Vegan cooking; I have a new crush

Today’s workout:

7 mile run before sunrise

cold, dark, sleepy

I never thought I could do it, but I actually got up at 5:30 this morning, got dressed, and went outside into the sub-20 degree weather to run. I’ve never run more than 6 miles before work for fear that I wouldn’t get finished in time or I’d be too tired for the day. I was really shocked when I got back home in less than an hour – I think it was because I was rockin out to some new tunes:

Have you heard his album yet? It’s really good!! He’s got a really positive outlook and his lyrics are actually meaningful – a pretty stark contrast to popular hip hop which is basically just garbage with a good beat. I’m into it. And I’m not gonna lie, he’s pretty sexy

Ever since I’ve been back from FL, I’ve been eating a primarily vegan diet. Over the holiday break, I had way too much time on my hands and watched a few too many documentaries on Netflix. One of which, was Vegucated - this is a documentary about 3 New Yorkers who voluntarily go vegan for 6 weeks and document their journey of learning to cook vegan foods, finding out where the meat & dairy they usually eat comes from, and experiencing the benefits of a plant-based diet. There are some really shocking visuals of what happens at slaughter houses, dairy farms, and so-called “cage free” and “free range” facilities. I was so horrified by all of the images that I started sobbing on the couch next to Derek and vowed I would never eat another animal product again. The movie isn’t all scare tactics, though, and I recommend it to anyone who is curious about veganism or healthy eating. Just fast forward through the animal cruelty parts – you’ll get a warning beforehand.

Eating vegan for me has actually been really easy, which is surprising because I also have gluten sensitivity and strive to eat a gluten-free diet. I think a lot of people hear vegan + gluten free and think it’s impossible, but it’s not! I bought myself a couple of good cookbooks and have been making almost all of my meals at home. My favorite cookbook right now is Chloe’s Kitchen.

Chloe is a vegan chef who made a name for herself by winning Cupcake Wars and all of her recipes are DELICIOUS. I also really appreciate that her recipes don’t have an excessively long ingredient list and aren’t difficult to make. Derek has loved all of them and hasn’t complained once about anything I’ve made being vegan.

Tonight I made her yoga cookies, which are made out of gluten-free oats, gluten-free all purpose flour, chocolate chips, walnuts, raisins, cinnamon, shredded coconut, agave, and canola oil. They’re sooooo good nom nom nom nom nom nom.

How adorable is she?! I can’t tell if I have more of a crush on her or Macklemore.

One thing I’ve noticed since I’ve been eating exclusively vegan is a significant change in my energy level. I used to feel an afternoon slump and barely be able to open my eyes in the morning. Not anymore, though – I am literally wide awake ALL THE TIME. It’s actually becoming kind of a problem because I’m having kind of a hard time falling asleep at night. It’s an OK sacrifice, though, because I’ve been feeling really alert at work. I also feel like I’m losing a little bit of weight, but I haven’t stepped on the scale in a couple of weeks so it’s hard to really know for sure.

Off to bed (or at least try) now – It’s snowing again here in Boston…shocker…

Have you ever considered a vegan diet?

Do you workout in the morning, afternoon, or night?

Do you think Macklemore is attractive or am I cray cray?

Tags: gluten free diet, macklemore, marathon training, running, veganism