Hello there :) Hope your morning is going faaaabulous.
More rainbow sorbet swirls for breakfast…
In this juice: 1 carrot, 1 large beet, 1/2 lemon.
I wanted greens in my juice too! It is Operation use up the spinach week after all. I find that spinach doesn’t juice very well (or maybe I am not doing it right?), so I decided to take the juice from above and throw it into the blender with spinach. I also threw in a banana for sweetness and some Amazing Grass protein powder!

Ta-da!

It was all fun and games until I saw how many dishes I had to wash… *faints*
I’m thinking tomorrow is a vegan overnight oats kinda day. ;)
I had this juice along with a delicious apple smothered in a tablespoon of chunky peanut butter.

If I should ever create my final meal, apple and chunky peanut butter shall be on it.
Negative Comments From Others: Do They Light A Fire Inside You?
Some of you were asking about Eric’s Kick the Coke Habit challenge. He is doing really well and has not had Coke despite craving it like a mad man. He is now buying 100% pure orange juice and mango juice as a substitute when he craves something sweet. He is also drinking a lot more black tea for his caffeine kick. I am so impressed!
He has been getting his share of teasing at work though! Eric and the guys were in Subway yesterday and after Eric ordered water (instead of his usual Coke) his coworker said, ‘This is the last straw!!!!’ ;) It doesn’t phase Eric because he can dish it out like the rest of them and he knows the joking relationship that him and his coworkers have. It is not done in a mean spirit at all.
Last year he switched from meat subs to ordering all veggie subs (*swoon*) and did he ever get razzed for that, but he stuck with it! He is not the type of person who caves to peer pressure, so I have no doubt that the comments will only make him more dedicated to seeing his goal through.
He really appreciates your comments and support and could not get over how many of you wanted to try this challenge with him. Whether it is pop, diet pop, or artificial sweeteners that you want to kick, having a support system is very helpful!
Eric’s experience made me think about comments from coworkers that I used to get. I used to get a lot of teasing about the way I ate (I was a vegetarian at the time). One of my coworkers used to tell everyone in the office, ‘All she eats is lettuce and bird food.’ (while he ate McDonalds every single morning for breakfast!). Another coworker said, ‘Soon your body will become so weak you will have to start eating meat again.’
It is never a dull moment in the workplace when you have all kinds of personalities driving each other nuts everyday… ;)
Sometimes comments like this would annoy me and sometimes I could brush them off. It really just depended on the day and how much stress I was encountering with my job and to-do list. If it was a bad day (which it usually was), I was more likely to let the comments sting, but if I was feeling great, I could laugh it off or retort with my own witty comeback.
Negative comments that I have received in my life have only made me more determined to stick to my goals. Once I had a ridiculous comment from someone who said my bakery would never succeed so I might as well go back to a miserable desk job- at least that paid well.
Negativity lights a fire inside me to be successful with my goals. If someone tells me I can’t do something, I will see to it that I prove them wrong. Everything is possible when you commit to a goal.
Comments from others can light the ‘I’ll show you’ fire. I think that fire has been lit inside Eric because he wants to prove to everyone that he can do this.
What about you- Have you ever received negative comments that have only lit your fire to succeed? Do you have any strategies for dealing with negative people in your life?
On that note, I am off to train my first Glo Bakery Employee this afternoon! :mrgreen: Cya later!
~~~
Avoid destructive thinking. Improper negative thoughts sink people. A ship can sail around the world many, many times, but just let enough water get into the ship and it will sink. Just so with the human mind. Let enough negative thoughts or improper thoughts get into the human mind and the person sinks just like a ship. ~Alfred A Montapert
I’m in the same boat as the commenters above who had negative comments about their eating habits. When I was first diagnosed with late stage Lyme Disease, my doctors told me to give up alcohol, caffeine, sugar, dairy, and wheat to start rebuilding my immune system. There is a LOT of free alcohol in my industry, so I used to constantly have to defend my decision not to drink. And even though I’d laugh it off, eventually I started realizing how rude it was for people to constantly comment on whether or not I was drinking and made me that much more committed to eating for MY health and not their expectations.
I also got negative comments here and there about my sugar free and wheat free diet, but once people started realizing how it was working in my life, they started asking questions and trying it out for themselves. Now people come to me for advice on eating healthy and adding more gluten-free foods into their own diets. It’s exciting to see people come around.
I’m so glad for you that your bakery has done so well! You knew your calling and you went for it! That’s something to be proud of. :)
Wow I can imagine how hard that would have been. Kudos for handling it well!
I too turn negative comments into motivation! My school careers adviser once told me that no-one from our school would get into uni – so I might as well look at other options? Are you kidding me!! I not only got into uni but I got into law school!!!
I got a few negative comments about going vegan four years ago from my Dad. He has since given it a rest. It definitely got me going and made me more determined. I’m pretty lucky though, I work in health care, so everyone is super supportive of my diet. My fiancé Britton however gets a lot of teasing about being vegan. He takes it really well, and usually it’s just boys joking around. Every once in a while someone (usually a woman!) will say something SUPER rude to him about it. He handles it really well, so it’s not an issue. I hate how some people can be so in your face about the foods you eat.
I think it is important to remember that the only opinion that matters is that of yours and your higher power’s opinion. I just try to love others who are negative even more than I do the positive people. Love will change them.
I love the saying ‘kill em with kindness’
Negative comments bother me. As far as my health and personal life I have developed the self confidence to understand theat they are only jealous that they are unable ot make the life choices I have. Negative comments on the job is another thing. They bother me a lot and eat away at me.
good luck with your new employee. At least you won’t be one of those harassing Co-workers to them haha
I shrug off when people talk negative about how I eat. i know its healthier than them, and thats why they just can’t figure out how to lose the weight they want!
Hi, I’m new to reading your blog and btw I love it!! So inspiring. I’ve tried your smoothies and love them..I feel great after having one. I love today’s quote!! Congrats on having an employee to train, I wish you tons of luck with the business..however I’m sad they aren’t closer! Do you use a juicer for the juice posted above?
Thank you Im glad you enjoy the blog!
yes I use a Brevile juicer :)
I definitely have renewed sense of purpose and determination when someone doubts my ability to succeed. I try to distance myself from people who only discourage others and don’t offer support, and I’m glad to say I’m a happier, better person without them in my life. :)
I try not to let negative comments keep me down… but sometimes they do- it’s human nature. I just try to focus on something positive to get through it! The pressure to eat meat (but it’s soooo goooood…) at school has been hard- but I’ve stuck with it, at least for a week so far!! Just gotta keep trekking on and know I made a good decision =D
xo
K
If only your co workers could see you now, stronger than EVER! It seems like the negative comments have certainly lit your fire!
Gosh I wish I was as strong as you. Negative teasing comments hurt me, but it really depends on the situation when it comes to my feelings and reactions. The best example is my absolute refusal to drink. I will be willing to taste but that’s it and even then, it’s my decision whether to do so or not. It wasn’t until college and when most of my friends started drinking that I was aware how powerful and hurtful peer pressure was to me. I don’t drink for many reasons: it tastes bad, costs too much, bad for me, etc. I couldn’t believe how much my friends tried to get me to drink, not because it tastes good but because they wanted to see me drunk. They wanted to be entertained by my lack of control, hangovers and possible embarrassing moments that I wouldn’t remember. My other friend started drinking by peer pressure when we came back from college at a reunion-like party and for then on out, she’s been made fun of not only because she was drunk but because of things she had no control over happened. I am fine with them drinking, but it hurts me that I am made fun of and pressured to do something that will obviously not be enjoyable and will not benefit me in the future. I try to push off the pressure and teasing, but eventually I ended up not having fun at the reunion-parties, got fed up and told them exactly how I feel. Now 1 or 2 of my friends don’t tease me, but they still pressure me. I still refuse to drink alcohol and I am fine with the consequences. I just really wish more than one of my friends would back me up, but that’s their choice. I’ve decided not to go to the reunion parties so I don’t get pressured and simply because I wasn’t having fun anymore.
Despite the negative comments, I stay strong to what I believe is best for myself. The negative comments just show me who people really are and if they won’t accept me for who I am, well I’m not the one who is going to regret it. I know when people are joking and when they are not, but I won’t stand for hurtful comments and it will only make me stronger.
I have read many posts in your blog and I am proud of you and your husband for sticking to your beliefs and goals. Both of you are doing what you think is best and I love that. I am not a vegan and I am having trouble losing weight, but thanks to this post, I have gotten some encouragement.
I’m a little late in commenting, but this post and all the great responses were really wonderful to read. Usually negative comments totally fuels a fire with me, but like most people, when I’m already having a bad day it can be tough to handle. Comments about not eating meat, people telling me marathons will kill me, saying I don’t “indulge” enough (ie. not eat tons of junk food), I know are more reflections of that person’s insecurities than on me. I sometimes have to give myself positive thoughts after such comments, which always helps me.
“You must be the change you want to see in the world” – Gandhi
i try not to let negative comments feed me either way, i just try to remain centred. it’s kinda hard sometimes, but i am getting used to just smiling nonetheless. recently i was away from work, sick, and when i went back in they said it was telling that the only person off sick was the one who’s all about the healthy lifestyle. I could have quipped many a thing back, but i managed to just smile. i find that if i am happy with what i’m doing then things don’t rattle me. if i’m not sure what i’m doing or if i doubt myself, then i let it in a little too much (and refer back to Caitlin’s post on negativity on HTP!) to set me back on track :)
your juice looks gorgeous btw. yum!
Great post! I really struggle with negative comments from people I care about. I would love to say that they spur me on to prove them wrong, but often I let them eat away at me, and this is something I need to work on. I would love a follow-up post to this, with any advice you have! :-)
Its SO funny that you mentioned your hubby getting teased by co-workers for his food choices… My husband just came home from a week long business trip (to Texas, where EVERYONE eats steak/ BBQ & few drink water at lunch) and told me that very thing on our way home from the airport. Three cheers for our men who make healthy choices even when “the real men” poke fun… I told my hubby… ‘just rock it baby, who cares what they think.. it’s your health.’ ;)
Happy Friday!
-Mary
Ok — That Juice sounds absolutely delish, but whenever I look at that first photo, all I can think about is blood spatter… Sorry, had to say it! :P
Excellent post!! After a year and a half of this “new lifestyle” thang, I feel like I’m finally getting a hang on how to deal with negative comments. Oddly, the worst ones come from those that know me really well. Old friends and family members love to pick at the way I eat, or my decision to pursue the “lesser” career of personal training (because, journalists all make big bucks *rolls eyes*).
I realized that the negative comments about my food choices stem from their own insecurities. When someone mocks my giant salad, I think it’s because they see my choice and immediately feel bad about their less-healthy choice. This is why I think it’s important to lead by example. Hopefully those making the negative comments will see how happy I am in my lifestyle and try some of the things out themselves. I’ve already seen this with at least half a dozen people in my life :)
As for the career thing – screw ’em! I deserve to do a job that makes me happy :)
It is so awesome to see that negative comments only push you to succeed more. I definitely can relate to people making comments about the way that I eat because at church meals or get togethers, I will eat a small amount of many different foods rather than pick 3 items and load up on it. So my plate appears so much smaller and people yell out, you need to eat more! But what they don’t realize is that I do not like to waste food, so rather get to much to begin with, I choose a little first, then if I am still hungry, I will get more later. I love your blog and you seem like such a beautiful woman inside and out. I have been reading a lot lately about people dealing with negative comments and so a few days ago I wrote a post called Negativity: Are you receiving it? I know you are quite the busy woman, but I would love for you to read it and give some feedback on the issue. It will be located under my “recent posts” list. Take care!
Great (and much needed) post. I am glad I came across your blog! :) Negative comments definitely put a fire under me! In fact, the most recent negative comments I received caused me to lose the 25 lbs I’d been wanting to lose and in 6 mos!
I love that you share such depth to your personality over blogging. I admire you for your courage discussing both the happy intimate details and the troublesome ones. Maybe I’ll be where you are someday if I can get my blog to grow :) And I can totally relate to negativity regarding a vegan diet. In college I had a girl told me I should start eating meat for protein so that I could drink alcohol without feeling sick. I had a coworker tell me maybe my eyes hurt because I went vegan.
Hi Angela,
I have just found your blog as a result of salivating over your book…I’m a lover of food and cookbooks. This post is very poignant, I’ve had so many back handed comments over the years and I keep taking it on board, that plus a whole load of fear mongering may mean I’ll never take the leap into a new career and real fulfilment. It’s hard to not love what you do. I am a happy person but when you have to keep reminding yourself to be that way, something’s not fitting right, It’s got to be automatic. I hope to find that again and I’m sure I will. This positivity you’re putting into the world is just beautiful, I’m going to keep absorbing and passing it on and putting it to good use.
Thanks so much