Hi!
Yesterday was a rest day which worked out pretty good because I woke up with an angry cold. This morning it is still hanging around but no sense it letting it get me down. I headed to the gym with my MIL this morning and did a slow 3 miles, got off stretched and did some of my favorite Chalean strength training exercises. I decided to get back on the treadmill and do one last mile increasing my speed at every .20, I went from 6.0 to 7.0. Nothing too fast, but I just wanted to get my heart rate up before we headed home. It felt good to get up this morning and start the week off with a good workout and I love that my Mother In Law is getting up and coming with me while she is here visiting. It is nice to have a partner at 5:30 am, it really makes a difference to get me going! Sandy looks forward to going and that motivates me to be sure I am up and ready to go too, I don't want to let her down. It is amazing what a motivator it is for me to have a workout buddy and know someone is counting on me to show up. She is very encouraging with my running and doesn't give me slack about being a vegetarian, she is also the first in Jesse's family to defend me if anyone brings it up in a negative way. I appreciate that because I do get slack for being a vegetarian and some feel I run too much which totally makes me laugh! Me, run too much? I wish I could be running more!
Do you get negative reactions and backlash from those close to you for your healthy lifestyle? I am not saying that I am super healthy because I don't eat meat, I am healthy because I am active and make good food choices more than 80% of the time. I choose to not eat meat not for only health reasons but more so for ethical reasons. I do not support the way that our animals are treated in the food industry and I do not trust the way the meat is handled and then sold to the consumer. I chose to become a vegetarian based on personal choices and I don't push it on anyone, my girls are not vegetarians. Since I don't eat meat anymore it has created a greater opportunity for me to make healthier choices. I've started to get more creative in my recipes and I have started eating vegetables I had never even tried over a year ago.
Sometimes I can easily brush off the comments I get from people when they hear I am a vegetarian or that I run too much (ha)! Sometimes it can really frustrate me, it depends on who is making the comment and how they go about it. I get a lot of questions like "what do you eat if you don't eat meat?", "how do you get enough protein?", "isn't it bad for you to cut out a food group like that"? I also get some pretty off the wall questions but we'll keep it to those top 3.
What do you eat if you don't eat meat?
- I eat A LOT. I probably eat more than necessary, I love food and eat something every 2 hours. I eat a lot of avocados, Ezekial Bread, chia Seeds, Kashi Go Lean cereal, tons of green vegetables, peppers, beans etc. I do eat pasta but I try to keep it to once a week or less, it is more of a treat. I eat way to much sugar which is a sticking point for me, I know if I cut back I would probably clear up my skin and lose a few lbs.
How do you get enough protein?
- Adult Women need 46 grams and Adult Men need 56 grams of protein per day. I eat those requirements and then some on an average day. Green leafy veggies have lots of great protein, beans, eggs, dairy, etc. I am not lacking in protein and eating a steak or chicken or small child won't get me any healthier. I ran my first marathon 100% on a vegetarian diet and I didn't die or faint or fall apart at the seams.
Isn't it bad for you to cut out an entire food group like that?
- Nope. I could go on and on about all of the homework I have done on this subject but we as humans just do not need nearly as much meat as we consume on a daily basis. We chose to eat that much and have at it! I support you in your choice and do not judge the carnivores in my life, I just ask to not be criticized in return.
Stepping off of my carton of spinach and will get back to running portion of this blog.
What Am I Doing This Week?!
Monday - 3 easy miles + 1 mile speed up
Tuesday - 6 miles
Wednesday - Cross Training
Thursday - 5 miles
Friday - Long Run
Saturday/Sunday - Walking all over Niagara Falls! Cannot wait!
Are you a Vegetarian or Vegan?
What is your workout/run today?
Do you have a workout/running buddy? Does he/she keep you motivated?
Hi, I just found your blog and wanted to say keep up the good work. I'm vegan and training for my third 1/2 marathon. I guess I have been extremely fortunate. No ever badmouths my choices in diet or exercise, but when I do get questions it mainly stems from them not understanding that healthier lifestyle choices are an option. When people ask about running or being vegan I look at it as an opportunity to plant a seed that maybe they are capable of being healthier.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I love to share what I have learned since becoming a vegetarian with people :) It is the critics that won't quit that bug me :) I am so glad you found my blog! I go back and forth about vegan, there are so many great recipes!
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