Stowaway Vita

Hey guys! Happy almost-Friday! Hope you’re having a great day so far <3

I can’t believe how many of ya’ll were shocked/wondering if I brought my Vitamix with me to the Bahamas…

well…

vita

Heck ya I did 🙂

This girl likes her smoothies wayyyyy too much to leave the beloved Vitamixalicious at home 😉 The pilot donated half of one of his suitcases for the base, and the actual blender was in my big suitcase, stuffed full of swimsuits and surrounded by clothes to keep it from breaking.

I also brought protein powder, peppermint tea (which I don’t think I’ve written about much on the bloggy- I have a few cups a day and LOVE tea), Stevia, homemade Fit Bars, Vega Bars, Raw Revolution bars, organic apples and bananas (the hotel also has a ton of fresh fruit for me to munch), prenatal vitamins (no I’m not preggers, or my wine consumption would be nonexistent) and chocolate almond milk.

stash

Last night was pretty amazeballs.

We had dinner at one of the nicer places at the resort, but couldn’t get a reservation for the swanktastic place until Saturday night.

So we wore nicer beachy clothes 😀

me

pilot

Yeahhhhh 😀

The restaurant was a seafood and Mediterranean buffet and you could also order off the menu if you wished.

I hit up the buffet when I saw salad, a wide assortment of olives and tapenades, fresh bread, and seafood.

buffet

I wasn’t starving since we had a late snack (mine was salmon with veggies), so I chose a salad, figs with honey and cloves, garlic wheat bread with sundried tomato pesto, ceviche and some mussels. I went back from another piece of bread with sundried tomato pesto- it was awesome.

The pilot rolled with the surf and turf.

Turf

steak

Surf

lobster

The wine glasses here are MAGICAL- I must see if I can purchase one to take home.. they refill themselves 😉

wine

We got a dessert plate from the buffet to share 🙂

dessert

I had a couple bites of the baklava (one of my favorites), almost all of the Mexican wedding cookie and a bite of the cake. ‘Twas face-rocking 😀

Next, we went to the pub and played pool.

pool

I am the Happy Gilmore of pool 😉

Laid in a cabana…

us

and made faces

faces

faces (2)

and danced the night away 🙂

My kinda night.

This morning, since we were night owls, we were moving a little slowly.

I munched an apple and a Vega bar

apple

vega

and sipped some tea while the pilot had pizza for breakfast.

tea

I LOVE what the tea packet had to say on the back 😀

tea (2)

Pretty cute, huh?

Well we’re off to do our daily Insanity workout and then walk down to the beach and pool.

Have a wonderful day <3

Gina

Something to talk about: If you’re a vegetarian/vegan/pescatarian/quasitarian have you ever decided to just have a little meat? (TWSS… haha) When I decided to stop eating meat (I still eat fish), I told myself that if I ever wanted to have some, I would just buy organic and go for it. In the almost-two-years since, even though I still cook organic meat for the pilot and watch him eat it all the time, I haven’t had the urge to have any. Even chicken, which used to be one of my favorites. It’s funny how tastes and eating styles change over time. How has your eating style changed over time?? How old were you when/if you decided to stop eating meat or re-vamp your eating style?

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94 Comments

  1. Kim on May 13, 2010 at 6:45 pm

    I’m slowly making the transition to pescetarian, and I’ll always eat dairy & eggs, and occasionally fish (I live in Florida), but some of the obstacles so far:

    -At the office we have catered lunch without vegetarian options (like today’s baked pasta with ground beef)
    -Going out with family for dinner (I’m OK with picking the ham off my pineapple pizza & giving it to someone else)

    I don’t eat any meat at home, and bringing my own lunch is a lot more fun now that I got off the turkey sandwich wagon – it’s forcing me to be more creative (salads, planned leftovers).

    I was worried about my protein intake but now I’m addicted to the BREAKFAST COOKIE so I know I’m getting some protein each morning without even thinking about it 🙂

  2. Allison @ Food For Healing on May 13, 2010 at 6:58 pm

    i will eat fish, but very very little meat. I will still occasionally eat it, however i like to buy organic/local when i can.

    i wish i was in the bahamas, looks so beautiful and some great eats.

  3. Lisa on May 13, 2010 at 7:31 pm

    It is interesting to read that so many people distinguish between fish and other sources of meat, such as cow and chicken. Why do people do this?

    If it is on the basis of an environmental argument (i.e. factory farming is detrimental to Earth, that’s why I don’t eat cow!), then I am confused because aqua-farming is also extremely harmful to the environment.

    Is it a moral decision, because aquatic animals are less similar to humans that we feel justified in eating them and calling ourselves “pescetarian”?

    Or do people feel that they need fish for a source of protein and fatty acids? Even so, there are many non-fish sources that are nutritionally superior.

    So, I am having troubles then seeing why “vegetarians” feel comfortable eating fish? Can someone fill me in here?

    • Fitnessista on May 13, 2010 at 10:53 pm

      i’m not quite sure, but i don’t call myself a vegetarian 🙂 i roll with “quasitarian” – it’s a mix of a lot of things 🙂

    • Emily N on May 14, 2010 at 12:45 pm

      If you’re trying to convert people to your side of the moral argument, it’s probably more effective to be open-minded and acknowledge that pescatarians (or flexitarians, or people who don’t like labels and just make an effort to decrease their animal consumption) have committed to reducing their carbon footprint. I think it’s unnecessary to take an all or nothing stance. It’s a harm reduction model that is reaping benefits nationwide, from schools that do “vegetarian school lunch days” to people who dramatically reduce their consumption. It’s better for the environment for people to say, “I’m going to try and leave less of a carbon footprint” than for people to say, “Oh well, I can’t be a 100% vegetarian and therefore I’m not going to even try.”

      • Fitnessista on May 14, 2010 at 4:30 pm

        i totally agree, girl- great points

    • Felicia on May 14, 2010 at 5:12 pm

      Lisa, thank you for saying exactly what I was thinking! I just read Eating Animals and you covered every point mentioned in the book! Bravo for spreading the word. No animal deserves a lifetime of unhappiness and a cruel death so that a human can enjoy a few minutes of “delicious”.

  4. Amanda on May 13, 2010 at 8:09 pm

    I gave up meat & dairy as (what was supposed to be…) a 2 week experiment. It’s been a month and a half and I haven’t touched meat since (unless you count 2 bites of alligator, which I *had* to try b/c..how random) and have had very minimal dairy. I do still eat fish. I also try to eat gluten free, but have slipped lately. So pretty much quasitarian :). If I do “cheat” with a little dairy, I have realized that it never tastes as good as the food I prefer to eat and I usually don’t feel that amazing after.

    The first 3 weeks I didn’t want meat at all. It kind of grossed me out. I’ve missed some dairy the entire time (mostly greek yogurt and goat cheese), but it’s not a big deal. Right now meat and some dairy sound good to me, but I still prefer fish/veggies/etc. I highly doubt I’ll never eat meat again, but I really do hope I don’t eat it often/on a regular basis. And if I don’t eat it again, even better.

    To be honest, I’m kind of scared to eat meat, because I know sometimes when you’ve abstained for awhile it’s hard to digest again. I have enough stomach distress as is. But since I do eat fish, and fairly often, I’m wondering if it doesn’t make a difference?

    So I’m kind of in between. For the most part I’m much happier with where I AM than where I WAS, and I think if I do continue this long term, which is essentially the plan, the mental thoughts/cravings won’t be an issue anymore.

    Anyway, have fun on the rest of your trip. Seems like you’re having an amazing time!

  5. Katherine on May 13, 2010 at 8:52 pm

    ahh, your trip is bringing me back to my all-inclusive vacation in january. how awesome is it not to have a bill after every meal?!

    i am 27, and i have been fully vegetarian since i was 12. i slowly stopped eating meat when i was 10 or 11, and by age 12 or so i was totally done with it. at the time, i merely thought it was “gross” because it was “animal flesh”, but now i celebrate the environmental and ethical implications being a vegetarian holds as well.

    continue to have so much fun, gina!

    • Katherine on May 13, 2010 at 8:54 pm

      by vegetarian, i mean no meat, no chicken, no fish. i go back and forth with eggs daily, and i will not eat them alone. i can stomach them when they are an ingredient in something if i don’t think about it too much

  6. Rachael on May 13, 2010 at 9:35 pm

    I started eating meat about a month ago – local sourcing only, and while the former vegan in me wants to argue that eating somewhat sentient is never wholly ethical, I’m looking more at the global (and global warming, resource abuse, etc.) angle of things these days. If I can find a way to be locally and grow-your-own vegan and healthily sustain my own wack health and the pregnancy I’m shooting for in the near future, then I might go back.
    I love that you brought your Vitamix. A former co-worker of mine was a raw vegan, and she brought her beloved blender everywhere. We were boarding a plane for DC, and having forgotten her ID, she somehow managed to talk herself through security using a pay stub. Just as we were finishing up with bag checks, she stated, “I know it looks like a bomb when off in my bag – I’ve got a big blender in there.” No plane happened for her that day – the lesson? Bring your Vitamix, just don’t mention bombs:)

  7. Liza on May 13, 2010 at 9:48 pm

    In the nearly 6 years I’ve stopped eating meat (I still eat chicken and fish), I’ve never really found myself wanting to have it, even if it’s right in front of me. HOWEVER, I can never deny the decadent smell of meat being cooked on a grill. 😉

    I love your sandals!! They are so cute. Where are they from?
    If only we had VitaMix available here in the Philippines, I could finally satiate my unbearable curiosity to try Green Monsters. 😛

    • Fitnessista on May 13, 2010 at 10:52 pm

      thank you! they’re steve madden

  8. Jaclyn on May 13, 2010 at 9:50 pm

    Are those ginormous hunks of garlic (gahh lic?) in your salad???!!

    I couldn’t eat meat, even if that is what she said 😉 Only occasionally I have accidentally biten into something with a hunk o meat… guess that doesn’t really count though .I m with you, your body stops craving/wanting it!

    • Fitnessista on May 13, 2010 at 10:51 pm

      yes! love garlic 🙂

  9. highonhealthy on May 13, 2010 at 10:01 pm

    I will occasionally eat seafood and eggs but that’s it. No dairy or meat for me and I’m fine with that, the way I eat is a way I believe in and I don’t miss the other stuff at all. :)My eating habits changed almost 2 years ago but it seems like I’ve eaten this way forever.

    PS. Love Vega bars! Delicious AND nutritious.

  10. Caroline Walberg on May 13, 2010 at 10:46 pm

    Being a passionate animal lover and after watching a lot of PETA videos and sobbing (same time this was happening I was reading Skinny Bitch) I didn’t eat meat or chicken for 2 years and then when I was pregnant I CRAVED meat and chicken- but couldn’t stand the thought/smell of fish. Now that the baby is here, I am back to no meat or chicken and can handle fish in small doses.

    I’m so glad you and the pilot are enjoying a honeymoon! I love your site Gina-this is the fist time I’ve posted 🙂

  11. Melissa (Melissa Likes To Eat) on May 13, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    That is awesome that you brought the VitaMix with you!! It put a smile on my face when I read that. 🙂
    I eat just about everything but I really cleaned up my diet about a couple of years ago when I got back on Weight Watchers. Now I eat so much more fruit and veggies than I used to. I eat tons of fish and chicken and sometimes red meat.

  12. kelsey@snackingsquirrel.com on May 13, 2010 at 11:14 pm

    ur so beautiful girl! can i grow up to look like you please <3 ? xoxo

    • Fitnessista on May 14, 2010 at 9:07 am

      thank you, lovely <3

  13. Brittany on May 13, 2010 at 11:17 pm

    I stopped eating meat about 2 years ago so I was 23, and I don’t restrict myself either. If I wanted it I would eat it, but I don’t ever want/crave it so it’s not really an issue.

    I love that you took the vitamix with you!!

  14. Melanie@ I Dream of Tahini on May 13, 2010 at 11:26 pm

    I’ve been a vegetarian since November of last year. I can say 100% that I will never eat meat again. That was such an easy change to make, as I ate like that most of the time anyway. I agree that once you change, you end up not craving or wanting it at all. There are just way too many yummy foods to eat. Plus, when I do feel like I would want chicken I know that I can grab a bag of gardein and fill that void.

    Lately I’ve been working on veganism. As of now, I’m a little more leary of myself giving in. I haven’t reached the place yet where I can safely say I won’t eat eggs or dairy….but so far so good. I’m just taking it one day at a time and diving in with both feet and just trusting the process. So far, it hasn’t been hard and I haven’t missed anything. If anything, I’m finding things that are far better tasting than what I gave up in the first place.

  15. Kim @ Eat and Be on May 14, 2010 at 5:19 am

    I always bring snacks with me when I travel! Because I have IBS and my stomach gets super sensitive when it gets too hungry AND b/c I love having my own healthy snacks, I think it’s a great idea 🙂
    I eat a bit of meat, but have really cut back and I feel better (physically & emotionally). Now that I am living in Malta for 3 months, I am definitely doing the fresh seafood thing which I am going go miss desperately when I head back to Canada!
    I am interested what you have to say about peppermint tea…I am also a big fan 🙂
    enjoy your trip!

  16. Kristin (Cook, Bake and Nibble) on May 14, 2010 at 6:50 am

    ahaha If I had a Vita, it would so come with me too 😉

    I was a veg in high school, and then I started eating meat last year becuase I felt like I was missing out. But then my stomach problems came along and about a month ago I became pescetarian again. And let me tell you… I LOVE it! I am in culinary school, so sure there are times I really want a piece of chicken… but in all honesty, I don’t have cravings unless it smells REALLY good… and usually not at home, ever, because I have delicious alternatives. I’m sure all the cravings will pass in time, as well- because I have so many amazing veg/vegan/fishy options instead!

    xo
    K

  17. Johnna on May 14, 2010 at 8:15 am

    I stopped eating meat, chicken and fish over 20 years ago and just recently went vegan (a little over a month ago). We live in the Midwest on the border of Iowa/Illinois and it is virtually impossible to find good vegan food at a restaurant let alone in the grocery store! We normally drive a couple of hours to Chicago to do grocery shopping – about once a month! I refuse to pay$7 for a loaf of vegan bread! At least at our ‘nearest’ TJ’s I can get it at a reasonable cost – plus hello? Trader Joes! Love it!!

    I don’t miss any of it at all. All of my tummy issues went away when I stopped with the dairy. Although unfortunately I do still get problems with nuts and guacamole! ugh, the travesty!

    Your trip looks amazing – can’t wait to hear where you stayed!

  18. Anne @ Your Kind of Salad on May 14, 2010 at 8:19 am

    I’m omnivore; but living on my own for the last couple of years (no roommates, no boyfriends) – I find that I just eat less meat and fish. Although I love fish and will eat steak when out – I just don’t seem to make it for myself. And since last year, I’ve just been off chicken. Its so weird; chicken breasts were the staple of my diet for so long – but for the last year year or so, I can’t stand to look at them. Tastebuds are fickle things 🙂

    Enjoy your vitalicious vacation, Miss Gina!

  19. rachael on May 14, 2010 at 8:26 am

    Your trip seriously has me planning a vacation! So glad you two are having a wonderful honeymoon!

    I stopped eating meat when I was 12. Honestly I never liked it and have always been uncomfortable eating flesh. I used to crave cheese at times but have no interest in dairy anymore either (though I’ll see how I feel when I pass the local goat cheese at the farmer’s market in a few weeks).

  20. LindsayH on May 14, 2010 at 9:23 am

    when i stopped eating meat about 4 years ago i too left myself open to the option of organic free range meat if i really wanted it. but i never have! the only thing ive ever craved is a cheeseburger, but there are close enough vegetarian options that i dont find myself missing it. now that ive been vegan for over a year i definitely dont crave cheese or eggs anymore either, i was never a huge dairy person other than cheese, and everything else there is a good substitute.

  21. Catherine on May 14, 2010 at 9:24 am

    Haha I love that you took the Vita!! I finally cut out meats & poultry right when i got engaged over the New Year, and told myself the same thing – if I wanted it I’d just make sure to get the good stuff. I just haven’t craved it at all though. I don’t eat dairy or eggs either, so other that the occasional piece of sushi I’m mainly vegan, but the only thing I miss and still have nibbles of from time to time (since I’m lactose intolerant anyway) is goat cheese!

  22. Mel on May 14, 2010 at 10:04 am

    I’m not sure what I’m called, but I also don’t eat meat, but I do eat fish, eggs, and tiny amounts of dairy. And I totally agree with what you said. I stopped eating meat, but said that I could have it occasionally if I wanted, if it was organic and from a source I approved of. Not interested. Nope. Honestly, the thing I miss the most is probably bacon and/or pepperoni, which I only had rarely anyway- still I haven’t been tempted enough to try any since I stopped eating meat in Feb, but it hasn’t really been that long yet. If only there was a bacon veggie (sorry dulse- I don’t think so). Lol, this choice will not go over well with my parents & inlaws. Sigh…

  23. kirsten on May 14, 2010 at 11:29 am

    I stopped eating meat on July 16th 2005 and I’ve never looked back. I actually decided to go vegetarian because my boyfriend (now husband) was a vegetarian and it intrigued me. I decided I would try it for a little while and if I really wanted meat I would start eating it again (my bf was really supportive and wouldn’t have cared if I went back to meat.) After a year of being veg I went vegan which unfortunately did not suit me as well. I was only vegan for about 5 months before going back to vegetarian.

  24. Katie on May 14, 2010 at 11:59 am

    I stopped eating meat (but kept the fish) when I was 12. I cut fish out for a year when I was 16, went back to it when I was 17, and have been a happy camper ever since! I don’t know that I’ll ever go back to eating meat… it just doesn’t really appeal to me. I would prepare it for my future family, though… am still working up the courage to make Ari a perfect steak!

  25. christina on May 14, 2010 at 12:06 pm

    I’m a raw vegan. So much amazing energy on raw!!

  26. Jenelle on May 14, 2010 at 3:20 pm

    I love that you brought your Vitamix along on vacay. So fantastic!

    I stopped eating beef when I was 15 years old mostly because I hated having to eat my mom’s meatloaf. Also because it kind of grosses me out. The smell, the texture. I just didn’t like it. That said, I haven’t eaten beef in almost ten years.

    About two years ago I went vegetarian for a few months. Then pescetarian for about a year. Then one day I went out for Dim Sum, ate a steamed pork dumpling and all bets were off. Now I just eat meat (no beef/lamb/goat/woodland creatures) when I dine out and rarely order it if it’s a main part of the dish. I eat A LOT of Asian food which I feel uses meat sparingly as compared to most cuisines. I also never cook meat at home. I never mastered it and have thrown away too many chicken breasts after over- or under-cooking them.

  27. Sarah on May 14, 2010 at 4:14 pm

    I have been pescetarian since September and I love it!! I don’t crave meat like I thought I would and have tried sooo many new foods. Sometimes I struggle with getting enough protein in meals or a good balance of foods but it’s becoming easier. I would love to go vegan but I don’t think I would be able to give up my beloved Greek yogurt and salmon! 🙂 So I usually eat vegan lunches and dinners and save the yogurt for breakfast and occasionally have fish for dinner.

  28. Lindsey on May 14, 2010 at 5:57 pm

    I grew up in Iowa and that had me raised to believe that you ate eggs and bacon/ biscuits and gravy for breakfast, and some type of pork or beef for dinner with potatoes and all the fixins. NOW… I rarely “crave” meat- it generally grosses me out too much to the point where I lose my appetite.

    I am actually having trouble finding healthy proteins to eat on a regular basis for dinner- I go through phases with chicken and turkey but often am turned off by the idea of eating it, and tofu seems like the wrong thing to rely upon, and even fish is very hard for me to enjoy ( unless it’s salmon. I ALWAYS enjoy salmon.)

    Do you have any suggestions for what to incorporate? Texture and visually appealing food is definitely how I eat- – if it looks like a hairball (like beef and beans/brown sauce does to me) then I really can’t fathom it. 😀

  29. Randi on May 22, 2010 at 2:33 pm

    I was an almost vegan (minus eggs)… then I got pregnant. I now eat things I never imagined! (red meat – lots of it). But obviously the baby wants it so I’m going with the flow.

  30. crystal on May 26, 2010 at 5:09 pm

    I’ve been a vegetarian for about 16 years- at the age of 11 I remember telling my parents I didnt want to get the rest of my beef stew one night at the dinner table…and I haven’t had meat since. Honestly I didn’t like the taste, and now its a decision I’m sticking with- I dont remember what meat taste like- so I dont feel that I’m miss out on anything. About 2 years along I gave up drinking milk- a client’s sister had me read this horrible article of all the products that you dont realize are in milk…..its been soy/rice milk ever since- just because I was really freaked out! This year I have given up cheese. This is hard because I LOVE cheese, but I felt like every meal was centered around cheese. And not the good kind but the processed yucky cheap kind. I’ve tried some soy cheese- but nothing is the same. I miss it and I am not sure I have given it up for ever but I’m going to see this decision through for at least a year! 🙂 Soooo eggs are the only animal products that I consume but to be honest I have them maybe once or twice a week. Its easy to fill my diet with pastas, and sandwichs, sweets, and other snacks that are good for me…especially since I travel a lot for work, but it really is about balance. Balance of all my fruits and veggies! thats when i feel my best!

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