Update on 28-Day Challenge!

So, getting sick this weekend royally f-ed everything up. I was doing pretty well, and then I wasn't. I've eaten some wheat items, had some chocolate (doesn't really make you feel better when sick, does it? lol), and eaten some sweets. But I have MOSTLY stuck to the challenge. Mostly.

You know what else? I had my 2nd Veganniversary on the 16th, and I wasn't able to celebrate it because I was sick. MEGA SAD FACE. (But YAY for making it 2 years as a vegan!)

Today was my first day juicing for breakfast since last Wednesday (a week of either smoothies or nothing, ugh). I was definitely feeling good until I got to lunch, and then I was/am super-bloated and having some abdominal pain (not on the appendix side--I checked). Hopefully it lets up soon :(

Tonight I'm planning on using the rest of the WONDERFUL broccoli-basil-almond pesto from last night's Rice Noodles and Broccoli-Almond Pesto on some brown rice, maybe with some edamame. Hopefully that won't cause mega-bloat, too! My poor abdomen!

Jes

Whole Living 28-Day Challenge: Day 13-15

Or, what I like to call it, "Wait, what day is it?"

Oh, you guys. My husband was so sick on Friday projectiling in more than one way (is that a word? because if not, it should be). We thought it was from some old raw cheese he'd eaten. We may not have been onto something there. He ended up feeling good enough by the evening to go out to eat, but I regret that now. Here's how my weekend went from that dinner:

-PF Chang's for dinner. Ate too much, laughed with friends, left right after eating so The Hubs could make it home in time (thought he was going to be sick again...but that's what you get for eating 4 bowls of egg drop soup.)

-Saturday morning--wake up, feeling okie dokie, rush to yoga at 9:30am and am doing fine until about 1/4 way through class. Then BAM, instant nausea, feeling like I'm going to pass out, need to rest, shaky, oh man...I make it through class just barely, but when I'm back in the cool air and driving home, I still don't feel that great. Thought it was just the heated room.

-Back at home, my stomach starts to physically hurt, like my whole abdomen. I feel like vomiting but can't. For some reason, The Hubs thinks it is a good idea to go out to eat for lunch and do some shopping. I acquiesce but regret it. We eat at Chipotle, do some shopping all while my head and abdomen hurt and I get waves of nausea. But we make it home. Now, it's on.

-Still can't vomit, but I dry heave enough. Spend some time hovering over the toilet, not pretty. Can't eat anything for dinner but some broth. Feverish (101-degree), still woozy, time for bed.

=Wait, what day is it? I wake up, and before sitting up I relish in the fact that my stomach doesn't hurt any more. Oh wait, there it is. Instantly when I sit up, the pain returns. I still feel like I want to vomit but still can't. Not feverish anymore, so I guess that's a plus? Still can't eat, not even hungry. More broth.

-Try doing dishes, but have to sit down for a rest halfway through. Later in the day, I get my laundry done but still feeling horrible.

-Yesterday morning, still feeling gross and dizzy when I stand up. Stomach pain has mostly gone away, losing the feeling of needing to vomit. More broth for breakfast/lunch, and then my appetite returns later in the day. Feeling much better by dinner time.

-This morning, still a little dizzy when I stand, but I think I'll be able to go in.

What a fricking horrible weekend. Not something I want to relive anytime soon. Ugh. I ended up eating a lot of stuff banned on the challenge (wheat, chocolate), but I was just happy that my appetite had returned.

Jes

Whole Living 28-Day Challenge: Day 12

Well...here's what I was going to post on Friday. AAaaaaand then I got sick:

Ugh, day 12, you have not been kind to me. Last night was a late night (much later than it should have been), and today's been a whole ton of fuckery (I just ate lunch, if that tells you how F-ed up my day is). The Hubs has been sick since about 3:00am, and I kept waking up to him retching in the bathroom, poor guy. He's a bit better now, but it's apparently been a rough time for him.

The one good thing about my day so far was the cruise meeting I attended. Yes, I'm going on a CRUISE in February 2013! :D times infinity!!! Holla! God, I need a MFing vacation like now.

Today's eats:

6:00am--vitamins and kombucha with chia

6:30am--kale and banana smoothie

9:30am--1 banana

2:00--quick bean dip: 1/s can great northern beans, lots of hot sauce, lemon juice, olive oil, seasoning and some Nut-Thins

~7:45pm--dinner at PF Chang's--thinking the Eggplant, yum!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jes

Whole Living 28-Day Challenge: Day 11

Last night I ate wheat bread. I really had no choice in the matter, and I won't lie and say that it wasn't totally delicious (the two vegan options at the restaurant both had wheat as an essential component...). But today I'm having some stomach pains. Not sure if it is from the bread or something else.

Friend's birthday was celebrated in style, though!

Today's eats:

6:00am--vitamins, kombucha with chia, hot water with lemon

6:30am--smoothie of kale, frozen banana, raw protein powder, and soymilk

9:45am--some roasted almonds

12:00pm--guacamole, Nut-Thins (gluten free but made with rice flour, dangit!), and some raspberry kombucha with chia (I'm becoming an addict)

4:00pm--1 banana

7:30pm--massaged kale salad with avocado, nooch, raw hemp oil, lemon juice, and chickpeas

8:30pm--cinnamon tea at The Vagabond (birthday redux!)

How are you coming along with your resolutions? I know that I haven't stuck with the Whole Living Action Plan 100%, but I've been doing well, I think. I feel better, my skin looks better (with ONE exception in this whole time, UGH), and I'm eating a TON of veg and fruit. Love it!

Also, I'm thinking of doing another Raw Week in February, like I did waaaaay back in August. I felt so good during that time, and it just took a little more planning and prep than I usually do for my meals. Plus, I get to try out some awesome recipes from some new Raw "cook"books. Count me in.

Jes

Whole Living 28-Day Challenge: Day 10

Made it to Day 10! I haven't stuck 100% to the plan (esp. with eating rice-type things out and a little bit of protein powder in my smoothies last week), but overall I think that I've done well.

Today's eats:

6:00am--vitamins, kombucha with chia, hot water with lemon

6:30am--kale/carrot/red cabbage/apple/pineapple juice

9:45am--1 banana

11:45am--Tsunami--Tofu Teriyaki

~6:30pm--dinner at Lotus Leaf--still not sure what to eat

~8:00pm--probably jasmine tea at The Vagabond

Today has definitely surpassed the other days this week so far. January has FINALLY caught up with us--it's cold, windy, and will possibly snow a little! The Hubs took me out to lunch on his last day off before school starts next week. And tonight I'm going to a birthday celebration dinner for one my my best friends, yay!

Also, last night I picked up a copy of Rawesomely Vegan! by Mike Snyder. What sold me on it, besides its overall awesomeness, was that fellow blogger Sayward Rebhal worked long and hard on the book. Yay for supporting bloggers' books! WTG, Sayward! The book is fabulous, easy to understand, and the recipes sound FANTASTIC. Can't wait to try several out.

It's a good day.

Jes

Whole Living 28-Day Challenge: Day 9

Guess what? Yesterday evening, I made a produce bag on the new sewing machine :D

Look!

{I have awesome skills}

We even dura-tested it by dropping the grapefruit into it, which mimics how it usually is when we shop (hey, sometime the store is busy and frustrating, and it gets taken out on the bags!). Many more to come. (Thank you, Patsy and Kathrina!!)

Today's eats:

6:00am--vitamins, kombucha with chia, hot water with lemon

6:30am--kale/carrot/apple/pineapple juice

10:00am--1 banana

11:30am--rest of my Veggie Soup from last night

2:30pm--1 orange

6:45pm--Doc Greens' Dr. Grilled Veggie Salad

9:00pm--projected snack (probably the grapefruit in the photo, ha)

Jes

Whole Living 28-Day Challenge: Day 8

Hello, Week Two!!! I was pretty tired this morning., but that's because I stayed up last night to watch the premiere of season two of Downton Abbey (did you watch?? that show is AMAZING. Some CRAZY things going on).

Monday's eats:

6:15am--vitamins, kombucha w/chia, hot water w/lemon

6:30am--smoothie of kale, soymilk, banana, and protein powder

11:30am--rest of Spicy Black-Bean Salad and 1 banana

2:30pm--1 orange (I like to methodically peel the orange until it's super-peeled. there's something calming about taking 20 minute to do that)

6:15pm--Veggie Soup ("Use-It-Up Soup!"): 1 leek, 3 carrots, 2 celery stalks, veggie stock, spices, 1 ginormous chard leaf, 2 cloves garlic, 1/4 red cabbage, and 3/4 cup cooked chickpeas)

~8:00pm--projected snack (probably a grapefruit)

Tomorrow I'm juicing!

Jes

Whole Living 28-Day Challenge: Day 7

End of week one, yeah!!

This time last week I was 151 lbs. Today, my friends, I am 145 lbs. In one week, I've dropped 6 lbs. and some inches in key areas. Holla!

Sunday eats:

9:15am--vitamins, kombucha with chia, hot water with lemon

10:45am--smoothie made with loads of kale, soymilk, 1 frozen banana, and a squirt of agave

3:25pm--seasoned steamed broccoli and the LAST of the Spiced Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

5:30pm--1 orange

~7:00pm--Spicy Black-Bean Salad (really looking forward to this)

~8:30pm--some orange herbal tea, maybe an orange or grapefruit

I also find myself in a good mood. It's not ALL of the time, but a good deal of my day, which is something to shout from the highest mountain. Now if only I can maintain that feeling into next week.

On to Week Two!

Jes

Whole Living 28-Day Challenge: Day 6

Hey there!

Yay for not drinking on Friday night (because I feel awesome!).

Aren't we all glad it's the weekend? And what's up with the utter lack of winter weather here in SE Kansas? It feels like April. We've had almost NO snow and weather topping out in the 60-degree range. In January. WTF. I'm not complaining because I get to avoid the idiots who don't know how to drive in snow...but that means another really dry year. It was horribly dry last year, which didn't help my fledgling garden one bit. Ah well.

Today's foods:

11:00am--(yes, I slept in, and it was GREAT) vitamins and kombucha w/chia

12:00pm--smoothie of kale/pineapple/apple juice and frozen banana

4:30pm--huge salad of greens, red onion, cukes, pumpkin and hemp seeds, nooch, and an apple cider vinegar dressing, along with some roasted almonds

5:30pm--1 banana

7:15pm--Roasted Garlic and Beet Soup (messy...but really tasty. looking forward to more of this tomorrow for lunch!)

9:30pm--1 grapefruit (delicious! Thanks, Patsy!)

Jes

Whole Living 28-Day Challenge: Day 5

Here's what I meant to post yesterday when I got home from dinner...but ended up going over to my friend's house down the street instead:

Hello, headache. Not sure if you are from staring at a computer screen in the dark this morning or from withdrawal of some type. It's a nagging pain, not really sharp or anything. Just there, in the background, pissing me off. But on with the foods! :D

Today's eats:

6:00am--vitamins, kombucha with chia

6:30am--kale/banana/protein powder smoothie and a little of the kale/carrot/apple/pineapple juice I made for The Hubs (heavy on the carrot)

9:30am--1 orange

11:50am--Doc Green's Dr. Grilled Veg salad

6:30pm--Tsunami Vermicelli (tofu, rice noodles, lettuce, carrots, cukes, sprouts, and yummy ginger-lemongrass sauce)

8:00pm--blueberry blend tea at Shan's

In other news, SO EXCITED FOR THE WEEKEND! Aren't you???? This is the first Friday I've had to work since before Thanksgiving (thank god I still had vacay days left in December!), so I'm a little off today. But I'll be right as rain tomorrow :)

Jes

Whole Living 28-Day Challenge: Day 4

Day Four! Bring on more!

I woke up a little late this morning and ended up making a green smoothie instead of juice. Got to try out my new Navitas Naturals raw hemp/cacao/maca protein powder that I got in my package from Vegan Essentials this week (I *heart* deliveries!). That stuff is pretty good! And I wasn't hungry for quite a while afterwards.

What I ate:

6:15am--vitamins, 1 1/2 cup hot water with lemon, 1/2 cup kombucha with chia

6:45am--green smoothie: 2 cups raw kale, 1 banana, about 1 cup soymilk, squirt of raw agave, 1 tbsp Navitas Naturals raw hemp/cacao/maca powder

11:00am--1 raw gogi-seed cube

11:30am--more butternut squash and apple soup

3:15pm--1 raw gogi-seed cube

6:00pm--a combo of the Kale Slaw (dressing, cabbage, carrots, red onion, seed topping), and the Steamed Broccoli (greens, steamed broccoli, carrots, red onion, cabbage). Also put nooch in the dressing. Superb.

7:00pm--almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, coconut flakes, and coconut butter mix. Yum!

Tell me salads aren't the most gorgeous thing.

How are your resolutions coming along?

Jes

Whole Living 28-Day Challenge: Day 3

Woke up with a slight headache this morning, but other than that, I am feeling super duper. Getting enough sleep helps, as well.

Today's eats:

6:00am--vitamins, 1 1/2 cup hot water with lemon

6:30am--1 glass kale/cucumber/celery/orange juice

9:45am--1 raw gogi-seed cube

11:30am--more Spiced Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

2:30pm--1 raw gogi-seed cube

3:45pm--1 orange

5:15pm--Steamed Broccoli with Tahini Sauce (minus the squash)

8:45pm--mixed nuts, pumpkin seeds, and coconut butter. holy lord, that's good.

I wish I'd taken a photo of the Broccoli with Tahini Sauce, but I was 1) famished and 2) in a total rush to get to a friend's party. Beautiful-looking dish, though, if you take my word for it.

And you totally should.

Jes

PS--Thanks a ton, Boeing. YAY for less defense spending and death machines, but did you have to fuck over Wichita after everyone worked so hard to get you that precious tanker deal? You said you'd bring jobs, but you'll just end up taking away friends from me and causing an overall hardship for the city. Congratulations, douches of the decade.

Whole Living 28-Day Challenge: Day 2

What up?!?

It's Day Two! I went into today knowing I was going to cheat once because I went out with Mom (plans made well in advance!) But never fear--the only thing I ate besides veggies/sauces for our lunch date was some rice noodles/rice paper. So no real biggie.

6:00am--Vitamins, 1 1/2 cup hot water with lemon, 1/2 cup grape and chia kombucha (addicting)

6:30am--1 glass kale/apple/pineapple juice

9:30am--1 raw gogi-seed cube

11:30am--2 Veggie Salad Rolls (rice noodles, cukes, cilantro, carrot, sprouts) with peanut sauce and steamed veggies

2:30pm--1 orange

4:15pm--1 banana

6:00pm--remainder of the yummy Kale Slaw, some leftover roasted broccoli from last weekend, and 4 gorgeous green olives

--8:00pm--projected snack

So far, so good! No headaches as of yet. This has actually been pretty easy since I had a bit of a jump-start by juicing the week beforehand...and by being vegan, lest we forget. I might keep juicing for breakfast during the other three weeks.

How's it going with you? Are you participating in something similar?

Jes

PS--I'm still in the process of fixing up the blog, just tinkering around right now.

Whole Living 28-Day Challenge: Day 1!

Hello, 2012! I barely noticed you yesterday.

Today begins my participation in the Whole Living Action Plan, yay! It's truly one of my favorite magazines. They are usually pretty veg-friendly with their recipes and always seem to have info on organic products. Out of all the "holy crap! it's 2012! let's get into shape!" programs I read about in magazines over the past couple of weeks, Whole Living's 28-day challenge stuck out for me. (It also gave me the reason to finally ante-up and buy a juicer, huzzah!)

And all of the Week 1 recipes are *gasp* VEGAN, with the majority of the other weeks' recipes also being vegan (with the exception of some fish/eggs here and there that I can easily sub out). Count me in!

So, today was the first day. Not too different from what I've been eating for the past several weeks, aside from nosh-fests on chocolate.

I've come to LOVE juicing in the morning. What makes me happier than anything, though, is that The Hubs is into it now. He's asked me to make him juice for breakfast, too. *infinite happiness!!!!*

I'm taking Whole Living's word for it and keeping a list of goals and a daily food journal. Here's the entry for today:

6:00am--Vitamins, 1 1/2 cup hot water with lemon, 1/2 cup grape chia kombucha

6:30am--1 glass kale/pineapple/carrot/apple juice

9:30am--1 raw gogi/seed cube (my local supermarket sells these in the bulk bins. shocked!)

11:30am--2 cups Spiced Butternut and Apple Soup

2:30pm--1 banana

6:30pm--1 serving Kale Slaw with Red Cabbage and Carrots

8:00pm--1 tbsp peanut butter w/raw sunflower and pumpkin seeds, cacao nibs, and unsweetened coconut flakes

The Kale Slaw was the best part of my day.

{pretty cabbage}

{added some strips of nori}

{aaaand some nooch after this photo was taken. yum.}

Are you participating in any new programs? Is there a bet in place for how long you last? :D

Jes