Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Engine 2 - Day 1

I began a lifestyle change yesterday, based on local Austin firefighter Rip Esselstyn's Engine 2 plan, which consists of a plant based diet. Yes, no meat or oils. Growing up "Meat & Potatoes" style, this is certainly a different step for me, but one I'm willing to take.  After firing up the Wii Fit and being measured at Obese, I wanted to die. Not that I didn't think I was overweight, but it was time to face the music. How had I gotten here?  I used to be in pretty good shape, I had tried Weight Watchers once, with success, but found it lacked an exit strategy and I realized by the end of it, I hadn't made a lifestyle change, so it was back to square one. Me. If I can't hold myself accountable, then I will never succeed.  

I found E2 by accident. I was looking for ideas to re-structure my life, make a change I could work on and after an initial time maintain and live my life by it.  I love the book and despite some opinions that assume Plant Based is somehow not good for you, I took the plunge. 

I'm writing this on Day 2, and felt great yesterday.  My darkest hour is from 3 -5pm, I seem to get a burst of hunger at that time, but I made it fine with proper snacks and water.  I believe I made one mistake so far, the chip we had, had some oil in them and were not fat free. 

I didn't panic, just stopped eating them and moved on.  My wife's homemade salsa is pretty much the same as the E2 version, so no big deal there. OVerall, my wife and I already eat alot of what's in the plan, so I wasn't feeling overwhelmed by too much. (I did panic once late afternoon yesterday, thinking about some of my favorite restaurants in Austin, My God What have I done! Then ate a Wasa Cracker and walked around)

We had some Veggie Tamales last night too, made by Oaxacan Tamaeleo. I was not completely sure if they were made right, but after i ate one decided I better stick firm to the E2 recipes. 

I woke up feeling bloated, assuming it might be the start of some change, or whatever.  We'll see. 

*I'm not gonna cover everything E2 offers, I recommend you look into it and research it for yourself. 




Food & Exercise Log:

1 -Tablespoon Organic Natural Peanut Butter
1 - Set of E2 Stretches
1 - E2 Workout routine

Breakfast
Rip's Big Bowl of Cereal
w/ Hemp Milk

Snack
Apple

Lunch
Ann's Panini (Delicious)
Barbara's Fig Newton (2)

Snack
Wasa Cracker
Barbara's Fig Newton (2)

Dinner
Guiltless Gourmet Chips (Wrong Ones)
Homemade Sals
1 - Veggie Black Bean Tamale (Not sure of all the ingredients, so gonna avoid for a bit)

*Couldn't resist - a small, small bowl of Grape Nuts w/ Hemp Milk 

I plan to add pictures and possibly videos as I go along. 



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