Oh day 22, why have you forsaken me! It appears that in my heightened state of mind from feeling good gave me a lapse in judgement regarding my own well being. What did I just say? I said, I should not have given blood and then gone to Disneyland just because I was feeling good. What goes to Disneyland? Kids! What are kids? Sick factories! So in my weakened state, I am now sick and stupid as a result. Stupid.
I'm going back to bed.
Breakfast
Coffee
Vegan Cookie
Almonds
Lunch
Veggie sandwich, dry, no cheese
Side salad, no cheese
Snack
Carrots
Veggie "chicken" salad from Whole Foods
Monday, May 7, 2012
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Day 21
I think it was forgetting to post last night and having to write one this morning, but the remaining days are moving fast! I almost forgot to post this evening as well.
I think I mentioned that I went vegetarian as a test to see if I could do it for a month. I did and I didn't stop. I stopped eating fish last September and have been strickly "lacto-ovo" up until this challenge. Just because you're vegetarian, doesn't mean you eat well; Del Taco, eggs, cheese, pizza and the occasional salad is still considered vegetarian. I still smoked and drank often and didn't get too much exercise.
Let's go back to this time last year. I went to a local blood drive and donated with no complications, but they were concerned of my blood pressure. It was high... high enough to warrant a lifestyle change. As a result, I did nothing... as most people do. Last December, I donated a pint before the holidays and my blood pressure was still the same. By mid-January, it was time to stop smoking anyway and drinking went along with it. So 4 months of no cigs and booze PLUS 21 days of a plant based diet dropped my blood pressure down to "safe" level. It still needs a little more to go, but I can honestly say, it only needs "a little" more to go! I feel freaking fantastic about that! I almost got a bit emotional when I heard that... then I realized that I don't get emotional over most things - I'll just pat myself on the back. Good job Ryan... good job!
This new knowledge has solidified the desire to go plant-based full time. At the very least, allowing oil into the diet every now and again because it's tough to go out and avoid it.
A friend heard that I gave blood and mentioned that I did it after going on a vegan diet. I did the donation while STILL on the vegan diet and it felt like it was nothing! I gave double the red cells too! I still took a nap because it was very easy to do, but I woke up after 30 minutes and went to Disneyland for a few hours. My energy level is still up and my brain is on overdrive!
Plant-Based Diet ≥ Flowers for Algernon
Because I didn't plan on being out as late as I was, I didn't bring snacks like I've been trying to do. After Disneyland, I stopped off at Whole Foods and then went to Native Foods to bring food home and wolf it down at 9PM. Eating late is never good.
Here is my day.
Breakfast
Simple Cereal
Snack (post blood donation)
Orange juice
Trail mix
Lunch
Lavish bread wrap with seitan, guacamole and spring mix
Dinner
BBQ Seitan sandwich from Native Foods
Edamame
Dessert
4oz glass of Almond milk
Vegan chocolate chip cookie
I think I mentioned that I went vegetarian as a test to see if I could do it for a month. I did and I didn't stop. I stopped eating fish last September and have been strickly "lacto-ovo" up until this challenge. Just because you're vegetarian, doesn't mean you eat well; Del Taco, eggs, cheese, pizza and the occasional salad is still considered vegetarian. I still smoked and drank often and didn't get too much exercise.
Let's go back to this time last year. I went to a local blood drive and donated with no complications, but they were concerned of my blood pressure. It was high... high enough to warrant a lifestyle change. As a result, I did nothing... as most people do. Last December, I donated a pint before the holidays and my blood pressure was still the same. By mid-January, it was time to stop smoking anyway and drinking went along with it. So 4 months of no cigs and booze PLUS 21 days of a plant based diet dropped my blood pressure down to "safe" level. It still needs a little more to go, but I can honestly say, it only needs "a little" more to go! I feel freaking fantastic about that! I almost got a bit emotional when I heard that... then I realized that I don't get emotional over most things - I'll just pat myself on the back. Good job Ryan... good job!
This new knowledge has solidified the desire to go plant-based full time. At the very least, allowing oil into the diet every now and again because it's tough to go out and avoid it.
A friend heard that I gave blood and mentioned that I did it after going on a vegan diet. I did the donation while STILL on the vegan diet and it felt like it was nothing! I gave double the red cells too! I still took a nap because it was very easy to do, but I woke up after 30 minutes and went to Disneyland for a few hours. My energy level is still up and my brain is on overdrive!
Plant-Based Diet ≥ Flowers for Algernon
Because I didn't plan on being out as late as I was, I didn't bring snacks like I've been trying to do. After Disneyland, I stopped off at Whole Foods and then went to Native Foods to bring food home and wolf it down at 9PM. Eating late is never good.
Here is my day.
Breakfast
Simple Cereal
Snack (post blood donation)
Orange juice
Trail mix
Lunch
Lavish bread wrap with seitan, guacamole and spring mix
Dinner
BBQ Seitan sandwich from Native Foods
Edamame
Dessert
4oz glass of Almond milk
Vegan chocolate chip cookie
Day 20
Here is another late update.
Sorry, I was busy and couldn't get time to write. With roughly a week remaining, I am finding myself wanting to keep going. I feel great, I have energy and my creativity is flowing rapidly. I have no reason to not keep going, you know?
Breakfast
Buckwheat Pancakes
Lunch
Lavish bread wrap with seitan and spring mix
Snack
Whole wheat pita bread w/ guacamole
Dinner
Tofu burger on whole wheat bread
Snack
Almond butter and banana sandwich
Sorry, I was busy and couldn't get time to write. With roughly a week remaining, I am finding myself wanting to keep going. I feel great, I have energy and my creativity is flowing rapidly. I have no reason to not keep going, you know?
Breakfast
Buckwheat Pancakes
Lunch
Lavish bread wrap with seitan and spring mix
Snack
Whole wheat pita bread w/ guacamole
Dinner
Tofu burger on whole wheat bread
Snack
Almond butter and banana sandwich
Friday, May 4, 2012
Day 19
It's day 19, officially down to the single digit days. I wish I had gone to the doctor or had some sort of tests done to see the actual results of this challenge, but I will stick with my original plan of "see how I feel."
On top of being on this plant based diet for 19 days, I also quit smoking and drinking in mid January. I think this combination of things will make my over all goals much easier. The goal being, get in shape and be healthy.
I feel good. The Jeet Kune Do class I took was really fun and cool, but I tweaked my knee a bit. I'm not quiting... it's not the toe thing that I screwed me up from that last time I tried martial arts... Kuk Sool was such a fun class too. I feel strong and I feel quick. I'm probably none of those things as seeing my reflection in the mirror shadow boxing was a different image that what I had in my mind. Time... patience, effort and time. Ooh. I think I just found the recipe for "Life," write it down.
Tomorrow is more greens. I think I had more when I was juicing.
Breakfast
1/2 serving Simple Cereal
Left over buckwheat pancakes
Lunch
Left over tofu burger on whole grain with tofu mayo and fat free bbq sauce
Dinner
Seitan o Greatness sandwich on whole grain
Snack
Carrots and peanut butter
Day 18
Sorry this one is late. I went to bed reading a book and totally forgot to write.
The day overall was good. Hell, 10 days into this mess and I would hope that the day would be good.
I recently acquired "The New McDougal Book" as payment for babysitting which has all sorts of recipes that flow right into this challenge. Most of the recipes are simple ingredients and can be made on the cheap. I'm all about "on the cheap" since the juicing idea was WAY out of my budget for the length of time I wanted to do it for. In addition, I am feeling a bit more inspired to continue this during the final stretch.
Breakfast
Vegan Banana Nut Muffin
Coffee
Lunch
Dinner
Tofu Burger on Sprouted Whole Grain bread
The day overall was good. Hell, 10 days into this mess and I would hope that the day would be good.
I recently acquired "The New McDougal Book" as payment for babysitting which has all sorts of recipes that flow right into this challenge. Most of the recipes are simple ingredients and can be made on the cheap. I'm all about "on the cheap" since the juicing idea was WAY out of my budget for the length of time I wanted to do it for. In addition, I am feeling a bit more inspired to continue this during the final stretch.
Breakfast
Vegan Banana Nut Muffin
Coffee
Lunch
My father and I went back to Au Lac, because he's enjoying vegan food now!
BBQ
Pork Roll
rice paper,
barbecued soy pork, pickled daikon and carrot, chive,
peanut sauce
Cơm Bò Bít-Tết (Beef
Steak)
soy beef
steak in garlic marinade, asparagus, with brown rice Dinner
Tofu Burger on Sprouted Whole Grain bread
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Day 17
I have this horrible habit of favoring the snooze button when it goes off. It generally goes off about 4 or 5 times before it finally says "To hell with you, it's my turn to sleep"... unless I have to be somewhere of course. Now this isn't saying much about energy levels and feeling great, but I will say that I used to toss and turn for a long time before finally falling asleep. I haven't had that problem too much in the past two weeks. I say too much because the weather is changing and it sucks not having air conditioning.
My line of work is changing fast and I'm not sure what I'll be doing in a month or even a week for that matter. One of the things that I am tackling head on is Voice Over. I have group training as well as private training and one of the things that helps is this plant based diet. I don't consume anything really that leaves a filmy, glutenous feeling like what you get from dairy and processed foods. If any of you do any vocal work, this might be something to try out. Maybe go plant based a few days before a performance?
I had a busy day and I did take the time to photograph the process of a few recipes. Let me know if you have enjoyed what I have been posting and if you would like to see more. The Seitan o' Greatness recipe links to another page until I can nail it down more. The latest batch came out good, but not enough to be proud of.
I'd love to read variations that you might have on these recipes.
Breakfast
Buckwheat Pancakes
Lunch
Smart Dog sandwich on sprouted whole grain
Dinner
Seitan o' Greatness lavish wrap with spring mix and soy mayo.
My line of work is changing fast and I'm not sure what I'll be doing in a month or even a week for that matter. One of the things that I am tackling head on is Voice Over. I have group training as well as private training and one of the things that helps is this plant based diet. I don't consume anything really that leaves a filmy, glutenous feeling like what you get from dairy and processed foods. If any of you do any vocal work, this might be something to try out. Maybe go plant based a few days before a performance?
I had a busy day and I did take the time to photograph the process of a few recipes. Let me know if you have enjoyed what I have been posting and if you would like to see more. The Seitan o' Greatness recipe links to another page until I can nail it down more. The latest batch came out good, but not enough to be proud of.
I'd love to read variations that you might have on these recipes.
Breakfast
Buckwheat Pancakes
Lunch
Smart Dog sandwich on sprouted whole grain
Dinner
Seitan o' Greatness lavish wrap with spring mix and soy mayo.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Day 16
Going back to yesterday, I have no clue as to why I was so tired. I think maybe all of the days of working late on projects was taking away from the 8 hours my body needed. I have been averaging maybe 6 - 6 1/2 hours.
Today was good. I had a dental appointment which left my face numb for a few hours. In retrospect I could have done something, but instead I sat around and poked at my face. That being said, a good chunk of time is unaccounted for and I fear I was lost in TV land until my brain went into survival mode and turned the TV off. It (my brain), then turned on the 88.1FM (UCLB Jazz) and went into cleaning mode. Sadly, I don't recall when I regained feeling in my face. I was looking forward to that pins and needles feeling. It's okay, I'll have another shot next week! Deep cleaning the second half of my face.
Tomorrow I'm going to attempt the Seitan o' Greatness recipe a friend gave me. The last attempt was unsuccessful and looked more like an exploded cartoon cigar than anything edible.
Breakfast
Simple Cereal
Lunch
Lavish break wrap with spring mix and bbq seitan
Dinner
Lavish break wrap with spring mix and bbq seitan (So good, had to make it twice)
Today was good. I had a dental appointment which left my face numb for a few hours. In retrospect I could have done something, but instead I sat around and poked at my face. That being said, a good chunk of time is unaccounted for and I fear I was lost in TV land until my brain went into survival mode and turned the TV off. It (my brain), then turned on the 88.1FM (UCLB Jazz) and went into cleaning mode. Sadly, I don't recall when I regained feeling in my face. I was looking forward to that pins and needles feeling. It's okay, I'll have another shot next week! Deep cleaning the second half of my face.
Tomorrow I'm going to attempt the Seitan o' Greatness recipe a friend gave me. The last attempt was unsuccessful and looked more like an exploded cartoon cigar than anything edible.
Breakfast
Simple Cereal
Lunch
Lavish break wrap with spring mix and bbq seitan
Dinner
Lavish break wrap with spring mix and bbq seitan (So good, had to make it twice)
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