30 Day Challenge +4lbs (Vegan Style)
Announcing my 30 Day Challenge!
+4 lbs of weight gain VEGAN STYLE!
I dropped from my average weight of 160lbs down to 145lbs. This drop was due to experimentation with the Renegade diet aka FASTING.
Huge mistake for me:
#1 I don’t have much Fat to cut
#2 My metabolism is faster than most
#3 I was just starting my Plant Based lifestyle.
#4 My energy was never low
*there wasn’t much benefit for me in the Renegade/Fasting diet besides more rest for my digestive system however (my digestion is top notch, i take probiotics and digestive enzymes daily)
I’ve gained about 20lbs in the past during my meat eating days. Now to accomplish this with nothing but the power of PLANTS…………BRING IT!
First off how many calories do I need daily for weight gain? We figure this out by going to Free Dieting and looking at their calorie calculator (google it).
Entering my age, height, weight, and activity level the computer guesstimates that my daily calorie intake for maintenance is 2,200.
1lb =’s 3500 calories, which conveniently would be an additional intake of 500 calories a day for 1 week (7 days x 500 calories = 3500 calories =+1lb). You can gain 1lb in ONE SINGLE day if you intake 3500 calories over your daily maintenance in ONE SINGLE day…………. butttttttttttt I wouldn’t recommend it.
There it is……..my daily calorie goal is: 2,700 CALORIES
Here’s my week 1 Trader Joe’s shopping list:
2 Peanut Butter Creamy
2 Edamame (Frozen, unshelled)
1 bag of Sweet Potatoes
2 bag of green lentils
1 Pack of Tomatoes (5 ct)
1 Bag Avocado (teeny tiny sz)
1 Onion
1 Bag of Organic Carrots
1 Loaf of Bread Multi-grain
14 Bananas
1 Rolled Oats (3lbs)
1 Ground Flaxseed
1 Canola Oil
*items not purchased at TJ: Yorhealth Great Protein powder (buy a protein powder of your choice)
To keep things simple I will only make 3 different dishes listed below and also in my YouTube Video
Meal #1 & #4 Power Smoothie
1 Banana
1 serving of Yorhealth Great Protein (or protein powder of your choice)
1 tbsp of Canoli Oil
2 tbsp of Ground Flaxseed
1/2 cup of Rolled Oats
2 tbsp of Peanut Butter
1 Cup of Almond Milk (unsweetened)
*Blend together and WALA! Drink once in the morning and once at night
Nutrition: Calories 745, Protein 33g, Carbs 69g, Fats 42g
Meal #2 & #3
1/2 cup Edamame cold or boiled (i’m doing cold….bc i’m lazy)
1 cup cooked Lentils (add carrots, onions, cumin, salt, pepper in a pot for additional flavor)
1 small sweet potato baked
*cooking instructions are not needed here, but if you must: 400 degrees and 50 minute cook time for the sweet potatoes, 25min for the lentils…….boom done.
Nutrition: Calories 420, Protein 29g, Carbs 68g, Fat 5g
Snack (onee serving)
2 slices of multi-grain bread
1 small avocado (add salt, pepper, oil if you wish)
Nutrition: Calories 297, Protein 7.5g, Carbs 40g, Fat 14g
DAILY TOTAL: Calories 2627, Protein 132.5g, Carbs 314g, Fat 108g
*so we’re short 73 calories, eat an extra slice of bread ;p
If you’re breaking down MACROS then we’re looking at about 20% Fat, 24% Protein, 56% Carbs (give or take)
COST:
Total bill came out to $47 for trader joes, depending on what protein powder you get it can range from $10-$20, let’s just round up to $70 which breaks down to just $3.33 per meal including snacks for WEIGHT GAIN!
CONCLUSION
Gaining weight is not hard but that weight does not turn you into a baywatch lifeguard either that’s where the workout comes in.
I no longer care to lift weights for looks, for me it’s more about practicality so I’ll be researching and posting a new workout regiment soon. One tailored around maximum flexibility, mobility, and core strength.
Until next post it’s time now to FEED MY FACE