I have been falling of my vegan wagon lately... Since going back vegan after a 8 month hiatus after being very ill last year, I have been very wishy washy. I have essentially fallen off of my vegan wagon.
As some of you know who have been following me for awhile, I went vegan for health issues. I have Psoriatic Arthritis and is interferes with my daily life. Since going vegan, I have felt better than I have for most of my adult life. I have never had an issue with my vegan diet, until I had to stop due to anemia and a very low protein count.
I am guessing that my protein count is so low due to my zinc depletion. Psoriasis patients are all zinc deficient, that with my lowered immune system cause me to shake and stumble sometimes. At other times, I have a hard time speaking, especially if I am tired. Before I was ill last year, I was at my peak physically. I was healthy and lean, I could jog and had unlimited energy. Now I can barely stay awake during the day and I am awake all night long. I am ravenous all the time and craving dairy.... I never had this problem when I went vegan the first time and I am confused as to why this is so hard this time around...
So now this is it!
This is the time for me to stop and smell the hummus! I must stop nibbling and snacking, no more midnight snacks, no 3am snacks. No more meals of peanut butter and banana sandwiches, or potato chips.
Actually, No more....
Tortilla chips
Soda pop
Popsicles
Ice cream
Ranch dip
oil fried anythings
French fries...OH GOD!!!!!
"chicken nuggets"
Oreo's
Nutter butters
Grape juice and crackers...my favorite snack
Excessive amounts of vegan butter on toast
Sugar
White flour
White anything
Coffee
or pizza
Until I can pull myself back into shape!
In the last two years since being on steroids and bed rest I gained a whopping 68 pounds, and enough is enough..
I am wearing a size 18....18!!!!!!!!
I am normally a 12/13...Holy Cow!
So why am I telling all of you this..... Because I do not want to be a fat vegan....I honestly do not want to be thought of as a healthy person when I feel so unhealthy....
You can be a vegan and be very very heavy...There is vegan junk food out there people, just ask me!
So here is my basic plan and will be modified after I write this out, because honestly this was a spur of the moment blog.
Eat breakfast before 9am everyday
Eat breakfast period...
Have a full lunch with a salad everyday.
Have two responsible snacks...fruit and nuts
Eat a small dinner with a salad
Eat no later than 5:30pm, even on weekends
Saturday is a treat day, and I can eat whatever I want within reason and it must be vegan...
WALK WALK WALK WALK!!!!
I must get back out there....
I am going to incorporate alot more raw in my diet. Cut back on salt, and drink alot of water...
There I said it.....Now I just have to do it!
Wish me luck, I want to be able to get into my adorable clothes again!~
Why the picture of Angelina Jolie?
Because when I am my normal size....that is what my body looks like! waaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!
20 comments:
Good for you! I need to make a similar stand. No more trips to the vending machine! No more potato chip gorging! No more than one cookie in a sitting! Good luck with your resolutions -- I can't wait for your angelina-jolie-body pictures :)
Seriously, I will post them! IF I can get over the Oh my gosh, get that camera away from me i'tis!
I am a huge snacker so this is gonna be a big e deal fr the next two weeks until I can adjust again!
Thanks for reading, I am glad I am not the only one up at this hour in the morning!!
Hugs, Brandi
you know, i have felt MUCH more responsible and acountable for my diet ever since i got more serious about my blog.so i think that you can do it!! suger and soda is proving to be a big problem for me, you arent alone.!!not eating after 5:30 oy i dont know if i could do that, im such a nightowl. but good luck im here for you rooting.
Wow! That is a lot of change at one time. We eased into our dietary changes. If you need to talk you know how to find me. Your diet sounds scarily like ours.
talk to you soon,
Alicia
DD-Thanks for your support, it means alot! Sugar has been very hard for me to give up this go around...I don't know why....
Alicia,
I have always been an all or nothing girl, I just cannot do the gradual shift. I think that is why this was such a struggle.
When I went vegan in 2001, I just went for it, and never looked back, but this time I tried to gradually slid in, and I am having cravings....Oh btw...I ate breakfast today....barely...1 cup cereal with strawberries. It almost killed me....lol
Brandi,
We actually became vegan overnight (literally) as well. But the other changes, like giving up oil have been more gradual. What I am saying is that I understand.
That is great that you had breakfast, especially since I know it isn't your thing! This morning I had 1/2 cup oatmeal cooked in water, 1/2 cup mixed berries, 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed, 2 tablespoons walnuts and cinnamon with our green drink powder and raw garlic on the side. Yum? LOL. You can't say that isn't healthy. Yeesh.
talk to you later,
Alicia
Good luck!! Definitely get out and get moving. That'll help tremendously.
Where do you get the green drink powder Alicia? I think your breakfast sounds good, did you eat the garlic straight? I bet you breath is awesome!
Thank you Heather!!!
Brandi,
I mince the garlic finely, let it sit for 10 minutes so the allicin can develop and then swallow it like little pills. We do that twice a day.
The green drink comes from Whole Foods or Amazon. I will email you the link and some background info.
Alicia
Girl, I know it is sooo easy to be a fat vegan. I'm one!! But your plan sounds so perfect. It will be a pleasure to follow it and your results, as you know, will soon follow!
Ciao Bella,
Megan
Good luck!
I have struggled off and on with adrenal exhaustion since I was 18.
I have been hospitalized for it!
Prolonged and extreme stress precipitates these episodes.
Many of your symptoms sound very, very similar.
Your program sounds good. Of course, walking, yoga and adequate sleep will do wonders. Just don't overdo it!
Be well!!
xx
Ah, yes, I can relate to so much of what you said. Sometimes, it really takes daily reminders to remember that I didn't just want to take animal products out of my diet -- I wanted to add fruits and veggies back in!
Your plan sounds good! I'll be checking in to cheer you on!
T.
Hey VV!
Thanks for your comment :)
I'm a bit awed at your commitment to veganism, I've been vegetarian for over 20 years but can never quite manage to stay on track with veganism for longer than a few months - keep at it, you're a little bit inspiring!
Good luck and stop by again sometime, let's share healthy veg*n tips!
Jen xx
You are so awesome to just go for it, when it comes to all these healthy goals! I hope it will all go smoothly for you, Brandi!
There are things I eat and do or don't do that sabotage my good health as well. But I'm trying to love myself in spite of them. I figure if I truly love myself then I will naturally want to take better care of myself. But there is something to be said for an ultimatum. Sometimes it's just the kick in the butt that one needs.
Love you, Brandi! Let us all know how everything goes for you...
You made some great points, Brandi. Vegan junk food definitely exists--I am a snacker, too, a lifelong French fry addict, love bread made from white flour, and have a huge sweet tooth--making it very easy to be both vegan and unhealthy. I admire the steps you're taking to improve your health and hope for all the best with this new plan! It sounds like a difficult but worthy challenge and I'm cheering for ya all the way. :)
Oreos? Fries? Gulp. Well, for once I don't have those in my pantry, but that's by pure chance! If you can beat the junk food rap, I will think that's completely awesome. Me and my two waggling hips will be very proud of you. But, I am struttin' to the gym every morning, so maybe we'll be smaller together. :)
Thank you Ladies! I appreciate you all so much! Reading your comments make me so very happy!!!
Good for you!That's a lot at once, but I'm like that too once my mind is made up. One thing that I find really helps is to track my food daily. Livestrong has a free tracker and there are others that would work well also. Also, you will notice after a few weeks that if you do eat junk it will make you feel kinda sick. Looking forward to updates on your progress!
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and saying hi! It is so nice to connect with others also struggling with PSA. Committing to a specific way of eating is difficult... I'm cheering you on!! Awesome blog!
Megan
maidinak.blogspot.com
Good luck!! :)
Why give up PB and banana sandwiches though? That's one of my personal faves!!
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