The Scottish Bearded Vegan

Vegan for the animals, the planet and me.

[thescottishbeardedvegan]

Potatoes for weight loss?

The conventional belief is that carbs like potatoes are bad for you and make you put on weight. This is utter rubbish. For the last 2 weeks, I have eaten 3 huge portions of potatoes everyday along with tons of veg and have lost over a stone. 

The idea came from eminent vegan Doctor, Dr John McDougall (no relation), who created a 10 day kickstart diet based on his starch solution book. Named after his wife, the mary’s mini diet is there to help drop weight quickly and makes sure all nutrients are eaten on a daily basis. 

I’ve found the reduction in choice make shopping and planning meals easier and with such a limited diet, it’s made me think out of the box. In 2 weeks I have made mash potato (with the skins mashed in), baked potato with salsa, small baked potato with mushrooms, small boiled potatoes, potato waffles in my new waffle maker and a ton of veggies. 

It turns out others have found amazing results from this diet and during my youtube searches I found the following people who gave lost incredible amounts of weight and more importantly kept it off. Andrew from https://spudfit.com/ and Jessica & Brian from https://krocksinthekitchen.com/ are worth checking out. Amazing, inspiring people.

I’ve been photo blogging on instagram, which you can see at https://www.instagram.com/the_scottish_bearded_vegan/

So after 2 weeks, I have a different outlook on food and feel so much more positive so I’m keeping it going for another few weeks. 1 stone 4lbs is amazing but I have a long way to go and I’m sure potatoes will help me continue on the journey. 

[thescottishbeardedvegan]

[thescottishbeardedvegan]

Hench Herbivore

Hi I'm Paul Kerton - Personal Trainer and Nutritionist. If you'd like to develop the body of your dreams or simply have optimal health, without harming the a...

Being vegan has become relatively easy. Supermarkets are full of vegan ready meals and High Street fast-food outlets are all releasing vegan options. Simple eh?

But is this what veganism is all about? As I have blogged about before, I have struggled with my weight since I was young and these easy convenience foods are not good for my fitness and weightloss battles. 

Last year, I reached out to Paul ‘Hench Herbivore’ Kerton and asked him to help me. He put together a food plan based completely on whole plant foods and I stuck rigidly to it for 2 weeks. I felt better and lost over a stone. No rubbish, no fizzy juice, no crisps and no take aways. It was easy and the food was delicious and I felt great. However, I fell off the wagon and since tried a few other plans that have failed so I’m back to basics and following the personalised plan Paul made for me. 

I’ve just made 5 days worth of quinoa and brown rice and have set my Cronometer with all the food I’ll eat from Monday for the next week. A mixture of grains, beans, veggies, fruit and plenty of water. I’m taking my vivo life Thrive, which has the vitamins I need and a half scoop of vanilla protein powder in my morning oats.  

People like Paul are an inspiration, go give his you-tube channel a watch and you’ll see what I mean, he’s got tips on training and nutrition and is entertaining at the same time. I’ve learned the hard way by not listening to Paul’s advice to keep it simple and follow a whole food diet and the weight loss will take care of itself. 

[thescottishbeardedvegan]

[thescottishbeardedvegan]

Struggling with motivation

I’ve struggled with my weight since I was a wee boy. My size and weight are nothing to do with a slow metabolism or poor genetics but what and (more importantly) the volume that I eat. 

I struggle with my mental health. This manifests itself in periods of stress, anxiety and deep lows and this is when I am vulnerable to very low motivation to train and eat the wrong things at the wrong time in ridiculous volume. The last week was one of those times.

I arranged 5 straight days off work, primarily to enjoy Wrestlemania without worrying about bedtime knowing I could sleep the next day and had planned doing lots of healthy cooking and lots of training. However, the reality was a period of feeling low, no training and poor eating. I’ve been tired and have eaten too much, including white bread, which isn’t my friend. 

I’ve lost a week of my training and healthy eating program that I was following but am getting back on it tomorrow and putting this blip behind me. So from tomorrow, no processed food, no oil, no rubbish that we’re not supposed to eat. Back on plant based whole foods with a good mix of macros with a realistic calorie total that will lead to slow and sustainable weight loss. 

It’s hard but I need to get back on it and I can feel my motivation coming back, hopefully for a longer period this time. 

[thescottishbeardedvegan]

The Bearded Vegan on Instagram: “Pasta Bolognese bake! Big sharing dish tonight and there are leftovers in the fridge. #vegandinner #veganfamilydinner #veganitalian…”

12 Likes, 0 Comments - The Bearded Vegan (@al_the_bearded_vegan) on Instagram: “Pasta Bolognese bake! Big sharing dish tonight and there are leftovers in the fridge. #vegandinner…”

Check out tonight’s dinner on my Instagram page. 

[thescottishbeardedvegan]

More than 12k people recently signed a petition arranged by PETA calling for mass chicken murderers KFC to offer a vegan option in their 23,000 outlets. And it appears to have done it’s job as apparently, KFC is in development of a veggie and vegan range but should vegans be happy with this?

I have mixed thoughts on this. On the one hand, it would feel weird and wrong to contribute to a company that murders around 1billion 🐔 per year. Would this make me complicit? 

But on the other, I always feel compelled to support companies that offer vegan options. The more high street options that are available the more veganism will grow and it will be seen less than a pad or something extreme. 

It's a quandary but I will probably try it once and leave their outlets to their murder. Maybe we'll get a vegan only KFC, that is something I could perhaps live with.

[thescottishbeardedvegan]

I’m Still Vegan

I’m getting pretty pissed off by the recent spate of young vegan youtubers who have announced that they are no longer vegan. Let me just say at the beginning that people are free to choose their own path but these youtubers have made huge audiences on the back of veganism and all of a sudden they are no longer vegan? I smell bullshit. 

Being vegan isn’t about weird raw diets or water fasts, its about caring about animals, yourself and the planet. It’s clear that some people have been living an online lie as they have clearly never been truly vegan. The reasons why they have given up veganism are largely medical, as they have medical issues that they blame on the lack of animal flesh in their diet.   

It is interesting, however, that some have been given medical advice that they have ignored, which would have allowed them to remain vegan. Blaming being vegan for their health issues is both dishonest and could damage the image of being vegan, which may result in some not trying it. 

These people influence their followers and it is such a shame that they are seem happy to harm something which they once held dear. Maybe they hope that turning their back on veganism will help expand their channel, perhaps their youtube income and popularity is more important than animals and the planet. 

My advice to anyone considering veganism or stopping being vegan is to listen to someone like Dr Garth Davis or Dr Gregor. These guys are Doctors that recommend a wholefood vegan diet based on scientific evidence. Listen to experts, not young youtubers who have a history of fad diets that are not healthy. 

I hope this is a blip in the recent popularity of veganism and that the avarice of the few don’t turn others off making a decision that is good for health, mental health as well as the animals and the planet. I’m still vegan and hope you are too. 

Stay vegan people.

[thescottishbeardedvegan]

I didn’t expect that I’d be hit with a period of low. There is no warning, life just starts getting on top of you. I feel that I’m coming out of it but this hit me hard and quickly. 

The picture above is from the video ‘The Black Dog’ that illustrates what it’s like to have periods of depression. It’s circa 4 minutes and is wonderful. A link to it is below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiCrniLQGYc

I’m feeling better and should be back on it at the weekend. Remember if you sometimes feel like this you are not alone and it is NORMAL! 

A

[thescottishbeardedvegan]

Well done to Tia-Clair Toomey and Matt Fraser who were crowned 2018 Worlds Fittest woman and man at the Crossfit Games. Incredible human beings. They are such amazing role models and motivators.   

[thescottishbeardedvegan]

Thursday 2 August Day 6/30 Transformation

Rest day today and boy do I need it. Feeling great though but sore and my body needs a rest, so tonight came home from work, made a quick dinner then chilling in front of the football. 

Nutrition is as important, if not more important, than training. I’ve always told my running wife that you can’t outrun a bad diet and it is so true. 

I have been vegan for over 2 years and during my 30 day transformation will be using intermittent fasting, eating 2 meals per day in an 8 day eating window. Meals are from as much whole-foods as possible and packed with veggies. Some fruit or a smoothie after both meals and as few snacks as possible. 

Being vegan has made me feel better and less sluggish, it also had a positive mental effect on me that I didn’t expect. I wish I had gone vegan 20 years ago and can never see me eat animal products again. I post most of my dinners on my Instagram account (https://www.instagram.com/al_the_bearded_vegan/) to try and encourage vegans and non-vegans on the variety of food we eat. Go have a look.

6 days in and all going well. I’m going out tomorrow night to the Edinburgh Fringe so that’ll test my resolve. Then it’s Saturday weigh-in. Pray for me.😀 

A

[thescottishbeardedvegan]

Wednesday 1 August Day 5/30 Transformation

I don’t work on a Wednesday, so after last nights late gym session I was able to have a long lie, which is very unusual for me. I slept until 1030, which was 7 hours - a couple of hours longer than my usual sleep.

I went to the gym at 1300 for my first alternative cardio session. My usual cardio (when I actually did any), consisted of 5 or 10 minutes on a bike or 5 minutes on a rower. During this 30 day transformation I’m doing 2 days cardio, one more akin to what I’m used to and a second adding things I’ve rarely done. Today’s session was;

10 minute Bike...x3 Tyre Flips/Medicine Ball slam...5 minute Row...x4 30 second Battle Ropes...7 minutes incline walk. 

I had to stop after the battle ropes as I was so tired and left the 7minute incline walk for another day. A short and hard session, out of my comfort zone but I felt great after it, even not having completed my plan. 

Only 5 days in but I’m feeling great and enjoying the challenge.  I’m now making sticky rice, stir fried cabbage and broccoli for dinner, then I’m going to sleep. 

A

[thescottishbeardedvegan]

Rob Bailey 30 Day Transformation | Rebirth & Habits | Ep.1

Over the next 30 days I want to see what I can do... Transform my body, get back in shape while being vegan ( I've never done this) start re-orgaizing and pr...

Tuesday 31 July Day 4/30 Transformation

I’m a youtube addict. I watch youtube more than conventional TV and sometimes a video inspires me. The series of videos recently started by Rob Bailey, was like a eureka moment for me and started me on this 30 day transformation challenge. 

Go follow Rob’s series of videos, he’s an inspiring guy and this single video was enough to push me to follow a similar 30 day challenge. 

4 days in and things are going really well. Nutrition has been as planned and I have trained as scheduled. I’m very motivated, tonight for example, I fell asleep at 10pm and woke up at 1130pm. Usually I wouldn’t have gone to the gym but tonight I did and I feel great! 

So proud of my wife today too, she ran home from work almost 8km. She has had a knee injury that has kept her from running for almost 3 months but she is back on it too! 

A

[thescottishbeardedvegan]

Monday 30 July Day 3/30 Transformation

Woke up with a sore back and arms but with loads of energy and feeling great! After work the evening is mine to relax then back to the gym tomorrow night for a heavy session. 

One of my problems is I can easily persuade myself that 1 (or 2) packets of crisps is fine, or that I can go to the gym tomorrow or the next day. But no more excuses, just get yer arse in line and stick to the plan. I used to plan for a full month but during this 30 days I’m just planning a week at a time and it seems to be working. Meals are decided, food has been bought and my gym schedule is written down. 

I’m only 3 days in but I’m motivated and staying on track. NO MORE EXCUSES! 

A

[thescottishbeardedvegan]

Sunday 29 July 2/30 Transformation Planning is the key! This is our new white board on our fridge with the weeks dinners and a shopping list. Trying not to buy anything we don’t need. Went to the gym today for a volume session, feeling it now though after yesterdays cardio but still feeling magic and very positive. Rest day tomorrow.

[thescottishbeardedvegan]

Turns out Brighton is a Mecca for vegan sausage rolls! During a week working there, I could buy them from 5 different places. First place goes to Infinity Food, the second best vegan sausage rolls I’ve had but easily the best in Brighton.

[skoolofvegan]

Help & Info at www.skoolofvegan.com/vegan-help

[thescottishbeardedvegan]

No animal wants to die. Be kind to all animals.