It all started with a book. I recently picked up Rich Roll's Finding Ultra seeking inspiration as I train for my first triathalon. In the same way that Born to Run completely transformed the way that I think about running and endurance, Finding Ultra has shifted the way that I think about food and the proper mentality for obtaining lofty goals.
Rich is a man of extremes, a recovering alcoholic turned utlra distance triathlete, he is not one to do anything in moderation. If a little is good, then a lot is better. Which got me thinking, if eating healthfully most of the time makes me feel pretty good, then would eating healthfully all the time make me feel amazing?
Typical meals for me:
Breakfast: Oatmeal with dried cherries and almonds or a Kind bar if I am in a hurry
Lunch: Salad with cheese, chicken, cucumbers, avocado and drizzled with olive oil
Snack: string cheese and salted nuts
Dinner: Arugula, shrimp or chicken, beans, rice, parmesan cheese, and a big glass of wine or beer
Dessert: Chocolate or ice cream
Healthy diet by most standards, but my moods, energy levels, and trouble sleeping made me think that I was missing something. I worried about my gluten and soy intake and contemplated the Paleo diet, but it was hard to cut through the bullshit and find compelling evidence that I should make any one particular change to my diet.
Vegetarian and especially vegan diets always sounded extreme. I associated them with animal rights fanatics and people who used it as a guise for an eating disorder. I assumed that they were all protein deficient, lacking key vitamins like B12 and minerals like Iron. But then I began to read about vegan ultra endurance athletes. I read their stories about how switching to a plant based diet improved their energy, performance and mood. Still I was reluctant to consider it as something I could adopt, but I began to read more about it. I found myself on sites like MindBodyGreen, and looking at vegan recipes on Pinterest, and reading every article I could get my hands on. Compelling physiological, psychological, environmental, and ethical evidence began to mount.
It still sounds extreme, but if it really improves my mind and body, then isn't it worth it? Why not try it and see? Afterall, if you want something you've never had, then you have to do something you've never done.
I am on day two and feeling good. I will keep you posted...
Did you know that it takes 10x the amount of energy to produce a calorie from animal based foods, then it does from plants?
Update: Vegan experimented ended after 8 months. Ultimately, I enjoy food too much to limit my diet. I opt for vegetarian meals often and have some killer vegan recipes that continue to be in high rotation.