New Adventure in My Journey to Health

Posted on 04/08/2012 by Jill | Permalink 0

My new adventure in my journey to health begins with a running class I am taking at my church, as well as a new product line I am taking by Advocare.

My church~Hope Church, began advertising a class they were ready to start, called Run For God, we will train basically using the Couch to 5k plan and in June…June 16 precisely, we will run a 5k as a group. I was on board before I could even sign up. See, last year at this time as I was dramatically changing the way I was eating, I gave myself a goal to run a 5k before I turned 40! Well, 40 came and I had not even begun running. I wasn’t really discouraged but I was disappointed with myself…why couldn’t I do just that one “little” goal? At the time I was more focused on getting my nutrition in order….as I said in the beginning, I was totally NOT going to change into a vegetarian…let alone a vegan!

So, I began this class with my husband Brian and it is a great group of people who gather together with different goals in mind. My goal for this class is to just be able to finish the 5k. I am NOT committing to do it in a certain time, because me running is HUGE! So far I have actually only gone out 8 times to run, and I can’t believe I actually feel good when I am done. That was until Wednesday of last week, I went on a run with my daughter, Brandi and I knew my knee was quite sore when we started. I had been having some inflammation on the backside of my knee but I thought it would just go away…I thought my body was just rejecting this new activity. But, Thursday the knee hurt all day. I decided Thursday night to run despite it hurting and I did finish the intervals. That night as soon as I laid down, I couldn’t even get back up right away. By Friday, I was almost totally out of commission. Saturday morning it was a little better and decided I needed to go to our class…I need the support. Many of the ladies in the group encouraged me to walk…not run…to not over do it. I thought I was OK so I decided to join the group in their jog. We had 6 intervals of running and I ran all of them, if you can call it running. By the end I was limping while running. Today, it has been pretty spotty but this evening again…painful to put weight on it. I am going to give myself a few more days and then call the doc to see if there is anything really wrong.

I will continue to post how this running thing is going…and whether or not I have a valid injury.

Coming soon….Herbal Cleanse by Advocare!!!

Activity 5k, Advocare, Couch to 5k, Herbal Cleanse, Hope Church, knee injury, Run for God, running, vegan, vegetarian

Setting Goals and Sticking to Them

Posted on 04/02/2012 by Jill | Permalink 0

Who am I to think I can tell anybody about setting goals? I am terrible at not only goal setting, but the bigger issue for me is sticking to them.

Throughout the years I have started many businesses to do from home with the thought of “making it big”. Each and every one of them has failed. I could just say, it wasn’t the right fit, and that could be true and most certainly could have played a part in my failures. I need to look at myself and first say, “What is it that I could do, that will help people?” See, I have always loved people but I never really knew what it was that I could do to help…I don’t have any degree, nor do I have the money to go to school to get that degree. I have often thought as myself as a failure, which I truly believe is partly why I became so addicted to food.

I didn’t have any eating disorder as a child/teenager, but as an adult and being a stay at home mom, I began my upward spiral that seemed to never stop. Last year I told myself…not really a goal, but I told myself that I wanted to change the diet of my family. As the year went on, I waivered in ways but never totally got off the wagon, but I felt like a failure because this is something I really had a passion for and didn’t stick to it. I also made a goal last year to run a 5k BEFORE I turned 40. Well, guess what?! It didn’t happen, I really was mad at myself.

Today, I have a new found hope in health! I am back on the plant strong lifestyle. I also have added in a running program. Our church began this program and I already feel it could work. It is called Run for God and it is almost identical to the Couch to 5k program. Not only do I have accountability but the fun of running with others. I get discouraged because I cannot keep up with many of them, but there are also many of them who are encouraging to me! Even though they have the endurance and strength and speed to be way up front, the hang out in the back with me. This class will finish with a 5k in June which I AM running in! So, even though I missed my 40th birthday, I will still run a 5k WHILE I am 40! 🙂

In the end, I am trying to help others with their eating habits, even though I am not a doc, or a nutritionist. I have a passion for helping others and feel this nutrition “thing” and adding in my activity now, will help me meet that goal!

You owe it to yourself, set those goals…they may not be easily attainable, but it is so very worth it in the end!

Life as a Vegan 5k, Couch to 5k, Food Addiction, goal setting, Run for God

Where Have I Been?

Posted on 04/02/2012 by Jill | Permalink 0

Good afternoon to all my readers, and how are you today? Better yet, how have you been? I haven’t posted for I believe 2 months or so and even before that I was irregular for a while! My apologies!!

Where have I been, you ask? Nowhere special for me, just home and taking care of family and home. Life has gotten the best of me and now I am ready to fight to have it back! 🙂

Anyhow, I have not really been doing much, life has just gotten the best of me lately….I know~excuses, excuses!!

When my kids were home for Christmas break, that just threw me into a whirlwind of life. That compounded with needing surgery on both hands really put me in a funk to say the least. I needed carpal tunnel surgery and had my left hand done January 26 and the right one was done on February 23. I also had De Quervain’s tendonitis which needed to be taken care of. Since having my surgeries, my mind was totally in a funk, mainly because of the fact that I couldn’t tie my shoes, cut veggies, even housework was literally a chore for me (and still is most of the time). I have been going to Occupational Therapy and back and forth to my surgeon. Looks like I may need to go into Plastic Surgery later, I have a scar from the De Quervain’s surgery that is extremely sensitive and not getting better. We will see about that later.

These last few weeks I am finally feeling better mentally…getting out of that darn funk. Back on the train of plant strong eating and have added a few other things to the mix which you will hear about in the next few posts!!

Gotta run, dinner (and family) awaits! Have a good day, all!!

Life as a Vegan Carpal Tunnel Surgery, De Quervain's tendonitis, Surgery

The Long Awaited Post About the Tasty (or Not) Tofurky!!

Posted on 01/24/2012 by Jill | Permalink 0

We finally had our Tofurky. So, this is the long awaited post about the tasty (or not) Tofurky! The reason I say it like that is from everybody I have talked to, either you like it or not. Now, I am really NOT a tofu lover…I am still trying to learn to like it. Maybe I don’t have it often enough, maybe not, who knows!

Anyhow, I finally made the Tofurky, and my family wasn’t sure what to think! I added far more veggies than the box recommended, I ALWAYS add extra veggies to recipes. Once the Tofurky was done and we sat down to eat…I did get a few snickers from the kids. My oldest daughter (21) thought it was quite tasty as did my 12 yr old daughter. I knew my 13 yr old wouldn’t even give it a chance, as well as my 8 yr old. Anyhow, Brian (my hubby) tried it and he also liked it!! I thought it was pretty good as well. It was NOT chewy as people mock about tofu. I thought it had a great balance of spices and it melded well with the tofu. In my opinion, it was a great alternative to the usual Turkey on Thanksgiving Day. Well, in my house, 4 out of 6 isn’t bad!!

Personally, I think it was unanimous that the gravy was delicious!! That will definitely be purchased again since I have had a difficult time making gravy that is vegan and yummy. Even my pickiest liked the gravy!!

So, that is my experience with the Tofurky. Don’t knock it ’til you try it!! You just might be pleasantly surprised! 🙂

Product reviews, Vegan Foods gravy, tofu, Tofurky, veggies