Rambling in a Recap - Week 1

For those following along, I've completed 1 week of a vegan diet.

Workouts:  5 CrossFit classes.
Percent vegan diet: 100%
Weight: Minus 3.3 lbs
Mood: Generally good and upbeat.

Welcome to my wanderings.  I'm kind of free associating this recap. I'm not sure how else to do it.

Evenings:  Less drifting off on the sofa in the evenings. I brush my teeth immediately after dinner. One night, I had pistachios...otherwise no evening snacking.  When I find myself thinking about grabbing something to eat, I realize it's mostly a matter of boredom - not hunger.

CrossFit Classes have been good. My energy flags the last 5 minutes of each workout but I'm pushing through and it feels great not to quit. In my mind, I keep going back to that day in class when Coach Phil told me that until I committed to the intensity of the workout, I wasn't getting out of it what I potentially could.

Feeling more comfortable yet more interested and curious about the vegan diet.  Working through which proteins I like and which don't do that much for me on a satisfaction/taste level.  Yesterday, I made a field trip to Whole Foods. "Beyond Meat" burger was OK. I give it a 7/10.  Bought protein powder and a daily multivitamin. THIS is where the expense of a vegan diet comes from.  Walking the shelves at Whole Foods showed me a lot of processed vegan choices - things I'd rather steer clear of. I note that tofu is easy and pretty neutral (as far as taste goes) but considering my mom died at 45 of breast cancer, I don't want to rely too heavily on soy as a protein source.  I finally settled on a pea protein supplement to make smoothies for some meals. (Not really a change for me to have smoothies for some meals.  I take my lunch to work most days and smoothies don't make the office smell like whatever leftover cruciferous vegetable I might heat up. One must be considerate above all else.)

I developed a weird sore throat earlier in the week. It lasted about 3 days and was very focal with no other symptoms to speak of.  For a few fleeting moments, I thought it would be cosmically hilarious/tragic if I had some unexpected oral cancer just when I was attempting to get my health together.  This is a perfect example of the all-or-none thinking my brain likes to play with.

Speaking of all-or-none:  Prior to starting this adventure, I purchased a package of Oreo cookies. I didn't throw them out.  I read somewhere that they're actually vegan.  They're still in my cabinet. I haven't eaten even one since starting this plan.  I think they're the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes in the desk drawer of an ex-smoker. There's a strange power derived from knowing they're available but I have a choice.

I'm strangely disappointed at a weight loss of 3.3 lbs in 1 week.  I "should" be happy with that. I think I've watched too many Biggest Loser type shows.  I'm not going to lose 17 lbs the 1st week because I don't weigh 400 lbs. My body image is fairly warped. I love reality TV because it's so far from my own reality. Food for damned thought.

If you're reading this, thanks for your interest. And, also, BIG thanks to all who contacted me offering support and information. You're appreciated. MS