Progress

Source

I've been working out consistently for a few months now, and I'm so excited because I'm finally starting to see some results.

First of all, the scale is consistently moving DOWNWARD.

For a long time it didn't do this. For a long time I was stuck. My eating was not strict enough. My workouts weren't intense enough. But now I'm seeing it go down every time I weigh.

My jeans are loose OUT OF THE DRYER! You know how you dread putting them on when they have been freshly washed/dried? I usually do too. But now they fit. And, as they stretch out throughout the day, they get crazy loose. It may be time to put on the next smaller size soon!

For a long time I dreaded getting dressed because the clothes I wanted to wear were all too tight. Now it's fun again!

I have more energy (and it's not just the coffee). I am stronger to get through my workouts. They are getting easier (or I am getting better).

Thoughts of an animal loving meat eater...

**Note: Despite today's date, this is not an April Fool's Joke. I am completely serious. **

Lately I've been conflicted. I've been eating a basic bodybuilding style diet (with lots of cheats, hence the reason I am not at my goal weight) for years now. I dabbled in Paleo too here and there, doing a Whole 30 every now and then. But the thing these diets have in common is a lot of meat.

Then I look at my cat, or someone's dog, and I think "What makes this animal different from a cow, chicken or turkey? Why does this animal deserve my love more than other animals?" And I have a moral dilemma.

So I've been wondering if I could do it. If I could slowly make the transition to vegetarian, or even (gasp) vegan?

I've started with research. I haven't changed anything in my diet yet. I'm still following standard 21 Day Fix meal plans (tightening up on those this weekend, by the way, but that's another post).

I guess my next steps are going to be to try to replace meat with non-animal products. I'm not going to cut out dairy immediately... (because OMG I love cheese!) but I will start with the substitutions listed in the 21DayFix guide. I'm also switching to Vegan Chocolate Shakeology, which will not be that big a deal I'm sure. I already drink Shakeology, just now without any animal products (mostly dairy/whey protein)

I'm telling you all this because I plan to document it all here.

Now, there was a time when I was a raw vegan. I felt really healthy, and my skin was amazing. I did it as long as I could, but the biggest problems were 1) food was really expensive and 2) I spent all my time in the kitchen. So this time, I would like to avoid those problems and hopefully be a little more successful. I have considered starting off with the 21 day Ultimate Reset, but that would be more of a crash course/sudden "OK I'M 100% VEGAN NOW!" and not at all gradual, so I may wait until I have transitioned a little more. Plus, on the Reset you're not supposed to workout strenuously, and since I see myself doing either 21 Day Fix or 21 Day Fix Extreme for the foreseeable future, that's me out.

Have any of you successfully transitioned to a vegetarian or vegan diet? Do you have any tips? I would love to hear them...