P90X Week 1: vegan protein galore
I was simultaneously surprised and delighted by all the positive responses I received on my vegan P90X plan. It sounds like most of you are interested in hearing more about my (and Matt’s) meal plans during these three months. Don’t worry, I won’t bore you with workout details (if you want those, you probably ought to pick up the DVDs, anyway). What I WILL be talking plenty about, though, is our diet.
I feel like Week One has been a success. With our protein needs at 30-35%, it’s been a challenge at times to find creative sources of nutrition, but we’ve fared pretty well. Here’s a look at what Matt and I have been eating this week (I’ll note raw items accordingly).
Every single day, we share a post-workout green smoothie for our recovery drink (no nasty, corn-sweetened, artificial powder crap for us!). I always make it with half a frozen banana, a splash of coconut or almond milk, a pinch of dulse flakes, a tablespoon or so of flax meal, a teaspoon each of maca and bee pollen, a cup of spinach, and a serving of raw protein powder (we’ve been switching back and forth between Garden of Life‘s RAW Protein and Living Harvest‘s Tempt hemp protein). In addition, each day’s smoothie features a rotating array of fresh fruit: pears, blueberries, pineapple, kiwi, whatever I happen to have on hand. We really look forward to starting the day with a delicious, all-raw fruit ‘n greens smoothie.
MONDAY
Breakfast: Tofu scramble (seen here)
Lunch: Homemade vegan pepperoni; blueberries with coconut yogurt (RAW)
Dinner: Pan-fried seitan; brown rice with kidney beans, green beans, corn, and salsa
Snacks: None, really. Matt and I were both quite full all day long. The sudden jump in our protein intake seemed to shock our systems a little!
TUESDAY
Breakfast: Tofu scramble
Lunch: Homemade vegan pepperoni; spicy black beans
Dinner: Lo-cal spaghetti with “meat” sauce (seen here)
Snacks: Slice of baked tofu; homemade cinnamon roll (RAW, seen here); cacao-banana bedtime smoothie (RAW)
WEDNESDAY
Breakfast: Tofu scramble; cinnamon roll (RAW)
Lunch: Leftover spaghetti with “meat” sauce
Dinner: Tempeh-veggie stir fry; cinnamon roll (RAW); Hail Merry blonde macaroon (RAW)
Snacks: Spicy black beans; apple with peanut butter
THURSDAY
Breakfast: Tofu scramble; cinnamon roll (RAW)
Lunch: Homemade vegan pepperoni; baked tofu
Dinner: Pita bread with homemade baked falafel and hummus; Hail Merry blonde macaroon (RAW)
Snacks: Homemade kale chips (RAW, above); cacao-banana-greens-protein bedtime smoothie (RAW)
FRIDAY
Breakfast: Tofu scramble; kale chips (RAW)
Lunch: Baked tofu; blueberries with coconut yogurt (RAW)
Dinner: Mexican rice with enchilada-sauced seitan, chili beans, and asparagus (above); slice of homemade chocolate torte (RAW, below)
Snacks: Vanilla soymilk; more kale chips (RAW)
SATURDAY
Breakfast: Oatmeal with hemp protein
Lunch: Homemade kimchee (RAW, above); kale chips (RAW); Gardenburger
Dinner: Broccoli-lentil soup (below); enchilada-sauced seitan
Snacks: Dried apple with peanut butter; homemade mini cupcake; almond butter cookie dough (RAW)
SUNDAY
Breakfast: R oasted potatoes (above); tofu-cauliflower frittata (below)
Lunch: Leftover broccoli-lentil soup
Dinner: Steamed tempeh; enchilada-sauced seitan and bell peppers
Snacks: Soymilk; homemade caramel-frosted brownie (RAW)
What’s that? Oh, you caught the mention of raw caramel-frosted brownies? Yeah, about those…
Just a couple hours ago, I whipped up some quick 4-ingredient raw brownies (walnuts, pecans, dates, cacao powder). These are incredible on their own, but then I had an idea to try making a raw WHITE chocolate ganache to go on top, so I threw some ingredients in the Vitamix – cacao butter, coconut oil, soaked cashews, agave, lucuma, and some other stuff – to see what would come out.
It isn’t quite white chocolate, but whatever it is – some sort of rich, dense, translucent, cacao-scented, whipped caramel-vanilla frosting – it’s kinda sorta frickin’ amazing. I’ve filed the recipe under “Must share someday!”
FYI! My mentor and instructor from the 105degrees Academy, Russell James, is currently offering a very short-term sale on his raw chef homestudy course…and by “sale,” he means a whopping 33% off! Along with the ten DVDs it comes with, you also get over $350 worth of freebies, including online material and e-books. The deal’s only good through tomorrow (Monday) afternoon, so be sure to nab one while you have the chance!
Almost Vegan 
First… OMG. I am so ridiculously impressed with and yearning for every single day of eats you’ve had, and at the same time mortified about the lameness of my foods. (I swear, I’m just going to throw out the jar of Goobers peanut butter and jelly that someone gave me. It’s gross, and I don’t need to eat it just because it’s there, right?!)
Please, please, please share the brownie recipe! I still haven’t blogged this but a few weeks before Christmas, I made raw brownies (my first proper raw dish, I think), and I honestly thought they were pretty much the best things I’ve ever tasted. My frosting have avocado, which blew my mind, but your white chocolate frosting sounds even more divine. (Even if it involves swallowing coconut butter… 😉 )
Really?! I’ve felt like our meals have been pretty dull overall this week. Maybe I’m just jaded from 2 months of gourmet raw food =X
Teehee! Actually, my “white chocolate” (more like caramel) frosting contains NO [“]coconut butter[“] (though this is easily remedied, if you so choose). After a little more playing around, I plan to share both the brownies and the icing. Please please please blog about YOUR raw brownies soon!
(PS – My willpower has been known to crack in the presence of some Goober Grape.)
Yes, certainly jaded. Or I’m just dreadfully bereft of yummy raw and vegan food here in Canberra! Well, technically, your frosting did contain the same *ahem* ingredient as on my smoothie, as in Australia there’s only coconut oil, not coconut butter, as apparently they’re different but… oh, I can’t remember, but Rob explained to me. What I have is still raw and minimally processed though! 🙂
P.S. Please take the Goober Grape off me. Please.
Ahh, no “REAL” coconut butter?! Shame…for what good is a nut without its meat, eh? 😉
Ohh, no you don’t. Keep that Goober Grape away from me, missy. I’ve got a fitness plan to stick to! Saboteur! 😛
Hmm… it’d be like a banana without its skin? (Circumcision joke ahoy!)
You know, if you’d just invite me to your home I’d be the anti-saboteur – I’d eat all the raw food treats in your kitchen and then you wouldn’t have to worry about them! 😉
So I’d be able to stay on my diet AND I’d get my Hannah? Brilliant idea! 😀
I’m currently trying to convince my supervisor that my PhD requires US research. He actually seems to believe me…
Seriously?! Oh, please say you’re not just joking!
It all looks great!!
Thanks Sarah!
holy shit that’s a lot of cooking hahaha
looks delicious though! hope you aren’t too sore to make your food.
i’m doing something kind of similar actually… i forgot to mention. i read dr. gabriel cousen’s book “rainbow live food cuisine” and am in the middle of reading his other (much more extensive book about nutrition) “conscious eating”. i’m putting myself on a no-sugar, no mycotoxin diet for 3 weeks to see how i feel.
i think i’m going to post my week’s eating schedule too if you’re interested. i hope i feel a big difference as i still suffer from occasional skin issues like dryness and eczema. (yikes!)
this is such cool stuff! thanks for the post!
best,
cliff
Hehe, no kidding! I didn’t make many elaborate dishes at all; most of it was “sauté-and-serve.” Still, a lot of work! And dishes to do =X
You know, I haven’t read any of Cousens’ books. It’s probably high time I do. I’ve toyed with the idea of giving up sugar for awhile, but never felt any urgent need to actually do it. Maybe it’s because I’m more of a salt person in the end. But anyway, I might still try it someday, just to see…actually, at the moment, I’m eating considerably less sugar than usual, and I haven’t even been noticing it much (probably cuz I’m so full all the time with this protein!). I’m very interested to read your meal plans, and to hear how it works out for you after the 3 weeks!
Everything looks fantastic. The brownie recipe is definitely a “must share.” I’m really impressed, have you made meal plans for the whole program already?
Thanks! I haven’t made meal plans for the whole thing – my gawd, I balk at the thought! – but I do have our meals (very) roughly sketched out at the beginning of each week. Actually, I’m slacking on that this week…better get to it!
Oh, it sounds like you’re having so much fun! I’m glad you’re playing around experimenting with white chocolate: me too, since all the delectable and beautiful choc I made over Christmas was yet more evidence that my own system isn’t made happy by it.
I’d love to hear more about how you’re feeling about the workout, as well as how the food is feeling. It’s wonderful that you experienced satiation and that you’re making such beautiful and creative–and varied!–food. So sweet that you’re doing it together too.
love
Ela
It’s been a little exhausting, and a tad frustrating at times, but overall, “fun” is accurate – I get a lot of satisfaction out of intensive planning and executing said plan. My OCD side does participate in that 😉
The first week of workouts were quite soreness-inducing, so I’m hoping that subsides this week (both for daily comfort, and for the fact that I can more effectively exercise when not sore and stiff). The constant satiation is new to me – and honestly, I’m not sure how to feel about it. It’s a good thing, I suppose, but it leaves me constantly paranoid that I’m overeating, if that makes sense.
I am very thankful to have Matt alongside me through this! 🙂
Thanks for sharing on that! I hope that the soreness subsides too: Phil, who coached athletes for years, is constantly underlining that if something hurts too much, you’re not going to be able to stick with it in the long run (unless you’re super-masochistic, and then you’ll injure yourself and ditto)! But initial soreness in a new program is fairly standard, I guess, and hopefully you’ll push through that glass ceiling pretty soon.
I can totally understand the mind-trick of worrying ‘must have overeaten’ when feeling satiated. I’m really interested to see how you feel doing that for several weeks.
Saw the comment about Cousens’ books: I think they’re definitely worth a read. There are some parts that you’ll probably not feel the need to take on board, and others that maybe in your own life you’ll tone down, but it’s all just very useful perspective.
love
Ela
I think that’s what got me in trouble with running, and what has left me unable to run now: not paying enough attention to my knee as the pain and discomfort mounted. 😦 But compared to running marathons, I’d have to say P90X is a breeze, haha! I am a bit of a masochist…
I knew you’d understand my “satiety paranoia” 🙂 I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared of enduring MORE weight gain, but I’m trying very hard to relinquish some control and trust something outside of myself for once.
Thanks for the second recommendation to read Cousens’ books. I wonder if my library would have them…or where I could find them for cheap/free online (money’s tight, what with the nonexistent income and all). Any ideas?
OMG, I would do p90x just to eat what you are eating, if someone made it all for me!! 🙂 hehe 🙂
LOOKS SO GOOD!
Hehe, really?! That’s an awesome compliment! I’ll go tell Matt that he’s one lucky dude 😛
WOW, great job on the yummy eats. That frittata (cauliflower and tofu) looks fab! Recipe by any chance?
The frittata recipe is from Vegan Brunch, page 38 😀
I’ll take all the desserts, the kale chips, and the kim-chi! Yum. Hope the workouts are as fun as the eats.
Hehe, I thought you might like the sound of those desserts! I wouldn’t call the workouts “fun,” necessarily… 😉 but each one does leave me with a happy feeling of accomplishment.
I just tagged you for a stylish blogger award over on my blog!
That’s so sweet! Thanks Lisa – & I commented you about my irrational mustard phobia 😛
I think it’s so neat that the p90x is now vegan! My honey bought it a few years ago but I never ventured into it because of the eating plan (that and, well, it’s hard!!) I may have to take a look at it again now! Great job on the workout and the food looks amazing!! Can’t wait for more! 🙂
You should take a look at P90X! Did your husband ever do/complete it? What did he think of the program?
That week went by in a blur. Probably because of all the cooking, non-stop eating, and time-consuming dishwashing (by hand no less). I seriously could not have done any of it without my beautiful bunny, Amber!
I, for one, hope she shares the cards she made for us to fill out every day. They are awesome for organizing what we need to eat. Tony Horton would be proud.
😉
Aw, thank you bear! I couldn’t do it all without YOUR help, support, companionship, and dishwashing skills 😛
That’s not a bad idea; I may share those food-tracking cards at some point!
Love ALL of your eats! I would love the fritatta and kim-chi recipe please!
How are you feeling with the workouts? I did the kenpo karate DVD yesterday and my ENTIRE BODY aches soooo much! (but in the best way possible;)
The frittata recipe is from Isa Chandra Moskowitz’s book Vegan Brunch, on page 38 😀 The kimchee is some that I made at 105degrees – no set recipe, but I’m sure there are great ones to be found online!
I’m doing pretty well with the workouts, although every part of my body was sore at some point or another last week! The rest day yesterday felt like a dream come true 😛 I’m probably struggling the most with Ab Ripper, which saddens me because I thought I had a fairly strong core – but I think the problem is that since we’re doing it every other day, PLUS the yoga belly stuff on Thursday, my abs never get enough time to recover!
I think it’s so cool that you’re following such a home made diet – no relying on store bought food for you!
Thanks Heather! I guess I ought to allow myself a little pat on the back for that, huh? 🙂
The kale chips LOOK amazing, and homemade vegan pepperoni SOUNDS amazing! Can you share the recipe for them?
The pepperoni recipe is from Robin Robertson’s Vegan on the Cheap, and the kale chips are my version of the recipe here!
My husband is about to embark on p90x and all these meal ideas will be a great help, so thanks for doing this! I look forward to reading about your progress and results.
Oh, that’s fantastic! Keep me updated on his progress 🙂
Oh I’d eat all that up in 2 bites- all of your food. Geez, you eat WELL. That chocolate torte looks incredible. As does all the food. Good job! Glad you posted what you’re eating with the new plan. Nice to see some examples.
And here I was thinking that our meals this week were on the boring side! Thanks Lori 😀 Glad the examples are appreciated!
Thanks so much for sharing! I am vegan and did P90X at the beginning of 2010. I paid special attention to upping my protein. All of the weights definitely added size to me…. then I went to Spain and walked around with no weights for 2 weeks and lost it all. I can’t wait to see how your thoughts and progress!
Hi Kristen! Great to hear from someone who’s been there, done that. I’ve never been one to “bulk up” in the least, so it’ll be interesting to see what my body does with all this protein!
Wow! That’s pretty spectacular! Good luck with you diet. You’ll have to make me one of those smoothies sometime. They sound delicious. …and those brownies! YUM!
You’d love my post-workout smoothies! 😛 Not to mention these brownies…nom.
Oh, wow, what a meal plan. I’m intrigued. I’ve got some reading to do to catch up with what’s been going on with you!
Hehe, I know the feeling! I was perpetually behind on blog reading for a few weeks there. It happens!
Kale chippies and kim chi yes please! Man you look busier in the kitchen than when you were at 105degrees. You will need all that extra energy you will get from P90X to keep you going!
Hehe, in some ways I AM just as busy as I was at 105!
Here’s to hoping P90X continues to lend me ENERGY and not exhaustion! 🙂
Yay for you and Matt – I love how you’re documenting your higher protein vegan diet – And, I need to try that tofu-cauliflower frittata – It looks awesome!
Thanks, Callie!
The frittata is in Vegan Brunch – page 38. 😀
That Brownie looks a little amazing! 🙂
Hehe! Thank you, Teri! 😀
I think I forgort everything once I saw your chocolate torte….ha
Looks like you are doing an awesome job with your eating. I will have to sit down this weekend and make out a food plan, and then go grocery shopping. 🙂
It’s SO much work! I knew it’d involve a lot of planning, but I guess I didn’t expect it’d require THIS much. Now that I’m a week and a half in, though, it’s coming more naturally 🙂 Good luck with your meal plan!
I am so excited I fell upon your blog. Finding alternative vegan protein breakfast ideas instead of my usual smoothie gives me inspiration to try new options. Especially after doing such a strenuous workout, as I am doing the Insanity (on round 2) workout, your ideas will certainly help. Can’t wait to try the scrambled tofu! I did 1 and 1/2 rounds of P90X this summer and loved it, hope you will too. Keep bringing it everyday and looking forward to your future posts!
Hi Anne! I’m glad you found my blog, too! Wow, I’m so impressed that you not only completed 1.5 P90X cycles, but you’re on your second round of Insanity. Well done 😀 How were your results after your first P90X run?
I only lost about 5 pounds with P90X, but had some definition. With Insanity, I am defiantly losing more and hope to continue that trend to become more lean (lost 15 pounds and 16 inches). Hopefully after this 2nd round, I will go back to P90X and form definition. Great job on starting!
That’s good to know – thanks! I am hoping to lose 10-12 lbs, and I’m worried it won’t happen…but I know I’ve gotta just focus on the workouts, and see how I look and feel in 90 days 🙂 Congrats on your weight loss so far!
oh my that torte looks so yummy!!! I want some!!! you need to open a vegan bakery I’ll be your first customer. well your friends and family would be first but you know what I mean!! 🙂
Hehe, thanks! Running a vegan bakery would be so awesome…but actually now in KC, someone’s beaten me to it! Have you heard about Mud Pie Coffehouse? It’s a new vegan café opening in Midtown soon!
no i hadn’t you’ll have to tell me more about it
Check it out: http://www.360kc.com/Restaurants/CoffeeShops/MudPieVeganBakeryAndCoffeehouse.html 😀
OMG Your dishes look amazing! I have been reading your blog posts about P90X and am loving the vegan meal plans you are making to keep up with the program!
Thank you! Glad to hear everything looks appetizing 🙂 I’ll keep the meal plans coming!
wow, I still am in awe of how many different meal ideas you have!
Hehe, thanks! 😀
Oh my gosh, this is killing me! haha. I hope you share this recipe soon!!
I’ll be doing so very, very soon…and by that, I mean just a couple hours from now! 😉