If You Are What You Eat…

 …then eating live food keeps you alive, and eating dead food will keep you dead. So put down that ham and cheese sandwich, and pick up some real, LIVE food.

Make Your Own “Smell Good”

I have very sensitive skin. I can’t use Bath & Body Works (they break me out in a horrible red rash), and perfume tends to make my skin feel like it’s burning, especially when I’ve just bathed. To moisturize, I mostly use various oils or shea butter. However, recently I’ve been wanting to smell “pretty,” but I can’t find the products. I tried looking into Carol’s Daughter, but not only did some of the products smell horrible, but it was also expensive. So, I thought to myself, “Why not make your own scented oil and body butter?” That’s exactly what I did. I went to my local health food store, and I bought some scented oils (Musk, Rose, and Mango). I’m not going to mix them together because I love them individually. Later, I plan on making my own scented oils and blissfully wearing my handmade scents :)

Going For It

Besides being a vegan and ultra fab *tongue in cheek*, I’m also a runner. I enjoy working out at the gym and being physically fit, but running is at the top of my list. It gives me a since of freedom, and when I’m pissed, it calms me down (which I should be running more often because my anger has been through the roof). Also, what good is having a great eating habit when you’re being lazy? All you get is a flabby, soft body. So today, I’m going to give this a try:

4-3-2-1 (Interval run)

1. For 2 minutes: Warm up by walking at a moderate pace (3.0-4.0 treadmill speed)
2. For 4 minutes: Jog at a moderate pace (70% MHR; about 6.0-6.5 on treadmill)
3. For 3 minutes: Run at a fast pace (80% MHR; about 7.0-7.5 on treadmill)
4. For 2 minutes: Run faster (85-90% MHR; about 8.0-8.5 on treadmill)
5. For 1 minute: Run at your fastest pace (90-95%+ MHR; about 9.0-9.5 treadmill)
6. For 2 minutes: Cool down by walking at a moderate pace (3.0-4.0 treadmill speed)
7. Intermediate runners: Repeat from step #2 one or two more times, Advanced runners let me see you do it 3 full times.

(via)

Give Me A “C”

I’m a huge lover of vitamin C. I started consuming it on a daily basis last year when I started running. Running on a daily basis was causing my face to break out and be extremely dry due to the extreme sweating. After receiving a facial, my esthetician told me that I should consume vitamin C daily due to its many benefits. Not only is it an immune booster, but it’s also filled with many antioxidants, which are perfect for having a good skin texture, clearness, and health.

After my workouts, I usually mix a vitamin c packet with some water and drink it. It’s better than one of those sports drinks because its natural, and I still get my adequate electrolytes, vitamins and minerals. So, if you’re battling bad skin, try some vitamin C. Besides, doesn’t beauty start from within???

Work With It

I’m very fortunate to have a boyfriend that is supportive of my eating habits. Prior to being with him, I’ve dated guys who had problems with it. I heard everything from “it’s weird” to “your eating habits are too expensive.”

Whatever.

Although my boyfriend loves his meat and cheese, I’m glad that he is willing to at least try my way of eating. Not only do we often venture to vegetarian / vegan restaurants, but he is also willing to cook vegan dishes with me. Relationships include compromise, but it also includes support. I support him in his decisions, and he supports me in mine. We make it work, and I’m enjoying it.

Food activist before it was popular…

…sho ‘nuff.

Veganism & My Budget

Eating healthier and making a cognizant effort to be a vegan has actually helped me save money via some of these steps:

• I plan out my meals ahead of time, portioning them out for each day.
• To make sure I know the quality of my food, I make my own meals. This saves me money from eating out all of the time. Besides, cooking has become one of my passions.
• By me loading up on vegetables (preferably raw), fruits, grains, and nuts / legumes, I get full quick…making me eat less and saving up on my food (and my money).

Can’t go wrong with Stevie.

I Can’t Afford That!

Her: So how long have you been a vegetarian?

Me: Well now I’m a vegan, but I started in January of last year. It’s really great! You should give it a try.

Her: I would like to, but it’s too expensive.

I hear that last statement often, and I don’t buy it. Being a vegan has actually helped me with my finances (as well as my health) because I purchase in season produce, I’m always finding coupons for soy and/or almond milk, and legumes / beans are cheap. Also, I’ve learned to portion out my food sizes, and since most of my diet is plant based, the fiber fills me up very quick. Overall, it’s more economical and healthier.

If I’m not mistaken, chicken, fish, pork, eggs, and milk aren’t cheap! I don’t see how someone who eats meat every week (even every week) can say something like this. One of my professors is a vegetarian, and when I asked her about the reason why she changed her diet, she said, “I was in grad school, and I was broke. There was this little spot that sold burritos, and the vegetarian ones were cheaper than the ones with meat, so I started eating them. Pretty soon, I realized buying apples were cheaper than buying a pack of chicken.” That is so true! I bet if you go to any eatery, the vegetarian options are cheaper. Why????? Because produce isn’t as high as meat (and it’s less of a health hazard).

Maybe I’m different, but I value my health and my bank account, and meat is no where in it.

This plant is the ish, and I keep some on handy all of the time. Not only do I have the plant in my house, but I also keep the juice to mix with various drinks and homemade beauty products.