#Burn Fat #Lose Weight #Save the Earth

A life of adventure, chaos, purpose and growth

[badassketovegan]

Beautiful hike on Sunday and even a rare waterfall thanks to all the recent rain. Everything is so green & lovely right now. #hike #hiking #adventure #outdoors #outside #trails #training #waterfall #slo #slorunning #mountains #govegan #vegananuary #veganmuscle #vegan #keto #ketodiet #lchf #trailrunning https://www.instagram.com/p/BstKtWMl00a/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1etuld24rqu8x

[badassketovegan]

New Beginnings!

I love autumn. It always seems the time to start something new, or start an old thing fresh. The air is cooler and crisper, and shorter days give me a sense of urgency to get outside while I can. All the fall vegetables coming into season give me new reasons to cook, create and come up with new recipes!

And it’s a perfect time to start a new workout and exercise routine too. The break in heat and humidity gives me a chance to get outside at lunch when I can’t do that in the height of summer. 

[badassketovegan]

Coming Back from Injury/Illness

It sucks to be sick! This year is not turning out at all the way I expected at the beginning of the year. I was looking forward to a very productive year in terms of work and fitness. Pretty much all those plans got blown out of the water in February. 

In February, I got sick--crazy sick--with 103 fever that lasted several days and the rest of the two weeks I was just generally sick. I was so wrung out physically and mentally I didn’t start to feel like myself until April. And then I got shingles. 

Shingles has to be one of the most miserable things I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve had my share of bizarre medical issues. At first I thought it was eczema, so I didn’t treat it properly and didn’t get the anti-viral meds that would have helped. Finally, in May, I was healed enough to get the first of two shots for the shingles vaccine.

And then I DID get eczema, a really bizarre strain called dyshidrotic eczema that only appears on your hands and/or feet. It causes intense itching and burning, and then your skin blisters and peels off. Yeah, just lovely. And your MD will just shrug and say there’s nothing they can do for it. Medical science hasn’t figured this one out yet.

So after a lot of research, I discovered that the root of this type of eczema is candida. Makes sense, as in the seven years since my last outbreak of this I’ve had to take several courses of both antibiotics and prednisone, including several cortisone shots. All of which feed candida.

So right now my emphasis is on healing myself, being good to myself, trying not to stress (!!!) or die of boredom. My anti-candida diet is geared for dyshidrotic eczema relief, which is even more strict than the ‘regular’ anti-candida diet. I have been encouraged by how much training I’ve still managed to do, despite brain fog, exhaustion, and lack of sleep. I can’t ride my bike much since gripping the handlebars sets off some crazy itching, and sweating makes it worse too. I’ve improvised quite a bit with my weight vest, sandbag and ClimbMax machine, so learning alternatives has been good, and I can still do uphill HIIT sprints/Tabatas and go for a run. So, for those things, I am intensely grateful. 

It’s been humbling, enlightening, and frustrating in equal measure. 

#health #healing #fitness #candida #candidadiet #weights #weightlifting #learning #knowledge #OneDayAtaTime #vegan #vegetarian #naturalhealing #alternativehealth #wellness #selfcare #selflove #NeverGiveUp

[badassketovegan]

Vegan ‘Heresy’ OR ‘Am I a ‘bad’ Vegan? Some musings!

I don’t talk much about being #Vegan IRL. I’m not really sure why, except that I’ve met and read some stuff from some really uptight and judgmental vegans that really turned me off, if I am 100% honest! So I don’t want to be like that. I’d rather lead by example and let conversations develop naturally. 

Here’s some stuff I do that some other vegans might consider heresy:

I eat in regular restaurants that serve meat. I can always find something vegan to order, and I NEVER tell the server I’m vegan, I just order a salad if that’s my only option. I used to be a server, and I know how stressful it is. There’s no point in me adding to that person’s stress by declaring my dietary needs when the menu is not in their hands. Rice and beans is always another option found in most places. Spaghetti with meatless red sauce works too. I can’t think of one single instance where I told my server I’m a vegan. 

My husband still occasionally eats meat when we eat out or go to a potluck. That is his choice. I’m his wife, not his mother. (I couldn’t improve on the job she did anyway.) He understands and feels the health benefits of a vegan diet, but also chooses at times to deviate from it. Again, his choice, and I don’t comment on it. What would be the point? Why would you want to shame your life partner, especially in front of others? I don’t ever go there. He’s an adult. 

I recently had a case where I was unexpectedly a guest of someone who had prepared snacks for our group. One of my work gigs is as the drama team director of my church. About two months ago a local woman contacted my boss to say she had an entire storage facility with costumes and props at our disposal. I went over there with my boss and her PA, and this woman, whom none of us had ever met, had prepared food, snacks, beverages, etc., for us. We were all overwhelmed by her generosity. Not only was she loaning us her inventory for free, she was feeding us! Of course the food wasn’t vegan! Did I say anything? Nope, not a word! To me that would have been rude, in the face of her generosity, to make a ‘statement’. I merely thanked her profusely, said I wasn’t terribly hungry, and ate the fruit and raw veggies she had prepared. My boss and her PA ate the turkey wraps. 

So, my question to myself is, ‘Do all these things make me a ‘bad’ vegan? I don’t think so! I do talk to people about my diet when they ask me how I have so much energy, or if they see that I’m not eating meat at a social function, then I will state that I’m vegan, and not before. I don’t think we can shame or bully people and have a positive outcome, or give them a positive opinion of vegans. I resisted for a long time because of the perception that vegans are angryand uptight. I don’t want to add to that!

Okay, rant over! LOL!

#vegan #plantbased #plantpowered #health #fitness #foodie #thrive #energy #planet #environment #fasting #cardio #aerobic 

[badassketovegan]

Post #ride eats! #spinach & #coconutoil so #vegan & #keto ! And who can resist a pretty flowered bowl! #20+miles #health #foodie #yummy #bikelife #cycle #fatburner

[badassketovegan]

Both of these women #inspire me! Each has accomplished amazing #athletic feats and as #vegetarian #athlete #adventuring explorers pushing boundaries! #sarahmarquis #lizzyhawker rock on ladies!

[badassketovegan]

When your partner has a different way of eating!

Your partner is the perfect person for you...except he/she doesn’t share your enthusiasm for #vegan, #vegetarian or #keto eating...what to do? Is this a deal breaker? 

When I first met my husband, I was almost completely vegan; the only animal product I was still consuming was eggs, because I mistakenly thought I needed the protein. I was still into #bodybuilding and #weights; which I continue today, but I didn’t realize then I could do so as a vegan!

I started making him eat more vegetarian dishes, and then went along quite nicely until I got into competitive bodybuilding and prepping for my first contest. I reluctantly went back to eating meat because I thought I ‘had to’ to be muscular enough to compete. I did a number of competitions, and after placing second at the #NPC West Coast Classic in my division a few years back, I decided it was time to hang up the posing suit! By then I was doing #lowcarb, which is almost a given in bodybuilding contest prep. I transitioned to #keto for several years, but never felt right about eating meat. 

The big light bulb went off when I moved to a small farm where my landlord ran a sanctuary for rescued farm animals. As I fed and took care of the sheep, goats, hens and roosters, I realized that they are much more intelligent than we’ve been led to believe. Then I thought about the Garden of #Eden and how we originally only ate plants. So I went full-blown vegan and never looked back!

Except...there was still meat in the freezer! So I would cook for my husband as he wasn’t quite ready to join me, and I didn’t feel right about throwing the meat away, either. That, to me, would be wasteful. So for many months I was making two separate meals, or else I would just eat the veggies and maybe some rice (I still stick to low carbs, mostly) and let him eat the meat I’d made.

And then, finally, as he saw how healthy I felt, how much energy I had, and that I was going to stick with this, he decided to join me. I never had to #shame or coerce. So yes, I think leading by #example, and the idea of #explain, don’t shame, is the best approach. So many people don’t understand the true issues of WHY we are vegan! Horrible videos, although truthful, may not be helpful. Every person and approach is different. Mutual #respect goes a long way, and if the person loves and cares about you, h/she will listen. 

But a good #Netflix documentary never hurt either!

#Cowspiracy #WhatTheHealth #FoodInc 

[badassketovegan]

My #workout clothes: top drawer, too nice to actually sweat in. 2nd drawer, #athleisure pants. 3rd drawer, could go either way...LOL! And that's just the bottoms! #lululemon #avia #champion #addidas #underarmour #ihaveaproblem #sweat #weights #hiit #womenwholift

[badassketovegan]

Awesome #keto #vegan snack foods! #olives #macadamianuts #seaweed Very portable & very delicious! I rely on these for long #hikes #trailrunning #bike rides. #lowcarb #healthyfood #plantbased #plantpowered #outdoors #mountains

[badassketovegan]

Trying my hand at roasting #chickpeas for #hiking snacks! #garbonzobeans #vegan #veganrecipes #veganrecipes #foodie

[badassketovegan]

Happy Father's Day to the Best Dad ever! #fathersday #daddy #daddy'sgirl #veteran #navy #love #grateful

[badassketovegan]

Simple to #GoVegan

We love to over-complicate things!

The first part of #Vegan is ‘veg’ so when making the transition, concentrate on #vegetables. All the substitute foods can come later, if you like. In the beginning, I’ve found it is easier to just concentrate on leaving meat and dairy off the plate.

Here’s what I found works well:

Breakfast ideas: Sauteed spinach and toast with almond or peanut butter.

Or a banana and almond butter sandwich. (Also good for lunch!)

Sliced avocado on toast. 

Hot or cold cereal with nuts and dried or fresh fruit. 

Snacks: Black olives and nuts

An apple with peanut or almond butter

Dried plums and pecans

Dried seaweed snack (#TraderJoe’s makes a good one)

Lunch: a huge #salad ( I make mine the night before & pack it along) with pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries

The banana and almond butter sandwich as noted above

Veggie sandwich: toast, sprouts, cucumber, tomato, bell peppers, avocado, etc. Use your imagination here! Mustard or vegennaise.

Bean and brown rice burrito with veggies

Dinner: sauteed veggies over rice

Quinoa with veggies 

Rice, beans, diced tomatoes and corn over rice

Veggies over rice and lentils

Vegetable soup

Vegetarian chili (no cheese!)

Pad thai with tofu

Remember too that spices are your friend! Find a combo you like such as Mexican, Thai, Indian, etc. and use liberally over any type of ‘cuisine’. 

Indian and Thai food are both generally vegan-friendly options.

My point is that you don’t have to start off trying to learn new cooking skills, or eating a lot of fake substitute foods. The only time I usually eat a veggie burger is if we are dining with others who are eating meat (like at a BBQ or picnic) and I want to ‘round out’ my plate, so to speak.

This is just to get started; there are many great vegan cookbooks out there and even ones for raw food followers have great ideas. Don’t be afraid to experiment. I also will take a recipe that calls for meat (like a casserole) and just omit the meat or use tofu or tempeh instead. 

Bon appetite!

#vegan #vegetarian #WholeFoods #vegetables #foodie #snacks #plantbased #Mexican #Thai #GrowYourOwn #herbs #spices #healthyfood #healthylife

[badassketovegan]

Not sure if he is checking out my #garden or inquiring if I need #geico insurance! #gecko #gardening #springtime #strawbales

[badassketovegan]

Somehow #nationaloreoday turned into #oreoweek for me! Ugh and I am over it!

[badassketovegan]

This is a farm sign I pass on my daily run. Notice they are applying #pesticides that are poisonous & tell you to keep your pets out. Is this what we want in our food? #organic #vegan #plantbased #health #fitness

[badassketovegan]

All our decisions matter for the planet

I know a lot of people who say they are environmentalists, but the extent of caring for the planet is to recycle. They continue to buy a new car every few years, drive thousands of extra miles a year, eat meat, use paper towels & napkins, etc. Where’s the concern for the environment in their daily life?

I run near an elementary school in the mornings. There’s a steady stream of cars (mostly SUV’s) pulling up to the school, dropping off one child, and then turning around. Meanwhile, the school bus pulls up with like one kid on board. Why aren’t some of these kids riding the bus? Why aren’t some parents carpooling? Why aren’t some kids riding their bikes? Yet I’m sure if you asked every parent driving in circles every day, they would tell you how much they care about the environment and their kid’s future. So why don’t they live like they care? Why the disconnect? and what can we all do?

First we should admit that there are NO easy answers and that driving a Prius doesn’t undo years of environmental damage. In fact, EV’s are very front-loaded in their carbon footprint due to the intensity of lithium mining and manufacturing required for them. Studies suggest that you have to drive an electric vehicle for 2-3 years before you even get to the starting point of the carbon footprint of a gas vehicle. OUCH! And even recycling has become a problem as countries like China no longer want to accept our plastic waste because it’s not profitable enough to recycle it. The US and UK have pretty much run out of our own landfill space. 

But the biggest and most immediate impact we can have on the environment is to give up eating meat. We can meet our greenhouse gas goals very quickly this way, even faster than if we all switched to EV’s. (Which may not be possible due to the amount of lithium, and right now we aren’t recycling lithium). 

#vegan #environment #greenhousegases #climatechange #GoVegan #compassion #animalrights 

[badassketovegan]

How Vegetarianism & Veganism help the planet

It takes 2,500 gallons of water, 12 pounds of grain, 35 pounds of topsoil and the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline to produce one pound of feedlot beef

Those are some pretty scary numbers! And one of the biggest reasons I switched from a meat-based ketogenic diet to a Vegan ketogenic diet.