(For those of you doing the challenge, remember to give us a quick update!)
Week 9
by guestblogger Elise
I feel great about this week. It wasn't perfect. But I had some great exercise sessions, and I made some dinners!
One of my favorite things that we did this week was a quick polenta dinner. We bought some prepared polenta, sliced it, heated it on the stove, and served with vegetables. It was incredibly fast. And it tasted delicious. I recommend it as a fast, yummy meal. And my kids liked it, which is important in our house. What are your family's favorite fast vegan meals?
One thing I will improve on this week is aerobic exercise. I am still struggling! I really detest feeling like I can't breathe. But this week I am going to TRY doing my least favorite thing: the treadmill. Or elliptical. I can't decide. I will do it once. For at least 40 minutes. My other aerobic exercise is kickboxing (which I love, but can only do once per week because of my schedule).
One tiny exciting development: I am developing very faint lines under my biceps. I really have some of those! It's the first time in my life that's ever happened. Maybe by the end of this challenge I'll be able to see real definition!
I was traveling last week which meant A) I didn't post an update and B) I didn't do as well with eating. I still have a hard time w/ traveling, eating out or eating at others' houses. I just don't want the inconvenience of not being able to eat whatever is available. If this is to be a permanent lifestyle, however, I need to figure out how to do it so it works for me. I have been stagnant for 2 weeks now, last week and this week. I do fully expect to see something budge this week though. I've been doing great at maintaining and I have been religious in my exercising. I have also gotten back on the better eating horse. I am still struggling in the snack department and I think I just need to learn to be satisfied with the idea that some fruit or veggies is the best sort of snack to reach for anyway.
ReplyDeleteElise, good luck with your treadmill or elliptical workout. I used to hate running, absolutely hate it. Now, it's my very favorite form of exercise. I don't know what changed in me, but I never feel quite so satisfied as I do after a good run.
I had another great week for exercise but an ok one for eating and have hit a weight loss plateau because of it. I am still eating vegan but eating too much junky vegan foods (e.g., granola bars, tofurky deli sandwiches) and less whole foods. I did make a few great meals this week that we enjoyed and made enough for leftovers so that was a plus. Tonight I want to make a black bean sweet potato chili I found on a blog. It is all about planning for me.
ReplyDeleteRe adjusting my approach is working! I felt good about what I ate and not overly confined and I lost 1 pound! It helped that I had more time to prepare good foods and read more on Dr. McDougalls discussion board. Exercise was great too, making sure I'm pushing myself a bit!
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering where you go to kickboxing Elise? I teach at BYU and go to Omega on Mondays and Fridays. Just curious. I love these updates. Thank you guys for being so honest and open. I'm doing whole food vegan with an occasional celebration meal that doesn't include meat necessarily, but sometimes not whole flour, or has sugar. Weight loss still happens albeit slowly - 1/2 lb. a week is my norm. Including tons of veggies in my meals is key to my control, and feeling good.
ReplyDeleteour favourite quick meals include anything in a wrap (mexican especially), and pasta dishes. The best way I can make quick meals is by defrosting something that took me a while when I had the time - slow cookers and large batches are my best friends.
ReplyDeleteI had a good week. All healed up, back to full exercising. I tried some oil replacement strategies - put applesauce in my favourite banana bread and eliminated the refined sugar and oil! It was great. It is just taking time to tweak my favourite recipes, but I'm getting there.
I lost three pounds, which puts me at 10 total.