Hooray, another week of plant-based eating under my belt! I lost another pound and a half bringing me to 7 pounds total lost. I'll take it and be grateful! More importantly, I feel so much better mentally and physically. More energy, more inner calmness, more control over my choices. It really feels fabulous!
In the video, I talked about some of the challenges I faced this past week. In some ways, this way of eating feels easy. As long as I live in my own little world with only my own delicious plant-based food surrounding me, I'm content. However, I have to go out in the world, smell tempting foods, cook them for my children (no, not trying to make them live this way...yet), deal with stress, disappointment, busy schedules, etc. There is a reason I've given up on this lifestyle in the past! However, I'm determined to make this time different. I've learned from the past and I will use that knowledge to make better choices. I'm going to process what's fueling my urges to eat mindlessly. When I feel the urge, I'll think about WHY I'm feeling that way, I'll analyze it, talk about it, go on a walk, take a bath, do whatever it takes. I will find other ways to work through the problem other than eating. If I fall down, I'll get back up and assess the situation. Why did I fall? How can I do things differently next time? I won't give in to the discouragement/failure beast!
Apparently, January 16th is the day people usually give up on their New Year's resolutions. It's January 17th and I'm still excited about making changes. Hooray! I have to give a big shout out to the Engine 2, 7-day Rescue facebook group for helping me stay excited and motivated. I joined the 7-day challenge (learn more HERE) and the videos and posts shared on that group have been so influential. They have carried me through many hard moments when I wanted to bail out. I visit that page while I walk on the treadmill and it makes me excited to walk on the treadmill! :)
In today's video, I mentioned making a 7-day loose dinner meal plan. It's more of a theme for the day to make my choices easier and organize the recipes I want to try. Breakfast is usually oatmeal with fruit. Lunch is usually left-overs and salad. I planned the dinner theme around my piano-teaching schedule and how much time I would have to cook on certain days. You will see that I am allowing some processed vegan foods on some days (Gardein products). It's not ideal, but it makes this lifestyle more liveable for me. I consider myself in transition. Maybe down the road I will be ready to completely eliminate the faux meat stuff.
Sunday
Mashed Potatoes (love the recipe from The Vegan 8 and have time to make them this day)
Gardein Meatless loaf, Faux Turkey Cutlets, or homemade lentil loaf
Broccoli or Green Beans
Sunday is also my day to make ahead stew/soup/chilli for weekly lunches and salad dressings.
Monday
Rice night
Top with stir-fry, Indian Cuisine, or do a Mexican themed rice bowl
Tuesday
Make ahead baked-dish (I teach until 7 so I want something that I can make in the morning, and throw in the oven an hour before I finish teaching).
Ideas: Enchiladas, Cabbage Rolls, Casseroles, Lentil loafs (I have several websites I visit with recipes I can't wait to try)
Wednesday
Veggie Burger Night wth fries made in the Air Fryer or oven baked
(Could also do wraps, lentil sloppy-joes, vegan veggie quesadillas)
Thursday
Crock-pot meal
Friday
Pizza or Pasta (no cheese of course)
Saturday
Date night--Eat out at a place with plant-based friendly options
or make some easy frozen food or left-overs at home if date night doesn't work out.
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