Nutribullet Update

Well, it's been almost 2 weeks now since I bought and started using my Nutribullet.  I started out the first week with the Toxic Cleanse recipe which came with my Bullet.  I then continued that with a colon cleanse recipe that I found on the internet which consisted of carrots, celery, pineapple, apple, spinach and kale.  Pretty good!  I did that for a couple of days and since then I've just been mixing up whatever I have on hand.  Usually the "blast" consists of banana, some type of berry, lettuce or spinach, and whatever else I happen to have.  I use POM juice and water as my liquid and blast away.

I have also been walking 5 miles, 3-4 days a week and moving around more on the days I don't walk.  This means parking farther away from store entrances, getting out in the yard and doing some type of yard work, etc. 

So what has changed since I started doing my juices?  Well, first off, I notice that because I buy more fresh fruit and veggies, I am more aware of what goes in my mouth.  When I feel hungry, I think about what I want to eat instead of just grabbing something out of the cabinet.  Second, I seem to have more energy.  Not a lot more but just enough to keep me going through the day without having to sleep 2 hours in the middle of my day.  I have also lost 4 pounds.  That's the part I really like.

I am going to keep on trying new recipes and will keep up the exercise and try to increase it to maybe 4-5 days a week.  Eventually I would like to work up to a 7 day a week routine.  I am hoping that I can incorporate exercise into my daily life so that I want it instead of dread it.  This means that I am healthier not only for myself but for my family! 

Keep on Juicing!!

Nutribullet Extracting - DAY 1

Well, as I mentioned in my last post, I purchased the Nutribullet on Tuesday.  I am excited and anxious to see what the benefits and results are.  Aside from wanting to lose weight, I just want to feel healthy.  As someone who has been anemic (low iron) her whole life, I go through spurts where I can stay up all night and have so much energy for days and days, then crash and feel absolutely drained.  I spend those days doing nothing but re-energizing for the next wave of all nighters.  I would like to be able to have a normal and consistent level of high energy all the time.



Yesterday, I started with a Toxic Cleanse.  This consists of 2 handfuls of spinach, 1 cored apple, 1 cored pear, 1 banana and 1 cup of pineapple with water.  I didn't have room for everything so I left out the pineapple and substituted apple juice for the water.  I washed and cut everything the night before and filled the large cup that came with my unit.  I screwed on the lid and set it in the refrigerator so all I have to do is grab and mix in the morning.  

 

In the morning, I waited about an hour after I woke up, I grabbed the cup from the fridge, replaced the lid with the blade unit and extracted away.  This was the end product.  Since this made 2 cups, I drank one for breakfast and had the other for lunch.  It tasted like banana with the consistency of a smoothie.  No trace of the spinach except for the green color.  It was sweet and I actually couldn't wait until lunch for the next one.  I snacked in between the drinks, (blueberry fruit bar and string cheese) then ate a single portion of pasta with chicken and spinach in alfredo sauce.  I didn't do well with my water intake yesterday but today is a new day right?

 

This morning, I walked for an hour and a half, then came home and drank day two of my toxic cleanse.  I used the same recipe as above but only used 1/2 apple, 1/2 pear then added 1 cup canned crushed pineapple.  I used canned because that's all I had and it tastes fine but I think fresh pineapple would make it so much better.  I'll have one for lunch then eat an early dinner. 

 

What surprised me was the fact that the smoothie actually filled me up.  For anyone who is thinking of juicing but doesn't want to deal with the hassle or cost of a large juicer, this is the perfect solution.  What I like is that you keep all the skin and pulp of the fruits and veggies so you don't lose any vitamins.

 

 I will continue this for a week and then post any progress I make or notice.

 

NutriBullet

Well, I'm at it again.  On that merry-go-round of dieting, eating healthy, losing weight, snacking and going back to the old habits and gaining back the weight.  I really hate that I can't stick to what works for me.  I give in to those cravings thinking that just one won't hurt.  Unfortunately, that one turns into two, then three, etc. etc.

I am starting AGAIN, after losing 10 lbs. in the fall.  I slowly gained it back over the holidays and now, here we are almost 1 year later and I could kick myself.  As everyone knows, I hate, no wait, that might be too mild of a word.  I abhor exercise.  I don't like to sweat and hate the pain of it all.  I can tolerate walking which is how I've lost weight in the past.  The treadmill is good but I get bored fast so I need something that adds variety and scenery.

Yesterday morning, I started walking with a friend.  We headed to one of the many trails in Fullerton and set off for our walk.  We only had an hour and a half so we weren't sure how far we would get.  We did pretty good.  We walked about 3.5 miles round trip. 

While we were walking she mentioned that she's been juicing and has lost a lot of inches and her clothes are really loose on her.  I was curious about that because from what I remembered, she hated vegetables almost as much as I hate exercise.  She said that because the veggies are mixed with fruit and it's in juice form, she drinks it and really likes it.  Now my curiosity was really peaked.  When we finished our walk, she invited me to her house to try her drink.  Surprisingly, it was really, really good.  It had spinach, kale, cactus, pineapple, apple and grapes with a splash of lemon juice.

Today we took to the trail again and this time we walked 6 miles.  We made it all the way to the lake which was beautiful early this morning with steam rising from it.  (Made the trek worth it)  Again we talked about her little juicer, the Nutribullet.  She said what she loves about it is that it's compact, she cuts and prepares the cup of ingredients the night before and in the morning she just replaces the lid with the blade and sets it on the base to liquefy.  In less than 1 minute she has her drink.  What really caught my attention though was when she said she has so much more energy.  As someone who's been anemic her entire life, I would love to have more energy. 

I asked around and found a 20% off coupon for Bed Bath and Beyond and headed over today for my very own Nutribullet.  I then went to Ralphs and bought my fruits and veggies and can't wait till tomorrow to have my first smoothie or juice.  I am really, really excited about this because anyone who knows me knows that I do not eat right at all.  I skip too many meals or go days without eating altogether which is a terrible habit that I got into many, many years ago when all I lived on were sodas.  Now, I either don't get hungry or if I do, nothing seems appealing to me. When I do eat, it's usually something on a whim that is quick and easy. 

So, tomorrow will be my first day filling my body with good and nutritious foods that are packed with vitamins.  I will continue to post my results on my blog and hopefully will be able to report positive results.  Wish me luck!!!

The Cookie Thief

I was cleaning out some files and came across a stack of jokes and stories that I've collected over the years.  Some were jokes that used to get passed around when I worked at the college and others were things I picked up at conferences and other events that teach how to think outside the box. 

I've kept all of these over the years and I've finally decided to share some of these from time to time.  The first one is a story that I love because it shows how we sometimes are quick to judge and place blame on others instead of first learning the truth and looking within.

I hope you enjoy!

THE COOKIE THIEF

by



Valerie Cox

 

A woman was waiting at an airport one night;

with several long hours before her flight.

She hunted for a book in the airport shop;

bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.

She was engrossed in her book, but happened to see

that a man beside her, as bold as can be,

grabbed a cookie, or two, from the bag between

which she tried to ignore to avoid a big scene.

She munched on her cookies and watched the clock

as the gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock.

She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by thinking:

"if I wasn't so nice I'd blackened his eye!"

With each cookie she took, he took one too,

when only one was left, she wondered what he'd do.

With a smile on his face and a nervous laugh,

he took the last cookie and broker in in half,

He offered her half as he ate the other,

she snatched it from him and thought,

"Oh brother, this guy has some nerve, and he's also rude,

why he didn't even show any gratitude!"

She had never known when she'd been so gulled,

and sighed with relief when her flight was called.

She gathered her belongings and headed to the gate,

refusing to look back at that thieving ingrate.

She boarded the plane and sunk in her seat

then sought for her book, which was almost complete.

As she reached in her bag, she gasped with surprise;

there was her bag of cookies, in front of her eyes!

If mine are here? She moaned in despair,

then the others were his and he tried to share.

Too late to apologize she realized with grief

that SHE was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.

Our Little Angel

Fifteen years ago today, we were blessed with a baby girl.  Not just any baby girl mind you, but a very special girl.

Early in my pregnancy, I took a test that is given to all pregnant mothers and was shocked when the Dr. called me at work to tell me that the tests had shown that there was a strong possibility that our baby would be born with Down Syndrome.  I immediately called Robert to tell him and we spent the next week, worrying and discussing why this would happen to us. 

We had to go in for more in-depth testing.  They wanted me to have an amniocenteses done which would show for sure if the baby had any chromosomal abnormalities.  Before we could decide, they informed us that there was also a chance that a miscarriage could result from the amniocenteses.  While we decided, we were sent across the hall to have an ultrasound done that could possibly determine without the amnio.   Unfortunately, the ultrasound didn't give any definite results because all the baby's measurements were on the cusp of what was deemed "normal" and "abnormal."  We still hadn't decided on whether to go through with the amnio and were sent to a room so we could have some time to discuss it with each other and decide.

I still remember that day like it was yesterday.  We were so scared and unsure of what to do.  We didn't want to do anything to harm our baby but at the same time felt we needed to know if our baby was fine or not.  We called a couple of people to ask their advice.  No one could tell us what we should do.  I remember sitting in this room and walking back and forth wondering and praying.  All of a sudden we asked each other what we would do if we did the amnio and the doctor's said the baby had an abnormality.  Would we abort?  The answer was a definite NO.  At once, we had our answer.  There was no reason to do the test because it wouldn't make any difference one way or another anyway.

We informed the doctors of our decision to not have the amnio done, left the clinic and went to lunch at La Casa Garcia, vowing to continue to treat this pregnancy the same as the others....with excitement and anticipation.

Finally, the day arrived and on April 13th, 1998 the wait was over.  At 12:00 noon, I gave birth to our daughter Aniecia.  Unbeknownst to us, there was a special team of doctors on hand to handle all the necessary testing should she indeed have Down's Syndrome.  Almost immediately after her birth, the doctor let us know that she did have Down Syndrome and would need testing to see if there were any defects to her heart as is common for most babies with Down's.  After a couple hours, the results were in.  She did not have a hole in her heart and would not need any surgeries.  We were visited by many professionals who wanted to "discuss" with us the challenges we would face and give us programs and organizations that we should participate in for assistance.  Once alone, we decided that we didn't need to seek assistance from anyone.  We were determined to treat her like any other baby.

There were many challenges that we faced and the only assistance we sought was physical therapy so that she could strengthen her legs and walk.  There were some behavior issues that although not uncommon to almost all children, were a little more extreme with her.  We disciplined her the same way we did the others.  She was given boundaries and there were consequences.  It was our hope that we would never treat her with less discipline just because she had a disability.  We tried to do things as normal as possible but there have been many events we had to pass on because of her inability to participate in or her discomfort in certain situations.  We never wanted to leave her behind and make her feel that other things were more important than her. 

Now, 15 years later, I thank God he chose us to be her family.   She is healthy, strong, funny  and beautiful.  She loves unconditionally without judgement and reminds me how we all should be.  Everyone who meets her loves her spunk and attitude and she has taught me to just relax and not worry about what other people think.

We are so blessed to call you our daughter and I am so proud of the young lady you are becoming.  I love you so, very much. 

HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY ANIECIA!

 

Remembering a Friend!

It was late 2003 or early 2004 when I first noticed him.  We had been living here for about 5 years, just blocks away from the Armory, where every winter they open their doors to the homeless.  It seemed that lately there were more and more homeless hanging around the neighborhood and I think I had just gotten used to seeing them around. 

I remember one particular morning when I was coming home from church.  I had gone alone to 7am mass.  Normally, I went straight home after church but this day it was a rainy, cold morning.  As I drove the couple of blocks to 7-11 to buy myself a nice hot cup of coffee, I noticed him.  He was behind the 7-11, asleep.  I felt bad, said a prayer for him and then went ahead to get my coffee as planned.  As I stood there, pouring my nice hot cup of coffee, I remembered him laying on the wet, cold pavement, and felt a little guilty about being so warm and cozy and comfortable.  I grabbed another cup and poured.  As I walked passed the donuts, I picked one of those up as well.  After paying, I got into my car and drove around to the back of the store.  I parked and walked over to this stranger and put the coffee and donut down next to him and announced that it was for him.  I didn't want to bother him.  He was wrapped tightly in his blankets and mumbled something that was barely audible.

A few days later, I was at 7-11 again (I was addicted to Dr. Pepper and visited almost daily for a Big Gulp lol!) and noticed the same man outside sweeping the parking lot area.  I said hello and he responded with a cheery hello!  I began to notice him more and more.  One of the things that caught my attention was that he resembled my dad who had passed away a few years earlier.

One day after taking the girls to school, I was talking to another mom who lives in the area.  Somehow we started talking about the homeless shelter and I mentioned the gentleman I had been seeing around alot.  She said, "Oh you mean Boman?"  Since I didn't know his name, I wasn't sure of who she was talking about.  Over time, I got to know him and so did my family.  Whenever we were at 7-11, we would pick up a hot dog and a soda for him.  He loved the hot dogs! 

Easter was coming and I had mentioned to my friend Ana that I wanted to put a basket together for Boman.  Just some goodies that I thought he could use like socks, razors, deodorant etc.  She mentioned that he would always ask her if she had a small battery operated TV that he could use.  We put our monies together and we bought him one and put that in his big basket of goodies.  A couple of days before Easter, Ana and I  took our kids and presented him with the basket.  He was so happy and grateful.

Whenever we had an event at home, we would make him a plate and take it to him.  He was always so happy to see us and the kids.  Because of him, my kids and I would go to the shelter and help serve food to the homeless.  It was such a great feeling. 

One night Robert and Alyssa were coming home from softball practice.  They stopped at 7-11, probably to get me a soda or something.  It was about 7pm when the phone rang.  It was Robert asking me to come to 7-11 to pick up Alyssa.  He said that Boman had just been hit by a car and Alyssa was really upset.  Immediately, me and the kids drove down to the store a couple of blocks away. 

Apparently, there was a homeless lady in a wheelchair that Boman was trying to help across the street to the Armory.  Alyssa saw him as she got out of the truck.  She said he had been drinking and seemed to be irritated about something.  As he pushed the lady in her wheelchair across Brookhurst St., cars came close to hitting him.  Once he got her to the Armory side of the street, he crossed Brookhurst again to get his shopping cart.  Alyssa watched him as he crossed, reached his cart to go back across, and stepped in the way of an oncoming car. 

I arrived a few minutes later and as we all stood there watching him lay in the street, my heart sank.  I thought of this man who had called these streets his home and wondered if he had someone out there who loved and  missed him or perhaps was looking for him.  Was he someones father, husband or brother?  I wondered what the circumstances were that brought him to where he was. 

Sadly, Boman passed away that night, January 12, 2005.  Our hearts were broken.  We cried like we had lost a family member.  He touched  us in a way I never thought possible.  I still think of him when I drive past 7-11.  I'm glad I stopped for coffee that cold, rainy morning.  We were blessed to know him and I know that wherever Boman is right now, he's not cold, wet and alone anymore.