Last Day: Eating Some Crow (is that Plant-Based...?)
One of our favorite meals was also one of the simplest: broiled sweet potatoes.
I’ll always be a skeptic
…and it’s time to tell the truth about this PB journey. Heidi & I just completed 22 straight days of eating nothing but plants and plant-based food. Nothing processed. No meat. No milk or ice cream. No meat. No eggs or cheese. Did I mention, no meat? I want to close this journey by telling you where I was wrong, where I was right, what I’m thankful for, where to next...and most importantly, why you should care.
Here’s where I was wrong
I mocked food “fake names.”
Like, calling lettuce and nuts a taco. But, fact is, if you don’t call the replacement the same name…what are you supposed to call it?
I know a non-meat “sausage” isn’t the sausage I grew up with. Same with PB hamburger or brownies. But which is easier; coming up with some new name, or just calling it what you are trying to replace? I apologize; from now on, I’m giving in and accepting these names.Except one. I draw the line at lettuce and nuts being called a taco.
Chick Pea spread was as good as tuna. The Ezekiel bread was great!
Thinking PB meant all lettuce, all the time. We hardly ate any lettuce or kale by itself. When we did, it was almost always part of something tasty. I never, not once, ate more lettuce than I wanted to.
STILL not a taco.
Thinking I’d be hungry and grouchy. There were only a few times I found myself feeling hungry. Think about that: Only a few times in 66 meals! Not bad.
Thinking I’m all that. I thought I wouldn’t become surly and self-centered like most vegans I met. Until I found myself grumbling in a restaurant explaining to everyone that I was on a special diet. I learned my lesson, I hope. I promise to be better.
I’m NOT sorry for…
Missing meat. Although, I really only missed it when I smelled it or saw someone else eating it.
Not being a sudden superhero. Look, I do feel a bit more energetic. But NOT like the book promised. I still have a hard time getting up in the morning, and I still have aches and pains. But, let’s be honest here. I am friggin’ 57 years old. What did I expect, the fountain of youth?
Telling my truth. The PB alternatives are not as good tasting as the “real” stuff. But, I did enjoy most of it. I have a theory about taste. More on that at the end.
Falling deeply in love with avocados. My lord, how I love those dark green goddesses of goodness.
Here’s what I’m thankful for
Reading labels is our new past time.
A partner. The 22 days were shared with Heidi. A great experience to go through, together. I cannot imagine doing it alone, nor would I ever want to.
A chef. How much work Heidi did! I so appreciate all the prep work each meal.
No crutch. It opened my eyes to what I use food for, including many unhealthy things. I plan to do better now.
New friends. I never believed how good just vegetables can be. Turns out, I really, really like them. (Shout out to Sally Field.)
My theory of relativity
I think I love the food I love because it’s the only food I know. Does it taste good because it really does, or because it’s what I’ve known all my life? Probably both. I see now that just ‘cause I’ve eaten a certain way for 50 years does not make it the only way. There are other ways. And I can probably learn other ways. It’s just gonna take some time to change 57-year habits.
Re-programming 50 years of ‘taste’
You, me, all of us, are products of our history. I have over 50 years of food history! That means that, for over 50 years, “real” food has tasted a certain way. It’s simply going to take awhile to start “tasting” differently. Who knows? Maybe in a year or so, I’ll learn to actually like the taste of PB more than fatty animal products. (Hey, it could happen.)
I’ve come a long way in a short time.
Here’s why you should care.
You will never know what PB could do for you unless you try.
I look at eating differently now. I look at food—what I eat, and why I eat—in a whole new, constructive way. I have options now. And I’m going to be healthier now. Which is why you should care. I’m here to tell you, 22 days is long enough to change your way of thinking, and maybe your way of eating. Even if you don’t change, you’ll be smarter and in control of your eating choices from now on. Is that bad?
This book isn’t perfect. But it’s good enough. It gives you an opportunity to be a better person. Just follow the directions. Is it easy? No. And that’s why it’s worth doing. You will not regret it. Not one bit.
What’s my final weigh in?
I did the 22 Day PB Challenge for one reason: to lose weight. Over the 22 days, I lost 14 pounds.
Fourteen pounds!
I got the kick start I needed; the kick start I feared I might never be able to accomplish. Eating PB did that for me.
What now?
Am I still skeptical? It’s not a miracle cure, but it’s definitely worth trying. No doubt.
Am I an evangelist? No. Well…if I could convince you to give it a try for 22 days…well, maybe I am, huh?
Will I keep it up? To some extent…yes. I will. I hope to never eat the same way I used to.
What extent is that? Not sure yet. We’re still working that out. We’ll keep you posted when we decide.
Thanks so much for coming along with us! We’re still alive…and better now than before.