Stand By Please

My new blog will go live very shortly.

I am serious.

And don't call me shortly.

Now THAT'S What I'm Talking About

What Have I Cooked for Me Lately

Last night from Westside Market:

• Mariner Biscuit Company, Toasted Sesame Seed Crackers - certified vegan, from Hingam, MA
• Maria's Homemade Kale Guacamole.

http://www.venuswafers.com/retail/mariner-biscuit-company/

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So, here's what I have been cooking for myself:

A beautiful pot of brown rice and chickpeas, to which I added peas corn and tomatoes

Oven roasted tempeh and mushrooms, topped with a blend of spinach, garlic, and onions

Oven roasted broccoli and seaweed

I made a mushroom, split pea and buckwheat soup . . .

. . . . to which I added some left over rice and chickpeas . . . 

. . . and enjoyed one of the best soups I've ever made.

Sorry Fellas

I'm in love.

It seems unjust, especially since my body is looking fitter than ever.

Here is the location of my infatuation: 

• Westside Market NYC
• 84 Third Avenue, corner of 12th Street
• Open 24 hours
• And most importantly . . . not Whole Foods, which I still like.

http://www.wmarketnyc.com

Some Vibes & Rocktober Stats

Organic Avenue.  Cafe Latte.
http://www.organicavenue.com

Bragg.  Liquid Aminos
http://bragg.com/products/bragg-liquid-aminos-soy-alternative.html

Soy Boy.  Organic 5 Grain Tempeh.
http://www.soyboy.com/tempeh.htm

Tea Pigs.  Yerba Mate, Energy Brew.
Before 3pm for me.
On sale through Tuesday at Whole Foods.http://www.teapigs.com

Organic Avenue.  Spiced Pear-Ginger Juice.
http://www.organicavenue.com

Hours tracked DAYS IN OCTOBER

Fall Back

• I'm currently watching Killer at Large: Why Obesity is America's Greatest Threat.  It is absolutely shocking to me that this movie is six years old.  The audio mix is difficult to sit through in spots, but worth it.  We have to be significantly more discriminate as to who we offer the Capitol Hill keys to.

• I have slept Ambien free for 9 nights in a row.  My caffeine cut off time is 3pm and I am actually getting tired at night.  I have had headaches pretty much every day, and I consider it to be a small prices as far as detoxing is concerned.  As a result, I did not volunteer for the Marathon this morning.  It was mostly due to poor planning on my part, but there are times that you have to choose your health above all else.  You are all my witnesses.  I shall volunteer 100% in 2015.

 These are "guided sleep meditation" videos from Youtube.  They actually work. 

Below are some vibes and vittles I came across this week.  I'm just passing them on.

• Armenian Mint and a warm green tea muffin.  Argo Tea.  http://www.argotea.com
• Mac 'N Cheese Kale Chips.  Coconut Granola.  The Squeeze.  http://thesqueezejuice.com
• Balti, Hot Curry, Northwoods Seasoning, Bouquet Garni.  Given to me in a gift box by a dear friend, designed for vegetarians.  Penzeys.  https://www.penzeys.com

Yoanas

A MUST TRY 

or at least, check out

This past week I tried the output of the Yonanas machine at the Marathon Expo.  It turns fruit into frozen soft serve, which is absolutely incredible.  There is no need to add sugar, or milk.  I am totally going to get myself one.

http://yonanas.com

Visit their web site, and if you're interested in what you see, try to using the following discount codes: RUN40 to pay $40 the Deluxe model, or RUN90 to pay $90 for the Red Elite.

I don't really jingle bells…but I DO run

Well. 

I'm starting this holiday season by adding another race to my to my short term goal list, while thinking of others at the same time. I am doing a 5K to raise money for the Arthritis Foundation on Saturday, December 6, 2014. If you care to join me, would like to make a small donation, or see a cute video I shot of myself last night, visit my web site at:

http://www.nycjbr.kintera.org/kflichtman

Can you believe that it's nearly time to start bundling up for 5Ks?  Me neither.
Photos taken by Amanda Fehring 

Gas Man Ends Challenge

• I have decided that I don't really like the taste of Nuun.  I tried several flavors at Summer Streets a few months ago and really liked it.  But making it on my own many times since then, it doesn't really taste the same.  And truthfully, I don't even know what's in it.  I think sticking with water is a much better idea anyway.
• So here's the first meal that I made with no gas in my house.  In my Magic Bullet I blended carrots, tomatoes, cucumber and added Slap Ya Mama.  I poured it over tempeh and spinach.  I have to say that it was pretty damn good.
• But then the gas man came, so the challenge is now over.  Read yesterday's post if you don't know what the challenge is/was.

Gas Challenge Below

A girl can dream, can't she?

This is the Garmin Forerunner 920xt, and way more technology than I need.  But it is pretty cool, eh?  Check it out at: https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into-sports/running/forerunner-920xt/prod137024.html

But only if it comes in purple.
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Below is a chart of my training progress.  I'm really enjoying this, and I am learning so much as I go.

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So my gas was accidentally turned off this morning.  I was told by Brooklyn Union-Keyspan-National Grid or whatever they call themselves, that a service person would be here anytime between now and tonight.  I am off from BOTH jobs today, and the last thing I want to do is be under utility house arrest.

So I went for my 40 minute run.  I actually took my cell phone with me, which I don't like to do.  I had my headphones on, so I wouldn't be able to hear it anyway.

Finally, I had this thought.  The mystical forces of the universe AND National Grid have gotten together and have challenged me to eat raw in my home and just keep moving until the gas is fixed.  I accept.

Night Number Three

• Last night was night number three without Ambien.  I slept from midnight to 3am and then was up for an hour.  I slept from 4am till 7am and then I was up for good.  I stayed in bed for another hour because I was soooo comfortable.  From the neck down, every single muscle in my body was relaxed.  It felt so good.  I have been Youtubing "guided sleep meditations" to help me get through once I crawl into bed.  I didn't drink an ounce of caffeine today.  I did take a pair of Excedrin, but that's IT on the caf. 
• Jamie Oliver's Ted Talk for their Chew On This collection is a must see.  I can't seem to provide the video here, but you can connect through this link (http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver?language=en).
• Today's smoothie included: coconut juice, Earthbound Harvest Power Greens, granny smith apple, blueberries, banana (all organic), with hemp, flax, turmeric, maca.
• I so desperately want a living space with a larger kitchen.
• This is going to be an interesting week balancing training, Marathon volunteering and work.  But I'm going to make it happen.

Tic, Tac, Doze

Two nights in a row

without Ambien!

Night #1:

• slept from midnight to 3am
• was awake for three hours
• fell asleep at 6am
• my alarm went off at 7am
• hit snooze a bunch but made it to my 9am destination in time.

Night #2:

• awake
• slept 
• awake
• slept
• I can't tell you how many times
• my alarm went off at 7am
• hit snooze a bunch of times
• was out running by 8am.

I am going to conquer this!

Awwww, Come On . . .

. . . You know you've been thinking about it.  Join me.  Even if you have to crawl across the finish line the following day, I'll be there cheering for you.

And just so you know . . . fear not the weather.  The cooler the temperature, the easier the race.

(https://endurancecui.active.com/event-reg/select-race?e=10643851&int=29-110-1)

Stache Dash NYC 5K/10K

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22

Houston Hall/Hudson River Park

222 West Houston St.

About This Activity

Start growing your mustache (if you can) "Movember" 1st and run with other Mo Bros and Mo Ladies in support of Men's Health initiatives at our Stache Dash 5K on November 22rd!

WHAT IS STACHE DASH NYC?

The Stache Dash NYC is a 5K / 10K wrapping up the month of Movember.  It's very simple. Grow, paint, or paste on your stache showing your support for Men's Health and Movember.  On November 22nd meet up at Houston Hall, run a fun and casual 5K / 10K , and enjoy a beer at the finish at Houston Hall (included with your registration).This is a great opportunity to sport your freshly grown mustache, dress up with your friends, run a 5K / 10K along the Hudson River, enjoy a beer, and do a little good for the community.

Pre Register now for $30.00 or bring $35.00 to the Check in at Houston Hall in SOHO.

By the way . . .

. . . I'm a little tired of blogging.  I might take a break for a little while.  You understand, yes?

Marathon Week

• Today I watched Food, Inc.  I don't know why it as taken me so long to see it.  How have we allowed a handful of wealthy people and companies to contaminate our food supply?  
• This week.  NYC Marathon week.  I'm volunteering like mad.  I'm really looking forward to working the Expo at the Javits Center.  I don't even know what a media greeter does (although I can guess), but I am indeed up for the challenge.
• Today I typed "vegan athlete" into the Youtube search box.  Below is one of the videos which came up.  This man blew me away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUtv4slpm-U

Out Of Touch

• Sorry I've been out of touch.  I have been incredibly busy changing my career.  In a screenplay, they simply say "cut to."  In reality, not so much.  Change can actually be an evolving process.
• I am currently watching "GMO OMG" on Netflix.  Holy shit.  How the hell did we allow this to happen?
• I just subscribed to Vegan Health and Fitness, both the magazine and on-line community.

Repeating Good Things

• One Degree, Veganic Lentil Grain Bread.  Oh so good.  Toasted w/Tribe Everything Hummus.  Even better.

https://www.onedegreeorganics.com/products/45

https://www.tribehummus.com

Beyond the Kale

One day I might stop quoting Rich Roll on my blog.  Today is not that day.

Food is a super important aspect of this process of transformation.  I personally and truly believe that it's the best place to begin the process of changing your life.  But it's also very easy to get overly caught up in food.  To get stuck.  To get dogmatic.  To get hung up on labels.  And ultimately fall prey to a disposition that, I don't know, truncates your ultimate growth potential by arresting your development.  Because you become overly focused , at the exclusion of other areas of your life with what's on your plate.  

For me, I cleaned up my diet so I could raise my energy levels, so I could shift my consciousness, and then direct that new found bounty, in search for greater purpose and meaning, and new directions in my life.  It's what we call "going beyond the kale."

So don't get me wrong.  Food is the great step.  It's an important step.  It's a crucial step.  But it is not the end of the inquiry, the journey.  The quest goes on.  Food is at first an important step, but it's hardly the be all end all.  

--Listen to more at http://www.richroll.com/podcast/rrp-107-tim-van-orden-runs-beyond-the-kale-why-personal-growth-begins-with-self-acceptance/

But since we're on the subject:

Yesterday, I put some cut vegetables in a pyrex dish.

I put a cucumber and grape tomatoes through my Magic Bullet.

I added olives and a few other other goodies from the antipasti bar.

I poured it over the veggies . . .

. . . and baked.  Of course there was some water at the bottom of the pyrex, which I poured out.  The rest of it was oh so good.  And not a single ounce of extracted oil was used.