After my first month of being a vegetarian, I am going to tryThe Vegan Challenge:
I start this vegan challenge, which is exactly like it
sounds, a set amount of days for you to challenge yourself to cut out all
animal products. How did it start?
Last Saturday:
Having vegetarian friends helps.
It’s other people to talk to and order food with when we go out. So that you
don’t have to feel like the black sheep at dinner when ordering. Two friends of
mine, lets call them JJ and MK, came to visit me at work. It was there we
started talking about going out on Valentines Day. Another friend of mine,
let’s call her AO, had talked to me about a Valentines Day challenge of really
spending the first two weeks of February loving ourselves and working out and
eating right. I loved it. So when JJ and MK came and wanted to do something for
Valentines Day I knew we could do something just as good.
We talk about becoming healthier
all the time together. I wanted to challenge myself. I thought about being
vegan for such a long time and thought that this might be the challenge I
needed for two weeks. It’s truly something that I have never done or challenged
myself to do. It wouldn’t just be a meal just here and there. Since I had
become vegetarian my cheese consumption has become so great it had replaced
meat in my diet. It has become it’s own food group. Not exactly the healthiest
choice I could make. JJ and MK were immediately on board with the new
challenge. They both had the same cheese filled diet dilemma I have. So now
there were on board for the two weeks with me.
The start date was less than a week
away. We went to dinner later that night and I went cheese crazy. I also went
chocolate crazy. It was there at dinner I decided to start right then. I knew I
would spend next week being a cheese glutton knowing I would be giving it up.
So it was then my journey began.
Sunday:
I’m
optimistic when I wake up. I wanted to really accomplish this. I went to the
store and spend a good hour looking in the natural foods isle. Or as MK said
“spent an hour staring at nuts.” I explored the tofu and even the faux meat
section. I already love veggie burgers but they don’t taste like meat or even
try to. I was convinced to try the fake chicken strips with promises that “it
tastes just like chicken.” That should have been my first red flag. I also
bought snacks and some silken tofu for a homemade recipe for vegan sour cream.
That should have been my second red flag of the night.
So we
proceeded with a taco night. Actually, we were having a vegan taco night. The
first of many I hope. While we were cooking we all tried the vegan friendly
snacks. Amazing enough, I found that I liked all of the snacks I tried. Dried
figs, baked snap peas, and cinnamon banana chips. Then all chaos ensues. MK
puts in too much taco seasoning. Too much, to the point that our faux chicken
looks fire engine red. We break open the wine. I try the fake meat. I hate the
texture. I have rice tacos. I try and make the sour cream. With only some of
the ingredients. The silken tofu sour cream is awful. Epic fail. Even with tons
of hot sauce. Garbage. I will have to find one at the grocery store that
doesn’t taste like dirt.
Monday:
Breakfast/Lunch
= hangover and fruit. I however had to go to the hospital to visit a friend who
just had a baby and decided that I didn’t want to starve. I brought my own
snacks. I began to feel better. I also had a girlfriend come to town that
wanted to do wing night. Wing nights, for the past few weeks, have been getting
better since I cut out meat about a month ago. I crave them once in a while but
not as strong as the weeks go on. What I ate: Guacamole, salsa, with tortillas.
I also ordered french fries and even though everyone else was eating meat, I
felt satisfied.
Tuesday:
I woke up
with a slight headache. It was only slight but it was annoying. I went to lunch
with some friends. Hibachi grill. So what did I eat? I ate Salad, onion soup,
and sweet potato rolls. Which is great because it’s stuff I already eat. That’s
not shaking it up too bad. But, by then end of work that night I was feeling
super tired. More than usual and we were not having a busy night. For dinner I
had fruits, vegetables and nuts. I also just crashed so hard when I got home
and in bed.
Wednesday:
I woke up
tired. But after a green, fruit and veggie smoothie, I started feeling more
energized. I also packed a good lunch for me and AO when she came to visit me
at the shop. I also packed a light dinner. I felt great after lunch. But then
after dinner and closing time at my second job I really started feeling
sluggish. Even my coworkers mentioned that I didn’t seem myself. I didn’t feel
myself. I did have two more kiwis after work and started to feel a little
better. I also had some green tea and by the time I went to bed I was feeling
better. But, I crashed again. I miss cheese. And chocolate.
Thursday:
I didn’t
even eat breakfast today. I felt so awful. I had a headache and a sore throat.
So I just drank a big glass of water. I didn’t have to pee. Like, my normal
twice on a pint glass of water. I think I’m dehydrated. I guess I didn’t
realize how many non-water drinks a day I consume between fruit juices and
soda. I also let go of those. But I guess I have not grabbed for the pints of
water. So I have another big glass of water at lunch. What I ate: Two chalupas
and rice with no cheese. I still don’t have to pee. It wasn’t until my large
glass of green tea at work that I finally had to pee.
At work I could
feel the difference in energy. I ended up having another green tea. So I had my
dinner, which was my big green smoothie on top of what I packed. Which I’m
finishing drinking as I type right now! My goal tomorrow is to commandeer some
vegan sour cream. Some non-revolting sour cream. Also, tomorrow I’m going for
some no bake vegan chocolate cookies. I will report on how that goes. May make
them with peanut butter for good luck. And I was will be downing several
glasses of water all day as to not get dehydrated again! So here I am on my
vegan journey! I'll post on how it goes.
