You guys, I’ve been struggling. A lot.
Just over a month ago, I posted about my potential attempt at a (mostly) vegan lifestyle. I gave up meat and dairy, and within a couple weeks, I was feeling amazing. My weight was dropping, my eczema cleared up and things were… regular (sorry).
And then cheese. Because it’s cheese. Actually, it was a cheese factory. Or, The Cheesecake Factory, to be more specific.
I went out for a girl’s night with my bffl and thought ‘I can relax for one night and get back on tomorrow.’
Tomorrow didn’t come. Well, it came, but it came with ALL THE DAIRY.
And with all the dairy (and meat and overeating and slacking and CHEESE – hello, vicious cycle), came the weight right back on and the general feeling of grossness.
NOT OKAY.
So, as of today, I threw down the gauntlet with myself. 30 days. Full accountability to diet, exercise, tracking my food and making healthy choices for thirty days. No bullpuckey. (Look Mer, no cursing!)
Here are the rules:
No Dairy – That means no cheese, no ice cream, no Pinkberry, no cheese, no butter, no yogurt, no CHEESE.
No ‘meat’ – Eliminating beef, pork and poultry. Still eating fish and eggs. Let’s not even talk about bacon.
No heavily processed foods – I say heavily processed because some of my staples, like almond milk, tofu and whole grain pasta are definitely ‘processed’. Basically, cutting out things with ingredients that sound like things from a 10th grade chemistry textbook. And keeping things like pre-made veggie burgers/meat replacement products limited. No take out/fast food/convenience food. Note, this doesn’t mean no going out to eat. Just not at any place that only serves crap.
Water – 8 cups a day BARE MINIMUM.
Exercise – 5 times a week, 3 of them being good, fast walks. Not focusing on running right now. I know I have a half marathon to train for, and I have a plan for that. But for now, in the ridiculous heat, I’m going to work on bringing up my walking pace so that when I do start running again, I’ll be ready for it (as opposed to now where I just sort of jog slowly and wheeze). The other two workouts are for strength training or Zumba classes. Or swimming. Or whatever way I feel like moving my body. Just moving it. Period.
Tracking on My Fitness Pal – Every day. Every bite. Every lick.
No alcohol – I know. I KNOW.
No excuses – None. At all. These are the rules, and they will be followed. For 30 days. Because while all of that is a lot, none of it has to be forever. Once I complete this personal challenge, I’ll see where I am and decide what I want to do from there.
Because it’s only 30 days. (Please remind me of this when you see me in the cheese aisle at Trader Joe’s).
So, tell me folks, what could you commit to for 30 days? What is that one thing that you let get in your way? What’s your weakness, and would you be willing to hold yourself accountable to turning it into a strength for a month?
If you think you can do it, and you want to join me in this 30 day throwdown, DO IT. And if you think you can’t do it… well, then, you’re right.
Keep Bec company? Challenge yourself? Please, tell her in the comments below that you want to join her crazy train. She really likes company. And, apparently, cheese.
Right there with ya, Bec! Thanks for keepin’ it real! I have just been trying to stay off the dessert train for any amount of time and it is ridiculous! I like the idea of just doing it for 30 days and seeing where I am! I don’t think I can handle Vegan, but I may have to do some form of your crazy train!
Anytime! Vegan certainly isn’t for everyone… I’m not even sure if it’s for me! But, for 30 days, we can totally take whatever that ‘thing’ that throws us off our game and get rid of it!
I’m very proud of you with the non-cursing. But Jiminy Cricket with the TAGS. I suppose I’ll forgive you since all your cheese are belong to us. And when I say us, I mean the royal us AKA me.
Seriously though, let’s get this shit done. And not in the gross sense.
Potty mouth! And I thought I was supposed to use tags!
I will join you. I need to. Something has to change. I can’t swear that I’ll give up cheese, but the tracking of food, eating better, etc.
I will join you. 30 days.
30 days! You can do this! Giving up cheese totally sucks, don’t do it. (Unless you’ve discovered you’re lactose intolerant, like me).
I set big 30 day goals like “lose 5 lbs” but then I set weekly smaller goals so that it doesn’t seem so overwhelming. Right now my goal is to work out 5 days this week and log 6 on MyFitnessPal. And drink my water. I have my progress pictures to take on Saturday so we’ll see how I did. My “feminine issues” get in the way once a month unfortunately. That’s where I lose steam.
Those issues just arrived here. I am making a very crabby face about that. But let’s keep going!
I didn’t set any weight goals this time. I only wanted to set things I could control, like how much water I drink and not having dairy. The weight will come. Or not, I suppose. But I hope it will!
Oh I hear ya! I fear setting “weight goals” because I’d hate to fail and feel down about it when I still achieve other things like inches off or completing a week of great logging and meals. And don’t forget pictures!! They really do help when the scale isn’t your friend.
Bec, you can do this! Looks like “my fitness pal” makes it very easy for you to keep a record of all the food you eat. I always found keeping a food diary really worked for me. Also try eating five or six smaller meals a day rather then three big one. That way you don’t end up hungry between meals. Plan your food, shop and get it ready ahead of time so you don’t end up grabbing a chunk of cheese or some cookies because that’s fast and easy. If you have cut up fresh veggies to grab instead you will be so much happier. Non fat yogurt with fresh fruit can be a good light meal if you have it ready when you get hungry. Planning is really key with the food part.
I also think it is a good idea to start out walking. Then every day increase your pace and distance a bit at a time. Trying to do too much before you are ready can leave you feeling discouraged and worse, hurt or sore.
After all it’s only for a month, right? You can do it!!! You will feel so good at the end of the month you might even want to go for two. 😉
Thanks Arlene!! I love how you keep so positive about things! I can totally do it 🙂
Lady! I’m right there with you. No dairy (Paleo is hard). No alcohol (Paleo is REALLY hard). No excuses (but Paleo is hard and sometimes I want a treat. Or I need to drink my feelings.)
30 days is nothin’ – You, me – we – can do it. I’m happy to provide sarcastic and witty motivation in whatever form necessary. And if I had cheese, I’d send it to Mer, too.
Damn Kyle, Paleo really is HARD. I couldn’t do t….oh wait…lol
I love your sarcastic comments. Let’s do this thing. Drink your water!
Heya Bec and vegan followers! If Bacon is something you are honestly NOT wanting to talk about and you want a few ideas for veganizing recipes (including CHEESECAKE http://nobacon.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/ts-vegan-cheesecake ) check out my veg food blog.
We love recipes! I will totally check that out, thank you 🙂