Making My Way Back with a Glass of Vitality

     After a long hiatus, due to more illness, surgeries, family issues, and a few other bumps in the road along the way, I have (very) slowly been making my way back into the kitchen( and garage) and by request, back to updating this blog. This year I am looking forward to a healthy year along with the many new adventures in store for my family. My focus this year is health...well, actually nutrition. Nutrition for the body. So many things out there claim to be healthy for your body, when in fact it is further from the truth. My goal is to further my journey into providing whole food nutrition deliciously for myself and my family and share some of those experiences with you.
    First I'd like to take a moment to reflect upon these past few years. While I cannot say that these past few years have been filled with much productivity or continuous joy, I find that I am grateful that my situation was not worse, which I know it could have been. During these past few years, I have learned much about gratitude, food and my body. I now am able to understand many of the messages that in the past translated only to "I don't feel so well." I now know what contributed to my health issues, some that I suffered with for over 25 years and others that came about as my system began unable to function properly. I've also learned the remedy for these problems.
     I have learned that my body LOVES, make that NEEDS yoga. This has been the most consistent physical activity I have been able to manage these past few years. Had I not become ill in the first place, I would never have considered yoga. It was a last resort, because I needed something "easy" that I could try to do to maintain some level of physical fitness--I seriously thought well, at least stretching is something.  What a misconception that was; it is so much more and has been a staple through these past few years. It has been one of the foundations for regaining my health along with several other benefits: relief from my ongoing back issues, toe pain, and knee issues. Before I started becoming ill, I was struggling with knee pain during my runs and was using braces on both knees. Since I have restarted running, I have had no knee issues and haven't used the braces once.  I also have found on the days that I practice yoga before I run, I perform better. My flexibility is astounding.  Another benefit that I love is that I am actually toning; while still not the ripped and trim body shape I've envisioned for myself for years, my muscles are leaner and more defined. In the past, I've turned to weight lifting which produced results of big muscles without the definition (not really any girl's dream).  I also find that I am relatively more calm, while I still have a long way to go before I can say I am able to remain calm in all situations, I  am finding that I am able to let more things slide and perhaps only murmur rather than be ready to go to blows. Can you tell that I love yoga?
      One other surprising result of the past few years has been the lowering of my expectations. This might to be thought of as a bad thing, however, it has instead been a blessing for myself and my family. Before I had become ill, my expectation was perfection and I was left frustrated and severely disappointed on many occasions.  During the past three years, I had to let everything go.  At first, this horrified me and I fought against it in every way possible, then I began to apologize for it all, as I was ashamed to be what I considered a failure, then I accepted it. I began to thank people for their help with toting kids to various activities, helping with meals/snacks and even with the efforts of cleaning.  In reality, this inability to perform up to my expectations led me down a path of understanding how to be truly grateful for my life and the people in it. It has allowed me to fully appreciate my numerous blessings. Now that I am back on my feet, I am not striving for perfection, but working towards manageability. While I still feel that so much is still out of control (ie, "M's Mess"), I know striving toward perfection is unattainable, especially as there is much beyond my control. Instead I need to work towards a solution that allows for the bumps in the road while functioning for not only myself, but my family, as well.
     I find that I am looking forward to this new year not so much as for what I can accomplish in it, but too see what amazing things lie ahead for me, my family and my friends. This past year has been a difficult one for almost everyone I know and I hope I am able to help everyone have a better 2015. I understand now more than ever, that life is not about the destination, but it is about the journey. Often times, our anticipated destination is detoured several times over to the point where we are on an entire new path. It is how we maneuver that journey, including our manipulation of the bumps in the road or the steep mountains, as they may be, that truly determines our successes or failures.

     Now onto an ever important recipe.  This is a practical recipe for everyday well-being. This will not make your tongues wag or mouths drool as you await the ever yummy goodness that you will be creating, but it is surprisingly tasty and I guarantee within days of adding this to your regular eating regimen, you will in fact, look forward to this glass of splendidness. This has been an essential part of my new and improved health; after a few days of being lazy going without, I am quickly reminded I can't. It is chocked full of nutrients that our bodies are lacking and quickly replenishes them. This particular version I have found to be a remedy for dehydration, without all the added created ingredients that exist in many electrolyte drinks. My body has come to depend on this concoction, if you will, to recover after an intense (ie, sweaty) workout or a laborious day (though I would not recommend before bedtime, well, if you like to sleep, anyways.  I  find that I dehydrate quickly now and if I don't rehydrate quickly, I will develop a dehydration migraine (it's like being glutened without the stomach pain).  While my homemade electrolyte tonic helps, this is THE drink that rehydrates me as needed.  It also serves up quite the energy punch and gives a much needed boost to the immune system.  I actually find this drink to be extremely refreshing, especially after a workout, and look forward to it (not drool worthy) daily.

A glass of Vitality: Carrot Juice

Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups water
3 carrots, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 celery heart with leaves, chopped
1/4 - 1/2 cup cilantro
1/2 large or 1 small apple, chopped
1/4"-1/2" slice of ginger
1/4 lemon, juiced
1 large handful of greens (optional)
1/8-1/4+ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1/4+ tsp ground turmeric (optional)

In a high-powered blender (ie, Vitamix, Blendtec...Nutribullet works, though not as well), place all ingredients in order except for spices. Pour the puree into a milk bag and extract the juice (ie, squeeze the bag until you have only pulp left in the bag) into a bowl. At this time, stir in spices. Add ice to a glass, if desired. Pour juice over ice and drink for your well being.

If you have a juicer, follow your juicer instructions.

A(n) (important) side note: you can change this recipe according to taste preferences and what you find works for you. However, I caution you to not omit or change the lemon. I find it barely palatable for some reason without it and lime just doesn't work with it (at least to me).  Cayenne and turmeric are great for boosting your metabolism and immune system, as well. I also find they work great for relieving stuffy noses and sore throats.