My older daughter is getting her certification in holistic nutrition. She has always been obsessed with healthy eating. My younger daughter is a vegan. So now I am having them help me with new eating habits. I'm going to start with some health tips my daughter has been posting each week: I will have the two teaspoons of organic, raw, vinegar in a glass of water with each meal (she sent me home with a bottle), 2-3 cups of green tea per day, and will use the many wonderful recipes she has devised. I will eat more organic and raw foods, such as younger daughter. I'm not ready to be a vegan, however. While I am willing to give up meat most nights, cheese is going to be harder. I could tell it was really hard for her this last week, when we were celebrating her graduation and the rest of us were having sandwiches with cheese, and she just had a look on her face that said CHEESE! But she is committed, and now I need to be too. I've already pretty much eliminated most sweets.
But it's not the eating that is the problem, as we eat healthy most of the time. My problem has been blogging, reading, studying, educating myself on things that I have needed to learn about, but required sitting. We moved to a much smaller house, minus the exercise room, and have been trapped in one room for months while remodeling. But now I need to get out on the trails with my husband, walking more, basically just moving around more. After a certain age, it can't just be about what we eat, we have to stay on the go, too.
So after a week of running after a toddler, I'm ready to tackle a new regime. Wish me luck!
45 comments:
omg Lover of life ....do not go to my blog. serious. I posted about nutella. I need to move more too, and eat better, and get better rest. Good luck to you, I will cheerleader. Hey, there's my workout, thanks.
Hubby swears by vinegar! When he gets those manly leg cramps, he drinks warm vinegar and honey. Yuck! Gramma (lived to 100) swore on vinegar pudding. It's pretty much cornstarch pudding with vinegar in it. Again, yuck! I do like vinegar on salad and spinach. Maybe I'll eat more pickles.
I got my upper body workout today with the rocks, and the lower body with the bikeride. Now, if I can just find stuff like that to do everyday... and the time to do it!
I'm counting on you to inspire me!
sounds like a lot of positive changes rolling your way. much luck in your new endeavors! balance is important, so reward yourself with a few minutes here and there to blog, so we can stay entertained. smiles.
drinking vinegar in water?! ugh! Not for me thanks!
Yeah, eating healthy isn't everything, getting out and moving is equally important! I've noticed the difference exercise makes... I got laid up on my back last summer thanks to a lovely herniated disk and the damn sciatica (however you spell that) and after a couple of months of rehab and painkillers, muscle relaxants, antiinflammatory meds etc it didn't hurt any more. But I spent all winter worried about things I might do which would set it off again... so basically I stayed put. So what with that and all the time I spend at the computer, I've been pretty much stuck to a chair for msot of the year, and have gained 5 kgs! And my eating habits never changed... so it's definitely the difference between being active and not.
Thank heavens summer is here and I can take myself down to the pool every day!
Well, I do wish you luck and it seems you are off to a great start. I had totally forgotten that vinegar/water concoction...a fave of my mother's. I think I'm going to try it! I also saw the comment by MssLily mentioning "manly leg cramps," which my husband gets frequently, so for him too.....
I'm not vegan, but stopped eating mammals in 1977. I'd rather go to prison than think of what a piece of beef would do to me at this point! icky. Since I got braces (yes, braces at 58!) last month my consumption of sweets is a thing of the past.
Please do blog. Blog standing? Blog jog? :)
As usual, I am exactly where you are at.Sweets have gone, vego in, but not vegan yet, I like cheese too. :(
I'm in a similar spot, getting ready for our daughter's wedding, trying to eat as healthily as I can and make my skin healthy from the inside out. I didn't know about the vinegar in water. I did start drinking green iced tea yesterday and even got myself a tall flask to take some to work.
But cheese - that's definitely hard to let go.
Believe it or not, my grandmother used to drink the vinegar/honey combo every night. She called it her "highball" and always laughed hard at her own joke.
Pure vegan eating is a very extreme diet for our species. In fact there is no indigenous culture on earth that eats vegan, while vegetarian diets, including some animal protein, are much easier on our systems.
In fact, a pure vegan diet requires B-12 supplements, so your nervous system remains healthy. I'm positive your daughter understands this and takes care of herself very well. I saw a client who was very ill because she ate vegan but did not include supplements. It took her a long time, and a lot of red meat, to recover.
Seriously!
What we eat is so personal and so very very important. I salute you for undertaking a change in the way you eat. BRAVO!!
p.s. Sorry for the lecture. That one client of mine, what the diet did to her, really freaked me out, apparently!
Such important changes here. And once you make them, you'll never look back. If I miss a few days of my walking routine, I feel it and can't wait to get back out there!
You obviously read my post about wheat gluten flour for bread. Great minds think alike. And yes, cheese is great on it. :-)
I'll have to try vinegar in water; I like lemon juice in mine, so I'm betting vinegar wouldn't be too much of a stretch.
Several years ago I found a way to motivate myself for daily exercise. I was a member of a team organizing a spiritual retreat, and we were asked to make some small sacrifice during our months of planning. I chose a meditation that took about a half hour each day, and walked outside while I prayed. So I wouldn't forget, I put it on my Outlook calendar as a daily reminder. Seeing it there each day was enough to get me moving.
I still have the reminder that pops up each day. Ninety-five percent of the time I don't dismiss it until I've done something active.
Well you certainly have the motivation! I can do the no-meat, but total vegan might do me in...I need my cheese. By the way, I love vinegar in salads and foods, but cannot drink it. I did that and got a raging yeast infection. But I'll be drinking that green tea with you! Cheers;)
Go for it! I'm just trying to give up Diet Coke!
Good luck! Please do share any tips your daughter gives you LOL, I'd love to hear them. I have some organic apple cider vinegar each day as well. I give some to the dogs too, to help with their arthritis. I don't think I'll ever give up cheese, it's such a staple for me. I can't wait to see the photos you take from your walks!!!
What does drinking vinegar do? The thought of that makes me want to throw up.
I'm a pesco vegetarian, was a full vegetarian for about 5 years but I was always low on B vitamins, even with supplements. I can't give up cheese though. I mean I suppose I could... most of the cheese I eat is organic though.
Good luck with the exercise! That's so much harder to start than eating right.
Verily - I really like nutella, but havent had it since my children left. Yummy stuff, though.
Mzz - I didn't realize it was good for leg cramps... But evidently you can lose weight (slowly) just by drinking vinegar and water. Evidently it must be 100% organic, raw, apple cidar vinegar.
Brian - Can't give up the blogging! Just need to move more during the day. Blog at night, I think.
Crazy - It's the inactivity that finally did me in, I think. I hope your back is feeling better!
Lydia - I think I'm working my way to vegetarianism, but vegan is just too hard.
Natalie - You and I are always thinking alike - only you are definitely moving more with those little cherubs of yours!
Ruth - I'm with you - I tried to lose weight two years ago for my daughters wedding - and succeeded on Weight Watchers to some degree. Now I think it needs to be less processed foods and more of a healthy outlook. And exercise, of course.
Reya - I totally agree with you on veganism. And I will make sure she is taking B-12 supplements. I know she takes calcium and a multi, but not sure about the B-12. Thanks for the tip.
Joanne - It is so important to keep moving!
Kathy - Thanks for the tip on gluten and also for how you motivated yourself for walking. I think I just got out of the habit during the winter, and had always used the exercise room in our last house. Now I need something new to get me going. Prayer and creative vizualization may do the trick. Thanks.
Mental - Wow - a yeast infection? I'll mention that to my daughter.
Scarlethue - Raw, organic, unpasterurized apple cidar vinegar has always been thought to cure many ailments. My daughter posted a website that talks about it: http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com/weight-loss-theories.html
We have Schwinns. They're called touring bikes, like the old-fashioned kind. (remember the wicked witch?) They have regular handlebars, 7 speeds and big seats. You can buy even bigger seats to replace the racing style. Hubby has back problems and can't ride bent over.
I've noticed a lot of people on the bike path using those kind where the peddles are out front and you recline in a chair type seat. Never tried them.
Mzz - Thanks - that is exactly what I want. A petal brake would be even better - but would have to give up the speeds, I think.
I was a vegetarian for 10 years when I lived in Maryland and raised my children on organic foods. Now, I still eat organic, as much as possible, and very little red meat and sugar, but I could never give up seafood. :) Dancing and yoga keep my Cajun blood pumping and keep the pounds off, too. Best of luck with your new diet!
Margaurite - I really need to dance more!
Marguerite - Sorry about misspelling you name. :-(
The Vegan Society is a great resource.
xx
Lover of Life! More power to you! I know I would never be able to change my eating habits, so I've decided I will add more physical activity to my daily routine. :)
Reya - Are you vegan?
Meeko - The young and handsome don't have too much to worry about - but exercise is good for lots of reasons.
i like to eat healthily, but... vinegar? yech.
but more power to you. i hope you succeed.
i gave up meat years ago. no chicken, no fish either. mostly, it's the thought of killing other living beings that bothers me.
but it's hard. most restaurants have limited menus for non-meat eaters. you're stuck with overcooked root vegetables, soggy, over-sauced pasta or salad.
so i eat eggs and cheese. and sugar. i try to be smart about it, though.
good luck, and i'm sure you'll feel great with your daughter's help.
Vinegar... for leg cramps? Hmmm must try that one. Bet it tastes yuk so I'll have to be brave.
Seraphine - I feel the same way about animals. It is really awful how they are treated. But I can't see myself being a vegan - I need eggs and cheese. My problem is my husband, who has a hard time without meat.
Val - Make sure it is organic, unpasteurized, raw vinegar. Then keep it in the fridge. Or just use apple cider vinegar for your salads. I'm going to try both.
sorry but i need to know how vinegar works on our body, sorry for the ignorance but i am interested...i am glad i am learning a lot on your blog..diet, diet, i like to do that too.
Just sneaking out to thank you for your lovely words, and best wishes!!! I hope I will not be gone long...and you can be sure I'll run over here for a cup of green tea as soon as I get back!!! Great post...I'm a modified vegan...still do cheese sometimes :-) It's wonderful...when I started this about 4 years ago, it was incredible how much better I felt!! Thank you for your friendship!!! It means so much to me!!!! ~Janine XO
I hear ya! The vinegar sounds like the grapefruit a day. High acidity. My dad would take a teaspoon of vinegar daily and he lived to be 97. I don't wanna be that old! I am eating healthier: less carbs, smaller portions, usually a piece of meat, fish or chicken w/ a salad or green veggie for dinner. At least 1 cup of green tea per day. I'm shooting for 2. I've cut back on coffee and white sugar and white flour. I love cheese too so that's still in there. I've lost 12 lbs since March. It's not a diet, just a change in my nutrition. The flu helped and so did our vacation (lost 4 lbs there). My bout of diverticulitis last wk kept me on liquids for 3 days so that helped. Overall, I believe if I would really toe the line, I'd lose another 10 lbs. I just don't know if I want to toe the line :)
Lolit - Here is a website: http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com/
Sniffles - Come back soon - we are all going to miss you!!
What does your daughter say about the MASTER CLEANSE? I'm so curious about trying that and then starting over again with a healthy, vegan-type diet! Keep moving, that's the best thing for all of us, mentally and physically!
Meg - Not sure about the Master Cleanse but she did post on a cleanse she did: http://jenacide.blogspot.com/2009/03/day-two-need-bread-wah.html
She is wants to start a holistic website, but working on her classes now.
Exercise is the key, and eating everything else in moderation -- even ice cream once in a while. Our bodies were designed to move, move, move and in our 21st Century lives, we no longer do that. We drive, we sit, we drive some more. Sitting is deadly. It's bad for just about every muscle and organ in our bodies.
Walking and dancing, dancing and walking ... swimming ... walking. Just move, move, move. It will keep you limber and young. :-)
Sound wonderful. You will do great. I just finished working with a holistic health counselor and found it incredibly helpful, though our focus was more on life coaching than on nutrition.
I have found recently that after making this a focus for a long time-to be a mindful eater-it is beginning to happen for me. THere is a great book called "One Bowl" forgot the author, who advocates getting a special bowl and only eating one thing at a time in that bowl very mindfully. I do this whenever I can and it helps.
I find exercise to be invaluable and do love doing yoga and going to the gym. It will be tougher getting to the gym in the summer with the kids home but I hope to get outside a lot more.
love,
Erika
Lover of Life - I am so NOT vegan. I am an omnivore. I try to eat a variety of foods, as high quality as I can find. I try not to eat too much of any one thing. I'm crazy for green vegetables so I eat a lot of them. I also (since moving to DC) really love melons and summer fruits.
My biggest problems in the dietary realm include my love of dark chocolate and a passion for pasta. The pasta is so not good for me. Rice, yes, pasta, no.
I was, once upon a time, a macrobiotic eater. I could never get the right balance of nutrients from the diet, even though I believed in it.
The book, "Eat Right for Your Blood Type" is freakishly spot on, at least for me.
My passion is for high quality food, organic if possible, locally grown whenever possible. Other than that, I don't stick to any set diet these days. I don't eat much red meat, but I do have chicken and fish more than cheese which isn't that great for me.
Thanks for asking. What a LONG answer! Sorry!!
Jo - I agree - this past winter was j a sitting winter - it's time to get moving or it becomes a habit! I really like the idea of dancing.
Reya - Your diet sounds similar to mine. I think walking around the city is really helpful. I loved walking around Portland last week.
Erica - The idea of a holistic counselor is so intriguing.
Man - I have had more typos today!!
I got stuck at the word cheese. My mind just veered off on it's own and starting thinking about a panini I watched Giada make while I was on the treadmill.
I can cut back on meat, maybe even cheese, but holy simple carbohydrates, sweets are my downfall.
Like right now I've stopped thinking about cheese and have moved on the the bag of Baby Ruths I have in the fridge.
Heaven help me. Your daughters are a good influence. Now if you had another one who was a weight/workout trainer, you'd have all bases covered. I'm pulling for you.
I've been a veggie for over 25 years and have loved it...doing it for medical reasons to start with but ending up turning into a life style. It's not that I don't occasionally have a piece of meat...I mean a bite just to say "ok, now I'm satisfied". You are so right that as we get older, it is about healthy eating but almost more so about getting some form of exercise. Good luck in the endeavor and how lucky you are to have a good teacher!
Pyzahn - Yep, it was those yearnings for things like those baby ruth's that have me looking like a box on wheels!
Alicia - I tried to go veggie a while back, but it was so hard. Especially going to restaurants and only having one or two items to choose from. But my heart is heading in that direction - both for health and spiritual reasons.
Sounds to me like you're on the right track. Eat less.. move more. Has to work. :) I've tried the apple cider vinegar thing a few times.. each time getting nasty canker sores, and though it's not supposed to increase stomach acid, it always does. I'm sure it's a great solution for a lot of people though. In theory, it makes sense to me. :) Best of luck to you.
Vinegar is good food! So are all of those fruits and veggies. You picked a beautiful time of year to go hiking with your hubby, too. And...I do wish you the best of luck :)
Karen
Holistic medicine? My best friend Kyla wants to pursue that. It only requires a certification? It sounds so interesting!
I'm a vegetarian... I also love cheese and don't think I am ready to be totally vegan. Eating out at restaurants is a problem when you're a vegan as well.
Good for you! Getting on the right path! Your daughters sound so interesting and ambitious.
LOL, this was an inspired bunch of comments, I must say! (which I just read on 21 June). I also use the vinegar to get started if I feel polluted (just a nice little tbs in a glass of water) when I feel too fat. Drink it down with a prayer.
I am a pescatarian also (I eat fish but not any other meat) and also cheese, but as you know, you need to be careful of the amounts of cheese. Savor those bites, but don't deprive yourself. Get the cheese you absolutely love and take little teeny bites.
And the most important part, as others have said, is "move" that body around. I go to the gym 6 days/week because without it, I would begin to pork up. With it, I watch my compatriots in the mirror and cheer them on!
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