I need some recipes. Actually, I have a ton of vegan recipes, printed and neatly arranged in a folder that is easily accessible. So what's my problem? The problem is time. I (we all) need more time. Time to shop for, time to learn, time to prep and time to cook. We all know our favorites eventually take us a minial amount of time, but in the beginning, it just simply takes longer. And, I think I need some new vegan recipes that excite me. I have mastered the stir fry. I'm pretty much an expert when it comes to putting a variety of veggies into the sautee pan, adding flavor and then putting it over quinoa, rice, noodles, pasta...early on in this blog I posted my favorite recipe. It still is, but it seems boring right now.
So hear it is. I have quinoa, rice, lentils, cans and cans of cannellini beans, black beans, tomatoes. Suffice it say I have a good amount of base ingredients. I've eaten enough eggplant this summer to turn purple and I am still scared of that section in the produce section of the grocery store where you might find swiss chard and parsnips. Swiss who?
If I am going to self diagnose this post I would have to say that I am just being lazy and that I am overwhelmed with my life. I had hoped that the grocery store would be my new playground and while I have gotten grocery list ideas from fellow MS friends following this diet, I still find myself gravitating toward instant meals. I have "cheated" more than I would like and at the moment, I am annoyed. I am looking for a rhythm that expands beyond the diet. It would be great to find a natural flow from recipe discovery to shopping to cooking to tasting to incorporating a dish into our normal meal plan. Maybe I set my expectations too high, I don't know. I felt completely discouraged at the grocery store tonight, having more to do with the fact that I was there at 9 p.m. on a Sunday night when I had hoped to relaxing at home. Also, it is taking longer to cycle through the dry foods we already had. I thought initially it would be best to transition that way, but as I approach 3 months and still find myself having to work in the last of these foods, it takes more thought than I care to put towards it. And that brings me back to my original issue: time. I don't have the time I want to devote to this right now and because I am still a newbie, it all feels very frustrating. When I was at the grocery store tonight I went for "staples". Tori's milk, bread, eggs, yogurt. I also needed to get some other items that required label reading and it took forever. I mean, forever. Until (and if) I get the time to really start cooking and baking from scratch, I need to carefully read the labels to find vegan shortcuts. I am thankful for Amy's brand frozen foods. I was thankful mostly to find her version of the vegan hot pocket. Again I say thank you to something I can microwave! And that is what really bugs me. I know I will get over the "time" issue. I always do - it goes along with the saying, "practice makes perfect". Repetition makes time. It does this because you become more efficient. So what really bugs me is that we live in an instant society. There is no delay of gratification, it all comes to us whenever we want it, and pronto. And if it doesn't? Well, we get anxious and impatient, and frustrated that we can't have it NOW. So while my frozen, heat-it-up-in-the-microwave vegan burrito is great, at the end of the day it doesn't satisfy anything except my need for immediate gratification, and maybe a little nutritional value. I am not going to become a vegan by virtue of not eating meat and dairy. I am going to become a vegan by adopting the entire lifestyle which is making time to cook meals, making the time to learn about food and how to prepare it, and making time to enjoy the experience longer than 1 minute and 30 seconds, turn once, and cook for an additional 1 minute and 30 seconds.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Are you ready for some football?
It’s been another 10 days or so since I last had the opportunity to sit and write something meaningful for this blog. I am going to get into football shortly, I promise. First I want to update you on the purpose for which this blog was written: to chronicle my adventure in conforming to a new lifestyle that will help me get physically well and beat MS. Think of it like a commercial break. Hopefully short enough to keep you in front of the TV but long enough to be informative. My diet continues to go well and I have been getting to the gym as I promised myself I would every morning that I work from home. Between work and summer travels, I am visiting the gym at least 3 days a week. While I am adjusting to that routine, I do feel better with my fitness level and expect to start gaining strength over the next two months. I have been hesitant to set specific goals for increasing the intensity of my cardio workouts or weights for strength training so I have kept my overall routine simple: cardio and abs one day alternated with strength training of arms, legs and back the next. The summer heat is bothersome occasionally, and I am learning to balance my workouts so I have noticed that some days I feel great and others I feel really sluggish. It seems like it is one extreme or another so I feel confident that I am moving in the right direction but there is a definite sensitivity to overdoing it that I have to be mindful of.
Well, if you’ve made it through the first paragraph, congratulations. Tee hee hee. Now I am going to get into the real substance of this blog post and talk about football. American’s favorite past time. Well, until someone got greedy, that is. I am not going to discuss how I feel about the NFL lock out. I don’t know exactly how I feel about it to be honest. Early on I read the daily articles and people’s criticisms on the subject. I can’t say that I see both sides, because I’m not sure I fully understand the depth of the debate. What I do know is that it is midway through July and there is no hope at this point of any games, any time soon. This makes me sad. I love football and I love the prospect at this time of year of watching the preseason games. You get to see the rookie players and even though they are just “practice” games, for some of the players it determines whether or not they are going to play the real deal. And I always like the surprise in mid-August as summer is winding down thinking, what? Football is on tonight? Yes! The rush of knowing the football season is starting is equivalent to when the first warm day of Spring arrives after a long winter and you know nicer days are ahead.
For me football is associated with so many good things about life. I had hoped this would be my first year participating in a fantasy league. I started to get into football in 1997 and while it took a few years for me to catch on to the game itself, once I was settled into the rules, I started to learn about the players…recognize names, know what position they play, and who they are as players. Can you say, thank you highlight reel?? Not only are sports highlights entertaining they are educational! As a girl I can say, who knew? If you ever saw the movie Something About Mary and you are a girl, you should take a hint from the movie and start watching Sports Center. And it is even fun to still pick teams according to how stylish their uniforms are. Really. You might even start to associate player’s names with the colors of uniforms, it doesn’t matter, the point is, football is fun whether you are just discovering it or a long time fan. It’s social, it’s controversial during and post season which makes great conversation at any time of the year, and there’s like 1/10 the amount of games compared to baseball and therefore, easier to follow in my opinion. But then again, if you’re really into it, football is a major commitment every Sunday. At least 9 hours if you try to watch the 3 scheduled games in their entirety, live. I recommend recording the games and zipping through the commercials. We’re spoiled now-a-days with technology, aren’t we?
Until the lockout is resolved, I have been trying to think of fun ways to still honor the football season. If I could run I thought it might be nice to start up a flag football league. Even the absence of running, I guess I could be the ref. Scary! I am also considering learning footie this year. Some of my very close friends would be thrilled. And what if we were able to watch a season of Replacements? I could fill my Sundays with football themed movies as well. I usually stop there as I don’t really want to consider the alternatives, I want football, real football! And I can't even fathom the fact that some of my favorite players might retire...I am only speculating of course but I feel like some of them only had another year or two left in the league anyway until they made the decision to retire happily and healthy. When football does return it will be very interesting to see what unfolds.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
I think I am afraid of the duck.
And if it jumps on this boat, I am going to bubble it! I won't name names as to who might have said this (it wasn't my daughter Tori) but that comment got alot of laughs this last weekend when a quiet Saturday afternoon boat ride turned to raucous when a mallard duck decided to camp out on the swim platform of our boat. I guess that is why they say, don't feed the ducks?
I have totally missed writing the past two weeks. I have so much on my mind! Everyday I think of something I want to write about, but then life takes over and before I know it is 11:00 p.m. and I decide that I shouldn't keep my eyes open any longer thinking about how busy I already am the next day. My life has been a good busy. My new job was supposed to bring more calmness into my life, but so far it is a frenzy. But I will repeat: a good frenzy. I feel good every day and I think that is the most I can expect for now.
I took some time this week to catch up on doctor's appointments. Standard physical, scheduling my annual MRI scans, follow up with the neurologist, blood work. All the not-so-fun, but alas, necessary check-ins we need. My primary care physician put some fear in me because for about 6 months not only has my left leg been getting weaker, it also has very poor circulation. Like everything else, I thought with a good diet and exercise, gentle stretching, moving during my work day so I am not confined to my desk chair would all help to improve the symptoms I was having. I didn't feel any pain, or numbness...it was just cold and sometimes even a purply color. Not so pretty. After talking to my doctor she indicated that it was a cause for concern greater than I anticipated. All she needed to say was "if untreated, the weakness could reach a point of no return." No return. Really? Now that scared me. I've been making changes in my life to strengthen my leg and now you're telling me I might not be able too? Yikes. She recommended seeing a vascular specialist, but first checking in with the neurologist to see if it was related to my MS. My neurologist told me that circulation issues were very rare in MS patients and it likely wasn't linked. During our discussion we talked about the spine, and how I do have a small lesion on my spinal cord and a bulging disc that may be resting on a nerve and how not all disc issues are caused by a significant event such as a car accident and then <BAM> it hit me! In January during one of a million (yes, a million) snow storms we had this past winter I took a pretty hard fall while carrying Tori. Combine an extra 25 lbs. of weight with a slip on the snow and ice, landing right on my tailbone, and leaving me motionless for a good minute, might be cause for some residual injury to the old spinal cord that would of course unveil itself in a sneaky and subtle way. So now I have that theory to contend with and probably a couple of follow up visits to a spinal specialist and a chriopractor. Long story short: I feel relieved that it is not linked to my MS because it is another tick in the "this can be fixed" column after some therapy of some sort, or maybe just time. That is, if my theory is correct.
The lesson I learned here is that often times those of us with a critical illness, and even those of us who are completely healthy, tend to direct our ailments onto one particular course, which in my case is MS. And while my fall back in January didn't exactly demand medical attention, I only keep the memory of that event in my mind as the after effects of a crappy New England snow storm. I mean, I have MS so everything odd that goes wrong must be intertwined. Nope, wrong. For the future I will listen to my body a little more carefully, and maybe schedule my appointments more timely too. And more importantly, not allow MS to define me.
One other life lesson I learned these past few weeks has to do with speaking and sharing your passion. When you do activities that you love, you attract people of similar likeness. I appreciate everyone who has commented on this blog so far via this website or private message. I am touched by the people in my life.
And back to the duck story, Tori has been belting out quacks with enthusiasm, Russ has about 1500 photos on the camera of said duck, I am still figuring out how you might "bubble" something and our dear friend Kris who accompanied us that afternoon, well she can chalk up that moment to another crazy and amusing day in our lives!
I have totally missed writing the past two weeks. I have so much on my mind! Everyday I think of something I want to write about, but then life takes over and before I know it is 11:00 p.m. and I decide that I shouldn't keep my eyes open any longer thinking about how busy I already am the next day. My life has been a good busy. My new job was supposed to bring more calmness into my life, but so far it is a frenzy. But I will repeat: a good frenzy. I feel good every day and I think that is the most I can expect for now.
I took some time this week to catch up on doctor's appointments. Standard physical, scheduling my annual MRI scans, follow up with the neurologist, blood work. All the not-so-fun, but alas, necessary check-ins we need. My primary care physician put some fear in me because for about 6 months not only has my left leg been getting weaker, it also has very poor circulation. Like everything else, I thought with a good diet and exercise, gentle stretching, moving during my work day so I am not confined to my desk chair would all help to improve the symptoms I was having. I didn't feel any pain, or numbness...it was just cold and sometimes even a purply color. Not so pretty. After talking to my doctor she indicated that it was a cause for concern greater than I anticipated. All she needed to say was "if untreated, the weakness could reach a point of no return." No return. Really? Now that scared me. I've been making changes in my life to strengthen my leg and now you're telling me I might not be able too? Yikes. She recommended seeing a vascular specialist, but first checking in with the neurologist to see if it was related to my MS. My neurologist told me that circulation issues were very rare in MS patients and it likely wasn't linked. During our discussion we talked about the spine, and how I do have a small lesion on my spinal cord and a bulging disc that may be resting on a nerve and how not all disc issues are caused by a significant event such as a car accident and then <BAM> it hit me! In January during one of a million (yes, a million) snow storms we had this past winter I took a pretty hard fall while carrying Tori. Combine an extra 25 lbs. of weight with a slip on the snow and ice, landing right on my tailbone, and leaving me motionless for a good minute, might be cause for some residual injury to the old spinal cord that would of course unveil itself in a sneaky and subtle way. So now I have that theory to contend with and probably a couple of follow up visits to a spinal specialist and a chriopractor. Long story short: I feel relieved that it is not linked to my MS because it is another tick in the "this can be fixed" column after some therapy of some sort, or maybe just time. That is, if my theory is correct.
The lesson I learned here is that often times those of us with a critical illness, and even those of us who are completely healthy, tend to direct our ailments onto one particular course, which in my case is MS. And while my fall back in January didn't exactly demand medical attention, I only keep the memory of that event in my mind as the after effects of a crappy New England snow storm. I mean, I have MS so everything odd that goes wrong must be intertwined. Nope, wrong. For the future I will listen to my body a little more carefully, and maybe schedule my appointments more timely too. And more importantly, not allow MS to define me.
One other life lesson I learned these past few weeks has to do with speaking and sharing your passion. When you do activities that you love, you attract people of similar likeness. I appreciate everyone who has commented on this blog so far via this website or private message. I am touched by the people in my life.
And back to the duck story, Tori has been belting out quacks with enthusiasm, Russ has about 1500 photos on the camera of said duck, I am still figuring out how you might "bubble" something and our dear friend Kris who accompanied us that afternoon, well she can chalk up that moment to another crazy and amusing day in our lives!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Out with the old, in with the new
Good morning. The title of this entry is not original, however it seems to be the story of my life recently. Today marks another end, and Monday a new beginning. I work in the mortgage industry which has experienced turmoil since 2007. It's almost embarassing to complete an employment application because I have had at least 5 different employers since that time. My career has always been important to me and therefore I have taken risks to help push me up the ladder. Ironically, my transformation to a vegan diet is more of a risk than the new job I begin on Monday. This time, I am taking the safe route with my career with the hopes that I can enjoy my personal life and new journey more than I have in the past several years.
The decision to take this new position was tough. I had two opportunities, both at completely different ends of the spectrum. To keep it simple, it came down to a few basic things. Career vs. Family. Prestige vs. Wellness. Creative vs. Specifically Outlined Tasks. I chose Family, Wellness and Specifically Outlined Tasks. For awhile I felt maybe I was taking a step back by going this route and that plagued me. Why did I feel this way? I happen to know the people I would be working for and I adore them. They are uber successful so what was it that was bothering me? And what if I had chosen Career, Prestige and Creative. Would I be feeling the same way? Anytime I thought of those three words my gut reaction said stress. Stress is not good. Stress will over take all the positive changes I am making. Stress will make me a distant wife and mother. I need a break from stress. As each day draws closer the feeling that I just can't put my finger on subsides and the excitement is growing. I see endless possibilities of incorporating my get well plan and I imagine how happy I will feel most of the time. I will enjoy the work, I will enjoy my family and I will enjoy myself more knowing that I made the right decision. The thought of being a better wife, mother, sister, friend, daughter, coworker, and person makes me smile. I polled just about everyone that is close to me in my life including personal friends, business friends, mentors and if my mom has to hear about it one more time, she might stop taking my phone calls! If you didn't hear fromme on this subject, you are lucky and should feel relieved. I just wanted to get it right and even though I am technically the only one who can really answer that question, I still wanted everyone's opinion. What if I was missing something?
Bringing newness into life always carries the mixed emotions of excitement, nervousness, anticipation, anxiousness...to name a few. I think this is true of all experiences whether it is as simple as buying a new gadget or as complex as bringing a new baby home. I still get a mixture of these feelings at meal times, both when I am preparing my own food or making a selection at a restaurant. I try to be flexible at restuarants. The only oil that I am technically able to have is extra virgin olive oil. I would feel very uncomfortable asking the wait staff to prepare my food in such a strict manner, it seems unreasonable to me. Sticking to broiled, raw foods or pasta with a red sauce has seemed to be my best options and if it is made with a little butter, so what? I know I am avoiding the main no-no's like fried foods, dairy, meat, and extra satuated fat through staying away from cream sauces. Most restaurants offer healthier options such as gluten-free or wheat pasta, have vegetarian sections in the menu and if you ask, are accomodating to your needs. Instead of asking them to prepare my dish in a specific way, I simply ask for the cook to go light the sauce, or ask for none at all. At home, I worry more about preserving the good qualities of the foods, overcooking and making the most of flavor as I experiment with new spices. A good portion of my next grocery trip will be spent in the spice aisle. Side note: very excited about that.
The last thing I have to say regarding "out with the old, in with the new" is that when you take action in this way, you are setting goals for yourself. Goals are so important. I believe you are making a conscious effort to walk forward in life. The goal does not have to be a grand finale, it can be a series of simple steps that you take one day at a time.
The decision to take this new position was tough. I had two opportunities, both at completely different ends of the spectrum. To keep it simple, it came down to a few basic things. Career vs. Family. Prestige vs. Wellness. Creative vs. Specifically Outlined Tasks. I chose Family, Wellness and Specifically Outlined Tasks. For awhile I felt maybe I was taking a step back by going this route and that plagued me. Why did I feel this way? I happen to know the people I would be working for and I adore them. They are uber successful so what was it that was bothering me? And what if I had chosen Career, Prestige and Creative. Would I be feeling the same way? Anytime I thought of those three words my gut reaction said stress. Stress is not good. Stress will over take all the positive changes I am making. Stress will make me a distant wife and mother. I need a break from stress. As each day draws closer the feeling that I just can't put my finger on subsides and the excitement is growing. I see endless possibilities of incorporating my get well plan and I imagine how happy I will feel most of the time. I will enjoy the work, I will enjoy my family and I will enjoy myself more knowing that I made the right decision. The thought of being a better wife, mother, sister, friend, daughter, coworker, and person makes me smile. I polled just about everyone that is close to me in my life including personal friends, business friends, mentors and if my mom has to hear about it one more time, she might stop taking my phone calls! If you didn't hear fromme on this subject, you are lucky and should feel relieved. I just wanted to get it right and even though I am technically the only one who can really answer that question, I still wanted everyone's opinion. What if I was missing something?
Bringing newness into life always carries the mixed emotions of excitement, nervousness, anticipation, anxiousness...to name a few. I think this is true of all experiences whether it is as simple as buying a new gadget or as complex as bringing a new baby home. I still get a mixture of these feelings at meal times, both when I am preparing my own food or making a selection at a restaurant. I try to be flexible at restuarants. The only oil that I am technically able to have is extra virgin olive oil. I would feel very uncomfortable asking the wait staff to prepare my food in such a strict manner, it seems unreasonable to me. Sticking to broiled, raw foods or pasta with a red sauce has seemed to be my best options and if it is made with a little butter, so what? I know I am avoiding the main no-no's like fried foods, dairy, meat, and extra satuated fat through staying away from cream sauces. Most restaurants offer healthier options such as gluten-free or wheat pasta, have vegetarian sections in the menu and if you ask, are accomodating to your needs. Instead of asking them to prepare my dish in a specific way, I simply ask for the cook to go light the sauce, or ask for none at all. At home, I worry more about preserving the good qualities of the foods, overcooking and making the most of flavor as I experiment with new spices. A good portion of my next grocery trip will be spent in the spice aisle. Side note: very excited about that.
The last thing I have to say regarding "out with the old, in with the new" is that when you take action in this way, you are setting goals for yourself. Goals are so important. I believe you are making a conscious effort to walk forward in life. The goal does not have to be a grand finale, it can be a series of simple steps that you take one day at a time.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Happy 10th Anniversary!
Today, at 11:00 a.m. EST, I will have been married for ten years. Ten years! It's as fun as the day we began dating in 1997. July 24th, 1997 to be exact. Surprisingly I don't remember what I wore on our first date...I usually remember events by my outfit, if you can believe it. What I do remember is that I was ending the workday with my dad and when we got to the parking lot, one of the tires on our car was flat. And, there was no time to spare because how was I going to be on time for my first date with a guy I really, really liked with a 45 minute commute home in Washington, DC traffic? Not to mention, I needed time to change and more time to get myself to the restaurant to meet him! While my dad started fumbling around in the trunk to get the spare tire prepared, I think I literally pushed him aside so I could takeover. My dad was as handy as they come, and he taught me well. Add to that a little adrenaline and suddenly I had that tire changed within 10 minutes. "That's my girl!" is what I imagine my dad would have said had his jaw not dropped to the pavement. I remember we exchanged glances. Mine was more, yep, that's right, I'm awesome. And his was more, did I just witness my daughter change that tire like a ninja? Dad and I hopped in the car, and off we went. The rest of the evening is a blur until I reached the restaurant to meet Russ. I was still late, but once I was there, it was forgotten about and now, 14 years later we are happily married with a beautiful daughter. It's no wonder I can't remember what I wore that night!
Time is a funny thing. Ten years seems like ages ago, and at the same time also seems like yesterday. We still laugh and have fun as if our life together has been timeless. My MS diagnosis was 3 years ago and just 6 weeks ago I decided to begin yet another new journey of wellness. Since Tori was born I have kept an ongoing journal chronicling her development and "things" I want her to know, almost like a letter to Self. Yet it is not a letter of regret in anyway, I would not change anything about my life. I have been blessed with a good life, and an amazing family and group of friends. However, what I would like to remind myself more of is to live every day to the fullest, remember the small things that make a person feel special and continue to try something new as often as I have the opportunity.
My dad's favorite quote was by Winston Churchill, "Never, never, never give up." I want to dedicate this blog entry to him and Russ. They have had their hands full with me over the years. Full. Sometimes I am too stubborn and independent to enjoy a moment for what it is. The joke is always that I have ants in my pants and I am forever on my feet, putzing around the house until I just drop onto my pillow at night, regardless of how bad my leg is dragging. When I was confronted with the reality of a possible wheel chair in my future I woke up. I never intended on giving up or letting my guard down to MS. I just kept myself busy enough to ignore it - but the MS didn't ignore me. My leg isn't going to get stronger unless I consciously do something about it. Mind over matter, right? Not really, at least not in my case. This is going to take a valiant effort! My dad always kept me in line, and 10 years ago today he passed that torch onto Russ. Poor Russ he would say.
With great support comes some eye-rolling though. I'm pretty confident about myself yet I think all of us can attest to the nagging associated with certain questions. In no particular order, "Is that on your diet?" "When are you going to the gym, it's been like two weeks." "That's what you're wearing?" "Are you sure you should be eating that?" Usually my eye-rolling is accompanied with an exaggerated sigh. But, I know that I am loved and these questions come with care and support. I know I should be going to the gym. Yes, this food is on my diet. And no, I probably shouldn't be eating this but c'mon, I need a treat every once in awhile!
And then I ask, "did you take the trash out?" Wink, wink. I love you!
Time is a funny thing. Ten years seems like ages ago, and at the same time also seems like yesterday. We still laugh and have fun as if our life together has been timeless. My MS diagnosis was 3 years ago and just 6 weeks ago I decided to begin yet another new journey of wellness. Since Tori was born I have kept an ongoing journal chronicling her development and "things" I want her to know, almost like a letter to Self. Yet it is not a letter of regret in anyway, I would not change anything about my life. I have been blessed with a good life, and an amazing family and group of friends. However, what I would like to remind myself more of is to live every day to the fullest, remember the small things that make a person feel special and continue to try something new as often as I have the opportunity.
My dad's favorite quote was by Winston Churchill, "Never, never, never give up." I want to dedicate this blog entry to him and Russ. They have had their hands full with me over the years. Full. Sometimes I am too stubborn and independent to enjoy a moment for what it is. The joke is always that I have ants in my pants and I am forever on my feet, putzing around the house until I just drop onto my pillow at night, regardless of how bad my leg is dragging. When I was confronted with the reality of a possible wheel chair in my future I woke up. I never intended on giving up or letting my guard down to MS. I just kept myself busy enough to ignore it - but the MS didn't ignore me. My leg isn't going to get stronger unless I consciously do something about it. Mind over matter, right? Not really, at least not in my case. This is going to take a valiant effort! My dad always kept me in line, and 10 years ago today he passed that torch onto Russ. Poor Russ he would say.
With great support comes some eye-rolling though. I'm pretty confident about myself yet I think all of us can attest to the nagging associated with certain questions. In no particular order, "Is that on your diet?" "When are you going to the gym, it's been like two weeks." "That's what you're wearing?" "Are you sure you should be eating that?" Usually my eye-rolling is accompanied with an exaggerated sigh. But, I know that I am loved and these questions come with care and support. I know I should be going to the gym. Yes, this food is on my diet. And no, I probably shouldn't be eating this but c'mon, I need a treat every once in awhile!
And then I ask, "did you take the trash out?" Wink, wink. I love you!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Being a vegan isn't for everyone
Good morning. The more I sit here and think about my blog entries, and my adventure in becoming a vegan, I have begun to realize maybe I ought to post a caveat to the purpose of my blog. I don't want to come across as someone who thinks that being a vegan is the only way to eat to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Currently, it is the right way to eat, for me. Trust me, I can't pass up the smell of a nice juicy burger without every part of me craving it. And two nights ago, I ate chicken at dinner. I don't plan to make that a regular habit because I want to achieve the full benefit of the plan that I am following, but for others, meat is perfectly fine and I say, go for it!
Plus, as a vegan, you really, really have to enjoy fruits and vegetables. And nuts and twigs. Haha.
The reason that I turned to a vegan diet is because there is scientific evidence that shows that this type of diet, in addition to regular exercise, meditation, and certain vitamin supplements can slow or stop the progression of MS. In some cases it has proven to result in recovery. I am going for the recovery part. A girl can dream, can't she? Ah, the power of positive thinking! With that, there are environmental factors, stress is a biggie, that can minimize and maybe even negate any positive changes you are trying to make. The vegan aspect of this plan is the most significant change for me, and where I need the most support. It really is a commitment that needs to be permanent. Losing weight as an example, can happen immediately for some, the instant gratification that we all pine for. For others, it takes awhile and many of us plateau for what seems like forever before we reach our next goal. Similarly, I won't see a major change in my symptoms for 3 - 5 years! I have however already noticed an improvement in my energy levels and I plan to celebrate the small achievements along the way.
What is important to remember is that as individuals, we each have different needs, as different as our own thumb prints. In taking care of yourself you should be extremely mindful of what works for you and what doesn't. And sometimes, what doesn't work the first time, might work if you keep trying. And with each win or defeat, all you can do is smile along the way and know that you're doing the best you can.
For those of you interested in the plan that I am following you can visit the website below for more information or to learn more about MS.
http://www.overcomingmultiplesclerosis.org/
Plus, as a vegan, you really, really have to enjoy fruits and vegetables. And nuts and twigs. Haha.
The reason that I turned to a vegan diet is because there is scientific evidence that shows that this type of diet, in addition to regular exercise, meditation, and certain vitamin supplements can slow or stop the progression of MS. In some cases it has proven to result in recovery. I am going for the recovery part. A girl can dream, can't she? Ah, the power of positive thinking! With that, there are environmental factors, stress is a biggie, that can minimize and maybe even negate any positive changes you are trying to make. The vegan aspect of this plan is the most significant change for me, and where I need the most support. It really is a commitment that needs to be permanent. Losing weight as an example, can happen immediately for some, the instant gratification that we all pine for. For others, it takes awhile and many of us plateau for what seems like forever before we reach our next goal. Similarly, I won't see a major change in my symptoms for 3 - 5 years! I have however already noticed an improvement in my energy levels and I plan to celebrate the small achievements along the way.
What is important to remember is that as individuals, we each have different needs, as different as our own thumb prints. In taking care of yourself you should be extremely mindful of what works for you and what doesn't. And sometimes, what doesn't work the first time, might work if you keep trying. And with each win or defeat, all you can do is smile along the way and know that you're doing the best you can.
For those of you interested in the plan that I am following you can visit the website below for more information or to learn more about MS.
http://www.overcomingmultiplesclerosis.org/
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
My favorite dinner so far...
Here is one of my favorite dinners to make. It is basic, quick & easy to prepare and you can substitute any of the veggies for your favorites. For my friends who eat meat - you can substitute the tofu for beef, chicken, pork or even fish!
Ingredients:
1 cup dry sushi rice
1 package of firm tofu - drained and rinsed, cut into 2 inch cubes
1 small eggplant - cut into 1 inch X 3 inch strips
1 red pepper - cut into strips
1 green pepper - cut into strips
1 onion - diced
1 zucchini - sliced
1/2 cup of portobello mushrooms
Extra virgin olive oil
1 clove fresh garlic
Handful of fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup of soy sauce
2 tablespoons of sugar
2 tablespoons of oyster sauce
1/2 cup of water
Any type of hot suace is optional.
Directions:
Prepare sushi rice according to package.
Heat oil in a large nonstick frying pan over high heat, add tofu, and gently cook, turning tofu occasionally, until browned slightly, about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer tofu to a plate.
Cook garlic, onion, eggplant, zucchini, and bell pepper in pan until softened, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes. Add soy sauce, sugar, and oyster sauce and cook until heated through, another 2 minutes. Add water as needed. Return tofu to pan, add mushrooms and gently stir to coat. Remove from heat and stir in basil leaves. I like to add a dash of hot sauce for more flavor. You can also be creative and add any of your own spices while sauteeing the vegetables - onion powder, turmeric, ginger, etc. This is really a dish that you can customize or make different everytime. It is fun to experiment with cooking!
Serve over rice. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
1 cup dry sushi rice
1 package of firm tofu - drained and rinsed, cut into 2 inch cubes
1 small eggplant - cut into 1 inch X 3 inch strips
1 red pepper - cut into strips
1 green pepper - cut into strips
1 onion - diced
1 zucchini - sliced
1/2 cup of portobello mushrooms
Extra virgin olive oil
1 clove fresh garlic
Handful of fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup of soy sauce
2 tablespoons of sugar
2 tablespoons of oyster sauce
1/2 cup of water
Any type of hot suace is optional.
Directions:
Prepare sushi rice according to package.
Heat oil in a large nonstick frying pan over high heat, add tofu, and gently cook, turning tofu occasionally, until browned slightly, about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer tofu to a plate.
Cook garlic, onion, eggplant, zucchini, and bell pepper in pan until softened, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes. Add soy sauce, sugar, and oyster sauce and cook until heated through, another 2 minutes. Add water as needed. Return tofu to pan, add mushrooms and gently stir to coat. Remove from heat and stir in basil leaves. I like to add a dash of hot sauce for more flavor. You can also be creative and add any of your own spices while sauteeing the vegetables - onion powder, turmeric, ginger, etc. This is really a dish that you can customize or make different everytime. It is fun to experiment with cooking!
Serve over rice. Enjoy!
Monday, June 13, 2011
No power? No problem.
After my first post, I found that this blogging was exhilarating! I outlined about ten more topics that came to mind that I wanted to think about over the next few weeks and then Thursday night happened. A nasty storm ripped through town that left hundreds of trees toppled over onto power lines, most roads closed and no....power. At first all I cared about was picking up my daughter from daycare. There are 4 possible ways to get there and none were passable. Next, I worried about our home and the damage I would find there. I was also concerned about my husband's commute home and hoped that some sort of disaster recovery would start immediately so that he wasn't left to the maze of navigating all the back roads trying to get home as I had been doing for the previous two hours. And then, I had the urge to blog. What this told me was writing is essentially therapeutic and calming, at least in the way that I experience it. A rush of all the things I could say and share came flooding forward. Ideas for photos I could post. The opportunities were endless, just like the ten topics I immediately thought of when posting my first blog entry.
This doesn't have much to do with being a vegan. I did however delight in the fact that I could eat freely in the absence of power. We took some precautions to preserve our refridgerated and freezer foods, and when I got to the bin of fruit and veggies I was actually relieved that I could just store them on the counter and we had an immediate source of sustenance for a couple of days.
My point with this blog is to say, while I find my path to wellness, I am adding "writing" to my overall plan. I believe that doing things you enjoy and that make you excited about your life help create a balance to many of life's insanities. For me I look at it as a way to unload; as an avenue to clear my mind in preparation for meditation. And with that, I say namaste.
This doesn't have much to do with being a vegan. I did however delight in the fact that I could eat freely in the absence of power. We took some precautions to preserve our refridgerated and freezer foods, and when I got to the bin of fruit and veggies I was actually relieved that I could just store them on the counter and we had an immediate source of sustenance for a couple of days.
My point with this blog is to say, while I find my path to wellness, I am adding "writing" to my overall plan. I believe that doing things you enjoy and that make you excited about your life help create a balance to many of life's insanities. For me I look at it as a way to unload; as an avenue to clear my mind in preparation for meditation. And with that, I say namaste.
Photos courtesy of Russ & his Blackberry :-)
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The New Vegan
My name is Jodi and I am a new vegan. I began my journey just over a month ago. Many of you probably know several people who follow a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle and you accept it for what it is: you know that your friend or family member doesn’t eat meat, tries to avoid dairy or is gluten free, likely from a food allergy, or they have a love for animals and just can’t stand the thought of consuming animal products. I didn’t realize when I started this how challenging it could be, with big rewards in many ways. Sifting through the research there are thousands of stories related to curing serious illnesses, prevention of many types of cancers, keeping the mind & body youthful, skin clear & beautiful and the maintenance of an abundance of energy, all by people who changed their eating habits. Sounds good to me! This diet takes getting used to as it requires time to educate yourself, relearn food, and practice. Honestly, I am still transforming into this new nutrition plan as I rotate my pantry and fridge at home. While I donated some of my pantry foods to the local food bank, I decided it would be best to incorporate the diet slowly and not shock my previous meat-eating, egg and cheese loving body.
You’re probably wondering about my motivation to do this. I have friends and family that chose this lifestyle over the past few years for various reasons, mostly to improve health or the aforementioned love for animals. For me, it became a medical necessity. I have MS and reached a point earlier this year where I felt the illness was beginning to take over and despite the drug therapy and medical treatment I was receiving, I had to take control myself. After doing research I found a large community of MS sufferers were following a wellness and recovery plan that includes a plant-based diet supplemented with seafood (for protein), regular exercise and meditation, and the continuance of a prescribed drug therapy. I will share much more about this program through this blog, and for the first time since my diagnosis in early 2008 I gained hope. Hope to stabilize and improve my symptoms and hope of recovery. Recovery! That feeling was powerful and everything I needed to change my attitude.
For those of you that don’t know me, I am 35, married, and have a 19 month old daughter. My husband agreed to take this journey along with me in support of reaching my goal and sharing the desire of me one day running around the yard playing kick ball or hide and seek with our daughter. Not too long ago I was a long distance runner and enjoyed running in local races from 5K’s to 10-milers. MS is a mysterious illness and has progressively weakened the left side of my body such that I can no longer even think about running. This really, really bothers me. How many of you actually love to run? I love it; it was my passion, my moment, my solace. Through this new journey I hope to regain my strength and eventually run a 5K. That would be…awesome. I am not a great vegan yet, by any stretch of my imagination as my blog url implies, however I am taking the path of transformation one step at a time with the hopes that "great" means "strong" at the end of my road.
I started this blog to keep my family and friends updated who are cheering me on and supporting me, and also to post recipes, cool tips, new & exciting discoveries and my bumps along this road to share with others who are making the same adjustment in their lives as well. It’s not easy, and it is by sharing with each other that we can improve ourselves.
I started this blog to keep my family and friends updated who are cheering me on and supporting me, and also to post recipes, cool tips, new & exciting discoveries and my bumps along this road to share with others who are making the same adjustment in their lives as well. It’s not easy, and it is by sharing with each other that we can improve ourselves.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)