Wow. This week was very different to Week 1.
My schedule was different as it was quieter at work so I wasn't running around the office for 10 hours each day but instead was sitting at my desk more. It took me a few days to realize that my seemingly constant Daiya slice cravings were actually carb cravings that were making me feel so hungry and a little cranky. The plan for Week 3 is to try and have some grains at each meal to ensure that my hunger is satisfied. One good thing I've noticed this week is that I am getting full quicker, and I feel that this is attributed to eating real food. Not that I ate terribly before this, but when my HH30 meal is balanced, I am definitely more satisfied more quickly. On a more positive note, even though I felt like I was constantly eating (my new colleagues may now think I'm something of a bottomless pit) I never once felt overfull and tired after a meal, but still felt energized after eating. Really, the lesson for me was to have more balanced meals as my body clearly needs grains with each meal in order to feel satisfied. Lesson learned.
After this Monday, I'm done with school (hooray) so am really looking forward to getting back to my regular yoga practice. I've missed it so much and feel like it will be so complemented by this challenge. Getting back into some level of normality, with yoga and seeing my friends again will be a nice change and hopefully make Weeks 3 & 4 a breeze...
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
HH30 - Week 1
This has been an insanely hectic week so I'm just going to recap my first (successful!) week of the 30 day whole food challenge. Then I'm going to get back to writing one of my final papers and studying for my neuroscience exam. Fun!
Last weekend we started the challenge. Now, thanks to the twitter team, more easily abbreviated to HH30. I was at school all of that weekend too, so I was eating less than I normally would as it can be a challenge in itself to eat food in the computer lab here. I was worried on Saturday that it would be difficult at my friend's birthday that night to not have a glass of wine, but I was so tired and knew I had to get up early the next day so it really was quite easy to just drink water.
Knowing how little time I would have during the week I decided to prepare enough dinners for at least 4 nights on Sunday. Made a delicious salsa from scratch (ok, i used unsalted organic canned diced tomatoes), bought potatoes to bake and using what I had on hand at home made a rice and lentil salad, using the brown rice medley from Trader Joe's which is more interesting and colorful than plain brown rice. The salsa itself was great, although it could have been hotter. The rice and lentil salad was a little dry. I'd had half a lime left over from the salsa but it wasn't enough to moisten the salad, so I'll have to fix that next time. Next time I might add more celery and maybe some orange bell peppers too. So, dinners were planned, prepared and totally wholesome! For this week, I've bought a ton of veggies and am planning to just throw everything together tonight to make a casserole. Depending on how it looks (it'll either be pretty or ugly, no in between) I'll upload a picture on twitter. I have regular brown rice and chickpeas at home too so I'll probably include those for a more well-rounded and substantial meal.
Breakfast was easy. At my new workplace they provide breakfast and lunch. Nothing fancy and most of it out of even my ordinary food type, but there is always plenty of fresh fruit at breakfast (whole and cut up on platters). I brought in plain rolled oats and almond milk so for breakfast I had raw oats and fresh fruit. Lunch always includes a salad bar and other hot foods that I usually have to avoid anyway. So I filled up on the salad bar every day and thankfully there is always edamame and sliced almonds so I'm able to include those to give my salad a bit more substance. In my job I'm almost literally running around the office all day so I rarely get to eat my meals in one sitting which probably has partly influenced my lack of hunger.
Unfortunately, with working a 60 hour week and all this studying as I near the end of my program, I've not been able to take any yoga classes in the past week. Unusually, I haven't felt sluggish or tired and actually have felt lighter and more energized. I am also fairly sure, although I haven't taken my weight or measurements, that I haven't put on any weight. For me, having done no conscious exercise in a week, to not feel that I've put on any weight, and perhaps even losing a pound or two, is a pretty big deal!
I do think that due to my circumstances this past week, I've found it pretty easy to stick to the challenge. This week will likely be the same. Right now, I'm not sure how sustainable this would be as a strict regime in the very long term, but it's definitely making me aware of how much processed food is out there and how much of it I really don't need to consume.
Last weekend we started the challenge. Now, thanks to the twitter team, more easily abbreviated to HH30. I was at school all of that weekend too, so I was eating less than I normally would as it can be a challenge in itself to eat food in the computer lab here. I was worried on Saturday that it would be difficult at my friend's birthday that night to not have a glass of wine, but I was so tired and knew I had to get up early the next day so it really was quite easy to just drink water.
Knowing how little time I would have during the week I decided to prepare enough dinners for at least 4 nights on Sunday. Made a delicious salsa from scratch (ok, i used unsalted organic canned diced tomatoes), bought potatoes to bake and using what I had on hand at home made a rice and lentil salad, using the brown rice medley from Trader Joe's which is more interesting and colorful than plain brown rice. The salsa itself was great, although it could have been hotter. The rice and lentil salad was a little dry. I'd had half a lime left over from the salsa but it wasn't enough to moisten the salad, so I'll have to fix that next time. Next time I might add more celery and maybe some orange bell peppers too. So, dinners were planned, prepared and totally wholesome! For this week, I've bought a ton of veggies and am planning to just throw everything together tonight to make a casserole. Depending on how it looks (it'll either be pretty or ugly, no in between) I'll upload a picture on twitter. I have regular brown rice and chickpeas at home too so I'll probably include those for a more well-rounded and substantial meal.
Breakfast was easy. At my new workplace they provide breakfast and lunch. Nothing fancy and most of it out of even my ordinary food type, but there is always plenty of fresh fruit at breakfast (whole and cut up on platters). I brought in plain rolled oats and almond milk so for breakfast I had raw oats and fresh fruit. Lunch always includes a salad bar and other hot foods that I usually have to avoid anyway. So I filled up on the salad bar every day and thankfully there is always edamame and sliced almonds so I'm able to include those to give my salad a bit more substance. In my job I'm almost literally running around the office all day so I rarely get to eat my meals in one sitting which probably has partly influenced my lack of hunger.
Unfortunately, with working a 60 hour week and all this studying as I near the end of my program, I've not been able to take any yoga classes in the past week. Unusually, I haven't felt sluggish or tired and actually have felt lighter and more energized. I am also fairly sure, although I haven't taken my weight or measurements, that I haven't put on any weight. For me, having done no conscious exercise in a week, to not feel that I've put on any weight, and perhaps even losing a pound or two, is a pretty big deal!
I do think that due to my circumstances this past week, I've found it pretty easy to stick to the challenge. This week will likely be the same. Right now, I'm not sure how sustainable this would be as a strict regime in the very long term, but it's definitely making me aware of how much processed food is out there and how much of it I really don't need to consume.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Here it comes...
The next month is going to be busy, challenging but hopefully rewarding. Next Monday, my 30 day Bikram challenge will be complete and it will be the first day of my new job. I currently have four weeks left of the semester so it's going to be interesting to see how I manage the first few weeks on the job with the last few weeks of school..yikes. Of course, not being one to do anything by halves, I'll be embarking on my 30 whole days challenge with the HH crew. As long as I'm able to get up at 6am to fit in a yoga class every day I should remain sane by the end of May. Best of luck to me!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
WHOLE foods
I'm so excited to be starting a different kind of 30 day challenge on May 1st. This is an online group challenge, managed by Happy Herbivore, to eat only whole, non-processed foods for the month. As I've been considering what I currently eat, which overall is quite healthy, it's amazing how much food we consume that is far from being in a natural state. First concerns included worrying about the lack of satisfying meals without any carbs but then remembered that brown rice and quinoa are fine. But realizing that no soy products (except perhaps edamame!) are allowed made me freak out a little - no soy sauce or tofu for a month?! There are definitely going to be days that are much more challenging than others, and any time I eat out will certainly be interesting, but I think in a time when prepackaged meals, negative corporate dominance of the agricultural industry and fast food are causing so many societal issues, it's great to see so many people join to discover the natural joys of food.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Turning point
So far, turning 30 has been a wonderful turning point. I'm sure it's coincidental, but life has been great since my birthday. My 20's really feel like a blur and this isn't necessarily a negative thing as I feel that each day I am becoming more true to my self and discovering more goodness in life. My vegan diet continues to make me feel wonderfully healthy and my regular yoga practice continues to provide me with mental clarity and physical strength.
The abundance of love I received on my birthday was such a lovely reminder of how many amazing people are in my life, and the amount of unconditional support I receive from all these people is phenomenal. Perhaps this is my karma for being loyal, honest and supportive to others. Then, after many disheartening months, I was offered a great job at a fantastic organization. Certainly an industry (for lack of a better term) I did not expect to find myself in, but also a good reminder that not every finance firm is the "devil incarnate". I know that I will be offered so much experience in this role and hopefully the opportunity to develop towards further towards my career and educational goals.
In light of all of this, there was one thing still lacking. My need for a regular creative outlet. So with some savings and a little birthday help bought myself a DSLR which I'd been wanting to do for so long! I spent some time this morning figuring out the functions and capabilities and am extremely happy with this purchase. Now if only I can focus on finishing my schoolwork ahead of schedule this week so I can spend a day out taking photos before I start my new job...
The abundance of love I received on my birthday was such a lovely reminder of how many amazing people are in my life, and the amount of unconditional support I receive from all these people is phenomenal. Perhaps this is my karma for being loyal, honest and supportive to others. Then, after many disheartening months, I was offered a great job at a fantastic organization. Certainly an industry (for lack of a better term) I did not expect to find myself in, but also a good reminder that not every finance firm is the "devil incarnate". I know that I will be offered so much experience in this role and hopefully the opportunity to develop towards further towards my career and educational goals.
In light of all of this, there was one thing still lacking. My need for a regular creative outlet. So with some savings and a little birthday help bought myself a DSLR which I'd been wanting to do for so long! I spent some time this morning figuring out the functions and capabilities and am extremely happy with this purchase. Now if only I can focus on finishing my schoolwork ahead of schedule this week so I can spend a day out taking photos before I start my new job...
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Cooking vegan and KLP
Passover is always a trying time for anyone who enjoys carbohydrates in their diet, but for vegetarians and vegans it can be extremely difficult as many vegetarian forms of protein are not kosher for passover (KLP), including soy-based products. Thankfully quinoa is deemed KLP and as it's relatively high in protein is a good substitute for both rice and protein.
My first attempt today at a vegan, low-fat, low-carb, (relatively) high-protein, KLP dish was actually a success, and also extremely quick and easy. I'd also like to note that I'm not the biggest fan of quinoa and would usually prefer to use brown or wild rice instead, but this time I really like it! I think I'm going to make a non-KLP version next week, adding tamari-marinated tofu or maybe tempeh.
"Stir-fried" vegatables with quinoa:
1/4 cup quinoa
1 small onion, diced
1/2 zucchini, diced
6 broccoli florets
6 cauliflower florets
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ginger powder
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp basil flakes (optional)
I cheated and cooked the quinoa in the microwave according to the directions on the packet. While it was cooking, I "stir-fried" the vegetables.
In a large saucepan, add water to line the bottom of the pan. Once water starts to heat up, add the onion and let cook until almost translucent and fragrant. Add diced zucchini, broccoli and cauliflower. Stir and let all vegetable steam until the broccoli and cauliflower have a bright color. Add garlic powder, ginger powder, turmeric and salt and stir through. Add a little water if necessary. Stir until flavors are cooked through the vegetables. Add to quinoa and eat.
My first attempt today at a vegan, low-fat, low-carb, (relatively) high-protein, KLP dish was actually a success, and also extremely quick and easy. I'd also like to note that I'm not the biggest fan of quinoa and would usually prefer to use brown or wild rice instead, but this time I really like it! I think I'm going to make a non-KLP version next week, adding tamari-marinated tofu or maybe tempeh.
"Stir-fried" vegatables with quinoa:
1/4 cup quinoa
1 small onion, diced
1/2 zucchini, diced
6 broccoli florets
6 cauliflower florets
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ginger powder
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp basil flakes (optional)
I cheated and cooked the quinoa in the microwave according to the directions on the packet. While it was cooking, I "stir-fried" the vegetables.
In a large saucepan, add water to line the bottom of the pan. Once water starts to heat up, add the onion and let cook until almost translucent and fragrant. Add diced zucchini, broccoli and cauliflower. Stir and let all vegetable steam until the broccoli and cauliflower have a bright color. Add garlic powder, ginger powder, turmeric and salt and stir through. Add a little water if necessary. Stir until flavors are cooked through the vegetables. Add to quinoa and eat.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Challenge time - Day 1!
Honestly, I've not been practicing yoga every day over the past 2-3 weeks and I am really feeling it. Lethargy is a big consequence and I can see my toned yoga muscles becoming, well, not very toned. While I was doing my workstudy shift today at the studio, I decided that I am in need of a challenge right now. The last time I undertook a dedicated 30 day Bikram Yoga challenge (November 2009), I informed the then-manager, lovely Aimee who has since opened the amazing Sun In Bloom restaurant, along with some of the teachers of my decision. This was a great way to practice every day as I would regularly be asked how many days into the challenge it was and would not have wanted to admit challenge defeat. This time I'm putting it out here as well as having a chart up in the studio lobby. That only makes me accountable to myself for finishing the challenge but publicizing it will involve my pride therefore not allowing failure. Even on those days where it feels impossible to find the time or energy I will practice, because I know that achieving this goal will empower and strengthen me. Namaste.
Food is your friend
Eating healthily was a challenge for me for many years. I didn't listen to what my body found nourishing and what it rejected, which resulted in various weight gains, difficulty with weight loss and general poor digestions. Perhaps it's a sign of maturity, or just simply aging, that I now do notice what does and doesn't work for me. This has culminated in an 18 year shift from vegetarian to ovo-vegetarian and now to a vegan diet. Although daily yoga practice has most certainly sped up my naturally slow metabolism, I am aware that paying attention to fat content, sodium levels and carbohydrate intake is important. This can be a challenge with many vegan substitutes often containing high levels of two or more of these. Cooking for just myself can seem so pointless and wasteful. I've been finding exciting recipes that are small in quantity and easy to prepare, because honestly, it's the preparation not the cooking that is time consuming, and eating just salad every day is not a sustainable option for me. So, in addition to having a creative writing outlet, I want to use this blog to detail highlights and challenges of my vegan lifestyle. Where possible, I will include accurate nutrition information and otherwise I will include estimates. For my own information, I may include weight and measurements from time to time, as I'd like to track this lifestyle's effectiveness from a weight management perspective (not necessarily weight loss, although 5lbs off wouldn't hurt).
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