Mooove over scale!

I was challenged with the question of why I am continuing this experiment on a recent Easter trip to the farm.  Eating a vegan diet is challenging.  Eating out becomes tricky and people assume your food tastes like cardboard or that you’re a hippy.  Let me assure you my food is delicious and I am only sort of, kind of a hippy.

Why am I doing this? 

To lose weight?  I am a female over the age of 12 in America so I would be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly obsessed with my scale.  Meaning...I actually had to ask my boyfriend to hide it for one week.  Yikes!  But losing weight being the sole motivation to exercise or eat rabbit food isn’t enough to lose it and keep it off.  When I really break it down, I want to be what I think is beautiful.  To me, that is healthy, energetic, compassionate and inspired.  Though...I wouldn't hate being a size 4 again.

Is it working? 

• I am starting to make food choices based on how I know I will feel after I stuff my face instead of what I think the scale may say the next morning.  I want to feel good.  I choose carrots and homemade hummus instead of cheese and crackers.  Almond milk or coconut water in my morning smoothie instead of cow's milk. 
• I am waking up before my alarm even goes off and nearly skipping my way to the shower instead of dragging myself out of bed and walking to the bathroom like a zombie. 
• I have energy to meet work deadlines that I struggled with just a month ago which means I go home at 5 pm instead of 8 pm. 
• I am inspired to nurture the hobbies that for years have been begging me to play (like writing a blog!). 

What about compassion?  I was determined to get a cheeseburger on the way out of Wisconsin.  The fantasies were getting pretty steamy as I thought of having my way with that big, juicy meat.  Until I said hello to the cows pictured below (No, the one in the pink is not one of them!).  I think compassion had a play in my choice to have brown rice pasta with extra olive oil in my pesto (Oooh, I am so bad!) and veggies that night.

Mary

The Thing About Fairytales...

Is that no one tells you “happily ever after” involves, ahem…the “princess” eating a bagel, cream cheese and a snickers bar three days into her vegan program and thinks, “I can’t do this.  It’s too hard.  The cows are dumb and smelly.  I should eat them.”  Or that she wonders if her prince notices she doesn’t always follow through with great ideas that could potentially  propel her into a reality so stunning and meaningful it would turn Mad Men's Don Draper into a faithful human being.

My point is, I am not perfect.  Neither are you, so don't judge.  While it's rewarding to do what you said you would do (and told all your friends you would do), deviations from any goal or plan aren't always screw ups or errors.  Sometimes you just have to adjust what you're trying to accomplish and re-evaluate the motivation for your desires.    My bagel, cream cheese and Snickers bar "screw up" only three days in has turned into 14 days with no meat, a tiny amount of dairy (usually eaten by accident - the stuff is in everything!) and a minimal amount of gluten. 

Here are some benefits I've experienced in just two weeks of avoiding animal products, most processed foods, no caffeinated/sugary drinks and moderate exercise a few days a week:

1) Weight loss - 6 lbs baby!

2) Increase in energy and better concentration

3) Improved complexion (I swear!)

4) Spending LESS money on eating out and MORE time in my kitchen making delcious whole foods 

5) Regular poops.  Everybody poops on this diet!

To deal with sweet cravings:

1) Coconut Milk ice cream (Luna and Larry's will light your fire!)
2) Fruit, fruit, fruit...it does a body good.
3) Kind bars (minimally processed and they do the trick)

For the days I dream of getting busy with a carne asada burrito, I visit a delicious vegan restaurant here in Chicago called Native Foods Cafe.  See if you have one nearby at www.nativefoods.com.  I licked my sesame kale bowl with brown rice clean.  I would have smacked my friend's baked sweet potato fries right out of her hand and into my mouth if it wasn't for my newfound compassion for all living beings.  Also, watching documentaries like "Forks Over Knives" for more inspiration on why a plant-based diet rocks really helps.  It's available on Netflix for you streaming junkies.

Stay tuned for more flirty vegan diaries!