Good morning! Is everyone still geared up to start Eat to Live again? I'm ready. Well I'm almost ready. I still have a fridge full of eggs and yogurt, lol, but my son is picking it up today. And I need to go to the store this morning to buy more green stuff. Otherwise, I'm happy, excited, and feeling adventurous enough to give this a try!
I tried to go vegan a couple of months ago, but only lasted about 3 weeks. First came the coffee cream, then came the yogurt, then the cheese But I am vegetarian, so that part is easy.
I read this book a long time ago and I know it is packed away still from too many moves. It is a basic vegan diet right? I would love to join your group if it is not too late.
You are more than welcome to start our group We're actually starting today, though some have had experience with ETL in the past. There are just a few of us, and we'd love the company. I hope the others haven't chickened out
It is vegan, though he does allow for a little flexibility.
This sounds perfect for me as I am a whole-foods strict veg (read=vegan) and looking at calorie counting. I don't have the book but I have met Dr. Furhman and heard him speak so maybe I can "wing it" until I get the book from the library?
Here's the basics from the book - This is for the 6 week challenge. You get a little more after that.
Unlimited - all raw vegetables, including carrots (goal 1 pound raw per day)
Unlimited cooked green vegetables (goal 1 pound cooked daily)
Unlimited eggplant, mushrooms, peppers, onions, tomatoes
Try to include a wide variety of vegetables. This is a good time to explore new foods
beans, legumes, bean sprouts, and tofu (1 cup daily)
fresh fruit - at least 4 per day, and it's ok to eat more. Recommended are berries and melons, and be careful with high sugar fruits such as bananas.
No more than one serving per day (1 cup) of:
cooked starchy vegetables or whole grains (includes cooked carrots, winter squash, breads, cereals, etc)
1 ounce nuts or seeds daily
2 oz avocado
1 Tbsp ground flaxseed
Off limits -
dried fruit, fruit juices, between meal snacks, dairy products, animal products
Salad is always the main dish. The book has recipes for salad dressings made from veggies and flavored vinegars that sound good. You can also use bottled dressings that are very low calorie and all natural.
He also recommends eating lots of mushrooms.
I've noticed that a lot of ETL'rs make weird smoothies from berries and spinach I'm actually planning to give that a try.
When I first read the book last year, I practically laughed and put it aside, thinking I'd never be able to do anything so extreme. But it doesn't seem extreme to me anymore. I've gradually made so many changes to my diet that have led me in this direction anyway. I can't swear I'll make it the full 6 weeks, because I really DO miss real cream in my coffee and yogurt for breakfast But we'll see what happens.
I was inspired by this thread to meet a friend out for lunch at Whole Foods and have a great salad that meets the specifications perfectly, instead of just rummaging around for a something here at home.
On good days, I eat really close to that but more beans...that will be hard to cut back on because I find I crave more protein-rich foods, but I'll see how my body responds this time around.
I am calling today day one and intend to stick to the plan 6 weeks, which will be June 25th
I'm here just didn't get on line yesterday. I also had a little set back with my new medication so I didn't start yesterday. But as of tomorrow look out greens all the way. I think I'll post my planed menu for tomorrow.
Breakfast one cup soy yum pudding
Blended salad with soy milk, blue berries and spinach
Lunch sugar peas steamed toped with lentil soup and watermelon
Dinner cucumber tomato salad with navy beans and pineapple
And some roasted pumpkin seeds.
I did a good job for the most part...The only thing is that I had a tortilla for dinner (my sweetie brought me home a burrito filled with great stuff and I just should have emptied it out instead of eating the tortilla oh well!).
I just made the decision to "start" yesterday half way through the day anyway and so today is going to be right on the mark!
Breakfast will be 1 sprouted English muffin with 1/4 avocado and black berries.
I am going to school and will bring some lentil soup with me, and will have another beautiful salad for lunch with mixed baby greens, beets, carrots, arugula, romaine, chickpeas, and lemon juice. Oh! I'll have an apple too
Dinner will be sugar snap peas, red cabbage, onion, garlic and baked tofu.
Yes, I love them...they are "Ezekiel Food for Life". They are flour less, made from all sprouted grains and have a good amount of fiber and protein when compared to other types. I find that they "stay" with me more and I don't get hungry as soon as with other foods when I have them in the morning.
3 cups fresh spinach
1 cup soy milk
1 cup berries of choice I like blue berries
and for me since I don't eat nuts I put a banana in
and a table spoon of fax seed
I blend my soy milk and spinach first until it is a lite green color and then I'd add the rest of the items. and bled till it's a purplely color.
Suzanne 3FCI am glad you like them. They are a healthy choice that don't trigger my other bread/starchy cravings.
I ate too little yesterday and gave myself a headache. Today will be better!
I had a sprouted English muffin with a serving of all fruit spread and natural peanut butter for breakfast.
It's now "lunch" time but I still have a headache and am not hungry
I think I will take myself out to eat a salad and soup at the local health food store where they cook lots of whole, organic vegan foods without any unnatural junk, very little to no oil and sugar. Yes! That will give me a chance to buy more fresh fruits and veggies. My daughter comes home from a school trip tonight and I want to have lots of healthy foods for her around too.
I'll update about meals later!
Exercise starts tomorrow when I go to the YMCA and get the ID badge I never had made
Eat to Live for the week of May 14-20
But I am vegetarian, so that part is easy.
We're actually starting today, though some have had experience with ETL in the past. There are just a few of us, and we'd love the company. I hope the others haven't chickened out 
I've written the details in my blog.
oh well!).