vegan baby steps

I haven't been riding much lately. Some days have been filled with driving to North Dakota to visit in-laws, some have been filled with brutal winds. The last time I rode I headed straight west into the wind and when I turned around to go home I made the same distance in about half the time. I'm hopeful that the fall will offer some mild weather to get in some good, long rides.

There have been some workouts, though. I learned that a sore shoulder, which I feared was a torn rotator cuff, was not yet torn, but aggravated from less than perfect posture. Several sessions with the physical therapist have given me stretches and exercises to improve posture and strengthen my core. I've already noticed an improvement in how my shoulder feels after a ride.

Finally I've been perusing The Engine 2 Diet, and The Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook. I'm not following the E2 diet, but the book is helpful in stocking a kitchen and planning meals for someone wanting to go vegan. And the Get Healthy cookbook has 125 recipes to help you enjoy eating a plant-based, whole food diet. I've also found a few good blogs offering recipes and tips. I haven't totally eliminated animal protein yet, but it's been surprisingly easy to drastically reduce it. I've got a grocery list and a few recipes I'm anxious to try, so this weekend I'll take another baby step on the road to eating vegan.