Hello CNC readers! My name is Sarah and my blog is “Sarah Is Healthy“. Tina’s blog is the very FIRST fitness/health/balance/life blog I ever started reading. From hers I found several others. And from there, I decided to start my own blog because what can I say, I love food! I am newly vegan, as of December 2008.
I chose to go vegan for a number of reasons. My friend had been vegan for a while and she went on and on about how great it was, her acne cleared up, etc etc. I was skeptical but I decided to educate myself. I first read the Skinny Bitch book…which is entertaining and has definite shock value. It wasn’t scientificly based enough to justify me going vegan on a whim like that. I found Food Revolution by John Robbins (heir to Baskin Robbins empire) and China Study by T. Colin Campbell and read those. Now THERE was the information I was looking for. If I went vegan, I decided that it would be strictly for health reasons, that I would still consume honey, and I wouldn’t be super strict. Thus making me flexitarian I suppose. I eat fish occasionally…and I’m sure theres other things I eat that are not completely vegan…but the goal was to fix my health issue and not become obsessed about the veganism. The next book I read was by Dr. McDougall called “Digestive Tune-up”. This book is really what solidified my decision to try veganism.
I’ve been plagued with digestive “issues” since I was a child. I’ve been plagued with “mysterious” stomach pain (not cramps) which occur at random. All my issues as a kid were undiagnosed and chalked up to chronic constipation or slow moving bowels. I also have historically high cholesterol levels. Going mostly vegan has been the best decision I ever made. I have NO more stomach pain and I’m more regular than ever. And according to my recent cholesterol test, I’m at the lowest level EVER. Do I miss dairy? OF COURSE! Do I stay strictly vegan on vacations and special events – no, but if I indulge, its only a bite to taste certain things – I love good food aferall! Mostly, whats most important is try to stay away from as much dairy as I can. My husband tries to be supportive. He cracks jokes and snide comments but deep down he knows I need to be vegan for my health and obviously its the only way to keep my cholesterol low too. That being said, he LOOOOVES everything I make. He’s not a huge fan of tofu, which is fine because I’m trying to cut it out (the debates still out on soy).
Veganism maybe cholesterol free, but you can be a fat vegan. There are tons of delicious vegan baked goods and junk food and fake meats which are enough to wreck anybodys diet. I personally try to avoid soy, fake meats/cheeses, and processed foods – its a journey right?! If you’re thinking about veganism, give it 30 days and try it! Focus on whole, natural foods first and foremost. Don’t forget to read the labels – have you ever checked out the ingredient list for a SmartDog or vegan cheese? NASTY!!! I’d rather eat lots of fresh wholesome foods than that junk. Come visit my blog for other ideas on what I eat daily, as well as my current weight loss journey and my trainining progress for my upcoming 10 miler!
