Vegan-Ish

Many people ask if I'm vegan. I like to say I'm vegan-ish. I still have a weakness for cheese, I've found that yogurt may be truly important, and when creating recipes if I can't find the proper substitute then I'm going to use the "real deal." Also, if I'm invited over for dinner to a person's home, I'm not going to dictate the menu or make a host/hostess create a separate dish for me. I figure I ate meat and processed junk for a long time, if it's what's being served then you won't hear a peep from me. Also - irony of all ironies - the only place I still intentionally eat meat is at Saladworks. Funny, right? The Tivoli Salad. I get it without ham or turkey, but I keep the pepperoni. Some things never change.

Healthy Movin'

In addition to a change in eating habits, consistency of exercise is a key to a healthy lifestyle. I wear a pedometer (though as of late it's gone missing), do push ups, crunches, and stretches, and do yoga or pilates each day. I try to walk more and more intentionally. If I'm out to do food shopping or in any sort of parking lot, I try to park as far away as possible for the extra walking distance. I walk wherever it is feasible. Not only does this help my health, but it also helps my gas tank. Think about it. As is true with voting, if you don't get out and do something about it, then you can't complain for the next four years.

Healthy Eatin'

Since last November, I've embraced a plant based, whole foods diet. At first, the instructor advised us of a plan - 6 days on, 1 day off - to manageably ease into a vegan lifestyle. So, that's how it started - 6 days of plant based diet, and 1 day of whatever I want. I found that I felt healthier and stronger. I decided to learn as much as I could. Through the course of the last year, I've read other books supporting this ideal: Michael Pollan's books - The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food as well as Plenty by Alisa Smith and J.B. McKinnon. There are more on my waiting list: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and Slow Food Nation. Additionally, I've begun research into a local CSA and have invested in a winter share for my husband and I. One of the suggestions that the instructor gave was to prepare - if you prepare fresh fruits and vegetables for the week in portions, then there are no excuses. It is what is available in the house. Likewise, if you don't buy things that you know are unhealthy, then they're not there making it that much less likely that you'll indulge. If you want to make a change - be smart about it!

Healthy Learnin'

About a year ago, I was part of a graduate class with a very enticing name: "It's All About You: Health and Wellness for the Educator." Now, I'm not typically the kind of person who wants it to be "all about me," but for three credits, I could deal with it. Within the context of the course, we read a book called "The China Study." This book reveals the results of research that took place in the 70s. This research was intended to show that by exposing people in Asia to animal protein, it would exponentially improve their health. Unfortunately for those researchers, exactly the opposite occurred. After introducing animal protein, the subject's health declined and many "western diseases" resulted - heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. They continued the study to see if the opposite would hold true - and it did. A plant based diet resulted in the disappearance of cancer. The course also delved into a healthy lifestyle including regular exercise of different varieties. As students, we were challenged to change our lifestyles and document it, and I did.

VOTE - for real this time!

It's that time again - time to exercise your right as a citizen of the United States of America and make a difference in the way our country is run. However you choose to vote, make sure to do so...and make sure you have the facts. Don't believe information that is emailed to you from an unreliable source. Just because something is in type does not make it true. Find out the facts for yourself. A strong example - a friend of mine is running for state representative and has been the target of several personal, inflammatory, and (most importantly of all) untrue attacks. Among the underhanded tactics of his opponents - sign stealing, accusations of owning and renting low income housing, and being a "tax deadbeat." The news sources who originally printed such unfounded advertisements have since caught on and formally endorsed my friend and pulled the ads from their pages. In the meantime, the attacks and counter advertising that it necessitated cost him and his wife both money, poll points, time, and energy. I hope that the voters of Northeast Philadelphia can inform themselves and recognize the value that Brendan Boyle can add to their area if they vote for him as state representative. Brendan's record can stand alone to show the effort and passion he will bring to the job. I plan to stand up and support he and his wife, my good friend Jen, on Tuesday by assisting at a polling place. I hope that you too can stand up for a candidate that you support and get out to vote.

NOT a Tax Deadbeat Article

Direct Link

Here's a link directly to the info about the show.

Reely Rockin' Show

This Friday night, the Reel Rock Tour films will be showing at the Doylestown Rock Gym. Be there or...don't. Your loss if you're not there - with the newly lowered cost, it's essentially a discounted climbing night at the gym too.