I have tried to write this 2 times before, and have managed to loose it. So, here I go again.

Firstly, I have a lot to loose - and that helps. I started to work on my weight in late April; first with lean animal protein, vegies, and walking. This had some effect. Then I went vegetarian but included eggs and yogurt in my diet. Then I watched 3 health documentaries on Hulu. These were Forks over Knifes, Chow Down, and Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. They inspired me to go vegan which was something I had wanted to do, but was afraid it might be unhealthy in the long run. Anyway, I saw more progress on the vegan diet than I had on the vegetarian diet. After seeing Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, I started to include more raw foods including blended raw vegi/fruit drinks and juiced vegies/fruits. Though blending is a lot easier/faster.


I have been doing this for about 2 weeks. But I have found that I still need bean soups in my diet in order to feel energized. Not huge portions, but enough to get my protein. I generally garnish these with a couple of tsps of chopped nuts. I do use vegan protein powder, but I find my energy level is better with the bean soups.

I make about 4 quarts of blended/juiced vegetables either in the morning or the night before and drink it through out the day - often mixed with extra water so that the flavor is not so intense. I have learned a lot about juicing /blending from U-tube.

I have also given up processed oils, by this I mean all pressed oils. If I get oil, it is from a nut which I have eaten. Forks over Knifes and another source/author/doctor Dean Ornish recommend removing processed oils from your diet to improve health. Also, a man named Pritikan in the 1980's talked about this.

I read of a 400lb man who died and was sent to the crematorium. All that fat/oil produced such heat that it burned down the crematorium. I figure I am carrying all the oil I need and my body will use up what it has stored.

Also, I do try to keep moving. I aim to walk at least 30 mins. a day and ride my bike 45 minutes a day. I also have a rowing machine and an elliptical in my basement and I aim to do a 30 mins between the 2 of them in the morning. Of course, this is the ideal. I don't always make it.

Lastly, and I think most importantly, I have to get enough rest. I aim to go to bed by 9:30 pm so that I can get up at 6 am feeling good and start with the elliptical. It is very easy for me to summarize my day on this website, and then meander through the internet until 11:30. Then, the next day - I feel terrible and have to pick up a caffeinated drink which ruins my sleep for the next night. All of which effects how well I prepare my food, and succeed at my exercise. This being said, I must say that I have learned a lot from the programing on Y-tube and Hulu. I still find inspiration for the documentaries I have seen and from the individuals who post their Vegan experiences and exercise routines.

So far I have dropped from a size 24 pant to a size 20 and in one pair of pants - a size 18.

ALSO: I have noted that I need to take time to give myself a daily mental break after work. I find that meditating to some sort of mediation music or chanting calms me down so that I can come back to life in the evening after the busy-ness of the work day. If I don't do that, I'm not able to get myself together to exercise in the evening and could easily sate my frustration through mindless nibbling.

I know this has been a long answer. But you asked and so I shared. My program may change overtime, but this is what I am doing now.

Keep plugging at it; that is all we can do.:flowerforyou:

Thanks, I will check them out.

Check out these lady/fitness buffs. I wished I had their zeal for working out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elsOwJ4IyyA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clk6r8tjlno&feature=related

And this lady's state -of- the-art fridge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=683taLTfc1c&feature=related