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Day Sixteen: The Alan Roach Experience??

Over the weekend I attended a surprise birthday party for a friend and was talking with a mutual friend, Alan Roach, about the Joel Whalen experience. You see he had heard about the experience and was interested in checking out the blog.

I looked at him cuttingly and noticed he was looking healthier and trimmer than usual. Still not convinced he was worthy of the JWE, I let him beg and plead his case. He mentioned that he too had changed his ways and was eating meat only twice per week.

Still not sure, I took a chance and shared the blog address. He instantly appreciated the raw brilliance of the JWE and added the site to his "favorites".

Impressed with his convictions, I asked him to explain what I now call "The Alan Roach Experience (The ARE)".

I firmly believe "The ARE" is a logical next step for those on the JWE that wish to enjoy an occasional modest portion of lean meat. I now share "The ARE" as related to me by the man himself, Alan Roach:

Lots of Veggies and Fruits.
Oatmeal and Fruit in the morning.
Variety of salads for lunch. (No meat in salads.)
Stir fry meals with rice at night. (Sometimes with shrimp or scallops.)
My limit of meat is mostly fish. Very little chicken. Only 2 helpings of red meat in the last 4 months.
Strict limit of processed foods.
I have been following this plan since June 2nd.
I have lost 28 pounds since that time.
My inspiration was from reading a book called ‘Food Matters’ written by Mark Bittman.
It changed my life.

Day Fifteen: Time to weigh in

You know the drill...

Day Fourteen: My toughest challenge

That's right chicken skin.

I find it has an almost irresistible allure. Skinning an oven roasted bird for my kids was easily the hardest challenge for me to date.

Not to worry, unlike Bill Gardner, I can control myself. As I loaded the crispy, fragrant, oily, beautiful skin in the disposal, I felt a great sense of satisfaction mixed with a wee bit of regret.

My day ended with a wonderful new restaurant that offers a variety of awesome food (vegan and not). It's a Vietnamese restaurant called "Pho Saigon". Annie recommended this restaurant as an option before the play Saturday night. She thought I would have more options compatible with the JWE. She was so right.

To coin a Bill G. phrase "Sooo Good". We both started with the vegetarian spring rolls, a great start. I then tried the Vegetarian Happy Pancake ( a crispy rice crepe stuffed with tofu, mushrooms, beansprouts and more), a winner. Annie

tempted me with the Satay Beef ( tender Fillet Mignon

with veggies served on a sizzling cast iron cow platter), smelled great. Definitely a place I must return to.

Day Thirteen: The challenge is extended

I feel a need to go until next weekend (my anniversary). This gives us time to figure out next steps, delve into phase two, and for some..make up lost time.

Day Twelve: Meat Baby

'Nuff Said

Day Eleven: Whoa-oa-oa!

Whoa-oa-oa! I feel good, I knew that I would, now
I feel good, I knew that I would, now
So good, so good, I got tofu

Whoa! I feel nice, like beans and rice
I feel nice, like beans and rice
So nice, so nice, I got tofu

When I hold a veggie in my arms
I know that I can't do no wrong
and when I hold a veggie in my arms
I want to go work on a farm

Whoa! I feel good, I knew that I would, now
I feel good, I knew that I would
So good, so good, I got tofu
So good, so good, I got tofu
So good, so good, I got tofu
HEY!!

My apologizes to James Brown...