Self Sabotage and The Bug

Have you ever heard that song by Mary Chapin Carpenter called The Bug? I used to think that was an odd song, "Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug. Today that song makes sense. 

Sometimes I can clearly see what I want for my life like I'm looking through a crystal clear windshield and all lights are green. Go, go, go! I can see the destination, but am not quite there yet. Still I keep moving forward full throttle and feel like a champ for every step I take in the right direction.

Then there are days where I feel like a bug going a hundred miles an hour head on into that windshield. Splat! All my windshield days feel undone on my bug days. 

Self-sabotage is a curious thing. What possesses one to do things that are not in their best interest like eat junk food or to not do things that are in their best interest like exercise. 

I read, study, and listen to the experts for hours on end. It makes perfect sense when I hear their advice, yet I still put crap in my mouth! What gives? How will I ever change this limiting behavior? 

I've been told to go easy on myself when I slip up and I've also been told that I really must not want to be healthy and lose weight as much as I say I do if I don't stay on track. It's a battle I tell ya. I never been addicted to drugs in the traditional sense of the word, but I certainly feel addicted to SOS (sugar, oil, salt) and believe  that it is every bit as addictive as the strongest pharmaceutical drug. 

I wish I could afford to go to rehab - someplace like True North, Happy Oasis, Tree of Life, or even the Holistic Holiday at Sea - to detox, reset my brain, and get past old self-limiting habits without all the temptation around. But, that's not an option for me at the moment, so I will just have to keep scraping myself off the windshield, keep flapping my wings, and keep praying that one of these days I will fly. 

Kathy G

facebook.com/vegformation 

Daily Report

Exercise 

50 Squat & Reach

Meals 

B - 20 oz water, Few bites of cold oats (yuck)

L - 20 oz water, couple bites of steamed potatoes with ketchup, then went to Taco Bell - Taco Salad, Fiesta Potatoes, 4 cinnabons (dopamine rush!)

S - 1 and 1/2 breadsticks with cheese dip

D - 16 oz water, egg drop soup, spring roll, veggies with fried rice

S - Onion rings, Chocolate shake

I have updated the food journal the next morning because I ended up eating more food. It was a bad day eating wise and resembles many other days from my past where I gave in to cravings for junk food. The mistake I have made in the past is thinking that there are few consequences beyond an upset stomach and some weight gain. It's a vicious cycle that I realize I need help to shake. I'm going straight to the top on this one and asking God for help. 

Gratitude Journal

Five Things I am Grateful for today...

1. am grateful for second chances ten thousand times over 

2. I am grateful for forgiveness and need to practice it on myself 

3. I am grateful to be going to church tonight with my best friend because I think some of my cravings are actually spiritual hunger

4 I am grateful my son is overcoming his addiction and is starting a new job in a few days. I am so proud of him for being a warrior 

5. I am grateful for the bug days as hard as they are it makes me appreciate the windshield days and my inevitable success will be all the sweeter! 

A Vegan's Best Friend

All my appliances burned up in a fire we had last August. You never know how much you take things for granted until you lose everything! A friend sent me a blender right away. I was so grateful for that. But there was another appliance I quickly started missing which was my veggie steamer. I happened to be in the Goodwill the other day and found this Black & Decker Steamer for $3.00. It works like a charm. Now, that's what I call a bargain!

I love making steamed potatoes, cauliflower and broccoli in it. It just takes a few minutes and it's done. No oil, no mess. It's a busy vegan's best friend!

Kathy G
vegformation.com

Daily Report

Exercise
50 squat & reaches
T25

Meals
B - Green smoothie
L - Veggie burger, tomato florentine soup
D - Steamed potatoes (a few fried ones too - it's so hard to cook one meal for myself and a different meal for the family, I'll keep working on it, but geez, it's like an alcoholic being the bartender!) with ketchup, pinto beans

Gratitude
1. I am grateful for all my plant-based mentors
2. I am grateful for this blog which keeps me accountable
3. I am grateful for my steamer and blender which helps me eat plant-based
4. I am grateful for my family.
5. I am grateful for God, always.

Is Cauliflower the New Kale?

I love cauliflower. It's almost as versatile as potatoes! You can eat it raw, steam it, bake it, roast it, fry it grill it, mash it... You can even make into buffalo wings, popcorn, pizza crust, and cheese! Below are links to a few of my favorite cauliflower recipes. What is your favorite way to eat cauliflower? 

Cauliflower Cheese

http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2013/05/cheesy-cauliflower-sauce.html

Cauliflower Alfredo

http://ohsheglows.com/2014/01/20/caul-power-fettuccine-alfredo-vegan

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

http://simpleveganblog.com/cauliflower-pizza-crust-vegan-gluten-free

Cauliflower Kettle Corn

http://www.eatingbirdfood.com/2014/01/healthy-cauliflower-popcorn-kettle-corn

Kathy G

facebook.com/vegformation 

Daily Report

Meals

B - oatmeal with apples, cinnamon and raisins

L - tofu with beans, rice, onions, mushrooms, salsa, five tortilla chips

Mid-afternoon Snack - orange

D - stuffed portobello mushrooms, spinach and mango salad, banana cacao smoothie

Exercise 

50 squats

50 overhead presses with dumbbells

Energy level

4

Gratitude Journal

Five Things I'm Grateful for...

1. I am grateful for feeling the dopamine "feel good" rush from life and exercise rather than from food!

2. I am grateful that I wake up in time to see the sun rise.

3. I am grateful for tomorrow because even though it's not promised to us, it is full of hope and opportunity.

4. I am grateful for the educators of the world because through them we can grow stronger in mind, body and spirit.

5. I am grateful that my granddaughter's surgery for a deviated septum went well and that she is making a speedy recovery. 

Are You Ready to Roar?

Have you ever listened to the words of Katy Perry's song Roar? She says, "I am the eye of the tiger, a fighter, a dancer through the fire, I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar!" I love empowering songs like that. That's why I love music and personal growth books so much, they inspire you to keep fighting the good fight and keep on keeping on no matter what. 

Speaking of fighting the good fight and keeping on no matter what, I am issuing a challenge to myself and invite you to join me. 

I have a sedentary job where I sit for 8 hours a day. Then I often go home and sit another 2-4 hours to write, sometimes longer if I'm working on my website or other online projects (or distractions like email links and Facebook). That's a lot of sitting! I used to not want to sit in wide chairs because I was convinced the wider the chair, the wider my butt became! 

So, I am trying to come up with creative ways to incorporate movement and exercise into my day. One idea is 50 squats a day no matter what. I started doing it yesterday. My plan is to make it as automatic as brushing my teeth. I may add more squats and other exercises as I go along, maybe see how many I can do in a day, that would be a fun challenge. I remember doing so many squats and lunges one time that it was hard to sit on the toilet for a week! As long as my knees cooperate, I'm doing it. Want to join me? 50 squats a day no matter what! 

Kathy G

facebook.com/vegformation 

Daily Report

Exercise - 50 squats done! 

Meals 

B - 32 oz water with lemon, blueberries and a banana 

L - 20 oz water,  Subway Veggie Delight Salad 

D - 32 oz water, Steamed broccoli & rice 

Energy = 4

(On a 1-10 scale) 

Gratitude Journal 

1. Time - Time can be my best friend or worst enemy depending on how I manage it.

2. Income - My husband hasn't worked since a devastating fire we had last August that burned our home and business to the ground. Money has been tight, but fortunately I have an extended temp job that is holding us over. My goal is to make a living online so I can be anywhere and still conduct business. I would LOVE to blog for a living and help people from the beach or some cafe in Paris! 

3. My awesome grandchildren - They are one of the main reasons I am on this plant based journey. I want to set a positive example for them and do fun active things with them like flying kites, hiking, traveling, and other fun adventures. That all takes energy to do! 

4. My mom - She is there for me. It's comforting to know someone supports you and your dreams and goals. My mom is my biggest fan and cheerleader. She has a young spirit, great sense of humor and easy smile. We have gone through a lot together and made it to the other side stronger, wiser, bolder, and more courageous. Thanks mom! I love you. ❤️

5. My God-given gifts - It has taken me many years to realize that God gave me the gift of writing to inspire people. I wasted so much time on self-limiting beliefs, such as feeling inferior, inadequate, and comparing myself to the "real" writers of the world, that years have flown by like a super sonic jet with stories untold and songs unsung. It is time to soar like the eagle I am (Oak Hill EAGLE '81 alum). Like Katy Perry, it's the half time performance of a lifetime and you're gonna hear me roar! 

http://youtu.be/CevxZvSJLk8

The Power of Inertia

This video is fascinating. It shows the power of inertia to effect massive change. One tiny decision to stop eating meat or starting exercising or any positive things we choose to do can change everything and usually does.

Kathy G
www.facebook.com/vegformation


Daily Report

Five Things I am Grateful for:
1. My family who is always there for me.
2. Faith - I don't know how I would get through life without God to lean on.
3. Free will - We get to choose our destiny with every thought we think and every deed we do
4. Technology - That enables me to share my thoughts with you!
5. Plant-based mentors who are helping save our health and the world!

Meals
B - 32 oz water with ACV (apple cider vinegar), Orange
L - Baked potato and spinach
D - Steamed veggies

Had some chips and horehound herb candy. Not on the plan!

Energy Level
2 - Hibernation mode!

Progress
Down 5 lbs!

Book Review: SKINNY BITCH

Buy Skinny Bitch using my Amazon Affiliate Link

I keep seeing and hearing about Skinny Bitch being influential in inspiring people to adopt a plant-based lifestyle. I am surprised that I haven't read the book or listened to the audio book before now. So, I went to purchase the book on Kindle and saw where I have a credit from being a monthly member of Audible and could get it for free, which made my day. I spent the next two days listening to the book while I worked. 

Skinny Bitch was published in 2005. I can't help but think that I had discovered this book when it first came out or even a few years later, it may have helped save me from continuing the SAD path I was on that led to me getting abscessed diverticulitis and having 18 inches of my colon removed. That is part of why I am doing this blog. Maybe someone will see my post and read books like this one or discover resources that will save them years of illness and disease. The thought of even one person being helped is enough to keep me going. 

I vaguely remember some controversy when the book first came out. I can see why. A few parts, especially at first are in your face with the author slinging profanity and calling the reader/listener names that some may find offensive. If you can get past that, you are in for an eye opening experience that will give your senses a visual walk through slaughterhouses that you won't soon forget. I guarantee that you will not look at your food the same way again after you read this book!  

The authors almost lost me in the beginning when they said that a skinny bitch is healthy. I know plenty of skinny people who are not healthy. But, they later go on to say that skinny is not the same as scrawny, so it's semantics. I can deal with that. 

One of the challenges of transitioning from the Standard American Diet to vegetarian to a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle is what to cook! I spent most of my life making meals around meat. So, it feels a lot like learning how to cook from scratch. If it was just me, I would be happy with some fruit and steamed veggies at most meals, but I want to make meals that appeal to my family as well. 

Skinny Bitch does mention a lot of "fake meat" alternatives and provides a month of menus that I plan to explore in more detail. I have transitioned away from most of the fake meats and my husband doesn't really like them, so that's not a big deal to me. However, it was a life saver when I transitioned away from eating meat. Actually, there wasn't much of a transition. It was more like a light switch. I went cold-turkey when I decided to stop eating meat. 

This book is one of those books I wish I had read (or listened to) years ago. It will go on my top resources page that I recommend to anyone who is wanting to cut through the BS and get to the truth of a healthy and sustainable diet! 

Kathy G

facebook.com/vegformation

I am starting a Daily Report that I do at the end of the blog. Let me know if there is anything else you would like to see on my Vegformation wellness journey!

DAILY REPORT

Five Things I'm Grateful For

1. YOU reading my blog!

2. Skinny Bitch!

3. My best friend staying in touch for over 30 years!

4. My plant-based nutrition coach!

5. My daughter cleaning my house while I was at work!  

Energy Level on a scale of 1 - 10

4 (up from 1 on January 1st!)

Meals

B - 32 oz Water with ACV (apple cider vinegar), Orange, Oatmeal with a few walnuts and raisins

L - 20 oz Water, Celery with peanut butter (with one ingredient; peanuts) - I planned to have veggie soup for lunch, but the vegetables were crunchy so I didn't eat it.

4:30 p.m. - I was starving when I got off work and stopped by Taco Bell and got a Taco Salad without meat and extra salsa. I only took a couple bites of the shell before I started thinking about what it could possibly be made of. This is the first time I have ate fast food since January 1st!

D - 20 oz Water, 4 oz Apple Juice, Veggie soup

Exercise

Parked the car on the far end of the parking lot when I went to the store.