Dedication

I was so excited in the beginning of this journey to do something new and make a difference in my life but I have just let too many things get in my way.  I keep putting off working out or eating the way I want for one reason or another.  I have not had very good will power to stick to my convictions.  I was going to start a food diary to help myself and then I really slipped back into my previous habits.  I am starting fresh again, and that is alright because sometimes it takes a few tries to get something right.  I know I feel better when I don't overload myself with food and I know I can accomplish the goals I want.  I just need to put more work into it.  Little by little I will accomplish my goals.

Food Diary

Day 2

Breakfast

Green Tea
Banana

Lunch

1 1/2 cup Spicy black bean dip

Dinner

Here I go cheating again.  This one isn't as bad and it isn't vegan at all but it was only 684 calories which shouldn't put me over for the day.

Tuna sandwich from jimmy johns

(My husband is a bad influence)

Day 3

Breakfast

Orange Mango Juice (Naked)

Lately green tea has been making me nauseated so I decided to try something else this morning.  I try to stay away from juices because they are so full of sugar but this is a pure juice which is supposed to be good for me on some level.  I only had about a 1/3 of it.  It's too sweet to really finish the whole thing, so I guess that helps me save on calories.

I am also drinking plenty of water during the day, I am just not logging it here.  I know that isn't something I need to focus on.  I am more concerned about  my eating habits.

Lunch

TuNo mix on a whole grain muffin (unbleached/processed wheat) with tomato and cucumber slices
Green Tea

Dinner

Losing Weight

So after reading many different books about vegan eating, it says that weight should just melt away.  Well that isn't really happening for me.  It could be the amount of "cheating" that I have done or maybe there is a deeper problem.  I have completely cut out meat but cheese is one of my downfalls.  I have also eaten out a few times but overall I have cut my calories at least in half and I am not seeing any results.  So maybe if I keep a log of what I eat each day maybe that will make me more accountable.  I have also tried adding more workout time in, but that hasn't worked out so well.  I am determined so I know I can make this work.

So here is today's eating schedule:

Breakfast

Banana

Lunch

Green Tea
Steamed Broccoli/Kale
1 cup Brown Rice

Snack

Apple
Water

Dinner

Always a struggle for me. . .
I guess I will go with black bean dip, completely vegan and spicy, on a brown rice tortilla
half of a cucumber as well, just on the side

Slacking?

Switching your whole lifestyle takes a lot of work and can be trying.  I have felt like I have let myself down and that has been really hard.  Instead of jumping in head first, I should have slowly transitioned into this.  Eating strictly vegan can be very challenging.  Unless you want fruit or raw vegetables all the time, you definitely need to plan ahead and that isn't something I have gotten a complete hold on yet.  I love steaming veggies and my rice cooker but you can't steam ahead or you are losing vital nutrients.  I have also struggled with the fact that I haven't even dropped 5 pounds.  That is pretty disheartening when you completely change everything you were doing.  I understand there aren't immediate results but when you go from eating probably like 2000 calories a day or more of just junk and fattening crap to 1200 or less of vegetables and fruit, I would expect a little weight loss.  It has made me want to give up and I have had days where I just eat whatever because I am so defeated with the whole thing.  I don't feel like I have a lot of support either and not having someone eating the same with you makes it a bit difficult.  It gets daunting making two meals and then you have to have very strong will power to not want to give in to some of your favorite foods.

I love the benefits that come along with eating a more plant based diet, I just need to find my groove.  I need to find a way to ease into it and fight the cravings.  I am not sure if my body is actually craving these things or if just don't have the will power to not fill my mind with thoughts of what I think I am missing out on.  To find a happy balance would be such a blessing right now.

Steel Cut Oats

Well I gave these a shot twice and I don't think I will be eating them again.  I was trying to stick with a strictly  raw food diet for a week but these oats just have a texture I can't handle.  I soaked them in water, in my blender, with a handful of raisins overnight and then just blended it together with a half of an apple.  I added a cut up banana too for some more flavor instead of sweetener.  I am not sure what it is about them but they aren't for me.  I will just stick to regular oats or fresh fruit for breakfast from now on.

Not going as planned

I have really been struggling and jumped off of the wagon.  I was doing great at first, despite the high cost of gathering ingredients, but I still wasn't dropping any weight.  It was a bit discouraging to change my diet so drastically and reduce my calorie intake by at least half and not lose any weight.  I did have some cheat days with pizza here and there but I still felt that I was staying on track.  Then super bowl sunday came and it all went downhill from there.  I should have just stuck to making vegan treats, because there are some great dips and other appetizers that are awesome, but I am already afraid of my foods being rejected so I decided to just skip it and go with what everyone else was doing.  I need to be strong and have more will power.  I want to lose weight and be healthy and I need to stick to this choice.  Who cares if no one else understands it or likes it.  This is what I want and only I can make that happen.  Here is to a real fresh start and a new lifestyle.  No more cheating.

My husband made me a great spicy black bean dip and it is delicious alone or on a brown rice tortilla with a little salsa.  I will have to post the recipe and pictures soon.

TuNo Sandwich

So I tried a new recipe last night for dinner.  It would also make a great lunch or snack.  You have to prepare for this one a little because you will need to soak and cook your chickpeas, but once they are prepared you can make it and save the leftovers for the rest of the week.  You could also buy a can of chickpeas instead of buying them dry.  The recipe calls for kelp and it didn't specify what type, but after making it I am pretty sure you need it in a powder form.  I only had kelp leaves and I don't think it added any flavor or made a difference.  I also added cucumber to my sandwich for a little crunch and who doesn't love cucumbers on a sandwich!!!  Here is a picture of the finished product.

Ingredients:
15 oz of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 whole celery stalks
2 tbsp organic relish
1/2 tsp onion flakes
2 tsp Nutritional Yeast (found at whole foods)
1 tbsp organic soy sauce
2 tbsp Vegan mayo
1/2 tsp kel powder
Tomato slice
2 Cucumber slices
Whole Wheat English muffins or Wheat bread

Instructions


In a food processor, or large mixing bowl, mash the chickpeas until no whole beans are left.  Shred celery with a grater or in your food processor and add to chickpeas.  Add the relish, onion flakes, nutritional yeast, mayo and kelp powder.  Combine all ingredients.  You can add more pepper, mayo or kelp to taste.

You can build your sandwich with your tomato and cucumber slices.  You will have quite a bit left over, unless you are sharing.  It will keep good in the refrigerator for a week.  You can also omit the bread and just eat it with the veggies.  I really enjoyed this mixture.  You could also mix it up by adding chopped onions instead of the flakes.  There are so many variations you could incorporate with this.  The chickpeas make a very nice base.