When the going get tough... Stay positive!

                           

I have lived a lot of  life for only being 29.  I have been through trials and triumphs some people never see, however I will spare you the details knowing there are plenty of others who have been through much more.  I have had some terrible as well as embarrassing let downs and some amazing achievements as most people have I assume.

I have mentioned that I am naturally a kind person.  I almost always have a smile on my face, try to see the best in everyone as well as everything.   I approach every day life with an open heart and open mind. 

Although I have always worked hard to see the best in every person who walks into my life, that has caused me to have a bad judge of character.  Due to the fact I have no judgement toward anyone it makes it easy to be taken advantage of, this is something I am working on.  I am not observant, yet I am intuitive, somewhat of an oxymoron however I assure you there is a difference.

Today I stand before you a proud, independent, positive woman, however I have not always been so positive.  There was a time in my life several years ago I wouldn't shed a smile, I was a pessimist, a downer if you will.  Part of being "organic" is about being positive.  When you give out positive feelings or vibes or a positive attitude you will receive them in return.

It took me years to train myself to always be positive, always look on the brights side, and always look for the rainbow in every storm.  I feel I have mastered positivity which is so important in our lives today.  I believe everything happens for a reason and although it seems tough at the moment ultimately every experience we go through is for a particular reason.  Although we can't see why today was bad, tomorrow may be amazing.  Don't get me wrong I am a realist, I know that when things go bad that alone is an awful experience, however looking for the positive in every negative helps me through. 

I am the type of person who always has a smile on her face, who will lift you up when you are down even if I'm on my death bed.  I would do anything for a laugh and ultimately want to make everyone happy.  If you were to ask anyone who really knows me they would say I am one of the most positive happy people they know.

Today I was called a negative influence by someone I hold on a pedestal higher than I probably should.  While initially this broke my heart, and yes I shed a tear, I had to realize there is a reason for this.  My organic life style is not about retaliation, or hate, or anger.  Perhaps there is deeper meaning here and there is something I must search inside myself to fix.  Perhaps there is an internal struggle with the important figure in my life who calls me negative. I have been blind sided by this comment however I have definitely learned when the going get tough the tough does in fact get going.

No matter what life throws our way, weather negative or positive,  we must remember there is a reason, it could always be worse.  Look for the rainbow in every storm.  Living the whole organic lifestyle is about being healthy and inner peace as well as positivity is what keeps us healthy, well-rounded beings.

Something I like to share, while every day may not be good, there is something good in every day.  You just have to keep an open mind and look for it, before you know it the good will fall in your lap!

It's not just about the food!

While much of the organic life style is about choosing a whole foods diet with out synthetic hormones and pesticides, there is a lot more to it that may not be realized.  I have been on the path to an organic life style for quite some time.  In fact for many years I have been called a "hippie" I embrace that name and take great pride in it! 

 

An organic lifestyle is not just about improving ones own health but also about promoting a healthy life for the environment.  Unfortunately I do not live in an area that makes it easy to recycle, however I do the best I can with the resources I have.   I recently started composting, If I have scraps of produce or egg shells etc.  I bought a juicer not too long ago, and have learned to waste nothing, I take the pulp out and put it in my flower beds.  Composting will give the earth the nutrients it needs to grow healthy plants!

 

 

An organic lifestyle is also about using natural cleaning products to keep the home free of chemicals.  I have used borax and vinegar for cleaning purpose for a few years now.  Although I have a long way to go before the chemicals are completely out of my home, I have made a particularly good start!  It doesn't just stop at home cleaning, cleaning the body as well.  I have recently started using baking soda as face wash, which you can also use on your body, my face has never felt so clean.  I have also been using raw organic coconut oil as moisturizer.  I am also very excited to be making my own fluoride free tooth paste soon!  Not only are these changes good for the enviornment, they are also good for the over all health of your family.

 

 



 

Another part of the organic lifestyle is natural medicine. Meditation and yoga are great ways to promote a healthy body, mind and soul.  You can also control a great deal of how you feel and think by what you chose to put in your mouth.  I have been taking a number of natural supplements for several years, I feel amazing.   It doesn't stop with supplements, there are natural remedies for virtually all illnesses.  With the proper nutrition as well as herbal remedies, your body has the power to heal itself, that is incredible.  Why put synthetic chemicals in your body if you don't have to.

 

For me this doesn't stop at herbal remedies.  For quite some time I have voiced that when I have children I would like to give birth at home with a midwife completely naturally.  Although the thought of a home birth really scares my family and friends, my mind is made up unless there are unforeseen complications in which case I will have to eat my words.  I have done research on home births and when the time comes I will be doing a lot more extensive research.

 

 

Lastly and probably most important thing is to always be kind.  Be kind to yourself, be kind to others, be kind to all living things.  The world has become so fast paced that people forget to slow down long enough to smile and give thanks for the things we are blessed with.  I am naturally a kind person, however my biggest struggle is being kind to people whom I have shown kindness to for long periods and never received it in return.  I am learning to let go and let live, be kind to everyone no matter if they deserve it or not.  In the end you will receive the greatest reward for your kindness!

Junk food vs healthy food cravings

 

   It has been over 3 weeks since my raw food detox!  What ended my detox was a dinner at Olive Garden, plans that had been set for a while with my Mom.  After cleaning out my system and riding my body of all bad chemicals and toxins that meal, though very tasty upset my stomach.  The next day I jumped back on my organic band wagon! 

 

When I was growing up, we didn't have a lot of money therefore we didn't eat out  a lot.  My Mom cooked every meal and to be honest I do not remember eating fast food unless on a car trip until I was in high school.  I remember a time in high school, my Mom had made a great home cooked meal, but I was thinking Arby's.  A friend of mine said he would gladly take me to Arby's in exchange for my home cooked meal.  I learned that his Mom didn't cook so they ate out often.  It was then I became aware that not every one's parents cooked at home.  Fast food was relatively new to me, being young and not knowing the effect it has, it was a treat to me.

 

About eight years ago, I went on vacation and realized I could in fact live without it.  After I got back, I gave up fast food for a while, though over time with my hectic schedule it crept back in.  Over the past few years I had given up McDonald's after hearing they are cruel to their animals and so full of preservatives their food does not digest properly.  I had also given up Taco Bell after learning on boxes of meat they keep in the freezer it reads, "Grade D still edible."  Although none of it is good for you that was a start for me and now I have once again swore it all off.

 

I have never been a junk food junkie, however like everyone else I would get a craving and indulge in a guilty pleasure on occasion.  Even before my organic switch I chose to eat more healthy items.  Since my early-mid 20's I would without question chose a home cooked meal over eating out any day of the week.  I guess all those home cooked meals growing up paid off!

 

Previously I would randomly crave things that were not healthy, a fast food burger, chips, brownies etc.  Since my detox I have noticed I don't crave those things anymore.  Cravings I get instead of bad food now are almonds, or broccoli, and my most recent craving cucumber.  I researched and found once your body is clean of all the bad food chemicals and toxins you don't crave it anymore.  When you crave food after a detox it is your body telling you what nutrients it needs. 

 

I enjoy packing my lunch, it's cheaper, it's healthier, and I have a super cute lunch box that no one even has to ask who it belongs to, it screams my personality!  When I package up dinner left overs, I pack it into individual serving size containers.  This way I can grab it to throw in my lunch box, or dump it out to reheat in one serving.  I've been doing this for years, it is very convenient!

 

I would rather crave something healthy any day!  It's been 3 weeks, my body still feels great and my mind is clear.  I feel so good I don't want to go back to the way I ate before!

 

 

Where do you get your Protein?

     The most frequently asked question I receive while fasting meat is, "where do you get your protein?".  A vegetarian will not die from protein deprivation.  I have found through research that most Americans intake more than enough protein daily, and are getting too much protein from animal sources.  While protein plays the starring role at the dinner table, it should be moved to a supporting role if you choose to eat meat. 

The average person (excluding pregnant and nursing women, athletes etc.) should intake 45 - 55 grams of protein per day.  Excess protein will not make you stronger but more likely turn to fat due to the caloric intake.

A cow did not eat another cow to get protein, and an elephant did not eat a steak for protein.  Leafy greens and vegetables have more protein than they are given credit for.  A 6oz steak has 30g of protein, That is already more than half of what an average person should be eating. There is 7.5g of protein in one cup of raw spinach, 10g of protein in 2 cups of broccoli, and 18g of protein in 1 cup of lentils just to name a few.   Fruits, nuts, and beans are also viable sources of protein.

I am not vegan, so I also consume dairy products such as cheese and yogurt, organic and rBGH free of course.  I also receive protein from organic whole wheat sources. 

You can rest assured that any vegan or vegetarian in your life is certainly getting the protein their body needs!

What is organic food? (Friday's are my favorite!)

Friday's are my favorite!! 

Last December my Mom almost died from a perforated gastric ulcer.  Basically, she had a dime size hole in her stomach which caused everything that shouldn't be inside the rest of your body, to leak into hers.  She had emergency surgery and spent 5 days in ICU, a very scary time for our family. 


Previously to this event my relationship with my parents wasn't the worst, but certainly not what it had the potential to be.  My life is very busy and I never stopped long enough to make time to visit with my family like I should.  I feel the whole experience has made us all put the past behind us, grow closer and be the best we can be to each other.  No one will ever have your back life family does. 


A few months ago I started going to my parents for dinner every Friday night!  I love to cook from scratch, so my Mom would pick out a new recipe and we would cook for the bunch of teenage boys and my Daddy.  I look forward to this every Friday, weather we are making something simple or something fancy enjoying time with my family is the best!


Two weeks ago I cleaned out my pantry and boxed up anything that was made with a GMO to donate.  I am slowly rebuilding my pantry with Organic healthy food.  Organic food is grown or made with out pesticides, chemical fertilizers, GMO's or food additives such as artificial colors and flavors.  Certified organic products can not intentionally contain genetically modified products.  The synthetic chemicals in food is what causes a lot of people food allergies, illness, disorders and diseases.  Not every health issue is caused by food, however looking at statistics since the 1980's or even 1990's when GMO's were first introduced in our food, there has been a significant increase in health issues among Americans. 


Organic food is more expensive due to the fact it takes a minimum of 2 years to prep the soil in order to grow organic food.  Organic farmers do not receive any federal subsidies, and growing organic crops are more labor intensive.  I have a quote I always like to share, "You can pay a little extra for food now, or pay a lot to the doctor later."  It is not easy or cheap to switch your whole life to organic, start slow and buy one thing at a time if you have to.  Over 40% of Americans buy organic food weekly and this number is growing steadily.  The more people buy organic the lower the cost will be.  My best friend and I have a saying every time we check out at a grocery store we say "we voted".  Every time you purchase an Organic or Non GMO product you are voting for what you want and that is better food!


Last Friday was my first Friday with my family where my meal had to be Organic.  It was cold, so we chose to make soup.  Well, I had a pot of my own organic soup and my parents had there own conventional soup!  Hey we still cooked together right!  Mom asked me what I wanted to eat this week, when I gave her a list of ideas her response was "how is that organic?".  When I tell people I only eat organic "what do you eat?" is the general reaction I receive.  Though I am not opposed to trying this, people look at me like I live on nuts and berries!  I believe there is a misconception about it, you can make ANYTHING organic.  You can buy almost any product you want or need in an organic form, and for the products you cant find make them!  There is nothing  more satisfying then eating something you created completely from scratch!  Best of all you know where it came from, whats in it, and the love that was put into every bite!

The small minded

    I have discovered that eating strictly raw foods is not the life change for me.  That being said a whopping 51% of your daily meals should be raw vegetables and fruits!  Not too hard to maintain if you start your day off with a piece of fruit for breakfast!  I did get some amazing oranges from whole foods recently!   I could probably get a whole glass of orange juice out of one orange they are so juicy!  I eat them outside and throw the orange peels in the bushes.  I had an issue with kitty's using my bushes as a litter box (probably because I feed the strays).  One of my clients mentioned cats do not like citrus fruits, so I throw the peels in the bushes and it seems to be working!


The truth is I'm a very picky eater.  While I enjoy a lot of veggies, there are alot I do not enjoy.  I don't eat any beans what so ever.  After thinking about veganism I have settled on being an organic vegetarian and am happy! Baby steps, for right now I do not eat enough to be vegan. I am avoiding GMO's (Geneticly Modified Organisms) like the plaque, as everyone should!  Look for a vegan post in the future though, as I love using my body to experiment with different healthy ways to eat.


This is not about losing weight, this is about being healthy, curing ailments with food and above all having a body that feels great all the time inside as well as out.  You can literally change your mood just by the choices you put in your mouth, to me that is an incredible thing!


I am over-whelmed with small minded people telling me things such as, "I'm going to die any way I might as well eat what I want and be happy" or "I've lived this long doing what I'm doing."  I realize the healthy lifestyle is not for everyone but don't knock someone who enjoys being healthy.  Yes it is inevitable we are all going to die at some point, but why not enjoy a happy healthy long life.  Do these people not want to be healthy for generations to come?  I look forward to children, and grand children or being the fun crazy aunt for my future nieces and nephews. 


I am completely irritated by the lack of support, mocking and small mindedness I have endured just in the past two weeks.  My life is about positivity, kindness, lifting people up when they are down, and giving back.  Apparently asking for the same in return is ridiculous. 


I was asked to start this blog and facebook page Organic Girl in the City by an awesome friend of mine who enjoys the healthy life style as well.  She thought the changes I felt in my body as well as mood were great enough to share.  She has been healthy for quite sometime and felt it might be good for someone who is just starting out to document changes for others just starting out. 

If  you are not interested in the positivity, wellness, and information I have to share simply do not like my page or read my blog.  Please do not ridicule be for being happy and healthy easy as that.

An enormous thank you to my Momma, family and friends who understand the wellness path I am on!  Your support is nothing short of amazing!  From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU!

The Raw Food Movement

 

  After my minor panic attack over the chemicals the government allows in our food supply I went to the extreme.  I have been following multiple raw food blogs from several people I just knew that was the answer!  All I was going to eat was raw organic produce, nuts ands seeds!  I follow this awesome girl named  Dara on you tube who posts raw food recipes.  She's naturally beautiful, vibrant and full of life, who wouldn't want that?!


So I made a trip to the grocery store to buy a bunch of Organic produce, I was proud!  This was my new way of life!  I couldn't wait to start my raw food detox!  The first as well as second days went great, I felt fine no with drawls.  By day 3 the roughage had definitely hit my body and the toxins were making there way out, very frequently lets say.  Luckily for me I had read the symptoms of detoxing and knew they were flu like symptoms.  Though I never felt flu-ish, I was lightly shaky. I knew my body was definitely cleaned out and rid of toxins!


By the end of day 5, I felt amazing!  Though I'm not what you would call over weight I dropped 3 pounds just by getting all the toxins out of my body! YAY! an added bonus for any girl!  I had more pep in my step and definitely felt better.


The harsh reality is we are coming up on the holiday season.  Although I have an amazing will power I kept hearing my mothers voice yelling, "You better be over this by Thanksgiving!"   Gee thanks Mom! Then all I could think was I cant live on raw food, I like soup in the winter!  I knew I wasn't ready to go back to meat.  There is no way I can un-see what I saw in those documentaries. 


For the past two years I have given meat up for Lent (I'm not Catholic).  I would give it up for the full 47 days.  I loved meat so much this was a definite sacrifice for me.  During this time my family and friends were always super supportive of my decision to give up meat.  All the while knowing the sweet reward of Daddy's deliciously decedent smoked brisket for Easter dinner.  This brisket is beyond any restaurant, any chef, anything thing else I have ever tasted.  Brisket so tender you have to eat it with a spoon!  Devine!   I'm not saying this choice is forever, however at the moment I'm not even tempted by the deliciousness that is Daddy's brisket!


At this point I have ended up in a stand still with myself.  I cant live solely on raw foods through the winter although it is an awesome detox.  I need soup as well as hearty meals to warm my bones!   I felt so good on the inside I didn't want to taint my body.  How was I going to keep the chemicals out and feel so vibrant on the inside?!  Veganism?  I had dinner plans with my Mom in a few days, I didn't want to break plans due to my... not diet... my new way of life!...   What the heck am I supposed to eat?!... I may have discovered it!

The back story

    Let me start with a little back story, I am 29 and live in Oklahoma City. Although I do not have any children as of yet, I do have 2 cats 1 dog and 2 jobs that keep my days long and busy! I work retail by early morning and am a hairstylist by day as well as evening. My retail jobs wakes me up at 4am and styling hair keeps me as late as 9pm sometimes. I love my busy life and honestly wouldn't want to have it any other way.

 

For the past few years I have been some what healthy, limiting the obvious bad choices such as soda, fast food, and junk food. I take plenty of vitamins daily, cook most of my own meals and made what I saw as healthy choices per society. I have enjoyed studying holism at times and had been integrating this to my life wherever I felt convenient. I would purchase vitamins suggested for certain things as well as occasionally buying organic produce when I thought about it.

 

A little over two weeks ago my life changed. I watched two different food documentaries the first documentary was Food Inc.. This started the change in my life. What the government passes as healthy for humans to ingest and how so called "farm animals" are treated and fed is beyond me. I could not believe what I was seeing. I was a meat eater, before this documentary my signature phrase was, "It's not a meal if it doesn't have meat". I can tell you I haven't eaten meat since I watched this movie. I have had no withdrawals and am happy with my decision.

 

I am no stranger to farming, I feel I am the perfect mix of country meets city. I have grandparents in northern Missouri who own a century farm. I spent the greater half of my childhood summers experiencing life on the farm. I have bottle fed calves, seen the cows getting milked, etc. I spent many days in the combine on the fields or planting seeds learning how things are grown and where Americas meals come from. I never saw what really goes on in factory farms until watching these documentaries.

 

The second documentary I watched was Genetic roulette. This one changed my life the most. About genetically modified organisms (GMO's). I didn't even know these existed, as I assume most Americans don't. In short a GMO is the result of laboratories taking genes from one specific species and putting it into another species that wouldn't usually mate such as a spider and a goat (yes this happens) in order to get a desired trait. A company named Monsato (also known for making agent orange during the Vietnam war) owns 90% or US agriculture where they make genetically engineered crops the two largest crops are corn and soybeans. They use a virus or bacteria to inject the seeds making the plant able to with stand being sprayed with pesticides. They call these "round up ready seeds" and was started in the 1990's. When a bug takes a bite of the plant it's stomach will explode. Sounds really appetizing and safe for humans. You can read more about this at http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/.GMO's are banned in Europe and multiple other countries shouldn't that be a red flag?

 

After watching those documentaries I couldn't sleep at night, had nightmares, woke up in a frenzy, I couldn't believe what the government was allowing in our food. This is why so many diseases as well as obesity are so rampant in our country. We believe we are making healthy choices when in actuality we are writing our own early death sentence.

 

The very next day I cleaned out my pantry and went to the extreme. I shared the events that I will be writing about in the future with a friend/client. She suggested I write a blog about my experiences to come after changing my food intake.  Thus "Organic Girl in the City"!