Day 21: Let the craziness begin! :)

I woke up at 4 this morning to get everything done so that I could study.  I AM going to get my thesis done this semester!!!  I will still be blogging daily, but my entries will often be short for the next 8-12 weeks.   Wish me luck!  In the strength of the Lord, I can do ALL things, including finishing my thesis!

Healthy:
S: 6 hours
E: essentrics a/a
W: 143 :)
7:00 oatmeal with raisins and cinnamon
11:30 spinach, tomatoes, grapes, corn, onion, 2 cups of split pea soup
3:45 buffalo cauliflower (with homemade buffalo sauce!) and a banana
10:00 few bites of apple during lunch packing.

Debt-free:
Spent less than $20 on groceries...think I can make it the week without buying more.

Minimalist:
Just studied, worked, and shopped today.

Day 20: Hope

Our lesson in RS today was about hope.  I loved it.  I keep doing what I'm doing because I have hope (a SURE thing, we were taught today) that I'm becoming healthier and stronger, more independent financially and less cluttered as I stick to my goals of Eating to Live, and becoming debt-free and minimalist.

Healthy:
S: 8+hours
E: n/a
W: 143.6
4:00 1 cup split pea soup, spinach, few grape tomatoes, apple, corn cut off the cob...delicious! 2-3 bites of Amy's yummy pumpkin stuff...it had no added milk or eggs, but I realized afterwards that there may have been milk in the cake mix itself...
7ish 2 grape tomatoes fresh from the garden! :)

Debt-free:
Made a CC payment and paid extra principal on the mortgage, as usual.  Beth's plan for us to go to Alaska next summer sounds great financially...I can't imagine being able to pay off $10,000 on the house in one fell swoop, but then I don't know how much I could make not driving, and I am not sure if Alaska is the right choice for me.  Vamos a ver.

Minimalist:
Didn't eat more than one meal...didn't need more than what I ate after fasting.

Day 19: Moderation

Today I ate too much...cansansia, stress, whatever.  But I stopped because of it being fast Sunday tomorrow.  And in just a few hours, I was feeling better and lighter, which is yet another blessing of being plant-based...food hangovers don't happen.  Even when I eat a ton, I'm comfortable again within a few hours.  Super blessed.
I have had a goal to get down to 140 by the end of September.  I don't think I'm quite going to do it. I'll keep at it, and be there by conference, instead.

Healthy:
S: 7 hours
E: n/a
W: 144.4
10:00-2:00 2-3 bananas, 2 cups of peaches, 1 cob of corn with lime, 2 bowls of split pea soup, spring mix with nuts, grapes, raisins, and tomatoes.

Debt-free: Spent $2 on milk for Erin.  No other spending.  It's going to take some stretching to make it through the next couple of weeks, but I can do it!

Minimalist: I'm loving living with less in my room! :)

Day 18: Sleep

I don't get nearly enough sleep.  And it effects how and what I eat.  Was totally eating to compensate for my cansansia tonight.  Hopefully it won't effect my reaching my Monday weight goal too much.


Healthy:
S: 4+ hours
E: essentrics a/a
W: 143
7:30 2 peaches
11:30 spring mix with mushrooms and onions and dal.
2:00? apple
4:30 sliced peaches
5-8 2 bananas, lots of dal, some peaches.

Too much food?

Debt -free:
Spent money on vegan ice cream I didn't need.  Better next time!

Minimalist:
Going to go to bed instead of write more!

Day 17: Intentions and Covenants

This evening I read a couple of articles in the New Era.  This one made me think about all the work I've been INTENDING to do on my thesis.  Granted, I have been working on it more in the last couple of weeks than I have for a long time, but if I don't pick up the pace, it's going to drag on forever.   The girl in the story makes up her mind and DOES something.  I will too.  I will finish my thesis and graduate this semester.
I've known for a long time that I should do my thesis because Heavenly Father wants me to.  Tonight I realized that I've covenanted to do my thesis because I've covenanted to do God's will.  Here we go! :)

Healthy:
S: 6 hours
E: essentrics l/b
W: 143.8 :)
7:30 peach, few bites of black-eyed peas
11:30 spring mix, romaine, tomatoes, black-eyed peas, mushrooms and onions
4:00 2 peaches, 1 Asian pear

Debt-free:
Bought gas.  And am going to take my car into the shop tomorrow, if possible.  It needs some help.

Minimalist:
Beth decided that she needs her own space, and is going to move back into her room.  But I'm glad that we went through this process, because it's gotten me started on minimizing my things.

Day 16: A Change of Heart

I have been thinking about changing hearts lately.  My heart has been changing as I've prayed to know the needs of my school kids...I'm happier (so they are too!) and I'm having more fun with them.  My heart is changing towards my thesis...I've actually found myself WANTING to work on it lately, which is a BIG deal for me.  I love how Heavenly Father is helping me change physically, mentally, and spiritually to be more like Him....willing to submit in all things, submissive, meek, humble, patient, etc.  I'm still FAR from perfect, but I'm changing day by day with His help. 

(Bonus: I love the message about changing hearts in this song.)

Healthy:

S: 5 hours

E: essentrics a/a

W: 145 (discouraged at first, because I was feeling so fit yesterday that I thought I had lost more...it will come, and it IS coming)

7:30 lunch prep pick-ins

11:30 spring mix, tomatoes, grapes, onions, mushrooms, pinto beans

4:15 2 peaches

Debt-free:

Zero money spent today. 

Minimalist:

Last night Beth and I (with much help and entertainment by JJMAX!) rearranged our rooms so that Star can have Beth's  room, and so that Beth and I are sharing a room.  I have an overflowing bin of DI donations! And when I put my books back on my bookshelves after moving them, I sorted them into categories (Desert Island books, to-read and then decide books, books to for sure give away, books to sort later, etc.) for further purging!  Hooray for less stuff!

Day 15: Obedience=Liberty

I LOVE this talk.  General conference is in less than 2 weeks, and I've been looking forward to it for weeks, if not months!

Obedience is powerful.  I am blessed with peace, joy, and direction as I obey God's laws.  I truly feel that Eat to Live is in keeping with God's law of health, the Word of Wisdom.  I love the freedom from long colds (and the prevention of more serious illness like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease!), excessive weight, cravings, etc. that eating predominantly plant-based gives me.  

Often, with things that are hard, I just want it to be done (thesis, anyone?!) But there's something beautiful and powerful about working towards something too.  I'm not perfectly healthy...I have some excess body fat (although, according to the SAD standards, I'm good to go), but I love that I get to fight for freedom every day as I choose to take care of my body.  

Healthy:

S: 6+

E: essentrics l/b

W: 145.6

8:00 banana, lunch-making nibbling

11:30 spring mix, tomatoes, onions and mushrooms, black beans, grapes, raisins, walnuts.  Yum!

3:45 banana, 2 peaches

Debt-free/Minimalist:

Spent money to help a former student with his fundraiser...but I didn't sign up for any of the accompanying magazines.  Don't need or want more.  

Day 14: Step by step

It's so easy to give into the trap of not enough.  I've lost 10 pounds in less than 2 weeks, but I worry that it's not enough, that I'll never reach my goal weight.  However,  my "key indicators" are so much more than loosing weight!  I am feeling more svelte, and can see and feel more definition and strength in my body.  I am feeling more energetic and hopeful.  I am blessed to be able to be like the pioneers, who made it to Zion one little step at a time, one day at a time.  Here's to today's (and tomorrow's!) steps towards being better.  Each step in the right direction is enough for now.

Healthy:
S: 4.5 hours (need to work on this! :)
E: essentrics arms and abs
W: 145.2
8:00 banana
11:30 spring mix, tomatoes, canned black-eyed peas (so delicious!), onions and mushrooms (Beth wondered what smelled good this morning...maybe we'll convert her to onions yet!), 2 peaches
4:00 2 peaches, a banana
7:00-8:00 a few baby carrots, 2 bananas, lots of peanuts.

Debt-free:
No money spent today.  Love having a plan and sticking to it.


Minimalist:
Beth is thinking about sharing a room with me after all...minimalist bedroom coming right up! (Before Saturday if that's what she decides to do).

Day 13: God's timing

I am loving being in the family ward.   But last year, I sure wasn't ready to be here!  I'm so grateful that God knows us so perfectly, so intimately, and that if we'll pay attention and listen, He'll tell us what to do and how to do it so that we can find peace, joy, and ultimately return to live with Him.  What greater blessing could there be? (And in 2 weeks, we'll get to listen to His message through His living prophets!  Best weekend ever!)

I'm also grateful for God's timing in teaching me things and bringing new learning and growing opportunities to me.  5 years ago I would have balked at the idea of being plant-based.  Now I know that it's what is best for me personally right now.  I feel better physically, mentally, and spiritually when I am eating to live!

Healthy:
S: 7.5
E: pm yoga
W: 145
10:00 banana
12:00 2 DELICIOUS peaches
4:30 spring mix, fiesta mix, lime juice, 2 more yummy peaches!
6:00 banana
7-8 herbal tea

Debt-free:
No spending on Sunday!  Easy to work towards not having debt!

Minimalist:
I think that Beth has decided not to move into my room when Star comes to live with us, but I still want to get rid of enough stuff so that my space is more minimalist (and so that I'd be ready to share if needed).  I feel like the major purging will not happen until I'm done with my thesis, though, so for now, I'm going to focus on being minimalist by getting that done! :)  Maybe I'll report on it here each day.

Day 12: Consequences

Dairy is my body's arch-nemisis.  I have had stomach issues. All. Day. Long.  The bathroom has been my very best friend.  I think it's safe to say that I can use "Meat and dairy make me sick," as an honest-to-goodness reason for being as plant-based as possible.

Healthy:
S: 7
E: essentrics l/b Beth said my waist looks tiny... and this after a binge night. Sure love what plant based eating (most of the time!) and essentrics does for me!
W: 149  Yep, I ate 4lbs worth of junk yesterday.
9:00 banana
2:30 Cafe Rio salad (beans, rice, lettuce, pico, guacamole)
6:00 2 veggie burgers (they had an egg and oil in them...someone else was cooking for me, and I hadn't been specific enough) with lettuce, onions, peppers, and spicy mustard...yummy!
12:00 lots of delicious fresh peach slices!

Debt-free:
Stickin' to the plan!

Minimalist:
My "cute" clothes today are starting to look frumpy to me.  I need to get new jeans and maybe some new shirts, but they are still in the wanting more than needing category, so I haven't done it yet, and won't for awhile.

Day 11: Breaking up with dairy

I ate dairy tonight, and am in the throws of painful regret now.  We are NEVER getting back together.  Like ever.

Healthy:
S: 6-7?
E: essentrics a/a
W: 145
8:00 picking in during lunch prep
12:00-3:00 lots of carrots and hummus, spring mix, tomatoes, fiesta mix (great with smoked paprika!), banana
4:00 rice milk ice cream
6:00-10:00 2 bananas, salad, dressing, homemade mac and cheese, nutella and cookies and fruit.

Debt-free:
Still paying for life with cash.

Minimalist:
M's house is beautiful, but I'm happy and more comfortable in my little what-I-need house.

Day 10: Progress, not perfection

Yesterday I read about 2 pages for my thesis.  Which I know is not a lot, but is more than I have been doing for a long time.  I'm making progress, one baby step at a time.

I'm getting better at not diving headlong into a binge when I eat something that is less than stellar nutritionally (coconut cookie Monday, toast with delicious honey on Tuesday).  And I'm getting better at not eating when I don't need to! (And to eat when I do! Breakfast was necessary today!)

Healthy:
S: almost 6.5
E: essentrics l/b Sure love what it does for my mind, body, and spirit.  So blessed.
W: 145.6
8:30 banana
11:30 spring mix, grapes, walnuts, raisins, black beans, mushrooms, and onions.  Sweet salad, literally:)
3:45 yellow squash, and a honeycrisp apple


Debt-free:
No money spent today! :) And my savings account is growing, slowly, but surely.

Minimalist:
Didn't go to India Palace even though the thought was tempting.  I didn't need the food, or need to spend the money.  I'm making progress!

Day 9: Day by Day Transformation

I just watched this Mormon Message about daily bread.  What a great reminder that God has given us to remember Him.  At the end of the video, Elder Christofferson is talking about how these day by day things (prayer, immersion in the scriptures, meditation) transform us.  I LOVE how things that I'm thinking about (doing daily things that lead up to big goals) align with things I come across.  Tender mercies!

I feel doubly blessed with the physical daily bread because in addition to being able to have food at all, I have access to food that really nurtures my Spirit and nourishes my body.  And I LOVE that I am able to transform my body day by day through plant-based eating.  So, so blessed.

Healthy:
S: 6ish hours?
E: essentrics a/a
W: 146.2
11:30 spring mix, can of tomatoes, can of chili, 2 bananas
3:40 delicious Honeycrisp apple, 2 bananas
Thought about eating something else when I came home, and especially when


Debt-free:
No money spent today! :) And played Cashflow with J, J and B.


Minimalist:
Didn't do anything particularly minimalist today.  I took a nap instead of eating when I didn't need to.  That's minimalist, right?

Day 8: Forward, pressing forward.

Today I attended the funeral of my cousin's grandpa, Walden Johnson.  When I was little, I got to see him when he and grandma Johnson would come visit Uncle John and Aunt Evonne's family in Snowflake.  They are and were such wonderful, kind, talented, hard-working, gracious folk.  He was a man that did what needed to be done.  I want to be like that.  To press forward always.

I've been blessed to be able to press forward with Eat to Live this week.  I lost 8.2 lbs between last Tuesday and today!  Who just gets to lose weight and get healthier that fast?! I LOVE that I am never hungry (and if I am, I can eat!) and that the food I choose to eat makes me happier and more energetic.  I am so blessed.  The longer I do this, the more that I know it's for me.  I'm gaining a testimony of plant-based eating, by living it! :)  (To the point where tonight I was thinking about giving my chickens and barn back to Father...I don't need them.  I will talk to him and see what he thinks.  I would rather have people eat eggs from my happy, healthy, homey chickens than factory farmed chickens).  

Healthy:

S: 4.5 not enough

E: essentrics l/b

W: 147.2

10:00 apple and walnuts

1:45 banana

3:30 spring mix, romaine, mushroom, tomatoes, chili; another banana; 2 pieces of bread with Alaska fireweed honey! Delicious! (And even better, Beth is back!)

Debt-free:

Paid cash today, and stayed within my grocery spending budget for the week! :) $20 for all I needed.  So blessed. 

Minimalist:

Gave one of my to-give-away pairs of shoes to Beth.  Didn't buy a new undershirt, because I didn't need it. (I have to wear two undershirts sometimes to be sufficiently modest and the new Downeast kind covers everything in one! But I have the two I need...) But Beth bought it for me, so I don't know if that really counts as being minimalist after all :)

Day 7: Catch Up!

Here are my blog posts for the last few days:

Friday, September 13, 2013
S: 5.5 hours
W: 148.8
E: ess a/a
8:00 grapes and packing picking in.
11:30 spring mix with tomatoes, grapes, raisins, walnuts, black beans, and balsamic vinegar
3:30 buffalo cauliflower

I was feeling insecure that evening, but I don't need the approbation of others for what I eat or look like (although it's nice to have).  I'm doing this because God wants me to, and because I feel better when I do it.  I'm doing this for me and my God.

Saturday, September 14, 2013
S: 7.5 hours
W: ?
10:00 grits and salsa, peaches, applesauce
4:00 lettuce, beans, palta, onions, tomatoes, squash, zucchini
7-9 4-5 bananas, 2 -3 pieces of bread with peanut butter and honey, tomatoes

I love that my family is so supportive of my plant-based efforts.  Father made sure I had egg-less grits, etc.  And Jet seemed interested in what I do/don't eat (although they think it's terrible that I can't eat ice cream...I told them, (and I'm starting to remember more and more often) that I don't feel good when I eat it, and I don't feel deprived, I feel better!

Sunday, September 15, 2013
S: 7+
E: n/a
W: ?
4:00pm lettuce, chili, tomatoes,  squash, zucchini, 2-3 bananas


Monday, September 16, 2013
S: 6.5
E: essentrics a/a-LOVE it.  So blessed to have it!
W: 146.4 (that's -9 pounds since last Tuesday!  And I love how I feel Eating to Live!)
8:00 few packing pick-ins
11:30 romaine, spring mix, onions, mushrooms, black beans, raisins, grapes, walnuts, balsamic vinegar
3:30 buffalo cauliflower, pumpkin with raisins, and cinnamon
7:30 spinach and lettuce, beets, zucchini, etc.  One probably non-ETL coconut macaroon.  Didn't give in to eating quiche, etc, even though I thought about it.  I DO feel better without SAD food.  So grateful to be plant-based.

Day 3: Good day.

Old habits die hard, but the last few days haven't been too tempting.  I find myself thinking about eating at certain times...when I come home, late at night, etc.  Today I didn't eat anything after dinner.  That's not always the norm for me.  Glad I could do it today.  And ESSENTRICS is my favorite workout EVER (running is also great, but I haven't done that for a while...)

Healthy:
W: 151.6
S: 7.5 hours
E: essentrics l/b
8:00 banana and walnuts
11:30 spring mix, chili, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions; banana
4:00 steamed squash and zucchini with soy sauce; a plum and a pear

Debt-free:
Get paid tomorrow! :)

Minimalist:
Debating hot rollers...how does that fit in my minimalist ideals?  We'll see.

Day 2: Gratitude

Mother shared a thought about gratitude the other day.  She said that there's a sign on a shop on the drive into Rigby that says something along the lines of, "Gratitude makes what you have enough."

Today I am grateful for the peace and freedom that I enjoy in my life.  Twelve years ago today, we didn't know exactly what had happened or why, and our country was in turmoil.  I realize that there are so many people who don't have the peace that I enjoy on a daily basis, and I pray for peace for all.  My life is not perfect, but being blessed with peace is enough.

I'm also so grateful for the peace that comes as I eat as I know I should.  I've been happier, more patient, more hopeful, today.  I have a long way to go, but I'm trying, making progress, and feeling great.  And that's enough.


Healthy:
W: 151.6
S: 5.5 hours
E: essentrics a/a
7:30 banana with walnuts
11:30 spring mix with chili, palta and GARDEN tomatoes! purple grapes of deliciousness
4:00 magic buffalo cauliflower, apple.
7:45 roasted veggies.

Day 1: 16 weeks to go!

Eating non plant-based food makes me ill.  Literally.  Today I was sick to my stomach most of the day, and less than patient and happy, due to my dietary indiscretions last night.  

I checked the calendar (I have this thing about times/dates being special), and it's exactly 16 weeks from today until December 31st, the end of the year.  I want to make 2013 a year to remember.  I'm trying again to do ETL for real.  6 weeks +10.  From now until the end of the year.

I hope to lose my extra flub.  I hope to kick my cancer fears in the patella.  But most of all, I hope to keep proving to myself that plant-based food is what my body needs and wants, and that by living this way, I am happier, healthier and more willing and able to serve my God and His children, which is what I want my life to be all about.  Vamos, pues!

Healthy
W: 155.4
S: 7 hours
E: essentrics l/b
11:30 banana, and yummy roasted veggies
4:00 spring mix, yummy roasted veggies, grapes
12:00am couple of pieces of buffalo cauliflower

Debt-free
Keeping to the plan.

Minimalist
Let my friend, Ben, take my violin so that an elementary school student can use it.  It's just been sitting there collecting dust for years, and I'm happy to share what I have.  I also love the memories it evokes, thinking of my Mama sacrificing to buy a used and imperfect violin for what was a lot to her at the time.  Love her.  Memories are better than things, by far.

Also, I ate moderately today, and it felt great.

I need help.

I used eating as avoidance tonight.  I need help.


Healthy
S: Almost 6 hours
E: essentrics a/a
12:30 spring mix, roasted veggies
3:30 roasted veggies, apple
6:00 pumpkin mixed with oats, raisins, coconut and vanilla; 2 servings of delicious roasted veggies!
7:30 4 slices of SAD zucchini bread, 6ish pieces of pepperoni pizza

Debt-free
Still in the clear.  Blessed to have enough, always.

Minimalist
Organized my filing cabinet top a little bit.

Cookies are tempting, and I gave in.

I decided to eat cookie dough, cookies, and zucchini bread tonight.  Bad plan.  My stomach doesn't love them, and the basil and tomatoes were MUCH better.

Excited to try again tomorrow.  Because as many times as I try SAD foods, I always feel 100% better eating plant-based.  My goal from now til conference (and beyond!) is to eat 100% ETL, get to bed before midnight, and do essentrics every day.  (I can already see more definition in my arms from the few times I did essentrics this past week).  It's gonna be good!

Healthy:
S: 7+ hours
E: n/a
4-10 bananas, roasted veggies with pesto sauce, garbanzo beans, olives, and artichoke hearts.  Lots of cookie dough, cookies and zucchini bread.

Debt-free:
Spending-free Sunday!

Minimalist:
Gave away some of the water bottles that I got out of our cupboard yesterday.  Also showed off my new and improved recipe book cupboard and recipe box.  I like having what I need, and not much else, and want to keep minimizing all throughout my life!

Much too much.

I didn't give into SAD cookies, but I was sorely tempted this evening.  I stayed plant-based, but ate much too much.

Healthy
S: 7 hours
10:00 few bites of black-eyed peas
5:00 spring mix, black-eyed peas, my first garden tomato!, onions and mushrooms
7:00 banana or 2?
8:30 several bananas, walnuts, can of artichoke hearts, can of olives, BIG pumpkin pie smoothie

Debt-free:
Used my debit card for groceries this afternoon because I'd left a $20 in my pocket last night (I try to always have cash on me, just in case, even if I'm on a date).  But still used money I HAVE! :)

Minimalist:
Went through my cookbooks. Still held on to several that I'll probably not use any time soon, if at all (some that Granny gave me, so they have sentimental value, too), but I took a big stack of them out of the cookbook cupboard to give away for Christmas presents, and to give to DI.  I LOVE not having things that I don't use!  I also went through my loose recipes and threw away those i didn't want, and organized my file box.  :)

Life.

Today was good, but full of reminders that life is complicated, and kinda hard sometimes.  But I was still able to make some healthy choices, which felt good.  I CAN control some things.  I can decide what I eat (did well with that), and how I use my time (working on that!:).

Healthy
S: 5-6ish?
E: pm yoga
8:00 banana with walnuts
11:30 spring mix, palta, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, chili, blueberries
7:30 2 bean papusas with curtido, platanos fritos con frijoles...me encantaron!
9:00 few bites of plain popcorn and several glasses of delicious herbal tea

Debt-free
Got a reimbursement check today.  Every little bit helps! :)

Minimalist
Didn't eat cookies or buttered popcorn like I considered doing (even got a plate of cookies ready, and picked two of them up!).  Wasn't hungry and they weren't healthy.

Truth and Consequences

There's a town in NM called Truth or Consequences that I heard of when we moved to Gallup.  It's an interesting name, and I had the words "truth and consequences" running through my mind this morning.

The truth is that I abused my body yesterday.  I don't feel absolutely ill today, but I don't feel great either.

Here are some of the consequences of my over-eating unhealthy foods, and not getting enough sleep:
Spacey feeling
sore neck
sore feet (I think they swell a little when I overeat)
stomach feeling icky and gross
TIRED and impatient

I LOVE this talk, and this part stood out today:
To those who know and understand the plan of salvation, defiling the body is an act of rebellion (see Mosiah 2:36–37; D&C 64:34–35) and a denial of our true identity as sons and daughters of God.


Healthy
S: 6 hours
E: essentrics l/b
11:30 3 bananas
4:45 spring mix, chili, tomatoes, onions and mushrooms, palta!


Debt-free/Minimalist
I spent a couple of dollars on palta, and used things that I had for the rest.

Broke my vegan streak.

I ate sugar today and didn't even try to get out of it. So of course I ate other non-ETL things.  Smart girl that I am.  Tomorrow is a new day.  So grateful!

Healthy
S: 6.25
E: essentrics a/a
8:00 banana, walnuts
11:30 frozen strawberries; spring mix with black beans, fire roasted tomatoes, onions and mushrooms
5:30-12:30 cupcake, butterscotch chips, 3 pieces of cake, bit of cookie, several slices of pizza with ranch dressing.


Debt-free/Minimalist
I'm mostly using food I already have (canned beans and tomatoes, frozen strawberries) instead of going to buy new items (like fresh tomatoes and grapes).

I am, however, probably going to spend $32 on books for Mathis and my school kids.  Books before bread! :)

And I spent about five dollars on pizza tonight.  Tomorrow is another day!

Mixed up Monday

I know it's not Monday, but it sure feels like it! :)

Healthy:
S: almost 6
E: essentrics a/a
8:00 agua con limón
11:30 banana
5:00-6:00  fresh, sliced peaches; spring mix, black beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, onions and mushrooms; a banana

Debt-free:
Haven't spent any money today! :)

Minimalist:
Wanting to get rid of so much stuff.  Leaky basement and Beth coming home are good motivators to make me do more with less.

Live and learn, homebody! :)

We went to the buffet at one of my favorite Indian restaurants today.  I purposely avoided things that I knew had meat, or thought might have dairy, but I let myself go to town on the fried things...potato pan-cakes, batter fried cauliflower, etc.

I don't know if it was the oil, or if there was dairy in something that I ate, but about an hour after eating, my body was DONE.  I felt nauseous and dizzy!  I laid down to take a short nap, and 3 hours later still wasn't feeling great.

More and more I've been loving at home food rather than eating out.  I just like what I can make better than most of what I can find at restaurants, and I love knowing EXACTLY what is in my food.  It's also WAY cheaper to eat at home.  I don't go out often any more, but I'm less and less inclined to do so.

Healthy:
10:30 peaches and banana
12:00 LOTS of Indian food...fried cauliflower and potato pancakes, veggie rice, coconut soup, spiced veggie mix, lettuce, and tomatoes.
6:30-9:00 peach slices, lettuce, tomatoes, pears, zucchini cookies.

Debt-free:
Checked for my reimbursement check from school...not ready yet, so I had to dip into savings a little bit.  On the bright side, I can put the reimbursement check right back into savings when I get it, and I didn't use my credit card! :)

Minimalist:
Should have been more minimalist in my eating today...I'm still not 100% recovered!

Blessed, and my month-a-versary!

I am so blessed.  I have a wonderful family (good news from my Papa tonight! and huge responsibility and trust from J and J. and Beth comes home on the 17th!!), amazing friends (herbal tea with Amy tonight), and am reconnecting with old ones and meeting new ones all the time (Spencer and Angie, Sister Ferrin, Bishop Rudy, Carly Edwards, etc.)

I've also been supremely blessed with health.  I did not knowingly eat anything with meat, dairy, eggs, or sugar in it in August.  That is quite the feat for me, and I FEEL so good!  I'm going to continue with those things, and add Essentrics consistency, and no peanut butter and bread to the list this month, and see how my body thrives!

Healthy:
W: 149.8 (under 150! Just barely, but under!)
S: 7 hours?
5:30-9:00 summer squash, zucchini, hummus, spring mix, tomatoes, bell peppers, grapes and LOTS of peaches.

Debt-free:
Talked to John and Jesse about their business...we're going to build another LLC, and keep growing together!  I'm so excited!

Minimalist:
Made do with a shirt that I already have...not really craving any THINGS lately.  Feels good.

Faith

Heavenly Father is so good to me.  I haven't knowingly eaten dairy or meat this entire month.  And things just keep working out for me to not to...Amy wanting to go to Zupas rather than Red Robin, options in social settings, etc.  I feel that God is rewarding my faith to try by having things fall into place for me to eat plants only.

I am excited to move even further forward with faith in September...making significant progress on my thesis and really Eating to Live.  It's going to be a great month!

Healthy:
S: 5.5 hours
E: pm yoga
9:00 banana and walnuts
3:00 peach, spring mix, tomatoes, refried beans, purple grapes
7:00 grapes, pineapple and strawberries
8:00 rest of the can of refried beans, palta and peaches

Debt-free
Still within budget! :) I'm glad that I thought ahead and paid fast offerings with my tithing earlier in the month.

Minimalist
Gave money instead of stuff as a wedding gift.  That's usually what I give.  That way people can get what they need instead of one more thing that they don't! :)