VitaMix or HealthMaster?

I've been eating vegan for two weeks now...and I'm down 7.6 pounds! Half way through the 28 day challenge! So far I feel really good (except for the other day when I ate way too many peanuts and got a stomach ache)...oops!

I'm considering buying a VitaMix or HealthMaster, and was wondering if anyone out there is using them. Do you like them? There is such a huge price difference...is the VitaMix worth it?

I'd love to know your thoughts! I'm also looking for great vegan products and recipes to help keep me motivated...

Trying Vegan...

So after all those years of eating a low carb, high protein diet, I've decided to give a vegan diet a try. Atkins isn't working for me anymore. I don't know if it's related to menopause, or if my body is just rebelling after all that meat!

I'm basing my diet on the book Eat to Live by Dr Joel Furhman , and Dr. Oz's 28 day challenge.

I started on 11.19.09. I've lost 7 pounds so far! I feel good, and I even made it through Thanksgiving dinner! Woo Hoo!

Status

So I'm still at 159.4. Argh. Atkins does not seem to be working like it used to. I've been eating mostly lean beef (sale on london broil) and turkey in lettuce wraps, so my diet has been excellent. I'm blaming menopause! I haven't run in a few days because I'm studying my broker licensing manual while on my elliptical. Better use of my time.

I had this weird moment yesterday. I remember when I used to be the fattest woman in the room, and I remember when I used to be the thinnest. Now that I'm neither, I think I'm having an identity crisis. How weird is that?

I'm frustrated with the diet, and the Tucson heat. My dog can't even get around the neighborhood at seven in the morning.

Sunday 7/26

Woke up feeling fat, bloated and altogether icky! I'm blaming the brie! When Dr. Atkins said you could eat all the cheese you wanted, I don't think he meant the whole wedge. Not sure where the overwhelming craving came from. It was good, but I'm paying the price today! I was afraid to get on the scale (so I didn't)!

On a better note, I got up early and resisted my desire to go run. I have a tendency to do too much too soon, and that's where I get in trouble. So I pulled my stationary bike in front of the TV, and pedaled while watching the Tour de France. What fun! Now I have to mention that I'm a long time Lance Armstrong fan, so watching him make his comeback while pedaling along was really fun for me. Yes, I'm a dork! I did Podrunner intervals weeks 3 and 4, adjusting the tension up and down to mimic hills. Two hours later I had managed to go 30 miles and burn off 800 calories. Most groovy!

Today's Run

3 miles of intervals using Podrunner week 2 and 3. 43:07. Slow, but it's so hot! 93 degrees and 47% humidity. Feel pretty good though. I have energy, even without the carbs.

Day Two

I lost exactly one pound. I'm at 159.4. I ate about 2000 calories yesterday, but only 9.2 carbs. One thing I haven't been able to do yet that Atkins recommends is give up the caffeine! I'm experiencing many menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and no sleep! It's been weeks since I slept well. I gave up caffeine for a couple of weeks last year, and no one wanted to be around me!

Yesterday I did 3 miles of walk/run intervals using the Podrunner Week 2 Interval Mix. Surprisingly, I'm not sore today. I think I will run on the treadmill today, as it's going to be 105 and when I walked my dog this morning she almost passed out!

Current Photo

Face too round, hair too blonde!

After Photo - 2006

2006, looking cute at about 123 pounds. My goal is to get back to this weight!

Before Photo - 2001

I thought the black top made me look thinner!

Day One

Ok, first a little background. I lost 120 pounds about 6 years ago with the Atkins diet and exercise. I managed to keep it off until a few months ago. Life and stress got in the way, and I've crept up 40 pounds. I've tried to "crash" it off a couple of times, but it didn't work 6 years ago, and it's not working now, so I'm going back to what I know works.

I'm also very motivated to run a half marathon in January. I've walked two of them, but I would really like to be able to run, or at least do run/walk intervals in the Galloway style. I ran my first mile at 40 years old, then a 5K a few months later, but if I try go run more than that, I have issues with my IT band.

So here comes the experiment...can a 44 year old woman lose weight and train for a half-marathon while on a low carb diet? Can a person successfully run without carb-loading? Is there any truth to the theory of fat-loading? Will I drop dead trying? Stay tuned!

I will be using FitDay (go to http://fitday.com/fitness/PublicJournals.html?Owner=TucsonDawn ) to track my food and activities, and will start out using Podrunner Intervals on my Ipod to train. I find both of these free websites extremely helpful in keeping me motivated and accountable.

For now - here are my starting stats:

• Height 5' 6"
• Weight 160.4
• BMI 25.89
• Neck 13"
• Bicep 12"
• Forarm 9"
• Chest 40"
• Waist 31"
• Hips 42"
• Thigh 25"
• Calf 13.25