The Vegan Challenge - Day 1

The Vegan Challenge - Day 1

It was my first day of the Vegan Challenge and today was a really hard day for me. All day I was irritable, frustrated, unable to focus, stressed, and HUNGRY. I have been on diets before but today seemed above average in terms of the ‘suffering’. I am not sure if it was just in my head or was it really withdrawal symptoms but the Vegan challenge definitely took a lot out of me.

I started the day bad already I was unable to sleep last night and probably picked up about an hour and a half of winks. I was really excited last night and was writing in my new blog. By the time, I hit the sack, I could see daylight coming out of my second floor (first floor in the UK) window.

Somehow I managed to find the energy and will power to get up, get dressed, and head out for work. My feet felt like I was dragging them all the way to the bus stop. And when I did get to work, I couldn't have my usual breakfast of egg and toast. 

When I mentioned that I was embarking on a Vegan Challenge, the guys at work were a bit in disbelief and to be honest cynical. They were wondering why I would do it and that they were certain I was ‘going to have a hard time’. Specifically the Vegan’s very strict diet that would immediately put a halt on consuming eggs, bread, sweets and chocolate, and lots of other good stuff that I just took for granted.

http://youtu.be/NCFuvUdyDp8

-- More vids there

Taking part in this challenge, I learned quickly that awareness of those restrictions seems to be a big part of the lifestyle. During my morning break, I went to buy a falafel wrap but when I got back to my desk I was worried about whether the pita bread and falafel would break my Challenge. I started reading the label and its ingredients for any indication of animal products. I even  asked my boss to find out what was in falafel. But I was relieved to find out it can be eaten. This obsession with the ingredients is new to me and I am a bit uneasy and feel obliged to develop paranoia about what I am putting in my mouth all the time. Now I know a bit about how the Jewish and the Muslim feel when it comes to observing their diet.

Lunch was particularly harsh for me. Entering the canteen with the Vegan hat and being met with the delicious emulsion of the fried, baked, and sautéed cuisine was pure torture. I made it worse by making the rounds and looking at what was cooked and what was being prepared fresh. That didn’t help. Acknowledging my limits, I headed straight for the salad bar. All I can say, was that 'delicious' is not one of the words I would describe it. I looked around and saw that they were serving Thai coconut soup. I went straight for it and joined the queue. Immediately, I could see a bit of a problem because the girl in front of me seem to be scraping the bottom of that soup pot as I can hear the noise of clanging metal. I was definitely looking at her with a concerned gaze and I had Ludacris in my head singing ‘move bitch, get out the way’. When she got out, I assessed the damage. Yes there was enough there - maybe. I can see the metal bottom with the kernels of corn emerging as little islands due to the lack of liquid. But there was enough – we can do a lift! So I made sure to pick up the 5 litter soup container and dipped the ladle to hoard as much of the beautiful and rare liquid as possible. The girl behind me was giving me look also but I was detached from her misery and was reveling in my own good luck!

When I got to our regular seating area, I was again asked about my new challenge. After all, knowing me, it was quite rare for them to see me without a plate that was pregnant with food.  I once again explained myself and the guys were teasing me as usual. I was deep into my soup when our new friend 'Cathy' mentioned that I was eating croutons. Once she said it, my appetite was lost. I threw the croutons down in despair and cursed myself for not realizing the error. Hence, first day first fail.

I left the canteen disappointed and hungry. I just became more irritable as the day went by and I was having a hard time focusing also. I tried to keep awake by drinking Coke. The biggest frustration of the day was when I went to buy Doritos. I could not buy the usual chocolates that would get me through the afternoon (e.g. Kit Kat or M&M’s) so I thought I could settle on corn chips. When I got upstairs I read the ingredients, and it said ‘Contains Milk’. I wanted to yell and put my head on my hand out of frustration. 

I looked over to my friend, Angel, and said, 'Sheitze. It has milk'
His response, a wave of his hand to throw it over to him. Seeing my suffering, he wanted to kick me while I was down. 

The guys were definitely on their game that day. Apparently, they have a bet out on me already about when I was going to fold. Pits, also know as 'Gordo', said I won't last until Friday and Angel is banking on the weekend to grind out my patience. I told them they both won cause I ate croutons accidentally already. Angel then offered some advice that maybe I should take baby steps first…."Try Vegetarian first..." then indicating that I can afterwards move to the more extreme step of Vegan". I considered it but I rationalised that if I am going to suffer anyway, I might as well go all the way.

When I got home, I had some Macadamia nuts and dried cranberries for dinner. But my head still hurts from hunger and my stomach was telling me to eat the leftover pizza that someone left in the kitchen. 'No one will know'. I denied myself that temptation. But I did hover over the pizza and sniffed the shit out of it. 

I think this Vegan thing is going to be harder than what I originally thought.