Vegetarian Challenge Day 7

Well this is my one week mark, this will complete the goal that I have set for myself.
I started with breakfast where I took two morningstar farms veggie sausage patties and built a sandwich with a little Cheddar and an Egg, and I finished up the home fries that I had leftover. Off to a great workout with Lynn, then on the way home where I was going to meet Nicole and go out for a bite, the weather took a turn for the worse. Not much rain, but plenty of wind and lightening, all the street lights went out, and so did the power at my house. We decided to stay in and so I went through the fridge and made us Vegetarian lunch, Pita Pockets with Sprouts, Carrots and Feta, Hummus and Pita Chips, String cheese, Apple slices and Grapes. It ended up being better and cheaper then if we had gone out, and after about an hour the power came back on! Then off to work, where after my 8 hour fast my blood sugar was 86. Now it was time to celebrate, with the usual wednesday night after work trip to Steak-N-Shake. It was at this meal last week where I had eaten my last Burger and Chlli! I have met my requirements, so what shall I order?
I decided to try to keep the Vegetarian thing going a few days more, I had Baked Beans, a Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Cheese Fries. I am in no way saying that these were "healthy" choices, but i was pleased with myself with sticking with this task for a little longer, even if it is just for a couple of days. I'm sure that I will get the craving for a Burger soon, but until I do I am going to keep it this way!

Vegetarian Challenge Day 6

Once I got up I was looking through my fridge for things that I knew I needed to use up, I had a Tomato and I also had three pieces of Bread left - Well that is a no-brainer - Add some Cheese and make a Triple Decker Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Mighty tastey! and I used up things that would have gone to waste - not bad! Then once Mark got here I made us each a small Salad with Dried Cranberries and Figs, Almonds, Walnuts and Honey Roasted Peanuts, knowing that we were going to the Food Truck Bazaar later that evening, I figured that I would keep it simple.
Upon arriving to the Food Truck Bazaar, we found it to be way busier then expected. The lines would have been what looked like at least 30 minutes, however they were barely moving so it might have been even longer. We ended up going to Tijuana Flats which was Ok. I had a Veggie Fajita Burrito with some chips and a small Queso. It did the trick and I maintained my Vegetarian Diet, a bowl of Cereal before bed, and a blood sugar of 131 in the morning.

Vegetarian Challenge Day 5

Nicole and I were out running some errands and decided to go to Sweet Tomatoes. As always it was delicious, however this time I was actually paying attention to all of the signs that said "Vegetarian" or "Non-Vegetarian". I have my staple items that I normally get here, but considering I am eating Vegetarian this week, some of my "usuals" were out. No Wonton Chicken Happiness salad, No Joan's Broccoli Madness (Bacon) and my two favorite soups, Tomato and Cream of Mushroom were both Non-Vegetarian. For the first time this week I realized how many things that I would naturally think to be Vegetarian were not. I'm sure the soups were made with Chicken or Beef stock, which doesn't bother me, however If I were Vegan, I am finding out that there are a lot less choices! I still managed to eat and have a good time doing it.
It is funny when you look up the definitions of all the different kinds of Vegetarians. It seems as though this week i am attempting to be an Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian, but I think after this week the most I would agree to is a Semi-Vegetarian. we will see, there are a few days left.
Another difficult time for me was yesterday at dinner, Addison and I went to Teak for half priced mondays, although I stuck to the plan and had Pan Fried Fresh Mozzarella Rounds $6.95
Panko-crusted fresh mozzarella, lightly fried served with marinara sauce and then for my entree I had theBroccoli Cheese Flatbread $7.95 Steamed broccoli, roasted garlic pesto spread, melted pepper jack and parmesan cheese topped with diced tomatoes, grilled onions and a nacho cheese drizzle. Now if I hadn't been eating Vegetarian, then I would have definitely ordered something different, however I wanted to stick to the rules and achieve the goal that I have set! Then late night was some Cereal, and after a 10 hour fast my blood sugar was 138.

Vegetarian Challenge Day 4

I got up and decided to cook brunch for me and Nicole, Scrambled Eggs (half whole Eggs, half Egg Whites) with Spinach and Tomatoes, Home Fried Potatoes, Morningstar Farms Veggie Sausages and Toast - Delicious and Hearty! This was also the first day in about a week that i didn't do any extra cardio, but I had a long shift in front of me and felt that it was OK to have one exercise-free day. When I got to work I figured that I should eat in the Rainbow Cafe before I started my shift, a Garden Salad and a cup of French Onion Soup (I'm sure that it was made with Beef Stock, but I am not ready to be that kind of Vegetarian so I didn't mind) then after a long, sweaty shift my reading was 88. Then several of us went to California Burrito Express, I had a Veggie Burrito and it was pretty good, probably actually the best thing that I have ever had there. Sometimes when I have gotten meat in the past from there it creeps me out a little, I think maybe it is the fact that it is very fatty meat that they use, and sometimes the Chicken has a little too much dark meat mixed in and i hate it, so this Burrito did me just fine and i really enjoyed myself!

Vegetarian Challenge Day 3

I woke up and decided to have a non traditional breakfast, I roasted some Asparagus that I had bought the previous day, and served it with the leftover Rice that Mark had made along with the last piece of Naan. I wanted to get some sort of work out in early, but didn't feel like getting on the treadmill, so on the living room floor I did 75 crunches, 75 Bicycles, and 60 Push Ups. So then when I got a call from my Mom telling me they would be in town and would like for me to join them at Buca Di Beppo I figured that it would be OK. They already knew what they wanted and it fit into my Vegetarian plan for this week, FRIED MOZZARELLA Hand-breaded mozzarella fried golden brown and served on a bed of homemade marinara sauce, and APPLE GORGONZOLA SALAD Tart Granny Smith apples, spiced walnuts, dried cranberries and Gorgonzola cheese tossed with our fresh lettuce blend in our signature Italian vinaigrette. Both dishes are delicious. Then a quick nap and then off to work. After my 9 hour fast, imagining that my blood sugar reading would be about 100, I was shocked when it turned out to be 251! What was going on? I took it again.... 153. Then again.....121. The 4th reading was 106 (sounds about right) I took it the 5th time and it also read 106. Is my meter going bad? I have changed the batteries recently, so I knew it wasn't that, it IS about 4 years old, how long do they last? I will keep close watch over it for the next few days, and will replace it if necessary. So then it was off to Bananas, I had to order a little healthier then the previous night, I didn't want that heavy feeling again. My final decision, a House Salad with a side of Potato Chips. The Chips are not the best choice, but I really love them and at least I was not having a big Sandwich with it. So far, I have not missed the Meat, I'm pretty sure I will not actually become a Vegetarian, but I can easily do it for a little while!

Vegetarian Challenge Day 2

After doing a P90 workout video and getting my blood sugar down to 114, I had my first meal which was very similar the yesterday's lunch, a Veggie Pita (Carrots, Cucumbers, Sprouts, Hummus and Feta) a small portion of Pesto Pasta Salad and a few Grapes. Delicious and Satisfying! Later, and throughout the day I snacked on a bowl of Cereal, and then a small plate with a piece of String Cheese, a palm full of Marcona Almonds, Green Apple Slices and a few more Grapes. Then off to work where after an 8 hour fast my blood sugar reading was 93! Then Bobby and I went to Bananas (like we usually do on fridays) They now have a Burger that is sandwiched between two Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (served with chips), I decided to get it with a Veggie Burger Patty (instead of Beef), thinking that it would be a good vegetarian option. However once I managed to eat most of it, I realized that it was actually pretty gross. Although it DID fit this weeks Vegetarian Diet, it was too heavy in my stomach, and I had wished that I had chosen something a little lighter. Perhaps when I dine at Bananas next I will just get a salad or something. Perhaps now that I am in a "healthier" mode I just don't want the extra calories or extra carbs, or at least I feel guilty after eating them. We shall see.
Tomorrow night after the bar, Healthier eating I promise!

Vegetarian Challenge Day 1

Well the first day was easy. I made a picnic for Mark. Pita Pockets filled with Carrots, Cucumbers, Sprouts, Hummus and Feta, Pesto Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Peas, and Apples (plus a little bit of White Chocolate) Then in the evening Roy and I walked around Lake Eola for about 50 minutes total, stopping afterwards at Pine 22 where I had a Black Bean Burger with Sprouts, Cucumbers, and Tomatoes (there should have been Avocado on it, but they forgot to add it) but still it was Delicious, I had Sweet Potato Fries with it (I only ate about half) Then late night I went to Subway and had a Veggie Delight Sub, followed by a little more Chocolate at the house. In retrospect I should have only eaten half of my Sub, and skipped the Chocolate because my 8 hour fast was 191 (Yikes) however i waited 2 more hours and then checked it again, it had come down to 138 (better) but then Roy and I did a 40 minute P90 Workout Video, and after I checked the blood sugar again (10 hour fast plus a 40 minute workout) and it was down to 114 (Much, much better)
I am finding that when I fast while I work at night and then check the blood sugar that it is right on the money, but when my fast is while I am sleeping (non active) it is usually a little higher when I take my sugar in the morning. Maybe the key is to get up and work out before I take my reading? I'll do some trial and error testing and we will see what happens.