Monday will make a full month that Ive been completely meatless.  I realize I should just refer to it is going vegetarian but I don't want to do that just yet.  Placing that label on what I was doing felt too huge of a commitment that seemed so final, it messed with my head and I thought it would surely end in a failure.  I don't know that I'm ready to say I am a vegetarian although I have been living a vegetarian lifestyle for a month.  Another thing I did to trick myself was calling it a month challenge.  That gave it a deadline and shrunk the change for me.  Shrinking the change, making it more manageable allowed me an "out".  If it wasn't going well, hey its only a month, try it, give it all you got make it to that 30th day and then your done.  No harm, no foul.  It has worked for me!

Some people suddenly decide to live a healthy lifestyle and they will say "I will workout four days a week, cut meat out completely, and meal prep healthy meals for lunch and dinner."  For some people they can do that and stick to it and that is great.  For the majority of us going from not eating right, or eating out a lot, never working out or at least not consistently to such a dramatic proclamation feels too overwhelming, we don't know where to start and the smallest setback leads us to quit.  It's too hard and its too much at the same time.  I wouldn't recommend that for anyone trying a new lifestyle change, you must be honest with yourself and outline a plan of action that is attainable.  This meatless challenge didn't just happen.  If you read my first post here then you know I was already packing lunches and healthy snacks while incorporating more vegetables and veggie recipes into my diet for months.  I made that part a habit.  After a few weeks of packing a healthy lunch I didn't want to eat out for lunch anymore.  It took time and around the holidays I fell off the wagon but as soon as I realized it I jumped back on and reestablished my routine.

Now, I am a full month in and I wanted to share with you a few things that I have observed about my digestion and overall health and appearance.

1) Skin

My skin has a natural glow to it.  I have pretty clear skin with an occasional pimple here and there.  A week into this new meatless diet and my skin is clearer, more even toned and glowy.  I don't need to layer my skin with foundation and concealer.  One thin layer of foundation followed by light concealer under my eyes and I am done.  On the weekends, I wear no makeup at all.  I might put a tinted moisturizer but that is it.  I have a pretty solid skincare routine that I shared with you a few months ago that Ive linked here.  Masks, lotions and scrubs are important skincare tools, but a natural glow to your skin, that starts with your diet.  Now that I am not eating meat I have had to be smarter about what I put in my body and making sure that I get all of the proteins and nutrients I am supposed to get in order to keep my body nourished and energized.  Avocado, olive oil, beans, eggs, lox, fish, spinach and mixed greens all of these staples in my diet have contributed to glowy, even skin.   SkinnyMs. is a fabulous blog that talks about this specifically here, definitely worth a read.  She also shares some great recipes and meal planning tips.

Side note: I don't know for sure if this has anything to do with my new diet but I have been doubling my water intake.  I am not complaining because I know that water helps to hydrate and flush out your system.  I just don't know why I have cotton mouth. I will keep an eye on it and see what it might be thats causing the thirst.

2) Digestion

One of my biggest reasons for trying this out was for a healthier digestive system.  I just could not digest meat without paying for it with bloating, cramping and indigestion for the two days that followed.  My digestive system is the best it has ever been.  I go to the bathroom regularly and the bloating is almost non-existent except for when I have had a black bean burger, lol. So delicious but the beans make me gassy.  #truestory Joking aside I am very happy with my new bathroom routine.  I have noticed a difference in the way my clothes fit around my belly now that I am not bloated or backed-up.

3) Weight 

I don't want to preach that if you drop meat from your diet you are going to lose weight.  Even vegetarians and vegans are tempted by all of the non-meat products that taste so damn good!  Think, cookies, muffins, ice cream, buttery croissants etc.  I am a chocolate addict.  I love chocolate and like to have something sweet after every meal.  This is something I have struggled with my whole life and taking meat out of the equation sometimes makes eating these goodies justifiable.  It isn't.  I know that I am not adding any nutritional value to my diet by indulging.  It is a process, I think the better I become at feeding my body and thinking of it as a machine that must be properly maintained in order to function at his highest potential the better I will become at cutting out the excess that doesn't serve me.  In 2017, Jane E. Brody wrote a piece for the New York Times Health section, called Good Vegan, Bad Vegan that dives into this misconception that cutting meat from your diet is all you need to do in order to maintain a balanced diet.  It is worth a read because there is no perfect diet that covers all of the bases at the root of any diet plan is a human being tempted by all of the things we have been hardwired to love.  I do pack more fruit and sliced apples are my go to snack at work.

I will say that my clothes fit a lot better and people have commented that I look like I have lost weight.  My jeans are loose and I don't have a muffin top anymore.  I can't tell you how much in pounds because I don't weigh myself.  Once upon a time I was a slave to the scale and it just isn't the reason I am doing this.  The number on the scale doesn't matter to me.  I no longer look at my progress as a number on a scale.

4) Shorter Menstruation 

Ok, real quick I just realized that the root of that word is "men", why, it's something that only women experience.  So a normal period for me lasts between 5-7 days, with the first 3 days being the heaviest.  This month my period included 1 and 1/2 days of heavy and a few days of light spotting.  Which was a little weird for me so I wondered if it had anything to do with not eating meat and sure enough there is a connection due to low iron.  I am not concerned about a shorter period, I mean 7 days is a long period, my concern is whether or not I am getting enough iron in my diet specifically around my menstruation period.   I could take vitamins but I would rather get the nutrients I need from a better diet.  Some foods that are high in iron are leafy greens, beans and lentils, brown rice, nuts, eggs and fish of of which my diet already includes but I might need to increase the intake of so I don't run into any issues that low iron can create like dizziness and fatigue.

Wrap up:  I am not preaching that this lifestyle is the best for everyone.  I am sharing how and why it is working for me.  I will say that everyone should strive to be in tuned with their bodies and what works and doesn't work for a healthy one.  Eating shouldn't be a thoughtless, mechanical process.  We should consider better options for our bodies.  We should shift our thinking from, I am hungry let me stuff my face with something that is quick and easy and instead take time and make more of an effort to have healthy options available to us.  Proper diet is key to a healthy strong body and mind.  Even the smallest change can make a difference.  For example my skin and my menstruation, both of those responded positively to my new diet.  Our bodies are so complex and what we feed ourselves contributes to wether or not it functions at its highest potential.

PS: Shout out to my 100% supportive husband who has come along with me on this journey, he still eats meat but he will prepare a meatless option for me too.  That makes a difference when you are trying something new, people who support you and take you seriously.  Thanks hubby. 💗

Until next time, cheers to another month!

Are you trying any new diets or lifestyle changes?  Share below.  Are you a vegetarian?  How do you curb your sweet tooth?  What are some good snack alternatives?

Thanks for reading!

by LifeStyledbyErica 💋

Happy Monday guys! Today I took a much needed Mental Health day.  Have you heard of that before?  It is a day you take off from work not to tend to errands, doctors appointments or housework,.  It isn't a day where you say to your team, "I'll be on email or my cell if you need me." It isn't a day you surprise your husband with lunch at work or you prepare a meal for when everyone gets home from their day.  It isn't a day to meet with a friend who might need someone to talk to or lean on.  And it isn't a day to help someone with their deadlines or projects.  It isn't a day where you cake on makeup and head out to conquer the world.  It isn't any of those things.  A mental health day is your day.  It is a day to lounge around in your pjs with your hair in a messy bun and your fresh clean face caked in some argan oil, between your bed and your couch, reading, writing or watching t.v. without feeling guilty or lazy or anything else you might feel when you aren't filling up your time with endless to-do's for others.

I know this might seem shocking and dare I say, "selfish" and "scandalous".  But that is where you need to change your thinking.  Have you ever heard the saying, "you can't pour from an empty glass?"  Well that has been my mantra for the last year.  These last few weeks have been non-stop with work and work events, late nights, meet-ups and catch-ups with friends, family events, home repairs and the list can go on forever.  I was getting burned out and running low on patience and energy.  I decided I was long over due for a mental health day, actually my entire team at work will be taking a day this week to recover from work/life obligations.  I have got a great team at work and an even better teammate at home.  My husband went off to work this morning and I woke up to a text that read, "Enjoy your rainy day in bed catching up on your lifetime movies. I love you." (Isn't he the best???!) I am very lucky to be surrounded by such supportive and caring people, I know this.  But they were never the issue.  I was the one with the issue.
Growing up, I hardly ever saw my mother relax and when she did my father would make a sly remark.  Both of my parents were very hard workers but also very unhappy, I can't help but think their exhaustion and lack of personal care was at the heart of their discontent.  That example and being a single mother responsible for another living person since I was 20 years old made it nearly impossible for me to take a day for myself without feeling guilty.  Instead,  I would burn myself out and wait for my body to decide it was time to take a break, which usually came as a cold or some other virus that would leave me bedridden for two days.  I know, not the best way to take care of myself.  The truth is when I was younger I had something to prove, not anymore.  I know who I am and I know what I bring.  There is a certain calm in occupying space like that.

I realize I am in a certain position where I have paid time off and seniority at my organization and this might not be the case for everyone.  Not everyone can just take an entire day off for themselves.  Fair enough.  How about half a day when it is slow?  Or a Saturday morning, maybe you can get a friend or a family member to watch the kids and just stay in bed and disconnect for a few hours?   I promise you it is just as important as keeping up with your doctor's appointments.  You owe it to your family, your friends, your coworkers but most of all you owe it to yourself.

Easter Sunday was the last day I had meat the next day I decided I would go meatless for the entire month of April.  Read all about why here. I promised I would check in and document the process.

I have to admit this morning when I came into the office and started the mundane ritual of checking several email accounts to catch up on what happened while I was sleeping, I was intrigued by an email sent to my personal account.  Amazon Prime sent me and no doubt, hundreds of thousand other prime members an "Exclusive Invite" to try Prime Wardrobe, a new way to shop online! Here is how it works, first you have to be an existing prime member.  If you don't know what Amazon Prime is yet, allow me to explain quickly to you.  Consumers are becoming more and more reliant on having special "can only find online" items and more and more regular everyday items (think dog treats, cotton balls, books etc) delivered to their homes every.single.day.  Amazon saw the trend and pounced.   They figured a way to make shopping online irresistible by seducing consumers with a yearly plan that would guarantee FREE, two-day delivery on everything they ship for about $100 a year.  Free shipping on almost everything you can find on their site including that cheese clothe you need to wrap your thanksgiving turkey in? Delivered right to my front door? within two days? for FREE!? I locked in early and have never turned back.  I will admit this perk works.  I could be at a Barnes and Noble wandering the aisles for a new read, when I glance at the price and I think to myself,  "hmmm I wonder how much Amazon has it for?"  Sure enough, I end up ordering online.  (This was when I was buying books, I'm now a library rat and borrow everything I read, but you get the point.) Now that we have got the understanding and the power Amazon has acquired over the last 8 or so years lets dive into their latest endeavor.  So, when I got this email about their new service, I was thrilled and immediately clicked on the link.  The landing page explains that "prime members can order three or more pieces from their curated selection and have it delivered free of charge and have up to 7 days to try the pieces.  You will be charged for the pieces you keep with $20 off a purchase over $200 or return any or all pieces in a return bag for free.  Great concept right?  Think of sites like Stitch Fix or Daily Look without the stylist or the great pieces!

So here is what you see when you enter the Prime Wardrobe page.

Screen shot of the landing page, looks promising, right?

From this screen you can choose where you want to go, if you choose "women" here is what you get.


Looks promising right?  So as the titles might suggest you can shop by occasion or by your style trendy, romantic, sporty and casual.  I chose the "shop by occasion" "desk to dinner" option and then every single other tile available.  I was completely underwhelmed by their two page per tile options, some a page and 1/2 with just three choices on the second page. (Did we really need a second page for that Amazon?) And that is mostly how I feel about the selections Amazon has in the fashion department, underwhelmed.  One, I think it is on a higher price point, most pieces are over $100, which is ok, not my first option but thats not so bad.  What is bad is that there really aren't any pieces that I feel I MUST try on and potentially own.  It is a feeling I have felt almost every time I peruse their ladies fashion page.  Underwhelmed.

Listen to me Amazon, I appreciate your ambition, I really do.  You are the online retail giant that has scared book stores big and small, changed the way we buy and listen to music, movies and original programming, you have threatened supermarkets and the way people shop in them, you had Etsy shaking in it's boots when you annoucned your own "handmade" department and your latest triumph is putting the fear of gawd into big box stores like Walmart!  You are big and powerful, no doubt about it.  But here is the thing, you are a bit arrogant too.  Now please don't revoke my membership because I am "critiquing you", I love you guys.  I swear I do!  And now that you know it is coming from love and a real desire to want to use this very smart service, please accept my humble criticism or let's say feedback.  You have got your tentacles in everything and you just aren't doing anything particularly well, specifically your fashion picks.  This might sound harsh, but you can't just do everything and anything you want because you want to.  Online retailers like asos, h&m, and zara eat, breathe and sleep fashion.  It is their singular mission and they do it well. Their sites are high fashion, inclusive (both in models of color and models of different sizes), high glam with a huge variety of categories to choose from, I mean they just do it well and we appreciate them for it. (Don't we ladies?)  I enjoy just visiting their sites and quite often get into trouble by filling up my cart with pieces that I don't need but MUST have.

Bottomline: Not impressed even though I really, really wanted to be.


Thanks for reading.

LifestyledbyErica 💋

For those of you who missed it, yesterday I announced that I would cut meat out of my diet for the entire month of April.  Why, you ask?  I am fairly well versed on the ethical and environmental arguments that some people use when they decide to go vegetarian or vegan.  I will go on record to say that I 100% agree with those arguments.  I also think that meat is no longer meat in the US.  There are hormones and genetically altered meat products that we are eating, everyday.  I know that it is making us sick.  I also know that when I travel and eat outside of the US I don't end up feeling sick, sluggish or bloated.  And yet what has made me decide that I should try this is simple, these last few weeks the abominable pain and discomfort I have been feeling every night became unbearable and I had to stop at the drugstore to pick up some meds to help with the bloating and indigestion.  I decided enough was enough.  I need to pay attention to my body and I certainly did not want to make my body conform with the assistance of meds, to a diet that was no longer compatible with my digestive system.

You should know, while the decision was only just made this week, I have been preparing my body to this lifestyle change over the last four months.  The first is that I have been planning and packing my lunch at home.  I can't begin to tell you what a life changer this is!  I would come to work with no snacks and no meal prepared so I would go out to buy lunch everyday and on most days what I would buy for lunch was based on how I was feeling at that time.  (Think stress from the work day = bad eating.)  I would say, ahh let me get that burger or that pastry.  There was no thought and planning going into what I put in my mouth.  Scary.  The calories and the money spent on these meals really add up!  I have lost 8lbs and felt a difference in my clothes since I started to plan my meals.  Lunch options no longer were reliant on mood or feelings.  I had what I had packed the night before, and it was sensible.

I have been going meatless for certain meals (breakfast, dinner) and on certain days (enter, meatless Tuesdays) and doubling my vegetable intake at every meal.  Aside from the doubling of the vegetable intake, I have been substituting certain meals (Saturday or Sunday lunch) with a delicious smoothie.  (Think mango, bananas, spinach and raspberries with a scoop of peanut butter and almond milk!!)  Having done all of this I believe the transition will be a lot smoother this time around because I am armed with some quick and easy meal ideas that I have been perfecting for a few weeks now.  I say this time around because I have tried this before, twice actually.  Once as an undergraduate and the second time right before my wedding.  The first time was for ethical reasons and the second time was to drop weight fast for the upcoming nuptials.  I think it is going to stick now because I am more mindful and have created this rhythm in my diet that wasn't there when I tried the first two times.  I also am a bit older and have a deeper understanding of how important my long term health is, I don't want to take meds and I don't want to feel sick, so I have got to think outside of my "norms" if I want to see change.

Now, planning is everything!  "When you fail to plan, you plan to fail!"  I never liked how true that saying was but it is SO true!  Meal prep is important.  Enter my research component of this new lifestyle change. I stumbled upon this incredible article pulled together by Buzzfeed with 18 Mason Jar Salads!  They are quick, easy, healthy and beautiful!  Who do you think has just ordered 6 mason jars linked here and will be putting these recipes to good use? If you guessed me, you are right!

Here is the first recipe I will be trying as SOON as those jars are delivered (minus the chicken and the bacon, of course):






Burrito Bowl Mason Jar Salad compliments of food blogger, Strictly Delicious.  Recipe linked here.

















TheKitchn.com has provided detailed instructions on how to create any mason jar salad in their article linked here .

I mean these mason jar salads once prepared can last in the fridge for up to 5 days! So I can set myself up for the entire week on a Sunday with minimal effort.  And the best part of these mason jars is how easy they are to carry around with you, unlike how bulky tupperware can be.

I am sharing, not to preach but because sometimes we are in such a rush that we are unaware of where things might stem from when they are happening.  I noticed fairly quickly where I should start and I hope my journey takes me to a healthier and happier digestive system.  What do I have to loose by trying?

I hope you enjoyed this post.  I hope to share updates with you throughout this month so don't forget to subscribe to the blog so you won't miss a thing!

With love,

LifeStyledbyErica 💋