Category Archives: mychangeforaten vegan

TODAY IS A GREAT DAY FOR CHANGE

It’s Sunday and I just started weight watchers Friday. I’m feeling a bit reflective.

It usually takes me a thousand tries before it sticks. I get sidetracked, I’m all over the map with my goals and I’m not a multitasker.

The reason I chose weight watchers again is because I don’t vilify food when on this program. It’s just food. It’s not bad or good. It’s super easy to do with the app, and if I need support I can attend a meeting.

If you really know me you know I eat a very healthy vegan diet, but it’s not enough. Portions, age related obstacles and the synthroid I take for hypothyroidism are all a part of my weight gain equation.

But that’s ok, I’m not looking backwards. I’m not going that way.

Those obstacles are not a dead end. I’m jumping over the road blocks, I’m finding how to navigate my vegan ways with some semblance of balance. If I want toast with coffee I will have toast with coffee, but I count it and usually don’t eat bread the rest of the day. It’s about the little choices you make that will help you journey to your destination.

Exercise is huge. I couldn’t do it without movement. I will keep working on it to be as fit as this body will be.

The one thing I do know, when my food feels in control and balanced everything else follows. My journey this time is not that much different than it was in July 2013 when I began mychangeforaten. I am better and chasing goals, better at life when my food is in control. 

Today is a great day for change. As my husband James always says, don’t think, just do. He also says don’t live in fear, because if you do, you are not living at all. I think we can all relate to fear after the last year and a half. 

Live, and thrive today. You can’t make a difference in the world if you do not take care of your health. We want you here. So if you need to change, today is a great day for change. Begin Today. In six months you will thank your younger self. 

Love and Light, 

Rose 

 

What happened week one vegan no oil

Happy Tuesday. I’m a little late updating my weight loss so I decided to combine my week one weigh in and what’s happened after nine days eating vegan whole plant foods no oil, with little salt and just a dash of sugar in my coffee.
1. I lost six pounds week one.
2. my joints feel so much better, any aches and pains I had are now almost gone.
3. This is a little TMI but I normally have a lot of gas issues and daily diarrhea. It’s probably why my potassium was so low. I assumed it was all the fiber. Now I think it was the processed foods and oil. I now feel normal in that department.
4. When I usually sit for a while and stand up it takes me a minute or two to walk off the stiffness. It’s all gone. No more stiffness.
5. Got swollen eyes? No salt and no oil means less swelling under your eyes, in your feet etc. My shoes are not as tight. This is all only after nine days. I plan to eat like this for ten weeks, journaling every bite and sticking to Dr Greger’s Daily Dozen. After ten weeks I will start the next ten weeks of food journaling. I feel amazing so far. It keeps my motivation going feeling this good. I am trying no oil recipes so I will be posting those soon.
Have a wonderful day.
love and light,

Rose

 

VEGAN PROTEIN BALLS

My coffee is life to me. I tried to use plain soy milk in my coffee but it just tasted watered down. I decided to have my soy creamer as my one treat.

Vegan Protein Bars are delicious and my go to breakfast. I first learned about them from Melissa Bender Fitness. Since I’m doing Dr Greger’s Daily Dozen I wanted to make my protein bars in portion controlled servings, so I know which boxes to tick off. Mine have three ingredients and they make one serving, four protein bars are 1/2 cup oats which is 1 grain and 1 TBS nut butter which ticks off the nut box. I add a few raisins but you could add any dried fruit or chocolate chips. They are perfect accompaniment with my coffee.

You will need.
1/2 cup oats, 1 tbs nut butter, preferably no salt and no added oils. 1 tablespoon raisins or chocolate chips, or any dried fruit. In a bowl add oats, then spoon in nut butter. I chose a runny nut butter which makes assembling the protein balls much easier, or you can microwave it for a few seconds. I add the raisins and mix. Chill for at least a half hour and then you should be able to form 4 protein balls.

Above is Dr Greger’s Daily Dozen chart. I find it’s the best tool for me to get all of my nutritional needs in. I follow all the plant based Dr’s and I take what works for me. I’m definitely sticking to no oil and only a dash of sugar or molasses in my coffee. No sodium and that’s it. A very clean vegan diet going forward. My health is my why.

Change begins when you decide there is need for change. When you are ready you will show up. It’s time for me, I’m here and committed.

Happy Tuesday to all. Love and light, Rose

 


MY CHANGE FOR A TEN

Happy Tuesday. This is the second week of my second half of my wellness journey ( as a vegan) and I’m starting off strong with a positive mindset. I began this blog in 2013 and I helped a new charity with each ten pounds. I lost a significant amount of weight and helped several charities.  I was in the best shape I’ve been in since my twenties, and I regained my sense of purpose in the process. I had a lot of help from others in fitness and philanthropy. It was a team effort from friends who got involved.

When I decided to go all in on this blog again  ( for real this time) I didn’t think I could take on a charity with each ten pounds. I am still doing charity projects separately, but I wasn’t sure one charity with each ten pounds could be managed, until I came up with a fresh idea to accomplish my original mission with a new twist. My new my change for a ten plan is to donate something every ten pounds, with the number ten. For example, ten cans of food to Food bank or homeless shelter. Ten pounds of cat or dog food to a animal rescue. You get the idea. I would also like to start a movement to get others to do the same. Challenge yourself to do something for others using the number ten. Send ten cards to family members, ten blankets to a homeless shelter. You can do what I did originally and motivate yourself to lose weight by helping others. It worked for me then and I believe it will work for me now. I weighed in yesterday and my current weight is 169 lbs. When I get into the 150’s I will be doing a giving back to an organization I am passionate about. I’m yet to decide my first ten pounds donation, so stay tuned.

I’m also running the Facebook group I founded called Letters From Uncle Louie, we send cards and letters to seniors in homes to let them know they are not alone. I feel like teaming charities with weight loss really helped me be successful the first time around, and keeping it up is very motivating to me now. I would love to inspire others to do the same. We get healthy and it helps us be happier, and helping others is so rewarding; it’s a real win win.

Have a wonderful day.

With Gratitude, Rose

 

 

BENDERFITNESS COLLABORATION

http://www.benderfitness.

Happy Sunday to all. I have exciting news. I’m collaborating with Melissa Bender Fitness. I will be contributing one vegan recipe each week to be shared on her website. I love this because I admire all that she does. Her fitness website and YouTube channel are game changers. She’s completely authentic, real, and professional. Not only is she a fitness trainer, she’s a certified yoga teacher, a running coach and an Occupational Therapist. Her website has a wealth of knowledge and videos for any type of workout you are looking for. She’s my go to for yoga, workout videos, and professional advice and recipes for wellness. She has guided my journey and is one of my inspirations in life.  Benderfitness is the complete package and it’s all free. No fees needed. I suggest you check it out.

Happy Sunday. I look forward to sharing my vegan recipes. Some will be healthy and some will be vegan comfort food because I’m a firm believer that living a life of balance creates joy. We all need more joy going forward.
Namaste, Manga, and Happy Cooking.
With Gratitude,

Rose