Goals

I am coming up with goals for what I am going to do. I will post them in this entry, and if I update, edit or add any more, I will add the dates that I've done this. I am afraid of giving myself a deadline for becoming a vegan, or at least an almost entirely plant-based eater, because I know that if I feel myself failing at the challenge I'll just stop completely and run the other way. Baby steps.

Goals for this Blog: 


1. I will make 1 vegan, whole-foods, plant-based recipe each week, which I'll call Sunday to Saturday. I will post the recipe, talk about the taste, give it an "out of 5 stars" rating etc.

2. After 1 month I will re-evaluate how I'm doing (i.e. have I actually made four recipes, more than four, etc). I will determine then if I'm going to start making 2 per week, which is my ultimate 'small' or first goal.

1 and 2 - 15 May 2011

Welcome. I've got the bug!

Some of you might follow me on my other blog, A fat girl's non-guide to life. That's my day-to-day journey of weight-loss, becoming someone I like, etc. This blog will detail my recipes, struggles, and transitions on what I think right now will be a once or twice per week basis. 

About me: I have led a relatively unhealthy vegetarian lifestyle for the past fifteen years. I gained at least 120 pounds in that time, because I was addicted to the animal based foods that come with the vegetarian lifestyle and have no respect for quantities or for that matter, qualities. I have off-and-on toyed with the idea of becoming a vegan, but never saw myself as someone with the hippie, granola, staunch-PETA-supporter extremist that the vegan stigma often carries. Plus, I love chocolate, cheese and ice cream! (weaknesses)

I also have thought about becoming a vegan for health reasons, but a couple of years ago (when I was eating much more unhealthily), I had a Complete Metabolic Panel done. All of my blood work, cholesterol, urine, etc came back with incredibly great results! My doctors said I was in outstanding shape......with the exception of being about 120 pounds overweight. Hmph. I thought I was fine, but that I just needed to lose weight! 

Bob Harper (the awesome Biggest Loser trainer) tweeted about the film 'Forks over Knives' and I saw it today. I was blown away. I've decided to change my mindset and to begin incorporating a plant-based diet into my lifestyle so that I can lose the weight that I really need to.

I'm an all-or-nothing kind of gal and I know that if I "quit cold turkey", I'd fail, because I'd push myself too hard, get flustered and give up. So, I decided to keep working on the things that I need to work on: overall diet, exercise, getting my life together, etc., whilst I also embarked on this journey. You see, I don't cook but 3-4 times per week, and I usually cook things that will provide ample leftovers. I rely on processed foods, bagged salad and fruit to get me through the rest of the week.  I can see some of you cringing. I can hear Jillian Michaels gasping "oh, honey no."

This journey is going to be long. As stated in my other blog, I am currently hovering at around 260 pounds, and I started my weight loss 'journey' at 300 pounds at the end of 2010. I'm proud of myself for my accomplishments thus far, but it's time to step it up a notch and kick it into high gear!  

Please join me, please comment, please respond with recipes, ideas, questions, etc. If you want me to follow your blog, please ask!