The term vegan no longer refers to a healthy diet. Instead it gives you a reference for what you will not find in the ingredients list. “Vegan” in front of something could signify that you had better not get too excited because the contents might not be real and might not taste that good. It’s a warning label. A disclaimer. Is this the definition that we mean to express with the word “vegan”?
I am going to make a subversive statement: you can eat a plant-based diet, exercise regularly AND be unhealthy. Meanwhile, you can feel rather self-righteous that you check the boxes that modern medical wisdom tells us is good for us…what does it take to be truly healthy?
Are we afraid to try something new because we don’t think we can ’stick to it’? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve mentioned the Jealous Vegan to someone and their immediate response is ‘I can’t give up chicken’ or ‘I love cheese too much to be vegan’ and maybe that’s sincerely how they feel. But why not take a moment to consider the possibilities of something and determine what steps we can take toward our goal? What’s the harm in trying, even if we discover we ‘failed’.
In 2015, my body burst into riotous acne. It was a breakout that appeared like an infestation. It was the same year that I experienced the most intense stress at work that I’ve ever known…Was my body talking? Absolutely.
I know that now a days carbs have become the enemy of anyone who is on a quest to lose a few pounds or tone. But before you go carb free lets go over some key things about carbs that might have you putting them back on your plate. Very simply, carbohydrates are energy. We need carbs to fuel our everyday activities.
Somehow, what started out as a loving effort had made me feel like I had forsaken a large part of my independence and that my very identity was now called into question…I was ashamed that my parents lived with me. I was ashamed of how others might see that. I was ashamed that I had started to see my parents as an object of frustration rather than truly wonderful people deserving of honor and whom I love. I was ashamed about how I felt about my shame.
The very few intimate friends that I allowed to see me - that is, truly see me and my emotional messiness - repeatedly said: “This is not your fault. You did nothing to deserve this.” But, I couldn’t hear them. It absolutely felt like a punishment, as if I had done something or failed to do something that could have avoided the outcome.
When I peruse the gluten-free portion of the menu and take out the items which contain dairy, I'm usually left with scant options that are appealing to me or that align with my plant-centered food choices. On my list of prohibited items: gluten, meat (by choice not biology), many sauces, all forms of dairy, eggs, and three kinds of beans (black, kidney, and navy). This makes me both sad and angry simultaneously…
When I peruse the gluten-free portion of the menu and take out the items which contain dairy, I'm usually left with scant options that are appealing to me or that align with my plant-centered food choices. On my list of prohibited items: gluten, meat (by choice not biology), many sauces, all forms of dairy, eggs, and three kinds of beans (black, kidney, and navy). This makes me both sad and angry simultaneously…
For the better part of the last decade and a half, I’ve spent my work days representing a company that takes what you see on the screen and puts it on paper. Computers are blank screens that come to life by being filled with colors in what is called an additive color process. Conversely, printer paper are white spaces that become filled with color in what is referred to as a subtractive color process…My supposition is that the way we talk about food and nutrition is much the same way.
Atkins, Paleo, Raw, South Beach, Weight Watchers, The Zone, Gerson, Flat Belly Diet, Vegan, etc. The only difference between them is the timing, ratio and/or type of nutrients allowed. So, which one is right for YOU? The answer is deceptively simple if you know what to listen for.
This is absolutely the #1 question I get as a personal trainer when I tell people about my plan to transition to plant-based. It’s funny though, I’m not really sure where the idea of being protein deficient came from. Somehow we’ve got it in our heads that if we can just get enough protein, everything will be ok. But what really is protein? How does it work and how much do you really need?
The naturopath doctor prescribed a plant-based diet devoid of dairy and any meat products. In 10 days, I was eliminating without a struggle after every meal…Could plants really cure me and reduce the likelihood of cancer?
Loss of a loved one is an unpredictable, emotionally bloody, chaotic experience that is shared by all of humanity. I am describing all kinds of loss: death, divorce, long-term separation or estrangement, mental illness, etc. In this post, I share my observations and suggestions, from my own personal experience and my health coaching practice, on successfully navigating the loss of a loved one .
When I tell people about my plant-based journey I often get the response “I need meat” or even better, “humans need meat to survive.” But that’s not true, now is it? If that were actually true, vegetarians and vegans wouldn’t exist...because they would all be dead!…Why can’t we just accept plants as plants and meat as meat without trying to make plants meat?
It’s when I visit other countries that I feel sad for America…because of the way American factories process and strip our food of the potential nutrients…But my gut tells me that I can rest a little easier in other countries. At the end of the day, I’m pleased. Pleased with how easy it is to remain plant-based outside of the US.
If your parents are anything like mine, you grew up learning not to point at kids who walked with arm crutches/braces because it’s impolite to stare or make fun of those who are seemingly less fortunate. As an adult, when you come upon someone who is disfigured or maybe missing a limb, the best version of you musters a smile and tries not to make them feel out of place. When did we amend the social contract and declare open season on people who don’t fit our ideal aesthetic?
I’m hoping that successfully completing The Jealous Vegan 3-day Plant-Based Challenge will at least partially redeem me from my 14-day failure…I lost a pound, slept like a baby and by day 3 I actually woke up with more energy than the previous 2 days.
I usually eat breakfast late, I don't eat a lot when I indulge nor do I have to eat three meals a day to be satisfied. So while the following food log is not typical…and no, I'm not starving.
I chose to make this challenge extra challenging by placing it squarely in the middle of an out of town trip. My proudest moment of the challenge? Going to a BBQ spot with friends for dinner and keeping to my plant-based eating ways! The ribs and brisket smelled amazing but I wasn’t even tempted!