The Travelling Fund; £10,000 in 10 months!!!

apple_muncher

It's like you are in the eye of the storm! Peaceful for now, til the impetus hits again!

I'm going (shop) shampoo-free this summer. Have found a bicarb + water version I want to try out, and an apple cider vinegar + water version of conditioner.

Siouxsie32

Wow ladies, you're all speaking my language! Massive mug of hot water and lemon raised Kat...trying to only have two or three coffee a month as I've been reading about Alkaline foods, and coffee/alcohol are two of the most acidic foods. I don't know enough about it yet to say any more, but I'm definitely interested. For the last 9 months (wow, has it really been 9 months), I've embraced a clean attitude to eating and, as you know, cut out all animal products.

I've been drinking a lot of cold pressed juices, mostly green, and a friend I haven't seen since October asked me the other day if I'd had fillers/botox cos she said my skin looked so good.

I drink a lot of smoothies too Kat and I found a travel blender which only weighs 2lbs! I've looked and considered buying it for when I have to go on work trips. It has great reviews...I can't remember the details to hand, but I'll look in my history and let you know. Definitely lighter than Nutri-bullet!

My yoga teacher (also a nutritionist) has spoken of apple cider vinegar for ages apple muncher. Yesterday someone gave me some to try. Not 100% sure what to do with it, or what it does, but it gives horses their shiny mane so I'll do a spot of googling and see how that works out. I only use organic vegan products like shampoo and conditioner but would be really interested to know how you got on with the home made version.

NinjaSavingKat

Morning all.

Siouxsie I have apple cidar vinegar in my fridge as we speak. I use a book called "The Beauty Detox Solution" where the author is a vegan nutritionist to the stars. Very "cutsey pie" writing and very American but I love her. She feeds Channing Tatum and look at the size of him... Anyway my point is that I have stopped using oil in my cooking other than frying and only then use Grapeseed Oil ( not Rapeseed ) as it has a high smoking point and is more stable when heated....

However on salads I make a dressing with ACV and garlic / lemon juice but never with oil any more. Guess you can't eat this all the time but the idea is to dilute it and drink it each day. Although I might pop to Wholefoods to get a raw version which might taste nicer than the Organic one I currently get in Tescimo's... although I don't trust myself in that place. Might try a minimal amount in my smoothie..?

Would love to get a juicer though - can't justify it at the moment!

Siousxie PLEASE find me information about that travel blender you found. I only mentioned the NUTRIBULLET as I didn't realise there was such a thing as a travel blender. In that case I might be more tempted to spend money on one. I realised yesterday when checking my accounts I still have £90 from my birthday money to spend...:T:T:T

Yes time flies when you "get natural"... but do you find you are spending WAY too much time in the kitchen ( although I love it )... I have lentils soaking as we speak (for more loaf), I bought 18 bananas for smoothies and breakfasting yesterday and need at least 10 lemons for the week (dressing / drink a whole one in the morning / baking etc ).. never mind the amount of vegetables and fruit. Although I still have to ration myself as it's expensive my fruit/veg portions are between 10-15 a day!

Yeah you heard me - 14 portions of veg/fruit last week on one particular day!

On another note I have cleared the last remaining bits of money that was on my CC. Mumsy payments to me went to my CC and actually end for good in August... I had £38 from TopCashBack and have requested that straight to my account.. and a few pennies from my current account and hey presto I have nothing on my CC.

Best steer clear of Wholefoods I think. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

NinjaSavingKat

Wondering if a stick blender with plastic container of some sort might work if an actual blender that is light enough is too hard to come by..?

Although this is almost a must... http://www.ninjakitchen.com/nutri-ninja-cups/

allybee101

Given your endeavours to keep the weight of your bags down is a blender going to be manageable - plus all the various plug adaptors?! Also bear in mind that you'll probably need to peel any fruit/veg and wash it in bottled water to avoid risk of "delhi-belly" type illnesses unless you're somewhere that the tap water is safe to drink. I'm sure you've already thought of this!
Lots of sunshine and no stress will help your skin - pleny of vit D from sunlight .

Your plans are truly inspirational and I love how you're making this trip about your own wellbeing and health.
I have recently discovered I'll be going to Las Vegas late next year for a convention (I very much doubt it'll be as healthy as your trip!). Have set my barrow down to save up for an extended trip to the various National Parks nearby.

Siouxsie32

Ah yes, I've read about her before...maybe I follow her blog? I'll have another look and see what info I can use.

Food's the one area I've decided to spend extra money on recently and I must admit I feel absolutely amazing. I have much more energy and, according to my friend, smoother skin! I add an Omega Oil blend to my smoothies sometimes, but don't cook with it. On the rare occasion I need oil to cook, I use coconut oil. I'm not really a salad dressing kinda gal, but I'll definitely look at your suggestion for the ACV Kat. My yoga teacher raves about it so much that I figured I'd find a way to fit it in somewhere. She drinks it neat though - she's hardcore

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

Siousxie PLEASE find me information about that travel blender you found. I only mentioned the NUTRIBULLET as I didn't realise there was such a thing as a travel blender. In that case I might be more tempted to spend money on one. I realised yesterday when checking my accounts I still have £90 from my birthday money to spend...:T:T:T

After much googling and brain searching, I remembered the blender is this one http://www.tribest.co.uk/Blending/personal-blender-150 (still don't know how to do the clicky link!!). I read a lot about it and it got good reviews (and is endorsed by my friend Amanda Hamilton). It weighs 1kg (the Nutribullet is just over twice that...and looks a lot bulkier - but is amazing!). I can give you the Nutribullet measurements if you like (I just stood on the scales holding it, didn't think to look out my tape measure!) Maybe you're right - a hand held blender and a plastic jug? Lighter and cheaper. I did used to use a handheld blender and the difference between that and the Nutribullet is night and day, but for traveling it might be okay?

NinjaSavingKat

82 working days until I finish work for good!

NinjaSavingKat

Siousxie I am going to have to really think about this whole travel blender thing. To carry something weighing even 1KG is way too much - I think a stick blender might be better.

Allybee - thank you for even voicing what you did. It's true, it will be hard but I intend to have apartments in some places or at least access to a very small hostel kitchen. I will also be bring gentle soap to wash fruit before peeling them with a penknife I will carry with me.. I will obviously have to be careful with leaves (spinach, kale etc ) but will have to figure this out later.. Bottled water though always - never tap.

allybee101

See, I knew you'd probably already thought of everything! I didn't want put any dampeners on your plans, I just hoped to share some tips from some time spent in the Sinai Desert in Egypt 14 years ago (omg that was a long time ago!) when a travel companion fell ill with a food poisoning bug from improperly washed fruit.

Good thinking on the soap, we used one called Mountain Soap (I
think) which could be used for washing people, food etc and was eco friendly. It was low foam and unfragranced too.
Just looked it up and I can't find that brand but there is camp soap and LifeVenture has an all purpose soap which is the same thing. Camping shops should stock it.

NinjaSavingKat

Allybee - I love the interaction so suggest away. I don't mind. When I went on the Tran Siberian I took the LifeVenture soap leaves. All well and good but they don't go far so this time will be a little bottle of Dr Bronner castile soap which can be used for everything.... I hope..;-)