Monday, July 28, 2008

The Missing Link

With my new found love of the vegetarian lifestyle, I am feeling pretty good these days. Not just physically, but mentally too. I feel like I'm doing something good for my body, good for the environment, good for the animals, good for my soul, and that makes me happy!

I've also been exercising 4 x a week to improve my cardio and burn some calories. I'm taking a healthy "green" supplement (a superfood as they say!) and things are falling into place. However - there is one thing missing that I want to incorporate - a form of meditation and relaxation.

So - I'm looking into yoga classes. There is a studio just down the street from where I live, with classes led by a certified instructor who works out of her home - a young girl - very active and fit (from what I can see and read on her website) and who sounds very knowledgable. We've been in touch and she's said I can come and do a drop-in class and see how I like it before committing to a program, which I thought was great.

She offers Ashtanga yoga - which is more intense, will burn more calories and give me a tough workout; and there's Hatha yoga, which I believe is more relaxing, breathing and stretching type of yoga. Both I think would be great, but I think I'm leaning towards Ashtanga. (and it's in a heated room too).

I did buy a Yoga DVD (haven't tried it yet) that looks great and allows you to do several different Yoga workout combinations. The DVD gives me the benefit of doing it whenever I want to, in my own home, on my own schedule and in my undies if I want to (sorry for the visual, but you know what I mean).

But I think the classes will give me a better workout with a qualified instructor who's there to help and guide me to reach my full potential and will teach me more about the art of Yoga, which I am very interested in.

Who knows...maybe our next vacation will be to a mountain top in India for a yoga retreat! Namaste.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

God's Pharmacy

My mom sent this to me and I thought it was pretty cool!

It's been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish - all before making a human. He made and provided what we'd need before we were born. We're such slow learners...God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body. God's Pharmacy - Amazing!

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...And YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit.

There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them). Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.

A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.

Pretty cool stuff!

Friday, July 18, 2008

Update on the Vegetarian

In all the reading I've done on vegetarianism it says "the most common statement people make is 'how will you get your protein". That is so true!! Case in point- the "anonymous" commenter on my blog post from the other day saying "make sure you still get all the daily requirements to stay healthy....u still need protein and milk for strong bones and teeth..."

I do appreciate any comments, so thank you. But, it really is a misconception that vegetarians don't get the protein they need. I think I am getting MORE protein now than I did when I ate meat! Beans, lentils, soy milk, tofu, whole grains, fresh veggies, quinoa, brown rice, ...all vegetarian and all loaded with protein! I eat them and I love them!

With respect to milk (dairy) giving you strong bones and teeth? "xxxx" (that was the sound you would hear on a game show when a contestent gets the answer wrong". It really isn't the case. Dairy has so many negatives associated with it when it comes to your health. I didn't know this either until I began educating myself. I've read about numerous studies that have been done and when you see who actually "promotes" the dairy industry...(dairy farmers and milk producers/sellers)....it's just not needed in the human diet. It's needed for babies when they are first born and growing -- but that's their Mother's milk - not a cow's - and....they are weaned off eventually right?

BUT! I did say I was not going to preach to anyone about my choices and what I believe. This is just something I am doing for ME - I'm not out there to change the world (even though I'd like to!) and I know that when people make comments that they just care about me and want me to be happy and healthy. Which I am! So don't worry about me kid...I'm gonna be just fine!

Thursday, July 17, 2008

A Few Photos In!

Our Photographer did a little schpeil (sp?) about us on his blog. We should have all our pictures by next weekend and our slideshow too! (can't wait for that). In the meantime - here's just a sneak peak at a few pics...



Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Saying Good-bye to Meat!

I recently read a book which opened my eyes to some really awful animal cruelty that goes on in slaughterhouses. It made me cry my eyes out. I'm not kidding. I was bawling like a baby! If you know me, you know how much of an animal lover I am and how I can't handle any stories or discussions (or anything basically) about animal abuse.

I feel like I've been a hypocrite my whole life because I love animals so much - yet I'm happy to wear them and eat them. Well - it has to stop for me. If you read what I read and learned what I learned, then you too perhaps would stop.

But I'm not here to preach or to tell you to stop eating meat - I only want to let you know that I've decided to give vegetarianism a try. No meat, no chicken, no fish. No dairy if I can help it either. It's going to be hard but it's important to me to try. Oh, and no more leather either. (the shoe stores should anticipate a big drop in sales)

I've always thought "one person can't make a difference" - but did you know that one vegetarian can save 100 animals' lives a year! 100 lives a year!! To me that's a huge difference and it's all I need to know.

Wish me luck and bring on the tofurkey!

Friday, July 04, 2008

The Honeymoon’s Over? Not a chance!!

Well, it’s been two weeks back at home and work since our honeymoon. I have to admit – before we got married, I was a little worried that I might have a bit of ‘depression’ once the wedding and honeymoon were over and we were back into the swing of normal everyday life. Just all the build up to something so huge – I didn’t know if I would feel sad when it was “over”.

But I’m not sad at all. And it’s not “over”. Sure, the actual events are over, but each day is a new opportunity to experience life as a wife! And I am happier now than I’ve ever been. I wake up with a peaceful, happy outlook each day, and when I look over at my husband (gasp!) still sleeping, I am in awe that I’m lucky enough to have this wonderful, handsome, gracious man to call mine.

My love for him grows every day, and it excites me in ways I didn’t know were possible. To think of our future together warms my heart and tickles my toes, and sure…it’s new and fresh and we’re still in the “honeymoon” phase, but it is what it is. This is my life. My beautiful, wonderful, magical life that I get to spend with the man of my dreams.

Nothing will ever be any better than that! (okay – winning the 649 might add a little zip), but until then…Life is grand!


Here are some pics from our Honeymoon in France (the French Riveira).