WW FOOD DONATION

Happy Friday to all. I know, I know, every day seems like the day before. I sometimes forget what day it is. It’s like we are living through a scary version of Groundhog Day. I’m trying to go forward with positivity and focus on what I can do to better my health and life, and what I can do to help others during furlough and lockdown.

As I posted yesterday, I’m starting brand new. Back to WW online, eating clean vegan, and a brand new lockdown fitness routine. In the last two years I didn’t lose much, but I did lose 16 lbs of the weight I gained, and staying on WW earned me points that get converted to produce donations for families that are affected from Covid-19. I decided to donate my points to begin my brand new journey. If you have followed me I lost my weight helping charities with each ten pounds. Lockdown makes picking new charities a challenge, so the opportunity to donate food to those who need it through my WW points is the perfect way to begin my brand new weight loss journey. I have 35 lbs to go, to achieve my normal BMI at 140 lbs. That number seems so elusive to me, but I’m chasing my goals.

Yesterday I began my lockdown fitness journey with 3.1 mile walk/run in my apartment. I plan to do this daily, and go outdoors when there’s enough space to social distance. I’m planning the rest of my fitness goals and I will post the plan soon.

Today I’m visiting the clinic to follow up on my allergies and go forward. I’m starting to feel better but I want to be sure my allergies have not morphed into a sinus infection. I plan to really work on my health, and appearance will just be a positive bonus. Now, more than ever I recognize the importance of good health.

I send love and prayers to all who are suffering during these unprecedented times. Together we can get through this.
Love and Light to all, Rose 

 

 

 

QUARANTINE WEIGHT LOSS


Happy Thursday to all. My quarantine started rocky in mid March when my allergies sent my health anxiety to new levels, coupled with a world pandemic. I had goals for the sequestered time, but all I did was worry and fear, and complain about my symptoms while watching Netflix with my hubby James. Ozark is really great btw, a world more messed up than the one we are living  through.

decided this week as I am starting to feel better to get off my but and start blogging about my new quarantine weight loss journey. As many of you know I had weight loss and fitness success, and a few years later gained half after some personal losses. I’ve tried time and time again to start over and I dropped the ball. That’s the beauty with dropping the ball, you can pick it up again and try harder. That’s where I am now.

in the last month I ate more pasta than usual, and I didn’t even attempt to count my points. Today is weigh in and I currently weigh 175 lbs. Today is day one, I’m up 3 lbs. I’m hoping my allergies have cleared up so I can focus on all my goals, fitness, weight loss, wellness and creative goals. I plan to start fresh with the WW app (Weight Watchers) because I plan to incorporate the 80/20 rule. It’s always worked for me in the past. 80% of the time I will be eating clean vegan with low salt, sugars, and oils and 20% or less of the time I will count in occasional small splurges like vegan cream cheese on my toast. The idea is to eat highly nutritious vegan food but also enjoy in life’s little indulgences, counting them in as part of my daily points. I believe Friday we are grocery shopping to stock up for the week. I’m cooking a lot more these days. 

Tonight I’m making Split Pea Soup for dinner. I’m going to bake some vegan treats to enjoy with coffee or tea. I will be posting more about what I eat in a day, my grocery haul and my quarantine fitness routine. All things I’m doing to try to find wellness, joy and fulfillment during these unprecedented times. I’m making a commitment to myself and accountability to anyone who is reading my words. I’ve fallen before but I keep getting back up, bruised backside and all. There is no failure, only the fear to begin again, so just pick up where you left off. With love and light Rose Bruno Bailey

I will leave you with a few quotes about failure and starting over fresh by some very important historical figures.

 

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
― Thomas A. Edison


“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”
― Theodore Roosevelt

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
― Winston S. Churchill

“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” 

― J.K. Rowling

“It’s not how far you fall, but how high you bounce that counts.” 
― Zig Ziglar

 

 

QUARANTINE MUSINGS

Hello everyone, Happy Saturday. it is Saturday, isn’t it? How is everyone doing during this strange and scary time. I know there are many ways of looking at this pandemic. Some are afraid of the disease and are taking social distancing precautions, and some just want life to go back to normal. I admit, I’m more cautious and fearful. My allergies have been bad for a month, I only have post nasal drip and some coughing from that, but it is annoying and it feeds my health anxiety. My allergies and my anxiety kept me from doing the productive things I hoped to do from this time. Fear can be incapacitating. I’m going to buy the allergy meds and move forward, eventually getting allergy tested. One thing I know is fact, the symptoms of my allergies are the same, nothing has become something more. Time to medicate a little, relax and do something positive with my time. In this challenging period my wish is to get reacquainted with my creative self. To restart my health journey now that my knee is healing. To start the groundwork for the life I wish to live. I’m going to let go and let god as far as worry and anxiety and life.

As I type this I’m drinking coffee on my balcony, surrounded my trees listening to the soothing sounds of a train nearby, awaiting the rain. In the past my poet self would have written a dozen poems by know. It’s time I go back there. Leaving LA and living after loss seemed to break me, and when I injured my knee in January I thought such negative thoughts. I believed my best creative self may have been in the past, I had doubts I could start again at a brand new journey. I complained about my work, my knee, and missing Los Angeles. Now in hindsight I regret any complaints. My wish is we can all heal collectively, stay healthy and eventually move the world forward. James and I continue to practice social distancing, the numbers are growing here in Texas despite loosening the reigns on the public. At this moment i will not complain any longer but pray for health for all.

We have been enjoying my vegan home cooking but Monday we are going to start eating more basic whole food and plant based, and less processed vegan foods. My weight is currently 172 lbs and my goal is 140 lbs.  During a global pandemic health is number one. Getting James to eat vegan is easier when I make the comfort foods he’s used to. I told him for now we can enjoy those ( with portion control) on weekend and eat clean vegan Monday through Friday. That’s a doable plan. I still have the WW app (weight watchers) and I plan to continue to exercise and run/yoga at home. More writing, organizing my work, studying my group exercise certification book, clean etc. I’m going to try to get out of the part of my brain that holds me back and think forward thinking, so when this thing is over I will be better then I was before. That’s not too much to ask, is it? I wish everyone health and wellness, with more joy and less worry. We are in this together, even if we support each other from the segregation of our imposed six feet separation.
With Love and Light, Rose 

THE BEST VEGAN LASAGNA

Vegan Lasagna is a holiday go to in our household, when we don’t want the traditional vegan roast with all the trimmings. It’s super easy to make and it will leave you with leftovers for days, which is a quarantine win win. My hubby James said this Vegan Lasagna was my best ever. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did. Feel free to email me @rosebrunobailey.com with any questions. You can also find me on Instagram @rosebrunobailey and Facebook @mychangeforaten and @rosebrunobailey. Manga.


Ingredients and instructions for Vegan Bolognese Sauce

Two large cans crushed tomatoes. One can diced tomatoes. One large onion, diced. 10 cloves of garlic. ( we like a lot of garlic, you can use as much as you like). Two packages of lightlife grounds ( or gardein) dried basil, dried oregano, salt, pepper, extra virgin olive oil. Splash red wine( optional).  In a large pot add about 4 tbs olive oil and heat, add diced onions and sauté, half way through add garlic and season with salt, pepper, dried basil and dried oregano. I don’t measure, and I’m generous with the herbs.  Sauté and add two cans crushed tomatoes, one can diced tomatoes, and mix and add two containers vegan grounds. Stir well and again season with salt, pepper, oregano and basil. Add splash of red wine if desired. Cook on high for five minutes, stirring and turn flame to low and simmer uncovered for an hour and a half, stirring frequently. Let sauce sit for a bit before building lasagna. You can make this the night before. It’s a delicious rich red sauce you can use often. It’s our go to sauce for spaghetti.

Ingredients for Tofu Ricotta  

Two packages of firm tofu, drained. No need to press. 1/3 cup unsweetened plain soy milk, or a generous splash. Juice of one lemon. Salt, Pepper, Nutritional Yeast, Dried Basil, Dried parsley.  In a large bowl crumble two packets of firm tofu with a fork, breaking it down. Add juice of one lemon, splash of soy milk and mash and blend well until you get a ricotta cheese like consistency. Season with generous basil and parsley and nutritional yeast. Salt and pepper and keep mixing. It should look just like ricotta cheese.

Ingredients for Vegan Lasagna.
One pot of vegan Bolognese. ( see above), Vegan Ricotta (see above). Two packages of No cook Vegan Lasagna Noodles. ( look for no egg). Daiya Vegan Mozzarella cheese. Olive oil spray for pan. Tin foil.  I used a long deep lasagna pan and lined it with foil. Building Vegan Lasagna. Line your pan with Foil covering all sides, and spray with olive oil spray. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Add a generous later of vegan bolognese sauce to bottom of the pans. Start lining up no boil lasagna noodles, covering the whole bottom of pan. I broke pieces to keep the whole bottom of the pan covered in noodles. Start layering vegan ricotta on top of the noodles and spread evenly. Repeat sauce, noodles, vegan ricotta cheese over and over til you build a high lasagna. As you get to the top of the pan add a final layer of sauce and dust with nutritional yeast. Cover with foil and bake 35 minutes. Remove foil and add a generous layer of Daiya Mozzarella and bake an additional 10 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes or more before cutting. We love this, it’s easy and tastes very much like the Lasagna I grew up with. I think you will love it. I hope everyone is safe and I send prayers to everyone who needs it now. These are unprecedented times, a little vegan comfort food is soothing for the soul.
Happy Eating!! Love and Light,

Rose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE

I hope this post finds everyone safe from this world pandemic. I send love, light, healing and prayers to all. When I hurt my knee I felt like everything was unraveling, I never dreamed we would ever be living through a world pandemic, it’s frightening to say the least. My struggles paled in comparison to what’s going on now. I regret ever complaining.

My quarantine time began in fear in mid March, bad allergies and health anxiety ruled my mind. I couldn’t sleep, and I was living in fear. I’m starting to feel better now, keeping news to a minimum and trying hard to focus on positivity of being at home. My knee is finally healing. We rarely go out, only once a week for groceries and we wear masks. I’m working out and running in my apartment, and I will be sharing what I’m doing to get through this stay at home time. I also plan to share some recipes that I’ve been cooking. We do mostly healthy vegan food and I cook vegan comfort food on the weekends. For Easter I made a tofu lasagna, a banana bread and vegan chocolate cake. All recipes I will post this week.

My website was down but I’m grateful to tech support for getting me back up and running. I will post what I’m doing for wellness, creativity and finding joy in the time of Coronavirus. We will get through the financial struggles, my first wish is we all stay healthy, and soon they will come up with ways to fight this terrible disease. In the meantime I plan to use my time a little bit more wisely, with less worrying.
Sending love and light to all.

Rose 

 

 

Starting over Fitness after injury

Happy Wednesday to all. Yesterday I got moving for the first time since my injury, and even though I don’t know the extent of the damage, I’ve continued to go to work on it. I had an X-ray ( no breaks or fractures) and an ultrasound. I did not have an mri and I may need one at some point. My knee is still swollen but I’m starting to be more mobile. So I decided to begin cardio again.

Yesterday I was able to walk 1.5 miles. I wanted to start slowly. Today I plan on doing the same and listening to my body, letting pain be my guide. My gait feels a little heavy but I’m out there moving my body, and that’s what matters. Baby steps and healing thoughts. I’m manifesting fitness, health and healing. Today I plan on matching my 1.5 miles, plus starting to stretch again.

It’s incredibly humbling to get hurt and not be in the same fitness league you once were, than you remember that you are able to walk. Everyone has their own journey and their own timetable. Don’t ever compare your journey to someone else. We can cheer on as we chase after our dreams. I know I’m cheering all of you on. Nothing but love and light.
With Gratitude,

Rose

 

Injury and Weigh in Update

It’s been a minute and a day since I’ve posted. I’m in the process of healing from an injury to my knee that’s taking much longer to heal than I expected. It’s a bit easier to walk on but it’s still pretty swollen. Today is the first day I’m going to try to do some cardio and see how I feel.

My weight has been fluctuating, I’m now 176. I was 174 a few weeks ago but I also stopped taking a diuretic I was on for years, so I’m not upset over a 2 lb gain. It’s incredibly humbling to backtrack from fitness and weight loss, but even more humbling to get hurt and have to stop all together. I never had an mri, just an ultrasound and an X-ray, so I really don’t know exactly what I did to my leg. I’m listening to my body and I’m going to go slow with cardio and see how I feel. My mind tells me if I can walk all night at work I can try to start getting fit again.

My vegan lifestyle is a lifestyle and not a diet, so that will never change. I’m eating mostly whole foods and plant based with low salt, sugar and oils. I do have an occasional boca burger without a bun on days I’m in a rush. I’m balancing my food, meal prepping and having a kale/ fruit smoothie every day; with chia, flax seeds and coconut water. Eating healthy is easy, the weight stalling has everything to do with the fact I haven’t worked out since I injured myself last November. Even though my knee is swollen I’m ready to begin again starting today. I was featured in two issues of VegWorld magazine and I’m really chasing all of my goals. I haven’t given up even when challenged. My sweet husband James said I’m beautiful but I’m stronger then people expect. He said I’m tough as nails. I don’t know about that but I try to never ever give up.

I admit the injury left me depressed, but I’m coming out of it with a positive mindset, and meditation. Controlling negative thoughts is key as is living for the present. I’m just going to get out there and move my body. I’m not going to begin with running or try to move too fast while walking. My goal is to move a little more each day, try the rower, and stretch my body. My first goal is to move to heal and get better, each day getting stronger and stronger. I have a long term goal to get in the best shape of my life, but for now I’m taking baby steps. Day one is today and my goal is to just move. I would like to try for 30/45 minutes but I’m going to listen to my body and let pain be my guide. Update tomorrow!!

Love and light and healing to all who need it.
With Gratitude,

Rose 

 

 

Life’s Curveballs

Happy Wednesday to all. How’s 2020 going for all of you. I have committed to blogging and being consistent with my goals and happiness, and I’m on it in regards to my clean eating, budget food haul and meal prep. A little curveball has come my way in the form of an injured knee. It’s swollen and has been bothering me for weeks. That photo is from 2013 when I began this blog. It was days before I was in the Richard Simmons video and I got sick. I started my blog and had to rest for a few days before resuming it full force. Similar to reinventing my blog today. I start and all of a sudden my knee is giving me a hard time. 

I took today off from work to continue to apply rice; rest, ice, compression and elevation. I’m also going to buy new work shoes for now and order better ones online. Today the swelling doesn’t seem as bad as it was. This is a curveball in my plan for sure, but life throws you curveballs. It’s how you react to them. I’m listening to my body and my mindset is positive, I will heal. I do believe eating very little salt and sodium and tons of plants will help me in the process of healing and getting rid of inflammation.  The money I saved from my food budget is going to work shoes and one bill, even though I’m losing one day of work I’m still getting somewhat ahead. I’m proud to say today is my day three transitioning to eating a whole foods plant based lifestyle. I’m vegan for the animals and environment, and wfpb for my heath. This is not saying I’m against processed food and all the delicious vegan options out there, but for me those are rare and occasional treats. I love a good splurge meal but they have to be occasional treats. It’s too easy to slip. I’m eating very low salt, sugar and oil but I’m not 100% completely free of them. When I say very low that means almost none, but I won’t worry if some slips into my food. I’m trying to be healthy and balanced.

Happiness, health, wellness/weight loss and chasing goals takes a lot of work; but it also takes perseverance when things do not go your way. Those curveballs fly in the direction of your well thought out plans and goals. It’s ok if they do, just don’t let them knock you down or crush your dreams and goals. Remember, this month will build the foundation for the year. , that’s how I’m approaching January. Don’t give up when life throws you curveballs. It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last.

For the time being I’m listening to my body and reading inspirational words while I cannot workout. I’m eating clean vegan, no salt, very little oils and sugar. Soon I will be healed and resuming my workout plans and goals. In the meantime I rest and show gratitude for my health even if my knee is temporarily injured.Today the swelling in my knee has gone down a bit, hoping I heal quickly so I can begin moving my body daily. One of the secrets to happiness for me is exercise. Have a wonderful mid week.
Love and light to all. Rose

 

Trader Joe’s Vegan Grocery Haul


Happy Tuesday to all. Ok, last night I did my second part of my vegan on a budget grocery haul. Spanky my Siamese cat was excited too, don’t judge. My goal was to spend $80.00 total for the week, but I went over that just a bit. Our vegan grocery haul for the week total with Trader Joe’s and HEB combined was $107.00. I ended up getting some produce that was higher than I thought. I got flax seeds, chia seeds, tons of fruits, veggies and greens. Lentils and canned no salt beans. I ended up getting healthier flax tortilla chips and salsa for my hubby James, because he’s going to need some foods that resemble what he’s used to. The goal is for him to eat wfpb and not feel deprived, so a little balance here is needed. We also bought all paper products etc so we won’t need to go to the store at all until next Sunday night. I can’t wait to see how I feel with very low salt and sodium.

Overall I think I did well. Plus we don’t eat out, so that’s it for the week. All the other money will go to debt and bills, and new work shoes for me. If you are wondering what meals I’m going to make I will do what I eat in a day in the near future. I’m going to make my own hummus. As far as exercise I’m starting with walking and stretching. My knee needs to heal so I’m taking it somewhat easy. It’s still really swollen. Legs up a walk pose every night for 15 minutes for better circulation. I’m not going to deny I’m in a little pain, so it’s a little concerning. I’m determined to heal though, and losing weight is always recommended for the knees and joints. My long cardio sessions will have to wait.

What is your grocery budget? Do you eat out? I’m curious to know how you manage your grocery budget. Happy Tuesday to all. Like I told my hubby, January I’m doing the grudge work, the healing, building the foundation of my new year. My happiness begins with good health, better finances and less worry. Happy Tuesday to all.

 

How to eat vegan on a budget

Happy Monday to all. Let’s crush some goals so we worry less and spread joy more. We are happiness gurus today, not tomorrow or next week. For me it begins with two of my categories I need to work on, bills and my healthy vegan food budget. I’m getting healthy now, and my husband James is on board. To eat clean vegan doesn’t take a lot of cash. This week I’m doing it for $80.00.

These are two categories that are important in my life to be happy, getting on top of bills and debt and health. Beginning on Mondays I set the foundation for my week. I set my intentions for my day, and I honor those intentions. Here’s my food haul from last night. One more haul tonight and I’m done and then I decide which bills to tackle first, this plan is a proactive plan. To be happy you need to stop procrastinating, and find money somewhere to take care of issues. No more vegan junk means money to pay off things. I will reserve vegan junk for occasional splurges. Don’t get me wrong, I love vegan junk, only once in a while and definitely not daily. Eating clean vegan will help me on my path to weight loss/and vegan wellness.

If you want to eat clean on a budget I suggest you stick to fruits, vegetables frozen and fresh. I look around for deals first, and then I make my choices. I do the same with veggies and greens, and I buy a lot because this is the bulk of our meals. I look for seeds that may be on sale, I found chia seeds for $5.99. I buy only one bread, Ezekiel. One loaf should last a week. I have whole grain rice and a big container of oats at home, including oat flour, dark vegan chocolate chips for occasional homemade treats. At home I also have spices, nutritional yeast, and apple sauce. I have coconut oil and olive oil but we will rarely use oil. Applesauce is great for baking. We have nut butters, all natural with no salt or oil. Canned beans no salt, dry legumes like split peas and lentils. I do buy some condiments to help my hubby transition to clean vegan. Vegan mayo, vegan butter, and vegan sour cream. I will use sparingly.

Tonight at Trader Joe’s I’m finishing my haul. I will post in another blog what we are eating with this $80.00 vegan food budget. Oh, and there’s always coffee. I think it’s going to be easy to stick to this plan. After the holidays and all the salt I know eating this way will help me in three ways, losing weight, get rid of water retention from all the sodium, and save money to pay bills. It’s a win-win. Now doesn’t beginning your week this way make you happy?

One more thing, we are making a donation for Australia. I can take a little extra cash to show my support. It’s heartbreaking for all the people and animals. I can’t even look at the images, I just cry. If you can, donate a dollar or two. If we all did that imagine how much relief they can get. Part of being a happiness guru is being kind and giving. Love and light to all and prayers for our neighbors down under. Rose