Tag Archives: vegan

TODAY IS A GREAT DAY FOR CHANGE

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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 

 

SUMMER SOLSTICE NEW BEGINNING

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June 21st 2021

Monday.

Good Morning to all. Happy New Beginnings. It’s the week of the Summer Solstice, and to me it’s the perfect time to start over. Yes, I have been starting over for four years now, usually with zero success. I’ve been a literal yo yo, up and down, lose ten gain five. After the pandemic and a lot of soul searching and feeling like €&@%, I decided to have another go at it.

I have a lot of plans and goals, but I’m starting with the basics first, fitness, fun, and food. I now have a personal trainer I’m working with named Kristi, Tuesday’s post will be all about her. I’m also looking to my bestie and fitness expert Melissa Bender Fitness. I’m using the lose it app and cleaning up my act. I’m plan to work on new routines, planning and living life to the fullest. I want to love the skin I’m in again. It all begins with a commitment to health. My plans will include ballroom dancing, yoga and meditation.

This post today is a short one, just to announce I’m back, and I’m counting down from the summer solstice to my winter solstice Birthday. I love time challenges, they really motivate me.

My starting weight is 186 lbs. I plan to take a fat measurement test and do measurements. To mark my starting point.

This time I will get it right. My favorite quote as if late is actually from my husband James, “Don’t think, just do.”

Happy Happy New Beginnings.

Love and Light,
Rose

 

 

 

 

SALSA RECIPE

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We finally got a blender. It’s a decent one, not the one I dream of. I dream of a vita-mix or a Ninja that can help me make all of the vegan goodies.

This blender is good though, and I’m happy with it. I’m making lots of green smoothies and we finally did a salsa experiment. It was delicious, fresh but my hubby thought not salty enough. Eating less salt takes time as your palate adjusts.

Happy Thursday. Here’s the easy peasy recipe. Enjoy 

You will need:

Six Roma tomatoes.

a small can no salt diced tomatoes.

A quarter of a large red onion.

Two green onions.

1 clove garlic.

Half jalapeño.

Handful of cilantro.

Juice of one lime.

Dash of salt and pepper to taste.

This is so easy. Dice the Roma tomatoes. Add to blender with the canned no salt diced tomatoes with juice. Add all ingredients and blend until you achieve a salsa consistency. Do not over blend if you like chunky salsa. Add to bowl and flavor with a dash of salt and pepper. Garnish with a few chopped green onions.

This recipe can be altered to any taste you have. Get creative. I know some people who roast the veggies before making the salsa. I may try that next.

We loved it. I put mine on my tofu wrap and my hubby ate his with tortilla chips. It really was so fresh.

Let me know if you attempt  homemade salsa.

Have a wonderful day. Love and light, Rose

 

 

 

NATIONAL COOKIE DAY

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Happy first day of October. I get so excited at this time of year, I can’t wait to visit Trader Joe’s to see all the deliciousness of the season. It’s also #nationalcookieday. One of my favorite healthy chocolate chip cookie recipes I bake often I posted on this blog when we lived in San Francisco. I also used the cookie recipe for when I helped my friend with a bake sale for her dog Oreo. I know, it’s too perfect of a dog name on National Cookie Day. By the way, Oreos are vegan as are my cookies. I’ve included a screenshot below from my original blog post if you would like to try the recipe. They are healthy and I believe only 3 ww points per cookie. Made out of mashed bananas and one of my favorite cookies to share with my friends. My non vegan friends go crazy for them. I hope you are having a fantastic beginning to October. I find it’s the perfect time for me to begin anew on this blog, I just love the Autumn. Happy October and Happy Cookie Day to all. Love and light, Rose.

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THIRTY DAY CHALLENGE

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Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Medicine Be Thy Food.
Hippocrates

Monday, I’m here for you. I’m starting brand new on Monday. I need a health reset, a 30 day challenge. Something to motivate me going forward. Since my Candida I’ve expressed I do not feel my best. I’m having gastrointestinal issues. My fun vegan foods do not make me feel any better, they need to be once in a while occasional treats. It’s time to get back to nature and food in it’s most pure form. So for thirty days I’m going to get back to whole foods plant based meals with no oil and very low on salt and no sugar. I can do this. Monday it begins along with my restart of my fitness journey, and better time management of all my goals. I’m working on my life as a whole and tackling each area individually, beginning with wellness and health. I’ve broken it all into categories that I will share later this week. The first category is the most important, wellness and health. This weekend I’m doing a few healthy grocery store hauls. I plan to eat clean whole plant foods and move a lot more. Hello Monday!! Hello blog, I’ve missed you and treated you like a fair weathered friend, but that’s about to change starting  8/10/2020.  I challenge you to try this with me, just for one month. Happy Monday to all and Happy Health. 

love and light, Rose 

 

 

QUARANTINE WEIGHT LOSS

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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.

I 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

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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 

Injury and Weigh in Update

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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

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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

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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.