January 1, 2010
Last night was the ultimate end to my bad ways --- drinking, eating, smoking. I drank a bottle of Pinot Grigio, ate bad food at PF Chang's, had dessert and coffee at The Cheesecake Factory, drank another glass of wine at the club, smoked cigarettes all night long, then had a late night breakfast at Denny's (after we left the club). I was SO ready to be done with it all and have committed to a 100% sober, 100% smoke-free, high raw lifestyle. Below is a list of resolutions I have committed to.
1.) sober: no alcohol (I had begun drinking a beer here & there this past summer, then started drinking wine again in the last 6 weeks)
2.) smoke-free: no cigarettes
3.) high raw, vegan diet: estimated 75% raw, 25% cooked
3.) no bread, pasta, rice, etc.
4.) 100% vegan: no dairy, eggs, or other animal products (other than honey)
5.) no fried, "badly" prepared foods (steamed, baked veggies are fine)
6.) exercise: work out at least 5 days a week
Before we went out last night, I threw out almost everything in the house that is not on my high raw, healthy vegan diet. Steph isn't 100% committed yet to this journey for herself, so I left a few items that she may choose to eat. This afternoon when I got up (at 1:00 pm), I thoroughly wiped out the fridge to have it all spic and span for the groceries that would be restocked. It's also a psychological process I took --- the throwing out, the wiping and cleaning. It's a way for me to feel like I'm cleaning out the old to make room for the new. I also cleaned out the pottery bowl which was used as a cigarette butt holder on the front porch. I showered and sprayed my new bottle of Coco Madamoiselle, my favorite perfume. Then I made a grocery list and we headed to the store. My head started hurting around 4:00 pm, probably from a combination of drinking/smoking so much the night before, detoxing from not eating anything all day and not having caffeine all day. I didn't take any Ibuprofen, but might have to if it doesn't go away.
Our grocery shopping purchases included the following, for our attempt at a 3-day juice fast:
- Single serving Goji berry juice
- Single serving Acai berry juice
- Single serving mango-peach smoothie (for Steph)
- Three cartons of Swanson's organic vegetable broth
- Three bottles of 100%, not-from-concentrate apple juice
- Two bottles of no-sugar-added, 100% cranberry juice
- Two cartons not-from-concentrate orange juice
- 16 oz bottle of POM pomegranite juice
- One bottle of no-sugar-added, 100% white grape juice
When I got home, I quickly drank a 16 oz juice, and then hit the bed. My head was hurting so badly and in order to ensure I would not eat anything, I knew I needed to sleep. I went to bed at 7:30 pm and except for getting up to go to the bathroom several times in the night, I slept through the night.
Day one was not bad at all. The headache was an inconvenience, and the fast food smells as we drove to the grocery store were a bit tough to take; otherwise, I handled this first day like a pro. I know what I have to do to get to where I want to be. So I'm just gonna buck up and do it.
Food Intake:
- 16 oz orange juice
- 16 oz orange juice
- 16 oz cranberry-apple-pomegranite juice
- swig goji juice
- swig acai berry juice
Although I didn't drink enough, at all, I did what I could in the 6 hours I was awake.
Exercise: none --- waiting for the juice cleanse to be over, before we put our bodies into exercise mode
Weight: 280 (30 pound weight loss since 2004)
January 2, 2010
Woke up at 10:00 am. I had gotten up several times in the night to pee, but obviously I needed the rest...14 1/2 hours worth.
I started drinking my juice again, and did some household chores throughout the day. My head was hurting again, and I started to have diarrhea by mid afternoon. By evening, I was going to the bathroom every 20 minutes. I don't like it, but know that it's my body's way of cleaning out the yuck that I've done to it the last month (and longer). I didn't take any naps, but did take a nice bath with some detoxifying bath salts, which helped me feel better.
Tonight actually, I ended up taking a nap. I had a bit of a headache still, wanted to eat food, and generally was restless. So I went upstairs to bed at 7:00 pm. Woke up at 10:00 pm and decided to get up and drink some more juice. Back to bed at 12:00 am.
Food Intake:
- 16 oz cranberry-apple-pomegranite juice
- 8 oz white grape juice
- 16 oz vegetable broth with nutritional yeast
- 16 oz cranberry-apple-pomegranite juice
- 16 oz cranberry-apple-pomegranite juice
- 16 oz orange juice
- 16 oz cranberry-apple-pomegranite juice (after I woke up from my evening nap)
Exercise: none
Weight: 274 (36 pound weight loss)
January 3, 2010
Woke up at 8:30 am. Weighed and was so happy to see a ten pound weight loss since the first. I'll juice all day today and I think we're going to dinner tonight. I'll break my fast with a salad for sure, and we'll see what else. I feel great and my headache is just a bit of a background numbing feeling now. My body feels lighter and I'm thrilled with the weight loss. I know a lot of it is water weight and the fact that I haven't eaten anything solid. But I don't care, I'm just glad to have such a great start to my high raw diet. It's weird, the last time I did a juice fast, I only did 24 hours. This time it will be 72 hours and it's light years easier. The emotional part hasn't phased me at all. I've allowed myself to sleep, do a chore here and there, and drink when my stomach growled (and then some). If I feel like I want to eat, I would drink a glass of juice and then go sleep. I am feeling so confident this time around. It's been so many years, of so many times trying and failing, but I just keep getting back up and trying again. I'm not giving up. I believe in this way of living. It has NEVER let me down...only I have.
Later...
My cravings for cigarettes have been non-existent. I've been so focused on the juicing and upcoming high raw lifestyle change, that the thought of smoking hasn't even crossed my mind.
Steph's been having a more difficult time, and has not done the entire 3 days on juice alone. She's been moody and irritable; while I have felt upbeat and generally happy and easy-going. Honestly, her issues have been the only issues I've had; I've had to really disassociate myself from it, to avoid being codependent and self-destructive by eating with her in order to make her feel less alone in this. I support her in her journey, but need to be strong in my dedication to my own.
This afternoon, we left the house to go shopping for the food we'll need to live healthy and high raw. We went to the Grand International Market, Trader Joe's, The Fresh Market, American Asian Food Market and Wal-Mart. I'm exhausted! Because I know I'll get emails asking what exactly I purchased and how much did it cost, I'm going to list everything below. It was an expensive shopping trip, but a lot of what we bought will last for months...the first shopping trip is always a big one. Follow-ups are typically to restock produce. There are a few items I needed that I didn't get, such as almond milk (Trader Joe's was out), but nothing that can't wait.
Grand International Market: $13.55
- Rice paper wrappers (for fresh spring rolls we're going to be making)
- Rice vinegar (for peanut dipping sauce)
- Sesame oil (for peanut dipping sauce)
- Chili paste (for peanut dipping sauce)
- Fresh basil (for fresh spring rolls)
- Alfalfa sprouts (for Steph's salads)
- Rice vermicelli (for fresh spring rolls)
- Jasmine tea (for Steph)
Trader Joe's: $114.37
- Cage-free eggs (for Steph - she will continue to eat hard-boiled eggs)
- Dry roasted/lightly salted organic cashews (raw cashews are backordered)
- 4 fresh, organic chicken breasts (for Steph - she will continue to eat steamed chicken)
- 2 containers edamame hummus (Steph's favorite)
- 1 pkg frozen vegetable melange
- 2 pkgs frozen asian stir fry vegetables
- Frozen cilantro cubes
- Frozen garlic cubes
- 16 oz orange juice (to drink while we shopped)
- 2 bottles agave nectar
- Bottle mango smoothie (for Steph)
- Bottle extra virgin olive oil
- 16 oz protein berry smoothie (for Steph to drink while we shopped)
- Trader Joe's Goddess salad dressing
- Raw crunchy almond butter
- Jar of manzanilla olives
- 4 containers roasted red bell pepper hummus
- 12 organic fruit leathers
- Dry roasted/unsalted pistachios
- Dried cranberries
- 2 pkgs frozen shelled edamame
- 2 pkgs dry toasted slivered almonds
- Raw pecan pieces
- 1 pkg frozen french green beans
The Fresh Market: $8.97
- bottle organic, wheat-free Tamari soy sauce (couldn't find Nama Shoyu anywhere locally)
- 1 pound roasted, salted soy nuts (mainly for Steph, but I'll probably snack on them some)
- 1 pound bulgar wheat (for when I make raw tabouleh)
American Asian Food Market: $5.76
- jar concentrated Tamarind paste (for peanut dipping sauce)
- 2 pounds mung beans (for fresh spring rolls, didn't need 2 pounds of course, but that's how it was sold)
- 2 young Thai coconuts
Wal-Mart: $77.61
- 2 heads leafy green lettuce
- 2 cucumbers
- bunch radishes
- 2 pounds carrots
- 2 stalks celery
- green onions
- 5 oranges
- package Campari tomatoes
- large container organic fresh spring mix salad
- clementines
- red potatoes
- gala apples
- bananas
- 94% fat free popcorn mini bags (for Steph)
- 2 pkgs frozen Steamers roasted potatoes with sauce (for Steph)
- Light Ranch dressing (for Steph)
- 4 cans Tuna (for Steph)
- can new potatoes (for Steph)
- 3 cans french style green beans (for Steph)
- minestrone soup (for Steph)
- Jif natural peanut butter (for Steph)
- dry roasted, unsalted peanuts
- Spot Shot (cause we have dogs who would rather potty in the house, than go outside in the freezing cold)
- 1 pkg frozen Steamers corn
- 1 pkg frozen stir fry vegetables
- 1 pkg frozen sweet corn
- 1 pkg frozen carrots
- 2 pkgs guacamole
I broke my juice fast tonight at about 68 hours (just 4 hours shy of a full three days). We went to dinner at Outback Steakhouse. I forgot just how hard it is to order and feel like a normal human being at a SAD restaurant. After I scared her away, by promptly refusing the bread and butter she carried to our table....this is what my order sounded like:
"Yes, I'd like the Blue Cheese Pecan Chopped Salad without blue cheese, without the dressing, and tangy tomato dressing on the side. There's no croutons, bacon or other cheese on that right? Ok, then I'll have the steamed veggies no butter, and a baked potato with nothing but chives. Oh and can you bring A1 steak sauce." Yea, I'm remembering what it's like to be a freak out in the world. Oh well, at least this time around I know what to expect and have confidence to do what I have to do.
My dinner was fantastic and I enjoyed it immensely. I appreciated eating real, healthy food after having just juice all weekend. I was unable to eat more than a few bites of potato, after I ate my salad and steamed veggies, which I'm sure, is because I've not had any food for three days. After I was done eating, my face suddenly got very hot and I felt stuffed, like I had a week before eating a huge crappy meal.
My first three days were a huge success, having lost 10 pounds, not smoked and feeling completely ready for my high raw journey.
Food Intake:
- 16 oz cranberry-apple-pomegranite juice
- 16 oz orange juice
- 24 oz cranberry-apple-pomegranite juice
- 16 oz vegetable broth
- 16 oz orange juice (from Trader Joe's...while shopping)
- broke juice fast: Outback Steakhouse - unsweetened iced tea, chopped salad: lettuce/cabbage, pecans (tasted carmelized), tomatoes (from Steph's salad), tangy tomato dressing; steamed veggies (broccoli, snap peas, carrots, squash); few bites of baked potato (ordered with chives only, added salt/pepper and A1 steak sauce
- few bites of food as we prepared lunch for tomorrow: natural peanut butter, celery, mixed nuts, hummus
Exercise: none
Weight: 270 pounds (40 pound weight loss)
January 4, 2010
It's midnight and I've had a very long night. Steph was a doll and spent the last 5 hours with me in the kitchen cutting vegetables and preparing fresh Thai spring rolls, both for us to eat and for a friend at work. We are exhausted, so I'm not gonna journal tonight. I'll just post my food intake. I will say I had a few moments of wanting a cigarette, but it pretty quickly passed and I just moved on to another thought...primarily how good I smell and feel.
Food Intake:
- hot decaf English Breakfast tea with 2 tsp agave nectar
- banana
- gala apple
- 1/2 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts (cashews, almonds, pecans)
- 1 1/2 clementines (shared 1/2 with my colleague)
- 1/2 glass unsweetened iced tea
- leftover plain baked potato (from Outback last night)
- 1/2 c. red bell pepper hummus with celery sticks
- salad: spring mix and leafy green lettuce, tomatoes, sunflower seeds, Trader Joe's Goddess dressing
- 1/2 glass unsweetened iced tea
- hot Yogi Chai Black tea with agave nectar and non-dairy powdered creamer
- celery with 1/2 c. red bell pepper hummus
- salad: spring mix and leafy green lettuce, tomatoes, mixed raw and dry roasted nuts, dried cranberries, green olives, radishes, Trader Joe's Goddess dressing
- cup of "veggie melange": cauliflower, peas, carrots, corn --- with the butter sauce rinsed off before eating (didn't know this package of frozen veggies had a sauce)
- handful mixed raw and dry roasted nuts (ate a bit much of those today, but oh well)
- 1 homemade fresh spring roll with homemade vegan peanut sauce
- 2 glasses cranberry-apple juice
January 5, 2010
Another excellent day. It's shocking how effortless this is this time around. I'm sure there will be rough days, but I'm not gonna complain with what I've been given so far. I'm not feeling deprived, or overly hungry or anything.
I weighed this morning, and I'm up two pounds. While that may seem like a bad thing, it's actually great. Two days after ending my juice fast, and I've only gained two of the 10 pounds I lost. That means I've truly lost 8 pounds, in 4 days. I'm thrilled! And I'm gonna keep up the work I'm doing.
I'm noticing my drinking of cold drinks has gone down, but I'm drinking more hot tea; I think as a type of oral fixation for not smoking. And I've also given up coffee, as of January 1st, as well, so the hot tea is a great replacement. I'm not focusing on doing all decaf, just getting rid of the acidity of the coffee. I went and bought a box of Stash Earl Grey tonight to take to work. I took a bottle of Agave Nectar to work too to keep in my drawer; and I snagged a bunch of non-dairy powdered creamer packets from the cafeteria.
Steph, is not having such an easy time. She's not going high raw; and actually she never really said she would. I think, in my head, I was hoping we'd be doing this together, aside from her maybe having some steamed or grilled chicken every so often. But I think it was all too much for her to do at once. I'm an extremist. If I eat crap, I'm gonna go all out and eat crap. If I quit smoking, I'm gonna quit cold turkey. And when I choose to go healthy, I'm gonna do it. And so I have to back off, and let her be where she is. As most of you know, I'm a control freak, so that's kinda hard for me. But I need to do it for the health of our relationship, and us each as individuals.
Food Intake:
- hot English Breakfast tea with with 2 tsp agave nectar
- banana
- 1/2 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- few swigs unsweetened iced tea
- 2 clementines
- organic fruit leather
- 1/2 c. leftover mixed veggies
- celery and carrots with red bell pepper hummus
- 1 fresh veggie spring roll with vegan peanut sauce
- hot Yogi Chai Black tea with 2 tsp agave nectar and non-dairy powdered creamer
- hot Earl Grey black tea with 2 tsp agave nectar and non-dairy powdered creamer
- Panera fuji salad (minus the chicken, onions and gorgonzola cheese): spring mix, tomatoes, pecans, dried apples, fuji apple vinegarette dressing
- 2 glasses unsweetened iced tea
Weight: 272 pounds (only gained two pounds after going back to eating; I'm shocked!)
January 6, 2010
Today was a great day. Felt great. Ate great. Then tonight, when I got home from work, I started struggling. The emotions of living a lifestyle of eating healthy, not smoking, not drinking, etc. have started to surface. I expect it, but it's still hard. I wanted crap food, so instead I just ate randomly, and overate. And since I washed off the butter sauce, I then overseasoned the veggies and they were way too spicy. I still ate them, of course, but my mouth was on fire. After dinner, I downed two glasses of juice alongside a plate of mixed nuts. Ate waaaaaay too many nuts today, but it's better than the alternative.
Food Intake:
- hot English Breakfast tea with agave nectar
- banana
- 1/2 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- 2 clementines
- hot Earl Grey tea with non-dairy powdered creamer and agave nectar (drank half glass)
- 1/4 c. sunflower seeds (roasted, unsalted)
- 12 oz water
- celery and carrots with 1/2 c. red bell pepper hummus
- 2 fresh veggie spring rolls
- hot Earl Grey tea with non-dairy powdered creamer and agave nectar (drank half glass)
- 2 organic fruit leathers
- small handful raisins
- small handful dry roasted, unsalted peanuts
- gala apple
- mixed veggies cooked on skillet with water (corn, carrots, green beans, peas, cauliflower)
- celery with 1/2 c. red bell pepper hummus
- ridiculous amount of mixed raw and dry roasted nuts (was having issues and overate on nuts to compensate)
- 2 glasses of cranberry-apple juice
Weight: 272 (no change)
January 7, 2010
Today was ok. My colleague is working hard to follow a healthy eating plan, too, so we often discuss food. Whenever she's wanting to eat something bad, I become Mother Hen, and tell her sternly (and half jokingly), "No, you don't want that." It's actually helping me stay strong as well, in that, I have to be accountable to more than just myself. We're supporting each other on this journey. She eats very differently than I am, but we both have a healthy understanding what it means to eat "clean."
At lunch today, I noticed myself noticing what other people are eating. I pay attention to trays of burgers and fries, slices of pizza, soda cups, and candy bars. A part of me is reminded how disgusting America eats. Then another part of me is going, "Oh my gosh, I want a piece of pizza. I want some fries. I want a Coke." What a dychotomy.
I also noticed a few days ago that commercials since January 1st are, what seems to me, about 90% weight loss, quit smoking, gym memberships, the Taco Bell Drive-Thru diet (wtf?!), and other fad sales pitches. It cracks me up how marketers know to inundate the screen with fattening foods from November 1st through December 31st. Then suddenly they do a 180 and market to all the people who got fatter during the holidays. It's so nice to know that people are getting rich off of American's emotional rollercoasters of bad habits.
Steph's pretty moody right now, feeling the urges to smoke and eat crap a lot heavier than I am. Every so often I think about having a smoke, but it passes pretty quickly. I also struggle with the eating, but it's more a matter of having enough money to eat the way I want to eat, than it is wanting to eat crap. I have all these things I want to restock in my kitchen, but am going to have to do it a little at a time. I also adore going out to eat, and can eat perfectly healthy, but after the Christmas gift cards have dwindled, we're pretty well down to eating out sparingly...especially since I need to be paying and saving for the cruise in October.
Today my body felt fat and bloated. I wore jeans that were not flattering and a top that was too tight. It just accentuated my, now, 2 pound weight gain (I weighed 273 today, argh). I know tomorrow will be a better day, and we'll be going out to dinner with one of the remaining gift cards. That'll cheer me up. The rest of the weekend we're hanging out at home. I have some writing I want to do, she wants to wash the truck, and then on Sunday we're going to an ODU Lady Monarch's basketball game (one of Steph's Christmas presents). We discussed tonight how we won't be able to eat or drink anything there, so I'll need to check out the rules of bringing in your own snacks and drinks. Mainstream events never have healthy food and drinks for patrons...it's all burgers and nachos and Cokes. It really sucks to try to be healthy AND have a social life. I'll be ok this time around, but it's still a bummer that the health-food movement hasn't made it more into mainstream society.
Food Intake:
- glass of unsweetened iced tea
- banana
- 1/2 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- 2 clementines
- organic fruit leather
- 1/2 c. leftover mixed veggies (microwaved at work)
- lots of carrots and red bell pepper hummus
- few celery spears and a few bites of natural peanut butter
- two glasses of water
- hot Earl Grey tea with powdered non-dairy creamer and agave nectar
- organic fruit leather
- bunch of celery spears with 1/4 c. natural peanut butter
- gala apple
- glass of no-sugar-added cranberry juice
- several bites canned new potatoes, 1/4 c. canned french green beans
- glass of unsweetened iced tea
- several bites homemade raw chocolate pudding
- several large handfuls mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
Weight: 273 (yes! I love that I've gained a pound while eating healthy food. yes! --- note the sarcasm)
January 8, 2010
So glad it's Friday! Three of my colleagues and I went to lunch today at Qdoba Mexican Grill. I easily chose a naked vegetarian salad, but was frustrated that grilled squash veggies, grilled fajita veggies and guacamole are not included in the price of the vegetarian salad. Ummm, what part of vegetarian did they miss? Oh ok, so you mean naked salad. I get it. Ugh. Anyway, I paid for one of those three items (grilled fajita veggies), and still thoroughly enjoyed it. It just sucks how vegetarians always get the shit end of the deal in restaurants.
Then tonight for dinner, Steph and I went to Ruby Tuesday's. I passed the salad bar on our way to our table, and immediately said, "I am so not getting that." But then after looking over the menu, I could see my only options would be snap peas and a plain baked potato. I knew that wouldn't be enough for me, so I worked it out with the waitress so that Steph could add a salad bar to her meal and I would be the one eating it. Then I added a baked potato. The first trip to the salad bar was pathetic and the only decent dressing option was Balsamic Vinegarette. It tasted nasty, so after I choked the first plate of salad down, I went back and chose the only other vegan dressing available...French. Not healthy, cause I know they make it with sugar, but at least I stayed vegan. I really wanted some of the potato salad on the ridiculously trimmed down salad bar, but I confirmed with the hostess that they make their mustard potato salad with mayonaisse. There is so much that vegetarians, and especially vegans have to contend with when eating out in the real world.
Food Intake:
- hot English Breakfast hot tea with agave nectar
- 1/2 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- clementine
- glass of water
- organic fruit leather
- Qdoba Mexican Grill: 1 glass unsweetened iced tea, naked vegetarian salad: lettuce, black bean and corn mix, pico de gallo, corn salsa, grilled bell peppers and onions
- 3/4 c. raisins
- orange
- 1 glass unsweetened iced tea
- Ruby Tuesday's: two trips to the salad bar: lettuce, grape tomatoes, black olives, dried cranberries, peas, balsamic vinegarette (first trip), french dressing (second trip); plain baked potato with salt, pepper and A1 steak sauce; several glasses of unsweetened iced tea
- organic fruit leather
- 1/4 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- several bites raw chocolate pudding
- glass of unsweetened iced tea
- probably will eat some more...I'm not really satisfied tonight.....
Weight: 272
January 9, 2010
Went to the gym for the first time in about a month. Intentions were to do the elliptical, but once we got there, we both decided to walk on the treadmill instead. And let me tell you, 45 minutes walking was as tough as when we were doing an hour on the elliptical burning 700 calories. Just goes to show that being away from the gym for so long means we have to pretty much start over. Sucks, but it is what it is. At least we're going again.
After our workout, we sat in the therapy pool for nearly an hour, talking openly and honestly about the struggles of eating healthy, having cravings, guilt, the ups and downs of weight loss, etc. And Steph expressed to me what she needs from me to support her in where she's at on her journey. I have good intentions, but I do have to remember that we are two different people, with different life experiences and ways of living our lives.
Tonight we went to Panera for dinner, with the last gift card we got from Christmas. Steph decided to have a "cheat" day, and tonight was the day. I stayed strong, of course, but once I got my salad and was half-way through it, I realized I wouldn't be full, and had completely forgotten to bring snacks from home. I felt panic set in, even after I ate my apple. But I decided to go make a cup of hot tea; and Steph said she'd walk across the street and get me a healthy snack from the grocery store. I ended up not needing any additional food, and realized it was just the idea that we'd be sitting at Panera for hours (I was writing, Steph was web surfing) and I had come unprepared to be in public, at a mainstream restaurant with no real options to eat. I didn't need anything else, it was just fear.
Food Intake:
- cranberry-apple-pomegranite juice
- 1/2 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- cranberry-apple-pomegranite juice
- banana with raisins, natural peanut butter, agave nectar
- cranberry-apple-pomegranite juice
- Panera Bread: fuji apple salad: lettuce, tomatoes, pecans, dried apples, fuji apple vinegarette, fuji apple inerds (the skin was nasty and tart), unsweetened iced tea, hot Earl Greyer tea with honey and soy milk, another fuji apple (Steph's)
- small handful mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- celery with red bell pepper hummus and diced tomatoes
- too many raw mixed nuts (shelled them while watching movies)
- few more mixed raw and dry roasted nuts (nuts are my downfall)
- organic fruit leather
- glass of orange juice
Exercise: walked for 45 minutes on the treadmill, 2.30 miles, 230 calories
Weight: 270.5
January 10, 2010
I saw this article on Yahoo today, Top 6 Skinny Foods for 2010 and was so pleased to see the number 2-4 "skinny foods" listed are vegan-friendly:
- "Vegetable Soup: Studies have shown that just by starting a meal with a fiber-rich bowl of broth-based veggie soup, you can reduce your total calorie intake by 20 percent. That's because this "veggie first course" helps to fill you up, so you wind up eating less at the main meal."
- "Cucumber Tomato Salad: Thanks to their high percentage of water (95%!), cucumbers are low-calorie, high volume, and top-notch for weight loss! Slice up one whole cucumber plus a medium tomato, then toss with light vinaigrette or unlimited vinegar (balsamic or red wine is delish) plus 1 teaspoon olive oil. The entire salad has only 125 calories!"
- "Ginger Green Tea: Nursing a warm mug of tea is a calorie-free way to de-stress after a long day without falling prey to emotional eating. As an added bonus, research suggests that regularly drinking green tea may give you a slight calorie-burning advantage. Steep your tea with a thin slice of ginger root for an extra punch of flavor."
It was rough on both Steph and me at the game today. Every single concession stand we passed had amazing-smelling, high caloric-fatty foods like fries, burgers, pizza and nachos. There were literally two items in the entire facility that I could buy: bottled water and roasted/salted in-shell peanuts. That was it. Seriously and again, this is what is wrong in the world. Thankfully, I was able to sneak in multiple ziploc baggies of nuts, seeds and water flavorer packets. During the whole game, we both kept smelling that half-disgusting, half-enticing odor of french fry oil. Dang. It sucks to try to be healthy and still go out in the real world.
Food Intake:
- salad: leafy green lettuce, campari tomatoes, radishes, green olives, dried cranberries, mixed raw and dry roasted nuts, 1/2 c. guacamole, Trader Joe's Goddess dressing drizzled on top
- unsweetened iced tea
- snacks brought from home, eaten at the game: 1/2 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts, several handfuls dry roasted pistachios (shelled as I ate them), small handful sunflower seeds (shelled as I ate them), bottle of water with sugar-free water flavoring packet, organic fruit leather
- salad: leafy green lettuce, organic spring mix, organic grape tomatoes, green olives, dried cranberries, mixed raw and dry roasted nuts, 1/3 c. guacamole, Trader Joe's Goddess dressing drizzled on top
- unsweetened iced tea
- 2 clementines
Exercise: two flights of stairs and walk from the parking garage to the event center, several flights up and down stairs at the game, walk from the event center to the parking garage and two flights of stairs --- not real exercise, but at least it's somethin'
Weight: 269.5
January 11, 2010
Today at work, I briefly attempted to defend the raw food diet and the fact that you can lose a lot of weight fast, yet in a healthy manner. After a moment of frustration, I remembered this is a lifestyle you just don't really talk about to people who aren't in it. Very few people get it, nor want to.
I was doing some book searches this evening on Amazon and found Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days - Animal Rights video. I saw it when it was first released on tv and loved it. As usual with Morgan's short films, I was thrilled to see him tackling such an important issue, with his typical honesty. Thought I'd share the link here, for those who might be on the edge in considering a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle.
Food Intake:
- hot English Breakfast tea with powdered non-dairy cream and agave nectar
- 1/2 c. mixed raw and dry toasted nuts
- banana
- unsweetened iced tea
- 2 clementines
- 1/4 c. sunflower seeds and chopped peanuts
- organic fruit leather
- glass of water
- hot Earl Grey tea with powdered non-dairy cream and agave nectar
- celery and 1/4 c. red bell pepper hummus
- salad: organic spring mix, leafy green lettuce, organic grape tomatoes, radishes, green olives, dried cranberries, roasted sunflower seeds and chopped dry roasted peanuts, Trader Joe's Goddess dressing
- water with sugar-free water flavorer
- celery and guacamole (while making dinner)
- salad: organic spring mix, leafy green lettuce, compari tomatoes, radishes, green olives, dried cranberries, 3/4 c. guacamole, raw and dry roasted mixed nuts, Trader Joe's Goddess dressing
- 2 glasses unsweetened iced tea
- banana with naural peanut butter, agave nectar, raisins and mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- few swigs no-sugar-added cranberry/apple juice
Exercise: None (intended to go to the gym, then intended to go for a long walk, ended up doing nothing at all)
Weight: 270
January 12, 2010
So we get a phone call tonight from the Executive Director at the YMCA where we signed up. Apparently the YMCA had an audit and the powers that be discovered that this particular, very open-minded Executive Director allowed Steph and I to have a "family" membership, at $84/month, instead of individual memberships at $59 each/month. Well, remember that the YMCA is a Christian organization, and those good Christian folks don't want lezzzzzzbians to corrupt their precious children, by...you know...working out, getting fit. That would be baaaaaad. Well, we are welcome to work out, if we're willing to pay more; a higher price, possibly a lesbo-ick-factor fee. I guess memories of the Village People singing that crazy song and turning all those impressionable teens into homosexuals has management frantically auditing the questionable members. Thanks, YMCA, but we'll be taking our gay business elsewhere. Oh, but we'll be making them stare at us for a month, while we take advantage of our free month for referring a friend. Aren't we all so lucky?
Food Intake:
- hot Earl Grey with powdered non-dairy creamer and agave nectar
- banana
- 1/2 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- unsweetened iced tea
- 8 oz cranberry/apple juice, 12 oz orange juice
- clementine
- organic fruit leather
- salad: organic spring mix, leafy greens,
organic grape tomatoes, green olives, radishes, roasted sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, Trader Joe's Goddess dressing
- unsweetened iced tea
- 1/4 c. red bell pepper hummus, celery
- 1/2 c. canned pineapple in its own juice
- hot English Breakfast tea with powdered non-dairy creamer and agave nectar
- clementine
- gala apple
- 12 oz cranberry/apple juice
- stir-fry vegetables: snap peas, carrots, water chestnuts, peanuts, edamame cooked in the wok with sesame oil and Tamari soy sauce
- unsweetened iced tea
- banana with natural peanut butter, raisins, mixd raw and dry roasted nuts, agave nectar
- 32 oz cranberry/apple/pomegranite juice
- 1/4 c. (before popped), air-popped popcorn, bowl sprayed with Olive Oil cooking spray (for salt to stick to), salted
Exercise: None
Weight: 270
January 13, 2010
It's so strange to me that I can be feeling so good, feeling "thin," healthy and so together, but the scale hasn't budged in three days, and my jeans aren't feeling any more loose. I asked my friend and co-worker today when we had our periods last month (I know, but we just have that kind of friendship), and she said December 20th. So that means I should be PMSing this week; which makes me feel tons better - knowing that I'm probably bloated and retaining water and extra weight. I've been having cravings for crap food, which also makes sense if I'm getting ready to start. I'm a tad bitchy and snippy too, so please please...let this all be period-related. Cause I really really want to have some good numbers to report in the next few weeks. I'm shooting for 20-25 pounds by the end of January, and if that's gonna happen, the scale needs to start cooperating.
If there was a "Funniest Home Videos" for raw foodists, I would have won $100,000 tonight. (I can't believe I'm going to share this.) I cut up a head of leafy green lettuce and had rinsed it in the salad spinner. Then I proceeded to spin it to get the water out. Well, this is a really big spinner and I usually have to put my whole body into it. I guess tonight I decided I needed to put my whole boob into it, and as the spinner top pressed down, it pinched my boob right into it...AND. IT. GOT. STUCK. My boob was stuck in the spinner top and I was screaming for Steph to help! It took what seemed like an eternity to unpin me. Of course, I am not a complete bore. I immediately began alternating between cusses of pain and snorts of laughter. Could there really be anything more ridiculous to post here? I indeed have a mark that will no doubt be a source of future fits of laughter. Raw foodists beware the salad spinner...if you have hooters like I do, that is.
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Food Intake:
- hot green tea with powdered non-dairy creamer and agave nectar
- 16 oz cranberry-apple-pomegranite juice
- banana
- 1/3 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- hot chamomile tea with powdered non-dairy creamer and agave nectar
- handful dry roasted, unsalted peanuts
- 1/2 c. raisins
- Qdoba Mexican Grill: naked vegetarian salad: lettuce, corn and black bean mix, pico de gallo, roasted corn, grilled fajita veggies (for an additional charge), unsweetened iced tea
- Max 'n Erma's: salad: mixed baby greens, tomatoes, seasoned almond slices, balsamic vinaigrette; plain baked potato drizzled with A1 steak sauce, unsweetened iced tea
- few tastes of cilantro-jalapeno hummus with celery, few raw cashews and walnuts as we were putting groceries away
Exercise: none
Weight: 270
January 14, 2010
Found out that the oil used at Qdoba to grill the veggies is soybean oil. I have an email response in to Guest Relations (who told me about the soybean oil), confirming there is nothing BUT soybean oil used to cook the veggies --- to ensure they are truly vegan. Will let you know what I find out.
Still haven't lost a pound. And still haven't started my period...man, once I start, I'd better see some serious weight loss.
Tonight Steph and I went to the Olive Garden for dinner. We were going to eat at home, but our roommate got a job, so we went to celebrate that we will still have a renter, and not have to search for a new one. I asked the waitress what dressings were available, and she looked at me like I'd asked what size eyeball will be served with the salad. She said, "um, Ranch." I was like, "So it's Italian or Ranch." She said, "uh, yea", with an "oh god, I have one of these tables" thought bubbles floating slightly above her head. I asked if they have oil and vinegar, and she goes, "oh, well yea, there's thaaaat," with a scowl. I said, "um, yea that's a dressing option, please bring some sides of Italian dressing and the oil and vinegar." I haven't actually ever had just oil and vinegar on a salad before, cause the idea seemed disgusting every time the opportunity arose. But honestly, it was quite tasty, and was just slightly less exciting than Balsamic Vinaigrette. Also, I didn't eat even one piece of the teensy pasta pieces floating in my vegan minestrone soup, so I had a fantastically healthy dinner. And lots of it!
Here's our grocery list from Trader Joe's today ($104.29):
- Blue Diamond unsweetened vanilla almond milk x 3 quarts
- 16 oz guacamole (in two 8 oz packs)
- roasted red bell pepper hummus
- cilantro jalapeno hummus (ick, tasted yuck)
- 4 organic chicken breasts (for Steph)
- original sprouted Ezekial bread
- cinnamon raisin sprouted Ezekial bread
- frozen brittany veggie blend
- frozen roasted corn
- 16 oz whole raw cashews
- 16 oz Thompson raisins
- 16 oz golden raisins
- 16 oz raw pecan pieces
- 16 oz unsalted roasted sunflower seeds
- 16 oz dry toasted, unsalted slivered almonds
- 16 oz dried cranberries
- dozen extra large cage free brown eggs (for Steph)
- 12 organic fruit leathers
- decaf green tea bags
- earl grey tea bags
- 16 oz mango smoothie juice (for Steph)
- 16 oz berry strawberry smoothie (for Steph)
- 2 bottles of organic agave nectar
- Trader Joe's Fat Free Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Trader Joe's Goddess dressing
- jar manzanilla olives
- 94% fat free microwave popcorn (for Steph)
- package fresh sweet mini peppers
- 3 bananas
Food Intake:
- 16 oz cranberry-apple-pomegranite juice
- 3/4 banana (couldn't stomach that last bite)
- 1/2 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- hot green tea with non-dairy powdered creamer and agave nectar
- 16 oz orange juice
- 1/2 c. sunflower seeds and peanuts
- 1/2 glass Diet Pepsi
- salad: spring mix, leafy greens, grape tomatoes, green olives, Trader Joe's fat free Balsamic Vinaigrette, sunflower seeds and peanuts
- 1/4 c. red bell pepper hummus and celery
- small handful mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- Olive Garden: 2 plates of salad: iceberg lettuce, roma tomatoes, black olives, oil and vinegar; 3 half-filled bowls vegan minestrone soup (didn't eat any of the pasta), unsweetened iced tea
- 1/2 c. (before popped), air-popped popcorn, bowl sprayed with Olive Oil cooking spray (for salt to stick to), salted
- small handful mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
Exercise: what is that exactly?
Weight: 270 (I'm nothing if not consistent)
January 15, 2010
It's late and I'm working overtime tomorrow, so I'm gonna make this quick. We went out with a friend of ours tonight, who drinks, smokes and eats non-healthy food (in general). She wanted greek. I wanted salad, and not a classic greek salad. So she agreed to try Jason's Deli. She loved it and of course I adored my salads. We went to the bar later and I stayed out of the "smoking" room, and I ordered only a glass of pineapple juice to drink. The kitchen kept serving up fries to the patrons around us, and the smell nearly sent Steph and I over the edge, but we abstained.
Finally lost a pound and got out of the 270s. Now the damn scale had better start doing some serious rewarding, or I'd better become a stuck pig pretty fricken soon. Otherwise, someone will die. And by someone I mean, "Mr. Scale."
Food Intake:
- 2 pieces ezekial cinnamon raisin toast with natural peanut butter and agave nectar
- glass of iced tea
- glass of iced tea
- 1/2 glass hot English Breakfast tea with almond milk and agave nectar
- nearly 1/2 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- Panera Bread: cup of low-fat garden vegetable soup with non-vegan basil pesto; fuji apple salad: lettuce, tomatoes, pecans, dried apples, fuji apple vinaigrette dressing, glass of water
- Jason's Deli: two large plates of salad: romaine, spring mix, cherry tomatoes, lots of baby carrots, red bell pepper hummus, peas, yellow bell pepper, green olives, mixed raw and roasted nuts, raisins, dried cranberries, organic raspberry vinaigrette (on the first plate), french dressing (on the second plate); unsweetened iced tea
- at the bar: glass of pineapple juice
Exercise: none (it's just not even in my head right now)
Weight: 269 (finally, but I'm expecting better results than that)
January 16, 2010
Worked 4 1/2 hours of overtime today. Then went with Steph to get her hair cut. I got a complimentary paraffin hand wax and a 15-minute chair massage. I love our salon (StudioEast, for those in the area)!
We had tickets to the Norfolk Admirals hockey game later that night, and I knew I needed to eat a substantial meal before we went; otherwise I'd surely be craving fries or nachos. We had Qdoba and it was wonderful, as usual; but I still ended up buying a big bucket of popcorn (no added butter, but who knows what crap they cook it in); a large Diet Coke and later, an 8 oz bag of salted/roasted in-the-shell peanuts.
Oh, my favorite part of the day was when I weighed and was back to 270. I seriously have to laugh to keep from crying.
Food Intake:
- 2 pieces Ezekial cinnamon raisin toast with natural peanut butter and agave nectar
- glass of unsweetened iced tea
- hot Earl Grey tea with almond milk and agave nectar
- banana
- 1/2 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- Qdoba Mexican Grill: naked vegetarian salad: lettuce, sprinkle of bean/corn mix, pico de gallo, roasted corn, grilled fajita veggies; celery, few carrots and red bell pepper hummus; unsweetened iced tea
- hockey game: bucket of popcorn, large diet coke, 1/2 of an 8 oz bag of salted/roasted in-the-shell peanuts
- 16 oz orange juice
- rest of the bag of salted/roasted in-the-shell peanuts
- organic fruit leather
Exercise: nope
Weight: 270 (I might as well marry this number, it just keeps coming back)
January 17, 2010
Thank fricken, gawd. I started my period. I'm still weighing the same, but I'm hoping by the end of the week, my weight will show a more rewarding number. I've had the most horrific cramps today. I seriously thought I was gonna push out a baby when we were in the truck riding home from Wal-Mart tonight. I was gripping the "Oh Shit" handle bar, bearing down as hard as I could, just to keep from crying. It's weird how long I was PMSing before my period started; and now that it's here, it's a really bad one. When I was high raw last time, back in 2004, my period was almost non-existent, light and typically only about three days; and I had no cramps at all. It's been a little over 2 weeks this time on the diet and my period is the worst that I've had in a very long time. I guess my body really is in shock.
Tomorrow is Steph's birthday and she's taken a few liberties in the food department this weekend. I'm not saying a word, and letting her be where she's at. In fact, I'm being uber supportive, telling her, "It's ok. It's your birthday. You'll get back on it on Tuesday." At times it's hard on me, cause I want to eat crap with her, but remind myself that a momentary desire and act of eating crap will result in low self-esteem and feelings of fat and bloat, so I abstain. And I'm always glad, later, that I did.
I said we weren't gonna be eating out that much now that our Christmas gift cards were all gone. I guess I lied, cause we both agree that eating healthy is much more fun when we get to go out to eat. I can eat salads at home, but there's something about going out to a restaurant, ordering an iced tea, talking across the table, and being served the meal by someone else. I also like that the salads feel more varied when I eat them at different places. The core may be the same, but the dressing might be different. The type of tomatoes might be different. The variety of crunchies (seeds, nuts, dried fruits) might be different. It all makes eating healthy feel a bit more special. I also am really enjoying the game of picking over a menu to find the very very very few items that I can make into something delicious.
Here's my grocery list from Wal-Mart tonight:
- canned french style green beans
- canned new potatoes
- no-sugar-added cranberry juice
- fresh pressed apple juice (not from concentrate)
- Jif natural peanut butter (this is the only kind Steph will eat, I eat the Smucker's brand, which has to be refridgerated)
- sugar-free lemonade water flavorer
- organic spring mix
- pico de gallo
- organic grape tomatoes
- romaine hearts
- 2.33 lbs locally-grown fuji apples
- matchstick carrots (for a veggie soup I'm gonna make)
- 3.18 lbs bananas
- yellow onion (for the soup)
- box of clementines
- roma tomatoes (for the soup)
Food Intake:
- 2 pieces Ezekial cinnamon raisin toast with natural peanut butter and agave nectar
- unsweetened iced tea
- salad: leafy greens, organic spring mix, organic grape tomatoes, green olives, guacamole, red bell pepper hummus, Trader Joe's Goddess dressing, few celery sticks
- Big Island Smoothie in the mall: split a 24 oz strawberry, banana, pineapple smoothie (had her make it with fresh fruit, ice and non-sugar water only)
- Ruby Tuesday's: 2 plates of salad from the salad bar: romaine, spring mix, grape tomatoes, peas, green bell pepper, carrots, black olives, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, balsamic vinaigrette (first plate), french dressing (second plate); plain baked potato (ordered with a side of A1 sauce, but never used it!); unsweetened iced tea
- bowl of flax multi-grain cereal with mixed raw and dry roasted nuts, golden and Thompson raisins, agave nectar, almond milk
- leftover glass of unsweetened iced tea from dinner
Exercise: walking around while shopping for many many hours
Weight: 270
January 18, 2010
This evening, I had the hardest time that I've had since starting back on this journey. Today is Steph's birthday and I was with her during her free-for-all birthday extravaganza. For lunch, I joined her at Schlotzsky's, where I had a salad and healthy vegan soup. I sat across from her eating a sandwich on that famous bread, along with a bag of kettle chips and a large Coke. Oh and a piece of carrot cake for dessert. Then at her birthday dinner, I managed to thoroughly enjoy my salad and baked potato, while she had a burger and fries, and ended with a birthday treat of hot, fresh chocolate chip cookies and ice cream. Then just now, I reheated the leftovers for her and nearly died as I scooted the fries onto the plate from the toaster oven. The smell was overwhelming and I almost caved and ate one. Didn't, but I realized I have unearthed some serious will power, most of which I had no idea was there. And I am SO glad her birthday is over and she's ready to get back to healthy eating. 'Cause it sure is hard to keep on my path, when I'm watching her walk a different one.
PS I did eat more of things that I'd like to keep limited in my diet, but I know it was in compensation for what I was really wanting to eat.
Food Intake:
- hot Earl Grey tea with almond milk and agave nectar
- 2 pieces Ezekial cinnamon raisin toast with natural peanut butter and agave nectar
- 1/2 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- banana
- unsweetened iced tea
- few celery sticks with red bell pepper hummus
- 8 oz orange juice
- Schlotzsky's: Mesculin salad: mixed greens, grape tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, fat free raspberry vinaigrette; cup of vegetarian vegetable soup; unsweetened iced tea
- organic fruit leather
- unsweetened iced tea
- celery with guacamole and red bell pepper hummus
- Max & Erma's: water; plain baked potato with balsamic vinaigrette drizzled on top; salad of mixed greens, tomatoes, seasoned almond slices, balsamic vinaigrette
- bowl of flax multi-grain cereal with mixed raw and dry roasted nuts, golden and Thompson raisins, banana, agave nectar, almond milk
- 2 pieces Ezekial original toast with red bell pepper hummus, roma tomatoes and mixed greens
- unsweetened iced tea
Exercise: still nothing
Weight: not sure, I didn't have time to weigh this morning before work
January 19, 2010
Ever since having the minestrone soup at Olive Garden last week, I've been wanting to make some kind of healthy, vegan soup at home. So tonight I whipped up this huge pot of vegetable soup, and it is delicious!!! This'll keep me happy all week long. Recipe below...
Veggie Soup:
- frozen green beans
- frozen corn
- fresh matchstick carrots
- 1/2 chopped onion
- large can of blanched new potatoes
- 4 sliced roma tomatoes
- 3 cubes of Knorr's Vegetarian Vegetable bouillion cubes
- added seasonings to taste: Italian seasonings, cilantro, garlic, chili powder, nutritional yeast, sea salt, pepper
Three weeks into the diet and the scale refuses to budge. Each day I wake up in hopes that the scale will reward my excellent eating choices. And each day I'm disappointed. I'm not at all disenchanted with this way of eating, because I do feel so much better - no indigestion, no gas, clearer face, smoother skin, softer/shinier hair, and lessened feelings of fat and bloat. I just really really wish my clothes would fit more loose and the actual weight would go down.
Food Intake:
- hot Earl Grey tea with almond milk and agave milk
- 2 pieces cinnamon raisin Ezekial toast with natural peanut butter and agave nectar
- unsweetened iced tea
- banana
- 1/2 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- 2 clementines
- salad: mixed greens, grape tomatoes, green olives, roasted/unsalted sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, Trader Joe's Goddess dressing; 1/2 c. canned pineapple (in its own juice)
- water
- hot English Breakfast tea with non-dairy powdered creamer and agave nectar
- 2 clementines
- 2 pieces original Ezekial toast with red bell pepper hummus, roma tomatoes and spring mix
- salad: spring mix, leafy greens, grape tomatoes, carrots, mixed raw and dry roasted nuts, dried cranberries, Trader Joe's fat free balsamic vinaigrette; bowl of Trader Joe's Brittany Blend: wax beans, green beans, carrots steamed and seasoned with dill, salt and pepper; unsweetened iced tea
- two cups of homemade veggie soup
- unsweetened iced tea
- bowl of flax multi-grain cereal, golden and Thompson raisins, mixed raw and dry roasted nuts, agave nectar, unsweetened vanilla almond milk
Exercise: two twenty minute leisurely walks with the dogs (took two at a time by myself, cause Steph wasn't in the mood)
Weight: 270 (and I'm halfway through my period. this is so unfair)
January 20, 2010
Ooh I had a hard night. I was upset at the scale reading 270, for the zillionth day in a row, and was feeling angry that my 20 days of healthy eating has only offered a 10 pound weight loss, all of which was lost in the first three days from juicing. I felt like having a cheat night, feeling like I was "owed" it, based on my dedication and diligence.
We were going to have dinner at home, but then had to go to the bank at the last minute to make a deposit; so we decided to go out to eat. As we sat in the bank drive-thru, I looked around at the variety of places I really wanted to eat. I wanted Mexican food, pizza, chips and queso at Chili's (we have a coupon for Steph's birthday). But I pouted and agreed to go to Ruby Tuesday's. As I walked past the salad bar to our table, I told Steph that maybe I'll just eat some things off the salad bar I normally wouldn't let myself...shredded cheese, potato salad, pasta salad, non-vegan dressing. What I did, instead, was I made my plate of vegan salad, and then went back up and made a small plate of potato salad, pasta salad and a waldorf salad. I took it to the table and told Steph, "Ok, it's there if I want it." As I ate my salad, Steph picked on the pasta and potato salads, informing me that they would not be worth it. I passed on all three non-vegan items, and asked the waitress to bring a plain baked potato. On my second trip to the salad bar, I decided I'd make the same vegan salad, but choose a non-vegan dressing. When I got to the end of the bar, where the dressings were, I dropped a drip of honey mustard on the edge of my plate. I used my finger to taste it and after thinking for a second, decided it wasn't good enough to warrant eating a non-vegan item. I chose the french dressing, which I'm sure has high fructose corn syrup, but was a vegan choice that would still satisfy my desire to eat crap. Once I was done with dinner, I was pleased with my decision not to throw away the last three weeks of hard work. Then Steph and I talked about how maybe my attitude needs to change. Maybe I need to stop weighing each day, and just be proud of the actions I'm taking and the health I know I'm achieving. I'm going to try to stop being angry at the scale and start being happy with myself. "Try" being the operative word.
Food Intake:
- hot Earl Grey tea with almond milk and agave nectar
- 3/4 banana
- 1/2 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- 2 clementines
- 16 oz cranberry-apple juice
- 1/4 c. roasted sunflower seeds
- 2 c. homemade veggie soup
- ice water
- hot English Breakfast tea with non-dairy powdered creamer and agave nectar
- organic fruit leather
- Ruby Tuesday's: 2 plates of salad from the salad bar: mixed greens, romaine, grape tomatoes, carrots, peas, green bell peppers, corn, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, black olives, french dressing; plain baked potato; unsweetened iced tea
- hot Earl Grey tea with almond milk and agave nectar
Exercise: none
Weight: 270 (did you expect another number? I've become resigned to the fact that the scale is my nemesis)
January 21, 2010
I find that I'm just pissed off right now. I've never worked so hard to eat healthy, and have kept it up already for three entire weeks. I weighed today. I KNOW. I said I wasn't going to. I'm aware. But I guess it's habit, and possibly a part of wanting to fuel the anger I have. I'm not sure. Anyway, I not only haven't lost any weight, I gained a pound. AND I'm done with my period. So now, I have no idea what is wrong. I'm NOT going to start limiting my nuts and seeds. I've been there before and it could possibly send me into a rebellious state, where I end up binging on crap food. I'm just feeling so hopeless right now.
Steph and I were talking last night about maybe I'm at that age where I have to start exercising in addition to eating well in order to lose weight...that maybe eating right and only occasionally working out is not going to cut it this time. It pisses me off, cause I see people every day, who don't do more than get up to go to the cafeteria, and then order fries and fried chicken with a soda. And will top it off with a candy bar, and not gain a pound. I wish I was that kind of person, but I'm not. So irritating.
Tonight, instead of sabotaging myself by going to eat crap, which I really wanted to do, I made a Fantastic Foods nature's burger patty. It was a mix I had literally from years ago, and I'm sure it's way the past expiration date, but I didn't care. I made the "burger" in the skillet sprinkled with olive oil. I made a plate with the patty, lettuce, guacamole and reheated Brittany Blend veggies (wax beans, green beans, and carrots), and ate every bite. I feel fat and bloated anyway, so I didn't feel like it really mattered. And I know I could have done worse. As I write this, I'm dreaming of just how much worse I could have done. And I can already tell you that I'm going to overeat on whatever I can find in the house. Cause I'm just pissed off.
Food:
- 2 pieces Ezekial cinnamon raisin toast with natural peanut butter and agave nectar
- unsweetened iced tea
- banana
- 1/2 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- hot Earl Grey tea with almond milk and agave nectar
- unsweetened iced tea
- 2 clementines
- organic fruit leather
- hot English Breakfast tea with non-dairy powdered creamer and agave nectar
- salad: spring mix, romaine, grape tomatoes, carrots, green olives, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, Trader Joe's fat free Balsamic Vinaigrette; cup and a half of homemade veggie soup; 1/2 c. canned pineapple in tis own juice
- fuji apple
- 16 oz cranberry-apple juice
- 2 pieces of original Ezekial toast with red bell pepper hummus
- Fantastic Foods nature's burger patty, romaine lettuce, guacamole with pico de gallo, Brittany Blend veggies (wax beans, green beans, carrots)
- water with sugar-free water flavorer
- bowl of flax multi-grain cereal, mixed raw and dry roasted nuts, golden and Thompson raisins, agave nectar, unsweetened vanilla almond milk
Exercise: none
Weight: 271
January 22, 2010
Few things I wanted to clarify...
The "natural" peanut butter I've been eating is different than the "natural" peanut butter Steph eats. I buy the Smucker's Natural peanut butter that is made of nothing but peanuts and salt. The most natural peanut butter Steph will eat is Jif Natural, which contains peants, sugar, palm oil, salt and molasses. I'll be finishing the last of my peanut butter tomorrow morning for breakfast, and will be switching to the almond butter I bought at Trader Joe's.
Next, the cran-apple juice I mention in my food log isn't the sugary cranberry-apple juice mix that we used to buy. We now get the OceanSpray No-Sugar-Added 100% Cranberry Juice, and the White House 100% Premium Apple Juice (not from concentrate).
Also, the almond milk I buy is Blue Diamond Natural Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla.
I think that covers most of the questions people have sent in lately. If you have others, just let me know.
Last night we went to PF Changs for dinner with three of my colleagues. I decided to order some fresh spring rolls for an appetizer, but when they came to the table, they were the typical fried "egg roll" type. I sent them back and just waited for my meal. I had asked the waiter earlier if the Coconut Curry Vegetable dish was vegan, and he said, "Well yea, I mean it's listed under the Vegetarian section, so it better be." <eye roll> --- I said, nevermind, let me just get the Buddha's Feast, add cashews. He must have told the back that I wanted to be sure it was vegan, cause when it came out it didn't have a drip of sauce on it. I sprinkled soy sauce over the dish to keep it from being quite so dry. But otherwise, it was very good. If you read my food log for today, you'll notice I had a glass of wine at dinner and a glass of wine at the club we went to after dinner. I said I wasn't going to drink at all anymore (be 100% sober), but I really wanted a glass of wine last night. And I felt fine about it.
Food Intake:
- 8 oz cranberry-apple juice
- 2 pieces Ezekial cinnamon raisin toast with natural peanut butter and agave nectar
- hot Earl Grey tea with almond milk and agave nectar
- 1/2 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts (didn't have any bananas left in the house to bring to work)
- Qdoba Mexican Grill: naked vegetarian salad: romaine, sprinkle of black bean/corn mix, pico de gallo, fajita veggies, roasted corn, guacamole (brought from home); unsweetened iced tea
- clementine
- organic fruit leather
- the rest of my unsweetened iced tea from Qdoba (got a refill before we left)
- PF Changs: Buddha's Feast with added cashews: broccoli, carrots, asparagus, snap peas, steamed tofu, cashews and a sprinkle of soy sauce; 2 bites of my friend's Spicy stir-fried Eggplant; water; glass of Pinot Grigio
- at the club: glass of Chardonnay
- when we got home at 2:00 am: bowl of flax multi-grain cereal, raw and dry roasted mixed nuts, golden and Thompson raisins, agave nectar, unsweetened vanilla almond milk
Exercise: about 20 minutes of dancing at the club
Weight: didn't weigh, trying to wait a while
January 23, 2010
Ok, I have a serious gripe, make that a serious gripe with multiple levels to it.
I'm so sick of people not taking veganism seriously. When I go to restaurants I seem to get waiters/waitresses who say something is vegan, when they have no clue what they are talking about. It's either that or they don't take it seriously, when I express concern over something possibly having butter, cheese or a dairy-based cream in it. Vegetarians are taken somewhat seriously, and often given their own section on a menu. Vegans on the other hand have to scrutinize each and every item and question the waiters until we are certain to be blessed with a loogie in our drink.
Let me tell ya, if I wanted the fat, calorie, carb or protein content of any listed item, I'd have a slew of printed materials personally delivered by the chef. But to get any kind of accurate and trustworthy information about how an item is prepared and what exactly is in it, I'd have to take a sample of my meal to a lab for dissection.
On a rare occasion, I'll get a waiter or a manager who will go to the back, get detailed ingredient information and come back to tell me all about it (Panera is a good example). I feel special and respected, and consequently tip those waiters extraordinarily well, and often will pass on my positive experience to the corporate offices. But jeez, it's truly a rare instance.
The other issue I have is when the menu will clearly state one thing, and I'll be brought something else...only to have an argument with the server about the difference between Italian and Balsamic Vinaigrette dressings and the fact that the menu doesn't match anything that I'm now being told. I will do it until I'm blue in the face, but I get sick and tired of having to question and doubt every part of my order. If I choose to eat something non-vegan, that is my choice. But I should at least have all the information, so it is my decision to make.
It's about time that vegans and vegetarians get the consideration that meat-eaters wishing to lose weight are increasingly given.
Stepping off my soapbox for the time-being.
Food Intake:
- 2 pieces Ezekial cinnamon raisin toast with natural peanut butter and agave nectar (ate 3/4 of the sandwich)
- 12 oz cranberry-apple juice
- Jason's Deli: 2 plates salad from the salad bar: romaine, spring mix, red bell pepper, green olives, peas, cherry tomatoes, carrots, hummus, raisins, dried cranberries, pepitas, assorted roasted nuts, fat free organic french dressing; unsweetened iced tea
- Logan's Roadhouse: roasted (in-shell) peanuts (not sure how many, ate while waiting for our salad); "health nut" salad: romaine, tomatoes, balsamic vinaigrette, peanuts (I shelled some and added them to my salad); plain baked potato with some of the balsamic vinaigrette drizzled over it; 5 grilled mushrooms (2 from my grilled veggie skewer with NO Italian dressing brushed on it and 3 from Steph's grilled mushroom skewer which did have Italian dressing brushed on it); bite of Steph's sweet potato
Exercise: none
Weight: dunno, didn't weigh, though I was extremely tempted
January 24, 2010
I bought 7 new tops today. I had no desire whatsoever to buy clothes when I have soooo much weight to lose. But it's gotten kind of out of hand with the lack of blouses, nice shirts, etc. I have to wear to work and when we go out for a night of entertainment. So I reluctantly bought some not-too-expensive tops from Ross and Marshall's. I need to start feeling better about myself anyway, so it won't hurt to look nicer during my transition from obese back to "average."
We ate out twice again today. A while back, we signed up for about a zillion (or twenty) online offers at various restaurants, like Moe's, Ruby Tuesday's, Logan's, Friday's, Chili's, etc. where they send welcome coupons, birthday coupons, and other every-so-often goodies via email. Since Steph's birthday was last Monday, she received double the coupons in the last week. Each of the places we've been eating the last week were a result of the freebies we've gotten. Free appetizers, buy one get one entrees, $5 off meal offers, and the like, have kept down the cost of eating out, which as you know by now, is one of my favorite pasttimes. I have abstained from eating any of the appetizers, and Steph, who is struggling to eat healthy right now, has been happy to take on the "burden" of eating the crappy food. I've been able to get entree-sized salads, full veggie plates, etc. when we've had buy one get one coupons. Even if I couldn't, I would still be choosing to eat healthy. I know there will be times that I will want and possibly choose to eat on the non-healthy side, but until I have those absolutely dire situations occur, I'll continue to order the best options available, no matter where we go or what it costs.
For lunch today we went to Moe's Southwest Grill. We've eaten there at least once before, but it's been a few years, so I couldn't remember everything they offer. The first pleasant surprise I found was they go out of their way to list "(vegetarian)" after a multitude of menu items. The next delight I found was that they grill all veggies on a separate, solely for veggies, grill, to keep from contaminating the veggies with meat juice. Shocking and so rare to find! Next, I was pleased to see they offered a meat substitute (grilled tofu) for vegetarians. I tried a bite, offered by the prepper-person, and thought it tasted very good. Lastly, I was thrilled to learn they do not use butter to grill any ingredients. They use a vegan vinaigrette dressing and everything I ate tasted wonderful. Moe's really works hard to be a veg-friendly environment, and I will definitely be supporting them more in the future.
For dinner we went to Texas Roadhouse. This was my first time there, as far as I know, and I was happy to see a "Country Veg Plate" on the menu, where I could select four side items as an entree, also a rare find in chain restaurants. It stated clearly that you could only choose salad for one of your items, so my inclination to order two salads was squashed. I ordered one salad, a plain baked potato, green beans, and fresh vegetables (which I was told was broccoli and carrots). Before I completed my order, I asked if both veggie sides were vegan, meaning not cooked in butter. She said she wasn't sure, and happily went to the back to find out. She returned and said that the cook said the green beans weren't "safe," meaning cooked in butter, and probably bacon grease, or something similar. So I asked if I could possibly order two salads, even though it says I couldn't. She quickly and again, happily, said, "Yes, no problem. I do it all the time." I was so proud to see a steakhouse, and more specifically a waitress in a steakhouse, be so supportive and accommodating to a vegetarian, and even more so to a vegan. Needless to say, she got a fat tip.
My stomach went nuts tonight soon after we left the restaurant. Broccoli always gives me trouble. I know it's good for me, and I only eat it cooked, which helps break down its fibrous nature. But it still always upsets my stomach and I feel like I need to curl up in a ball or sit on the toilet for a while after I eat it. Green bell peppers affect me similarly, though it's more often indigestion from peppers, than the stomach aches.
I saw an article today on Yahoo about the benefits of eating soup. It specifies three healthy, vegan soups that are good for detoxifying, weight loss and boosting immunity. Of course they talk about chicken soup too, but the focus was vegetables. It's so encouraging to see the shift from encouraging chicken and fish to a vegetable-based diet.
Food Intake:
- 2 pieces cinnamon raisin Ezekial toast with raw crunchy almond butter and agave nectar
- 10 oz cranberry-apple juice
- unsweetened iced tea
- 10 oz cranberry-apple juice
- 1/2 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- Moe's Southwest Grill: salad: iceberg lettuce, pico de gallo, black olives, guacamole, grilled onions, 'shroms, green bell peppers; unsweetened iced tea
- Texas Roadhouse: roasted (in-shell) peanuts (not sure how many, ate while waiting for our meal);"Country Veg Plate:" two house salads (romaine and iceberg, tomatoes, red wine vinaigrette and oil, added peanuts that I shelled); plain baked potato with salt and pepper (just ate some of the insides (took the rest to go for lunch tomorrow); steamed broccoli and carrots; unsweetened iced tea
- bowl of flax multi-grain cereal with raw and dry roasted mixed nuts, golden and Thompson raisins, agave nectar, unsweetened vanilla almond milk
Exercise: walking around while we did some shopping, from truck to stores and back to truck, then took the dogs for a 20 minute walk later down by the waterfront
Weight: didn't weigh
January 25, 2010
I've been getting stomach aches the last few days and feeling nauseated after I eat a meal. It happened Saturday night after my dinner at Logan's. It happened last night after Texas Roadhouse. It happened after my lunch today, and it happened again tonight after I had the smoothie from Tropical Smoothie Cafe...shortly after my nature burger sandwich. I'd say it's a food combining thing, like having pineapple after my salad and baked potato for lunch today; or having the fruit smoothie after my dinner; but I don't think it is...cause I didn't have any kind of fruit with my dinner or after dinner last night. BUT I did have a lot of roasted nuts both Saturday and Sunday nights at dinner, so that could have attributed to my stomach aches at those times. Steph asked me if I was eating too much or feeling stuffed, but I don't think that was the case. I never felt overly full, just content. So it certainly might be the food combining thing, and too many nuts at one sitting. I don't want to have to regulate my eating in that way, not when I'm doing so well eating very healthy.
Although I haven't weighed in four days, I really don't feel like I've lost any weight. My face, neck and under my chin definitely feel thinner, but my clothes aren't fitting any looser. Blah. Will weigh on the 28th and see if the number has gone down.
Food Intake:
- hot Earl Grey tea with unsweetened vanilla almond milk and agave nectar
- unsweetened iced tea
- banana
- 1/2 c. raw and dry roasted mixed nuts
- clementine
- 15.2 oz cranberry-apple juice
- clementine
- salad: romaine, spring mix, green olives, grape tomatoes, Trader Joe's Goddess dressing; leftover plain potato with salt and pepper, celery, red bell pepper hummus; 1/2 c. canned pineapple in its own juice; unsweetened iced tea
- organic fruit leather
- few sips of hot Twinings Lapsang Souchong tea with non-dairy powdered creamer and agave nectar (ew, I used to like this???)
- 2 clementines
- 2 pieces original Ezekial toast with red bell pepper hummus
- 2 pieces original Ezekial toast with a Fantastic Foods nature's burger patty cooked on the stove with olive oil "Pam" spray, spring mix, grape tomatoes, 2 Claussen kosher dill pickle halves, Trader Joe's Goddess dressing
- unsweetened iced tea
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe: Pineapple Delight smoothie with no sugar, no Splenda: water, ice, pineapple, oranges and banana
- large bowl of flax multi-grain cereal with a banana, raw and dry roasted mixed nuts, golden and Thompson raisins, agave nectar, unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- unsweetened iced tea
Exercise: none
Weight: didn't weigh
January 26, 2010
Stomach ache again after lunch today. My colleague got one too and we both agreed it was probably the fruit we eat with our meals. It's probably fermenting in our stomachs. I guess I need to wait more between eating fruit and cooked food. Or generally make the fruit a mono meal. It's hard, cause I usually want sweet after a meal, and the fruit is what helps get me through those cravings.
I've increasingly been wanting some crap food, but have stuck to my guns and continued to eat healthy. I have, however, eaten quite a bit of Ezekial toast, some home-prepared nature's burger patties, bowls of flax multi-grain cereals, and baked potato slices (home made). I'm working hard to keep eating, what I consider to be, a very healthy, clean, pretty raw, all vegan diet. When I have a need for something less than ideal, I choose these type of items, which are still "clean" and wholesome, without pasta, rice, wheat/white flour, etc. These faux cheats completely satisfy me, but I don't have any guilt incorporating them into my diet. My dinner tonight is a prime example (see below).
Food Intake:
- hot Earl Grey tea with unsweetened vanilla almond milk and agave nectar
- 2 pieces cinnamon raisin Ezekial toast with raw crunchy almond butter and agave nectar
- unsweetened iced tea
- 1/2 banana
- 1/2 c. raw and dry roasted mixed nuts
- 2 clementines
- hot English Breakfast tea with non-dairy powdered creamer and agave nectar
- bowl of homemade vegetable soup
- celery with red bell pepper hummus
- celery with raw crunchy almond butter
- 1/2 c. canned pineapple in its own juice
- unsweetened iced tea
- 1 clementine
- 16 oz cranberry-apple juice
- handful roasted, unsalted sunflower seeds; handful Thompson raisins, few roasted/salted soynuts
- 2 pieces original Ezekial toast with a Fantastic Foods nature's burger patty, romaine lettuce, grape tomatoes, Trader Joe's Goddess dressing, 2 Claussen kosher dill pickle halves, 2/3 c. white and yellow corn ("steamed" in the microwave in its own steamer bag), baked potato slices (thinly sliced red potatoes sprayed with an olive oil "Pam" spray and seasoned with Italian seasonings, garlic, salt and parsley, cooked on a baking sheet for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees) --- see pic above
- unsweetened iced tea
- 2 clementines
Exercise: none
Weight: still don't know...few more days before I weigh
January 27, 2010
I finally got a Misto oil spritzer today. I've been wanting one for a while for when I make air-popped popcorn (to make the salt stick to it), for when I make baked potato slices in the oven, or for when I steam Steph's chicken or grill veggies. I bought mine at TJ Maxx for $8.00, but if you can't find one near you, you can order through Amazon.com.
We needed to return a few items tonight at Ross, so we decided to have dinner at Ruby Tuesday's. I got the salad bar, and decided to ask what ingredients were in the Italian, French and Balsamic Vinaigrette dressings. The hostess looked at me as if I was crazy for asking, said, "I don't know and it's on the bottles in the kitchen." I said, "Ok, can you get someone to check for me?" She went to the back, came back and said it would be a bit cause they were busy. I went to my table and waited. After a short time, a young man from the back came to the table with a small piece of paper with writing on it. He asked what exactly I wanted to know about the dressings cause after oil there was a ton of other stuff. I said, "I want to know if there are any animal by products like dairy, eggs, or cheese in the Italian and Balsamic Vinaigrette, and what type of sweeteners are used in the Balsamic Vinaigrette and French. He went to the back and after what seemed like forever, he came back with the same piece of paper, but what I assume to be more written notes. He said the Italian has parmesan cheese and the Balsamic Vinaigrette is made with corn syrup. I asked about the French and he said it's base is a soybean oil. I asked what the sweetener was. He looked confused and I clarified that it's a very sweet dressing, so is there corn syrup or sugar or what?" He said, "yea sugar." I didn't really buy much of what he was saying, but he seemed sweet and was trying as best as he knew how. I should have just had the manager help me. It never fails that being a vegan, and trying to be a healthy vegan at that, is extremely difficult in this SAD world. (I ended up eating my salad with oil and vinegar, knowing that was truly the best option.)
Food Intake:
- hot green tea with unsweetened vanilla almond milk and agave nectar
- banana
- 1/2 c. raw and dry roasted mixed nuts
- unsweetened iced tea
- clementine
- 1/4 c. roasted/unsalted sunflower seeds
- hot Earl Grey tea with non-dairy powdered cream and agave nectar
- salad: romaine, spring mix, icky grape tomatoes (didn't eat them, they were in the salad and I spit the one out that I tried), green olives, roasted/unsalted sunflower seeds, Thompson raisins, Trader Joe's Goddess dressing; bowl of homemade veggie soup
- 2 clementines
- hot green tea with non-dairy powdered cream and agave nectar
- Ruby Tuesday's: unsweetened iced tea; 2 plates salad from the salad bar: romaine, spring mix, grape tomatoes, peas, green bell pepper, carrots, roasted/salted sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, black olives, oil and balsamic vinegar; plain baked potato
Exercise: none (I absolutely have no interest right now)
Weight: still haven't weighed; will tomorrow
January 28, 2010
I weighed. And I have not lost any weight. Technically, I lost half a pound. But let's be honest, this is a total disaster. At least for my emotional well-being. I, of course, immediately wanted to go out and eat a big bowl of queso and basket of greasy tortilla chips. I didn't, but believe me, I could have. I was so angry that I've worked so so so hard to eat a healthy, clean, vegan diet. In one week I have not lost a pound. It disgusts me and I'm embarrassed to have to admit it here. I believe in this way of eating. But it's so different than when I did it in 2004. I was 29 years old, 310 pounds and the weight just fell off, 19 pounds the first month. Now I'm 35, which means the dreaded myth that it's harder to lose weight after 30 is unbearably true. And it also means eating healthy alone is not going to cut it. I have to start exercising again. Ugh. I know it's true, but I'm pissed off that what I'm doing isn't enough.
PS For dinner I nearly caved and begged Steph to take me out to a crappy meal, but we ate healthy instead. I have to keep reminding myself that this lifestyle is not all about weight loss. Screw you, Scale!
Food Intake:
- 2 pieces original Ezekial toast with almond butter and agave nectar
- hot green tea with unsweetened vanilla almond milk and agave nectar
- unsweetened iced tea
- 1/4 c. dry roasted/unsalted peanuts
- banana
- Panera Bread with colleauges: You Pick Two: 1/2 salad and 1/2 soup: fuji apple chicken salad minus the chicken, cheese and onions: romaine, tomatoes, pecans, dried apples, fuji apple white balsamic vinaigrette; garden vegetable soup (minus the pesto to keep it vegan); water (got an apple as my side, but took it home to wash it...Panera's apples must have some kind of preservative on them, cause they always have a bitter taste and make my lips numb)
- 2 clementines
- picked at a container of Thompson raisins and one of roasted/unsalted sunflower seeds
- 16 oz cranberry-apple juice
- fuji apple
- bowl of homemade vegetable soup
- bowl of air-popped popcorn spritzed with olive oil and salted
- unsweetened iced tea
Exercise: good intentions do not burn calories
Weight: sigh...I'm sad to report that I weigh 270.5 (a fricken half a pound?!!! WTF!?)
January 29, 2010
Lots to talk about today. Didn't weigh. Trying to wait another week, but after the torture of last week with no weight loss, I might cave and weigh more often, just to keep a tiny bit of hope.
At lunch today, I had absolutely no interest in having another salad, and the only two good options near my work were Qdoba Mexican Grill and Panera Bread. I didn't want either one, but nothing else around appealed. I ended up at Qdoba and although it's a beautiful salad, I only could choke down half of it. However, I told Steph that I think the feelings of disenchantment I'm having aren't necessarily from the food I'm eating, but instead, more likely from the lack of results on the scale.
Went to the local Care-a-Lot dog store (the one we go to instead of the icky Petsmart and PetCo) to pick up Suki's wet dog food (she's almost entirely without teeth now) and some dog treats for all four of our dogs. While we were picking up the items, I saw a coupon on the freezer in the back, that offered a free .75 lb bag of Nature's Variety Taste of Raw dog food ($4.99 value) when you spend $10 in the store. Although I'm a vegetarian, I have always believed that dogs should eat raw meat. I've never tried it before because, 1.) it's super expensive...even more so than the Solid Gold Wee Bits they eat now; and 2.) I've never been sure I could handle touching raw meat every single day, even for my babies. I was happy to give a free sample a try though. We decided only to give them 1 medallion to split after there standard meal, in case it upset their tummies to go from processed food to raw all at once. They pretty much swallowed it whole and begged for more. I'm thinking we'll keep feeding them as we do now, but incorporate the raw food medallions on occasion, as a treat.
The weather is going to hit hard tomorrow with a snow storm bringing 6-10 inches. So we decided we'd hit the grocery store tonight instead of waiting, in case we get snowed in. When we were in the car, I told Steph that I wanted to have a cheat night. She asked what I wanted and I said I wanted to keep it vegan, but still eat crappy. I decided on a mexican meal, where I'd have tortilla chips, salsa, guacamole, flour tortillas, lettuce and tomato, and possibly grilled fajita veggies. At the last minute, I changed my mind and decided to avoid the fried chips and eat a tad healthier, choosing Schlotzsky's Deli instead. I ordered the vegetarian on a wrap, asking if they had a gluten-free tortilla. She said the low-carb tortilla is gluten-free, but they were out. I chose wheat over the white flour tortilla, nixed the cheese and ranch, and added mustard instead. I picked up the baked plain Lays chips (vegan and gluten free) and requested pickles on the side. I wanted a Coke, but chose to drink my usual unsweetened iced tea. While Steph was eating her food, I looked at her bag of baked BBQ Lays chips and was shocked to read "chicken fat" in the ingredients! I was just looking to see if they were vegan. Not only are they not vegan and not gluten-free, but they aren't even vegetarian! That is appaling!
After dinner, we went to Trader Joe's. I intended to get some things there and some things at Wal-Mart, but after seeing the ridiculously empty shelves at TJ's (people freak out when a snow storm is predicted), I decided to forgo Wal-Mart and get all we could there. I chose to get all raw nuts this time (pecans, cashews and almond slivers); Steph got some roasted/unsalted pistachios and I got roasted/unsalted sunflower seeds (still don't enjoy raw sunflower seeds much). Our total was $87.47 and below is what we ended up with (so many things they were out of that we really needed):
- 64 oz gala unfiltered, unsweetened apple juice
- mango juice smoothie (for Steph)
- frozen Asian blend veggies
- frozen Bretange veggie blend
- 2 packages raw slivered almonds
- 3 lb russet potatoes
- package raw cashews
- can organic vegetarian chili
- Pacific organic vanilla almond milk (out of Blue Diamond brand)
- no puple pasteurized, not from concentrate orange juice
- 2 bottles organic agave nectar
- 2 containers tomato basil hummus
- 1 container edamame hummus
- 2 containers roasted red bell pepper hummus
- 2 bags Trader Joe's spring mix (lettuce)
- package roasted/unsalted sunflower seeds
- package raw pecan halves
- package of 2 celery hearts
- package roasted/unsalted pistachios (in shell)
- package dried cranberries
- 2 lb organic fuji apples
- dozen cage free brown eggs (for Steph)
- 2 bags Trader Joe's salad mix (Champs Elysees)
- 6 organic fruit leathers
- loaf of sesame Ezekial sprouted bread
I heard from a colleague today that there is a place near Trader Joe's, called The Skinny Dip, which sells three vegan frozen yogurts. I decided that I'd incorporate that into my vegan cheat night, so after we grocery shopped, we went to check it out. I was disappointed to see they only had one option each day and they pour and prepackage that option and keep it in a freezer, next to the doggie dips! Of course, we had to buy two doggie dips for the babies to share, and after I asked to see the ingredients list for the vegan frozen yogurt (the mix they use is by Temptation and has Vegan Beet Sugar, Corn Maltodextrin, Soymilk Powder, natural vanilla extract powder, guar gum, xanthan gum, and salt). I bought one container of the "soy vegan pomegranate," which is pomegranates added to the ingredients above. We ate our dessert in the car, and about halfway through mine (it was SO sweet and tasted alot like candy), I started to feel nauseated. After a month of very clean eating, I think I just did too much tonight.
I don't feel bad about anything I ate tonight. I kept it low-fat, vegan and overall pretty healthy. But it still felt like a cheat, so it helped with cravings I was having. I'm really glad that at least for today, I didn't choose a really crappy cheat meal.
Food Intake:
- hot green tea with unsweetened vanilla almond milk and agave nectar
- 2 pieces orginal Ezekial toast with almond butter and agave nectar
- unsweetened iced tea
- 1/4 c. mixed raw and dry roasted nuts
- 1/2 banana (can not get myself to eat a whole banana straight like that)
- Qdoba Mexican Grill: 1/2 naked salad: romaine, pico de gallo, sprinkle of black bean/corn mix, roasted corn, grilled squash/onions mix, guacamole, unsweetened iced tea
- refill unsweetened iced tea
- "my vegan cheat": Schlotzsky's: vegetarian wrap on a wheat tortilla (lettuce, tomato, little bit of onion, cucumber, black olives, mustard), baked plain Lays chips, 2 pickle spears, unsweetened iced tea
- mini-cup of hot green tea with agave nectar while shopping at Trader Joe's
- The Skinny Dip: 1/2 cup soy vegan pomegranate frozen softserve "yogurt"
- handful mixed all raw nuts
- 2 pieces original Ezekial toast with red bell pepper hummus on one piece and tomato basil hummus on the other
- 2 pieces original Ezekial toast with red bell pepper hummus on one piece and tomato basil hummus on the other
- bowl of air-popped popcorn spritzed with olive oil and salted
- unsweetened iced tea drank throughout evening)
Exercise: none
Weight: didn't weigh
January 30, 2010
I had a delicious, healthy, cooked, vegan dinner today. Thought I'd share for those who are interested.
Oven-Roasted Potatoes:
Ingredients:
- 2 medium-large potatoes (red/new, Yukon gold or Russet baking)
- olive oil in a Misto oil spritzer (or olive oil cooking spray if you don't have spritzer)
- Celtic sea salt
- Italian seasoning
Directions:
Preheat oven to 390 degrees. Scrub potatoes and slice into thin slices, about 1/8" or so (as even as possible for even cooking). Spritz olive oil on baking sheet. Spread potatoes onto baking sheet; slices touching is ok, overlapping is not. Spritz top of potatoes with olive oil and season with celtic sea salt and Italian seasonings (to taste, the amount is up to you). Place on top shelf of oven and cook for 20-25 minutes until edges are crispy. In the photo below, you can see that some of the potatoes are "burnt." That's how I like them, so I cut some potatoes more thin for my taste. These don't need any sauce at all and are perfect as a side or by themselves.
Roasted Pepper Sandwich
Ingredients:
- 2 pieces Ezekial bread (sesame or original)
- 2 sweet peppers (or any peppers of your choice)
- roasted red bell pepper hummus
- lettuce, whole leaves
- tomatoes, sliced
- olive oil in a Misto oil spritzer (or olive oil cooking spray if you don't have spritzer)
- Celtic sea salt
- garlic powder
Directions:
Preheat oven to 380 degrees. Clean peppers and slice into strips. Spritz baking sheet with olive oil. Lay peppers on baking sheet and spritz top with olive oil. Season with sea salt and garlic powder. Bake for 15 minutes or until edges are curled and crispy. Toast the Ezekial bread. Spread one piece of toast with hummus. Place lettuce, peppers and tomatoes on other piece. Enjoy!
Snowed in today. Seem to be doing nothing but eating and watching TV all day long. The three pound weight loss is probably gonna come back on tomorrow. Oh well. I'll enjoy it for the day.
Food Intake:
- salad: romaine mix, carrots, grape tomatoes, green olives, dried cranberries, mixed all raw nuts, red bell pepper hummus, celery sticks, Trader Joe's Goddess dressing
- unsweetened iced tea
- last piece of original Ezekial toast with almond butter and agave nectar
- 16 oz cranberry-apple juice
- 2 pieces sesame Ezekial toast with red bell pepper hummus, oven-roasted sweet peppers, lettuce, grape tomatoes, potatoes spritzed with olive oil, seasoned with celtic sea salt and Italian seasonings oven-roasted (see pic above)
- unsweetened iced tea
- organic fruit leather, grabbed a small handful mixed raw nuts out of the jar
- big bowl of air-popped popcorn spritzed with olive oil and salted
- unsweetened iced tea
- 1 1/2 clementines
- handful raw mixed nuts
- 2 pieces sesame Ezekial toast with red bell pepper hummus
Exercise: none
Weight: 267.5 (finally, lost three pounds)
January 31, 2010
Here's the ingredient list for the Trader Joe's organic vegetarian chili that I ate today for lunch: red beans, filtered water, onions, tofu, bell peppers, high oleic safflower and/or sunflower oil, spices, garlic, sea salt.
We made the risky choice to get out in the snow and ice-covered streets to go to an ODU Lady Monarch's basketball game. I had bought tickets to the game for Steph for Christmas, so we didn't want to lose the money we spent. I didn't bring any snacks nor drinks to the game, and made the decision to buy a large Diet Pepsi and a bag of salted, in the shell peanuts. It's weird how the diet drink tasted so much like a regular soda. I think it's because I rarely drink soda anymore, so it's sorta sweet-tasting to me now. I know diet drinks are horrible for you, but I'm not gonna restrict myself when I drink them so rarely.
For dinner, we decided to stay close to home, so we went to Montgomery Grill, a local downtown restaurant. It's really stylish inside and the quality of the food we knew would be good, since it's owned by the previous owners of Comfort...which we had been to before. As soon as the waiter brought us our drinks, I asked him to let the chef know I'm vegan and what would he recommend. I don't do this at all restaurants, but the nicer the place, the more open I feel to "intrude" upon the menu and the staff. I believe the higher class restaurants are used to having to customize items and cater to more particular customers. Besides, you're paying higher prices for a reason! Anyway, the chef came out and was kind enough to admit there wasn't much for vegans, but that I could get the house salad (without the carmelized pecans...made with egg whites, and without the blue cheese crumbles), he could also make me sweet potato fries or fried green tomatoes, but that they were cooked in the same oil as the chicken. He also said he could make the green beans, which are preblanched and then boiled, with olive oil instead of butter. I thanked him, and decided to just order a salad, since I definitely didn't want anything fried, and a side of green beans just didn't sound appetizing with my salad. The teardrop tomatoes were quite possibly the best tomatoes I have ever had in my life. The waiter said they were homegrown by the manager, but later the chef scoffed at that and said they came from Cisco. Ha..oh well the waiter is definitely a good salesman, cause I believed him! After I was 1/3 of the way through my salad, the chef came out and asked if he could make me a fresh fruit salad. I said yes and he personally brought it out to me a bit later. The most surprising part of the meal came when we received the bill. They had not charged us for our drinks, nor the fruit salad. Of course we tipped the waiter very well in appreciation of such wonderful service. I wish all restaurants took such care of their customers.
Food Intake:
- 10 oz orange juice
- "taco" salad: salad mix, grape tomatoes, topped with Trader Joe's organic vegetarian chili, red bell pepper hummus
- small plate of homemade oven-roasted potatoes
- unsweetened iced tea
- large Diet Pepsi and 8 oz salted, in the shell peanuts, at the ODU Lady Monarch's basketball game
- Montgomery Grill: house salad: mixed greens, teardrop tomatoes, fuji apple slices, balsamic vinaigrette; extra side of teardrop tomatoes, fuji apple slices; 1/4 cup of fresh fruit mix (canteloupe, honeydew melon, strawberries, blueberries, red grapes)...took 3/4 c. of fruit home to eat later; unsweetened iced tea
- handful mixed raw nuts
- 10 oz orange juice
- 16 oz cranberry-apple juice
- 2 pieces sesame Ezekial toast with raw almond butter and agave nectar
- possibly something else later....
Exercise: walking up and down stairs at parking garage, walking from parking garage to the sports stadium, up and down stairs to our seats, and back to our car...
Weight: 267.5 (no weight gain, whew!)
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