tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15443742625932228892024-03-13T15:04:56.429-07:00Finally Fit4SummerVeggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-1687990849288545702012-07-20T12:01:00.002-07:002012-07-20T12:01:43.819-07:00New HairSo how did my week of salads go? Not too well!! <br />
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I ate more of them than usual, but we had several events at work with TONS of free food and I find it hard to resist freebies! Especially as I am cutting down on work hours and going to be living like a poor student! So pasta, brownies etc. all found their way to me lol!<br />
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I promise that next week I will do better! I'm excited about reducing my work hours by the way- I will be doing more working out+ more college + blogging :)<br />
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And I've made the change from brunette to honey blonde for summer, I like it a lot!<br />
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<br />Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-46749165901007929032012-07-09T06:18:00.003-07:002012-07-09T06:35:52.622-07:00Salads and smoothies detoxUpdate: I'm trying to lose five more pounds to get to 115 (so I can see my ab muscles). This is proving difficult.<br />
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My body has settled into 120-122 pounds and is happy to be there. So I've got to start trying harder by doing more cardio rather than weights at the gym, and eating really well. <br />
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On Friday I did a grocery shop and got only healthy stuff (despite an intense craving to bake oatmeal raisins cookies! I resisted and didn't buy any of the ingredients)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These things are like crack to me lol</td></tr>
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Instead, I got a ton of salad ingredients and fruits to snack on. My plan is to do my protein smoothie for breakfast, and then salads for lunch and dinner. So far I've stuck to that over the weekend- buuuuut my salads are getting out of control. There is a line with salad where it stops being healthy as you've added way to many things to it....eg. those Mexican 'salads' in a fried tortilla bowl topped with globs of sour cream, lol!<br />
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In my case? Adding waaay to much pan seared seitan (veggie chicken substituted) and GOATS CHEESE. Im kind of addicted to this creamy fresh goats cheese, and my 'sprinkle' on my salad has turned into slices...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mmm goat cheese!</td></tr>
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Oh, and in the hot weather I've been drinking way too much orange juice. I caught myself and started diluting it with club soda but I probably added at least 600 extra calories to my days with several big glasses of icy cold,sugar filled OJ!<br />
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Its not only about eating healthy foods, its also about portion control :(<br />
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I may have to follow the four day diet again, just to make my salads correctly etc. Its sooo restrictive though so I'd like to see if I can get results on my own first!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fireworks at St. Augustine</td></tr>
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P.S. I hope you had a happy 4th of July!! I went to St. Augustine for it and watched fireworks in the bay, beautiful! <br />
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I was hoping to be a citizen by the 4th, but Im still in the process. My interview/test is next (I have a whole book of American history to study for the test! I wonder if most Americans know all this information lol!)<br />
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<br />Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-88872059494219237412012-06-18T05:50:00.001-07:002012-06-18T05:50:30.977-07:00Working off those cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Nothing entirely new to report except that I'm continuing to go to the gym! I'm trying to get to 115 pounds but I self sabotaged by making Anzac cookies from Australia- I was missing them too much! I had a rather 'expat' breakfast on Saturday- Anzacs, marmite on toast (British), and Rooibos tea (we drank a lot of this in South Africa)<br />
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I did go to the gym that afternoon and workout though even if I felt entirely unmotivated haha. The thing that helps me get through a workout is- music, and the feeling afterwards (toned muscles, less back ache)<br />
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On an unrelated note, how awesome is this Aussie beach house? Look at that tree in the deck, the view, the windows!! My dream home <3<br />
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<br />Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-70529484072238080602012-06-01T07:17:00.001-07:002012-06-01T10:35:11.570-07:00Tennis and Michael Duncan's PETA adIn an effort to find fitness related activities I enjoy I signed up for a beginners tennis class (the fact that the man in my life is into tennis could have also played a factor in my decision to sign up...ahem...lol) I was kind of nervous, being entirely nonathletic. However, I got in the car and made myself go ...and the first class was lots of fun!<br />
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We practised all sorts of shots and had drills were they threw balls at us and we had to hit them (with the rest of the class watching!!)<br />
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It was good workout because I was on my feet for an hour and a half, darting around, and for the next five days my forearm HURT. I guess I don't really use that muscle much!! <br />
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There were lots of people playing games around us at the courts having fun with friends, I'm looking forward to being able to join that world! I love socializing but it always seems to involve food and drink, tennis is a much healthier way to spend time together!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe I can develop a Sharapova body? haha</td></tr>
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My second class was supposed to be last night but it got rained out, so I hit the gym instead. <br />
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I'm feeling the need to do a week long detox soon. I've been eating 90% healthy, but I seem to have some kind of sugar every day. I'm on my last packet of Tim Tams from Australia (the BEST cookies!!)<br />
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and last bag of Aussie liquorice, so once those are gone I need to get off my sugar addiction and go sugar free for a bit! Every time I do I notice how much I'm like an addict coming off my drug, I crave it hard, and then a few days into the detox the cravings go away!<br />
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Have I told you guys that I dont really count calories anymore? I just kinda know where Im at and how well Ive eaten and what I can and cant really do for a day, its great. I do really suggest counting and tracking what you eat when you are starting out.<br />
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In other news, I loved this PETA campaign by Michael Duncan! Usually I find PETA to be too extreme and alienating to the general public, but if you look at the YouTube clip, it is a very rational and lovely explanation on how he doesn't like eating animals (He loves them- including his 6 cats and 2 dogs!) and that you CAN get enough protein on a veggie diet! (YAY for buff vegetarian men!) I loved him in the Green Mile, now I love him even more!<br />
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And in other totally unrelated news- I got some green contacts for fun! I love them, though its great being a brown eyed girl sometimes I like a change and its cheaper than changing my hair lol!<br />
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<br />Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-3439569831543786922012-05-21T11:54:00.001-07:002012-05-21T11:56:55.291-07:00Biceps!One of my goals this year is to develop arm muscles. I started with VERY little muscle, but have now progressed to this:<br />
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You can see the mild definition there lol.<br />
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I've been doing about 15 minutes of arm exercises when I go to the gym. Ive noticed that I've gradually been able to use heavier and heavier weights. I do bicep curls with 15lb weights now, and hold a 30lb bar overhead while I do squats.<br />
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And this is just the beginning! These are the arms I aspire to, and the abs! I will always have more of a bottom than this model though haha, and Im ok with that :)<br />
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Another indicator of my slow but definite progress? I was able to get through Jillian Michael's Yoga Meltdown DVD!! <br />
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I hadn't even been able to complete the full 30 minutes of Level one before, as it is VERY arm muscle intensive. She has you in planks and downward dog most of the session, and my arms would just wobble and give out before. Not anymore :D It was great realizing Im stronger!!<br />
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One of my body builder friends said that it isnt so much about muscle, as that takes a while to build...its about cutting the fat over the muscle. <br />
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He said I already have abs and arm muscles (and its true, I can do full sit ups now nooooo problem!) but I need to get rid of the layer of fat over the muscle. I think if I can eat really clean for a month or so that will get me to 115 pounds and uncover some of these hidden muscles!<br />
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I eat pretty well, but I definitely don't do loads of vegetables and salads every day. It would be a good cleanse. I probably need to increase my cardio. Since I reached my goal weight of 120 I cut back to just 20 minutes or so on the Arc, as I have been focused more on toning. <br />
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Im starting tennis on Thursday so hopefully that contributes to my biceps goal :) I've never played before, I will let you know how much I suck at it haha<br />
<br />Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-81413592013497263022012-05-08T11:11:00.002-07:002012-05-08T11:11:43.354-07:00Heartbreak, Australia, and my fitness goals<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kangaroos and Emus, cant get more Australian than that!</td></tr>
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Sooooooo.....I have been missing in action for a while. I don't want to spill the beans on my personal life too much considering this is a fitness blog, but yes, I did go through heartbreak. I took some time off to recover. I was touched by the kindness of my friends and co-workers. And what doesn't kill you makes you stronger....<br />
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Sometimes things fall apart so better things can come together...thats all I'm going to say. But I'm feeling very happy right now and have some incredible people in my life ;)<br />
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In other news...I took a three week trip to Australia to see my family! It was AMAZING!!! (well, besides the 30 hours of travel time...)<br />
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I forgot how good Aussie food is! I ate a lot of yummy things (but made sure I walked alot of hills too!)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haloumi cheese! YUM</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SCONES!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--tnvHXvNj9Q/T6lcjI9R_xI/AAAAAAAAAwk/JkYzbQJykAs/s1600/550113_10150630599376290_667556289_9539109_142408825_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--tnvHXvNj9Q/T6lcjI9R_xI/AAAAAAAAAwk/JkYzbQJykAs/s320/550113_10150630599376290_667556289_9539109_142408825_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family breakfast!</td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-etvZ3a58g_g/T6lcxM_MlqI/AAAAAAAAAws/GZJLFQc_5Hs/s1600/574708_10150655938656290_667556289_9622790_2076129771_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-etvZ3a58g_g/T6lcxM_MlqI/AAAAAAAAAws/GZJLFQc_5Hs/s320/574708_10150655938656290_667556289_9622790_2076129771_n.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bubble tea!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aFfEdwmpqFU/T6ldIVkh4tI/AAAAAAAAAw8/ZOd6C27lfKc/s1600/580572_10150648269826290_667556289_9610089_802196997_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aFfEdwmpqFU/T6ldIVkh4tI/AAAAAAAAAw8/ZOd6C27lfKc/s320/580572_10150648269826290_667556289_9610089_802196997_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I still didnt put on too much weight though, love being fit!!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-il85LGf9oIc/T6ldQ_biC2I/AAAAAAAAAxE/tl5SQv3Uyyo/s1600/523853_10150630599776290_667556289_9539113_869481799_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-il85LGf9oIc/T6ldQ_biC2I/AAAAAAAAAxE/tl5SQv3Uyyo/s640/523853_10150630599776290_667556289_9539113_869481799_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sisters <3 </td></tr>
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<br />
I've been healthy this whole time though! I didn't drown my sorrows in tubs of ice cream LOL...the gym was a great place to keep my head together, and all I have in my house is healthy stuff to eat so thats what I did.<br />
<br />
I'm at my <em>super duper I didnt ever think I would get here goal</em> weight of 120 pounds now!! And developing abs and arm muscles (not super visible yet but I can FEEL them!!) <br />
<br />
I'm trying to get fit enough to join a boot camp class later this month (I'm kinda scared!) and a friend and I want to try belly dancing (will chronicle that for you if it all goes to plan!) <br />
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Ok, bye now, much love <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IWpeK8Ff_Mc/T6lheSPdLQI/AAAAAAAAAxY/g8up9SmlG4s/s1600/561434_10150664994916247_262842176246_9537857_123025659_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IWpeK8Ff_Mc/T6lheSPdLQI/AAAAAAAAAxY/g8up9SmlG4s/s320/561434_10150664994916247_262842176246_9537857_123025659_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-56159968942887758032012-03-08T10:47:00.002-08:002012-03-08T10:47:49.509-08:00Does Eating Fruits and Veggies Make Us More Attractive?<h1 class="pagetitle"> </h1><div class="social-buttons"><span class="addthis_dynamic_wrapper"><a addthis:description="Eating lots of fruits and veggies may not only improve our overall health, but may actually make us more attractive, according to a new study published in the journal PLoS ONE. That’s because the yellow-red pigments found in fruits and vegetables, called carotenoids, are associated..." addthis:title="Does Eating Fruits and Veggies Make Us More Attractive?" addthis:url="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/03/08/does-eating-fruits-and-veggies-make-us-more-attractive/" at_titled="1" class="addthis_button_google_plusone at300b" g:plusone:size="medium" href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/03/08/does-eating-fruits-and-veggies-make-us-more-attractive/#" noh="1" ost="1" title="Send to Google_plusone"><div class="addthis_default_style"><div id="___plusone_0" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; cssfloat: none; display: inline-block; float: none; font-size: 1px; height: 20px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 90px;"><iframe allowtransparency="allowtransparency" frameborder="0" id="I1_1331232361871" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="I1_1331232361871" scrolling="no" src="https://plusone.google.com/_/+1/fastbutton?url=http%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.go.com%2Fblogs%2Fhealth%2F2012%2F03%2F08%2Fdoes-eating-fruits-and-veggies-make-us-more-attractive%2F&size=medium&count=true&hl=en-US&jsh=m%3B%2F_%2Fapps-static%2F_%2Fjs%2Fgapi%2F__features__%2Frt%3Dj%2Fver%3DoeXqYOWTQ7o.en_US.%2Fsv%3D1%2Fam%3D!mAdgFnmJxQOIii6qTQ%2Fd%3D1%2F#id=I1_1331232361871&parent=http%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.go.com&rpctoken=209458802&_methods=onPlusOne%2C_ready%2C_close%2C_open%2C_resizeMe%2C_renderstart" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; height: 20px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; position: static; top: 0px; visibility: visible; width: 90px;" tabindex="0" title="+1" width="100%"></iframe></div></div><div class="addthis_default_style">http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/03/08/does-eating-fruits-and-veggies-make-us-more-attractive/#.T1j66mS1ubx.facebook</div><div class="addthis_default_style"> </div><div class="addthis_default_style">(interesting article!!)</div><div class="addthis_default_style"> </div></a> </span><a addthis:description="Eating lots of fruits and veggies may not only improve our overall health, but may actually make us more attractive, according to a new study published in the journal PLoS ONE. That’s because the yellow-red pigments found in fruits and vegetables, called carotenoids, are associated..." addthis:title="Does Eating Fruits and Veggies Make Us More Attractive?" addthis:url="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/03/08/does-eating-fruits-and-veggies-make-us-more-attractive/" at_titled="1" class="addthis_button_email share-email" href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/03/08/does-eating-fruits-and-veggies-make-us-more-attractive/#" ost="1" title="Email"><img src="http://a.abcnews.com/blogs/health/wp-content/themes/abc/img/transparent.gif" />Email</a> <a addthis:description="Eating lots of fruits and veggies may not only improve our overall health, but may actually make us more attractive, according to a new study published in the journal PLoS ONE. That’s because the yellow-red pigments found in fruits and vegetables, called carotenoids, are associated..." addthis:title="Does Eating Fruits and Veggies Make Us More Attractive?" addthis:url="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/03/08/does-eating-fruits-and-veggies-make-us-more-attractive/" class="addthis_button_compact share-share at300m" href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/03/08/does-eating-fruits-and-veggies-make-us-more-attractive/#" ost="1" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://a.abcnews.com/blogs/health/wp-content/themes/abc/img/transparent.gif" /></a> <a class="share-comment-count" href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/03/08/does-eating-fruits-and-veggies-make-us-more-attractive/#comments" title="Post and view comments">10</a> <a class="text-tool smaller-text" href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/03/08/does-eating-fruits-and-veggies-make-us-more-attractive/#" id="small" jquery161005788632830442908="2" title="Reduce Font Size">Smaller Font</a> <a class="text-tool restore-text" href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/03/08/does-eating-fruits-and-veggies-make-us-more-attractive/#" id="original" jquery161005788632830442908="3" title="Original Font Size">Text</a> <a class="text-tool larger-text" href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/03/08/does-eating-fruits-and-veggies-make-us-more-attractive/#" id="large" jquery161005788632830442908="4" title="Increase Font Size">Larger Text</a> <span class="divider">|</span> <a class="text-tool print-text" href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/03/08/does-eating-fruits-and-veggies-make-us-more-attractive/#" id="print" jquery161005788632830442908="5" title="Print Page">Print</a></div><div class="clr"></div><div class="font-toggle">Eating lots of <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/video/healthy-eating-guide-15868919">fruits and veggies</a> may not only improve our <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wellness">overall health</a>, but may actually make us more attractive, according to a new study published in the journal PLoS ONE.<br />
That’s because the yellow-red pigments found in fruits and vegetables, called carotenoids, are associated with changes in skin color, the authors found. They also found that the skin pigment changes may be viewed as healthier and more attractive.<br />
Researchers from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland monitored the fruit and vegetable intake of 35 Caucasians over a six-week period and measured skin color changes. In a separate experiment, they investigated how attractive people found the skin color changes associated with the increased intake of fruits and vegetables.<br />
Increasing consumption of carotenoids is associated with a more yellowish skin tone, and the authors also found that eating more fruits and vegetables correlated with skin that appeared to have a healthy red tone.<br />
“Such coloration is held to contribute beneficially to the appearance of health in human faces as is the case with skin yellowness,” the authors wrote.<br />
The effects on skin color required only a moderately increased intake of fruits and vegetables, they said.<br />
Carotenoids are made by plants. They are distributed through the bloodstream to various organs, including the skin. Previous studies have found that high levels of carotenoids offer protection against ultraviolet radiation by decreasing the skin’s sensitivity to redness caused by UV light.<br />
But it’s the perception on attractiveness that the authors think could potentially be the key to encouraging people to eat more fruits and vegetables, something that adults in the U.S. and the U.K. don’t do very much.<br />
“Such inadequate intake is estimated to precipitate 2.6 million premature deaths per year worldwide,” they wrote. “Fruit and vegetable consumption affects skin carotenoid levels; this may lead to skin color change in a fashion that is known to contribute to the appearance of health. It follows that dietary change may be motivated by illustrating to individuals these beneficial effects on appearance.”<br />
The authors also add, however, that further research is needed to determine whether carotenoids affect non-Caucasians the same way.</div>Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-35671544173192892252012-02-13T06:35:00.000-08:002012-02-13T06:35:13.673-08:00Family CrisisSorry there havent been any posts recently. I'm going through a really hard personal time.Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-67067273338695276222012-01-30T07:58:00.000-08:002012-01-30T07:58:39.573-08:00A new haircut and a recipe for tofu lasangaI've had a two week hiatus from the gym as I was sick. I <em>never </em>thought I would say this....but I miss it! Its an effort to cram it into my life (I was so busy over the past two weeks I found myself wondering HOW I ever got four workouts a week into my schedule) but its worth the effort!!<br />
<br />
I find that I feel happier when I workout, my energy is better and my average mood is a little more elevated. I also fall asleep faster. I've been trying to stick to the 8 hours sleep a night resolution, but I find myself lying awake for an hour. I think its because Im not physically tired. The gym sure helps with that! <br />
<br />
Over the weekend I got a haircut with more layers, and bangs! They are just long, side swept bangs but I something a little different. My stylist also razored the ends, something I've never had done before.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dzxu1Z30CgU/Tya9lYOptLI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/Tyr8NR-bRho/s1600/431018_10150495179501290_667556289_9105733_744548638_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dzxu1Z30CgU/Tya9lYOptLI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/Tyr8NR-bRho/s400/431018_10150495179501290_667556289_9105733_744548638_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>Gosh I look different- this is me two and a half years ago<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MXlnmsEBQrE/Tya9ujh2i_I/AAAAAAAAAuY/DVgAUk5CCEY/s1600/Gaura+McLeod+Aug13.09DSC_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MXlnmsEBQrE/Tya9ujh2i_I/AAAAAAAAAuY/DVgAUk5CCEY/s400/Gaura+McLeod+Aug13.09DSC_0008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I also celebrated my friends birthday with cocktails and cake....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ARD3YjFxQSI/Tya9zfeAtPI/AAAAAAAAAug/AkHGICwCU_o/s1600/422700_10150495193706290_667556289_9105831_1962254726_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ARD3YjFxQSI/Tya9zfeAtPI/AAAAAAAAAug/AkHGICwCU_o/s640/422700_10150495193706290_667556289_9105831_1962254726_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iyLMU2XFJ7M/Tya92yT8-GI/AAAAAAAAAuo/4OvdNlC9HY0/s1600/403161_10150501077416439_639911438_8707605_679894052_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iyLMU2XFJ7M/Tya92yT8-GI/AAAAAAAAAuo/4OvdNlC9HY0/s400/403161_10150501077416439_639911438_8707605_679894052_n.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>SO good!<br />
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I also wante to share this recipe is great for vegan lasagna <a href="http://vegetarian.about.com/od/maindishentreerecipes/r/tofulasagna.htm">http://vegetarian.about.com/od/maindishentreerecipes/r/tofulasagna.htm</a><br />
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I only used one pack of whole wheat lasagna, 1 bottle of organic tomato sauce and baked it in a 9inch square cake pan. I added chopped fresh mushrooms to it too. I've never blended tofu before, but its a great idea! With a little soy milk it becomes very ricotta like! I added in extra spices too, I like a bit of chili, nutritional yeast and pepper in my tofu.<br />
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I really liked it and so did Ty!Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-89608470434944668332012-01-24T10:26:00.000-08:002012-01-24T10:26:40.530-08:00Sugar makes you sick!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I haven't posted recently because I'm sick with a horrible cold. <strong>Its been OVER A YEAR since I was last sick!</strong> I had this great streak of good health because I was working out and eating right. Last flu season I went home sick from work several times. This year I had been doing well- co-workers were coughing all around me but I held up!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> My diet and exercises were keeping my immunity high. Then last week <strong>I had my braces off (yay!!!)</strong> I had <strong><span style="font-size: large;">tons of candy</span></strong> given to me. My <span style="background-color: white;">orthodontist</span> gave me a bag of candy I hadn't been able to eat with braces- tootsie rolls, lollipops, gum, chocolate (first time a dentist has ever given me candy LOL). My co-worker gave me amazing toffees from Hawaii. Ty surprised me with a bunch of balloons tethered to little candies all over my room</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SAES6NVO7-c/Tx7u5sySKTI/AAAAAAAAAt4/8XTlcyMaSrY/s1600/402841_10150472479611290_667556289_9039040_542716296_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" nfa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SAES6NVO7-c/Tx7u5sySKTI/AAAAAAAAAt4/8XTlcyMaSrY/s400/402841_10150472479611290_667556289_9039040_542716296_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">he knows my love of balloons!</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I didnt eat all of it, but I did eat more sugar than I had in forever!! And then I got sick. Days of coughing, fever and lethargy. There is a lot of research out there that says SUGAR LOWERS YOUR IMMUNITY- its true! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">source-<a href="http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/sugar.htm">http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/sugar.htm</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td valign="top" width="398"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;">There is something called a "phagocytic index" which tells you how rapidly a particular macrophage or lymphocyte can gobble up a virus, bacteria, or <a href="http://www.healingdaily.com/conditions/detoxification-to-fight-cancer.htm">cancer</a> cell. It was in the 1970's that Linus Pauling realized that white blood cells need a high dose of <a href="http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/vitamin-c.htm">vitamin C</a> and that is when he came up with his theory that you need high doses of <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=2sO3HF3YmRA&offerid=20052.91865247&type=10&subid=" target="_blank">vitamin C</a><img alt="icon" height="1" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=2sO3HF3YmRA&bids=20052.91865247&type=10&subid=" width="1" /> to combat the <a href="http://www.healingdaily.com/conditions/colds.htm">common cold</a>. </span></td><td valign="top" width="217"><div align="center"><img alt="sugar and lymphocytes" height="228" src="http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/lymphocyte.jpg" width="198" /></div></td><td valign="top" width="178"><ins style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; display: inline-table; height: 250px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 300px;"><ins id="aswift_2_anchor" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 300px;"><iframe allowtransparency="allowtransparency" frameborder="0" height="250" id="aswift_2" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="aswift_2" scrolling="no" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;" width="300"></iframe></ins></ins></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;">We know that glucose and <a href="http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/vitamin-c.htm">vitamin C</a> have similar chemical structures, so what happens when the sugar levels go up? They compete for one another upon entering the cells. And the thing that mediates the entry of glucose into the cells is the same thing that mediates the entry of vitamin C into the cells. If there is more glucose around, there is going to be less vitamin C allowed into the cell. It doesn't take much: a blood sugar value of 120 reduces the phagocytic index by 75%. So when you eat sugar, think of your <a href="http://www.healingdaily.com/conditions/colostrum.htm">immune system</a> slowing down to a crawl.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">PS. I also didn't work out that week for the first time in months. I was trying to catch up to school work and work work and house work and all the gazzilion and one things I had to do. I think that was a factor too.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">PPS- I also recently read about how <strong>sugar FEEDS CANCER CELLS</strong>. And a friend of mine told me that when her sister goes in for her MRI they activate the cancer by giving her sugar water. It helps the cancer cells light up in the scan. Wow!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
I hope this post helps scare you off sugar. The excessive quantities we have availible to consume if we choose to us are poisonous to our bodies. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> Check out these stats:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">(from <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/04/20/sugar-dangers.aspx">http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/04/20/sugar-dangers.aspx</a>)</div><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;">In 1700, the average person consumed about 4 pounds of sugar per year. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">In 1800, the average person consumed about 18 pounds of sugar per year. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">In 1900, individual consumption had risen to 90 pounds of sugar per year. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">In 2009, more than 50 percent of all Americans consume one-half pound of sugar PER DAY—translating to a whopping 180 pounds of sugar per year! </span></li>
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">A little now and then is OK, but even then I think we underestimate how much sugar is already in our diet. Its in our yogurts, our granola, bread, peanut butter, pasta sauce, and ketchup. I'm an admitted sugarholic, so realizing how unnecessary it is to sustain my body and how it really is just a matter of indulgence is important. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I lost weight funnily enough, even though I ate a ton while sick (lots of micro-nutrient filled soups and smoothies) and did nothing to burn of the energy but sleep! Maybe its because I didnt eat out at all and made my own healthy foods.</div>Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-45213378748792181242012-01-12T08:22:00.000-08:002012-01-12T09:56:39.569-08:00Bootcamp!This morning a Groupon offered a great deal: 1 month of unlimited boot camp classes for only $29, (a $129 value!) At first I wasnt sure it would be for me- the boot camp website intimidated me! There are lots of pictures of people carrying tires, doing push ups and looking like they are about to drop dead with exhaustion.<br />
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Then I realized the Groupon doesnt expire until July this year and<strong> I have time to get fitter</strong> (its suggested you are intermediate fitness for this- I feel I am strong enough in my lower body but definitely lacking upper body strength!). <br />
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I looked at weather charts for Florida for the year and decided that May is a good date to aim to join the boot camp - heights of 87 degrees (rather than the 90's of June/July), and lower rainfall than usual too.<br />
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<strong>So I bought the Groupon</strong> and now have three and a half months to get fit enough to handle a boot camp! Eeeeek!!<br />
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So how am I going to get there? Currently I can do <strong>ONE</strong> push-up (sad but true!!)<br />
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<strong><u><span style="color: purple;">*Focus on weights at the gym</span></u></strong>. I do 15 minute weight sessions each time I go then go to the cardio machines, but I will probably need to get a little more serious about this and actually make myself a 'set' of exercises to do and actually research proper lifting technique...and do push-ups!<br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong><u>*Do Jillian's 30 Day Shred at Least twice a week- or P90X</u></strong> </span>- I own both. I assume boot camp workouts would be similar to these DVDs as you dont use a lot of weights/etc. Its all about using the weight of your own body.<br />
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I'm kind of excited about this. I get into workout ruts and maybe a month of boot camp will be JUST what I need this year to push me into super star fitness <br />
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Each 60-minute boot-camp session targets a different muscle group with high-intensity, nontraditional exercises that incorporate cardio, strength training, and resistance miming. Coupling calisthenics such as sit-ups, squats, and lunges with nutrition advice, the boot-camp classes transmogrify chub-ridden bodies into lean, healthy machines<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="fbPhotoImage img" id="fbPhotoImage" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/381474_10150487338169790_559074789_8826832_907000142_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bootcamp inspiration :) </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>----<br />
In other news- I've been keeping to my sleep goal and feeling great! :) WOW, its amazing how different I feel with 7.5-8 hrs! My body seems to go for that rather than 9- if I try to get 9 I just lay there for a while :( Haven't had to have soda or coffee or tea (except for one cup of green tea a day, after lunch) Unlike last week! Im controlling my snacking more (even healthy snacking eg. almonds- can get outta control!!) and feel more alert :)Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-64903078439219052582012-01-10T12:18:00.000-08:002012-01-10T12:20:57.239-08:00Paynes Prairie hike with Alligators and BisonAs I promised, here is my post with pics of of the bison we came across on the prairie! (If you like wildlife....if you don't, move on, move on...)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--q5m4SoIwSU/TwyYJpp_jHI/AAAAAAAAAsM/OfbXXUyEq7M/s1600/IMG_2867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" kba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--q5m4SoIwSU/TwyYJpp_jHI/AAAAAAAAAsM/OfbXXUyEq7M/s640/IMG_2867.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bison!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> On Saturday we were blessed with sunny 70 degree weather. So rather than running like a rats on the treadmill at the gym, Ty and I decided to drive to Hawthorne trail (about 20 minutes from town) with our bikes in the back of his 4X4. (Tip- if you want to keep your work out motivation up, try scheduling workouts outdoors whenever the weather permits. The outdoors has a possibility for adventure- the gym- not so much :) <br />
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Hawthorne is a beautiful area to bike, as its paved road (which means you arent constantly looking out for tree roots and rocks in your way like you would have to on a dirt trail) but it runs through pine cone forest and hills. Midway on Hawthorne trail, a footpath called La Chua Trail branches off. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-04LLErxtzRI/TwyZXhvvFLI/AAAAAAAAAsU/AKbq59T9kFo/s1600/IMG_2833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" kba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-04LLErxtzRI/TwyZXhvvFLI/AAAAAAAAAsU/AKbq59T9kFo/s400/IMG_2833.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">La Chua Trail</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> La Chua is basically a raised board walkway that ends by a large lake infested with alligators, and continues as a dirt path across the prairie. When we got to the dirt path a lady walking back to the Hawthorne entrance told us a <strong>BISON </strong>was out in a ditch!<br />
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I was pretty excited, because this is one of the last opportunities to actually see one out in the wild here in Florida. Council authorities have passed plans to cull the herd. When we eventually found the bison, munching on some weeds in the water, I was also excited to realize it was a male! There are going to be NO males left when they cull the herd (and I hope they don't all end up on peoples plates- I've seen bison in the local restaurants before I saw one in real life!)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TQur3i32H4I/TwyauTsF9YI/AAAAAAAAAsc/-gX8j-PY7R0/s1600/IMG_2856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" kba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TQur3i32H4I/TwyauTsF9YI/AAAAAAAAAsc/-gX8j-PY7R0/s640/IMG_2856.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">He has a weird green tongue</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t79CSaW-tvc/Twya9UXNRVI/AAAAAAAAAss/EcGVcS9WdWA/s1600/IMG_2914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" kba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t79CSaW-tvc/Twya9UXNRVI/AAAAAAAAAss/EcGVcS9WdWA/s640/IMG_2914.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We also saw a little alligator in the grass, he wasnt scared of us until I got really close</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SBDkHqPZ5dY/TwybAvXgPTI/AAAAAAAAAs0/nJp0WcKlXmg/s1600/IMG_2893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" kba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SBDkHqPZ5dY/TwybAvXgPTI/AAAAAAAAAs0/nJp0WcKlXmg/s320/IMG_2893.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And a BIG alligator, which I was scared of!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k5IYAZnDLbk/Twybaqn6UGI/AAAAAAAAAs8/ma-_H2h9CFA/s1600/IMG_2874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" kba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k5IYAZnDLbk/Twybaqn6UGI/AAAAAAAAAs8/ma-_H2h9CFA/s640/IMG_2874.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Uh Oh, is he looking at me! Time to go LOL</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I wish I could do this everyday instead of the gym! But I'd have to be a lady of leisure without the need for a job - I doubt my boss would appreciate me taking off for several hours to get to the prairie in the daylight (and you <strong><span style="font-size: large;">really </span></strong>wouldn't want to be on this trail after dark!!!)<br />
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( All images copyrighted to this blog)Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-6933871171627940952012-01-09T06:49:00.000-08:002012-01-10T05:49:03.698-08:00Vegan potuluck, and how to get more sleep!/hihi Can you believe that fresh strawberries are cheap in Florida right now? Its the middle of winter and they in every health food store and supermarket. I made this delicious whole wheat strawberry waffle before hitting up the trails on the weekend (where I saw a BISON- not kidding- pics to come in my next post!!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P9ts-sE0zsw/Twr5BDARQUI/AAAAAAAAArU/cvZSIv55PSc/s1600/387571_10150450897921290_667556289_8961838_1814148069_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P9ts-sE0zsw/Twr5BDARQUI/AAAAAAAAArU/cvZSIv55PSc/s640/387571_10150450897921290_667556289_8961838_1814148069_n.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
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In my last post I laid out my resolutions for the year. There is something else I want to try out for a few weeks and see if it changes anything- more sleep. Or specifically:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sjLEFvSmB1E/Twr-CPIA_uI/AAAAAAAAAr0/_UzuPKg7XbE/s1600/imagesCAQ9P6H4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sjLEFvSmB1E/Twr-CPIA_uI/AAAAAAAAAr0/_UzuPKg7XbE/s200/imagesCAQ9P6H4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><strong><span style="font-size: large;"> 9 hours of sleep a night.</span></strong><br />
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Most work nights I only get 6-7 max and Im drinking waaaaay to much green tea and even the occasional soda (not good- not after last years battle to wean myself off the stuff!) <br />
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This website <a href="http://helpguide.org/life/sleeping.htm">http://helpguide.org/life/sleeping.htm</a> suggests <strong>7.5 to 9 hours, and I think 9 is a safe number to shoot for so that I know I will at least get 8.5 hours by the time I actually fall asleep (it can take me a while sometimes) </strong><br />
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This is going to mean timing my workouts earlier (I like to go at 7 or 8 p.m when the gym isnt crowded) Its going to be really weird going to bed at 9:30p.m. but I want to try it out, and see if I feel like a whole new person :D <br />
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The website says this about sleep deprivation (I will highlight in purple the ones I feel really apply to myself)<br />
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<h3><span style="font-size: large;">The effects of sleep deprivation and chronic lack of sleep</span></h3><div class="leftfloatdiv"><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;">Fatigue, lethargy, and <span style="color: purple;">lack of motivation </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Moodiness and<span style="color: purple;"> irritability </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Reduced creativity and problem-solving skills </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Inability to cope with stress </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Reduced immunity; frequent colds and infections </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Concentration and memory problems </span></li>
</ul></div><div class="leftfloatdiv"><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;">Weight gain </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;">Impaired motor skills</span> and increased risk of accidents </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Difficulty making decisions </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems </span></li>
</ul></div>I bet I will feel more creative, optimistic and passionate about life rather than snarky and bored and clamoring for a nap if I have more sleep under my belt :) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-38CRk2bTrKc/Twr-KHOpUMI/AAAAAAAAAr8/0l5Pfqv1Ul4/s1600/sleep-dog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-38CRk2bTrKc/Twr-KHOpUMI/AAAAAAAAAr8/0l5Pfqv1Ul4/s1600/sleep-dog2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
How do you know if you are sleep deprived? Well, according to the website:<br />
<h3><span style="font-size: large;">You may be sleep deprived if you...</span></h3><div class="leftfloatdiv"><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;">Need an alarm clock in order to wake up on time </span></li>
<li><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Rely on the snooze button </span></li>
<li><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning </span></li>
<li><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Feel sluggish in the afternoon </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Get sleepy in meetings, lectures, or <span style="color: purple;">warm rooms </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;">Get drowsy after heavy meals</span> or when driving </span></li>
</ul></div><div class="leftfloatdiv"><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;">Need to nap to get through the day </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Fall asleep while watching TV or relaxing in the evening </span></li>
<li><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Feel the need to sleep in on weekends </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Fall asleep within five minutes of going to bed </span></li>
</ul></div><br />
I got 9 hours a night over the weekend- easy right!!? <br />
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On Sunday night I was aiming for 9 but got 8 instead by the time I finally got to bed. I lost my wallet somewhere in the house and it took forever to find it and threw off my schedule (which again, is why 9 is a good number to shoot for cos at <strong>LEAST</strong> you get in 8 by the time you've dealt with all the random things you remember you need to do before bed!<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The website <a href="http://helpguide.org/life/sleeping.htm">http://helpguide.org/life/sleeping.htm</a> suggests creating a ritual before bed. I've been having a cup of hot Sleepytime tea which has natural sleep herbs in it, </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--1xeu-kXsGA/Twr_BaylExI/AAAAAAAAAsE/Usxr2_yrTyw/s1600/tumblr_livhwj4rp11qasg8bo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--1xeu-kXsGA/Twr_BaylExI/AAAAAAAAAsE/Usxr2_yrTyw/s200/tumblr_livhwj4rp11qasg8bo1_500.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>and a hot shower + making sure I dont use bright electronics right before bed + making my room dark to promote melatonin (sleep hormone), and so I easily fell asleep before 10:30 :) This morning I don't feel as tired as I usually would <br />
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In other news- I went to a <strong><span style="font-size: large;">Vegan Potluck</span></strong> this weekend! There is a local group that meets on the first Saturday of every month and everybody brings a vegan/vegetarian dish.<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://veg4lifegainesville.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://veg4lifegainesville.com/</span></a> It was great! Check out their website for recipes.<br />
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These are some pics from their site:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bn-UuIgYb6g/Twr9zUmSeFI/AAAAAAAAArc/fIDQimbMj2Q/s1600/table4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bn-UuIgYb6g/Twr9zUmSeFI/AAAAAAAAArc/fIDQimbMj2Q/s320/table4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3wlOsYnIDFo/Twr90LsxBzI/AAAAAAAAArk/n__9vFd0hKI/s1600/loading1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3wlOsYnIDFo/Twr90LsxBzI/AAAAAAAAArk/n__9vFd0hKI/s320/loading1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XjOhD0CEgsY/Twr91ZRe2XI/AAAAAAAAArs/KGpIWdWqmuA/s1600/2007_08_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XjOhD0CEgsY/Twr91ZRe2XI/AAAAAAAAArs/KGpIWdWqmuA/s320/2007_08_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
There were about 40 people, and tons of yummy food including desserts! The crowd was mainly older people but there were about 5 people in their 20s there too. It seemed like the elder people were quite excited to see us, I think they really want to pass on their wisdom to the new generation!<strong><span style="font-size: large;"> I made vegan mac and cheese from Ohsheglows.com (which garnered quite a few compliments!) Ty made a dip with corn chips</span></strong> and one of our very pregnant friends came along too (here due date is tomorrow!!), she loved the food as well.<br />
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There were lots of conversations about eco-friendly and sustainable ways of eating, as well as a speech from a vegan dietitian about how to eliminate gluten in your diet.<br />
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I dont have any gluten issues, but it did make me think that it might be cool to eliminate various things from my diet for a week at a time and see how I feel. Who knows- maybe I'd feel great after a week without gluten or milk etc? I dont know what if mildly intolerant of certain things or not, without testing! I know a few people who feel congested if they have milk products or get headaches. I'm trying to be more aware of how what I eat affects my skin, hair, energy, mood etc.<br />
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With work and school keeping me so busy my community involvement has been kind of lacking, but this is the kind of group I can definitely support and be a part of in the new year!Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-78974754759539787412012-01-04T12:18:00.000-08:002012-06-01T10:27:01.022-07:00The beginning of a New Year..resolutions and highlights :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We rung in the new year with a balloon drop and champagne + a pool game at our local bar. I love balloons so that was the main draw for me :) And I wanted to wear my sparkly gold dress!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MOp1BeR1f_o/TwXiX0Kt_ZI/AAAAAAAAArM/BFvC8g1l6a0/s1600/beachballooncolorfulphotographyballoonsblue-fc33b87a641ce91884b9b2584f1e6759_h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MOp1BeR1f_o/TwXiX0Kt_ZI/AAAAAAAAArM/BFvC8g1l6a0/s320/beachballooncolorfulphotographyballoonsblue-fc33b87a641ce91884b9b2584f1e6759_h.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I get this excited about balloons!</td></tr>
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However-<strong> I detest new years in which I have uncool birthdays</strong>. This year I'm turning 26...not cool. 25 seemed quite old enough, thank you very much! Ideally I would have liked to stay 25 for a few years and sorted myself out, figured out my career and finished my schooling....but noooo, I just have to turn 26 don't I...darn! Time goes by so fast :(<br />
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Before I share my<strong> resolutions</strong> for this year, I'd like to first share my <strong><span style="font-size: large;">fitness accomplishments from 2011.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">The BIGGEST accomplishment - I reached my weight loss goal!</span></strong> It is the first time I've ever consciously made a weight loss goal, and achieved it AND maintained it! I wanted to get to 135 pounds and I got all the way to 125 pounds! <strong><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: magenta;">Wow</span> </span></strong>:) <br />
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I feel stronger as a person for having done this, and it makes me feel like if I make new resolutions, I can actually achieve them, they aren't just day dreams..<br />
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I also discovered <strong><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Green Monsters - fruit smoothies with spinach in them and used them in my diet</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">I gave up coffee!! (holy crap..)</span></strong><br />
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Towards the middle of the year, I <strong><span style="font-size: large;">brown bagged 80% of my work lunches</span></strong> with at home cooking and had several months where I didn't eat out at all!!<br />
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I <span style="font-size: large;"><strong>did Jillian's 30 day Shred</strong></span><br />
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I <strong><span style="font-size: large;">did Dr. Ian Smith's 3 day Diet cleanse</span></strong> + quite a few of the modules from the diet - until I had wisdom teeth out and had to just drink my food LOL<br />
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I actually started <strong><span style="font-size: large;">working out at the gym</span></strong> that I was about to cancel my membership to...and now I go at LEAST three times a week and feel SO much more alive and have less aches and pains from sitting in the office all day - and I maintained the gym visits while working and going to school full time<br />
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I <strong><span style="font-size: large;">completed a nutrition course at college and got an A</span></strong> in it <br />
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I <strong><span style="font-size: large;">watched 'Forks Over Knives' and read 'The Engine 2 Diet' and watched "Fat Sick and Nearly Dead"</span></strong> whichjust reaffirmed my faith in vegetarianism and healthy eating vs. the typical American diet. BTW This is the best speech I have ever heard <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=es6U00LMmC4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=es6U00LMmC4</a><br />
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I started <strong><span style="font-size: large;">blogging to keep me on track with my progress</span></strong>. And it REALLY helped! Reading the posts of other healthy minded people is a big motivator too, especially living in Florida where I'm surrounded by a lot of unhealthy people eating the traditional southern diet!<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">And I didn't get sick once this year</span></strong>! Last year I had a whole week at home with a cold, and several days I left the office early feeling sick. Im convinced that eating healthy and working out really helped with this- I ate like I did back when I'd feel like I was about to get sick- fruits, smoothies, vitamin C- but all the time :)<br />
In other big news- my braces are coming off in 12 days!!! WOOOOOT! :) Cant wait to chew gum and eat corn on the cob again!<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">New Years Resolutions: </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Fitness:</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Lose 5 more pounds</span></strong> to get to my ideal weight of 120 pounds... calculated with this website <a href="http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm">http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm</a> Actually, over the past 3 days I've gained TWO pounds from eating out constantly so its going to be lose 7 pounds...<br />
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I cant believe how the weight piled on right after NYE and Xmas- I guess I thought I'd gotten past the holidays and relaxed too much- I also ate several tubs of guacamole and LOTS of chocolate + nutella! Oh- and I treated myself to a jar of Marmite which I miss (as a Brit- and I miss Vegemite which is the Australian version too)<br />
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which led to a bit of a bread fest as I took a tasty trip down memory lane with one fresh hot piece of buttery toast after another.. Its actually kind of shocking to have GAINED weight, its been a year since that last happened! <br />
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<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Develop biceps</span></strong> (which will lead to rock climbing I hope!) I saw a girl out at the club on NYE that had THE biceps I want- defined, but not too bulky- something to work for! <br />
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<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Go to the gym four times a week</span></strong> at least until I achieve the above two goals...if not the gym at least a session of Jillian's 30 Day Shred DVD!<br />
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I tracked my workouts over the past 7 months and tallied them all up, and I noticed a pattern. When I went to the gym four times a week I lost weight. Three times a week I maintained my weight. Once I get to my goal of 120 I can go back to the easier to achieve 3 times a week but its going to be 4 a week for now! Which is kind of hard with two evening classes after work, but I can do it! :D <br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Life:</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Decluttering-</span></strong> I've been in the USA for over three years now and though I only arrived with a suitcase of stuff, I know have an overflow of clothing in my wardrobe etc...so I want to go through my stuff and donate anything not worn in the past 6 months. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Less procrastinating </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Get an 'A' in Math</span></strong> this semester and maintain my 4.0 GPA! I'm scared, this is my first college math class wish me luck! P.S. - Im still pretty proud of myself for actually going to college :D <br />
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<strong><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Get a tattoo</span>.</span></strong> I dont have one, and I wanted to get one 'once I got fit' That time is near people!! Im not a big fan of pain but I love artwork and I'd love to have something done...still need to design it though! <br />
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<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Start Writing again.</span></strong> I loved writing as a teen, and wrote a whole 70,000 word novel once. I want to get back in touch with my creativity (despite deamind job+essays sapping my imagination) It is something that makes me happy.<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Travel:</strong></span><br />
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Last year I went to Mexico, and Ashevill N.C. as well as trips to various springs/nature parks and beaches in Florida.<br />
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Im itching for international travel- such as seeing my family in Australia (its been 4 years) but I feel obliged to actually see more of the USA before I go abroad. I have Australian friends who have been stateside and seen more of the US than I have. What would the point of travelling home be when I've barely covered the 50 states... I<strong><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #990000;">want to go to New York, any of the National Parks...and feel free to suggest any other destinations! </span></span></strong><br />
I also realize that some of my happiest memories of 2011 are from my trips! Travel is my addiction and right now I'm torn between being 'grown up and responsible' and studying+ holding down a job vs. selling my possesions and moving around like I've done most of my adult life!<br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Career:</span></strong><br />
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Well. This one is a toughie. I feel blessed to have a well paying job with people I like when so many people don't. But two and a half years into the same job and <strong><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">something has got to give. Lets see what opportunities 2012 brings...</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">Favorite 2011 memories:</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WYhyD_5RMHs/TwSwTnWwb0I/AAAAAAAAApo/XLNa8TCYvr4/s1600/189030_10150107759931290_667556289_6881782_5727161_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WYhyD_5RMHs/TwSwTnWwb0I/AAAAAAAAApo/XLNa8TCYvr4/s640/189030_10150107759931290_667556289_6881782_5727161_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Visiting the mountains of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and ziplining + tasting fresh tequila!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iFhIB6c9qyY/TwSwURfnehI/AAAAAAAAApw/mbRdKqPOowg/s1600/197300_10150107777251290_667556289_6882127_708719_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iFhIB6c9qyY/TwSwURfnehI/AAAAAAAAApw/mbRdKqPOowg/s320/197300_10150107777251290_667556289_6882127_708719_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">finding our way around Mexico, anti-resort style and loving the authenticity of it</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kAQ4DIN3FPk/TwSwVNGBe8I/AAAAAAAAAp4/6c7mBSbufu8/s1600/198527_10150104236386290_667556289_6855176_1981081_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kAQ4DIN3FPk/TwSwVNGBe8I/AAAAAAAAAp4/6c7mBSbufu8/s400/198527_10150104236386290_667556289_6855176_1981081_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Waterfall rappelling despite my fear of it lol</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YQgQFpmtqRw/TwSwWJBEoWI/AAAAAAAAAqA/O5uWUrmDZCM/s1600/218056_10150158546421290_667556289_7110765_4260531_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YQgQFpmtqRw/TwSwWJBEoWI/AAAAAAAAAqA/O5uWUrmDZCM/s320/218056_10150158546421290_667556289_7110765_4260531_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">suprise camping trip plus Daytona beach for my birthday!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TOcdSOcHeSk/TwSwWwyfZEI/AAAAAAAAAqI/N4MAn8vSLkY/s1600/223700_10150252636891290_667556289_7953576_7954015_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TOcdSOcHeSk/TwSwWwyfZEI/AAAAAAAAAqI/N4MAn8vSLkY/s400/223700_10150252636891290_667556289_7953576_7954015_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ty finally graduating from Paramedic school and getting a job :)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DE2xNFo3Fls/TwSwYERXC9I/AAAAAAAAAqQ/meqEXd5VXyA/s1600/269810_10150232465551290_667556289_7737098_4765374_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DE2xNFo3Fls/TwSwYERXC9I/AAAAAAAAAqQ/meqEXd5VXyA/s400/269810_10150232465551290_667556289_7737098_4765374_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Seeing hundreds of dolphins and whales by our boat, including a baby whale!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E2XpKLHOfhA/TwSwzH2FS5I/AAAAAAAAAqY/20IzIUtVYos/s1600/295888_10150314431381290_667556289_8390837_946691048_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E2XpKLHOfhA/TwSwzH2FS5I/AAAAAAAAAqY/20IzIUtVYos/s400/295888_10150314431381290_667556289_8390837_946691048_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fall foliage in Asheville, North Carolina. This pic is on the Blue Ridge Parkway</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jZ0EHc6_eRg/TwSw0iZjGHI/AAAAAAAAAqg/W9qI2hcxC_8/s1600/316028_10150317546656290_667556289_8405017_1143624364_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jZ0EHc6_eRg/TwSw0iZjGHI/AAAAAAAAAqg/W9qI2hcxC_8/s320/316028_10150317546656290_667556289_8405017_1143624364_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Getting an 'A' in my photography class!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KEbp5j_uaf4/TwSw2Y7o-2I/AAAAAAAAAqo/DLksD2Vy3RM/s1600/300723_10150276533146290_667556289_8167919_609849948_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KEbp5j_uaf4/TwSw2Y7o-2I/AAAAAAAAAqo/DLksD2Vy3RM/s320/300723_10150276533146290_667556289_8167919_609849948_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Buying a new (secondhand) fun car!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-49814446285285010582011-12-22T08:35:00.000-08:002011-12-24T12:01:13.301-08:00Christmas Snickerdoodles <br />
Hi! Well, Im am almost ready for Christmas! I've got most of Ty's presents and have sent out cards to my family in Australia (our international gift exchange has fizzled after 7 years way from home...but it saves on shipping and I will get a good skype session in with them all which is really what it is all about- family time!) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8R2wmW0uqGU/TvNXhWHnqGI/AAAAAAAAAn8/YA9Wg0dyKGo/s1600/381192_10150412182601290_667556289_8786834_659123846_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8R2wmW0uqGU/TvNXhWHnqGI/AAAAAAAAAn8/YA9Wg0dyKGo/s640/381192_10150412182601290_667556289_8786834_659123846_n.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miss Ellie isnt sure what to think of her new hat</td></tr>
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Ty has a paramedic shift on Christmas eve but at least I get to spend Christmas day with him! I'm going to miss him though.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NF3grZFQtuk/TvN4b9DUB2I/AAAAAAAAAog/OSdOCDtxJFM/s1600/166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="365" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NF3grZFQtuk/TvN4b9DUB2I/AAAAAAAAAog/OSdOCDtxJFM/s400/166.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My handsome man</td></tr>
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I decided to bake him some holiday cookies to take to the station, and snickerdoodles are his favorite!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0S54WpUFezI/TvYvH15Gx3I/AAAAAAAAApE/FmpmJKUzxjk/s1600/IMG_2141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0S54WpUFezI/TvYvH15Gx3I/AAAAAAAAApE/FmpmJKUzxjk/s640/IMG_2141.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">all wrapped up and ready to go</td></tr>
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I made them festive with red and green sugar from Walmart. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;"> All-Butter Christmas Snickerdoodles</span></strong><br />
<u>Recipe from <a href="http://travelingspoonblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-butter-snickerdoodles-12-weeks-of.html">http://travelingspoonblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-butter-snickerdoodles-12-weeks-of.html</a></u><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: red;">2</span></strong><span style="color: red;"><strong> 1/4 cups all-purpose flour<br />
2 teaspoons cream of tartar<br />
1 teaspoon baking soda<br />
1/2 teaspoon salt<br />
1 cup butter, unsalted and slightly softened (or Earthbalance, if vegan)<br />
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar<br />
2 large eggs (or egg replacer if vegan)<br />
3 Tablespoons sugar, for rolling<br />
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon, for rolling</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dHesrOTMqEE/TvYum1LI0NI/AAAAAAAAAos/I8stpO94X4M/s1600/IMG_2119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dHesrOTMqEE/TvYum1LI0NI/AAAAAAAAAos/I8stpO94X4M/s320/IMG_2119.JPG" width="213" /></a><span style="color: #274e13;">Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use a silicone liner. Set aside.<br />
<br />
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt until well combined. Set aside. Beat butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl until fluffy and well mixed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the eggs, beating until mixture is smooth and well-combined. Add the dry ingredients incrementally and stir until just combined.<br />
<br />
Mix the additional sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl or on a steep-sided plate. Form the dough into 1 1/2-inch balls and roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat completely. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. (Tip: To make the rolling process easier and less messy, return dough, tightly covered with plastic wrap, to the refrigerator between batches.)<br />
<br />
Bake until the edges of the cookies just begin to set, about 8-10 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool briefly on the baking sheet before transferring to a clean counter top or wire rack to cool.</span></div><br />
He took them to the fire station and they VANISHED, they were really popular!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XL70fso_Lc8/TvYvbZQ_9KI/AAAAAAAAApQ/K7UwfcMrvbE/s1600/IMG_2125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XL70fso_Lc8/TvYvbZQ_9KI/AAAAAAAAApQ/K7UwfcMrvbE/s640/IMG_2125.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The special little box I made for his boss</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
Its 80 degrees and sunny today so here is a little Florida greeting card I made for you, my lovely readers:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_WUxjxeqVz8/TvNav7ctPJI/AAAAAAAAAoI/IWXXof5kqwg/s1600/Holiday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_WUxjxeqVz8/TvNav7ctPJI/AAAAAAAAAoI/IWXXof5kqwg/s640/Holiday.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-32870865759333806392011-12-20T06:40:00.000-08:002011-12-20T06:40:22.076-08:00Weekly Workout Recap Dec 11th-17th (aka- fighting off the xmas bulge)<strong><span style="color: blue;">Monday Dec 12th</span></strong><br />
<br />
Sunday was a day spent on our friend property in the countryside riding ATVs and having birthday fun! Nooo workout..however Monday I had the day off work for exams and squeezed in a 30 minute session at the gym! Woohoo- 318 calories burned on the arc<br />
<br />
I had highly <strong>ambitious goals of reaching 120</strong> (possibly) this December but Im thinking that may turn into more of a New Years resolution. With people bringing goodies into the office DAILY its been more about <strong>maintaining</strong> than anything else! People have been making things like this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iEJakSpFhvQ/TvCeKtb9jQI/AAAAAAAAAnw/q7s7P6x_y_c/s1600/untitled.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iEJakSpFhvQ/TvCeKtb9jQI/AAAAAAAAAnw/q7s7P6x_y_c/s1600/untitled.bmp" /></a></div><br />
And while I've been saying no to most things, I've definitely consumed more sugar this month than any other month of the year!<br />
<br />
I've been staying at 125 pounds (my goal weight for the year) with 124 seen on the scale when I have days of healthy eating and the dreaded 126 spotted after a few too many cinnamon rolls, hot chocolates) and office parities..but thankfully I can bring myself back to 125 by eating healthy and working out and 126 hasn't stayed around for more than a day or two :) <br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: blue;">Friday Dec 15th</span></strong><br />
<br />
I wanted to work out Thursday night but had an office party to go to.<br />
<br />
So I got a 45 minute work out in on Friday then went to a friends party afterwards. All weekend I could hardly move my legs. I think it was because I did a lot of squats with dumbbells. My thighs were <strong>SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO </strong>sore, I couldnt even walk up steps!<br />
<br />
I wanted to go to the gym on Saturday to get three in, but honestly I was in too much pain!! So I had a rest day instead :)Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-54072745342151429662011-12-13T07:11:00.000-08:002011-12-15T06:57:35.544-08:00Weekly Workout Recap<strong><span style="color: blue;">Sunday Dec. 4th</span></strong><br />
<br />
Cycled at the gym for 30 minutes as I felt that I should have been stronger when cycling the trails the day before! <br />
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Here are some more pics of Saturday's bike ride I found on Ty's phone:<br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L0bEcFrusuU/TuoEVRNYKqI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/qej0LMcss4c/s1600/IMAG0185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L0bEcFrusuU/TuoEVRNYKqI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/qej0LMcss4c/s400/IMAG0185.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Giant Alligator he took photos of- way to close for comfort!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uBSOQyz4RgA/TuoElGNpvxI/AAAAAAAAAnY/LxrkpEftVP4/s1600/IMAG0189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uBSOQyz4RgA/TuoElGNpvxI/AAAAAAAAAnY/LxrkpEftVP4/s400/IMAG0189.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">me reluctantly posing for a pic</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oaAaB_CUbz4/TuoEq3Vq8VI/AAAAAAAAAng/vQflYRZ6b2Y/s1600/IMAG0195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oaAaB_CUbz4/TuoEq3Vq8VI/AAAAAAAAAng/vQflYRZ6b2Y/s400/IMAG0195.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">us pausing our ride to take in the beauty around us</td></tr>
</tbody></table> I think its some upper thigh muscles that need developing! Sadly it only burned 180 calories, I guess that is because its easier than the standing up style machines?<br />
<br />
Monday I had evening college classes after work and Tuesday I had to go shopping for the Secret Santa at work and my friend's baby shower (which meant I got to ooh and ahh at tiny baby clothes and converse shoes - so adorable!)<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: blue;">Wednesday Dec. 7th</span></strong><br />
<br />
I did Jillian's 30 Day Shred on Level 2. Ty did it with me too, he used 10 pound weights in each hand it it wiped him out too, we were sweaty exhausted messes by the end of it but it felt great :) My back had been sore from the work week but that melted away, and I fell asleep REALLY fast later on!<br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">Friday Dec. 9th</span></strong><br />
<br />
You know, there are 1001 other things I would rather have done with my evening...but I got a good 45 minute session in at the gym :D Woohoo! Three workouts DONE! Wish I could get Saturday in too but Im going to be busy in the morning then have a baby shower all afternoon and the gym closes in the evening on weekends :(<br />
<br />
I also watched a great documentary you cant watch on hulu - Fat Sick and Nearly Dead<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/289122/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead">http://www.hulu.com/watch/289122/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I-c8-Ffe-Eg/TuoJyXFV9QI/AAAAAAAAAno/hVJ2pL_xzZ8/s1600/fatsicknearlydead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I-c8-Ffe-Eg/TuoJyXFV9QI/AAAAAAAAAno/hVJ2pL_xzZ8/s400/fatsicknearlydead.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Its about an Australian who goes on a juice fast for 60 days, loses weight and comes off all his medication. He inspires those he meets on his travels (while doing the fast) and a truck drive does the same thing with astonishing results.<br />
<br />
I was quite moved seeing him jogging and a normal weight at the end of the film - a BIG improvement from suicidal and 500 pounds!<br />
<br />
I don't think I could or would do a juice fast for more than a day or two, but what I took away from the documentary is that our bodies have an amazing system in place already to heal themselves from almost anything if we just provide them with the proper micro nutrients. I would love to supplement my diet with more fresh veggie juices, I'm sure it would be good for me and considering how much I detest eating big piles of veggies it would probably be an easier way to get nutrition! <br />
<br />
I do smoothies at the moment due to a lack of a juicer though...<br />
<br />
I also realized how stupid we are as a species- for the first time in history we know what vitamins are, we know about nutrients and optimizing our diet for health and longevity and yet we still choose to eat garbage daily! WTF...Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-14658425762784887222011-12-08T10:14:00.000-08:002011-12-08T10:34:02.319-08:00Weekly Workout RecapI didn't meet my weekly workout minimum of 3 a week :( - but at least I did<em> something!</em> Am aiming for a much better score next week with all the holiday parties around the corner!<br />
<br />
I might follow my own advise from my "<a href="http://finallyfit4summer.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-get-motivated-to-go-to-gym.html">how to get motivated to go to the gym"</a> post and buy some cute new winter work out gear (I'm still in my summer shorts!) and spice up my music playlist!<br />
<strong><span style="color: blue;">Sunday Nov 27th</span></strong><br />
<br />
Did a good hour of cardio and weights, felt great<br />
<br />
<br />
The week passed, finals loomed...free time was spent with friends using up expiring groupons at lovely restaurants....<br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">Saturday Dec. 3rd.</span></strong><br />
<br />
Wow, I finally did another workout! After a Friday night episode with waaaay too much delicious bread, soup and melty pepper coated goat cheese and wine Ty and I decided to get out into the beautiful day that was Saturday and soak up some sunshine in nature. <br />
<br />
We threw our bikes into his Toyota four runner and drove out to Hawthorne trail. This trail is paved and winds through the forest that leads out onto prarie land. We cycled and also went on a nature walk on this boardwalk we hadn't ever seen before. We saw all sorts of wildlife, from armadillos to huge alligators basking in the sun on the prairie! Ty got up close to a huge gator and took a pic with his phone!<br />
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<img height="469" id="il_fi" src="http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/1446775.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="625" />Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-29010563530418624272011-12-08T09:57:00.000-08:002011-12-08T10:02:44.076-08:00Avocado Sushi RollsLook at these cool vegetarian avacado 'sushi' rolls I found at Publix for lunch!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AcszWLisgpE/Tt-SUeeZNpI/AAAAAAAAAlw/fIZnUmFrg2s/s1600/IMG_1691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AcszWLisgpE/Tt-SUeeZNpI/AAAAAAAAAlw/fIZnUmFrg2s/s320/IMG_1691.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
They stuffed with salad and came with a packet of sweet chilli sauce..mmm! Any way to get more avocado in my food is a win in my opinion, my dream house would have an avocado and mango orchard :D <br />
<br />
My finals are coming up, can't believe this semester is almost over! Funny thought- considering I'm a non traditional student and am only doing a few classes per semester as I work full time you will probably see me write that a lot more than other students- college- the best eight years of my life LOL<br />
<br />
On another side note, while rearching still life photos as inspiration for my last photography course assignment (sad!! :( ) I found these cool pics, I dont own the rights to them but wanted to share (contact me if its yours and you want it removed)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LgWTuaK7VXY/TuD7Dlc5w8I/AAAAAAAAAl4/1iTT8rO6o8k/s1600/2451_large+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" mda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LgWTuaK7VXY/TuD7Dlc5w8I/AAAAAAAAAl4/1iTT8rO6o8k/s320/2451_large+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0GFWYKYO3IU/TuD7FqeiX_I/AAAAAAAAAmA/VSDOzAd6j4w/s1600/Coffee_splash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0GFWYKYO3IU/TuD7FqeiX_I/AAAAAAAAAmA/VSDOzAd6j4w/s320/Coffee_splash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6P36STrLwMg/TuD7Igr-h_I/AAAAAAAAAmI/2oxVfnVePCg/s1600/would_you_like_to_eat_me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6P36STrLwMg/TuD7Igr-h_I/AAAAAAAAAmI/2oxVfnVePCg/s320/would_you_like_to_eat_me.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dreTCntV15c/TuD7KzzZhnI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/LRG83H82pJM/s1600/still_life_photography_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dreTCntV15c/TuD7KzzZhnI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/LRG83H82pJM/s320/still_life_photography_3.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--SpYG3SQh9E/TuD7MhFcorI/AAAAAAAAAmY/BmJPxT_iGUo/s1600/still_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" mda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--SpYG3SQh9E/TuD7MhFcorI/AAAAAAAAAmY/BmJPxT_iGUo/s320/still_9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-udaQFZ-LvWQ/TuD7OIPh8RI/AAAAAAAAAmg/iA2e9Qzdy_8/s1600/still_life_photography_25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" mda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-udaQFZ-LvWQ/TuD7OIPh8RI/AAAAAAAAAmg/iA2e9Qzdy_8/s320/still_life_photography_25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sVdgV-pCgGk/TuD7QT6EB4I/AAAAAAAAAmo/NTwI76jTqNU/s1600/still_life_photography_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" mda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sVdgV-pCgGk/TuD7QT6EB4I/AAAAAAAAAmo/NTwI76jTqNU/s320/still_life_photography_14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ol3EzkcBgYY/TuD7TISu2xI/AAAAAAAAAmw/Cf_xF8W9IAA/s1600/still_life_photography_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" mda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ol3EzkcBgYY/TuD7TISu2xI/AAAAAAAAAmw/Cf_xF8W9IAA/s320/still_life_photography_16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kQfH6oljFlo/TuD7VmWJZ8I/AAAAAAAAAm4/wDcam-ijJ_0/s1600/fruits_in_the_water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kQfH6oljFlo/TuD7VmWJZ8I/AAAAAAAAAm4/wDcam-ijJ_0/s320/fruits_in_the_water.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VqXCQPLDGiw/TuD7Xvvg0nI/AAAAAAAAAnA/fdMI4TPM1n0/s1600/untitled.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VqXCQPLDGiw/TuD7Xvvg0nI/AAAAAAAAAnA/fdMI4TPM1n0/s320/untitled.bmp" width="212" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XwfjE7Sijqs/TuD7c30lf6I/AAAAAAAAAnI/izSTfFLnUQY/s1600/cesarean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="238" mda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XwfjE7Sijqs/TuD7c30lf6I/AAAAAAAAAnI/izSTfFLnUQY/s320/cesarean.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cesarean LOL</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">I will show you guys my finished still lifes when I'm done :D</span>Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-23561942672238789642011-11-30T07:17:00.000-08:002011-11-30T07:18:55.753-08:00Sweet potato casserole<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">Hi! Very busy this week! Still trying to get all the workokuts in though, will post a new week workout recap on Sunday!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XzaJ_FJoRVo/TtLe7EDjcII/AAAAAAAAAlY/TvbISC0XRHM/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XzaJ_FJoRVo/TtLe7EDjcII/AAAAAAAAAlY/TvbISC0XRHM/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Black Friday goodies!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nTT02MgTBj8/TtLwnvrHFxI/AAAAAAAAAlg/oawXKlrLPg0/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nTT02MgTBj8/TtLwnvrHFxI/AAAAAAAAAlg/oawXKlrLPg0/s320/071.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our tree!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DsQMJfVHPzA/TtLwt5VOFYI/AAAAAAAAAlo/QbiPbshPYuA/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DsQMJfVHPzA/TtLwt5VOFYI/AAAAAAAAAlo/QbiPbshPYuA/s320/072.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cider I drank while putting up the tree - delicious</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sweet Potato Casserole</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lU766yRZ7lk/TtLAXap5oZI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/L14ZuuXAJOA/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lU766yRZ7lk/TtLAXap5oZI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/L14ZuuXAJOA/s320/054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Did you know that sweet potatoes are good for your skin? We need antioxidants to fight free radical damage that ages us, and Vitamin A is an antioxidant. . A single sweet potato contains over 200% of your daily Vitamin A needs. I threw together this sweet potato casserole in a few minutes with whatever I had laying around, it turned out AMAZING! </span></span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Sweet Potato Casserole </strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 medium sweet potatoes sliced thinly</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A cup of feta (or less)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A small sliced onion</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Three to four slices of bread (I used millet bread) crumbled</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Half a cup of sharp cheddar </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Three quarters of a block of tofu, already pressed, dried and marinated overnight in a McCormick mix. Slice into cubes.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spices- onion and garlic powder, a few chili flakes, salt and pepper, a touch of cinnamon, a little hot sauce</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Butter a 9 inch square cake pan, mix all the ingredients together (except for the cheddar – which you sprinkle on top)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cover with aluminum foil, bake for 45 minutes at 350.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Uncover and make for 15 more minutes into the cheese is golden and bubbly.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This keeps well and gets even better the next day </span></span></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-91323663299440487552011-11-27T14:55:00.000-08:002011-11-27T14:55:50.773-08:00Weekly Workout RecapI'm going to start a new feature of this blog to help keep me more accountable- a weekly workout recap. I will share what I accomplished from Sunday-Saturday workout wise with honesty! :D<br />
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I actually typed a draft of this last Sunday and entered in an awesome Sunday workout......then did NOTHING for the rest of the week! I was SO busy with work and school and a job interview!<br />
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This week is better so far :D <br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><b>Sunday 20th:</b></div><br />
Jillian's 30 Day Shred level 2- wow, every time I take a break from Jillian and then do her DVD again it is a killer! I don't work my abs as hard on the machines at the gym as Jillian does with mat work!<br />
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<b style="color: blue;">Monday 21st</b>:<br />
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Yoga: A college in the evening after work kind of day so I did yoga - about 30 minutes. It felt great- wearing heels makes my legs so stiff so I need it! I was surprised to realize I cant get as deep into moves as I could when I did yoga consistently in my youth....time to get flexible again!!<br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><b>Tuesday 22nd:</b></div><br />
Gym time! I did 30 minutes on the arc at level 30, 30 incline, and burned 300 calories, and did 5 minutes of weights.Felt pretty tired from the work day and proud of myself for going!<br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><b>Friday the 25th</b></div><br />
Does running around the mall shopping count? :D<br />
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I went to the gym and did 45 minutes of cardio on the arc and burned 430 calories. I also did some leg presses and stretching. I found it kind of hard to last all the way through to 45 minutes but music sure helped!<br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><b> Saturday the 26th</b></div><br />
Didnt 'officially' work out but walked at least a mile or two all morning at flea markets taking photos for my still life assignment like this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y_YmyPMwMCw/TtK_6JAsIWI/AAAAAAAAAlI/IQSqPygk6xI/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y_YmyPMwMCw/TtK_6JAsIWI/AAAAAAAAAlI/IQSqPygk6xI/s640/032.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cg-udjdAEPk/TtK_0DOmV8I/AAAAAAAAAlA/JemFAeMJ79w/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cg-udjdAEPk/TtK_0DOmV8I/AAAAAAAAAlA/JemFAeMJ79w/s640/027.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-51973541563202223922011-11-24T14:32:00.000-08:002011-11-25T20:20:58.944-08:00ThanksgivingThis is my third Thanksgiving ever (I moved to the USA three years ago) I have <i><b>so </b></i>much to be grateful for today, not least of all the fact that I live near a GIANT VEGETARIAN POTLUCK! Ty and I went for the first time last year and it was amazing- 300 vegetarian's, tons of food, sunshine, beautiful forested grounds- and it was the same again! If anyone ever asks what vegetarians eat for Thanksgiving I will show them these photos:<br />
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(Ps-what did you get on Black Friday shopping?)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fvodp72EJ_8/Ts7DCMTj2YI/AAAAAAAAAig/275nH7kwJAs/s1600/118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fvodp72EJ_8/Ts7DCMTj2YI/AAAAAAAAAig/275nH7kwJAs/s640/118.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tofu!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">vegetarian 'turkey'</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJPSoQ4F7p0/Ts7DGwaBtQI/AAAAAAAAAio/wbyaV5q7X-E/s1600/120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJPSoQ4F7p0/Ts7DGwaBtQI/AAAAAAAAAio/wbyaV5q7X-E/s320/120.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-brRBXlVXWSk/Ts7DQaYe6CI/AAAAAAAAAi4/qHYJt__0ARw/s1600/122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-brRBXlVXWSk/Ts7DQaYe6CI/AAAAAAAAAi4/qHYJt__0ARw/s320/122.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v7lw3uJXiIQ/Ts7DpZSR02I/AAAAAAAAAjA/tZ_rJHH4dMo/s1600/096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v7lw3uJXiIQ/Ts7DpZSR02I/AAAAAAAAAjA/tZ_rJHH4dMo/s640/096.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ready to eat!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ms9w9I4DHnM/Ts7DtBnpGFI/AAAAAAAAAjI/2hqFhgQPqOE/s1600/123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ms9w9I4DHnM/Ts7DtBnpGFI/AAAAAAAAAjI/2hqFhgQPqOE/s640/123.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8heYzrH9KLQ/Ts7Dy8hbi0I/AAAAAAAAAjQ/LGaomgK_bYM/s1600/134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8heYzrH9KLQ/Ts7Dy8hbi0I/AAAAAAAAAjQ/LGaomgK_bYM/s640/134.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CqL3N_i3VfY/Ts7D240liOI/AAAAAAAAAjY/vkKqZAMUO-M/s1600/135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CqL3N_i3VfY/Ts7D240liOI/AAAAAAAAAjY/vkKqZAMUO-M/s400/135.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r7MNYeW8axQ/Ts7D7NACicI/AAAAAAAAAjg/7ss7IxoExCY/s1600/137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r7MNYeW8axQ/Ts7D7NACicI/AAAAAAAAAjg/7ss7IxoExCY/s640/137.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3g-N5N0jkH8/Ts7EAJ8awGI/AAAAAAAAAjo/ESiF_gNbT4s/s1600/139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3g-N5N0jkH8/Ts7EAJ8awGI/AAAAAAAAAjo/ESiF_gNbT4s/s320/139.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sulcj_4GB7M/Ts7EH3t8TaI/AAAAAAAAAj4/l_PSLRLZ9Eo/s1600/142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sulcj_4GB7M/Ts7EH3t8TaI/AAAAAAAAAj4/l_PSLRLZ9Eo/s400/142.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--u3cGz6_N4U/Ts7EQ7iyDTI/AAAAAAAAAkI/WPMSfMnSICE/s1600/145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--u3cGz6_N4U/Ts7EQ7iyDTI/AAAAAAAAAkI/WPMSfMnSICE/s640/145.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m66PiecmonU/Ts7EVSE_ctI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/R47BhCWONRE/s1600/147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m66PiecmonU/Ts7EVSE_ctI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/R47BhCWONRE/s320/147.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fST9PCRAwdo/Ts7EaLVi-PI/AAAAAAAAAkY/2sN8lejWd8w/s1600/148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fST9PCRAwdo/Ts7EaLVi-PI/AAAAAAAAAkY/2sN8lejWd8w/s400/148.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m1COGMyaAr4/Ts7EkdyzkUI/AAAAAAAAAkg/r3E1aEFX-wA/s1600/153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m1COGMyaAr4/Ts7EkdyzkUI/AAAAAAAAAkg/r3E1aEFX-wA/s320/153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-giUr9ntghSg/Ts7EvTXHqEI/AAAAAAAAAko/nT3tSM6G5jE/s1600/154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-giUr9ntghSg/Ts7EvTXHqEI/AAAAAAAAAko/nT3tSM6G5jE/s320/154.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">everyone holding hands to give thanks</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-droqbfxTnQE/Ts7E0697Z0I/AAAAAAAAAkw/nmTZbZw4IZc/s1600/158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-droqbfxTnQE/Ts7E0697Z0I/AAAAAAAAAkw/nmTZbZw4IZc/s640/158.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l1CcNii0LeU/Ts7E6sdrLYI/AAAAAAAAAk4/1a46suPblks/s1600/160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l1CcNii0LeU/Ts7E6sdrLYI/AAAAAAAAAk4/1a46suPblks/s640/160.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My savory plate- the sweet plate was even better!</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-79234111893482571322011-11-14T13:36:00.000-08:002011-11-14T13:39:28.717-08:00PerspectiveSometimes we get so lost in our little world and gripe about gaining a pound or our Ipod not working. We need to keep the bigger picture in mind and remember how blessed we to have food, shelter, water ... running shoes.....I saw this picture and it really touched me. I have seen things like this while living in India but I forget about this reality sometimes...And every now and then I'm struck by the sad fact that I'm writing a blog on weight loss when there are people in the world to whom the problem would seem ridiculous as they have nothing...<br />
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<img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="314" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/313182_10150354270051290_667556289_8606345_1042439963_n.jpg" width="468" />Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-7362349999960534682011-11-08T09:48:00.000-08:002011-11-08T09:52:10.444-08:00Vegan Chicken Pot Pie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hadn't "cooked" in a while: Cooking by this definition being anything over 20 minutes of prep time and with an official recipe. I've made lots of salads and quick veggie dishes but nothing to post about! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So when Ty came home unexpectedly from his paramedic shift via tow truck (his car hit a deer, totalled the car) I decided to cheer him up and make a heartwarming dish: Chicken Pot Pie- only minus the chicken as I'm a vegetarian!! I saw a great vegan recipe on Ellen that uses Gardein chicken scallopini, so I used that recipe.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-82RPOFu3KS0/TrcJI9VctHI/AAAAAAAAAiA/cwYCSNz0LsU/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-82RPOFu3KS0/TrcJI9VctHI/AAAAAAAAAiA/cwYCSNz0LsU/s640/010.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My Chicken Pot Pie- ideally do it in small individual ramkins as its kind of messy to serve from a large pie- unless you dont care like I didnt LOL</span><br />
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<div align="left"><span style="font-size: large;"> If you plan on making this pie, be warned-it is comfort food. It has three fourths of a cup of butter/Earthbalance in it!! I kept at my new low of 124 pounds even after eating it over two days, but I did go to the gym for an hour on both days! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xQquJEdiryw/TrgqgAKoNcI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/oJD-aV-TslM/s1600/10014_alb_xlarge_295x350_68751259347675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xQquJEdiryw/TrgqgAKoNcI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/oJD-aV-TslM/s320/10014_alb_xlarge_295x350_68751259347675.jpg" width="269" /></a></div></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Click on this link for the recipe: </span><a href="http://vegetarian.about.com/od/maindishentreerecipes/r/potpie1.htm"><span style="font-size: large;">http://vegetarian.about.com/od/maindishentreerecipes/r/potpie1.htm</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I didn't have tamari or soy sauce but it still turned out great! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I added boiled diced potatoes for some extra heartiness.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I had some pie mixture leftover, so I made a quick 'side pie' with puff pastry in a bread tin, it came out great! In fact, I kind of liked the flakier pastry more than the traditional pie!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--SQ156g76O0/TrcJDmDIenI/AAAAAAAAAh4/rVaXSAQ2SWc/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--SQ156g76O0/TrcJDmDIenI/AAAAAAAAAh4/rVaXSAQ2SWc/s400/002.JPG" width="266" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My improv puff pastry pie- we had it as an appetizer</span></td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;">We ate more pie for lunch the next day and it was easier to cut and serve and came out like this:</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5UG9eTSDGI/TrcJOOIzHtI/AAAAAAAAAiI/48u-FztDTPg/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5UG9eTSDGI/TrcJOOIzHtI/AAAAAAAAAiI/48u-FztDTPg/s640/028.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-size: large;">Im kind of bummed the picture look so colorless, the pie has carrots in it and you can't even see ONE!</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544374262593222889.post-12370597304906331582011-11-06T08:38:00.000-08:002012-06-01T10:06:21.370-07:00Tips to beat the bloat: a flat stomach diet for partying<b>How was your Halloween?</b> I hadn't planned on doing much, our neighborhood doesn't have kids or trick and treaters. But we got invited to a Halloween party that a bunch of friends were going to. I threw together a quick costume- a Ladybug. I already had a black skirt and a black and red spotted shirt, so all I had to do was pick up some wings and antennae! <br />
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My costume for the party:<br />
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You will notice I have more leg muscle now!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6SN4nVO4YaU/TrXxctVN5RI/AAAAAAAAAhw/xjd3IUIR9vo/s1600/Halloween+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6SN4nVO4YaU/TrXxctVN5RI/AAAAAAAAAhw/xjd3IUIR9vo/s400/Halloween+059.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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Looking over pictures from the night of my friends and I, I felt surprised to realize I was one of the fit girls!I know it sounds kind of silly, but the reality that I no longer have a paunchy belly or huge thighs still hasn't quite registered!<br />
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I've guess I've the past few years of group photos that I've cringed at have made more of a mark than my new reality!:D I'm past my goal of 125 pounds this year by the way- I've seen 123.8 on the scale for two days straight which is exciting :) I'm aiming for 120 pounds by January :D<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tips for a flat stomach</b></span></div>
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I knew I'd be wearing a pretty tight dress that night and wanted to cut down on bloat! <span style="font-size: large;"><b>You can have a fabulously toned core and abs, but still bloat if you eat or drink the wrong things!</b></span> I followed these tips and it worked, I had a super flat stomach on the day :D<br />
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* Eat lots of fiber for days before the party/event but <b><i>not on the actual day </i></b>as voluminous fiber filled foods like salads take up a lot of space in your digestive tract. Eat high protein, dense foods instead<br />
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*On the day, <b>avoid beans, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, broccolli-</b> all the foods famous for gas! <br />
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*Drink lots of water! Or green tea- it helps speed up your metabolism.<br />
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*<b>Avoid salt.</b> Put down the salt shaker. And stay away from any processed foods (stuff in tins, or ready to eat in packages) as the salt content is usually high.<br />
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*Dont eat to quickly. If you eat too fast you gulp down a lot of air and that can lead to bloating (and gas, as my Boston Terrier will attest to as he INHALES his food and then has horrible gas lol). Take your time,chew thoroughly. <br />
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*<b>Avoid milk for the day. </b>Try almond or silk milk instead, just in case you are lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance can make you bloat and you may not even realize that is what is doing it.<br />
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*<b>NO carbonated drinks </b>The fizz in the drinks can make you bloat<br />
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*<b>Stay away sugars and alcohol </b>before the event, these can also cause bloating<br />
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*Stay away from <b>sorbitol </b>(eg in chewing gum) and artifical sugars<br />
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*Stay away from <b>breads, pastas, potatoes </b>for the day- as starches are broken down they release gas<br />
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*Take an <b>anti-gas pill,</b> cheap and availible at walmart, just to make sure you wont have any bloat that day<br />
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* Do ab exercises to make your stomach taut (before and on the day!)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So what <b>SHOULD </b>you eat that day?</span> Try some anti-bloating foods! I had two delicious Chobani yogurts as they are full of good bacteria. I had ginger, said to be anti-bloating, in my super boiled summer squash (if you eat vegetables, cook them well so they arent too fibrous!), in a pumpkin sauce with gardein 'chicken' scallopini. <br />
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<b>Do NOT take laxatives or water pills </b>or any other intense drugs as that isnt good for your body!! <b>DONT skip meals, and DONT fast! </b>You wont feel good, your body will go into 'starvation' mode making you retain fat, and you will get drunk too fast on just a drink or two if you dont eat- not good!Veggie Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02471476588038014748noreply@blogger.com2