Day 24

This mornings weight-in is 204!!

Holy crap! I'd like to take all the credit for this amazing change, but I gotta say the last few days have not been kind to me. Being sick, asleep and barely eating probably have a good hand in this weight loss. Or not. Let's keep in mind that I started at 214 lbs, so in 24 days I've dropped 10 lbs.

I'm hoping to hit 200 in 4 days. That will end up being a good round number for the end of this challenge. Lose 1 pound every 2 days.

I'm going back to bed.



Breakfast
Simple Cereal



Lunch
Banana, Peach, Plum
Theraflu



Dinner
Crackers

Snack
Theraflu

Day 23

I'm still sick. I've been asleep on of off for the about 30 hours. I do have to blame the blood donation and the kids at Disneyland.

I'm going back to bed...



Breakfast
TheraFlu


Lunch
Banana, peach, plum

Dinner
TheraFlu

Day 22

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 

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

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

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

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