5/7 Weighing on My Mind
In preparation of the VE (Vegan Experience) I have been researching products, reading labels and collecting vegan recipes of all kinds. One thing I have found is that they are not low fat. Many of them are full of succulent ingredients (nuts, avocados, oils) that most of us fat fearing individuals would shy away from. I realized that in order to maintain to a completely vegan diet, even just for the challenge, I would have to allow a paradigm shift. I would need to stop focusing on low fat or fat free dairy products and allow myself to eat foods that have naturally occurring fat. This leaves me feeling both excited and scared. Am I going to gain 30 pounds? Am I going to experience the best health of my life in those thirty days?
We currently maintain a fairly healthy diet. Our meals are veggie heavy and meat replacement enhanced. On occasion we allow ourselves to indulge in foods we love (ice cream) and engage in as much physical activities as our schedules allow. This challenge isn’t about weight, but I have to admit, I am really curious. If a diet full of fat free dairy products and low fat cheese is replaced by a diet focusing on whole foods that contain natural fat…how does your body react? My brain is screaming that if your replace fat free with fat full, than you get fat. My hunch is that is not the case at all.
Milk from any species is a super-food for that species. It is naturally formulated to nourish their young. To help it mature, grow and become the healthiest version of that species. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to me that dairy products of all kinds could be making us fat. I am not a calf on my way to becoming a full grown cow, but a human dining on a myriad of dairy products that were produced for the sole purpose of fattening baby cows. This may actually be the answer to a lifetime of calorie counting, fat fearing and an overall love hate relationship with food.
So far, I have found it difficult to release my long held belief that fat is an unwelcome dining companion. Because we are still in the hybrid stage, we are consuming the last of the skim milk, Egg Beaters and low fat cheese, while filling the fridge with tofu, nuts and higher fat foods. This experience will truly require a paradigm shift that I am excited to experience.
In an effort to track our findings, Sandy and I are going to record our weight and body measurements before and after the 30 day challenge. We will continue to exercise at our normal pace and I will let you know how it goes.
It would be life changing to honor my belief in compassionate dining while rekindling my love of food. Not fat free fabricated or diet friendly foods, but whole foods infused with the intoxicating taste of energy and the sun.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences. Have a great day!
Tags: 30 day challenge, compassionate eating, dairy free, trying vegan, vegan, vegan experience, weight loss
May 7th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
Ok you know I just have to comment on this one!
I used to be obsessed with low-fat/no fat stuff, counting calories, etc. But when I was pregnant with Luka I started to truly embrace good fats…and honestly, that is when I started to feel healthier than ever. On my own personal journey I have been convinced that fat is my friend. Unrefined coconut oil, coconut butter, avocados, plenty of nuts, these are all of the things that help carry the nutrients to the rest of my body so I can have the energy I need. How awesome is that?! For me, I feel healthier when these foods are in my diet. Movement and exercise go much further for me than counting grams of fat, you know? Now when I started on my vegan path, I was thrilled to be able to really do it up with these foods! Not vegan related, but Geneen Roth wrote an amazing book called “Women, Food and God”. If you haven’t read it, you are welcome to borrow it when I finish reading! 
May 10th, 2010 at 10:42 am
Thank you Jennifer for sharing. This makes perfect sense to me, whole foods help your body stabilize, get to and maintain your ideal body weight. As a lifetime fearer of fat, it does scare me a little.
I also love nuts and avocados. They are foods I only allow myself to eat when I am splurging. I haven’t seen them as staples of a diet based on nutrition and whole foods, but as an add on to a cocktail party full or dairy laden hors d’oeuvers. What if you just ate the foods you really loved instead of adding them into a sea of foods you have always eaten because they felt safe or fat free…whatever we thought at the time????
Challenging and rethinking my beliefs about food and my body has been fascinating and invigorating. I am really enjoying this journey. Thank you for your knowledge and kindness. I am grateful for both.