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Hey,
My name is Rachael and I am brand spanking new to this whole world. I have been yo-yo dieting my entire life but always results in my going back to junky junky fast food. I don't look too overweight (i don't think but who knows?) but i can down 10 tacos from tacobell with hardly breaking a sweat. When i actually sit and think about that... umm, eww. So although I may not look unhealthy from the outsite, I can't jog from my house to the end of the block to save my life!!! So i'm sure i'm all battered and bruised on the inside. I am hoping to become a mom within the next few years and really just want to practice taking good care of myself so i can be the best me I know i can be. I feel like this fresh vegetarian/vegan lifestyle will fit me well. I'm crazy because when I do actually eat meat its either from a fastfood place which is horrible or only the first time around from original meal. I will not eat reheated meat. So i sat down and though long and hard and decided why not? I don't truly enjoy the full taste of meat, I only cover it up with tons of cheese or other fatty things. And where as i don't eat reheated meat and i think of all that meat i throw away and after reading Alicia's book and doing more research on my own I can't bare the though of the slaughterhouses and those poor animals.
So as i said (sorry that i rambled!) I'm very verrry new to all of this and any little help would be greatly appreciated! feel free to msg me any tips or friend me!
xoxo
Hi Rachael, welcome! I've been vegan for a few months, and of course I'm still learning, but I feel pretty confident by now :). I sympathize with the physical fitness issue. I'm not finding the motivation to work out and I am pretty weak these days :(. Hoping to change! I wish you an adventurous and fun-filled transition to veganism! I know Alicia's book talks about the meat industry and it's cruelty, but have you done other reading on it? You say you eat a generous amount of fast food; why? Is it to comfort or soothe yourself, because you simply like the taste, or because it's quick and easy? I hate the thought of animal cruelty as well, but there are also serious health issues that have to do with mass farming of animals. For instance, factory farmed animals are fed a steady diet of GMO corn/soy which is definitely not their natural diet. The food is actually mixed with antibiotics and hormones because the cows' stomachs react so badly to the food it always makes them sick. They're manure cannot be used to fertilize crops because it is toxic as a result of their improper diet, so we just have a bunch of toxic cow poop lying around. Grass-fed cows take a toll on the environment because so much land is needed for grazing. To make the meat cheap, fast food restaurants mix the corn-fed cow meat with more GMO corn, soy, and artificial flavors. If we are what we eat, and all the cow gets is corn and antibiotics, than that is what we are getting when we eat the cow. I learned this from reading "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "In Defense of Food." Michael Pollan is not a vegetarian; he simply researches where our food comes from. These books were eye-opening for me. Anyway, I am not at all criticizing your eating habits. I too loved fast food and frequented taco bell. I'm just sharing some info that helped change my mind.
I think it's great that you want to try for a healthier, more environmentally friendly life-style. Cheese and fatty things taste good, but you can still have decadent fatty things on a vegan diet :). Try frying up some veggie tempura or frying a veggie burger and smothering it in gravy :). The field roast meat substitutes are amazing. If you need to go to taco bell, try to get bean burritos instead of meat filled ones. By watching the ingredients in what you eat, you will improve your body from the inside out. Real, whole foods are what the human body was meant to consume! In people's quest for "cheap and easy meals," we have sacrificed our health. Boxed mashed potatoes? Hamburger Helper? Hmmm. I'm not saying these foods aren't tasty. I've eaten them. But vegetables shouldn't be turned into a powder and put in a box with an indefinite shelf life. You want food that eventually goes bad. That's how you know it's alive! So, I suppose the first thing is to get used to cooking for yourself a lot more. I bet you could go straight to flirt/vegan! Just replace staples with vegan ones. I buy plain soy yogurt and add agave or barley malt, as well as fruit and granola. Lightlife makes tempeh bacon. I hear that Daiya cheese is good. Toffuti sour cream is great mixed into a "cheese" sauce. When you want those fatty decadent things, eat them, just make em vegan. If you are craving a certain thing, you can just ask for a recipe. I've eaten a lot of vegan comfort food to settle the cravings. :) Well, I certainly talked a lot, as it has been a day of relaxation and vegging out for me, but I should go do something with my night besides type and eat dinner! lol. Good luck!
Hi Rachel, Congratulations! It sounds like you're ready to take the first steps toward a healthier lifestyle. I think one of the key factors for success is reading and absorbing as much information as you can. It sounds like you've already read The Kind Diet and that's excellent. If you check out some of the other forums people have suggested some great books. To recap just a few: The Food Revolution, Eating Animals and Skinny Bitch- are three more great books to add to your reading repertoire. I really believe that the more you arm yourself with information and facts the easier it is to feel motivated and want to stick to this way of life. You could also try easing into this 'diet' by giving up one whole group of foods at a time. You could start with meat.. or just with dairy for a week or two.. then slowly give up something else.. while replacing the things you 'take away' with healthier foods like more fruits and veggies. It might be easier than going cold turkey if you have a history of eating a lot of junk or processed foods. Soon your body will begin to crave the good stuff. Best of luck to you - I know you'll do great!-Kelly
Hi Rachael!!Congrats on trying to improve your lifestyle and health!!I can so much relate to what you said about Taco Bell, I used to be able to do the same thing(ate WAY TOO FAST) ! The result was me becoming a Type 2 Diabetic and now trying to fight my way back(but in a KIND way to the planet and my body)You should be proud of yourself and remember the journey is less like a race and more like a marathon! Good Luck!
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