being overweight that is a factor we need to look at what people are consuming. Too much unhealthy food for too long can put you at risk. Calories, fat, ect is not the issue here. The doctor quoted, " I can put you on a twinkie diet and so long as its restrictive enough you will lose weight." What is important is what you do in the long run to improve your health.
Two hours and 48 minutes later though lines are clearly drawn on which is the superior lifestyle they all agree that a problem in our country is "Too much processed sugar and too much processed grains in our diet."
Now for my official opinion. A plant based diet is undoubtedly better for the planet. Waste from factory farms contributes to a lot of greenhouse gases which is terrible for our atmosphere and contribute to global warming. A planet based diet also gives you the opportunity to double your vegetables and fruit intake which hey more people need to eat.
I have met healthy vegans who swear by the lifestyle but are often confused when faced with someone who had ill effects. A friend in college tried veganism for a solid three months and in fact gained weight while doing it. I have also tried it and felt fatigued and became more irritable when my blood sugar dropped (ie HANGRY times 10.) But according to the movie Forks over Knives a plant based diet helped reduce peoples risk of diabetes and or reversed them. I am not saying this movie is wrong but as someone who is insulin resistant I think the results are different for everyone. I do like a lot of vegan foods and am more than willingly to include them in my diet, just nix the tofu. I have not mastered how to cook tofu. Isa Does it is a great cook book for those interested in expanding their vegan culinary skills.
Now in defense of low carb dieting I will say I notice a significant amount of weight loss immediately. It is a no brainer, you cut out a significant part of your diet and you will lose weight. If you are just looking to lose weight for an event; wedding, birthday, reunion, booty call with an ex boyfriend then by all means do a low carb diet. If you are looking for something you can stick with for life don't do this. The many times I have tried to cut out all starch and eat meat, veggies and some fruit I FELT LIKE KILLING EVERYTHING I ENCOUNTERED. I was a killing machine....think Joffrey from Game of Thrones but worse.
I dreamed about bread and pasta and donuts. I was losing weight super quickly and tried to use my shrinking waistline as a motivator but I would have traded my beloved pugs for a plate of french fries. I knew quickly that this was not normal and despite Kate Moss's anthem of "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." I knew she was full of shit. So I gained the weight back times 3. Three times the weight I lost I gained back and my body is still fucked from it. Worth it? No.
Reeling back from my hatred, I'll say that sometimes people don't have a choice in the matter. I am insulin resistant which means my body and starch are not the best of friends. So my body should respond well to a lower carb lifestyle. This does not mean for those who are that they have to avoid all starch but they need to be careful of the type of starch they consume and how often. Not all carbs are created equal. I think for those who want to explore a low carb life they need to gradually cut back on starch rather than wake up one morning and saying "Hey I don't need you donut, bring on the egg whites and broccoli." Only do that if you are a sadist.
I don't think paleo like diets of low carb/ high protein are sustainable and are not affordable to those who are of limited funds. I once spent 180 dollars at a grocery store on my purely organic grass fed local meat, vegetables, fruits and nuts food oh yeah and almond flour which is 12 dollars for one pound. I've had paleo enthusiasts argue that they reduced their grocery bill and when i asked how they said they did not purchase organic fruits and veggies or organic meats and ate factory farmed processed meats. Doesn't that defeat the purpose then?
I also tried to follow the Wheat Belly diet approach which is no starch but lots of meat and dairy. I am somewhat lactose intolerant. You do not want to be around me when I eat too much of it. In fact I have sworn to my friends that when I begin dating again I won't be eating dairy on the first few dates because my fart bombs will scare them away. After date three.. time to let them know who I am. Point being, doubling my dairy intake while trying to low carb it is not an option for me.
Now do I think one is better or worse? Yes and no. The low carb movement is effective and you do in fact lose weight. If you are perhaps stronger than myself and you think you can truly stick to that lifestyle then great. The vegan movement is however beneficial to our planet and is sustainable. My only reservation with veganism is it is just not for everyone. Everyone's body is different. I know personally in the future when I am traveling to Italy I will not turn down the pasta or the gelato.
"Now listen, if you don't drink soda, do not chime in with "that's why I
don't drink it" or "glad I don't drink it" because fuck you, okay? This
is not about you. This is about us, the people who love soda.
For the love of God... GET IT TOGETHER! Protein is your new best friend! Carbohydrates and Sugar are chastising you! Get to the Gym. Get a new Job. Start dating. Start living!
I won't get super political on this (if I can help it.) But I think something that we all regardless of beliefs need to consider when supporting chains is that when we give money to them they give money to causes that one may not support.
This is why I've made some minor changes in where I chose to shop.
I won't shop at wal-mart because 1. the people scare me and 2. the companies CEOs are ridiculously rich, like swim in money rich and refuse to pay a living wage or provide decent healthcare to employees. Fuck you wal-mart.
I won't go to Seaworld because I think they are evil and if I gave them money that money will be used to capture baby animals. I went when I was 19 and fed dolphins. I feel guilty for that.
I don't eat KFC and haven't for years because they are notoriously cruel to chickens. I know you're going to kill it and eating it arguably makes you a hypocrite but KFC has brought about unnecessary cruelty to slaughter. Boiling it alive, beating the animal to death or stomping it to death come on, meat eater or plant eater we can agree that this is unacceptable cruelty.
There are other companies I raise an eye at that I try to avoid. But in the midst of a craving for a frosty from Wendys I came across this article. My mouth says yes to the chocolate frothy deliciousness but my expanding waistline, empty womb and intolerant gut says, "YOU'RE TRYING TO KILL ME!"
Anyway I found out the company funds anti choice and anti LGBT companies. I am not about that. I have been a defender of womens rights since I got my first period and have been a defender of the LGBT community for even longer. As a child I didn't give a damn about two men or two women kissing. And I still don't because its none of my business. If it makes you happy who am I to judge? I'm more likely to roll my eyes at a silly teen mom with a stupid boyfriend or a loveless hetero marriage that refuses to divorce.
Here is a link for information about Wendys. If you just can't resist their crispy nuggets or frosty (mmm yes Frosty... I Will Remember you by Sarah McLaughlin is playing in my head) use cash. At least with cash the shame wont show on your bank statement and the company wont have your mailing info.
Bottom line though is, when supporting big chains be sure you support the causes they fund. This sucks for me as I do like to buy from Target but I try not to over spend there or I look into other options for specific items. It is also sad that these companies support destroying the lives of same sex partners by deeming them unequal or telling a scared raped teen to be forced to carry a child to term, rather than using their power for good and electing to donate to red cross, disaster reliefs, homeless shelters, refugees, the environment or preservation of endangered species. If I was a big corp. my money would go to animals and the world. I'd donate to those in need and those organizations that do little to help anyone...can suck it.
Some words from the article that made my head spin
"Wendy’s supports every single supporter of the U.S. Senate’s
current attack on marriage equality. The deceitfully-named Marriage Protection
Amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 1, has 30 sponsors currently. Every
one of them is a Republican and every one of them has received money from
Wendy’s directly (through Wendy’s PAC) or indirectly (from
other political action committees that got money from Wendy’s)."
"The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the historic organization founded
in 1950 that lobbied for and won the passage of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968, found
Wendy’s candidates voted for civil rights, on average, only 17.4
percent of the time"
The National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) found Wendy’s
candidates voted for women’s right to choose reproductive freedom,
on average, only 10.3 percent of the time and most (45 out of 56 evaluated
by NARAL) voted anti-choice every single time.
Here is some teeny tiny bit of good for Mcdonalds. But Mcdonalds is under fire for not providing a living wage for its employees. And encouraging employees to sell of personal items to make more money and giving instructions on how to apply for food stamps. I do NOT believe that fast food employees should be paid 15 dollars an hour but I do believe they should be paid a fair livable wage, they should get sick/vacation time (EVERYONE NEEDS THIS) and they should be provided with health insurance.
McDonald’s and Yum! — the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell,
Pizza Hut, Long John Silver’s and A&W — however, treat
LGBT people much better than Wendy’s does. McDonald’s and Yum!
have had non-discrimination policies protecting LGBT people for years.
McDonald’s policy has been in place since 1999 and Yum! instituted
their policy in 2004.
Yum! offers health and medical benefits to same-sex partners and spouses
of employees. McDonald’s also offers those benefits, along with dental,
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Last night I got a big craving for some chocolate cake. I know I should not give into every temptation. The Governor or Tom Hiddleston do not live in my bedroom so my excuses to eat chocolate are slim to none. But i love sugar god damn it. It was a choice between a vegan chocolate cake with ganache (ganache is a glaze or frosting ) or chocolate rosemary cookies and I opted for the cake.
It didn't photograph pretty but here it is.
I made it late last night around 8 or 9 and this morning most of it was gone. My dairy loving family loved it and I didn't tell them till after they ate it that it was vegan. This recipe is definitely a keeper. Dairy, meat or plant lover would satisfy their chocolate craving with a slice of this.
Just Chocolate Cake with gooey Ganache from ISA DOES IT Cookbook.
ingredients
1 cup almond milk or (non dairy milk of choice)
1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup of granulated sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 350?F.
Whisk together the soy milk and vinegar in a large bowl, and set aside
for a few minutes to curdle. Add the sugar, oil, vanilla and almond
extract and mix well.
In a separate
bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder,
and salt. Add in two batches to wet ingredients and beat until no large
lumps remain (a few tiny lumps are OK).
Note: I didn't use a sifter because I was too lazy to find it. You can just mix all dry ingredients in bowl.
Lightly grease an 8 inch pan. Pour in the batter and bake for
32 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted through the center comes
out clean.
Gooey Ganache
2/3 cup almond milk (or your favorite non-dairy milk)
8 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
In a small saucepan bring the milk to a boil then lower heat to a
simmer. Add the chocoate chips and maple syrup and mix with a fork. Turn
heat off and mix until thoroughly melted. Let cool for about 15 minutes
before using.
To assemble:
Just pour the ganache over the cooled cake and kind of tilt the cake
at all angles to get the ganache to drip down the sides. Refrigerate to
cool and set the ganache.
My proud moments: Talking myself out of take out and instead preparing meals at home.
Talking myself into going to the gym even though I felt really fat (you think this would encourage gym going but sometimes not for me.)
And eating lots more greens, fruits and learning how to prepare a portobella.
I avoided papa murphys cheesey saucey pepperoni pizza and opted for thin crust with a sprinkle of cheese and three different vegetables. And you know...the healthy pizza was more delicious than the pepperoni.
Bad moments: It wouldn't be fair if I didn't recognize the bad.
I opted to skip the gym today because I ate so late.
I went crazy on the starch today and felt...prepare for TMI...constipated. What? Like I haven't reveled worse confessions on this thing?
And I had a yogurt today..fart city. I swear when i start dating I can only dine on dairy free gluten free meals. Vegan restaurants and Asian places here I come.
I have not stuck to my no carbs after 5 thing.
Yesterday I tried to at least stick to a gluten dairy free day but my quinoa pasta was not good!
I have raved about brown rice pasta...well as much raving as one can do over anything gluten free so I figured I'd try quinoa pasta. The brand is always on sale and now I know why. No good. I'll stick to quinoa in quinoa form but this...just kind of made me want to gag.
Part of the beef with switching into a healthier lifestyle as I have mentioned before on here is DO NOT LET YOURSELF GET HUNGRY!
When you get hungry you are more likely to cheat. You will seek comfort in your favorite foods and go overboard. At least I do.
I am all for people making resolutions to get fit and healthy but please don't be dumb and say I WILL NEVER EAT PIZZA OR FRIES EVER! That sounds like a shitty life dude. How bout just picking two days a month to eat those things. Some of the fittest people I know practice an 80/20 ratio. 80 good 20 naughty. I am still working on this with myself...i'll let you know how that goes.
So I feel my body starting to get back into the groove of working out. I had taken such a long hiatus that I didn't want to cause injury. Therefore next week will really be interesting as my work outs will be getting longer and harder. My favorite spin instructor is back and I'll be taking that class again, more elliptical, a day of weights (for two weeks than i'll add another day) and barre or yoga or pilates. I found barre and pilates online so I am excited for that. I'd love to be money bags and go to a studio in seattle but I just can't hack that.
My food will be stricter too. I've been very lax these days and just wanted to focus on making better choices. Changing your food needs to be realistic. I am aware. I don't believe in low carb dieting either and that is what paleo is so please save me the commentary. I did low carb diets lost 15 gained 30! But because of my insulin resistance and savage body I need to lay off the starch. Lord give me mercy. Next grocery visit I need to invest in some cashews and walnuts, lean proteins, fruits and dark leafy greens.
I want to focus on reducing carbs through out the day, most in the morning and focusing on good carbs; gluten free steel cut oats, Kind Granola with fruit and greek yogurt, ect, sweet potatoes, quinoa kale salads and tofu wraps for lunch and dinner ending with some lean protein and lots of vegetables.
I agree with paleo about reducing starch for better complex carbohydrates (avocado is not a carb but okay people) lessoning the sugar intake or depleting it and eating fresh produce. Healthy food equals healthy you I think we can all agree on.
What will really keep me motivated is why I want and need the change. Like this brave woman in this video I too feel stuck in my life. Everyone seems to be moving at warp speed into the future and I feel held back. It was liberating not to really give a fuck last year but the reality of that is dawning on me. I don't want this year to pass without making serious changes. I feel like I have wasted too much time but every day is another opportunity to turn it around. I'll keep you posted and more recipes to come.
“You must be the person you have never had the
courage to be. Gradually, you will discover that you are that person,
but until you can see this clearly, you must pretend and invent.”
Breakfast was avocado toast on sprouted grain bread and kiwi with Kind granola. It did not fill me up in the slightest. I came back from my Nordstroms adventure hangry. I was about 95% vegan today but I was 100% dairy free so that is something yes?
Lunch was a prepackaged soup thing and left over BBQ chips from the hipster cafe by my work. Not super healthy but like i said I was hangry and needed sustenance that wasn't meat/dairy because its MEATLESS MONDAY! And yeah you know trying to eat more vegan friendly things.
This was dinner. I instagramed it. The vegan bloggers loved it. It was a decent meal and very healthy. Though it was my first time cooking Portobellas. I think with a few changes to seasoning it can be very delicious. Not bad for my first time though.
Regardless I am happy with this meal. I really just wanted spaghetti for the millionth time but i was like Vitoria...you bought all this hippie stuff and you are going to eat it! No one wants to fuck the spaghetti monster so get it together! Okay...me okay..
Quinoa and kale salad with apples: 1/2 cup of cooked quinoa. Kale massaged with 1/2 avocado. juice of 1/2 lemon and some garlic salt. Add cooked quinoa to kale mixture and add sunflower seeds and diced apple.
Portobella: remove stem and gills. Make x in the hat of mushroom. Brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake at 400. Allow each side to cook for ten minutes.
Sweet Potato: Bake at 400. foil wrap the potato but spear it with a fork or knife a few times. Put on foiled bake sheet (when cooking sweet potatoes squirt and can leave a mess). Bake for 1 hour.
p.s: I topped my potato with earth balance butter and salt.
The day was mostly successful. I went to the gym and had a post gym snack of celery, hummus and orange slices.
Tomorrow I will be eating meat for dinner. Its also the first night I am implementing no starch after 5 rule. Salmon burgers and stir fry veggies will probably be on the menu.
In other news I will need to break the bank to get nuts. Gosh damn cashews, brazil nuts and almonds are costly!
Okay Okay. I know what some of you may be wondering. Vitoria...where is your new years resolution to lose weight? Well i didn't make one bitches! Why? Because losing weight, being healthy and staying that way is a lifetime goal not just a goal for the new year. Last year I gave myself a lot of shit for wanting to be healthy but reverting back to abusive patterns. I probably need to see a shrink to find out why I did that. Part of the reason that I recognize though is I was so petrified of failure that when i did fail i would fail miraculously. I have a lot of self doubt that could have been brought about by childhood. When a teacher told me I was not good enough or smart enough my parents would side with them, when I fell during rollerskating or fell off my bike my dad would yell at me and then would tell me to leave it be. When my parents tried to get me to play a sport I was not interested in I'd throw a fit and they'd get mad at me and leave it be. I'm 29. I don't blame my parents for the way I am today and I know in many other departments my parents were and are great people and I am very lucky to have them but that residual "oh well you failed so just leave it." feeling still exists.
So whats a girl to do now? Well....in November I signed up for the Warrior Dash with my friend Jen. We wanted to do it last year but found out too late and the sign up fee was more than either of us could afford. But a sign from the God and the Goddess herself, the sign up fee was cut in half for cyber monday so we signed up that morning. By signing up I made a promise to myself. To train as hard as possible for the event, to start eating like a healthy adult and not a college student or as a friend called it, "12 year old whos parents are out of town) until the event. The event I think is the end of July so I have a long time, but that time will pass before I know it (ugh!)
Whats the plan you ask? I took a gym hiatus so the first two weeks are just light routine to get back into the groove of things. 30 mins of spin bike one day followed by stretching, 35 min treadmill, 30 min elliptical, 30 min bike, 35 min elliptical. Very very basic right? Eh... I took a long hiatus. I'm not trying to be lazy I am just not wanting to cause injury and still get my body use to moving. I did also sign up for a 10 day abs yoga challenge that i started yesterday. If I have some extra money by mid next week after I pay off le ipod, gas and pay the gym then I am going to drop in on a local ballet class. Its for beginners so I will be with 16 above people. Its 8 dollars to drop in but I have to buy some ballet shoes( hence why I need to see how much I have next week)
After the two weeks are up. I will stick to (for the following two) the five to six times a week work out. 4 days of cardio, one of strength and one ballet/yoga/pilates. I need the three at least once a week to work on my balance. One of the challenges of warrior dash is balance beam. I have zilch balance. Balance is all in core so I need to focus daily on that. After that two weeks is up I will be adding two days of strength training. The rest of the challenges are pull up type deals. I have no upper body strength and never have. Even at my fittest, it was the weakest. Training upper body is a must. BUT i need to still up my cardio 45 min to an hour and i need to keep yoga/pilates/ballet or else I will bulk. Muscle burns fat so it is crucial that when one wants to lose weight they incorprate it in their work outs however once upon a time when i had a trainer he told me that my body loves to build muscle. It builds it much more easily than burning fat. So to be careful when training and not over do it. Cardio Cardio Cardio he told me but don't forget to lift.
My food plan will probably be to gradually reduce starch through out the day. None after 5. Vegan wraps or some breakfast cereal is okay on certain days. Basically lean protein, veggies, some fruit (berries) are to become my bestest friends.
I do have a goal for the dash. I would like to have dropped between 40-55 pounds. That is a lot yes? Well...its what I want and I do think its doable with the proper training and a healthy attitude about food.
Now whats so different about this year than last, that you might be asking? Last year I did want it. I wanted to be fit and happy and secure but I had a lot of hurdles thrown my way on top of dealing with a break up that didn't leave me crushed but left me feeling like i wasted a lot of time. This year i did find out something about me though that was a glimmer of hope. I am a huge nerd and I took the sorting hat quiz on Pottermore written by the one and only J.K Rowling. I got sorted in the house Slytherin! I never thought of myself as such because Slytherins are ambitious, cunning and a tad arrogant. But according to Sorting Hat you are placed in a house by traits that you possess that you may not recognize within yourself. Everything Slytherin stands for is what I long to be. Anyway I am ambitious and cunning...I will meet my goal this year and I will not stop until I have it within reach.
I also want to date. Remember my post a couple hours ago about being fearless? I will start dating again soon. I have been over my ex for a long time now, it wasn't that that was holding me back. I was happy being by myself. I've said it time and time again I seriously DON'T GET people who can't be alone. I loved it. I had my pugs, my friends, family and I loved just doing what I want when I want. Its a great freedom. And I still would chose being single and happy than in a relationship and unsure. It was also just not a good time financially for a relationship...again one of the benefactors in me not losing weight last year or choosing not to date. But it has been a while and I would really like to start going out on dates again. I'm 29. I'm still youngish and a relationship is something I would like in my life. I'll probably reopen my match.com page( I deleted it because I was paranoid about being fat. God damn it be fearless you!) in march. After valentines so there is no pressure and yeah! I'm excited to reopen that up. And if someone like Tom Hiddleston comes into the museum store and asks me out before they then .....how you doin?
Of course I will keep you all updated on my fitness challenges. I'll only post weight stuff when I reach milestones. ie minus 15 pounds, new smaller jeans, goal weight ect ect.
Gluten free cheerios from natures path, bananas with coconut sugar and unsweetened almond milk.
Baked tofu(at 375) marianted with sesame and tamari veggie stir fry with brown jasmine rice
These are also a very good candy treat that just happen to be vegan. I purchased these at Fred Meyer.
Can you believe I was still hungry after this? I'm a beast!
This was from my first day of attempting a vegan cleanse. I ultimately gave in to orange chocolate which normally I don't like but I was very hungry. Never give yourself crap for messing up a meal plan. Works of art take time to perfect. All you can do is pick up and try again. Though I think I have thrown in the towel on being fully vegan, I still plan to include many vegan meals in my diet. I am poor so finding plant based proteins is easier for me than spending 30 dollars on a five pound organic chicken.
My insulin resistance also prevents me from being fully vegan. I felt wretched my first night. Not sure if it was all the fiber from veggies and fruit or the tofu? But being insulin resistant means when i eat starch my blood sugar sky rockets which could eventually lead to DIABETUS! I really do not want to become a diabetic or infertile (I don't think i want kids but I'd like the option!) so its important I do include some lean animal protein in my diet. I think if I became a raw vegan my stomach would explode.
With that said though. I promise as a resolution to this blog to post more food recipes and work out updates. Thanks to my cool sister for getting me this book, i am excited to share more food experiences with you.
and thanks to my co-worker and friend Ale (THE VEGAN!) for introducing me to this magazine. This helped me come to the resolution that I want to become more ethically aware of everyday life choices. And best part is they're not PETA! PETA sucks..... I don't believe in shock value to educate. I believe in actual facts.
That burger looks fantastic btw. I think I may have to subscribe to this magazine.
My insomnia has got the best of me tonight. I did not help it by 1. working out at ten at night. 2. Drinking tons of water at dinner and during the work out so am now a piss machine. 3. I can't get off pinterest.
I hope everyone had a great new years eve/day. I worked all day on new years eve, went to the grocery store to procure some vegan friendly items and then...went to pizza hut. The sisters and myself and Kathie desired pizza to bring in the new year. The thick cheese was too much for my savage internal organs and I awoke at 5 am to gut wrenching. I was fine after that but the following evening of day 1. trying to be vegan ended with another brutal stomach ache. I really don't know what caused the stomach ache last night but i could barely even sit or lay down. I think it may have just been anxiety or low blood sugar, probably the combo. At any rate I don't think veganism is cut out for me. But...i want to incorporate vegan meals into my diet as I have discovered i like tofu sandwiches and wraps as well as stir frys. Also I am really digging mushrooms which is a vegan staple.
I had originally planned on a 14 day vegan fast but alas when i went to the grocery store a lot of the vegan staples were out and there was noooo gluten free wraps available. I thought i could subside on tofu stirfry and brown rice alone but my body was craving some more food. So I gave in today to some really weird cravings. A piece of orange chocolate, three bites of steak, ready whip from the can with bananas (olive the pug helped me eat it), and a small side of spaghetti with asparagus. Okay so not awful cheats but awful to a vegan or any health nut. I felt guilty. Like catholic guilt of time to bring out the whip and feel as jesus felt guilty. But I realize a huge mistake I made last year that if I want to succeed in weight loss and life changes i need to avoid. Don't give up just because you met a few bumps or potholes in the road. Keep going till you reach your destination.
With that intro do you want to know if I even have resolutions. The answer is yes. Despite being known for being cynical I have always had high hopes and what does President Snow say from HG? "The only thing greater than fear is hope."
My first resolution is sorta tied in with my attempt at being a vegan; Live more ethically and fearlessly. Factory farming is destroying our planet and to me there is no excuse to treat an animal with such disrespect. That pig is feeding your family. Why do you not care about its livelihood prior to slaughter? Why would you expect a sick animal to keep you healthy? Now I am not anti meat, (puh-lease!) but livestock was never to be tended to in such an inhumane way.
What I'd like to do is really consider the meat and dairy i decide to consume. I don't need dairy but after just a couple of days sans meat I realize its something i do need in my diet especially if I am successfully going to lose weight. That means buying as healthy quality as I can afford meat, try to purchase organic and or locally grown fruits and veggies, attempt to eat in season, no take out (take out means more garbage), don't be wasteful, shop ethically clothes wise (do I need to spend 100 bucks on made in china shit that I don't need? No I need to avoid WHEN I can and just hit up buffalo exchange.) always carry my own totes, reduce plastic usage which means packaged foods, plastic Tupperware, and again take out.
My second is this: Oh shit I didn't touch on the fearless part. Okay that should be its own very broad thing. Live Fearlessly. Two friends of mine were talking about another friend the other night at dinner. Nothing mean or cruel was said, but Friend 1 I'll call her said Friend 2 had a hard time going beyond her comfort zone. Friend 2 will make excuses to not drive late, to not eat somewhere, to not believe in such and such to not date ect. Friend 2 is an awesome smart gal but I recognize this within her and its always perplexed me. While Friend 1 said this to Friend 3, Friend 3 agreed with Friend 2s fear of going beyond her comfort zone. "I'm the same way. I won't do it." Truth be told Friend 3 doesn't do anything beyond her comfort zone. For as long as I can remember she rarely does. I feel that this has held her back from a lot in life, but lets not judge her, this is about me. I too have a similar fear. I didn't want to do ballet last year because I thought I was too fat. Still a lingering fear. I didn't want to date in 2013 mostly because I just got out of a long relationship but a part of me was very hesitant dating at this current size. I was scared of hurting someones feelings so I stayed with someone for nearly 4 years. I was scared of leaving my job without another to back it up (still am!) The point of all of this is yes...we all have fears. Fear is a perfectly normal thing to feel, but you can not let it hold you back. Who suffered from not doing ballet last year? Me. Who didn't even try to date and ran away screaming from it? me. If I were to get to my goal weight I'd have no excuses on holding back but I believe a fear would still be there. Perhaps one of the reasons I did not succeed in losing weight last year was because I was scared of what would happen after I did. I really wouldn't have any excuse. Decide you want it more than you are afraid of it.
Really all of these as well. Wise advice to anyone who is really stressing about new years.
3. Now strength training. As I said before, this is important. I hate when people tell others seeking to lose weight to avoid weight training. Muscle burns fat, what builds muscle? Strength training. Don't go bat shit if you are worrying about bulking. Two times week is fine. I am a freak of nature and put on muscle like a mutated freak so I do have to be careful how much I do. But I'd say what you want to focus on for the Dash is lower body strength. I feel that lower body strength was more important than upper. There were a ton of climb/ running up things that you just have to have your lower half be on point. Make sure you do your squats and lunges. Incorporate stairs or stair climber machines into your routine. As far as upper body, practice planks which work the entire body. Triceps and biceps need to be dipped. 
10. This event really encouraged me to get in better shape. I know. I know. I say that a lot. But usually when I say it I say it after watching a graphic sex scene on Game of Thrones and thinking, "well fuck I need to get in shape" or after having a weird reaction to a barely tolerable food. My swollen lip syndrome that I seem to keep getting when I eat foods that could be mutated.
