Healing Food or is that Gassy Food?

One of my goals this year is to eat more foods that are healing. This week I really wanted to sprout some legumes and more spelt and kumut. I prefer the legumes over the grains for some reason. They taste better to me and have a better texture. Plus, the legumes are the ones that give you added protein without having to eat a cow or a chicken.  They are fewer in calories too.  Which is great.  So for lunch I made this beautiful salad:

Sprouted Mung Beans and Lentils 

with Roasted Beet and Cara Cara Oranges

This salad also had no other dressing expect the juice I sqeezed from the orange I segmented.  It was an awesome salad.  It probably would have been better if I ate it over some salad greens.  But I'm still not feeling the salad greens.  I know I should be eating a huge salad every single day, I just can't do it.  Now, I'm pretty darn sure this is the salad that gave me some tremendous gas.  That's the only thing I can think of that I ate all day that could make me so musical.  Luckily for me and for my family, the farts were fragrant free.  Even though it gave me gas, I'm going to continue to experiment with more of these types of salads.  It really was delicious, you should give it a try.

Later in the day I wanted to come up with a healthy, refined sugar free cookie for my kids.  Okay Okay Okay, so they still have some chocolate in them, but it was 60% cocoa chocolate.  I found this recipe from pinterest.  I modified it to what I had on hand.  While Grace was at preschool I ground up some different grains into flours in my amazing blentec blender.  I ground up Pearl Barley, Oat Groats, and some Spelt.  I combined them all and used that flour in replace of the almond flour that the recipe called for.  I also added a few tablespoons of applebutter just to make it a little bit more sweet for my kids.  I also added some popped Amaranth.  And instead of raisins I added craisins.  People, this is a successful recipe.  I loved them.  Most of my kids loved them too.  I know it's going to take some time for them to get use to this kind of treat.  But it's the time I have to help them lead a healthy life too.  After all, I'm not just doing this for me, I'm doing this for them.

The only mistake I made was adding baking soda.  The recipe didn't call for any and I was boggled by that.  Which is probably why they are so brown.  So don't add baking soda.  These cookies were a great use of ripe bananas and I will for sure be making them again and again.  Also, there was no dairy in them either, not even eggs. 

This week has been so exciting for me.  I realized the other day that this time around feels so different.  And the difference is my faith in what I'm doing.  I really believe that the changes I'm making is going to change me.  I've never felt this way before.  I've always had doubts and those doubts turned into failure.  Not this time.  It feels great to have hope.  I'm not sure how long it will take for me to see changes.  But at least I'm giving it a year.  I'm not going to give up so easily this time. 

Shoveling Snow keeps me healthy and strong

Well, I stopped walking around in circles.  Over the weekend I gained speed, momentum, and excitement.  I haven't been this excited to begin anything since last year when I did my 5 day green smoothy fast.  Now, that was hard.  But I proved to myself that I can do hard things.  This isn't near as hard as that was. 
I spent a lot of time with my Aunts over the past week.  I found motivation and added desire to finally start my goals.  What a relief. 
It wasn't hard this morning.  I ate my protien and carb in the morning, had the inside of a sandwich with about 3 cups of sauteed veggies, had a green smoothy and a small dinner.  It was a great day.  An A day, if I were grading myself. 
I did have a soda.  So it wasn't a stellar day, but it was a great day.

The snow found us again.  I was out first thing this morning shoveling away 6 new inches of snow.  I was out there several more times during the day to remove more from the drive way and the side walks.  When talking with a friend I told her that shoveling the snow keeps me strong and healthy.  The only downfall is that my back is feeling it today, big time.  But I'm okay with that.  I am just grateful that I am healthy and strong enough to get out there and dig.  It's hard work, but rewarding at the same time. 

Just like this climb I'm on.  It's going to be hard.  Even though I turned around a few times, my climb has finally begun.  Gosh I'm excited for it to.  I know that there is something amazing waiting for me at the top of my climb.  It's going to beautiful and rewarding.  I can't wait to look back at what I had to go through to get there. 

I'm grateful to be starting this Monday with such a positive attitude.  It makes the start so much more pleasant and I feel like I can do anything!

I started soaking spelt and kumut, and in another jar I started soaking mung beans and lentils.  I read up on sprouting again and was excited about the micro nutrients and protien found in sprouts.  I am excited to start making sweet and savory salads with them.   And to just pop them for a quick snack. 

Happy Monday every.  And Happy Climbing!

It's Hard

I can't believe that it's been a week since I last checked in.  I've been busy with family and showers and dinners.  I wish I could say that I've been stellar with my life, but in fact I have not.  I haven't gone completely hog wild either.

This change is harder then I first expected.  I haven't signed my commitment yet.  Melissa asked me about it the other day and she asked me this,"Is it because you are still drinking diet coke?" Ashamed, I dropped my head and said Yes. I think I am making a bigger deal out of the soda then I need to.  I've quit it before, and yes it was hard.  Maybe that simple knowledge is what's preventing me from taking that leap.  Another reason is that I don't feel a huge change when I go off of it.  I know it's poisoning me somehow, but I just can't see the difference.

Over this weekend I saw a lot of my Aunt Mel.  She's lost about 70lbs doing a pre-packed program that costs almost $400 a month.  Not something that I can afford, by any stretch of the imagination.  The logic behind the program is high protein, vegetables and salads.  But it's the type of protein that  is key.  I wont bore you with the details.  She also said that you shouldn't exercise.  Exercise puts some kind of block on weight loss.  Both my Aunts could see that I had a mental block with that.  I love to exercise.  I love how it makes me feel physically, mentally and emotionally.  But I wonder if there is some truth to what she is saying. 

Even though I don't want to give up on the exercise.  I think I might give it a shot.  Focus on my nutrition and add exercise back in once I start losing the weight.  Exercising is key to maintaining, I know that is a fact.  I will give it 3 months.  If I don't see any difference in weight loss then I'm going back to exercising. 

Besides, I need to focus all my energies on nutrition anyway.  Nutrition is key, 80% of weight loss. 

Fear is still running my life.  I fear the pain that I am going to have to endure to rip myself from my old habits.  And it's frightening to me.  But how many times do I have to tell myself that my old lifestyle hasn't gotten me anywhere. 

I don't need a diet plan, I need a counselor to help me through my week to week struggles. 

My fear is still holding me back.  I thought my desire was stronger, but who am I kidding.  Every morning I wake up telling myself that today is going to be different.  Today I am going to punch fear in the face and lead the life I always wanted to.  And then I find myself stumbling over grains of sand.  It's dis-heartening really.  I look at myself and wonder how weak of a person I truly am.  I can't even commit to giving myself a healthier life. 

I look at the weeks that have already slipped through my fingers and want to give up.  But nothing worth fighting for is easy.  If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. 

I don't want to give up.  So I'm not.  I don't even really think my climb has begun.  I'm just walking around in circles at the base of my Mountain, with my head hung low, and my hands in my pockets afraid of what lies ahead.  Kicking the dirt in front of me asking myself ,"Is this really worth it?  Is this really what you want to do with your life?" 

Damn it, it is.

Facing our fears is one of the hardest things we have to do in this life.  But my life isn't going to change unless I punch my fears in the face.  And punch it I must, and probably several times. 

Sprouted Spelt and Kumut Salad

I wish I could say that I had a perfect day. Even though it wasn't perfect, it was a good day. On Sunday I began soaking some grains so I could sprout them.  Last year I fell in love with sprouting grains and legumes.  Sprouting turns a grain into a growing thing, full of energy.  One of my most favorite salads that I discovered was this one:

Sprouted Kumut, Spelt and Apple Salad

Isn't it pretty?

I truly am trying to fix food that is beautiful to look at, plus has healing properties.  Although I don't completely understand the science or nutrition behind sprouting.  I know it's good for you.  Plus, this salad is delicious.  Would you like the recipe?  

2 cups sprouted Spelt, Kumut

1 apple diced

Juice of half a lemon, this help to keep the apples from turning brown

1/4 cup craisins

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp truvia

How do you sprout?  Oh my word, it's the easiest thing in the world to do.  I took 1/4 cup of both grains, put them in a mason jar, filled it up with water and let it soak over night.  I drained and rinsed the grains and added them back to the jar.  Every 4 hours, I rinsed and drained the grains until I saw them begin to sprout.  Once I saw the sprouts, I placed them in a plastic storage container and put them in my fridge.  

Other grains that I love to sprout are mung beans and lentils.  My son Beckham actually adores sprouted lentil and will eat them like popcorn.  I make a killer salad out of sprouted lentils with roasted root vegetables and a balsamic vinaigrette. 

I had this for lunch along with a simple salad with balsamic vinaigrette and a hamburger patty between whole wheat bread.  I was craving a sandwich, and I didn't want to go out and buy anything.  This was the best I could do.  I wish I would have not eaten the bread.  It seemed oximoronish to be eating such a heavy thing with such a beautiful salad.   But both things hit the spot.  I am still learning how to make these changes work.  At least I'm doing something instead of just thinking about how my life could be.  

This morning I jogged on the treadmill for 30 minutes.  I am as slow as snails, but I love this quote:

I am slow.  It's hard to run when I'm heavy and not as fit as I use to be.  As I was leaving, I decided  that running/jogging is something that I want to do right now.  Not a work out dvd.  I believe strongly that we should do things that we love.  It makes life so much more enjoyable and desirable to live.  Even though the treadmill is not my favorite way to run, at least I'm doing it.  And I met a majority of my commitments today.  I worked out, I fixed healing food and I didn't have any soda.  I didn't wake up and do early morning scripture study.  I was relying on my husband's alarm to go off like it usually does at 6am, but it didn't.  I've learned my lesson.  I have to rely on my own alarm to get me up in the morning. 

I have to continually remind myself that it's about the process.  I am not on a diet.  I am on a quest to change my life for good.  That type of change happens gradually.  I find that I am not wanting to make the same choices that I was making just 4 months ago. Telling myself that it's perfectly fine to indulge in this or that.  You only live once, so why not.  Hmm, and where has that attitude gotten me? Oh ya, fat.  So instead of making the wrong choice, I just go without.  I'm not hungry, I'm not snacking, I'm not craving too much either.  

I punched fear in the face today.  And it felt awesome.  It felt great to make the time to exercise. I could have so easily said no, I don't have time for you.  Hello, that was fear speaking.  So I punched that idea out of my head and told myself you do have time for it. 

 It felt great to go without.  It felt awesome to eat a salad that was so alive and healthy. 

 I hope to  am going to build upon each day, putting one foot in front of the other.  I love it.  It's so exciting.  I am becoming that woman I can see ahead of me.  The person I want so terribly to be. 

Choosing Coke

Today I had a feeling of peace.  I knew that the path that I have started is the right one.  No diets ahead of me, no torturous battles to fight with myself.  For the first time, the goals that I have set feel good and right.  I feel as though this year, my goals will finally come to fruition.  That is an amazing feeling.

I had a green smoothy for breakfast.  It was delicious.  I went out with my cousin Steph and enjoyed a delicious lunch at my most favorite pizza joint, Slab.  There I let myself have a coke.  I know I shouldn't have.  But I did it anyway, consciously making the choice.  Not letting the choice effect me either.  Not beating myself up over it.  I know that I will overcome Coke. 

I made a wonderful soup.  I found the recipe in the recent Cooking Light Magazine.  It's a potato soup thickened with roasted cauliflower.  For a side I made cheddar biscuits.  It was a good dinner.  Those are the only times I ate.  I had an apple for a snack.  I drank water later on in the day.  So my day wasn't perfect.  But it felt right.  I didn't indulge in sugar.  That is a great thing. 

Tomorrow is a new day.

 I have to remember to get in my exercise.   I have a great opportunity to go on a Pioneer Trek this summer.  This opportunity have greatly increased my desire to walk, run and hike.  I need to be in better physical shape then I am now.  My desire to bring my family along with me in my goals has greatly increased as well. 

I admit that I love January.  But the weather is getting in my way of wanting to pound the pavement, and blaze the trails.  I guess I'm just going to have to get over it and suffer through work-outs on DVD until the spring thaw. 

Did I mention how excited I am for this year?  I am soooo excited.

Making a Contract

Once again, while studying my scriptures I was impressed to come up with a contract.  Something that binds me to my commitments for the year of 2013.  Something that helps keep me accountable for my actions and makes this whole process more real.  I'm going to have Melissa sign it as well.  This year is for real people.  Nothing is coming between me and my health.  I know I've said this many many many times before.  But all those other times I was just saying it trying to pump myself up.  And to be completely honest, I'm tired of only trying for a few months and giving up on myself.  At some point I have to believe in myself, believe that I can do hard things.

Here is what my contract looks like.

Commitments for 2013

In an effort to permanently improve my health, I am committing to these goals for the entire year of 2013.  Understanding that it's okay to be flexible.  Remember to be nurturing and loving along the way.

I commit to cutting out re-fined sugars, re-fined flours and Soda.  Understanding that sugar is a highly addictive substance and is doing damage to my health physically, emotionally and mentally. 

I commit to Early Morning Scripture Study.  Devoting myself to God and receiving personal revelation.

I commit to exercising 30 minutes a day 5 days a week.  

I commit to drinking a green smoothy every morning, to help de-tox my body and help curb my afternoon sweet tooth. 

I commit to preparing and eating foods that are healing.  Vegetables, Leafy Greens, Fruits and whole grains. 

I commit to running two 5k's, and one 10k this summer. 

I understand that these commitments came from my soul and will help me gain optimum health.  I understand that these commitments will cause to me stretch and grow in ways that I might not be ready for.  But putting faith in God, I know that these goals are attainable and completely within my grasp. 

The only thing in this contract that gives me real anxiety, is giving up the soda.  I was talking with Melissa and confessed that the idea of never having another diet coke/ coke zero was literally causing me to panic.  In fact just thinking about it right now, typing about, is getting me emotional.  I'm being so ridiculous right now.  It's just a drink.  The challenge is to come up with something that I can replace the soda with.  Something that is made with natural sugars and wont reek havoc on my body.  I found these gems on pinterest, waters that are flavored with fruit and herbs.  These beverages give me hope that I can give up the toxic soda.  I'll let you know how I like them. 

Today in Sunday School the teacher told us that this was his most favorite picture of Jesus:

He said he felt as if the Savior were looking directly at him.  At this point the teacher got emotional and so did I.  This week I have felt the love that the Savior has had for me.  Answering my prayers, giving me impressions and guiding my life in a direction that brings me closer to light and truth.  I know that Jesus knows me, Amberlyn.  I know that he loves me.  I have felt the warmth of his love in the core of my being.  I love Him for that.  

I am excited for 2013.  This year is going to be filled with adventure and so much change.  I haven't been this excited about a single year since the births of my children.  That's saying something. As you mother's know, nothing is more exciting then anticipating the birth a child.  Maybe I'm exited about the "birth" of a new me. 

More Spiritual Inspiration and Popped Amaranth

Yesterday I had an amazing experience while reading my scriptures. I was going to keep it to myself but decided that I needed to share it.

While studying I was impressed to look up the word Health in the Bible Dictionary.  I was astonished at what I read. It read: In Old English this word denoted healing power, deliverance, salvation.   Just the other night I mentioned to a good friend, Rachel, how amazing it would be if I could heal myself with nutrition.  Is it possible for good health to deliver us from danger?  Danger of addictions, toxins, depression, or even hormonal imbalances?    Can good health deliver us from physical ailments as well?  And can good health give us added strength to do more physically demanding responsibilities?  And if that is possible, what does that kind of nutrition look like?  Nutrution that has healing power?

I made myself a list:
No refined sugars
Whole grains
Vegetables
Salads, dark leafy greens
Fresh fruits
What about protein?

I have a new goal for this year.  To discover what nutrition has healing powers.  I'm pretty sure my list above is pretty spot on.  Now my other goal is to start eating that way.


Not only does good health deliver us from danger, but it keeps us safe.  I understand that exercise is important to good health as well.  But the impression that I keep getting is that nutrition is far more superior in helping us gain optimum health.

So what is keeping me from doing this?  Nothing really except a tiny word, FEAR.  Fear of leaving my comfort zone and doing things that I am not familiar with.  But that comfort zone has gotten me no where.  It's just kept me fat and sassy, and yes sick.  So what am I really afraid of?  Not being sick?  Good health?  What is scary about that?  Oh ya right, the process of getting there.  This is where I need to replace my fear with faith.  Faith in knowing that the impressions I received yesterday were from a loving Heavenly Father who answered a prayer. 

So today I jumped right in.  Last year I discoverd a tiny little seed called Amaranth.  For it to be consumed it has to be popped.  You'll need a tall pot.  I still get popped amaranth everywhere even with mine, but that's what makes it so fun!  Place the the pot on the stove on medium high heat, but not super hot cuz you'll end up scortching the seeds.  I add just a tablespoon at a time.  You don't add anything to the pot except the seeds themselves.  In a few seconds the seeds start to pop.  You want to constantly be moving the pot around to ensure optimum popping.  The seeds pop just like popcorn.  In fact my kids just eat the seeds like popcorn.

I've added popped amaranth to muffins, breads, even rice crispy treats. 

This is the size of pot I used.

Amaranth

This is what Amaranth looks like unpopped.

Popped Amaranth

This is what it looks like Popped.

With my popped amaranth I made a quick bread.  Zucchini, Carrot and Amaranth, I'll call it. 

 preheat oven to 300.  And yes, this recipe is my own, I just pulled it out of my cooking sorceress head this morning.

Cream together

1/4 cup butter, it needs to be at room temperature

1/4  cup coconut oil

1/2 cup apple butter, again at room temperature

1/2 cup brown sugar

 Then add

2eggs

1 zuchinni grated

1 yellow squash grated

1 carrot grated

1/3 cup ground flax seed

1 cup popped amaranth

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup butterscotch chips 

Grease and flour 2 bread pans and divide the dough evening between the two.    Just for fun, and added crunch, I sprinkled Kashi Go-lean Crunch on top.  I baked both loaves for about 45 minutes.    I would let the loaves of bread cool completely.  I tried cutting into as it came out of the oven and it was so moist it just fell apart.  So be patient, and wait till it cools.  

Spiritual Impressions + Dumplings

A good friend of mine sent me this link for a talk given by Julie B Beck.  I love January for it's renewal, as I've mentioned previously.  I love thinking about how I can make this year better then the next.  With that thought process comes determination to prioritize.  What is really important to me?  In this talk Sis. Beck talks all about that.  Categorizing our priorities into 3 parts.  Things that are essential, necessary, and nice-to-do.  The essential items on her list were things that would help her to receive personal revelation, to do the Will of God.  The necessary items were things that would help facilitate that.  Keeping a house of order, a place where the spirit is welcome and resides. And the nice-to-do's are things like hobbies and such.

As I was reviewing the highlighted portions of her talk a quiet impression came to me.  Eating is necessary.  There's no getting around the fact that eating is a necessary part of life.  You should be eating those things that will help you to feel good, give you energy, and clarity.  Wow.  Making and eating good food should be a necessity.  Several months ago I also received an impression that following the Word of Wisdom is key.  By following the word of wisdom our senses are made clear and we become more in tune with the spirit.  Instead of our bodies being numbed by over eating, eating the wrong types of food, or too much food.  This was a powerful impression.  Never before had I thought of food as a way to either bring me closer to or away from the spirit.  But I have experienced times in my life when I've eaten far too much candy and my senses are numb, I hurt, and I just want to disappear from reality.  I am grateful to say, since that impression(personal revelation), that I have not numbed myself, my senses, or my spirit with food.  Okay, maybe I have a few times. But I recognize it and I quickly take an about face and change my ways.  Feeling numbed from life is not the path for me.  Nor does it feel right or good.

Then my friend sent me this quote by Elder Ballard:

"Often the lack of clear direction and goals can waste our time and energy and contribute to imbalance in our lives. A life that gets out of balance is much like a car tire that is out of balance. It will make the operation of the car rough and unsafe. Tires in perfect balance can give a smooth and comfortable ride. So it is with life. The ride through mortality can be smoother for us when we strive to stay in balance. Our main goal should be to seek “immortality and eternal life” (Moses 1:39). With this as our goal, why not eliminate from our lives the things that clamor for and consume our thoughts, feelings, and energies without contributing to our reaching that goal?"

I remember reading this towards the end of last year.  I have been struggling with setting goals.  My goals in the past were set for all the wrong reasons.  I set goals that were not attainable, or doable.  When I didn't reach those goals I mentally beat myself up about it.  Telling myself that I was a failure, and a worthless human being.  So sad.  I had to re-learn that setting good healthy goals is okay.  Striving to live a healthier life by eating vegetables, fruits and salads is a righteous desire.  Taking a number, a size, or a body type out of the equation has made all the difference.  It's freeing.  

Earlier in his talk Elder Ballard does talk about physical activity as being a part of a balanced life.  But after today, I feel as though my main priorities are shifting.  Becoming close to my God,  getting to know Jesus, and understanding His atonement is Essential.  Staying close to the spirit so I can hear those promptings to serve, hear impressions, have clarity to understand new thoughts and ideas is what my energy should be focused on.  Yes, I still have a desire to exercise.  But gone is my desire to do two a days.  30 minutes is enough for me.  

If yesterday was a B.  Today was an A.  I don't care that I had a soda.  I know that some day I will over come that weakness.  But that day is just not today.  There are so many other good things for me to be focusing on.  One step at a time.  One foot in front of the other.  I can't expect to get up my mountain in 15 minutes.  I ate a total of 1223 calories.  Perfect.  I had a green smoothy for breakfast, a huge salad with sauteed yellow squash and mushrooms and my protein was a 93/7 hamburger patty.  I dressed everything with Litehouse's Ginger and Sesame dressing.  It was delicious.  Then I snacked on Atkins mudslide bar.  Eventually I wont have to be so reliant on those protein bars either. 

And to make a perfecting ending to my day, I made these beauties:

 Chicken dumplings!

 

 My cute daughter modeling the deliciousness.

Last year our neighbor, who is asian, brought us some.  I remembered seeing her recipe in the Ward Cook Book.  I made them for the first time last year on my birthday.  They were bit of a disaster, but still tasted good.  I've tweaked the recipe and there are never any of these left over.  This is one meal that I can honestly say that everyone loves.  We really fight for the last ones on the plate.  Here's the recipe.

1 package of round wonton wrappers.  (they have to be the round ones)

Filling  

2 garlic cloves

1 bunch of green onions, rinsed, trimed and cut into large pieces. 

1/2 bunch of cilantro

A peice of fresh ginger about the size of your thumb, peeled and cut into smaller pieces. 

1/2 head of cabbage, cleaned, and cut into smaller pieces. 

Putting the garlic, ginger and cilantro first into a food process, then the green onions and cabbage, pulse until it's all mixed and finely chopped. 

Next

Take 2 chicken breast that are still slightly frozen, cut them into large pieces.  Putting one chicken breast at a  time, place in a food processor with 1 tsp salt and pulse until it looks like hamburger.  Gross, I know, but you will love the result. 

Next

In a large bowl combine the chicken and cabbage mixtures.  

Taking the wonton wrappers, with your fingers dip them into water and go around the outer edges of the wrapper.  Put about a tablespoon of filling in the center and seal the edges.  Crimp together.  

Next

Heat a large skillet on medium high heat.  On my burner I place it between 6and7.  You want it hot, but not too hot.  Then add 2 tablespoons of either canola oil or I used coconut oil.  Let that heat up and then add as many dumplings as you can to the pan without crowding.  None of them should be touching.  Cook in the oil unil the bottoms are golden brown. Then, with a lid that firmly fits on your pan ready, pour 1/2 cup of water into the pan and place the lid quickly on top.  Let steam for about 3 minutes.  Repeat this until all the dumplings are cooked.  Serve right away.  

I entered all these ingredients onto myfitnesspal, and four of these are only 164 calories.  Ya, I could eat about 20. 

What a great way to end my day.  It was a good day.