So now we are midway through week three in Rawgust. Many of you are commenting to me that Rawgust has not been the zen experience you expected and some of you have fallen off the bandwagon completely. Please know that going raw is a lifestyle change, not just a way of eating. It takes some people YEARS, not weeks, of transition to make a full commitment to living this way. It is not a lifestyle for everyone or every physical composition- including my own.
The important thing to take away from this challenge is to make steps towards healthy living. Healthy living can look a lot of different ways and just like all of our personalities are unique, so is what is going to work for our varying physical constitutions. It can take a lot of dabbling and experimenting with different ways of eating and exercising to find the lifestyle that works best for you. Someone may thrive on a vegan diet, while someone else does great on meat. Just like I am all about Crossfit, someone else may be all about yoga. Do what works and do what you love.
So if you have been giving Rawgust a go and are beating yourself up not being 100% or even 25%, I want you to knock it off. Focus on the aspects of taking on the challenge that you enjoyed. Maybe you discovered a raw recipe that totally knocked your socks off. Maybe you added an avocado to your salad. However it has worked or not worked for you, it's positive. The fact that you embraced a challenge speaks volumes about your commitment to your own health and well being.
Kudos my loves!
xoxo
J
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
Rawgust- Progress, not perfection
Well, let's just say I have room for improvement in my 100% Rawgust hahahaha! I probably ate 2/3 raw this past week. I noticed that I did eat WAY more fruits and veggies though. I lost a couple of pounds and my skin looks like a teenagers (a combo of this horrible humidity and detox). Whoo hooo! Rawgust is like puberty all over again!
Rawgust is not only about raw food for me, it is about balance. I think I achieved a fairly decent amount of balance this week. I'm trying not to think so much about food and how I can get the perfect nutrient to calorie ratio out of every fucking morsel I put into my body and then get mentally exhausted and eat wings instead. I'm challenging myself to not over think shit and just eat.
This attempt to be less of a perfectionist and live more is seeping into a lot of elements in my life. It is a good feeling. I'm not moving into a complacent place (as if that were possible) but in a place where I am not so hard on myself and am trying to focus on doing what is healthy for me in that moment. Sometimes this defies what neurotic Nazi Jane has thought of as healthy- like taking rest days and eating some fries when the mood strikes. Balance is healthy. Stress is not. Trying to be perfect is not.
I love that saying, progress not perfection. I'm trying to put that into my mental rotation of shit to say to myself (aka mantras). I hope all of you who are participating in Rawgust are saying this too. The goal is progress, not perfection.
Smoothie of the Day
1 banana
1 packet of frozen unsweetened Acai
1 scoop Vanilla Sun Warrior
10 oz water
Blended and topped with gogi berries (I love those little buddies!)
xoxo
J
Rawgust is not only about raw food for me, it is about balance. I think I achieved a fairly decent amount of balance this week. I'm trying not to think so much about food and how I can get the perfect nutrient to calorie ratio out of every fucking morsel I put into my body and then get mentally exhausted and eat wings instead. I'm challenging myself to not over think shit and just eat.
This attempt to be less of a perfectionist and live more is seeping into a lot of elements in my life. It is a good feeling. I'm not moving into a complacent place (as if that were possible) but in a place where I am not so hard on myself and am trying to focus on doing what is healthy for me in that moment. Sometimes this defies what neurotic Nazi Jane has thought of as healthy- like taking rest days and eating some fries when the mood strikes. Balance is healthy. Stress is not. Trying to be perfect is not.
I love that saying, progress not perfection. I'm trying to put that into my mental rotation of shit to say to myself (aka mantras). I hope all of you who are participating in Rawgust are saying this too. The goal is progress, not perfection.
Smoothie of the Day
1 banana
1 packet of frozen unsweetened Acai
1 scoop Vanilla Sun Warrior
10 oz water
Blended and topped with gogi berries (I love those little buddies!)
xoxo
J
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
My Rawgust
Good morning from the land of sleeping children! I have been running my girls ragged this summer and they are sleeping in today!!! Yay!!!
Today is August 1st and my first day back into the land of raw. I never go into anything in my life without a plan, so of course, my raw eating is no different. I am not going to do one hundred percent raw as I had planned. I am going to do 80%.
Here is what the menu looks like for today. Breakfast was delicious ;0)
Breakfast- preworkout
1 banana
1 orange
1-2 handfuls of spinach
1 tbsp maca powder
3 tbsp hemp protein powder
blended into a smoothie with 8 oz of Vita coco coconut water (not raw- coconut water is pasteurized unless it comes straight from the coconut itself)
Lunch
2-3 cups romaine
1 avocado
1 can of salmon (not raw, clearly not vegan)
Snack
2 tbsp chia seeds
Dinner
1 banana
2 scoops Sunwarrior protein powder
water
Remember friends, hydration is key. You will be doing a lot of detoxing as you add more raw, organic foods and lots of water and exercise can help flush those toxins like the little bitches that they are. Fruit is a heavy detoxer and not everyone tolerates a lot well. When I look at my day, after coming off of Paleo, 3 pieces of fruit seems like a lot, but in the raw world, you eat a shit ton of fruit. I'm trying to find the right balance between too much and too little.
Hope you guys have a successful, happy, and vibrant August 1st!!!!
xoxo
J
Today is August 1st and my first day back into the land of raw. I never go into anything in my life without a plan, so of course, my raw eating is no different. I am not going to do one hundred percent raw as I had planned. I am going to do 80%.
Here is what the menu looks like for today. Breakfast was delicious ;0)
Breakfast- preworkout
1 banana
1 orange
1-2 handfuls of spinach
1 tbsp maca powder
3 tbsp hemp protein powder
blended into a smoothie with 8 oz of Vita coco coconut water (not raw- coconut water is pasteurized unless it comes straight from the coconut itself)
Lunch
2-3 cups romaine
1 avocado
1 can of salmon (not raw, clearly not vegan)
Snack
2 tbsp chia seeds
Dinner
1 banana
2 scoops Sunwarrior protein powder
water
Remember friends, hydration is key. You will be doing a lot of detoxing as you add more raw, organic foods and lots of water and exercise can help flush those toxins like the little bitches that they are. Fruit is a heavy detoxer and not everyone tolerates a lot well. When I look at my day, after coming off of Paleo, 3 pieces of fruit seems like a lot, but in the raw world, you eat a shit ton of fruit. I'm trying to find the right balance between too much and too little.
Hope you guys have a successful, happy, and vibrant August 1st!!!!
xoxo
J
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Rawgust
A few of my Crossfit buddies are vegan and have been asking me about raw foods over the past couple of months. We have been sharing books and stories, now we are going to share a challenge. The month of August will be Rawgust (har har har).
The purpose of this challenge is individual. Some people are going balls to the walls and 100% raw and others will be incorporating fish, eggs, and chicken to their regime.
My personal goal is to be a support person to those who are delving into the raw lifestyle for the first time and to revamp my Paleo regime. I want to eventually merge these lifestyles. When I eat raw, I feel vibrant. When I eat Paleo, I feel strong. I decided to merge this shit and get the best of both worlds!!!! I swear, I want to create a new subculture: Rawleo.
There are positives and negatives to both ways of eating for me. Paleo can be a little carb obsessed and the amount of fat does not suit my constitution. For some people, it works beautifully. When I eat a lot of fats I feel weighed down, heavy, and yucky. When I'm eating 100% raw, I miss meat and fish to the point of craving it like a boss. Plus, I love to go out to dinner and raw food eating is not always the most social scene friendly lifestyle.
Here is some food for thought- I wonder if anyone else in the world besides me does better eating carbs??? I actually lose weight when I'm eating lots of fruits and veggies and am discovering that I hold onto weight when I'm eating a ton of fat. Anyone else?
I'm hoping to find balance between the two worlds and get juicing, green smoothieing, and eating clean. I want abstain from meat and fish during these 30 days in support my vegan love bugs, but I'm going to the beach in August and I will want to indulge in some fresh fish while I'm there.
If anyone wants to try eating more raw foods, jump on in! It's summer, so now is the perfect time to eat more raw fruits and veggies! Your challenge could simply be to eat raw for one meal or try to eat more leafy greens. I will try to post ideas every week about ways to make this happen to support you.
xoxo
J
The purpose of this challenge is individual. Some people are going balls to the walls and 100% raw and others will be incorporating fish, eggs, and chicken to their regime.
My personal goal is to be a support person to those who are delving into the raw lifestyle for the first time and to revamp my Paleo regime. I want to eventually merge these lifestyles. When I eat raw, I feel vibrant. When I eat Paleo, I feel strong. I decided to merge this shit and get the best of both worlds!!!! I swear, I want to create a new subculture: Rawleo.
There are positives and negatives to both ways of eating for me. Paleo can be a little carb obsessed and the amount of fat does not suit my constitution. For some people, it works beautifully. When I eat a lot of fats I feel weighed down, heavy, and yucky. When I'm eating 100% raw, I miss meat and fish to the point of craving it like a boss. Plus, I love to go out to dinner and raw food eating is not always the most social scene friendly lifestyle.
Here is some food for thought- I wonder if anyone else in the world besides me does better eating carbs??? I actually lose weight when I'm eating lots of fruits and veggies and am discovering that I hold onto weight when I'm eating a ton of fat. Anyone else?
I'm hoping to find balance between the two worlds and get juicing, green smoothieing, and eating clean. I want abstain from meat and fish during these 30 days in support my vegan love bugs, but I'm going to the beach in August and I will want to indulge in some fresh fish while I'm there.
If anyone wants to try eating more raw foods, jump on in! It's summer, so now is the perfect time to eat more raw fruits and veggies! Your challenge could simply be to eat raw for one meal or try to eat more leafy greens. I will try to post ideas every week about ways to make this happen to support you.
xoxo
J
Monday, July 23, 2012
Your body is precious
"Your body is precious. It is your vehicle for awakening. Treat it with care." Buddah
My body image and perspectives on health are constantly evolving. There is often this interesting interplay of old ideas about the self that are still attached and newer, more healthier ways of being. Sometimes these maladaptive ways of being are easy to shake, sometimes they hold on for months or even years beyond when I am conscious of the fact that they no longer serve me.
It takes a lot of effort to shift fully into new ways of being and healthy habits. It takes time, it takes patience, it takes mistakes, and it takes forgiveness. There are many things we engage in that serve emotional purposes: overeating, overexercising, abusing drugs, misusing alcohol, being abusive to those we love, being abusive to ourselves, the list goes on. It can be difficult to delve into the complicated, emotional issues and baggage that make us tick. It is difficult to be vulnerable. It can be challenging to think you want one thing and find out your want another. We have to acknowledge these things, make effort to understand them, and move forward when we are ready. Sometimes back lashing into unhealthy ways of being or witnessing the unhealthy habits of others sparks a renewed vigor for self-improvement.
It is so important for us to treat our bodies with kindness, support, and love. Women can be excessively critical of our bodies and fall into the latest, greatest quick fix fad and not focus on health. We often engage in negative self-talk and perfectionism. With celebrities, boob jobs, penis pumps, and advertisement around every corner telling us how to look, what is sexy, and what we "should" be, it is really difficult to not get wrapped up in it. Men are subjected to this hellish objectification too.
Appreciating our own uniqueness is vital to healthy living and enjoying this beautiful gift that is our lives. Deciding what healthy living looks like for your is important. Our physical needs are just as individual as we are. Trying different ways of eating, exercise, spiritual outlets, etc. just move us forward into finding what works. There is no failure, only evolution and awakening.
So remember this quote from the Buddha, and have a wonderful, positive day.
xoxo
J
My body image and perspectives on health are constantly evolving. There is often this interesting interplay of old ideas about the self that are still attached and newer, more healthier ways of being. Sometimes these maladaptive ways of being are easy to shake, sometimes they hold on for months or even years beyond when I am conscious of the fact that they no longer serve me.
It takes a lot of effort to shift fully into new ways of being and healthy habits. It takes time, it takes patience, it takes mistakes, and it takes forgiveness. There are many things we engage in that serve emotional purposes: overeating, overexercising, abusing drugs, misusing alcohol, being abusive to those we love, being abusive to ourselves, the list goes on. It can be difficult to delve into the complicated, emotional issues and baggage that make us tick. It is difficult to be vulnerable. It can be challenging to think you want one thing and find out your want another. We have to acknowledge these things, make effort to understand them, and move forward when we are ready. Sometimes back lashing into unhealthy ways of being or witnessing the unhealthy habits of others sparks a renewed vigor for self-improvement.
It is so important for us to treat our bodies with kindness, support, and love. Women can be excessively critical of our bodies and fall into the latest, greatest quick fix fad and not focus on health. We often engage in negative self-talk and perfectionism. With celebrities, boob jobs, penis pumps, and advertisement around every corner telling us how to look, what is sexy, and what we "should" be, it is really difficult to not get wrapped up in it. Men are subjected to this hellish objectification too.
Appreciating our own uniqueness is vital to healthy living and enjoying this beautiful gift that is our lives. Deciding what healthy living looks like for your is important. Our physical needs are just as individual as we are. Trying different ways of eating, exercise, spiritual outlets, etc. just move us forward into finding what works. There is no failure, only evolution and awakening.
So remember this quote from the Buddha, and have a wonderful, positive day.
xoxo
J
Monday, July 16, 2012
My Neglected Blog!!!
Oh my poor little neglected blog buddies!!! I am so sorry I have been the ultimate in blog bitch outs this summer. Needless to say, taking four classes, hanging out by the pool with the kiddos, socializing, and crossfitting my ass off has taken priority over the blog. So sorry to leave you all high and dry, but I have a feeling you guys have been having too much fun beaching and barbequing to miss me too much ;0)
What I am figuring out this summer is that negative thoughts breed negativity. That was my update from the department of the obvious for all y'all.
But seriously, when you think negatively, it influences your entire being from head to toe. This can be applied to anything from your eating habits to the way you view your job. We all have bad days, and we have a right to them, but being in constant patterns of negative thinking only serve to make you miserable. I call negative people, "Eeyores." You know them when you encounter them. They drain the shit out of you and are not nearly as fun or cute as the Winnie the Pooh character. "My life is so hard, my life sucks, things will never get better, I will never be as skinny as ______, I will never be as smart as_______, Things just never go my way..."
FUCKING BARF.
I cannot stand when people act like this and I really cannot take myself when I fall into these patterns of thinking. So I have spent most of my summer trying to be positive and having some serious fun in the process. I started practicing my own psychobabble on myself and reframing the hell out of my life. Hey, I gained a few pounds- but hell to the yeah, I'm getting stronger and my boobs are making a guest star appearance in my bikini! Yeah, school is rough, but goddamn it, I'm going to write research papers on cool shit. Did I have to take a modified on a workout because I suck at pistol squats and fall on my ass? Yup, but I'm getting better at pistols and I got a good laugh when I fell.
I am also trying to spend more time in the here and now and making sure I am enjoying myself. If I want to do something, I do it. If I don't want to do something and it isn't urgent or no one is about to die if I don't step in, I allow myself to come back to it later. I'm forgiving my "imperfections" and trying to stop force feeding other people in my life my standards and expectations. It's a much happier place to live.
So words of wisdom from Jane: When life hands you lemons, toss in some vodka and make it a party.
xoxo
J
What I am figuring out this summer is that negative thoughts breed negativity. That was my update from the department of the obvious for all y'all.
But seriously, when you think negatively, it influences your entire being from head to toe. This can be applied to anything from your eating habits to the way you view your job. We all have bad days, and we have a right to them, but being in constant patterns of negative thinking only serve to make you miserable. I call negative people, "Eeyores." You know them when you encounter them. They drain the shit out of you and are not nearly as fun or cute as the Winnie the Pooh character. "My life is so hard, my life sucks, things will never get better, I will never be as skinny as ______, I will never be as smart as_______, Things just never go my way..."
FUCKING BARF.
I cannot stand when people act like this and I really cannot take myself when I fall into these patterns of thinking. So I have spent most of my summer trying to be positive and having some serious fun in the process. I started practicing my own psychobabble on myself and reframing the hell out of my life. Hey, I gained a few pounds- but hell to the yeah, I'm getting stronger and my boobs are making a guest star appearance in my bikini! Yeah, school is rough, but goddamn it, I'm going to write research papers on cool shit. Did I have to take a modified on a workout because I suck at pistol squats and fall on my ass? Yup, but I'm getting better at pistols and I got a good laugh when I fell.
I am also trying to spend more time in the here and now and making sure I am enjoying myself. If I want to do something, I do it. If I don't want to do something and it isn't urgent or no one is about to die if I don't step in, I allow myself to come back to it later. I'm forgiving my "imperfections" and trying to stop force feeding other people in my life my standards and expectations. It's a much happier place to live.
So words of wisdom from Jane: When life hands you lemons, toss in some vodka and make it a party.
xoxo
J
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Head Over Heels
I was driving in my car this morning and "Head Over Heels" by the Go-Go's came on the radio. If you listen closely to the lyrics, it has managed to sum up the contents of the past six weeks of my life perfectly.
This blog is very personal and I feel that in sharing it with all of you, it can help anyone who is struggling with some of the things I have been working through lately. I feel a lot of this type of suffering in a lot of people right now and if one of you is able to relate now or later, this blog has served its' purpose.
I am a high achiever, a hard worker, and a very driven person. These are all very positive characteristics to posses, but as someone very wise pointed out to me yesterday (Ken)- all of these things can have a dark element to them. Over the past few weeks, I have been very, very dark. It's very unlike me, and people asked me over and over again what was going on, what was wrong, and pointing out that I did not seem like myself.
This is true, but I was too bogged down in bullshit to realize it. All of the sudden, it smacked me in the face. I woke up one morning and I was miserable. I did not want my life anymore. I wanted changes and I wanted them now (did I mention I lack patience?). The problem was, I had NO idea what I needed to change. I was confused, afraid, and very, very unhappy.
I began to blame everyone else for what was "wrong" with me (there really is no such things as "wrong" though- everything was just right- just not comfortable). My thoughts were entrenched in negativity and suffering. Everyone else has it so easy. No one works as hard as I do. I'm pulling more weight than I should have to pull. I can't do everything. I can't fix everything. Negative, negative, blah blah blah.
Then after talking it out with family, friends, the lead minster at my church, and a therapist, it finally hit me: I am doing ENTIRELY too much.
My life is insane. Literally. I am a full time doctoral student, a full time mom, a full time wife, I babysit at the gym, I go to the gym 5-6 days a week on top of the babysitting, I volunteer, I to to church, I blog, and some months, I eek out a social life, try to volunteer at Molly's school, try to go to Nate's shows, hit up family functions, and try to throw in a yoga class in the mix just for kicks. Oh yeah, and I'm trying to add in therapy once a month. Then emotional chaos piled up on top of the life chaos and BOOM- Implosion.
How did this happen??? Ummm...you guessed it. Me. I did this. I created this insanity. The chaos I created for myself was affecting my marriage, my relationship with my friends, and my relationships with myself. The closest relationships to me suffered the most because they are the easiest to take for granted and to abuse. My husband was the easiest person to neglect, to blame, and to make the scapegoat for all of my problems. I wonder how many other married people do this?
So I was given this piece of advice:
breathe.
Once I was really ready to hear it, I took that advice to heart, slowed down, and did some serious self-evaluation. It took me awhile to understand all of the good advice people were giving me because I really had to give time to let my heart soften and let the message permeate my being. And when it finally did, I felt the shift. The shift was beautiful, peaceful and stamped the tornado Jane back into a little chaos tumble weed.
So now I'm back. Ready to stop neglecting the people who really matter to me. Ready to slow down the chaotic pace of my life. Ready to dial back the pressure I put on myself to look perfect, get the perfect job when I'm finished with school, and be everything to everyone. I wonder how I completely lost focus of what is real and what is important? My husband, my kids, my family, my friends. Oh yeah, and MYSELF. Self work is something we tend to neglect in the chaos of life. I am such a work in progress and I need to sit with myself and work through these issues of perfectionism, control, and people pleasing.
Long blog short: I'm scaling my shit DOWN, yo! Focusing on what is really important on the ways I can share my gifts with others in a way that is helping them become their best selves and me to be my best self. I am not focusing on 6 pack abs, getting a nicer house, prestige, or other little things my ego needs to feel adequate. I am perfectly adequate just living, being authentically me, and...
breathing.
xoxo
J
This blog is very personal and I feel that in sharing it with all of you, it can help anyone who is struggling with some of the things I have been working through lately. I feel a lot of this type of suffering in a lot of people right now and if one of you is able to relate now or later, this blog has served its' purpose.
I am a high achiever, a hard worker, and a very driven person. These are all very positive characteristics to posses, but as someone very wise pointed out to me yesterday (Ken)- all of these things can have a dark element to them. Over the past few weeks, I have been very, very dark. It's very unlike me, and people asked me over and over again what was going on, what was wrong, and pointing out that I did not seem like myself.
This is true, but I was too bogged down in bullshit to realize it. All of the sudden, it smacked me in the face. I woke up one morning and I was miserable. I did not want my life anymore. I wanted changes and I wanted them now (did I mention I lack patience?). The problem was, I had NO idea what I needed to change. I was confused, afraid, and very, very unhappy.
I began to blame everyone else for what was "wrong" with me (there really is no such things as "wrong" though- everything was just right- just not comfortable). My thoughts were entrenched in negativity and suffering. Everyone else has it so easy. No one works as hard as I do. I'm pulling more weight than I should have to pull. I can't do everything. I can't fix everything. Negative, negative, blah blah blah.
Then after talking it out with family, friends, the lead minster at my church, and a therapist, it finally hit me: I am doing ENTIRELY too much.
My life is insane. Literally. I am a full time doctoral student, a full time mom, a full time wife, I babysit at the gym, I go to the gym 5-6 days a week on top of the babysitting, I volunteer, I to to church, I blog, and some months, I eek out a social life, try to volunteer at Molly's school, try to go to Nate's shows, hit up family functions, and try to throw in a yoga class in the mix just for kicks. Oh yeah, and I'm trying to add in therapy once a month. Then emotional chaos piled up on top of the life chaos and BOOM- Implosion.
How did this happen??? Ummm...you guessed it. Me. I did this. I created this insanity. The chaos I created for myself was affecting my marriage, my relationship with my friends, and my relationships with myself. The closest relationships to me suffered the most because they are the easiest to take for granted and to abuse. My husband was the easiest person to neglect, to blame, and to make the scapegoat for all of my problems. I wonder how many other married people do this?
So I was given this piece of advice:
breathe.
Once I was really ready to hear it, I took that advice to heart, slowed down, and did some serious self-evaluation. It took me awhile to understand all of the good advice people were giving me because I really had to give time to let my heart soften and let the message permeate my being. And when it finally did, I felt the shift. The shift was beautiful, peaceful and stamped the tornado Jane back into a little chaos tumble weed.
So now I'm back. Ready to stop neglecting the people who really matter to me. Ready to slow down the chaotic pace of my life. Ready to dial back the pressure I put on myself to look perfect, get the perfect job when I'm finished with school, and be everything to everyone. I wonder how I completely lost focus of what is real and what is important? My husband, my kids, my family, my friends. Oh yeah, and MYSELF. Self work is something we tend to neglect in the chaos of life. I am such a work in progress and I need to sit with myself and work through these issues of perfectionism, control, and people pleasing.
Long blog short: I'm scaling my shit DOWN, yo! Focusing on what is really important on the ways I can share my gifts with others in a way that is helping them become their best selves and me to be my best self. I am not focusing on 6 pack abs, getting a nicer house, prestige, or other little things my ego needs to feel adequate. I am perfectly adequate just living, being authentically me, and...
breathing.
xoxo
J
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