Being A Vegan Athlete

Jean Beliveau Trophy

2012-01-11T10:08:00.000-05:00

The Jean Beliveau Trophy is handed out each QMJHL season to the player with the most points during the regular season. The Trophy was first awarded in in 1969-70 to Luc Simard of the Trois Rivieres Ducs. In 1983-84, Mario Lemieux of the Laval Voisins won the Jean Beliveau with 282 points. Of course, that mark is all but untouchable as the record for most points in a QMJHL season.

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Jean Beliveau Trophy

4 Two-Time Winners of the WHL's Bobby Clarke Trophy

2012-01-05T18:57:00.000-05:00

4 Two-Time Winners of the WHL's Bobby Clarke Trophy: The Bobby Clarke Trophy is presented each season to the WHL player with the highest point total. Originally dubbed the Brownridge Trophy, it was re-named in 1987 to honour Clarke, one of the best to play in the league. The trophy was introduced for the 1966-67 season and Clarke won the scoring title the next season. Four players have won the Bobby Clarke / Brownridge Trophy on more than one occasion.

Moustache, Mullet and Cooper-alls. Oh my!

2012-01-05T10:36:00.000-05:00

I came across an interesting set of hockey cards recently on eBay and had to snatch them up. It was a 1986-87 Sudbury Wolves team set dubbed P.L.A.Y. cards (Police, Law and Youth). The set is of no significant value. I would suspect, with the Wolves finishing dead last in the Ontario Hockey League in 1986-87, that even Sudbury fans wouldn’t have much use for these cards. There were no hugely recognizable stars. In fact, there were no names all that familiar. Except for one.

Moustache, Mullet and Cooper-alls. Oh my!

Trio of Ontario Hockey League Grads Playing for HC Kometa Brno

2011-11-27T11:01:00.000-05:00

HC Kometa Brno was promoted back to the top division of the Czech Republic Extraliga for the 2009-10 season. Brno won the Czechoslovakia championship eleven of twelve years between 1954-55 and 1965-66. The one season in that span when they didn’t win, 1958-59, they finished second. The team fell on hard times, dealing with relegation over the past few decades.

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Trio of Ontario Hockey League Grads Playing for HC Kometa Brno

Stop the Mega Quarry!

2011-08-23T15:40:00.000-04:00

This is passed on from NDACT. A mega-quarry is threatening the water table for all of Southern Ontario...

Dear friends,

An American hedge fund is about to break ground on a massive mining project that could poison a million people's drinking water and the headwaters for five major rivers, would create an open pit deeper than Niagara Falls and decimate thousands of acres of lush farmland -- and we have 4 days to stop them.

For years, Highland Companies deceived residents, posing as a potato farming company and quietly buying up thousands of acres of land from local farmers. Then, it was suddenly revealed that the massive plot of farmland would be converted into a limestone quarry -- a 2300 acre pit so deep it would seriously interfere with the ground water system in the region. But, in order to start digging, Highland must win approval from Minister of Natural Resources Linda Jeffrey.

Jeffrey is taking 4 more days to consider public opinion on this quarry before making her decision. We can deliver an overwhelming wave of opposition to Highland's destructive plan. Sign the petition, forward it to everyone and it will be submitted to Jeffrey before the consultation period ends.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_the_quarry/97.php?cl_tta_sign=71611d6512fca5acf5868ea12fdc2241

Highland's mega-quarry is smack dab in the middle of farmland the whole country depends on for food production. If built, it could poison clean ground water that feeds the lakes and rivers many Canadians use for drinking water. The quarry would require over seven thousand trucks to transport limestone each and every day, upping carbon emissions and requiring new roads to handle the exploding traffic -- further destroying the natural habitat of hundreds of species of animals. The city-sized pit would scar the land long after the mining was finished.

But, residents and environmental activists are working hard to oppose the quarry's license -- even the Environment Minister has called for further assessments. Ontario's Liberal government faces a tough re-election fight in October and Liberal Minister Linda Jeffrey is concerned about public opinion in these key months before votes are cast. A national call will put pressure on Jeffrey and her party to stand up for Canada's environment, its farmers and the fresh water many Canadians depend on for survival.

Let's bring the voice of all Canadians to Ontario's Minister of Natural Resources and force her to kill Highland's plan for environmental destruction. Sign the petition and then forward widely.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_the_quarry/97.php?cl_tta_sign=71611d6512fca5acf5868ea12fdc2241

Ontario's government should not be allowed to destroy the rivers, forests and farm land we all depend on for survival. For too long, provincial governments have kept key environmental decisions out of the national conversation -- we have a chance to change that. As one country, with a commitment to the environment and the health and safety of all Canadians, we can speak up.

With hope,

Emma, Ricken, Iain, Pascal and the rest of the Avaaz team.

MORE INFORMATION

Council of Canadians report on the mega-quarry

http://www.canadians.org/index2.html

Limestone quarry threatens prime farm land (Toronto Star)

http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/734969--limestone-quarry-threatens-prime-farm-land

Environment ministry blasts mega-quarry proposal (Toronto Star)

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1017849--environment-ministry-blasts-mega-quarry-proposal

The call for open submissions to the Ministry of Natural Resources

http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTEyNTY2&statusId=MTY4ODI5&language=en

Chong calls for federal review of quarry proposal (Guelph Mercury)

http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/local/article/549053--chong-calls-for-federal-review-of-quarry-proposal

Why?

2011-07-04T02:32:00.001-04:00

Why...

... do we continue to buy water in plastic disposable bottles?

... is marijuana illegal when alcohol and tobacco are legal?

... do 'environmentally friendly' hybrid vehicles come with optional leather interiors?

... is there not warning labels on the packaging of any fast food burger?

... is there not a 'sin-tax' on fast food, soft drinks and candy?

... at a zoo where the diversity of life is celebrated, do they serve the murdered flesh of animals in the restaurants and snack bars?

... do we address the symptom and not the cause?

... do we not allocate more funding to mass-transit infrastructure?

Just wondering...

So... Why Are Vegans So Disturbing To 'Regular Folk'?

2011-05-19T10:58:00.000-04:00

"Why make a tofu chicken if you are a vegetarian? You have made the choice either live with it or love eating meat."

This was a status update of a family member recently (Not quite original - I corrected the grammar...). Why does not eating meat make so many people angry?

Some Observations About a Hypocritical Society

2011-05-11T08:14:00.000-04:00

I drive a car. I've been through the drive-thru at Tim Horton's (Dunkin' Donuts if you're American) on several occasions. I pay for the plastic bags at the grocery store despite owning several reusable shopping bags. I don't smoke pot but do drink alcohol and can't understand why one is socially acceptable and the other is not. I think wind turbines are cool.

The following are just some observations on our world that are often spinning around in my little brain. They are somewhat specific to Canada but I'm sure they're fairly universal. It's not that I've lost faith in the human race, I just think we're doomed*!

A government that fights the use of alcohol and tobacco by taxing the hell out of those products and reaping amazing revenue.

A society that says that drinking alcohol is not only acceptable, it is expected yet smoking the dried leaves of a naturally grown plant is a heinous crime.

The vehicle with the bumper sticker that says “Out of a job yet? Keep buying foreign” parked in front of Wal-Mart.

An overwhelming portion of the population is concerned about the rainforest. McDonalds and other fast food restaurants continue to be cash cows.

We want to cut out ‘drive-thrus’ yet the guy sitting in his car, polluting the air and getting fat has priority over the walk-in customer.

A hybrid Escalade is still a gas-guzzler.

Your reusable shopping bags are cool. Why did you drive your car two blocks to get to the grocery store?

You charge me $.05 for my plastic shopping bag in the name of being environmentally friendly, yet you stuff my mailbox with a small tree’s worth of paper advertising.

Wind turbines look ugly, make noise and cause imaginary illnesses. Can we drop a coal power plant in your neighbourhood instead?

Remember - you have freedom of speech and rights as a human - as long as you say and do what they tell you! Have a nice day!

* I don't really think we're doomed.

Results Of My 10 Day Raw Vegan Experiment

2011-04-30T12:34:00.000-04:00

A 10 day raw vegan diet - my longest ever. Between Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 7:00am and Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 7:00am, I ate nothing but raw fruit and vegetables. I've done this before but never for this 10-day length of time.

First off, I have to say that people that can adhere to this diet at all times must live an energetic and healthy life! So - why would I stop? Good question. That's one I'm still looking for the answer to.

My goals at the start of the 10 day experiment were pretty simple:

Increase my energy level.
Lose 10 lbs. fast.
Kickstart the running season now that hockey was coming to an end for the year.

I met all these goals. Sort of...

My energy level was increased to an unbelievable level. My night time sleep hours did not diminish like some say will happen. This is because I simply love to sleep! The sleep I got was good quality and I didn't feel the need to fall asleep on the couch after work each day.

I exceeded the weight loss goal by two pounds. This might seem dangerous to lose weight that fast but gone was the bloated feeling at the top of my stomach that sometimes made it difficult to bend over and tie my skates.

I did kickstart the running season. I felt like I was running on air the first few runs of the season. However, I played in one final hockey tournament three days after the raw vegan diet ended and was the victim of an extremely dirty move. I was cross-checked from behind across my lower back and I am still certain that I have a cracked rib (my loathing of doctor's offices has prevented me from finding out just what is wrong back there).

Therefore - my running has come to a complete halt because of the pain in by lower back.

With this 10 day raw vegan experiment, I cut out coffee and green tea as well. This resulted in some pretty serious headaches for the first few days. Headaches are also a symptom of simply going raw. I would suggest killing the caffeine first then killing the cooked food.

Is this a great weight-loss technique? Yes and no. It's a great diet to go on if you have a follow-up plan if and when you return to cooked food. Using it as a kickstart to a fitness plan is great - you lose the weight quick then keep it off, and gradually lose more, with the fitness plan.

What did I eat?

I was heavy on avacados, mushrooms and bananas. These were the 'thickest' items I could find to satisfy my appetite. However I also ate:

pineapple
cauliflower
carrots
clementines
apples
dragon fruit
cucumbers
grapes
onions
radishes
sweet peppers of all different colours
tomatoes
lemon

About halfway, I discovered that covering everything in the juice of fresh lemon acted as a seasoning to make the raw veggies a little more appetizing.

I stumbled across an interesting quirk of nature. If you soak radish chunks in fresh squeezed lemon juice for a few hours, the strong tastes of each counteract each other and changes both to a mild sweet flavour.

I also noticed that I could smell everyone around me! I assumed that if I could smell them then I must, in turn, have a unique odor. Not so. EVERYONE had garlic breath! I didn't eat any raw garlic throughout the 10 days and my diet usually consists of traces of garlic in pretty much everything I eat. Apparently, most restaurant food and processed food also contains garlic...

The Aftermath

It's been two weeks. I've gained back about five pounds which I mostly attribute to my in-activity. I will be able to start running again in the next few days. I will be trying a modified diet where I eat totally raw Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and see where it takes me.

Hockley Valley Provincial Park

2011-04-21T12:40:00.000-04:00

If you live in the west end of the Greater Toronto Area and you're looking for a new set of trails to train on, Hockley Valley Provincial Park is your spot.

This day-use Provincial Park that is classified by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources as a Nature Reserve, has no facilities (ie. washrooms, running water, roads...) and only has one main parking lot. However, the trails within the park are exceptional for the trail runner.

The famous Bruce Trail runs through the park and there are several side trails looping off it. With a little familiarity of the trails, it is easy to spend a good 3-4 hours roaming the park without doing much backtracking.

Hockley Valley Provincial Park is located on Hockley Road, ten minutes northeast of the town of Orangeville. The main parking lot is basically directly across from the Hockley Valley Ski Resort on Hockley Road. There is a back entrance with a small parking lot off of third line.

What the trail system provides for the trail runner (or hiker) is some steep hills along the niagara escarpment, so nice flat stretches through shaded hardwood forest and, for the most part, smooth and soft trails.

I'm Back!

2011-04-14T21:40:00.001-04:00

I'm back! - the war cry of the blogger who lost interest for a few months (or more) but claims to have renewed interest but will most likely disappear again after a couple of lame posts...

Well - that could very well be true. However, it seems that someone out there is reading the backposts on this site on a daily basis, so maybe people really do want to read about the vegan world.

So, what's been going on? Well, I just finished up a 10-day Raw Vegan challenge and it was a grand success. It's nearing the end of the hockey season and the start of the trail running season. During the winter, I really fell into a rut with processed vegan food (no-meat hot italian sausages are my weakness. smothered in hummus, fried onions and mushrooms, mustard and salsa!). I was constantly bloated and was getting to the point where it hurt to bend over and tie my skates.

The ten days of raw veggies along with no tea or coffee was just what I needed. I lost 12 pounds and began running again like I'd never stopped. I've moved back to cooked food - but NOT processed. I'm also back on my recently rejuvenated coffee addiction.

I had been off coffee for years but in February while on a vacation in Cayo Largo, Cuba, I started having a cup at breakfast and found I really liked it.

Anywho - I will be documenting the challenge and posting it at either Factoidz, Infobarrel or Hubpages with an excerpt and link here.

btw - if you're interested in earning a little cash and you like to write, Factoidz does work. It's free to sign up and it will never cost you a dime to write there. They scrutinize your first 10 articles after you sign up then if you meet their approval you become a staff writer and your stuff is published immediately. You then get an upfront bonus for each article you publish as well as the regular dinero you get for page views. They pay without hassle and without a minimum payout at the start of every month. You may not get rich quick but you will get paid.

If you're interested, go through this link to check it out and sign up. Yes, if you go through that link, I may get paid for the referral - I appreciate it - thank you!

On a closing note - my man Georges Laraque, the former vegan NHL hockey player who last played for the Montreal Canadiens, is playing a prominant role with the Green Party in the upcoming election in Canada. Way to go Georges and good luck Green!

I may be back!

Shame In Hindsight

2010-12-02T22:11:00.000-05:00

Just as explained in the movie 'The Cove', I was deceived by their smiling faces.

Two weeks ago, near Guardalavaca, Cuba, I swam with the Dolphins. I'm leary of animals in captivity. But... I was dooped by the story that the Dolphins were all rescued from injuries, were treated great and were very happy.

Dolphins always look like they're smiling, even when they're depressed or in pain. Dolphins are meant to travel 40 miles per day (60 km). Their sonar is ultra sensative. Living their entire lives in an enclosed area denies them the freedom of travel. Living their entire lives in an enclosed area causes their sonar to bounce uncontrollably against the barriers and cause pain and confusion.

Unfortunately, a friend didn't give me a copy of 'The Cove' until after we returned. I feel ashamed for contributing to the exploitation of these beautiful beings and certainly will never do it again.

'Swimming with the Dolphins' has become all the rage at a number of Caribbean resort areas. Chances are, these Dolphins came from Taiji, Japan and were the only survivors of what is a regular slaughter. If you're reading this blog, you are passionate about the lives of all beings on this Earth. Please don't make the same mistake I did.

Interestingly enough, one of the slogans written on the wall of the 'Dolphinarium' in Cuba was 'Treat all animals as you would yourself'. Obviously, that was ignored when lunch was thrown alive into a boiling pot of water, screaming and turning a bright colour of red. Of course, I'm speaking of the Lobster lunch that everyone in our group, except for the vegan freak (me), ate before swimming with the prisoners.

Check out the movie's official website at this link. This is not an affiliate link.

Zoo's - People Playing God

2010-09-11T16:35:00.000-04:00

I went to the Metro Toronto Zoo last weekend. I can already hear the gasps and hissing... I know that zoos are nothing but dungeons for animals - kind of a freak show, if you will. But... in their hearts they are doing what they think is right in trying to preserve species that the rest of the world is trying real hard to wipe off the face of the earth.

What I saw during my six hour walk around the zoo was one huge contradiction. While watching the 'talk with the zoo keeper' at the gorilla exhibit, I was struck by the horrified reaction of a gentleman near me when we were all told that underpaid and undernourished mining workers (slaves) in Africa will kill the mighty gorilla and (Oh My God!) eat the meat to stay alive.

When I mentioned (loud enough for a few people around me to hear) that that man eats, three or more times per day, the flesh of other animals that are just as innocent are killed in cold blood, I got a hard nudge in the gut and was told to shut up (by my spouse).

Upon leaving and saying outside the exhibit that I was utterly confused about what animals it was okay to kill and what animals it was not, I was nudged again. What really confuses me is the thought that in a few weeks fat Americans (and Canadians) will jump in their nine-mile-per-gallon Cadillac Escalades and drive out into the Canadian wilderness and murder innocent deer and moose. Yes, I know they and their families must eat to survive in this cruel world... Yet, we're attacking the poor African slave who somehow cannot support his family on pennies per day.

Although everyone there loved the cute animals and everyone was a friend of nature, they had no problem packing into each and every restaurant at the zoo and chomping down on dead cow and chicken. I'd imagine if they were serving up kangaroo burgers, there'd be a line-up. Of all the items on the menu at these fine, animal-loving restaurants, there was just one 'garden burger' for us weirdos. They did not even post that the meat was locally farmed. If you don't post it then one has to wonder if it came from the very same farms in Brazil that McDonalds gets their beef from. You know - the grade z beef that comes from cows grazing where rainforest once stood?

The Canadian exhibit was kind of a farse, at best. The African, Asian and South American animals have large and luxurious homes with enough information on the signs attached to these homes to fill a book. The native Canadian animals had tiny cages with nothing but a simple label saying what they were.

And really... does the zoo need to have a raccoon exhibit when the animal can be found every 20 feet in urban and rural areas in this country? They're nocturnal anyway! You don't get to see them!

Why do humans still insist that they can play god and determine who lives and who dies? "If we didn't hunt the deer they would overpopulate". So fucking what! Mother nature will deal with that problem in her own way. It really is none of our business.

That reminds me of the Canada Goose problem in Toronto that seems to be an on-going battle. People feed food to the geese which is unnatural to their diet. The geese get fat, don't leave and do nothing but breed in their spare time. The geese overpopulate and shit all over Toronto's beautiful parks and beaches. The people who go to these parks to feed the geese demand the city do something about the overpopulation and the layer of goose shit that covers everything. Some suggest killing off the geese to please the people that are causing the overpopulation in the first place.

That's my rant. It went all over the place and may not have made any sense, but... that's my rant.

Toronto Vegetarian Food Fair

2010-09-02T18:43:00.000-04:00

For anyone in the Toronto area, the 26th annual Vegetarian Food Fair is taking place September 10-12 at the Harbourfront. Admission is free - food is not!

Here's what they have to say about the event:

Regarded as the largest event of its kind in North America, the Annual Vegetarian Food Fair gives you an unparalleled opportunity to enjoy a diverse cross-section of vegetarian cuisine. Discover new products and ideas from more than 100 exhibitors and enjoy a wide variety of presentations and cooking demos.

Not a vegetarian? Whether you're looking for new ideas to add colour and variety to your meals or you're a "seasoned" vegetarian interested in expanding your knowledge of nutritious and ethical foods, this is the place for you.

For more information, visit the website.

Bottled Water - Good or Bad?

2010-08-23T16:24:00.000-04:00

Bottled Water Battle

This is an interesting article on the bottled water industry. Apparently, in California, there are water restrictions on everyone but the bottled water companies. These companies are not accountable to report the amount of water they take from the ground.

I truly believe that the whole industry is a scam and should be banned or, at least regulated. They're selling nothing but snake oil. For the most part, you're getting tap water for $1.50 a bottle and each bottle you buy is as contribution to a growing pollution and garbage problem.

Not to mention, the bottle you're drinking out of may or may not cause cancer, depending on who you believe.

Anyway - Check it out.

Bottled Water Battle

Weekend Without Oil

2010-08-20T07:17:00.000-04:00

Hey Everybody - August 21 and 22 is 'Weekend Without Oil'!

Read more here and sign the pledge.

Weekend Without Oil

NHL Hockey Vegan, Georges Laraque, Retires

2010-08-19T17:17:00.001-04:00

Recently, Vegan NHL hockey player Georges Laraque of the Montreal Canadiens decided to hang up the skates and retire. There is more to life than hockey, he says, and has an extremely ambitious agenda in front of him.

Here's a portion of his farewell to hockey post on his blog.

Hi everyone,

Well, this day had to come eventually. It was impossible for me to predict how it would happen or even how I would feel. You always hope that it is a decision that is made on your own terms. After a long 12-year hockey career, 695 NHL games, I'm officially announcing my retirement. To a lot of you, it comes as a surprise considering that I'm only 33 years old, but here are all the reasons why I made this decision.

As you know, during my first year with the Canadiens, I developed two herniated disks on my back. It was truly the first time in my career I had to deal with an injury this serious, but, frankly, after 10 years of fighting and hitting, it's not surprising. When I got the diagnosis, I remember one doctor suggesting surgery to fuse my vertebrae in order to fix my problem. At age 31, I didn't think it was such a good idea to have doctors play with nerves on my back. So I took cortisone shots and pills and played through it. Nevertheless, I was never the same. Last year, when I was released by the team in January, I got a chance to heal up and was determined to come back in the NHL or even to play in Europe, but two major events made me do otherwise. First, I met my buddy Nick Brusatore, the inventor and co-founder of TERRASPHERE. He pretty much convinced me to join his company. For me, it wasn't a hard decision to make because that technology will save the world and being able to work on a project that would make such a difference in the world we live in was something I had always dreamed of. If you want more info about this new technology, go to my website. You will find a whole section on it. The second reason is that, while I was training for my comeback, my back started hurting again and to me, that's a real red flag. Do I want to risk playing another year or two and end up being paralyzed? I do like hockey, but not to that extent. Health is much more important and the prospect of ending up in a wheelchair did not appeal to me. At the same time, the TERRASPHERE opportunity presented itself and since I’ve always believed everything happens for a reason, the timing was perfect. It was time for me to move on and be part of something that would change the world.

Read the rest of the post here.

Vegetarian Athletes Ready to Run for the Lives of Animals

2010-08-19T00:41:00.002-04:00

Vegetarian Athletes Ready to Run for the Lives of Animals

Philadelphia, Pa., August 18—Team Vegan Philly, a group of vegan and vegetarian

athletes from the Greater Philadelphia region, will be running in the

Philadelphia Marathon for the third year in a row on November 20 and 21.

The group will be raising money for outreach efforts being done by the Humane

League of Philadelphia. Team Vegan Philly also hopes to raise awareness of the

benefits to both animals and people of leading a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle.

Members of Team Vegan Philly will run the marathon, half-marathon, or 8K race.

Runners will train through group runs and discuss nutrition tips to prepare for

the races.

“We welcome all runners—from novices to professionals,” says Humane League

Director Nick Cooney. “We’re a group of vegans and vegetarians that want to have

fun running while raising money to benefit the lives of animals.”

The Humane League is a Philadelphia-based non-profit animal protection

organization that strives to create a more compassionate world for animals

through education, campaigns and rescue.

The group is still looking for interested participants to join Team Vegan

Philly. For more information or to register, visit www.teamveganphilly.com.

Do Animals Return The Favour?

2010-04-25T16:42:00.002-04:00

I was out for my first great hike in the woods this morning. The Bruce Trail basically runs around Orangeville and this morning I hit a section of the trail that is basically Hockley Valley Provincial Park.

I was alone on the trail that I was re-discovering after a few years away. There is one area that cuts through quite thick pine and the trail gets dark, even on a bright day. I've never seen anything more than a racoon in this area over the 15 years I've lived here. However, there are always rumours about wild cats, bears, wolves and coyotes being spotted.

No one actually photos any of these 'beasts' so it's kind of like the legend of bigfoot. However, it's not impossible that any of these animals could stray down from the north.

So - as I was walking through the woods alone, I began to wonder if the absense of dead animal meat from our vegan systems has any effect on how live animals treat us. It is said that when you are eating meat, you are ingesting their fear and adrenaline. Animals have much stronger senses than us, what if they could sense these things on a meat-eating human?

It would be hard, and possibly dangerous, to do a study on this! But, I have noticed that when I used to run by a dog that was fenced in a yard, I could pretty much predict that exact moment (just after I'd passed) that the dog would start barking hysterically. Now, quite often the dogs don't bark at all.

I realize this theory is out in left field and my sanity may be in question. My question to you, vegan reader, is have you had any threatening experiences with an animal, domestic or wild?

An update - I'm down about three pounds since my last post. The energy is coming back and I'm pretty confident about meeting my goals set in that last post.

Unlike Kirstie Alley - I Promise This Diet Will Stick

2010-04-19T07:48:00.005-04:00

As mentioned earlier, I have recently proven that a person can gain weight fairly quickly on a vegan diet. I have gained somewhere between 10-15 pounds since November. I don't want to have to change the title of this blog to Being A Fat Vegan - I can't imagine anyone would want to read that. Alec Baldwin had already proved the theory that a chubby vegan can exist, but I had to try it for myself...

Why?

After almost 4 years of continuous 12 month per year hockey, 2-4 times per week, I'd had enough and started shedding nights. Three weeks ago, my Sunday night hockey ended for the season and my Friday night hockey that would normally go all year round, ended until September because we can't get enough people out. This is great because, come September when hockey starts up again, I should be back in love with playing the game.

Working out and running have been severely reduced. I have many excuses, of course! Weather, health (colds), high amounts of time spent on other projects...

My eating habits have gotten lazy as well. I can't seem to avoid that extra meal at 10 or 11 at night. I've got into eating a lot of processed food that, even though it's vegan, is simply not good. I haven't been preparing my lunches ahead of time so I'm eating fast food often at lunch. I'm also just beginning to drink more water again. I normally drink a ton of water every day, but with drinking more and more green tea while experiencing reduced physical activity, there were days when I wouldn't drink a single drop of plain cold, fresh agua.

What I've Learned

Especially over the age of 40, there is no miracle diet (ok, maybe raw veg or fruitarianism...).
Timing is everything! I know there's some dispute about when and how often you should eat. What works for me is a small breakfast, small lunch, small dinner and nothing whatsoever after dinner. When I go to bed hungry, I'm not starved in the morning, but I find it so much easier to get out of bed and I have so much more energy than if I ate a late snack or meal.
Green Tea is a prince but water is king! Green tea is full of goodness but it also contains caffeine and is a diuretic. Therefore, if you only drink green tea, you will be in a constant state of dehydration.
Even 100% whole wheat bread is not for those who want to lose weight! 160 calories for two slices of plain, grocery store whole wheat bread.
Vegans can get sick, too. I never had a full blown winter cold. Instead, it just seemed to linger and put me at around 80% for what felt like forever.

What I Plan To Do

I promise that I will not be like any of the celebrities that represent Jenny Craig from time to time. Once I have my physical health back on track, I will not fall back! My personal challenge is to lose 10 lbs in 4 weeks. This is ever so slightly above the recommended 2 pounds per week but I'm not concerned. Actually, deep down, I want to shed 15 pounds in that time period but to announce that on this blog would be just plain reckless!

How Am I Going To Do It?

Run every day. Even if it's only 5km, I must become a real runner again.
Get up earlier each day to have a proper breakfast.
Get up earlier each day to go for a walk to get the blood moving and boost the metabolism.
Start each day with a minimum of 16 ounces of water, then keep drinking it all day long.
No bread, sugar or processed food.
Portion control.
Update my progress here to make myself more accountable to this goal.
Workout on a regular basis again.

Here's The Details

Current weight as of April 19, 2010: 189 pounds.

Goal weight as of May 17, 2010: 179 pounds (secret goal: 174 pounds!)

Running mileage total: 120 km

Orangeville's Own PETA Star

2010-04-10T13:37:00.002-04:00

It's nice to see that I'm not the only vegetable eating, animal rights fan in my little town. Featured in our local paper last week is a 24 year old girl named Virigina Fort who is an active member of PETA, travelling the world as an activist for the organization.

The original article can be found here at Orangeville.com.

Of course, as you will see if you read the article, everyone is anti-PETA and all the good this girl is doing is over-shadowed by an opinion that has been planted in people's heads about PETA.

Nevertheless, she is doing a wonderful job following her heart and she looks a great deal better than me naked in the street, painted up as a cat (picture at link above) - not that I'm above doing that...

Dealing with Non-Vegan Family at Easter

2010-04-02T19:34:00.005-04:00

Well, it's another holiday weekend. Another mass animal sacrifice disguised as a religious event. Sunday will bring to me, as it will to many vegans around the 'christian' world, a family 'feast' based upon dead animals.

"You still off the meat?"

"Anyone bring a head of lettuce for Tom?"

"How does he do it?" (said from one to another as if I wasn't even there) "I'd like to eat healthier, but... Jeez... That's a little extreme!"

I tend to be a little of a smart ass but when it comes to these questions and comments, I try to be an ambassador of the vegan lifestyle. It's hard, but I give short, to the point answers and then change the topic as fast as possible.

I just want to throw it out there to anyone that comes across this post (vegan and non-vegan). Do you find it hard at family gatherings? Are people supportive of your dietary choices? Do people know of your dietary choices (do you fake that you are a meat-eater and pretend to have an upset stomach or something)?

Non-vegans with vegan family members - why are non-vegans so defensive about vegans? It's just a diet! I always sense a little underlying anger - like the allies vs. the nazis; Leafs vs. Canadiens; Christians vs. Muslims; Michigan vs. Michigan State - you get the picture.

Anywho - enjoy your holiday weekend! In Southern Ontario, where the temps have gone up to 20 degrees celcius above normal - for the first time in three years we have to worry about heat exhaustion and it's only the start of April! It makes for a very nice outdoor long weekend.

Being A Fat Vegan Is Possible!

2010-03-24T18:28:00.004-04:00

Before I get into the Fat Vegan part, I would just like add a little info on my last post. The soursop is very similar in texture and taste to the custard apples. The taste is great but the number of seeds is incredibly annoying!

The pickled Vietnamese egg plants are, well... pretty gross. They are a very small type of eggplant that has been pickled with all the innards still in. When you bite into one of these there is an explosion of tiny seeds that fill your mouth and, frankly, feel like bugs. The taste is good but the experience is pretty nasty.

I haven't yet tried the Lotus stems or the rambutan and everything else was just as good this time around as the first time for me.

Being A Vegan Lardass!

I have now put on over 10 pounds since the end of November. I have proved that it is possible for rapid weight gain while on a vegan diet. I attribute this to a drastic reduction in physical activity that is, as we speak, being reversed.

Other than my laziness, I simply blame the Ontario winter. There's not enough snow to do any good workouts like snowshoeing, yet there's enough to make the sidewalks into horrible running tracks.

Anywho, I plan to be sitting 15 pounds lighter as of one month from now. I've started working out and running again and I'm trying to curb the winter hunger and not binge in the evening before bed. It's a tough road when you're on the other side of the 40 mark but I'm determined.

Chinatown Bounty

2010-03-10T19:10:00.004-05:00

I did a little food shopping at a few of the Asian markets along Spadina in Toronto this past Monday. I'd just like to share my bounty of goodies.

Starting from the front, the dark prickly thing is a Soursop. Not sure what it tastes like yet, but will be trying it soon.

The brown balls in the yellow mesh bag are Longans. Also called dragon's eyes, Longans are a sweet, opaque, fleshy snack inside a semi-hard shell.

The red guy in the middle is a Dragon Fruit, or Pitahaya. Inside is a tasty white flesh that is somewhat of a mix between a kiwi fruit and a watermelon.

The two fruit on the right are Custard Apples. The scales peel away easily when ripe and the inner flesh is similar in taste and texture to apple custard. There are numerous seeds that make eating this fruit a bit tedious.

The can on the left is full of Rambutan, which is similar to lychee fruit and longans.

The jar in the middle is pickled Vietnamese Eggplant. I haven't tried it yet, but I have a thing for regular pickled eggplant so I should like this just fine.

The jar on the right is full of Lotus Rootlets. I haven't cracked this one open yet either but I've checked out some recipes on-line and things are lookin' good.

A&W Provides A Vegan Alternative (Believe it or Not)

2010-03-09T21:17:00.003-05:00

Of all fast food restaurants, who would have thought A&W would be one to provide a healthy option on their menu? After all, this is a burger joint that is streamlined to simply greasy burgers with the only option being the number of slabs of beef on your bun.

My omnivore wife needed a fast food fix after a long shift at the hospital. Having already eaten dinner, I didn't much care where she wanted to go. When she mentioned A&W, I figured I'd get an order of onion rings for the effort.

I was surprised to see the Swiss Veggie Burger on the menu. We asked the girl at the counter about it and with a grimace, she told us that it was indeed a 'no-meat' product. I got my onion rings that evening but left the burger.

The next day, I made another visit to A&W for lunch and purchased one of these veggie burgers (without the Swiss cheese and ranch dressing, of course). The price is steep at $4.99 CAD. The burger is amazingly small - kind of reminded me of a White Castle burger. The taste was good, though. I subbed my usual ton of ketchup for the light ranch dressing.

I won't be hanging out at the ol' A&W everyday for this product, but it does provide another quick alternative when out and about. The only other fast food restaurant where I could find a veggie burger on the menu (in Canada) was Burger King. Haven't tried them out as we no longer have a Burger King in Orangeville.

Here's the facts from the A&W website:

Swiss Veggie Deluxe
Components :Veggie burger patty, A&W Seasoning, Swiss cheese, wheat bun, light Ranch dressing, pickles, sliced onion, lettuce, tomato
Details : Veggie Burger: Portabello mushroom, water, mushrooms, wheat flour, modified cellulose, onion, textured soy protein, rehydrated textured soy flour, canola oil, butter, isolated soy protein, salt, garlic powder, autolyzed yeast, spice. Seasoned with A&W seasoning.Swiss Cheese: milk, salt, bacterial culture, microbial enzyme. May contain calcium chlorideA&W Seasoning: salt, spices, sugar, dehydrated garlic & onions, corn starch, dextrose, silicon dioxide, whey, flour, colour, maltodextrin, flavour, soybean oil, canola oil, citric acid, sulphitesWheat Bun: enriched wheat flour, water, whole wheat flour, yeast*, cornmeal, vegetable oil (Canola or Soybean), oat flakes, glucose-fructose/sugar, salt, vinegar, caramel colour (contains sulfites), flavour (contains sulfites), calcium propionate, sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate, sorbic acid.*order may change. May contain traces of milk ingredients, soybean and sesame seeds.Light Ranch Dressing: water, soybean oil, modified milk ingredients, maltodextrin, liquid egg yolk, salt, modified corn starch, flavour, sugar, monosodium glutamate, garlic juice, vinegar, onion juice, phosphoric acid, lactic acid, spices, xanthan gum, polysorbate 60, artificial colour, propylene glycol alginate, potassium sorbate, lemon juice concentrate, calcium disodium EDTA.Pickles: cucumbers, water, white vinegar, salt, calcium chloride, sodium benzoate, seasonings, polysorbate 80, turmeric, tartrazine. May contain potassium sorbate.
Nutrient Contents :
Serving Size (g) :
227
Calories :
390
Sugar (g) :
7
Protein (g) :
20
Carbohydrates(g) :
47
Fibre (g) :
5
Total Fat (g) :
15
Saturated Fat (g) :
4
Trans Fat (g)
0.1
Cholesterol (mg) :
20
% Daily Value:
Calcium (%) :
20
Sodium (mg) :
1220
Iron (%) :
30
Vitamin A % :
6
Vitamin C % :
6

And yes, I do realize that my veggie burger was cooked on the same grill as the rest of their products...

Next up - my latest visit to Chinatown and Kensington Market in Toronto...