Subliminal Saturday

Now I know I was only away for 2 months, but since I got back to the UK I seriously feel like I am being brainwashed to buy any shit from any where. I am more conscious to it.

Let me tell you something about Thailand. They do it on a BIGGER scale!

I think that because I spent a lot of time in Bangkok (more than the average tourist probably) witnessing first hand the large scale advertising, it is hard to switch off to the fact that we are all being brainwashed to buy, to consume, to want to dedicate our lives to working in a mediocre job just to buy shit that we really deep down don't need or want just because a poster says we should, or an advert on TV says it'll make us feel better.

I was too cautious to take photos or videos in Bangkok to capture this, mainly on the Skytrain (BTS) because there were signs everywhere saying no photos. Well let me tell you. As soon as you walk up the stairs you're greeted with food stands, magazine stands and clothes shops, when you reach the platform there are MASSIVE bill boards plastered with cars, food, computers. Even the barriers that stop you jumping onto the tracks have digital screens that advertise one thing or another. Then once you're on the train there are posters everywhere and the worst thing are the TV advertisements.

What is it about Asian women being airbrushed to look like Western women?

Why do already petite Asian women need to jump around in skimpy bathing suits (looking Western again) chewing weight loss pills?

WHY ARE ASIANS OBSESSED WITH WEIRD SAUSAGE "MEAT"??

Seriously, everywhere I went there were weird sausages, and you know that the "meat" content will be 0.01% and the rest is something unspeakable.

What disheartened me about Bangkok so much was the need to consume. Huge malls everywhere, shops, stands, everything is about spending money. I got so disheartened by it that I fell out of love with Bangkok, we had a very quick love affair and the only reason I returned was for food - but even then I was part of what made me dislike it!

I never want to fall back into a "normal" life. I don't want to get a 9-5 job just to stay alive. I don't want to own a home and I also don't want to be spending money on a car. From now on it is just me and my bike and whatever public transport I decide to use (mainly a plane out of here again - eventually!), but I want to pledge that no matter how magical things appear I will do my best to avoid being sucked back into the consumerists lifestyle.

If you are struggling to quit consumerism then ask yourself this question

Who is benefiting?

I hope that one day soon everyone wakes up and really sees this matrix we are living in.

Jennifer x

Wishful Wednesday (and what I ate)

Welcome to Wishful Wednesday.

Happy Consumerism Day!! 

Today has become just another day in my book, although I do love a day off work for no reason!

I had a fabulous start to they day, did my mile run/jog/walk and played in the park!! The council must have repaired the swing recently, it's one of those that are round with thick rope intertwined and you can lie on it...so that is what I did. I put my head back and listened to they sound of the birds. It was just so peaceful.

I prepared my meal a few hours beforehand and made some pomegranate juice. My day has been 100% raw vegan, high carb and low fat.

Chef Jen

Sharon fruit, cinnamon and mango soup

Banana, date and cinnamon cake

Pomegranate juice

The table...I would love it if my mum would one day embrace my lifestyle...

The mango probably was not the best idea, but I still devoured it

Now this was amazing and I could live off it!!

Feeling good after this meal, no sluggish feeling, totally satiated. I love cinnamon because it gives everything a festive taste!

When I felt peckish I chomped on a cherimoya and then I prepared a butternut squash curry with 3 types of rice.

Parsnip, purple carrot and normal carrot rice topped with curry

That was so flavourful! 

A very low fat day for me!!

High in vitamins and minerals though ;)

Here's a selfie of me in my new jumper

Overall, I have had a really good day, although at one point I thought I would be alone all day...luckily it didn't happen and I spent a few hours with my mum.

So, what do I wish for today?

I wish that we stop treating 25th December as a day to over indulge with food and drink, create personal debt and be greedy. 

If you want to live a healthy life with a healthy body, want to be slim, athletic and feel the best you have ever felt (or any of the above) then for a belated present to yourself you should buy 80/10/10 it is the best diet plan you will ever read as it makes so much sense. Even if you are reading this and thinking you like the taste of meat, well a lot of plant based people say they did not give it up because of ethical reasons, they gave it up because it is not good for the body.

Also, if you only have pennies left in your pocket after today then you may want to consider the idea that it is the thought that counts. I personally would rather receive something hand made and personalised that did not cost a lot, as opposed to a really expensive present. When you step away and look at the bigger picture you see everything in a totally different perspective. I see so much greed, selfishness and denial. The denial is just incredible. Our society has just grown into something so scary in terms of consumerism, "less is more" is definitely seen as "less is a bore" nowadays. This is probably one of the reasons why I do not think I could ever raise a child in England.

I am going to wrap up my rant wishes by saying this, consider what you are doing to the environment. We may live in a good place right now, but what sort of environment are we leaving for the future generations?

I hope you enjoy the rest of this festive period and you stop eating and drinking before you reach your limit. 

Much love

Jennifer x