Day 112: Let's Ketchup on the Past Month

Holy guacamole, I have not written a blog in over a month. I'm so bad at this whole blog thing...I tell myself every day that I need to write and then I just don't. Oh well, I'm doing it now, right?

Okay, so in the last month or so...

I went completely vegan for Lent (well, as far as food is concerned...I'm not counting animal products in clothing, etc. that "true" vegans avoid). I cheated a tiny bit: I didn't buy all vegan wines and I took an Irish Car Bomb on St. Patty's Day. I don't feel guilty about these decisions.

I did NOT go completely gluten free for Lent, but definitely scaled down on bread and such (ie: no eating a bag of mini-bagels throughout the course of a day...)

And I did not work out nearly as much as I wanted to...but I did work out more than I usually do.

I ended Lent a week early, after running the Monument 10k. Boyfriend (gave up red meat) and I both decided that we weren't going to deprive ourselves of delicious brunch after running 6.2 miles. He had bacon, I had Nova salmon lox...yum! *Note: I hurt my hip running the 10k, and after 2.5 miles, I had to power-limp the rest. It was so painful, and embarrassing since I was crying. I was too ashamed to go through the finish line with such a horrible time (I ran it in 71 minutes last year), but I did finish.

And now, a post "Lent" catch-up:

The salmon from brunch didn't upset my stomach, thank goodness. I was worried. And I didn't work out very much that week. At least my hip is all better now...I could barely walk that night!

The weekend where Lent actually ended was another story for my tummy...

I got drunk way too quickly at the boyfriend's house when we were having a cookout (now that my body's all clean, I've lost almost all of my alcohol tolerance). I drunkenly ate cheese in the middle of the night (vague memories of this the next morning when I looked into the fridge). Felt gross on Saturday...hardly ate anything and still felt really full. Then my aunt gave me some of her amazing Pasta Salad (w/ Feta Cheese) and that was my dinner Sunday night. Felt even worse Monday than I did Sunday. So what do I eat Tuesday while I'm at a friend's house watching Lost? Some amazing habanero cheese...I can't turn down something spicy, what can I say? And if I wasn't making myself feel sick enough, I ate some artichoke and spinach dip from Crapplebees Wednesday night after dodgeball.

So basically...I had stomach aches and liquid poop all week (sorry to gross you out, but it's true). Apparently dairy all kinds of fucks up my digestive system. I thoroughly enjoy delicious cheeses, so I'm going to have to save my indulgences for special occasions. Did I mention that my favorite dessert is cheesecake?

And throughout all of this:

I've been looking into Natural Chef programs (very few, mostly in Cali or in the Mid-West). The one I've fallen in love with is in NYC...and of course, it is the most expensive.

Until I can raise $20 grand and convince my boyfriend to move to New York with me...which I feel might take a while...I've been reading and learning as much as I can on my own.

Michael Pollan has written several books on food, eating, and where our food is coming from. His philosophy is this: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." He also calls the processed stuff that's on our shelves today "edible food-like substances." Love him.

Also, I received two comments last weekend that I look thinner. But not in a sickly, unhealthy way (like the comments I received when I was plummeting down to 96lbs). I apparently look more toned. And after a recent doctor appointment, I've apparently lost 6.5 pounds. The crazy thing is, I'm not dieting. I'm not depriving myself of food, I'm just eating the all-natural versions of it. Same calories. I'm not working out more (probably working out less, actually). I think either I'm getting rid of toxins or my energy is better spent now that it's digesting properly. Who knows...either way, I feel GOOD.

Anywho, that's a quick little summary of what I haven't been blogging about for the past month or so. Sorry to be so boring.