New Beginnings

  

    So in February I will be plant based for 2 years..Valentine's Day, actually. This year I am giving a gift to my heart ~ I am going Plant Strong. So you may be asking " What is Plant Strong?" Well my friends is about eating whole living foods. I have been thinking about this step for awhile. I still eat alot of processed vegan foods and I know it's time to go further. I KNEW two years ago that giving up animal products was right for me. I haven't looked back. I am proud and I feel great. My digestive system is so healthy. I just know deep in my heart and soul that I am meant to push myself more. 

  For a couple of week now...because I LOVE to get this brain investigating first... I bought and read Engine 2 Diet. Then for my birthday I joined Engine 2 Extras site. I have access to videos, MP3 recording and recipes but most importantly I have found a very positive community. Cleaning the house I have my ipad on and I listen to what some of the top health doctors are saying. I love it.

Now for Christmas I bought myself these beautiful things you see above.I have seen Forks over Knives and it is an amazing movie. I wanted to see the extra interviews from the movie so I thought that would be great.The Rip Engine 2 Kitchen rescue was the bonus. Love him!! I had heard about Lindsay Nixon from her Happy Herbivore site for the two years I have been doing Plant based. I was just never ready for the step of no oil. I"m ready to take on this challenge.So armed with all three cookbooks I should have more than enough recipes to try.

   What lies ahead this year. I want John and Josh to eat plant strong with me and I am ready to start challenging there eating habits. WHY....lets face it. Truly the way North Americans are eating now is not helping us live better lives. I want John and Josh to be as healthy as possible in the future. Meats, dairy and oils don't make our futures brighter they just dim the light. So I am going to ask John to watch the movies with me and see if he wants to try some new things. I am having a Forks over Knives party in January with any friends and family that are interested in making some changes. I am making changes for ME. So join me on the next set of Advegtures...they will be bumpy and filled with challenges. I say "bring it on" with utter confidence. I can do this. I KNOW I can!!!

My science project ...me

  So I am embarking on a science project and the test subject is me. I got this idea from the current book I am reading The Engine 2 Diet. This is from the book

                                 Director of Advancement, Lance Armstrong Foundation

"Think of it as a science project.Pay close attention to the inputs and outputs.Monitor your sleep, exercise, energy, strength,mood and compare them with how you were on the traditional American diet. This is a bit of a game, and makes it easy and fun to see the results."

  Now I myself  have been plant based for a year and a half. I do feel lighter, my bowels (yuck) are very regular, my blood pressure is average and my cholesterol is better than average.But I could be better... I want to be in great shape as I get older and not be hampered by ailments. I want to travel the world with Josh and John as I get older and feel younger in spirit. I want to have great stamina and flexibility.I want to be filled with amazing energy.

 I have not been eating the best lately. Not enough good wholesome, clean foods. My sugar consumption is down but I can still do better.So I am doing my own science project. I am going to record the foods I eat, those bowel movements, sleep, energy levels,mood and exercise.

  My last question is..... do you and your loved ones know your numbers? It is NEVER to soon to look into these things. Don't be scared or naive ...it won't happen to me. Heart disease is an epidemic, diabetes is epidemic and obesity is epidemic. We do need to think of the future in that it can be really great or really awful. Think of your loved ones, kids and YOURSELF. We get one life on this big beautiful planet lets make it healthy and happy!!

  I am putting up some links to some great plant based blogs and websites I hope you will check them out.
Forks over Knives
Engine 2 diet
Hol Fit - this blog has Canadian Ange sharing her ideas on being plant based. I like it because the food and things she likes are available in Canada. She also has great Youtube videos.
Happy Herbivore- Lindsay has a great website. the recipes are very healthy and easy.

                     I hope your having a great weekend before the kids go back to school!!!

Two videos I had to share