Organic Half & Half

On Day 28, I started a 36 day fast. It was the most difficult one yet. I started after dinner on Day 28 and then ate again for breakfast on Day 30. I’ve been asked the same question by several people: What did you learn? I don’t think I’ve truly processed it yet and maybe I won’t. Maybe a part of the lesson continues on the remaining two fasts I have in this cleanse, which will be 42 hours and then 48 hours. I think first, I saw how food consumes our lives. We are just a society of consuming. It becomes our obsession to simply consume. Now I don’t know where the line is between enjoying food and being obsessed with consuming. It’s probably a fine line. Maybe it starts in the condition of our heart. Are we truly grateful for the food on our table? While my friends and wife were enjoying Roasted Hatch Green Chile Mashed Potatoes and Grilled Flank Steak, I had a tiny bit of comfort knowing I would break my fast with Cinnamon Raisin Ezekiel 4:9 Toast with 6 strips of bacon. I knew there would be an end to my hunger. Most people in the world don’t know when that day will come. It was in that brief moment of hunger that my paradigm shifted on how to be thankful for the food God has given me. It is simply a gift to be born in this country. A gift I did nothing to earn. I also learned that SB with no food in the tummy can become very moody. Amazing how it affects our minds and the way we respond to people. Thankful I have an amazing wife that would encourage me through this entire process but food has an interesting power. The abundance and the lack of it can have overwhelming effects. Even if it’s for one meal, I encourage everyone to try fasting. I am just beginning to learn how this can deeply impact my journey to discover Jesus more…and as I learn, that I will be eager to share.

I texted back and forth with one of my closest buddies who is up at Princeton and he was telling me about a fast he will be doing because of the hunger situation all over the world. He said he might give up meat for awhile or do various things. As I heard this while on my 36 hour fast it inspired me to change things up for this next week. For 3 days next week I will eat only 4 things. Raw milk, lentils, brown rice, and carrots. It’s a small way to maybe teach myself what it’s like when the majority of the world doesn’t get to eat like me. And once again it’s more for humility than change of lifestyle. It’s to know that what I have is by grace ALONE. Could it change certain aspects of my life? I hope so. What those will be I don’t know.

My buddies and I got up early yesterday and hit the road at 7am for our very first MILK RUN! It was like I was in college again. Minus the Mountain Dew with “Sonic” ice, Chili Cheese Fritos, and King Sized Twix bar. And I wonder why I weighed 250+ ☺ We were driving 50 miles southwest of Dallas to a small country town called Kemp. As we turned on to the farm road you could smell the complexities of city life drift away. Windows rolled down in the VW Rabbit and country air blowing in my face…I couldn’t help but smile and laugh at how simple things like a country road drive early on a Saturday can make my heart beat faster. When we pulled into the farm you could see the dairy cows grazing off in the distance and to the right were 125 chickens just footloose and fancy-free. I was shocked at how small their farmhouse was, considering they raised 9 children in it! It couldn’t have been more than 1500 sq. ft. They had a tiny little “Farm Store” and that’s where we went to pick up our delicious goods. We had all of the raw milk and cheese we were getting but one thing was missing. The eggs. A farmer down the road was bringing his eggs because the 125 chickens were just not ready to lay eggs yet. So it was fun to just chat with the lady and talk about buttermilk biscuits and how to make butter. Oh, and here was the best part. She told us they just planted the Winter Rye so the cows would have grass all winter. She explained how the butter we would be making at home would start to turn almost orange and the flavors would be super rich. And then she uttered (pardon the pun) these words, “And wait until you drink the milk, it will be incredible.” I felt my knees go week. “How is this possible?” I thought to myself. I have had almost euphoric experiences with how creamy and tasty the milk already is. And supposedly as the weather cools the flavors in my mouth will only get better?! I almost shed a tear. Inside I was doing the “Elaine dance,” and outside I said, “Tell me more of this goodness you talk about.” We left with a deeper appreciation for food that gives us life. And even though today I can’t live a life like those Mennonites I pray I can learn little things that I can apply here in the Big D.

This morning, I have read some Corinthians, blogged, and now I must eat. This morning’s menu:
*Hot Enfusia
*Tall glass of ice-cold nectar of the gods…I mean raw milk.
*Farm Fresh Eggs – over medium
*Brisket left over from dinner
*Sprouted Corn Tortillas
*Ezekiel 4:9 cinnamon raisin toast with raw cream cheese (I made some the other day and mixed in berries)

I’ll take that over cereal and toaster strudel any day of the week.

SB

“I can show you the world. Shining shimmering splendid…A whole new world, a new fantastic point of view…”

Aladdin said it best and last night I think I got a glimpse of what Jasmine experienced on that magic carpet ride. I crossed over into what many think is a scary, forbidden place. But this morning I write to you from my kitchen table with a huge smile on my face and a tall glass of ice cold raw milk in my hand. We tried it for the first time last night as many gathered for the closing ceremonies of the Olympics. There was an excitement in the air and at the same time a bit of nervousness. If you could have seen us, we were treating the jug of milk as if it was vodka or some aged bottle of scotch. We waited until the Peanut Butter Banana Cake came out of the oven and with a clink of the glass we toasted to new beginnings.

Smooth. Rich. Full of flavor. Honestly it was the best glass of milk I have ever had. I didn’t know what to expect and if I had to describe it, I would simply say it was an amazing glass of whole milk. I guarantee you if I was serving it to someone who didn’t know it was raw they would have no clue. But what makes it special is not in the taste, but all the magical things going on behind the scenes. So the big question: Why is raw milk so good for us? That’s easy…

When I refer to raw milk, what I’m talking about is milk that is straight from the cow. No processing, heating, or damaging of any kind. Simple milk. Below is a breakdown of some of the many amazing things this food has.

Proteins: Amino Acids are crucial for a lot of the functions in our body. They help build proteins to help create hormones that our body needs like serotonin. Raw milk has all 20 amino acids including all 8 essential amino acids. The essentials are the ones our body cannot make and we need to get them from outside sources.

Enzymes: These bad boys help the whole process along. They are great for digestion, absorbing all the good stuff like calcium from the milk. God put these guys in here to make everything work. If we want to enjoy all the benefits of milk, we need enzymes to make it possible.

Vitamins and Minerals: Well, milk is full of all the great vitamins we all love to put in our body. Calcium is one of our favorites. But instead of listing them all out you guys can do your own research.

The list goes on…beneficial bacteria to good saturated fat. It has all the basic things our bodies need to feel great and amazing. Well, the next logical question is, “What is the difference between raw milk and the stuff I get at the store? Is there a big difference?” Here’s what the FDA and the milk companies are not telling you…

Pasteurization: this is when they heat milk to high temperatures. As a matter of fact, so high that they kill of all the enzymes and destroy some proteins and vitamins. Why is this a problem? Well, remember what I said about enzymes? Yep. So if there are no enzymes in your store-bought milk, then guess what? You can’t absorb calcium, its hard to digest, and many more complications. So sorry guys, milk does NOT do a body good. And if you’re scared about salmonella…all the outbreaks over the last several decades are from pasteurized milk including the big one in Illinois that slam dunked over 10,000 people. But you never hear about those stories. Bottom line is, when you heat milk, you lose all the wonderful things. Oh, and you know they add things to your milk so it doesn’t smell bad when you open it. When I opened this jug of raw milk it was fresh and clean-smelling.

I can go on about homogenization but no need. When we get our hands on things, we tend to screw it up. I say keep it simple and eat as God wanted us to. Last but not least, listen to you body. Even though raw milk is great for you, some people still can’t do dairy. The majority of people who have a problem with dairy have a problem because of pasteurization. But there are still some who can’t do it raw. Listen to your body. When you eat a piece of chicken your body likes it. When you eat ice cream your body hates it. Just listen.

SB

Yesterday I finished my 30 hour fast at 1pm. I broke it with sprouted brown rice mixed with butter and spicy ground pork. About an hour and a half later I started to get a headache and not feel good. I had to even lie down and sleep a bit. I’m not sure if it’s because I was coming off the fast or because I ate too much. Did I not drink enough water? Maybe it’s the pork? Even though it’s free range and hormone-free there is a huge divide on how people feel about pork. God didn’t like it back in the day and there is plenty of scientific nutrition research that points to why we should stay away from it. But I’m on the fence. As I figure it out in my own life I’ll let you know! The next time I come off a fast, I plan to eat something super light like a salad with chicken. But I feel good today and I’m learning from a spiritual perspective that a cleanse is not just for my body but my mind and heart. It has a lot to do with resting. And I hope to learn more as I practice this spiritual discipline.

Today my Country Boy friend went back home to Athens, TX. On the way he stopped at a farm in Kemp, TX called Full Quiver Farm. Why the stop at this little farm? Raw Milk. He picked us up 3 gallons and tomorrow evening I will be having my first glass of ice cold raw milk. I have had plenty of raw cheese and it’s amazing. But I’m looking forward to what this delicious stuff will be like. Probably rich and creamy! I’ll try and post tomorrow about why pasteurized dairy is bad but raw milk is amazing for you.

He told me the farm is owned by a Mennonite family that truly lives the simple life. The lady said the only thing they go to the grocery store for is salt, pepper, and oatmeal! How amazing is that?! A person asked her one time, “Don’t you miss having cereal for breakfast?” Her response was, “I have fresh eggs, fresh bacon, hot biscuits, and a tall glass of cold milk every morning. Now which breakfast would you rather have?” Eat that, General Mills! They grow their own fruits and veggies, make their own clothes, and even build the furniture in the house. And as I try and imagine what that life is like I can’t help but wonder, what aspects of God do they know that I never will? Their life is simple. Not tainted with consumption of as many things as possible. I look around Dallas every day and can’t escape the overwhelming feeling of materialism. Time has been traded for more money and more money is needed to buy more stuff. We rarely sit all afternoon on the porch and just enjoy each other. When’s the last time you spent an entire weekend with life being quiet and the TV turned off? No buying stuff or places to be? No task to get done or work to finish? No worries? Just rest and quiet? From Friday at 6pm to Monday at 8am…just people. Friendships. Books. Sun. Quiet. Rest. Sleep. Fruit. Iced Tea. Walks. Discussions. When was the last time we didn’t rush to fill our time with things that don’t amount to jack squat?

I can’t help but wonder how much the complexity of my life makes me miss out on knowing God more deeply. The more stuff, work, spending, junk, consuming, and tasks I cram into my life, it’s inevitable that I push God away. Even if I fill my life with wonderful Christian things like Bible Studies, Sunday school, and ministries…it can quickly take over and make life complex. As I drink my milk tomorrow night I hope to get a taste of what a simple life can be. And hopefully as I continue on this cleanse I’ll discover how I can reduce in my life those things that keep me from seeing God in simple ways.

SB

Today I feel different. Almost like everything clicked and it’s all starting to fall into place. I have more energy than I ever have before. I attribute that to Enfusia, no sugar, Real Food Supplements, exercise, and solid sleep. I’m actually for the first time in my life truly not craving food what is bad for me. I look forward to my little 25 min workouts. And shockingly less TV has been a blessing. What’s been interesting is all the things I’ve realized today. One thing I’ve realized is that good things don’t come fast. We live in a society that wants it now and does not desire to wait for anything. I want my food NOW. My computer needs to work NOW. I want to talk with someone NOW. I want to lose weight NOW. I think this mentality is so a part of our culture that we don’t realize any more how devastating it is. It really hasn’t been until Day 21 where I’ve really seen results. I’m not tired throughout the day, I feel stronger, my stomach has gotten lean, and I’m always satisfied after a meal. I’m learning that when we give our bodies real food and real movement, we get back real life. Things are just more enjoyable. Now granted, the 21 days have not been easy. But I feel things are getting easier. So halfway through this 40 day cleanse and fast I’ve discovered that sometimes you have to just push through. We all have something we want to achieve. More time with the Lord, lose 20 pounds, be able to run 3 miles, spend more time with our spouse…the list goes on. The question you have to ask yourself is will you push to YOUR “Day 21″. It’s not easy. But sometimes you just have to stick to a plan and wait to see the fruits come later.

New Workout Goal: Better My Tummy Muscles
I by no stretch of the imagination desire a six-pack. But the bean bag I hang over my belt has got to go. If for no other reason than heart disease, I need to do something. If your belly is where you are carrying a lot of fat that is a not-so-fun sign of problems with insulin in your body. It’s a big indicator that you have a problem with the S-U-G-A-R. And its not always Cokes and Cookies. Sometimes it’s dairy and bread. So my plan is to get stronger in the core area. So here’s what I’m doing. Simple, easy, and everyone can apply it to any workout goal.

Exercise – lay on the ground, flat on my back, legs stretched, and arms above my head. Then in one motion, with my back not coming off the ground, I bring my legs up and my arms up making a V. Then I slowly bring myself back down. The end goal is that I can hold a soccer ball in between my feet, bring the ball up with my feet and grab the ball with my hands…and then stretch all the way out. Then back into the V putting the ball back into my feet. Make sense? So starting today I’m going to do 3 sets every other day. And today I did 3 sets of 4. On Saturday I will do 3 sets of 5. And every other day I will increase it by 1. In 2 weeks from today I should be able to do 3 sets of 10 WITH the ball. Right now I’m going no soccer ball. So it will be fun to see what works. If I stick to the plan I should see an increase in my tummy strength. If I choose to not do my work then it’s my own fault.

Food: Raw Milk
Stay tuned because we found another local farm about 50 miles away where we can get raw milk. If I can get my hands on it I will talk this weekend about how it tastes and why it’s so good for us.

Fast: 30 hours
So today is my 3rd fast and I’m going for 30 hours this time. It’s been since college with my best friend (who I call Cowboy) that I did a fast this long. The thing I’ve learned today is that food and eating consume our lives. We eat way too much food and we revolve our lives around it. My hope is that the next thing I learn is how to balance that out. Especially since I consider myself a Foodie and love to cook, eat, and enjoy food.

I hope this encourages someone out there to take a small step forward. To make a choice to change. And to know that it’s not impossible as long as you have goal and people you love encouraging you forward.

SB

Last night my buddy and I did something I had not done since I lived in Waco, TX. I went to Wal-Mart at midnight. Back in college we enjoyed strolling through the aisles in the wee hours of the morning looking for nutritious treats like Chili Cheese Fritos, Fudge Covered Oreos, and Totinos Pizza Rolls. I remember how I could spend $94 and some change and it would not only fill an entire shopping cart but also last me 6 weeks! We would drink Black Cherry IBC out of the bottle and chow down on KC Masterpiece Lays enjoying only a moment of delight. Because after the sugar and processed chemicals wore off I would feel yuck! What amazed me then still amazes me now. Why, if we know the food will make us feel horrible, do we still gravitate towards the things that are ridiculously unhealthy for us?

Fast forward to this morning. I was happy to see it wasn’t going to be 105 today. I took a stroll through my garden noticing the changes going on. It’s the end of August and all of the tomato plants are finished but the basil seems to be in full swing. There is a wonderful sense of pride as you clip fresh basil for the breakfast you are about to eat. But it is mornings like today that remind me that eating healthy doesn’t have to be difficult. It also is very rewarding. Look how simple it can be:

As the water was heating up in the kettle I scooped Enfusia into the IngenuiTea we got from Adagio. I then took out slices of bacon and lay them in a pan in the toaster oven at 400. By then the kettle was whistling and I poured hot (not boiling) water over the raw herbs excited about my first cup of energy for the day. I took out pinto beans from last night and heated them in a pot while I scrambled some eggs. As the pan heated with olive oil I took the basil and tomato and chopped it up. Eggs into the pan with the basil and tomato and just let it go untouched. Flipped the bacon, took my first sip of Enfusia, and shredded the raw pepper jack cheese that was delivered by our friendly folks at Burgundy Farms. See, even though it seems like a lot is going on there is a rhythm to it all. The key is to enjoy every part of it. The smell of bacon cooking and the hint of basil left over on your fingers. Most people want life to flash by, only to hurry to the next moment that will also be rushed through. I see life to be enjoyed one bite at a time. Sometimes the simplest things in life can bring true Sabbath. Mornings like today can allow me to take really deep breaths and rest, knowing I should be thankful for about 1000 things. The bacon is a perfect crispy and I replace them in the toaster with Cinnamon Raisin Ezekiel English Muffins. I sprinkle cheese over the frittata-like eggs and fill up my second mug of organic bliss. After a meal like that, I feel awesome. I can’t imagine why I would go back to food that makes me feel so blah. Reality is, even after this 40 days is over I’ll occasionally have my pizza and bag of Salt & Pepper Kettle Chips. But today was one of those days that reminded me that maybe those “cheats” can be few and far between. Feeling great today and being healthy 30 years from now is a lot more important than what I “think” will be great tasting food.

Oh and my workout today. I’m extending the fence line to create a little dog run. 15 bags of 60 lb concrete. And so my buddy and I raced to take them from the bed of his truck to the shed. The fun part was pressing them over our heads with our elbows locked. It was fun, we broke a sweat, and I enjoyed moving. Now that’s a workout!

SB

Last night for dinner I finished my fast with a hearty meal. Big bowl layered with simple yet delicious foods. Here’s how it went…

Layer 1 – Grass-Fed Pot Roast. This was leftover from the day before. It was tender and fall-apart. Seasoned to perfection. Reason #73 that I love slow cooked beef…it’s easy. Stick it in the crock pot before work, come home to a scrumptious surprise.
Layer 2 – Organic Refried Black Beans. Out of a can from Whole Foods. L-O-V-E it.
Layer 3 – Diced sweet potatoes. We have gotten sweet potatoes in our Co-Op for the last couple of times and our favorite way is to simply bake them. Toss it with extra virgin olive oil and melted butter that has been seasoned with garlic powder and then spread it on a pan. Season with sea salt and cracked black pepper, bake at 425, and it’s a delightful treat.
Layer 4 – Free Range Eggs. Cooked in coconut oil to a perfect over-medium. Cooked white part, whole and runny yolk.
Layer 5 – Pork Belly. From our local farm we can get bacon that hasn’t been smoked or cured. That’s bacon at its purist form. Bacon is pork belly. This just hasn’t been touched in any way. They just slice it for you like bacon. I first slice them into bite size pieces and then I cook it in the pan until crispy. Then as it cools off on a paper towel I sprinkle some magic dust on it. Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a touch of cayenne.

Now that was a good dinner. If you can tell it was full of fat. Good fat. People are scared of fat. Probably one of the biggest food myths out there is EATING MORE FAT EQUALS BECOMING MORE FAT. Don’t believe it! God created coconuts, olives, cows, eggs, avocados, nuts, and many more things FULL of fat. If He wanted us to eat just the egg whites, then a chicken would pop out yokeless eggs. When He made the cow He wanted us to eat everything that cow had to offer with every cut of meat including the ones that have a lot of fat. This notion of low fat has only been around since the 50’s. There no conclusive research proving that good saturated fat causes heart disease. And since the 50’s our country has soared in every statistic for heart disease and obesity. Folks, our society is not getting healthier by eating processed grains, drinking pasteurized milk, and staying away from fats. Look at history, and every society had great sources of fats and consumed them on a regular basis.

I could post 100 articles and research on this but the best thing I can personally share is that I eat butter, coconut oil, peanut butter, beef, bacon, and every other good source of saturated fat out there and my body LOVES me because of it. My cholesterol is amazing and I’ve lost more weight than I ever have. I am sustained after I eat and don’t have to eat as much. Without good fats and cholesterol our bodies simply don’t function at tip-top condition. Why? Because these 2 things are crucial in our body to help with everything from producing hormones to making sure calcium is used properly in our bones.

So here’s to good fat. I thank God every day for it!

SB

So it’s Wednesday, and when I woke up today I realized I never checked the traps I set up in my attic on Saturday for Ratatouille and his friends. When I got to the top of the ladder I was shocked to see it was more like a Jurassic Park character than a Disney film. Well, the monsters in the attic love Whole Foods brand Peanut Butter which I have to say is not only a great bang for your buck, but also the most delicious PB out there. Now I’ll be the first to admit I’m a city boy. Yes, I use hair product and yes, I also take baths while listening to Norah Jones by candle light. But these freaks of nature were just too much for me. I called my Country Boy buddy and he just laughed at me. I asked why this situation was so funny to him and he just continued to giggle like a junior high girl. I reminded him the next time he has problems with his new Mac Book that I would be unavailable. I managed to get both vermin into a paper bag and yes, I used a plastic bag as a glove. And yes, I screamed when I noticed one of the little punks was covered in maggots. Vomit. I have the heebies thinking about it again…so I shall change the subject.

Tomorrow is Day 14 so I’ll be fasting again. This time it’s for 24 hours, and I’m starting tonight. I’ve not really lost any weight but have really started to lean up. I just feel strong today. Of course I mean muscle-wise. The whole screaming with the rats thing was just…well, let’s just not discuss that any more. I am also coming to the conclusion that eating out is just super tough. If you are trying to really eat clean than it’s nearly impossible. And if your goal is to lose weight…you’d better hope there are some healthy restaurants around. Surprisingly, Mexican food can be the most unhealthy thing to eat and at the same time the easiest place to get something good for you…as long as you can stay away from the chips. Last night we ate at Mi Cocina, and I caught myself drooling over the chips and salsa. At one point I think I had stuffed a bowl of chips under my shirt and in my pants and had no clue I was doing it. I have what they call a weakness. And chips are my Kryptonite. But I got some Huevos con Chorizo. That’s eggs with sausage for your non-Spanish speakers. Fajitas without the tortillas and double beans instead of the rice can be a great option for you guys out there trying to stay healthy. And stay away from the cheese!

I was talking with someone yesterday who was explaining to me that they had “Fallen Off the Wagon”. They wanted to get back to working out and asked what was the best thing they could do. We have a saying in our studio…”The best workout is the one you will actually do.” So many people get caught up with a certain program or having to go to a gym. I say just MOVE! Walk, garden, ride a bike…do something. This morning I screamed, bagged some rabbits with long tails, ran down the attic stairs, turned the corner hard in my house, ran across the back yard, into the alley, and then chunked the brown bag into a garbage can. Was I out of breath? Yes. But what matters is I got that heart rate up and moved a little. Take a 5 minute swim or do 50 push ups from the time you wake up until the time you go to bed. Just do a little something every day and you’ll be amazed at how great you’ll feel.

Until tomorrow,
SB