Environmentalism, exercise, and living a balanced existence

Bell Isle Park, 2010

I read an article online about environmentally safe products. The author of this article (L. Lee Scott) wrote a passage that stayed with me this is the passage "Environmentalism means living every part of your life with an awareness of how it affects the environment, and doing what you do while causing the least possible damage - or even while improving the environment." This may seem a bit off the beaten path for my blog however, today it's "Right on the money." As you know from my previous blogs, I am on a "self-organized" 365 day Raw Food and Fitness Fun Daze Craze for the year 2011. The majority of blogging I will do is geared toward the diet portion or balanced eating (as I like to call it). The Fitness portion will include all things fun and filled with exercise, yoga, stretching, swimming, hiking, etc. I have ambitious plans to DO IT ALL! So how does Ms. Scott's passage (above) fit into all of this? Well she talks about being labeled an Environmentalist and how she accepts that title. She speaks about awareness and the environment. These things touch deeply my journey toward a better, more balanced existence within our universe. For me, this is Environmentalism and it is the best way to describe my fitness fun during this 2011 journey.

I just uploaded a video to my you tube channel documenting my very first outdoor fitness journey. It takes place during the month of February and it's friggin' cold outside. My Guru suggested that we get out as soon as the weather permitted so that we can get ourselves adjusted to the outdoor workout and I agreed. It has been cold temperatures here and the place where we do most of our running is on an Island that sits between Windsor (in Canada) and Michigan (in the USA). As you know, temperatures drop the closer you are to any large body of water (I wish I could remember the science behind that....hahaha). When we got in the car to leave for the workout, the temps read approx. 50(+) degrees. By the time we arrived at the Island, it could have easily been 40-ish and lower with the wind chill factor (Br-r-r-r-r-r).

We have been told that the entire (outer perimeter) of the Island is approx. 5.5 - 6.2 miles around. That can go up or down if you jog across the bridge both on and off the island vs. driving across both ways. We, of course, drove across to get to the island. There weren't many people out at all. None of the usuals. We did see one bike rider getting a brisk ride around the island. I made it around the course and was sore for three days after (lol). My pace was slower than normal but I am sure I will get my speed up as we go out each day. When the weather is warmer, I will have more posts and videos so please check back with this blog as well as my You Tube channel.

For now, I have a couple of still shots taken from the video footage (the sound was terrible due to high winds as you will hear in the video). Take a look at the pics and leave some comments if you like. Thanks!

"The Guru Feb. 2011"

Fitness Fun Day inside, Jan. 2011

Official FIRST day outdoor fun, Feb 2011

After the workout! Jan. 2011

Prepare Irish Moss (seamoss)

My sea moss in gel form

I have been finding out so many different things about Irish Moss (sea moss). I have been reading little bits and pieces here and there over the past year or so. I recently needed to prepare some that I ordered online. I made a video of this so please watch it for more understanding of what I am talking about in this blog. My Irish Moss education began almost a full year ago when a good (online) friend of mine did a video and posted it to You Tube. She prepared a drink using this product and I was intrigued about it ever since. Whenever I would hear of it being used in a recipe or read something about it, I would pay close attention and try to understand what it was good for. My own basic understanding is that it is a sea vegetable. I didn't know much more than that until I actually considered making a raw condiment that listed Irish Moss as one of its ingredients.

Sea vegetables are nutritious according to the many online stores that sell it. When you get down to the basics, it would seem that a vegetable of any variety would do a body good. Although, there are some that require more preparation than others. I mean, it's not like a carrot, "pull it out of the ground wipe off the dirt and eat." For Irish Moss you must go through a little more than that . To understand what I mean by this please have a look at my video to see how I prepared Irish Moss for the first time EVER!

In the meantime, do yourself and your body a big favor and read up on Irish Moss. Find out what's good, bad, and/or ugly. Don't forget to consult your medical professional before adding/changing anything relating to your health and well-being. As we all know, too much of a good thing can ultimately be BAD.

Here are some other sea vegetables that I currently consume; not on a regular basis but often enough to mention:

Dulse Flakes
Kelp
Nori Sheets
Wakame
Arame

I did a search on google to find articles that were pretty current and informative. Here's one that I liked and hope you will also. SUPERFOODS: Sea Vegetables, Article by Maria RippoTo learn more about these and other sea veggies do a Google search. Don't forget to site your source so everyone can check out more information published by the author.

A day of Raw #42 - Irish Moss

Sea Moss after soaking for 24hrs.

I just uploaded a short video on Irish Moss. Not because I use it in everything and have tons of knowledge about it but because I DON'T (lol). Recently, I heard of Irish Moss (sea moss) when I was reading a good friends blog about a raw mayonnaise that really taste like the real deal. She mentioned that the recipe was online at the Renegade Health Show site. I took a look at the video done by Ann Marie Gianni and that's when I saw Irish moss for the first time. I ordered from a site online and wanted to post about it. If you or someone you know has recipes and additional knowledge (other than what I can get from google) please leave your comments below this blog page. Thanks and stay tuned for some of my recipes using this sea vegetable.

dried sea moss

sea moss just out of the package ready for soaking

dehydrated sea moss and re-hydrated sea moss

after soaking overnight, sea moss is ready for blending

blended sea moss becomes a liquefied gel ready for use.

Thank you for reading and please don't forget to check out the video.

The end of a 21-day Raw Transformation

I completed the 21 day transformation with the good folks over at live well now on Face Book. I don't know where the time went but I certainly enjoyed every day. Today, I have been getting things ready for the tax accountant and hubby "got my six" on this venture...hahaha We always make fun out of things like this and look forward to miracles to happen.

Anjii B Nov. 2010

I have also been doing some research on improving my internet exposure. I have some great ideas and look forward to sharing them with everyone. I am marinating some cauliflower and hope to have it done in a couple of days. I didn't take any pics yet but will be sure to make them when I finish the first steps. I also made some egg plant from a recipe I heard on the raw food world channel on you tube. For some reason, none of the recipes I have followed from them seem to turn out tasty. I think maybe I need to add some of my own familiar ingredients. The egg plant was bitter and I am not sure why Angela Stokes-Monarch mentioned that it was reminiscent of bacon??? I don't eat bacon and haven't in a very long time. When I ate meat I only ate turkey bacon and this dish didn't taste anything like it. Not even in the ball park. Don't think I will rely on any recipes from them any longer but I will certainly continue searching the you tube videos for more inspirations and raw food guru channels.

That's it from me for now, thanks for reading ....hasta mañana!