December 8, 2016

14 Days on the Vegan Challenge

Well, Friends... I lasted 14 days on the vegan challenge.

Going into this challenge, I really didn't think it was going to be very difficult for me--I'm not a huge meat person, and certainly I could go five weeks without dairy or eggs, right? All I can really say is that the experience has been very humbling!

I had good days and bad days over the past couple of weeks. Sometimes, I felt like the challenge was going to be easy; but more often than not, I really struggled.

Today, I was feeling super nauseous, and the only thing that sounded good to me was meat--which is VERY odd, because I never crave meat! I started doubting everything, including my ability to stick to the challenge and see it through to the end.

And ultimately, I decided to quit the challenge today, on Day 14.

I feel kind of like a loser, since I only managed to get through 14 days; but on the other hand, I don't really regret quitting, either. I did my best, and I now have a whole new respect for vegans. I never realized how big a role dairy played in my diet until doing this challenge! A vegan challenge is something I'd been wanting to try for several years, so I'm glad I finally did it. I wish I'd been able to stick to it for the entire five weeks, but at least I tried.

I'm still sticking to the no alcohol challenge with Bonnie, though. She challenged herself to give up bread, so I don't want to let her down ;)

I've been doing well this week with getting in some miles. I ran Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and today. I plan to run tomorrow, too. For a long time, I was running every day except for Wednesdays and Saturdays, and I liked that schedule. I'd like to try and get back to doing that.

It's been COLD here the past couple of days! This morning, it was super cold and windy (with a "real feel" temp of 9 degrees). I don't mind the cold, but when it's cold and windy, I'm out. After I dropped the kids off at school, I went to the rec center to run on the indoor track.

Running on the track is going to make it more difficult to analyze the MAF heart rate and pace data, because I don't know how accurate my Garmin is in measuring distance without satellites. The sign posted at the track says that 12 laps = 1 mile; but whenever I've used my foot pod in there, it's more like 12.5 laps. Also, I don't know which lane they were measuring when they got 12 laps per mile.

Today, I didn't wear my foot pod because the last time I used just the Garmin with the satellites turned off, the distance seemed to be pretty accurate. I started in the inner lane, and when I hit 12 laps, the distance on my watch said 0.94 miles. I tried the outer lane for six laps, and it read that I'd run more than half a mile. Finally, I tried the middle lane, and 12 laps showed as 1 mile on my Garmin. (Not that it really matters; I was just curious.)

I ran about three miles (39 laps). My average heart rate ended up being 144, with a pace of 11:44 per mile. I'm guessing that's pretty accurate, considering my heart rate and pace lately with the MAF training. We're supposed to get 8-12 inches of snow this weekend, so I'll probably be at the track for a few days at least!

I don't have a photo for this post, so I'll just share this screen shot from a Buzzfeed article I read this morning. I was lying in bed at 5:30 today when I read it, and I just laughed and laughed...

Barcode animals. Hahahaha! I love reading funny tweets--some people are just so clever!

20 comments:

  1. Barcode animals LMAO I literally just belly laughed out loud! Congrats on keeping up with your Vegan challenge for 14 days...that's 14 days longer than you ever had before! I know you're disappointed but it sounds like you're doing great with your no alcohol challenge which is great! Thanks for the giggle, I needed it today :)

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  2. I know I would never be able to do a vegan challenge. I proud of you lasting 14 days.

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  3. Definitely don't beat yourself up about not completing your vegan challenge! I am by no means vegetarian, but do eat vegetarian most days of the week. With no actual facts to back this up, I truly believe that different styles of eating work for different people. I can go a week without meat, and then I'll just crave a burger. And if I don't satisfy that craving, I tend to get sluggish and tired. Just as you always say different things work for different people, I think the same applies here.

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  4. I really appreciate this post. In a “never give up” society it can be inspiring to hear how someone tried and failed. The “win” here is the willingness to have tried. It's encouraging to see that even the most determined people don’t always reach their goal; but there is still an abundance of value in trying.

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  5. I say look at it like this, you were a vegan for 14 days! I wouldn't last 14 hours!

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    1. I second that, I couldn't do it either, especially near the holidays! Bravo for the try.

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  6. Congrats on maintaining the vegan diet for two weeks!! That's two weeks longer than I could do. :)

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  7. That's 14 days longer than I could have lasted!! You should be very proud, you tried and that's the most important thing!

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  8. 14 days is a very long time to go vegan!! I'd be stumped at breakfast time; cream in coffee, eggs & bacon, or yogurt are staples!

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  9. You did good by going vegan for 14 days, and the planet would certainly benefit if everyone was open minded about vegetarian and vegan food the way you are. I have been a vegetarian for over 10 years and giving up meat was never a challenge for me. However, I would have a hard time going vegan. I have a latte every morning and I eat greek yogurt almost daily. Neither of these things have a decent vegan alternative, so I would have to resign myself never to have them again... and that's tough :/

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  10. I often end up cooking vegan for a family member who is celiac (gluten free) and a vegetarian (who doesn't like salads)-- I am very proud of my efforts for her and it expands our food experiences-- but I inevitably cook chicken or fish the day she leaves! You did great. Maybe a vegan day or two a week is more do-able.

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  11. I think it's AWESOME that you did it for 14 days!! I know I could never even go 2 days. And honestly, I was worried about you trying to do that during the holidays and feeling deprived (which always leads me to feeling resentful, which doesn't help anyone). I am proud of you-you were a vegan for 14 days!! Celebrate that! :)

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  12. 14 days is nothing to be ashamed of. They say cravings can be based on some sort of malnutrition. Possibly your body was telling you it needed something that you weren't giving it. Iron, or protein maybe? I was impressed that you were doing both vegan and alcohol at the same time. I know I couldn't! I, like you don't really eat that much meat, but cheese, oh sweet cheese... Maybe when you can have your glass of wine, the vegan thing won't be as much of a stress ;)

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  13. 14 days is a long time to go vegan. My son and husband have to eat dairy free and I know it's been a tough transition for us and we can still eat meat!

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  14. Congrats on the 14 days! And pat yourself on the back for trying! There are way too many people that say "I could never do that" and don't even try. I've been vegan for over 40 years (!) and am probably your oldest reader... :D I appreciate your giving it the old college try!!

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  15. I don't want to be vegan but I try to eat a diet of no white sugar or flour. I wish that I could think like a vegan when tempting items come along..."I don't eat that" Vegans don't eat meat or meat products ever not just on the weekdays and splurge on the weekend. I would like to get myself there mentally. Congrats on 14 days!! I think I could go a double days with no meat but dairy would be tough. I rely on it for a quick protein.
    Stacia

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  16. I think this is one of the things people love about you! You're so honest and real about everything. Some challenges go well, some don't, you usually learn something about yourself...I dunno, I feel like we can all see ourselves in you. :)

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  17. Although being vegan can be challenging at times, a person should not go into it as a challenge. It is a lifestyle, a personal choice. I think you set yourself up to "fail" by making it an all or nothing type "challenge". I find a 90%/10% works for me, that way I have a little cushion if needed and don't feel as though I have failed if I accidently take a sample at Costco that I thought was vegan but was not. Fourteen days is nothing to sneeze at :). That is a lot more than a lot of people are able to do, you also learned a lot, and who knows, maybe somewhere down the road you may decide that a vegan, or vegetarian, lifestyle is for you.

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  18. I completely agree! I've been vegan almost 7 years now and it really is a change in one's way of thinking. I do make the occasional exception if someone has made me a baked good and it would be very rude not to take a bite.

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  19. I made it 2.75 days, so I feel your pain. :) I wrote all about mine, too, if you're interested (and, y'know, not offended by the profanity at the end).

    http://shubbe.livejournal.com/275293.html

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