The KInd Life Community Forum

Alrighty, The first year Alicias book came out, I snatched it up, and let it consume my life... :D I went strict vegan and then superhero on the weekdays/vegan during the weekends only. I lost 20 lbs and felt amazing and my skin was fantastic and radiant.. I NEVER felt so good in my entire life. I actually stayed on this plan for a year and a half!!! Then, I do not even know what happened.. I have no clue - but I started eating dairy again, and then meat... and then sugars... and fast food... and pop.. and BAM... 20 lbs back almost instantly.. and for the last year suffering from the "Should coulda wouldas" Now addicted to processed sugary dairy filled foods.. I am in School Full time and stressed to the max, I have been suffering from hypoglycemic crashes in the afternoon to the point of dizzyness and disorientation and I know 100% that it is what I have been eating. I am ready to make this change, and I am a mother and in a family who is NOT vegan or interested in giving up meat at all. In fact, I was laughed at and made fun of by some family members during my time of feeling great!! I have to get back into this again and need some good thoughts/vibes sent my way.
:) Making a huge pot of veggie soup to take to classes this week to start off right.. Wish me luck.. this detox is going to be nasty :( can't wait to get back to the other side again though...

Good luck, like Leslie said! First, the support part of things. Can you find out if there are any local vegan or even vegetarian groups in your area...? It's too bad that family members were, I guess, feeling unnerved by your commitment to your health and your kids and your future. Second, the 'making changes' part of things...school full-time plus going back to vegan life are big things! Can you make a (short) list of the things you can do - rated 'easier' to 'more challenging' - that will help you manage school and family and your health? One easier thing might be to more slowly detox, instead of trying to make a 180-degree change at once. Can you also bring snacks (nuts, fruit, nut butters) to stave off the hypoglycemia? Hydrate yourself all day, every day too.

In terms of your family's meals - there are so many things you can cook together that can be portioned out, made meaty for them and vegan/vegetarian for you. My sweetie eats widely, and he will add his own stuff to what he makes for us. We use the crockpot a lot - there's a good vegetarian crockpot cookbook (Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker: 200 Recipes for Healthy and Hearty One-Pot Meals That Are Ready When You Are, by Robin Robertson). We crockpot, eat dinner, save some for lunch the following day, and freeze and label the rest.