8 Steps, Baby & Giant

Today was day 4 of the Whole Life Challenge, which goes til March 11. I've happily made some discoveries while attempting to crowd out chocolate, candy, white sugar, white flour, bread, pasta and cheese:

1. I have more energy.
2. I like steel-cut oatmeal. Of course, it's frigid out, and oatmeal is a comfort. This morning, after 8 a.m. yoga and meditation class, I had to drive past the Whole Foods in West Orange. I got the hot oatmeal with raisins and I added dried cherries, fresh blueberries, sliced almonds [all from the food bar] and a splash of cream from the coffee bar. It was delicious. I took home the part of the cup I hadn't finished and had it as a snack later. Yum.
3. Stonyfield Organic 100% Grassfed Yogurt is a rich find. Tangy and good. A six-ounce container of the plain white cream is 120 calories and very satisfying. Having one now for bedtime snack. Here's the label image: 
   
4. Baked sweet potatoes are my friend. And I can have with a pat of butter and a sprinkle of sea salt.
5. Journaling helps. My friend Sue told me to try first-person, positive affirmations. Did for the first time today. 
6. Weird shakes require bravery but are filling. That chocolate avocado kale smoothie I made on day 1 was--interesting. Here is the LINK. If I had the peppermint oil, I think it would have been much better. I might make tomorrow with orange extract from my cupboard. Good way to get your veggies. But much too filling before exercise class.
7. I can let it pour. I love milk, and on the Kick-Start level [easiest of the three], I can have my milk. Yum. A nice cold glass of organic low-fat milk is dreamy.
8. 77 oz. of water is a boatload. You calculate how much to drink based on your weight. It's hard to hit this mark. But today at yoga, I overheard one woman say to another that she drinks a gallon of water a day, especially in winter, to hydrate.

TCOY

• Yoga + meditation class. Teacher Julie Harris just returned from trip to India and is even wiser. Today's message was about how not knowing is the path/willingness to knowing.
• Healthy foods: Oatmeal, fruit, sweet potato, roast turkey, peanuts, hot tea, green beans, brown rice, tofu, leftover meat loaf, Stonyfield yogurt. Small amounts of sweets, such as a small macaron, free sample at La Maison du Chocolat.
• Figgy started classes today at Montclair State, and is fully moving back home by February 1. I made vegan dinner and dessert for her and her friend. Surprising, but even H. liked the baked ziti. Did a nice sauce with San Marzano diced tomatoes, and used vegan mozzarella-style shreds and Kite Hill ricotta made from almond milk. I just had a couple tastes, because I'm not supposed to eat pasta. Had leftovers of other foods.
• I made this luxe chocolate cake [in 13 x 9 inch pan] vegan by using egg replacer powder for the 3 eggs and almond milk instead of regular milk. I made a quick, shiny dark chocolate glaze from the tried-and-true Cake Bible, with semisweet chocolate but coconut oil instead of butter, and a little each of water, vanilla extract and corn syrup. Love this brand, below. I'm a cake snob, so if I'm not baking from scratch, I want a high-end mix. I ate a couple forkfuls of the cake. The girls loved it. So did our sitter, Elaine. Today is her bday and I sent home half the rectangle with her.
  
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