This Saturday, March 31st, the world is going to partake in Earth Hour, one hour where all lights are shut off to conserve energy and benefit the plant. I hope you will join me and the cities around the world who will be turning their lights off starting at 8:30pm. Get your candles ready!
March 29, 2012
Urgent Petition
Here is a petition for all of you to sign that will protect heritage pigs and their owners. I don't know if these pigs would be killed, but there is a possibility the farmers would go to jail just because the law is poorly worded. This only applies to Michigan, but feel free to help us out even if you're not in Michigan.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/1881/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7389
There's a lot more stuff on the site, so feel free to look around. At first I didn't think signing a petition would make a difference, but I was wrong. I've already signed at least a dozen that have actually worked. A lot of them have to do with food safety, banks fee, unnecessary forclosures, and animal protection.
Other sites I constantly sign petitions for:
http://www.change.org/
http://www.credoaction.com/
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/takeaction.faces;jsessionid=52C516E7A901873B7A99DB51821DBED3.ctg-c?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_takeaction_from_freewaystohelp
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/1881/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7389
There's a lot more stuff on the site, so feel free to look around. At first I didn't think signing a petition would make a difference, but I was wrong. I've already signed at least a dozen that have actually worked. A lot of them have to do with food safety, banks fee, unnecessary forclosures, and animal protection.
Other sites I constantly sign petitions for:
http://www.change.org/
http://www.credoaction.com/
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/takeaction.faces;jsessionid=52C516E7A901873B7A99DB51821DBED3.ctg-c?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_takeaction_from_freewaystohelp
Mimi Kirk
Mimi Kirk is one inspirational woman. Take a look at the picture below and try to guess her age. I believe this is the cover of her book.
Well, she's in her 70s, and part of the reason she looks so young and healthy is because she recently started eating a raw food diet, although she'd been a vegetarian for 40 years.
Here's a youtube video she made about what her fridge looks like, and although the point is on how to store stuff, it really gives you a glimpse inside what to eat. Some important things she mentioned that you should really look into are kelp noodles, nutrional yeast, fresh fruits and veggies and nuts. You can find all sorts of inspirational and informative stuff on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=683taLTfc1c
Now, this doesn't mean you have to be vegetarian, vegan, or strictly eating raw or living foods (more about what the heck that is later). I just want you to put more consideration into what you're eating. The stuff you put in your mouth should have as many nutrients as possible, and things like cake, fries and candy bars just don't have that.
Well, she's in her 70s, and part of the reason she looks so young and healthy is because she recently started eating a raw food diet, although she'd been a vegetarian for 40 years.
Here's a youtube video she made about what her fridge looks like, and although the point is on how to store stuff, it really gives you a glimpse inside what to eat. Some important things she mentioned that you should really look into are kelp noodles, nutrional yeast, fresh fruits and veggies and nuts. You can find all sorts of inspirational and informative stuff on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=683taLTfc1c
Now, this doesn't mean you have to be vegetarian, vegan, or strictly eating raw or living foods (more about what the heck that is later). I just want you to put more consideration into what you're eating. The stuff you put in your mouth should have as many nutrients as possible, and things like cake, fries and candy bars just don't have that.
March 28, 2012
Eating on a budget
1. Shop seasonally and locally. In season items are likely to be less expensive, and local items (from a farmer's market, for example) are usually cheaper and healthier.
2. Use up everything you already have in your fridge and pantry before going out to buy new stuff. When you do buy new stuff, buy what's healthier and on sale. Stuff like canned beans, sauce and rice is healthy and will last a long time.
3. Buy less meat. Meat costs more than fruits, veggies and beans. Treat meat as you would cake - you wouldn't eat a cake every day, and you wouldn't eat more than one slice. Your meat portion size should be the size of your fist.
4. It may take less energy to go to a restaurant, but it costs more than making a meal at home. For $20 you could buy dinner out for one person at a nice restaurant, or a meal for 2-4 at a fast food place, OR, you could get enough groceries to last four days.
5. Plan ahead and shop more frequently so you're wasting less and only buy what you need.
6. Buy in bulk, especially when things are on sale.
7. Grow your own food. Herbs can be grown in the kitchen, there are tomato plants that hang upside down, and other things really aren't very hard to grow.
This is what was in my fruit bowl lately: sweet potatoes, dark chocolate, oranges and garlic. Usually I have a bit more, such as regular potatoes, onions, bell peppers, bananas and apples.
2. Use up everything you already have in your fridge and pantry before going out to buy new stuff. When you do buy new stuff, buy what's healthier and on sale. Stuff like canned beans, sauce and rice is healthy and will last a long time.
3. Buy less meat. Meat costs more than fruits, veggies and beans. Treat meat as you would cake - you wouldn't eat a cake every day, and you wouldn't eat more than one slice. Your meat portion size should be the size of your fist.
4. It may take less energy to go to a restaurant, but it costs more than making a meal at home. For $20 you could buy dinner out for one person at a nice restaurant, or a meal for 2-4 at a fast food place, OR, you could get enough groceries to last four days.
5. Plan ahead and shop more frequently so you're wasting less and only buy what you need.
6. Buy in bulk, especially when things are on sale.
7. Grow your own food. Herbs can be grown in the kitchen, there are tomato plants that hang upside down, and other things really aren't very hard to grow.
This is what was in my fruit bowl lately: sweet potatoes, dark chocolate, oranges and garlic. Usually I have a bit more, such as regular potatoes, onions, bell peppers, bananas and apples.
March 27, 2012
What kinds of things can a vegetarian eat?
You're probably wondering what you can eat if you give up meat, snacks and pop. Here's a small sampling:
veggie lasagna
stir fry with tofu and veggies
egg drop soup
cauliflower mashed potatoes
parsnip fries
twice baked spice-only potatoes
crepes
mushroom raviolli
eggs over asparagus
eggplants pasta nests
brocolli alfredo pasta
veggie pizza
salad with cucumber, grape and apple
and most importantly... green smoothies and juices!
This tasty blackberry-strawberry-ricemilk-lettuce smoothie kept me full all morning at work, and it was so refreshing. You can make a combination out of practically anything. I once made an edamame bean smoothie that tasted like peanut butter and celery, and I have a popsicle maker which I made prune & cranberry ricemilk popsicles that tasted simply amazing. I just experiment with whatever I have on hand, with no set recipe.
Right now, that probably doesn't sound appealing to you. But there is no better way to get all the vitamins and minerals you need than a fresh fruit and veggie drink! And an easy way to see if you like it before you go out and buy a blender or juicer is to stop by Meijer and pick up a "Naked Green Machine" juice from the produce refridgerated section.
Here's an example of what I ate the other day...sweet potatoe gnocchi in red sauce and pesto (separately) and the one in red sauce had purple cabbage in it...SO yummy. It really only took about a half hour to make.
Here's the recipe: http://www.designsponge.com/2012/03/in-the-kitchen-with-simone-anne-langs-sweet-potato-gnocchi.html
And here's what I just bought today...
Tofy shirataki noodles for stir fry, silken tofu, sweet potatoes, lime, nectarines, ugli fruit, beets, apples, red and green pears, brocolli, avocado, prickly pear, mini papaya, banana, cucumber, edamame beans, parsley, celery root, mushrooms, POM pomegranate blueberry juice, rosewater, blood orange juice, Italian green beans, chickpeas, heirloom purple carrots, regular carrots, fiber one bread and dark chocolate. Yum. And all from Meijer.
veggie lasagna
stir fry with tofu and veggies
egg drop soup
cauliflower mashed potatoes
parsnip fries
twice baked spice-only potatoes
crepes
mushroom raviolli
eggs over asparagus
eggplants pasta nests
brocolli alfredo pasta
veggie pizza
salad with cucumber, grape and apple
and most importantly... green smoothies and juices!
This tasty blackberry-strawberry-ricemilk-lettuce smoothie kept me full all morning at work, and it was so refreshing. You can make a combination out of practically anything. I once made an edamame bean smoothie that tasted like peanut butter and celery, and I have a popsicle maker which I made prune & cranberry ricemilk popsicles that tasted simply amazing. I just experiment with whatever I have on hand, with no set recipe.
Right now, that probably doesn't sound appealing to you. But there is no better way to get all the vitamins and minerals you need than a fresh fruit and veggie drink! And an easy way to see if you like it before you go out and buy a blender or juicer is to stop by Meijer and pick up a "Naked Green Machine" juice from the produce refridgerated section.
Here's an example of what I ate the other day...sweet potatoe gnocchi in red sauce and pesto (separately) and the one in red sauce had purple cabbage in it...SO yummy. It really only took about a half hour to make.
And here's what I just bought today...
March 26, 2012
Adoption Day
I want to do a post every Monday on animals in need. There are so many pets without homes today that it is depressing. I'm doing as much as I can, but I feel that so many around me are ignoring the problem.
Here's Grace, from NBS Animal Rescue in Sterling Heights.
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22358218
And here's Raya, from Out on a Limb Cat Rescue in Warren
Did you know that black, brown and solid color cats are least likely to get adopted?
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22551016
And lastly, here's Snowflake. I cannot tell you how many years this girl has not had a home. It's been at least two years since she's been up on Petfinder. She's in Grand Rapids.
Here's Grace, from NBS Animal Rescue in Sterling Heights.
And here's Raya, from Out on a Limb Cat Rescue in Warren
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22551016
And lastly, here's Snowflake. I cannot tell you how many years this girl has not had a home. It's been at least two years since she's been up on Petfinder. She's in Grand Rapids.
March 25, 2012
Hungry for Change (Part II)
I had to laugh while watching the last part of this movie. I've been going through some shit in my life lately that has really stressed me out and made me cry. I've been bitter for so long I don't really remember what "nice" feels like, or what "truly happy" feels like. I learned to be mean and uncaring, not just toward others, but toward myself. I've been let down a lot, I've been hurt a lot. Only I can see that, it isn't something that other people pick up on or care about, and when I let out my frustrations it doesn't end up sounding like I've been suffering, it sounds like I'm whining. In truth, I hadn't intended to get healthy to live a long, happy life. I did it because I found a ray of light leading me toward a path with no stomach problems. I wanted to be pain free. That's why I still smoke.
So anyway, there was a point in the movie when one of the people said you have to love yourself. Instantly I was like "yeah right." It progessed to the suggestion of writing "I love myself unconditionally right now" on a sticky note and putting it on your bathroom mirror, having to recite it aloud every day until you mean it. I was totally against it, but then I thought I might give it a try, and what do you know, I started bawling my eyes out. All the crap that had been building up just leaked right out. It felt like the person in the movie was personally adressing me. My big concern was "Can I really give a **** what happens to myself?" I never paid attention to things like meditation or self-love before. I only ever take notes on food related stuff. But there might actually be something to it.
At another point in the movie someone said eating acts like a solution to a problem, whether it be a childhood trauma or current drama. Eating makes the pain and the bad feelings temporarily go away. I think there's a lot of truth in that, not that I had any childhood trauma, but I sure do have a lot of drama.
Anyway, moving on to the next part: detox. The body cannot fully detox if there are toxins coming in (alcohol, fast food, etc), but green veggies can get the job done faster and better than anything else. Things like aloe vera, chia seeds, fruits in veggies in every color, and clean water is fast, accessable, and will make you feel better and better. You will lose weight, your nails and hair will become shiny, your eyes will be whiter, and you will have more energy. They said that green smoothies and juices are the best, fastest and easiest way to do this. I'm going to try it out as soon as my juicer gets here, but I can tell you the smoothies I've been making are divine.
Last message: visualization is key. Imagine what you want to look like, the things you want to be able to do. Constantly visualizing it, I believe, will keep you motivated.
So anyway, there was a point in the movie when one of the people said you have to love yourself. Instantly I was like "yeah right." It progessed to the suggestion of writing "I love myself unconditionally right now" on a sticky note and putting it on your bathroom mirror, having to recite it aloud every day until you mean it. I was totally against it, but then I thought I might give it a try, and what do you know, I started bawling my eyes out. All the crap that had been building up just leaked right out. It felt like the person in the movie was personally adressing me. My big concern was "Can I really give a **** what happens to myself?" I never paid attention to things like meditation or self-love before. I only ever take notes on food related stuff. But there might actually be something to it.
At another point in the movie someone said eating acts like a solution to a problem, whether it be a childhood trauma or current drama. Eating makes the pain and the bad feelings temporarily go away. I think there's a lot of truth in that, not that I had any childhood trauma, but I sure do have a lot of drama.
Anyway, moving on to the next part: detox. The body cannot fully detox if there are toxins coming in (alcohol, fast food, etc), but green veggies can get the job done faster and better than anything else. Things like aloe vera, chia seeds, fruits in veggies in every color, and clean water is fast, accessable, and will make you feel better and better. You will lose weight, your nails and hair will become shiny, your eyes will be whiter, and you will have more energy. They said that green smoothies and juices are the best, fastest and easiest way to do this. I'm going to try it out as soon as my juicer gets here, but I can tell you the smoothies I've been making are divine.
Last message: visualization is key. Imagine what you want to look like, the things you want to be able to do. Constantly visualizing it, I believe, will keep you motivated.
Hungry for Change
If you have not seen this movie, I suggest you do so before the free online option is over. In case you don't get a chance, I'll go over what I found to be most enlightening/helpful. I always take notes when I'm watching something healthy the same way I took notes in college.
MSG and glutamates are used in 80% of processed foods. MSG is what is used to make lab mice obese in order to study obesity. This can appear as a number of different things on a food label, such as hydrolyzed soy protein, glutamic acid, sodium caseinate, citrate vegetable protein, monoammonian glutamate, whey protein concentrate, autolyzed yeast extract, or maltodextrin.
Aspartame and caffeine, found in pop (soda), is addictive, just like sugar is addictive, and it can be found in a wide range of products such as breath mints, iced tea, instant cocoa mix, vegetable drinks, nutritional bars, cereal, jam and jelly, juice, fat free yogurt and much more.
The aspartame and caffeine in diet pop kills brain cells while causing you to react as if the drink is pure joy, but it also causes formaldehyde buildup in the brain, migraines, memory problems, can lead to cancer and/or diabetes, and you will lose bone density.
The FDA does not independently study these products and food companies are able to decide what to put on the label, which is often misleading. A product that boasts a certain fruit may not have any fruit at all. A product that claims to be fat free could have ingredients that turn into fat once they are eaten. "Fat free," in fact, usually means it contains a lot of sugar.
The average American eats about 22 spoonfuls of sugar per day. Sugar produces insulin, which creates fat cells, which leads to diabetes, among other things.
Don't get your fats from canola oil or anything partially hydrogenated. Instead, get it from healthy oils, avocados, flaxseed, chia seeds and salmon.
High fructose corn syrup is bad because it is not natural, it had been modified, the same way white bread and flour has been, the same way cocaine has been modified from the healthy coca leaf. It is also addictive. You really shouldn't be having more than 15g of sugar a day.
Sugar is an ingredient in more than you realize, including pasta sauce, bread, muffins, crackers, cough syrup, milk, rice, cereal and salad dressing. Read the ingredient label before you decide to buy something. This is one of the reasons comfort foods satiate us so well.
Don't think about what you CAN'T have, think about adding more of what you CAN have. Try to buy local, organic, natural, as close to its original state as possible, not made by a lab, no added sugar, no preservatives. Don't eat when you're upset and think about WHY you're eating - is it because you're hungry and that food will give you nutrients, or is it because you're upset or don't want to cook something yourself?
I hope you learned something from my notes. If you want part two, let me know. Part two is about what you can have, what you should have, and how to go about becoming healthier. I might post that tomorrow, actually.
MSG and glutamates are used in 80% of processed foods. MSG is what is used to make lab mice obese in order to study obesity. This can appear as a number of different things on a food label, such as hydrolyzed soy protein, glutamic acid, sodium caseinate, citrate vegetable protein, monoammonian glutamate, whey protein concentrate, autolyzed yeast extract, or maltodextrin.
Aspartame and caffeine, found in pop (soda), is addictive, just like sugar is addictive, and it can be found in a wide range of products such as breath mints, iced tea, instant cocoa mix, vegetable drinks, nutritional bars, cereal, jam and jelly, juice, fat free yogurt and much more.
The aspartame and caffeine in diet pop kills brain cells while causing you to react as if the drink is pure joy, but it also causes formaldehyde buildup in the brain, migraines, memory problems, can lead to cancer and/or diabetes, and you will lose bone density.
The FDA does not independently study these products and food companies are able to decide what to put on the label, which is often misleading. A product that boasts a certain fruit may not have any fruit at all. A product that claims to be fat free could have ingredients that turn into fat once they are eaten. "Fat free," in fact, usually means it contains a lot of sugar.
The average American eats about 22 spoonfuls of sugar per day. Sugar produces insulin, which creates fat cells, which leads to diabetes, among other things.
Don't get your fats from canola oil or anything partially hydrogenated. Instead, get it from healthy oils, avocados, flaxseed, chia seeds and salmon.
High fructose corn syrup is bad because it is not natural, it had been modified, the same way white bread and flour has been, the same way cocaine has been modified from the healthy coca leaf. It is also addictive. You really shouldn't be having more than 15g of sugar a day.
Sugar is an ingredient in more than you realize, including pasta sauce, bread, muffins, crackers, cough syrup, milk, rice, cereal and salad dressing. Read the ingredient label before you decide to buy something. This is one of the reasons comfort foods satiate us so well.
Don't think about what you CAN'T have, think about adding more of what you CAN have. Try to buy local, organic, natural, as close to its original state as possible, not made by a lab, no added sugar, no preservatives. Don't eat when you're upset and think about WHY you're eating - is it because you're hungry and that food will give you nutrients, or is it because you're upset or don't want to cook something yourself?
I hope you learned something from my notes. If you want part two, let me know. Part two is about what you can have, what you should have, and how to go about becoming healthier. I might post that tomorrow, actually.
Preparing for a healthier lifestyle
Hi again! Too soon? In this post I want to share my "guide to getting healthy." I made this specifically for those who are serious about caring what they put into their body, those who intend to become healthier than they are now but have no idea how to start.
Now, I'll warn you. I know that right now you're a meat eater, you don't care for veggies, and you drink pop instead of tea. You're going to have to stop that. Sorry. (Not really.) I can guarantee that the majority of my posts will go a little something like this, "Meat is bad for you because..." or "Tea can benefit you like this..." or "Sugar feeds cancer cells." I'll be talking about green smoothies and juices, the benefits of products you've never heard of, detoxifying your body with veggies, and letting go of all the crap you put into your mouth. I'm no expert - in fact, you'll be learning everything as I learn it, changing your lifestyle as I change mine. Maybe one day I'll be a nutritionist, but for now I'm just spreading the good news. I don't expect you to do everything I do or change everything all at once. After all, we only learned to walk by taking baby steps. I just hope you care about yourself as much as I care about you so that you can become healthy enough to live a long happy life with me.
So on to the rough guideline. I actually drafted this for my father in law, with other family members in mind as well. I would LOVE your feedback on it. It is a "starter" packet of sorts.
Now, I'll warn you. I know that right now you're a meat eater, you don't care for veggies, and you drink pop instead of tea. You're going to have to stop that. Sorry. (Not really.) I can guarantee that the majority of my posts will go a little something like this, "Meat is bad for you because..." or "Tea can benefit you like this..." or "Sugar feeds cancer cells." I'll be talking about green smoothies and juices, the benefits of products you've never heard of, detoxifying your body with veggies, and letting go of all the crap you put into your mouth. I'm no expert - in fact, you'll be learning everything as I learn it, changing your lifestyle as I change mine. Maybe one day I'll be a nutritionist, but for now I'm just spreading the good news. I don't expect you to do everything I do or change everything all at once. After all, we only learned to walk by taking baby steps. I just hope you care about yourself as much as I care about you so that you can become healthy enough to live a long happy life with me.
So on to the rough guideline. I actually drafted this for my father in law, with other family members in mind as well. I would LOVE your feedback on it. It is a "starter" packet of sorts.
1. Cut out animal products as much as possible. Red meat contains saturated fat and cholesterol. Try to stick to chicken and turkey, but no pork or beef. The conditions chicken and pigs are kept in before turning into dinner are more disgusting than you realize, and often they are so dirty and sick, filled with antibiotics and growth hormones, that if they were not killed to become food they would have died shortly from being so sick. Cage-free eggs come from chickens allowed to roam free, thus they have less illness and more nutrition. Definitely make sure to cut milk out of your diet because of the growth hormones it’s injected with. Grass fed beef is definitely the way to go if you can't live without it, although it is a lot more expensive. However, if you could find it in your heart to consider what an animal suffers through before turning into your dinner, maybe you can abstain from animal meat altogether.
2. Cut refined, processed, and fast food out of your diet - again, as much as possible. Anything with a shelf life longer than you needs to get thrown out. Anything refined means it has been altered and is not in its natural state. Fast food is not exactly biodegradable (I'm sure you've heard of the McDonalds burger that sat unchanged for over a month on a shelf). Also get rid of that vegetable oil you cook with, and stay far away from anything deep fried. EAT REAL FOOD, not the crap made in labs.
3. Cut sugar out of your diet as much as possible. This one doesn't have to be all or nothing - about 15grams of sugar per day is a happy median, but the average American consumes about 22grams per day, and YES, sugar is not only addictive, not only in absolutely everything nowadays, but it feeds cancer cells as well.
With red meat, pork, milk, processed/packaged stuff and fast food out of your life, your only options will be natural foods like beans, greens and fruits. You will be forced to make more healthy foods (yes, you’ll have to cook) or search out healthy alternatives because the stuff you normally turn to (hot dogs, burgers and candy bars) will not be an option. I know you've all at least taken one baby step towards eating green, whether it be using grape seed oil, not buying pop for as long as you can, or staying away from artificial preservatives. Just keep at it, stay motivated.
So what can you eat? Vegetables should be the majority of what you eat. For every three cups of veggies you should have one cup of fruit. Don’t forget nuts, potatoes, fish and beans, and the HUGE variety of healthy pre-made food at the grocery store. Check out Amy’s burritos, pizzas and meals in the frozen aisle, as well as Kashi pizzas and Vitabrownies in the frozen aisle too. There's so much more, but I'll get to all the bonuses later.
How will you stay inspired to follow this guideline? Look up Mimi Kirk online and on Youtube. She is 73 years old and has been eating this way for decades with minimal exercise. The way she looks and feels should be enough motivation to get you started, assuming you want to look and feel that young at her age. If you’re a guy, check out the RawBrahs on Youtube. Buy Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr or The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone. Visit the wealth of blogs and websites out there that are focused on raw foods, living foods, vegetarian recipes and local, organic stuff. Then to keep you on the right track, watch Dr. Oz every day. You will always learn something new.
Remember, even household chores count as exercise. So if you don’t want to do any other kind of exercise, at least you’ll be keeping your house clean. But if you want to take it a step further, do some yoga. I know a lot of people think of it as new age hippy shit, or not "real" exercise, and other stuff, but wow does it make you feel good, and it definitely trims back a few inches on your waistline. Exercise doesn't have to be going to the gym, doing pushes, running around your block every day. It can be going for a walk, physically playing outside with your kids, mowing the lawn, swimming. Things you would do naturally when you're active.
When you start to see the difference the changes I mentioned above make in your body, as in losing weight, less illness, major-disease prevention, feeling better, then you will know why it’s important, and I won't have to persuade you anymore.
Here are some common guidelines: limit alcohol to one day per week, coffee to once a day, switch out any other type of candy for dark chocolate, look for things that have no added sugar and products that say 100% whole wheat or whole grain, and NO MORE SODA. (Yes, I know.)
Just so you know, on average, vegetarians tend to weigh less and have lower rates of cancer, have lower cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension and Type 2 diabetes. When you go shopping, think of the fresh produce section as medication for all your ailments. If it’s fresh produce it will give you more nutrients than you can imagine. Make a trip to the store once a week so the food doesn’t go bad before you make it. Remember not to overcook vegetables. Try to make your plate 80% fruits and veggies (remember the 3 to 1 cup ratio) and 20% lean meats, proteins, etc.
Hello, welcome to A Wellness Endeavor
Hi everyone. (Mom, Jen, Shawn.) I've started a new blog to keep track of all the stuff I'm learning about eating healthy, and I'm going to add a lot of stuff that would be included in "overall health," meaning body and mind, animals and environment. Hopefully this blog will teach you a lot, and it will be easy for me to get my messages out there.
A few months ago was the official start of my "health challenge." I went from not caring what I ate unless it hurt my stomach, to carefully planning out everything I eat and being aware of how my actions will affect everything in and around me, and I hope you will do the same. For my first post I'd like to explain why I am making a lifestyle change. Anyone who knows me knows that I love animals, and would probably say it's excessive. To me, five or six cats is nothing, crying while watching a PETA slaughter video is a normal reaction, and moving worms off the driveway before going somewhere is an old habit. I don't even like to kill spiders, so I have adopted the motto "Only eat what you would kill yourself." I would never be able to kill a cow, a pig, or a deer. (Goats, maybe, but I doubt they even taste good.) I guess you could say I've always cared about animals, and I like to do whatever I can to help them. That means not eating meat. Secondly, when my mom got sick with cancer I started learning everything I could about how to make her healthy, and I started applying those ideas to myself. So far, it's been a great trip. I've lost weight, I've been taking fewer prescriptions drugs, and I haven't gotten sick more than a couple times (whereas I normally got sick three times a week like clockwork).
Those are the two most important reasons I am becoming healthy, and I don't ever plan to stop. I want to know everything there is to know about nutrition, and I want to do everything I can for animals and nature.
A few months ago was the official start of my "health challenge." I went from not caring what I ate unless it hurt my stomach, to carefully planning out everything I eat and being aware of how my actions will affect everything in and around me, and I hope you will do the same. For my first post I'd like to explain why I am making a lifestyle change. Anyone who knows me knows that I love animals, and would probably say it's excessive. To me, five or six cats is nothing, crying while watching a PETA slaughter video is a normal reaction, and moving worms off the driveway before going somewhere is an old habit. I don't even like to kill spiders, so I have adopted the motto "Only eat what you would kill yourself." I would never be able to kill a cow, a pig, or a deer. (Goats, maybe, but I doubt they even taste good.) I guess you could say I've always cared about animals, and I like to do whatever I can to help them. That means not eating meat. Secondly, when my mom got sick with cancer I started learning everything I could about how to make her healthy, and I started applying those ideas to myself. So far, it's been a great trip. I've lost weight, I've been taking fewer prescriptions drugs, and I haven't gotten sick more than a couple times (whereas I normally got sick three times a week like clockwork).
Those are the two most important reasons I am becoming healthy, and I don't ever plan to stop. I want to know everything there is to know about nutrition, and I want to do everything I can for animals and nature.
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