My Month as a Vegan

I have a whole new appreciation for the difficulty of eating any sort of special diet whether it be gluten-free, lactose-intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, or raw foodie. Some restaurants cater to most of these although no where have I found gluten-free pasta or bread on the

menu. If you mention you are vegetarian, the servers often suggest fish : { Since when is fish non-animal? I think most of the specialized eating happens at a few select restaurants such as P.F. Chang, Natural Cafe, and others.

I was not perfect. This disappoints me. I had a few glasses of chardonnay here and there, mostly on the weekends and then there was the red vine debacle. I never touched one drop of gluten, dairy,

or animal products, or coffee. I have semi-permanently given up coffee for green tea, which I now drink 2-3 times a day. If the occasion arises and I feel like a cup, I will have one. My main goal for doing this was to cease to make meat the centerpiece of the meal and think of it more as a side dish or accom-

paniment to the main portion which will be mostly vegetables or whole grains (non-gluten). I have been asked this question often: "What's left to eat?" I can only think these people have no imaginations. I have eaten extremely well. My meals have been tasty, fresh,

and interesting. I will now start with whatever vegetables or grains I want and thenconsider if I want to add a little chicken or fish to them. I hope to eat vegetarian at least 2-3 daysa week and snack on

more fruit. On the average I had 8-10 servings of fruit and veggies a day.

One benefit to this kind of a diet is how much you poop. Seriously 4-5 times a day is not unusual. I think this largely explains the weight loss I have experienced. Enough on that.

One epiphany that I had was how much I eat out of boredom or to fill time. I have had to read more, plan more outings and socialize more which is all good. Nighttime is the worst whenmy snacking urges get ferocious. I usually eat nuts then because

the fat fills me up and satisfies. I also get asked if I feel better or different. Not really. I ate pretty healthy before. I was already gluten free and dairy free. I didn't eat a lot of red meat but had fish 2-3x per week. I had my first cold in many years during this

month and I was able to run 3.5 miles. I guess it's pretty much life as usual. I do feel a bit smugly self-righteous though. Just a little. I lost 7 lbs. and about 2" off my waist. This feels good, but I was this weight before I went to Maine in October and pigged out on lobster.

Then came Christmas and well, you know. I want to work to keep this 7 lbs off and lose 2 more. Then I will be the weight I was when I got married the first time (age 21) which will feel good, although I

have a lot more muscle than I did then. I have also worked on my balance, equilibrium and poise through Tai Chi. I just about have the short form (24 moves) down and will be switching to the advanced class this summer.

All in all it was a great month. I will have my cholesterol taken tomorrow so in a few weeksI will post those numbers (before and after). I think I will have made some small improvements. Thanks to everyone who encouraged me, who followed or read myblog and who tried the recipes. I value all of you out there who are in

my life for a reason.