HumbleVegan

Stuffed Red, Yellow and Orange Bells with Oven Roasted Corn on the Cob

2010-07-26T07:00:00.002-05:00

Look out! HumbleVegan is back in the kitchen!

Not until I was out on my own, fending for myself, did I discover these brilliantly colored “jewels.” Growing up at home, we had stuffed green bells. I always ate what was inside ... and never the bell. It was bland, tasteless and limp. I still don’t like green bells... and that’s good because they really have very little nutritional value compared to the reds, yellows and oranges. These beautiful colors are full of vitamins, sweetness and flavors that far exceed their green, blah, counter parts.

Ok, I was having a craving for stuffed bells. Before becoming Vegan, they were always stuffed with some sort of animal protein and rice...... Looking back.. that was kinda “blah,” too. So, I thought... now that I don’t eat animal protein and not much of a rice eater... “what....could I stuff them with?” Well, I realized the possibilities were endless.

There are so many variations to stuffed bells from quinoa, fresh garlic, pine nuts and broccoli to your favorite Chinese or Asian or Mexican rice recipe. How bout red beans and broken up cornbread? Or sautéed ‘shrooms, onions and cubed potatoes? Macaroni and cheese and steamed spinach for you non-vegans. Make use of all the wonderful fresh spices and herbs, as well as the flavored olive oils. Just dream it up and go for it!

You know I found that a lot of folks boil their bells first, before roasting them in the oven.... never understood why. This only boils out all the nutrients and leaves them colorless and limp. Just stuff ‘em , put them in casserole dishes and into the oven. So SIMPLE! Who wants another pot to wash? Not me!

Just look how bright and colorful these are after coming outta the oven!

Today I stuffed 2 different kinds.... one for hubby Bear and one for me. Serving these up with some oven roasted corn on the cob bathed in garlic and roasted red pepper olive oils... and that’s what’s on our dinner plates tonight!

As ALWAYS..... I DO organic whenever possible.

Here is what you’ll need:

Hubby Bears Stuffed Bell
*about 1 cup of colored shell pasta... cooked (he loves the colored pasta... LOL.. he can be such a little kid!)
*a small can of Bush’s Vegetarian Baked Beans (he LOVES these and they are the only ones on the market that don’t contain HFCS, transfats or Soy!)
*a couple of bells: cut the tops off and core out the middle

Mix the beans and pasta together and stuff each pepper as full as possible. Place the bells in individual casserole dishes or in one dish. Be sure they don’t fall over while roasting. You can add the rest of the mixture in the casserole dish beside the bell.

Place them in a preheated oven at 375 for about 15 minutes. Don’t worry if the pasta shells on top get a little crispy and brown. It adds a nice flavor and texture to the dish. For you non-vegans out there... now is the time to toss on some of your favorite shredded cheese.

Top with chopped tomato (and egg if you like)

My Stuffed Bell is FULL of flavors and spices... because that’s the way I like my food.
*one small to medium red onion, sliced slightly thin sautéed in a couple of tablespoons of roasted red pepper olive oil with TONS of fresh garlic
*about ¾ cup of your favorite bean, I used EDENS Organic Adzuki beans, but black beans or any other are DEE-lish for sure! Add these to the skillet of onions
*corn cut off a couple of fresh ears added to the skillet
*a couple of bells: cut the tops off and core out the middle

When the skillet mixture is hot and simmering.... remove from heat and add a few sprinkles of the HOT Pepper Sesame oil and mix. Place the bells in individual casserole dishes or in one dish. Be sure they don’t fall over while roasting. Again, you can add the remaining mixture around the pepper in the dish if you like.

Place them in a preheated oven at 375 for about 15 minutes. Mine is topped with chopped cado. But, again, if you are non-vegan.... “cheese it up!”

Oven Roasted Corn
This is one of my all time faves..... and so easy to make. Here ya go:

*as many ears as you want... cleaned and stripped of husk and silk.
*garlic and or roasted red pepper olive oils
*ground pepper

I don’t wrap mine in foil or roast them in their husks. I really love the light brown crust that forms on the corn when roasting “naked” in the oven. Plus, it will roast quicker.

Making sure the ears are nice and dry, brush on the oil of your choice covering the whole ear. Then sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper. Place on cooking grate. I place my grate inside a cookie sheet to catch the oil that drips off the ear.

Place in preheated oven at 450 degrees for about 10 to 15 minutes and it is done!!!

This meal would be fabulous if you added some fresh steamed spinach.... but for tonight.. I am hungry, in a hurry and don’t want to deal with the spinach.

Hope you enjoy these DEEEEEE-lish bells... full of color... full of life.... full of sweetness and full of nutrients!

Until Next Time......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

"We Thought We Would Live Forever...."

2010-07-23T07:51:00.001-05:00

For most of us....when we were 12, 16, 19, or in our 20's, we didn't think much about the lifestyle decisions we made during those years of innocence and exploration. We didn't look ahead to the future.....say 30 - 40 years down the road.......at the consequences of those lifestyle choices. We were more interested in "the here and now" because at those young ages..... What did we think? That we were invincible..... immortal..... We thought we would live forever and never grow old. At that time, "Life" was all about being popular in school, proms, having tons of friends, "the" hair doo, wearing makeup, first boyfriends or girlfriends, the first car, graduation, going off to college, parties, sororities, & fraternities......And maybe that's the way it should be. But, I can't help thinking...."if we could have seen into the future.... and looked at the status of our health....would we've been more mindful of our lifestyle choices.... 30 to 40 years earlier?"

I had a week of very sad news delivered in an email from a long-lost friend and an email from a long-lost cousin both of which I have not seen or spoke to since 1983. These "catch-up correspondence" brought info and news filled with such a deep sadness that I have not felt since my father passed. People my age, which were once very close to me at another time of my life, had died or were dying of lung cancer or heart attacks. These were friends that I hung with in high school in the early 70's. They were all cigarette smokers... even at that young age. Some started in their very early teens and had smoked for 30 to 40 years before finally quitting. But for them, it was too late. The damage done... and with that... they met a very early, agonizing and painful death in their mid to late 50's. I was stunned....speechless ..... and left with heartache. The memories of so long ago were filled with fun, laughter, and youth..... with hope, with great futures ahead for us all and with no cares or worries.

In the same email from my friend, she spoke of a woman, near and dear to me, that is just turning 92. She still drives her car, lives in the same little house of 40 years ago and is in quite good health. As a teen, I always had a great deal of respect for this woman and her lifestyle. She was frugal, mindful of everything...not wasting a thing. She was always kidded about the “iddy-biddy- tiny” glob of leftovers she saved. She always remarked, "This will be my supper tomorrow." She ate like a bird. She was always busy "doing something," very creative and talented. She was an amazing homemaker, mother, grandmother, wife..... And she has out lived her husband and 2 of her 3 children.

Lifestyle choices......... made at very young ages that literally become life or death situations in our mid life years. Had we known the impact on our health and wellness...... Had we known it came down to the difference of living to a “ripe old age” or dying too soon in our mid lives..... Would we have chosen not to smoke? Not to consume alcohol or use drugs? Not to drive recklessly? Not to take dangerous and stupid risks?

These are questions that my friends may have very well asked themselves once they were delivered their fatal diagnosis.

These are questions that we, who are left living, must ask ourselves....Is it too late? Hoping with all hope.....that in making positive healthy lifestyle changes now....will negate the effects of those risky choices we might have made back in our teens and twenties.

Until Next Time......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!!

A Tribute to my Dad & Hubby Bear

2010-06-20T11:55:00.005-05:00

There are only two men that made a huge difference in my life. One left this earth 27 years ago and made an impact on my life that I will take with me when I leave this earth. The other, is my dear, wonderful Hubby Bear... who continues to inspire me, to amaze me with his knowledge and to make me want to be a kinder, gentler person. It is no surprise that I married this man.... in so many ways.... he is just like my Dad.

I love them both.

Here is a short tribute to my Dad on this Fathers Day of 2010. Many wishes go out to all fathers.... wherever they are........

I never thought I’d been lucky enough to have had a Dad with so much strength and feeling. My Dad had such integrity and goodness in his heart.

I appreciated him and the support he gave me.....I miss his wonderful sense of humor, his good nature and his way of not taking life so seriously.

He may not have been as perfect as I remember...Yet, in my eyes and in my heart....
There is no one else that is more genuine and precious to me.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad and Hubby Bear.

Until Next Time.......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

"BERRY" EASY COBBLER

2010-06-15T06:23:00.002-05:00

I LOVE this time of year!.... Well, at least because of all the wonderful organic produce selections, anyway. Fresh organic blueberries are very hard to find in this part of the country. So when I find them... I just go crazy!!!

I developed this recipe for a really easy and quick “berry cobbler.” You can actually use any fruit that YOU like. A long time ago, I used to make a dessert called Cherry Celeste. It was a sort of cobbler with tons of sugar and fat in it. So, I just took that old recipe and modified it to make it healthy... it’s got a little sugar in it (in the yellow cake mix) besides the Agave Nectar... but it won’t kill us, right?

Ok, so this is what you need! And as always...

I DO Organic as much as possible!

*about 1 cup of berries
*about 1.5 cups of strawberries, sliced
*one medium apple, cored and sliced
*1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
*Agave Nectar or not... I've made it w/o and the cobbler is still very sweet!
*Coconut Oil... flavored or unflavored
*Cinnamon
*Yellow cake mix

Preheat oven to 350. Toss all the fruit and nuts into a casserole dish. Drizzle Agave Nectar evenly all over the top. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Now take about 2 to 4 T. of cake flour and sprinkle all over the top. Drizzle about ¼ cup of coconut oil all over the cake flour and finish off with a sprinkling of cinnamon.

Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes... or until it starts to bubble.

Serve warm in little ramekin dishes and pour just a little unsweetened almond milk over the top!

I know the cake flour is odd... but I’ve tried topping this with granola or grapenuts and they do ok.... but I really like the cake flour because it gives it an interesting texture.... and it reminds me of that sinfully DEE-licious Cherry Celeste I used to make!

Hope you enjoy this!!

Until Next Time......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

The First Half Mile

2010-06-07T07:47:00.010-05:00

This is the last post in a series of sharing my water-only fasting journey with you. I hope you have enjoyed following me from day one.

After several extremely challenging days during this fast.....There are so many things I am thankful for regarding coming off a fast....... you would think getting to eat again would be high on the list.....um.... YOU BET it is! And so is taking my first shower and washing my hair!

But besides the obvious, there are lots of physical affects that I marvel at each time. Eyes clear and bright. Teeth whiter. Gums and tongue a gorgeous dark pink. Skin color... pink, clear and healthy. Nails long, strong and ... well.. hard as nails. Hair shiny. Skin soft and free of flakey dead skin cells. And you know those dark circles you see in the mirror under the eyes and in the corner by the nose bridge? Gone!

Not to mention my BP remains an average of 110/62. Increased energy and vitality. My metabolism is revved up like the engine on my red 'vet. This list is endless. Let's say.....the benefits of fasting are truly amazing and miraculous!

For the past couple of days I've been refeeding on watermelon, cukes, romaine lettuce, 'cados and grapes. I will soon introduce a little steamed broc, cauliflower and sweet peas. My taste buds are so sharp and quick to react to any food and drink. And smell...... gheeze... I could smell a baby deer poopin' in the woods!! All the heavenly aromas of fresh romaine lettuce, cukes and cado are just wonderful. And the smell and taste of a fresh ice cold watermelon just as it is sliced and it cracks open..... is unbelievably DEE-LISH!!

I walked my first half mile. I gotta tell ya... it was tough. The most difficult goal when coming off a fast is regaining strength and endurance. It took me a good 6 months to return to normal after my first 29 day fast. You think it would get easier with each fast, for me... it does not. It just takes time, patience and persistence.

I always feel so energized.... so refreshed..... shiny, new and clean after each fast. Water-only fasting, for me, is a tough ride.....it never gets any easier.... and each day seems like 3 at times........but it is a journey that I look forward to with anticipation each year.

If you've got the guts....... are interested ........ in taking this journey... check out the True North website for yourself!!!

"FASTING........ it ain't for whimps!"

Until Next Time..... A half a mile at a time....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

True North... A Peaceful, Restful Oasis

2010-05-27T09:28:00.050-05:00

WOW!!!! Now this is more like it!!! Today is the day I have been waiting for!!! I feel like a million bucks!! No pain, nausea, vomiting... nothing! Great nights sleep and ready to enjoy the day of reading and working on some new fitness training programs! Yesterday, I started my 2nd week of water-only fasting.

As you can see by these pictures..... northern California is beautifully green & luscious. This is the True North Center in Penngrove before they moved a little north, to the city of Santa Rosa. I love the new place....but I so miss this little residential oasis hidden in the hills just east of Penngrove.

And just check out that cactus garden! Those cacti where were as tall as me!

When staying at True North Health and Wellness Center....the first thing we water fasters do when we awake is..... RUN..... to the bathroom! Drinking a gallon or more daily.... really keeps us busy!! Then back to bed. The doctors come in daily...around 8am to check your blood pressure, temp, pulse and urine. Ya can't be up moving around before they visit as this will skew the readings. Once a week, it is blood work time. Blood is drawn to check the electrolytes and several other factors to ensure everything is cool.

After you get the "OK" from the docs, you can enjoy some time alone or dress and head down to one of many great lectures given by any one of the most brilliant minds in the natural health and wellness industry. These usually last a couple of hours or so. After the lecture, I usually sit out around the beautiful courtyard in the warm California sun... with the cool fresh breeze to get a little sun... about 20 minutes worth. Then back to my room for a nice long nap.

The afternoon offers another lecture series or an educational DVD to enjoy. When refeeding you have the opportunity to attend cooking classes given by the chef and others to learn how to prepare some of those dishes below that make you drool. By now, it is time for some chit-chat with the other fasters and then back to the room for the evening doctor's visit. After that some movies, TV, reading, knitting...whatever. I am pooped after the busy day & bedtime, for me, is usually early as I awake early... around 5:30a.m. (Gotta love that west coast time zone... the sun is already up and shining by then!)

The length of fasts varies from person to person. Some only need a week, some 10, 12, 14, or 18+ days. It just depends on why you are there and what the doctors determine what is best for you. For every day you fast... you need 1/2 day of refeeding time. 10 day fast.... means 5 days of refeeding... totaling a 15 day stay.

Oh!! speaking of refeeding!! OMG!! The food is heavenly!! EVERYTHING you consume is fresh, California, whole ORGANIC foods.... free of oils, fats, sugar, sodium, and animal protein. CHOLESTEROL FREE, baby! The chefs use a lot of wonderful spices and herbs for flavoring.

It's tough to describe just how delicious the juices and food taste. So flavorful and what I love is the unbelievable "smell" of the food........ The cukes, romaine lettuce, cados, carrots, celery...... all smell so amazing!! Try that with regular grocery store produce! True North offers a yummy buffet serving raw veggies, fruits, steamed veggies, potatoes, beans, greens, quinoa, rice, oatmeal, millet, stews and soups. Everything is prepared fresh, daily, by their fantastic and very talented new Chef Bravo and his team. They even offer delivery and take out service from the True North Kitchen! You can call in and have a whole weeks worth of meals ready for you to pick up!! All organic and fresh. What I would give to have something like that here!!

There is a meticulous plan of refeeding. Depending on how long you fast, you have days dedicated to specific foods in a specific order. Remember, the digestive track has been completely shut down for a lengthy period of time, so refeeding should be very carefully implemented. The first phase of refeeding consists of drinking juices. These juices are very tasty and after not having anything but water for days and days or weeks.... there ain't nothing like a tall glass of freshly juiced watermelon!! Fruits and veggies are juiced, fresh, everyday all from O.J to watermelon to veggie/fruit combos.

The second phase is raw veggies and fruits. As you cruise the buffet, you have so many choices...not only just "ordinary" fruits and veggies; but also, some choices like jicama, Japanese mushrooms, golden yellow beets, chayote, lime-soaked radishes, mangos, & papayas.

The third phase is steamed veggies like spaghetti squash w/ shitake 'shrooms, corn on the cob, sweet carrots and cabbage, brasied red cabbage w/dried cherries, broccoli, honey sweet acorn squash, artichokes, kale, chard, oven roasted tomatoes w/ arugula..... gheeze.. I could go on and on!!

The 4th phase is when it gets really great because you start consuming more high caloric dense foods..... like basil-curry garbanzo beans, hummus, baked Irish and sweet potatoes, black-eyes peas, & split pea and yam stew.

The last phase are grains like oatmeal, red quinoa salad, wild rice pilaf, millet, oatmeal French toast, brown rice, black bean tamale pie and stuffed bells with rice and beans, spicy carrot-ginger soup, and butternut spaghetti squash.

Nuts and seeds are the VERY last to add in because they are the most difficult to digest.

The sauces, gravies and salad dressings are all homemade. Mouthwatering choices include porccini mushroom gravy, tomatillo salsa, peach sauce, red bell pepper coulis, mango-ginger dressing, roasted red pepper dressing, & pineapple tarragon

And you know what? THERE IS NO CALORIE COUNTING!! You eat as much as you want. Once you have completed the phases and can eat everything, you start with raw and eat as much of that as you can, then go to steamed.... eating all you can, then progress to beans and potatoes, and if you have room.... go for the grains. This makes such a huge difference in cutting down your calorie consumption. Fill your gut up with raw and then you don't eat as much of the other.

Dang! This is REALLY starting to make me hungry!! I hope this gives you an idea of what occurs when I go to the center for fasting. The environment provides a very peaceful and stress-free place to heal, relax, and concentrate on you. Plus, you get to eat all this great food!

Until Next Time.......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL... and here's to another awesome day!!

Starting the 2nd Week of Water Fasting

2010-05-26T10:00:00.008-05:00

As this journey continues, I head into the 2nd week of my annual 21 day water-only fast. The past few days have been pretty much.... SHEAR HELL! H O T, burning ...stabbing pain in my lower back... specifically the SI joints...

radiating down into my hamstrings, calfs and bottoms of feet. This makes it unbelievably difficult to sit or lie down for more then 5 minutes. I stand and walk..... and walk.... and walk. No sleep in 3 days until last night when this phase of fasting has started to subside..... THANK GOD!!! This is all part of my fasting process... and does NOT happen to everyone.

In reading these posts.... please don’t think water fasting is all doom and gloom... vomiting... pain...sleepless days and nights with “goo” extruding from various body parts! After the first 7 to 10 days, most people start to feel wonderful... euphoric in a sense. You will see this later in my posts... I promise!

Last time I discussed the 3 phases of fasting, the different fuels the body uses while fasting, the difference between water-only fasting and "juicing" and other "detox/cleansing" programs, how the body cleanses and why it is so important to get plenty of rest and sleep during a water-only fast.

Your body shows you in so many ways how it is cleansing and healing itself. Dry skin cells form on top of the skin. A simple daily brushing of the body with a stiff bristle brush will sluff off these dead cells..... and as an added bonus..... will stimulate healing circulation throughout the body. There might be some "green goo" coming out of the navel....no alarm..... this is yeast of some sort and will at some point abate. Sometimes hunks of wax will collect in the ears...... like the goo.... kinda gross... but is of no harm. The sinuses will react by draining "gunk" from the nose & eyes. Lots of coughing & hacking. "Lovely"..... right? Aren't you so happy that I don't post pix?

The benefits of water fasting are just endless! I was absolutely blown away with my first fast of 29 days when 2 scars and 1 mole on my body.... just disappeared....poof..gone! The body not only uses glucose, glycogen and fat as fuel while fasting, it also feeds on itself by eating scare tissue from within. This explains why my scars disappeared and the mole just fell off. I could not believe it and would not have believed it had I not seen it!

I was also impressed with my blood pressure reading during fasting. My lowest was 92/68...WOW! I love giving my little heart some rest time! I am able to maintain an average of about 116/62 in my daily life!

Do you know that a blood pressure reading of 138/88 has 5 times a risk of a heart attack? Each one point reduction in diastolic will give you a 1% reduction in mortality. 200,000 people die annually of heart attacks and 700,000 leave this earth from strokes. These stats are found in numerous articles on the True North site.

I invite you to check out the 3 published studies done by Dr. Alan Goldhamer, Founder and Director of True North Health and Wellness Center in Santa Rosa, California, Dr Douglas Lisle, the Center's Psychologist & co-author along with Dr. Goldhamer of The Pleasure Trap, Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Author of The China Study, along with Banoo Parpia, PhD, & Scott V. Anderson, MD. The results are fascinating about the effects of water-only fasting has on hypertension and diabetes.

1. Medically Supervised Water-only Fasting in the Treatment of Hypertension

2. Medically Supervised Water-Only Fasting in the
Treatment of Borderline Hypertension

3. Initial Cost of Care Results in Medically Supervised Water-Only Fasting for Treating High Blood Pressure & Diabetes

Another great benefit from water-only fasting is ..... of course... the weight loss. I lost 50 lbs during my first fast five years ago. Just one of the many horrible side effects from popping all those steroids to “treat” my systemic lupus.

I hope you are enjoying (?) LOL! or maybe at least learning something about water-only fasting and how miraculous the body is in my journey posts.

Here’s to the start of another week!! Hang with me... and see what this week brings... I have a feeling.. it might just be a fabulous one!!

*****WATER-ONLY FASTING IS RECOMMENDED ONLY UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION*****

Until Next Time....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

More Stuff About Fasting... Part 2

2010-05-22T18:36:00.006-05:00

Ya know those symptoms of fasting I listed last time? Well, let's just say.....It's been a tough day and a half for sure. This is day 4 of 21 days. 17 days left of my water-only fasting journey & I spent the last day or so with nausea and vomiting. But, don't "freak" this is just part of fasting for me... so I can deal. Later I will explain why some people have these symptoms while fasting.

According to Dr. Alan Goldhamer, Founder and Director of the True North Health and Wellness Center in Santa Rosa, California, there are 3 phases to water-only fasting. This explains the difference between juice fasting ("juicing") and other "detox" programs. From his article, Therapeutic Fasting, Dr. Goldhamer elaborates on the definition of "true" fasting:

"Therapeutic fasting is defined as the complete abstinence from all substances except pure water in an environment of complete rest. There are no substitutes. When therapeutic fasting is indicated, nothing else can be considered “just as good.”

Going without food - even for a few days - while working, exercising, worrying, etc. is not therapeutic fasting. A noisy, high stress and/or non-supportive environment will not provide the body the opportunity to maximize the self-healing mechanisms. To maximize the benefits of therapeutic fasting, complete rest is essential.

Eating only certain foods or drinking only juices is not therapeutic fasting. The physiological and clinical impact and benefits are different. This is not to say that juice diets or so-called elimination diets do not have a role. But they are not the same as therapeutic fasting.

When properly applied and conducted, therapeutic fasting is one of the most potent tools available for assisting the body in healing itself. When abused or applied injudiciously, harm can result. The most important advice I can give anyone regarding fasting is this. If you are going to undertake a fast, do it right or don’t do it."

During the time of the fast, the body uses different sources for fuel depending upon the phase. From glucose, amino acids and fats in phase 1, (the first 6 hours) to glycogen in phase 2, ( the first 24 to 48 hours) to phase 3 (14 to 40 days) where the body switches solely to fat metabolism. I invite you to read the complete article to learn about this miraculous body of ours and how it physiologically heals itself thru these phases. I think you will find it just fascinating!

When your body is given complete rest and sleep while fasting, this allows it to go to work. Cleansing and detoxing occurs in every inch of the body. The digestive system, circulatory system, muscles, joints, all internal organs, lungs, heart, brain, skin, hair, nails, ears, gums, teeth, eyes, & sinuses all benefit from fasting.

The body heals itself by releasing toxins and poisons that have been stored in all these areas from an unhealthy food plan, from pollutions in the environment, & from all the xenoestrogens found in all the plastics around us. All these toxins and poisons are flushed into the blood stream, enter the gastrointestinal track and then eliminated thru the urine and or regurgitation, sinus drainage, wax build up in the ears, eye drainage, coughing up mucus, belly button discharge and the white-gooey coating on the tongue. Depending on how quickly this process occurs will dictate the fasting symptoms or side effects people will experience.

During my first 29 day fast, I suffered more from the pain of the systemic lupus then from the symptoms of the fast. My 2nd fast of 22 days, I really had a tough time. I went into what’s called a healing crisis on the 4th day. Healing crises occurs when the body cleanses at a faster rate then the body can eliminate these toxins and poisons. Severe vomiting, nausea, and dehydration can occur. This is why it is so very important to do the water-only fast under medical supervision and in a qualified fasting facility like True North.

Ok, so now you know the difference between true fasting and juicing or other detox programs, how the body cleanses and why it is so important to get plenty of rest and sleep during a water-only fast.

In my next blog I will share more info regarding how your body heals itself during the fast, reactions and some interesting facts, research and studies performed regarding water-only fasting.

*****WATER-ONLY FASTING IS RECOMMENDED ONLY UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION*****

Until next time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Everything You Wanted to Know About Fasting.... Part 1

2010-05-20T13:19:00.005-05:00

Ok.. so yesterday was day one of my 21 day water-only fast. I shared how water-only fasting has been around since way before the days of Christ and was used as one of few medical treatments. Because we are the fattest, sickest people on earth and modern medicine of the 20th century is just not working... water-only fasting is making a big come back. The ability of the human body to heal itself is a miracle that cannot be ignored.

This is day two...... 19 more days! (unless I suffer a healing crises and have to break it early. I will discuss healing crises in a later blog) As this journey continues, you'll know all about the symptoms, side effects, & results of what occurs when the body is working hard to rid itself of toxins and poisons. Yes.... the good, the bad and the ugly. Some will be strangely bizarre....... from "green avocado-like goo" oozing from the belly button to pulling out pea sized wax from the ears. The normal cycle of detoxing includes sluffing off dry skin cells, metallic taste in the mouth, gooey white blanket that covers the tongue, indigestion, sinus drainage, nausea and headaches. But.. for yesterdays and last nights experiences.... not too bad at all.

The first day I always suffer from hunger....but I get past that by the evening. I did wake up early this morning .... around 2:30am with a bit of nausea and a slight headache. I soon went back to sleep and feel much better.

Now, it's time to share the preparation for a lengthy fast. The best thing to do to make your fast successful and less intense is about 3 weeks before you plan to start the fast..... go all raw. Raw veggies and fruits. No nuts, no bread, no cooked foods, no alcohol and no caffeine. Drink nothing but water. This will make the detox experience easier to endure.

What do you need to fast? Lots and lots of water and lots and lots rest. Drink about 1 gallon of either reverse osmosis water or water from a home distillery, daily. Nothing from the tap or the grocery store. It is very important to drink the water every day or dehydration can result... very quickly.

Getting plenty of rest is the 2nd most important factor of fasting. You cannot live your regular everyday lifestyle. This means, no going to work, no work at home, no running around town, no housework, and no taking care of the family. When you fast, you need complete rest and relaxation because you are not consuming any calories.... so your body has no fuel from which to burn. This would be like putting water in your car and then trying to start it up and driving..... just won't happen. Sleep and rest allows the body to do what it needs ......to heal.

No contacts can be worn during the fast as eyes tend to dry out a bit. No showers or baths can be taken because the warm water will draw the blood away from the brain into the extremities and the chance of fainting is high. No lotions, oils, or toothpaste are allowed. There should be nothing absorbed thru the skin or swallowed.

During my fasting, my time is spent sleeping, reading, listening to music or audio books, & watching movies. I love to use the time to reflect on my life and what plans I can make for the future. This is also a perfect time to spend some quality time in the sun & will make the fast a more pleasurable experience. 15 to 20 minutes a day is all that's needed. Minimal clothes and of course, no sunscreen.

Check out tomorrow's blog. I will discuss the physiological effects of the fast and what exactly occurs in the body during the fasting experience.

Thank you for coming along on this fascinating journey with me!

*****WATER-ONLY FASTING IS RECOMMENDED ONLY UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION*****

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Water..... The True Gift for a Healthy Life

2010-05-19T10:29:00.008-05:00

This Human body is designed to work and perform so perfectly when we take care of it. I had no idea how truly miraculous this body is. The abilities of its defense mechanisms to keep us healthy and protect us from harm are simply extraordinary.

We demand & expect a lot from this body, don't we? We are sleep deprived. We eat unhealthfully. We don't exercise. We work long hours. We rush the kids here and everywhere. We eat too much. We drink too much. We skip meals. We smoke. We take pill after pill after pill. We get stressed from limited time & too much to do. We "bark" at our spouses, partners, friends, and kids. We are obese. We are overweight. We are sick from diseases of excess.

and, yet, this body.. in all its wonder.... keeps working for us.... until one day.... it breaks down like an old beat up 1962 Chrysler that ran out of gas and the tires fell off.

WOW!! What now? We need an opportunity to reboot...reset....recycle.....start over..... we need to heal.

Dr Alan Goldhamer, Director and Founder of True North Health & Wellness Center in Santa Rosa California, states: "Water-only fasting offers extraordinary potential for health and healing and for some conditions it appears to be the most effective treatment available."

Ok.. so I know for most of my Facebook buds and blog followers.... this sounds bonkers....right? I totally understand. I thought the same thing myself 5 years ago before I jumped off and dove into a 29 day water-only fast to treat my Systemic Lupus. After 6 years of what seemed an endless amount of pills, blood tests, and doctor appointments, I took the suggestion of one of my clients whose daughter had just returned from a 40 day water-only fast to cure her health issues.

We forget that water-only fasting has been around since way before Christ. In fact, it was one of only a few methods of medical treatments for centuries. During the 20th century we saw western medical science take over with innovations in surgical procedures, "miracle" drugs, & radiation therapy. Water-only fasting was overshadowed and forgotten.

At the end of the 20th century, we see the U.S. is now the sickest nation in the world....with 2/3rd's of its population sick-fat-unhealthy and our children suffering from these same adult issues.....we realize these 20th century "wonder treatments" are not working. If you are a healthy individual... you are actually considered to be abnormal.

The amazing ability of the body to heal itself thru water-only fasting is resurfacing. In Dr. Alan Goldhamer's article, "Fasting Back to the Future," he elaborates on this new awakening:

"After decades of collective awe of modern medicine and its purveyors, a strong undercurrent of disillusionment began to appear. There came the beginnings of a philosophical revolution that would lead health science in a promising new direction.

This new direction centers on the realization that health and healing are best supported when the biological roots of our nature are understood and respected. This new philosophical approach is based on the awareness that health and healing are natural processes. As a result, the focus of attention has increasingly shifted away from the traditional medical emphasis on drugs and surgery toward an exploration of the circumstances and requirements necessary to unleash and enhance these natural processes."

Today is my first day of a 21 day water-only fast. I take this journey regularly to keep my Systemic Lupus in remission and to keep me medication... free. It's been 5 years this month that I said "Goodbye to my last Plaquenil, my last Prednisone, my last pain killer and my last muscle relaxer." No more monthly travel down to Houston to see the Rheumatologist and Endocrinologist. No more monthly blood work looking for protein in my kidneys. No more visual field eye checks for side effects of the Plaquenil. I have cut the chains and I am FREE.

When people find out that I water fast...... the responses are from one end of the reaction spectrum to the other. Some gasp and their mouths drop with disbelief. Some have a look on their face that says "did she just say she went 29 days with no food and just water?" And some are very interested out of curiosity and wonder. So many people ask me tons of questions about this unorthodox and "off the wall" treatment that I decided to blog this 21 day journey.

I will take you thru the daily occurrences, issues, & symptoms that I experience. Everyone is different when they fast and have very unique and individual reactions. I've fasted long enough now that I know pretty muchly what to expect. However, every time I am amazed at something new and different that occurs as this incredible body of mine takes on its job of healing.

Tomorrow I will share how I prepare for the fast, what is needed to fast, and what I do with my time while fasting.

Meanwhile... checkout the True North website to read more about the reawakening of the miracle of water-only fasting.

I invite you to come along on this journey with me. Live it thru my eyes and experiences. You might decide it is something you want to try.

*****WATER-ONLY FASTING IS RECOMMENDED ONLY UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION*****

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Tortellini with Veggies

2010-04-26T04:50:00.010-05:00

I LOVE Tortellini!! I love the way it looks.....so cute ....little rings filled with surprises. I love the way it tastes... especially the spinach or mushroom or cado & black bean filled tortellini. It’s just a fun to eat and an unusual looking pasta.

This dish is something I thought up one evening while watching the food channel. Hubby Bear LOVES “Diner Boy,” Guy Fieri host of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, aka... “Triple D.” So, Guy was at this one place... somewhere.... where they were fixing up a pasta dish that could be an engraved invitation for a coronary. SOOOO much fat and SOOOOO much cheese and sour cream. I thought to myself..... “There’s got to be a healthier pasta dish for sure.” So, I came up with this one.

Filled with some of my favorite veggies.... and you can substitute your favorites.......it has a light olive oil-chive coating that gives the pasta and veggies a wonderful flavor... without all the fat and cheese. Now, for you non-Vegans out there....... you can add shredded Parmesan or Romano cheese and if you have the need for animal protein..... sauté some shrimp and scallops with the chives, bells, olive oil and wine.

Just look at these gorgeous vegetables! LIGHTLY steamed so as to not destroy the nutrients AND to not wash out those wonderful colors AND to not leave these veggies limp like noodles. The asparagus is steamed for 60 seconds... and that is it! The broc steams for TWO minutes max! So Yummy!

As Always.... I DO ORGANIC ...as much as possible!

Here is what you’ll need for this tasty pasta dish:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil - 1/3rd cup
Garlic, fresh pressed or grated – 2 to 3 cloves
Fresh Chives, finely chopped – ½ cup
Dry white wine – ½ cup
Juice from a Lemon (if you like the taste of lemon... use a large lemon)

Tortellini – about one pound
Red and Yellow Bells, julienned & lightly sautéed (as much as you like)
Broc, tops & lightly steamed (as much as you like)
Asparagus, thin and sliced on the angle into 2 to 3 pieces, lightly steamed (as much as you like)
Fresh large Cherry Tomatoes, quartered – about 4
Fresh raw Baby Spinach – about 2 cups

OK....let’s get this party started!!!

Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Add a dash of Olive Oil. Cook the pasta to al dente, according to the package directions, about 7-8 minutes. When the pasta is ready, drain and set aside.

While the pasta is cooking.... steam up your veggies. REMEMBER... lightly. ONE minute for the asparagus and 2 minutes for the broc. Remove immediately from the steamer so they don’t continue to steam. Cut your asparagus... I use just the tips and cut your broc tops. Set aside.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a pan on low heat. Add garlic and stir, careful to not burn. Add the bells and suate for about 30 seconds. Add the wine and gently reduce for a couple of minutes more. Stir in the lemon juice. Add the pasta, veggies and tomatoes. Toss to coat evenly. Sprinkle the chives all over the top and gently fold in. Turn off the heat & coat for about one minute. Fold in the baby spinach and you are ready to serve. Enjoy with a salad, garlic bread and a glass of your favorite vino. YUM-MO!..... this is what we’re having for supper tonight!!

Until Next Time.......

GOOD HEALTH..... and....GOOD EATS TO ALL!!

MOTHER EARTH......Our Home Sweet Home

2010-04-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

"Among other things, 1970 in the United States brought with it the Kent State shootings, the advent of fiber optics, "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Apollo 13, the Beatles' last album, the death of Jimi Hendrix, the birth of Mariah Carey, and the meltdown of fuel rods in the Savannah River nuclear plant near Aiken, South Carolina -- an incident not acknowledged for 18 years." (Earth Day Network)

It took a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin named Gaylord Nelson, back in 1970 to finally take a stand and propose the first nationwide environmental protest. This gathering of thousands of people focused our interests and concerns on our home front... our local environment..... our Earth.

On April 22nd, 1970.... The first Earth Day..... led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts.

Today is Earth Day 2010. What will YOU do to protect our Earth from further destruction? What will YOU do to reverse the damage and devastation that our Earth suffers daily?

“Many environmentalists suggest switching to compact florescent lights, turning off the water when you brush your teeth, recycling, or driving a hybrid car. While these things do help, the environmental benefits of these actions pale in comparison to the good done by going vegan—eliminating your consumption of meat, eggs, and dairy products—the single best thing you can do to protect our environment and reduce pollution.” (Action for Animals)

Ever wonder what impact we have on this incredible Earth? Check this out:

*A 2006 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) concludes that animal agriculture contributes more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere than all the cars, trucks, planes, and ships in the world combined.

*Researchers at the University of Chicago have determined that just going vegetarian is more effective in reducing global warming than driving a hybrid car.

*The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that animal waste is responsible for 80 percent of ammonia emissions in the United States.

*According to the Audubon Society, over half of the water used in the US goes to raising animals for food.

*The EPA reports that waste from factory farming pollutes more water sources than all other industries combined.

*According to a US Senate Committee on Agriculture, livestock produce 130 times more urine and feces than the human population of the US—all without the benefit of a sewage system. This manure—more than 500 million tons of animal waste annually, according to the EPA—far exceeds what can be used for fertilizer.

*The Sierra Club reports, “America’s drinking water, rivers, and lakes are at risk from giant, corporate-owned factory farms… waste leaks into our rivers and streams, fouling our air, contaminating our drinking water, and spreading disease.”

*According to a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) statistical bulletin, 80 percent of the agricultural land in the US is used to raise animals.

*Time Magazine reports that we feed 70% of the grains and cereals grown in the US to livestock. This is very inefficient because most of the feed gets wasted and only a small amount of the protein is converted to flesh. Animals require many times more calories—in the forms of grain, soybeans, oats, and corn—than they return in the form of meat.

*The University of Chicago notes that raising animals for food requires ten times as many crops as we’d need if we just ate the grains directly. If we were not using all that land to grow crops to fatten chickens, pigs, and cows, we could reforest millions of acres in the US alone. Or, we could use the grains that are not wasted on livestock to feed all the starving people in the world many times over.

*Commercial fishing drift nets are wiping out biodiversity, as miles of nets sweep up all the fish in their path, and often damage delicate coral reefs. Commercial fishers have devastated the ocean’s ecosystem to the extent that large fish populations are only 10 percent of what they were in the 1950s.

*The fish on ocean-based farms are plagued by parasites and diseases, which they pass to fish living near the farms. When foreign fish escape from their underwater cages, they threaten the well-being of native fish species. Fish farms pollute coastal waters with massive amounts of fish feces and require huge numbers of wild-caught fish to feed their captives

*Rosamond Naylor, Senior Research Scholar at the Institute for International Studies at Stanford University, reports that it takes about three pounds of wild-caught fish to grow one pound of farmed shrimp or salmon. She also says fish farming often produces a flow of effluent, containing feces and uneaten feed, which contributes to pollution of coastal waters; additionally, hundreds of thousands of acres of coastal wetlands have been destroyed for aquaculture ponds and facilities

It all starts with YOU, ME and EVERYONE. As each one of your cities celebrate Earth Day today.... I invite you to consider "what are YOU going to do to help clean up YOUR environment, to lessen YOUR impact on your local city and to make YOUR Earth healthy again?"

Until Next Time.......

GOD BLESS THIS EARTH!

AH....SPRING TIME.......

2010-04-12T06:47:00.001-05:00

Wow! As I was standing in the laundry room washing my hands... I noticed that I can no longer see the house behind us. In the winter, because the brush is so thin, you can see almost the whole house. But now that spring is sprung... the brush is filled out, thick & full in all its greeness & now the house is almost hidden.

At the first part of spring, seems like everything grows so quickly... like on steroids. You can see day to day changes. Flowers, trees, bushes all experience a rebirth. Something else I just noticed is a VERY LARGE wasp tapping on the window & ..I am thinking “Dang I am so happy I am inside & you are outside!” Seriously, are the insects on steroids too? I dread seeing the first snake of the year!! (SCREAM!)

Spring, not only brings beautiful wildflowers & great weather, but also it’s my cue for my bi-annual “spring cleanup.” Everything within a mile’s radius....well maybe not a mile.... gets cleaned from top to bottom & everything in between....this includes pups & Hubby Bear LOL!!! Nothing like a clean, dust-free, bug-free environment to promote good health for those around it.

Spring is a fresh new start... a new beginning.... a new birth for creatures, a chance for new opportunities.... new dreams....It is a time to reflect & look ahead at the coming months of summer fun with family & friends.

So, it is only fitting that life is returning to normal as baby boy beagle ..Jack.... is doing much better. He is experiencing his own new beginning, his chance to dream again. He is maybe 65 to 70 percent & most likely won't be much more. But, bless his heart.... he can stand & walk on his own. He no longer requires his harness or his rear sling. We have to help him pee. His little rear end & hind legs wobble & he fishtails a bit... but, so do I sometimes! His hair is growing back & his nearly 3 inch scare on his back is no longer visible. He had so much hair shaved off his little body... we would joke & say all he needs now are a few tatoos & some body piercings!

Hubby Bear & I are so thankful that he is still with us. He has come a long way since I last blogged about Jack. And that would not have been possible without Dr. Tige Witsberger over at TAMU Vet School. God Bless him!

I hope to return to regular blogging... although my business is really picking up again...& for that .... I am again, very thankful. Finding time to blog every day, may be difficult, but several times a week will work. I have new recipes & new "Not So Humble Workouts" to share!

Thanks to all of you following this Humble Vegan, I appreciate each one of you! And if you are not yet following... I invite you to click on "FOLLOW THIS BLOG" right below my Humble Fit Bits. I would be thrilled & honored!

So...my dear ones.....I invite you to take a moment.... wherever you live...... stand still....look, listen, smell, touch.... & take in spring & all of its wonderments...as it will be fleeting & if you live in Texas..... the heat & humidity of the Texas weather will be upon us very soon.

Until Next Time.... Jack says.....

"GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!"

That'sa Stretch!

2010-04-05T06:45:00.003-05:00

What is the most important task you can do in the mornings when you first get outta that bed that will reap the most benefits as you age?

Let’s see.... Is it....
*Bathroom stop?
*The first refreshing cool glass of filtered water?
*Breakfast?
*Brushing and Flossing teeth?

Well... of course all of the above are crucial and critical to good health.... but the ONE thing missing is....

S T R E T C H I N G!!!

YES! Even our pets know the importance of this ritual. Every morning, as soon as they get their little bodies out of bed, my Jack n Jill beagles stretch their whole bodies.

People! Each day, we are fighting against nature’s cruelty of gravity and aging. These wreak havoc on our bodies. Gravity pulls us DOWN..DOWN..DOWN..... Our spines collapse, our necks fall and our heads jut forward and down. Our shoulders round and turn in, our chests cave in and we lose inches off our height.

As we age, the ligaments and tendons in our legs (and over our whole body) lose their elasticity and our ankles begin to weaken with age and weight. Our feet grow longer and widen because they flatten out. We lose the arches and the feet begin to pronate. Without the strength of the tendons and ligaments and muscles, they simply cannot hold up.

WOW!!! Bummer, huh?

Well... a lot of this can be prevented or at least postponed if we simply take the time and stretch our whole bodies every morning.... first thing....before anything else... Well, maybe except for the bathroom stop..... LOL!

In addition to addressing the issues mentioned above, the benefits of stretching are endless. Did you know that most heart attacks occur on Monday mornings? Regular stretching helps with circulation, gets that heart pumping steadily, & keeps it healthy and ready to meet each day. (as well as a healthy food plan, regular exercise, at least 7 hours of sleep each night and meditation to relieve stress)

Stretching elongates that spine & neck, assisting you in standing up... standing taller. Stretching releases the stress from all the joints allowing the tendons, ligaments and muscles to perform their functions without issues. Stretching improves your balance, flexibility and coordination. Stretching prevents injuries from performing daily activities of life.

Here are some suggestions: Hold each one for at least 10 seconds or more. NO BOUNCING on any of these.

REACHING FOR THE STARS: stand tall and raise your arms straight up like you are reaching for the stars.

HUG YOURSELF: stand tall and wrap your arms around your chest and give yourself a hug.

BUTTERFLIES: stand tall; with elbows bent bring your arms back like wings. Squeeze the scapula and open up your chest.

BENDOVERS: stand tall, bend from the hips, with knees slightly bent, touch your knees, your ankles, your toes, or the floor. Whichever is comfortable. Do NOT force this. As you progress, your flexibility will improve and you can reach further!

RUNNER STRETCHES: squat down on the floor, place one leg all the way back behind you and carefully stretch that leg. Switch to the other side.

QUADS: stand tall, bend back one leg at knee and grasp your ankle. Keep knees close together. Gently pull until you feel the quad muscles stretch. Make sure the opposite knee is slightly bent. Switch to the other side.

HAMS: stand tall and place one leg on a chair or bench. Carefully bend forward until you feel the stretch in the hamstring muscle. Make sure the opposite knee is slightly bent. Switch to the other side.

CALVES & SHINS: stand tall, take one foot and flex it. You can feel the calf muscles stretch. Now take the foot and extend it, feeling the pull around the shins. Make sure the opposite knee is slightly bent. Switch to the other side.

So, tomorrow morning... take an extra few minutes and give your body a wonderful “wake-up” for a change. Make this a habit and you will feel so great and your body will thank you!!

Until Next Time....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Oven Roasted Cauliflower with Fresh Herbs

2010-03-30T06:08:00.003-05:00

Cauliflower isn't one of those "stand up and applaud" kinda veggies, is it? Not a lot of people like this cruciferous vegetable. It is so very healthy. Great for digestion & it fights against estrogenic compounds found in our food supply and environment. (These compounds are found in, among other things, soy products, food additives, pesticides, and hormones in factory farm raised animals. They are prevalent in our environment from pollution. These compounds wreak havoc on our health and will upset our delicate hormonal balance.) I know.. blah..blah...blah.... boring. And cauliflower can be boring depending on how it is prepared.

I love it oven- roasted. A lot of people mash it up and dress it like mashed potatoes. I never really got on board with that one. I think the roasting brings out the unique flavor of this "clean as a white sheet" in color vegetable. But, as always, please don't roast it to death. Only about 10 to 12 minutes tops in the oven. You still want the pure white color and you want it crispy... and you want to maintain all the nutrients.

In this recipe, normally I use fresh herbs.... but as it is a lazy Sunday afternoon... I reached for the dried herbs. They work really well, too.

As always, I DO organic as much as possible!

Let's get to it!

After preheating your oven to 450 degrees, you will need the following:

Roasting pan
one head of cauliflower
1.5 T. of garlic olive oil. (I make mine with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and 6 to 8 cloves of garlic in the bottle)
1 T. Tarragon
1T. Rosemary
1T. Oregano
1/2t. black pepper

Break up the cauliflower into florets. Place in pan. Drizzle oil all over the top and toss until well coated. Bake for 5 minutes, then toss mixture and place back in oven for another 3 to 5 minutes.

Now, sprinkle herb mixture on top and gently toss. Place back in oven for a couple of minutes.

For those vegetarians out there.... you can sprinkle shredded Parmesan or Romano cheese over the top and toss around.

This is great to serve with baked sweet potatoes decorated with raisins and pecans and with a little drizzle of Agave over the potato.

This is what we are having for dinner tonight! I will probably add some steamed Brussel sprouts tossed in red pepper oil to complete this delicious meal.

For another roasted cauliflower variation..... I call it Confetti Cauliflower....... roast the same as above, use the same herbs, but sprinkle finely chopped red, yellow and orange bells all over the top of the cauliflower after you sprinkle the herbs. Roast for another 2 minutes. This makes a really brilliant looking dish... the bright colors against the white cauliflower.... very nice and very tasty!

Until Next Time......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Sweet Pear Guac

2010-03-29T07:19:00.002-05:00

My my..... Spring has come to Texas. Our pasture is full of beautiful wildflowers the color of the rainbow. The post oak trees are budding out.. which for one in particular.. is a miracle. After two months of triple digit temps last year..... I knew that tree was doomed and dead. But the cool spring temps and bright sunshine.. along with a LOT of rain the past month... has brought the old tree back to life.

This has nothing to do with preparing guacamole.... but as I sit here at the computer looking out the window... I just had to enjoy the spring time beauty for a moment. Ok, back to the point of this blog!

Growing up in northern New Mexico, I was raised on guacamole..... and not just plain 'cados and tomatoes with a few peppers thrown in..... but on many flavorful and odd variations. This is one of my favorites. This is made with ripe, sweet pears. And the organic Bartlet pears right now are just heavenly! Sweet, juicy and so ripe!

The one I used in this recipe is as ripe as it can get without spoiling. And this is the pear you want in this guac. Take the sweetness of the pear, the "sting" of the fresh pressed garlic, your favorite salsa, the heat of fresh jalapenos or New Mexico Hatch green chiles and the tartness of the lime.... you've got an explosion of flavors in your mouth that is completely off that boring beaten path of restaurant guacamole. I was out of cilantro... or you would have seen some of that in it as well.

Try other fruits with your 'cados, too. Fresh, sweet, organic pineapple with a little cayenne pepper is so very good. As is organic green grapes and organic chopped pecans. Just let your imagination run wild... get creative with your next guacamole!

As always..... I DO organic as much as possible

This is so simple and so quick.... here is what you will need:

*couple of avocados, peeled and pitted. Sliced in half and placed in a dish

*1 medium sized soft, juicy lime

*couple cloves of garlic, pressed or finely chopped

*your favorite salsa. I make mine by tossing fresh tomatoes, white onion, cilantro, jalapenos, fresh garlic, fresh lime juice in a food processor. Very easy.

*1 medium size ripe and juicy pear, finely diced

Squeeze the lime juice all over the 'cados... soaking them.

Take a knife and fork or potato masher and smash up the 'cados. I like mine with chunks in it.

Add the garlic, about a tablespoon of salsa and mix.

Gently fold in the pear. And that's it!

You are ready to serve this with your favorite chip, cracker or sliced cukes, jicama, or carrot & celery sticks. This is also great to serve on top of your favorite Mexican dish.... Veg*n enchiladas, tacos, tamales. Or for you non-Veg*nz...... serve on grilled salmon, tilapia or shrimp!

Hope you enjoy this!

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH ALL!!!

Spaghetti Squash Pasta

2010-03-22T06:42:00.002-05:00

My favorite part of the market is the produce section! I just LOVE all the wonderful varieties of fruits and veggies.... especially now that my local grocery has an awesome ORGANIC section! I have to admit, there are still a lot of veggies that I have not had the guts to try yet. For example this one squash. I always just walk past this gourd-like vegetable with a tough, hard shell. Well, once I stopped and picked up one just to look at it and feel it. I heard spaghetti squash was really tasty.... but I just thought it was too much work. I was under the impression that I had to use a hammer and chisel to break thru that hard skin and then, I had to try and peel it and then julienne it to make the spaghetti strips! LOL!!! Little did I know that preparing this jewel was much easier than I anticipated.

Vegetable spaghetti, vegetable marrow, spaghetti squash, noodle squash, and squaghetti. All are name for a variety of squash or marrow (Cucurbita pepo) that looks like a small yellow watermelon, with flesh composed of long thin spaghetti-like strings. It averages 9 inches in length and may weigh 2 to 3 pounds. When cooked, the crisp, tender, spaghetti-like strands yield a mild lightly sweet and fresh taste. Keep in mind that the larger the vegetable, the thicker the strands and the more flavorful the taste.

I decided to pick up a squash this past weekend and "tackle" the preparation. I went online and found a great video that explains what to do with squash. I was happily surprised to see that after it is cooked.... the squash meat IS the spaghetti! Who knew? Certainly not me. LOL! I had so much fun making up this delicious pasta dish and the spaghetti squash really adds flavor, interest, and great texture. You can make it with your favorite veggies... and for you vegetarians... topping it off with your favorite shredded cheese would be delicious!

For this dish, I chose brocolini (baby broccoli,) orange bells, the spaghetti squash, TONS of garlic, spices and I tossed in some peas and carrots I had left over in the frig. And for my dish, I topped it off with chopped, fresh organic mango & served it up with some of my delicious oven roasted asparagus spears. Mmm Mmm Good!!! This turned out to be a beautiful dish in its presentation and so flavorful. You have the sharp spiciness of the garlic, the uniqueness of each spice and the sweetness from the mango. Really makes a nice combo.

If you’ve been reading my recipe blogs for awhile, you will remember how I feel about cooking the life outta vegetables. And SO many cooks do just that. They boil the color, the nutrients, the texture... literally.... the life outta the veggies. Personally, I never boil my veggies. I either steam them for a short 2 to 5 minutes depending on the veggie or oven roast them for a very short time. I like my veggies brilliantly bright with color, extra crispy and full of nutrients.

Ok, let's get started! And as always....... I DO ORGANIC as much as possible.

This is what you'll need:

About 3 cups of uncooked curly pasta. I used brown rice curly pasta for this dish, but you can use any kind.
1 large spaghetti squash
1/2 large orange bell, sliced in one inch slices
1 small bunch of brocolini, chopped one inch pieces
TONS of garlic
Pinch of fresh chopped rosemary, thyme and nutmeg
Chopped fresh mango
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Large bunch of asparagus

Wash the squash and dry. Place in microwave oven on medium for 2 minutes, This will soften the shell so you can slice it open. Remove from microwave and place on wet cloth. This will secure the squash and make if safer when slicing it open with your BIG, sharp knife. Just slice it lengthwise. Then take a large spoon and scoop out the pulp and seeds. Place each half in a baking dish, sprinkle a little olive oil and black pepper over each half. Bake in 400 degree oven for 45 minutes. The squash is done when the shell is slightly soft and there is a little brown crust on top. When the squash has cooled, take a fork and begin pulling the pulp. You can see how it comes out like spaghetti! That is just the coolest thing ever!

Ok, now while the squash is baking for those 45 minutes, you can cook the pasta and set aside.

In a large sauté skillet, add some olive oil and TONS of pressed garlic. I used 4 to 5 cloves. Sauté over medium heat, but don't burn it. Add the brocolini & the orange bell and sauté just a minute or so. Then add one half of the squash and the pasta. Carefully toss till everything is coated with oil and now sprinkle the spices on top and gently toss again. Turn heat down to low, place lid on skillet and allow to steam for about one minute till hot.

Now, take the asparagus, cut off the ends, wash it and dry each piece as the olive oil will not work with wet asparagus. Place asparagus, single layer, in cookie sheet. Brush each one with either olive oil or garlic olive oil or basil olive oil, or roasted red pepper olive oil. Place in 400 degree oven for 3 to 4 minutes and it is ready! Look at that gorgeous brilliant bright green color!

Dish up a nice serving of pasta, top it off with the chopped mango and serve it up with your roasted asparagus. WOW!! Beautiful and deliciously healthy!

Until Next Time....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

March Meet Up

2010-03-09T08:29:00.007-06:00

The next Vision Voice Veg*n'z for the Brazos Valley meet-up is Wednesday, March 10th 6:30pm at Village Cafe. Our speaker is Jenn Atkins. She is a certified nutritional consultant, a massage therapist, and a student of herbology. The topic of discussion will be "Living Sustainably".

Right now, Franchesca Garza and Tuxedo Mask are watching over our group (and have done an awesome job) while I take a little break. I look forward to returning to the leadership position in late June.

I invite you to check out the groups blog as I have updated some of the upcoming events!

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Time Away to Rehab My Baby Boy Beagle

2010-02-17T09:31:00.017-06:00

Nothing brings you to your knees and stops your heart as quickly as an injury to your "child." Whether it is a human child or a four-legged, furry little one with a tail.

On January 31st, our baby boy Beagle, Jack, ruptured a disc in his spine. T11/T12. In a matter of nano seconds he lost all use and mobility of his hind legs. He was completely paralyzed. We rushed him to Texas A&M University's Vet School immediately where he had emergency surgery to repair the disc. We were fearful that his spine had been damaged beyond repair and he would be paralyzed for the rest of his little life.

But with much prayers from a lot of folks and positive thoughts and optimism.... the little man came home on the 9th of February. Along with underwater rehab at TAMU, Hubby Bear and I are currently working daily with him to help him regain the use of his hind legs, coordination, strength and balance.

I've been extremely busy with this sweet boy and have not blogged in awhile. So many folks have inquired about HumbleVegan... and I thank you for checking in. I appreciate each one of you following HumbleVegan and look forward to returning to blogging in March.

So, for now... I am focused and dedicated to Jack and his recovery. I will post updates the next couple of weeks.

Be on the look out for HumbleVegan's return!

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Humbled... By a NO LEFT TURN Sign

2010-01-22T07:00:00.015-06:00

Yesterday I got a ticket...... it’s been 10 years since my last ticket. That one was for my usual, in a big hurry... speeding and not realizing it...ticket. Yesterday’s ticket was for making an illegal left turn.

What is it about getting a ticket that can transport you back to 2nd grade... when you would get into trouble for “whatever” on the playground? Right there, in front of everyone, the teacher would scold you. It would leave you feeling embarrassed, humiliated, beaten, and wanting to run away with your tail between your legs.

I got up at 4am yesterday morning... knowing it was going to be a relentless day of nothing but GO>>>GO>>>>GO>>>>>GO!!!! I was forced to hit the ground running as soon as I awoke. I had a TON of errands, (I HATE errands.. as errands = spending money.. and I HATE spending $$!) a TON of clients to train and had to fit in a hair cut and my own work out. With more “Stuff” to get accomplished then time to spare.. it was an easy set up for disaster.

In a short 45 minutes between clients... I zoomed to Target. Got stuff.. zoomed out and had to get to HEB. Well, BCS is known for making it as difficult as possible for patrons to access merchants by placing medians everywhere.... so right hand turns, in most cases, are the only options. Ok, HEB is right across the street from Target... I decided to go behind Target and then I could scoot across to the parking lot of HEB.... but.. oh no.... a partial median and a “no left turn” sign was staring me down.

This is when my better judgment took a nap. And my other little voice took over...... “Look, there are no cars in either direction..... just zip across, make the turn and “Tah Dah...” you can be at your destination without having to go way the heck outta your way!” Ok... so, I did it... and made it to the HEB lot... happily on my way to find a place to park so I could once again.. get out and zoom thru the store and get on to my next client.

Whoa! What is that in my rear view? Motorcycle with blinking, flashing lights? And then the question I always ask myself when I am about to be stopped by a policeman...”where the heck did you come from?” I guess in my “looking around” back there... I neglected to look for the famous “Holloman Motorcycle Cop.”

To my surprise, a LOT has changed in the 10 years since my last ticket..... As I got out of my car and approached the officer (I always do this.... I like to meet the police officers half way...odd, I know...) he introduced himself and was so very polite. He even complimented me on my hair cut! It made this "scolding" a little more tolerable.

So, my patience was challenged yesterday..... and it lost. I lost precious time, albeit, a pleasant experience with the Officer, it would have saved me the time I needed had I been patient and abided by the traffic sign. And, now I will spend money... paying for the "fee" for taking the course and paying for the course itself.... and I lose even MORE time when I have to sit in front of the computer for hours taking the course.... Blah!

This blog has nothing to do with being Vegan... but has everything to do with being Humble.

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH and PATIENCE TO ALL!!!

Say “BI-BI” to Flabby Arms

2010-01-18T05:39:00.001-06:00

So, how’s that New Year’s resolution coming along? You know.. The one you vowed to lose those muffin tops this year? Or to lose the upper arm flab and “tone up?”

Here’s something to help you with those arms. This bicep work out combined with my Tri These Workouts for Great Arms, any of my cardio/circuit routines and a clean, healthy nutritional plan.... your arms will start to take shape in a short amount of time... and will look amazing in 6 months!

Training for so many years with so many women, one of the first things women tell me when asked "what are your goals?" “I want to shape up my arms and get rid of the flab.” I’ve shared with them that our upper bodies just don’t get the work out that our lower bodies do. If we could walk on our hands all day long, our arms would be freakishly strong & awesome looking! LOL!

This routine works both bicips (biceps brachii & biceps brachialis) in several different positions. You can incorporate this into any work out program: full body, upper body, pulling muscles, or “arm day.” Just remember, don’t do this consecutive days in a row. Ok.....so let’s get started.

As always, if you have health issues, are deconditioned, have not worked out in awhile or lead a sedentary life check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

BICEP WORK OUT

*Bicep Hammer Curl (Standing, hold dumbell in your hand like you would a hammer.. hence the name “hammer curl.” Keep your abs sucked in tight, keep your butt squeezed tight, have a little bend in your knees and stand up straight with good posture. Work one side then the other. Start with arm extended BUT DO NOT lock the elbow. Raise arm up to a 45 degree angle from the shoulder. Don’t go all the way up... the idea is to keep constant tension on that bicep.)

1 set of 15 reps x 8 to 12 lbs (depending on your strength)
rest 10 seconds
1 set of 12 reps x 8 to 12 lbs
rest 10 seconds
1 set of 8 reps x 8 to 12 lbs
rest 1:00 and repeat this once. after 2nd repetition, rest 2:00

*Incline Bicep Curl (Set up an incline bench at around a 45 to 50 degree angle. Lie back on the bench with both feet on the floor, and lower back and scapula (shoulder blades) on the bench. You can raise your head if it is more comfortable then having your head on the bench. Keep abs and butt tight. Work one side then the other. Start with arm extended BUT DO NOT lock the elbow. Palms should face up toward the ceiling. When raising your arm, aim the third finger for the top of your shoulder. This movement, we want full range of motion, so raise the arm all the way up.)

1 set of 15 reps x 8 to 12 lbs (depending on your strength)
rest 10 seconds
1 set of 12 reps x 8 to 12 lbs
rest 10 seconds
1 set of 8 reps x 8 to 12 lbs
rest 1:00 and repeat this once. after 2nd repetition, rest 2:00

3-Way Bicep Curls (this exercise is quick and intense. You will use less weight because you are doing more reps per set. This routine works all sides of each bicep. Work one side then the other. Standing, hold dumbell in your hand with palm facing downward.. Keep your abs sucked in tight, keep your butt squeezed tight, have a little bend in your knees and stand up straight with good posture. The 1st position, extend the arm down but DO NOT lock the elbow. We want full ROM (range of motion) on this routine, so raise your arm all the way, but do NOT touch the shoulder. The 2nd position is full extension and a hammer curl hold. Same thing, raise arm up with full ROM. The 3rd position is full extension with palm facing up. Raise with full ROM.)

Position One: 25 reps x 5 to 8 lbs (depending on your strength) NO REST go to

Position Two: 25 reps x 5 to 8 lbs (depending on your strength) NO REST go to

Position Three: 25 reps x 5 to 8 lbs (depending on your strength)

Rest 2 minutes and repeat once more.

Bicep Concentration Curls (this and the Incline Bicep Curl are two of the VERY best bicep workouts you can do to get quick and fast benefits from your hard work. They both really make that brachii POP, giving you that "apple of your bicep! Sitting or if you are standing, place your leg up on a bench, chair, balance ball (this is the best as it makes your whole body work,) or any other platform. Keep abs and butt tight. Your leg should be bent close to a 90 degree angle. Working the arm on the same side as the lifted leg, place that elbow JUST BELOW the knee on the medial (inner thigh) side of the knee. NOT on TOP of the knee. Extend the arm down but DO NOT lock the elbow. Start with the hammer curl position and then as you raise the arm, twist so that the palm is facing the ceiling. When you lower the arm, toward the bottom, twist back into the hammer curl position. This movement is like the Bicep Hammer Curl, you don’t raise the arm all the way up. Stop around the 45 degree angle. We want to keep tension on the bicep thru the descending and ascending movements.)

1 set of 15 reps x 8 to 12 lbs (depending on your strength)
rest 10 seconds
1 set of 12 reps x 8 to 12 lbs
rest 10 seconds
1 set of 8 reps x 8 to 12 lbs
rest 1:00 and repeat this once. after 2nd repetition, rest 2:00

Take time to work this routine 3 times weekly and then enjoy the look you will see in the mirror and the compliments that you’ll hear.....”How do you get those arms?” “I want arms like yours!”

Until Next Time......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

Vision Voice Veg*n'z for the Brazos Valley 2010 Meetup

2010-01-15T09:00:00.007-06:00

The Village Cafe was rockin’ this past Tuesday night the 12th of January. This was the first meetup of VISION VOICE VEG*N'z for the Brazos Valley for the New Year... and there was quite a group there. Over 20 people showed up to chat it up, enjoy choices from the great menu that was prepared and to listen to LAURA THOMAS, Vegan Nutritionist currently working on her PhD, give a presentation on Pre and Pro Biotics.

A great way to start off the New Year! Everyone had a terrific time and enjoyed the fabulous food!

The chef’s cooked up three Vegan options: musaka, soft tacos, and calipso salad.

Some of the comments I received were:

“Laura did a really good job and there were lots of interesting questions.”

“We had a great crowd last night, and Laura gave a very informative discussion on Pro & PreBiotics. Did I mention the food was delicious!!”

“Laura gave a great presentation. She really knows her stuff. Most of what she talked about I already knew, but some of it was pretty enlightening, & there was a pretty big turnout too!”

“Laura's presentation was brilliant. There were new people too, and everyone was impressed. Village Cafe made some really good entrees for us.”

Laura’s material in her presentation was supported by Mary Ellen Sanders, Ph.D.

Dr. Mary Ellen Sanders, through her business Dairy & Food Culture Technologies, consults on all aspects of probiotic applications in the food and supplement industries. She believes probiotics will flourish only if available products are scientifically validated, responsibly produced and accurately labeled. She strives to balance the potential consumer benefits of probiotics with an understanding of the emerging science. Based on her extensive work with manufacturers, academicians and regulators, Dr. Sanders offers a comprehensive perspective to those interested in the continued emergence of the probiotic industry.

If you are interested in this fascinating topic, I invite you to read the complete Scientific Journal from which Laura referred. How Do We Know When Something Called “Probiotic”Is Really a Probiotic? A Guideline for Consumers and Health Care Professionals by Dr Sanders

BIG thanks to Laura Thomas for putting together and presenting an awesome topic!

Join us next month, February the 9th, 6:30pm at the Village for our meetup when Betsy (Boots) McCann, PhD student in plant agriculture, will talk about the nutritional and environmental health benefits of eating organic foods and the importance of organic certification.

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

Where Are We Headed?

2010-01-11T06:00:00.003-06:00

From CBS news this past week, here are the latest sad and sobering statistics about this nation’s health:

*Regarding the number of people overweight
15% in 1970
23% in 1990
35% in 2000
(You see where this is headed, right? In this new decade... 50% of this nation could be overweight with a major portion of that 50% ....obese)

*190 million Americans are either over weight or obese.

*150 BILLION dollars is the cost to the health industry annually to treat these people.
(This dollar amount will only increase ....and this is one reason, IMHO, that “affordable” healthcare for everyone is a pipe dream)

*In the past 10 years....childhood obesity has tripled and there is a shorter life expectancy since the civil war for kids.

*In a study done in Houston by doctors and cardiologists from Houston's Memorial Hermann Hospital of 97 children....3 out of 4 kids were overweight or obese.

*70% of the children are set
up for coronary artery disease by their 30's & 40's.

*When these children were asked why they thought they were obese, they responded with answers that implied pain, feelings of loneliness, unwanted, & disliked at school. Guilt and sadness for not “looking like the magazine pictures.” These are emotions that our children are feeling!

*When asked why they ate so much junk food, these kids admitted there were money issues within their households and cheap fast food for less money was the answer.

*Our Government is of little or no help. In fact, our Government is an enabler of poor nutrition.... paying 56 BILLION dollars over the past 10 years subsidizing farmers/produce farmers to grow corn and soy beans. Where as organic, healthy produce .....got $ nothing, nada, zip!

*We consume 500 extra calories a day compared to 25 years ago. That means in 7 days we will gain one pound from these extra calories.

*There are SIX fast food places for every one market that offers fresh produce.

*The campaigns for Fast/Processed Foods and Smoking are so similar, in that they

Both market to children
Both have strong, powerful lobbyist
Both are producing severe to fatal health problems

*Regarding soda pop, there would be a 10% decrease in sales and a 10 BILLION dollar decrease if a 1% tax was placed on sodas.

*60% of Americans are against a tax on junk food.

So, I invite you to think about this..... What can YOU do to help turn these stats around? What can this nation do to prevent us from becoming a nation that is 50% obese or overweight in this new decade? How can we get the government out of our food choices and out of our kitchens?

Until Next Time.......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Vision Voice Veg*n'z for the Brazos Valley January Meet Up

2010-01-09T06:17:00.003-06:00

Come join us for the first VISION VOICE VEG*N’z for the Brazos Valley meet up of 2010!!

One of our members, Laura Thomas, will discuss the advantages and need for Pre and Probiotics to keep our bodies healthy and clean. Laura is a Vegan nutritionist working on her PhD at A&M.

When: TUESDAY the 12th of January

Time: 6:30pm to around 8:30ish

Where: Village Cafe, downtown Bryan

If you want to order from the menu, please RSVP so I can let Chris know how many of us will be eating.

So look forward to seeing each one of you!!!

Slyck Pecena
Founder & Leader

Until Next Time......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

Humble Vegan Soft Serve "Ice Cream"

2010-01-07T05:45:00.004-06:00

Ok... so I know that 2/3rds of the nation is in a deep freeze at the moment.... but yesterday, I was telling a FB buddy of mine about this really awesome and delicious soft serve banana “ice cream” that she can make with her new juicer. It is so easy! And if you don’t have a juicer, it can easily be made in a food processor. Blenders are ok... but it’s a little more difficult as the mixture tends to clump down in the bottom and the frozen bananas will clump up as well.

What is really great about this treat is..... IT IS HEALTHY! The kids will love it as they think they are eating ice cream. You can do this with any frozen fruit.... but using the bananas as the base mixture will help keep it creamy and not icy.

These 2 pics are ones I took at True North Health Center in Santa Rosa California when I was there this past May for a 23-day water only fast. This was one of our cooking demo classes. Used in this yummy delight were frozen bananas and frozen strawberries. I’ve taken this same mixture and added chips of Bakers chocolate and made a creamy chocolate-banana-strawberry soft serve. You can use any frozen fruit. I also add a little almond milk when I make mine to give it an extra creamy texture with a “nutty” taste!

So... all fruit.... that’s it. What more can you ask for in an “ice cream” then

*all natural sweetness
*filled with vitamins and nutrients
*no HFCS
*no sugar
*no fake sweeteners
*no sodium
*no trans fats
*no preservatives
*no additives
*no food coloring

Just peel your bananas or whatever fruit you choose... freeze in bags and have them ready to take out and make up this DEEEE licious dessert or treat! The texture should be smooth and creamy when ready. Dip it out into a small dish and top with chopped raw nuts; melted bakers chocolate for a sauce, raw shredded coconut, raisins.... just go crazy!

Go ahead...make some up .... sit in front of the fireplace and enjoy this nutritious “ice cream” with a very high YUM-O factor for sure :-)

Until Next Time.......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

R.I.P. Dear Neighbor

2010-01-06T09:58:00.005-06:00

A former neighbor of ours lost her life to cancer this past Sunday. I am saddened by the unexpected news. She and her husband lived across the street from us back in our old ‘hood. We would wave at each other and her husband would come over to chat. She was an unbelievably talented artist and decorator. After 5 years, we moved and never saw them again.

I am not sure why the news of her death hit me so hard. We were not that close at all. Maybe that’s why. I never took the time to be a good neighbor. Never thought about going over for a friendly chat. Never offered a helping hand. Never took the opportunity to get to know her. Always thought I was too busy. Or maybe it is because she was very young..... 44. She and her husband married for over 27 years with 2 children and 2 young grandchildren.

I find it difficult to think about. She should have had at least another 35 to 40 years left of enjoying her life... her children.... grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her time was too short. She was on the cusp of the second half of her life. In reading her blog the last days... she definitely fought the good fight. Her strength was admirable and her outlook remained positive..... but still.... as death knocked on her door... at what point did she realize it was time to answer that door and face the fact that she must say goodbye to this life.... her dear hubby... her loving children and adorable grandchildren?

A former neighbor of ours lost her life to cancer this past Sunday. I am saddened by the unexpected news.

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

2010 Brand New Year, Brand New Decade

2010-01-04T06:00:00.003-06:00

Two Thousand and Ten. Twenty-Ten. or Twenty-Dime. However you prefer to address this New Year, the start of a brand new year always brings with it a fresh slate. A fresh start. A new beginning. A chance to reboot our minds, our bodies, our emotions and to think about new goals and refocus on goals of the past that we quite never reached. This is the time when we recommit, refocus and rededicate our thoughts and attentions to making “this year” a better one.... whatever our individual “better” indicates.

I hope each one of you had a glorious, safe and joyous holiday season. It surely seems to me that this one “whooshed” by in a hurry. I know we all enjoyed the bountiful choices of delicious food and drink with our families, friends and peers. Food is certainly a major focus of those days between Halloween and New Years Day.

This, the 4th day of January of 2010 has me asking.....”What are your goals for this year?” As a personal fitness trainer and wellness coach, my interests are in your health and fitness goals, specifically. Is this the year that you finally decide to take the needed steps to gain control of your eating disorder? Of your escalating blood pressure? Of your high cholesterol? Of your ever expanding waist line?

In 2010, will you vow to be kinder to yourself? Will you stop passing judgment on why you aren’t more productive? Will you be more understanding and forgiving of yourself when you just can’t seem to manage your time more efficiently?

Will you recognize what a wonderful spirit you have? Will you see the goodness in all your intentions & deeds? Will you stop punishing yourself for not living up to your impossible perfections and high expectations that you set for yourself?

Is this the year that you look deep within your soul and find that person that you once loved.... that person that once truly loved everything about life?

In this, the beginning of a new decade, will you promise to be more patient with your children and your pets? Will you reach out to those that are silent and shy & to those that are in need of friendship and may lack attention? Will you assist and help those that ask?

2010 brings the opportunity of a makeover! A new you that realizes “I can’t do it all... as much as I think I can... I cannot. And I must ask for help.” A new you that is forgiving of setbacks, forgiving of lapses in will power, & forgiving of episodes of procrastination.

2010 is the year of forgiveness. 2010 is the year to give yourself and others “a break.”

As we all take inventory of our lives, ourselves, our relationships and give some thought to what I proposed above...... let me leave you with my rendition of the Serenity Prayer:

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change... and give up trying to change them for heavens sake!

Grant me the courage to change the things I can.... and get out there and change them and quit "Beetching" about it!

Grant me the wisdom to know the difference...... and to stop wasting time and energy on things that I have no damn control over!”

Until Next Time......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Imagine 2010

2010-01-01T04:51:00.002-06:00

Imagine there's no Heaven

It's easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today

Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

You may say that

I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one

John Lennon, 1971

Wishing you Good Health and a Very Happy and Joyous 2010

"Happy Christmas" (War is Over)

2009-12-25T04:40:00.002-06:00

So this is Christmas

And what have you done

Another year over

And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas

I hope you have fun

The near and the dear one

The old and the young

A very merry Christmas

And a happy New Year

Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear

And so this is Christmas

For weak and for strong

For rich and the poor ones

The world is so wrong

And so happy Christmas

For black and for white

For yellow and red ones

Let's stop all the fight

A very merry Christmas

And a happy New Year

Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear

And so this is Christmas

And what have we done

Another year over

And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas

I hope you have fun

The near and the dear one

The old and the young

A very merry Christmas

And a happy New Year

Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear

War is over over

If you want it

War is over

Now......

John Lennon & Yoko Ono, October 1971

Until Next Time.......

Happy Holiday, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and Good Health to All!!!

Christmas Date Pudding with Kentucky Bourbon Sauce

2009-12-24T07:03:00.009-06:00

Do you want something with an off the hook “YUM-O factor?” Something VERY sweet... VERY sinful and decadent? Something special with a VERY HIGH “WOW-factor” to impress the family or friends Christmas Eve or for Christmas dinner? Well... this is it! Let me warn you... IT IS SWEET...SWEET..SWEET! Yummy Sweet!!

I took this traditional bread pudding that my Mom used to make and modified it for us Vegans and Vegetarians..... But let me warn all you meat eaters... this will rock your world, too!!

Traditionally this pudding, as well as other bread puddings, is made with eggs, butter, cream and white sugar. So, with a few changes here and there......tah dah..... I came up with this little holiday delight. I did manage to keep the most important ingredient..... the Kentucky Bourbon... there is NO sub for that!

Ok..ok... had some emails regarding my use of "fake" eggs... and if you have followed my blog or if you know me... I don't favor anything fake or processed.... including tofu, but, for this.... egg sub was the best thing that I came up with that would work.

As Always... I DO Organic as much as possible.

I hope you enjoy it!

CHRISTMAS DATE PUDDING
3/4 c. Agave or Brown Molasses
3/4 c. Unsweetened Almond Milk
1 c. Oat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 T. Mexican cinnamon
1/2 c. chopped dates
½ c. dried cranberries
3/4 c. chopped walnuts or pecans
1 c. brown sugar
1 T.Coconut Oil
1 T. Mexican vanilla
1 c. boiling water

Mix flour, baking powder & cinnamon with Agave or molasses and milk. Add dates, dried cranberries and nuts. Pour this mixture into either a greased 9" square pan or into little individual pudding dishes....Ok, just thought of the name for these little guys...Ramekins. Then combine brown sugar, coconut oil, vanilla and boiling water and carefully pour over batter mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. A little less time for the individual pans. Keep an eye on them and test for doneness with toothpick Turn off heat and leave in oven for 8 to 15 more minutes.

Dip out bread onto dessert dish and drizzle with Kentucky Bourbon sauce. Or, if baking in dessert bowls, drizzle sauce over each bowl.

KENTUCKY BOURBON SAUCE
¼ cup Coconut Oil (preferably flavored)
1 c. Agave
1/4 c. water
¼ c. Egg substitute
2 T. to 1/4 c. Kentucky bourbon whiskey
In a medium-size saucepan over LOW heat add coconut oil, agave and egg substitute whisking to blend well. Cook, STIRRING CONSTANTLY, until mixture thickens.

Until Next Time......

Wishing You a Very Peaceful, Safe and Healthy Christmas Eve!

Bless the Beasts and the Children Event... A Success!

2009-12-22T05:25:00.001-06:00

Saturday the 12th of December the Vision Voice Veg*n’z for the Brazos Valley hosted the 1st annual Bless the Beasts and the Children holiday donation drive thru. The event was held in the parking lot of VILLAGE FOODS. JIM LEWIS, owner, so graciously allowed us to utilize a perfect spot for this drive thru endeavor.

The spot may have been perfect, but that is not the word to describe the horrible, rainy, misty, foggy, windy, cloudy, cold day. When I awoke at 4am that Saturday morning and heard the rain.... I knew it was going to be a very tough day. Hubby Bear and I arrived around 6:30am to start setting up. We had 3 tents donated for use and I cannot tell you how very, very grateful I was for those tents. They sheltered the dedicated volunteers from the weather and kept the donated goods dry while waiting to load into the trucks.

To read all about the fun we all had, the great food we ate, and all the wonderful donations.... check out the blogsite.

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

Soups....ON!!

2009-12-21T14:35:00.013-06:00

Hello first day of winter!!! I welcome you because the Texas summer of 2009 was HOT AS HELL!!!! 60 plus days of triple digit temps and 90 days of NO rain!!!

Cold weather always makes me want HOT soup, HOT oatmeal and HOT tea. This is the only reason I could never go 100% raw...... I gotta have HOT in the winter!

I just finished up a weekend of cooking up two of my favorite soups, Off the Hook Split Pea and Sweet Potato AND Humble Vegan Clam Chowder. Then I cooked up one of my favorite soup stocks, Garlic and Leek, to use as the base for future soups. And to finish all this off... I “crocked up” a big batch of garbanzo beans and saved the stock from the beans to use for future hot soups. All in all, I froze up 9 quarts to help get me thru December and January.

Check out my recipes for Off the Hook Split Pea and Sweet Potato soup and Humble Vegan Clam Chowder on my blogsite. I changed up the Split Pea and Sweet ‘Tator soup a little. Instead of the fresh dill and oregano, I added LOTS of curry and a "good size dash,” remember, I dig things HOT n SPICY, of cayenne. YUM-O!!!

The Garlic n Leek stock is just a change to my Humble Veggie Stock, in that I used a ton of leeks, you know those veggies that look like green onions on steroids! And I used a ton of garlic and no other vegetables, kept the thyme and added fresh rosemary. Another flavor-town winner for sure!!! Great for all soups, and to cook rice, beans, quinoa or pasta in.

Hope you are enjoying this first day of winter and can have some of your favorite soups to help keep you warm and comfy!

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Holiday Dinners

2009-12-19T09:58:00.018-06:00

FINALLY! This part of Texas is seeing some sunshine after endless days of none. YAY!!!

I know it has been a whole week since my last post. I have been buried, swamped, overwhelmed, and over extended..... as all of us are this time of year.... with holiday parties & dinners, decorating, cooking and preparing for house guests during the next couple of weeks.

I finally have all of the pictures gathered up that were snapped from last Saturday’s Bless the Beasts and the Children event. I am working to put that blog together and will post it soon.

We are in full swing of holiday celebrations and gatherings......all complete with glorious buffets and settings of fabulous food and drink. In some ways, those buffets are easier to maneuver (see my blogs on Making it Thru the Holiday.... and Oh Those Holiday Parties that can be helpful) then the holiday family dinners that you may be facing over the next week or so. A lot can be useful in my past 2 blogs about making it thru the holidays and applied to the holiday dinners.

The thing about these dinners..... they are usually sit down, formal or not. Where food is passed from person to person.... and you may not have a lot of choices. Everything will be delicious, fattening, and overwhelming. So, in addition to taking a few dishes of your own that you know are healthful and will make less of an impact on your caloric bank, taking your own teaspoon for little bite servings, and not showing up to these dinners hungry... here are a few more helpful hints on how to make it thru those holiday dinners without increasing your pudge factor!

TWO STRATEGIES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS

A. Toss all sanity aside & just pig out. Not a wise choice. You WILL be sorry & feel nothing but regret, bloating, enormous guilt, & tighter pants

B. The smartest choice: One hour before your party/meal, eat a large vegetable salad or a peanut butter and banana sandwich, bowl of soup or a piece of fruit.

When seated and ready to start passing the food, try and start out by filling your plate with raw veggies. Then steamed or baked or grilled or roasted veggies. Then beans and or rice if served. Add 2 to 3 oz serving of animal flesh. (If not veg*n ...i.e vegan or vegetarian,) then a small serving (teaspoon size) of traditional foods (dressing, yams, gravy, cranberry salad, mashed potatoes..etc…)These foods will have TONS of sugar, fat, sodium and calories… so go easy. Try and limit your serving to one.

Dessert is next on the agenda. Be careful: don’t inhale everything in site. At this point, you should feel full & satisfied, so choose ONE medium sized serving of ONE dessert (about the size of a ½ deck of cards) …or use your teaspoon and choose a very small bite of each favorite dessert.

As a personal fitness trainer for many.. many years... I have seen tons of clients suffer thru each holiday season. This is the hardest and most difficult time of year for them... more so then any other time of year. One of the reasons? WE ALL LOVE TO EAT! And boy the food choices during the holidays are endless and have a very high “YUM-O” factor, for sure!!! Very hard to resist.

If you follow these guidelines, you won’t see that belly pudge the next day and regret what you ate today. And... you’ll be ready to hit the gym, the park, or the track that next morning!

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

Bless the Beasts and the Children Today, Saturday the 12th 2009

2009-12-12T04:00:00.001-06:00

VISION VOICE VEG*N’z for the Brazos Valley is hosting Bless the Beasts and the Children holiday donation drive thru in the parking lot of Village Foods, 1716 Briarcrest Drive in Bryan, around the corner from Bryan High School. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Today, the 12th of December. You can drop off donated items and people will be there to unload them.

Bless the Beasts and the Children benefits these great organizations:

BRAZOS FERAL CAT ALLIES

GOD’S LITTLE CREATURES

GREAT PYRENEES RESCUE SOCIETY

IMPACT ANIMAL FOUNDATION

SCOTTY’S HOUSE

Here is a wish list for each organization:

* Brazos Feral Cat Allies -- Wet and dry cat food and kitten food, kitty litter and money for medical supplies and care for the foster and feral cats.

* God's Little Creatures -- Stainless steel feeding and water bowls, puppy feed pans, new or gently used blankets and towels, dog food and money for a new bath house.

* Great Pyrenees Rescue Society -- extra-large wire crates and dog beds; dog treats; adjustable collars and leashes; a portable, retractable tent; and money for vaccinations, spaying and neutering, medicine and surgeries for sick Pyrenees.

* Impact Animal Foundation -- New or used crates and kennels in good condition, cat and dog treats and toys, kitty litter, carpet cleaner, paper towels, cat "trees" and scratching posts, and leashes.

* Scotty's House -- individual juice drinks; snacks; coloring books; tempera and finger paints; bandages; alcohol swabs; basic office supplies such as folders, pens and pencils; socks and underwear for boys and girls; action figures; Play Station games; and money for medical supplies.

Our AWESOME Sponsors for this event:

VILLAGE FOODS

COPY STOP PRINT AND POSTAL

LITTLE CAESERS PIZZA

VILLAGE CAFE

GOBBLE GREEN

BRAZOS NATURAL FOODS

Thank you for helping children and animals in need.

Until Next Time....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

Oh.. Those Christmas Parties

2009-12-09T04:13:00.001-06:00

Dips, chips, Hors d'œuvres, queso, salsa, Swedish meatballs, wings, cheese and crackers, cupcakes, mini cheesecakes, Christmas cookies, pastries, pies and cakes....... and beer, wine, cocktails, soda... and on and on and on..... The selections are endless!! And so is the F A T that you can gain during this holiday season.

Ah... the office holiday party...and those cozy, warm holiday evening cocktail parties... a chance to kick back and dive right into that buffet and open bar...pork down several plates of food and guzzle down too many drinks. It's like you give yourself a license to just let it all go. Just the stress and rush and crunch of the season can make you want to take solace in food and drink. Be careful.. you can do more damage then you want to spend time, energy and sweat trying to undo.

Between Halloween and January 2nd... a person can gain up to 15 to 18 pounds! You know how it goes... buying candy for the kids or the trick or theaters or for the office and you just happen to have bought a few more bags then needed..... And where were they? At home... very handy to get to. So you finished off all the candy and before you know it..... it’s Thanksgiving holidays. Food.. and more food... and now, here we are in the midst of the start of Christmas holiday season. A cup of good cheer....deck the halls....fa la la..la..AaaH!

Ok, so here’s some hints on how to survive those parties. The best thing I’ve found to do is... bring a couple of dishes that YOU like and that you know are healthy and won’t break your caloric bank! Yesterday, I posted about surviving the holidays and not increasing your pudge factor. Ya might want to take a look at that before you read further.

When I go to these parties, if I think there might be some food there that I could eat (as a strict Vegan, usually there is not so much for me,) but just in case, I always take my own teaspoon with me. And this is what I use as a portion size.... literally.....”just a taste.” I use the salad plate for my food and I eat very slowly.

Remembering that alcohol is VERY high in sugar and calories.... a glass of wine or beer anywhere from 85 to 150 calories per serving. A cocktail from 100 up depending on what you put in it. A frozen rita.... well that will cost you as much as 150 to 250. And watch out for those creamy dreamy drinks... a whopping 365 per drink! YIKES!!!!

The best way to drink alcohol and avoid more calories then you need... is to spread your drinking out over the evening. Have one regular drink... then, for your drinks there after..have some seltzer or club soda (tonic water has high fructose corn syrup.. not a wise choice!) with lime or lemon and a sprig of mint. This looks festive and gives you the feeling that you are enjoying “a drink” with everyone else. You can also, have a wine spritzer. This is a shot of your fave wine with seltzer, garnish with a cherry or lemon or lime.

Try these easy to fix dishes to bring to any party:

*Garbanzo-Garlic Hummus with crackers

*Black Bean-Corn-Jalapeño Pico with Blue Corn Chips

3 cups of black beans (no salt or fat added)

1 cup frozen or fresh corn

Chopped Jalapeno to your taste

1 cup fresh chopped mango or pineapple

1/2 cup chopped red bell

chopped red onion is great... but maybe not for the party scene LOL!

Mix all together and chill for a couple of hours

*Horseradish Hummus/Tabouli Tortilla Roll ups

Use my Garbanzo-garlic hummus and add REAL horseradish (NOT horseradish cream) in place of the garlic. Use your own taste discretion!

Use my Tabouli recipe

Ok, now take flour tortillas and spread them with the hummus. Spread the Tabouli on top of the hummus. Roll up the tortillas and slice rolls into 1/2 inch slices. Serve chilled This is really good and tickles the taste buds with the hot spicy horseradish, the sour from the lemon in the tabouli and the fresh mint flavor from the tabouli.

Ya better make up extra... cuz these 3 items are always a big hit at parties!

Now you know how to drink and eat at these social gatherings. Enjoy them, knowing you can keep your pudge factor under control!

Until Next time....When I'll get you thru the family holiday dinners.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Making it Thru the Holidays & NOT Adding to Your Pudge Factor

2009-12-08T06:35:00.033-06:00

WOW!! Another Holiday season is here. This has been a fast and busy year for sure. Each year MILLIONS of people say "January 1st, I am going to start a healthy lifestyle, lose X amount of weight, start exercising, and eat "better.""

Why wait till then? Here are a few hints and some guidelines to keep you from piling on the pounds as you pick up that plate and pile on the food.

How will YOU choose to maintain control of your good habits during the holidays? Looking back at my blog, "Are You Ready," will offer some assistance on ideas for gifts and managing your budget.....which is usually a major stressor for the holidays. Remember: Not only are the holidays fun-filled & exciting; but also, they are stress-filled & exhausting! Sleep & rest are minimal & are very precious commodities at this time. To maintain healthy habits, plan ahead, don’t get trapped in a corner.

if you fail to plan....... you plan to fail!

During these holidays, try and maintain your weight. Don’t stress over counting calories or trying to lose weight. Have a small bite of your favorite high calorie foods and enjoy this opportunity to cheat a little. BUT.... watch your portion sizes!!! Keep them small.. the size of a bar of soap or deck of cards.

The MOST important nutritional habits to maintain:
1. EAT BREAKFAST EVERY DAY
2. DRINK 2 LITERS OF WATER DAILY
3. KEEP A SNACK MIX WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES
Snack mix: raw almonds, raw walnuts, raw pecans, raisins, unsweetened coconut and unsweetened chocolate.
4. GET AT LEAST 6 HOURS OF SLEEP EACH NIGHT

These 4 ideas can save you from over indulging during the holiday parties/dinner(s)!

The MOST important fitness habit to maintain:
1. DAILY CARDIO for 30 minutes @ a high rate of intensity See my 30 minute Fat Melt Muscle Building workout or fast walking, jogging, swimming, treadmill, elliptical. (walks in the neighborhood, beach, or the park do NOT count)

Don’t let your cardio slide. Once you break this habit, it is THE most difficult to cultivate again. It is like starting from the beginning. Remember how difficult cardio was & how much your quads & butt hurt when you first started?

By eating breakfast, drinking water, & doing your cardio DAILY, you will be amazed how well you will sleep. And when you sleep….. your stress hormones are controlled. The more stress hormones controlled, the less likely you will fall prey to emotional eating, thus increasing that "pudge factor."

DO NOT GO TO HOLIDAY PARTIES/MEALS HUNGRY!
YOU’VE JUST LOST YOUR CONTROL & have set yourself up for FAILURE!

Have a salad, bowl of soup, piece of fruit, or smoothie before you head out. If your tummy is already full, you won't eat as much.

So, go... enjoy yourself knowing you armed with the ammunition you need to maintain control!

Tomorrow’s blog....hints on making it thru the Holiday office party.

Until Next Time......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Curry Ginger Rice with Raisins & Pine Nuts

2009-12-07T04:00:00.002-06:00

Hmmm, after grazing on my Vegan Clam Chowder and my Yam and Split Pea soups the past 10 days or so, I was ready for something a little different. I am pretty muchily 80% raw in the summer...maybe a little more then that cuz I don’t like cooking in the LONG HOT Texas summers. But when things finally cool down in DECEMBER..... I really enjoy cooking up some nice warm comfort foods.

I don’t eat a lot of grains, but I just had this craving for some rice... not just rice in another stir fry or rice with beans... and not just “blah brown rice.” But something different. I cook with SPICES.... lots and lots of SPICES!!! I LOVE SPICES!!! .... ok.. we get it. But the possibilities are endless. Why people rely on salt to “enhance” flavor is beyond me.... how DULL and B O R I N G!!!

I played around with this dish and it is full of flavor and aroma. You walk in the house and you know something different is a cookin’ in the kitchen, for sure! Now the spices in this dish need to be monitored by your own taste buds.... mine? Well the hotter the better, baby!

Ok, let’s get started!

As Always... I DO as Much Organic As Possible!

This is what you will need:

Oven preheated at 350 degrees

Wild Rice
Black Rice
Basmati Rice

About one cup, cooked of each. Steamed in veggie stock and dished out in a baking dish

1 cup Mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 cup Red onions, thinly sliced
4 cloves or more Fresh garlic, chopped LOTS AND LOTS
1/3 cup Pine nuts
¾ cup Raisins
Veggie stock or filtered water

2 T. Green Curry paste
1 T. Ginger Root, thinly sliced
Dash of Ground Cinnamon
Dash (or more) of Cayenne Pepper..

I highly recommend you start with ½ the amount of these spices, taste, then add more if you like. Remember I LOVE spicy... HOT!!

Sliced Avocado
Chopped green onions

In a preheated HOT skillet add:
Chopped garlic (stir!)
Red onions
A dash of veggie stock or filtered water
STIR.. don’t let it stick
Now turn down the heat to simmer
Add mushrooms
½ cup or so of veggie stock or filtered water
Simmer for one minute
Remove from heat

Add:
Curry paste, stir
Ginger root, stir
Cinnamon, stir
Cayenne, stir

Pour this over rice and mix well. Mixture should be nice and moist but not juicy or runny. If it is too dry, add a bit more liquid.

Place in oven for about 20 to 30 minutes (keep an eye on it)

The last 3 minutes, add the raisins and the pine nuts, mix well.

Remove when time is up.

Garnish with sliced cado and green onions

This, and some LIGHTLY steamed asparagus, is what’s for dinner tonight!

Until Next Time.......

GOOD HEALTH ALL!!

30 Minute Fat Melt & Muscle Gain

2009-12-06T05:00:00.010-06:00

Are you ready for this?

Ok, so it’s been a full week after the Thanksgiving weekend blowout. Did you get back on track last Monday? Did consume fewer calories each day then the 4 days of gluttony? Did you return to your daily work out program? Or did you just finish off the last of the dressing, sweet tators, pumpkin, apple, buttermilk, coconut cream pies and chocolate cake from last weekends holiday feast and say.... “I’ll start back "tomorrow"....?”

Well, put down that fork and get off your duff... cuz “tomorrow” is NOW, my friend!

You are now in a month that is filled with parties, social events, office gatherings, family get-to- gathers, "all day munch-a-thon" on goodies that are brought to work and lie waiting.. calling your name.. in the “office break room." See my blog on the scariest room at your work place. Before you know it... you are gonna munch, eat, drink, pork down, and feed your way to an extra 3 to 12 lbs during this month of December!! (that can be as much as one pant or dress size, folks!)

HOLY COW!!! That is scary! Have no fear. Cuz this week I am going to give you some tips on how to survive the holidays, starting with a grueling 30 minute work out.... that if you will do it everyday, you can pretty muchly eat whatever you like. YAY!!! YOU like the sound of that, right? Ok, then let’s get started!

30 MINUTE FAT MELT AND MUSCLE GAIN

As always, if you have health issues, are deconditioned, have not worked out in awhile or lead a sedentary life check with your doctor before starting any exercise program

*4 to 5 times (or more) weekly. Keep in mind the more you do this work out... the faster results!! *GOAL: shoot for NO REST, if you must take a break... 10 SECONDS only. You've only got 30 minutes... get the most from it!
*designed to build muscle and burn fat together for the full 30 minutes, thus no need to do a separate weight and cardio program
*takes the place for HOURS of exercises!
*there are (3) separate circuits, 10 minutes each 30 MINUTES TOTAL
*You will succeed ONLY if you follow the directions.... DONT CHEAT.... DO the WHOLE 30 minutes 4 to 5 times (or more) weekly
*You will need two 3 lb hand weights, two 5 lb hand weights and two 8 lb hand weights, jump rope and one floor mat
*It would be helpful if you had a watch with a second hand for timing
*SUCK IN THAT GUT.... AND SQUEEZE THOSE BUTT CHEEKS TIGHT TOGETHER!

CIRCUIT ONE
-push ups 1:00
-squats (legs together or apart) w/ shoulder presses 1:00 (use 3 or 5 lb weights)
-push ups 1:00
-squats with shoulder presses 1:00
-jump jacks 1:00
-jump rope 1:00
-jump jacks 1:00
-jump rope 1:00
-basic crunches 1:00
-reverse crunches 1:00

TOTAL 10 MINUTES

CIRCUIT TWO
-Bent over two arm Dumbbell Rows (palms facing, pinch that scapula together tight) use 8 lb weights 1:00

-Static Lunge with bicep curls (alternate legs..be careful of knees... pain? don't lunge deep) 1:00 (Use 5 or 8 lb weights)
-Bent over two arm Dumbbell Rows (palms facing) use 8 lb weights 1:00
-Static Lunge with bicep curls (alternate legs) 1:00 (Use 5 or 8 lb weights)
-Butt Kicks (run in place, kick your butt) 1:00

-Sink down to a slight squat and PUNCH hard across the body alternating arms 1:00

-Knee ups (run in place with high knees) 1:00
-On the mat....knees bent, arms behind head and come up and crunch across the body.... arm pit aims for knee 1:00
-Do other side 1:00
-Reverse crunches 1:00

TOTAL 10 MINUTES

CIRCUIT THREE
-Lie flat on mat.... chest flyes. slight bend in elbows. Hands & arms over the chest 1:00 (use 5 or 8 lbs weights)

-Stand up, wide stance on floor, upright row (weights come up to eye level) with slight side lunge 1:00 (use 3 or 5 lb weights)
-Lie flat on mat.... chest flyes. slight bend in elbow and hands arms over the chest 1:00 (use 5 or 8 lbs weights)
-Stand up, wide stance on floor, upright row (weights come up to eye level) with slight side lunge 1:00 (use 3 or 5 lb weights)
-Jump jacks 1:00
-Butt kicks 1:00
-Slight squat with punches 1:00
-Jump rope 1:00
-Bicycle crunches 1:00
-Oblique twists 1:00

TOTAL 10 MINUTES

Did ya do it? Ok, hit the shower and go for it again tomorrow!

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

KAMU TV Pledge Night with Us Vegans and Vegetarians

2009-12-04T06:31:00.024-06:00

This past Wednesday night our group, VISION VOICE VEG*N'Z for the Brazos Valley, was invited to man the pledge bank phones for our local PBS affiliate, KAMU TV. Located in a small community..... around 200,000 when the Texas A&M is in session and less then 150,000 when students leave....KAMU TV has been on the air since 1970. Along with KAMU FM, KAMU TV is located on the Texas A&M University campus in the Joe Hiram Moore building.

Four times a year, the great folks at KAMU TV come into your home via television to ask for help by pledging your $upport so that they can continue to air great programs like NOVA, Nature, Masterpiece Theatre, Sesame Street, and Clifford the Big Red Dog (to name just a very few programs.) I can remember watching the French Chef (aka, Julia Childs) and the Frugal Gourmet on PBS. These 2 programs were inspirational in motivating me to get in the kitchen and start cooking!

PBS and local programming on KAMU are all COMMERCIAL FREE! YAY!!! (I am so tired of endless commercials and all the propaganda they spew!) This is a blessing , but with a catch. Because they air no commercials, they sell no advertising. And with no advertising, they bring in no money to support the station and its programming. So the PUBLIC... as in PUBLIC broadcasting (PBS) .... is truly their salvation. Without the dollars from community support all PBS stations around the nation would cease to exist. Image this.... your only viewing choices on television would be COMMERCIAL or broadcast COMMERCIAL TV! How irritating, boring and time wasting!

I encourage each one of you to make a call... make a pledge to your local PBS station the next time they hold their Pledge Drive.....and step up... volunteer to help out with the phones!

Look how great the set looks! Very festive and full of holiday cheer. We had 6 members from our group and 2 guests that took time from their busy schedules... (Hey, I mean.. everyone is super busy, right?) to come and have salads provided by the Village Cafe, meet John Bennett, Station Manager, Elaine Hoyak, Development Director, and Vicki Holloway, Marketing Manager, chat it up with one another and spend a few hours taking pledges from callers.

BIG THANKS to:

ADRIAN COLE

JUDGE CHARLIE ELLIS

CHARLIE LINDAHL

FRANNIE DEGELIA

FRANCHESCA GARZA

TRACIE COLE

TUXEDO MASK

SLYCK PECENA

KAMU allowed us to promote our group's big event on the air. Bless the Beasts and the Children, Saturday the 12th of December from 8am to 5pm in the parking lot of VILLAGE FOODS. YAY!!! Thank you so much for that opportunity!

It was a fun night and it felt GREAT to share our time by volunteering for the KAMU TV pledge drive.

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Texas Furniture Makers Show

2009-12-01T05:08:00.001-06:00

I meant to post this sooner but had misplaced the pictures. Last week I blogged about our trip to Fredericksburg and while we were there we took a side trip to Kerrville. We went specifically to see the Texas Furniture Makers Show at the Arts and Crafts center. This was a showcase of all the beautiful custom made furniture pieces from woodworkers around Texas.

As you can see from the pictures, there is much talent, creativity and skill in each custom made "jewel." What a true art and gift.... to take a simple piece of wood and carve it, press it, turn it and finish it into something so original and so unique as these custom made items.

I hope you will enjoy looking at these pictures as much as we enjoyed viewing these awesome works of art and skill!

This is a working ferris wheel. All the little baskets and all the little people are carved and molded into shape

There was so much from which to choose..... took tons of pics.... and chose some of my faves.

Just look at this gorgeous pottery. You would not think they were made from wood.

I was in such "awe" and admiration of these talented woodworkers. Until I married the Hubby Bear.... almost 27 years ago.... I never took the time to appreciate the true depth and meaning of custom woodworking. Each piece has its own story. Each piece was a moment's idea in the artist mind... and thru much design and hard work.. came to fruition.

I invite you to google Texas Furniture Makers shows and find out when there might be another show somewhere in Texas... make plans to go.... and see for yourself.... this is truely an eye opening education into the world of custom made furniture!

Until Next Time

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

It's OUR Responsibility

2009-11-30T04:00:00.012-06:00

I sit here with ice packs on both shoulders and right groin after a grueling 3 hour work out: [which I highly recommend icing the “hot” spots (shoulders, knees and lower back) after a work such as this one.] 60 minutes on my personal spinning bike, 60 minutes on the punching bag with core work and 60 minutes of total body weight training. (It was a rough Thanksgiving!)

I was reminded of the intense workouts on the Biggest Loser. Speaking of which, this past weeks show was extraordinarily special because my fave financial goddess was on, Suze Orman. She brought with her some of the latest stats on OUR costs of being overweight or obese.

Each year just continues to get worse.......Here you can check them out:

*147 BILLION dollars is spent annually in the U.S on obesity related health illnesses like high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, type II diabetes.

*Obesity increases the expenses for the things that are essential like $500 to $1000 dollars per year for life insurance.... as well as health insurance.

*Obese employees earn 7 THOUSAND dollars less per year then their peers. If you are overweight or obese, you miss work because you are sick. This costs your employer money.... you lose money, especially if you have run out of sick days.

*If a family of four can swap one meal of eating out for eating at home, they can save $8760.00 in one year. Eating at home, one meal daily, you will save $24.00 per day above the cost of food.

*4.4 BILLION dollars is spent yearly by Americans on gastric bypass surgery.

*220,000 Americans get gastric bypass surgery a year and it costs them approximately $20,000.00 for each surgery. (and this is now covered by most insurance companies)

*We spend 90 BILLION dollars on cancer treatments yearly; and 57 BILLION more on obesity related treatments annually.

*If you lose back to your ideal weight, you can save up to a MILLION dollars over a 40 year period.

Let’s face this..... over weight and obesity costs everyone BIG money! Seriously BIG money.

As a health and fitness professional in the health industry for 30 years or so, I get asked my humble opinion on the VERY HEATED topic of the health insurance situation all the time. I don’t speak out on it much at all because it is futile and nobody wants to hear my position.. Because nobody wants to take responsibility for their own health.

It won’t matter what type of health care is finally decided upon and adopted if we as a nation continue to ignore our own personal health and the responsibility WE have for it... NOT the government and NOT the insurance companies. You read the stats above...... poor health is costly to you, your family, your employer, the insurance companies, and to those of us that are healthy.

In my humble opinion......We are entering thru the back door of this health care issue. We are taking a REactive stance and not a PROactive position. The focus for the people of this nation is to work at getting healthy by stopping smoking (for God's sake!) losing weight, partaking in daily exercise and stopping devouring fast foods and processed foods... which in themselves are billion dollar industries..... bound to keep us all driving thru and porking down nothing more then high trans fats, sodium, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, high calories, & nutrient deficient “crap!” Instead of promoting the gastric by pass surgeries as a solution; money should be spent instead on educating people & teaching them how to “bypass” unhealthy eating habits and to subscribe to healthy eating void of fast “food,” “food” in a box, a jar or a can.

Ok, so I understand... we are all human. We naturally are driven to these high calorie, high dense, high fat foods and it is tough as our bodies become truly addicted to fats, sodium, fake sweeteners and sugars.....everything found in fast foods and processed foods. So, why not offer an incentive to all of us to get healthy and to stay healthy?

Corporate and government employers could give out end of the year bonuses, raises, time off, & extra vacation time if you, as an employee, have worked hard, lost the blubber and maintained your healthy weight, healthy blood sugar levels, healthy cholesterol levels and healthy blood pressure over the past year. Provide in-house fitness centers, offer gym memberships and sessions with personal trainers to help your employees achieve optimum health. In the long run, by providing the tools, access to education and offering incentives, this will save billions of dollars in sick days taken, insurance premiums, doctor bills, Rx costs and every other cost related to being unhealthy.

Get the people healthy.... keep them healthy..... and the only need for insurance will be if you have a car accident, fall off the roof, break your arm skiing, or for your annual checkup.

This is too simplistic, I realize, only because we are dealing with industries that make BILLIONS of dollars off the sick, the over weight and the obese. And there are a few exceptions as well. But.. because of this, sadly.....nothing is going to change. We will continue smoking, not exercising and eating and eating and eating until we become 50... 75.... 100.... 200.... 300 plus lbs over weight. We get sick, we need insurance. We get high blood pressure, type II diabetes, high cholesterol, cancer medications, we need insurance. We get gastric bypass or lap band surgery, we need insurance.

This is the reason I rarely voice my opinion when asked what I think should happen with the health care disaster...... no one wants to hear that in order to resolve this issue....we MUST take responsibility for our own health.

Ok, now that the ice has melted.... it’s time to hit the shower!!

Until next time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

Gearing Down

2009-11-28T05:34:00.014-06:00

Now that the feast is devoured......

and the shop till you drop has ended.....

take some time to enjoy the rest of your Holiday weekend!

Until Next Time......

Good Health to All!!!

A Day Filled with "Thanks and Giving"

2009-11-26T07:46:00.008-06:00

What are you thankful for today........

And what are you giving back in return......

Until Next Time......

GOOD (and thankful) Health to All!!

A Step Back in Time

2009-11-23T03:56:00.003-06:00

A few days ago, I surprised the Hubby Bear with a little get away to what’s called, here in Texas, “the hill country.” Just west of Austin, the topography changes from the typical flat terrain of most of Texas, (with the exception of southwest Texas where there are a few smallish “mountains”) to hills.

Our destination was Fredericksburg. A quaint little German town with a main street lined for blocks with little shops, restaurants, bakeries and coffee houses. Driving from Austin to Fredericksburg, you could see that Fall finally made it to Texas as all the trees on the hill sides were turning their beautiful golds, oranges and reds. We had a nice cold front move through, so the temps were coolish. Although the one full day we were there, it rained and made it pretty miserable for walking main street and checking out the big Trade Days flea market just east of town. But, we managed ok.

We stayed at the coolest place called the Hanger Hotel. Truly a trip back to the 1940’s. Taking an old airplane hanger and turning it into a hotel, right there on the tarmac, was a brilliant idea. As soon as you walk thru the front door, you walk back into the 1940’s. Dressed in pilot’s shirts and pants, the staff at the front desk greeted us. You couldn’t help but notice the switchboard, rotary phone, and typewriter from the era. The decor was reminiscent of “Bogey and Bacall.” (much before our time!) Decorated with old suitcases, chairs, vases, tables, mirrors, a (non traditional) grandfather clock; and the bold sounds of big band music playing in the background....you could sense how simple but, eloquent, the times must have been in that decade.

Hey, check out this giant size martini glass... ah.... brings back memories of my martini days.... long passed..... LOL!

The rooms were decorated in army green and cream colors. An army blanket lay across the bottom of the queen size bed. The bath was tiled in the traditional black and white tile of the era, with faucets that were popular in the 40’s..... the separate hot and cold that looked like airplane propellers. The cabinets had the bead board look with chrome pulls. The views from the rooms were not great at all. You had the choice of looking at the air conditioners or the diner and there was very little light in the rooms. But they were comfortable, warm and cozy. Nice for a couple of nights.

The only restaurant on the property was an authentic looking diner, opened only for 4 or 6 hours daily and closed at 2pm. Not very convenient; and not many cars, maybe one or two, around the joint the two days we stayed at the hotel. The Officers Club bar opened every afternoon at 5pm with live piano music. They served munchies.... blocks of cheese, crackers, chex mix and mixed nuts. Not much for this Vegan to choose from. However... the first night we wandered into the bar, they served up “vegetarian egg rolls.” Not bad at all. Something I might try my hand at some time soon.

The second night we dined at Bejas Grill on Main Street. It caught my eye because it was marketed as “Southwest Cuisine.” I thought... “Wow! I bet I can get a black bean soft taco there!” Well, I was sorely disappointed as the black beans were made with pork, (who puts pork in black beans?) and the Mexican rice was made with chicken stock. So, I ended up with a couple of tortillas, some guac and truly authentic, native New Mexican green chile sauce! Turns out the chef moved to Fredericksburg from Santa Fe just to work at the Bejas Grill. (But, has since moved back “home.”... I can understand that completely!) Bear had the New Mexican stacked green chile chicken enchiladas. He said they tasted just like the ones he gets in New Mexico.

On the second day, we took a short 24 mile trip to Kerrville to a custom made furniture show at the downtown Cultural Arts Center. WOW!! I mean WOW!! Be on the look out for my next blog as I take you on a tour of all the amazingly creative pieces of art that these talented furniture makers designed themselves. You will be very impressed!

So, that was out trip to the hill country. Great to get away and step back in time for a few days.

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Vegan Clam Chowder

2009-11-19T05:00:00.002-06:00

With the last few days of really enjoyable chilly-cool Fall weather, it got me in the mood for a new hot steamy soup. I used to love the clam chowder that Barbaras (AKA Biggies) on the coast of Half Moon Bay, California made. It was so hot and wonderful with very little sodium and NO cream or milk. Now that I am Vegan, I choose not to eat clam chowder. So, I came up with a Vegan chowder that tastes much like Biggies chowder.... minus the clams.

This tastes so great on a cold, sunny day.

As Always.... I DO Organic as much as Possible!

VEGAN CLAM CHOWDER

What you'll need (or determine your own amount)

*6 cups of my homemade soup stock (refer to my recipe)

*4 to 6 Irish or new potatoes (chopped in chunky pieces. I leave the skins on)

*2 to 3 large carrots (chopped)

*2 cups corn (fresh or frozen)

*6 stalks celery (chopped)

*2 cups mushrooms (sliced, fairly thick)

*1 cup Green onions (chopped)

*3 to 4 cups rice milk or almond milk (the almond milk gives

this soup a fabulously distinctive flavor.. but! you have to like

almonds!)

1/4 cup agave nectar

Seasoning: (adjust to your tastes)

LOTS of fresh pressed garlic
white pepper
black pepper
1 pinch cayenne, to taste
1 teaspoon marjoram
2 teaspoons fresh basil, chopped
1/4 teaspoon dill
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/8 cup fresh parsley, chopped

In a large pot Add:

veggie stock

potatoes and carrots

Rolling boil for about 10 minutes

Then Add:

Corn, celery, 'shrooms, and rice milk

Turn to a simmer for about 2 to 3 minutes

Add Green onions and all of the spices.

Simmer for about 3 minutes more.

Serve HOT over a slice of my Vegan cornbread!!

Now, go snuggle up with your favorite "Huggie" or a good book and enjoy the amazing fragrance of this delicious soup!!

Until Next Time........

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

God Bless Texas A&M University

2009-11-18T02:42:00.002-06:00

In the very early morning hours of November 18th, 1999 at 2:42a.m., Texas A&M University and its family was brought to its knees in disbelief, shock, despair and horror. For it was at that moment the great two-million pound “stack”, known only as “Bonfire,” collapsed and crashed to the ground taking the lives of 12 men and women and injuring 27 others.

Let us always remember. Let us never forget that early morning and the lives lost. On this, the 10th anniversary of the horrific tragedy... let us pray for their families, their loved ones and their friends.

Until Next Time....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

What’s Eatin’ You......Can Get You Eatin' and Drinkin'

2009-11-17T03:55:00.001-06:00

Ok... so I was sprinting down the stairs a couple of days ago.... landed crooked on my right foot and twisted the heck outta my ankle. I was out of the game for that day. Sat on the couch with endless ice packs & all I could think about was how much stuff I needed to get done, all the errands I had planned to do that day and what was gonna happen if I did not get all the stuff done and the errands finished. In a matter of about an hour, I had worked myself up into a tizzy and was having a stress and anxiety fit.

Well, like a lot of people, when this happens... I tend to turn to food to silence that little voice that kept nagging at me about what I could expect if I did not get my list of “to dos” done.. TODAY! I mean, what I ate was not unhealthy as I don’t keep “junk” in the house... but I ate too much of the good stuff. Wolfing down 3 slices of wholegrain bread slathered with natural unsalted almond butter in a matter of minutes. (and I am not a bread eater.) Then I inhaled about 2 to 2.5 cups of unsalted cashews and if that wasn’t enough.... had the hubby Bear bring home vegan fried rice from the local Chinese take out joint. (Ok, so this is not the healthiest request.. all that sodium and vegetable oil..) Those places give you enough for 5 servings...... but, I ate every last bite of it. All of this.. just trying to get rid of the stress and anxiety of not being able to get up and move about and move on with my hectic day.

Just today, I had a client tell me that she did fine for the first 3 days last week, but then Friday came and she got a phone call that really upset her and sent her into an anxiety tail spin. What did she do to calm her nerves? Food and alcohol.

Stress/emotional eating is one of the most difficult disorders to treat and to control as you never know when, where, why, or what is going to make you react. Other catalysts that can cause this type of emotional eating are lack of sleep and fatigue.

Looking and finding comfort in food is not only an emotional reaction; but also, a physiological reaction. When our bodies are stressed and anxious we can have uncontrollable cravings for sugar, sodium, fats and simple carbs, as these types of foods will increase the serotonin and dopamine levels in our brains and then what happens? We start to feel so much better....happy... and satisfied..... thus the meaning of “comfort foods.”

My advice to all of us that suffer from this issue is the next time we have this urge to “feed” our stress and anxiety... instead.... distance ourselves from that immediate environment if possible. Get out.. take a walk..... get in the car and drive away.... or go work out. If we can stay away for at least 20 minutes.... we can give ourselves the chance to work thru the issue and find a solution... WITHOUT the use of food or booze.

This sounds very simplistic, but I know had I been able to get to an aerobics class or go for a run or hop on my spinning bike instead of sitting around thinking about everything, I could have avoided my “crash and burn” feeding frenzy.

Until Next Time........

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Chlorine Hazards Serious Health Danger

2009-11-16T04:00:00.001-06:00

Lately, I've been reading about the dangers of chlorine and how it is found in many of our everyday uses..... paper products, drinking and bathing water, cleaning supplies, laundry bleaching products are just a few.

I ran across a blog by MY favorite personal trainer, Jillian Michaels of The Biggest Loser, on the dangers of chlorine. Here is what she had to share:

Clean Out the Chlorine (From Losing It with Jilliam Michaels)

There are more than 100,000 chemicals out there, and very few of them have been adequately studied to determine their toxicity or effect on hormonal activity. One endocrine-disrupting chemical, chlorine, is commonly found in laundry bleach, household cleaners, and pool cleaners. It's also found in drinking water and industrial waste, and it's used in everyday products that you keep in your kitchen, such as bleached paper towels, napkins, and coffee filters. We are so used to its presence that we probably don't even think about how toxic a chemical it is. Chlorine has the potential to cause respiratory problems (wheezing, coughing, constricted airways), lung pain and collapse, eye and skin irritation, and sore throats. And until we can find out exactly how damaging chlorine and chemicals like it are, be smart and protect yourself. It's easier than you think to rid your home of chlorine. You can start by making some of the following changes.

Paper products: Dioxins, which are by-products of the bleaching of pulp and paper with chlorine, are not only highly carcinogenic but also estrogenic. Choose paper towels, toilet paper, and napkins that are "processed chlorine-free," or PCF.

Coffee filters: Bleached coffee filters leach chlorine into your coffee and release dioxins with every drip. Choose unbleached or oxygen-bleached filters that use chlorine dioxide, a type of bleach that doesn't created dioxin residues.

Antibacterial soaps (or antibacterial anything!): In addition to the harm such products cause by encouraging antibiotic resistance, the triclosan they contain combines with chlorinated tap water to create the carcinogenic gas chloroform, as well as chlorinated dioxins, highly toxic forms of dioxin. Choose natural dishwashing and hand soaps without chlorine or phosphates. Good brands include Seventh Generation, Ecover, and Mrs. Meyer's.

One last tip: Keep the dishwasher closed during the wash cycle! That "whoosh" of steam releases toxic volatilized chlorine, which is formed by the combination of detergent and tap water.

To read more about what you can do to protect yourself from this major health risk, check out Naturally Speaking: Speaking About the Dangers of Chlorine

Until Next Time........

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

“Tri” These Work Outs for Great Arms!!

2009-11-15T05:00:00.003-06:00

Why is it that we can work every part of our bodies and really get great results... look good.... toned, buffed, muscular...... but our “under arms” (aka Triceps) always wave back at us? Even when our biceps look pretty dang good..... our tris are just “hanging there,” literally!

Well... here’s a great work out targeting the triceps area. It will burn... as it should... so just suck it up and do it! You will luv the results!

Remember to “Suck n Squeeze,” don’t hold your breath... and Breathe!

As always, if you have health issues, are deconditioned, have not worked out in awhile or lead a sedentary life check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

Ok here goes!

TRICEP WORK OUT

*Tricep Pushups (place hands directly under your face with your thumbs touching. ELBOWS IN... do not “fly” them out to the side)

1 set of 50
rest 60 seconds
1 set of 30
rest 30 seconds
1 set of 15
rest 10 seconds
1 set of 10
rest 2:00 and move on to the next cycle

*Tricep Kickbacks (Elbow and upper arm should be parallel with the floor, start with arm bent in 90 degree angle and don't hang your head down... keep a neutral position)

1 set of 12 reps x 5 to 10 lbs (depending on your strength) (working the Medial head/Biggest muscle)
rest 10 seconds
1 set of 10 reps x 5 to 10 lbs (working the Lateral head/shortest muscle)
rest 10 seconds
1 set of 6 reps x 5 to 10 lbs (working the Long/Narrow head)
rest 1:00 and repeat this once. after 2nd repetition, rest 2:00 and move to the final cycle

Tricep Dips (use a bench, chair or tricep bench. Legs straight out in front with weight on heels. Hands and arms close your body; don’t “fly” those elbows out. Dip down to a 90 degree angle.. NO MORE THEN 90 DEGREES)

1 set of 10
rest 10 seconds
1 set of 15
rest 30 seconds
1 set of 30
rest 60 seconds
1 set of 50
rest 5:00 and start again with Tricep pushups and do the cycle again.

You may need to work up to the reps and the weight, but don’t give up and quit!

YOU CAN DO IT.... and your tris won’t be “waving back” anymore!!!

Good Luck and have fun!

Until Next Time.......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Household Hazardous Waste Collection TODAY

2009-11-14T05:36:00.004-06:00

November 14, 2009 7am - 2pm Located at University Services Building. Enter from Hwy 30 East pass Veterans park on the left.

The Brazos Valley Solid Waste Agency (BVSWMA), in conjunction with the cities of Bryan and College Station, sponsor a Household Hazardous Waste Collection (HHW) each year in the fall and spring.

This event allows all citizens in our area the opportunity to dispose, FREE of charge, household hazardous wastes, cleaners, aerosols, batteries, herbicides, pesticides and many other items.

BVSWMA has a 24-hour hotline for more information at (979) 764-3809.

This event is another means of keeping our community clean and safe. By diverting hazardous chemicals from our waste stream and landfill, we can keep our water, air and soil healthier for all of us.

For a list of acceptable items, go to the website.

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

We Are Women... Hear Us R O A R!!!

2009-11-13T08:27:00.017-06:00

“Don’t you forget ..... for every door that slams shut, there is an open door somewhere else!” For every no that you hear, remember, you are that much closer to a yes!”
The room just went wild with cheers, “rah-rah’s” and applauds. Suze Orman was in the house...and she was bigger then life.

I attended the Texas Conference for Women in Houston yesterday, thanks to my sweet Hubby Bear. He knew how much I LUV Suze O, so he surprised me with a registration to the event. I must admit, my focus was on seeing Ms Orman and no one else, really.

I had a really tough time getting her pic as she moved so quickly up and down the stage. But I got some pretty good shots.

She spoke to a lunch crowd of at least 1000 women by starting with her story of how she got where she is today. Here’s just a few of her many accomplishments:

*2 time pick of Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World”
*She has her own CNBC weekly show
*She is on NY Times Best Seller list (many times over.)
*She is a multi-millionaire and travels in her own jet.

Suze grew up in the south side of Chicago, graduated University of Illinois with a bachelor’s in social work. She moved to Berkley, California in 1973 and lived in a VW bus for 3 months before landing a job at the Buttercup Bakery and finding an apartment. To read the rest of her story... click here.

“You are powerful and strong Texas Women!” she proudly boasted, moving about taking full use of the long stage. Just her presence made you feel that when you walked out of the conference you were ready to take on the world and the workforce. And speaking of the workforce and women, here are some surprising, interesting, and very sad stats that Suze shared about the women of today:

*In the U.S., 40% of the women make up the workforce
*48% of these women are working 2 or more jobs to support their families
*Women are working 60 hours-plus a week, in addition to their roles of taking care of their children, spouse, parents, grandchildren, cleaning, shopping, cooking and providing health care to family members.
*Women are now very close to being 50% of the bread winners in this nation
*Males are getting laid off more then women because MALES MAKE MORE MONEY then their female counter parts.
*Women are hired for some of these positions to replace the males at LESS MONEY
*Because of the economy, more and more we are allowing ourselves to be sold by lending money to our family members because we are afraid to say, “No, I am sorry, but I cannot afford to lend you money.” We feel we must say yes & risk jeopardizing our financial health for fear of losing their love.

“NOW... more then ever... is the time for all women to take control, take responsibility for their financial future, take measures to secure their financial strength and create a healthy financial environment!” Suze “roared” this out across this huge room as women stood and cheered.

“Get out those pens and paper and you better write down what I am about to tell you,” she ordered:

*get yourself completely out of credit card debt
*use credit cards only in emergencies
*if you don’t have the cash, you don’t buy it
*save up at least an 8 month emergency fund
*start saving NOW for your retirement, no matter what your age is

Suze shared that until 2015, this economy and the stock market will continue its roller coaster ride and that we must be prepared to ride it out.

We women are living as much as 20 years or more longer then our spouses, significant others or life partners, Suze shared. “You have to ask yourself, who will take care of me? How will I take care of me on my 70th birthday, on my 80th birthday, on my 90th birthday?” Here was her very stern and serious answer, “You cannot expect your children to take care of you; you can’t expect family members or friends to take care of you. YOU must make provisions and be prepared TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!”

Today’s women are still beaten, assaulted, raped, violated, robbed and abused by the people they love and thought who loved them. The only way this is going to change, is for today’s women to become financially independent and financially healthy. “Money is power... and power will set you free!” commands Suze as she finished up her presentation.

Suze Orman is the epitome of strength, power and self assurance. She sets a shining example for all women. The first 30 years of her life were nothing but struggles, slammed doors and endless “Nos!” Because of her determination, commitment and drive, she persevered into the international success she is today.

I highly recommend any of her books, but one in particular.... “Women and Money”.... is a must read considering these times and this economy.

Until Next Time.......

GOOD (Financial) HEALTH TO ALL!!

SUZE ORMAN!!!

2009-11-12T04:16:00.003-06:00

I am headed off to Houston today, thanks to my amazing Hubby Bear, to the Texas Conference for Women to have lunch with Suze Orman... and about a million other women.... but, It's SUZE O!!! My mentor... my Goddess... my Guru of financial expertise and advice.

I am attending 2 morning sessions:

*Turning Passion into Profit.... (working on a little idea of mine .. need some direction...)

*Nurturing Innovation, Creativity and Profits ...(again.. expertise needed for this little idea)

And 1 afternoon session:

*What Happy Women Know (might pickup some innovative ideas...)

Hope to get close enough for a photo op with Suze O and get her to sign one of her many books that I own.

Enjoy your day!

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Purple Slaw, Wehani Rice Mix, Tabouli Meal

2009-11-11T04:01:00.003-06:00

WOW! if you like colorful meals.... you will LUV this one! And this is something you can make a lot of... ahead of time... and have multiple servings in your frig... just to dish out!

When you look over my recipe pics... you will notice I DO love color.... all of my recipes have wonderful color and texture to them... this will appeal to your vision.....if something looks really G O O D.... then you are more likely to try it!

What I like about this meal is you get a lot of great fiber with the red and white cabbage in the slaw and the spinach of the tabouli and you get a lot of good protein from the bulgar in the tabouli and the walnuts in the rice.

Ok, let's get started!

As Always, I DO as much ORGANIC as possible!

Go to my recipe for TABOULI

PURPLE & WHITE SLAW

In a food processor add:

pieces of white and red cabbage and chop to a slaw consistency

Spoon out into a large bowl and add:

VERY thinly sliced red onions

Thinly sliced raw mushrooms.. or mushrooms lightly sauteed in veggie stock

1 can drained mandarin oranges (save the juice) (You can also use fresh pineapple or grapefruit. For the juice... use some apple cider vinegar! YUMM-OH!!)

Mix gently so the oranges don't get broken up too much

In the food processor or blender add:

the OJ from the oranges

4 or 5 cloves of fresh pressed garlic

a squirt of Agave Nectar

Mix and fold into the salad

WEHANI RICE MIXTURE

Steam together:

1 cup Wehani

1 cup wild rice

1/2 cup brown rice

Mix with the rice in a large bowl

fresh chopped tomatoes

1 cup raisins

chopped raw walnuts

chopped raw jalapenos

There you have it!!! SO SIMPLE!! Just cut a head of iceburg lettuce in half, remove some of the center to make a bowl and serve your Tabouli in the lettuce bowl. Spoon out the rice and the slaw.. and you have a beautiful.... DEEEEE licious ......plate of low calorie, healthy goodness!!

Enjoy!

Until Next Time......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Back in Time with a Tune

2009-11-10T06:00:00.002-06:00

Whether it’s the “shoop-shoop do wah” of the 50’s or the “yeah..yeah..yeah..” of the 60’s, just hearing a song from the past can take you back in time in less then a nano-second.

Perhaps it was the junior high school, high school, or college years; or the first date, first kiss, first job, or the day of your wedding..... hearing a song from the past is one of the most powerful triggers of memory that has the unique ability to transport us back in time.

I was channel surfing on Sirius XM radio this morning and came across a song that immediately whisked me away...back to my 4th year of life. There I was in front of my older brother’s (10 years older) closed bedroom door, with my little furry pink rabbit house shoes on my feet, wearing my little flannel jammies, my long hair braided, dancing to the blaring music coming from his AM radio, KQEO, Albuquerque.

This particular song was one of my favorites as KQEO played it every morning about the same time. And every school morning, I would get up and run to my brother’s closed door to dance to the music as he got ready to head out to school.

And then as I surfed a little more, I came across a song that had me headed back to the dorky days of Jr. High School. 7th grade. My best friend and I would go to the “sock hops” every Friday night. (These were dances held in the gym that you had to take your shoes off and dance in your socks... clever, huh? LOL!!) I never liked to go because I was just not into dating at that point in my life. But, not wanting to go alone, she would drag me along. As this sweet haunting melody played out across the dance floor... I remember cringing... afraid I would be asked to dance..... to a SLOW song....a SLOW dance!!! I would hide behind anybody in hopes no guy would approach me. Well.... out of all the dances I was drug to.... only about twice was I asked to slow dance.... Thank goodness!

I love taking trips back in time... just from hearing a familiar song of the past. Good memories, bad memories, good times, of days gone by.

Oh, and the two songs I was talking about? From the late 1950’s....Bobby Day’s “Rockin’ Robin” and from the 1960’s, “Cherish” by the Association.

What's that one song that can take you back in time?

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

BOOK: Eating Animals

2009-11-09T08:16:00.008-06:00

I've wanted to read this book by Jonathan Safran Foer ever since I heard it was out. It appears to be much like the movie Food, Inc. in that it is not so much about animal cruelty; although from excerpts I've read he does "take you there," but it is more about the BIG .. HUGE.. corrupt business of the livestock & poultry industries and what a power house it is up against the government.

I'll soon get the book and give it a read... in the meantime....Here's a bit from a writeup that a good bud of mine emailed to me. Check it out and for further reading go to Jonathen Safran Foer.

Jonathan Safran Foer is a strict vegetarian, but his most recent book, "Eating Animals," is not a screed against meat. It is, rather, an indictment of the corrupt, large-scale factory farming that dominates the American meat market. A journalistic work with a novelistic feel, the book is the result of three years investigating the U.S. meat industry, and it weaves together animal activist and farmer interviews with statistical research and even memoir to provide a sweeping account of Big Beef and its social, economical and environmental impact. Descriptions of animals suffering on the "kill floor" are enough to incite squirms from even non-animal lovers, but cruelty is not Foer's only grievance: There are health concerns and devastating environmental damage at issue as well.

"Eating Animals" may be Foer's first big swing at nonfiction, but primary themes hearken back to Foer's two critically polarizing novels, "Everything Is Illuminated" and "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close." Family folklore and ideas about the complexity of memory permeate each; "Eating Animals" begins with a section titled "Storytelling," about Foer's grandmother, a Holocaust survivor (and passionate carnivore). "The story of her relationship with food," he writes, "holds all of the other stories that could be told about her."

The book is not without controversy, of course. Food politics gets at the very heart of what it means to be American -- alas, human -- and the subject of how and if we eat meat stirs up intense feeling. Last week, Natalie Portman kicked up a tiny tempest when she wrote about "Eating Animals" in a column on Huffington Post, championing Foer's argument but adding her own painfully tone-deaf riff about rape. (The controversy took place after the Salon interview but when I reached him afterward via e-mail, Foer had this to say about Portman's column: "It was such a thoughtful and generous piece of writing. I felt gratefulness more than anything else.")

Until Next Time.......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

More H.I.I.T.

2009-11-08T05:00:00.002-06:00

By now, I'm thinkin' maybe you have mastered the first H.I.I.T. program that I posted back in September...... true?

Just to refresh you on the benefits of High Intensity Interval Training:
*Increased fat loss
*Increases total calorie expenditure during your workout
*Increases fat utilization both during and after the workout
*Increases Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC) aka... after burn which can last up to as much at 3 hours after your workout.
*Increases caloric burn during rest. Maybe as much as 10 to 160 calories over a 24 hour period

Ok, so.... if you weren’t ready for more H.I.I.T. before.... you should be now!

The duration is short, anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes. Combine HIIT with my Humble Core work out or Let's Get to the Core of the Matter work routines 3 times weekly (not consecutive days) and you'll see results.

As always, if you have health issues, are deconditioned, have not worked out in awhile or lead a sedentary life check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

Ok then... let’s get started! Remember to “suck n squeeze!” (Suck in that gut nice and tight and squeeze that butt together... just like ya got a quarter back there!) Don’t forget to breathe..... do NOT hold your breath.

This program is for treadmill intervals. Incline and Speed training. Good luck and have fun!

TREADMILL INTERVALS

Incline training
*3mph for 1 minute at 2% grade
Recovery for 30 seconds at 0% grade
*3mph for 2 minutes at 4% grade
Recovery for 30 seconds at 0% grade
*3mph for 4 minutes at 5% grade
Recovery for 30 seconds at 0% grade
*3mph for 6 minutes at 6% grade
Recovery for 30 seconds at 0% grade
*3mph for 5 minutes at 5% grade
Recovery for 30 seconds at 0% grade
*3mph for 4 minutes at 4% grade
Recovery for 30 seconds at 0% grade
*3mph for 3 minutes at 3% grade
Recovery for 30 seconds at 0% grade
*3mph for 2 minutes at 2% grade
Recovery for 30 seconds at 0% grade
*3mph for 1 minute at 1% grade
Recovery for 60 seconds at 0% grade

Speed Training
3mph for 1 minute at 1% grade
Recovery for 30 seconds at 0% grade
3.5 mph for 1 minute at 1% grade
Recovery for 30 seconds at 0% grade
4 mph for 1 minute at 1% grade
Recovery for 30 seconds at 0% grade
4.5 mph for 1 minute at 1% grade
Recovery for 30 seconds at 0% grade
5 mph for 1 minute at 1% grade
Recovery for 30 seconds at 0% grade
5.5 mph for 1 minute at 1% grade
Recovery for 30 seconds at 0% grade
6 mph for 1 minute at 1% grade
Recovery for 3 minutes at 0% grade

Until Next Time....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

It's "THAT" Time of Year, Again

2009-11-07T07:06:00.013-06:00

Every May and every November, I clean our house from ceiling to floor, from crown molding to baseboards and everything in between. Every finger print is washed away on the white doors, every smudge is wiped from the light switch plates (have you noticed just how much “Yuck” is on the light switches that you use the most?...fascinating!) And all the walls are inspected for black marks from chairs, suitcases, & puppy dogs jumping up on the walls. Thank goodness for that Mr. Clean Magic Erase Bar! IT REALLY WORKS!

Each light fixture is taken apart and the dead bug collection is cleaned out. (How DO they get there?) All the cabinet doors are wiped down, the stove is taken apart and cleaned, (since I don’t fry or use oil anymore, that is not such a frightening job!) and the frig is removed of all its items, shelves, drawers and wiped down with baking soda. I am thankful for my 2 self-cleaning ovens.

All the windows are washed, at least the ones that can be reached. Each drawer is cleaned out and reorganized as are the closets. It’s a good time to change out all the HVAC filters and replace the baking soda in the frig and freezer. Then of course dusting and vacuuming and mopping.

This all takes me about one solid week. I always hate...hate....hate...the thought of starting this ordeal. It is such a huge undertaking, but with 2 puppy dogs that shed so much you’d think they’d have absolutely no hair left on their beagle bodies, it is an undertaking that cannot be ignored.

I am always amazed; however, once I get into the rhythm, how much I really enjoy cleaning. It is such WONDERFUL exercise for me as we have a 2 story house. As I clean and polish, I feel a sense cleansing of my own. As I reorganize and decide what items I can donate to charities or give to friends, it gives me a sense of fulfillment in that I am “decluttering” our lives and hopefully, what I have to give, will benefit someone else in their life..... and this makes me happy.

I am in real luck because coming up, there are 2 excellent opportunities to give everything I cleanout and collect in the house to the Great Pyrenees Rescue Society garage sale on December the 5th. (if you want to know more about the garage sale, contact me) And after Hubby Bear cleans out and collects stuff from the garage and his workshop, we can give old paint, computers, batteries, & automobile and tractor oil to the Household Hazard Waste Collection, a commercial recycling event, on Saturday the 14th of November. YAY!!!

I always have such a great sense of accomplishment and a feeling of starting “a new” once I finish this task. When my house is clean, organized and shines... I can think more clearly, I am sharp and on my toes; and my life seems to “run better.” It’s kinda like when you wash your car and it sparkles... it “runs better,” too!

Ok, so you know what I am doing on this beautiful Fall (a little cloudy) Saturday, here in Central Texas....... and for the next week!

You enjoy your Saturday! and....

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

Are You Ready?

2009-11-06T08:32:00.013-06:00

Ok, so the Holiday Season is approaching..... You know what that means?

*No sleep
*Endless shopping
*Endless parties, social events, and family gatherings
*Eating and more eating
*High alcohol consumption
*High stress levels
*No exercise
*Every second of each day is filled with chores, errands, cooking, decorating, more shopping, wrapping gifts, school events.... on and on and on

I am worn out just looking at this list!

I encourage you now, to sit down and look ahead at your holiday schedule. Make a plan and follow the plan to help get you thru the mania. Set small goals each day to achieve by making a SMALL list of things to do. A smaller list is much easier to knock out then one large, endless.. hopeless list. Plus you get a real psychological satisfaction that you accomplished that days goal.

Here are some great ideas to get the family & your friends
involved:

*Instead of gift-purchase-giving... get your family involved in making cards to give to everyone. Maybe include a picture of the family as part of the card. There are so many great gift ideas to make on Disney Family Fun! You might just find some hidden creative talent within your gang!

*Gather everyone together and bake up small loaves of homemade breads, or cookies or muffins and wrap them in colorful tissue paper, tie with a colorful ribbon and give as gifts.

*For gifts that you give to local folks, think about throwing a “Potluck Gift” party at your house and have everyone bring their favorite dish... as the gift...... Or ask them to make something they have never tried before and bring it. Or throw a “baking party” at your house for your GFs and enjoy baking up some goodies together. Then you can eat them right out of the oven! These parties are your gifts to all and everyone enjoys all the wonderful variety of foods and goodies!

*Think about giving gifts that are unique, but are recycled. Like giving books from your local gently used bookstores. Purchase cookbooks from decades past, pick a recipe from the cookbook, & make it to give as a gift along with the cookbook.

* Take the family and shop your local garage sales for unusual items that you would not find in catalogues, on line or departments stores.

Just by thinking ahead, making a plan and taking these small steps to do our part in reconnecting with our family; and recycling, reusing and redistributing what is already available, we can cut back on clutter. We can avoid shopping “with the masses” in the big box stores and shopping centers, we can make our dollar stretch even further, we can cut down on the endless time we spend stressing over the holidays and we can create more time to spend with our families, and hopefully we can get more sleep!

Be on the lookout for a future blog on how to get thru this Holiday season without breaking your calorie bank and on how you can control that pudge-factor.

Until Next Time........

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Banana-Rama Choco Chip Bread

2009-11-05T03:27:00.002-06:00

I got up last Sunday morning and because of the time change, the dawn greeted me around 6:15am. It was a gorgeous sunrise and a fitting attribute to the start of World Vegan month!

I decided in honor of this occasion, I would bake up a goodie from a fabulous recipe found in a great Vegan cookbook called Baby Cakes. Laura Thomas, a good friend and member of our VISION VOICE VEG*N’z for the Brazos Valley made the cupcakes & brought them to Green First Friday last month to give away at our table. THEY WERE OFF THE HOOK!!! So, I thought I would make some to take with me last Sunday when I popped in on KEOS’s Fair and Feminist show with Shelly and Vandy. Had all the makings in my kitchen, except for those little paper cupcake thingys.... so, I said, “ok.. so I make bread instead of cupcakes!”

This is THE best recipe I have ever had for Banana bread. It bakes up with a golden brown top and the inside is sinfully oooey- gooey because of the melted chocolate chips... and very moist from the mashed banana mixture. When you invert the baking dish, if falls out nicely. I renamed the recipe as “Banana-Rama Choco Chip Bread”.. or you can make muffins or cupcakes from it too.

I love the way it filled the house with a wonderful smell of baked bread on a sunny, chilly Fall morning.

Ok, here we go!

As always, I DO as much organic as possible.

BANANA-RAMA CHOCO CHIP BREAD

Preheat oven to 325 degrees
Oil up a 7 x 4 3 inch loaf pan (use coconut oil or walnut oil)

2 cups Oat flour
2 t. baking powder
2 t. baking soda
1 t ground cinnamon

½ cup coconut or walnut oil
2/3 cup Agave
2/3 cup Almond milk
1 t. vanilla extract

1 ½ cups mashed bananas (I used the potato masher, worked great!)
1 cup unsweet or semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a medium sized bowl, whisk together all the DRY ingredients. Make “well” in the
& add the oil, Agave, milk and extract. Mix together until batter is smooth.

Next, gently fold in bananas, making sure distribution is even. Then fold in chips, evenly
distributed, too!

Now pour into oiled pan and place on middle rack of preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes,
Then rotate pan 180 degrees and bake 15 minutes more.

Remove from oven, place on a rack for cooling. Let it cool for at least 20 minutes before
removing from pan. Gently run knife around the edges and invert the pan onto a plate.

Once removed, this bread will be slightly “mushy” because of the wonderful bananas
and chips… nice and gooey! YUM-OMG!!

Using a knife that is heated under H O T water will make slicing a breeze! Serve this
little delight warm or chilled. Either way, it is a VEGAN winner!!

Until Next Time.......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

Senate Bill 510

2009-11-04T12:13:00.007-06:00

With the Codex Alimentarius Law coming into affect at the end of this year, here is your chance to speak up! Protect Your Access to Food and Supplements - Stop the Food Safety Bill in the Senate

A new bill on the floor of the Senate (S-510) could lead to the restriction of your access to quality, nutritious food and dietary supplements by giving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) control over farming practices and starting a slippery slope toward harmonization with Codex food and dietary supplement standards. This bill needs to be amended or defeated.

Please read further and cast your VOTE as NO to S.510!

Care 2 Petition

Until Next Time.......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

Vision Voice Veg*n for the Brazos Valley Meet Up

2009-11-03T05:00:00.001-06:00

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd, is the 3rd meetup for our group! YAY!!!

The wonderful Village Cafe is the place at 6:30pm. Chef Martin and the great folks will prepare another fantastic special menu for us as great prices. You DON’T have to order if you don’t want to.

JOHN BORDEN, of Edible Aggieland, will be our guest speaker. He’ll talk about what his group is doing in the community in the way of edible landscaping. YAY, John!

We’ll also talk about Bless the Beasts and the Children holiday donation drive thru, which is coming along nicely! I am impressed with the organization’s volunteers that are stepping up to help with this event. To catch up on the latest.. check out the blog.

There are a few more events our group can get involved in that benefits some great causes. If you are interested, just contact me.

Look forward to seeing you at tomorrow night's meeting!

Until Next Time......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Chattin with KEOS & VISION VOICE VEG*N'z For the Brazos Valley Events

2009-11-02T05:52:00.008-06:00

Yesterday I stopped by KEOS FM for a short visit on air with my buds, Shelly Blair and Vandy Ramadurai hosts, of Fair and Feminist. Had a great time as usual. Love to chat it up with these young women. Thanks for letting me crash the party for a few.

I was sharing the info about our group’s, VISION VOICE VEG*N’z for the Brazos Valley, up coming holiday event on Saturday, December 12th, from 8am to 5pm at VILLAGE FOOD’S parking lot, over there in Bryan on Briarcrest Drive. Bless the Beasts and the Children is the name of this donation drive-thru and it benefits so many of the wonderful local organizations:

*Brazos Feral Cat Alliance
*God’s Little Creatures
*Great Pyrenees Rescue Society
*Impact Animal Foundation
*Scotty’s House

All donations are tax deductible and the requested items will soon be posted on the group’s blog, my blog, on flyers at Village Foods, Village Cafe, KEOS, KAMU, and many other places.

You can catch me and members of these groups, Tuesday, December the 8th on KBTX’s Brazos Valley this Morning AND on Thursday, December 10th on KAMU TV’s Brazos Magazine with Sharon Colson promoting this event.

We look forward to a great turn out!

Also shared these events our group is involved in:

*November 3rd meetup, Village Cafe, 6:30pm, John Borden from Edible Aggieland will be our guest speaker discussing what their group is doing around the community. Chris and Chef Martin at the VC are making up a special menu for us at very reasonable prices. You don’t have to order. Would like to see more Vegans and Vegetarians come on out and join us. Or if you are considering making the transition, come on to the meetup.

*November 14th is the Hazardous Household Waste Collection at the old TI/TAMU Systems Bldg out on Highway 30 from 7am to 2pm. This is a great chance to clean out the garage or shop of all the oil, batteries, paint, etc. For a complete list, look on their website.

*December 6th, 2 members of our group and the Great Pyrenees Rescue Society are holding a garage sale. This is another chance to clear out, clean up and redistribute your “stuff” that you no longer need or use. Donated items will be sold and money goes to the Great Pyrenees Rescue Society. Contact me for more info on this.

So, that’s what’s going on with our groups events. If you are interested in joining in any of these great opportunities to serve your community, or need more information on these events, or just questions in general.... go ahead and contact me.

Until Next Time......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

WORLD VEGAN DAY!!

2009-11-01T02:55:00.002-06:00

HAPPY WORLD VEGAN DAY!!!! and the beginning of WORLD VEGAN MONTH!!!

World Vegan Day/Month was established November 1st, 1994 & celebrations are world wide. This day and month recognizes Veganism as a lifestyle that honors and respects all animals, the environment and our Earth. Vegans don't eat animal flesh, animal by products, or dairy. Most Vegans don't wear clothing made from animal skin or fur, nor do they "sit" on animal skin or fur. Some Vegans don't use any products that have been tested on animals. We celebrate healthy and compassionate lifestyles.

World Vegan/Day month was "born" to create interest and awareness in Veganism and the positive, healthy impact it has on the health of our bodies, all living creatures, the environment and our Earth. This month gives we Vegans a chance to share our lifestyle and knowledge with people that may not have heard of Veganism or those that don't understand the difference between Vegans and Vegetarians.

So celebrate this day and the rest of this month!!! Go hug a Vegan!

AND stop by the Village Cafe today for a very special "Celebrate World Vegan Day" lunch!

Until next time....... (Remember to turn your clocks back one hour)

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

"Mystery-Magic-Superstition"

2009-10-31T06:00:00.007-05:00

Ghosts, spirits, & paranormal activities have always intrigued me......fascinated me......and frightened me. As a native of the Land of Enchantment, I grew up with the belief that these fabrications are very real. Many of these elusive phenomena walk the dirt, the streets and lurk about the hallways of New Mexico.

When I was a tot, I slept with the light on.. every night. I would see shadows on my closet doors. One night in particular, a shadow in the shape of the devils head, had me running to my parents bedroom screaming at the top of my lungs.

I've heard the haunting wail of La Llorona (pronounced "LAH yoh ROH nah") (Spanish for the Weeping Woman,) and believe me... that sound will send chills down your spine. This tall, thin woman roams the Pecos and Santa Fe rivers in search of her drowned children.

And then there’s the young boy dressed in blue jeans and a striped shirt that plays in the lobby of the Kimo Theatre in Albuquerque, after losing his life in the 1951 boiler fire that destroyed most of this magnificent art deco monument.

So, it is no surprise that Halloween kinda creeps me out. You would think it would be my favorite holiday of the year, but not at all. Never really enjoyed all the scary costumes, or the trick or treat thing; nor did I (or do I) enjoy horror flicks. Hated the "jump out from behind the door and say BOO!" thing, too! This probably explains why I am so very superstitious.

How bout you...... do you throw salt over your left shoulder? Or are you a triskaidekaphobe? (Fear of the number 13.)

Here’s a look at some of the superstitions & rituals that spawned from Halloweens over the centuries.

Halloween has always been a holiday filled with mystery, magic and superstition. It began as a Celtic end-of-summer festival during which people felt especially close to deceased relatives and friends. For these friendly spirits, they set places at the dinner table, left treats on doorsteps and along the side of the road and lit candles to help loved ones find their way back to the spirit world.

Today's Halloween ghosts are often depicted as more fearsome and malevolent, and our customs and superstitions are scarier too. We avoid crossing paths with black cats, afraid that they might bring us bad luck. This idea has its roots in the Middle Ages, when many people believed that witches avoided detection by turning themselves into cats. We try not to walk under ladders for the same reason. This superstition may have come from the ancient Egyptians, who believed that triangles were sacred; it also may have something to do with the fact that walking under a leaning ladder tends to be fairly unsafe. And around Halloween, especially, we try to avoid breaking mirrors, stepping on cracks in the road or spilling salt.

But what about the Halloween traditions and beliefs that today's trick-or-treaters have forgotten all about? Many of these obsolete rituals focused on the future instead of the past and the living instead of the dead. In particular, many had to do with helping young women identify their future husbands and reassuring them that they would someday--with luck, by next Halloween!--be married.

In 18th-century Ireland, a matchmaking cook might bury a ring in her mashed potatoes on Halloween night, hoping to bring true love to the diner who found it. In Scotland, fortune-tellers recommended that an eligible young woman name a hazelnut for each of her suitors and then toss the nuts into the fireplace. The nut that burned to ashes rather than popping or exploding, the story went, represented the girl's future husband. (In some versions of this legend, confusingly, the opposite was true: The nut that burned away symbolized a love that would not last.)

Another tale had it that if a young woman ate a sugary concoction made out of walnuts, hazelnuts and nutmeg before bed on Halloween night, she would dream about her future husband. Young women tossed apple-peels over their shoulders, hoping that the peels would fall on the floor in the shape of their future husbands' initials; tried to learn about their futures by peering at egg yolks floating in a bowl of water; and stood in front of mirrors in darkened rooms, holding candles and looking over their shoulders for their husbands' faces.

Other rituals were more competitive. At some Halloween parties, the first guest to find a burr on a chestnut-hunt would be the first to marry; at others, the first successful apple-bobber would be the first down the aisle.

Of course, whether we're asking for romantic advice or trying to avoid seven years of bad luck, each one of these Halloween superstitions relies on the good will of the very same "spirits" whose presence the early Celts felt so keenly. Ours is not such a different holiday after all!

Until Next Time......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!!

We Can't Reform Health Care without Reforming Food

2009-10-30T04:31:00.001-05:00

As a fitness professional in & out of the health industry for 30 years or more, this issue has been, and is, at the top of my soapbox. If Americans aren’t educated on how to eat healthy, given the resources that enables them to eat healthy, and given access to afforable organic food.... then all the health care reform in the world, will be worthless.

Americans will continue to get sick from all the diseases (cancer, high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, & auto-immune disease,) caused by eating “crap.” (i.e. fast food, fried foods, processed foods, artifical sweeteners, etc.)

I might also add in the 3rd facet of this dilemena, that of regular routine exercise. Eating healthy and access to an afforable, well thought out health care plan, will not build quality bone growth, will not strengthen muscles, will not keep your heart healthy, and will not improve your balance, coordination and flexibility.

We deserve to be healthy, fit and live a long disease-free life!! Americans should not only demand access to afforable health care; but also, we should demand access to afforable organic foods, and demand incentives from our work places, from our insurance companies and from the medical industry to work out, get healthy and stay healthy.

Charlie Lindahl, a member of VISION VOICE VEG*N'z for the Brazos Valley, brought this to my attention from the Huffington Post. Thanks Charlie.

Here is an exerpt from the Huffington Post article. To read the entire, entriguing story click here.
If and when health care reform finally passes, we will have successfully ameliorated only half of the crisis. The treatment half. The next step has to be focused upon doing something about the poisoned filth we've collectively nicknamed "food." Without any real changes in how our food is produced, the health care system will continue to bloat and fall apart. Not unlike the insides of an average American body.

The consequence for you and me, of course, is that the food is becoming increasingly toxic, both in terms of what goes into our bodies, and in terms of how deregulation and deception is hurting the economy. What good is health care reform if we're still being fed poison? What good is an economic recovery if big business is still gaming the system?

Until Next Time........

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

"Natural Flavors?"

2009-10-29T05:15:00.002-05:00

Ok, I know I am strange... (hubby Bear tells me this all of the time).... I read labels... anything and everything that has a label, a pamphlet, an insert or guide.

Just the other day had to get some meds for Beagle boy Jack and I was reading aloud the insert that came with the meds. Hubby Bear comments... "Nobody reads that stuff except you.. and you will read every single sentence of it." Yep, I confess, I do that.

Anyway.. labels on food products. Have you ever noticed the ingredients on some food products that promote themselves as being "healthy" or nutritional?" You know "natural flavor" ingredients.... leaving me wondering... "what the heck does that mean?" Actually, it is not only "healthy" foods that list this "natural flavor" ingredient; but also, regular food. Hubby Bear has a can of his Progresso Light Chicken Noodle soup including this mystery additive.

I ran across this enlightening bit of info from a blogger friend of mine and, well, I stole it and now will post it and claim it as mine. LOL!! Take a look at it and let it educate you on the "natural flavors" scam. And after you read it, go ahead into your kitchen pantry and frig and check the labels just to see how many products you have that includes "natural flavors."

Just What's in Those Natural Flavors Anyway...?
By Dar VeverkaVRG@vrg.org

The exact definition of natural flavorings & flavors from Title 21, Section 101, part 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations is as follows:

"The term natural flavor or natural flavoring means the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional."

In other words, natural flavors can be pretty much anything approved for use in food.
It's basically impossible to tell from a label what is in natural flavors unless the company has specified it on the label. A few of the vegetarian & vegan-oriented companies are doing this now, but the overwhelming majority of food manufacturers do not.

Why do companies hide ingredients under "natural flavors"? It's considered a way of preserving the product's identity & uniqueness. Sort of like a "secret recipe" - they worry that if people knew what the flavorings were, then someone would be able to duplicate their product. So what's a veggie to do?

Call the company. Ask them what's in the flavorings. Chances are they will not be able to tell you, or they will be unwilling to tell you.* But the more they hear this question, the more likely they are to become concerned about putting a clarifying statement on their labels. It does work in some cases (remember what happened when enough people wrote to the USDA about the organic standards), although it tends to take awhile. We have already had several large food companies call us concerning their natural flavors & how to word it on their labels if they have vegetarian or vegan flavorings. They called because it had come to their attention that this was a concern for veggies.

* Many of the numbers listed on food labels are customer service call centers staffed by people who can only read from the information provided to them by the company. While it's tempting to get frustrated at them & yell, please don't. It's sort of like taking it out on the stock clerk because you don't like the grocery store's policies.

Until Next Time.......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

Eating Out... Stress Free!

2009-10-28T06:31:00.007-05:00

You've seen the size of platters that restaurant food is served on these days, right? Some as large as 15 inches in diameter! That can cost you... oh.. maybe a couple of grand in calories! YIKES!

Here are some hints when it comes to eating out so you don’t break your “calorie bank:”

*THINK AHEAD: look @ online menus before you go to the restaurant. Try to plan out what you will order, that way you don’t have to look at the menu and fight off all those temptations.

*NO FAST FOOD joints!

*PORTION CONTROL!!!!!!

*Ask for ½ orders

*Ask for your entree to be divided in half and put in a "to go" box BEFORE the waiter brings your meal. This way, you are not tempted to eat the whole portion.

*If you dine at a buffet.... choose a LARGE plate for your salad choices and fill it up. When you fill up on veggies you will not eat as much of the high calorie food.

*If you dine at a buffet...choose a SALAD plate to use for the high calorie-entree foods. Don’t let those cooked veggies fool you... more then likely they are loaded with butter, or oil and sodium. So, by pass those cooked veggies, unless they are steamed with NO butter, and choose your entree wisely. A plain baked potato with salsa is always a smart choice.

*Start any meal with a salad and dressing on the side, if possible.

*Choose grilled, baked, broiled, steamed or poached for your entree protein.

*Avoid the sauces, creams, & gravies, as these will rob your calorie bank for sure.

*When choosing Mexican food, go for the grilled fajitas and CORN tortillas. NO beans and NO rice. Light on the guac and sour cream. Use lots of salsa for flavor. You can also choose ONE cheese enchilada with chips and salsa, or ONE soft grilled chicken taco with chips and salsa. Be careful of those chips, tho... they can really eat into your bank!

*When choosing Italian, go for spinach or whole grain or angel hair pasta with marinara sauce or olive oil and fresh pressed garlic on the side. Or olive oil, tomatoes and fresh basil. You can order the lasagna or ravioli, but remember to have that entree divided in half and placed in a "to go" box BEFORE it gets to your table. That will save you 400 to 600 calories depending on the serving size.

*When Chinese is your delight..... Stay away from fried anything. Not only are these choices ballistically high in calories; but also, they are loaded with vegetable oil, sodium and high fructose corn syrup (found in the sauces.) Go for steamed veggies and brown rice with a side order of your favorite sauce.... use it sparingly.

These days, in this economic down turn, a lot of restaurants are offering "cheap meals," "for cheap food", is what I call it. Fried everything with sides of corn and mashed potatoes or fries. All this type of food is an inexpensive expense for the restaurants, but filled with zero nutrients for you. All you get from this "cheap meal?"...... High fat, high sodium, high fructose corn syrup, and high calories.

Ok.... so, the next time you head out to eat, you can either blow your whole days.. or sometimes two days ...worth of calories, or you can think ahead, plan what you are going to eat and take this list of hints with you.

Until Next time.......

GOOD (EATING) and GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

Here's a Quickie Meal!

2009-10-27T07:35:00.013-05:00

Zooming around like crazy, going here and there with so little time left to prepare a great meal, I put this together in less then 30. The main time consumption here was the sliced baked sweet potatoes. But, as they baked, I put every thing else together. And what a colorful meal it made. And made from ALL organic! Even the frozen veggies!

This is what you'll need:

As always.... I DO Organic as much as possible!

1 large sweet potato, sliced about an 1/4th inch thick
Agave Nectar
Organic Cinnamon
Unsweetened pineapple juice
(normally I include sliced pineapple and sprinkle raisins and chopped raw walnuts on top, but was completely out of everything... gotta get to the market!)

In a baking dish, arrange the sliced potatoes like a "layered" pinwheel. Baste the slices with pineapple juice and drizzle a bit of Agave Nectar all over the top. Then, sprinkle with cinnamon. If you add the pineapple slices, alternate them with the potato slices.

Bake this at 350 to 400 for about 20 to 25 minutes. When 5 minutes of baking time remains, sprinkle the raisins and walnuts over the top and finish baking.

Next I open a bag of frozen lima beans and frozen french cut beans, either pour into same baking dish or separate ones. Place them in the oven along with the potatoes and bake for the same amount of time.

While the potatoes and veggies are baking, you can roast an ear of corn in the same oven. Or if you have a 2nd oven, just use it. When I oven roast corn, I just lay a small grate over the oven rack and put the corn right on top of the grate. It will roast at 400 degrees in about 15 minutes.

All of this great food will finish baking around the same time.

Sprinkle the veggies with your favorite Mrs Dash no salt, no sugar, no additives seasoning, (mine is the Southwest Chipoltle or Lemon Pepper,) fill up your plate... and Voilà!.... a great meal in less then 30!

Enjoy... and until next time..............

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

God’s Little Creatures Annual Fall Fundraiser.

2009-10-26T06:10:00.006-05:00

There were so many great events going on in the area this past Saturday. And what a gorgeous day it was to enjoy your pleasures. I chose and was committed to Della Carroll’s God’s Little Creatures Annual Fall Fundraiser. WOW! What a turn out!

In the parking lot right in front of Tractor Supply,
you could get your pets bathed, get them micro-chipped, and get their rabies, parvo/distemper vaccinations or heart worm-tested.

You could adopt a pet from Impact Animal Foundation.

There was a bake sale with some great home made doggie treats, as well as, people treats.

Beginning at 2pm, there was a pet Halloween costume contest. How cute are these?

I worked the table with Dr. Michelle Aucoin (Jack n Jill’s vet,) Dr. Cheri Lewis, & Frances De Gelia, head of The Great Pyrenees Rescue Society and one of the VISION VOICE VEG*N’z for the Brazos Valley members. There were lots of vaccinations given to puppy dogs and to a few kitty cats; and some heart worm testing done with all of the results as negative... YAY!

All in all, it was a great success for Della and her rescue society.

Until Next Time.......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Let’s Get to the CORE of the Matter

2009-10-25T08:18:00.015-05:00

I know how much everyone LOVES to do core work! Ah, well.. ok.. maybe not. But, I hope you've had a chance to try out the All Important Humble CORE workout and have mastered that program.

I am really big on “doing” core work because your upper, lower and side (obliques) ab muscles, as well as, your lower back muscles, are the most important muscles in your body. Without these, our body could not stand, walk, run, climb stairs, sit,.... we’d have no balance and we would fall down....you get the picture. Weak core and lower back muscles are 2 of the reasons we tend to lose out height as we age. We'd find it very difficult to stand up tall with our shoulders back and head held high. Our core just could not support that effort.

Your core has 2 main functions:

1. To create and sustain sufficient intra-abdominal pressure to counteract compressive forces resulting from axial loading.

2. To resist forces that move the spine out of its preferred neutral position.

What this says is any time you lift & carry that box of “stuff,” that laundry basket full of clothes, those sacks of groceries, your baby, or your pet; you are loading your spine, your pelvic area, your hips and legs. Without strong core muscles, you would be in danger of injury.

Anytime you twist the spine, as in playing tennis or golf, you move that spine out of its natural position and could set yourself up for severe back injury.

So, is keeping your core muscles strong and fat free important? You bet!

Here is another quick-n-dirty core work out. Remember to “Suck n Squeeze.” Suck in that gut and squeeze that butt, tightly. This will stabilize that lower back, plus will help strengthen the abs and butt muscles.

As with all work out programs, if you have not worked out in a long time, live a sedentary lifestyle, if you are deconditioned or have any health issues, please check with your physician before doing any exercises.

Ok, then, let’s hit it!

CORE TRAINING #2

Rotating Side Plank

Start with stiff and tightened core muscles
Start with the side plank
Place elbow directly below shoulder.
Keep neck in neutral position by looking straight in front of you.
Transition to the traditional plank. Don’t clinch your fists. Keep neck in neutral position.
Rotate to opposite side and position yourself for the side plank

Rotate back and forth, both sides, as rapidly as possible while maintaining your balance, form and alignment. The time goal is 3 to 5 seconds per revolution.

Do 5 to 10 rotations, 3 to 4 times.

Lateral Plank Crawl

Get into military style push up position. Spread your legs out and place both hands directly under your head. Your hands should rest on top of each other. You will move sideways. Keep your butt tight and keep it DOWN. Elbows are straight and relaxed.
Movement:
*right leg in, left arm out
*Left leg out, right arm in

Now do one push up and return to plank crawl position.

Do this crawl/push up routine 3 sets, 5 to 10 times. The time goal is seconds, per position.

Good luck and have fun mastering this challenging core work out!

Until Next Time.......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

God’s Little Creatures Annual Fall Fundraiser

2009-10-24T05:00:00.000-05:00

Do your pets need their shots? Are they starting to lose their “heavenly scent?” Or, have you thought about adopting a pet? You are in luck!

This Saturday, the 24th of October, in the parking lot of Tractor Supply, Della Carroll’s God’s Little Creatures Annual Fall Fundraiser is happening!!! I’ll be there washing pets and helping out. Hope to see you there, too!

Now here’s all of the scoop!

The event (God's Little Creatures Rescue Annual Fall Fundraiser) is Saturday, October 24 at Tractor Supply, 2704 Texas Ave.S, College Station, TX

The hours are 11 am - 4 pm.

ALL DOGS MUST BE LEASHED AND HAVE PROOF OF RABIES SHOT.

Services offered:

Dog Baths $8 (BRING YOUR OWN TOWEL)

Rabies vaccinations, $10

Brazos County tags, $15

Distemper/Parvo vaccinations, $10

Heartworm testing, $20

Microchip implantation, $20

Dog adoptions

Bake sale

Doggie Halloween Costume Contest, pre-register at 1:30 pm, show is 2-4 pm. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons awarded. $5 entry fee

Della's contact info: (979)-587-2667 or (979)-778-6976

Until Next Time......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

KAMU FM Power Pledge Drive

2009-10-23T06:43:00.008-05:00

Returning to KAMU FM 90.9 to help out with their "POWER pledge drive" yesterday was so much fun! I spent many years as an Engineer in TV and a year as Traffic Director for FM, so it was like "coming back home." I was honored to get the invite to help them out.

Vicki Holloway came up with the greatest idea of "Make a Pledge to Honor Your Pet" day and boy did it bring in the pledges! People would call and pledge in behalf of their cats, dogs, hamsters... even their chickens!! We had a lot of pledges for "pet kids" that have gone to pet heaven. Over $1300.00 was raised in just 2 hours!

KUDOS go out to Penny Zent, Vicki Holloway, Elaine Hoyak and Ed Hadden for continuing to provide the listeners with high quality programs and music.

BIG thanks to all my "peeps" that took the time to make a pledge. I appreciate it! You guys really step up when humbly called upon! THANK YOU!!!

I hope you guys will take a moment and think about what organizations are near and dear to you... and step up.... volunteer your time, effort, energy, ideas or money to help make that organization more successful in meeting the needs of those that depend upon it or in the case of KAMU FM... Totally enjoy it.

Until Next Time......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

KAMU FM Make a Pledge & Honor Your Pet!

2009-10-22T04:30:00.005-05:00

OK!!! This is the FINAL DAY of pledge drive for KAMU FM 90.9!!! This drive is the first for their fiscal year & will set the tone for all that follows; consequently, this is a very important drive. KAMU FM has TODAY to make their goal.

I so humbly ask your help in this effort.

TODAY.. Thursday.... the 22nd of October, I will be a guest at the station on All Things Considered (ATC) from 4 to 6pmCDST. This is “Make a Pledge and Honor Your Pet” day. You can pledge in honor of your current pet, your pet that has passed on, your future pet, or friends and family pets. We’ll mention your pet’s name on the air.

I will also promote the Vision Voice Veg*n’z for the Brazos Valley’s holiday event, “Bless the Beasts and the Children,” on December the 12th in the Village Foods parking lot, benefiting all local organizations. They are: Scotty’s House, The Great Pyrenees Rescue Society, IMPACT Rescue Society, God’s Little Creatures and Brazos Feral Cat Allies.

KAMU FM made the pledge process so easy.... you have 4 ways to pledge your honor to your pets:

1. On Thursday the 22nd of October, call in between 4pm and 6pm CDST during ATC. 979.845.5689
2. Go online and make your pledge http://www.kamu.tamu.edu/
3. Fax your pledge in to KAMU FM 979.845.1643
4. Call in your pledge during regular hours 979.845.5611

You can pledge ALL DAY TODAY, either call, fax, or go on line. Please mention Slyck Pecena, Thursday for All Things Considered, so the pledge goes to that time period.

And for those of you that are stuck at a desk & have no radio or those of you that live outta the BCS area... you CAN listen on-line! Just click on the HD-1 Original Format. Click here for on-line listening.

This is a unique way of showing everyone how much you love your pets and support KAMU FM at the same time!!

Won’t you take time to make a pledge?

Until Next Time.......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Locavore Lunch at The Village Café on October 24th to Raise Awareness for Climate Action

2009-10-20T06:00:00.002-05:00

Hey!! Looking for something really great to do this Saturday? Want some really delicious food to eat? Want to be involved with a fantastic group of folks and raise awareness regarding the poor quality of our air and climate and what we can do to improve it?

Well.. then.... THE VILLAGE CAFE is the place to be, this Saturday, October the 24th from noon to 3pm. The good folks over there are serving up some special items just for this event.

If you have questions or want to know more about this endeavor, just contact THE VILLAGE CAFE! (979) 703-8514

Thanks Kellie for the info!

And now here’s the rest of the scoop:

Locavore Lunch at The Village Café on October 24th to Raise Awareness for Climate Action

On October 24th, the Village Café is joining over 2,000 communities and venues across the world in an event to raise awareness for Climate Action. A special lunch menu will be served from 12:00 to 3:00 which will consist entirely of food grown in the Brazos Valley. Limiting the miles that food travels from farm to table is a great way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while at the same time supporting local farmers and consuming fresher and healthier food. Additionally, most of the dishes served will be vegetarian or vegan, which is another good way to reduce the environmental impacts of the food we consume.

This global event is sponsored by a group called 350.org, which was founded by author and environmentalist Bill McKibben. 350.org is the first large-scale grassroots global campaign against climate change. Its supporters include leading scientists, the governments of 92 countries, and a huge variety of environmental, health, development and religious NGOs. All agree that current atmospheric levels of CO2—390 parts per million—are causing damage to the planet and to its most vulnerable people, and that government action at the Copenhagen climate conference is required to bring the earth’s carbon level swiftly down to 350 ppm.

As part of this event, there will be a photo booth set up at the Village Café so that people can have pictures taken of themselves to put on a collage that we’ll be making to represent all the members of our community to support action on climate change. Even if you don’t want to eat lunch, just come by and have your picture taken or sign your name to the collage. You can be a part of sending a strong message to our representatives that residents in the Brazos Valley do care about climate change and want strong action taken now!

The Village Café is located in Downtown Bryan on 26th Street, across from Mr. G’s Pizza.

We hope to see you there!

Until Next Time......

GOOD HEALTH ALL!!

Who Says “Nobody Likes Mushy Watermelon?”

2009-10-19T05:47:00.003-05:00

My dear, sweet Hubby Bear hates it when watermelon season comes to an end. Each year, as the curtain is drawn on watermelons; he brings home just one more in hopes that he can have one last brilliantly red, ripe, firm melon that cracks open as soon as the knife pierces the rhine. And each year is the same..... we end up with a mushy, old and tasteless melon that goes in the trash.

Ok, so we have a ton of deer that always dine on our pasture every evening and early morning. All sizes, from baby deer to teens to Momma and Dad. “The Deer Family,” is what we call them. So, I thought... “Hey.. instead of throwing out this mushy melon, I am going to cut it up into “deer-manageable” pieces and toss it around the pasture!” I just knew they would love the change to something sweet and yummy. (At least "sweet and yummy" to them..)

The melon was cut and loaded into a box. Bear and I distributed it across the pasture one evening. I just knew “The Deer Family” would come running and jumping outta the woods yelling, “Hey guys! Look! It’s watermelon for supper tonight!” Well, to my disappointment, nothing happened. Not that evening, not the next morning, the day or that next evening. Mushy watermelon was still there.

Gosh, I would have thought if “The Deer Family” did not like watermelon, at least the raccoons or squirrels or ‘dillos or some little critter would enjoy it!!! Hubby Bear said...”Nobody likes mushy watermelon, including the critters!”

Well, yesterday afternoon I decided to walk out to the melon to see if there had been any “nibbles,” at least. And much to my surprise and astonishment...... there ARE some little critters enjoying that mushy watermelon..... The BEES!!! Who wudda thought? There were thousands (well, maybe not thousands.. but a heck of a lot!) of bees all over each piece of the bright red melon. I got just close enough to get a quick picture.

So, now we know..... “Bees, love mushy watermelon!!”

Until Next Time......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Pilates 100

2009-10-18T08:13:00.001-05:00

Last week, I challenged you to try some new and wonderful flavors and goodies suitable for Vegans in the Vegan 100 blog.

This week, I offer a challenge to you in the way of a great core work out called Pilates 100’s. This position takes all the strength and muscles in your whole body to perform. It is AWESOME!!!

What is Pilates? It is an innovative system of mind-body exercise that evolved from the principles of Joseph Pilates. It dramatically transforms the way your body looks, feels, and performs. Pilates builds strength without excess bulk. It creates a sleek, toned body with slender thighs and flat abs.

Pilates 100’s is one of the fundamental exercises of Pilates. This is a real challenge not only for your strength; but also, for your balance.

As with all work out programs, if you have not worked out in a long time, live a sedentary lifestyle, if you are deconditioned or have any health issues, please check with your physician before doing any exercises.

Remember to breath, don’t hold your breath! Suck in that gut and squeeze that butt.

Lie on your back with legs straight out. Start with your legs raised up to about a 45 degree angle. Now raise your neck and shoulders. Make sure your head stays in a neutral position. Keep your eyes focused straight ahead. Hold your arms to the side and straight out in front with hands open and palms facing down. Begin pumping your arms up and down beside your legs. Pump 100 times. That's right... don't cheat, now. Rest for 30 seconds and perform 3 to 4 more sets of these with 30 second rest periods. You can also do modified positions as shown in the picture to the left.

More advanced option: Raise your torso up so that you look like a “V.” Keep your neck in a neutral position and eyes focused straight ahead.

Accompany the Pilates 100 with the All Important Core 4 to 6 times a week, and you’ll “enjoy” one “kick your butt” core work out!!

Until Next Time....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

A Stolen Moment

2009-10-17T07:00:00.003-05:00

I love the early mornings, especially after having a restful night’s sleep. This morning, as I waited for my decaf coffee to brew, I sat in a chair in the outside courtyard. Watching my Beagle “children,” Jack n Jilly as they sniffed every inch of the yard, the fence, the side of the house, each other and me, I thought about how much I enjoy this time of year.

The dry air had the crispness of the fall season and the chill of the northern breeze made me glad I had put on Hubby Bear’s jumbo size, thick, plush terry cloth robe. As I sat there snuggled up, I could hear the roosters greeting the early morning. A flock of geese, maybe?, chattered as they flew overhead and the dawn sky was awakening to the glorious red, orange and yellow colors of the Saturday morning sun. I knew I was going to enjoy this most beautiful day!

Hope you enjoy your Saturday, too!

Until Next Time.......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

The Vegan 100

2009-10-16T05:55:00.003-05:00

Hey all you Vegans, even you Vegetarians and meat eaters.... have you thought about all these interesting and flavorful options to try and add (or not) to your nutritional plan?

Be careful, however..... for S U G A R & its many aliases lurks about in some of this stuff!!

You can see my results. Take a look at the list and see what you might be interested in trying.

Directions:

1. Bold all the items you’ve eaten.

2. Italicize any items that you would try

3. Make a comment beside the ones you would NOT try

4. Optional extra: Post a comment on this post linking to your results.

THE VEGAN 100

1. Molasses sugar!
2. Cactus/Nopales
3. Scrambled Tofu don't do soy, period
4. Grilled Portobella Caps
5. Fresh Ground Horseradish
6. Sweet Potato Biscuits
7. Arepa don't do bread
8. Vegan Coleslaw
9. Ginger Carrot Soup
10. Fiddlehead Ferns
11. Roasted Elephant Garlic
12. Umeboshi
13. Almond Butter Toast don't do bread
14. Aloe Vera
15. Bagel don't do bread
16. Slow Roasted Butternut Squash
17. White truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes don't do booze
19. Freshly ground wasabi
20. Coconut Milk Ice Cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Orchard-fresh pressed apple cider
23. Organic California Mango
24. Quinoa
25. Papaya Smoothie
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet or Habañero pepper
27. Goji Berry Tea don't like teas
28. Fennel
29. Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie
30. Radishes and Vegan Buttery Spread don't do "processed" foods
31. Starfruit
32. Oven fresh Sourdough bread don't do bread
33. Sangria made with premium fruit and juices don't do booze
34. Sauerkraut don't like this
35. Acai Smoothie prefer blueberry
36. Blue Foot Mushrooms
37. Vegan Cupcake from Babycakes
38. Sweet Potatoes and Tempeh combo don't do any soy, period
39. Falafel
40. Spelt Crust Pizza don't do pizza
41. Salt and Pepper Oyster Mushrooms don't do salt
42. Jicama Slaw
43. Pumpkin Edamame Ginger Dumplings don't do soy, period
44. Hemp Milk maybe
45. Rose Champagne don't do booze
46. Fuyu
47. Raw Avocado-Coconut Soup
48. Tofu Pesto Sandwich don't do soy, period
49. Apple-Lemon-Ginger-Cayenne fresh-pressed juice
50. Grilled Seitan don't do gluten
51. Prickly pear
52. Fresh Pressed Almond Milk
53. Concord Grapes off the vine
54. Ramps
55. Coconut Water fresh from a young coconut
56. Organic Arugula
57. Vidalia Onion
58. Sampler of organic produce from Diamond Organics
59. Honeycrisp Apple
60. Poi
61. Vegan Campfire-toasted Smores
62. Grape seed Oil don't do oils unless flax or coconut
63. Farm fresh-picked Peach
64. Freshly-made pita bread with freshly-made hummus don't do bread
65. Chestnut Snack Packs
66. Fresh Guava
67. Mint Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
68. Raw Mallomar
69. Fried plantains probably not... its the oil thing
70. Mache
71. Golden Beets
72. Barrel-Fresh Pickles don't do "pickled" food
73. Liquid Smoke NO
74. Meyer Lemon
75. Veggie Paella
76. Vegan Lasagna don't do noodles
77. Kombucha don't like teas that much
78. Homemade Soy Milk don't do soy, period
79. Lapsang souchong don't like teas that much
80. Lychee Bellini don't do booze
81. Tempeh Bacon don't do soy, period
82. Sprouted Grain Bread don't do bread
83. Lemon Pepper Tempeh don't do soy, period
84. Vanilla Bean
85. Watercress
86. Carrot you pulled out of the ground yourself
87. Vegan In-Season Fruit Pie
88. Flowers
89. Corn Chowder
90. High Quality Vegan Raw Chocolate
91. Yellow fuzz-free Kiwi
92. White Flesh Grapefruit
93. Harissa
94. Coconut Oil
95. Jackfruit
96. Homemade Risotto
97. Spirulina don't do supplments
98. Seedless 'Pixie' Tangerine
99. Gourmet Sorbet, not store bought possible sugar used
100. Fresh Plucked English Peas

WOW! I've got a lot of possible goodies to try!!

How bout you?

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

The Scariest Room

2009-10-15T06:00:00.005-05:00

YIKES!!!! Do you know where the scariest room is.... at your place of employment? Do you know this room can make you “do things” you might not do otherwise? Do you know this room can break down your guard & destroy your will power?

You know what room I am talking about.. Don’t you?

THE BREAK ROOM!!

Last week in What’s Lurking in Your Kitchen....., I discussed how important it is to control your environment. As well as the dangers of having “crap” foods in your kitchen and what can happen when you have that moment of weakness that we all have from time to time.

This week, we look at the Office Break Room. This environment is 100 times more dangerous then your kitchen when it comes to temptations of the taste buds, mainly because you have no control over what is lurking in that room. You know.. All those store bought processed foods like, donuts, cookies, chips, crackers, candy, soda pop, diet or otherwise, and ice cream.

Oh, yea, you might see some “healthy nutritional” yogurt in the frig that is “Fat free” (meaning more sugar is added) or “Sugar free” (meaning artificial sweeteners are used.) You also may see a variety of “health and fitness” breakfast bars or snack bars. I invite you to take a moment and look at the INGREDIENTS of these so called healthy snacks. Don’t look at the ingredient breakdown... check out that VERY long list of ingredients that reads like a chemistry experiment. You will find all kinds of “hidden sugars,” artificial sweeteners, preservatives, colors, soy products, corn syrup, ..... Oh my gosh.. I could go on forever.

So, if you can’t control the break room environment... you can't control yourself, your thoughts, your actions, your reactions, your ability to be distracted, and your cratering will power.

The first thing I tell my clients when we discuss the office break room is to arm yourself with healthy snacks from home AND ..try NOT to go into the break room. Bring your own water or tea to drink in a cooler to keep in your office. Here are a few ideas for snacks that you can bring from home: (and watch out, I can guarantee your office mates will want you to share!)

*a bag of roasted raw almonds, raisins, unsweetened coconut and unsweetened (NOT semi-sweet) chocolate chips
*any fruit
*a variety of raw nuts
*Humble Hummus with carrot and celery sticks, sliced thick cukes or no salt blue corn chips
*1/2 sandwich of natural nut butters and sliced banana with raisins

*no fat, no salt popcorn (Paul Newman makes a really good one.. Plain Jane)

And here is what saves my life in my weak moments... LARA BARS!!! OMG, these are fabulous, wonderful... life savers.... and tastes so good! And you know what else? She adds NO preservatives, additives, sugar, artificial sweeteners, oils, fats, wheat, flour color or sodium... except in her peanut butter and jelly bar. LARA Bars are nothing but all natural ingredients, dates, raisins, nuts, fruit, coconut, lemon and lime juice. And they are only about 200 calories per bar.

Ok.... so now you know how to control your environment by arming yourself against the temptations within the break room and keeping yourself out of the scariest room in your place of employment!

I challenge each one of you.... for one week, bring your own healthy stuff from home, stay out of the break room and just see how much weight you could lose!

Until Next Time.......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!