Questions of Day 3

It has been expressed to me that perhaps, "Pink Icing" is not the most fitting name for a blog about fitness. After all, what does cake have to do with fitness? The answer, of course, is very little...

However, when embarking on a fitness plan, you are really setting out to negotiate a balance of healthy delicious foods with the occasional treat. If I couldn't have any treats, I would just sit in a corner and cry! Pink icing represents a delight, a treat, and a decadence... and sometimes we need that!

Another question that has been nagging me for some time is about vegetarianism. I think of myself a vegetarian because I abstained from all forms of meat (fish included) for 15 years, but for the past five years or so I have actually been a pescatarian. I currently eat the occasional piece of fish, but lately I have been flirting with the idea of veganism.

I started reading Alicia Silverstone's book The Kind Diet, and I dabbled in being vegan for a day or two a week. Dabbling has been a good experience for me; vegan days reveal my reliance on dairy. Experimenting with veganism has helped me to understand that I can make better choices rather than always relying on butter, milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs... I love dairy, but now I'm inspired to eat less; and when I do eat it, I try to make it higher quality organic dairy to avoid the hormones and antibiotics in non-organic dairy.

Although I love eating vegan, it is too restrictive of a lifestyle for me. I will be sticking with my mostly vegetarian diet with the occasional bit of fish. One thing that I really took away from Alicia's book is that she encourages readers to broaden their consumption of whole grains. Instead of just brown rice, I now make sure my cupboards are stocked with hulled barley, quinoa, and bulgar. Barley is my favorite! It's so chewy and filling!

Day 3 was a sweeping success. I will post a loss at the end of the week. Stay tuned! And thanks for the encouragement!