My favorite thing since I went vegan last week is all the yummy, whole foods I’m enjoying. Avoiding animal products forces me to try new things, most of which are deliciously nourishing!

Breakfast was quick as I was running out the door to get some work done on my car… the last of my iffy homemade waffles with Smart Balance and jam!

David was home for a rainy day lunch. I wanted something nourishing and homely- black beans and brown rice with tons of veggies!

Yummy. More Whole Fruit Sorbet for dessert :) Yum! Served with a side of GoLean Crunch…

Unpictured snacks: tons of GoLean Crunch!! Ahhhh!!!

Grilled veggies and sweet potatoes on the menu for dinner. Fantastic.

I didn’t feel hungry at all but enjoyed every bite!

David came home from work to dinner on the table… served with a side of fresh-brewed mint tea!

And a late night dessert of more sorbet, cereal and fresh cherries :)

Coming soon: My opinions on the vegan diet and how it’s changed me.

When Ashley asked me to post my proudest healthy moment so many thoughts went through my mind. I love living a healthy life and each time I finish a race or a new sporting event I feel so proud. From finishing my first 5k in high school, my first 10k in law school, and my first 1/2 marathon when I was 25, I've always felt so proud of what my body can accomplish. Although I run about 4-5 races a year, my proudest healthy moment would have to be what I accomplished on my bike.

My senior year of college my mom bought me a new bike, and I started into a routine of biking a lot. My new found love of biking and the fact that my best friend's mom was diagnosis with MS convinced me to sign up for a MS 150 bike ride from Altoona, Pennsylvania to State College, Pennsylvania and then back to Altoona. In most MS 150s, you ride 150 miles over two days. So roughly, the ride is 75 miles a day.

The first day went pretty easy and my legs didn't get too tired until the end. Although I enjoyed day 1 of the ride, I was happy to get to my hotel room, enjoy a great dinner and relax before my 6am start the next day. The 2nd day of course was harder and the last 20 miles on the second day seemed to go on forever - my legs were killing me. Riding into the finish line, I received a metal from a woman confined to a wheelchair because of her battle with MS, and instantly I forget about my pain.
Lesson to take away from this healthy moment: Love your body for what it allows you to do. The next time you don't feel like going to the gym, think of it as a privilege that you have legs that allow you to work out, because there are some people that are not as lucky to be able to.

I enjoyed my first MS 150 so much that when I was dating my now husband, I convinced him to complete an MS 150 with me. We really hope to sign up for another one soon, and I highly suggest you check out the MS 150 website. There is no better way to see a part of this earth than by riding a bike. You can stop and take pictures and enjoy the landscapes in a way you may not if you were just driving by in your car.
In case you wondered about my bike, today I have a road bike that is light weight and made of carbon, during my MS 150 I used a cheap, heavy hybrid bike. My husband rode the MS 150 with a very cheap Wal-mart mountain bike. So any bike can work, although a road bike would make it a lot easier.


- Healthy Lawyer Aimee

For breakfast I wanted something light since last night’s dinner and dessert (banana and PB) left me waking up full. A waffle (with Smart Balance and jam), cherries and a banana/PB it was!

Mid-morning I met the awesome Ryan at Blanchard Park here in Orlando for some bike riding. The park offers fun cruiser bikes for rent. The trail was gorgeous. We enjoyed a slow one hour ride. Love hanging out with her :)

For lunch Ryan and I went to the Hummus House near UCF. The photo below might look small, but this hummus was HUGE! You can see the size difference with the water cup at the top.

Holy yum! We both ordered an 8-inch falafel pita with homemade roasted red pepper hummus and tons of fresh veggies. It’s safe to say we both loved our lunch! (unpictured: heavenly fresh pita chips)

After lunch snack was something new: Whole Fruit Sorbet in Mango. YOU MUST TRY THIS! It is out-of-this-world delicious. It was sweet and smooth and ultra-refreshing.

   

And later some more Kashi GoLean :)

…and more snacking (after the fact), fresh cherries!

This afternoon I scored some Dixie snuggling!

This is the view I enjoyed most of the time..

Between my big lunch and heavy afternoon snacking I was craving something simple for dinner.

Banana PB oats!!

Dixie is always willing to help in the kitchen :)

YUM!

What is your favorite lazy night meal?

I don’t normally post my meals so I’m not used to wanting my meals to be awesome for you all to see! It’s a good kind of peer pressure :)

I wish my first vegan meal post would be more interesting but we are low on groceries and I am unemployed… so I’m working with what I’ve got!

I started the morning off with vegan cinnamon-flax waffles.

They were gross- otherwise I’d share the recipe. Next time I will use less whole wheat flour.

But I ate a huge one anyway (see above: unemployed) with some Smart Balance and maple syrup.

A few hours after breakfast I headed out for a 4.3 mile walk/run (it was too hot to run!) and came home to some strength and stretching.

Workout followed by two spoonfuls of Sabra Roasted Pine Nut Hummus (review: AMAZING!!!) and some fresh watermelon straight from the bag.

Lunch was a spring mix salad with black beans, carrots, red onion, ginger dressing and BacUns. Plus another 1/2 waffle in effort to finish the batch (with Smart Blance and all-fruit jam).

Yum!

Afternoon snack included a few handfuls of Kashi GoLean…

…and fresh strawberries and cherries!

  

Dinner was sweet potato fries (with sunflower oil, paprika, hot sauce, Country Bobs and garlic salt) and a mix of endamame, corn, peas and black beans over fresh spinach.

So satisfying! I am itching for something sweet; maybe I’ll have a banana and PB now :)

There’s one simple, satisfying and healthy vegan day. See you tomorrow!

I've decided to go vegan!

With all the issues I've been having lately (stomach pain, lack of energy, etc.), I know I’m not supposed to live like this!

I had planned on eliminating one big thing from my diet each week hoping the elimination process would reveal the underlying cause of the pain. I still think that’s a great idea, but…

Last Friday I had a wonderful lunch date with Ryan of Chase Daylight (Ryan is working on a whole new blog to be revealed soon!) at Designer Greens. It wasn’t until we were halfway through with our salads that I realized she was following a vegan diet. She was just so natural and fresh about it.

We discussed why she went vegan and how it’s progressed. In my mind I realized I always feel best when I abstain from animal products and started thinking taking the vegan leap just might be for me.

I’ve been a vegetarian (only using dairy and eggs) for almost nine years now. I’ve avoided going fully vegan because I was convinced it would be too hard… too weird… and too limiting. But a long, refreshing talk with Ryan certainly changed my mind on that!

So I came home excited about doing something good for my body. I made a few switches in my new big fridge and pulled my copy of Veganomicon off the bookshelf.

I’ve been eating 100% vegan for the past several days and the change has been effortless and delightful. I'm eating nutrient-rich foods and have been feeling great. Goodbye, stomach pain!

I am so excited about this. Veganism really opens my eyes to the possibilities of whole foods since I can’t just fall back on the normal meals I used to make and cover with cheese. I am experimenting with flavors and wholesome foods- all in the name of health.

I know about my B12, protein and calcium needs- so don’t worry about me. :-)

To show the possibilities of eating vegan I will post most of my meals for the next several days.. first post like that coming tonight!

The title of Your Big Fat Boyfriend: How to Stay Thin When Dating a Diet Disaster (by Jenna Bergen)was enough to convince me to order it.

I think women in most relationships agree it is easier to skip workouts and eat junk food when in a relationship with a "big fat boyfriend."

Many nights David and I have indulged in huge meals and then just cuddled on the couch when I would normally be cooking something healthier and then gone out for a walk.

The book was a fun read. It didn't delve into the deepest parts of nutrition or put out anything new or controversial, but it did provice some real-life inspiration to take a harder look at how our relationship affects me.

Overall, this is an enjoyable book that you could certainly live without. Most of the tips and content was similar to what we'd read in a magazine like SELF. It is a FUN book.

I'd recommend the BFB blog! The content is written similarly to the book.

My tips to stay thin in my own words: To stay thin (and healthy!) while dating your own diet disaster, use smaller plates, make healthier choices and find activities you both enjoy!

Changing cities and moving into a new house in Orlando with David has been GREAT!

Not having to worry about a long-distance relationship really frees up our time! I have been active since I came here Wednesday night!!

We've been painting walls...
...and taking bike rides and going to fun parties. Fun!
Eating more meals together and sharing a kitchen has influenced David's meals for the better. I don't think he's ever had so many fruits, veggies and whole grains!

I'm still searching for a part-time job to bring in the money while I study for my certified personal trainer certification (which should arrive today!) but am enjoying a little time off :)

I have a little announcement tomorrow, so make sure to check back. Happy Monday!

- David (my boyfriend!)

- Julie from HulieGoLean.com

Last night I said goodbye to my job, my little apartment and everything I had come to love over the past year. I've got to admit- it was sad.

As I watched the Tampa skyline fade in the background I drove toward my new life. My life with David- and with Dixie and Jack and Kitty. I drove with hopes and doubts about my new ambitions bouncing around my mind.

I am exited to be following my heart and taking risks for me.. but I am still scared silly!

This week I will get caught up on life, start my marathon training, blog and look for part-time jobs I can do while I work on my NASM CPT course. It will be good.

Life is still so so sweet.