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Gratituesday: An Anchor

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There are moments in life we never expect to happen. They vary by degree; but we will all find ourselves in a moment where we can’t believe what we are hearing. I have a few friends walking through such moments and now I find myself in this unfamiliar land as well. 

At a different point in life this situation would have been too much to bare, and even now it is almost maddening. Thankfully I have an anchor to rely on. Most of us know an anchor as thing that is dropped from a boat to keep it from moving or drifting, it provides security and stability. My anchor is my hope and faith in Jesus.

This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.      Hebrews 6:19 NLT

I’m grateful for this lesson I’m learning. My trust in God is not dependent on my level of  health, prosperity or possessions, the behavior of my kids or friends, or any other thing for that matter. If they are all taken away He is still worthy of my adoration. 

I still wrestle with anger, disappointment, unbelief, and much frustration over this situation we find ourselves navigating. I am not happy about it and I wont pretend to be. My faith doesn’t require that I’m “happy” with everything that happens. At the center of who I am, in the deepest place of my heart, and the most logical parts of my mind I know that Jesus is LORD and I trust Him!

I’ve been singing this song long before I new of this situation. I’m so grateful that my heart was prepared. 

God I look to You, I won’t be overwhelmed
Give me vision to see things like You do
God I look to You, You’re where my help comes from
Give me wisdom; You know just what to doI will love You Lord my strength
I will love You Lord my shield
I will love You Lord my rock forever
All my days I will love You God

Hallelujah our God reigns
Hallelujah our God reigns
Hallelujah our God reigns forever
All my days Hallelujah

Jenn Johnson/Ian Mcintosh Bethel Music Publishing 2010 
 

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Meal Plan Monday: Focus on Fitness

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I am not an athlete. I used to blame my knee’s. Oh yes, the “bad knee’s story”. Nothing has ever happened to my knee’s, I’ve just been so out of shape that I would be in pain if I tried to run. Great logic huh, too out of shape to exercise. There was a time in my early 20s that I worked out daily. I looked fit and was comfortable with the way my body looked for maybe the first time. I used the machine for lifting and the bike for cardio. I would only get on the treadmill if there was no bike available and I would not run, back to the bad knee story.

After that I got married and my husband already had 3 kids. Between working full-time, taking care of my new husband and kids, and a little work on my MBA (that I never finished, thankfully) I didn’t have much time to work out. I joined a Curves and worked out there. It was fun but not a tough workout. I maybe lost a few pounds but nothing substantial. Then we moved to AZ and I’d start working out again ever so often. When I shared my story I talked about working out for months and not losing weight.

A few month’s ago something started to stir in me, I started working out again, not running, but I didn’t stick with it, again. My husband wanted us to work out together and I started dreaming about running. What if I really could run? I watched past episodes of The Biggest Loser and would see a person who weighed 400 pounds running, working out, getting fit. I knew that if they could do then I could too. I was done with the excuses but would I stick with it. I also have two incredible friends who are runner and are faced with some obstacles that make it difficult/impossible to run right now.

I went running a few times, not far and not long but it was progress. I talked to my husband and one of my dear friends, who is a runner, about it. I knew what I had to do. I had to blog about it. Once I put it out there for everyone to see I knew I would be committed. No one likes to fail in public and the internet is public enough for me. 

So one week ago we committed to a one month fitness challenge. My husband and I are working out together and I’m going on short runs, hoping to run faster and longer as I get in better shape. I’ll share more about what we are doing some other day. For now I need to share how we are fueling these workouts.

Meal Plan

Breakfast will be Breakfast Quinoa, oatmeal with fruit, toast with nut butter, fruit, soup (I love leftover soup for breakfast) and the occasional bowl of cereal. My favorite way to eat cereal lately is with blueberries, banana’s and almond milk.

Lunch will be leftovers on most days. I like to grab a quick almond butter sandwich on busy days. Lately I can’t get enough bean burritos. I bought a vat of spinach so I’ll need to eat plenty of wraps so it doesn’t go slimy like last week.

Snack is mostly fresh fruit, like strawberries, blueberries, banana’s and nut butter.

Last week I just sat out cooked grains, beans, and veggies and we made out own meals. We didn’t enjoy this much. It works better as a once in a while type of thing not an every night thing. This week I’ll be making a distinct meal most evenings but not necessarily assigning a special night to it. Also, I work with kids at church on Wednesday night’s so we need a quick meal or take out and my husband is hosting a “Guy’s Night” this week so I’ll be making food for that.

 This week Dinner include’s:

  • Potato Soup with Carrots, Onions, and Garlic (made on Sunday night)
  • Gluten-Free Spaghetti with Mushrooms and Red Sauce, also a Big Garden Salad
  • Spicy Black Bean Soup, I may make this in the Crock Pot, and I have avocados at the ready
  • Chopped Salad or some other Big Salad

I’m also planning the food for the Plant-Based Food Demo I’m hosting soon. I will need to begin cooking some of the dishes I plan to serve to make sure everything turns out the way I want.

Since we have been working out for a week I am definitely craving more calories (and more junk food)! Any suggestions for a newbie runner and aspiring athlete?

What’s For Breakfast

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In honor of my friend Joye I’m gonna talk about breakfasts. She is transitioning toward plant-based but feels stuck in a rut when it comes to breakfast. The truth is I’m in a little rut myself.

Oatmeal

My go to breakfast is oatmeal. My boys LOVE it! I like it too but I’ve been eating several times a week for months and with the warm weather here it isn’t hitting the spot.

I buy rolled oats or steel-cut oats. Strangely they are more expensive than their over-processed instant counterparts. I highly encourage you to step away from the instant oats, they aren’t doing you any favors. And for the love of kale please don’t buy those little packets of sugary oatmeal evil. They take a perfectly good food, oatmeal and add stuff to it. Instead make your own oatmeal add fruits, nuts, seeds, and a bit of real maple syrup. Sometimes I’ll add banana, strawberries and raw pumpkin seeds and other times I’ll use dried cranberries or raisins. Try this recipe for  Nutty Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal, YUM!

Overnight Oats

A lot of people enjoy the Overnight Oats method of oatmeal. I have not tried this yet but I will. From what I hear Angela at Oh She Glows is the QUEEN of Overnight Oats you can check out her recipe here.

Other Grains

Most other grains can be used just like oatmeal. We have eat Breakfast Quinoa many times. Breakfast Rice is another delicious option. You can use leftover cooked rice or just cook up a fresh batch. I like to cook it a long time so it gets a little mushier than I would prefer for dinner. As it is cooking I’ll stir in cinnamon and almond milk, coconut milk would be good too. My husband likes Breakfast Rice with raisins.

If you are a crock pot user you could mix some grains, water, and fruit together in the evening, cook on low all night, for a delicious breakfast when you wake up.

Bring on the Veggies

Veggie lovers can start their day off with a Breakfast Stir Fry. No special ingredients required just use what ever seasonal veggies are available. For my taste the potato is essential. Leftover veggies work great in this. I like to eat my Breakfast Stir Fry wrapped in a tortilla with a little salsa.

Bread and Pancakes

I love bread for breakfast. Toast is my friend, especially if it is covered in almond butter (peanut butter is my favorite but variety is a good thing). I top it with sliced apples or sliced banana’s most of the time. Since we are switching to gluten-free bread we don’t have it as often. Gluten-free bread is too expensive to eat for every meal. Before going gluten-free Ezekiel bread was my favorite.

I also love pancakes. As a kid I remember going to IHOP and eat so many pancakes I felt sick, only to be hungry again a couple of hours later. After going plant-based we switched to Whole Wheat Pancakes; of course I topped them with nut butter and fruit, just like my toast. As a family our favorite was Blueberry Whole Wheat Pancakes. I use Lindsay’s recipe at the Happy Herbivore you can find it here.

Sadly I have not had the best outcome with making Gluten-free pancakes and I broke down and bought a GF Pancake Mix so we could have them for Father’s Day. Don’t worry I’ll keep trying.

Here’s your chance? What did I forget?

Gratituesday: Today

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I am thankful for today. I want to make the most of it. Some days “making the most of it” means getting as many things as possible done’ other days it means putting all of that aside to spend time with my family. Today it mean I have a sitter and I’m getting out by myself, there will be a massage, Starbucks, and a trip to Target on my schedule. There will also be time for prayer, reading, and music. Yes a great day. 

I love being with my husband, I love being with my kids, I love being with my friends, and I love time by myself. I’m thankful for this time today. 

What are you grateful for today?

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Meal Plan Monday: Fueled For Fun

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I finally made it to the store this weekend. The last few weeks we have been so busy we would just run in for banana’s, almond milk, and what ever else we needed for survival. This week my kitchen is stocked with anything a girl could ask for.

Last night I made a Mexican Quinoa Dish that was so amazing my husband and I ate a huge serving bowl full. Since it was full of healthy, yummy goodness neither of us had that overeating bloaty feeling. YAY for eating plants!

While grocery shopping I had one of those experiences that only really happen a few times a year. I’m pushing my cart through the store and smell a glorious medley of apricots, nectarines, and peaches. I stopped my cart and backed it up, then filled bags with yummy summer time fruit. If you shop at Sprout’s I was the crazy lady smelling the pineapples too! This happens to me in the fall when apples catch my attention too.

Meal Plan

Breakfast this week will be bagels (I found them on clearance), oatmeal, Breakfast Quinoa, my husband likes Baked Sweet Potatoes with a little cinnamon, toast, and fruit.

Lunches will be leftovers (more quinoa), nut butter sandwiches, GF pasta with veggies, leftover pancakes (from Father’s Day), and anything else inspiration stirs up.

Snacks will be fruit since I have apricots, nectarines, apples, bananas, pineapples, cantaloupe, honey dew, oranges, blueberries and a couple of peaches. I’m sure I’ll have peanut or almond butter on the apples and bananas. I found some organic soy yogurt on clearance that my husband and boys will have. Hummus and veggies are sure to make an appearance as well. A few months ago I would set hummus and carrots on the counter and munch every time I would walk by. I came to realize my hummus addiction was out of control so I have cut back substantially. 🙂

Dinner will come in the form of “Build You Own” nights. I’ll have grains, beans, veggies, and sauces at the ready and we can pick what we want. So for Monday we may choose Baked Potato topped with spicy lentils and a side or broccoli. Tuesday we may have a wrap with quinoa, beans, salsa, diced tomatoes and jalapenos. The “Build Your Own” foods will be:

  • Quinoa
  • Brown Rice
  • Millet
  • Black Beans
  • Pinto Beans
  • Lentils
  • Baked Potatoes
  • New Potatoes
  • Bell Peppers
  • Tomatoes
  • Jalapenos
  • Spinach
  • Broccoli
  • Carrots
  • Portobello Mushrooms (these will probably be grilled)
  • Avocado

I’m experimenting with this style to see if I can save time and cut down on a little waste. My husband usually takes leftovers for lunch so this may help us be better prepared to that too.

What are you eating this week? Are there any grilled veggies in your future? Are you in love with summer fruit like I am?

My Husband’s Story

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In October of 2011 when I began this journey I wasn’t traveling alone. My (incredible, amazing, loving, smoking hot, crazy, considerate, passionate) husband joined me. After my first conversation with Eileen (my plant-based coach) he told me he would be supportive but he wasn’t going to change everything I was changing. One day I had a few minutes before going to an appointment so I turned on “Forks Over Knives” then paused it to go. When I returned home my husband was watching it, completely enthralled. He looked at me and said, “We are doing this!”

You can read more about my story and why I decided to begin a plant-based diet here. Today I really want you to hear his story, so without further ado meet JIM!

In the last few years my health had taken somewhat of a downward turn.  I was sick a lot, I was heavier than I’d ever been, I felt run down, etc.  At one point, I was at two hundred and tooooo many pounds and at the doctor’s office…  again.  I was tired of it.  I decided to try some things that I’d heard of…

In the following months, I started exercising and “eating healthy” or so I thought and although I lost a good amount of weight and was more fit and theoretically healthier, my stomach also hurt a great deal of the time.  It seemed like the normal doctors remedies weren’t working so I went to my Chiropractic Doctor friend Steve and asked him.  The problem was what I was eating to make me healthy…  was making me sicker.   AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHH!  I stopped eating that way, I slowed the exercise and the weight came back with a vengeance.

I would try a few more times at excercising and “eating healthy” only to end up in the same crummy place again.  THEN I finally saw “Forks Over Knives” which my Doctor friend Steve had recommended to me before but I just “hadn’t gotten around to it”.  I guess I’m kind of a typical guy from the perspective that you’ll need to show me before I believe something…  As many of you know, the movie is an extremely well done film that provides data that is way too good to be rationalized away.  An old Pastor of ours, Pastor Gary had a message on “rational lies”  (pronounced the same way), his premise was very clear on the potential for us as humans to lie to ourselves and call it something else.  The data presented in this movie is just too clear for that…

So my best friend and I started on this rocky and crazy journey together, six weeks after we started I had a checkup scheduled with my doctor…  Not only was I down about 25 pounds from my peak, I felt great and my bloodwork was through the roof!  My cholesterol went from high to 171 and my blood pressure was in the “AthleteChild” range…  Yeah baby, now we’re talkin’

Well here we are many months after that doctor visit and from my peak I’m now down over 40 pounds…  without excercise…  I’m even below my high school weight.  Praise the Lord that now I can kiss the yo-yo weight loss weight gain cycle goodbye for good.

Next step excercise!