Category: Health.

Dieting, Goals., Health, Health., Life, Uncategorized, vegan, veganism

Progress Made. Day 1.

TSV

So what a title, right?? One day of making progress is one day of success if you ask me.

When I first decided to go vegan, my colleagues were convinced that my choice wouldn’t last longer than a week. Day one went by, day seven, month one, year one, year four and I’m still going strong. Point being is that everything starts with day one. You won’t succeed if you don’t take the first step. I mean, am I right?

The day one success that I’m referring to in this moment are my personal goals that I set in my previous post.

  1. Drink 8 glasses of water.
  2. Study for one hour.
  3. Exercise for 30 minutes.
  4. Blog once per week (minimum) for one month.

All of which were simple tasks. All of which I have completed today.

What I needed was to find a way to get out of my never-ending procrastination cycle. Hopefully, blogging will do the trick. You know, knowing that so many supportive people reviewed and actually like my previous post was helpful beyond words. I hate that it’s a driving factor in my personality, but it is. I like to think that I’m helping others by staying active. Does that make sense? It makes me want to push through my failures and find a way to consistently succeed. To encourage someone else to do the same. There’s no way for me to know now if I’ll be able to do it. But here it is in words at the very least: I can. I will.

As I continue following my added choices of lifestyle, I’ll make changes and add more to it. Maybe eating healthier? (If you’re not vegan, I definitely recommend giving it a try using a S.M.A.R.T. Goal. 😉 Just saying! -and if you need pointers, lmk.)

Just remember, and I’ll try to remember myself, success is about getting there, not how many stops you make along the way. Find a way to do it. If you have a goal, achieve it. You can. You will.

success

 

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Dieting, Goals., Health, Health., Life, Uncategorized, vegan, veganism, Zen.

Healthy Habits.

TSV

I’m so, so tired. Mentally. Physically. I’m tired of telling myself that I’m going to do something only to wind up procrastinating or not completing my goal at all. I’m tired of waking up at 4:30 every morning and leaving work at 5:00 every evening. I’m tired of my commute. I’m tired of studying. I’m tired of projects. I’m tired of doing the same thing day in and day out. I’m tired of wasting time.

I’m tired… of being tired.

Then today, a thought occurred to me: is it actually tiredness? Or am I just being lazy? Of course I want to blame it all on exhaustion (which it sometimes truly, truly is…or so I think), but I’ve finally decided that I need to do something about it. Instead of staying stuck in this vicious cycle of “do it later” or loafing about complaining, I need to break the habit. I’m going to make changes to my daily routine starting with a positive attitude. :/

Really though. Sometimes that’s all it takes. A new perspective, positive thoughts, and a genuine smile. Throw in a few “you can do this” mantras over and over again and bam! Golden. Okay, so maybe not quite. For myself I’m going to set some daily goals followed by short-term goals, followed by long-term goals.

 I took an online class a while back and learned about S.M.A.R.T. Goals.

  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Achievable
  • Relevant
  • Time-bound

SMART

I mean, it makes sense. Be specific about your goal. What exactly are you trying to accomplish? Can you measure it? Is it realistic? Is it relevant to your bigger goals or things that you want to achieve? When will your goal be completed? It’s beautiful.

For now, I’m going to set a few simple, but obtainable goals.

GOAL #1

Drink 8 glasses of water every day for a month. I can measure this by drinking out of a 2 liter bottle and making sure that it’s gone before bedtime. I think this is realistic and challenging. I drink mostly coffee, but I can mix it up a bit. Especially with the giant jug of water acting as a ball and chain at my feet. This is relevant because hydration is the key to energy and health. Deadline? One month straight. I use this app called Habitica to keep track of my habits. I’ll add this to the list. After my month is up, I’ll do it again.

GOAL #2

Study for at least one hour every night until I pass my next certification. Simple. I can measure this by tracking my study time with my app. It is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Super SMART.

GOAL #3

Working out for at least 30 minutes every day for a month. This is a goal I’ve already started practicing. I work out at home, I do yoga, I run. I feel that if I don’t write it down though, then I won’t stick with it. So there it is.

GOAL #4

Blog once per week at a minimum for a month. Pretty specific. Definitely measurable, not only by me, but by you as well.

That’s all I have for now. None of these are the long-term goals that I planned on creating, but it’s enough to start with. If you don’t see a blog from me within seven days, assume I failed lol.

Hopefully you’ll hear from me sooner than that! If you’re struggling through similar issues, just remember, stay positive. You can do this.

Fun, Health., Life, Music, vegan, veganism

Davis Farmer’s Market.

TSV

Every Saturday all year-round, Davis, California has it’s own Farmer’s Market from 8am to 1pm. It’s also open on Wednesdays evenings from Spring to Fall. Wednesdays is my favorite day to go because it’s right after work and they have live bands and bounce castles for kids. It brings the community together. Friends can enjoy the music while drinking some beer or can grab a bite to eat from one of the food stands. College students practice yoga and tightrope walking (where they tie a string from one tree to another and try to walk across it. It’s pretty interesting). Families lay out their picnics in the grass while they watch their children run around. There’s a spot where children can get their faces painted or they can get a balloon animal from the Dilly Dally the Clown. There’s even a carousel at the site and two parks where children can play.

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My girls walking through the Farmer’s Market.

There’s a variety of stands. There’s coffee, pastries, clothing, artwork & pottery, fruits & vegetables, and so much more that you can choose from. I used to love getting my Pachamama coffee, but lately I’ve been try to save money (ugh) so I make my coffee at home instead (but is not the same!). I do buy organic strawberries and oranges almost every time I’m there. They’re so flavorful! When I buy strawberries from the grocery store, the berries have very little flavor and almost taste watery. It’s weird. These, however, omg. ❤ ❤ ❤ Strawberries for life.

It’s pretty much perfect here. The only problem is that we’re VEGAN so there isn’t as much to choose from as far as hot food goes. On the positive side, there’s a kettle corn stand, a HUMMUS stand, and some pastries to choose from. From the food stands, the Hotdogger sells vegan hot dogs and there’s another stand where I’ve gotten cooked cauliflower with potatoes on Naan that was phenom-nom-nomenal. I wish I knew the name of the stand. Next time I’m there, I’ll try to take note.

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Cherry Turnover

During our latest trip to the Farmer’s Market, we grabbed a few cherry turnovers that were, yes, vegan! The first time I discovered these, I couldn’t believe it. The pastry puff itself was everything that you could expect it to be. It was not the dry kind of flaky that results in a million crumbs, but instead was the sweet, soft kind of flaky. The kind where every bite melts in your mouth. The cherry filling was sweet but tangy. It had the ruby colored cherries that were slightly sour but balanced out the rest of the treat. Just take my advice, if you’re ever at this Farmer’s Market, try it for yourself. You won’t regret it.

If you find yourself far away from this location, check out your local Market. Try it at least once and let me know what you think. If you already visit your local place, what is it like? Leave some comments below with your experiences. I’d love to hear them!

Live. Love. Laugh.

…and Go Vegan. 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Fun, General., Health., Life, Uncategorized, Zen.

Lucid Dreaming.

TSV

If I don’t add another blog now, I never will.

I mean, maybe that’s not true, but it’s time for me to do this.

Lucid Dreaming. I’m really interested in training my mind to do this. The beauty of Lucid Dreaming is that you can go anywhere. You can do anything. You have the ability to travel, to meet people, to find guidance all within your sleeping mind. I want to experience this. I’ve had very vivid dreams in the past and in those few, rare dreams, I knew that I was dreaming. I don’t know how I knew, but what an incredible feeling it was. I couldn’t even begin to explain how it felt.  It was so real.

future-1

For a long time now, I’ve been struggling to remember my dreams. Remembering your dream when you wake up is one of the first steps to lucid dreaming. It’s so hard for me. I’ve installed an app on my iPhone called Pillow. I’m using it to track my sleep cycles. It also has a built in alarm that wakes you up gradually. I think there’s even a feature to write notes about your dreams. I haven’t used it yet, but I plan to if I can.

I’ve also had a book on lucid dreaming for a while now. It’s called A Field Guide to Lucid Dreaming by Dylan Tuccillo, Jared Zeizel, and Thomas Peisel. I’ve only just begun reading it. I’ve read a chapter every night for the last five nights. I’m trying so hard to train myself. It’s difficult because of how emotionally drained I’ve been. Just finished the holidays. I’m working full-time and recently had my reserve weekend. I’m in crunch-mode for school. And I still find time to hang out with my favorite people. But I’m truly exhausted.

Edgar-Allan-Poe-Quotes-1
“All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.” Edgar Allan Poe

According to this article (and where I found the awesome feature image for my blog),  lucid dreaming can help improve memory, can help us understand ourselves, and the coolest thing is that we’re free to do whatever we wish. Meet with old friends and family. Go where ever we want. Be whatever we want to be. I find all of this so fascinating.

How do we know the life we live right now is not a dream? How do we know that reality as we know it is not connected with the dream world? I want to find out.

As I continue my journey, and if I see any progress, I’ll be certain to write about it. I’m excited to see where this goes. Stayed tuned till next time.

Health., Life, Uncategorized, Zen.

Peace of Mind?

TSV

Candle lit. Incense burning. Calm mind.

This is where I find peace.

I am at peace.

My consciousness goes into a completely different state when I do this. I feel more awake. My mind is open. My body is relaxed. I usually have a difficult time with meditating like this. I’m always so tense. So busy. So clouded.

My spiritual energy was almost non-existent, but I feel it coming back. Slowly, but I am getting there. I’m becoming more in-tune with myself and with things around me again. What is this sensation? Do you know that feeling you get when you wake up naturally from a nap that you’ve taken in the middle of the day? Your entire body is tingling, but you feel wide awake. Refreshed. Happy. I don’t know a better way to describe this. I wish I could explain to you what I feel. I wish you could feel what I feel.

Aloha Bay – Healing Chakra Energy Candle

Try. Try to feel this way. Find a quite space of your own where you won’t be disturbed. Set up some candles. Burn any incense of your choice. I prefer Triloka Royal Sandalwood cones or the Sandalwood herbal sticks. These are just my choices. Find what works best for you.

I prefer to lay down when I meditate, but you can choose to sit. I use my room as my sanctuary. I set everything up, lay on my bed, and close my eyes as I relax my body and mind. It’s can be really simple, but you have to let yourself go.

It felt awkward for me when I first began doing this. But accept it. By doing so, you will feel a weight lift from your chest that you didn’t know was there. Release the negativity. Why have you been holding onto it? Try. Let go. See what happens.

* * * * *

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My Sanctuary
Fun, Goals., Health., Life, Uncategorized

Runner’s Break.

TSV

This isn’t about how runners break or get injured from running. This just is about myself. About how I’ve taken a month long vacation from running. Typical. The one thing I had been so passionate about. This may be a lame excuse, but honestly, the last month was an emotional rollercoaster for me.

I hate that overused term, “emotional rollercoaster”, but what would be a better way to describe the ups and downs that we feel? It’s certainly not like an elevator. Those are predictable. You know where you’re going, when your going. There’s nothing exciting or scary about them. Maybe a better description would be a broken elevator that goes and stops as it pleases. One that is hanging on a stressed cable, ready to snap. One that works sometimes, but not others. I suppose it really doesn’t matter. You understand the meaning behind “emotional rollercoaster”.

As I was trying to explain… It had been a while since my last run. The 3rd of December to be exact, for 3.20 miles at a pace of 8:54. I finally ran again yesterday: 3.55 miles/9:06 pace. My time isn’t far off from what it was, but if I ever want to get below an eight minute mile (preferably seven) for long distance, I need to practice more. I’ll continue to push myself. Look at the amazing athletes and inspiring people who commit to their goals. Look at their achievements.

Even though this is just an excuse for myself, I still want to blame the cold & darkness as well as emotions for my reasons to not run. Maybe they’re tied together. In Alaska (I use this because I lived there for eight years), many people go into depression during the winter. It must be the lack of sun, the cold, sickness. When you wake up, it’s cold and dark. When you get home from work, it’s cold and dark. There are actually studies on the link between winter seasons and emotional changes if you’re ever interested. Here’s one link that talks about the seasonal problem.

I don’t have anything else to add for now. I have a major test next week that I need to study for. This was simply about how and why I stopped running for a while, but that I’m going to keep going. I’ll continue to push myself through no matter the situation. It’s something I would expect others to do to. If you’re struggling, remind yourself this. Push past whatever is holding you back.

Random Note before I go:

I made myself an avocado bagel earlier and it was phenomenal. Super simple too.

Avocado Bagel

Ingredients

– Half a bagel (Dave’s Killer Bread)
– Half avocado
– Mustard
– Mustard Seed (Try this)

I just toasted the bagel, sliced up the avocado, put it on the bagel, added mustard and mustard seed and VOILA! Magic.

General., Health., Life, Uncategorized, Zen.

Look within.

TSV

“There is no fire like greed,
No crime like hatred,
No sorrow like separation,
No sickness like hunger of heart,
And no joy like the joy of freedom.

Health, contentment and trust
Are your greatest possessions,
And freedom your greatest joy.

Look within.
Be still.
Free from fear and attachment,
Know the sweet joy of living in the way.”

Teachings of the Buddha Edited by Jack Kornfield page 85. I bought this book in Biloxi, Mississippi, two years ago from a book store called Books-A-Million. I’ve used this book for general guidance ever since. From time to time, I randomly select a quote for guidance or to help clear my mind. Tonight, I picked up this book and fell upon this particular quote.

What do you feel when you read this? Line by line. That there is no fire like greed. No crime like hatred. No sorrow like separation. No sickness like hunger of heart. Does it speak to you as it does to me?

It reminds me to let go. To let go of all negative things. To free myself, and my mind, of all attachments. To enjoy life. With the way I’ve been feeling lately, this is exactly what I was looking for. A sign to let go.

Ironically, I also read my Tarot cards tonight and saw much of what has been on my mind. I saw the same “sign” in my cards as this quote showed me. Not that I truly believe that I can see my future in cards, but it’s comfortable to pretend that fate may play a role. Besides, it’s easier to read some cards than to ask for help from someone who is only half there.

Whether or not Tarot cards mean anything, mine have seemed to align with everything that has been bothering me lately. My past: unbalanced. Taking on too much. My present: Paralyzed with indecision. My future: Fear of letting go and to move on.

  • My past: I’ve always felt has been unbalanced. Since I was a teenager, I’ve consumed myself with work and school. As I got older and had children, I spent all of my time with them and also with work and school. I often take on more than I should, but somehow, I always manage to make things work.
  • My present: Completely indecisive. What should I do? What do I want to do? What is the right choice? I keep looking for signs rather than taking action. Rather than making decisions. It’s time to move on and figure that bit out. I need to create goals for myself and find ways to achieve them.
  • My future: Fear of letting go and moving on. Ha. True to the core. With more ways than one. But that’s it. That’s what I need to do – Move on. Continue forward with my head held high.

I would continue to tell you that none of this matters and that this is all a load of bull, that “signs” are just for silly, superstitious people. But hey, if a placebo helps, does it matter if it’s a placebo? That’s a serious question. What do you think? If I can gain something from this and find my motivation, does it make it alright to believe?

Just moments ago, I stumbled across this website while doing some research:

https://www.trustedtarot.com/

Of course I did it and it blew me a way with the accuracy. I’m sure you can shrug it off as a “those readings can match anyone at anytime” kind of thing. Sure. But I look for guidance everywhere. From life lessons. Tarot readings. Quotes. It helps me when I feel so lost.

I think everyone can use a good quote once in a while to remind them to let go of the things that don’t matter. To free yourself from negative energies. The Tarot reading just emphasized that truth for me. Try it yourself. What do you think?

General., Goals., Health., Life, Uncategorized, vegan, veganism

So much to say, yet nothing at all.

TSV

Here I am. Feeling quite miserable.

Sick. Overworked. Tired. Emotional.

Get over it. I need to get over it.

I need to focus my energy (the little that I have right now) on being positive. It’s funny how everyone goes through moments of ups and downs. Something called “life”. There’s so much good in the world, but it’s hard to see when you’re surrounded by a thick fog of depression.

The worst part of it is that I know I don’t have it half as bad as most people. In fact, I should be incredibly grateful for what I have. I know that I’m fortunate for this life I’ve created for myself. And I am very grateful. I’m grateful for my children, for my job, my close friends and family. I have a bed to sleep in, food on my table, and my health (other than this simple cold that I’m getting over). My children are healthy and happy. This is all that should really matter. It’s just hard to enjoy it when my mind is sitting in the bottom of a hole wondering how to get out. Wondering how to make things better. Wondering if I’m doing the right things, making the right choices.

I have been listening to the book 11-22-63 by Steven King on Audible lately. It’s a very interesting read that involves a man who is able to go back through time. Sometimes I ask myself, if given the opportunity, would I go back in time to change things for myself? Some days I would love to meet the younger me to give myself advice on how to be more successful. To tell myself to make certain choices rather than others. To give myself guidance. But if I did, would I still be who I am today? Would it make me a better person? Would I be happier? Ultimately, I think not.

We learn through our mistakes. We learn by stressing ourselves to our limits. It helps us grow. If we knew all of the answers, what fun would life be?

I like the person that I’ve become. I need to remember that. There is, after all, only one me. (Though I also believe that we are all connected, but that will be a different blog altogether). I think that if I were able to help others to see thing more positively, it would fill the emptiness that I’ve been feeling.

One thing that I would love to do is foster children. To help someone who has nothing. To give them everything that I can. Love, support, and everything in-between. It will be a goal of mine. Perhaps when my children are older and when I’m financially ready.

I thought veganism was that “void-filler” and it was for a while, but the more I preach veganism, the more I feel that the world is against me. It’s frustrating when friends and family don’t take it as seriously as I do. And I suppose that’s fine, since I used to feel the same way. Not being able to make the connection from the slaughtered animals to what was on my plate. Or maybe it was the lack of caring. I don’t know. Knowing what I know now though, I thought I could help others see it too. But it isn’t so. I feel like giving up. Not on my vegan lifestyle, but on encouraging others to do the same. Society rules all.

In the meantime, I will put more focus on the positive things. The things that I am so lucky to have. And the hope that I can help this world in other ways. Going back in time won’t change a thing. I need to focus on the future. The future of myself, my family, and others. I think I’ll give myself 15 minutes of meditation tonight. To clear my mind. To send out positive vibrations and to be ready to receive them in return. Maybe it’ll help. Maybe it won’t.

‘Til next time. ❤

 

Dieting, General., Goals., Health., Uncategorized, vegan, veganism

Past Mistakes.

TSV

In one of my previous posts, I briefly mentioned my pre-vegan eating. Let me elaborate. Before the year 2014, I ate horribly. I’m talking fast food all day. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. McDonalds, Taco Bell, Burger King… those were my top 3 favorites. The reason I say this is because I was headed on a bad path for my health and well-being… and I was pulling my children down right along with me.

This is so important because in my previous post I complained about my insecurities and my unhealthy eating habits, when in reality, I should feel much better about the decisions I make now. I cook much more than I ever did. Years ago, my go-to meal was the double quarter pounder and for my kids, it was the chicken nugget Kid’s Meal with fries and a soda. YES, SODA. It kills me to think of how poorly educated I was when it came to health and nutrition.

Neither my kids nor I have had fast food (or soda) in 3 years.. unless Chipotle counts?? In fact, my kids LOVE fruits and veggies. They eat so well and I couldn’t be more proud! That never would have happened if we didn’t have a major life change. Now, I’m not saying veganism is the answer for everyone, but it was for us.

I bring this up to you because if we never made the transition to a vegan diet, we would still be eating the same way. I don’t think I would have ever developed an interest in nutrition. I wouldn’t read ingredient lists like I do today. I would be in terrible shape… literally speaking.

Am I where I want to be when it come to weight now? As you would know from my previous post… the answer is no. I would definitely love to lose a few pounds and get in better shape. There’s always room for improvement.

Dieting, General., Goals., Health., Uncategorized, vegan, veganism

Vegan Gains. For Real.

TSV

Good evening to those of you reading my post. I know it’s been a long ass time since I’ve even attempted writing. A lot has been on my mind lately, so it’s been difficult trying to make this blog a priority. As silly as it might sound, I probably should make this a priority for the sake of my sanity (no, not really, but I think it could help).

With that said, I will begin my vent, rant, whatever.

Let me get a little personal… I’m very uncomfortable about my body and my weight. I’m not usually comfortable talking about it either, but maybe it needs to be said for me to get my shit together. I’ve never been extremely “overweight”, but lately I can say that I’ve packed on quite a few, unflattering, pounds. Crazy thing is, I’m vegan! “Aren’t vegans supposed to be skinny?” Hell no, so shut up and sit down.

Sure, I don’t eat fast food like I used to, but that doesn’t mean I can’t gain weight! I. Love. Bagels. There. I said it. I love bagels smothered with Vegenaise, Follow Your Heart cheese, and Tofurkey. I could eat those ALL DAMN DAY! With a little lettuce, tomato, onions…. ahh… All that, and pizza. Of course pizza. It’s so easy! And they have a pizza place near me that has vegan options and it’s so cheap. I could go on and on about my favorite foods (to 100% include Thai..oh and lots of desserts), but let’s face it, what good will that do me? None.

Anyway, I figure if I can change my lifestyle so drastically in one way (from eating so much meat and cheese! to cutting it out completely), then I can change it in other ways as well… right?

This is where my dilemma comes into play. Where do I even begin? Do I want to commit myself to dressing-less salads for the rest of my life? I don’t want to start some diet fad or starve myself. I just want to find what works for ME. *Insert exaggerated crying emoji here*.

Basically this is where I’m at: deciding on what to do next. I’m 5’6″ just sitting here with 150lb weight. It doesn’t sound like much, but just a year ago I was 135lbs. So within 365ish days, I’ve gained 15lbs.

And in case you’re curious (not that you are, but in case, you never know), my BMI reads normal.. the normal range for my height is 114.6lbs-154.9. I’m pushing more towards that far end.

And ya know, I’ve tried out the whole Facebook workout groups and B.S. and even tried doing some BeachBody crap. I realized that it’s just not for me.

So now I look at it like this, I can either do something about it, or I can keep on bitching as an attempt make myself feel better. I’m going to do a bit of research to see what lifestyle change will suit me most. You are more than welcome to sit back and read my journey or you can totally join me! That would be awesome! Just hit me up and let me know. It would be super supportive and I would give that support right on back.

Guess it all ends here for now. “Stay tuned” for my next blog. I’ll throw in recipes and exercise ideas, or whatever the hell I decide to do. We’ll see how it goes. Thanks all! 😉