End of Week 3!

I bought a book, which has been around for a little while, called You Are What You Eat and have been using Dr. Gillian McKeith's advice to eat healthier.  A friend of mine mentioned that she used to use her detoxes when she felt unwell.  No wonder it sounded like familiar and sound advice!  When we started working out I thought that I just needed to eat more veggies, which I've always loved, and healthier proteins and carbs.  I have become a little obsessed with nutrition and what I put into my body.  I have been researching nutrition studies online and through documentaries and books.  

I have always tried to eat organic where needed.  (There is a list called the Dirty Dozen which not only lists the fruits and veggies with the most pesticide residue, but also those at the bottom of the list, things you peel or simply don't need to buy organic.)  I've extended my love of organic fruits and vegetables to eating a healthy plant-based diet.  

The film Forks Over Knives talks about the huge benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables in our diets, and the unnecessary addition of meats as protein as many fruits and veggies contain plenty of protein.  As I watched it I jokingly called it "vegan propaganda," but I have to say that it makes a convincing argument. I would recommend it to anyone interested, there is a link above.  I would also recommend Food Matters, which discusses the importance of vitamins and their healing properties, as wells as the need to avoid processed foods and eat vegetables instead.  The most astounding film was called Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead and was about an Australian man who was sick and overweight who went on a juice diet.  He traveled across the United States, starting in New York, and juiced his meals for 60 days!  He detoxified his body to the point where he no longer needed medication.  Along the way he spoke with people about what he was doing and one man in a truck stop told him he had the same disease and was morbidly obese.  After one journey finishes happily, another begins with the truck driver who was in fear of his life.  It is absolutely incredible what eating enough fruits and vegetables will do for a person!!  They are both happy, fit, and healthy men with long lives ahead of them.  It makes you think, is a few moments of pleasure over a cheeseburger worth it in the long run?  Sure, once in awhile, but I know I personally had to make a big change in my life!

So, today is day three of a vegan diet and we bought a juicer.  I'll let you know how it goes!!  

Eat well, exercise well, sleep well and feel well!

ABC's Juice from Reeboot website.

2 Weeks!

It's day 14!  We've been successfully at this for two weeks now!  I can feel it in my posture and more freedom of movement.  They are little changes, for now, but it makes it much easier to keep going when you have such positive results.  Sure, I feel super tired after doing an hour of P90X, but my brain buzzes with endorphines and as we all high five I can't help but grin like a child.  :D  Bring it Week 3!!!

Hoy es día 14!  Hemos estado haciendo eso, con éxito, dos semanas ya!  Lo puedo notar en mi posture y tengo más libertad de movimientos.  Son cambios pequeños, del momento, pero lo hace much más fácil seguir con el rollo tener resultados tan positivas.  Sí, estoy super cansada después de hacer una hora de P90X, pero mi cerebro esta vivo con endorfínas y cuando todos chocamos cinco al final no puedo evitar sonreír como un niño pequeño.  :D  Venga Semana 3!!!

Day 10-11

Yesterday was a dark, gray morning.  It was windy and raining.  All I wanted to do was stay in bed and sleep till summer.  The night before I had stayed up too late, having fun, but I knew it was time to get out of bed.  So I, grumbling, got up and pulled on some leggings and my new colorful tanktop, bright socks, and sneakers.  That little moment of excitement over a pop of color in my life was exaggerated by the morning number on the scale.  Yay, the numbers are actually going down!  Happily imagining swimsuit season (for the first time in my life) and the possibilities of the future, I made myself a lovely breakfast, grabbed my water bottle, and headed out to meet my work out buddies.  My face fell a little when I opened the door to the blustering chill of the day.  God, did I want to go back to bed as the wind whipped rain at me like freezing knives.  But, you know what?  I went and I worked out anyway.  It was really hard, but afterward I felt amazing!
Today was more of the same, rain and wind darkening the sky.  Down pour and floods in the streets.  I was up late with a book and felt so tired.  But I did it.  And I'm glad I did.  Today we did an hour and a half of yoga, and with some advice from my mom I ended on a much more positive note this time.  I felt more cleansed and stress-free.  And it was really hard, and each time I try to push myself harder and try to ignore the pain, but as we go I can feel a little more stretch or a few more reps and I know I want to keep doing it.  I want to be flexible, strong, and most importantly:  healthy!
The bottom line is, it would be so much easier to not work out.  I could sleep in late, stay up late reading, and do whatever I want.  But the truth is that there is so much time in the day one hour is nothing.  60 minutes of time.  And If I work out in the morning it makes me keep going through out the day.  Instead of eating junk food and sitting, I feel inclined to clean and do chores.  I take my time making a healthy meal instead of getting take-out or fast food.  And it all makes me feel like I'm doing the right thing, for myself, for once.  And it's been a long long time since I've felt like that.  This has been a long time coming.

Day 4

So, only four days into this and I can feel a lifestyle change coming on!  I feel lighter, like I could conquer almost anything, and I feel more energized and generally happier.  I would cautiously say that this would probably be anyone's results after a sedentary life with little physical exertion before.  Naturally, there are stipulations, depending on who you are and what your body tells you through out the whole process.  If it hurts your muscles that's one thing, but joints and bones is another.  There are always options for people whose bodies are not quite ready to be pushed that hard.  As Tony Horton would say, "Do your best and forget the rest!"
Oh, Tony, you know I find him to be motivating but not smarmy or pushy.  He's funny and for all the hard core workouts he helps you set realistic goals.  The whole series does.  Any exercise for me would be great, but I can vouch for P90X, it's a good one.  The first two days we did the wrong DVDs (funny thing, they go in order!) and did something from the book that was meant for some serious athletes!  Amazingly enough, we pushed our asses to the limit and finished each day with a high five!  Having a support group and people who are going through the same burn and endorphine rush makes a world of a difference.  Thanks to my workout buddies I face each morning with eagerness and excitement!  Love you guys!!  
We've also been eating better and it's nice when the people around you are doing the same thing.  Not everyone can go healthy with you, where would Hostess and McDonald's be without the guilty pleasures of junk food, but you can always encourage your friends and family to join you in saving your own life.  I mean, sure, it can be hard to watch someone scarf a sleeve of Girl Scout cookies while you eat carrots (I won't name names here...) but you feel like you have accomplished something when you make it to the end of the day without binging or cheating yourself.  A healthy caloric/fat/carb/protien intake to go along with your endorphine buzz from your work out makes you just want to yell out, YAY!
It's all going pretty well, though not perfect.  I, unfortunately, caught a pretty bad head cold on the second day (do NOT go outside all sweaty without bundling up, no matter how sunny it seems).  Normally with a bad cold I would lie around, watch tv, eat and drink all day.  I chose to push through it.  Yesterday was rough, but I think sweating it all out helped.  Today I feel congested and a little yucky (as colds generally go) but am up and about.  I think that my very first real yoga session helped a lot too.  The only thing I might need to look into is that I did feel a little anxious after this.  I want to look into it, because I think many things could trigger it.  If you'll allow me to get a little new-agey for a moment... I think that opening up your chakras and making your body buzz with energy can also let in others' energy.  I tend to unconsciously let in negative energy.  It is amazing what an emotional and spiritual process yoga can be, and I will be gentle with myself next time and let you all know my results.  Also, I had an iced coffee with breakfast and it has been a few days since I have had much caffeine, which always adds to my anxiety if I am feeling anxious.
Negative parts aside, I am feeling confident, happy and healthy despite my anxiety and my cold.  My body is feeling better, my brain just needs to catch up!  Namaste, thanks, and love to all of you who have contributed thoughts and to those of you who are reading!

The Beginning

So, tomorrow will be my first day of P90X with 2 of my friends and I am filled with emotion.  I am super excited to get into shape and be happy with myself for once.  I'm terrified that it'll be so hard that I'll want to quit.  It is supposed to be hard, but I have a good support system here.  I'm hopeful with anticipation of a better mood, more energy, and less anxiety.  And, as always, I'm anxious with no real founding.
I've been reading about this for days now and have begun to plan for a healthy diet to go along with the work outs.  Of course, exercise is nothing if you don't eat right too.  I have a smoothie recipe from a Homeopathic doctor, and some healthy eating cookbooks.  Tomorrow I'm going to stock up on tuna in olive oil (from Trader Joe's, the only place I can find it), veggies, quinoa, flax seeds, and fruit.

In the quest for change I am making small commitments at a time.  Being healthy is number one above all, and with that will come happiness in myself.  I have dealt with anxiety in varying degrees, for over a year now, ever since Alex and I got married.  They say that big life events can bring on bouts of panic attacks.  As we plan to move North, and BUY a house I want to prepare myself better this time.  The healthier and more active I am, the easier it should be.

And I dyed my hair red...something else new.

All in all, no matter what exact results I get I go to sleep tonight with the comfort of knowledge that this is a big step in the right direction.  Oo, I can already feel those endorphines flow.

DIY...I'm obsessed-Top Ten of 2011

I have been trying some new DIY recently, and since we're all supposed to make lists for the New Year, I thought I would make a positive one.  So here are some new things I have been trying with my hair, nails, and make-up; in the kitchen; crafty projects; and making my own beauty products.  The star players in all of this is pinterest.com as well as video bloggers on youtube.com, if it were not for the time and creativity they put behind their videos and blogs I would never have learned all this fun stuff!
Below is a list of my top ten new favorite DIY things from last year and into this year too.  I have been stopped in the street and asked by many people how I have done some of these to my hair and nails.  That makes you feel good about yourself!

Number 10: Cooking

This is last on my list because it's not necesarily "new" but something improved this year.  I posted a recipe for Lentils before.  Here is a quick recipe for my Ranch Dressing.
 Stacey’s Ranch Dressing: Now, I do not usually measure the ingredients out, so, each time I will come up with a sauce that is a bit different.  In my opinion, as long as you use plenty of garlic it will always be delicious!  When I first tried to make Ranch while I was in Spain it was difficult to find sour cream.  There was crème fraîche at some of the larger stores like El Corte Inglés, but it was not quite the same.  So, I tried some Greek yogurt, which was nice a creamy and tasted much better to me.  You can experiment; both sour cream and Greek yogurt are good. 

You will need:
2 part mayonnaise
2 part sour cream or Greek yogurt
1/2-1 part milk or buttermilk

Dry ingredients-
2 parts dill
2 parts garlic powder
2 parts dried parsley
2 part dried cilantro
2 parts dried chives
1 part basil
1 part oregano
1 parts onion powder
1 part salt
1 part ground pepper

Mix all dry ingredients in a small dish and set aside. 
Whisk the mayo, sour cream, and milk in a bowl and then whisk in seasoning.  Use more or less milk to make the sauce thinner or thicker.  I prefer creamier, thick dressing for dipping veggies and thinner dressing over a salad, for example.
Try it with 1 cup mayo and yogurt, 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup milk.  For the dry ingredients do 1 tablespoon dill, garlic, parsley, cilantro, and chives; 1/2 tablespoon onion, salt, and pepper.  This will make an amount for 2-4 people to dip lots of veggies; about 2 cups. 


Number 9:  The Romantic Braid/Valentino Braids/Boho Braids

I have been really into the loose crown braid Heidi Klum wore this summer and have done many different types of braids throughout the year.  The Valentino Braids, from the runway Spring/Summer collection 2012, are so romantic and soft and lovely!  The reason they are at number nine here is that I have yet to duplicate them...but I will keep on trying!

Number 8:  Creative Writing
I have been working on a novel for awhile now, which I had never imagined doing.  I have always been interested in writing, but I told myself that since I hadn't studied for it I would never get published.  We'll see about that, but I can tell you that I have enjoyed every moment of it!
If you want to try getting creative without having to go back to Creative Writing 101 I have found many useful sites via stumbler.com.  There is a great site with 346 Creative Writing Prompts.  Could be good for my English teachers out there!  ;)

Number 7:  Instagram/Photo Albums in Physical Form
This one is a little vague since photography it's something I've been in to for a long time.  I'm in love with instagram, which if you've never heard of it is an app for the iPhone where you can share photos you take.  Say what you will about digital photography, but I have seen some lovely work there, and it's fun to get creative right on your phone. 

Now, I don't really do scrapbooking, though I'd love to be good at that, but I love going through my pictures and reminiscing.  All you need to make a DIY photo album look nice is the type with the full pages (not with slots for each photo) and some colored paper.  You can go with a theme for each section if you want, but no matter what a little time on it can make a world of difference.  Oh, and don't use glue, I use tape or these tiny sticky dots, by Martha Stewart (of course), I used to have which worked wonders. 
Also, since we live in a digital age, you can upload photos straight from iPhoto on Mac and create books, calanders, cards, etc.  And I just made a cookbook for my dad for Christmas full of recipes I have created or adapted over the years from Spain, Catalunya, Eugene, and Michigan.  I used a free application which I downloaded called Blurb.  It's easier to edit and move things when you do it in free format, but I do like the interface of iPhoto much more.  With blurb you can also do just print, like if you are writing a novel and want to see it in real life...

Number 6:  Painting Plaster Sculptures
I love those cheesy plaster sculptures, like a teddybear that says #1, or a sandcastle, or little farm animals.  When I find a good one, usually pretty damn cheap, I have to bring it home.  If you want to do it right you have to use a little sand paper and a file to get all those crappy bits off before you paint it.  I just use acrylic, and actually I don't know if that's what you're supposed to use because it can peel right off of some of them, but I spray a clear glaze over them afterward to seal it all on there.  If you wanna try it check out your local craft store.  If you don't have paint, all you really need is red, yellow, blue, black and white (as long as you remember your color wheel!).  I painted a Christmas house for my parents and they loved it, who cares if you're grown up!  You can still bring arts and crafts creations home to mom and dad, they'll love it! 

Number 5:  Konad Nail Art Stamping
Ok, so I have not actually done this yet, but I know I will be hooked!  I just used my Christmas amazon.com card to order the "starter kit."
When I was in college, and even up until about last year, I would put on nail polish about once a month and let it chip away until it was just flecks of color.  I even had a student once ask me why I never put polish on my entire nail.
Then, some time last year, I realized that nail art was a fun (allbeit tiny!) form of expression and just a fun project for me.  It kept my hands busy doing something productive, instead of munching in front of the tv, and my creativity flowing.  I started with multi-colored french manicures, to making designs with toothpicks, to creating my own nail stickers (all you do is paint your design on plastic wrap and let it dry) and now I can't "just paint my nails" anymore, it's a process, but I LOVE it!

Konad, check out their site just to see what I'm talking about, has millions of these kind of stencils that you paint, scrape, and then roll onto a stamper, which you then stamp onto your nail.  There are some REALLY cool designs out there!

Number 4:  Organic DIY Lip Balm
As a Christmas gift this year I made my mom a basket of beauty products that I made myself.  I made lip balm in Coconut-Vanilla as well as in Peppermint, I made body lotion, hand cream, bath salts, and even deoderant all in "Earl Grey Tea" scent (which is basically bergmot).  My favorite was the chapstick, which I made using little containers I bought here in Eugene from Glory Bee (direct from the store by the airport, otherwise they are expensive little buggers to buy individually).
Here is a link to a pretty simple one by Yours Truely, G if you want to try yourself.  Also, it's fun to experiment with the scents and flavors and you can even add some shavings of lipstick if you want to add a little color.  Don't use food coloring though, it's water based and won't mix.  Personally I prefer to just put on a little lip stain (like Benetint) and use the chapstick over it.  Natural and healthy!

Number 3:  The Hair Bow


Ok, Lady Gaga rocked this one ages ago, but I've been in love with it and was not about to buy some fake hair headband to try it myself.  So now I have found two ways to do it, one a bit more complicated than the other, and each are a little different.  Here is a half-up Hair Bow Tutorial like a Christmas Ribbon by Justbebexo.  And the other way is to simply put your hair up into a half ponytail, split it in half, and use the "tail" underneath to pull back over to make the center of the bow.  Elise Larson explains it best on her blog "A Beautiful Mess."

Number 2:  Leopard Print Nails
These are very easy to do, for me, and I get loads of compliments.  I try to tell people that you can do it easily, but no one ever believes me.  I use Stripe Rite Nail Polish in black to draw the outside part of the leopard spots, and all different colors imaginable for the inside part of the spots as well as the base coat.  Here is a video that shows a Super Easy Leopard Nail Tutorial by HelloMaphie in which she uses a nail art pen instead of the stripe polish, both work but I prefer the polish.  Let me know if you agree with me that this is pretty easy, or if you think it's hard and I'm being silly!

Number 1:  The Sock Bun

This is a perfect looking bun that you create using a sock with which you cut off the toe, roll it into a donut shape, and then roll on to your ponytail.  Here is a video from Loepsie from youtube.  I have gotten so very many compliments on this and it is very easy to do!

The sock bun secret