part three: misconceptions on plant-based diets.

happy labor day to my american friends!

i tried to google a good picture to celebrate, but all the image results were either pictures of hamburgers or skanky myspace girl pictures... strange. so just imagine my post looks festive!

i hope no matter where you are in the world, y'all have an awesome day today!

part three: common misconceptions about animal products.


source.

can everyone thrive on a plant-based diet?

to answer simply, yes it's possible. will everyone? maybe.

i've talked with many friends who feel like their bodies "just don't work" without meat. but logically, let's examine animal products for what they are: nutrients, just like any other food. anything you can get from animal products, you can get elsewhere. there's nothing magic about them - animals get their vitamins from the same places we do: plants!

however, you must be conscious of what you're doing. research very thoroughly! being a vegan does not equal being healthy - it's not a free pass to go all willy-nilly at the supermarket! it's simpler and requires less effort to eat meat, eggs, and dairy, but it is entirely possible for everyone to thrive without them. your success and health are largely determined by whether you're willing to make the effort responsibly (like so many things in life!).

what about vegans who "go back" to eating animal products?

people give up eating animal-free for many different reasons. mostly, i meet people that don't feel "right" eating vegan, or just don't feel like themselves (like i said earlier). i've felt the same way myself!

the reason they feel off isn't because of an absense of meat - it's the absense of something meat delivered to their diets. remember, meat isn't mysterious, or magical. it could be the fat, the protein, or the nutrients they're missing, but if they add those missing elements back into their diets to regain that balance, they should see dramatic improvements.

whether you eat meat or not, we all have specific needs to help us feel our best. eating meat is not a free pass to thoughtlessness, and neither is veganism. like any life change, it takes your body a while to adjust.

it's also worth saying that veganism is not a trendy diet. it won't solve all your problems, or make you fit in your skinny jeans. it won't move mountains or single-handedly save your life (but maybe!). it's not a religion, and it shouldn't be a source of guilt. people adjust to things at their own pace, and what's on your dinner plate should never be used as a weapon against you to belittle you or humiliate you.

what about supplements?

if you guys are familiar with my story, you know i am a big fan of nutritional supplements. i also believe that since we've become so intent on destroying our environment (thank you pollution/factory farming/BP!), our soil quality has been depleted tremendously. i honestly don't know that even the most "perfect" diet could provide what we need nutritionally anymore, and i think living the lifestyles we do in that environment has only made our nutrient requirements increase.

because of this, i would recommend everyone take a high-quality multi-vitamin. just find the best one you can and be consistent - that's the key. also, if you don't want cancer, please start taking an anti-oxidant supplement.

everyone is quick to point out vegans need b-12, and that's true... but so does everyone else! if you got a good multi-v, it should provide most everything you need, but be sure to double-check. most cereals and breads come fortified these days, so that makes it simple as well.

anything else you may be missing can easily be found in nature. even pain relivers originally came from plants :) all in all, don't take yourself too seriously, and remember the point in all this - achieving your best health!

questions that i forgot?
how do you feel about animal products?
how have you felt about this vegan post series?
-rebekah

owning it.

once again, the beautiful rachel wilkerson  has blown up the blog world. after posting about something she wasn't ashamed of, girls all over have been realizing there's no reason to hide who you are.

naturally, i approve of this movement, and hopped right on the bandwagon.

what am i "owning?"

i'm opinionated and passionate.

and no, i'm not sorry.

will i step on a few toes? um... i already have.

will some people not like me? probably.

am i scared? sometimes.

do people point and laugh? yeah, sure, when i act like a total goober.

but you know what?

i'm true to myself. i know who i am. life matters to me.

and i'll never again pretend to be someone i'm not, just to please someone else. don't try to put me in a box.

so i'm owning it.

what are you owning?

-rebekah

the bottom line.

happy humpday friends!

today was seriously an awesome day. i ordered a new running band for my ipod,

got my tattoo (!!!),

bad picture... it's a bit hard to take one on the back of your dominant arm!

talked on the phone with the beautiful christie,

and got birthday presents in the mail!

can i just say how exciting today was!?!?

sometimes i just have to stand back and take it all in... i am so blessed, you guys. so much more than i deserve!

i can't wait to dive headfirst into those books... i've been wanting them forever, but wouldn't buy them for myself! college is expensive, you know?

for those of you who have the books, what recipes do you love?

...............................................

i feel like i should have mentioned this yesterday, but better late than never, right? i want to share what i consider the most important facet of our diets: putting them in perspective.

from yesterday's comments, it seems the general consensus is that there are distinct kinds of eaters: vegans/vegetarians, and meat-eaters. while this might be technically true, i want to propose a different outlook.

eating isn't meant to be meat versus veggies. i see it as eaters pursuing information we deserve to know!

i don't think veganism is perfection, and i certainly don't see meat as sinful! i think sometimes we get caught up in technicalities of our diets (do you eat eggs? milk? raw? organic?) and totally miss the big picture: really, we're all just people trying to be healthy!

i cast no judgement on anyone, no matter what they eat. instead, i see them as almost a "comrade" in this fight to live as best we can. i see us as one body of people trying to do the best we can with what we know to be true.

it's absolutely shameful how much the food industry keeps from us: details about slaughtering, chemical additives, and processing of our foods that can be detrimental, or at least impact our health. that's where our fight is.

if you feel guilty for still not being "perfect" in your diet, take heart! i'm certainly no better than anyone else, and there's no such thing as eating perfectly. life is about progress, not perfection. we're all in the same boat! 

when i post on things i've learned or my point of view, it doesn't mean i'm criticizing someone who doesn't eat that way - it's the only way i know how to get the word out on things we all deserve to know.

up tomorrow?

how to decode food marketing, such as free-range, organic, natural, humane, etc.

thoughts? let's talk this out in the comments, y'all!

-rebekah

my life in food.

good morning friends!

for those of you who started back at school yesterday, how was it?!? i start thursday, and am nervous as junk... it's been a while since i was in school!

source.

just wanted to give you guys a little transparency on my journey through food. i had been toying with the idea of posting on why i went animal-free for a few weeks now, but didn't. honestly, i was afraid to.

diet is so personal, especially when ethics are involved. i didn't, and still don't, want anyone to feel like i am judging them for whatever they eat, be it french fries, cake, lettuce, meat, or green smoothies. i don't see you as a better or worse human being because of what you eat.

i feel accountable for how my actions effect others and responsible for my own health, so i took my lifestyle in my own hands. this was my choice, and doesn't mean i know everything or think i am the ultimate authority. my only goal is to help someone else through my story... just so we're clear, ok?

this is an email i wrote to the beautiful ashley of nourishing the soul in response to learning patience through my food journey. enjoy!

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hey beautiful - thanks for your comment! so glad you decided to stop by :)
about going vegan - it's really been an interesting evolution for me. i grew up a normal american teenager - chips, hot dogs, mac n cheese, etc. it wasn't until i watched my mom battle with breast cancer that i started to realize my lifestyle DOES effect me!

since then, i haven't really stopped researching health, nutrition, and wellness. i am completely convinced of the ties between what we consume and our health. health is more than food, but food is a HUGE factor, for sure. i started to struggle with what i now know is fibromyalgia since late 2006, and during that struggle for answers, i started to realize my food not only effects my health for the long term, but how i live/feel day to day.

i've since realized that i could ease many of my fibro symptoms by changing my diet - praise god! at the same time, i began to uncover many things about the animal-product industry i wasn't thrilled about, to say the least. i spent a lot of time (about 2 years) researching the industry because i knew if i changed something so dramatic, it would need to be for a DARN good reason. i'm an all or nothing sorta chick, i guess. i went vegetarian in march of '10.

after going vegetarian, i slipped into the habit of getting most of my calories from cheese and greek yogurt... not a terrible habit unless you LIVE on them as i did at almost every meal. i realized i was getting more animal products eating vegetarian than i was as an omnivore! and i don't know about you, but i don't dig hormones and antibiotics in my chow. i also started to see more exaggerated symptoms of issues i was only mildly concerned about when i was eating meat - eggs seemed to make me queasy, and dairy always left me a " brain fog." i started to pay more attention to what i ate, getting more in tune with my body, and realized i felt much better eating mostly plants - veggies, lots of fruits, some grains, etc.

once again, i started reading. i decided to inform myself with books/medical studies on the dairy industry, and everything seemed to fall into place. after what i had discovered, i couldn't eat animal products again, for myself or for the world we live in. i mourned the "loss" of my beloved greek yogurt, sure, but after a few days of feeling better, i knew it would never be worth it again... i mean, for the first time in years, i had found something i could ACTUALLY HELP my health with! cheesy, yes, but i was frustrated to tears almost daily for years.

my transition to veganism was health-driven FIRST, and backed up by my complete disdain for the dollar-driven practices exercised by the poultry/dairy/egg industry. i am not a meat-hating, tree-hugging, natural born animal-lover, but i absolutely detest abuse, torture, and unnecessary displays of aggression (towards humans or otherwise), so i felt like it was a no-brainer.

i've had my share of struggles along the way, sure. there are many facets of health, and sorting through all the trendy diets has been challenging. i've dabbled a bit with the raw foods and macro movements, but for the most part, i just eat simple, natural foods and don't label myself. i don't think there's anything shocking that an orange is healthy - so i eat it! i don't care if you call it raw, magic, superfood, or crazy... it's just food to me. god made it, i eat it. awesome.

since my transition, i am managing my fibromyalgia pain better than i could have ever imagined. it's still a daily struggle for sure, but i'm seeing pain i've lived with for years finally show a sign of change! i also have found a few surprises along the way... better skin and nails? way fewer headaches? YES PLEASE! i won't say it's effortless, but when something is so crucial to your health and others, it's an easy decision. i also am realizing how ignorant i am about the products i mindlessly use - i mean, windex is tested in rabbits eyes? seriously? how is that completely necessary to see if it cleans windows?

i am not the gold standard of diet, and i don't know all the answers. i won't tell anyone what to do or judge them, but i would encourage everyone to at least research what they're eating and examine their own diets - are they treating their bodies the way they deserve to be treated? if i had been all along, who knows how my health would have looked, or what i would or wouldn't be dealing with right now. all i can say is use your brains, and remember: you are worth the best, and what you do effects yourself and others!

thanks for asking, girl. i hope this helps shed a bit of light into my crazy life! :) if you have any more questions, criticisms, or whatever, please feel free to email me!
.......................................................................................................

thanks for letting me share my story! i hope this brings some clarity to my choices concerning food. i've never come out and addressed it head on, but i don't want someone to misconstrue my intentions, either, so it was time.

let me be clear: this blog is not become a peta-thumping, meat-hating, veggie-ranting diary. i am who i am for many reasons, and my decisions at mealtime don't define all that i am. i would love to speak with anyone who wants to take charge of their own health, but i will never pester or badger anyone into changing their lives. my desire is to get you to think about your decisions (food, emotional, and otherwise), not guilt-trip you by eating out of fear.

some huge factors in my decision? earthlings, thrive, the athlete's plate, eating animals, the end of overeating, in defense of food, the china study, the kind diet, countless blogs (both pro- and anti-vegan), scientific research databases, and my own blood work, improving health, stomach, and taste buds!

all that said, mental health and emotional stability always come first. always. veganism is not a quick weight loss program (i've gained!), or a cute, trendy diet: it's a life-altering change! if you are struggling with emotional eating, fear foods, or self-abuse, please don't take on a food challenge just yet. take care of your heart first, ok? doing that will set you up for an amazing life, not just an amazing diet. you are more than what you eat!

also, veganism is NOT a magic bullet, or a cure-all of diseases. i've changed many things about my diet that aren't related to veganism, and am still a work in progress! i don't feel well eating sugar, MSG, fried foods, and am testing how i respond to gluten... so it's not like animals are evil: it's a process to sort through how food responds to YOUR body! and food doesn't heal all things: i still have fibro, i still struggle with body-image, i still have occasional stomach issues, and i still am HUMAN. food isn't magic, we just need to provide our bodies with the right things so food can do it's job: fuel us!

i believe two things: i eat as healthfully as possible because i deserve it, and i absolutely despise greed-based factory farming practices. beyond that, the rest is trial and error, my friends! let's eat up for our health :)

p.s. - if you haven't been over to ashley's blog, please do so! she is an honest, hilarious genius of a girl.

thoughts? questions? disagree? i'd love to hear all opinions, veg-head and omnis alike!
-rebekah

it's easy.

i have plenty of reasons to celebrate today.

for 21 years, god has given me breath each and every morning.

i've lived through two decades of sunrises and sunsets, even though i've taken almost all of them for granted.

miraculously, i'm still kickin' it after 2 near-death car accidents, countless mistakes turned ugly, and many, many broken bones.

i'm loved like no one else i know.

i have powerful legs that take me wherever i need to go (and look alright in shorts!).

i've been given thousands more second chances than i deserve, and i haven't run out yet.

after not being able to leave my bed for weeks, i'm hot on the heels of a half-marathon.

i laugh, and mean it.

i'm headed back to school for a career i can't wait to get my hands in.

god never stops dropping opportunities into my lap, all i have to do is accept them.

i've been left breatheless at the grand canyon, mexican beaches, niagra falls, luray caverns, south beach, st. thomas, and probably more i've already forgotten.

i never have to look far for a reason to smile.

i am constantly thrilled and shocked by the incredible people that flood my life: YOU!

food tastes good. real good.

no more X's of shame at a concert (shameful only because i end up crossing my arms and wiping sharpie all over my boobs...).

the older i get, the more i discover i've had the most incredible friend all along: my mother.

i can't wait for the next 21 years... what's next, god?

patience through the process.

hello? anyone still out there?

if you're here reading after the last... um, interesting 48 hours, hey! i'm glad you're here!

source.

gf update: i'm on my third day and feelin good! gf is pretty easy for me because of my little sister's celiac, but i did sorta sigh when mom pulled out homemade whole wheat bread from the freezer today.

i'm making a new recipe for gf teff bread this weekend, so keep your eyes peeled! i'll probably get off my lazy butt and make wraps too, but don't hold your breath :)

and tonight, i get an awesome early birthday present of going to dinner with brittany of eatingbirdfood! we're getting sushi to celebrate my 21st birthday (on the 22nd)... yes blogworld, i will finally legally be able to buy Kahlua for making desserts! i see an obsession building.

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just a quick thought for today...

how many of us have decided on a whim to change something in our lives, only to end up failing, feeling guilty and defeated?

we plot to overhaul things like our diet, exercise habits, or organization with a spur of the moment decision. we put our heads down, work crazy-hard for a week, then run out of steam, finally caving in. we kick ourselves, feel worthless, and vow to do better next week. sound familiar?

this seems pretty frequent around new years, not to call anyone out... :)

but why does this cycle keep happening? after thousands of failed "i'll start on monday" diets in my teens, you would think i would have conquered this mindset, right? i realized when i transitioned to eating animal-free that i might not be as tough as i thought i was!

i was totally taken off-guard when i struggled at first with my new lifestyle. i just didn't get it: i am fearless! i have willpower out the wazoo! i am a nutritional solid rock! i'm laughing now because it's so ridiculous i felt this way, but really, i did!

i'm not sure why i was shocked - it's a HUGE change! but yet, to say i was shocked would be an understatement. once i woke up, chilled out, and started loving myself, i realized two things:

lifestyle changes aren't about willpower, and we approach them all wrong!

source.

i think it's important to ask yourself why you're approaching such a dramatic change. are you unhappy with who you are? are you missing something? are you empty? why?

"i need to lose weight" doesn't count. why do you need to lose weight? "i need to exercise more" is good, but what's your goal? "i should go vegan" is pointless... because why?

this is not the place to shrug off the tough questions. dig deep! let your mind wander, and be honest with yourself. change shouldn't be for someone else, from pressure, or out of anger. if you don't really know why you're doing this, it can't be that important to you.

without an answer, you have no real motivation. if your motive don't come from the heart, you won't be successful in the long haul - change requires too much effort without solid convictions!

you don't need "willpower" - you need a reason to persevere. after about two years of soul-searching, i finally had my answers... do you? if not, it's ok! just keep looking.

it's also really important to cut yourself some slack, darnit!

source.

lifestyles changes are a HUGE deal - you're overhauling yourself! we beat ourselves up with so much guilt over "failure" in our diets, relationships, and careers for no reason... so stop it!

if you were to just up and move to a foreign country, you would be more realistic. you would realize adjusting to the culture, language, and schedule takes time, and isn't a simple transition. you'd be more sympathetic, right?

apply this same logic to a transition you've made, or are thinking about making, in your own life. love yourself through the process, and accept that big changes means big challenges. don't let yourself slip into negative self-talk - you're a work in progress!

 i should have known that it would take me some time to adjust, but i was almost guilty about the struggles i encountered. i expected easy, instant results - i wanted success, and i wanted it now!

don't do what i did: expect instant gratification.

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any serious change will take time, and that's totally ok - it's not a race, silly! if it's truly worth it, transitioning at your own pace is the way to go. just because you aren't flowing seamlessly after 15 seconds doesn't mean you're a failure!

i doubted myself, second-guessed myself, and thought about going back 10,000 times. but continuing to work through a transition means you're making progress. don't give up just because you have second thoughts! that's the hard part... and when motivation is totally key. you see what you're made of during the doubt, you know?

growing as people is a life-long process. we have successes, we have failures... this is normal! just keep getting back up again, and eventually, your new life will become second nature to you. if not, you know it wasn't right in the first place, and problem solved!

have you beat yourself up about a failed "resolution?"
have you made it through adapting to a new change?
-rebekah

back to reality...

hey friends -

i am heading home from the beach tomorrow morning... it's been a gorgeous, relaxing, and wonderful two days, but i'm so ready to get back home!

either tomorrow or thursday, i'll post some incredible sunset pictures and give you guys my thoughts on why i didn't want to go to the Healthy Living Summit - stay tuned!

PS - GF angels, i start my gluten-free test run tomorrow, so expect plenty of complaining and recipes coming your way :)

thank you all for your sweet comments and tweets while i've been away!
-rebekah

checking in!

hey guys! happy weekend to ya!

just wanted to let all my gluten-free angels know i haven't forgotten about you! i know i said i was working on some gf wraps/flatbreads/tortillas, and i still am! i promise!

i've been running around like a crazy person, making my little sister's birthday cake and getting ready for my little family vacation. i will be baking gf bread, wraps, and granola bars soon!

and for those of you who have been hanging with me for a while (XXOO!), you might have remembered me thinking about doing a gluten-free trail. wellllllll, i finally decided to just do it. after cutting out other things i know make me sick, i'm still questioning gluten, so we'll see! i start wednesday.

thanks for being patient with me. does anyone have any recipes i should try?
-rebekah

makin' the chop: why i cut my hair.

hey doodle-bugs! hope your weeks are kickin' off right.

i've been quite productive today, actually. got a great run in this morning, worked in the kitchen a bit, and sorted through my closet to see what i have to wear "back to school."

yes, i am five. where's my pocket protector, and which bus do i ride?

oh, and p.s. - last night, i had the ingenius revelation to make my fresh salsa in the food processor. it usually takes about 30 minutes chopping by hand, and last night it took... five. i'm kicking myself.

- - - WARNING: REALLY RIDICULOUS PICTURES AHEAD - - -

i thought i'd address something i get questions about all the time: my hair.

all through high school, i had super looooong, curly hair halfway down my back. it was my signature. it was larger than life, resided in it's own zip code, and possessed a distinct personality.

i was hyper-insecure about my body, but was convinced i could hide behind my hair. i felt safe wearing it as my mask: at least if i hated everything else about myself, my hair was bangin'. every compliment i ever got was about my curls. 

so why did i cut it all off? good question.

why i chopped off my hair, and what i learned from it.

honestly? i cut my hair because i was ready for a change. a big one.

i had just broken up with my high school sweetheart, lived in a new town, started at a new college, and was making new friends. i wasn't the same girl as i was in high school, for better or worse, and i was ready to show it.

so the inches came off. at first, i was absolutely terrified. no longer could i hide my body (not that hair is an effective veil anyways)... what you saw was what you got. no BS.

for a while, i felt ugly, loathed it, regretted it, and then i realized - this is who i'm meant to be.

i'm not a diva, and i don't do high-maintanence. the long barbie hair was not my personality, not at all. and no offense to those with long, beautiful hair (gorgeous!), but honestly, every girl you see has long hair. they all look the same. shake it up a bit, ya know?

the surprise? cutting my hair was my "tipping point." i realized i had been pretending to be someone else for far too long. i dressed, spoke, and acted how i thought others expected me to, and couldn't ever just be myself! after that hair appointment, i decided i would never put myself through that again.

what started as a simple trim turned into what i so desperately need: a kick-start towards self-acceptance.

i've sinced realized many things about myself; some scary, and some thrilling. i'm not a girly girl. i don't like wearing a lot of make-up. i actually have pretty nice eyelashes. my body is just fine, without the curly veil. i'm not ugly. shockingly, i can run. i like tattoos, and can't wait to get more. i have muscles and curves. i'm constantly amazed by my body's changes.

and i'm proud of it. all of it. those things make me unique, and i wouldn't have uncovered any of them if i hadn't decided to just. be. me.

i love who i am, short hair and all. do you?

what "body security blanket" are you holding on to?

what's unique you love about yourself?

-rebekah

a little self-reflection, yes?

hello friends!
i hope your weekends were awesome in every way. i had an interesting weekend, to put it simply. learned a lot about myself, my thoughts, and what i want in life...

ever have one of those days where something just clicks? my weekend was full of those "aha!" moments.

noteworthy news:
the absolutely wonderful Medicinal Marzipan was kind enough to list me in her Body Loving Blogosphere weekly roundup. the other posts are incredible!

i also had the blessed opportunity to have lunch with Chuck Feerick, of Feerless Food. he was down in richmond for a triathalon (in the 100+ degree heat!!!) and was sweet enough to grab some food with me before his drive home at a cute little diner called Millie's.

while the atmosphere was fun, it was a little more crowded/noisy than i had anticipated. they were also out of almost half the items on the menu... not bueno for vegans :). all in all, we had great conversation, and he's a total doll. if you're interested in seeing exercise and food from a guy's perspective, hop on over to his awesome blog!

source.

today's thoughts: gum, and why we chew it.

i don't know about you guys, but up until very, very recently, i was a gum-chewing machine! yes, sugar-free gum and i spent many a day together, with all it's chemically, fake, poison-y goodness. i didn't go anywhere without a piece, and i could easily mowed through a whole pack in a weekend!

i kind of considered this my one vice... it wasn't a terrible habit, right? only when i started to notice it bothered my stomach did i ever even consider giving my up beloved gum.

since then, i've spent some time considering where this obsession came from. sure, it's not cocaine or anything, but an addiction is an addiction.

gum is one of those silly things we don't think about, but i am a firm believer that there is a reason behind everything we do. and i consider myself a strong person, so i didn't really like the control gum had over me. i seriously couldn't go a day without it!

so in a very christie-like manner, i just asked myself "why?"

i turned to gum for a few reasons:

1. emotion eating/food obsession: for the first time in my life, i wasn't eating constantly. i wouldn't just go grab something whenever i felt like it, but i still had the urge to. i hadn't dealt with all of my emotional reasons for needing food, so i still wanted to be chewing constantly.

why? because it was comforting! gum was a nearly calorie-free way to satisfy my food addiction... but satisfying that obsession wasn't the same thing as dealing with the problem.

i was addicted to food because i still thought eating, or the lack of it, would make me happy. my focus was in the wrong place - instead of pursuing things of worth (volunteering, friendships, God), i was too caught up in how "good" i could be (eating "healthy," getting skinny, being popular).

until i dealt with the emptiness inside, i was compelled to fill the space with food/chewing.

2. stress/loneliness: when i was really honest with myself, i chewed gum because i was worrying. i would get lost in my thoughts and fears about school, my major, my parents, losing weight, etc., and would turn to gum as a stress-reliever. once again - i wasn't dealing with the root problem. i was avoiding doing anything about my fears.

gum also distracted me from realizing i was lonely. i was working in the pool (isolated from the rest of the gym), going to community college with no friends, and dating a guy who worked long, random hours. the fibro was starting to limit what i could do, so i was getting out a lot less. the gum kept me "busy," so at least i didn't realize i wasn't really doing anything.

3. sugar: as you guys know, i'm hypoglycemic, so now i don't eat added sugars. when i was phasing-out sugar, naturally i craved sweetness, and sugar-free gum satisfied that need for me. i figured less sugar and no bingeing on desserts = success, when in reality, trading sugar for fake sugar = fail. don't get me wrong - i was moving in the right direction, just a bit misguided in my attempt.

source.

gum was my jam. it was my dirty little habit. it's taken a lot of practice and effort, but i can turn it down now and think about what my body really needs.

it's a scary thing to really get to the bottom of your actions, but it's worth looking into! there's no greater gift you can give yourself than understanding who you are.

will you do me (and yourself!) a favor?

please take a second and get real with yourself.

gum might not be your addiction, but make it personal: think about that food "you aren't safe around," or have no self-control with... i guarantee you it's not just because you really like the way it tastes. when we act compulsively and irrationally around a food, there is almost always a driving force behind it... be it emotions, memories, or guilt.

give yourself some time, keep thinking, and allow yourself the freedom to just be. you are absolutely worth the effort. treat yourself right, and get that monkey off your back! 

need some help getting started?
- i really can't recommend christie's blog enough, if you're looking to ask the hard questions. not only is she a sweet friend, but she's pure magic.
- looking for honesty? she's a bit on-again-off-again, but sui is a gem and says things how they really are.
- if you struggle a bit more than you'd like to admit (i've so been there!!!), lara's blog is a straight-up resourse for those of us who are no-nonsense.
- most important? find someone you can confide in. a loving, supportive person in your life is the greatest strength i've found.

what food challenges you? pulls at your compulsive side?
what "food habit" do you allow yourself?
-rebekah

10 things.

good morning all!

i slept more "normal" last night (praise God!), and am hopeful the trend continues :)

this is a random post, but some time ago i got nominated for an award... i think it was this one?

i'm not super... um, responsible, and had totally forgotten about it until i read Amanda's incredible answers! seeing as how my answers would pale in comparison (um...drag racing?!), i thought i would put a different spin on my responses. how typical of me, no?

instead of simply 10 facts about me (because you'd be sleepin' soon after!), i hereby present to you:

10 things i would never admit to on a first date, but have no problem sharing with my blog friends!

yeah, i'm goin' there.

1. i've been known to do yoga on a bed sheet, in my parent's bed room. why a bed sheet, you ask?

simple. i'm poor. yoga mats cost money. so bed sheet it is... although i plan on getting one of these someday! they're an eco-friendly company, and they plant a tree when you buy one! double score.

2. when i'm done with my gum and i'm driving, i make it a little contest with myself to see how far i can spit it out the window (if i'm at a stoplight).

don't laugh! i'm surprisingly powerful for being a little pipsqueak.

source.

 and yes... i've gotten a few stares. i should probably grow out of that habit... not as endearing from a grown woman as a 5-year-old, right?

3. there are two reasons why i go to my local gym: one is to strength train, and the other is to read magazines.

plenty of workouts, i've done 15 extra minutes of cooldown, just to finish a Shape, Oxygen, or something like that.

i get women's health and it's ok and stuff, but all the variety at the gym is so enticing! no shame.

however, i cannot stand gossip magazines. i fully believe they rot your brains. if you see me reading, rest assured it will be: a blog, a book, or a magazine of substance. thank you.

4. this one is obvious, but could be considered unorthodox, i suppose... as y'all know, i am passionately committed to the blog. it's a huge part of my purpose. i feel so blessed to be able to experience your victories, your sorrows, and your challenges "along side you." i value this space, and the community with it, as one of my most prized posessions.

source.

so naturally, i'm a bit defensive if someone teases me about it. also, i talk about you guys like you're  right here with me in VA. my mom and i often have at-length discussions about something on "so-and-so's blog," or she asks what i'm posting on/reading/writing today.

strange? i think not.

5. i hate baseball. it's hot/humid/rainy, the little kids are ceaselessly obnoxious, and everyone inevitably spills their beer. the end.

source.

this may be an underlying factor behind why i don't get dates.... maybe. i could be wrong.

6. i hate deodorant. it's slimy, it gets on your clothes no matter how you try to dance and shimmy your arms, and it looks disgusting.

source.

i suck this one up, though, and i still wear it. just incase you were wondering :)

7. much to the chagrin of my ex-boyfriends, dad, and little brother, i am always "that girl" when we go to out to eat.

yes, i know i'm annoying, but i try my darndest to quickly and respectfully order my dressing on the side, substitute fruit/salad for fries, and swap white bread for wheat.

source.

i know it's girly and yada yada yada, but it's my money and i feel better when i eat that way.

8. i love being different, really. i love surprising people. i love breaking the mold.

i have funky, pixie hair. i rock the androgyny of wearing heels and skirts with my runner's legs. i am continually enamoured with my tattoo (soon to be plural!) and how it highlights my strong, but feminine arms. i usually wear no makeup, yet my body still screams "girl!!!"

but sometimes, i feel like i attract more attention than i'm comfortable with. maybe it's just my imagination, but plenty of times i feel kinda like... everyone is looking at me. i know i'm quirky, but i still get self-conscious, ya know?

just because i rock a mohawk doesn't mean i'm fearless.

9. i am paralyzed by heights.

yes friends, i admit: elevators, airplanes, and tall buildings scare the begeezes out of me.

source.

no, i will not go bungee jumping/skydiving/bouldering with you. truly sorry.

the only exception? after swimming since age 7, i am totally comfortable with heights... above water. strangely enough, i've been parasailing, cliff diving, and done plenty of backflips off the high divingboard, and they were some of my most awesome life experiences.

10. last, but certainly not least, i do not wear thongs. ever. 

source.

my teenage years of foolishness are over, and so are they. i don't do butt-floss.

....................................................................................................

now, with that lovely mental image of my buttcrack so fresh in your minds, i have a very important question for you super-bloggers.

source.

should i get twitter? i don't even know how to use it! technology and i maintain a strained relationship, at best.

do you guys tweet a lot?

is it a good way to stay in touch?

what would you never admit to on a date?

- rebekah

full disclosure.

after checking that, in fact, it is actually tuesday, happy tuesday ladies and gentlemen!

          source... too cute to care about the spelling!

last night, i experienced an extremely "interesting" (read: non-existent) sleep pattern, so excuse me if i sound a bit groggy... i just got up/woke up from a nap.

first things first.

i wanted to shed some light on yesterday's post.

as with every email/post/comment, i wrote what i did to help someone else. to save them the trouble of making the same mistakes i did. to help encourage them to make the right choice for their body, even if it's an insignificantly small step in their eyes.

simply put, every lesson i've learned has been by the grace of God, so i feel responsible to pass it on.

yesterday was no exception, although i should say i'm glad you guys can't see me as i read the comments. you'd find a blubbering, sobbing idiot! you are way too kind!

but still, i was driven by something more. it was more a personal post than usual, and i believe you guys deserve to know that.

honestly? i've never been happier than i am now. after years of loneliness, frustration, and self-hate, i've finally found a place to sort things out, listen to God, and learn from others in the process.

i could never have imagined what a gift the blog would turn into, with this incredibly supportive community of bloggers and readers.

so what's my problem?

as much as i wrote yesterday's post for others, it also was a reminder for myself. words i've been preaching to myself for weeks.

you see, my body's been on a bit of a roller coaster ride over the last few years.

thin? despised? over-exercised? overweight? healthy? starved? disrespected? check! check! check!

 it's been through a transformation so dramatic, it puts Perez Hilton to shame...

                ridiculous.

... ok, maybe not thaaaaat bad. but still.

but now i'm stuck.

when i was in the middle of struggling with self-destructing/emotional eating/compulsive exercising, i just hated my body. the end.

slowly but surely, though, as i started healing, i began to image what my body would uncover. what would i be left with when i returned to a healthy, balanced outlook on life? what would my "adult" body end up like? big, or small? plump, or bony? curvy, or skinny?

i'm incredibly bless to say that today, i'm at peace with my body. and interestingly, it doesn't fit any of those descriptions i imagined.

for the first time, i'm smaller, but more muscle-y. not figure competition chiseled (go girl!), but definitely packin' more than i used to. and although i don't have a child's body by any stretch of the imagination, i certainly don't have luscious, curvy, womanly proportions.

 

                  swoon.

i finally have a stable, healthy, grown-up body, and i don't know how to handle that.

so when i wrote about loving our bodies no matter what, i meant it. really.

it's been my constant challenge for weeks. i'm still dealing with this body, but you know what? it's mine. it's (mostly!) healthy, finally at a blissful balance, and gives me the gift to be able to do things i love. go body go!

so you guys are my accountability, ok?
please help me (and yourself!) remember that this body is awesome!
you guys rock. seriously.

do you struggle with how your body has developed?
if you are recovering from ED, what has been the hardest to accept about your body?
- rebekah

100th post!

source.

heck yeah!

thank you all so, so much for joining me for 100 posts of joy, struggles, body blues, and food porn.

i can't even begin to express how much each and every one of you mean to me!

the support i find here blows me away, and your sweet comments made my day more often than not. the friends i have found here are some of my most treasured relationships... i thank God for you daily, my dears.

.....................................................................................................................................

on a completely unrelated note... my ink update:

for those of you that asked, i did go for my tattoo consult today. it went amazing!

Katie from Salvation Tattoo Gallery was an answer to my prayers. she was professional, polite, and really funny!

after chatting, prodding, and drawing for about 30 minutes, we finally settled on a design and location that was both doable on her end, and made me totally happy on mine!

i decided to put the compass rose on my right arm, just above my elbow... workin' towards that half-sleeve! if you are in Richmond and are looking for a clean, professional parlor, i highly recommend Salvation.

and thank you guys for your suggestions on placement, by the way. my roommie from freshman year and i are planning on going the 13th or 14th of August, so i can't wait!

my tattoos do/will mean something: they tell my story. my first (the latin word invictus) is from a poem i read in high school. it is my daily reminder that although life's circumstances may be out of my control, my reaction is not. my next one (the compass rose) stands for this new chapter in my life... i have no idea where i am headed, but i do know that God is directing my steps according to His plan. He is my guide!

i'll be back tomorrow with some thoughts on how to adjust when your body changes... night loves!

do you have a tattoo? do you want one?

-rebekah

let's get real, folks.

you know how sometimes you love reading a blog, but you realize you don't really know anything about the person behind the food?

(or maybe that blogger is you...?)

i hate that! i want to get to know the heart and soul behind the posts. i can find recipes anywhere, but personality? that's a rare gift.

because of that, i aim to be as transparent as possible here at Clarity in Creation... even if it's not a pretty sight!

so in the spirit of full disclosure, here are a few honest statements that have been floating around in my heart and brain here recently...

thank you all so much for your sweet comments on my fibro diet post! i'm definitely not an expert by any means, but if someone else can learn from my mistakes and hard-earned lessons, i'm all for that!

if anyone ever has any tips for me (concerning anything!), i'd be honored if you'd share them. i love new experiences, recipes, and any tidbits of information that could help others. or if there's something i should know, fill me in!

when i remember, i've been trying to post Operation Beautiful notes at the gym, grocery store, etc.

i haven't been taking pictures of them because i'm not concerned about sending the pictures in... i just want the ladies i cross paths with to feel special, for only for one minute of their day.

have you written any Operation Beautiful notes? or have you found any?

since my orientation on monday, i've been working on my class schedule, and i think i finally got it organized! it's not exactly how i could have chosen it, but i think it's going to work out :)

as of right now, i have one class on mondays, and three classes on wednesdays and thursdays. i'll also be lifeguarding for my college pool, so it's nice to be able to work a few hours in between classes.

i've been designing my next tattoo! it's a compass rose (similar to the picture) - my daily reminder that Christ is my guide for life, so i never need to worry about where i'm headed next.... i go to a consult at a local parlor today!

i can't decide if i should add on to my first tattoo (on the inside of my right arm, working towards a half-sleeve), or get the compass on the inside of my left wrist (my original idea).

thoughts??? i'll let you know what i decide! i'm getting inked the second week in august with my freshman roommate who will have just gotten home from her honeymoon!!! eek!

i went to the library... can you tell? i love books (especially free ones!). 

i also put a bunch on transfer, including Thrive, Eat Pray Love, Food Rules, and Veganomicon!

do you use your library? have any book suggestions for me?

finally, a recipe!

i got off my lazy rear and made a chickpea/quinoa salad, looking to Jess and Ashley for inspiration.

i just used what sounded good, but you can adapt it however you want! i'm broke, so i scrounged around until i was satisfied :)

chickpea salad - basic recipe:

cook:

- 1 cup quinoa, cooked according to directions (subbing veggie broth for water)

- 1/2 cup dried beans, or open, drain, and rinse 1 can of choice (i used chickpeas)

let cool slightly, then stir in:

- chopped veggies: i grated 3 cloves of garlic, chopped 1/2 a small red onion, and grated a carrot, but cucumber, strawberries, and/or avocado would make an awesome salad, too!

now, the fun stuff... add:

- 1 cup dried fruit (i used craisins)

- 1/4 cup toasted nuts (walnuts for me!)

- salt and pepper, to taste

- a few tablespoons of your favorite salad dressing, or EVOO + basalmic vinegar (i used a new find, Trader Joe's Raspberry Viniagrette)

and what would wrap up this ridiculously random post better than a picture of my scraggley dawg?

- rebekah

p.s. - check out Mama Pea's cookbook giveaway, y'all!