30 Day Wrap-Up

The End

Well, this experiment has come to an end.  Over the past 30 days, I’ve kept to a whole food plant based diet AND for the most part kept to an Unprocessed diet, staying away from salt, processed sugars and oils.  I say for the most part because when eating out at restaurants, its sometimes not possible to order say, a plate of spaghetti marinara without oil in the sauce, though I’ve had success at some restaurants asking them to sauté the veggies in water instead of oil.  I wasn’t always successful in totally omitting these three processed ingredients.  But at home, I was always good at not using these in my meals.  I should note that we only ate out four to five times while on this experiment so for the most part I stuck to the plan.  It was tough not eating chips at a Mexican restaurant that was covered in salt but I stayed away. 

There were some frustrating moments in the beginning, but it was mainly the result of inexperience and trying to learn new ways to find and shop for food.  There were a few times when was so frustrated at the market because everything I wanted to buy either had oil or salt or sugar in them.  Eventually I became familiar with alternative markets like Sprouts, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.  Sprouts became my favorite place to shop. 

I owe a huge thank you and I’m very grateful to my wife Cristina for making such great meals and being so helpful and supportive.  Without her this would have been more of a challenge. 

What I’ve learned:

I’ve learned that I can survive without meat.

I’ve learned that there is no shortage of complete proteins or nutrients in a plant based diet.   

I’ve learned that there are delicious ways to cook meals without the use of salt, oil or sugar.

I’ve learned that my pallet has adjusted to the absence of salt and I’m able to appreciate the real flavors of many foods. 

I’ve learned that it takes smaller portions from a whole food, plant based diet to satisfy my hunger

I’ve learned how processed foods like olive oils, sunflower oils, corn oils or vegetable oils which are so calorie dense and nutrient poor, lead to a huge overconsumption of calories and in all cases, it’s not necessary to cook with it.   

Results:

Two years ago, I weighed 180 lbs and was at a 22% body fat.  At day #1 of this experiment (and several few months beforehand) I was consistently at 160 lbs (163 after the holidays) and was at 14.4% body fat with a BMI of 23.1%.  At day #30 I weigh 152.25 with 11.4% body fat and a BMI of 22.2%.  That’s a loss of 3% body fat in 30 days not to mention a loss of 10.6% over the course of 2 years.  I can’t remember the last time I weighed less than 160 even through intense workout programs and marathon trainings.  My energy level has been very high. 

What’s next?

I will continue to eat a plant strong diet.  I don’t miss read meat or poultry at all.  I think I may continue to have fish once or twice a month.  I will no longer cook with salt but maybe just add a little at the table to taste or I just might continue to use Table Tasty as a salt substitute.  I’m content without cheese, and eggs.  The thought of cheese is almost a turn off now.  I want to say I’m done with dairy but I still sometimes miss milk chocolate in things like Peanut M&M’s, Kit Kats and Reese’s.  I guess I’ll need to continue making the vegan and sugar free sweets I’ve learned to make over the past month.  I can live with that.  I’m going to start juicing soon also.  Looking forward to it!  I need to increase my fruit intake.  I still have room for improvement. 

Finally, I just want to say that I’m proud of my Dad for the changes he’s made to his diet throughout the last 30 days.  He has also cut out dairy, sugar and oil in an effort to reverse his Type 2 Diabetes.  Keep up the good work Dad. I hope that my Mom and my other Dad will adopt some healthier eating habits as well. 

Day 30 Dinner

Chef Cristina made a dish from The Engine 2 Diet, "Lynn's Meatloaf." No there is no meat and yes we all liked it. Even the kids ate it. She also made a side of wine sauted asparagus and onions.

My 30 day wrap up is coming soon.

Day 30 Afternoon snack

Looks like poop but tasts great. Another home made granola bar.

Day 30 Lunch

I went to Baja Fresh for the first time in a long time. I ordered a vegeterian bowl which consisted of rice, black beans, fire roasted (not pan sauteed) onions and bell peppers, zucchini, pico de gallo, lettuce and salsa. Delicious and filling.

Day 30 snack

Apple time.

Day 30 Breakfast

Wow, it's Day 30. I will have a 30 day wrap up later today just to summerize my experiences and results.

This morning was my standard bowl of oatmeal with a traspoon if pure maple and some cinnamon. Oh, and a slice if whole grain wheat bread.

Day 29 Dinner

We went out to dinner with my parents. They wanted Japanese from a place we had never been to. Luckily the restaurant had vegetable rolls and miso soup. I was set. After dinner and after the kids went down, the wife and I did a 12 minute high intensity work out. Energy is not a problem these days.

Day 29 Afternoon Snack.

Knew I wasn't going to be home this afternoon so I packed one of my home made granola bars.

Day 29 Lunch

Left overs from last nights black bean burger. Still so good.

Day 29 Breakfast

Happy President's Day. I'm enjoying the day off today with the girls. This morning I had some wheat pancakes with the kids.

Day 28 Dinner

Wow. Chef wifey does it again! These home made black bean burgers were perfecto. Thank you Cris! This experiment would be harder without you.

I also enjoyed home made vegan and wheat dough unprocessed sugar brownies.

Day 28 Afternoon Snack

So hungry from burning over 1,300 calories today. I found out these pancakes my wife made were vegan friendly. I attacked them like nobody's business. I ate 5.

Day 28 Lunch and post race snacks

After finishing another 13.1 mile race while on this vegan and unprocessed experiment, I feel great. For a post race snack I had half a bagel, half a manana and one of my home made granola bars. Sorry, i didn't take a picture of my snacks out there on the course.

Wasn't sure what to eat until I found some left over brown rice and zuchini. I'm satisfied.

Day 28 Breakfast

There is definitely no shortage of energy on a plant based diet. After walking and standing all day yesterday, I'm geared up to run another half marathon this morning.

This morning I just threw together an almondbutter sandwich at 5:30 am.

Day 27 Dinner

We spent 8.5 hours at Disneyland. I watched the fam enjoy treats without me like rice crispy treats and popcorn. :(. Good thing I brought two of my kale sandwiches and enough home made granola bars

On the way home we stopped at an italian restaurant. Ordered a salad to start with balsomic and lemon as the dressing. Then angel hair marinara. I'm assuming there will be salt in the marinara and possibly oil in the marinara. :(. Doing unprocessed at restaurants is next to impossible unless you just order a potato.

Day 27 Lunch

I packed a delicious kale, avocado, lime, cilantro and tahini sandwich for our day at Dland. Cris liked it too. Easy and delicious. Not to mention how much $ I'm saving not eating here.

Day 27 Snack

This home made granola bar came in handy here at Disneyland.

Day 27 Breakfast

It was a scramble this morning as we all rushed to get out if the house for Disneyland. I had a quick oatmeal and some lavash with babaganush from last night.

Day 26 Dinner

The family wanted to go out to dinner tonight. I picked mediteranian thinking I could stick to humus, tabule, rice and babaganush along with some lavash. Unfortunately all of these sides I ordered for myself had quite a bit of oil; with the exception of the lavash. So tonight wasn't a good night as far as staying unprocessed. :(

Day 26 Afternoon Snack

Banana. :)

Day 26 Lunch

Black bean burger day. Added some red onions to the mix.

Day 26 Snack

Fruit snack time. Slowly getting used to fruits.

Day 26 Breakfast

This morning I made whole wheat pancakes using apple sauce to coat the pan. Yum.

Day 25 Dinner

I was craving a salad. I had some organic kale in the fridge so I threw it together with an avocado and lemon juice and mashed it all together. It was so quick and easy to make. Delicious too. Also had some wheat pasta with home made sauce. I need to buy mire table tasty. It tasts better than the other salt substitute I have. The salad was very filling. I couldnt finish my pasta.

Day 25 Lunch

What a treat. Today we were given a two hour lunch break from jury duty. Looks like my almond butter sandwich will have to wait. I treated myself to a vegeterian medley from a shabu shabu restaurant a mile down the road. I'm so stuffed! Ugh, so good.

Day 25 Breakfast

Had to rush out the door for jury duty. Ate a quick bowl of oatmeal on the road.

Day 24 Dinner

Dinner was a seemingly simple throw together of wine sauteed veggies with curry powder, touch of maple and brown rice. Thank you wifey!

Oh I also had a small sliver of the brownie from earlier today.

Day 24 Post Workout Snack

Had a great lower body workout today during my lunch hour. I treated myself to a vegan browne without procesed sugar that the wife made for me yesterday. Date paste was used as a sweetener and cocoa powder for the chocolate. Delicious.

Day 24 Lunch

I had an unusual mix of food for lunch today because I needed to get through with some of my left overs. So I had my home made thai noodle left overs with pizza left overs. :)

Day 24 Breakfast

I've been wanting a breakfast burrito since I started this experiment. This morning I made it happen. This was a delicious black bean burrito with veggies sauteed in white wine and garlic and topped with avocado slices. No salt. No oil if course.

Day 23 Dinner

This is definitely a weekly stable in our house. Home made pizza. Of course mine is made without cheese and this one has home made sauce that was left over from two weeks ago. It's still good. All veggie toppings.

Day 23 Lunch

For lunch today I had leftovers from last night. It disn't dissapoint! Mushroom burger with lettuce, avocado, home made hummus, sauteed onions, peppers and garlic with a balsomic rub. Yum!