30 days of vegan!

Today is day 30 of practicing a vegan diet.  Wow, that firs month has gone by so quickly.  I feel great, and I've had no cravings for meat, or eggs, or even cheese. The best part has been trying new recipes and new flavors of food.  
And, I've been able to find good substitutes for the foods I loved in the past, like hot dogs, milk shakes (I make soy smoothies now) and even pizza!


Oh, and my exercise is coming along pretty good too.  I hit 2.5 miles jogging on the treadmill tonight!  woo hoo!


My 2 month weigh in is coming up, so check back in a few weeks for updated pics and measurements!

So you want to be a vegan?

So you want to be a vegan? Most of you (all 4 of you who read this) would most likely say no way!  That doesn't mean you still can't make better decisions for your health.  I was craving wanted a hot dog, so I searched and found "Smart Dogs."  Hot dogs made with vegetable protein!  I was curious, so I pan fried them (sprayed with cooking spray) and gave them a try... an All American meal!

They look just like the real thing... how do they taste? They were great, I couldn't even really tell a difference between these and the traditional ones.  And there is quite a nutritional difference!


Smart Dogs:  45 calories per dog, 0 fat, 0 cholesterol, 8 grams protein, 1 gram fiber
Oscar Mayer Original Hot Dogs: 130 calories per dog, 12 grams fat (4 grams saturated), 35 mg cholesterol, 5 grams protein, 0 grams fiber


There you have it!  You can still eat the things you love, just find a healthier alternative!
If you have kids, I bet you could make this switch and they wouldn't even know! I dare you!

Black bean and butternut squash soup

One thing I really enjoy about my vegan endeavor is trying new recipes and flavors. I have always been a safety guy - finding something I like and rotating a few dishes over and over.
Here's one I made today, and I really enjoyed it.  I found the recipe on Sprouted Kitchen (click here).  It has great flavor, and was super easy to make.  I like beans, and wanted the extra protein, so I added an additional can of beans.  When I made it, I also doubled her recipe, and added some extra vegetable broth too.  You just have to play it by eye and see how it goes if you make it!  I topped it with home made corn tortilla strips, cilantro, and avocado slices.
Another great, flavorful vegan dish I'll add to my regular rotation!

2.0! Well, 2.02.

I was determined to get the 2 mile jog in today, so I could try to fit another one in next week before the end of January.  I slowed down the pace to a 12:45 mile, but I got the 2 miles in! The distance and endurance was more important today than the pace.  Now that I got that in, I can keep adding to it, and work on the time as I go.  Good way to end the week!

I have...Runners block

Ok, so I'm not even sure "runner's block" is a real term, but it sounds good in my head.  I have a goal to jog 2 continuous miles by the end of January, so I can stay on schedule for my 10k in June.  All I have to do is add 1 mile each month after that.  Sounds easy, right?
Well, I have tried twice this week to push the 2 miles.  I just can't get past 1.5 miles.  I should be happy and excited about that, right?  I mean, just 3 weeks ago I couldn't even do a quarter mile without stopping.  I need to find a way to break through this block.  I'm going to try again Friday night.  And if that doesn't work, I have 2 days off this weekend, then 2 more days next week to meet my goal.


Step up Brad!  Time to get it done!

Inspiration

So, part of my inspiration to get healthy and fit, besides me wanting to do it, was this last push by a video I saw online.  Ben Davis of Ben Does Life started jogging one day.  He kept jogging, and eventually lost 120 pounds.  You can see his video by clicking here. So anyway, after working on this for more than 3 weeks now, I wanted to order one of the shirts so I could wear it for the Bellin Run in June!  It came in the mail today!  Not a good pic, but here is is! Yay!

Back to it!

So I've had a cold for the last few days, and I had to take 4 days off from working out.  That felt terrible!  I wanted to start the week out on a good note today, so I decided to dress it up a bit.  It worked! I had a good day, and got back to the gym!  That felt great!  I did my back, biceps, abs, 20 minutes on the elliptical and 20 minutes on the bike.

Motivation

So I'm now 3 weeks into my official program of working out and practicing a vegan diet. (minus no workouts for the last 4 days because I've been sick)
How am I keeping myself motivated?  Well, different things work for different people I guess.  For me, I keep going back to this photo from October 2005, the day I adopted Montey. Although I like this pic because it shows the immediate bond Montey and I had, I dislike it because it clearly shows how unhealthy I have been, for a long time.  This is me at my worst.  312 pounds. (at least I think It's my worst, I didn't weigh myself regularly).  I never want to look or feel like this again, not even close to it!

Another thing that keeps me motivated is the changes in my body, my mood, and my energy level.  I feel like I have more energy, that I'm in a better mood and more lively. I see the changes, and feel them as I wear my clothes, or shower.  And when I'm at the gym, I pick the elliptical in front of the window instead of the tv. This way, I see my reflection in the window as I work out, and I use that as motivation to keep going!


I've got a long way on my journey, but I'm excited to see where I'm at so far.
What keeps you motivated?

Project: 365 - 2 month update

Tomorrow marks 2 months since my birthday, and the date I started my Project 365 picture a day. I know I said I wasn't going to (or try not to) post any face pictures until my 37th birthday, but I was curious to see if I've changed at all in that time.  Some people at work tell me I look slimmer, but I guess I don't really see it as easily.  So here goes.  The top picture is day one, November 19, 2011 and the bottom picture is today, January 18, 2012.  I guess you can see more of my ears in the second picture, so that's a good thing, right? Hopefully that extra chin will start disappearing! :)

Quinoa

Tonight's dinner:  Quinoa Pilaf and sauteed broccolini (baby broccoli).  Good stuff.

Intervals

With all the working out I've been doing, my body was getting a bit tight so I thought I would get to the chiropractor for a bit of alignment, or shall I say re-alignment.  That felt great!


I've been working pretty hard, so I decided to take Friday and Saturday off.  That felt good, my body must have needed it, as I slept until noon on Saturday!  That was wonderful as well.


But with that, I was a bit concerned coming into today's workout.  You see, in the past once I miss one day, then another, it turns into a week, then a month, and well you get the picture.  So, although I had a filling replaced at the dentist after work today, I made no excuse, and I got to the gym.


Tonight I did my chest, triceps and abs.  Then, I got on the treadmill to start intervals.


If you recall a few weeks back, I could barely do intervals of jogging a lap and walking 3 laps, then jogging a lap, etc.  Tonight, I did 1 mile intervals!  So, I jogged a mile, walked a mile, jogged a mile, and walked another mile.


That felt really good to complete that!  Each time I do something I didn't think I could do, or wanted to quit midway through, but finish it, it feels really good.  I have a history of not finishing what I start.


Happy jogging!

Breathing

I jogged another mile tonight, on the treadmill this time. Felt a bit different, but I finished it, probably easier than last time.  I slowed down the pace on the treadmill to a 12 minute mile, because yesterday was my off day.  I do need to get my breathing under control though when I'm jogging. Otherwise I'm never going to make 6.2 miles.  Probably high because when I got done my heart rate was 161.  Seems a bit high.  As I get into shape I'm hoping this gets better.  Pressing on until then!


Cheers.


It's cold today.  14 degrees with -4 windchill.  I guess winter is here, at least for a few days.  Hard to believe it was 55 just 2 days ago and I was walking outside at lunch with not coat!  I guess we were spoiled so far this winter.

Delish!

After my workout tonight (legs, abs, 20 minutes bike, 20 minutes elliptical) I needed something quick to eat when I got home so I could watch The Biggest Loser.  Hmm, what to have?  I had already made some corn salsa which is delish, and I decided to pair that with vegan refried bean tacos (corn tortillas filled with the beans, tomato, green onion, and salsa) I grilled each side of the taco in the frying pan to heat it.  It was great...and very messy!  Something I will definitely have again when I'm in a hurry, or when I'm craving Mexican food!

5,280 feet, plus a few smiles

Although I didn't sleep all that well last night, I woke up and said today was going to be a great day.  In fact, even posted on Facebook this morning: "... It's going to be a great week! Rock it out!"


I'm not entirely sure why I've been so positive lately and so lively. Maybe it's my diet, or the exercise, or the fact it's January there's no snow and it was another record high today of 49 degrees.  Maybe it's a combination of all of them.  Either way, woot woot!


My first smile came this morning, when one of my employees asked me if I was "slimming down."  Score.


My second smile came this afternoon, when my boss said my head looked smaller.  Not only was that a smile, but I nearly busted out laughing. I'm not sure if that was a compliment or what, but he said good job, keep it up. It's starting to show.


Filled with confidence and some strange level of energy, I headed to the gym and decided to try to jog a full mile.  5,280 feet.  Now, I did intervals on Saturday (1 lap jog, 1 lap walk, 1 lap jog, etc) for a total jog of 2 miles, but I haven't jogged a full non-stop mile since 2009!


After lifting weights (today I did my back and abs) I did my 5 minute warm-up, followed by stretching out my legs to help avoid/reduce my shin splint issue.  Off I went.  Lap by lap, I counted down (11 laps to one mile on this track)  I got to lap 6 and wanted to quit.  But I remembered a sign I saw posted online somewhere yesterday that said "you won't finish if you don't try." So I kept going.  Then again at lap 8 I wanted to quit.  What, I'm so close.  Keep going Brad, why am I going to stop now.  Lap 10, ok I'm almost there!  Finally, lap 11... everyone else on the track must have heard me huffing and puffing as I finished it!  11 minutes and 14 seconds.


Yay!  Big Smile!  It's a building block for sure.  Only need to add 5.2 more miles and I'll complete my 10k!  In due time!

Measurements - Month One

It's been a month of mixed results of training, but given the fact I started this in December and with all the good Christmas and New Year's food and candy around, I'm pretty very excited by these results:

• Weight: 271.5  (lost 9.5 pounds)
• Chest: 49.5" (lost 1.5")
• Right Arm: 15" (lost .5")
• Left Arm: 15" (lost .5")
• Waist: 49.5" (lost 2")
• Hips: 46.5" (lost .5")
• Right Thigh: 28.5" (lost .5")
• Left Thigh: 27.5" (lost 1")

Yay, I'm on my way.  Oh, here's the 1 month pics.  Not too much change visibly, but I feel great! 

Body Measurements

As part of my journey, I thought it would also be a good idea to take those "Biggest Loser" type pictures.  I haven't decided if I should post those pictures yet, but maybe by the time I finish typing this I will.  I also took measurements of my various body parts.  I took my first measurements on December 5, 2011.
Here they are:

• Weight: 281
• Chest: 51"
• Right Arm: 15.5"
• Left Arm: 15.5"
• Waist: 51.5" (I don't really know where my waist is, I followed the picture)
• Hips: 47"
• Right Thigh: 29"
• Left Thigh: 28.5"

Ok, so there you have it. My measurements forever documented in cyberspace.

Ok, and here I go, at the risk of total humiliation, here are my pictures of day 1. View at your own risk. 

Sad really, that I let myself get like this.  First off, I'm sooooo hairy. I need to do something about that.  Second, I'm using these pics as motivation to keep me going, especially on those days I really don't want to do anything!

Project: 365

As part of my journey during my 37th year, I wanted to document how my face changes throughout the year, much like this person did here.  But mine would be for the full year!  I won't show anything again about this, and am going to do my very best not to post any pictures of me over the next year...  so, here's the very first picture in my 365 day picture book!  (ok, I have already missed a few days, so there won't be exactly 365 pictures.)

What does "Lean to" mean?

So what does it mean to "lean to" a plant based diet?  Good question.  The likelihood of me, a person who absolutely loves all things meat, of becoming a 100% vegetarian or vegan is not likely.


I've been reading about the health benefits of plant based diets.  In fact, I've even practiced a vegetarian diet twice before, for 3 weeks each.  I must say that when I don't eat meat, I do feel more full of energy, and less "sluggish."


So, I thought that if I could eat a plant based diet 80% of the time, and still enjoy an occasional steak, grilled salmon, or hot dog at the game, I would still see many of the health benefits plant based diets provide.


Some friends of mine are doing the 21 day vegan kickstart to start the year. I decided I would join, and am starting the year off practicing a vegan diet for a minimum of 21 days.  The program is great, and provides weekly menu's and recipes.  So far so good!  I feel great and I'm still working it!

My 37th year.

On November 19, 2011 I turned 36 years old. It was a quiet birthday for me, as it was snowy and icy, and no one wanted to venture out to do anything, as it was the first snow of the season and that tends to be a bad one for accidents because people forget how to drive in the stuff.  So, I spent a quiet evening at home.

This gave me time to reflect on my life, and in fact on this blog, which I seem to have lost at some point along the way in the day to day business of life.

In a nut shell, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to be a healthier person by my 37th birthday. What this means has been an evolving list of tasks and ideas, but what I've narrowed it down to is the following:

1.  Complete a 10k race - without walking.

2.  Lean to a plant based diet.

Easy enough. No big long list of things I need to achieve this year. No specific weight loss goals. My health will naturally improve as I work through the next year to achieve these 2 simply put goals.

I will write about this journey over the next year. I'm playing catch-up at the moment, so I'll write a few back to back blogs.

Here's to the 37th year of my life - my best yet!