#VeganWeek Getting Fit; Having Fun

(As we speak, I am probably wrapping up a run with Caitlin and Kelly — so I should be more prepared to talk about a vegan diet and fitness later tonight!)

For those who are just getting to know me and my blog, I am a triathlete. That’s why I was so excited to talk to vegan triathlete Brendan Brazier and to see how many athletes took part in Vegan 4 a Day. I’m also a weight loss success story.

Sidenote: I will be announcing the winner of both giveaways later tonight — you have until 7pm TONIGHT to enter the Glo Bakery giveaway, so get to gettin’!

On its face, it would seem like a vegan diet is naturally more healthy than a non-vegan diet. I mean, when you’re forced to rely on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, you probably can’t help but lose weight, right?

(Thanks to this site for the photo and my brother for sharing it)

WRONG. Remember, weight loss is about simple math. It’s calories in; calories out. You want to lose weight? You need to burn more calories than you take in. Now, I’m not a doctor, but these guys are:

Research has shown that, on average, people who follow a vegetarian diet eat fewer calories and less fat than do nonvegetarians. Vegetarians also tend to have lower body weight relative to their height than do nonvegetarians. This makes sense, since a diet that largely consists of fruits and vegetables generally has fewer calories. However, switching to a vegetarian diet doesn’t guarantee weight loss.

The basics of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight are the same for everyone: Eat a healthy diet and balance calories eaten with calories burned. Vegetarians — like nonvegetarians — can make poor food choices that contribute to weight gain, such as large portions of high-fat, high-calorie foods or foods with little or no nutritional value.

For this reason, vegetarian diets should be as carefully planned as nonvegetarian diets to make sure they are nutritionally balanced. Choose a vegetarian eating plan that is low in fat and that provides all of the nutrients your body needs. Be sure to include protein-rich foods — especially if you follow a vegetarian diet that limits fish, eggs and dairy products. Not only is protein an essential nutrient, but also it helps you feel full longer — which can curb your urge to snack. (Source: Mayo Clinic)

Here’s my take, and I encourage you to agree or disagree — let me know how you feel in the comments section.

Calories are like cash. Let’s say I have $100 to spend every day. Carrots are $2; carrot cake is $20. Most days, I’ll eat the carrots, because it leaves me more cash for the rest of the day’s meals. But on special occasions, I will plan for the carrot cake. I’ll “splurge” and I still don’t go over budget.

(Sorry to make anyone hungry!)

That goes for a vegan diet or a non-vegan diet. It’s all about moderation. I’m sorry to sound preachy — I’m just sharing the information that has helped me through weight loss and maintenance. There are unhealthy vegans, just like there are unhealthy carnivores.

So, my thoughts:

• No matter what your lifestyle choice is — I think it’s as important to THINK about what you put in your body as it is WHAT goes in. If you want to eat meat, it’s cool with me. But do you know where it comes from? What the animal was fed? How it was processed and brought from farm to table?
• Don’t adopt a vegan diet just because you think it will make you skinny. I have struggled with my weight MORE since I adopted a “real foods” approach than I ever did when I relied on diet sodas and fat-free foods. Doesn’t mean I was healthier then…just means that it was simpler to stay skinny.
• Healthy foods, whether vegan or not, are better fuel for your body. Better fuel means better performance when you exercise. Better performance means you can do less to achieve more.

I’m officially off the soapbox and will go back to your snarky, silly blogger within hours. Thanks for letting me think out loud.

OH, and remember:

**Follow me and Michelle (my Vegan Week partner in crime) on Twitter, and use #VeganWeek in your tweets to see how people all over the world are taking on the challenge!