So, as many of you know, I will be walking away from corporate life on Friday, April 23rd for good. I am a little anxious, but overall I feel super fabulous. I feel like it's a new start to a new life. A whole new me where my Primary Foods don't get in the way of my total health. I am so very excited and blessed to have the opportunity to actually follow my bliss and surround myself in my passions of health, yoga and food!To keep this super fabulous momentum going, I have decided to take part in my own Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's 21-Day Vegan Kick Start. I am going to start on Monday, April 26, 2010. I have dabbled in vegetarianism off and on for many years and while I was attending the Institute for Integrative Nutrition I spent a month investigating a vegan diet after hearing Neal Bernard, MD speak.
I had a few challenges during my vegan month last year. While I thought a life without cheese would be terrible, it's not what I missed the most. I really missed my breakfast foods, yes, the incredible edible egg. I also had trouble with was feeling grounded. I started feeling super flaky, scatter brained and the proverbial "blonde." I am pretty sure that these feelings were coming from a lack of Vitamin B and Omega 3s.
I think my biggest challenge wasn't s0 much of a challenge as it was a surprise....I went vegan for 4 weeks and I actually gained 7 pounds. How is that even possible? Well, I will tell you how it's possible....all you can eat buffet at Kaya's Kitchen in Belmar, NJ every Sunday night, that's how it's possible. Kaya's is delicious and amazing and the best vegan cuisine in New Jersey. However, if you over eat, regardless of food style, you're going to gain weight. Additionally, while on this vegan experiment, I ate many more processed foods (from a box, wrapped in plastic) than I normally do. Vegan ice cream, cookies, cakes, burgers, tv-dinners etc. I don't eat that crap to begin with, so what was the point of removing animal protein and dairy from your diet if you're just going to start eating crap!? Exactly. no point.
So this time around is going to be a bit different. Kayas will be a treat, rather than a weekly scheduled binge. I will cook more whole, vegan foods and try out different recipes that I can share on this blog. And I will pay attention to my vitamin B and omega 3 intake so I don't turn into a dumb blonde.
Between now and then, I am going to re-read a couple of vegan books to get me in the mind-set:
Skinny Bitch
Living a Charmed Life
The Kind Diet
This Crazy Vegan Life
One thing that I am super amped up about, which I am probably not supposed to talk about, but whatever, the cat is about to hop out of the bag...is our upcoming interview with Christina Pirello, author of Glow, This Crazy Vegan Life, Cooking the Whole Foods Way and Christina Cooks. SO excited about that and looking forward to it! It's perfect timing for this whole challenge of mine!
So, back to the 21 day challenge....the reason I am posting this blog well over a month in advance of my start date is that I wanted to see if any readers wanted to join me. If any readers out in blogland want to take on this challenge with me, I will set up a tele-class on the 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st days of the challenge so we can check in with one another for support! We'll use the 21 Day Kick-Start a guideline and then go from there. So, if you're interested drop a comment with you're email address and I will be in touch!
Keep it Fresh!
~ Terra
Keep it Fresh!
~ Terra