This blog is primarily to serve women. It is about women. Written by women. Until now. James is my best friend, partner in crime, and biggest supporter. When he started his clean eating/veganism journey this past January, I asked him to write his story to share. We never in a million years expected veganism to not only transform our bodies but also our relationship. Here's our story, as told by James and myself!
"My name is James T. Blunt. I started this year weighing about 215
pounds and feeling very dissatisfied with my physical appearance. I am an
avid Crossfitter and Olympic weight-lifter. I am, by no means, sedentary. But, I didn't have the body
composition that I desired.
I felt that I had all the typical
knowledge one would need to be "fit." I have read many books and listened
to many well educated people give lectures on fitness and nutrition. I
didn't always implement all of the information that
I had, but I rarely gorged on foods that were, what I considered to be,
downright unhealthy. Since I wasn't getting the results I desired, I
decided to go on a journey and looked in a place I had heard was a deep,
dark cave of muscle loss and lethargy. Veganism."
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| Tom and Gisele seem to be doing just fine on a plant-based diet! |
It's me, Kelsey, again! A few other things were in the works as James and I were discussing what changes we could make in our diets to achieve a leaner physique and gain more energy. I had been in contact in a chiropractor and nutrition specialist in South Carolina and learned a ton about detoxing and the health benefits behind omitting caffeine, sugar, and toxins. James and I had also come across documents and articles valuing a primarily plant-based diet. Did you know Tom Brady and the beautiful Gisele eat an organic 80% plant-based diet?! (Check out details here.)
I'll let James take it from here...
"I watched a
documentary that would totally shift the way I thought about food and
specifically proteins. The film was titled, 'Forks Over Knives.' I
strongly recommend giving it a look. After
watching the film, I decided to go on an 80% vegetable diet and reducing
my meat consumption to only 20% of my daily caloric intake. I mean, I am
a weightlifter...how could I keep all these "gainz" if I stopped
eating meat?!"
Kelsey here! This is the time, too, that James' church, Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida, started the Awakening Fast. It was a 21 day time to fast and intentionally spend more time seeking God.
Cue James...
"So after about a week of detoxing,
my church called for a 21 day fast. During the fast I decided to give
up all meats, refined sugars, and caffeine. Over those 21 days, I got so
close to the Lord! My spiritual life exploded! My relationship with my
beautiful girlfriend saw so much improvement!
My cognitive thinking was better. I was more aware of me and my
surroundings. My energy went through the roof, I was completing much
longer, harder workouts and still feeling great!
"My spiritual life exploded! My relationship with my beautiful girlfriend saw so much improvement! My cognitive thinking was better."
Before the fast, I was often
tired well before completing of the Workout of the Day
(WOD). I extended the fast to
continue on with the new lifestyle God has revealed to me. I have introduced meat in moderation, but still shy away from refined sugars. I occasionally drink coffee, but keep my caffeine intake to a minimum."
How could I go without meat proteins and strive for my fitness goals?!
It was at the time of the Awakening Fast that I decided to jump on board with James. Being so enveloped in the fitness industry, I too, could not fathom going meatless. In reminiscence, I had learned that my body would thrive on foods that are more simple to digest because the acidic level in my stomach is low. When I would eat meat, I would get bloated and uncomfortable. But, I kept eating meat anyway and attempting to supplement because, How could I go without meat proteins and strive for my fitness goals?!
The pieces started fitting together. I adopted a mentality of working with my body instead of supplementing to correct my body. In addition, James and I have been working on supporting each other in as endeavors. I felt called to join him in the Awakening Fast. So, bye-bye meat! (I kept caffeine...I'm still working on weaning myself off of it!)
My diet consisted of mostly organic produce, legumes and grains, and plant based protein powder. Like James, I felt awesome! I got on a good sleep schedule and actually slept 8+ hours per night, my occasional pimple stopped popping up unexpectedly, I had tons of energy, and could see changes in my physique within two weeks. I have a long history with an eating disorder. Eating a plant-based diet helped me feel even more removed from those old tendencies that tried to expose themselves from time-to-time. The most notable improvements were in my relationship with God and with James. I prioritized time reading my Bible and in prayer throughout the 21 day fast and reignited the passion to do so on the regular. The more in-tune I became with God, the more James' and my relationship improved. We were giving each other grace and trying to see things from the other's perspective. We were well rested and energetic, so were tended to be less cranky toward each other. The more we took care of ourselves, the more we had to give the other person. It's truly been amazing!
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| James' before and after...21 days progress! |
"I encourage
everyone to look deep and muster the courage to step out and try something you have never tried before. That is the only way
to get results you've never achieved before! My favorite quote goes a
little like this, 'It's not what we don't know that gets us in trouble.
It's what we know to be true that just ain't so that is the problem,'
-Mark Twain."
I want to thank the lovely woman in my life Kelsey Clevenger and
the author of this blog for coming on this amazing journey with me. She
has had outstanding results, also. She has been so willing to support me
and all of my 'crazy ideas.' I think this
one is a success. Last but not least, if no has told you today that
they love you, I love you and I'm praying for each and everyone of you!"
And with that, we're out!
Live fully, love wholly, rejoice daily,
James and Kelsey
xoxo
