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Wow, a brand new shiny clean start!

 

After suffering (that's the appropriate word) with arthritis for years, and getting only moderate relief from drugs, injections, and physical therapy, I decided to take the bull by the horns and walk (limp) my own path. I won't bore you with the details here--you can look up my Intro post--but I am now at the point where I can seriously start exercising again. I've also adopted a high-raw vegan diet, after being an ovo-lacto vegetarian for over 30 years.

 

Due to a birth in the family, a car accident, and the resulting flu from my compromised immune system (from all the stress), I was unable to go to the gym this week. Today is the first day I haven't run a fever, so I'm back on track first thing Monday morning!

 

Food today:

  • Large glass of blueberry kombucha
    Pilaf of white and wild rice, butternut squash, green onion, and craisins in a vinaigrette
    Raw vegan "nachos," with raw zucchini/summer squash/carrot slices as the chips, with raw vegan "cheez" sauce, salsa, and guacamole
    Water
    Strawberry wine slushie (OK, I know that sounds awful, but it really was a small amount of wine, compared to the frozen strawberries!)

 

I may have more to eat before bed tonight. I have high BP due to years of NSAID use, so I'm trying to watch my salt intake--although there are some tortilla chips calling my name. Maybe just a half-avocado's worth of guacamole and a few chips?

 

Blessings to all of you on your healthy endeavors!

 

 

Love and Light,

Miz

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Welcome to our group, Miz!

 

Thanks for sharing some info about your background and your meal plan from today. I wish you all the best as you continue down this path to high health.

 

Thanks for tracking your progress here on our forum.

 

All the very best!

 

-Robert

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Food for today:

  • Glass of dark chocolate almond milk
    Multi-grain french bread with olive oil/balsamic vinegar dipping sauce
    Glass of blueberry kombucha
    Bowl of grapes
    Flax crackers with guacamole
    Raw zucchini and summer squash with raw vegan "chile con queso"
    Wine

 

No gym today--my daughter has my car (and my gym pass is attached to my keychain anyway--D'oh!!). But I've already asked my other daughter if I can borrow her car and gym pass in the morning, with the promise of putting some gas in the tank. YAY!! I'm really excited about getting back into the swing of things!

 

 

Love and Light,

Miz

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Workout today:

  • 7 minutes warmup on the recumbent bike
    about 30 minutes of weights/core
    about 5 minutes of stretching
    20 minutes on the elliptical

(On weightlifting days (M/W/F), I don't use the arm poles on the elliptical; I read somewhere that *not* using them works your core and improves your balance. But, using them does increase calorie burn, so I do use them on cardio-only days. Also, because I'm still going pretty easy on the weights, I do everything--arms, legs, abs, shoulders--on alternate days. Once I've built my strength back up, and start doing more sets, I might split up into "upper body days" and "lower body days.")

 

Food today:

  • banana smoothie (2 bananas, spoonful of peanut butter, cinnamon, ginger, aloe vera juice)
    grapes
    blueberry kombucha
    a few sips of tea
    whole-gain french bread with olive oil/balsamic vinegar dipping sauce
    dehydrated summer squash chips

 

I haven't had supper yet and my daughter is in the kitchen cooking now, so I'm trying to stay out from underfoot. But I'm going to have the rest of that french bread and some carrot-cashew-ginger soup later!

 

 

Love and Light,

Miz

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My knees were terribly tender this morning, so I skipped the gym. But I could really feel yesterday's workout in my legs! I know, I have to be patient and accept the fact that I might not be able to just jump right in going every day...baby steps. But I really feel good, both physically and mentally, and really looking forward to going tomorrow!

 

My elder daughter just joined Weight Watchers, and she gets more "points" (i.e., is allowed to eat more) if she goes to the gym. Ours is open 24/7, so I'm hoping we can work out a schedule to spend some time together there!

 

Food today:

  • tart cherry kombucha
    2 clementines
    bowl of carrot-cashew-ginger soup
    salad of baby greens and raspberries, with champagne vinaigrette dressing
    baked potato with a sauce made from peanut butter, coconut milk, and ginger, sprinkled with raisins and pumpkin seeds (this is super-super good on baked sweet potatoes, but I was out)

 

Now to enjoy a glass of wine and call it an early night!

 

 

Love and Light,

Miz

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OK, completely bummed. My daughter asked a few days ago if she could use the car overnight tonight. No worries, as I was planning on only a M/W/F workout schedule. She asked to borrow it to go to the movies last night; again, no problem. What she neglected to tell me was that she was staying overnight at a friend's house. So I get up early for the gym this morning--and no car. Plus, no car tomorrow morning, either. I really need to do something with my quads, so I'm going to strap on the ankle weights and do about 100 reps tomorrow.

 

Food today:

  • 2 clementines
    raspberries
    tart cherry kombucha
    whole wheat pasta with broccoli, carrots, and garlic, in a vegan 'goddess' dressing
    1 square dark chocolate
    tortilla chips with guacamole and raw vegan 'cheez' dip
    wine

 

 

Love and Light,

Miz

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Thanks, Karen, I appreciate the support!

 

Exercise was 2 sets of 50 reps leg extensions, with ankle weights (I think about 2 or 2.5 lbs.). My knees make the most God-awful noises when I do it, but they don't hurt...that's the important thing! I don't use the leg extension machine at the gym; I don't like that particular one at all! The seat is kinda V shaped and the leg bar isn't adjustable (and hangs straight down)--so you have to bend your knees way past 90 degrees to even get your feet behind the bar. No can do (without extreme discomfort).

 

Due to weather conditions, I'm not going to venture out at 4 am tomorrow (snow/freezing rain/high winds). I found some 8 lb. dumbbells that I can use in my office while waiting for programs to run, and of course I have my ankle weights. I'm only working a half-day so I can run some errands; I might be able to squeeze in a quick cardio workout before--you guessed it!--my daughter needs the car for the evening.

 

Food today:

  • grapes
    clementine
    tart cherry kombucha
    salad of baby greens, sunflower seeds, and raisins, with champagne vinaigrette
    bowl of carrot-cashew-ginger soup
    baked potato with coconut oil and curry powder

 

 

Love and Light,

Miz

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Whew!! Got a lot done today towards getting my daughter's car back--but that meant little time for anything else (OK, it didn't help that it took me 30 minutes to tear the house apart looking for the title).

 

Exercise: 2 sets of 50 (each leg) leg extensions w/ankle weights (2 or 2.5 lbs.) I really think this is helping; I was on my feet a lot today and my knees barely bothered me--even though the high today was 18 degrees F! I might make this a daily thing at home--the only quad exercise I do at the gym, besides the recumbent bike, is the leg press, where I'm doing about 160 (I could do 400 in college). At 2 sets of 50 on the leg extension, I feel a bit of a burn while doing it, but no soreness afterward. So I feel I can safely do this daily. Maybe I can even add a 3rd set?

 

Food today:

  • tortilla chips and raw vegan 'cheez' dip
    curried couscous
    vegan pizza (I'm eating some now as I type this; will probably have the rest later for a snack)

 

Not the best 'food day,' but I was on the road a lot, and in fact, need to drop my daughter off at a friend's house in about an hour!

 

 

Love and Light,

Miz

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Exercise today:

  • 7 minutes warmup on the recumbent bike
    5 minutes stretching
    20 minutes on the elliptical
    about 5 more minutes on the recumbent bike
    5 minutes core exercises
    10 minutes tossing a medicine ball with my daughters

 

Food today:

  • grape chia seed kombucha (store-bought)
    raw bar
    vegan jerky
    apple
    carrot-cashew-ginger soup
    vegan chocolate chip cookies
    french fries

 

It was wonderful having some "girl time" at the gym with my daughters, and they both want to do it again tomorrow! I prefer to go with them, at any time, but if I go alone I prefer to go early in the morning to avoid crowds (although you'd be surprised how many people work out at 4 am!). Now that I have a commitment from them to go in the afternoon, I won't have to get up so early tomorrow.

 

 

Love and Light,

Miz

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Exercise was a bit choppy tonight, because there were classes going on and we had to work around them. Was really looking forward to throwing the medicine ball again, but a class was getting ready to start.

  • 7 minute warmup on recumbent bike
    about 20 minutes weights (upper and lower body)
    5 minutes core
    15 minutes elliptical
    5 minutes stretching
    (at home) 2 sets of 50 leg extensions (each leg)

 

Food today:

  • red and green grapes
    grape chia seed kombucha
    dark chocolate almond milk
    salad with avocado and Just Hot Veggies (better than croutons on salad!!) and champagne vinaigrette
    bowl of whole wheat pasta with garlic, vegan 'cheez' sauce, and salsa
    2 squares of dark chocolate
    baked potato with what I call 'gado gado' sauce (peanut butter thinned with coconut milk and a dash or 2 of ginger)

 

Tomorrow I have to be at work by 5 am, but my daughter wants to go to the gym again in the evening; I don't think any classes are scheduled, so it might be easier to do the things we want to.

 

 

Love and Light,

Miz

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Hey Miz! Great job with everything! Do you really go to the gym at 4:00 AM? Wow, that's real dedication! I think it's great that you're getting your daughters involved in fitness with you and you're able to do it together. I love doing those partner-type exercises, passing and throwing balls. How fun!

 

We're halfway through the VBB New You for the New Year Challenge! Good luck with this week!

 

~Karen

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Ooops, forgot to post yesterday!

 

Thanks again, Karen, for your kind words!! Yes, I really do get up at 4 am to go to the gym, unless my daughters have sworn to go with me in the afternoon/evening. I prefer early mornings as I don't have to worry about intruding on a class, and I'm almost assured of being able to use whatever machines I want without a wait. The elder girl is sick and the younger has blistered her feet, so I might be getting more early-morning workouts!

 

I worked from 4:45 am to 12:45 pm yesterday and then took my daughter to a doc appointment. As soon as we got home, she took my car. I did do my leg extensions, though! I didn't think I'd get any gym time, but my daughter came home early, so we went. Unfortunately, she popped some blisters on her heels (which started bleeding) so we had to pack it up early and come home; I probably got between 10 and 15 minutes on the recumbent bike. But the upside is, any exercise is better than none, and that's 15 minutes of my life I *wasn't* stuffing my face and watching Hulu!

 

Food yesterday:

  • Lara bar
    pineapple kombucha
    apple slices with a dip made of almond butter, coconut milk, and cinnamon
    bowl of popcorn with margarine, garlic powder and nutritional yeast (which gives it a cheesy flavor)
    whole-wheat pasta with onion, broccoli, squash, carrots, garlic, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar
    ginger kombucha

 

Will post back again tonight with today's report. I think I've caught my daughter's stomach virus, so it's not likely I'll go to the gym today. They do have containers of anti-bacterial wipes--and I'm SO glad that I was super-vigilant about using them last night--but I hesitate to expose anyone else, even if I'm feeling well.

 

 

Love and Light,

Miz

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Feeling much better--and was able to eat pretty well, on and off--but still don't want to spread this virus at the gym.

 

Food today:

  • tea for breakfast (I didn't think my tummy could handle anything else)
    large salad of greens, Just Hot Veggies, and champagne dressing
    bowl of carrot-cashew-ginger soup
    1 square of dark chocolate
    guacamole with pita chips
    pineapple kombucha

 

I got my salvage title today, and will have to drive to Williamstown (about an hour away) tomorrow to set the wheels in motion to get my daughter's car back! I'm hoping against all hope that it will be early next week! Unfortunately, this also most likely means no gym tomorrow; I have to work early so I can take a long lunch to take my daughter to the doc. I'm a "morning person," but there's only so early that I'm willing to get up to go to the gym before work!

 

 

Love and Light,

Miz

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Thanks, Karen! Already much better (as is my daughter); apparently it was just a 24-hour bug.

 

Got my title dropped off, the horse fed, my daughter to the doc, one of the dogs bathed, and some other errands taken care of...but no gym today. If my daughter isn't gone overnight--about a 50-50 chance--I'm ready for the gym tomorrow!

 

Food today:

  • smoothie made of frozen bananas, pineapple, coconut milk, and a splash of aloe vera juice
    french fries
    2 pieces of dark chocolate
    veggie-tofu-cashew stir fry over rice

 

Hurry, weekend!

 

 

Love and Light,

Miz

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D'oh, forgot to post last night!!

 

Inclement weather (ice storm) kept me away from the gym yesterday and today. Tomorrow, though it's supposed to be 55 degrees! If I can get out during the warmer part of the day, I should be fine!

 

Food yesterday:

  • 2 clementines
    pineapple kombucha
    bowl of carrot-cashew-ginger soup with Hot Just Veggies and cashews
    2 squares dark chocolate
    leftover veggie-tofu-cashew stir fry over rice
    large salad of baby greens, sunflower seeds, raisins, and Hot Just Veggies with ginger vinaigrette
    pita chips and pine nut hummus
    wine

 

Food today:

  • glass of dark chocolate almond milk
    pita chips and pine nut hummus
    bowl of carrot-cashew-ginger soup
    pineapple kombucha
    2 multi-grain rolls with olive oil/balsamic vinegar dipping sauce
    wine

 

I might have a crunchy snack later--popcorn, or chili-lime nuts.

 

 

Love and Light,

Miz

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Yesterday, no exercise (yes, I'm *still* sharing my car with my daughter).

 

Food yesterday:

  • banana
    4-layer dip (raw vegan 'cheez' sauce, mashed avocado, salsa, vegan 'sour cream') and pita chips
    curry baked potato (with coconut oil, curry power, raisins, and raw cashews)
    pasta primavera with salsa and vegan 'cheez' sauce
    vegan 'ice cream'

 

My daughter still has the car, but I'm going stir-crazy from lack of exercise ; my back actually hurts. I did 2 sets of 50 leg lifts with ankle weights at home.

 

Food today:

  • banana/almond butter smoothie
    vegan "jerky"
    carrot-almond soup
    salad with champagne vinaigrette
    ginger kombucha
    pita chips
    tart cherry kombucha

 

I've been feeling very tired/sleepy lately, but I don't feel like I'm actually sick or anything. I could be detoxing, or possibly just starting to come down with something, or maybe I just need to get moving! Keep your fingers crossed that this is the last week I'll have to share my car!

 

 

Love and Light,

Miz

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Update for today: right after my previous post, my daughter texted me and asked if we could go to the gym! I did 40 minutes on the elliptical--which doesn't sound like a big deal, but keep in mind that a short year ago I couldn't even STAND for 10 minutes without my knees buckling. I'm paying for it, though--my left (worse) knee is killing me. But I always feel worst right after exercise; by tomorrow mid morning, I'm going to feel great!

 

 

Love and Light,

Miz

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