Going Vegan Video Series - Getting my fellow EMJ teammate on to try the vegan diet
Hey guys - I shared this a couple weeks ago on the homepage, but wanted to provide the link in the nutrition thread. Brenda, thanks for encouraging me to do so! Glad you're enjoying the videos 
As a quick summary, my training partner and fellow Every Man Jack teammate expressed interest in trying out the vegan diet. He's a very fit, strong triathlete (3x Kona qualifier, many AG podiums) who, now at the age of 45, wanted to clean up his diet.
Knowing that I've been more-or-less vegan for 3 years now, he asked for my help in getting him onto the diet. We decided it would be fun to film the process given that he has a chaotic schedule - 4 kids, new home, new job, training for LA marathon, etc. - and because he's a really funny, down-to-earth guy.
He started on February 1 and is more than a month in. We've got 10 videos up currently, with more coming every Tuesday. Goal is to share advice, potential benefits, struggles, and all else involved in making the transition to an entirely plant-based diet.
Hope you enjoy, and would love any feedback or questions!
http://bit.ly/GoingVeganSeries
As a quick summary, my training partner and fellow Every Man Jack teammate expressed interest in trying out the vegan diet. He's a very fit, strong triathlete (3x Kona qualifier, many AG podiums) who, now at the age of 45, wanted to clean up his diet.
Knowing that I've been more-or-less vegan for 3 years now, he asked for my help in getting him onto the diet. We decided it would be fun to film the process given that he has a chaotic schedule - 4 kids, new home, new job, training for LA marathon, etc. - and because he's a really funny, down-to-earth guy.
He started on February 1 and is more than a month in. We've got 10 videos up currently, with more coming every Tuesday. Goal is to share advice, potential benefits, struggles, and all else involved in making the transition to an entirely plant-based diet.
Hope you enjoy, and would love any feedback or questions!
http://bit.ly/GoingVeganSeries
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Comments
Like Danielle I totally ripped off your green smoothy idea and start most days with it and really love it so thanks again!
Quick question on the lunch ideas. Do you pack all the items separately in their own tupperware and assemble or do you toss it all together and just add the dressing at lunch?
Some notes , comments , and thoughts ...
Loved the following Kens comments -
1. didnt feel any pressure going vegan vs. training or IM prep/performance
2. not difficult
3. you have to want it to stop it (diet soda discussion)
people tend to overthink and say oh its so hard etc... Ken has the attitude of ok I will just eat Vegan for 10 weeks... Its not hard , people just make it hard.
Your comments- Baby Steps (diet soda discussion) just great advice period.... Even one vegan meal a week is better than none for most people... one step at a time... disclaimer I still have the occasional diet or full sugar soda (when racing/training)...
Will you guys cover
1. Environmental Issues?
2. Animal Cruelty Issues?
3. Other non-food consumer animal products such as leather?
4. Or is this just health and fitness?
Would love to see you wrap it up with some of 1 and 2....
New videos are up... 4 new videos (11-14) linked here: Going Vegan Series.
Ken runs the LA Marathon this Sunday, so he covers that in video 14. He'll be looking to go sub-2:45. Videos 11 & 12 show us at the EMJ camp in Vegas. I was surprised to find that 5 guys on the team are vegetarian. Pretty cool.
@Andre Fraser - Interesting. We'll definitely be doing blood work at the end of 10 weeks. I tried to get a baseline at the outset, but Ken had too much going on and never got to the lab to have the blood drawn before things got underway. We'll look to do pH analysis as well.
@Attila Matyas Awesome to hear!! Re: the Tupperware, if I'm working at an office (I often work from home) I pack a couple containers full of assembled meals with dressing added since I'll be eating within a few hours. I carry this all to work in a backpack. (I actually bought this backpack specifically because it's square and perfectly holds my containers in the right position, ha! Fjallraven Kanken) At home, I have the ingredients (quinoa, black beans, sweet potato, chopped kale, lentils, etc.) separate and I just mix and match in a bowl when it's time to eat.
@tim cronk Thanks for all the notes & comments!! Glad you're enjoying. We'll definitely cover environmental issues and likely animal cruelty. The plan to build into that. We're likely to have John Joseph over for some cooking (he's a mutual friend of ours) while he's in LA in April and I'll look to bridge to some of those topics during our hang with him since he's a huge proponent of the vegan lifestyle for these reasons.
Also, be alerted to new videos by subscribing to the Going Vegan Series. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE (just scroll up and you'll see the button). Then you'll get a notification when new videos go up. I try to do that every Tuesday, but sometimes I get them up late.
If you like what we're up to, subscribe, give the videos a thumbs up, and maybe even share with a friend.
Thanks again all! Appreciate the great feedback!!