Small Step Sunday: Pick a Day

One of my co-workers who reads this blog is having some health issues that could be improved by weight loss. Unfortunately, this can be much harder than it sounds. When I talk to people on a weight loss journey I usually see the same pattern. Something in their life causes them to commit to losing weight. They go crazy and drastically change all their eating and health habits overnight. They keep this up for a few weeks and lose weight. The changes become unsustainable and they either stop losing or start gaining. They resign themselves to this pattern and wait a year or so to start again. Sounds familiar, right?

This week my wellness tip is to start small. Most diet plans have you pick one day each week to indulge. I'm recommending the opposite if you're just starting out. Pick one day a week to eat healthy. Don't eat out. Only eat foods that you recognize. Skip the artificially and regularly sugared beverages. Once you can sustain that for three weeks, add another day.

Another alternative is to pick one meal each week to eat healthy. Depending on your schedule, this might make more sense. Breakfast is that meal for me. I always drink a smoothie. I make them fresh on the weekends (and random days off work), and I spend an hour each weekend making a set to be frozen for the week.

This picture was from yesterday morning. I got home from the gym and whipped up this green delight. It has a frozen banana, 1/2 C frozen cherries, a handful of carrots, 1/2 a zucchini, 1 C frozen broccoli, a handful of romaine, a handful of kale, frozen collard greens, frozen spinach, Vega protein powder, spices & a cup of unsweetened almond milk. When I start  my day with that much veg and green I know that I made at least one great health decision.

In summary: don't make drastic changes. Pick one day or one meal each week to be super healthy. Once that feels normal, add more days/meals. You can do it!

Choosing Myself

I have been comforted and inspired lately by Laura from the Gluten-Free Treadmill blog. She is also going through stressful life changes and running injury issues and all of her posts feel like they are speaking to me. Her post "unhealthy" from yesterday resonated deeply. I feel like I am in survival mode right now and I need to prioritize what I need to be good at.

I am choosing myself, first and foremost. I am choosing to forgive myself, to treat myself and to let myself learn how to enjoy life again.

This got a little easier this week after my two big doctors appointments. First, the rheumatologist doesn't see anything that indicates an autoimmune condition. Second, my bone marrow biopsy came back normal!!! I am stoked about the news but also still a bit miffed at the lack of diagnosis. I had blood drawn at the biopsy appointment and my blood cell counts are still low. The next step is probably a follow up with my primary doc and a second opinion from another hematologist.

In keeping with my new motto to choose myself, I chose to put off those phone calls until next week. I need a break.

The best part of the experience for me was this:

I was a biology geek in high school (would've chosen this as a career if I could go back in time) and I think it's so freaking cool to see my chromosomes!

What I Ate Wednesday Moving Edition

If you follow along here you know that this weekend my ex moved out and a new roommate moved in. I also had my aunt & uncle take me to dinner, and had a dinner out with a new friend. I've been eating out more this week than I have in months! Fortunately, I'm also giving myself this time to heal and not worry as much about what I'm eating. I don't have pics of everything from this week (some people don't get my weird meal photo taking thing!).

Takeout Garlic Pepper Tofu from Spice Thai

Vietnamese Bun Salad

Easy leftover salad mixed with hummus

Fulfilling a Chipotle craving

Summer rolls and bun at Lac Viet Bistro

Sauteed mushrooms and onions in tomato sauce with italian tofu served on raw noodles. 

Homemade chunky chili and grits

Vietnamese Bun Salad Recipe

A recent trip to Lac Viet Bistro for summer rolls and bun. 

Vietnamese restaurants are one of my favorite choices when dining out. Summer rolls are a must, and I rotate between various other dishes when I visit. One of my favorites to re-create in a more healthy way at home is the Bun. Bun is traditionally a noodle dish with lettuce and other fresh veggies plus cooked meat/tofu/veg. When I make it at home I don't cook with oil and flip the ratio of noodles to lettuce. 

The Buns of my life :)

Vietnamese Bun Salad
Serves 3

6 oz. rice noodles
1 package tofu (I prefer pre-cooked/marinated versions for this dish to make it easier, this is my favorite)
1 package of romaine lettuce hearts, chopped
1/2 english cucumber, julienned (thin strips)
2 medium carrots, julienned
1 package bean sprouts
1 bell pepper, julienned
Cilantro
Scallions
Sriracha
Peanuts or cashews

Dressing:
1 tsp sesame oil
1 Tbsp ponzu or soy or tamari
1-2 limes, juiced
1-2 Tbsp chili garlic paste
2 cloves garlic, crushed/diced
1/2 Tbsp agave
2-4 Tbsp water

Combine dressing ingredients in a cruet or container with a lid and shake to combine.

Prep your salad base by chopping romaine, cucumber, carrots, pepper, cilantro and scallions.

Cook your noodles in salted water. They should only take a few minutes, drain and set aside.

Cut your tofu into cubes or slices. Fry in a dry, non-stick pan until browned on at least one side and heated through.

Assemble:
Place romaine, cucumber, carrot, pepper and bean sprouts in your bowl. Top with 1/3 of the noodles and 1/3 of the tofu.

Garnish with cilantro, scallions, sriracha and nuts to your preference.

Drizzle dressing over top to coat.

The Anti-Highlight Reel

I don’t want this blog to devolve into a glorified photo album of food that I eat but I am currently in the midst of several personal crises that are making it difficult to find the motivation to author creative and inspiring posts. I don’t feel inspirational right now, in fact, I feel myself devolving on a lot of the habits and mindsets I've discussed here.

I read the book “The Hinge” by Rob Bell recently (not worth it so no link!). The one thing I got out of it was this great quote by Steve Furtick that says “The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.” I've always been honest on this blog, but definitely focus on the highlights of my life and my journey. Right now I feel like I’m living in deleted scenes, on the anti-highlight reel.

If you've been following you know that my partner of 11 ½ years and I are splitting up, and she is moving 2 hours away tomorrow. You also know that I’m making the rounds of several doctors to try to figure out why I have abnormal blood cell counts and some other minor but troubling symptoms and to try to heal a foot with bruised bones. The relationship ending has been slowly devastating. The medical issues are disheartening because I feel like I treat my body better than almost anyone I know and it’s decided to betray me.

Running became my biggest stress relief and I haven’t had it in my life since February, and won’t get back to it for a few more weeks. I've stopped meditating and journaling. Both of those activities have felt like a chore or a battle and I can’t feel any positive effects. My thinking about food and health is starting to skew to an unhealthy place where I’m worrying about calorie counts and macronutrients and making sure I workout almost every day no matter how I feel.

I am aware of the destructive thoughts and have done a fairly good job of limiting their impact on my life, but I feel like I am at the top of a precipice and worry that Carly leaving this weekend will push me over. I have a lot of great, supportive people in my life but 95% of them live in another state.

In summary: shit’s getting tough. 

I am trying to cling to silver linings and focus on the small wins. I am trying to forgive myself. I am trying to let myself feel, be, and do without judging. I am trying to hang on.

Thank you for sticking with me. I still believe that food is medicine, that being active is the best way to be, and that daily habits make life easier. I’m struggling with implementation right now, but I have to allow myself to stumble in this challenging time.

What I Ate Wednesday + Changes

This week was my first taste of what life will be like as a single person. Carly has been out of town for work since last Wednesday, and she is moving out this weekend. I am used to planning meals for each night of the week since our leftovers would be used up for lunch the next day. Now the dishes I usually make last 3-5 days! Beyond the routine changes, the emotional impact of our separation is starting to feel more oppressive. I am really struggling with day to day tasks and with not using food as a way to soothe my emotional pain. The next few weeks are going to be rough but I will do my best to muddle through. Onto the food...

Tofu scramble with a side of nooch grits

Saturday was the Central FL Earth Fest and I had this lovely raw Mexican tostada from Vitality Bistro, and a brownie from Raphsodic Bakery.

Tofu scramble round 2 with a side of sweet potato wedges.

My first attempt at banana ice cream - SO GOOD! It was 2 frozen bananas, 1 Tbsp of Vega Chocolate protein powder, 1 Tbsp of peanut butter and some splashes of almond milk. Topped with some raw sliced almonds.

Moroccan carrot salad on greens.

Lentil plantain soup.

Leftover carrot salad mixed with greens and hummus.

Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day is pretty much the best holiday ever. There's no commercialization and the point is to appreciate and honor the Earth. In honor of Mother Earth I wanted to share some of my favorite nature shots I've captured. 

St. Augustine Beach, FL

Appalachian Mountains outside Asheville, NC

Fallston, MD

Crowders Mountain, Gastonia, NC

Wekiva Springs, FL

Akumal, Mexico

Curacao

Curacao