PLENTY of room at the inn

I am so sorry for any confusion.  I am NOT pregnant.  I simply included a photo of my ultrasound because I thought it was funny.  And if I'm blogging about my health, then I'm sharing everything.  She is as cavernous and vacant as ever.  I wish to thank my PA friend for pointing out that the photo could be misleading.

Rocking on and on.

Must go make my spinach, beet, and berry smoothie.  I even bought some frozen organic peaches yesterday.  Yum.

AMPPW

This morning's post pee weight was 126.5.  I am (-1.5) since last week's weigh-in.  My food log will follow. 

Note to self, work on background for next week's photo.  

If you've been reading, then you've heard me mention my Home Brew.  In case you were wondering, this is how I make iced tea in my apartment.  While I often blend different leaves, you're looking at Guayaki Yerba Mate and ginger.

Cheese! Less!

I might have blinked while this photo was being taken.  But you can understand why, considering the circumstances, yes?

My visit to my new gynecologist was followed by dinner with my best friend from college, who is in town on business.  We went to Loving Hut, 348 7th Avenue, between 29th and 30th.  We're talking about mind-blowing vegan food here.  And it's so delightful to look and a menu and just order, without having to ask an eye rolling server a thousand questions . . . or the same question a thousand times.  We shared three dishes: 

• Primavera Mac, broccoli, sundried tomatoes, peas, corn, cauliflower
• Crispy Vegan Burger, tomatoes, pickled cucumbers, guacamole, romaine lettuce, oatmeal/vegetable patty with to-mayo sauce
• Mushroom Quesadilla, mushrooms, peas, corn, daiya cheese, chile pasilla sauce.

It was all so good, that of course, we had to follow up with dessert.  I let my visiting fellow(a) UB alum choose.  She went with the vegan red velvet cake, which was the best I ever had.  When asked the server told us that they bring it in from Vegan Treats, which is located in Bethlehem, PA.  How much do I love their web site?  Even though their desserts are available all over the City, I may have to take a road trip just to check them out.  Yea, THAT good.

http://www.vegantreats.com

I JUST found this quote . . .

Sometimes the best way to figure out who you are is to get to that place where you don't have to be anything else.

Trust Your Journey
http://www.trustyourjourney.com

Smile :)

Well now . . . let's see what my new gynecologist has to say for herself.

*****

• Macy's
• Home sale
• All of their Ninjas are on sale
• Tempted, tempted, tempted
• I will always love my Magic Bullet, but just like that house in Massapequa, I've completely outgrown it.  Both are very good things.

Trying To Keep It Positive

• I don't want to be negative at all through this process . . . I'm aware of the fact that I just made a double negative statement
• While I am off from JOB A until February 18, I have been working like a beast at JOB B
• As a result, I have not trained in weeks, and I have not worked out since last week
• On the flip side, I have been eating really well.  This plant strong living has become primary nature
• My next 5K is this Saturday.  My last effort was my best time on New Years Day, but I'm afraid I'm going to kick my own ass this weekend.  Perhaps it is the ass kicking I need.

NYC Runs, however, Karen power walks

• Yesterday
• Neighborhood gem
• Energy Fuel (http://www.energyfuelny.com)
• One of the most incredible plates of food I've ever had
• Brown rice, avocado, sautéed spinach, with tahini dressing.  They threw in a whole wheat pita.

Engine 2 Extra, YES!

A few days ago, I received a Tweet from Engine 2 saying that their Extra program was 10 members away from reaching 3,000.  They were offering free one month memberships to the first 10 who responded.
I'm IN!

Of course I know a month from now it will cost me money to re-up my membership.  But at least for the next 30 days, I will be able to immerse myself in this truly rich research base.  It was indeed Forks Over Knives which inspired my whole journey.  And I truly believe in the teachings of Rip Esselstyn.

http://engine2diet.com

http://www.forksoverknives.com

http://www.mybeefwithmeat.com

AMPPW (-2)

• My AMPPW (morning post pee weight) was 128 pounds
• I have not trained a single step this past week, and I do not feel good about that.  My next race is on February 1.  Meanwhile, I have worked out in my apartment every single day, a combination of my hand and ankle weights, kettle bell, and Wave
• I have really slacked off on keeping my food log.  I promise myself that I will get back to it
• I have reenacted a fourth grade exercise of trying to grow an avocado pit.  If any of you would like to recommend a name for it, feel free.  If I choose your suggestion, you will receive an honorable mention right here on this blog.

http://www.firmdirect.com/firm/ecs/main/firm-wave.html

I've just been VEGUCATED

And boy am I happy about that!

http://www.getvegucated.com

Spending Less and Eating More

My momentary financial situation has had me squeezing every dollar and coin.  This happens on occasion to struggling artists who earn a living in the non-profit sector.  As a result, I have been creating some amazing meals for myself.  Luckily, going plant based has gotten me to keep a various assortment of staples in my kitchen.  

• I took a can of black beans and put it through my Magic Bullet with some Slap Ya Mama, and I had a kick ass spread with perfect consistancy
• I put some of my black bean spread in a pot, with a little veggie broth and vegan pasta I had.  These were the best noodles in black bean sauce I have ever had
• I also whipped up something I found on the Amazing Grass (http://amazinggrass.com) web site.  It's called avo-banana pudding.  Are you ready?  I take a banana and an avocado and blend them together.  That's it.  I can eat it as is, as a frozen treat, or use that frozen treat as a base for a creamy smoothie
• The vegan stew I made earlier in the week was totally made with ingredients I already had in the apartment.  And I always keep home made veggie stock in the freezer and refrigerator because it's so versatile.  You can roast ANYTHING in the oven using stock.  And the beautiful thing is I have not used a single ounce of oil in my cooking.

While I prefer to use dry, I always keep this local staple in my cupboard

I discovered this powdered gem in New Orleans,
now I can't live without it


Organic frozen veggies, fresh leafy greens, vegan chicken burger, oven roasted in a little veggie broth

Inside Out

• Where do you get your protein from?
• Your calcium?
• Doesn't being a vegan limit what you can eat?
• Don't you feel sick and tired all the time?

I shall allow my sexy friend Rip answer these questions.

I will miss you too

It saddens me that we've lost yet another incredible veggie establishment.  Over the weekend, I visited the love of my life, Viva Herbal Pizza in the East Village.  When I arrived I found a rather sad sight.  Viva was locked, dark, gutted and had a for rent sign in the window.  It makes me sad to think that I will no longer have the following pizzas so close to work.  They were all soooooo good:

Canja (V) diced onions, tomato and garlic marinated in hemp oil roasted hempseeds, hempseed nuts, hemp herbed basil pesto, calamata olives tempeh and roasted garlic on hemp herbed spelt crust with hemp herbed miso tofu

Magic Mushrooms (V) shitake mushrooms, spinach, red peppers, onions, hemp oil, hempseed nuts, hemp herbed basil pesto on a hemp herbed spelt crust with miso herbed tofu

Santa Cruz fresh tomato, broccoli, mushroom, tomato sauce, mozzarella, soy sausage onions

Seitan Dream (V) seitan, caramelized red onion, sundried tomato artichokes.

~~~~~

I'm not certain what this means for the Upper West Side location.  I'm not even sure it's owned by the same person.  I just know that we've lost some really good veggie/vegan eats recently.  I wish I knew why.

Formerly located at 179 Second Avenue

Once lived on Avenue B & 4th Street
and served the worlds greatest vegan disco fries.


Brought us joy at 328 East 14th Street.

Another friendly reminder

There is a major sale going on at The Gap.  Most of their Gap Fit wear is 30% off.  And I absolutely LOVE their stuff.

Here are some of the apps I have grown to truly enjoy:

• Carbodroid: Do I really need an app on my cell to keep track of my water intake?  Maybe, maybe not.  Did I keep track of my water intake before I downloaded the app?  No, I didn't.  It has been quite helpful, and a real eye opener.
• Daily Feats: Initially it seemed very silly to me.  But there is no difference between this app, and making a to do list.  Setting daily and weekly goals for myself is a truly good thing.
• Happy Cow: This has to be one of my favorites.  I have it downloaded to my cell.  I have gotten some pretty incredible restaurant and market recommendations from Happy Cow.  It totally saved my 14 day vegan challenge ass in Baltimore this past summer.

Stay strong and rock on.

How much would I love to dive head first into the major sale going on at The Gap, which includes their (oh how I love you so) GapFit line?

Instead I shall simply share with you the building of yesterday's vegan stew creation.

Sorry I've been out of touch

• Yesterday, my AMPPW (morning post pee weight) was 130.  This is a number that totally and completely reflects my being pre-menstrual.  My body continues to change, however, I can totally feel it.  The next few weigh-ins should be quite interesting.
• I started my day making my Home Brew tea, oatmeal with blueberries and this week's veggie stew.  So we're talking about three pots on the burners, plus the oven.  It's looks like an art installation about my week.
• Being fully engrossed in two jobs, even though they're both technically part-time, has eaten up every free moment and left me exhausted.  I have not trained, not one single mile, and I have not worked out since last weekend.  And my food log, well, it's been unattended to.  But I've been eating really well.  I think the weeks leading up to the present was all prep work, and now I know how and what to eat while I'm on the run.  
• PLEASE listen to this Rich Roll pod cast.  It's episode 66 in which he interviews John Joseph who has been a LES drug dealer and a punk rock musician.  At present he is a vegan endurance athlete, and author of the book Meat Is for Pussies.

Rich Roll w/John Joseph

My mom's favorite color was blue, and she never wore black to a funeral.

Stay strong and rock on!

And now the test truly begins

I am officially working two jobs.  We're not even discussing temp or freelance.  Both of my incomes will be regularly scheduled.

So now the challenge becomes challenging.  I must remain mindful of . . . myself.  Grabbing and eating and running is not the look.  I am going to make every effort to stick to my plant based diet and of course continue to train and work out.

If not, then I believe the dual income loses its value.

============================

I made some beautiful veggie broth tonight.  I realize that only G-D can make a cabbage, but you get me, yes?

Bring veggies and water to boil

Then simmer for 40 minutes

Can be refrigerated or frozen for later use
Is this beautiful, or what?

A Few Things About This Past Week . . .

• My morning post pee weight was 130
• I'm totally pre-menstrual
• I have not trained since last week
• Again, I'm not designing a weight loss program here.  I'm just an honest vegan, who is documenting her progress.

Thursday, January 2	•20oz Home Brew •Smoothie=Tumeric Elixir base, kale & Strawberry •Egg plant marinara w/salad from Grapevine •Spinach pie from Grapevine •Falafal balls, tahini, flat bread •Jelly Beans •Potato Chips •Hummus sandwich on EZ toast •H2O=64oz	AMPPW=127 WO & TRAIN=well earned day off
Friday, January 3	•Smoothie=Tumeric Elixir base, kale & strawberry, green powder blend (wheat grass, hemp, matcha, flax) •(3) EZ toast w/hummus, lettuce, tomato & pickled beets Oops.  Sorry.  Neglected to write the rest of it down.	WO & TRAIN=OFF
Saturday, January 4	•2 hummus sandwiches on EZ •Licorice bites •Pop corn chips •Smoothie I kind of flaked on logging today as well	OFF
Sunday, January 5	•Green smoothie •Blueberry muffin •Vegan box from WF=brown rice, veggies, chickpeas •Amazing Grass bar •Chipotle burrito •French Fries •H2O=40oz	OFF
Monday, January 6	•Green smoothie •Mixed nuts •Baked tofu w/baby kale & TWVS •Blueberry pomegranate trail mix •Veggie burger, French fries, 16oz root beer (Bareburger) •Steaz Organic Energy berry shot •H20=78oz	WO=60min on Wave
Tuesday, January 7	•Baked tofu w/baby kale & TWVS •Amazing Grass bar •Vegan troth from Lifetyme: tempeh, potato wedges, sweet potato, brown rice, broccoli •Flax pop corn •Mixed nuts •H2O=54oz	WO=60min ankle weights w/resistance band
Wednesday, January 8	•Hot cup of yerba mate & gunpowder tea •Smoothie=Bolthouse Green Goodness base, Earthbound Farm Deep Green Blend (baby kale, chard, spinach) •Vegan avocado sandwich from Pret •Nuts, grapes & raw veggies •V for Vegan pizza from Two Boots •H2O=55oz	WO=40min with hand weights
Thursday, January 9	•Hot cup of tea •WF Vegan scone •WF Vegan pizza •WF Vegan blueberry muffin •WF Multi grain soup •3 EZ tst w/hummos	AMPPW=130 WO=30min Wave, 30min kettle bell
KEY>>>	ALVST=Alvarado Street Bakery bread AMPPW=Morning post pee weight EZ=Ezekiel Bread H20=My daily water consumption, includes Home Brew, and unsweetened beverages (usually in the form of hot tea) TRAIN=Race Training TWVS=This week’s veggie stew or soup, ALWAYS homemade WF=Whole Foods of course WO=Work Out	<<<KEY
LINKS>>>	Alvarado Street Bakery= http://www.alvaradostreetbakery.com Bobo Oat Bar= http://bobosoatbars.com Bolthouse= http://www.bolthouse.com/product/greengoodness Earthbound Farm=https://www.ebfarm.com/products/salads/deep-green-blends Ezekiel Bread= http://www.foodforlife.com	<<<LINKS