I grew up, like most people in the first world, as a carnivore. When I was eight I went to boarding school, and we were forced to eat what we were given, and that included all kinds of meat unless we abstained on religious grounds. I gained a ton of weight until I reached 19 and hit my highest weight of 220lbs, and I've been there almost ever since.
I'd dabbled with vegetarianism in the past and once made it stick for 6 months until I went travelling and felt like I didn't have options.
Then last week it all changed. I read the book Skinny Bitch, and was horrified by stories from within the food industry, particularly in meat production and egg farming. I knew it was not a nice industry but I'd always just said to myself that what I didn't know whouldn't hurt me, then I had something of a revelation. Why on earth would anyone have that kind of attitude towards something that they swallow? Who would put something inside their body without knowing what it was and where it came from? I thought that was fundamentally sick. Not to mention horrifically cruel.
I went vegan, cold turkey (or should that be cold tofu?) I've changed my diet quite dramatically and I feel fantastic. As well as cutting out meat and animal products from my diet and lifestyle, I've also cut out gluten, aspartame, refined sugars and wheats and caffeine. I have never felt better, in my whole life. I sleep more deeply and wake up feeling alert. I get the urge to exercise, and I do! I get random energy bursts throughout the day, and what's more I'm losing weight, without really trying. There's a spring in my step, and knowing that my diet and life is cruelty-free I feel lifted and happy in myself. I no longer feel guilty whenever I eat - for so many reasons.
It is harder, being vegan here in the UK, than it is in the US. We don't have as many options when it comes to cruelty-free reliable brands, for anything whether it's food or cosmetics or clothing. But, the way I see it, is that I can buy all the vegetables in the world here, and I can take some supplements. I get my protein from pulses and tofu. I'm far better nourished now than I ever was as a meat eater. I think more about what goes into my body. And I have never been happier.
All my love!
x
www.tigressamongwolves.blogspot.com
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