We’ll get to that in a minute.
Back in April I posted about a plant-based diet to get back into shape after a rough 4 months or so.
And then I fell off the wagon that weekend. I had some excellent chicken dishes at the Elephant Walk and later the best raw dessert from Wildflour Bakery and other stuff I don’t really remember. But I didn’t want to stop trying then so I put on my big boy pants and made a salad.
Lots of them, actually. A typical meal has become vegetables, roasted or sautéed, with some beans or a few eggs. If I cooked an egg any way other than frying it I’m sure that’d be healthier but fried is perfection. Who can argue with that?
Oh an I drink a lot of these, too, “for my health”. They just taste so good.
Anyone, if you asked me I wouldn’t say I feel or look any different. Everyone says “Start a plant-based diet and you’ll suddenly have so much energy.” I’ve never been a bounce-off-the-wall person before and I’m still not.
But then something funny happened this week. Tuesday I casually ran 10 miles in just under 1 hour 24 minutes. That same course took me over 5 minutes longer a month before. Then, 2 days later, I ran it again in 1 hour 25 minutes, like I do this every day. I don’t. Or I didn’t, but now I do? And I’ve been increasing the weights I lift, too, so I must be doing something right.
That’s not to say I eat perfectly by any means. I eat chocolate all too often. I have honey by the spoonful when I’m bored or stressed. And I eat giant slices of vegan/gluten-free pound cake from Wildflour when I’m done with exams. It’s vegan so there must be plants in there somewhere. But progress is progress, and this is an update, not an end.
And now I’m off to run. I hope I don’t run too fast and taste cake. Or maybe I do.
Keep on running and PLEASE keep the chocolatey goodness coming 😉
What a great update Evan. I am the same way that it doesn’t make me bounce of walls because I usually eat a balanced diet. However, the more I tip my eating toward plant foods the better I feel and the better I perform physically. I think the biggest difference is not having a many cravings and up and down energy swings.
I love the way that you’re doing this – by still enjoying the foods you love – but with your optimal health as a goal. Kudos! 🙂
I wonder if you eliminated the eggs as well if you’d see a big difference. I never had tons of energy, but switching to a mostly-vegan diet definitely gives me more energy. If I start getting lazy and eat a little cheese, dairy, or eggs…my body definitely tells me. I get sleepy, my joints ache and I get headaches.
This is very interesting. I have heard of many people eating more of a plant based diet and having much better fitness. I should try it! 🙂 And the kombucha–yummy! Maybe another new saying could be “a kombucha a day keeps the doctor away!” lol
As good as that sounds, healthcare just might be cheaper 🙂
I have eaten plant-based since October and have felt such a difference in the stability of my energy level. Since I changed the way I eat I have lost 45 pounds, so I am sure that some of my additional anergy is due to that. But, the consistent energy I feel throughout the day was almost immediate. It has been a wonderful change for me. I used to have extreme highs and lows, bouncing off the walls at times, while exhausted at others. I wanted a nap daily, but I rarely feel the desire to nap these days.
I guess I underestimate the amount of energy I have. I almost never nap or have the desire to. I don’t tend to run around during the day but that might be from running 10~ miles in the morning.
I try to eat plant-based as well but I think it’s essential to still eat the things you love that aren’t plants. I also have to say that I’ve never noticed a difference in energy between eating patterns but then again I think I’ve always tried to eat sort of healthy and I feel pretty good anyways. haha
Glad to hear cleaning up your diet is helping your fitness! That’s great motivation to keep going. 🙂
Way to go on dropping time from your runs. I think eating a plant based diet has helped me to drop times as well – the real test will take place next Saturday as I run the Fargo Marathon!
Oh and vegan = totally healthy all the time, right?! 🙂
fact 😉
Good luck on your marathon!
😀 way to be man…have a good run!
The ‘stealth improvements’ is so inspiring. I’ve never been a bounce-off-the-walls person either, or noted huge radical differences immediately after making a change. But maybe that’s why I think that the incremental changes are more likely to stick.
I think that ‘plant based’ is a great maxim. Wards off any extremist tendencies: it’s what you do most of the time that tells.
love
Ela
haha, I really enjoyed reading your post! Just keep doing whatever you’re doing because it sure sounds like its working! Sometimes we just worry too much about what we eat. I think our bodies know whats best for them and will tell us when we need more veggies…or chocolate 😉
Definitely. If I didn’t eat chocolate when my body tells me to, I wouldn’t be a happy camper.
thanks for posting about your progress/path and where you’re at with it all..had wondered what was going on a few mos ago when i saw some non planty things but figured you were just doing your thing and you’d keep us all updated. and now you have. and so glad you’re liking the path you’re on!
this is really inspirational for me. I’m toying with being vegan, and it’s tough! good to hear that it’s not easy from someone else, too 🙂
Oh man, honey by the spoonful? I’d be bloated for hours (too much fructose, I guess, so sad).
Nick discovered last night as he was eating the bean burgers I made that he had gone the entire day without eat any animal protein. Meatless Friday!! I was impressed.
Great run improvement!! I don’t necessarily think a plant-based diet was is the answer to finding improved health/energy though – as it is more with cutting down/back on the sweets/sugar. I think that some lean grass-fed chicken and/or fish with veggies and legumes have many health benefits and certainly don’t hinder your running. Most people have poor health from eating too many processed foods full of sugar and saturated fats.
I feel you on the running – I had some of the best long runs ever while going through a 21 day cleanse. You’d think I’d have been less energetic!
Life without chocolate cake would be sad – you totally earn it with those killer runs! 🙂
I’m do glad that you can actually feel the improvement already!! I know that I have more energy when I eat more fruits and vegetables. 🙂
i could never exclusively eat a plant based diet but i bet i eat more veggies than some vegans for sure! you can be perfectly lean with eggs & meats in your diet just so ya know 😉
Oh baby, that chocolate cake looks INSANE!
How is it that you don’t have tons of energy but run for hours. I mean I’m just aksing.
Well, last Saturday I ran 12 miles in the morning and then stayed out until 2am dancing, so I’ve got a little energy in me, and a little boogie.
Your honesty is refreshing, and your recipes are amazing… Thanks for keepin’ us updated bud. Remember, “health” is all encompassing and means indulging every once and awhile, or more for that matter. You just can’t feel bad about it 🙂