A Meat head no more…

A juicy hamburger. The sizzle of a rib-eye steak on the grill. Perfectly grilled chicken breast pepping up my salad. Scrumptious pork loin with leeks. Oh, how I have forgotten you…

I am a voracious meat eater, but for one week, I have not eaten any of it. I have turned my back on meat.

Why?

Last Sunday, I made the mistake (or good fortune) of watching a documentary on food production. It exposed me to something I have been denying for a long time: animals made for consumption in the United States go through a horrific process. It gave me pause, disturbed me, and made me question my food choices.

But surprisingly to me, as the week went by, and I consumed a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and seeds, something unexpected happened. I began to enjoy my foods and I felt lighter and more energetic!

A whole-wheat tortilla, with a tablespoon of peanut butter, flaxseeds, and a whole banana for breakfast. For lunch, I would have some version of vegetable stir fry (made with delicious coconut oil) mixed with quinoa. An apple would be my dessert. Some thick Greek yogurt with delightfully crunchy sunflower seeds was my main snack. Some whole-wheat pasta with a fresh vegetable sauce and my dinner was complete.

If I got hungry in the evening, I would partake in carrots, or make a delicious smoothie of blueberries, oranges, and coconut milk.

On some nights, this aspiring anti meat eater, cheated and had some cereal with coconut milk and a handful of pistachios. Still no meat!

Generally, I felt full, content, and even better, I have dropped at least three pounds in less than a week!

Whether this is a long-term lifestyle choice or a short lived experiment, time will tell. But if the pounds keep peeling off I will try to make it a major part of my life.

Combined with my daily obsession of accumulating as many steps as I can, I think I’m on the right track.

With all the diet crazes, simple can be best. After all, it worked for centuries.

Is a more natural based diet for you?  

With the increased sunshine of April, the winter doldrums are finally being shaken off. To those of us who were hibernating, it is time to get back into shape. The Fickle Fitness Enthusiast recommends using the Nike+Running app to get that spring back into your step.

Armed with the proper gear, my Nike Air Max shoes, running socks, cell phone arm band, iPone 5, and headphones, I used the Nike app twice this week to test my fitness. 

After two days of sore ankles, I can tell you that the app does indeed help motivate you into pushing yourself into greater fitness. 

I completed two 3 mile runs. Well, to be honest, they were a combination of runs, jogging, walking, and sprints. But I would not stop until my app reported that I had completed at least three miles. 

After the runs, the app displayed my route, the number of calories burned, pacing, etc. This information will be used to encourage me to do better next time. For those who wish, you can post your achievements directly on Facebook through the app. 

To those who want to increase their fitness, this app is a free and useful tool to do so. Although it is called Running, you can use the app to track your walks. As you build up endurance, you can keep pushing yourself. 

As always, begin any exercise program carefully. You may want to consult a doctor if you have been inactive for a prolonged period of time before beginning any vigorous exercise. 

Keep on moving fellow fickle fitness enthusiasts!