the other day i was eating a banana and i had a light bulb moment. as i was peeling it, i was thinking WOW! i cannot believe something so perfect, literally grew out of the ground. no human can be credited with making this, it is literally perfection made by nature. the perfect thickness of a peel to protect the fruit, FLAVOR of the banana. WOW. so much more impressive than factory made food.
today i was at the farmers market and one of the guys at the stand i was at was cutting up a fresh pineapple. he offered me a slice and i gladly accepted. i bit in and experienced the sweetest juiciest most delicious piece of fruit. again, i thought, WOW. i know my eating style has changed my taste buds, and the ultimate reset has changed them even more, but i literally was thinking to myself " i cannot believe candy exists".
in the past i have read or heard health freaks say "fruit is like candy" so many times, and ive literally laughed. fruit is nothing like candy!! at the time, i deff thought candy was better. now, i have become one of those people. when such amazing flavor grows out of the damn ground, why is all that artificial crap even necessary. if you couldve tasted that pineapple.... youd ask yourself why "pineapple flavor" even exists. why dont we use the real thing? its kind of crazy!!
when you stop destroying your pallet with artificial flavors and refined sugars, you will taste the beauty that is natural food. i was never a fan of fruit... i didnt even buy it for the first year of my weight loss. but i knew it was good for me, so i eventually started forcing it on myself. i was missing out for a really long time!
i think what triggered this was something the teacher of the nutrition seminar said (dont worry, i still plan to blog what i learned, just havent made the time). he suggested we take a second to be grateful for our food before we eat it. you dont have to thank a higher power if thats not your thing, but just thank the food itself. i didnt really see myself incorporating that into my diet. but a couple days later, there i was staring at a banana with awe, and feeling SO grateful that banana exists. feeling so grateful for the farmer who grew it and the sun who warmed it. feeling SO lucky to be able to fuel my body with such perfection. that day i started silently expressing my gratitude for my food at most meals.
on tuesday i took a trip down south to do some hair-d0s for my friend Jenni and her kids and a friend of theirs. it was a treat as always. Jenni is a mother of 6 (one is old enough to be out of the house, another is a step son) who homeschools her kids, is a beach body coach, and an herbalist. she makes amazing natural soaps and products (lanabellasoap.com), ive blogged about her family before.
this trip, jenni took me over to BJs, because little did i know, they carry Gardein and organic products in BULK. its been years since ive been to a BJs and i had no idea how i was missing out! i got a HUGE contained of dates, a bigger than family sized black bean hummus, 12 black bean burgers, and like 9 servings of manderin chickn for $35!! thats enough faux meat to last me 3 months!! so frieken awesome!
after BJs we got to work with hair styling and then the fun really began! Jennis oldest in the house, Lexi, is quite the 14 year old chef. she offered to make a vegan dinner, so i obviously agreed to stay for dinner. she made rice and beans, a recipe her dad had taught her. lets just say i have had many versions of rice and beans in my days, and this was the BEST. i guess Lexi somehow knew i LOVE green olives, but rarely get to eat them, because she put them in the rice. i have NEVER had that before and boy was i missing out!! this is another example of a time i said a silent THANK YOU to the food i was eating, the farmers who grew it, and the cook who created it.
after dinner i got to draw a christmas tree on her son Rory's cast, enjoy christmas music and christmas tree decorating, play a couple rounds of "cards against humanity" (if youve never heard of this, you MUST download or purchase it!! HILARIOUS!) and ive saved the best for last! Jenni's husband is in the coast guard so is away from home often and unfortunately missed Hanukkah this year(they celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and Advent) . i was there on the 7th night of Hanukkah so i got to be a part of the menorah lighting ceremony! they have a video recording of their dad saying the prayer, and they played it on an ipad as Jenni and her youngest son, Finn, lit the candles. We also lit the advent candles. its funny because i grew up in a very catholic community and have never been part of an advent candle lighting! every time i go to Jenni's i leave with a greater appreciation of the things that actually matter in life. this trip was no exception. thank you for being an amazing host as always, Jenni!
today, i am exactly 3 weeks from running my first half marathon! i am up to running 9 miles without stopping!! coming from the girl who couldnt make it down the block a short 21 months ago, this is quite the miracle!!! also, tomorrow is weigh in day, and hopefully i will weigh in at 50% of my original weight!! fingers, toes, arms, and legs are crossed!!!!!