Organizing your day shouldn’t be that difficult, but it seems to be a daunting task sometimes, therefore, it doesn’t get done. But funny thing, when I don’t take the time to make those little to-do lists and organize my day, it always ends up with a touch of pacing, a little of this and a little of that. At the end of my day, I really don’t see what I did, which is, to say the least, a total let down.
So I invented (I think?) a new system now that cuts the clutter and makes it easy and simple really. It’s quite effortless and genius if I do say so myself! I have a large stack of fun sticky notes next to my bed. At the end of the day, I write 3-4 things on one sticky note and stick it on my extra large calendar.
This is going to be a relatively short blog, but I wanted to share this with you because it is one of my favorite ways of doing the do, if you know what I mean! And I actually feel super accomplished with this little system. It works with meal planning, workout planning, chores, and all of those things that have to get done.
NUMBER ZERO
This system has to be easy, that’s the whole point. Keeping sticky notes in an easy place, (mine are on my night stand along with a pen) keeps it easy.
NUMBER ONE
Start with a master list. Or not. If it’s in your head, fine. Start jotting. If you have a large master to-do list on your phone or on paper, use that. Pick the top most important tasks and that is where you start.
NUMBER TWO
Sticky notes are a great way not to overload your day. Pick 2-4 tasks and that’s it. A sticky note can’t hold much more than that and neither can one day.
NUMBER THREE
Stick them in a good location, where you won’t miss them. I have a large, old-fashioned desk calendar tacked up on my wall, and I look at it daily. That’s where I stick my notes, because I know I won’t miss them!
NUMBER FOUR
If you like to visually watch your chores disappear, use more than one sticky note and put one to-do item on one note, that way you can easily toss it once that task is complete. If you do this, just remember 3-6 tasks max. (That is, if you’re me. But I realize you aren’t, so maybe you’re like superman’s cousin and can accomplish – and fit – 12 tasks in a day and on one sticky note!) Point is – be real with yourself and the other point is . . . don’t overload!
NUMBER FIVE
Prep for tomorrow. Cross off the items you accomplished today, (off of your master list) and make tomorrows tasks, stick ‘em an’ leave ‘em!
Happy planning ya’ll! If you have any cool adds to this little system, by all means! I’d love to hear them! If you have any questions, please reach out to me! I am on Facebook, Instagram, E-mail, Twitter, Pinterest and balance8life.
There are all sorts of diets that claim many, many things. So why is the vegan diet one of the best diets for you?
Many fad diets do what they claim. The problem with fad diets is, they’re not balanced and are very unhealthy and cannot be maintained. For example, many weight loss “diets” are labeled “the 30-day diet”, etc.
So, what happens after you’ve followed one of these fad diets for 30-60 days, got results, but the diet has timed out? Where do you go after that? This is where people often end up gaining back their weight and feeling defeated. They don’t know what to do after the diet ends.
My goal is to help you find a balanced diet that lasts for life, maintaining your results, and makes you feel amazing!
The vegan diet is, not only healthy for life, but also balanced and can provide you with all the nutrients your body requires, to be healthy.
One of the reasonsthe vegan diet is one of the best, is because you can reach any goals on this diet, and do it healthfully.
Bodybuilding, powerlifting, weight loss, weight gain, muscle building, and competitions can be done on a vegan diet. Also, pre-wedding body contouring, modeling, pregnancy and breastfeeding are also attainable on a vegan diet. Simply maintaining a healthy, normal, weight, can be achieved on a vegan diet.
The vegan diet is not an extreme diet that cuts out or adds anything in access to gain quick results. It is a diet that puts the balance in your daily menu and can help you gain results at a healthy pace.
As I talked about in, What is a Vegan, I briefly went over ways to grocery shop, the importance of reading labels, and gave a list of what to eat. But I didn’t say why it was such a good diet.
Vegan eating cuts out all animal products, which immediately cuts out the disease that is so prevalent in meat and dairy products.
There’s no guaranteed way to prevent or cure diseases. There are, however, ways we can prevent and curecommon diseases, and the vegan lifestyle is that.
Some diseases that can be prevented and/or cured on a vegan diet. To name a few: diabetes, heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, menstrual difficulties, UTI, bowl irritability, heart burn, obesity, bad breath, acne, fatigue, and high cholesterol, etc.
The vegan lifestyle is the ideal way to be in the best place you can be, to maintain optimal health.
I have been a vegan for 39 years. For me, the benefits have really become apparent once I hit my 30’s. I have aged slower, started my period later as a teen, I never had acne, and don’t have stretch marks from my pregnancies. I’ve never had heartburn, digestion problems, food poisoning, kidney stones, weight problems, and have never been on medication. I also have a lot of energy and and sleep great.
Unfortunately, I did inherit high cholesterol, but by cleaning up my dairy intake and adding cardio to my workouts, I haven’t had to be on medicine. (I say “clean up my dairy intake” because I did start eating dairy for a short amount of time).
The trick to being a healthy vegan is to maintain balance in what foods you put on your plate and how much you eat.
I have known vegans who eat large amounts of fried foods, sugars, simple carbs, and very little to no rabbit food, that have struggles with their health.
Raw foods are very important for a balanced diet, regardless of dietary preference. You can be unhealthy on a vegan diet just as any other diets, so maintaining that balance between fresh and cooked foods, less sugar, more veggies and fruits, and less pre-packaged foods, is very important.
A balanced, vegan diet consists of:
Nuts and seeds (healthy fats)
Veggies (calcium, vitamins and minerals)
Fruits (healthy sugars)
Legumes (protein)
and whole grains (fiber, protein).
These foods offer way more than what I stated in the parentheses, but that just gives you an idea of what these foods offer.
I hope this helps, if you have questions, please ask!
And of course as always, please enjoy my blog by sharing it with your friends and family! If you have any questions, please reach out to me! I am on Facebook, Instagram, E-mail, Twitter, Pinterest and balance8life.
The vegan diet is one of the best diets out there, but what is a vegan, and how would one do a vegan diet? Some of you don’t even know what being a vegan means, so I am going to briefly tell you what it means, what you caneat, then I’m going to show you what to look for when shopping for groceries, and how to manage going out to eat!
What does it mean to be a vegan?
WHAT IT MEANS:
Veganism is a way of living that excludes all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty, from food, clothing or for any other purpose.
In the diet alone, vegans refrain from dairy, eggs, or any other animal product, in addition to meat.
Vegan’s choose to live this lifestyle either for ethical, environmental or health reasons, or possibly for all reasons combined.
WHAT TO EAT:
Fruit
vegetables
nuts
seeds
whole grains
legumes
herbs
These foods used in recipes can give you everything you need for fun, nutritious, delicious meals!
When you cook at home, which is the best thing to do if you’re truly wanting to be a vegan that doesn’t starve, you can use the above items to make pizza, casserole, burgers, meat substitutes, bread, salads, muffins, cakes, cookies, pies, cheese, sauces, mayonnaise, etc.
Being a vegan doesn’t mean you are giving up your life of yummy food experiences. It just means you are putting something better in the place of something unhealthy. The something better will have less unhealthy fat, zero cholesterol, a ton more vitamins and minerals, just the right amount of protein, fiber, calcium and deliciousness to satisfy your cravings.
GROCERY SHOPPING:
Always read labels to everything when grocery shopping!
I just want to say real quick, that I choose veganism primarily for health reasons. This is why I personally don’t include honey in my “don’t eat” list, but a lot of vegans won’t eat honey, either! I use honey a lot, in place of traditional sugar, though sugar itself is vegan.
It isn’t always easy to be a strict vegan, but it is possible, and it gets easier over time. It becomes second nature. If you’re not used to paying attention to labels, you’d be surprised by how many “natural foods” actually have animal products in them.
Most grocery stores have healthy alternatives, but look online for health food stores near you. Whole Foods, small health food shops, and Amazon all have great alternatives if you’re looking for meat, cheese and milk substitutes.
THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR:
The following items often have dairy and animal products in them when you wouldn’t expect them to!
Bread (milk and or eggs)
Beans and rice at Mexican restaurants (cooked in animal fat and chicken broth)
Natural, herbal supplements (often encased on capsule made of gelatin which is ground up animal bone)
Peanut butter (has mono and diglycerides in it, which is an emulsifier that helps blend oil and water, generally made from animal fat, but also can be made from vegetable fat as well. I prefer to buy natural peanut butter because it is simply peanuts and salt.
Crackers (mono and diglycerides)
Soups (creamy has milk, vegetable has chicken, or animal fat)
Boxed cereals (milk)
Pre-packaged oatmeal (milk)
Trail mix (yogurt covered raisins or m&m’s)
Spices (ground beef, etc.)
Ramen noodles and other pre-packaged soups (ground meat)
Vegetarian meat substitutes (egg whites)
Canned vegetables (meat chunks or broth)
Desserts (eggs, milk)
Drinks (milk)
And there are a lot more. If you notice, the common pattern here is “pre-made” not “homemade”.
Making your food at home is the key ingredient to ensuring that your food is 100% vegan!
The number one most important habit to get into, regardless of dietary preference, is reading labels! If you don’t understand what a word is, either leave the product on the shelf, or Google it to be safe.
GOING OUT TO EAT:
Depending on where you live, going out to eat can range from being super easy to being impossible!
When I visited California and the UK, vegan options were abundant while places in Texas and Louisiana are lost in time and don’t seem to understand the word vegan. Sadly, even a salad can be difficult to come by in these areas, and the best thing to do is do your research way before you go out to eat.
Ask your server. I used to be a server, and we don’t get offended or upset when you alter and modify your order. Ask as soon as you sit down, what options there are for vegetarian or vegan foods. Some servers know exactly what you mean and are very accommodating, others may not know and can find someone else to help.
As a vegan going out to eat, you have to get in the habit of modifying your food!
If your server doesn’t know much about the menu or what vegan means, my first go to is burgers. A lot of places now carry veggie burgers. Second is pasta dishes. Most of the time meat can be taken off of any salad or pasta dish. Next is pizza. Pizza is an easy fix if it’s not pre-made. Ask for marinara sauce. . . extra! And lots of veggies, with no cheese. Lastly are sides and salads because they’re not as filling, so I try to find something a little more filling than salad and a side.
Also, add-ons are great for vegans who have to take meat off. Sometimes it costs extra, but a salad with extra tomatoes or cucumbers, mushrooms and avocado really makes all the difference, and typically doesn’t cost extra if it already comes with it.
I am not allergic to dairy, I have made the decision to be a vegan for health reasons. So, if I am out to eat (which is rare – I make my food from scratch every day!) at times I will bend the rules and just make sure to ask that no cheese be added to my food, and of course I leave off the meat. Always. This way, it’s “mostly vegan” and I don’t have to nit-pick the heck out of my food. I feel at this point, it’s an okay compromise. But again, I rarely go out to eat. If I went out regularly, I’d suggest finding true vegan restaurants and making it a regular in rotation during the week.
Fast food: Know your fast food options. There are four main fast food restaurants I pick from: Subway, Taco Bell, Burger King and Moes. All of these have vegetarian options and leaving the cheese, sour cream and other dairy items off, is an easy fix.
COOK AT HOME:
The best option for saving money and following a true, healthy, vegan, lifestyle, is learning how to cook at home, from scratch.
I make my own granola, muffins and pancakes for breakfast, I make beans and rice, burritos, casserole, burgers, pizza, lasagna, etc. for lunches, and I also make crackers, soups, salads and parfaits, etc. for light dinners.
I was married to a meat and potatoes guy who hated vegan food, so I had to rise to the challenge of imitating the taste of regular foods in my vegan cooking.
The trick to vegan cooking is to utilize herbs, spices, natural oils and nuts for flavor!
Food has to taste good! The biggest mistake most people make when they go vegan is, they cook super bland. Also, they tend to leave out the legumes, nuts and seeds, which makes it like leaving the meat out of the meal. These foods are what gives your meals density and filler! Without them, you’ll be starving all the time.
Balance out your food groups, find good cookbooks, start pinning vegan recipes on Pinterest, gather your grub and make it happen! I have managed to fool many meat and potato eaters with the right use of ingredients. They didn’t even know they were eating vegan food!
I know you will probably have more questions about why a vegan diet is better than all the rest. That’ll be for another blog, and I’ll get there, I promise! In the mean time, check out my FREE list of 8 healthy snacks (below)! They’re vegan!
Have you ever tried to balance on one foot while holding onto a chair? Are you truly balancing? Balance doesn’t happen until we let go. I didn’t say balancing means you will never fall or that it is perfect the first time. But balance can’t be learned while holding onto a chair and never letting go.
Every day, we are subconsciously, and consciously, fed with things that are either overly perfect, or dramatically devastating. When comparing real every day life to either of these, real life becomes very weighty, and starts feeling out of control. It’s difficult to maintain balance in our minds!
The things we have to do, the lists we have to check off, and the deadlines we have to make, are physically easy to see, to touch, and to organize. But what about our inner peace, our minds?
Blogging about health and fitness keeps my mind focused on my own health and fitness. It makes my weakness super, glaringly clear, and in my face, all the time.
I know how to juggle mom life, follow a routine, change it up when I get board, workout at home, eat healthy, and drink plenty of water. I know how to make sure I am getting the right amount of sunlight for my vitamin-D and fresh air to calm my soul. I know how to meditate and “clear my mind of the clutter”, but. . .
. . . knowing, and doing are two different things!
It also reminds me that, no matter what I say, or what I do, real life is real life. It is easy to skip things when nobody is watching. But it’s also not that hard for me to do the do. What is hard for me though, is chillin’. (My boyfriend told me this yesterday).
I’ve had a rough past 5-6 weeks. I’ll just be honest. Even doing the do has been more difficult than usual for me . . . the mind clutter has been hefty!
The lack of balance between work and play.
That’s my problem.
Yesterday my boyfriend freed me of my chores and motherly duties and told me to go do something for me.
I decided to go hiking, but I was really upset when I walked out in nature and couldn’t quiet my mind. I needed to meditate, clear my mind, and let go of the tension, but it just would not happen. I ended up driving home early, frustrated and disappointed.
When I walked in the door, the house smelled glorious. Dinner had been made, the floor had been vacuumed and the dishes had been done. There wasn’t anything that I had to do. Suddenly, all the tension left, and clarity came. I thought how strange it was that it happened at home, once I returned. Not in the woods, not on my drive, not while I was alone.
Balance happens when we let go.
I expected and tried to create balance at a certain time, in a certain place, and in a specific way. When it didn’t happen, I thought, well this isn’t working. The fact that I was upset that it didn’t work made it even more frustrating. But when I got home and quit trying, it happened.
Now I’m not saying to quit trying. I’m saying, let go. Let go of the crutch that keeps you from gaining that strength, that inner peace, that center focus. We have to let go of what we lean on, of what we are holding onto that is keeping us back, before we can grow stronger in the next phase of our life, of our strength…
