Milestone Number One, and a Comment on Vegan Junk Food

40 Pounds Lost !  This is not difficult, I eat all day every day, and I am never hungry. Just one word of warning,  avoid Vegan "Junk food" , and there is plenty of it out there. Two weeks ago, I ate too many over processed, soy based foods and I actually gained three pounds. There are two vegan fast food places in Chelsea, NYC where I work, and their menus are a train wreck of oily, high fat, over salted treats. Once a week is fine as treat or if you are in a rush. But any more than that, you might as well just go get a large pizza. UPDATE: This happened again last week, I had to eat out 3 times and I gained a pound. This week I only ate out once and I lost 2. So if you are gaining it may be because you are eating too much bread and processed vegan junk food.

Spread the Word, Don't Force the Word

This wonderful journey, this slow motion miracle, started one day when I was handed a copy of Dr Esselstyn's  Book, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure, which can be purchased from Amazon by clicking on the link to the right. Yesterday I returned the favor by handing that very same copy to a colleague who works with me at a local golf course. He is 75 with various health issues and says sadly that he doesn't play golf anymore. I told him that if he can do this he will be back on the course within 6 months. There is significant downtime at this job, and by closing he had already read half the  book and confidently expressed his gratitude. 
This how we can help others, by spreading the word, not by big gulp bans and laws passed by loathsome nanny state mayors and marxist city councils. The moment the government becomes concerned with our health is the time to run away or revolt. What we eat is an individual choice.

Yet Another Reason...

...I'm sitting here stuffing my face with chard instead of pizza.  This study links baldness to heart disease. I started going bald and having other early indicators of heart disease in my 20s. This information may support Dr. Esselstyn's assertion that heart disease starts much younger than we think.

Quinoa is your friend

Being a red blooded American manly man and transferring to a plant based diet can be tough at first. The hardest part is getting your arms around eating big green salads instead of big hunks of cheese. Which, much to my surprise, I never even think about anymore. One thing that can make your salads more filling is Quinoa.

Make your salads hearty is my best advice. I use beets, spinach, kale, and quinoa to make really filling salads every day. Some of my other favorites are artichoke hearts, and hearts of palm, make sure if you get them canned they have NO OIL. Roland makes them both in water. You will not starve, I eat like I always have, like a pig. 

Be the Pig.

Just don't eat the pig!

Another Seriously Manly Feast

Cajun Cornbread Casserole. I made this incredible dish last night via Lindsay at Everyday Happy Herbivore. 

I am focusing on finding great man's food and this absolutely fits the bill. It is very easy to prepare and is very filling and spicy.
Don't be put off by any preconceived notions of plant based foods, I came in with plenty and they have all been changed by great cooks like Lindsay and her creativity.

The Number One Question

Where do you get your protein? Here is what Dr. Esselstyn says:


Protein - Where do I get my protein / What protein drink is best? 
Extra protein powder and shakes are truly unnecessary and have the potential for harm if they contain animal protein. The protein available through plant-based nutrition is adequate to nourish professional champion athletes such as the iron man, professional football, mixed martial arts, track and field, etc. 


If this man gets enough protein from a plant based diet...

Then I should be just fine. Athletes like Arian Foster are a huge motivational factor for guys like me who are not ideologically motivated to get started on a plant based diet regimen. I have 100 times more energy that I had while ingesting animal protein and you will too.

How Do You Feel?

Great! I have been on Dr. Esselstyn's plant based regimen for 2.5 weeks as of today and I feel incredible. I am able to categorize these improvements into 4 areas.

Cravings
This is probably the most shocking to me. I love cheese in a "why don't you marry it?" kind of way. I never thought I could go a single meal without it. But not only do I not miss it, it doesn't even cross my mind. I don't think about cheating at all. If I am extra hungry I'll have some grape nuts or some figs and I am fine. The sweetness in fruit tastes 1000 times sweeter when you no longer have animal proteins and oils mucking up your taste buds  and the dairy stuffing up your nose.

Digestion
Everything is smooth and easy. No more noises, grumbles or anything! It turns out gas is not normal at all. Who knew? 

Mental Clarity
I wake up in 5 minutes. Now, I did quit caffeine 5 months ago. But it was still taking me about a half hour to wake up. Now, I pop out of bed and I am fully functioning in moments. I have the time and energy to do things like start a blog no one ever reads.

Emotional State
This is a personal note. I had struggled mightily with depression and emotional issues my whole life, and had recently won some major victories in that battle. The love of Christ being the best cure. I also gave up caffeine which helped a lot. This, though, is a amazing. I am fine. Relaxed and calm with no anxiety or upset. I actually do feel fantastic. I cannot begin to speculate on how animal proteins cause or contribute to emotional stress but if the question is "How do you feel?", the answer is , "Great!"

Here are Richard Wright and Pink Floyd asking "How do you feel"?
Kind of Ironic that my favorite Pink Floyd album has a cow on the front...