Interesting thoughts on eating and lifestyle. Clearly I haven't found the perfect balance yet. But I am working on it and I think I always will be. It's not dieting, it's making smart choices. Moving more, eating less, that's my new mantra!
I wish I could help you with the sock yarn but I don't have any of thought. Did you check Ravelry?

hmm, for some reason you disappeared from my bloglines. boo on me! anyway, i just wanted to say happy new year and also share the fact that i just finished my bartholomews (love that pattern) with plenty of yarn to spare. sorry! ;-) it wasn't str, unfortunately ...

i won't comment on the diet portion of your post since you know where i stand with that :) but as for the STR, check on ravelry and see if anyone else has knit with it, then message them!

oh no, yarn shortage! i think the toes could be a different color if necessary.. take a little yarn from the first sock and knit to equal lengths, then switch to a solid.

Oh, where to start?! First of all, if humans were meant to be vegans, we would have different teeth. MHO, as I duck to avoid the cyber tomatoes! No, I'll leave it at that. You are on the right track with the moderation thing: more whole grains, less white stuff (sugar, white flour, processed foods), more fruits and veggies. I'll email you with some baking ideas, but do you work with weights? That might help. Walk or run more, ride those horses!

The sock looks wonderful. Good luck with it! *fingers crossed*

I agree with your assessment of the book (not having read it). I read a NY times article about their second book and what their veganism is all about. I was a vegetarian for 3 years and it was the healthiest in my life because I was able to make better choices and food combinations; but give up things like dairy and even honey as a natural sweetener sounds insane. What would be next? No grains and veggies because the insects are working too hard to pollinate the crops.

It also doesn't sound too easy to eliminate out of my diet; especially after years of eating meat, dairy, and eggs. But if it works for some, then I applaude their dedication.

I am working on eating the same as you--"wholesome."

Hurray for the declaration! I'll be making sure you stick to it! ;)

Someone smart said it is easier to change your religion than it is to change your diet. There is so much identity tied up in what we eat that changing it is enormously difficult, and involves re-defining the self, even if just for a short time (no tuna because I'm pregnant, no dessert because I'm dieting). Good luck with making a change, sounds like you're trying to find one that will work for you. What works for me is no caffeine, no refined carbs, no sugar, no corn syrup. I guarantee you'll lose weight and be healthier, but our society doesn't support that eating pattern. And once you get off the sugar, you really don't miss it. At least I don't.

You have been leaving the nicest comments on my blog, so I thought I would return the favor! First, I love you too! :) And second, we're definitely on the same page. Now we can just support each other through life minus 'as many' cinnamon rolls. :)

Oh, and you really stink at knitting. NOT. You've been knitting pretty stuff!!!! So talented. I think you should open an esty.com account.

Coffee tomorrow? Email me.

Delurking to say that I have about half a ball of STR Rocktober lightweight. If it's what you're looking for then I'd be more than happy to send it to you! It may or may not work...up to you! :)

You can see my sock on Ravelry under JenKen (I need to post more of my projects!) or here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/unmerited/396868344/

Those heels are awesome. I knit socks out of nessessity. I am not really a sock knitter even though I knit about 5 pairs a year. Cat may keep me entertained enough to enjoy knitting socks. She is one of my knitting heros. I love people who use their mind. You know, really use it.

OK, I realise there are strong feelings about the vegan/carnivore issue. To me, being completely vegan is about as extreme as eating all your meals in fastfood restaurants.
But there is no doubt that most of us (and the planet as well) would benefit from cutting back on the meat. You have to find the balance that works for you in terms of health and other cost/benefit issues, like local food vs that exotic fruit from the other side of the globe.

It takes a little time to get over the fast carb and sweetness addiction, but after a few weeks or months you won't miss it, and find yourself craving healty stuff. Nice smoothies, salads, soups, whole-grain pasta... lots of fresh veggies and fruit. And an occasional cinnamon roll. or two.

I've always loved the Rocktober colourway each time I've been drooling on STR online, but have never seen it knitted up before. It looks amazing with that stitchpattern, thanks for showing us. And I was so glad to find out that you are back blogging again!

I hope you find the extra sock yarn that you need. I would give it to you if I had some. Keep sharing your thoughts/research on eating better. I am in the same boat and I am sure a lot of other knitters (people in general) are too!

We've mostly cut out meat, especially red meat, from our diets. Partly for reasons of sanitation, cruelty, etc., in commercial beef outfits, and mostly for health reasons. We still eat plenty of fish (wild-caught) and turkey (free range, fed organic feed), along with eggs and cultured dairy. I've had quite a few challenges with my health over the last 12 years or so, and adjusting my diet has made the biggest difference. It really is a personal choice--when the cost of eating the way you have been accustomed to becomes too costly for you, you change. (In my case, it was realizing that sugar put me straight into a couple of bipolar days. Yep. Way to expensive.)
If you look at human biology (and sheer construction, for that matter), we're not meant to be meat eaters. We have teeth and a digestive system more in common with the herbivores of the animal world. (Well, excepting ruminants, of course. lol) Animals that eat a lot of meat (and daily, by nature's standards, is a lot) have short, relatively straight intestines, providing a fairly quick exit for meat, which putrefies quickly if left there for long. (Unless you chew it until it's absolutely liquid, which very, very few people do. Then it putrefies more slowly.)
With all of that said, do what works for you. What makes you feel healthy and well. And really, that doesn't have to mean cutting out meat. What it does mean is sticking to meat sources grown in good conditions, and eating a lot of whole foods along with it. (Veggies; whole grains like rice, lentils, barley, and beans; etc.) So, we like to eat a lot of soups, veggie stews (with the occasional addition of a little meat), stir-fries, various ethnic dishes, etc. The only other thing I strongly advocate is eliminating as many chemicals from one's life as possible. It's amazing where they appear--in canned & prepared food (especially junk food), household products, and especially personal hygeine products. It boggles the mind.
Sorry . . . this got long. ;o) Hope it helps . . . (And how in the world does one add hard returns to their comment here? Can't seem to get it to work . . .)

I don't think there is any one perfect diet. Moderation is my motto. I would like to withdraw from the sugar high but don't seem to be able to get to the point where it doesn't bother me and since I don't have a specific bad reaction to it, I am not that motivated.

That being said, I am working towards a more heathly life style, including activity. I eat chocolate, but not as much. I eat meat, but less, and I am increasing my veggies and fruit intake. I have been exploring local sources and better quality food. I quick walk 4 miles/day, at least 4 days/week (that's been going on for 4 months, now and I love it). When at home I try to do something physical before I sit down to knit. Instead of just being home at the same time as my husband, I try to spend some time interacting with him. I am working towards a healthy, well rounded lifestyle. Good luck with your explorations.

Love the sock.

I read that book back in November and laughed my way through it. Most vegans I know are incredibly unhealthy people. They are undernourished and their skin and hair shows it. The few that aren't this way take a lot of vitamin supplements and cheat by eating dairy or eggs or fish.

A lot of what they say in the book is just a lie. Plain and simple they made stuff up. Instead of offering good advice on how to eat better they decided to make people eat their way by lying. It really made me mad to read this book put forward as good advice, so I decided to just laugh at it instead of staying mad.