Those three weeks went by fast. Good news, I lost 10 lbs in 4 weeks and I am feeling good.
It has definitely not been as hard as I have originally anticipated. I have made some great dishes, discovered new spices and haven't felt this well fed in ages.
I've "signed" myself up for another 3 weeks as I think breaking this healthy eating lifestyle change into smaller segments makes it easier to tackle.
My newest discovery is self made Hummus! I've always been intrigued by Hummus but I've only eaten it a few time where I really liked it. Most times it tasted too strong. I've followed a curry hummus recipe from my vegan cookbook and it tastes absolutely divine. I made hummus sandwiches with sprouts and tomato slices for lunch and it tastes great.
I've also finally broke down and looked for vegan bread and found some delicious whole grain bread that didn't contain any milk or eggs or oil for that matter. A perfect fit for me. I kept snacking on it Saturday evening and I realized how much I had missed bread.
I am very hopeful that the next three weeks will go well, too, and that I'll lose some more weight in the process.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
I can't decide if it is getting easier or harder ...
I am now 2 1/2 weeks into my healthy vegan diet. Eating overall is going great and I still love the food but for the most part I am at work and that makes it easier. At home, I do struggle with not eating, snacking, drinking wine etc. Seeing the leftover cookies from my daughter gets me closer and closer to caving in.
And I did a little. Cave in, that is. I've had one of her cookies. They are small and not really unhealthy but still, I caved.
I also had a vegetarian appetizer at a work function that included some blue cheese. It was very good and I don't regret it and it is only a 4 times a year event. I did leave off the cheese on the salad I ordered but I did have some of the dressing that contained oil.
I want to stick to my vegan diet but I try not to beat myself up over little things like that. I strongly believe that I will be able to continue with it for another 3 weeks or at least I am setting it as my goal.
One thing I have come to realize is that I need to add some other food such as snacks or sandwiches for lunch. I am currently eating "dinners" for lunch and dinner and I think I would like a little more variety. It would also be nice if I could find a yummy sandwich that my husband would like as well.
And I did a little. Cave in, that is. I've had one of her cookies. They are small and not really unhealthy but still, I caved.
I also had a vegetarian appetizer at a work function that included some blue cheese. It was very good and I don't regret it and it is only a 4 times a year event. I did leave off the cheese on the salad I ordered but I did have some of the dressing that contained oil.
I want to stick to my vegan diet but I try not to beat myself up over little things like that. I strongly believe that I will be able to continue with it for another 3 weeks or at least I am setting it as my goal.
One thing I have come to realize is that I need to add some other food such as snacks or sandwiches for lunch. I am currently eating "dinners" for lunch and dinner and I think I would like a little more variety. It would also be nice if I could find a yummy sandwich that my husband would like as well.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Almost through the 2nd week
Today is already Day 13. Overall I am starting to get into the groove of cooking and eating healthy. Planning ahead is the most difficult but I am getting a better handle on it as well.
I am also starting to venture away from the cook book a little and implement some of my previous recipes at times. Leaving out oil of sauteing onions in vegetable stock instead of oil has been no issue taste wise at all. My first oil-free salad dressing has been a huge success. I substituted vegetable stock for oil in there as well and it tasted very good.
The part that makes my new life style a little difficult is that I am ending up to have to bring in food at company functions and sticking out like a sore thumb with my plastic containers of food while everyone else is digging in at the buffet. It doesn't bother me much except for the fact that I have to explain it to everyone why I am doing it. People seem to assume that eating salad is a good alternative to BBQ food. I rather bring in an entire dish and enjoy that and feel great afterwards.
I am also starting to venture away from the cook book a little and implement some of my previous recipes at times. Leaving out oil of sauteing onions in vegetable stock instead of oil has been no issue taste wise at all. My first oil-free salad dressing has been a huge success. I substituted vegetable stock for oil in there as well and it tasted very good.
The part that makes my new life style a little difficult is that I am ending up to have to bring in food at company functions and sticking out like a sore thumb with my plastic containers of food while everyone else is digging in at the buffet. It doesn't bother me much except for the fact that I have to explain it to everyone why I am doing it. People seem to assume that eating salad is a good alternative to BBQ food. I rather bring in an entire dish and enjoy that and feel great afterwards.
Monday, January 31, 2011
One Week Report
OK, it's a little bit more than a week but since I haven't posted about that yet, I figure I better do it now :)
Today is Day 9.
Everything is still going well. I finally cooked some food that I am not very fond of. It turns out that I don't like sweet potatoes when they are cooked within a dish. Also there were several odd spices that I added to the "curry" (did not contain curry by the way!). Oh well, I'll be eating it without enjoying it then :( After all that work I put into it, I am not going to throw it away. I've got one more serving left and then I will eat my Lentil Ragout which is as yummy as ever.
Today was my weight in day. I managed to drop 1.6 lbs and though I was a little disappointed - had hoped for at least 2 lbs - I still think it is a great result and definitely the healthy way to go.
Today is Day 9.
Everything is still going well. I finally cooked some food that I am not very fond of. It turns out that I don't like sweet potatoes when they are cooked within a dish. Also there were several odd spices that I added to the "curry" (did not contain curry by the way!). Oh well, I'll be eating it without enjoying it then :( After all that work I put into it, I am not going to throw it away. I've got one more serving left and then I will eat my Lentil Ragout which is as yummy as ever.
Today was my weight in day. I managed to drop 1.6 lbs and though I was a little disappointed - had hoped for at least 2 lbs - I still think it is a great result and definitely the healthy way to go.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Getting Anxious But Feeling Good
Today is Day 6 and I am starting to get anxious to see if my healthy eating habits have had any effect on my weight. I won't find out until Monday but I am still very, very curious.
So far I've been lucky that the food has been delicious. My new favorite is the vegetable paella that turned out extremely well and was good for six servings that allowed me to freeze a few portions for next week.
This weekend I am going to make a recipe that I haven't made in ages. It is a vegetarian lentil ragout and I'll only have to omit the canola oil for vegetable broth to sauté the onions in.
That should also make at least four portions of which I can freeze a few.
I have managed to exercise every morning of this week and have found it easier to walk faster and longer.
So far I've been lucky that the food has been delicious. My new favorite is the vegetable paella that turned out extremely well and was good for six servings that allowed me to freeze a few portions for next week.
This weekend I am going to make a recipe that I haven't made in ages. It is a vegetarian lentil ragout and I'll only have to omit the canola oil for vegetable broth to sauté the onions in.
That should also make at least four portions of which I can freeze a few.
I have managed to exercise every morning of this week and have found it easier to walk faster and longer.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Healthy Eating Takes Time!
Half Way Through The First Week
Today is Day 4 of my tentative goal of 21 days. The book suggested to give this new vegan diet a three week test run before making any decisions, so that is what I am working on. Hopefully, I will feel better and drop some pounds when the three weeks are up, so I can continue.
The cooking is the toughest part as it takes up a lot of time. That of course is part of the reason that ended up eating rather poorly to begin with. Last night I meant to quickly prepare lunch for Thursday and Friday. That, however, turned into a long and painful project. There were so many different ingredients that needed to be chopped and ground, all which took a very long time that I would have rather spent with my little girl. The final result was very tasty but making dinners from scratch is very time consuming.
Yesterday morning I felt somewhat lightheaded and got worried that the diet was to blame. Now I am thinking that it may have from exercising on an empty stomach, since I don't eat breakfast until I get to work. I ate an apple after my 2.9 mile walk and it tied me over.
Tonight I will be having the last bit of my "smelly food" which means that I'll have to cook some more tonight for the next few days. I am really hoping that the other recipes that I bought ingredients for are easier to make.
There's got to be a more efficient way of cooking!
Today is Day 4 of my tentative goal of 21 days. The book suggested to give this new vegan diet a three week test run before making any decisions, so that is what I am working on. Hopefully, I will feel better and drop some pounds when the three weeks are up, so I can continue.
The cooking is the toughest part as it takes up a lot of time. That of course is part of the reason that ended up eating rather poorly to begin with. Last night I meant to quickly prepare lunch for Thursday and Friday. That, however, turned into a long and painful project. There were so many different ingredients that needed to be chopped and ground, all which took a very long time that I would have rather spent with my little girl. The final result was very tasty but making dinners from scratch is very time consuming.
Yesterday morning I felt somewhat lightheaded and got worried that the diet was to blame. Now I am thinking that it may have from exercising on an empty stomach, since I don't eat breakfast until I get to work. I ate an apple after my 2.9 mile walk and it tied me over.
Tonight I will be having the last bit of my "smelly food" which means that I'll have to cook some more tonight for the next few days. I am really hoping that the other recipes that I bought ingredients for are easier to make.
There's got to be a more efficient way of cooking!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Healthy Food = Smelly Food
After "stinking" up the house last night with my delicious dinner, my husband is still rather annoyed by the fact that the smell made him sick; so I am not sure how I will ever cook this dish again. I brought the left-overs to work, so he won't have to deal with the stench tonight.
Lunch was good tasting as well, but the onion aftertaste may not be kind to everyone entering my office.
Day 2 is still going strong (and smelly)
Lunch was good tasting as well, but the onion aftertaste may not be kind to everyone entering my office.
Day 2 is still going strong (and smelly)
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