Discussion Board

Thanks Quinoamania.

You know what, it is what it is.

I can deal with my mom and dad. It just ticks me off that my brother buries his head in the sand when it comes to them and refuses to see the mess and mayhem. My sister, who came to visit me last month, flat out said no when I asked her if she wanted to go down and spend an afternoon with them.

My BF says I need to act like an only child and just take care of them the best way I can. I agree and I am.

As for taking of care me, oh yeah. That's what all those yummy hot yoga classes are for - more so now.

Ok...not doing that again.

After a weekend of eating "off plan", I know have blemishes on my face and some nusiance pains. Thank you refined foods. I'll spend this week "detoxing" myself by eating clean, drinking lots of water and exercising.

Let's hope I've finally learned this lesson. Today's plan:

B - Oatmeal and a banana
L - Rice, beans, veggies
D - Repeat
Snack - Banana, Orange

Exercise - Yoga

So, I went to WalMart and Petsmart yesterday to get my mother some new clothes and stuff for the cat. I plan on going down tomorrow after work or Friday during the day to see what's going on, clean the house, check the fridge, pack up the cat and make my mom change her clothes and give me her old stuff. She'll hate me for it but it's all good.

It really, really hard to see your parents when they lose their vibrance. It's even harder when they know it's happening to them. Add in knowing that some things could have been avoiding just by changing what you eat and moving about. What these manufacutors make and organizations say we need to consume should be criminal.

Anyway, enough complaining. I hope all of you have a great day, eat well and exercise.

Peace out.

Yoga has gotten very personal with me. It's very intimate.

I'm finding that after doing a class and resolving current body issues (for example muscle tightness and balance) the next class I'm facing a whole new set of issues, yet, I can feel gains in strength, flexibility and balance. I've never done an exercise routine in which you become so highly in-tuned with yourself. I've done aerobics, kick boxing, step, zumba, water aerobics, jogging...everything...those activities have never created an environment in which I could feel such subtleties. It's very interesting. I like it...

My eating has been very focussed this week so far. I've been very clean and am planning on keeping it that way! The scale has been a bit wonky this week - so I'm not reading into the numbers. I'll wait a bit till I "detox" a couple days more before I start believing the numbers reflect true body weight - not fluid retention from all of the crap I ate over the weekend.

I'm planning on doing an Easter dinner for my parents this weekend at my house, probably Saturday. My BF and I just bought a home and renovated it, we'd like to have them see it. I guess I don't need to say that mom and dad are not vegans, so I am planning on cooking a ham with all of the trimmings. I'll alter the ingrediants and recipes to make them vegan friendly the best I can.

I know it would do them so much good healthwise not to have an other SAD meal. Oh, how I know that! But there is no way I'm going to get my dad to eat that way. Ain't changing that tiger's stripes to leopard spots!!! (He's 91 and very, very set in his ways...with NO health issues. He's awesome...he's still an active member of his FD as a Fire Commissionaire!) With all of the craziness going on with my mom, I think it will be best to have a nice dinner and a nice day and not have a food argument. I can eat all of the veggies

Today's menu:

B - Oatmeal and banana
L- Rice, beans, veggies
D - More rice, beans, veggies. Maybe a potato, instead
Snack - Orange, banana
Exercise - Possible a walk at lunch or after work. No yoga, day off

We'll see how today goes. I am planning going down to my parents to get the cat and clean their house this evening. I may do Friday instead. I'm just having some anxiety not knowing what I'm walking into. I know pushing things off is not a good thing (hey, why do things today when you can do them tomorrow??) It takes alot of deep breathes for me to deal with all of this.

Peace out everyone.

Well, another day, another bowl of oatmeal.

It's been rather busy here at work. I just recieved a new laptop and I've been installing software on it and moving data files over to it from my current machine. It's quite a task.

So, last night I did not go down to my parents. I'm taking tomorrow off and I will make the trip then. We'll see how that goes, then to do grocery shopping for dinner on Saturday and getting the cat settled in to her new home.

Today's Food

B - Oatmeal, banana
L - 4 peices of veggie sushi. Shredded fried potatoes (in water, of course) with fried veggies (in water).
D - More potatoes and veggies
Snack - Banana and an orange

Exercise - a new hot yoga class with a new instructor. "Detox" Hot Yoga. I'm anticipating lots of twisty turny moves. I'm hoping I don't get nauseous from new movements.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone. Let's enjoy our time with our families and do the best with what is placed in front of us. Remember, some times are about the people and not so much the food.

Peace out.

Happy Monday everyone. Hope you all had a good weekend with family, friends and food.

Our holiday weekend was very, very nice. My BF came down to spend the weekend to have dinner with me and my parents. It was the first dinner we had in our new home.

I made my parents a ham dinner, but limited the amount of fat and salt I cooked with. I felt so bad to cook meat. This was the first time I brought meat into our new home. I felt as if I was making poison - but what do you make someone who is 91 years old, set in their ways and is expecting a traditional dinner? Ain't no way my dad is going to eat tofu!

The day had its challenges to deal with my mother's forgetfulness and confusion. It makes me so mad to see someone like that. It's not old age, it's a poor diet and the lack of exercise in one's lifetime.

BUT

After we drove my parents home, I wish all of you could have seen how happy my parents were - my dad espcially. He was so happy he got out of house, went for a drive and had a meal cooked for him. And had family that cared enough to do that for him and my mother. This is when I say it's about the people, not the food.

I do wish I could turn back the clock so as to have better influenced my mother's eating and exercise habits. Even my dad's - though the doctor has said he's living to a 100 atleast!

Even though we had a very happy outcome this weekend, it's not all roses. There needs to be alot of attention paid on my parents, espcially with my mother's health failing. Good news, they are going to the doctor today for their colds. And even better news, my brother is going down weekly to see them (he's not cleaning, but he is stopping by). Little victories.

I'll indulge in yoga tonight

Good Morning to you all.

Well, interesting night at the yoga studio. Seems the efforts of this WOE and doing yoga are starting to show. Before class, I had a woman, who I would say is close to my age (47) and needs to to lose a good chunk of weight, told me I was here inspiration for coming to the studio after seeing the progress I've been making.

Wow. Me?

After class, I had about four fellow yogis ask me if I was "dieting" and what I was doing. Of course, I told them about McDougall, as well as, the Essetelyn's and Dr. Campbell. I was thinking I should put together a flyer of URLs and books for them since they seemed to be quite interested. One girl is planning on doing nutritional studies and I told her about Campbell's Cornel program.

So, it makes me feel really, really good when positive results start to show from this WOE and exercising. People, for as much as they want to criticize how we eat and what we do, can't deny it when they really see it. It wears so well.

I really should post some pictures of me so you all can see the changes. I have a good before shot, but everytime I try to post it - it becomes this really huge photo in the message That's alot of me! I'll work on something and figure out how to get them posted in a reasonable size.

Today's food:

B - Oatmeal, banana
L- Kashi and veggies
D - Need to go grocery shopping and get some veggies
Snack - banana

Exercise - yoga

So, keep on keeping on everyone!

My computer has been on the blink and I've been waiting eagerly to be able to read your journal and see how you've been doing. I'm so glad to read of your persistence! Keep on keeping on!

I'm still trucking fostermom4, that's for sure!

You know, after awhile, things getting easier to do and then they become habit. I can't go back to eating the SAD, I'll be sick all the time - so I know that's not going to happen.

The exercising just makes me feel so much better. I'm really feeling the effects of doing yoga all the time - I can move so much easier these days and I'm much stronger. I haven't felt this good in years. Why would I want to go back to feeling yucky all the time?

So, keep trucking? You betcha!

Seems as if having a sensitive tummy is running in the "family". I brought my cat home from my parents. She's such a picky eater and what she does eat is not agreeing with her. Tonight, I'm making her boiled chicken and rice. Gesh, even the SAD for cats is bad, too!!

I'm off to make a yummy baked potato with beans and salsa for lunch today! I've been looking to this all morning!

Happy Wednesday to all!

Well, I've spent over $50 on over the counter, mass-produced cat food - none of which my picky feline likes. She loves Gerber's Organic Turkey Baby food, but I'm not feed it to her anymore. Her tummy is not tolerating it. I cooked up some chicken for her and seems she's the best with that on the menu. Looks like I have buy and cook meat for her every week.

So much for my meat-free household What we do for our pets...

I'm taking tomorrow off to spend the weekend with my BF in Canada. We're off to see Larry the Cable Guy. Love his redneck humor. Then to Atlanta and NYC for the week. Do I need to mention food challenges for the next 8 days?

I'm thinking if I sticking to my guns. I know I can make this WOE work on the road. Let's see what I can do If I have time, I'll document my trip.

I'm also going to try to do yoga on my own while I'm away. I have always done group exercise classes. It's very motivating for me to be in a room with others, with an instructor leading the way. I can bike and walk on my own, but no aerobics and espcially yoga at home. I get on my mat and in some upward, downward, twisty pose and I feel so compelled to clean up the dirt on the floor when I see it!

Today's Food -

B - Oatmeal and banana
L - Baked potato with black beans and salsa (delish)
D - Sweet potato maybe some veggie sushi
Snack - Banana and organge
Exercise - Hot, hot yoga!

I'm also dealing with a reaction to some crazy plant or weed I got tangled up with this weekend while cleaning up the yard. It's some rash on my leg and waist. The nurse thinks it's posion ivy. I told her I didn't think it was because I have some pretty bad reactions to it that require steriod treatments.

If it is poison ivy and all I have is just some redness, a mild rash and itches (no blisters, no weeping) do you think the lack of drama from the plants oils could be from this WOE? If so, I'm definately adding this to my "This is why you need to stop eating crap" list.

Keep on keeping on!

Peace out.

hi VegSexy! Just read part of your journal. I think you are so special and so good to your parents too. They have lived a long life and deserve an adult to help them now. Too bad about the others but at least you can help them at this stage of their lives.
You are one nice person!! Good luck to you! I lIke my yoga class too, but there is no hot yoga here to take, but I do love the steam room and stretch in there at times too.

wow, I wish you luck eating on the road! It is THE most challenging part of this WOE for me.

Hi-Ho All, reporting from the road this week.

This week's transporation tally will be four flights, two subway rides, two train rides and probably two "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" in NYC cabs on Friday. That'll be the best part of the week

I'm here in Atlanta till Thursday. I'm working a crime conference in downtown. I've found Starbucks, Moes and a couple small take out sushi restaurants. Oh, and a couple of Subways that will be good for some veggie sammies, skip the mayo

I didn't eat much today. This poison ivy rash-thing happening on my leg and sides isn't doing much for my appetite. I'm just not interested in eating. Maybe that's a good thing, but I'm really going to concentrate eating well to help myself heal this creeping crud.

Catching my connection, I picked up a granola bar and Dr Fuhrman's Eat to Live at BWI (Baltimore Washington Airport). I picked it up at one of the newstands in BWI. I figured if I could not pick up decent food to eat, I could atleast read about it. Good book. Same information about this WOE just delivered by another gifted writer.

When I got into town, I found myself sipping an unsweetened ice tea at Starbucks and a veggie burrito at Moes for dinner (with no sour cream, no cheese, no fried veggies and I always skip eating the tortilla). I got a little bit of mojo in me to do some yoga in Centennial Park. (Yes, that was me in the blue tie-dyed shirt) Really wished I had my yoga mat with me!!

Tomorrow morning will be an early start (6:30am) with a stop at Starbucks for an ice tea and a couple of bananas. I think I can do this WOE this week!!

So, as always, keep on keeping on! I'll report back tomorrow.

Signing off...

Thanks carollynne and fostermom4 for your well-wishes. Living on the road, dealing with elderly parents. It's all good.

I wish all of you could meet my mom and dad. Espcially my dad. Well, heck you can read about him here

I like to think we all think our parents are special and would go out of our way to take care of them. I even found my brother checking up on ours the other weekend!

Still here in Atlanta. One more sleep then back home to beautiful upstate New York AND then a very, very early train to NYC Friday AM.

My eating is going well. I've found Moes and sushi restaurant that are both very vegan friendly if you can get past the fat. I'm looking forward getting back into my fat-free bubble back home.

Here's a posting from a "friend" of mine on Facebook this evening:

"...It's official- I beat the widow maker- 100% blockage of the left anterior descending artery...Quick trip to the cath lab, cleared the blockage and placed a stint to reperfuse. It's a game changer but docs say I should recover just fine.

We rode the school bus together when we were kids. I figure he's about 44 - 45 years old today, just a couple of years younger than me. Why is it that "they" think it's all quite "normal" to have blockages and stents? And what does "recovery" mean? Will his doctors offer any nutritional advice? Why are "we" weird or crazy for wanting to change and no longer want to eat the SAD??

I just don't get it sometimes...

...

My poison ivy has decided it's time to leave my little body. The swelling on my left side has gone down tremendously and my pants are starting to fit better. I still itch, but the itching this time in from this stinking rash trying to dry up. Thank goodness. If I wasn't travelling I would have checked out of life for three days and gone on steriods. Unfortunetly, we all have to keep on truckin!

So to all - have a wonderful day!!

On the train to NYC. Happy to have slept in my own bed last night.

I've pulled my hamstring muscle. Not too sure how I did it. I can't put any weight on my left leg, it hurts to walk, stand and sit. It's a peircing pain in my butt. A true pain in my a$$. May have been a combination of standing for two days and too much walking afterwards. It's really hard to stand for 8 hours on concrete floor covered with a thin layer of carpet. I may need to get better shoes to do these conferences.

My mother is in the hospital with pneumonia. My dad drove her to the emergency room Wednesday. She's on antibiotics and may be discharged today. I talked to my dad and said we need to come up with a plan to make sure she takes her medicine since she's not very good at taking it. Seems individuals that have strokes have a higher occurance of getting pneumonia. Dad is doing pretty good with all this. God bless his soul. 91 years old and dealing with all of this. I'll be down this weekend to help them out.

I talked with my brother about all this. He mentioned he's on some crazy drug for his rheumatoid arthritis and can't visit our mom in the hospital since his immunity has been compromised with this drug. I'm going to hand him a McDougall book. I'll tell him it's cheaper to eat veggies than the co-pay for this "miracle medicine" he's doping himself up on.

My sister may come down this week to visit me and mom. So, we're making progress getting everyone together and getting them involved.

Funny how alot of this could have been avoided or minimized if people didn't eat so much junk food. I know, I know. Hind-sight is 20/20. I've been reading Dr. Fuhrman's book Eat to Live. He's basically scared the bejeepers out of me regarding dairy. Boy, is that stuff bad for you. No wonder people are sick!!

So, it's been an eventful week. No water in the shower at the hotel Tuesday morning, a pulled hamstring, mom in the hospital and all this topped off with skin issues from this poison ivy. I am now ready to return to my bubble.

Eating was good for being on the road. I pretty much ate at Moes all week. They even have a restaurant in the airport in Atlanta. Can't get any better than an Art Vandalay (hold the dairy, please).

Have a great day everyone.