A new way of eating

Wow! A whole week has gone by since I've written.

So what have I been up to? On Monday I started the "21-day cleanse" that is in the book "Quantum Wellness".

I saw the author on Oprah a month or so ago and decided to get the book.

I read the book and then had to try and decide if this was something I could do.....it involves giving up caffeine, alcohol, sugar, animal products (including eggs, dairy, butter, etc), and gluten for 21 days. I just couldn't get my head around eating this way.....I mean, I'm a mid-western girl. My great-grandparents were dairy farmers

and my father's parents raised chickens and pigs

......meat and dairy were staples in my diet and as far as the caffeine and alcohol go......me loves my coffee in the morning

and a good mojito when I get home from work.

Well, Sunday was my breaking point. I put on my bikini to enjoy the 4th of July holiday by the pool and I was like "OMG!".....I've GOT to do SOMETHING.

All of the "eating out" while we were remodeling the kitchen had finally caught up with me.....no bikini this summer....we're talkin' TANKINI this year.....where did that chub around my middle come from?! Hmmm...could it be Chinese take-out, McDonald's, Taco Bell? This is when I decided that now is the time.

I started on Monday and it's been quite a journey.....what do I eat? Oatmeal with berries and soy milk for breakfast.....actually really good.

Then I made one of the recipes from the book that was a hot and spicy rice concoction with black beans, peppers, Ro-Tel tomatoes, avocados, cilantro and olives....once again....surprisingly good!

Snacks....yeah, gotta have my snacks.....pita chips and hummus (oh yeah...not real sure about the whole gluten thing, so I'm trying to do whole wheat products and no white bread or anything junky.

I'm at day 6 and so far I've really missed my coffee with Starbucks liquer in it on Saturday morning (it's my ritual weekend morning drink)......surprised to say I really haven't missed the meat or the sugar.....mainly I've missed the convenience....shopping and cooking takes way more thought and effort. I'm learning about tofu (I have some in the fridge but haven't made anything from it yet), agave syrup (way good substitute for sugar) and coconut oil for cooking.

I've eaten out 3 times....once at Taco Bell (bean burrito fresca), once at Panera Bread (portabello mushroom and mozarella panini...hold the mozarella, and black bean soup and an apple), and last night at San Francisco Oven (Sonoma Garden Pizza.....substitute red sauce for white sauce and hold the cheese). Do I feel self-conscious asking for these "changes".....yes.

Do I feel better because I'm not contributing to animal suffering and factory farming....yes.

Do I have more energy...yes.

Have I lost weight....yes.

Have I stretched myself....yes.

I've realized that I eat a lot of crap.......there are a few other books out there that are basically educating people about a vegan diet and the ones I've read are

and

A "no-holds barred" way of learning about veganism. Just hilarious to read but very educational.

I'm sure once I get the hang of this I'll be blogging more often.

Go forth and be creative,

Tammy