Beyond Willpower

Joey and I just got back from a vacation, where I'm certain I gained at least 5 lbs (in crab), but I don't know/won't know because I'm not weighing myself. I weigh myself a week or so before going to the Dr. and that is it. It seems, aside from pigging out on vacation, that I have maintained a 25 lb loss but haven't lost any additional weight to my knowledge. Maintaining it get's a great big 'huzzah!' from me, because I haven't even been doing anything except eating when I'm hungry and stopping when I'm full. I have managed to maintain a 25 lb loss doing that alone. So, now Joey and I are home, and on the same page about our weight loss goals. We are eating meat, but far less of it and have decided to make veggies half of our portion at dinner, a tiny bit of meat and a grain. Tonight we had a giant salad and a bit of chili and rice. It was very filling, I didn't even finish my chili, but I must say it was quite fab. Lean ground beef, ...

Well I haven't been around lately, just busy and tired at the same time, that combo makes for far less yoga and blogging. Luckily I'm in such a healthy eating routine that I havne't been knocked from it. Last night I tried a new recipe I found online. It was for black bean burgers:   [Photographs: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt] One of the things about black bean burgers is that they are notoriously mushy and they can even fall apart at times. Over at Serious Eats  you can find the recipe and read the article that goes along with it, explaining the trial and error, the fucking SCIENCE that went into creating this amazing 'meaty' textured black bean burger. I highly suggest you make a batch. It's a little more work than usual for such a thing but the reward is totally worth it in the end. Joey loved these burgers so much he said we need to make them when he has friends over on Sunday we are also trying to eat healthier. He even had one for lunch today ...

So I've been struggling with trying to figure out just what to write about the last day or so and even as I struggled I've been talking to my boyfriend, Joey, about his eating habits. I had stopped cooking him dinner because I was eating earlier and he works late, so he would eat at work (he's a cook) and then have cereal before bed. He's been VERY cranky lately. Sleeping poorly, feeling very run down and constant headaches. This sounded familiar to me from my first month vegan, (he's vegetarian) Then I asked him what he's been eating. In his answer (fruit and salads) there was very little mention of protein. Like a lot of new veggies, he's neglecting the need for protein. His daily requirement (weight x's 0.36) is about 71 grams. Although he's vegetarian he doesn't eat eggs or much dairy. We both use daiya and the only dairy he currently eats is sour cream, but he's going to try a vegan one soon. There are plenty of protein sources out ...