I have always thought that being Vegetarian is a lot easier then people think it is. Being nearly Vegan for the past two months has also shown me that being Vegan is also pretty easy. As long as you know how to cook some pretty simple meals and how to shop/eat out, you're fine.
The only time problems seem to arrive is when I am in a place where I am not entirely in charge of the meals I eat. This has happened, for instance, when I have eaten over a friend's house, or have gone out to a restaurant. I have learned to make the best of these circumstances though. When eating over a friends house I always have to remember to tell them plenty before hand that I am a Vegetarian. I usually offer to bring a dish with me so that they do not feel obligated to go further out of their way for me. When dining out, it has helped me if in the past if I call the restaurant before hand to know exactly what I can and cannot eat. If it turns out that all I can eat is a salad, then I know to eat before I go so I'm not starving throughout dinner.
Currently I am working at a camp in southern Florida. It is a great place with great people and amazing weather. Working at the camp means I also live and eat here. The food I can eat tastes pretty good actually. There isn't, however, much I can always eat. At least for lunch and dinner. I knew I was going to run into this problem before I even got down here, but so far I am amazed at how much it has actually worked out for me >knocks on wood<. While almost every meal has some kind of meat, they also serve salad at lunch and dinner and if I ask nicely they'll give me extra.
Breakfast is probably the best meal of the day because they have cereal, oatmeal, grits, bread, bagels, fruit, soymilk.... All things that I can eat, and all things I like to eat. Lunch, for the most part, is cold cuts. While they provide peanut butter, I stay clear of peanut butter with hydrogenated oils. So I just went out and got my own jar of natural peanut butter and a tub of hummus. Personally, that's all I really need for lunch and the peanut butter is great protein.
Dinner has been the real tricky meal. It is very hit or miss for a vegetarian. Last night, they served up some delicious steamed vegetables, while today they tried to serve me some buttered vegetables. I just ate some salad, the pasta, and then had some dried edamane from out of my room. (For those of you who don't know, edamane is a high protein soy bean.)
I've been working out at the weight room here everynight so I have an additional 4th meal after my workout. Now I have to admit that I have not done a lot of my own personal research into post workout food yet. I do have a friend here I workout with who has told me some of the things he has learned about post workout nutrition. Under his suggestion I have been eating a lot of bread and carbs after the gym along with my pea protein powder mixed into soymilk. I'll also eat some fruit and maybe some granola.
Pea protein is pretty gross. It's a good vegan protein though because it cotains all 9 amino acids. It also has nearly 30 grams of protein per serving. When you mix it with some soymilk, it really does not taste that bad either.
I know I have said in the past that I would avoid soymilk if I could. As I said, my reasoning was because I have noticed in the past that I break out whenever I drinkt it. However, I have decided to give soymilk another chance. The truth is, it's delcious and I love it. If it still makes me breakout, I'm going to give it up but for now I will drink it. It's an experiment. I'm going to try to have once glass of soymilk a day, which has 7g of soy protein, and then eat 13g of some other form of soy protein. This could come from the edamane or maybe a clif bar.
I think the biggest thing I am learning about being a vegetarian is to be aggressive. There is a reason I am a Vegetarian. I believe the way this country slaughters and eats animals is wrong. No animal deserves to be treated that way. While I don't believe it's always appropriate for me to be vocal about my opinions, I shouldn't hide who I am. I can't be afraid to say "No I will not eat that because I am a vegetrain." I shouldn't feel "stupid" when I'm eating something different from everyone else that they might thing is "weird." I am who I am. I know that what I am doing is right and I shouldn't be afraid to express that.
I have told a few people here that I am lactose intolerant. I'm not. I think I was afraid of the negative atitude people here might have towards my decision to cut dairy from my life. Lieing to people is not right though. The main reason I gave up dairy was for health reasons, but I also did it for humanitarian reasons. If I tell people I'm giving up dairy because I'm lactose intolerant, then I'm failing to raise awareness about the issues I have with milk. While I don't have to be overly vocal and shouldn't attack people who eat dairy or meat, I should at least present an opportunity to start a healthy conversation.
It has really helped that I still have some great support from people at home. I have some good friends who are encouraging me to stay vegan for as long as I can. I considered actually eating dairy again the first day here because I figured I would starve otherwise. A friend back home encouraged me not to though and I'm glad he did. Because it is working. Remember that. No matter where you are, you can make it work if you know how.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Vegan update, acne, soy and bench pressing.
I have officially been a Vegan now for almost three weeks. I feel great. Full of energy and very alert, something I've really been needing with my busy schedule lately. It has also been "fun" to play around with the new diet to see what works for me and what does not. I think I'm already beginning to get a better grip on the best way for me to be Vegan.
Diet Update:
Originally I had been eating fruit smoothies for breakfast, and huge salads for lunch. Two nearly completely raw meals everyday making me probably around 50% raw. I have since moved away from that a little. While I am still eating a lot of fruit in the morning and a big salad for lunch, I realized I had been neglecting to incorporate a lot of grains into my diet. Grains for any diet are extremely important (that is why they are the biggest part of the food pyramid)! To make up for this, I have started to eat more oatmeal for breakfast, and more whole wheat bread for lunch. Doing so has definitely increased my energy levels throughout the day. Plus it fills me up better than fruit and vegetables alone could.
I still want to stay as raw as possible though. Fresh, raw fruits and vegetables are still a huge part of my diet.
I had mentioned in a previous post that I was going to reincorporate a little bit of soy into my diet everyday. I figured that about 10g or less a day could not hurt. I have since cut it back out of my diet. I'm not sure I believe all the critics of soy who say that it increases your estrogen levels though. I have talked to other people who have been vegans for years who say they have experienced no negative results from eating soy. I, on the other hand, have noticed some other negative results.
Before I decided to become Vegan I was, of course, a vegetarian. I also suffered from, at times, severe acne. It had died down as time went on (mostly with the help of strong medicines) but it was still persistently there. About a month or two ago I was driving back to school and was thinking about acne and food. From talking to other people, they have told me their acne had actually decreased once they became a vegetarian. In a way though, it seemed that the opposite was almost true for me. Around the time I became a vegetarian was when my acne got really bad.
I decided to look back at old photos and realized that my acne actually got bad right before I became a vegetarian. I tried to remember if I had made any major changes to my diet around that time and I realized I had. That was around the time that I first began to drink Soymilk. As an experiment, I decided to cut Soymilk out of my diet to see if I noticed any changes. While I did not conduct any form of formal experiment, I did notice an improvement in my skin overall. When I reincorporated soymilk a few weeks ago I figured that one glass a day would not have a huge impact on my skin. For a few days I was fine, but then I noticed that I was breaking out. So I again cut soymilk from my diet and my skin is already looking better.
Like I said, I am no scientist, but my observations have shown me that soymilk makes me break out. And if something has the ability to cause acne, does that mean it is somehow affecting my hormones? I can't say for sure but I don't want to take that risk. Plus I want clear skin :-) Therefore, no more soymilk for me.
I still want to experiment with tempeh to see if it has the same effect on me. I have heard that it goes through a different process than soymilk and tofu does. I would also like to see if unprocessed soybeans themselves have the same effect. It could just be the process that soymilk goes through that causes my skin to break out.
I have decided to enter a bench press comepetition next month (May 7th). At 130lbs, I am in a weight class with very few people so I think I stand a good chance of doing well. Even if I don't place, I'll be happy knowing that I pushed myself to a personal best. Right now I am benching 130lbs on what is known as a Smith Press. The Smith Press is used when you don't have a spotter. It is on a tract and has stoppers so you essentially can't hurt yourself. It does limit your range of motion though and I heard that one can actually lift more on a regular bench press. Additionally I have not yet figured out my one rep max (the most weight I can lift only once). With all that said, I think I should be able to lift 150lbs once on a regular bench press with no problem.
Goal: My ideal goal is to be able to bench 205 lbs. Why 205? Currently my school's bench press record for the 133 lbs and under weight class is only 200 lbs. It would be awesome if I (a vegan) could break that record. Again though, setting a personal best would be awesome as well. (But I'm totally going to reach 205 lbs ;-P )
"Training" for this competition has also caused me to make some alterations to my diet. I've found this awesome website : www.veganbodybuilding.com They have an amazing forum where vegan bodybuilders from around the world compare workouts, pictures and diets. They have already helped me tremedously in just getting me motivated for this competition. It has also been an invaluable wealth of knowledge about veganism and weight training for me. One of the things that was really stressed to me was to workout hard and eat... a lot. Since a vegan diet is largly plant based it means that we get very few calories in the day. In order to gain muscle a vegan has to eat a lot of food. Since I love food, it works great for me!
I am hoping to have another blog soon about the evils of processed foods. I have to do some further research on them though. Ironically I have a good friend who recently decided to eliminate processed foods from his diet as well so I'm sure he can provide me with some new insight.
Have a good week everyone.
Diet Update:
Originally I had been eating fruit smoothies for breakfast, and huge salads for lunch. Two nearly completely raw meals everyday making me probably around 50% raw. I have since moved away from that a little. While I am still eating a lot of fruit in the morning and a big salad for lunch, I realized I had been neglecting to incorporate a lot of grains into my diet. Grains for any diet are extremely important (that is why they are the biggest part of the food pyramid)! To make up for this, I have started to eat more oatmeal for breakfast, and more whole wheat bread for lunch. Doing so has definitely increased my energy levels throughout the day. Plus it fills me up better than fruit and vegetables alone could.
I still want to stay as raw as possible though. Fresh, raw fruits and vegetables are still a huge part of my diet.
I had mentioned in a previous post that I was going to reincorporate a little bit of soy into my diet everyday. I figured that about 10g or less a day could not hurt. I have since cut it back out of my diet. I'm not sure I believe all the critics of soy who say that it increases your estrogen levels though. I have talked to other people who have been vegans for years who say they have experienced no negative results from eating soy. I, on the other hand, have noticed some other negative results.
Before I decided to become Vegan I was, of course, a vegetarian. I also suffered from, at times, severe acne. It had died down as time went on (mostly with the help of strong medicines) but it was still persistently there. About a month or two ago I was driving back to school and was thinking about acne and food. From talking to other people, they have told me their acne had actually decreased once they became a vegetarian. In a way though, it seemed that the opposite was almost true for me. Around the time I became a vegetarian was when my acne got really bad.
I decided to look back at old photos and realized that my acne actually got bad right before I became a vegetarian. I tried to remember if I had made any major changes to my diet around that time and I realized I had. That was around the time that I first began to drink Soymilk. As an experiment, I decided to cut Soymilk out of my diet to see if I noticed any changes. While I did not conduct any form of formal experiment, I did notice an improvement in my skin overall. When I reincorporated soymilk a few weeks ago I figured that one glass a day would not have a huge impact on my skin. For a few days I was fine, but then I noticed that I was breaking out. So I again cut soymilk from my diet and my skin is already looking better.
Like I said, I am no scientist, but my observations have shown me that soymilk makes me break out. And if something has the ability to cause acne, does that mean it is somehow affecting my hormones? I can't say for sure but I don't want to take that risk. Plus I want clear skin :-) Therefore, no more soymilk for me.
I still want to experiment with tempeh to see if it has the same effect on me. I have heard that it goes through a different process than soymilk and tofu does. I would also like to see if unprocessed soybeans themselves have the same effect. It could just be the process that soymilk goes through that causes my skin to break out.
I have decided to enter a bench press comepetition next month (May 7th). At 130lbs, I am in a weight class with very few people so I think I stand a good chance of doing well. Even if I don't place, I'll be happy knowing that I pushed myself to a personal best. Right now I am benching 130lbs on what is known as a Smith Press. The Smith Press is used when you don't have a spotter. It is on a tract and has stoppers so you essentially can't hurt yourself. It does limit your range of motion though and I heard that one can actually lift more on a regular bench press. Additionally I have not yet figured out my one rep max (the most weight I can lift only once). With all that said, I think I should be able to lift 150lbs once on a regular bench press with no problem.
Goal: My ideal goal is to be able to bench 205 lbs. Why 205? Currently my school's bench press record for the 133 lbs and under weight class is only 200 lbs. It would be awesome if I (a vegan) could break that record. Again though, setting a personal best would be awesome as well. (But I'm totally going to reach 205 lbs ;-P )
"Training" for this competition has also caused me to make some alterations to my diet. I've found this awesome website : www.veganbodybuilding.com They have an amazing forum where vegan bodybuilders from around the world compare workouts, pictures and diets. They have already helped me tremedously in just getting me motivated for this competition. It has also been an invaluable wealth of knowledge about veganism and weight training for me. One of the things that was really stressed to me was to workout hard and eat... a lot. Since a vegan diet is largly plant based it means that we get very few calories in the day. In order to gain muscle a vegan has to eat a lot of food. Since I love food, it works great for me!
I am hoping to have another blog soon about the evils of processed foods. I have to do some further research on them though. Ironically I have a good friend who recently decided to eliminate processed foods from his diet as well so I'm sure he can provide me with some new insight.
Have a good week everyone.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Detox Done
My 7 day detox is over. In complete honesty, I don't think it actually did anything. While I did have some moments of "clarity" like I mentioned before, I can't say for sure if they were related to the program I was on. I do not feel more energized or more tired than I did before I began. I feel pretty much the same.
In some ways it is a shame. I was hoping for results that I did not get. In other ways, it is not such a huge shame. It showed me that if I'm interested in doing a detox I have to go big or not go at all. If I really want to detox my system I think I'm going to need something more "intense." The problem is figuring out which program is going to work for me and be safe to use. It is also a matter of figuring out when would be the best time to do the detox. All things I have to consider before I start anything.
The detox was also helpful because it jump started me into veganism. For the past week I have been nearly 100% vegan. Nearly because I have still be eating honey. It is just one of those things I am not willing to give up. I love it in my tea and I don't see how it would be better for my health if I gave it up. In fact I've heard it is actually very good for your health. Dairy and eggs, though, have been completely out. In reviewing my life style I am thinking that I may still choose to consume products made with eggs. I don't think it will have a terribly negative impact on my health. No where near the negative impact dairy would. That is why I am trying my best to leave dairy out of my diet from now on.
If you think about it, humans are not meant to consume dairy past the time of infancy. Naturally, babies drink their mother's milk and then they stop at a certain age. Our civilization, on the other hand, continues to consume dairy throughout our lives. The only reason this is possible is because we pasteurize the milk which can cause some ill effects on our health. Lactose intolerance exists when people can no longer metabolize lactose. It happens because humans are not supposed to be drinking milk. A lactose intolerance is actually natural!
The next step in my journey into personal development is further exploration of being vegan. I'm learning that I really love big salads full of vegetables and leafy greens. I'm interested to see what new foods this diet will open up for me. For instance I tried a plantain and figs for the first time this past week. The figs were so delicious and I've been craving them ever since I finished the last one. The plantain i sliced up and fried with a friend. It was really delicious fried, but tasted like an under ripe banana when eaten raw. I want to try eating a new fruit or vegetable every week.
That is it for today. Have a good day. :-)
In some ways it is a shame. I was hoping for results that I did not get. In other ways, it is not such a huge shame. It showed me that if I'm interested in doing a detox I have to go big or not go at all. If I really want to detox my system I think I'm going to need something more "intense." The problem is figuring out which program is going to work for me and be safe to use. It is also a matter of figuring out when would be the best time to do the detox. All things I have to consider before I start anything.
The detox was also helpful because it jump started me into veganism. For the past week I have been nearly 100% vegan. Nearly because I have still be eating honey. It is just one of those things I am not willing to give up. I love it in my tea and I don't see how it would be better for my health if I gave it up. In fact I've heard it is actually very good for your health. Dairy and eggs, though, have been completely out. In reviewing my life style I am thinking that I may still choose to consume products made with eggs. I don't think it will have a terribly negative impact on my health. No where near the negative impact dairy would. That is why I am trying my best to leave dairy out of my diet from now on.
If you think about it, humans are not meant to consume dairy past the time of infancy. Naturally, babies drink their mother's milk and then they stop at a certain age. Our civilization, on the other hand, continues to consume dairy throughout our lives. The only reason this is possible is because we pasteurize the milk which can cause some ill effects on our health. Lactose intolerance exists when people can no longer metabolize lactose. It happens because humans are not supposed to be drinking milk. A lactose intolerance is actually natural!
The next step in my journey into personal development is further exploration of being vegan. I'm learning that I really love big salads full of vegetables and leafy greens. I'm interested to see what new foods this diet will open up for me. For instance I tried a plantain and figs for the first time this past week. The figs were so delicious and I've been craving them ever since I finished the last one. The plantain i sliced up and fried with a friend. It was really delicious fried, but tasted like an under ripe banana when eaten raw. I want to try eating a new fruit or vegetable every week.
That is it for today. Have a good day. :-)
Thursday, April 2, 2009
It's the fourth day of my detox and I feel great. I am not sure if it is due to the detox itself or the new diet I have incorporated. I think it is a combination of everything. One thing I have noticed is the level of consciousness I've reached these past few days. I know it has only been four days, but I already feel that everything seems almost brighter and clearer. It is a pretty neat feeling and I hope it lasts.
I also feel more energized. Part of Tuesday and part of Wednesday I felt a little bit sluggish and off. The rest of the time though I have felt great and haven't felt sluggish today at all. I don't exactly know how to describe it but I just feel more alive. This could be attributed to the nice weather we have been having so I can't say for sure how effective my diet has been until the end of the detox I think.
I have encountered some problems this week with my detox and being a college student. For starters, fruit is expensive. I spent what felt like a lot money on fruit on Sunday and I felt like I really had to ration what I had in order to make it last throughout the week. What I have begun to do is supplement the fruit I bought at the supermarket with fruit I can buy on campus. I've used part of my meal plan to buy fruit from the dining hall and brought it back to my house. The dining halls here only have bananas, apples and pears (sometimes) but it is better than nothing. Bananas are one of my favorite fruits anyway.
I have also encountered some problems with using my blender. After using it Tuesday morning one of my housemates came downstairs and mentioned to me that I woke her up. She was not upset but asked that I just keep it down. This means I can't make smoothies in the morning any more. Wednesday and today I made myself fruit salads instead and mixed the protein into orange juice. This, however, did not taste as good as a smoothie. :-P I am going to try making my smoothie the night before and keep it in the fridge until the morning.
A little bit about my blender. I looked into blenders for a while before I made a purchase of one. There are a lot of options out there and many of them are very expensive. I finally settled on a cheap $20 one sold at the local pharmacy (Walgreens). It is extremely effective and works very fast. How awesome is that? I got a great blender at a great price!
One of the things I have been trying to do with this detox is to eat more food that is "living." I have been enjoying lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. On the other side I have been cutting out lots of cooked foods, pasteurized drinks, and foods with preservatives. I'm not 100% raw but I would say I'm 70%-80% there. I am still eating breads, pasteurized orange juice, soy milk and some cooked beans. I'm completely avoiding anything that has a shelf life of longer than a month or two.
I'm also looking into natural sources of iron, calcium and B12. While I am still taking supplements for all of these, I wanted to also eat foods that had these nutrients naturally.
Iron- Fortunately there are lots of vegan foods that contain iron. They include spinach, chickpeas, green leaf vegetables, beans, peas, raisins, almonds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, kale, and broccoli. Dairy products contain low amounts of iron and can actually inhibit the absorption of iron.
Calcium- Natural sources of calcium includes collard greens, soybeans, tahini, almonds, almond butter, okra, and hummus. If I eat my greens and almonds it seems like I should be able to get some calcium naturally. I think for the most part though I am going to have to rely on fortified sources such as orange juice and soymilk.
B12- Unfortunately there are no natural usable vegan sources of B12. Vegans have to relay on fortified sources of B12 such as soymilk, energy bars or vitamins. This is why B12 has been my largest concern since trying to be Vegan. As I said before, I would like to get my nutrients as naturally as possible. It somewhat scares me that there are no vegan sources of it.
My protein intake seems to be going very smoothly. I think I am getting enough everyday to remain healthy. I am thinking of trying to add a little more protein into my diet just because I am trying to gain some muscle. I work out nearly every morning and think I'd benefit from an increase in protein. I'll have to see where else I can incorporate some protein into my diet.
I also feel more energized. Part of Tuesday and part of Wednesday I felt a little bit sluggish and off. The rest of the time though I have felt great and haven't felt sluggish today at all. I don't exactly know how to describe it but I just feel more alive. This could be attributed to the nice weather we have been having so I can't say for sure how effective my diet has been until the end of the detox I think.
I have encountered some problems this week with my detox and being a college student. For starters, fruit is expensive. I spent what felt like a lot money on fruit on Sunday and I felt like I really had to ration what I had in order to make it last throughout the week. What I have begun to do is supplement the fruit I bought at the supermarket with fruit I can buy on campus. I've used part of my meal plan to buy fruit from the dining hall and brought it back to my house. The dining halls here only have bananas, apples and pears (sometimes) but it is better than nothing. Bananas are one of my favorite fruits anyway.
I have also encountered some problems with using my blender. After using it Tuesday morning one of my housemates came downstairs and mentioned to me that I woke her up. She was not upset but asked that I just keep it down. This means I can't make smoothies in the morning any more. Wednesday and today I made myself fruit salads instead and mixed the protein into orange juice. This, however, did not taste as good as a smoothie. :-P I am going to try making my smoothie the night before and keep it in the fridge until the morning.
A little bit about my blender. I looked into blenders for a while before I made a purchase of one. There are a lot of options out there and many of them are very expensive. I finally settled on a cheap $20 one sold at the local pharmacy (Walgreens). It is extremely effective and works very fast. How awesome is that? I got a great blender at a great price!
One of the things I have been trying to do with this detox is to eat more food that is "living." I have been enjoying lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. On the other side I have been cutting out lots of cooked foods, pasteurized drinks, and foods with preservatives. I'm not 100% raw but I would say I'm 70%-80% there. I am still eating breads, pasteurized orange juice, soy milk and some cooked beans. I'm completely avoiding anything that has a shelf life of longer than a month or two.
I'm also looking into natural sources of iron, calcium and B12. While I am still taking supplements for all of these, I wanted to also eat foods that had these nutrients naturally.
Iron- Fortunately there are lots of vegan foods that contain iron. They include spinach, chickpeas, green leaf vegetables, beans, peas, raisins, almonds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, kale, and broccoli. Dairy products contain low amounts of iron and can actually inhibit the absorption of iron.
Calcium- Natural sources of calcium includes collard greens, soybeans, tahini, almonds, almond butter, okra, and hummus. If I eat my greens and almonds it seems like I should be able to get some calcium naturally. I think for the most part though I am going to have to rely on fortified sources such as orange juice and soymilk.
B12- Unfortunately there are no natural usable vegan sources of B12. Vegans have to relay on fortified sources of B12 such as soymilk, energy bars or vitamins. This is why B12 has been my largest concern since trying to be Vegan. As I said before, I would like to get my nutrients as naturally as possible. It somewhat scares me that there are no vegan sources of it.
My protein intake seems to be going very smoothly. I think I am getting enough everyday to remain healthy. I am thinking of trying to add a little more protein into my diet just because I am trying to gain some muscle. I work out nearly every morning and think I'd benefit from an increase in protein. I'll have to see where else I can incorporate some protein into my diet.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Detox Day 1
Day 1 of my detox went nearly according to plan. I’ve also learned some new information today that is pretty vital to my current diet. More about that later though.
The fiber packet I drank first thing this morning was gross. I’m surprised I got it all down without gagging. Once it was down though the taste was gone from my mouth. My fruit smoothie this morning had a base of orange juice and included 3 strawberries, a handful of blueberries, half a kiwi, 15 grams of brown rice protein, and a scoop of spirulina (5gs of protein). Unfortunately the spirulina dominated the taste of the whole drink and it kind of stinks that I couldn’t taste the other fruits. I think from now on I will mix the spirulina powder into some water or juice later in the day and not with my smoothie. Just for good taste. J
The protein bar after swimming was delicious. The one problem that arose was that it got kind of mushy. The bars are frozen not baked so after an hour in the fridge they started to melt. It was still yummy thought. :-D
For lunch I made myself a huge salad with some beans. By the time I was done I was satisfied. I didn’t even need to eat anything else for lunch. I had a banana with my green tea later in the afternoon but I was fine until dinner time.
Alright I have to admit it. I didn’t stick to my plan for dinner. I had a pinto bean burrito with corn and tomatoes in a wheat wrap. No salad. I had a craving . Does this mean I’m weak though? No of course not. I’m actually really proud of myself that I stuck to almost my whole diet as I outlined it. I still ate healthy and I still got some vegetables out of it. And of course, there is always a new day tomorrow.
In re-reading my blog from yesterday, I realized that I left out some crucial information pertaining to nutrients on a vegan diet. Here is what I forgot to address:
Calcium- This one isn’t so hard to get actually. It is pretty easy to find orange juice that is fortified with calcium and most soymilks are as well. I know the Tropicana we have here on campus has about 60% of the daily recommended amount of calcium. Silk soymilk has about 30%. Right there is 90%. So I am pretty confident I will be able to get adequate calcium.
Fats- Believe it or not you actually need fats, but they have to be the right kind. These good fats are necessary for your body to function and to build. A lot of those fats can be found in animal by products, but many of them can also be found in nuts, seeds and oils. Any nut will provide you with some of these necessary fats as will seeds such as sunflower seeds. Extra virgin olive oil is also a great source of good fat as are avocados which I personally think are delicious! To say the least I think it should be pretty easy to get adequate fats into my diet. I love nuts and there are sunflower seeds and extra virgin olive oil available at our salad bar.
Complete proteins- Just because foods contain protein doesn’t mean your body is able to use that protein. Some proteins lack the essential amino-acids needed to utilize the protein for building muscle. I’ve found out that brown rice protein, for instance, is not a complete protein. This does not mean it is useless though. When combined with beans, which contain the essential amino acids brown rice lacks, brown rice protein becomes complete. Your body is able to use it. Since soymilk is made from soybeans, it means that brown rice protein mixed into soymilk will be a complete protein drink. So instead of making my smoothie from orange juice, I am going to make it soymilk.
Check out this chart from http://www.bodyforlife2.com/incompletprotein.htm that outlines how to complete certain proteins. All of the proteins listed are incomplete because they don‘t provide all the amino acids needed for your body to absorb the protein. Once you combine proteins from all three columns you’ll have all the amino acids you need. You don’t even need to eat them all at the same time! You can eat them at separate times throughout the day.
This site also details some foods that have the essential amino acids needed: http://www.rawfoodexplained.com/proteins/complete-proteins.html
I can’t say I really notice any change in the way I feel yet. Granted it is only day one. I think it is still going to be a few more days before I notice any changes in my energy or mood. I’ll keep you all posted.
The fiber packet I drank first thing this morning was gross. I’m surprised I got it all down without gagging. Once it was down though the taste was gone from my mouth. My fruit smoothie this morning had a base of orange juice and included 3 strawberries, a handful of blueberries, half a kiwi, 15 grams of brown rice protein, and a scoop of spirulina (5gs of protein). Unfortunately the spirulina dominated the taste of the whole drink and it kind of stinks that I couldn’t taste the other fruits. I think from now on I will mix the spirulina powder into some water or juice later in the day and not with my smoothie. Just for good taste. J
The protein bar after swimming was delicious. The one problem that arose was that it got kind of mushy. The bars are frozen not baked so after an hour in the fridge they started to melt. It was still yummy thought. :-D
For lunch I made myself a huge salad with some beans. By the time I was done I was satisfied. I didn’t even need to eat anything else for lunch. I had a banana with my green tea later in the afternoon but I was fine until dinner time.
Alright I have to admit it. I didn’t stick to my plan for dinner. I had a pinto bean burrito with corn and tomatoes in a wheat wrap. No salad. I had a craving . Does this mean I’m weak though? No of course not. I’m actually really proud of myself that I stuck to almost my whole diet as I outlined it. I still ate healthy and I still got some vegetables out of it. And of course, there is always a new day tomorrow.
In re-reading my blog from yesterday, I realized that I left out some crucial information pertaining to nutrients on a vegan diet. Here is what I forgot to address:
Calcium- This one isn’t so hard to get actually. It is pretty easy to find orange juice that is fortified with calcium and most soymilks are as well. I know the Tropicana we have here on campus has about 60% of the daily recommended amount of calcium. Silk soymilk has about 30%. Right there is 90%. So I am pretty confident I will be able to get adequate calcium.
Fats- Believe it or not you actually need fats, but they have to be the right kind. These good fats are necessary for your body to function and to build. A lot of those fats can be found in animal by products, but many of them can also be found in nuts, seeds and oils. Any nut will provide you with some of these necessary fats as will seeds such as sunflower seeds. Extra virgin olive oil is also a great source of good fat as are avocados which I personally think are delicious! To say the least I think it should be pretty easy to get adequate fats into my diet. I love nuts and there are sunflower seeds and extra virgin olive oil available at our salad bar.
Complete proteins- Just because foods contain protein doesn’t mean your body is able to use that protein. Some proteins lack the essential amino-acids needed to utilize the protein for building muscle. I’ve found out that brown rice protein, for instance, is not a complete protein. This does not mean it is useless though. When combined with beans, which contain the essential amino acids brown rice lacks, brown rice protein becomes complete. Your body is able to use it. Since soymilk is made from soybeans, it means that brown rice protein mixed into soymilk will be a complete protein drink. So instead of making my smoothie from orange juice, I am going to make it soymilk.
Check out this chart from http://www.bodyforlife2.com/incompletprotein.htm that outlines how to complete certain proteins. All of the proteins listed are incomplete because they don‘t provide all the amino acids needed for your body to absorb the protein. Once you combine proteins from all three columns you’ll have all the amino acids you need. You don’t even need to eat them all at the same time! You can eat them at separate times throughout the day.
This site also details some foods that have the essential amino acids needed: http://www.rawfoodexplained.com/proteins/complete-proteins.html
I can’t say I really notice any change in the way I feel yet. Granted it is only day one. I think it is still going to be a few more days before I notice any changes in my energy or mood. I’ll keep you all posted.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
7 Day Detox
I have decided to go on a 7 day detox. I have done extensive research on detoxes and decided to pick a very mild one to try. This is going to be my first detox so I wanted it to be a simple short one. The thought of laxatives to clean out my colon and intestines seems a bit... scary to me. As does a just fast (or "juice feast"). While I may move up to a fast like this one day, I just want to try a nice simple short one for now.
I picked up a detox program from Walgreens (but I'm sure it's at any pharamacy) the other day for only $12.99. It is called "Detox 7" and contains fiber packets and pills. The fiber is meant to help flush some of the toxins out of digestive system while the pills are meant to detox other systems in your body. The box comes with a pamphlet that outlines the week long detox.
The reviews online for this detox are almost split. A lot of people said it worked for them and gave them more energy. Others said it did nothing for them at all. All the other detox plans I have seen online have similar reviews though. There are some people who like it and some who don't. So I just decided to try it for myself.
Besides the program as outlined in the pamphlet, I am also going to tweak my diet a little for this week to supplement the program.
7:00
1. Detox 7 Fiber packet mixed in water.
2. One glass of water.
7:00-8:00 Workout followed by a fruit smoothie with brown rice protein.
12:00
1. Salad.
2. Lunch.
3:00
1. Green Tea.
2. Piece of fruit.
5:00
1. Salad.
2. Dinner.
9:00
Snack (fruit or nuts)
Throughout the day I am also going to drink between 6 and 8 glasses of water.
This is not an exact schedule, but an idea of what I am going to be eating. On Monday and Wednesdays I do not go to the gym because I have a swimming class from 9:00-10:00 so I'll be drinking my smoothie right when I wake up. After swimming I'll probably have a piece of homemade protein bar (recipe at bottom).
For lunch and dinner I've decided to start each meal with a salad of mostly vegetables. After that I'm allowing myself to eat "whatever I want." Of course I don't mean "whatever I want." Whatever I eat I'm going to try to keep as healthy as possible and I am going to try to keep vegan for this week. In addition to helping the detox, it will be a trial to see if I can handle being a vegan.
Being a vegan comes with a host of possible health concerns but I think I have found a solution for each of them.
For Iron and B12 I have a multi-vitamin that contains 100% of my daily recommended dosage for each.
Protein was a little trickier to figure out. I'm working out every morning so everything I read tells me I need a lot. Non-conventional sources say otherwise though. They make the point that they have never heard of anyone having a protein deficiency. It's just not something you have to worry about. I'm not sure if I agree with this though if only because it goes against everything doctors tell us. I will however agree that most Americans probably get too much protein and most of that protein is from meat.
According to www.veganbodybuilding.com, you only need 1 gram of protein for every kilogram of your weight. I weigh 135 pounds or 60 kilograms, which means I need about 60 grams of protein a day if I want to gain muscle. Other vegan bodybuilders say you need 1 gram for every pound you weigh, but that would mean I would need 135 grams of protein a day. That is an insane amount to try to consume every day. I'm not even sure that is possible. I think the 60 grams is more reasonable and possible.
Here is a breakdown of where my protein will come from:
20 grams from the brown rice protein mix.
20 grams from nuts and legumes. Some of this will come from beans in my salads or from nuts I'll snack on during the day.
10 grams from vegetables and spirulina. This obviosuly will come from the salads I eat. It surprises most people that vetables actually contain some protein. Not a lot but I think I should be able to get about 5 grams from vegetables each day. The other 5 grams will come from the spirulina powder I have which I can mix into drinks. I got the spirulina from GNC for only $10. There are much more expensive brands out there, but the generic GNC version should work just fin.e
10 grams from soy. I'm not a huge fan of soy protein because I've heard some bad things about it. Some people say it can raise your estrogen levels while others say soy is perfectly fine and is actually really good for your heart. I figured 10 grams a day can't hurt. I'll be able to get this 10 grams from soy milk, tofu or tempeh.
So that's it. That's about what my diet will be for the next week. I'll try to keep a log every few days about how it is going and how it is making me feel. Stay posted!
Peanut Butter Protein Bars.
Ingredients:
1 cup of peanut butter.
1 cup of oats.
1 cup of protein powder.
8 tablespoons of syrup or honey.
Soymilk as desired.
Mix all the ingredients together in a bowel except the soymilk.
Add the soymilk as needed to help you make a thick paste.
Spread the paste into a pan and place in the refrigerator.
That's it! No bakeing!
You can subsititute many of the ingredients if you want. Instead of soymilk I used two cups of water. I also put raisins in it which made them really nice.
I picked up a detox program from Walgreens (but I'm sure it's at any pharamacy) the other day for only $12.99. It is called "Detox 7" and contains fiber packets and pills. The fiber is meant to help flush some of the toxins out of digestive system while the pills are meant to detox other systems in your body. The box comes with a pamphlet that outlines the week long detox.
The reviews online for this detox are almost split. A lot of people said it worked for them and gave them more energy. Others said it did nothing for them at all. All the other detox plans I have seen online have similar reviews though. There are some people who like it and some who don't. So I just decided to try it for myself.
Besides the program as outlined in the pamphlet, I am also going to tweak my diet a little for this week to supplement the program.
7:00
1. Detox 7 Fiber packet mixed in water.
2. One glass of water.
7:00-8:00 Workout followed by a fruit smoothie with brown rice protein.
12:00
1. Salad.
2. Lunch.
3:00
1. Green Tea.
2. Piece of fruit.
5:00
1. Salad.
2. Dinner.
9:00
Snack (fruit or nuts)
Throughout the day I am also going to drink between 6 and 8 glasses of water.
This is not an exact schedule, but an idea of what I am going to be eating. On Monday and Wednesdays I do not go to the gym because I have a swimming class from 9:00-10:00 so I'll be drinking my smoothie right when I wake up. After swimming I'll probably have a piece of homemade protein bar (recipe at bottom).
For lunch and dinner I've decided to start each meal with a salad of mostly vegetables. After that I'm allowing myself to eat "whatever I want." Of course I don't mean "whatever I want." Whatever I eat I'm going to try to keep as healthy as possible and I am going to try to keep vegan for this week. In addition to helping the detox, it will be a trial to see if I can handle being a vegan.
Being a vegan comes with a host of possible health concerns but I think I have found a solution for each of them.
For Iron and B12 I have a multi-vitamin that contains 100% of my daily recommended dosage for each.
Protein was a little trickier to figure out. I'm working out every morning so everything I read tells me I need a lot. Non-conventional sources say otherwise though. They make the point that they have never heard of anyone having a protein deficiency. It's just not something you have to worry about. I'm not sure if I agree with this though if only because it goes against everything doctors tell us. I will however agree that most Americans probably get too much protein and most of that protein is from meat.
According to www.veganbodybuilding.com, you only need 1 gram of protein for every kilogram of your weight. I weigh 135 pounds or 60 kilograms, which means I need about 60 grams of protein a day if I want to gain muscle. Other vegan bodybuilders say you need 1 gram for every pound you weigh, but that would mean I would need 135 grams of protein a day. That is an insane amount to try to consume every day. I'm not even sure that is possible. I think the 60 grams is more reasonable and possible.
Here is a breakdown of where my protein will come from:
20 grams from the brown rice protein mix.
20 grams from nuts and legumes. Some of this will come from beans in my salads or from nuts I'll snack on during the day.
10 grams from vegetables and spirulina. This obviosuly will come from the salads I eat. It surprises most people that vetables actually contain some protein. Not a lot but I think I should be able to get about 5 grams from vegetables each day. The other 5 grams will come from the spirulina powder I have which I can mix into drinks. I got the spirulina from GNC for only $10. There are much more expensive brands out there, but the generic GNC version should work just fin.e
10 grams from soy. I'm not a huge fan of soy protein because I've heard some bad things about it. Some people say it can raise your estrogen levels while others say soy is perfectly fine and is actually really good for your heart. I figured 10 grams a day can't hurt. I'll be able to get this 10 grams from soy milk, tofu or tempeh.
So that's it. That's about what my diet will be for the next week. I'll try to keep a log every few days about how it is going and how it is making me feel. Stay posted!
Peanut Butter Protein Bars.
Ingredients:
1 cup of peanut butter.
1 cup of oats.
1 cup of protein powder.
8 tablespoons of syrup or honey.
Soymilk as desired.
Mix all the ingredients together in a bowel except the soymilk.
Add the soymilk as needed to help you make a thick paste.
Spread the paste into a pan and place in the refrigerator.
That's it! No bakeing!
You can subsititute many of the ingredients if you want. Instead of soymilk I used two cups of water. I also put raisins in it which made them really nice.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Title Change
I decided to change the name of my blog. I had been toying with names for the past week but I think I've finally settled on "Personal Development for Collegiate Living." It pretty much explains exactly what I'll be blogging about.
I know there are already a lot of self improvement sites and blogs out there already. I have not, however, been able to find one written for college students by a college student. I'm hoping that this blog will not only provide me with an outlet to document my "journey" but will also provide some insight for other college students seeking self improvement of their own. Of course any input others have is more than welcome.
College students face numerous challenges that I think are much different than the ones adults have to deal with. For one thing, most of us are on extremely tight budgets. I don't think this has to limit our goals, but it does require us to make special adjustments. I hope to explore this more in this blog.
Time is also a major issue for college students. Personally, I have an extremely busy schedule with 20 credit hours and a job. Yet I have still been able to find time to focus on self-improvement. It is just a matter of time management. This will all be discussed later in greater detail though.
I hope you all enjoy the blog and I look forward to any comments or advice you want to leave.
Enjoy!
I know there are already a lot of self improvement sites and blogs out there already. I have not, however, been able to find one written for college students by a college student. I'm hoping that this blog will not only provide me with an outlet to document my "journey" but will also provide some insight for other college students seeking self improvement of their own. Of course any input others have is more than welcome.
College students face numerous challenges that I think are much different than the ones adults have to deal with. For one thing, most of us are on extremely tight budgets. I don't think this has to limit our goals, but it does require us to make special adjustments. I hope to explore this more in this blog.
Time is also a major issue for college students. Personally, I have an extremely busy schedule with 20 credit hours and a job. Yet I have still been able to find time to focus on self-improvement. It is just a matter of time management. This will all be discussed later in greater detail though.
I hope you all enjoy the blog and I look forward to any comments or advice you want to leave.
Enjoy!
Surf city squeeze
I have to say I was rather dissapointed as I watched the lady make my smoothie. The "banana" in my shake was nothing more than an inch long slice and the pineapple consisted of just two or three pieces. The worst part was the orange. There was no orange. Instead they poured in some tropicana orange juice from concentrate. I'm not even sure if the juice they used had added sugar in it or not. It may have.
Luckily the lady put in a decent amount of spirulina but the rest of the smoothie was ice. Hardly worth the $5.09 I paid for it I think.
Yet maybe it was worth the price. The drink itself tasted very scrumptious. The pineapple dominated the flavor of the drink and it kind of tasted like a pina colada to me. My mother was with me and I made her try it after some pursuasion. She said it looked rather unappealing because it was green. I thought it just made it look minty... Even though it wasn't. My mom agreed that it was good though.
If you can get over the decieving menu and the high price then this is a smoothie place for you. Personally, I'm going to stick to making my own smoothies at home.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Raw Revolution
I just tried a new food bar called "Raw Revolution." Normally when I want something quick to eat on the run with some protein I grab some Cliff Bars which I absolutely love. When I was in the store today though, I saw the "Raw Revolution" bars next to the cliff bars and decided to give one a try.
The flavor I tried was "Spirulina and Cashew." The label said it has no artificial ingredients, no preservatives, no gluten, no dairy, no refined sugars, no GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), and no soy. It is also Vegan, Organic, Kosher and uncooked.
The ingredients listed are Cashews, dates, agrave nectar, almonds, spirulina, and sprouted flax seeds.
Sounded pretty healthy to me.
The wrapping for the bar completely hid the actual food from view. Probably for good reason. Visually the bar is not very appetizing. It kind of reminded me of shiny green marble.
If you have ever had spirulina before than you know the unusual taste it has. This is exactly what the bar tasted like. Spirulina. Not necessarily bad but just different.
The after-taste was probably the best part. As I bit into the bar the Agrave Nectar came out and tasted very good and sweet.
I would have preferred for their to be more cashews in the bar to give it a little more crunch. For the most part it was soft and gooey. It stuck to my teeth pretty easily which was pretty unappealing.
At $2 a bar I'm not sure these are worth the price. While the ingredients are raw and healthy, it isn't a very appealing option. I would like to try some other flavors first though. The coconut and agrave nectar bar sounds particularly good. I have a feeling that these bars might grow on me if I give them another try.
If you are into raw food, I think this is probably a good bar for you. Otherwise, I would stick with Cliff Bars or whatever other bar you're eating now.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Saying hello
I've never had a blog before but I can't say I never wanted one. I've had friends who used to have live journals or who would write Myspace notes similar to blogs all the time. For whatever reason though, I was never really up to the task of blogging. Until now that is. To be quite honest I am not sure what I will be speaking about in these blogs. I think I may speak largely about my odd quest for for self improvement. To begin this blog then, I am going to talk about self improvement in general.
I have been a Vegetarian now for a little over a year. While in comparison to many Vegetarians I am still a newbie, this year has been a huge accomplishment for me. In my experience with other Vegetarians at my school I have noticed how few of them actually make it past the 6 month mark. In some way I am very surprised that I have made it this long, but in other ways I am not.
Before you start any form of self improvement, it is important to first do your research. I personally know that it can be really easy to want to jump into things and to try incorporating a new habit or lifestyle before really understanding it.
For instance, a few years back I tried to become a Lucid Dreamer. For those that don't know, a lucid dream is one where a person is aware that they are dreaming while it is happening. This often allows them to interact with the dream and to possibly manipulate it. That is lucid dreaming in a nutshell. It is also about all I knew about being a lucid dreamer when I tried to become one . I was under-informed and therefore was unsuccessful in my attempt.
I think my lack of knowledge about lucid dreaming also pointed out another major flaw in my attempt. I didn't want it bad enough. Sure I thought lucid dreaming was cool. Yet I was unwilling to put in the time to do the proper research needed. I think this stemmed from a lack of true desire to become a lucid dreamer.
I was able to become a Vegetarian because I really wanted it. My interest was originally sparked through my desire to live a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle. I was well on my way towards becoming an environmentalist so I was already well informed about the negative environmental impact eating meat had. I knew it was something I wanted to do.
Adjustment to a new lifestyle also benefits from interaction with someone who has already made the same adjustment. I was lucky enough to have a close friend who had been a vegetarian for years before I was. Her support and knowledge were both very beneficial to me.
Verbally acknowledging your goals to another is also very important. By verbally expressing to someone else that I wanted to become a vegetarian it helped to make it a reality. This was no longer a thought it my own head. In a way, explaining my goal to friends who supported me gave me permission to change my lifestyle.
As with any new lifestyle, becoming a Vegetarian took a period of adjustment. The easiest way I found to adjust, is to work out the kinks before you get in too deep. I began to pick one or two days each week where I would not eat meat. This allowed me to explore vegetarian options and forced me to figure out how the lifestyle works. It was not overwhelming at all because I had not ascribed to the label yet. If I needed to, I could still eat meat.
After a few weeks of eating Vegetarian once a week and doing extensive research I knew I was ready. The real question was, "When do I begin this?" It felt weird to just jump into things one day. I felt like it would be strange to simply wake up one morning and never eat meat again.
Luckily the question of "When do I begin?" came at the perfect time. I was home from school for a week on a short break. I had not discussed becoming a Vegetarian with my family, but I had told some friends of mine what I was planning on doing. Mostly they tried to talk me out of it but I already had my mind set and by the end of the conversation I had their support. So on my way back to school I stopped at a rest stop and enjoyed the last piece of meat I have ever eaten. (If you exclude that incident where my sister let me finish her "cheese quesadilla" that was really a chicken quesadilla).
The reason the switch was so easy for me was because I was already making somewhat of an adjustment in my life. I was going back to school after being on vacation. That physical transition helped me transition to a vegetarian. I did the same thing when i first came to college. On my way to college with my parents I had my last glass of soda. I have not had any since then. If I had just woken up one day and said "From now on, I will not drink any more soda," I think I would have failed. But because I could visualize my transition by attaching it to something that was visible it made it all the more easier.
In the weeks that followed I just took things one day at a time. I did not try to go overboard and attempt to cut out meat, dairy and eggs all at once. In fact when I began I still ate fish for a couple of months. It was a nice way to transition into the lifestyle. When I was comfortable enough with that, I moved forward and cut fish out of my diet. Pretty soon I think I may try cutting dairy from my diet as well. All one day at a time though.
In closing here are the steps I have noticed that help me make a change in my lifestyle:
1. RESEARCH, research, research!
2. WANT to make the change.
3. VOICE your desirable lifestyle change to someone else who will support you.
4. CONNECT with individuals who have made similar lifestyle adjustments.
5. TRY it for a few days to see how it works. Work out the kinks before you make the complete transition.
6. Find the right time and Go For It. Remember though, there is no right time like the present time. While these "times of transitions" that I spoke of can make it easier, don't put off your change forever because you are waiting for the right one. If you really feel ready then just go for it.
My success in becoming a Vegetarian has in many ways empowered me. It has shown me that I can change my lifestyle for the better. All it takes is a little will power and some determination. I hope this blog can provide to whoever reads it a better understanding of how to better your own life.
I have been a Vegetarian now for a little over a year. While in comparison to many Vegetarians I am still a newbie, this year has been a huge accomplishment for me. In my experience with other Vegetarians at my school I have noticed how few of them actually make it past the 6 month mark. In some way I am very surprised that I have made it this long, but in other ways I am not.
Before you start any form of self improvement, it is important to first do your research. I personally know that it can be really easy to want to jump into things and to try incorporating a new habit or lifestyle before really understanding it.
For instance, a few years back I tried to become a Lucid Dreamer. For those that don't know, a lucid dream is one where a person is aware that they are dreaming while it is happening. This often allows them to interact with the dream and to possibly manipulate it. That is lucid dreaming in a nutshell. It is also about all I knew about being a lucid dreamer when I tried to become one . I was under-informed and therefore was unsuccessful in my attempt.
I think my lack of knowledge about lucid dreaming also pointed out another major flaw in my attempt. I didn't want it bad enough. Sure I thought lucid dreaming was cool. Yet I was unwilling to put in the time to do the proper research needed. I think this stemmed from a lack of true desire to become a lucid dreamer.
I was able to become a Vegetarian because I really wanted it. My interest was originally sparked through my desire to live a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle. I was well on my way towards becoming an environmentalist so I was already well informed about the negative environmental impact eating meat had. I knew it was something I wanted to do.
Adjustment to a new lifestyle also benefits from interaction with someone who has already made the same adjustment. I was lucky enough to have a close friend who had been a vegetarian for years before I was. Her support and knowledge were both very beneficial to me.
Verbally acknowledging your goals to another is also very important. By verbally expressing to someone else that I wanted to become a vegetarian it helped to make it a reality. This was no longer a thought it my own head. In a way, explaining my goal to friends who supported me gave me permission to change my lifestyle.
As with any new lifestyle, becoming a Vegetarian took a period of adjustment. The easiest way I found to adjust, is to work out the kinks before you get in too deep. I began to pick one or two days each week where I would not eat meat. This allowed me to explore vegetarian options and forced me to figure out how the lifestyle works. It was not overwhelming at all because I had not ascribed to the label yet. If I needed to, I could still eat meat.
After a few weeks of eating Vegetarian once a week and doing extensive research I knew I was ready. The real question was, "When do I begin this?" It felt weird to just jump into things one day. I felt like it would be strange to simply wake up one morning and never eat meat again.
Luckily the question of "When do I begin?" came at the perfect time. I was home from school for a week on a short break. I had not discussed becoming a Vegetarian with my family, but I had told some friends of mine what I was planning on doing. Mostly they tried to talk me out of it but I already had my mind set and by the end of the conversation I had their support. So on my way back to school I stopped at a rest stop and enjoyed the last piece of meat I have ever eaten. (If you exclude that incident where my sister let me finish her "cheese quesadilla" that was really a chicken quesadilla).
The reason the switch was so easy for me was because I was already making somewhat of an adjustment in my life. I was going back to school after being on vacation. That physical transition helped me transition to a vegetarian. I did the same thing when i first came to college. On my way to college with my parents I had my last glass of soda. I have not had any since then. If I had just woken up one day and said "From now on, I will not drink any more soda," I think I would have failed. But because I could visualize my transition by attaching it to something that was visible it made it all the more easier.
In the weeks that followed I just took things one day at a time. I did not try to go overboard and attempt to cut out meat, dairy and eggs all at once. In fact when I began I still ate fish for a couple of months. It was a nice way to transition into the lifestyle. When I was comfortable enough with that, I moved forward and cut fish out of my diet. Pretty soon I think I may try cutting dairy from my diet as well. All one day at a time though.
In closing here are the steps I have noticed that help me make a change in my lifestyle:
1. RESEARCH, research, research!
2. WANT to make the change.
3. VOICE your desirable lifestyle change to someone else who will support you.
4. CONNECT with individuals who have made similar lifestyle adjustments.
5. TRY it for a few days to see how it works. Work out the kinks before you make the complete transition.
6. Find the right time and Go For It. Remember though, there is no right time like the present time. While these "times of transitions" that I spoke of can make it easier, don't put off your change forever because you are waiting for the right one. If you really feel ready then just go for it.
My success in becoming a Vegetarian has in many ways empowered me. It has shown me that I can change my lifestyle for the better. All it takes is a little will power and some determination. I hope this blog can provide to whoever reads it a better understanding of how to better your own life.
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