Organic Half & Half

Is anyone out there? I’m now blogging on Wordpress at…www.organichalfandhalf.com.

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

I’m feeling awesome. Maybe it’s because I have Olympic fever right now. After watching a spectacular display during the Opening Ceremonies I got up this morning motivated to work out doing Tabatas 2 days in a row. What is a Tabata you ask? It is an intense workout of your choice at full strength and speed. 20 seconds on, 10 seconds rest. For 4 straight minutes full speed ahead. Take a look at my last 2 days.

Yesterday
Tabata 1 – Body Weight Squats: Using my own body I would squat down as fast as I could for 20 seconds. Then rest for 10. Then back to it. 8 sets! And boy does it burn.
Tabata 2 – Spin Bike: Got on the spin bike and set it up for full sprint.
Tabata 3 – Skiers with Medicine Ball: Lay a jump rope down on the ground and jump over it left to right with my feet together. Holding an 8 lb medicine ball in both hands as I jump, I raise my arms over my head and end my jump with the ball out to my side making sure I keep my arms outstretched. During this Tabata I also did high knees. Just running in place bringing my knee up high. Lets say that towards the end my knees were less than impressive.

Today
Tabata 1 – Sledge Hammer: With a 12 lb sledge hammer all of us motivated men got up at 8am to pound a huge wood stump. You know the scene in Meet the Parents where Ben Stiller says you will have to pry it from my Kung Foo grip? Well, after 4 minutes of pounding a wood stump, my fingers wouldn’t extend for a solid 2 minutes. And yet I felt great!
Rest of Workout – Stair hops, deep push ups, curl presses with a kettle bell and snatches with the kettle bell.

Get someone to work out with you and bring a good stopwatch. You can do 3 Tabatas and have an amazing workout done in 20 min. Try sit-ups. Jump rope. Or hopping on stairs. Hear the Olympic music. Have a medals ceremonies. Whatever you need to get motivated to move and feel healthy.

SB

On Day 7 for lunch, I realized that a light lunch is just fine for my body. Here’s what I had…

*Organic Whole Foods 365 Coconut Milk
*Organic Strawberries
*Organic Bananas
*Ezekiel Sprouted Cereal
*NutriHarmony’s Whey Protein

I started off with a can of coconut milk that I had put in the fridge so it would be really thick. Dumped that into a container, and sliced up berries and ‘nanners to fill it up. Then I mixed it and stuck it in the freezer for several hours to let it get really solid and cold. Dumped a bunch of sprouted cereal and a scoop of Whey…VIOLA! Oh baby I loved how easy it was, the taste, and I felt amazing all afternoon. What I love is 1. The protein is raw and pure. 2. The fruit is local and organic. And 3. the total cost of my lunch was probably under 5 bucks. Can’t beat that, huh?

Every 7 days we are on a fast and so that started last night at 8pm and it will carry for 18 hours until today at 2pm. From a physical perspective, a fast is great because like all things, our body needs a rest. I hope to enjoy the spiritual perspective of time in prayer in those moments I am thinking about chowing something down. Maybe as the 40 days go on I will increase the time. We’ll see.

On Day 8 I feel like I’ve gotten past the detox and feel like a million bucks. My body feels light and my tummy feels more tucked in than ever! AH YEAH! I woke up today with ease and feel like I have sustained energy throughout the day.

One last thought. Try Kombucha. It’s an organic raw tea that is full of enzymes and probiotics. Simply put, it’s a delicious drink full of all the good bacteria we need in our body that we kill daily because of the “poo poo caca” we feed ourselves. It has helped me with digestion for sure in the last couple of days. Make sure you get one that does not contain sugar, and I can make one small bottle last me 3 or 4 days. A swig here and a couple swigs there, and life is grand. It’s kept cold in your health food store and comes in all kinds of flavors.

More later,
SB

It’s the morning of the 7th day and I’m waiting for the kettle to whistle so I can have my morning cup of delicious Enfusia. Energy in a cup, baby. One thing this tea does that has surprised me is suppress my appetite. I just don’t eat as much. So as I wait, I shall recap Day 6 because I failed to post last night.

I had lunch with a guy about my 40-day holistic cleanse/fast, and we got to talking about the perception of what is considered “healthy” in America. His comment was, “If it’s not Coke, people think it’s healthy.” He makes a great point. I know when I first walked into a Whole Foods I thought I found the lost treasure of Atlantis. It was as if I had walked into Wonka’s factory and I could pick anything off the shelf, eat it, and be in health heaven. But let’s be honest, a “healthy” cookie is not healthy. It’s just the lesser of 2 evils. This became even more evident to me yesterday because I had lunch at Whole Foods with my beautiful wife and one of my closest friends. But as I checked ingredients, I kept reading Canola oil, sugar, or some form of dairy. What a whip. I ended up with the salad bar and some deli turkey. My lesson learned on Day 7 is: yes, it is difficult to eat clean and right for your body. It does take some thought, and if I am rushing through life in a hurry, then there is a good chance that quick, easy, and available overrides what’s best for my body.

But as I continue to learn a lot about myself during these 40 days, I want to encourage everyone to find a balance. It’s not realistic to eat perfectly all the time. But we have to learn what is right for our body and learn to find a balance. I read this last night…

“No matter what people own in life or what their positions are, if their health is not good, they will not enjoy anything. Good health is one of the greatest treasures we have; it is a gift from God.”
-Joyce Meyer,

In Pursuit of Peace

This is a book that is talking about anxiety, fear, and discontentment in our busy hurried lives. Hmmm, so there must be something vital about how we deal with stress and the craziness of life, and how we take care of our bodies.

More later today. Tonight we start our fast.

SB

Today was all about leftovers. Everything I ate today was made yesterday or the day before. I like that. There is something about the anticipation of getting to enjoy again a meal I’ve already tasted. And I seem to get a simple joy when it’s even more delicious the 2nd time around.

I had my hard workout today. It was supposed to be full force for 30 min. I survived 15 minutes. I’m not sure exactly what happened. Maybe it was 5 flippin’ days without coffee. Is my body going through a severe detox? I’m not sure exactly what it was, but I finished half of my workout and felt the room spinning around me.

Here was the 1st part of my workout that I was supposed to finish in 15 minutes:
50 – Push-Ups
50 – Squats with overhead press holding 30 lb medicine ball
50 – Squat Thrusts

Has anyone out there ever done a squat thrust? It’s what they make you do in hell in between each move. You squat down and put your hands on the floor. Then you kick both legs back until you are in the push-up position. After that, you pull your legs back in so you are back in squat position and then you stand back up. Brutal. I finished my last squat thrust with the seconds ticking down, and I then proceeded to fall over. I did the math as I lay in my own pool of sweat panting like an overheated Bull Dog. Just a week ago, I did a workout with 300 reps in it with all kinds of crazy stuff. I was fine. I could have smoked a cigarette during that workout. So I blame it on detox. My body must be hating me right now, and it serves me right for putting it through hell. Sprouting grains, sans coffee, and no cheats. I deserve to only make it through half of my workout. That’s right…I only made it through half. I will end with this. I drank a cup of Whey with water, and in about 2 minutes, I starting feeling a lot better.

Tonight I can proudly admit I have not watched a re-run of Seinfeld or anything else on the Dish. TV is such a wonderful thing, but like anything in life, it can become too much. So I read, walked the Dobe 2 miles, and am saying good night to all of you faithful OH&H readers. All 4 of you.

SB

So I missed Day 3 on the blog posts so I’ll give you a quick recap. Did 30 pushups, some sit-ups, and walked the Doberman about a mile in 105 degree weather. We ran the last 100 meters and I thought I was going to throw up. I love hot weather but this is kind of ridiculous. Yesterday I made black beans with grass-fed stew meat. And then I made an amazing mushroom barley soup. Here’s what I did…

I took a stock pot and heated up extra virgin olive oil and butter. Then I sweated out some chopped onion, celery, and carrots or as some chefs call it, the “Holy Trinity”. I added all kinds of wonderful herbs from my organic garden like basil, oregano, and thyme. Then I splashed in some white wine and chopped up baby bella mushrooms. The smell was rockin. I then added barley that I had sprouted for 2 days. That simply means I soaked them in water and rinsed them a couple times a day. Sprouting grains produces more vitamins through the germination and it creates all kinds of enzymes that make it easier to digest and to utilize all the good things in our system. Added chicken broth and then some sea salt and cracked pepper to taste. Sweet Francis, it was awesome.

So being on Day 4, I have come to the realization that trying to eat perfectly, sleep on schedule, and make sure you are resting is hard for one reason and one reason only. As Americans, we hate thinking, and we love things fast and now. And eating what’s right for your body simply takes a little thought. If I don’t plan out my day or think ahead, I find myself getting hungry, and all I can think of is 3 stacks of hot buttermilk pancakes from Cracker Barrel slathered with real butter and dripping in pure maple syrup. So thinking through what you are going to eat over the next day and making sure you have prepared food for on-the-go can be tricky. It’s possible. We just have to make it a priority. We must truly believe that getting rest, reducing stress, and eating right is not just for our girlish figure but it’s crucial to living life to the fullest. Our laziness and “I want it now” attitude has reduced our culture to such a selfish mindset where our goals simply become making money or getting the next best item. When it comes to eating, I have learned to take 5 quiet minutes to think about what I’m making and how thankful I am for it. Here was my breakfast this morning…

1 tall glass filled halfway with sliced bananas and strawberries. Then I poured coconut milk halfway up the glass to cover the fruit. Then I took a wooden spoon and mashed everything together. 1 scoop of Whey Protein, 1 tbs natural peanut butter, and the rest of the glass full of ice-cold Enfusia. It was refreshing, fruity, full of amazing protein, and enough antioxidant power to make my hair stand up! It was so good I licked the inside rim of my glass like I hadn’t eaten in 3 days. Everyone should try it and you can even put it in the fridge for awhile and it will become a yogurt consistency. That’s real eatin’, folks.

No caffeine headaches and I’m convinced that’s because of the Enfusia. Yerba Mate is the main ingredient in that energy drink and I thank Jesus for making the rain forests so that wonderful herb can grow on our planet. My stomach has tucked in just a tad. I’ve seen the amount I eat reduce a smidgen which has been surprising. I look forward to getting plenty of rest tonight because tomorrow is my hard workout.

SB

I woke up this morning at 7:30 and found myself gravitating towards my Bodum coffee maker. I could smell the aroma of 963 Coffee brewing already. My body felt good but mentally I simply wanted to enjoy a hot cup of java as I strolled through my garden. So I quickly brewed a cup of Enfusia and I’m proud to say that I’m sitting outside and feel great. But I sure would love to still have my Cup of Joe.

I finished off last night with a lovely dinner of grilled skirt steak and pinto & black beans. A scoop of guac with a little bit of lettuce and tomato. This was at the amazing Salvadorian restaurant called Gloria’s. Ironically when you want to eat badly, Mexican-style food is the worst because of all the chips and tortillas, but if you stay away from those it can honestly be the easiest place to eat healthy.

I have done 30 push-ups so far and some sit-ups. My plan is to maybe take a walk if the 105 degree temp doesn’t bake me and by the time I snooze tonight get in 70 more push-ups and another chunk of sit-ups.

Breakfast: Hormone-free, antibiotic free ground pork with Italian seasoning from Burgundy Farms. They are 50 miles away and deliver directly to your door for 5 bucks. When the doorbell rang at 9am, on time as usual, I was giddy about my new shipment of goods. I highly encourage everyone out there to find a local farmer (mine is Wendy) and start a relationship. Look for grass-fed and free-range protein because more than likely you will save a bit of greens and can chow down confidently knowing where your meat is coming from. I also had scrambled local free-range eggs with goat cheese. And then finished it off with a nice big organic carrot from our organic co-op. Everything took 10 min to prep and cook and it was super easy.

Lunch: Made a hodge-podge bowl of leftover peas, corn off the cob, ground turkey, and sweet potatoes fries that were baked in butter and olive oil. I’m trying to eat slowly. Enjoy my food. And not overeat. It helps to either do something else while I eat like this blog or think about every bite I take and think of everything that happened before it made it to my bowl.

Real Food Supplements: taking my NutriHarmony religiously now, and I’ve never felt better. My morning regimen now looks like this…

Before I eat:
*4 Life Code
*2 Fat Loss
After my first bite:
*2 Lean Max
*2 Multi Vitamins
*1 Scoop of Whey Protein

Mid Day regimen:
*1 Fat Loss before I eat
*1 Lean Max with my meal
*1 Multi Vitamin with my meal

I’m doing a little research on the best pre-natal vitamins to take. No, not because my wife’s got a bun in the oven but because I’ve heard a lot of talk about it recently and I’m realizing how much horrible information is out there. I will add another post hopefully today to address what soon-to-be-mommy’s should take and what I have found to be a great NutriHarmony solution that is Real Food and wonderful for the body.

SB

Last night I wanted to go out with a huge bang. I sat down knowing I would not touch sugar to my lips for 40 days which caused me to consume Newman O’s, Almond Milk, and Vanilla Macaroon Granola…all in the same tall clear glass. Oh happy day.

Fast-forward to this morning. I woke up at 6:30am and my stomach was pissed at me. I think mentally I was already not doing well since I decided to eliminate coffee during the next 40 days. I honestly don’t know what I was thinking when I made that decision but it’s mid-morning and I’m surviving.

Breakfast: Scoop of Whey Protein in 12 oz of unfiltered water and a local Texas Peach. About 2 hours later I needed more so I had 1 free-range egg and chopped up grass-fed brisket.

Lunch: Scoop of Whey Protein in 12 oz of unfiltered water.

Supplements: I took 4 Garden and the Greens today because I knew I could use the boost without my beloved coffee being in my life. 4 Life Code, 2 Fat Loss Maximizers before I ate. And then 2 Multi Vitamins, 1 Lean Maximizer, and 2 Fibers.

Drink: I have only had about 20 oz of water so far. But I’ve brewed Enfusia and I’m rockin! Feel awesome right now. Drinking hot Enfusia, full strength, with nothing in it. I like that earthy, strong herbal tea flavor.

My prayer this morning: Lord, I desire that during the next 40 days I experience Jesus in a new and fresh way. Not because of something I knew from Vacation Bible School or some book that I picked up off the shelf at the cool Christian bookstore. Not because someone famous preached about a new cleaver way to be a better me or sacrifice my life for the Kingdom. Lord, I want to find you because I came closer to you. And I ask that it transforms my heart, mind, and body over the next 40 days.

Workout: Have not had my hard workout today but I will in about 2 hours. And then I’m helping a couple in our community group move to the ‘hood. Or the O.C. as some of us would call it. Have I ever mentioned that in hell that’s what they make you do? Move.

Hell: “Welcome to hell. Here are the keys to a 5000 square foot beautiful home that is only 5 blocks away. Just pack up everything you see in boxes, load them all up in the truck, and unload all this heavy furniture and all the small delicate items into your new amazing home.” And just when the last piece of newspaper is unwrapped from the very last plate you put in your cabinet…DING DONG! “Welcome to hell. Here are the keys to a 5000 square foot beautiful home that is only 5 blocks away. Just pack up everything you see…” Now that is my personal hell.

As the days count down to Aug 1 and the start of this 40 Day Holistic Fast approaches I am excited and yet dreading it all at the same time. One of the things I know will help me during this time is taking the right supplements and at our studio we have discovered probably the best sourced and manufactured supplements on the planet. It’s called NutriHarmony and during the 40 days I’ll be utilizing the Whey Protein, Enfusia, and Fat Loss Maximizer more than I have already been. What we love about all of these and what sets them apart from anything else people have taken and heard about is that it’s all 100% Real Food. Organic, Non GMO, and un-denatured. It’s the equivalent to harvesting out of the Garden of Eden. And lets face it, I’ll need all the help I can get during these 40 days.

Whey Protein
Protein is something everyone needs more of in their diet. Protein has amino acids which help with balancing our body’s hormones. Protein helps with those crazy sugar cravings and helps sustain us longer between meals. In America we are very carb heavy. And the protein we do consume is the most disgusting stuff you can imagine. The easiest way to get protein into my diet will be through whey. So my plan is 1 to 3 scoops a day. I’ll have a smoothie in the morning that is 1 cup Coconut Milk, 1 cup fresh organic fruit, and 1 scoop of whey. Blend that with some ice and it should be fantastic. I’ll most likely finish my day with 1 scoop in some water. If I slam it at the end of the day then it will help with the production of growth hormones (70% of which are created during sleep) and help my body recover for my next day. And then I’ll try and have some after a workout to help rebuild my muscles that I just tore down. Along with enhancing my immune system and increasing glutathione levels, this stuff is amazing.

Why I love NutriHarmony’s Whey – Its over 98% un-denatured, meaning its almost perfect. It hasn’t really been taken out of its NATURAL form. Getting raw protein is impossible. A scoop of this will be better than the finest, Prime, grass-fed, organic piece of steak. It hasn’t been heated and treated with any type of chemical. Nothing truly comes close to it and I’m looking forward to seeing what it will do to my body during these 40 days.

Enfusia
Everyone is looking for the greatest energy drink. We live in a fast-paced world where we work 60 hours a week, and 7 cups of coffee with an iced latte is just not cutting it any more. I’ll be the first to admit that organic fair wage coffee is served at the gates of Heaven, but coming across Enfusia has blown me away. It’s a blend of herbs from deep in the rainforest of South America. The main ingredient in this powerhouse tea is Yerba Mate, the drink seen in the hands of anyone walking around the streets of South America. Because the tea is not heated above 100 degrees, it’s raw and full of antioxidant power. If you know about ORAC scores then you know a glass of Enfusia packing over 70,000 ORAC is unheard of. There is nothing that comes close to touching that. What does that mean for me during this 40 days? Detoxification baby. I’m going to get all those yucky nasty toxins that have been building up in my body out! Not to mention Enfusia will help suppress my appetite and be a fighting army for my digestion.

Why I love Enfusia – It has Mateins instead of Caffeine, and that is so wonderful because the energy I get will sustain me throughout the day. I will feel balanced and alive. I hate the crash I get from other stuff so I can avoid it altogether. My favorite new way of drinking it is iced with pieces of fruit cut up in it and some drops of Stevia. If I’m feeling frisky I pick some mint from my garden and top it off. Ah yeah.

Fat Loss Maximizer
Its not my goal to lose a bunch of weight during this time but I have always wondered what it’s like to not have any additional parts of my body hanging over my belt. So if I’m going to knock out those final pounds I thought this would be a perfect time. In a nutshell, the way Fat Loss works is that it slows down the absorption of carbs in my body. Now I can’t go eat cookies every day and hope this performs a miracles. Its just Real Food, not some chemical junk. So I’ll take it 10 minutes before my meals, and it will help me absorb my carbs more slowly, which will help me with my insulin levels. Bottom line is if I’m taking care of myself, moving a lot, and eating right, this stuff will help me drop those pounds I need help with.

Why I love Fat Loss – I’m horrible with the insulin. I know this because the final bit that I need to lose is in my belly. That gut is a big sign of insulin imbalance, so knowing Fat Loss will help with that is perfect. My plan is to try and take some pinches or measurements and after 40 days I should be able to report some pretty cool results.

So that’s it for Real Food Supplements. Next post will be about my schedule.

SB

Lets just say its going to take a lot of mental preparation to do this 40 day fast. And its not going to be exactly the traditional fast of going without food. Lets say its my own take on a 40 day fast. I have never gone 40 days of being perfect at eating, working out, sleeping, and several other things. Over the next couple of weeks I’m going to post about the specifics of the 40 days. But here is a rough draft.

Eating – I’m going to try and eat as perfect to my metabolic type as possible. I will not eat refined sugars, chips, dairy unless its raw, and will stay away from almost all grains. I’ve never gone this long without cheating so everyone start praying. But I want to see if its possible so I’m going to need a good plan and schedule. As for drinks I’m only allowing myself 1 cup of a coffee a day, spring water, and Enfusia tea. I will post more about the tea later.

Sleep –I’m shooting for 8-9 hours of sleep a night. At 10pm every night I will stop every thing that I’m doing and get ready for bed ending the night with journaling and reading. The killer will be no tv after 10p. I’m also going to limit my tv watching to X amount per day and week but I haven’t come up with the number yet.

Meditation – This will be a tough one but I plan on starting with 5 min a day and see how much I can increase it by the end of 40 days. Contemplative prayer and meditation is something I’ve started to do and really enjoy. I am learning things about myself and God that I never knew I would. I look forward to really working on this discipline.

Working out – What a journey I have been on in the last 10+ years of my life when it comes to losing weight and being fit. I’m currently around the 195 mark and that is a +/- 5 pounds depending on if I had a weekend of chips & salsa with some yummy desserts. I’m planning on weighing myself and taking measurements. Not with the goal of actually losing more weight but simply to see what happens. I will workout hard 3-4 times a week and do at least 30 min of some sort of physical activity every day. That could be gardening or going for a walk with my beautiful Doberman.

Supplements – I’m going to be taking a regiment of Real Food Supplements to help with various things. I’ll be posting about each one to explain the purpose of them all.

I have no idea what to expect after the 40 days is over. I dread yet look forward to how much I will grow and discover not only about myself but also about the body and mind. Until then I will keep posting more details, continue to plan, and eat some more Kettle Krinkle Salt & Pepper Chips!

SB