OMG! Banana Ice Cream???

So today I was feeling a little sweet tooth come on and I just needed a lil' something to satisfy that craving... I already had my NuPlus (which I LOVE!) but this craving had a little bite to it. I remembered a recipe in my new Raw Vegan Recipe Book by Ani Phyo's Raw Food Essentials (Love this book!) for ice cream made from frozen bananas. I really wanted to try it and what better time then the present, I just so happened to have 3 ripe, peeled frozen bananas in the freezer.

Now I have to admit, I didn't think it was going to work because the banana halves I placed in the food processor just spun around, giving little if any creamy goodness but I proceeded onward. We (me and Ken) decided to put the chunks into our powerhouse blender and see if that would work... the best it offered me was to break down the big chunks into little chunks... that would work!

We transferred the bananas back into the food processor, added a little water and watched the magic happen right before our eyes. It instantly changed into the creamy sweet goodness that I was seriously thinking I would never have again (in good conscious anyway).Honestly, I have been secretly mourning the death of ice cream in my life ever since I decided to change the way I eat and look at food.

Thinking back on it now, ice cream was never really been my friend. Being a glutton for punishment as I can be, can be very satisfying when you think you are getting what you want, better yet, what you need....NOT! Ice cream gave me neither of those. In all actuality it has left me gassy to the extinct of sickness, severely bloated, fatigue and straight chunkiness. Sad really. How we formulate relationships with things that are not relative or worthy of relationship.. it's just food and made to satisfy and strengthen us, that is all. Funny how I finally get that now.

My mother would tell me, "Timing is everything Marion." Those words, I have kept with me because of how very true they are. How many times have I said, "Man, if someone had of told me about eating a dense whole food diet 10+ years ago, where would I be?!" only to realize that I would probably be in the same place. I wasn't ready to hear it then.... I was quite sick enough to comprehend it. I was too busy proving to myself and others that I was a good cook and could flip your wig with some delicious and decadent dishes that make you wanna kick a puppy (those are Ken's words not mine).

Knowing now that my health is my wealth and my family and friends are my treasures has made such an extreme difference in my outlook on life. I have changed and am changing daily, for the better. Thank you Lord Jesus, Thank you Dr. Patti, Thank you Sunrider!

If you want to find out more about becoming Nutritionally balanced, contact me at missmarionrenee@gmail.com.

Recent happenings...

Hi all! It has been a LONG time since I last wrote. Things have been really crazy for me these last 6-7 months. I change jobs and so I changed responsibilities, which changed my amount of free time I have. In essence, it has affected my journal time.

Well after the move to North San Diego County, I discovered that it is a lot cooler up here... in the winter, it is just down right cold! This has a very hard affect on me and my eating. I began to eat more cooked foods and adding meat (Phil's BBQ baby back ribs had me by the throat and I was loving it!) back into the menu. That is when I really started seeing my weight escalate. I even began to eat more dairy (some of the best pizza places are just .5 miles from my home). It was really getting out of control, I was gaining weight and feeling pretty awful about it. I never stopped eating my Sunrider dense whole food nutrition but I really needed to get a handle on what I was putting in my mouth and to understand what those types of foods (dairy and meat) were doing to my body.
There is a great program through Sunrider called "The Biggest Winner". It's actually developed by one of the successful Sunriders in my group, Elaine Smith. This 7 week program has seriously changed my life! I am on my 2nd go round and am planning a 3rd when it comes up in August. The difference in what I eat to how I think about food is like night and day compared to they way it once was. I think I was eating what I thought was right rather then eating what I learned was right for my body. My body is talking and I am listening... I can actually hear what it wants.
I have learned so much and will be sharing as time goes on. I have made the decision to become a health coach to all those who are looking for someone to help them with their journey to better health. I am excited by all the information I have learned and am putting it all to the test in my own life. Experience has been a great teacher.

SUNRIDING TO A HEALTHIER NEW ME!

If you want to find out more about becoming Nutritionally balanced, contact me at imasunrider@gmail.com.

Me before and after...

   

 Here are 2 pictures of me. The 1^st one was taken in 2010 and the 2^nd was taken June 2011. Crazy! What a difference Sunrider is making in my life! DENSE WHOLE FOOD NUTRITION is the only way baby!!!

***41 lbs lost since I started Sunrider Dense Wholefood Nutrition***

If you want to find out more about becoming Nutritionally balanced, contact me at missmarionrenee@gmail.com.

Green Smoothie Anyone?

I think if I weren't such an outgoing type personality that I wouldn't find out about anything! So there I am in my local fresh produce store shopping for my fabulous Vegan lifestyle and a rather, fit attractive woman was beside me carefully selecting a variety of dark green leaf vegetables and placing them in her basket. I looked over because she was picking a small amount of so many different types (mustard, kale, collard, spinach, chard etc.) I just had to know what she was planning on doing with such a small amount of so many leaves. She simply answered, "I make Green Smoothies with them." and kept right on picking away. "Green what??!" "Green Smoothies." " Really?! How did you hear about that??" "I read a book called 'The Green Smoothie Revolution'." and on her way she went with a smile.
I was determined to remember the title so as soon as I got home, I googled it and there it was, a book about Green Smoothie's 'The Green Smoothie Revolution: The Radical Leap Towards Natural Health by Victoria Boutenko'. I decided to purchase one on Amazon.com and when it arrived I dove right in. I was surprised how very truthful and clear cut the reading was. I didn't read any weird chants or hippie way of doing things in the book but just a honest truth about a woman and her family who were very sick that met a lady who helped her start the on green smoothies and how they all got better together. Diabetes went away, rashes cleared up, blood pressures lowered,weight was loss and so on (don't want be a Spoiler).
I was intriged and decided to give it a try. I don't have the fancy high speed blender but what I do have works just fine and the smoothie's taste great! We love them! I mix my NuPlus right into the batch and away I go. I have crazy energy and better mental clarity and I just feel better.
I am realizing that we can take better care of our selves if we would just eat they way the Father designed. Everything we need has been already given to us and we make the mistake trying to reinvent what has already been perfected and we are sick, infertile, cancerous, exhausted, angry and dying. I wish with all my heart that I could stand at the highest point with the loudest bullhorn and tell everybody to "WAKE UP!!". We are going through some very unnecessary procedures, we are malnourished and refuse to change. Yes, change is hard but it is so very worth it.

Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. Roman 12:2

A new mind, a transformation and a change must occur now or we will die without ever really living in this life. Spiritually, Nutritionally, Humanly. We need a change.

I also recommend for those who like the facts: Green for Life by Victoria Boutenko  Both of these books are excellent, informative and easy to read.

If you want to find out more about becoming Nutritionally balanced, contact me at imasunrider@gmail.com.

Out of the mouths of babes...

Tam's Thai on Adams Avenue... Black Rice??

So Ken and I went for a walk to Adams Avenue one evening 2 weeks ago. Kind alike an art trip as he is always seeking out new suppliers and classes to help hone his skills and his teaching knowledge. We decided to look for a place to grab something to eat which is always a challenge as most restaurants cater to "meat eaters". I always find myself getting more creative then what is on the menus hoping to inspire a change. ( I digress)...
Anyways we stumbled upon this very friendly, smiling face Asian woman beckoning for us to come her way and give her a try... her words. We obliged... it was a very small little restaurant with lavender painted walls and lots of little nick knacks to prove that a woman ran the shop. We had her curry potato rolls with this amazing black fried rice with NO MSG (so very important, please read this!). We were so very impressed with her.

Tam came out twice with a package of rice, showing me the label and where she got it... really encouraging me to get some Black Rice.. to make it at home and to stop eating white rice which has no real nutritional value in it. Not only did she make a mean fried rice (no eggs of course!) but she was talking and teaching health and telling us about how the sizes of people are changing because of the lack of the proper nutrients and she claimed Black Rice was a key source of these nutrients. I had to try it!

We now eat black rice mixed with a multi grain rice that she strongly suggested called Mogami 8 Blended Whole Grain Rice. There is Short Grain, Long Grain, Brown Rice, Black Rice, Maple Rice, Red Rice, Red Whet and Barley in it. I mix this rice with more Black Rice and some Calrose (because I have so much of it).  It has a meaty smell when cooked and a hearty taste. I made my own fried rice with it (not like Tam's but good) and we like it.

I had to share this with you. Please read the MSG and Black Rice articles... you will be so informed. I love to hear your comments on this.

It's been a long while...

Yes, it's been a long while since last I wrote. So much has happened since April 24... my last entry. Glad to say that things are getting better.
Since my last entry, I have been concentrating on my vegan diet and understanding what being a vegan is all about and how this lifestyle change has not only affected my personal menu but it has also affected how I socialize, where I spend my time (Henry's mostly) and how I interact with food.
I have been steady on my Calli (missing a day here or there but always getting myself back on the horse... my day doesn't feel right without it) but not so much on the NuPlus until very recently. I am thankful to be getting back to my routine of concentrated nutrition. Lord knows I need it!
I am glad to also say that I have maintained the 25lbs of weight lose from earlier this year and now that I am back on track & will be looking forward to the next 25 gone! I have also taken a more active role in my recovery by walking just a little more and I bought a Shake Weight...Ha!! I like it though... I am still trying to get use to the odd motion of it in some of the exercises but for the most part... 6mins is a very little sacrifice for firmer looking and feeling arms. I will post pics in a day or so of my before and then 30 days later my after... hoping for the best!