Still Truckin'

It has been a good few past days in ref to my biking. I have been biking on the average of about 5 miles a day. I think that is a good amount for me at this time. I know that I am enjoying it very much. It seems that whenever I get aggravated or in a unpleasent situation I can get on my bike and ride it away. Thats really nice considering I would go for a drive before I started to ride and that cost money! Believe me with the living situation that I am in it is easy to get upset or aggravated. Anyway, My bike meetup group has started off well. I have already had a few people join so thatis a good thing. The more people that join means more people are getting active. I would love to see 50 or 75 people join the group by Christmas. That would be awsome! I am going around to the organic markets today with flyers to see if they will let me put them up in their store, that will draw a lot more people to the site. I have to put this in because I think it is imporatant to remeber these things as time goes on and reflect on them and see how I conquered it or fell victim to it. Last night I had a really bad time with the people I live with and it was crazy how all I wanted to do was eat! I was so aggitated. I was craving so bad. Thats was crazy because I had already had dinner. I thought about it later and realized how much I have been a slave to food. It was not just about what I ate before but why I ate. Here I am a Vegan now, biking every day and feeling great,and when the crap hits the fan I want to turn to horrible foods to eat for comfort! Last night I realized that I need to start searching myself more. I ned to look deeper inside of me and find out what makes me tick(thats scary). I also need to move into some type of activity of some sort which involves either meditation or inner healing,or something like that, I am still trying to figure this out. Something to lead me down a road that is more complete. Well, until next time......

7 month old fish in freezer

FOOD!

I went to the store this morning to buy some things and left with some items that i never buy,but that I am excited to try. I have been using the same old things for weeks and realized thats what I have been missing out on. I have been so focused on getting my routine for other things that I forgot or at least did not realize how diverse the foods are that I can eat. I usually buy "the standards". You know, carrots,apples,squash,zuccinni,oranges ect... This time I left with swiss chard,golden tomatoes,oyster mushrooms,scallions,kale,bok choy,and some herbs. I am looking foward to trying these things. The possibilities are endless with eating Vegan. I think about when I would go into a fast food rest, and order. I would stand there for 5 minutes trying to decide what I wanted and the was only ten things to choose from and all horrible for me. Now I have an endless supply of healthy great tasting food to choose from and I am going to take advantage of it!. Another thing that was brought up to me recently that I am going to challenge is how much I am spending on my new lifestyle. When I made the decision to live Vegan I thought to myself that I knew I was going to have to spend a lot more money doing this but it will be worth it. Now as I have been looking at things a lot closer and watching my own pocket book, I know I am not spending the money I was spending when I was eating fast food,and I am going to prove it. On my next log in I am going to have a basic run down of what I am eating and how much it cost me. Then I will list what I would eat on a dailt basis at fast food and junk food in my house. Oh ya, another thing. Here are some pics of some of the stuff that other people that I live with bring in the same house I live in. I am living proof that a regular guy with a regular job can live Vegan. It is not just for wealthy or elite.

Meet up bike ride

This is a great thing. I started a meet up bike ride group and it is taking off like crazy. The second day and three people have already signed up. The more people that ride the more people that stay off the couch! I cannot wait to meet all the people that are getting involved. Back soon......

I am sooooo excited!

I did something today that I am so excited about I can hardly stand it! I started a meet up group for bike riders. I already have my first four meetings set. It is going to be great. Having people come and ride together will really motivate me and everyone involved.

Been a few days

I have been busy! I think this has been the best weekend socially for me in a long time. I do stand up comedy,(if I didn't mention that before). Well, I met a well known comedian this weekend and he gave me his cell and said to call him when i come into his town and we could get together.That was a great thing for me. This guy is a comedic allstar. He is incredible on stage and he is someone to really listen to. Anyway, about Vegan life! I have officially went down one pants size! I am shocked. This is a great thing. I have such a long way to go before I will be where I would like to be physically, but that is really not the issue. What is more important is that I am still living Organic and Vegan and loving it! This is a great lifestyle. My eating habits are becoming so habitual. I just do certain things now everyday without really thinking about them.For instance, I know every morning I am eating fruit. It doesnt matter what fruit, just that I know this and do not think of doing anything different is great. I have it sitting around all the time. Rice,Tofu,greens,grains,veggies they are always withing reach and sitting somewhere. Its amazing how junkfood can be so easily replaced. I have also realized something else. There is Veagn junk food too!! So many people have this impression of Vegans that everything is lettuce and tomatoes and carrots. But do you like pop tarts?No meat so vegatarians eat them. Taco bell? bean burritos are for vegatarians. Hey isnt that amazing that vegatarians can eat at taco bell?! There is more to it than that though isnt there? Yes, you know there is. Its about accountability to living creatures all over this planet. Its about treating yourself good . Have you ever done the salt count on taco bell stuff.?Have you ever seen how many ingredients are in a pop tart? What it boils down to is good old commen sense. Do you know that what your eating used to walk this earth? DONT EAT IT!! Did you know that the fish you eat had the ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER FISH WITHOUT USING WORDS LIKE US? It did until it was taken from its home and cut open and killed. I officially refuse to live in a type of lifestyle that only lives because animals are being horribly tortured and killed and then eaten buy us. It feels good to know that there is nothing dying so I can survive.

Moving my feet

I started to walk this week and it has really made a difference. I feel better with just a week into it. Not much to say today. Going to a Vegan dinner tonight, that will be fun.

My wife Christy and Daughter Katie

An impression has been made!!!!

I cannot believe this has happened! what a great step foward. My wife who was raised a deticated meat eater, actually approached me yesterday and ask me if she could go to the organic market with me and see whats there!! Wow! I instantly said , of course! So that night we met at the store and walked around just looking at different products. She asked me questions and I gladly answered. By the end of the evening she had dinner there. I was on cloud nine. Finally some support from her. Later on that night she ask we if I thought she could actually live the Vegan lifestyle!Of course I said yes.Well, to say the least in that area of my venture this is a huge step.Until next time.....

Its a loose day!!

Man this is awsome! I actually feel my pants fitting better. I guess that means I am starting to loose a little weight. An added benefit to living kind.. I was in a rush today when I left the house and I did not prepare anything for my lunch or snacks. Being the fact that I am on the road for my work I was hoping that I would be able to swing back in to my house later and get some lunch. Well, I was really busy but was still able to get back and fix myself something but had to do it in a hurry. I was amazed of how quickly and easily I found what I needed to prepare without really thinking about it. I had a great lunch it was totally Vegan and it only took 15 minutes to make. I was stoked! That means I am kinda getting in the groove of things.I signed up for membership with PETA today and am happy about that. Its amazing as you live a certain lifestyle that you begin to notice things around you that have to do with that lifestyle. I guess it is like when you buy a car then all of a sudden you start seeing that car everywhere you look.This is a good thing though. Seeing needs is a very good thing. I was pumping gas today in my truck and I saw an elderly man start to walk around his car but he did not see the gas hose apparently and fell over it. I ran over to him and he was still on the ground. I helped him up and made sure he was ok. The one thing that struck me was is that he seemed shocked that I helped him. Is that crazy or what!? Doesn't it seem that we should NOT be suprised when someone helps us? Another sad testimony to human nature, but it made me feel good to help. I probably sound corny but it feels so good to be living this way. Until tommorow....

Attack of the Cheetos!

Man what a night. I was having a dream the other night about a giant cheeto. ( I am not sure that is how you spell it , but you get what I mean) No matter where I went that thing kept coming after me. I would run and hide and the next thing you know there it was. I woke up, and what do you think I wanted. Cheetoos! I fought that urge so hard. I did not give in though. I cannot believe that something like that happened. How in the world can a craving be so bad that you start dreaming about it, and why would I be craving such garbage anyway? Well, I decided to look into it a little bit. Our brains are amazing. Amazing in a bad way too! If you have something that you really enjoy and you have enjoyed it for a long time , when you quit using it or eating it your brain tries to tempt you into getting it again so you will be happy because it remembers how happy you were when you were using it /eating it!! Crazy! I cant wait for the day I start dreaming about celery! Be back tonight to continue......

Judgement Day

It really started as a normal day. I felt great, had a little fruit in the morning and some cereal, weather was nice,you know one of those days where everything seemed to be good. I had a little extra pocket money so I figured I would go up to the Organic market and have a nice lunch. When I got there I was standing in line looking over the menu when I noticed a man standing next to me staring. I casually looked over in his direction and saw that he was looking me up and down, but when he saw I was looking at him he quickly looked away. I did not think much about it until I heard a laugh behind me and as most people would do they would look in that direction, which I did. Apparently these people did not see me look at them, because I saw one of them puff out their cheeks(like they were imitating a fat person) and roll their eyes at the other person, and make a comment that I could not understand. At that moment they met eyes with me and I knew instantly, this was about me. They had that look of being caught and they were obviously uncomfortable. My heart sank. I was humiliated and sick to my stomach. As I looked up at the menu my appetite was gone and I slowly just turned to leave the store. As I walked to my vehicle ,a 39 year old man, I had tears in my eyes from the utter discust of how I felt about myself at that very moment. I did not want to be me. How could I go from feeling so good to feeling so sick so fast. I sat in my vehicle , no radio, no sounds, just the situation playing over and over in my head. I thought, here I am at a place in my life that I thought I was doing so well and then this. Then I realized where I was. I was at a market where most of the people that come there are Vegatarians or Vegans. These are people that promote cruelty free living! Well, cruelty free living is not what I saw today. Sure its great to save our animals but that sure does not mean treat people like I was treated. You see these people did not even know that I am on my second week as a Vegan. They saw what was on the outside, a work in progress. You never know who you are looking at. I was so sad, my faith in the human testamony sure dwindled today, but as I thought about it throughout the day I realized that even when I only have 5 pounds extra on me there is going to be someone out there that notices it. So what does that mean? It means that we must continue the fight , without concern for others opinions. I am in this venture, this lifestyle change ,for me. I will have opposition regularly, but thats life. Every day I live cruelty free,Vegan,I can feel good about myself. If I stayed fat for the rest of my life, thats not the point, the point is my lifestyle, how do I influence others, treat others, treat the world I live in,and all the creatures in it. That is the legacy I will leave, not what I looked like. So maybe having that experience today proved valuable after all!

2nd Week!!

I cannot believe I am on my second week!. This is amazing to me. It has been interesting. I am not really sure how I am supposed to feel, but I am not going to lie, that would defeat the whole purpose here, but, I need something but I really do not know what it is. I feel a lot better that I did , don't get me wrong, but I think I should have a little more energy. Maybe it is the switch, after all it has only been a few days right. Well, we'll see, but I do know that I feel better than when I started. I get up easier in the morning thats for sure. I have not started doing any type of work out,that might be part of it. I think I will start riding my bike in the evening a bit and see how that goes for a couple of weeks.I think I need to do some research on nutrition for vegans. Well,its a beautiful day here in Florida, so no complaints about that. I had some fruit this morning and for lunch I had a half of an Avocado with brown rice and tomatoes w/ a veggie burger pattie. Thats one area that I need to look into is preparation. I can see how easy it would be to get bored very quickly so I have to learn how to be creative with my food. Have a great day!

This is a good reason to live compassionately. What you teach them is what they will practice in life.

It is tuesday morning and I woke up with leg cramps real bad. I cannot sleep because of them and I do not know why. I need to check my vitamin intake and see if I am deficent in anything. I know I should be getting plenty of potasium but I will still check. Anyway, It is really amazing how my appetite has decreased in the last week. I am sure I will deal with temtations for quite a while but it is really amazing how long I can go now without worrying about getting something to eat. Its only been a week! I wonder what this is going to be like in a month or two? But of course my outlook on this I know has a lot to do with it. It is not just about food. I am living a compassionate lifestyle, not just eating well. That makes all the difference right there. When I think of a meat sandwich I do not think of it as a yummy temptation, I think of it as a beautiful creature that had to die so that sandwich could be made. That alters the desire immediately to eat it. Thats what has me floored about going Vegan for reasons of humanity. It really makes me feel good that nothing has to die for me to live. Isn't that awsome? It really is guilt free living. I told a friend of mine the other day that even if I never lost any weight going Vegan I still do not ever want to go back to living on a meat based diet, because this feels so good living like this. A thought accurred to me yesterday,what if this excitement fades after a while, and then I realized, how can the exitement fade, this is saving lives every day I live,that will never get old. I metioned the other day that there were a couple of interesting things I had to mention. My dad used to tell me that misery loves company. I am learning that all too quikly. People around you will not want you to succeed if they are not part of your Vegan plan. I am not saying all people, so do not misunderstand me, but just be careful if you want to do this and you live with people who do not believe in it or do not care. I notice that icecream and cake came into my house quickly after I started my life change and I even got phone calls letting me know that it was in the freezer. ( just to let me know it was there so I was not tempted) LOL Well, I am going to make some tea. Thank God for Agave Nectar.

First Week

Well, I have officially started my quest. It has been one week since I began walking down the Vegan trail! The first couple of days were not fun. I am not going to lie to you , it was misserable. Headaches, nausea,just felt horrible. Then on the third day I actually woke up and even though I did not feel as good as I wanted, there was a definite improvement. Now after only one week I feel a lot better. I am sure this is going to take a while to adjust to the new lifestyle, but thats ok. It is really late, or should I say early. I have been in that truck for 14 hours and I am exhausted. I will pick up here in the morning sometime after some sleep. There are a couple interesting things that I feel are very valid to mention.