I Tried

I tried.  For five days I tried.  For five days I tried to be on the same diet I had put Prince Charming on to control  his blood pressure and lose weight.  It was working for him and in 5 days he had lost 11 lbs and in 5 days I had gained back 3 of my hard earned 60 lbs lost!!  I have a very difficult metabolism and what works for other people doesn't work for me.  I was tired and didn't feel well.  His eating plan just doesn't work for me and it wasn't worth the ease of cooking one meal to stick with it.  So I switched back to the plan that works for me.  He says that in time, he is willing to try my plan to see if it works for him but in the meantime, I have cooked two dinner meals a day for a year, I can keep it up now too. 

Since I changed back, I have lost 2 of the 3 lbs I gained and I am willing to bet tomorrow I will be back down the other pound!  I just have to stick with what works for me.

The other thing that has happened since I changed back is that I have energy to spare.  I want to be moving and doing things. I am no longer lethargic and it is so much easier to keep on top of the things I am expected to as a homeschooling mom of 4 kids (two of whom are special needs).

And it takes energy to keep up with cuties like this one!

Crazy

This week has been a crazy busy week.  I am looking forward to the weekend so that I can have extra time to really clean the house.  It feels like I am just barely keeping on top of things. I did get the girls' room cleaned and organized today and we did get homeschool done but I would love a couple more hours know the day and maybe a little more energy too.

On another note, when I was at the doctor, he reviewed my blood work. Mostly, I am doing really well. He was impressed with my weight loss.  Mostly I am doing well, but he did say ghat he expects that eventually, I will have to go on statins for my cholesterol and triglycerides but they are only slightly raised so we are going to wait to see if they come down as I continue to get healthy. My thyroid levels are borderline towards the low side so I am going to try to eat foods that will boost my thyroid function.

Meeting Those Goals

In the spirit of making homeschooling fun like was one of my goals for this year, we did school on the computer today.  I had found some great sites to do fun things that fit right in with where we are in our homeschooling.  I even found some sites to work with Princess Belle.  She had great fun!  I gave her the homework of finding some subjects that she is interested in so that we can do research and do some unit studies to break up the book work.  For this year I am looking to do bookwork but to also do fun learning activities too.  I want school to be fun and the girls were VERY enthusiastic.  It was a GREAT day.

The little girls did some songs when we started and one of their favorites was The Lion Hunt song.  So after we were done our work, we made some binoculars.  The girls LOVED that and asked if they could make explorer hats next time.

On a sidenote: I am really struggling with my diet!  I am hungry all the time!!!!  I don't know what is wrong with me, but this SUCKS!!!!  And for all these hunger pains!!  I am not losing weight!  I mean I am not gaining weight, but I am not losing either.

figuring it out

So I have been trying to figure out how to feel better and I have worked somethings out.
- I knew for years that I haven't been able to digest fat since I had gallbladder surgery.
- But due to an elimination diet and some VERY strong reactions, I know I can't tolerate milk and gluten.

So this means that there's a reason no diet I was ever on suited my stomach!  Each one had fairly high amounts of one or more of those things.  I was working against my own body!  So as of now, I am really concentrating on getting myself healthy.  I am eating a diet that consists of healthy whole foods, fruits, beans,  veggies, nuts, rice, and seeds.  I am avoiding meat, dairy, and gluten.  Right now it feels a complicated, but I am working on a plan to make it easier.  I have fruit and nuts for breakfast, salads, soups and stir-fries for lunch and I am still creating supper ideas.  I am open to suggestions and will share any particularly good creations.

Finding My Way

I have discovered recently that a part of my stomach issues is that I seem to have a very clear issue with dairy  (a lot of pain which should not surprise me since mom does)  and a issue as well with gluten (a VERY clear reaction).  Since I have been trying to cut them out and also concentrate on whole foods I have been feeling better.  The scales have finally started moving again which is also a benefit.  I am not vegetarian right now as I just want to concentrate on whole, healthy, gluten-free, dairy free foods.  It is a little complicated but not bad.  I have simplified it to veggies, fruits, nuts and seeds, and whole meats.

Oh NO!

It's happening again.  Every time I go veggie, I end up losing my hair!  I don't know why.  I am taking LOTS of vitamins, I am trying hard to eat healthy.  A few days earlier this month, I even went off veggie and just ate healthy before I went back to eating veggie again.  It is still happening. 

Here is me only a month ago:

This is me today:

Healthy Reeces-style Oatmeal

I am trying to get my eating under control again and this morning I had a YUMMY and filling oatmeal for breakfast.  I call it Reeces Oatmeal because it is chocolate with peanut butter.

1/3 - 1/2 cup oatmeal
1 - 1 1/4 cup water
1 tbsp cocoa
1 tbsp chia seeds
sweetener of choice to taste. (I used 2 tbsp)
1 Tbsp peanut butter

First, combine dry ingredients and then stir in water.  Microwave on high for 2 minutes.  Top with peanut butter.  I like to eat it as the peanut butter melts over top.

Theory

I have a theory that anybody selling diet products of any kind should advertise in change rooms in stores next to those big mirrors.  You have a captive audience and really who looks their best in those things???

I have to say, I was trying on jeans the other day and I was very quickly reminded that I fell off the diet wagon since my move and I looked BAD!!! at least I did before I tried on my lovely new jeans. 

Simplifying

It has been a challenge to relearn a way to cook given my recent visit to the doctor.  I keep thinking it is going to be complicated.  But really, if I boil it down to it simplest form, a low cholesterol, low processed food, high fiber, higher iron, higher calcium diet, really is just a diet based on a few simple rules.  I need to be sure to choose:

1. whole foods
2. fruits, veggies, low fat meats, and whole grains
3. low fat ways of cooking 
4. foods that include the goods fats and omega 3's (like olive oil and avacados)
5. low fat red meats and liver and other sources of iron in my diet.  
6. low fat dairy

So when I cook, or when I get a snack, I look at it and ask myself if it fits into those guidelines.  Hopefully this will keep me healthy.

One thing I am doing is cooking my family meals like this too.  This is simple, healthy food and there is no reason they can't benefit from my newfound love of healthy foods.

Vegan Pumpkin Biscuits

I am making a stew for supper tonight and I thought biscuits would be really good for everyone to enjoy with it.  So I am trying these! 

Ingredients:

    1 cup pumpkin puree
    1 cup flour
    1 tbsp baking powder
    1/4 tsp baking soda
    1 tsp salt
    1/4 cup vegetable oil
    1/2 cup organic brown sugar

Preparation:
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

Mash together all the ingredients until well mixed.

Form the dough into 6-7 biscuits and place on a cookie sheet or baking pan. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes, or until done.

I sprinkled the tops of these because my kids like it that way, if you like your biscuits less sweet, you can leave that out as well as the sugar.  It is really yummy that way too.  

Easy Raw Vegan Meals

Salads with
-lettuce cut up really small (strips)
-tomatoes cut up really small with a serrated knife.
-cukes cut up really small
flavor all with salt and pepper and cumin

Pudding
-frozen strawberries let out to unfreeze
-seeded black raisins (flavorful)
-almonds
-a few dates
-a pear or apple
pulse in the food processor until chunky pudding texture. YUMMY!

Breakfast cereal
-almonds
-two apples
-one carrot
-coconut
-a few dates
put cinnamon or vanilla if you like and pulse in food processor. You can put almond or banana milk on if you like. I like it this way. You can also make it thick and then roll into balls and roll into coconut.

Raw Zucchini and Tomato Lasagna

Raw Zucchini and Tomato Lasagna
Serves 2

1 zucchini
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
2 tablespoons fresh basil chiffonade
Raw almond cheese (see recipe below)
freshly-ground pepper

Chop ends off of zucchini and cut zucchini in half.  Use a mandolin or very sharp knife to slice zucchini into thin slices.  Lay two slices side-by-side and then top with fillings, layering between more zucchini slices. Garnish with pepper and serve.

Raw Almond "Cheese"
1/3 cup raw almonds
1/8 teaspoon sea salt (or more to taste)
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
2 - 3 tablespoons water, or more as needed
1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped

Soak almonds in water for at least 1 hour, then drain. Add almonds to a food processor with salt, nutritional yeast, and 1 tablespoon of water to start.  Scrape down the sides of the processor and add more water as necessary until it reaches a consistency similar to ricotta.  Add the chives at the last second and pulse until incorporated.

Easy Raw cabbage burritos

Large piece of red cabbage - lay it down and top it with Avocado, fresh garlic and any type of tomato and wrap it up!

or you could try it this way:

• 2 very ripe avocados
• 3 tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 jalapeno pepper, diced
• 2 tbsp yellow onion, diced
• 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• kernels from one ear raw corn
• 2 tsp fresh lime juice
• 6-8 large lettuce leaves

In a medium sized bowl, mash the avocado.
Add remaining ingredients and stir until well mixed.
Spread 2-3 tablespoons of this mixture onto lettuce leaves and wrap. Enjoy!

Raw Vegan Cheese Spread!!!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups raw cashews
1-2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup water
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp Himalayan sea salt

Let‘s get started.

• Soak your cashews for 1-2 hours. You can even skip this step if you are in a hurry. 
• Rinse cashews well. Place all ingredients in the blender until ultra creamy.

Raw Vegan Cheese

Here is something I was totally excited to find!  A recipe for RAW VEGAN CHEESE!!!

Raw Vegan Cheese
1 1/2 cups macadamia nuts
Some water
1/2 lime juiced (optional)
a dash of pink himalayan salt

Instructions:

1. Place the macadamia nuts in the blender.
2. Pour enough water to cover them, but not too much.
3. Get the blender working on high speed for 30 seconds. That’s the moment it will start warming up and we don’t want that. Stop for a while and hit the high speed for another 30 seconds…
4. When the nuts are all blended and puffy add the lime juice and the salt and mix again (with a spatula, not the blender).
5. Take a colander, place doubled mesh bag in it and pour in the cheesy cream.
6. Fold the bag covering all the mixture and add something heavy on top, like a plate, big cup or a small pot.
7. Take the setting into a warm location and leave it there for 24 hours. It will be best if you add more weight on it at some point, to drain all the water out of the cheese.

24 hours later your cheese will be ready. Remove it from the mesh bag into a plate and keep in the fridge. If you want to eat it as a creme cheese – then eat it. But if you want it to look like real cheese, leave it in the fridge for at least another 24 hours. The longer it stays in the fridge the harder it becomes.

Garnish with herbs & nutritional yeast. Serve with crackers, veggies and red wine.

Time for preparation: 48 hours and 10 minutes. Serves 1-10.

Raw Vegan Marinated mushrooms

button cremini (whole or halved if large)
dressing made with olive oil, lemon juice, maple syrup, salt and pepper
onion sliced into half rings
lots of garlic sliced thinly
finely chopped parsley

mix all together, cover and marinate over night

Raw Brownies

Ingredients:
1 cup raw walnuts
1 cup raw dates, pitted
1/4 cup raw cacao powder

Directions:
In your food processor, grind walnuts to a fine powder.  Add the cacao powder, and pulse to combine.  Next you're going to add the dates (make sure they're pitted!) and process until a sticky crumb like consistency is reached.  Press this mixture into the bottom of a pan, and place in the fridge or freezer until ready to eat.  Cut into six even squares, and serve.  You're done! Easy as that.


Nutritional Information (per one brownie)
Calories: 261
Calories from fat: 132.2
Total fat: 14.69g
Saturated fat: 4.05g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 6.8mg
Total carbohydrates: 30.12g
Dietary fiber: 6.38g
Sugars: 17.33g
Protein: 5.7g

Weekly Weigh-in

I am down 1.2 lbs this week!  That means I am at a new low!  Woohoo! I am thrilled.  I am back from my New Years Depression fall off the wagon and I am back on track. 

Coconut Vanilla Crunch Granola

This sounds amazingly crunchy and sweet. I can't wait to try some version of this!

Ingredients:
2 cups soaked almonds
3 cups sprouted buckwheat
2 1/2 cups shredded coconut
1 cup soaked sunflower seeds
3/4 cup coconut nectar or maple syrup
3 Tablespoons vanilla water or 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon himalayan salt

Instructions:
1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
2. Spread on teflex sheets. Dehydrate at 135F for 1 hour.
3. Lower the temperature to 115 and continue to dehydrate for 15-20 hours, or until dry.

Broccoli Soup

• 1 lb. fresh broccoli (try to get stalks with as much floret head as possible. Less stem is better!)
• 2 c. low sodium organic vegetable broth (Pacific brand is gluten, dairy free, and vegan)
• 1 to 1 1/2 c. organic lite coconut milk
• 1 c. water
• 1/4" chunk fresh ginger root
• 7 cloves fresh garlic
• 5 t. nutritional yeast
• 2 T. extra virgin olive oil

Seasonings:

• turmeric
• freshly ground cumin
• rosemary, to taste
• sea salt and pepper
• 1/2 fresh lime, peeled

Chop a few of the florets off of broccoli to use at the end for garnish and texture.

Fill your blender with the vegetable broth, coconut milk, water, garlic cloves, olive oil and seasonings. Put the garlic and pepper on the bottom of the blender and then pour over the liquids and add the seasonings. Add all the broccoli with the exception of the reserved garnish florets.

Cover the blender and starting at low. After a moment, you can turn it all the way up to HIGH and blend for 6-8 minutes. If your blender is not powerful enough to heat the soup without itself overheating, puree the broccoli and soup ingredients in your blender and then you can eat at room temperature or warm the soup on low over the stovetop or in your microwave.

Spoon in the nutritional yeast and then pour into serving bowl and drop in your reserved florets.