Hi everyone. Welcome to my renewed weight loss journey. I’m back after two years and excited to continue my weight loss transformation. I am more determined than ever to reach my goal.
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My Weight Loss Journey So Far
I’m happy to report that I’m currently weighing 309 lbs. — less than in my last weight loss journey update. I’ve lost a total of 40 pounds so far which means I’m closer to my goal. Sure, it seems like it took me two years to lose those 40 pounds, but that’s not technically true.
The Past Two Years
After losing the initial 14 pounds, I continued to eat plant-based for a while, but I gradually began eating some of my old favorites. A little roast pork on Sunday evenings, a couple of eggs here and there, a few nighttime binges of my mom’s store-bought fried chicken and before I knew it I was back to my old habits.
Fortunately, I did not gain the weight back. The lessons I learned about weight loss and nutrition remained with me. Although I was back on an omnivorous diet, I ate more plant foods than before I began my weight loss journey back in 2015.
When 2017 rolled around, I had three jobs and you can imagine how busy I was all the time. Some nights, after a long day of work, Wendy’s big, red sign called to me with the promise of a delicious Crispy Chicken Sandwich and a side of fries and don’t forget the frosty.
A few months of that and I was almost right back where I started.
Becoming Vegan
A few months ago, I made the decision to cut out all meat, dairy, and eggs. My wife and I decided to go Vegan. Although we already knew the benefits of a plant-based diet, we became vegan for ethical reasons.
Last night’s dinner: tofu scramble, zucchini and mushrooms saute, quinoa, and steamed potato.
Becoming vegan for ethical reason changed the way that I look at food. I became more aware of what I was putting into my body and the consequences my actions have. I was now on this path for the animals and the planets, not just for myself. I could no longer bring myself to consume animal products knowing the implications.
After making the transition to veganism in October, the weight started slowly falling off again. My energy and focus increased again, and I stopped snoring which improved my sleep.
My Vegan Diet
I have not been following any specific vegan diet plan for weight loss.
I’m a simple guy and I eat a lot of the same meals repeatedly, unlike my wife. For her, every meal is an event.
For breakfast, I enjoy something light. Most of the time I have a smoothie but sometimes I eat overnight oats or toast.
For lunch and dinner, I usually have rice and beans or a vegetable sandwich. I also love adding pico de gallo, avocado slice, or vegan cilantro garlic sauce.
This Week’s Challenge
Exercise is one area where I’m seriously lacking. Although my physical activity has increased, I’m not consistent. So, this week I’m challenging myself to a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio every day.
One of my favorite places to exercise is at my nearest park. I find it relaxing and a good way to disconnect from the daily stresses of life. When I don’t have time to go to the park, I’ll be using my treadmill.
I’m also hoping to sneak in more physical activity by doing more active things during the weekend. For example, this week we went to the Marlin’s FanFest. It was fun, but I also walked a lot and climbed a ton of stairs. I even got to walk on the field!
Join the Challenge
I also want to invite you to join in on the challenge to add more physical activity into your daily life, too.
From my research, I’ve learned that physical activity has many other benefits besides weight loss. Mayo Clinic has a great article explaining how consistent exercise can help an array of health problems. It also improves the quality of your sleep and elevates your mood and energy.
Let me know in the comments below what kind of exercise you’ll be incorporating into your daily routine this week. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
As always, thank you for reading. I hope to see you back on Sunday, for my next weight loss journey update. I’ll let you know how this week’s exercise challenge went.
If you have any questions, comment down below. 😊
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