Healthy Living in Connecticut Blog
No Oatmeal For A Week?
Every day since going plant based, I start out the morning with steel cut oats, topped with berries, a banana, ground flax seeds and chia seeds. It keeps me full and satisfied until lunch time. But I'm going to be doing a raw food challenge for 7 days, beginning March 12 and ending March 19. Although it is plant based, it has a lot of differences in comparison to how I currently eat.
For example, grains aren't allowed. No quinoa? How will I survive without it? I'll make due somehow! Even worse is 7 days without sweet potatoes. I eat them daily as well.
Ian Myers designed a 7 day reset and I will be following his meal plan for a week. The reason for a raw food challenge is that my personal trainer suggested a while back that I go raw for a while to help with the skin around my abs. The cleanse may help my skin further tighten in that area.
The 7 day reset can help those who want to lose weight, maintain or want to build muscle. There are adjustments in the amount of calories, depending on the desired outcome. Ian told me that some people lose like 15 pounds during the week. My goal isn't weight loss though, so I will most likely be like Ian and incorporate more bananas, cashews and avocados to fill my caloric needs.
I'm curious if I will feel any different being raw. I feel great now and work out 5 days a week. If my current diet wasn't good, I wouldn't be able to do what I do. But maybe by eating this way for a week, I can improve my pull-ups and dips, along with other exercise goals.
It's good to know how to do a cleanse if I want to do it every once in a while. But one thing's for sure, I don't plan on ever giving up my oatmeal and other foods I enjoy. Like I said, it's been working for me... but I'm sure I can handle a week without some of my favorite foods!
Here is the link if you want to learn more about the 7 day reset.
About the author
Richard Hubbard was once over 350 pounds. After a doctor's physical and finding out he was pre-hypertensive, he decided to make changes and avoid medication. Over the course of a year, Rich lost the first 120 pounds of his incredible 150 pound weight loss. He ate healthy foods based on Dr. Joel Fuhrman's book "Eat To Live". He was mostly plant based, but switched to completely plant based in September of 2016. He also became a vegan in the process as his compassion for animals increased. He credits bodybuilder Robert Cheeke for influencing his decision of going vegan. Rich aspires to be a vegan bodybuilder and is planning his first half marathon this year.