Well, I cheated a few times. Yes, it turns out, I am a big fat cheater. Once was a powerbar on a 20 mile run - I didn't realize it had milk in it. I ate half before I realized, and then ate the other half because I still had 6 miles to go and it was the only calories I had on me. Another misstep was ordering polenta - while I make it vegan, this restaurant version definitely had butter in it, and maybe cheese. Ooops.
And then there was the Night of 4 Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches. I can't explain that, other than to say I've been increasing my mileage a lot over the last month. This was the first 70 mile week of the year. Guess I was hungry. What was I thinking, as I opened the fourth package? As I pulled the 4th sandwich from the wrapper with my fingers still cold from the last THREE sandwiches? I'm not really sure. But I am glad there were only 4 in the box to start with, otherwise it might have been the night of 6 ice cream sandwiches. Or, if I had gotten the economy sized box from Costco, the night of 24 ice cream sandwiches. The secret to avoiding this phenomenon from re-occurring has to be something other than "don't keep it in the house." Right?
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| It called to me from the freezer, "EAT ME! AND MY FRIENDS!" |
Other than that last, ahem, slip, I haven't had cravings for meat, cheese, butter, etc. I certainly don't feel like I'm missing anything. I drive past Rudy's BBQ without a sigh. And I've been watching season 9 of Top Chef, and all the meat-centered yummy dishes they make - not a twinge. I miss Coke more than I miss meat. (Yes, I still am off the coke. Coming up on 4 months.)
On the BAD side:
I have experienced odd periods of just "being hungry" though I feel full (yes the Night of 4 Ice Cream Sandwiches was one of those). Since I was tracking calories, I know that I have typically been eating 2100 cal a day. And then, 1-2 times a week, I'd just want to eat, and would take in 2600 to 2800 cal. That's not typical for me. Maybe 2100 calories isn't quite enough? Maybe trying to hold to 20% fat leaves me wanting more? Maybe it's the vegan diet, full but not satisfied? Maybe it's a lack of protein? I think it's a combo of calorie expenditure and intake not matching, and missing the fat. I would eat a handful of nuts (salted nuts especially - I think this diet is quite a bit lower in sodium) and feel "better."
I've been a lot thirstier - turns out that is to be expected, it takes more water to digest all that veggie bulk. I've been a little bloated too - same cause. And I've had some edema in my hands and feet, especially when I run, which is abnormal.
For the first 3 weeks, I had these odd cramps in my hands or feet, 2-3 times a day. I'd be holding a few papers, or reading a book, or just standing, and suddenly my hand or foot would cramp up. The weird cramps have mostly gone away. I think it just took this long for my digestive tract to get on board with the new menu, and wasn't absorbing the calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium very well. Thank goodness it caught on.
I also have to say - I'm not sure it is such a good thing for me to be thinking "What will I eat today?" That is fairly constant, and the tracking makes it seem obsessive. I've never been this focused on what I eat, how much of it I eat, and what it is made up of. I don't think this is a sustainable way of thinking for me.
On the Neutral side:
Sleeping = Still great. never have had a problem here. Too tired from running!
Weight = The same, maybe 2 pounds lost. 119-121.5
Bodyfat% = the same. ~15%
No change in really anything like skin tone or hair.
On the GOOD SIDE:
I think I am recovering better than I used to. Better as in faster - a run the day after a hard run I don't feel as tired as I expect. I have always recovered pretty quickly, but this is a noticeable improvement. I think this is diet related. It could also be that as I am on an up-slope of fitness, that I am recovering better. Although, it usually seems like when I'm in a phase of increasing mileage, I am constantly a little tired. I've had periods of tiredness, but as I say, it seems better.
I think I may have more energy. This is somewhat hard to tell. I still get tired, but it seems like I have more to start with. Maybe. Or maybe this is psychosomatic, as many accounts of people switching talk about this.
On the "I don't know if I believe this, but.." front: my allergies are better this year than they have been the last 3 years. Others around me that also have juniper allergies tell me the wind, etc. has made this a really bad year for them. For me, it's ok. I still need my allergy pills, but in years past on the heavy pollen days, I'd still suffer. Not this year. Some people postulate that a body has less inflammation when not trying to digest meat and lots of processed stuff, and so the inflammatory response toward allergens is decreased. I don't know about that. But my allergies are better. I'll take it.
And on the very touchy-feely front, I feel really good about cooking and eating this way. I like chopping up fresh veggies and cooking them. Oooo, curry. Oooooo, lets try eggplant and parsnip in this. Garam Masala? ok! Hm, I wonder if the quinoa I made yesterday would go well with this. Huh, there are turnips in my box from Skarsgard Farms. What shall I do with that? Let's try indian - thai - vietnamese - what else? Flax seeds as an egg replacer? let's try it! It feeds into my adventurous and independent nature, and it's even better than I get to do it on my own terms, without someone telling me what and how to do it.
And although it doesn't resonate with me the way I see that it does for some vegans and vegetarians, I like that I am not contributing to the industrial meat complex/animal cruelty. I also like that this diet requires less energy to produce/is greener/is better for the environment. These are good things to me.
Finally, on the blood test front: the nutritionist suggested I go for 10-12 weeks to see a difference, so I'm scheduled for a cholesterol test on Apr. 24th. I saw my primary care physician about the cramping and edema, and she decided a blood test for electrolytes, protein and cholesterol would be a good idea. ("Otherwise, make sure you are hydrated." "yes, Ma'am.") So 2 tests in the space of 3.5 weeks. Ok then, I think that's plenty of testing. Can't wait to see what happens!
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