I'll make this as easy to take as I can. Talking about doing the deed(#2) is not something people like to read, but it's a health issue, so I think it should be covered.
I've been a little constipated over the last few days (1st week). I'll also add that I'm very gassy. Many times I've thought, "I really need to go," and I find that most of it is air. I haven't been on a shopping trip yet, so I haven't added the multiple vegetables that I would like to be eating. I can imagine that gas will still be an issue when I UP the veggie intake.
However, I will say that I can feel "Movement" like I haven't felt in a while. I really think that this vegan change in my diet is moving built up matter that has been settling for a few years now.
I accomplished the 10 day Lemonade fast back in 2007. I know when things are changing down THERE. That experience was very difficult, but I will admit, the result in the end cannot be matched. I felt amazing. My documentation of that experience on the web is long gone. But I can tell you it sucked until day 9 or 10. After that, I though I might never eat again. Obviously that's crazy - but the point is I was detoxed, clean, and felt amazing. I'm hoping for a similar experience with going vegan.
Today (Day 10) I went #2 about 4 times in a 3 hour period. As before, It was mostly air, but I still produced.
What have I been eating since Christmas? Mainly Dahl(yellow split peas) and Indian curry with vegetables and brown basmati rice. Of course, beer should be included as I've had a lot of that. In fact I'm drinking beer as I type this. :)
So take what you can from that. Everything is still working and as I reduce my beer intake over the next few weeks, I imagine my movements will regulate.
Regulators, Mount up!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
The Holidays (Day 10)
I didn't know if I should break this into several posts or slam it into one. I figure I will cover several things to detail the experience of the holidays thus far and then post again before I return to work from the break. Here we go...
As I'd mentioned before, revealing my new choice of veganism to the elders in the family was an interesting situation, and I've thought about it a bit. First, these older guys thought of only one thing when I told them - that I'm some kind of wuss that was forced into this lifestyle by the Lady. Nothing could be further from the truth. And, frankly, I deserve some human points for even letting them know because they don't let up when a guy supposedly admits he's weak. I made this decision based on my experience and thorough research. I can eat all of the meat and dairy I want at my house. That's not against the rules. But everyone in my house, including our children, are aware of the impact on health and the impact on the environment resulting from animal consumption. (Not to mention the torture of millions of animals to fill our plates.) The evidence is too intense to ignore.
However, I know that some of our grandparents grew up without electricity. They grew up through the depression. I understand their frustration when they see me avoid the plethora of meats and cheeses as though winning the lottery were the Christmas meal. They worked hard during their lives to provide the yummy wealth of this day. But that's not a discussion I want to have with them, so I left my statement as it was...and I took a little heat - no big deal.
To get to the nitty gritty though, I don't think we prepared all that well for this 2-3 day trip. The lack of protein really started to take a toll on my energy as I went without for about 36 hours. We didn't bring anything with us that provided for protein and I couldn't eat what was offered at the meals. Coincidentally, Grandma makes beans for every Holiday. When I finally got my hands on some it was a gluttonous experience. They tasted fantastic and it finally satiated my hunger for the first time in 1.5 days. I could tell the difference in my energy level.
Christmas dinner the day before was interesting as my plate was piled high, as expected, but filled with mashed potatoes, Vegan Stuffing, Green bean casserole and some salad. I was thoroughly full and feeling much like I would on any other large dinner occasion. There was one difference though. My fullness and sedation subsided much quicker than normal. This is something that I truly hated when I was eating meat. The over-stuffed feeling that I used to experience was depressing to me. Those feelings have all but vanished with going vegan. The sugars burn quickly and the fullness goes away in a short time.
But the main thing I would like to stress is that I have realized that I need to have vegan options available to me at all times. During several episodes throughout the trip, I was not just starving my butt off, but my mood was bad. Very bad. Emotionally I was unstable. You can't keep eating bread and expect that to last. You need foods that will cover the balance of proper diet when you need it.
We are going on the first Grocery trip tomorrow, so I'm hoping these problems will not persist.
On another note, I've lost about 4-6 pounds. This could be a water issue, a starving issue or several other factors at work, so I'll not sit in glee about that. In addition, I've been drinking a lot of beer over the break so I know that my caloric intake is still quite high.
Do I notice any improvement in mental clarity? Not really. Do I notice a lighter feel in general? Not really. But like I said, I've been drinking a lot, so we might find out more later.
As I'd mentioned before, revealing my new choice of veganism to the elders in the family was an interesting situation, and I've thought about it a bit. First, these older guys thought of only one thing when I told them - that I'm some kind of wuss that was forced into this lifestyle by the Lady. Nothing could be further from the truth. And, frankly, I deserve some human points for even letting them know because they don't let up when a guy supposedly admits he's weak. I made this decision based on my experience and thorough research. I can eat all of the meat and dairy I want at my house. That's not against the rules. But everyone in my house, including our children, are aware of the impact on health and the impact on the environment resulting from animal consumption. (Not to mention the torture of millions of animals to fill our plates.) The evidence is too intense to ignore.
However, I know that some of our grandparents grew up without electricity. They grew up through the depression. I understand their frustration when they see me avoid the plethora of meats and cheeses as though winning the lottery were the Christmas meal. They worked hard during their lives to provide the yummy wealth of this day. But that's not a discussion I want to have with them, so I left my statement as it was...and I took a little heat - no big deal.
To get to the nitty gritty though, I don't think we prepared all that well for this 2-3 day trip. The lack of protein really started to take a toll on my energy as I went without for about 36 hours. We didn't bring anything with us that provided for protein and I couldn't eat what was offered at the meals. Coincidentally, Grandma makes beans for every Holiday. When I finally got my hands on some it was a gluttonous experience. They tasted fantastic and it finally satiated my hunger for the first time in 1.5 days. I could tell the difference in my energy level.
Christmas dinner the day before was interesting as my plate was piled high, as expected, but filled with mashed potatoes, Vegan Stuffing, Green bean casserole and some salad. I was thoroughly full and feeling much like I would on any other large dinner occasion. There was one difference though. My fullness and sedation subsided much quicker than normal. This is something that I truly hated when I was eating meat. The over-stuffed feeling that I used to experience was depressing to me. Those feelings have all but vanished with going vegan. The sugars burn quickly and the fullness goes away in a short time.
But the main thing I would like to stress is that I have realized that I need to have vegan options available to me at all times. During several episodes throughout the trip, I was not just starving my butt off, but my mood was bad. Very bad. Emotionally I was unstable. You can't keep eating bread and expect that to last. You need foods that will cover the balance of proper diet when you need it.
We are going on the first Grocery trip tomorrow, so I'm hoping these problems will not persist.
On another note, I've lost about 4-6 pounds. This could be a water issue, a starving issue or several other factors at work, so I'll not sit in glee about that. In addition, I've been drinking a lot of beer over the break so I know that my caloric intake is still quite high.
Do I notice any improvement in mental clarity? Not really. Do I notice a lighter feel in general? Not really. But like I said, I've been drinking a lot, so we might find out more later.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Christmas Day (Day 6)
Not only is this a challenge, try explaining your choice to be vegan to your grandparents.
Holy... In the meantime a sausage ball encompassing an egg is staring me in the face. Never had one before and I guess I won't be today either. (I'm told they're "Scottish eggs")
I can feel my my struggle with this choice intensifying. My energy is really low right now. All of my food choices are burning off quickly and I'm hungry more often. I imagine this will all be easier when I get back home and go on my first shopping trip after changing to veganism.
I'll offer more details for this holiday experience when I'm not posting from my iPhone.
Turning down a ton of food from people that came from what many would consider an impoverished upbringing is a scenario I never thought I'd be dealing with.
Happy Holidays
Friday, December 23, 2011
Lentils
One of the first things that people wonder when they hear the words "Vegan Diet" is where the protein might come from. We know that eating animals provides ample amounts of Protein, but that is where it ends for a person that has been eating the Western style diet their entire lives.
A meal without meat? What is that?
Though I've eaten a lot less meat in the last 10 years, I can understand the shock that a non-veagn finds when meat is non-existant in the meal. I love OutBack SteakHouse. I love Red Lobster.
But that is truly about experience and flavor. One can get plenty of protein and flavor from plant based foods. This is a widely known fact.
Lentils have been a staple in my diet for some time. Lentils offer a lot of protein and other vitamins, but rather than going into the details myself, I'll simply show you a portion of the Wiki page about Lentils:
Lentils -From Wikipedia
With about 30% of their calories from protein, lentils, like other legumes, have the third-highest level of protein, by weight, of any plant-based food, after soybeans and hemp.[4] Proteins include the essential amino acids isoleucine and lysine, and lentils are an essential source of inexpensive protein in many parts of the world, especially in the West Asia and the Indian subcontinent, which have large vegetarian populations.[5] Lentils are deficient in two essential amino acids, methionine and cysteine.[6] However, sprouted lentils contain sufficient levels of all essential amino acids, including methionine and cysteine.[7]
Lentils also contain dietary fiber, folate, vitamin B1, and minerals. Red (or pink) lentils contain a lower concentration of fiber than green lentils (11% rather than 31%).[8] Health magazine has selected lentils as one of the five healthiest foods.[9] Lentils are often mixed with grains, such as rice, which results in a complete protein dish.
Lentils also have antinutritional factors, such as trypsin inhibitors and relatively high phytate content. Trypsin is an enzyme involved in digestion, and phytates reduce the bioavailability of dietary minerals.[10] The phytates can be reduced by soaking the lentils in warm water overnight.
Lentils are a good source of iron.[11]
Look for Lentils in your local natural food store. They are very cheap and they can go along way to fill the belly. But be careful. If you spice them the way we do, you will find that you can't stop eating them.
More on those later....
A meal without meat? What is that?
Though I've eaten a lot less meat in the last 10 years, I can understand the shock that a non-veagn finds when meat is non-existant in the meal. I love OutBack SteakHouse. I love Red Lobster.
But that is truly about experience and flavor. One can get plenty of protein and flavor from plant based foods. This is a widely known fact.
Lentils have been a staple in my diet for some time. Lentils offer a lot of protein and other vitamins, but rather than going into the details myself, I'll simply show you a portion of the Wiki page about Lentils:
Lentils -From Wikipedia
With about 30% of their calories from protein, lentils, like other legumes, have the third-highest level of protein, by weight, of any plant-based food, after soybeans and hemp.[4] Proteins include the essential amino acids isoleucine and lysine, and lentils are an essential source of inexpensive protein in many parts of the world, especially in the West Asia and the Indian subcontinent, which have large vegetarian populations.[5] Lentils are deficient in two essential amino acids, methionine and cysteine.[6] However, sprouted lentils contain sufficient levels of all essential amino acids, including methionine and cysteine.[7]
Lentils also contain dietary fiber, folate, vitamin B1, and minerals. Red (or pink) lentils contain a lower concentration of fiber than green lentils (11% rather than 31%).[8] Health magazine has selected lentils as one of the five healthiest foods.[9] Lentils are often mixed with grains, such as rice, which results in a complete protein dish.
Lentils also have antinutritional factors, such as trypsin inhibitors and relatively high phytate content. Trypsin is an enzyme involved in digestion, and phytates reduce the bioavailability of dietary minerals.[10] The phytates can be reduced by soaking the lentils in warm water overnight.
Lentils are a good source of iron.[11]
Look for Lentils in your local natural food store. They are very cheap and they can go along way to fill the belly. But be careful. If you spice them the way we do, you will find that you can't stop eating them.
More on those later....
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Day2
I'll always try to keep up with what I've eaten on a daily basis.
This blog isn't about amazing recipes, but more about what foods I'm taking in and how it might affect my physicality. This is not to say that I won't post some awesome recipes. Hold on to your hat, because I will offer plenty of those...
day 2 foods:
Homemade Whole wheat toast with organic peanut butter
Pomegranate/Cranberry juice 8oz
Coffee 16oz with Vanilla Soy milk and Dark Hershey syrup
Raw Organic Oatmeal with a touch of Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Maple syrup and a dash of salt
Indian Curry with Brown Rice for lunch
And for dinner... Well, I didn't really have dinner. I drank wine. I like wine :)
Right now the wine of choice is Fish Eye Chardonnay - a Vegan wine.
My lady revealed to me that most wines are not technically vegan because the filtering processes in many of them contain fish/egg materials. Who knew? There are several wines that do not, however. You can check BARNIVORE to see if your favorite drinks are Vegan.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Day1
I actually slipped up and used some CoffeeMate yesterday, but that was more than 24 hours ago, so we can say that we are technically finished with day one. Let's see, I had:
Toast with Vegan butter
Beans, a few fries, tomato, onion and bell pepper on a whole wheat tortilla
Indian Curry and vegetables for Dinner
I'm banking on this being coincidence and nothing more, but today I have more energy than I have had in weeks. Likely it's due to the fact that there is only 1 day left until the Holiday Break, but normally I would be falling asleep at my desk right now. I feel quite the opposite. I'm completely awake and energized enough to multi-task.
I have many reasons leading me to go Vegan, and I will cover those in later posts, but to simply get it started for now, I'll just say that I'm eager to report all of the changes that may come with this health choice.
Until I get into all of that detail, I recommend seeing Forks Over Knives, and though I've not read it yet, I hear it is imperative to check out Eating Animals by Jonathon Safron Foer.
ToodleDo...
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