Click here to see how I'm doing now, almost a year later since I began this blog. Joel and I have been doing a lot of traveling, making it difficult for me to stick with this program. The overtraining eventually caught up with me in the second phase of this program. The gym became a burden and I lost interest in weight lifting and using machines to stay fit. I cancelled my gym membership, sold my P90X DVDs and focused on getting out into nature more. I've also fine tuned my eating routine; I wasn't eating enough to maintain the strenuous workouts I was doing. I have now been able to increase the concentrated foods I've been eating to make up for the nutrition my other plan wasn't providing me. Eating out in restaurants is easier and I enjoy myself so much more by making choices that fit my lifestyle. I am armed with great tools and use them to my benefit.
Started phase 2 of P90X this week and I love the workouts! Chest, shoulders and triceps, plyometrics, back & biceps were completed this week so far and I've been sleeping more, taking naps and feeling stronger in my body.
What I've been eating:
Morning: Green Smoothie with NuPlus, 4 handfuls of mixed greens, apple, dates, water and chia seeds.
Afternoon: Soup with NuPlus and Zucchini Roll-ups with red bell pepper, celery, cukes, avos.
Before 7pm: Smoothie with NuPlus and Mixed Salad with a savory dressing.
It's been a while since I posted. Many new beginings and no time to be on the computer, which is a good thing. My P90x workouts have been slowing down, not consistent everyday with pressing play because of muscle soreness. Skipping days when my body needs a rest is OK. I'm extending the 4th week (recovery phase) and plan on hitting it hard this week. I'm looking forward to weeks 5-7 as I am ready to go full-force again with this program. The recovery week is no picnic though, I'm working out just as hard as the first three weeks. My pictures will be posted as soon as I take month two shots. Off to the gym...
We look forward to unveiling at the Raw Spirit Festival in Prescott Chrissy’s Fiesta Mac, a CheeZy Noodle Dish with a fresh summer green salad that is sure to please, balances all five elements & systems (Fire –endocrine, Earth –digestive, Metal –respiratory, Water –circulatory, & Wood –immune) and is well received by the most scrutinizing of children, including the little ones within us all.
For free information, classes and recipes look for us at: www.LiveFoodEnergy.com or e-mail us info@livefoodenergy.com
We've been so busy consulting people over the phone and through e-mail, in person and during our workshops. People want to heal more and more as the weather gets warmer. We are driven to feel better and lighten up a bit as the seasons change and we head toward summer. I know I've been feeling the urge to eat only juicy foods, lots of water content and definitely drink more water and my concentrated teas. Living in a dry climate makes it vital to keep hydrated all the time. I'm even increasing my consumption of oils too. Many think its as easy as lathering on some lotion, but hydrating/lubricating from the inside out is the only way to be sure you are getting what you need.
When Joel and I first moved to the desert, our skin became very scaly and flaky, like a lizards back. It wasn't until a few weeks later after nourishing with oils from the inside (about 1 T of oil per 50lbs of body weight) that we noticed a difference in skin texture. The body sure knows what we need. All outward symptoms are an indicator that something needs to change on the inside.
Gluten was never a problem for me when I was on the standard American diet. I could eat food containing wheat, gluten, flour and dairy and not be affected at all. It's been years since I ate anything with gluten in it until yesterday. A friend brought over a loaf of raw rye bread that was absolutley delicious! Two slices and 18 hours later I woke up with stomach pains. I didn't make the connection with the bread until I started feeling nauseous, dizzy and just "out of it". My whole day was spent lying down, in pain and feeling awful.
Gluten is a special type of protein that is commonly found in rye, wheat and barley. Therefore, it is found in most types of cereals and in many types of bread. Not all foods from the grain family, however, contain gluten. Examples of grains that do not have gluten include wild rice, millet, amaranth, quinoa, and teff.
Experiment: The best way to know if an ingredient is making you sick, remove it from your diet for 1 month, then slowly re-introduce it and see how you feel. I did this with cashews, agave and cacao. The results: I experienced funny symptoms like nausea, heart palpitations, lack of sleep and overall discomfort so I stay clear of these ingredients whenever possible. Occasionally I'll have a little cacao, but earlier in the day and only a small piece so I can rest comfortably at night.
I won't be eating any home made raw breads made with grains, that's for sure!
Joel and I trained with the Plyo DVD yesterday. It was his first time following the DVD with me and I was so proud of him for trying it out. It's the toughest workout in the P90X series, not for the faint of heart. Non-stop jumping, lunging and squating make for a dreadful workout for some.
I feel great today, very little soreness at all. My stomach is feeling a little uneasy this morning though.
I find that when I really push hard through workouts my body starts to kick things up and out. This is partially why I am doing this program, to sQuEeZe all the junk out of my muscles so my body can create healthy new cells with the higher nutrition I'm feeding it. I've learned that when my body is detoxing physically, it is also detoxing on an emotional level too. Lets get it all out!
This morning I'm enjoying a hot cup of Calli (mint & regular) mixed in a huge Thermos for Joel and I to share along with 1 Beauty Pearl. Today I train shoulders and arms, one of my favorite series of exercises. Abs are stilll sore from the other day so I may skip out on Ab Ripper X and just stretch them out. Really looking forward to the Recovery phase (week 4).
Health is not merely the absence of illness. True health involves painless sound bodily movements, efficiently working vital organs, and mental faculties operating at full throttle. This is rarely experienced by humans today. The people we meet could be divided into four groups:
*People who are definitely sick.
*People who are almost sick.
*People who think they are healthy.
*People who are experiencing a high level of health.
Most find themselves in one of the first three groups. Rising to the fourth group requires seeking knowledge, personally taking charge of your own health, and making wise choices. Good health cannot be produced by unhealthy living practices. One thing is for sure, we cannot drug ourselves into health. If this were so, we would be a healthy nation by now.
Since starting this P90X program my hunger has definitely increased a bit, which makes perfect sense. The problem is that my food combining hasn't been the best lately. I'm eating my heavier meal midday and lighter meal at the end of the day. I'm ready for a change in my program and will post the changes here. I feel the need for a post-workout smoothie and a light snack afterward too. The changes that are occuring with my physique is amazing so I am even more motivated to continue with these extreme workouts.
This afternoon I have a photo shoot with Worlds of Good Fortune, modeling their beautiful Healing Silk Scarves and another photo shoot with Joel for our website http://www.livefoodenergy.com/ . Right now I'm listening to their debut 2 CD and Gallery book, Worlds of Good Fortune - Unveiling the Gifts. It's a potent synergy of ecstatic art, poetry and music that I love listening to. It's even more powerful using the Gallery book; a living, sensuous language of color and verse, fresh and enlivening to the soul.
Today I harvest some of my sauerkraut I made last week. I'll let the other batch sit for a few days more to get even softer and more sour. The first two batches of kombucha will be harvested in two days and the next batches on April 11th. I'm excited to taste the ones I made with honey.
This morning I'm enjoying some regualr Calli tea and a NuPlus and Quinary before I head to the gym.
30 minutes of cardio was intense and I loved how I felt during it. I could have gone for 45+ minutes but I know better not to do too much.
Our photo shoot got postponed until the weather gets a little warmer. Getting ready to take a hot bath to soak my sore legs.
My meals so far today: Sauerkraut, raw bread, and a little Fiesta Mac a while after I ate the first two things. My stomach is making some funny noises and movements, no pain though.
Early Dinner: Since the weather has been warming up I've been eating my last meal between 5-6pm. I feel my best when I go to sleep on an empty stomach, sleep more soundly and feel more rejuvenated when I wake up.
As we are getting ready for our monthly potluck, the wind is forcefully blowing debris and furniture around the property. I doubt we'll be spending much time out by the creek today.
This morning before the gym I made a Carrot-Cabbage Crunch Salad, 'Stir Fried' mixed veggies for the coconut wrappers, a garden dressing for quinoa and a salad, and my famous Fiesta Mac, a CheeZy noodle dish that just blows everyone away. Trained legs and back today in 1 hour. It feels so good to complete a workout in such a short period of time. I worked my tail off today!
Morning: Date Banana Hemp Smoothie
Afternoon: A sampling of some amazing foods at our potluck. Bok Choy salad, Lettuce wraps, my stir fried veggie wrap and a little Fiesta Mac on the side. This was a taste explosion! Thank you to everyone who contributed such a beautiful dish!
Early Eve: Fiesta Mac with avocados and some Quantum nutritional flakes and some Calli tea
I created a drink for our little after party: fresh almond milk, apricot puree, maca, carob powder, cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, honey, a little sea salt and some regular Calli tea. It was an incredible last minute concoction.
Date-Banana Hemp Smoothie
One of my favorite recipes I created a long time ago when I was first experimenting with after workout shakes and it's so delicious!
1 1/2 cups water
1 large banana
1 scoop regular NuPlus
1 packet Quinary
1/3 cup hemp seeds
3 large medjool dates
4 ice cubes
Blend ingredients until smooth. Pour into large glass and enjoy slowly making sure to chew the contents for maximum assimilation.
What does your body know? Who can doubt what a miracle the human body is! Outward manifestations of healing show us that the body knows precisely how to heal itself.
When you cut your finger, you know that the skin will knit back together perfectly. If you get a splinter in your hand, your immune system will rally it's forces, organize and attack and surround the offender to rid the body of a foreign object. Those are ways the body heals itself you can see! What about those problems deep within the body we can't see? Because you can't see the healing process there, doesn't mean it isn't happening. Your body is constantly - 24 hours a day, striving to achieve order and balance. The body knows what it's doing! It's up to us to support the body in it's quest.
Your body knows what is needs in it's drive toward health and order. It needs you -- the conscious part of you, to learn the things you can do to have a higher level of health. If your conscious drive for wellness was as consistent as your body's innate drive for wellness -- you would probably be in perfect health. What about genetics you say? Genetics are one of the factors in the tapestry of your health. You can't control your genetics but you can control the other factors.
Your body knows - when you get enough quality rest. Your body is renewing and repairing and regenerating while you sleep! Most people don't realize the healing that takes place during sleep.
Your body knows - when you exercise. You can put on those Nike's and do it! Yes, get off of your couch and out of your house! Go for a walk or even power walk! Just about anyone can do that. Did you know each time you exercise that your body is actually creating T-cells (in thousands). So, exercise strengthens the immune system. And, when in the history of this planet have we needed that more. Also, did you know that when you exercise -- your body creates thousands of enzymes so your digestion can work better. That's why I always eat concentrated whole foods before I do any exercise routine. I know that all those components and enzymes are going to help me use energy efficiently.
Your body knows - when you think thoughts focused on hope - and it knows when your thoughts are full of despair.
Your body knows - the difference between dead food and live food! Your body knows the difference between foods that are whole and those that are isolated. Whole foods have synergy - meaning - all the elements interact together in harmony in a way your body understands, accepts and thrives on. Your body knows the difference between foods that have fungicides, herbacides and pesticides sprayed on them, and foods that are grown in a pure, healthful environment. Your body knows the difference in a carrot and fruit loops. Your body will thrive on the carrot and attempt to function in spite of the fruit loops. It's true, you can exist on foods from Taco Bell and Burger King. It's easy to make a meal with Hamburger Helper. But, like me, you want better for yourself. Right?? That leads us into what else your body knows!
Your body knows - accepts and thrives on Whole Foods in conjunction with consistent movement activities (Exercise). When you eat whole foods and exercise on a consistent basis..........your whole body says, thank you!!
Using a Stair-step approach to Healing, we learn to move forward toward the health of our birthright.
1. Fitness is not just a matter of the body figure.
I'm working my way to a healthier me and not just a sexier, physically attractive person that I want to be.
2. I believe in the saying, “You are what you eat.”
I believe that our body shows what kinds of food we eat. Our body will also depict the kind of physical activities that we have in life.
When we start to nourish our body in all ways, we'll find it easier to be fit.
3. I live a healthy lifestyle, consistently!
It's not what I do some of the time, but what I do on a consistent basis that determines the level of health I am in.
Some thoughts: Genes play big roles in a person’s health, but genes certainly do not influence what you will eat at breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and the kind of activities you will engage in. Making time for healthy food preparation every day and daily exercise will bring you to a greater state of health.
4. I have a “positive self image”
I have a positive body image in my life. I love my body in spite of what is happening in the environment or the occurrences in my life, therefore I choose to feed it the most energetic foods available. I love myself exactly the way I am!
Do you wish for a body that you know it is not yours? Do not burden yourself into thinking that life could have been better if you only had thinner thighs or beautiful abs. Through positive self-image, you are able to gain respect for yourself, which in turn generates others to respect you and admire you for who you are.
The key point here is that, being a physically fit person is not all about vanity and physical attributes alone. What matters most is the beauty of being physically fit and healthy that radiates from your body as it exudes the glow of health.
When I woke up this morning and went outside I was witness to a yard full of bees and yellow butterflies feeding from the apricot tree. It was amazing. The sun is setting here on Cathedral Rock and I must say I never get tired of the views. The sounds of the creek remind me that I am always in the flow and magnificent experiences always unfold into my life. As the oak trees grow their little green leaves it invites me to grow a little too. I recognize my body as a magnificent machine, and I am priviliged to live in it!
2 Apple Cinnamon NuPlus, 1 Quinary, 1 Alpha 20C, 1 T chia seeds and 1/2 an apple blended into a smoothie
1 Sunrise and water with Vitafruit during workout
After Plyo today I had a Green Goddess soup with 2 scoops NuPlus, old kale stems, avocados, celery, red bell pepper, mixed lettuce greens, Italian seasonings and sea salt. A nice little easily digestible soup, the perfect post workout meal for me.
Thai coconut soup with 2 scoops NuPlus, fresh coconut meat and spices. I love this soup!
Enjoyed this with quinoa flax crackers
So my time spent in the gym is well worth it. When I used to train I'd spent at least 1 1/2 in the gym working out. So many sets of the same excercises, gabbing with friends and just wasting precious training time, wondering where the results were. I am finding that I'm already getting great results, seeing my strength gains this week so far has proven to me that I am on the right track. It's so empowering to see hard earned results in such a short period of time.
I laugh when I think about how people cheat during their exercise routines. You know what I'm talking about, you've seen it. When you 'throw' the weights around while going through the motions, engaging every muscle you have in your body, watching the veins in your neck ready to explode.
Smoothie: 1/2 apple, a handful of kale (save the stems for soup) 1 T chia seeds, NuPlus, Quinary, water and Sunnydew
Dulse, flax crackers, avocados with sea salt
Kale Crips (CheeZy flavor)
A few fried poppers, so delicious!
Today I spent some time at the Sedona Hilton Spa Resort by the pool soaking up some rays. It's an exciting day for me, Day 1 of Week 2 of P90X. I started off with 20 minutes of cardio on the eliptical machine, then popped the dvd in my little vaio and began the push-ups and pull-ups routine. I didn't need the dvd after the first few exercises so I put it away and just used my worksheets. In about 1 hour I completed my full workout. My strength has improved and I feel so good! These workouts are definitely "hard", certainly not for someone just starting out who doesn't know proper exercise form. Tony Horton doesn't explain how to do the exercises but you can clearly 'see' how it is done.
3 NuPlus and 1 Quinary in a bowl with some Sunectar to taste, I feel I need the extra support this morning. 1 Evergreen and 1 vial Electrosport
Dulse soup with chickpea miso, sea salt, spices, peas, shredded carrots and coconut meat.
Guacamole with seed crackers