The 2012 Rundown

2012 is almost at an end and we are still here. No post-apocalyptic world chaos. 

But it was still a very interesting year for me. If I was to use one word to describe 2012 it would be 'transformational'. While every year is different from the year before or the one before that, 2012 was a year that I got to know myself better. Oh yes....I know....a person can say this about every year but this year was one to remember. An awakening happened deep inside of me. I dedicated time....real time...for myself and focus on creating space for my True Self to shine. 

Which is so much more than I had planned. Here is a recap of the goals I wanted to accomplish in 2012:

To do a backbend, a handstand and a headstand. Need a healthy spine.

• Back bend was accomplished March 1st, 2012. Twice!
• Head stand was accomplished May 9th, 2012.
• Hand stands I'm still working on. 

To read at least 12 books. More would be better but let's start with 12.

• I have read 6 books this year. Great improvement! 

To travel to Europe with my wonderful husband, Craig.

• This almost happened. I had plans to purchase tickets in February and almost did it but held back. Then I almost purchased tickets another 2 or 3 times but held back. Good thing I did. Craig's mom died in the spring and it took a couple of months to get that all in order. Then Craig quit his job at Unisource in September. A decision that will change our lives for the next 2 years or so because he is back in school.

To participate in the Easter Seals Drop Zone in September.

• I repelled 30 storeys down the Sun Life tower in downtown Calgary. Raised about $1900! This was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. And one of the most rewarding. I faced a fear right in the eyes and won the staring contest.

To improve my cardio health.

• I can say that I am healthier as I am now vegan. I'm still working to improve my cardio health.

To have a Mysore practice of at least 3 times a week.

• This has been steady all year long and more often than not it is more like a 5 times a week practice. I will be continuing this in 2013.

To spend more time with my family.

• I have been at home more in 2012. Giving up my volunteer role with the Alberta Regional Burning Man community has freed up so much time and reduced my stress load A LOT. We have had many adventures as a family and we will be continuing to do so in the new year. 

To complete at least one of my home reno projects.

• This did not happen but I have 2 new half done projects that will be completed in the new year. Right Craig? hehe

To lose another 20 pounds.

• My weight has been steady all year which is probably not a bad thing. There is still something going on with my thyroid that I have been actively trying to get figure out. Until then more weight loss will have to be put on hold.

There was one more event that was memorable this year.

Reference Point Therapy
In the early spring I had a therapy session with Ben Ralston over Skype. He lives in Slovenia so this was the only way to do it. I had stumbled across Reference Point Therapy about 2 years ago through one of his posts on Elephant Journal and was very interested in trying it out. It's not that I am really screwed up emotionally but I knew there was stuff that I needed to talk to someone about. I'm not convinced that conventional therapy would be a right fit for me. I didn't want to dwell on the past and talk about it for months or years. I just wanted to release these events and move on.
I had no idea what these events or restrictions were!
Well I was in for quite a surprise. This therapy session put me in bed for about six weeks. I was venerable and exposed. I felt like I had a new skin and I went into a protection mode. Don't get me wrong I wasn't crying in bed or wallowing in self grief. I was happy and felt like a new canvas that was ready for paint. I filled myself with love by listening to Ram Das lectures for 6 weeks. I wanted to be in control with what I filled these newly empty spaces in my consciousness. Ram Das did the trick!

Well there is a few highlights of 2012. Stay tuned for my 2013 goals........

The Vegan Experiment - Week Four

Week four of the vegan experiment I, once again, did not create a meal plan. This is great news! It is coming very natural to us to be vegan. We can think up meals on the spot.
As of August 22 (today), Craig and I will be 30 days vegan and we've decided to continue. No end date. Over the past 4 weeks I have been asked a few common questions about our decision and about what we eat. I have compiled the questions and my answers to them in this blog. (Craig's answers are not reflected)

Why did you want to try the vegan diet?
As some of you know, I am not an animal lover. I don't go gaga for puppies, dogs, little pet rodents or highly territorial cats. I don't want to see them hurt but I don't have to have a pet zoo in my house either. I have compassion for animals but that is not my motivation to be vegan.
I needed a healthier lifestyle that was more ongoing than a diet. I've done many diets! Once you stop the diet you gain back the weight. Just the way in goes in the temple of a body I have. I felt a vegan lifestyle change would help with my hormone intake too. I do have a sketchy thyroid and it may be because of my food choices. The vegan food choices I have made I feel have helped decrease my hormone intake and may help create balance in my body.

How do you feel?
I feel fantastic! I am cooking again and that makes me happy. I am lighter (about 9 pounds) and less tired. I feel emotionally balanced too. I don't get overwhelmed as easy. My skin looks amazing and feels soft.
What I don't feel is hungry!

What do you miss the most?
I miss cheese and mayo. Mayo makes me moan....sounds bad but it's true. When I see my sub artist put mayo on my sandwich I mouth the words 'I love you' to him or her.
And cheese.....oh cheese how I miss you so much! The creamy, stringy yumminess! I may have to cheat with some cheese soon so I know how sick it will make me. Then I may not miss it so much.

Is your son eating a vegan diet too?
My son Ivan is a very picky eater and has a eating routine. He is not vegan with us.  He does not like to try new things and veggies are something we have to sneak into his meal. He drinks his veggies. As you can see by the picture below, Ivan doesn't not like new experiences with food. He is trying a piece a watermelon and took the tiniest bite ever. Doesn't like it. So we pick our battles and let him be a picky eater. As long as he licks the something new or takes a tiny bite......then that is it. I don't want eating to be a bad memory.

So far I have eaten so many wonderful things. I made this Dilly Stew with Rosemary Dumplings the other night and it is the yummiest comfort food EVER!!!

Dilly Stew with Rosemary Dumplings

Here is the recipe from Post Punk Kitchen:

For the stew:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 medium sized sweet onion (like Vidalia or Walla Walla), quartered and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon salt
3 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups vegetable broth, at room temperature
2 stalks celery, tops removed, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 1/2 pounds potato, in 3/4 inch chunks (peel if they’re russets)
1 cup baby carrots (see note)
1 tablespoon fresh thyme
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
Fresh black pepper
1 15 oz can navy beans, rinsed and drained (about 1 1/2 cups)

For the dumplings:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoons dried rosemary, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (or soy)
2 tablespoons olive oil

First we’re going to make a roux, but it has a little less fat than a traditional roux, which means it doesn’t get as goopy. If you’d like a more traditional roux, just add extra oil.

Preheat a large, heavy bottom pot over medium-low heat.

Add the oil and sprinkle in the flour. Use a wooden spatula to toss the flour in the oil, and stir pretty consistently for 3 to 4 minutes, until the flour is clumpy and toasty.

Add the onion and salt, and toss to coat the onions completely in the flour mixture. As the onions release moisture, they will coat more and more. Cook this way for 5 minutes, stirring often. Add garlic and stir for 30 more seconds or so.

Stream in the vegetable broth, whisking constantly to prevent clumping. Add the celery, potatoes, carrot, dill, thyme, paprika and black pepper, then turn the heat up and cover to bring to a boil. Keep a close eye and stir often, so that it doesn’t clump or boil over.

Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and let cook uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the stew is nicely thickened and the potatoes and carrots are tender.

In the meantime, prepare the dumplings.

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the rosemary. Make a well in the center and add the milk and olive oil. Use a wooden spoon to mix together until a wet dough forms.

When the stew is ready, mix in the beans and plop dough right on top of the stew in spoonfuls. You should get about 14 dumplings. Cover the pot tightly and cook for about 14 more minutes. The dumplings should be nice and firm. Use your ladle to dunk them into the stew to coat.

Ladle stew into bowls, topped with dumplings. And serve!

And for dessert, vegan peanut butter cups from The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone.

The Vegan Experiment - Week Three

It has been a busy short week after the Heritage Day long weekend. The week went by so fast I didn't get to a chance to post before the week happened. And I didn't have time to work up a meal plan for the week! "Oh no," you say. Not to worry, my beloved readers, we made it through and stuck to the vegan diet. A true test of dedication.
We didn't cheat!
The week was filled with yummy foods that are very satisfying. I find I am eating less. I like to think it is because I am filling myself with nutrients instead of crap. My body doesn't feel in need to eat more.
A great find was this vegan sloppy joes. Comfort food is a must when you are making such a big and sudden change to your diet.

Sloppy!

Here's the recipe from Healthy Bitch Daily (great name!)

1/2 cup red quinoa
1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 red onion, diced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
Extra virgin olive oil (about 1 tbsp)
Salt and pepper
6 ounces tomato sauce
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Dill pickle, for garnish
Cilantro, minced, for garnish

How to Make It
Cook the quinoa in water with the cayenne and paprika for 20 minutes or until quinoa is sprouted. Meanwhile, saute the onion and bell pepper in some olive oil until soft and onions are lightly browned. Add salt and pepper.

Add the cooked quinoa, tomato sauce, tomato paste and apple cider vinegar. Stir until it is heated through.

Take some dill pickle slices and chop them up. Mince some cilantro as well. (These will really give this sloppy joe that "wow" flavour punch.)  Put it all together on a bun and enjoy! 

And then I found the answer to my vegan burger needs. It's not dry or dusty and most importantly it's not full of mushrooms or soy. It's the quarter pounder beet burger!

Beet burger AWESOME!! Sweet potato tots NOT!

This is the best vegan burger I have tasted EVER!!! Here is the recipe from Post Punk Kitchen (yet another great name):

1 1/4 cups cooked, cooled brown rice (see recipe notes above)
1 cup cooked brown or green lentils, cooled, drained well
1 cup shredded beets
1/2 teaspoon salt
Fresh black pepper
1 teaspoon thyme, rubbed between your fingers
1/2 teaspoon ground fennel (or finely crushed fennel seed)
1 teaspoon dry mustard
3 tablespoons very finely chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons smooth almond butter
1/2 cup very fine breadcrumbs

Peel beets and shred with the shredder attachment of your food processor, then set aside. Change the attachment to a metal blade. Pulse the brown rice, shredded beets and lentils about 15 to 20 times, until the mixture comes together, but still has texture. It should look a lot like ground meat.

Now transfer to a mixing bowl and add all the remaining ingredients. Use your hands to mix very well. Everything should be well incorporated, so get in there and take your time, it could take a minute or two.

Place the mixture in the fridge for a half hour to chill.

Pour a very thin layer of oil into the pan and cook patties for about 12 minutes, flipping occasionally. Do two at a time if you’re pan isn’t big enough. Drizzle in a little more oil or use a bottle of organic cooking spray as needed. Burgers should be charred at the edges and heated through. 

And if you’d like to bake them instead, do so at 375 F, 8 to 10 minutes each side, then stick under the broiler to brown them. (I baked them, it was easier.)

Week three was a huge success! I am going to work on a meal plan for week four. 

I am really surprised at how easy this has been.

The Vegan Experiment - Week Two

Week one was at times very easy and other times was very painful. Both Craig and I were detoxing with symptoms like headaches, irritability, hard time sleeping and at the same time feeling tired. It reminded me a lot of when I quit smoking. By the end of the week we were feeling better. Don't get me wrong, we weren't felling sick 24 hours a day. There were just moments of these symptoms but when they were there it was intense.
This weeks menu was a bit intimidating because I had to plan for a camping trip this weekend. (I hope we get a site!) I scheduled in 2 snacks a day again but I found in week one that most times I didn't need to eat that much. I put them in again just in case.....getting hungry will be my downfall. I will drive far and wide to get comfort food!

The main meal is the Moroccan Couscous with Saffron. I found this recipe in Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet. An excellent book with many meal plans, recipes, info and great pictures. 

You may notice that I am eating lots of peanut butter. It's a comfort food for sure but the new Safeway line of products called Open Nature has a great peanut butter! There is only one ingredient: peanuts. Love it! So this week I decided to make a peanut butter, chocolate, oat muffin for our snacks. Looks filling and yummy. 

So far temptation to eat non vegan food has not plagued me. This morning when I walked into the Safeway they were baking cheese buns. The whole store smelled like melted cheese!!!! While it smelled really good I didn't feel tempted to eat them. I did linger in the bakery section to take the smell in. I feel this is a good sign. 

We did have some Gardein meatless burgers this weekend that were pretty good....I would eat them again. They were a bit dry but that just means I have to put more condiments on. I love condiments!!! More pickles would be good! Wish I could get my hands on the yummy vegan burger they have at Rebar in Victoria.

The Vegan Experiment - Prep

Usually I only meal plan for when we are going on a family trip or camping. But to be successful in our vegan experiment meal planning is a necessity. I posted a pic of our first week meal  plan in my last blog post, The Vegan Experiment - The Beginning. There are a few meal and supplies I will need to make ahead of time like: almond milk, cashew cream, banana coconut muffins, a hearty stew and pasta salad.



I have made nut milk in the past so that part is easy. A batch of almond milk for breakfast cereal and oatmeal. The almond milk is on the left. I had to purchase a new blender and decided to go with the Ninja that is available at crappy tire. It is a fabulous blender! I highly recommend it. On the right is the cashew cream for coffee and sometimes tea. Because the blender is so awesome I didn't have to strain the cashew cream. Thanks Maurie for the tip on the blender. Paid $80 for 1000w.

For lunches we are having quinoa, kale and bean stew. It is very hearty and tasty!

 

Banana & coconut muffins for snacks. I made them with whole wheat flour so they would be filling. This is the first time using an egg substitute. Just mixed a little ground flax seed with some water & it made a small bowl of sticky goop. And it is a great source of omega 3s!

I have been making my own sprouts for years. It is very easy and I don't have to worry about contaminated sprouts from the store. I put them in a mason jar with cheese cloth stretched over the lid. The first day they soak in water then for the following 3 days I rinse and drain the water in the morning and before bed. From start to finish about 4 days and yummy sprouts! 

As long as I have something to put in my mouth when I am hungry or just need a snack I should survive. The prep was not hard and there is so much info on the internet. I can look up anything! Anything! 

My Vegan Experiment - The Beginning

I am stuck in a world of comfort food and becoming dependant on having comfort food for every little let down or disappointment of the day. A container of peanut butter and chocolate ice cream feels really good when I just went through a session of mentally beating myself up. And we have to have chips and pop to watch Hell's Kitchen and Masterchef. Comfort junk food has become our norm and that's not good.

My biggest addiction is burgers and fries.

The crazy thing is that I love to cook. I love the prep time, getting everything ready to put together into a fabulous dish. I love meals that are full of colour and vibrant from many different types of veggies. I just don't have the drive or energy to do it when I have a house full of easy to eat comfort junk food around. It is a vicious circle.

Last year Craig, my husband, and I went on the 4 Hour Body diet. It was an intense change as we couldn't eat anything white, no fruit and had to eat every 4 hours. So no rice, bread, milk, cheese, sugar or yummy fruit. We lived on beans, meat and veggies for about eight months. We lost a lot of weight and fast! But as soon as we stop we gained it all back. Craig gained more than he lost and I gained most of it back less ten pounds. It was another fad diet telling us that it wasn't a fad diet. But if you need to loose weight fast it is a great way to go. I cannot look at another can of refried beans.....which is what I ate for lunch or dinner everyday. Refried beans with a piece of chicken or a small beef steak and a huge mound of peas.
A couple of months ago there was a huge release of the movie "Hungry for Change". It was all over Facebook and Twitter. I watched the movie online and ended up ordering it and the cookbook. It was great motivation and a big eye opening for me. The one thing that stuck in my head after watching it was that when people eat comfort junk food that they are always hungry. The body is searching for nutrients and healthy sustenance. It just rang true with my new lazy food lifestyle. I was always hungry and I wasn't getting any nourishment.
My body needs a restart! Craig's too. So we are going vegan for 30 days starting on Monday, July 23. I am all about extremes.
Craig and I are going to sign a 30 day vegan pledge through PETA. I have set the meal plan for the first week. Purposefully not adding any meat substitute for the first week for me as this will not go over well. Craig can handle tofu but I cannot. I probably won't add it into my meal plan for the whole 30 days if I can get away with it.

Week One Meal Plan

I will be preparing a few of the meals ahead of time so that I don't get overwhelmed once the detoxing from junk happens. I will be weak at the beginning and I am sure that second week is going to be a bitch! 

I am planning to keep this blog up to date with our adventure. I hope you enjoy it.