Hey Grateful Lifers! A few weeks ago I posted about the awesome documentary I Am and how much its message resonated with me. Hopefully by now a handful of you have been able to check it out as well! Tons of good vibes and motivating tid-bits of wisdom, right? I'd love to keep tailoring this blog to fit the needs of my readers so I thought perhaps it's time to get some official feedback. Basically, you all matter big time to me; you're super worthy of content that is helpful, entertaining or motivating. You are a hugely wonderful part of my life. I'd love to be a positive part of yours, too. As an incentive for your help, today I'm excited to offer up an I Am DVD to one lucky reader :) Just fill out the form below to be considered! Thanks in advance for the submissions, you guys are rock stars. **contest had closed** In Gratitude,
Trish
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Huge thank you to my best friend of 18 years (I just like typing that number out, gets me every time :) for sending along this article today. I was smiling and nodding and "ugh, yes, SO true" -ing during the entire thing. And, duh, I even felt a smiddgen choked up. This mom is a freaking rock star.... "People are heart-breakingly sensitive. If enough people tell someone over and over that he is not okay, he will believe it. And one way or another, he will die. So how is any of this surprising? It's quite predictable, actually. It's trickle-down cruelty. I don't know much. But I know that each time I see something heartbreaking on the news, each time I encounter a problem outside, the answer to the problem is inside. The problem is ALWAYS me and the solution is ALWAYS me. If I want my world to be less vicious, then I must become more gentle. If I want my children to embrace other children for who they are, to treat other children with the dignity and respect every child of God deserves, then I had better treat other adults the same way. And I better make sure that my children know beyond a shadow of a doubt that in God's and their father's and my eyes, they are okay. They are fine. They are loved as they are. Without a single unless. Because the kids who bully are those who are afraid that a secret part of themselves is not okay." Let's vow to be a little kinder to one another today, shall we? To see ourselves and others as worthy, lovable and a-ok just as we are? Seems like a stellar way to start the week to me. In Gratitude, Trish Here's the story... I live just one little block away from Pottery Barn and am constantly trying to avoid going in to prevent the spending of unnecessary monies on things I can't even fit in my apartment. (Note to self, you better start saving for all 4 beach houses you've already mentally filled with Pottery Barn pieces). But, a few weeks ago, I saw their signs about the massive post-holiday sales they were having and decided to make an exception and pop in for a browse. Almost instantly I fell in love with the coziest, most classic armchair on the showroom floor, the Carlisle. Exhibit A: Exhibit B: What I did not fall in love with, however, was the price tag....$1, 219.00. Yowza. Then, much to my delight, I realized they were selling the actual floor model (which was the highest fabric grade and exact pattern I wanted). The price? Around $600. Insanely improved, yet still slightly yowza. I decided that $600 was not really in my trying-to-tighten-it-up 2012 budget and although I could technically make it work, it wasn't the best way to spend my money at the moment. I sighed, bid the chair fair well and exited the store. But I couldn't stop thinking about this chair! It was exactly the piece I felt I was missing to fill in the last remaining "living room" space in my home and I was consumed with thoughts of snuggling up to read and drink tea in it. Eff it, I thought, I am so buying this chair. But as I excitedly entered Pottery Barn 2 days later I was met with an awkward exchange from the store manager; she herself had already purchased the chair! "I mean it was just too good to pass up", she said. That little snitch stole it from under my nose! It was gone! I waited too long! My humble dreams of tea and book reading were crushed, dashed, obliterated like the fruits and veggies of my juice fast days! Man, I thought, I guess it wasn't meant to be. ...or was it? There has to be another way. (is the suspense totally killing you?) The manager was kind enough to do some searching for other Pottery Barn locations in the Bay Area selling the chair. After a few phone calls I learned that just 25 minutes away was the exact same piece, though slightly damaged. Someone in their warehouse had dropped the armchair and busted one of the legs, rendering the chair practically un-sellable by Pottery Barn standards. I was told I was welcome to come and take a look at it to see if it was worth potentially buying at an even greater discounted price. I grabbed my most bold negotiator friend, Jenny, and off we went...me visualizing the tea and book scenario the whole way. I know this chair is mine!! Here's where I'll wrap the story up. After seeing the piece and deciding I could 100% fix this chair on my own or with the help of a friend, Jenny and I took a walk around the block to discuss our negotiation tactic. Me: I'm so nervous. I don't know what to offer them. Jenny: I'll do it. $100 and we'll take it off their hands. Me: Really?! Oh my gosh. I can't even look at the guy I'm so uncomfortable. Jenny: Pats, I got this. Jenny then marched right up to the manager and simply said: $100 and we'll walk out the door with it. PB Manager: Sold! Take it, hunny. All you had to do was ask. You'll see on the far leg that the fabric is a bit gnarly still, but don't worry! I have access to a staple gun that will fix that little guy right up :)
Hooray to saving monies! Lots and lots of monies! So, what did I take away from this scenario (besides a bad ass piece of furniture)? A) It pays to keep visualizing what you want, even if it is something as silly as a cozy new armchair, so long as it is well intentioned. B) A delay is not necessarily a denial. C) Sometimes, all you have to do is ask. Happy Friday, friends. In Gratitude, Trish Oh Pinterest, how I love thee. Remember when jean on jean used to be totally cool? And then it was totally uncool? And now it's slowly becoming totally cool again? The inspiration: The attempt to copy: Love my tiny, gold plated wrap bracelet, courtesy of the Brentwood Farmer's Market a year and a half ago. Do you like my vacuum nozzle in this photograph? I like to trip over it for 3 days until I finally decide to use it to clean. Kinda my "thing". Also love my Franco Sarto boots (that I got from Macy's for a zillion percentages off and free shipping...with Jenny's approval, of course): Ironically, Jenny had the same Pinterest inspiration on the same day! Here's her even cuter variation: Dang she is good at this. She also recently put together (using things already in my closet!) this (Velvet navy blue wrap dress, Express jacket, Zodiac boots): And this (BCBG dress, Press sweater, French Connection tights, ADA wrap belt, Sam Edelman heels)...which is 100% from Heritage Row!: I was so excited that she found a way to make the very summery BCBG dress work for winter with the Press sweater and honeycomb tights additions. I was hesitant at first but thankfully she forced me to try it all on before completely nix-ing it. Sometimes pieces really do just need a body! It's 64 and sunny today so I figured this was the perfect outfit to celebrate the warm weather :)
Are you convinced to give her styling talents a try yet? In Gratitude, Trish I had the pleasure of spending Saturday morning with Brooke and Lucy at a San Francisco bulldog meet up at Crissy Field beach, where I introduced myself to all the other doggie parents as Lucy's nanny :) "Cute" does not even begin to do this scenario justice. There ended up being about 20+ bulldogs from around the city running and playing and being generally coco bananas together. It. Was. Awesome. Of course they made a bee line for the freezing cold water....and of course bulldogs sink like rocks when they don't have life vests on! And yes, even though I didn't manage to get a photo of it, there were bulldogs wearing life vests. Trust me, it was hilarious. I was the resident scratching machine. Holy hannah montana...That face...I can't even. I truly love being Lucy's auntie but all of this time clocked in the dog world with her has me aching for a pup of my own. If my apartment building allowed animals, I'd have one in a heart beat.
But...that being said... I've decided I'll continue to cherish every moment in my adorable apartment for another year (2012 just feels so right in that space) and then I'll either move into a larger, dog friendly place or I'll consider looking for a roommate/roommates to have a house with. This way, when I adopt my...wait for it...great dane (!!!) the gentle giant will have space to mull about. I'm so fortunate that my work allows dogs (can't you just picture a big ol' snuggler curled up at my feet all day? He'd make a great pillow for Lucy) and that there is a lovely park just a few blocks away where we can stretch our legs. Great danes actually make awesome apartment dogs since they are lazy as all heck and tire more easily. I've even gone so far as to find a rescue organization for Northern California! It's all happening, folks. Emotionally, I am solidly ready to adopt a big goofy dog who needs a home. Now I just have to wait for the logistics to line up... Lucy will suffice until then :) Love and Light and snaggle teeth, Trish My two greatest personal memories of Joe Paterno, our beloved JoePa, play on loop for me today. Walking home from class one chilly November afternoon, my tiny Freshman self stared at the ground as I ran through the stress inducing to-do list growing in my mind. As I began to cross the street I looked up just in time to see a car turning the corner. Instantly I recognized the driver, who slowed to allow my safe crossing, as the infamous football coach of my new school. In a moment of "wow!", I awkwardly waved to Coach Paterno (you know what kind of wave I'm talking about--the floopy handed, far too rapid, could cause an injury variety); shit eating grin spread wide across my face. I'd wager to say I probably even mouthed "It's JoePa!". Much to my deep delight, Coach waved back....equally as vigorously, with a huge, mid-chuckle smile. We continued to smile, wave and laugh at one another until he turned the next corner. Then I stood on the curb feeling my spirits lifted. I stood on the curb feeling warm and comforted, for it had genuinely felt as if we both had just seen seen an old friend. Joe's always kind of felt like an old friend in that way, hasn't he? A few years later while participating in Penn State's Dance Marathon (THON) the crowds were treated to a pep-talk from Coach Paterno. Joe took the stage to rousing applause and cheers, as he waved his hands and scrunched his face in that "please, please, this is unnecessary" way he had about him. He reached the mic, looked around the room (where we all waited with baited breath to hear him speak) and said, "Boy....I gotta tell ya....you kids....you kids are great." He spoke to us on the magnitude of our charity event, of the impact and importance, with the same level of awe and respect granted to him from every person in the athletic (and non-athletic, for that matter) community. He told us that this event was the definition of what being a Penn Stater really meant. He told us we were brave and strong and good. He told us, simply, that he was proud of us. Not a soul in the room doubted he meant what he said--we felt his kindness, love and respect. We felt warm and comforted. We felt our spirits lift. Joe's always had that humbling, encouraging way about him, hasn't he? For Joe, I find the Prayer of St. Francis to be especially fitting today:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Rest in peace, Coach. We are so sad to see you go and so sorry if you felt at all during your final moments that our community had anything but great love and admiration for you. I hope you were surrounded by family and loved ones; I hope you were feeling the energy of Penn Staters around the world wishing you well. Thank you for your generous contributions that came in every form, shape and color to our family. The sign near your highly photographed Beaver Stadium statue doesn't lie; you were an educator, coach and humanitarian. Joe Paterno, you were a deeply good man. For you, I bleed a little extra blue and white. For you, I proudly wear my favorite Penn State hoodie today--the one my dad bought for me during my Freshman orientation weekend 10 years ago. The one that is certainly worn and faded, yet still manages to also be warm and comforting. The one that lifts my spirits each time I pull it over my head. Sending extra love and light to your family, Coach. We Are, Trish ...well, technically Day 2.5. You see, every Friday Weebly has team lunch together and since I knew there was no way I could sit through 1.5 hours of everyone eating at a restaurant (I lasted 30 minutes at happy hour--the french fries hit the table, Trish hit the door) I started my cleanse a day earlier to be "done" at lunch today. I juiced for breakfast and lunch 2 days prior to the official fast so while I didn't do a complete 3 days in a row, I still feel pretty proud of myself for making it this far! Lunch will be just a light salad and dinner probably a veggie based, non-dairy soup as a way to ease my system back into solid foods. I am enjoying a vitamin rich last juice of the day as we speak :) (hint: water the juices down so they last longer...but be prepared to pee your brains out).
Here are some things I'm noticing about my body right now: 1. I have definitely lost weight, though I don't know exactly how much since I refuse to own a scale. If I had to guess? Probably 4 or 5 lbs, based on my pants being more loose and my general in-the-nude appearance (helllooo flat tummy!). To be honest, this really wasn't a big reason for my fasting as I know it's mostly just water weight. The moment I eat a slice of pizza with a side of Bud Light (duh, the Niners play on Sunday!), the majority of the weight will come back. No biggie though. It still feels good to know a bunch of icky toxins left along with some of that water weight. 2. My sense of smell is on hyper drive. If you crack open a peanut from a block away, I will track you down like a crazed squirrel. 3. I feel...good. Fresh. Clean. I don't feel weighed down or sluggish. I am present and full without feeling uncomfortably stuffed. This is a big issue I have as a woman with a deep appreciation for food--I often eat way past my natural levels of "full" simply because it all tastes so darn good. 4. I am slightly tired if I exert too much energy, but in a calm, quiet and almost too well rested way. I've slept deeply the past few nights and have had very vivid (and strange) dreams. My energy level has stayed pretty consistent (without any caffeine aids) the past 3 days, so long as I'm sipping on a juice. To summarize, the fast wasn't as hard as I built it up to be in my head, though it certainly wasn't a piece of cake (mmm...cake...). I'm usually fairly terrible when it comes to sticking to a diet plan so I am especially proud of myself for making it through this time. There were SO MANY temptations around me (catered lunches, happy hours, walks home past restaurants, TV food commercials, co-workers teasing you to eat some bacon, etc) but I didn't cave to any of them. I would definitely do it again and I think it may even be easier the next time around since I know what to expect in terms of hunger levels and triggers to cheat. Cheers to giving my little body a fresh start! I cannot wait to house some pizza. Love and Light, Trish I really enjoyed juicing with Brooke and Lindsey last night, not only because of the laughs (if you ever need an ego boost, Lindsey laughs at all your jokes and will make you feel hilarious to the extent of your considering joining a comedy tour) but also because of their genius juicing suggestions (i.e. use garlic in "dinner" juice...I freaking love garlic). My dinner juice was basically my attempt at making the liquefied version of a sweet potato soup recipe (thanks, Linds, for the suggestion!): sweet potatoes, garlic, onion, carrots, apple. I have to say, it was actually very filling and had a nice little garlic punch to it. But, if you don't super love garlic like I do, this guy might not be for you.
Of course today our office lunch catering is breakfast foods...I mean c'mon, who doesn't love breakfast foods for lunch...and we have a work happy hour scheduled for 6:30 at a German pub. Which means I will be sipping on seltzer water with a lime while everyone else gorges on beers and sausages. Day two. Yikes. Juice lords, give me strength. In Gratitude, Trish Thank goodness I agreed to do this with 2 other lady friends...there is no way I could make it through 3 days of just juicing without the moral support! Mommy loves to snack, and mommy is me. Plus, Weebly has awesome lunches delivered every day and I am gonna need people telling me to avoid the oh-so-tasty catering like the plague :-/ Breakfast: apple, cucumber, watermelon, strawberries, raspberries. Lunch: spinach, cucumber, carrots, apple Dinner will be some mixture of fruit and veggies obliterated by a juicer at my dear friend Cookie's apartment...where I will try and think of anything besides cheese and bread and wine, which is my normal meal when I hang with Cookie.
Cheers to detoxing! Wish me luck... In Gratitude, Trish I'm totally getting a download.
(and I actually am a Deepak Chopra loving Gemini :) Because "If you can't laugh at yourself, life's gonna seem a whole lot longer than you like." (-Sam, the best female movie character ever)...right? love and light, trish I read about the 4 gift rule over the holidays in regards to how parents should approach spending on their children and I really loved the concept. It breaks down as; 1 thing that they want. 1 thing that they need. 1 thing that they wear. 1 thing that they read. The holidays can truly get crazy with gift giving and this simple but potentially really thoughtful and useful buying guide could be just the trick to reeling in the unnecessary spending...especially when it comes to kids. Let's face it--it's not hard to go overboard when we're pressured to create that picture perfect Christmas tree look of presents galore spilling out from underneath. I challenged myself to keep the same rules when using the super $100 Amazon gift card my sweet friend Tim sent to me and I have to say it really forced me to be more mindful of my purchasing. And, I ended up getting way more bang for my buck! Here's what I was able to snag.... Want: Valeo Neoprone Hand Weight ($17.83). Now that it's finally cold in SF (boo), I've turned to spending more time in the comforts of my (warm and cozy) apartment. These little 5lb weights are used in many stationary work out videos (hello, Comcast OnDemand) and will come in handy when I can't seem to drag myself to the gym. Also, I pretty much have the boniest arms on the planet. While I'm not looking to be cut Madonna style (do her arms freak anyone else out?) I think it'll be a great addition to my routine. Need: Schultz All Purpose Plant Food ($5.71). I have two darling plants at home I've noticed aren't getting enough sunshine these days. They are so cheery to have around--gotta help your babies grow big and strong, ya know? Wear: Lucky Women's Emmie Ballet Flat in Leopard ($39.99). The perfect addition to my wardrobe! Jenny already put together 2 or 3 looks from my closet that will go perfectly with these fun flats. Read: Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer ($9.99 for Kindle). I very much enjoyed reading his novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close for my book club last month and look forward to following his journey of exploring vegetarianism. And, after shipping costs I still have $14.33 left over! Decisions, decisions...
Thank you again, Tim!! In Gratitude, Trish Wow, yesterday's post sure did get a lot of attention. I'm so glad others were able to relate--it never ceases to amaze me how much more alike we all are than we sometimes realize. Feeling connected to other people helps to make life just that much sweeter. Thank you for reading and sharing your feedback , I super appreciated it :) A few days ago Jenny texted me lyrics from a Miranda Lambert song (if you like country at all, you'll love this one) that I wanted to pass along to you all here: Pretty little thing, sometimes you gotta look up And let the world see all the beauty that you’re made of (Yea, she's a pretty great friend.) The full lyrics have been looping in my head ever since: "Carrying the weight on the end of a limb
You’re just waiting for somebody to pick you up again Shaded by a tree, can’t live up to a rose All you ever wanted was a sunny place to grow Pretty little thing, sometimes you gotta look up And let the world see all the beauty that you’re made of ‘Cause the way you hang your head nobody can tell You’re my Virginia Bluebell My Virginia Bluebell Even through the snow a flower can bloom You just need a little push, Spring is coming soon Umbrella in the rain, let it roll off your back Weather what you can, realize what you have... Put a little light in the darkest places Put a little smile on the saddest faces..." Sweet readers, thank you for shining light in my life and continuously putting a smile on my face. Don't forget to look up every now and again; to show the world the beauty that is you. We'd be majorly missing out if you didn't. In Gratitude, Trish "…the myth of Prince Charming manages to sneak past Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny only to worm its way into our romantic expectations. We don’t write letters to the North Pole anymore, but somehow we’re still waiting to be swept off our feet."--Coke Talk Sing it.
Sometimes I think my girlfriends and I should ban ourselves from ever watching another romantic comedy again. But then I remember that, in many ways, I actually have been swept off my feet. I've been on the receiving end of incredibly thoughtful, kind, unique gifts--a street sign with my name, a surprise picnic trip to the zoo or weekend in wine country, gift certificates to coffee shops in every neighborhood of my new city (to help me explore), music, books, art that "made them think of me", etc etc. I've slow danced in restaurants when no one else is dancing; to the surprise request of "Dreaming of a White Christmas", right after I mentioned I missed the snow around the holidays. I've been led down a hall by a dozen roses, each one containing hand written notes with memories for every month of dating-so-far. I've woken up to emails, texts, messages of love and light and support. So I don't know that we need to completely give up hope on good ol' Prince Charming someday romancing us, but maybe just cut the guy a little slack on the expectations front. And perhaps more importantly we need to recognize that romance doesn't solely have to come from a person of significant other status. That is to say, we can create romance in our own lives--for ourselves, by ourselves. Did I tell you I've taken myself out of the dating game for a bit? As of a 2 and a half months ago I woke up one day and said OK, that's enough, I need a break. I gave myself a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 6 (a girl has needs, after all--I ain't tryin to reach spinster status) to be truly, wholly, physically and emotionally unattached. Why make this decision? Basically since I was 16 I've had a boyfriend, with very little gap in between relationships. I love being in a partnership. I love being a significant other. I'm pretty good at it, if I do say so myself. Adventuring with someone whose heart is as open as yours is the best way to spend a life. But, there's a saying in my hokey community that two halves don't make a whole, two wholes do. Which, mathematically speaking, of course makes absolutely no sense and is...well... false. But from a spiritual standpoint, this holds a lot of truth. How can I possibly be a great partner to someone when I still feel exhausted from the past 11 years of relationships? You mean it's actually OK for me to be alone for awhile? Jeez I wish I'd known this sooner. So I'm taking a breather and I have to admit...it feels pretty amazing. Trish, what do you want to do tonight? Cook yourself dinner, take a bath and not have to worry about sending the perfect text reply or straightening your hair for drinks? Do you want to head to your Zumba class, book club, volunteer gig, coffee catch up or museum tour while having the flexibility to spontaneously road trip if the mood strikes ya? Continue to work on projects for your apartment and future career endeavors? Spend time with family and friends, fully committing to your relationships with them? Plan a bad ass trip to Costa Rica? I have so much free time to explore new things that it almost overwhelms me with excitement. I've officially taken the pressure off of myself for the first time in a long time. I have pretty much zero obligation to anyone but me. Phew! Fortunately, it's been my experience that the moment you let go and flow is the moment a shift occurs to bring along someone really great...and I am all about shifting perspectives to welcome in more love. 2012 is a year for me and a potential real partner. Emphasis on the real. I've certainly been asked out during this self imposed dating-time-out (which is, admittedly, a bit of a relief to my ego) and the "yes!" woman in me has struggled a bit to politely decline. But I've realized I have way more fun being alone or with friends than I do stressing over a man slice I'm not even that sure I want to get to know right now. Emphasis on the right now. So, do I want to be in a partnership? Yep, absolutely! I look forward to my next relationship, there is so much love and fun to share. But do I need to be in one right this very moment? Nah, I'm good. I don't know...and this is really hard to admit...that I'm ready. Taking a breather, a hot second to just *be*, is the best decision I've made in a long time. This may not be the case for other people and I completely respect the varying degrees of a need for love... ...I guess I just also recognize the difference between that basic human need for love (you have it, I have it, kumbaya we all want it)...and the societal pressures that turn us into creatures who are needy for love--the ones that set Prince Charming up for failure and the rest of us for disappointment. Do you see the difference? In Gratitude, Trish Belle is a barn gal through and through. While I have always been an animal lover myself, I never connected with an equestrian lifestyle quite like she has. The idea of controlling such powerful creatures (oh hey, let me just jump over that 4 ft. beam on your back and hope you don't toss me, no big deal) has always been a tad frightening to me, if I'm honest. Also, there is a lot of poo cleanup involved. Like...a lot. But watching her interact with her horse babies it's easy to see that this "hobby" is sort of her way of meditating, healing, reconnecting. It's her stress relieving go-to and I admire her so much for the dedication and respect she has for the sport. Before my trip home to NJ she excitedly asked me if I would not only come to meet her new horse, but if I would agree to hop on up and take him for a spin. Seeing as though she is my favorite person on the planet, I promised I would--fully embracing the knowledge that I would look ridiculous. I haven't been on a horse in years! And since a promise is a promise, I woke up early and made my way to the barn with little sister... I believe my exact words to Belle's trainer were, "Let me show you how it's really done..." Are you cracking up? I am! Mostly I just wanted to hug and snuggle him :) Luckily, he is a very gentle soul and put up with my nonsense quite well... It's good to participate in the activities the people you love, love. It's relationship strengthening to show support in this very hands-on manner. I highly encourage you to invest interest in their interests and maybe even step outside your comfort zone to give a new hobby a try...
...Even if you look a tad silly doing it. In Gratitude, Trish ps- also, keep your promises. Be impeccable with your word, ya know? Being disappointed or causing disappointment is by far and away my most hated state of being. As I've stated in previous posts concerning my pescatarian opportunivore status (i.e. I primarily avoid meat besides fish...except for when an opportunity arises where eating meat is a most excellent/polite/adventurous decision) my mom's meatballs will always fall on the list of "acceptable opportunivore meals". I whipped up a batch last week courtesy of the last frozen bag from her visit to SF and savored every bite alongside Dre, who also agrees that these are some of the most bad ass meat balls around.
I've found that the more rigid I am with myself and my diet, the less likely I am to follow it. And I don't necessarily mean "diet" in the sense of weight loss, but just overall nutrition. When I completely forbid myself to eat certain things then all I can think about is devouring 5 courses of exactly what I'm being denied...and seeing as it's usually some processed crap of carbs and sugar, this is no bueno. I get, as my friend Jenny says, incredibly hangry (hangry = so hungry you are angry). This is why labeling myself as a pescatarian opportunivore has given me the healthiest eating habits I've probably ever had. When selecting what to eat, particularly out at a restaurant or perusing the aisles of a food store, my mind now naturally drifts to fish and veggies and the occasional pasta. I am very fortunate to live in a city where there is an abundance of these options on pretty much any menu. But I also listen to my body. For example as a woman, there comes a time every month (we all on the same page without further details? good.) when I physically feel my iron count drop. I try to boost it back up with dark, leafy greens and a variety of beans but sometimes I simply can't avoid the fact that I need to eat a steak like nobody's business. And so I indulge this urge without judgment (or going overboard); I try and select meats that have come from local, sustainable and "kind" farms (i.e. free range). Am I perfect at it? Heck no. But over time and with a lot of patience my efforts have felt a lot less like...well...an effort and more like the natural thing to do. Meat simply does not appeal to me the way it once did. You have to decide what works best for you. My advice? Listen to your body and treat it as you would a child; nourish it and care for it with the healthiest foods possible...but don't be so strict that you end up just going off the deep end when you feel too forced and controlled. If combining 6 different styles of eating and exercising is what feels the most natural to you, then please, by all means enjoy those 6 styles. Above all else, just be kind to your body and maybe be willing to give consuming less meat and processed foods a try. My friend Brooke invited me today to join her and another gal pal in a 3 day juice fast next week and the "yes" woman/opportunivore in me jumped at the chance. For one thing, it's much easier to stick to these types of cleansing days when you have support--we'll be meeting in the evenings to juice together (replacing wine glasses with mega-cups of vitamins = excellent 2012 idea). And for another, you buffer those three days with 4 days of dense, mostly plant-based eating (not just juicing) so it's not as intense as other juicing plans. I know there are a lot of critics against fasting in this way but I believe a mindful, intensely plant-based diet is a super kind way to show your body some love. If you ever want to learn more about this kind of lifestyle (yep, nutrition affects your whole lifestyle) head on over to Kris Carr's site, Crazy Sexy Life. Girlfriend is the *ultimate* wellness warrior. So yea. Opportunivore. Dig it. Love and Light and Liquidated Veggies, Trish |
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