Dear Dairy...

We need to talk.

They put you in almost everything, including things you really have NO business being in.  You lurk, skulk about, hiding in a deep and complicated list of ingredients and use false identities to conceal yourself.  In the human diet, you're a complete and total fraud.

Potato chips.  Why?  Why are you there?  It's not 'potato and milk chips,' so wtf are you in there?  It's a trap.  Good thing I'm not eating potato chips.

Thank goodness for an app on my phone I can use to scan any food that's processed, and not that I NEED to eat processed foods.  It just happens sometimes.  I should fix that.

As diligent as I am I'm not perfect at finding the hidden dairy in certain foods.  And OH... do I EVER pay the ultimate price when I do.  *sigh*

Dear dairy, I'm sorry.. but I broke up with you because you're a sadistic bitch who hurts me whenever I have to deal with you.  Our relationship over the years has been toxic, though I failed to see the connection between you and so much discomfort and misery.  This is the end.  We must part ways, completely and totally.

You should stick with the calves for which you were perfectly created.  And I know mankind has treated the life that holds you like garbage, living factories for human consumption.  And I'm deeply sorry for that.  So I will continue to do my part to not support the industry who do those vile and inhuman things we know happen.

As for last night---I forgive you.  I'm still breaking up with you.  But I forgive you, because you weren't meant for me.  Yes, I indulged in you unknowingly and paid a HUGE price for it.  But I forgive you just the same.

Goodbye, dairy.  I wish you well.

Fireflies, Dreams... looking for familiarity in my life

Health.  I long for that, picture myself healthy in everything I think of and do.  And in my dreams as I sleep... I am always healthy, vibrant, doing things, living life!  But awake...awake is so damn different.

21 vials of blood.  I still have to contend with the story of what that tells and visit those far better at interpretation of the language in which my body speaks.  Because I know the voice quite well, and I know the message I've been given for some time.

But it took 21 vials of blood and a 24 hour urine sample test to make doctors hear me, to hear what my body has been saying.  I guess in some sick way having the validation in writing, all those pages with abnormal values to back me up... is a relief.  Finally, my body has a voice.

I've also found someone who seems to listen---a new primary care physician, a DO.  I like the philosophy of DO's and always have.  The first experience I ever had with a DO was in Jacksonville, FL about 12 years ago.  Was impressed, but I didn't have insurance so couldn't return to see him.  At any rate, I found one locally and had my records transferred.  He, like 2 other Dr's, are concerned about my liver enzymes being totally out of whack.  There are other values out of normal, but these seem to be the most concerning to them.  It concerns me as well since I've had a lot of abdominal pain for some time, muscle pain and weakness, etc.  We'll get down to the bottom of it.  Till then, dealing with house renovations will more than keep my mind preoccupied.

I would write more... but I need to eat something.

Till next time.... enjoy this video....one of my favorites... love the song.... freaky video...  and it sounds AWESOME in my car! ;D  Music joy!  Yes, I'm vegan and I still like this video. ;)

How to starve to death on a vegan diet and make your private parts fall off

No, wait WHAT??  Yeah, everyone knows that if you're vegan or vegetarian you're going to starve to death because, what the hell are you going to eat if you're not going to eat meat?  Right?

Seeds and twigs and grass.  Right?  I mean, who wants to live off of rabbit food when you can just eat the rabbit?  OMG, no!  And if you starve yourself your muscles will be used for protein and..and..and..isn't just about everything made up of muscle?...and what about my, you know, "stuff?"  You know, 'the important stuff'?

What?  You think if you don't eat meat then your muscles will waste away and your junk will fall off, right?

So, to make things easy, and without going through the myriad of facts and such, and without restating the bazillian things listed in abundance on the internet already regarding how you will ultimately starve to death on a vegan diet... let me just skip right to it and give you the horrifying visual of all the grim and non-palatable ways you'll starve.

Brace yourself.  This shit is about to get real.

It's not meat.  I LOOKS like meat.  Ooooh, but it's not!  THIS is how they trick you! 

I'm not falling for this!

And this, this is another way "they" lure you into the vegan trap!  yeah, just take a gander (oops, did I just say that!?!) at this heaping pot of vegan chili!  Non-meat!  It has to be an illusion, filled with visual and culinary impossibilities.  It's a trap.  Just don't go there!

Oh, now we're talking!  THIS looks like some kind of salad!  HA!!!  Gotchya!

But then there's all this creamy stuff, and then some walnuts.  Some herbs and fruit... chickpeas I guess...  I don't trust this.

I simply don't trust this.  Best to steer clear.  I'm sure it's definitely a trap.

I know I see cheese in this stuff.  Right?  Cheese?  No cheese, you say?  WTF???  I KNOW I'M SEEING CHEESE!

Cauliflower?  That's not freaking cauliflower, dude! You're out of your f***ing mind!  Cauliflower that looks like cheese.  You're crazy.

Well I'M not going to eat it!  I don't recognize one single thing there!  Okay, maybe TWO things.  But I'm not eating it, because I don't know what it is.

And where's the chicken?

So this looks okay, but I'm going to have to hit McDonald's after this.  You know that, right?  I mean, where's the beef??!!  Nothing there to eat?!  I'm going to starve!!!

Aaaaahhhhh!!!  A hamburger!!!!!

What do you mean it's not a "hamburger."  I know a hamburger when I see one, and that is a f***ing hamburger!

Mushrooms, my a$$!  And what the hell is a quinoa??!!



Yeah.  I've heard it all, read it all, and at times... thought it all.  But it's all vegan.  Some are main courses, and some are side dishes.  MY thing right now is that I have to combine both vegan/vegetarian with gluten-free.  That is a given.  Though there is one thing that is going to somewhat hinder that from being 100% and that's my cookware.

In order to have a COMPLETELY GLUTEN-FREE DIET you have to replace all of your cookware!  Yep.  And my cookware is an expensive, professional quality set that I'm not about to replace.  Maybe one day.  But not right now.  I've invested in two juicers, so that's enough investing at this time.

Another thing you need to know if you go gluten-free is this:  If you suspect celiac do NOT go on a gluten-free diet, because that will hinder a diagnosis!!!  Get your doctor to get the tests done prior to doing any gluten-free diet, because you don't want to go through that biopsy for no reason!  I doubt I have celiac, so I'm willing to take the risk.

So here's me kicking off my next phase in health, weight loss, and keeping my private parts from falling off!

And yes, there will be some new entries about other things such as how I'm feeling, if my girly bits are still intact (just kidding!), how I feel about the price of tea in England.... or whatever happens to be floating or sinking my boat.

Like I said... This shit is about to get real.

OH. MY. GOURD!! It cost HOW much??!!

Day 17 and it's the end.  Yes, the end.  But not completely the end.  But don't break out the tissues and start playing Taps just yet!  Let me explain what made me decide to change up the fabric of what I'm doing...

No worries about juicing itself, because everything was fine.  It's a great experience that I am continuing, but not 100% as a juice fast!  And there's a damn good reason for this choice.

Cost.  Plain and simple.

At the beginning of this journey the cost was estimated to be somewhere around $120/week, roughly.  In that estimate certain factors were considered such as what was in season, not in season, local purchases (which would make things less expensive), and buying organic (which means more expensive).  All T's were crossed and all I's were dotted.  But what we didn't consider were shortages, and for any such shortages to include one of the main staples of juicing---kale.

Well damn!

While doing a bit of research yesterday I discovered a few threads on folks who had given up their juice fasts due to cost.  And I found as many discussions on those who chose to suck it up and continue despite the cost.  While this whole cost thing concerned me I wasn't all THAT worried.  But then, T insisted on doing the shopping since he wanted to use his credit card that gave this awesome cash back incentive for shopping at grocery stores.  Okay.  I'm down with that.  And what this translates to is this....

I had NO idea what juicing was costing us until last night!

OH.  MY.  GOURD!

So, how bad could it be, you ask?  $180.00 to $200.00 per week!  YES!!  I know!!!  OMG!

I asked, "WHY didn't you tell me it was costing this much??!!!"  And T's reply was... "I didn't want you to worry, and I knew it was helping you."  *sigh*  Super sweet, yes?  Of course it is.  Still, we have a lot going on and really, a Reboot doesn't HAVE to last 30 days to receive great benefit from all the micronutrients you take in!

I said... "It's time to Transition out."  And so last night I had lentil & veggie soup (vegan, gluten free, organic), and began my transition back into solid foods, and I feel great about my decision.  :)

I had 17 awesome days where my body was flooded with pure, fresh vegetable and fruit juice, free from packaged food, fried food, sugar, gluten, and any other form of garbage that most of us humans put into our systems on a regular basis.

I sleep better than I have since I don't know when, my hair is growing faster, my nails as well, and my skin looks great!  And... I don't crave junk food or sweets!  And trust me, I used to LOOOOOVE sweets.  Not that I wouldn't eat desserts, mind you.  They're just not a temptation anymore.  Also, the allergies that have plagued me over the past two years are GONE!!!  I couldn't breathe before this cleanse, and now I can breathe normally!

And it took only 17 days.  Actually, it took less than that, but I continued my cleanse for 17 days.

What's next?  My next goal is to go vegetarian/vegan.  I didn't grow up this way, and I didn't have this environment ever in my life.  So it's not going to be a "cold turkey" situation (no pun intended).  At least I don't think so.  I still have weight to lose as the prednisone monster and subsequent effects will take some time to correct, but it's okay.  I've come this far and have lost 17 lbs during my Reboot.  :)  I'm good.

So this is really where the fun actually starts!  Phase two is where the works begins, and "the work" IS the fun part, because the journey is going to be fun...  because nothing's really changes, has it?  I mean, all we really want is to look good naked, so... having said that... let's get to work!