In Journal on
7 February 2010 with no comments
So here is my current (all-vegan) eating plan:
During the week I eat fairly clean, with few convenience foods, minimal sugar and oil, and perhaps one sandwich or wrap, but otherwise all whole grains. I don’t eat anything that I can’t pronounce. I do eat salsa and guacamole, though, and sometimes put a drizzle of maple syrup on my (sprouted whole grain) cereal.
On the weekends, however, I tend to go a little nuts. Amy’s Roasted Vegetable Pizza, cookies, ice cream, french fries, chips… the list goes on. One thing I have noticed is that eating too much sugar at night interferes with my sleep. I used to attribute that to caffeine alone, and since I gave that up a month or so ago, I didn’t really think much of having a cookie after dinner. Last night I couldn’t fall asleep despite being tired, woke up several times during the night, and this morning I do not feel well-rested. Lesson learned, for sure.
Here is the best part: I feel great! I recovered from a minor illness in one day, something that may have knocked me out for three or four days in the past. My skin is not completely clear, but much better. Getting rid of my weekend sugar binges would probably help, but I’m not quite ready to do that yet! I’m losing weight at a healthy rate while still enjoying everything I eat and never feeling deprived. I think I did go through a brief “detox” period marked by headaches and low energy, but now I feel clear-headed and much more “awake” than before.
I read somewhere that one should approach veganism not as a list of things “you can’t eat,” but as seeking out food that meets your values, things you choose to eat. That mindset has helped me in moments of frustration, especially when faced with the menus of formerly-favorite restaurants. After eating a plate of unevenly-steamed vegetables I could still remember that I am making a choice I am proud of. It doesn’t help to play the martyr, complaining about “nothing to eat,” when I feel more in control of my diet than ever. Although I readily admit that I have yet to face my two biggest challenges: lobster and a certain favorite dessert. Luckily, opportunities to eat either of those things are few and far between.
In a nutshell, I’m set. While I definitely move around on the spectrum of healthfulness, I don’t plan to eat animals anymore. Other aspects of veganism, notably leather, wool, and non-vegan personal care products, will take a little more time for me. Not that I plan to run out and buy a leather couch, but I have many “pre-gan” items that are still useful and too expensive to replace. It will be a slow journey, but one that I look forward to taking.
In Journal on
26 January 2010 with no comments
Well that didn’t take long.
While it has been easy to remain vegan, the last 24 hours have seen me eating avocados, processed soy, bagels, and plenty of nightshades. Not very “macro” of me at all. I comfort myself with the knowledge that I still made ethical, relatively healthy choices. Plus I bought my first umeboshi plums today, so there’s hope for me yet.
A quick note on how I’ve been feeling: I am sleeping better at night and I no longer have sharp crashes when I get hungry. My energy still falls in the afternoons, but I think I can figure that out by changing my meal schedule a bit. Yesterday’s bagel and vegan cream cheese actully didn’t tast very good to me, but I felt obligated not to waste it. The bagel felt gluey and mushy and sticky, and not as nice as my grains. The spread, which I used to love, tasted too fake. I guess it is true that one develops a taste for real food, even rather quickly. The potato soup and salsa on my rice, however, both tasted wonderul! While I am mindful of eating nightshades, I don’t think I am ready to limit them just yet.
In Journal on
24 January 2010 with no comments
I’m calling this my first official superhero day. I had brown rice and steamed broccoli for breakfast and lunch, and am making some Magical Healing Soup for dinner. Schedule was completely off today, so mealtimes were irregular and not well-spaced.
I woke up much later than I do on a work day, about seven. At eight I had my rice and broccoli. Happily, I was not hungry again in two hours like I used to be, so taking the time to make and eat (and chew!) something so nourishing is worth it. Around noon I realized that I still wasn’t hungry, so decided to head out on my errands and see how it went. BIG MISTAKE! I didn’t want to give in to eating crappy food, so I instead waited until I got home, which wasn’t until after three. That was way too long. This also explains the repetition; the quickest thing to eat was leftovers!
One good thing arose from my testing the limits of my hunger, though. I realized that I often eat without being really hungry out of boredom or habit or emotional whims. Most “diets” tell you to avoid mindless eating, but then offer you two or three snacks per day! That only encourages the cycle of eating unnecessarily. I noticed that by eating grains in the morning my hunger also felt different. While I did have a growly tummy and even felt a little weak, my mood was relatively stable. I didn’t feel angry or sad or so emotionally brittle that I snapped at the smallest thing. So, even though I don’t recommend going seven hours without eating, it was quite the learning experience.
Went grocery shopping at a regular Stop & Shop. No sea vegetables, miso, or brown rice syrup, but I did stock up on vegetables and rice. I’m not quite sure where to find some of the specialty ingredients, other than ordering online. There is a Whole Foods about forty-five minutes away, but I don’t shop there for ethical/political reasons. There may be an Asian grocer in town, though, so I will try there during the week.
In Journal on
23 January 2010 with no comments
I have made the commitment to veganism and feel completely comfortable with that decision. The ethical and environmental reasons for going vegan are important and the health benefits are compelling. Over the last few weeks I have eagerly sought out vegan alternatives to old favorites and new foods to try.
Here’s the thing: I found myself slipping into the “junk-food vegan” category. I would be so ecstatic to find great-tasting vegan treats, snacks, and other convenience foods that I bought them without thinking. While vegan cookies and Tofutti Cuties are delicious, just because they’re vegan doesn’t mean they’re healthy!
Plus I’ve found that I really do feel better and enjoy my food when it is less processed. Amy’s Roasted Vegetable Pizza was a favorite when I first went vegan, but now I don’t think it tastes as good anymore, even though it is vegan and organic. I would rather have my brown rice and broccoli.
So I’m making the commitment to the Superhero program (from Alicia Silverstone’s The Kind Diet) for a month. The sugar habit is going to be the hardest part, especially in the evenings after dinner. Luckily I’ve already weaned myself from soda and coffee (to which I used to add unholy amounts of sugar), but I’m still used to having cookies, (coconut milk) ice cream, or cinnamon toast before bed.
Just wanted to post a little something about this to explain the upcoming posts about what I’m eating and how I feel. This is a big change and I want to document it for myself and for anyone else who may benefit.
