I've toyed with the idea of going Vegan many times. My blog earlier this year is a testament to that. My sister tried to do it. She was Vegetarian for a while, but leaned more Vegan as much as possible. It was inspiring to watch. She felt good, she lost weight she'd struggled to lose, she had more energy, and the list goes on. It wasn't easy for her to eat Vegan or Vegetarian in a family of meat-eaters and finicky eaters. Here we are about two years later...and I am attempting that journey myself. In fact, we are on week four of my journey.
My sister and I were born in Texas...beef central. My father is amazing behind the grill and the smoker. My kids are full on meat and potato kids. My friends and family are all big meat eaters. Eggs were a staple for breakfast. Cheese...drool....
So why would I switch to a Vegan diet?
The majority of my life I've dealt with...constipation issues. Yes, I admitted it. This isn't a pretty topic, but it was a big issue for me. Constantly uncomfortable, stomach pains, and misery. But hey...the food was good. I would exercise, I would try to make smart food decisions, but could never break under that 200 lb. mark on the scale. So, I decided that it was time to make some changes.
This is what I've noticed so far...that little constipation issue...not really an issue any longer. I'm not miserable after I eat. That alone would be enough to convince me that this is how I should be eating, however, there is a bonus...I can get on the scale and see the numbers slowly creeping down. I have energy. And I'm having fun in the kitchen cooking things like Roasted Red Pepper Pasta, Vegan Chili, Grilled Cauliflower Steaks, Vegan Street Tacos...and the list continues to grow.
I've had my own challenges. Going out to eat with friends takes some getting used to. Most places are accommodating though. Cooking for my family isn't so easy and I end up making two versions of dinner often. I've not been perfect. I've made poor choices and reverted to having an old favorite for dinner...and my stomach and digestive system paid for it. I know that eating a more Vegan diet is going to benefit me in the long run.
Now I'm not trying to persuade anyone to eat this way. This is not a blog about why you should or shouldn't be Vegan. I believe that how you choose to eat is completely a personal decision. Everyone has their own reasons and beliefs and I am not here to chastise or condemn anyone for their choices. I also believe that everyone's body digests different foods differently. I'm not a doctor, nor do I pretend or profess to be an expert. This is purely a sharing of my journey. Nothing less, nothing more.
Now I'm off to cook some lunch up....go and enjoy your day!
