The Demons Within

I've been plugging along at a good pace, and have felt like I've got this down.. the vegan, the working out. I feel good!
I decided to take last Friday off because I had a good workout week.  I had planned to start back on Monday.  But then Monday came and I forgot I had made plans for that night.  Oops. I guess I would go Tuesday.  I forgot I had plans to go to the Wild hockey game. Oops.  I will go on Wednesday.  Tuesday night and Wednesday morning there was a snowstorm, and I needed to go home after work on Wednesday after work to remove the heavy wet slushy snow before it froze solid. (or was that an excuse?)  So, I decided I would just take the whole week off, and let my body rest.  Good idea, but... Now I'm traveling this coming Tues-Friday for work, then my sister will be here Fri-Tuesday, so I'm a bit freaked out about lack of exercise right now.  I will have to focus even more on my eating!


Speaking of eating... without working out, I've had some cravings pop up over the course of this week.  Especially for cheeseburgers.  Now, I haven't had this craving at all since I've started, so it's weird that it's coming now.  It happened several days in a row.  It must be true, that exercise does help control your eating and cravings!  I just proved it. First, I'm excited that I was able to overcome this demon that I have ALWAYS given into during my past "lose weight" schemes.  Score one for me and my development!  I can now use this new found knowledge as power to overcome in the future.  Now I just need to get to the gym for the next 3 days before my trip so I don't go 2 whole weeks without a workout!


Now for some more good news!  Yesterday marked my 2 month anniversary of being vegan, and not having any soda!  That time really went fast, and I've found ways to still go out to restaurants and maintain my veganism.  By asking questions, having them cook the food differently, I've been able to work though it, easier than I thought it would be!


Tomorrow is my weigh in, measurements, and picture day.  Tune in to check on my progress!

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!

Quinoa

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

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!