HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I started the first day of the new year by drinking coconut water from 2 coconuts. I then took a bike ride. It was the first time I rode my bike in at least 4 months, but I decided to do one of my hour rides since I've been getting to the gym consistently and staying active. I was still surprised that the ride was pretty easy.

Since I hadn't eaten before my ride, and because I'm trying to keep my weight on and build muscle, I ate 3 bananas when I returned. I was going to have my energy soup, but I decided to have the bananas first and wait an hour, so they can be digested before having my energy soup.

Tonight I am going to my daughter's house for dinner. My son and his wife are coming into town, and this will be our big dinner together (along with my parents, my husband, my son-in-law, and my grandchildren) I will be bringing a large salad and some date nut torte. I will also make sure I'm not too hungry before going, even if it means drinking a green smoothie.

I wish you all a healthy, happy, abundant & fit New Year!

Building Muscle on a Raw Food Vegan Diet.

Since becoming raw again, I could tell that my strength was improving when I was working out at the gym. Many times we hear people ask us where we get our protein. It is like a broken record, but these people are serious--they don't know.

How we as Americans have been brainwashed with the nutritional guidelines! There is so much information that isn't bombarded in the media. Of course, the media is meant to make a profit. There is no profit for the meat and dairy industry, if the average person found out that they didn't need to get their protein from dead animals and dairy!

Think about it...where do the apes, giraffes, hippos, horses, cows, etc. get their protein for their enormous muscles? From greens, of course. So, instead of getting my protein second hand, I'm getting it directly from the source.

Also, most carnivores do not realize that by cooking their food, their bodies are only able to utilize about 50% of the protein they are getting.

That is enough of my little soap box. I am just happy to report that since I've been consuming a raw diet since March of 2008, I've been able to consistently push myself more with my weight training.

I'm hoping 2010 will bring even better results. I'm am working on building more muscle to make sure I don't lose any more weight.

Our bodies are miraculous. If you feed it right and treat it with the respect it deserves, it can heal itself and give you the energy and health you need to live an active life.

Here are some links that might interest you. (Use your back button to get back to my blog.)

On Pace: Can vegan diet fuel an athlete? He says yes

Steve Pavlina

Raw Food Diet

Raw Food Videos

Raw Food Pot Luck Change Today!

Because of the cool front and the breeze, I've decided not to have the potluck at the beach today.

Instead, it will be at my condo, since we usually never have more than a handful of people.

Please call me for details and directions, if you plan on attending.

Thanks.

Viveca

Publish Post

Lifefood Gourmet

I FINALLY MADE IT!!! Today I took my parents to the Miami airport. Since I have been wanting to get down to Miami for over one and half years, it gave me the opportunity to go to Miami and finally get to Lifefood Gourmet.

I have to say that it was well worth the wait! I got misplaced along the way since my GPS didn't want to cooperate. John was very patient and helpful each of the 3 times I called for assistance.

Once I arrived, he met me with a smile. He was behind the counter preparing food for the women who had arrived previously.

The restaurant is cozy in size, but the food is fit for a 5-star, spacious restaurant. I decided to try the pizza because the crust was different than most of the raw food pizzas I have tried. I wasn't sure what I would think of pumpkin cream "cheese," but it was very tasty--not what I expected. I was very happy with my personal-sized pizza.

Now, for the dessert....YUM. I asked if they had cheesecake. John said they didn't, but they had a special today. It was pumpkin pie. I had a couple variations of pumpkin pie at a potluck I attended yesterday, but decided to give it a try anyway.

I was VERY happy I did. The pumpkin pie far exceeded my expectations! It had been removed from the freezer about 20 minutes or so before I got it. It felt a little frosty as I put my fork into it. It reminded me of a gourmet pumpkin ice cream. It was all I could do not to take another piece home for later!

Before leaving, I found out that John sells fresh coconut water in glass bottles. I bought one for a treat for later.

I will definitely go back to Lifefood Gourmet the next time I go to Miami. I may find 3 other people to share a ride with me.



For you convenience, I have listed the link below in the link section.

New Vegan Restuarant in West Palm Beach!!

I just found out that a new vegetarian restaurant opened in WPB last week. It is called Darbster. I checked out their menu and saw that in addition to salads, they do have a small raw food section. If enough of us patronize this restuarant, maybe we can influence them to expand their raw food selections.

This is the description I received:

Darbster is a unique vegetarian bistro with a creative menu that will appeal to both the vegetarian and mainstream dinner. Our goal is provide delicious, natural, organic and vegetarian friendly cuisine that will appeal to all tastes.

8020 S. Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL, 33405
561-586-2622


http://www.darbster.com

Raw Food Thanksgiving Potluck!

Here is the notice about this potluck that I received from Susan & Caroline. I plan on going & hope to see you there!

It's Thanksgiving!

Let's socialize!

Let's give thanks!

Let's eat some life-giving raw and living foods!

******* There's plenty of room, bring your friends! *******

THANKSGIVING DAY potluck!

Thursday, November 26, 2009
~ from 3:00 P.M.

at Susan and Caroline's

6800 Country Place Road - off Skees Rd (between Belvedere and Okeechobee, just west of Jog Rd.)

West Palm Beach, FL 33411

561 478-7444

The same guidelines apply as other potlucks -

Bring food (food is required) - enough for 10 people, if not more...

Please bring only organic, raw, vegan food to share (no animal flesh or eggs, no dairy, no cheese). Your recipe and your name placed next to your dish is important for those with special dietary concerns.

If you haven't made a lot of raw food recipes or you prefer to eat more simply, you can bring a simple green salad and a dressing made without vinegar.

For inspiration about what to bring, go to www.rawfoodinfo.com. Also, there are great recipe books out there - Rene Oswald has one www.ReneOswald.com , Jackie and Gideon Graff have several www.SproutRawFood.org, Rhio has a wonderful book - Hooked On Raw www.rawfoodinfo.com and there are countless others to choose from.

There's only 2 very small steps into our home... and two dogs - Sophie the Lab will be playing in the backyard, Sweetie the Yorkie will join us... $2.00 per person helps to cover our expenses

We hope you can make it!! PLEASE RSVP!!

If you have ANY QUESTIONS about what to bring, or wonder if the ingredients are okay, please contact me!

You can email me at VitalLongevity@earthlink.net or call 561 478-7444

To join or learn more about our group and our monthly events, follow this link:

http://rawfood.meetup.com/211

Next Potluck Sunday, December 6

Our next raw food potluck will be on Sunday, December 6 at 3:00 p.m. at Loggerhead Park.