I’m going VEGAN!

 

But only part time. A few nights a week maybe? I’ve thrown the idea of vegetarianism around for a long time. I’m not ready to commit 100% but I think it will give me some healthy low calorie and creative options I wouldn’t have tried before and I think going vegan can take it to the next level (I would add cheese to almost any meal). This has nothing to do with animal cruelty or environmentalism. I think eating a vegan “hotdog” or “sushi” just doesn’t make sense and if I want a hotdog or sushi or sausage I think I’ll just eat the real deal. But roasted sweet potato and quinoa soup or brussel sprout and butternut squash lasagna sounds pretty good and I don’t think I’ll miss the animal products or the extra calories they pack in there.

So why the change?

I think everyone has heard of the Freshman 15. I, like many of my freshman friends, found this to be pretty true. I remember gaining about 10-15 pounds during my freshman year at BYU. Luckily, I quickly lost most of it.

I recently read an article that said that women who start living with a man tend to gain about 15 pounds. I used to ask myself, “What is it about getting married that makes my girlfriends gain weight?” I swore I would not be one of those women.

And even more recently, I read an article that said that women who work more than 30 hours per week tended to be heavier (I think 8-9 pounds heavier) than their counterparts. I am sorry I don’t have the sources for these articles…you can maybe find them on your own if you are curious.

So maybe this explains the weight I have gained over the past few years (I’m not ready to attribute age just yet, I’m not even 30 and haven’t had any children). I am not exactly sure when it started but I was about 12-15 pounds lighter when I got married 5 years ago than I am now. During this time I have been in school (Freshman 15), I started living with a man (Man 15), and have worked about double the 30 hour mark (Residency 15). So I’m not sure where the weight breaks down between these but I’ve been a little frustrated with these changes.

I stepped on the scale the other day and I was heavier than I have ever been. Granted I just got back from a pig-out fest in Chicago and am back down to my new “normal,” it was a bit of a wake up call. Especially because before that I was heavier than I had ever been. And so on, and so on, slowly inching up the pounds and tighter the pants in a very short period of time. I am not saying I am fat, but I feel out of control. If I continue to gain this much weight I will be overweight and more importantly, unhealthy.

So I’m starting over on my weight loss but more importantly get healthy “journey” (that’s the popular word right now, right, journey?). And don’t get freaked out because I’d be happy to lose about 5 pounds.

Part of my problem with being consistent in eating healthfully and low calorie is hunger. I recently made a few vegan meals and found I could eat as much as I wanted and still had enough calories left over for the day for a few cookies. So that’s my new plan. Erin, the part time Vegetarian/Vegan (or as Caroline would say, Flexitarian?).

Here are the recipes if you’d like to try…

http://www.namelymarly.com/2012/08/lentil-sloppy-joes/

http://www.manifestvegan.com/2011/10/sweet-potato-cauliflower-soup/

I would love to hear your healthy meal tips or recipes!