30 Day Challenge

I'm sort of sad to say that I haven't been vegan lately. But, due to a recent, very painful, time-of-the-month I am going to see if eating vegan will help the pain. This is after taking double the recommended amount of Aleve, being on the pill for almost a year (and it only helped for a couple of months) and finally trying to dispose of it all together. Nothing worked. So, I'm going back to my roots, and I'm going to eat as macrobiotic-vegan-whole-food loving as possible.

Today:

• Some coffee with coconut creamer
• Fried noodles with some sauce, tofu, broccoli, mushrooms and carrots
• Side salad with a sesame vinegar dressing. 

My Goals for Week1:

1. Completely vegan the whole week
2. Cut down to only 2 cups of coffee a day, not the usual 3.
3. Record and take pictures of all of my food, so I can see what I'm eating in a more retrospect kind of way. 

On a side note, I'm also working on getting into better shape. This is a constant goal, but I'm starting to get more serious. Here's my goals and plans for the rest of September, through October: 

Cardio-Running:

• Run at least 6 days a week. Monday through Saturday; Sundays off. Whether it's in the morning, at night, during lunch; whenever. 
• Work on getting my mileage up. 
• Week 1: At least 2 miles a day; See where current mileage is.

Cardio-Bike:

• Bike at least days a week for September. 
• Work on biking more frequently, not just more miles for the first week
• Mileage goal for Week 1: 15 miles 

Weights:

• Go the the gym at least 5 days a week; this give me room to make up for missed days in the mornings and the weekends.
• Bench at least 115 once. 
• Front squat 125.
• Get others to go to the gym with me

I'll keep this updated! 

Peace out, 

Kristin

Update: Class, New house, and more

So, since I last posted, I've moved back to the States. I'm currently residing in Maryland, but I'm only an hour from D.C. That part is cool, I'll admit, but in my short time here I've realized that I'm not really an East Coast Girl, or at least a Maryland girl. But, we'll see.

My SO and I got married, and it's been an interesting first few months. We have a house, and we have moved in 99% (there's still that one box lurking in the basement somewhere). We are next to a couple of really fun neighbors, and some not-so-fun neighboors at the same time. Give and Take right?

We also have adopted a dog!! She is a 3 year old boxer, with lots of energy that likes to drink water, sleep, eat veggies, and chase after deer. K and I are so happy that we got her, (her name is Lucy) and we found out that she went to the same vet we took her to, and the receptionist was happy to see that she had gone to a good home. Me too!!

I've been doing good on the vegan front, and I've even dipped into raw veganism while it's still pretty warm. I really like zucchinni noodles, and I love having all the raw, fresh foods!!

Here's my recipe for this entry:

As-close-to-Authentic Guacamole:

• 2 ripe, but not black avocadoes
• 1 medium-to large tomato, pick a juicy one!
• 1/4 white onion
• 1 jalepeno (optional**)
• Salt**
• 1 lime

1. Gut out the avocadoes and stir to break up the chunks
2. Dice the tomatoes and onion, and jalepeno; stir in
3. Juice the whole lime, but only add in about half, and about a Tablespoon of salt; stir
4. According to your taste, stir in more lime or salt, remembering your chips might be salty

**I don't use jalepeno, but I do use a spicy salt instead

I'm working on making a budget, so I'll let you know how that goes!

Rocky start...

So yesturday, my meals were perfect. I only changed the dinner to some Ramen. Here's the recipe:

Yummy Vegan Ramen!

• Fresh noodles; udon, soba, or whatever you like! I used acorn noodles!
• Veggie broth; Fresh is best, but I use a gel like veggie broth mixed with water--you'll want 3 cups per serving
• Green onion, chopped, approx 1 onion per bowl
• Dried seaweed- approx 1-2 T. per person
• Shitaki mushrooms, sliced into strips, 1/2 cup each
• 1/4 c. corn from a can, or fresh
• 1/4 c tofu cubed into 1/2" cubes
• 1 t. sesame oil
• 1 t. soy sauce
• OPTIONAL: Miso

Directions:

1. Start the water to boil in a pot, and make broth
2. Saute mushrooms with both sesame oil and soy sauce, in a smally, nonstick skillet. Cook them until they are slightly tender, but not mushy.
3. Once broth is boiling, add noodles, and cook until done.
4. Poor desired amount of noodles and LOTS of broth. **if adding miso, wait until it's cooled slightly, then stir in miso*
5. Place ingrediants in the bowl in whatever design fasion you choose.
6. Enjoy!

But, I didn't go to the gym at lunch yesturday. Instead, I went to the yoga class afterwork. It was't as good as the classes I attended in Germany, but I can't get discouraged. I'm attending Thursday's class, with a different teacher.

Today, I ate healthy, did great...and forgot my gym clothes. I had to leave at 5 in the morning, which is a little early for me to be showered, fed, and full of coffee. So, it happens, and I'll just try some yoga at home today. Possibly more ramen tonight, just because the noodles are fresh, and I don't want them to go bad.  TOMORROW however, I'll be on point!

As for a vegan discussion point, I'd like to talk about common human decency. If Bob and Fred are having a conversation about something, and it doesn't pertain to you, don't butt in! I was excited to findout there is another Vegan in my platoon at work, so we were exchanging food stores, food ideas, what not to eat as for hidden ingrediants, vegan resturaunts... etc.... when right in the middle of our conversation, "A" decides to announce to us both that she could never give up meat, and that she thinks we're both idiots because we're going to die.

...Right....

We both ended up brushing it off, but it's just super annoying that people can't mind their own business sometimes. If I thought that you'd think any differently with your beefy neck and beer belly, I would have happily included you. But she had done this a few time already, and it's finally getting to me.

Oh well, it happens, right?
Peace out!

Vegan weight lifting

Tomorrow will mark the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I will start training, including running, biking, and lifting, on a completely vegan diet. I'll do my best to post what I'm eating, so that I can analyze it better, and I'll also post my workouts.

Some people (or some women) think that women can't/shouldn't lift weights. The reasons go from you'll turn into a freaky man/women monster, all the way to women just simply can't lift weights. I've heard people telling me that lifting will make me look aweful, make me weak (huh?) and that (as a vegetarian) that I couldn't do it.

Here's my opinion: As a vegetarian, I could do it, and I could do it well. I had more energy than the rest of the people, and more naturally. I got stronger, but got a lean muscle, which was what I wanted. I started to really love myself more, and apreciate the different curves, lines, and bulges of my body. I loved it.

I went on leave for about a month, and stopped lifting. Now that I have finally settled in my house, got a dog, and got back to work, I want to start going back. I have been to the gym, I just haven't been eating completely vegan. So, here we go again!

Tomorrow's plan is:

• RUN in PT (probably about 2 miles)
• Breakfast of oats with a banana, and a little a bit of coffee
• Snack: 1 apple
• LIFT: CHEST
• Lunch: 1/2 c rice, with 1/2 c pinto beans, 1/2 bell pepper, 1 c. cabbage; scoop of Rice Protein Powder
• Snack: 1 oz pistacios
• Dinner: 1 c. pinto beans, 2 c. cabbage-steamed lightly, 1/2 onion cooked in broth w/ 1/2 bell pepper
• RUN: 3 Miles

I'll update tomorrow!

Update on Travel, hotels, and my First All Vegan resturaunt

So, I have left Germany, I've flown half way across the world, gotten married, driven accross the United States, stayed in more hotels than I can count, and have eaten at my very first all-vegan resturaunt.

Let's start with the flight. I've had this issue before, but it seemed more irritating because I was sleep deprived, anxious to get to the states, and sad to leave Germany. I get on the plane, it's time to eat...and the food that I pre-ordered as Vegan, seemed like it wasn't coming. So, I reluctantly order the cheese pasta or whatever it was, and just sit there. It's a good thing I didn't open it, because a minute later, they came with my vegan food. Has anybody else's food been pre-ordered, but forgotten? Technically, it wasn't forgotten, but it felt like it had been for a bit of time there, and it was, well, pretty depressing.

Oh well, on to the next two weeks. I prepared for the wedding by running around to a bunch of different cities, in the New Mexico/Texas area, made decorations, got my dress hemmed in the middle of the night, and had a blast. I was so happy that some of Kenny's and my friends could make it from Germany. They were so much fun to show around, and to take goofy pictures with. We did lots of massive cooking late into the night, and loved every minute of it. The wedding was fun, too, but I'm just glad that I decided to make the food mostly vegan.

I have a (now) nephew that was born allergic to a lot of different things, to include: all meats, dairy, eggs, tree nuts and peanuts (cashews are okay), and avocados (has anybody else heard that they're put in the tree nut category???). Now, most people would think that the kid would starve to death, right? Well, here comes aunt-to-be Kristin, ready to be the superhero.... okay, not really. His mom already realized he has to eat vegan, but I made sure that he had food at the wedding. There was hummus, and bread that he could eat to start, a main dish and plenty of sides. So, not only could I eat at my own wedding, but so could this little 4 year old that really just wanted to run around in circles.

After the wedding, Kenny and I packed our bags and hit the road! We drove from New Mexico to Maryland. We broke it up into 4 days, about 8 hours a day, and loved almost every moment of it. Oklahoma was probably the lowest point, and Missouri the highest as for road quality. Texas had almost no cars on the road, while Marylanders keep trying to run us off of it. We've stayed in crappy motels with sticky carpets, no fridges or cable, all the way to getting a free upgrade to the penthouse with 2 floors, 3 bathrooms, and a fully working kitchens. It was great!

Eating Vegan has been difficult, and there was a couple times of unknowning faulters. Like, for example the time I forgot to tell the waitress to NOT add butter to my oatmeal (who does that?) and I ordered some pancakes that I'm assuming had some sort of egg. I'm not perfect, but I'm trying....

...which leads me to the best part of my day so far: Great Sage. I'd been getting depressed and irritated (I've hit lots of road blocks with moving) so Kenny said I can pick a place to eat, completely my choice. Little did he know, I have the happycow app on my phone. So, when I saw that Great Sage has a TON of amazing reviews, I decided that's the place for us. He was skeptical, but I was excited. I have never been to a place that doesn't serve meat, let alone dairy and eggs. And let me tell you, it was worth it. I got the spring rolls for the appetizer, and I love love love! the raw spring rolls! My entree was a beautifully crafted display of braised tempeh with savory eggplants and filling polenta. We got a cocunuty cake for dessert, and even kenny was drooling by the end of the meal. If you are in the DC/Baltimore area, I would strongly suggest going there. Now, I don't think spending almost $100 on memorabilia afterwards is neccessary, but it couldn't hurt.

Not only do I feel great right now, but I feel empowered to be a better vegan than I was yesturday. I want to enjoy life, love everything, and not hurt anything!

I hope everybody gets this euphoria as well,
Peace out!

Wow, I haven't posted in a while. Sorry about that guys, I've been super busy, and without internet for a while. I am currently sitting in a temporary room, using an internet stick which means that my connection is slow, and not very trust worthy.

On the vegan front, it's not been so good. My microwave doesn't work, and I don't have any cooking stuff anymore, so i've been stuck with mostly raw foods, or out to eat. Awesome.

Today is the day; the day I final-out. Final-out is when you are completely done with everything, you've cleared every office that you have to, and you are ready to fly to your next duty station. Everything is done. I hope no curve balls get thrown at me, but I don't think there will be.

I'm super excited, but a little nervous as well. This is it, I'm done, finished, ready to go, move away from Germany, from my home for the last 2 years, from the country and culture that has shown me so much. Now, I'm moving to a country that thinks pizza is a vegetable, where vegan is seen as a disease, and if somebody exercises more that 3 times a week, they're obsessive, not just trying to get in shape. Don't get me wrong, I love America, I love being able to call people during the day, and not at 11 at night. I love that if I've got an upset stomach at 11 o'clock at night on a sunday, I can go to the store to get some medicine. I also love that it is becoming more easy for a vegan to eat out without just ordering a salad. (Something that Germany lacks ever so slightly.)

I'll keep everybody updated on my travels. Wish me luck!

Happy Sunday everybody! This week was a short week at work (technically) but it felt very very long. I had CQ on Friday, and that was a long day. Tuesday I got ready to start clearing. Thursday I officially stopped work, and am focusing on clearing.

It was a jumbled week, and this one won't be much better. Kenny has to clear his apartment this week, and I'm already in the Temp rooms at the barracks. The microwave doesn't work very well, and my cooking utensils are already shipped. So, I'm on what a lot of people have been calling the PCS diet. I eat out a lot, or a lot of raw/instant foods. I have a water boiler, so there's these noodle bowls at the commissary that are vegan. (only one brand, so if they run out, I've got nothing.) Kenny still has a rice cooker, so combined, we can eat a lot of grains, and raw veggies. Awesome. It's one way to eat super healthy, but it is putting a strain on the vegan thing.

The topic I'd like to discuss today is Vegan Travel. I love traveling, and I love being a vegan, so, in theory, they go hand in hand in my world. However, contrary to popular belief, the world is not completly vegan friendly. I know, I'm completly shocked as well. But, traveling as a vegan doesn't have to be completly miserable! Sometimes, it's trying, I'll admit. In the states, airports and resturaunts are becoming much more vegetarian and vegan friendly. Websites like happycow.net and even peta are making where to eat an easier option, or at the very least can educate you on which cuisines to eat at for the most options.

When I'm in doubt, I usually pick thai food, or italian for some plain pasta with marinara sauce. But, incase you readers aren't aware, here are some of the best places to eat, and what to get:

Thai: Curry, pad thai, and stir fried veggies. I am lucky to have a thai place down the street that has vegan spring rolls (the not fried kind), soup, and 7 or 8 choices for entrees. Just make sure you let them know that you don't want fish sauce. Sometimes they think that fish is still okay.

Italian: You can get plain pasta with marinara, or, if it's not on the menu, you can explain as nicely as possible that you are a vegan, and ask for some sauted (in oil) vegetables to be added. Some other options are: cheeseless pizza, or calzones, vegetable raviolis with an olive oil or marinara sauce.

Mexican: Beans! Anything with beans, as long as they don't have lard, can be used. Taco Bell is my favorite "fast" Food, place for mexican, they don't use lard, and you can substitute beans in for mean in just about anything! Chipotle is another place that is the perfect place for a vegan, black beans, some rice, some vegetables; the perfect meal on the go.

Japanese: If you're eating japanese, I'm assuming that you're eating sushi, and never fear my friend, you are in the green zone. Just ask for anything with vegetables! I've even had fruit on one before, and it was delicious.

Misc. Asian styled food: I say this one because sometimes it's called a chinese resturaunt, but it doesn't resemble any actual chinese food. But, they will usually have steamed veggies, and white rice if there's nothing else to eat. I've convinced the chinese place where I work to stop mixing egg into their noodles, so now I can eat those too!

American: Don't eat at an "all-american" place unless you KNOW that they have vegan food. This is a setup for disaster.

Well, I'm off to google places to eat at while I'm traveling, have a great week!