Comment #4- Hilliary from Happily Ever Healthy!
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Fitness Update:
I'm feeling great these days folks! First I want to share with you a major victory...a little over a year ago I took the Real Age Test, and scored 34 years old! (That was 12 years over my actual age.) Over the last year I have increased the amount of exercise I do, changed to a 65% vegetarian diet, started getting more sleep at night, and cut out almost all drinks but water and the occasional sweet tea. I took the Real Age Test again yesterday and scored at 20 years old...that's 4 years younger than I actually am! Needless to say, I'm feeling on top of the world!
We have been running 2-3 times per week in preparation for our 5k on September 24th, go to the gym 1-2 days a week to lift weights, and we do yoga 2 days a week or as needed to relieve tight and sore muscles after our runs. With each run and each weight I feel stronger and more endurant, but the yoga is what makes it all possible. Without yoga as the foundation I wouldn't be fit to do anything else.
Diet Update:
I've mentioned in previous posts that John and I are "Carnevegeveganarians." That is, we eat like vegans and vegetarians for most of our week and throw in some meat here and there when we feel like it. Making this change has completely changed our health...all our afternoon drowsiness is gone, we sleep better at night, we experience little to no illness (when we used to get sinus infections and colds year 'round), our dental health has drastically improved, fewer headaches, and even clearer skin.
Since we've so enjoyed the benefits of our healthy diet, we're taking it to the next level...
I'm a little hesitant to say "we're going vegan" because I feel like "vegan" has so many opinions surrounding it. Instead I'll say that John and I are going meat- and dairy-free for a month, and the "why?" is quite simple. Even though we have seen dramatic differences in our health lately in comparison with where we were at a year ago, John still experiences chronic heartburn. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes have been known to act as a medicinal diet, healing the body of it's ailments, preventing AND reversing heart disease and pro-longing one's lifespan.
Our meat- and dairy-free experiment is to see if it will rid John of daily heartburn for good. Currently he takes Priolosec daily, and has for years (which is not recommended) and we feel it's high time we try and deal with it. Chances are a doctor will put him on a prescribed medication, and we aren't interested in those...we want the chance to heal ourselves by way of good food straight from Mother Earth.
Our diet starts Monday, and I can't wait to see what happens. I'll keep you all in the loop and say a prayer that this finally brings John some relief!
Question of the Day:
Are you a vegetarian or meat- and dairy-free?
Have you tried in the past?
Good for you! I grew up vegetarian and am still about 65% like you. I've been tempted to go all the way too so can't wait to hear about your month. Not sure I could do vegan tho - I like eggs too much :)
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're feeling good these days, friend! I am so excited for you & your 5k at the end of the month :)
ReplyDeleteI think it's fantastic that you & John are going to go "meat & dairy-free" for a month. I am trying to implement healthy changes into our household diet, as well.... my goal is to work up to what you & John are currently doing: primarily vegetarian, but meat in moderation :)
I'm excited to hear how this goes for you! And I am definitely praying that this is the answer for John ...I don't have chronic heartburn, but (like clockwork) every other month I have 1 excruciating week. I know how discouraging & painful that is :-/
ummmm I am none of those lol...my very best friend is a vegan ... does that count ...lol. On the flip side I never eat fast food....gross! and we have our own garden. Good for you on making the changes!
ReplyDeleteGood for you! That is very exciting about your 5k coming up! You guys will rock it!
ReplyDeleteI am not a vegetarian or a vegan or anything like that. I don't eat red meat though I just don't like the texture or the flavor. I tend to make a lot of vegetarian meals but love fish and chicken! I am excited to hear what happens with John and your new diet!
And thanks again for subscription! I cannot wait!
I think this is great! I don't like to eat meat or dairy very much for a few different reasons too. But I don't say I NEVER do since it is hard to eat out, etc. And my hubby likes his meat :)
ReplyDeleteGood for you guys on improving your health like this! Very inspiring!! Good luck in your 5K, you'll do great! :)
I am in the process of changing my diet to something like this. :) I completely agree that we can heal and be our healthiest when we do. Our bodies weren't made to eat processed and fake food.
ReplyDeleteWow! Glad to hear your health plan is going so well :-) Hubs and I have been more conscious about eating more vegetarian meals, but I don't think we will ever be able to break away from cheese. We REALLY love our cheese.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being 4 years younger! I love that test :) This post is so inspiring. I've been eating less process food and more veggies and I feel great. I can never be a vegan though...I need a good burger once in a while!
ReplyDeleteOh good for you...that is great on being and feeling younger. Makes such a difference I bet! Happy weekend!
ReplyDeletexo
Alexa
I just took the RealAge test and came out just a few months shy of my age. Not too bad I guess, though I'm hoping to shave a few years off!
ReplyDeleteWe've gone vegetarian for a month and it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. Normally we eat meat for dinner a few times a week, but also eat a ton of salads and fresh veggies. I'm a believer in eating real foods and also that you can have anything, just in moderation. The second you tell me I can't eat ice cream, it's all I think about. But if I'm allowed a little bite here and there, it keeps my raging sweet tooth in check!
your post have been very interesting
ReplyDeletewhen i lived in greece i used to not eating meat for forty days ( before easter time) it was a good body detoxing method but not something i would do all the time. i believe in a balanced diet, where there is place for everything but with moderation and variety.
have a lovely weekend : )
I was a pescetarian (fish, seafood and veggies) for years. In the last year, I've added back chicken and red meat, but I eat those fairly sparingly. I think I have red meat less than 4 times per month. When I cook at home it's primarily vegetarian. I was slightly younger than my age based on the test, so I guess I am doing okay, right? :)
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend!
Well done, good for you. If you feel better then it's a great thing and I'm in awe of anybody who can run more than 200 yards without collapsing into a heap... ;-) Have a lovely weekend xo
ReplyDeleteGreat job! you are on a great track and will do wonderfully in the 5k. I've never tried those diets, but I have given up meat for Lent. I'm inspired by your diets and since I'm back from vacationing in Italy (definitely not healthy, lots of pasta!!) i need to eat and get back into shape. x
ReplyDeleteWell done. You have a great life style! I'm lazy to exercise and I don't really like vegetables.
ReplyDeletei've been "saying" we need to do this. i'm not a veggie fan but love rice dishes, and beans, and oh there are so many spicy ethnic options out there! can you recommend some of your favorite cookbooks to get us started? pretty please?
ReplyDeleteWow, you guys sound super healthy and it's making me feel pretty guilty. I don't even want to think about how old I'd be on the real age test! I've been trying to have less junk lately, but I have so many slip-ups I don't think it counts! I've been thinking of going lactose-free for a while, to see if I feel better afterwards, but I love my cheese/other dairy too much, it seems.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your health update! I don't think I've ever went a day without meat of some kind either big chunks or small portions. Also, added fat too. My downfall was lots of the bad carbs; bread, cakes etc. Then one day, we decided on South Beach diet, which we can still have meat but the lean kind with loads of vegetables. Got off caffine, sugar, white carbs. Never felt better and like you said, the drowsieness was gone! Now wwith me being pregnant we have a bit a of everything in moderation.
ReplyDeleteWill be back reading on your progress and hopefully find out that if it's the meat and dairy that John gets heartburn from.
Just found your blog through Happily Ever Healthy, I love it! I'm a vegetarian since February and I feel SO MUCH BETTER since starting!
ReplyDeletehttp://whenallelsefailssmile.blogspot.com
I think this is great! It takes a lot of determination and perseverance to really pull off a vegan diet and the exercise that you do and I give you a lot of credit. I don't have the motivation to do these things but I really do want to start exercising mostly to try to get my lungs a bit more of a work out to increase my endurance due to my asthma.
ReplyDeleteWhat great decisions! I was vegetarian for two years, and eat very little meat anyway. There are also certain types of meat that I don't eat at all, this can be tricky coming from the islands like I do but I stick by it :)I can't wait to hear how John goes with this. Fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteThat is amazing! I definitely need to try this test...I am not where I used to be health-wise...need to get back into it!
ReplyDeleteGood for you girl!! That is awesome. I am not a vegetarian, but I don't know how people can eat meat at every meal. I am a meat eater about 4 days out of the week, and other proteins the rest of the week.
ReplyDeleteWell done to you and John! I was a vegetarian for a month many many moons ago but I gotta admit that I love meat now and then. I wish I could have a break from it for a month to see if it makes a difference but the bf is suspicious of any kind of meal that doesn't involve meat. I feel some sneaky plans coming on! I will definitely be checking in to see your progress!
ReplyDeleteI am SO happy to read this! I really hope it works for you two! I've been vegan for almost two years now. I lost 30+ pounds, I'm so much healthier, more athletic, I'm happier, don't get nearly as tired during runs/bike rides/ etc. Plus the food I eat is so much tastier, healthier, and I've started incorporating so many different variations of food that I never had before.
ReplyDeleteAaand.. your post has reminded me that I need to start doing yoga again asap!
Congratulations! It is v inspiring how committed you have been. I did a 5k Sunday :) However I do tend to eat a lot of Tiramisu after :P I eat fish and veg but no meat but that is just 'cause I do not like it really, I did not know not eating meat could make so much difference to your health! Good luck with everything :) Looking forward to hearing how your 5k goes!!
ReplyDeletewhat a great diet/health plan to follow!!! i love that yall are not restricting yourself from meat, but merely just eating it when necessary!
ReplyDeletei was a vegetarian for YEARS...but not necessarily by choice. i struggled with the digestion of meats. i realized that most meats werent worth the trouble of the pain i would face...so i only ate fish and vegetables and fruits for yearsss! i guess i was a pescatarian?
now i eat meat, but not a ton of it :) good luck on this endeavor!