I took the plunge into a raw food diet last weekend. I feel amazing! I have so much energy and mental clarity. I still had some chicken left over so while I started in on a bounty of raw fruits and veggies, I finished off the chicken I had left. By Monday, I was all raw. I love this food! Bananas, apples, clementines, blueberries, strawberries, spinach, spring mix lettuce, celery, carrots, lemons, avocados, sunflower seeds, and nuts make for a very energizing food supply. I am also eating almonds which I've read are not technically raw, but I'm not focused so heavily on technicalities right now so much as answering the important question: is this a sustainable nutrition plan?
It does take a lot of time to prepare some of this food, but I get to snack on fruit while I chop and blend smoothies and salad dressing so it's not all bad. I have no problems with exercise. I'm fully energetic before, during, and after exercising. Anytime I get hungry, I can eat as much fruit as I want. I'm really enjoying my homemade guacamole. It's also fun to show off my green smoothies at work because they look really gross yet taste delicious.
I already have to go back to Sam's Club (there's no Costco in Little Rock or I would shop there) for more bananas. When I was there last time, I saw a very affordable greenhouse that would fit well in my garden and blackberry and raspberry bushes. I want to get those soon, but I have to wait for March. I have had to rearrange my budget to save up for a new hybrid car. My Grand Am gets 18 miles to the gallon. I almost cry every time I buy gas. My car is the action car--I use it to haul bikes and dog across town to the park more than once a week. My first car was a hatchback from the late 80's, and it went forever on a tank of gas. I currently drive a big car because my last one was hit by a truck (with me in it!), and I developed a phobia of small cars. I am over my fears because any car has the potential to be a death trap, but only smaller ones will save gas in the meantime.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
For the last time - NO PIE!
I'm finally getting through to people that I don't like to eat the random sweet desserts at work. Today there was a lot of pie left over from a big meeting. Word made it into my hallway, but I did not even flinch (well I winced a little just because I'm so sick of the overabundance of empty calories). Someone came into my office to tell me and stopped himself because he remembered that I can't/won't/don't eat that stuff. Alas! I have discovered a benefit to dieting: no matter what diet you're on, if it's weird enough, people will stop trying to offer you anything. If the diet is based only on calorie restriction, no one understands when you pass up dessert since it's not something offered every day. But if you're one of those people with a taboo, everyone will be more afraid of offending you than trying to peer pressure you into eating junk food.
I once had a friend who loved saying, "Free food tastes better and is better for you." I used to agree with him because I was in my senior year of high school at the time so I had many starving college years to ponder this phrase. It's an alright mentality for someone who is scraping by and doesn't know if or when their next meal is coming. I have outgrown this phase now. I could continue to spend all my money on games, music, and electronics like I used to (fashion was never first pick on my spree list). I could survive on rice and frozen pizza until my student loans are paid off. That is how I survived paying down credit cards. Instead, I chose to enlighten myself with the experiment of finding the best fit for my health. I've discovered that being healthy is a lot more fun and relaxing than eating junk and always having indigestion or low energy. Time will pass, bills will get paid, things will be bought, and good health can be gained along the way if I can find a way to make it enjoyable while keeping it affordable. For me, dieting is far more about the self discipline gained in the process than about actual body image. The feeling of true health is the reward.
I once had a friend who loved saying, "Free food tastes better and is better for you." I used to agree with him because I was in my senior year of high school at the time so I had many starving college years to ponder this phrase. It's an alright mentality for someone who is scraping by and doesn't know if or when their next meal is coming. I have outgrown this phase now. I could continue to spend all my money on games, music, and electronics like I used to (fashion was never first pick on my spree list). I could survive on rice and frozen pizza until my student loans are paid off. That is how I survived paying down credit cards. Instead, I chose to enlighten myself with the experiment of finding the best fit for my health. I've discovered that being healthy is a lot more fun and relaxing than eating junk and always having indigestion or low energy. Time will pass, bills will get paid, things will be bought, and good health can be gained along the way if I can find a way to make it enjoyable while keeping it affordable. For me, dieting is far more about the self discipline gained in the process than about actual body image. The feeling of true health is the reward.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Switching Gears...Nutritionally
Going primal was an eye opening experience. I had to give up eating all grains and beans to make it work. The easy part was eating meat. It's very convenient to cook up a bird and eat it for the rest of the week. The hard part was adjusting to hunger timing. At first I thought I was giving up a great source of energy by giving up bread, but after I got through the initial week, I realized that the bread was using more energy than it was giving. Bread is filling, and by using it as a staple, I measure hunger by how full my stomach is. When I cut bread out of the diet equation, I had to use my energy level to determine my hunger. The body processes meat, vegetables, and fruit much faster than grains and beans. Also, when I eat primal, I can access the energy from food more readily.
When the Primal Blueprint worked for me, I thought that meant that vegetarian/vegan was not the answer. Lately, I have been reading some about the raw food diet (since Steve Pavlina keeps talking about it on google+). The parts I like about primal eating are also the strengths of the raw food diet: no grains and no beans--just lots of fruit and vegetables. The thing that really intrigues me about the raw food diet is how it provides constant energy. Ultimately, the holy grail I am searching for is a more steady energy flow that doesn't interfere with my ability work and live.
The down side to eating primal is I need lots of sleep. Naps just don't cut it. When I sleep, I'm out like a light for hours on end. This would be fine if I could keep my energy and attention up all day, but after lunch, I get extremely tired. While I may be awake, my attention span is shot. I have been thinking lately about trying polyphasic sleep again since spring is here. Polyphasic sleep is an excellent way to stretch out a season. I tried polyphasic sleep last fall, but I had problems with dehydration which is exacerbated by the cold of winter. One of the benefits of the raw food diet is that it would allow me to not need as much sleep. In fact when reading about Pavlina's success with polyphasic sleep, he attributed a big chunk of sustainable energy to eating raw.
I realize that going raw means giving up meat and essentially becoming vegan, but I really can't put much stock in the vegan opposition until I've tried raw for myself. I have talked about raising chickens and rabbits for food in previous posts, but I haven't invested in livestock yet. So it seems there's no time like the present to try going meatless. I can still get a garden rabbit to help improve my garden's soil. I think the raw food diet is worth a shot because organic, ethically raised meat is extremely expensive, whether I raise it myself or buy it from someone else.
When the Primal Blueprint worked for me, I thought that meant that vegetarian/vegan was not the answer. Lately, I have been reading some about the raw food diet (since Steve Pavlina keeps talking about it on google+). The parts I like about primal eating are also the strengths of the raw food diet: no grains and no beans--just lots of fruit and vegetables. The thing that really intrigues me about the raw food diet is how it provides constant energy. Ultimately, the holy grail I am searching for is a more steady energy flow that doesn't interfere with my ability work and live.
The down side to eating primal is I need lots of sleep. Naps just don't cut it. When I sleep, I'm out like a light for hours on end. This would be fine if I could keep my energy and attention up all day, but after lunch, I get extremely tired. While I may be awake, my attention span is shot. I have been thinking lately about trying polyphasic sleep again since spring is here. Polyphasic sleep is an excellent way to stretch out a season. I tried polyphasic sleep last fall, but I had problems with dehydration which is exacerbated by the cold of winter. One of the benefits of the raw food diet is that it would allow me to not need as much sleep. In fact when reading about Pavlina's success with polyphasic sleep, he attributed a big chunk of sustainable energy to eating raw.
I realize that going raw means giving up meat and essentially becoming vegan, but I really can't put much stock in the vegan opposition until I've tried raw for myself. I have talked about raising chickens and rabbits for food in previous posts, but I haven't invested in livestock yet. So it seems there's no time like the present to try going meatless. I can still get a garden rabbit to help improve my garden's soil. I think the raw food diet is worth a shot because organic, ethically raised meat is extremely expensive, whether I raise it myself or buy it from someone else.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Yay! Winter has arrived!
It has finally dropped below freezing for the past few nights, and there is a lot of talk about snow and ice tomorrow. I am glad since it gives me the opportunity to trim my Crape Myrtle. I did a soil test last weekend on the soil under my cold frame. The dirt is severely low on nitrogen. I'm not surprised since that part of my yard is mostly weeds. Weeds like clover thrive in low nitrogen soil. I'm going to mix in a bunch of crushed egg shells to help fertilize the soil before planting.
The cold did come surprisingly fast. Lethargy has crept up on me along with the cold. Bike riding was especially challenging. I might have freezer burn on my scalp from yesterday's ride. I wore a scarf over my face, but I had nothing to block the air from coming through the holes in the bike helmet. Super-fast, concentrated cold air hurts! Next time I will wear a bandanna under my helmet.
While I hide from the cold inside, I'll be brushing up on my computer skills. I have developed an obsession with Python and Django since I started using them at work. The Google app engine also favors these (as a Java alternative), so as I work with them at home, I do so with Google tools.
The cold did come surprisingly fast. Lethargy has crept up on me along with the cold. Bike riding was especially challenging. I might have freezer burn on my scalp from yesterday's ride. I wore a scarf over my face, but I had nothing to block the air from coming through the holes in the bike helmet. Super-fast, concentrated cold air hurts! Next time I will wear a bandanna under my helmet.
While I hide from the cold inside, I'll be brushing up on my computer skills. I have developed an obsession with Python and Django since I started using them at work. The Google app engine also favors these (as a Java alternative), so as I work with them at home, I do so with Google tools.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Clearing mental cobwebs
In order to move forward, it helps to have a clear mind. Sometimes old memories can snag current perceptions, causing me to become distracted as though I were trying to remember something I was supposed to do. A quick 15 to 20 minute conscious meditation can clear the fog by sorting through old memories, goals, dreams, and wishful thinking.
Start by taking a few moments to let your mind wander. If you are feeling very stressed out, it's likely that you will find something to annoy you soon enough. When you do, hold the aggravating thought in your mind. While holding onto this problem thought, let go of your reality and give all control to your imagination. Now anything is possible, and stress does not exist here. Don't try to treat the problem with a real world solution. You can imagine the worst possibility, and then follow that up with a miraculous recovery. Remember, this doesn't have to be realistic. It's a subconscious way of letting go of the anger that holds the problem to you. When you let go of the irritation of the problem, even for just a split second of imagining, the freedom you find from stress can let in a lot of energy that will help you solve it for real later.
I've tried the type of meditation where I clear my mind of all thoughts. I usually get sleepy or bored. I find guided meditations are more relaxing and invigorating. Sometimes I get recurring dreams about some old memory that I thought I had dealt with. By reliving the memory in a more lucid state, I can finish what my dreaming mind started and get some lasting closure on old doubts or worries which are no longer relevant. I'm still clearing my mind, but in a controlled manner that helps organize the clutter.
Lately I have been trying to think of another 30-day trial activity to do that will help me the most, but I'm still coasting on the invigorating energy I have gained from my transition to Primal Blueprint. Clearing out some mental cobwebs helps me from sinking back into old patterns and keep my momentum going in a positive direction. I have a tendency to want to start 500 different things at once, so meditation is a good way to filter out distraction and pace myself. If I do this enough, I might even be able to find mental peace and quiet one day.
Start by taking a few moments to let your mind wander. If you are feeling very stressed out, it's likely that you will find something to annoy you soon enough. When you do, hold the aggravating thought in your mind. While holding onto this problem thought, let go of your reality and give all control to your imagination. Now anything is possible, and stress does not exist here. Don't try to treat the problem with a real world solution. You can imagine the worst possibility, and then follow that up with a miraculous recovery. Remember, this doesn't have to be realistic. It's a subconscious way of letting go of the anger that holds the problem to you. When you let go of the irritation of the problem, even for just a split second of imagining, the freedom you find from stress can let in a lot of energy that will help you solve it for real later.
I've tried the type of meditation where I clear my mind of all thoughts. I usually get sleepy or bored. I find guided meditations are more relaxing and invigorating. Sometimes I get recurring dreams about some old memory that I thought I had dealt with. By reliving the memory in a more lucid state, I can finish what my dreaming mind started and get some lasting closure on old doubts or worries which are no longer relevant. I'm still clearing my mind, but in a controlled manner that helps organize the clutter.
Lately I have been trying to think of another 30-day trial activity to do that will help me the most, but I'm still coasting on the invigorating energy I have gained from my transition to Primal Blueprint. Clearing out some mental cobwebs helps me from sinking back into old patterns and keep my momentum going in a positive direction. I have a tendency to want to start 500 different things at once, so meditation is a good way to filter out distraction and pace myself. If I do this enough, I might even be able to find mental peace and quiet one day.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Has your groundhog seen a shadow?
I would say that this Groundhog day, I saw my financial shadow looming over me. I have been following a plan of break-neck speed to pay off my student loans. It finally occurred to me that if I hold back some of that cash for personal projects I can benefit greatly from learning and accomplishing new things instead of just waiting out the debt. By personal projects I mean gardening, building renewable energy systems, and reinvesting in what I have rather than just buying random things like music and movie tickets to pass the time. I believe that to successfully utilize reinvestment, I have to be professional about how I spend my time and effort. I am not throwing my time into useless hobbies, but instead investing in health and sustainability practices and sharing the knowledge I gain along the way with others. Sure I'm delaying my student loan payoff by 14 months, but that's only costing me an extra $300 in interest versus my previous payoff date. That's less than a dollar a day for a better quality of life!
To aid in my quest for personal growth, I am going to be following Steve Pavlina's guide to creating a business plan. I could also use a refresher on self-discipline by rereading his series about that. Following the Primal Blueprint has given me a head start in motivation for homesteading and a thorough work out in self-discipline. Now that I have given myself permission to reinvest in my life, the only challenge is to decide to spend my time on meaningful action instead of brooding about how much work it's going to be.
Identify the shadows in your life and shed some light on solving problems you have been putting off. You can't hide from them forever.
To aid in my quest for personal growth, I am going to be following Steve Pavlina's guide to creating a business plan. I could also use a refresher on self-discipline by rereading his series about that. Following the Primal Blueprint has given me a head start in motivation for homesteading and a thorough work out in self-discipline. Now that I have given myself permission to reinvest in my life, the only challenge is to decide to spend my time on meaningful action instead of brooding about how much work it's going to be.
Identify the shadows in your life and shed some light on solving problems you have been putting off. You can't hide from them forever.
Give the gift of freedom (from debt)
The Undebt Gift
Instead of getting a giftcard to a store, give a cash gift and state that it must be used to pay down debt on top of what the recipient is already paying on their debt. If they are truly trying to get out of debt, they will appreciate this far more than flowers or DVDs. It doesn't matter how much is given -- it could be $1000 or $15. Just be sure to include a handwritten note that explains that you give them debt relief out of respect for their financial freedom, not pity. Since it is just cash, you have to go that extra mile to make it personally significant. You can still give them another gift, but the debt relief will be a gift of freedom.
Instead of getting a giftcard to a store, give a cash gift and state that it must be used to pay down debt on top of what the recipient is already paying on their debt. If they are truly trying to get out of debt, they will appreciate this far more than flowers or DVDs. It doesn't matter how much is given -- it could be $1000 or $15. Just be sure to include a handwritten note that explains that you give them debt relief out of respect for their financial freedom, not pity. Since it is just cash, you have to go that extra mile to make it personally significant. You can still give them another gift, but the debt relief will be a gift of freedom.
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