A Delicious Lunch

I'm been home just being lazy all day so I decided to try out one of the recipes from the Dr. Don Colbert book, get Healthy through Detox and Fasting.

I made the Quick and Tasty Black Beans and Mexican Rice and topped this delicious dish with slices of avocado. It was easy to make and very satisfying.

Quick and Tasty Black Beans
15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed ( I didn't drain)
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 bay leaf
2-3 cups veggie broth
Simmer all ingredients in medium saucepan until beans are tender but not mushy, approximately 15 minutes.  Remove from heat, drain, and serve with Fresh Salsa.

Mexican Rice
1 TBS. EVOO
1 TBS. garlic, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 cup long-grain brown rice
2 cups peeled tomatoes, chopped in food processor
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cracked black pepper
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. oregano
1 1/4 cups water ( I used veggie broth)
Heat EVOO in sauce pan and saute garlic and onions until soft.  Add rice and cook until translucent.  Add tomatoes, spices, and liquid.  Cook for 45 minutes until rice is tender, adding more liquid if necessary.

I have been chatting today with a very good friend who has also been fasting in the same way only using different resources.  It is wonderful to know that she is going down this same path and we can encourage each other.
Stay tuned, I think I have this thing!

The Weekend

When I started this trek to detox and to get focused on my health again I was a bit nervous about the weekend.  I generally let myself be a bit more lax on the weekend.  I typically eat out more and don't follow such a regimented schedule as during the week.  Not that I have really been on any regimented schedule for awhile!!!  Thinking about the weekend made me a bit nervous that I might not stay on track. 
Well, so far, I want to say that things are looking up!
Yes, it's only Saturday morning before noon, but it's still going well! And I'm being positively optimistic.
My tummy was rumbling very noisily this morning when my eyes popped open.  Actually, I'm pretty sure that it was the noise coming from my gut that brought me back to life.  I jumped up out of bed...well, more like hobbled out nursing my hurt heel, my aching hip and swollen knee.  Yes, I am falling apart!
Breakfast this morning was scheduled to be a buckwheat pancakes and I was anxious to get into the kitchen and see what this recipe was going to taste like.  I adapted the recipe just a bit (of course, I did!)  Adapted is code for making substitutions...hehehehe.  I'm even thinking I should change the name of the recipe.

Buckwheat Pancakes (made with 10 grain flour into a waffle)
1 cup buckwheat flour (I used 1/2 cup 10 grain flour pancake mix +1tsp olive oil + 1 tsp powered eggs substitute)
1 tsp active dry yeast ( didn't use this at all)
Pinch of sea salt
1 1/2 cups warm water (1/4 cup almond milk)
1/4 baking soda (didn't use)
1 tsp. molasses ( agave nectar)
1 cup fresh blueberries ( I also added some cinnamon and walnuts)

So basically you can see that I pretty much veered away from the recipe to make my own waffles.  They were mighty tasty!! I looked at the ingredients in the 10 grain flour pancake mix and it all was organic and didn't seem to have any of the foods I'm to stay away from so I deemed it OK.   However, if you want to be true to the recipe in Dr. Colbert's book Get Healthy through Detox and Fasting, then just follow it as written without my changes.  Let me know if it's good.

The one thing that I am sad about is that right now I am not really able to do much exercise so my results will most probably not include much if any weight loss.  Monday I am seeing a doctor about my heel that has been hurting for sometime and I have self diagnosed as Plantar fasciitis.  I'm anxious to see if the doctor concurs and what the treatment will be.  In addition to that issue, my left knee is swollen, clicking and painful.  Yes, I am falling apart at the young age of 54.  So, while I would like to be doing cardio or walking I am sticking to upper body strength training right now.

Ok, I'm off to grab another cup of ginger tea and do my Bible study.  I'm going to be totally lazy today. May even stay in my pj's all day!

Day 4

I have not gotten to the point where I am jumping out of bed because I feel so great and maybe that is not even going to be a side effect from this detox fast I am working through.  I will tell you that it has not been as hard as I thought it would be.  Perhaps because I really took a lot of time thinking, researching and praying about what I would do and how I would accomplish my goals.

There is so much written about the link between health and foods that we take into our bodies.  It’s really hard to discern truth from myth.  I do know that I have had a complete physical and other than a few minor things, I’m healthy.  Yes, I need to lose a few pounds.  I have sleep apnea which is unrelated to my weight and osteoarthritis has moved into stay.  On top of the issues mentioned, this season of Menopause has been rather vexatious. You see, all of these concerns are really pretty normal for someone of my gender and age. Truthfully, I just think I should feel better than I do. Therefore, I am trying this fast to see where it leads me.

The one thing that I will say about this fast is that it requires a lot more preparation than I have been accustomed to in regards to putting my meals together.  I’m eating a lot more fruits and veggies which requires cutting up and preparing them for consumption.  Don’t hear this as a complaint, just a fact. I did the work prior to beginning this adventure Monday by making my grocery list and organizing the menus so I knew exactly what to eat on what day and which meal.

Yesterday I made a granola crunch that is just OK.  It called for bananas and apples which I have never put into my granola before and I’m thinking that I may not have baked the recipe long enough.  The granola is not as crunchy as I prefer.  It was, however, an enjoyable snack for today.

Granola Crumble

3 cups steel-cut or rolled oats (I used 1 cup steel and 2 cups rolled)

1 cup hulled sunflower seeds ( I used a variety of nuts to make up the 1 cup)

1/3 cup EVOO

1 TBS. agave nector

1 medium apple, chopped

2 extra ripe bananas (I think this makes it less crispy and mushier)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix oats, nuts and EVOO. Set aside.  Mash bananas and stir in agave nectar and apple.  Add oat mixture, stirring well. Let sit for 30 minutes.  Crumble mixture onto ungreased baking sheet and bake in oven for 15 minutes. Cool completely on baking sheet and store in airtight container.  Makes 5 cups.  (Next time, I will cook in two or three pans)

Day three and still holding strong!

We had a storm today. It actually started in the night with the wind just howling. We live in an older house and our bedroom door was rattling. That woke me up. Then, it was the wind whipping around the trees and branches hitting the window. Oh, and I'm struggling with Plantar fasciitis and suffering pain in my heal. These sharp, stabbing pains were pulsating in my heal every few seconds. Miserable.
It was my workout day so I knew my alarm clock would go off at 4:10.  It was not at all a restful night.
When I met my trainer around 5:30 she suggested we go get coffee.  I was all over that idea!
So, even thought I'm struggling with these aches and pains, I have remained focused on this fast. 
Tonight I made some very yummy Black Bean Burgers.
Here is the recipe:
1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup steal cut or rolled oats
1 small onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cilantro, chopped
1/4 applesauce
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/3 cup spelt breadcrumbs
2 tsp. EVOO

I put all the ingredients in the food processor and then made up  six small patties, I rolled them in the breadcrumbs and then lightly browned them on each side.  I ate it with avocado and salsa.  Yummy!

The whole getting off of sugar hasn't been easy.  The good thing is I have three days down. Each day should be easier.

Yes, I'm back!

I have not updated this site in quite a long time.  It’s not at all that I have not been paying attention to my health and all; it’s just that I have been busy living life!

Late last year I was in a book store and saw a book, Get Healthy through Detox and Fasting by Dr. Don Colbert.  I sat down and read the entire book.  Don’t worry it wasn’t of the same length as War and Peace and I did skim several sections.  I read just enough to have something to think about and research. 

The book found its way into my Kindle and after a careful read decided to try this 28 day fast.  I have also spent some time in prayer and meditation, mostly to get my brain wrapped around the fact that I am going to radically change the way I eat for awhile. 

Last week, I went through the book again and made some notes.

“Your body is designed with an incredible system of defense that keeps you healthy even under extreme circumstances and you never have to give it a second thought.  But when the battle becomes overwhelming, when toxins pile up inside you over time, your liver and excretory system may eventually become overburdened.  They simply cannot keep up.”

As I have been struggling with menopausal issues, arthritis and headaches, I wonder if there is not a better way.  What Dr. Colbert suggests is not outrageous. Most of it is just good sense.  It can’t hurt.

This program begins with a three-week partial fast to strengthen and support the liver and improve elimination through the G.I tract.  Code for lots of fresh, raw fruits and veggies!  After the three-week partial fast is complete, a 7 day juice fast is suggested.  This is code for non stop hunger!!  Wait, I take that back.  I want to be positive.  This is code for less time having to prepare my meals…more time to do fun things like read and exercise.  Finally, Dr. Colbert gives a four day guideline for breaking the fast.  Here is where you say, “and now my eating will be clean and I will be healthier”.  That of course is the goal!

I am famous for stating things and not following through so to combat this I am committing for 7 days.  I have done the prep by buying the food I need and outlining the meals for each day.  I can do anything for 7 days, right?  I will reevaluate over the weekend.

So far today I have had a breakfast wrap with fresh fruit, organic peanut butter and Ezekiel tortillas, cucumber sprout salad and a black bean soup. I snacked on raw carrots and nuts when I was hungry and have downed a lot of water.

During this period of self denial, I seek to get closer to God by redirecting my thoughts and desires to align them with His purposes.   It is my prayer that I will call on His power to infuse in me the will power to daily commit to healthy and clean eating so that I will feel better and be a better instrument in His hands.