http://blog.enrgpath.com/ enrgPATH.com en Copyright 2008 Sat, 26 Jul 2008 12:07:10 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification
One of the amazing self-care choices I have made, was to visit Amy Heinz of Integrated Massage Therapy. I have known Amy since the early days of her practice and now one must book in advance to get in to see her. She is very good at massage. Now, the massages I have been receiving have me using ice packs for several days after and taking hot epsom salt baths because I am so sore. But this is ultimately a good thing! My right shoulder muscles had bunched up so badly that my shoulder was curved forward and ONE inch shorter than the left shoulder. My low back on the left side was one large lumpy knot. My neck was sore all the time and of course everything in between was sore. After my first visit (it had been more than a year since I had visited) I marveled at how connected to my body I felt. I realized that in my pain, I had disconnected from my body. That was how I was managing to keep going at the pace I was going. As a result, I am doing several stretches everyday and being very mindful about my ergonomic habits.

Thank you Amy - you are my massage hero!

One more important piece of information: Campbell's Cafe is currently closed while the construction of the 42nd Street store moves forward. They also do not have any fresh produce during this time. They expect to be up and running in about 2 more weeks. In the mean time, Fresh Cafe is open from 11-3 Mon-Fri and New City Market at 48th & University has fresh produce.   

Raw Joy!!
angela
]]> http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/07/day-66-body-messages-massage-h.html http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/07/day-66-body-messages-massage-h.html Campbell's Nutrition Fresh Cafe and Market New City Market Raw foods enrgPATH massage benefits Sat, 26 Jul 2008 12:07:10 -0600
Fresh Cafe is now open from 11-3 Monday - Friday. I eat great meals there 2-3 times per week. And last Friday, Kerri delivered several wonderful raw food items to me for the weekend. She made mouth-watering gazpacho and a stuffed tomato and a rainbow salad. She is also making kombucha that is light and fresh and delicious. Stop by for lunch! Try out a hula hoop while you are there!

My friend Mary Boyvey teaches people the moves for hula hooping and sells ADULT size hula hoops! I had Mary and her hoops show us how it is done at a birthday party recently for my friend. The oldest women at the party did the best at hula hooping and had the most fun! Mary's business is Stillness In Motion. Look her up on enrgPATH!

Life changes are taking walks with my daughter everynight. Ok, so we walked two nights now, but it feels good and I think the habit will continue. I really want to learn to relax and not be always preoccupied with work.

Raw Living!
angela
]]> http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/07/day-47-life-changes-fresh-cafe.html http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/07/day-47-life-changes-fresh-cafe.html Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:10:07 -0600
What I know through this adventure is that I work too much. Even though I love a lot of what I do, I am almost always working. Probably just like my raw adventure, my life is a 90/10 split. I have about 10% of my time that is not wrapped up in planning, organizing, communicating, networking, and just plain working. And, without doing the math, I think that includes sleep. I just did the math and I sleep 6-7 hours a night which is 13-15% of the day. We can probably move the percentage up to 20% of each day as I have conversations with friends and co-workers and I might watch a movie and I try to empty my mind for a least a few minutes each day with meditation.

The bottom line is that I want to take better care of myself and for that to happen, I need more time for me and fewer jobs! And I need to stop volunteering to help out other great causes and give myself oxygen first.

I can't figure out how to save this post until tomorrow and really tomorrow is only 30 minutes away, so help me blog coach! How do I save entries and not post them early? I have the most incredible blog coach: Sandy Renshaw - she does TWO blogs all the time! I will post more info about her tomorrow!

My motto is Global Sustainability starts with Self-Care. I came up with that phrase more than a year ago...and I am still figuring out how to get there on a consistent daily basis. I want more life oxygen. I want a life! Not just work, even if it is promoting sustainability. Who wants to become sustainable if all they see is burned out and used up folks like me?

Raw thoughts,
angela

]]> http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/07/day-42-of-90-raw-thoughts-of-m.html http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/07/day-42-of-90-raw-thoughts-of-m.html Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:06:52 -0600 Campbell's Nutrition. And I am going to request a few new flavors! http://www.rawindulgence.com/

My new favorite is the Hazelnut Chocolate! It tastes like a dreamy brownie - one of the most coveted of foods for me. A good brownie is...well...a good brownie!

They were so kind (Thank you Alice B!) and sent me LOTS of samples to share AND a cool t-shirt. I will get my picture taken soon with it and the bars.

This is Raw Heaven! I will be sharing samples and posting my schedule soon so the locals can catch up with me and get a sample of Raw Revolution!

Loving Raw Life!
angela
]]> http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/07/day-41-of-90-revved-up-for-raw.html http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/07/day-41-of-90-revved-up-for-raw.html Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:11:47 -0600 Radiant Health Imaging) called me up and said I needed to bring the kids down to see the current show at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center- Robby Benson is the writer and star in the comedy musical. Well, I thought about it all week - I wanted to go, but I also wanted a weekend at home. On Friday when I was at lunch with my co-workers, I saw a poster and Robby's beautiful face beckoned me - I have adored Robby for 30 years - how could I NOT go see him. Hell, he traveled to IOWA! Small town Iowa even. So, I called Rick and said "Get us tickets - we will be there for the Saturday matinee." I felt I owed it to the arts to support Hollywood visiting Iowa. While Rick was choosing seats for us (he works at the ACC) he casually said "Robby is here talking to us right now." Suddenly, I can't get there fast enough!

Today I (really we, but this is about me!) saw Robby Benson, Karla DeVito (his talented and beautiful wife), and Stan Brown (a warm, rich, vibrating voice that sends - ya know, sends) perform a wonderful romantic, comedy musical. AND I shook Robby's hand and got their autographs because, of course, I had to buy their CD and his book. My teenage kids stood by while their mother went a bit ga-ga over her first movie screen love. It was Ice Castles and I was in Junior High. "Big Sigh" at fond memory - make that memories - I watched Ice Castles every chance I got. Sadly, my brain didn't register to GET A PICTURE! I am appalled at my brain malfunction here - right now, I could be posting a nice picture of me with Robby and Karla. I even had my camera in my purse. So, so sad. Here is the link to his official site with a spectacular picture: www.robbybenson.net.

Since this blog is about food I must tell you where we ate dinner - Small Planet Restaurant and Bakery. It is less than a block from the civic center and the smells are amazing. I was torn - nothing raw on the menu but a salad that I could make at home. I had a great juice beverage called the Ginger Snap and the bean and millet burger. They put squash in the burger along with other mouth-watering ingredients. It was heavenly! I am craving salt, so I indulged in their home made chips with lots of sea salt added. Small Planet does not have a web site, but you can get their address and phone number here: http://www.fairfieldiowa.com/chamber/business_dir.php?show=291.

I had another gift today - a package arrived from Raw Revolution - I will share it tomorrow when my brain cells are restored from my Robby encounter! They deserve a "revved" up entry of their own.

Angela
]]> http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/06/day-38-of-90-beautiful-iowa-da.html http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/06/day-38-of-90-beautiful-iowa-da.html Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:54:58 -0600
The color is not so great actually because blackstrap is, well, black. Mix watermelon with blackstrap and you get a pukish red-brown color. But I am not attached to it looking delicious, just tasting delicious and it does. Very refreshing for a summer time beverage.

One tip is that bananas always make everything taste better. If you get a smoothie with bitter greens in it or just an odd mix of flavors, add a banana.

I went to three green networking and education events tonight except one doesn't count because only one person was there when I arrived. I always meet great people! I always have fun! That is another blog though!

Raw Energy Happening Here!
angela
]]> http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/06/day-36-of-90-raw-food-secrets.html http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/06/day-36-of-90-raw-food-secrets.html Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:00:47 -0600
I am also extremely tired lately and decided to begin taking a supplement called MSM. It stands for methylsulfonylmethane. The jar says it supports joints. I don't know anything else about it, but Chef Robin and Chef Sheree strongly encouraged it. I would love some feedback from others about MSM.

I also tried some coconut water for the first time today and it is delicious! It has potassium, sodium, calcium and a host of other vitamins and minerals. It replaces electrolytes naturally.

Keeping Raw Faith!
Angela


]]> http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/06/day-35-weigh-in.html http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/06/day-35-weigh-in.html Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:05:58 -0600
In the Thermography entry I listed all the parts of my body that want attention, so one of my first stops was with Lisa Kamphuis, ARNP at Whole Woman Health. Lisa ordered some blood work to mark my current condition. I hadn't had my cholesterol or anything else checked in about 3 years, so I was curios what the results would reveal. Since I have been a "flexible vegan" for several years (meaning I only eat meat and cheese when there are no better options or the menu is limited or when I felt like eating the beautiful food in front of me)

My lab results were interesting: I won't list everything she ordered, I will just cover the abnormals. Damn, I left it in the kitchen and I think I am too tired to retrieve it.   :)

What is low: B12, iron, T3, red blood cells, white blood cells, Vitamin D and progesterone.
What is high: estrogen.

I had the blood labs for my hormones and there are different opinions about the accuracy - some feel that saliva testing is the only accurate test. I chose to trust Lisa's advice to use the blood testing for me and my situation. She offers the saliva testing also.

I did start taking a B12 supplement right away as that is difficult to achieve in a vegan diet. And I am consciously laying out in the sun for Vitamin D and I am trusting that the Raw Adventure will help my body to balance out the other items that are low. I also picked up some Blackstrap Molasses to add to my smoothies for iron, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Lisa did write a prescription for natural progesterone pills to be filled at a compounding pharmacy, but I decided to wait to fill it.

Tonight 5 of us dined at Dos Rios and talked about how to maintain the Raw diet in social settings and at restaurants. We had fresh, hand made guacamole and salsa with veggies. They were great about giving us veggies rather than chips. We had carrots, celery, jicama and radishes.

I forgot to take pictures...but it was Chef Sheree, Chef Robin, Daryl, Wendy and me. The information we gathered from the local celebrity Chefs was great! They will get it on their web sites soon!

Raw Joy and Raw Energy!
angela

]]> http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/06/day-34-of-90-raw-dinner-at-dos.html http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/06/day-34-of-90-raw-dinner-at-dos.html Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:40:43 -0600 Radiant Health Imaging, owned by Pam Ryerse. Pam has offices all over the Midwest - she covers Iowa and every state around Iowa. For more information, check out Pam's website. She has a done a great job covering the topic. She also does fantastic presentations for free if you have a group that is interested. (Thermography is completely safe! It does not use radiation.)

I had my complete body imaged, which breaks down into more than 30 images of various body parts. If you run into me, ask to see it - I probably have it in my bag! It is drying right now as my sun roof was open during the shower we had...  Pam, I might need another copy! :)

I have inflammation in my sinus' and teeth, my cervical spine (or neck), my lower back, coccyx, transverse colon, and my feet. In fact my toes did not show up due to lack of circulation in them. I also have a few vein issues in my legs and mild inflammation in my hands, knees, and feet. I have lived with most of this discomfort for a long time and I really was minimizing it, if not completely ignoring it. But seeing it in hot, bold colors made me sit up and take notice. I am doing some things in addition to eating raw and I will share more in coming days. I know most of these issues stem from being overweight for....ummmm....17 years. Ugh. I said it - I am in the position to lose lots of weight. That sounds nicer.  :)

Pam has agreed to image my full body again at the end of the Adventure to mark any improvements.

Raw JOY!
angela
]]> http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/06/day-30-of-90-lesson-on-thermog.html http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/06/day-30-of-90-lesson-on-thermog.html Overweight Radiant Health Imaging Raw Food Thermography Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:59:52 -0600 http://bunnyberry.blogspot.com/ - she is my inspiration today to write. Bunny does a video blog every day - every day! She is on day 68 of 100 days raw. She is energetic and funny and consistent! First of all, I don't have the guts to do a video blog and secondly, I am woefully inconsistent. I love to write and communicate, but I am tired of the computer at the end of the day.

I am pledging to blog three times a week from now until the end of the Adventure. And starting tomorrow I will tell you all the medical things I have had done before I started the Raw Adventure. I have lots of reasons to be pursuing balance and harmony in my body and I will start sharing them with you.

Overall, I am tired and last weekend I didn't plan ahead and found myself having to make choices between bad and bad. I had lost my camera card reader and just got another, so I will be posting more pictures soon.

As BunnyBerry Says: "Eat your veggies!"
~angela
]]> http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/06/another-adventure-to-check-out.html http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/06/another-adventure-to-check-out.html Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:28:25 -0600
And Chef Robin Moyer gave me Mock Chicken Salad this week that has me moaning in pleasure with every bite! And of course I stocked up on her gRAWnola, flax crackers and corntilla chips before she leaves for vacation. Oh, yes, and the chocolate cookies are a sweet treat that are for ice cream sandwiches. YUMMY! That demo had to be canceled last Saturday, but I think we can learn how to make them in July!

I realized my vocabulary is quite small - I keep wanting to use the same words to describe the food. Hopefully, this will expand my vocabulary AND make it more interesting and believable if I don't repeat myself. Tonight I shared samples of Chef Robin's Mock Chicken Salad and it was a hit! Adam wants to know when he can buy the Salad!

The creativity that comes with Raw Food makes me smile in gratitude constantly! When I picked up the two sacks of food from Robin - that is exactly what it smelled like in the car - FOOD. The aroma of real food, real herbs and spices are totally enticing me and exciting me.

Please tell me about your raw food experiences - I meet so many people that are enjoying raw foods and I want others to hear about why you chose raw or what have you made lately?

Raw Joy!
angela
]]> http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/06/raw-joy-fabulous-food-makes-ea.html http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/06/raw-joy-fabulous-food-makes-ea.html Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:50:10 -0600 Robin Juicing



















Raw Working Girls


















Corntilla Chips & Salsa































Flax Crackers

gRAWnola

]]> http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/06/corntilla-chips-salsaflax-crac.html http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/06/corntilla-chips-salsaflax-crac.html Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market RAWphoriaLIVE Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:56:12 -0600 http://rawfood.meetup.com/360

Yesterday (the last day of May) was such a blast! In the morning I was at the Downtown Farmers Market to buy food from my friends Robin Moyer and Kelly Ayers of RAWphoriaLIVE as they launched their fabulous raw food line in beautiful eco-friendly packaging! I took a few pictures of these amazing women and their booth and then some pics up close of the food and packaging at home.

After market, Kerri from Fresh Cafe and Market in West Des Moines, called to say she had some meals to deliver! I have pictures of one of them - I dove into the other meal before remembering I was going to take pictures. I can tell you the Eggless Salad was delightful and filling. She used fermented tofu and other delicious ingredients. Fresh Cafe and Market is closed right now until June 9. When they re-open they will be sporting a brand new menu offering raw cuisine and many dishes from their previous menu. She uses organic produce and has funky eco-friendly silverware and plates.

I have eaten VERY well this weekend! This afternoon a smoothie sounded good and what I have discovered is that bananas dominate the taste if you allow them to! I used fresh produce from Campbell's Nutrition:

• one banana
• 7 or 8 strawberries
• spinach greens (half the bag)
• one half of a cucumber
• a bit of filtered water

I love bananas, so it was easy to drink this down - the spinach is not even evident in the flavor. I think it would also be great with a half a banana and 10-12 strawberries. And no matter what you do, this drink will be green in color! They think I am crazy at work when I have this thick green drink on my desk, but they are packed with nutrition and they really are tasty! Campbell's Nutrition has a cafe and they make some of the best smoothies ever! Stop by the 42nd & University location to try one out!

As fellow raw foodist Bunny says at each sign off: Eat your veggies! (Link to her blog on side bar.)


]]> http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/06/day-11-of-90-and-raw-food-joy.html http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/06/day-11-of-90-and-raw-food-joy.html Campbell's Nutrition Fresh Market and Cafe Raw Food RAWphoriaLIVE Sun, 01 Jun 2008 17:07:53 -0600

]]> http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/05/exploding-container-of-vegidel.html http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/05/exploding-container-of-vegidel.html Raw Food Vegi-Delite Thu, 29 May 2008 13:05:52 -0600 What is the big deal you ask? The people I know choosing a Raw Food lifestyle are very, very healthy and vibrant. They made the choice due to a physical disease of one kind or another and found complete wellness with raw food. Essentially: I want what they have!

I will address some of my physical symptoms that led me to want to improve my lifestyle. Solid nutrition is a proven way to support the body and while I have drastically changed my eating habits in the past 6 years - away from pop, processed foods, high-fat foods, I have not lost any weight. I still have sugar cravings, hormone fluctuations. I still overeat and get tired easily. I meditate almost daily which helps tremendously with stress, but I don't always support my body with the right food. And I believe it takes several elements for wellness. Exercise is included on that list, but I don't make it a priority in my daily routine. I am going to focus on the best food first and see where that takes me. There are some amazing testimonials on-line. I will be adding in links to them soon!

On Saturday, May 30th, I will be at the Farmers Market as Robin Moyer launches her product gRAWnola! It is fabulous!  www.RAWphoriaLIVE.com 
The next food demo is Monday, June 2nd at East Village Books - please register at http://rawfood.meetup.com/360
There is another demo on Saturday, June 14th for raw ice cream!! details & registration at http://rawfood.meetup.com/354

living well today for tomorrow!
angela
]]> http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/05/what-is-the-big-deal-with-raw.html http://blog.enrgpath.com/2008/05/what-is-the-big-deal-with-raw.html events meditation vibrant weight loss wellness whole foods Mon, 26 May 2008 22:41:07 -0600