Thursday, September 16, 2010

The Blog Begins! Why are YOU vegetarian/vegan?

Thanks for showing an interest in my new blog! I plan to post once a week or so, and will discuss all types of topics related to the vegan diet, nutrition, health, the environment, and spirituality as it relates to food.

So, what to discuss on the first blog entry? What else? What made YOU decide to go vegetarian/vegan? If you are not currently eating a veggie diet, read on, and see if you are inspired...

I remember how I went vegan like it was yesterday. No one could have been more surprised than me - the girl whose four food groups were Swiss, Havarti, Cheddar and Chocolate. It was about a year after Mark and I got married. We had both gained weight due to "Our Oreo Habit" (about 3 bags a week!!) and our propensity to eat out. At the time, I called myself a vegetarian, but I wasn't - I still ate fish, so I was really a pescetarian - a fish and dairy eating machine with hardly a vegetable in sight! Not anything close to a vegetarian! Not surprisingly, I was becoming a pudgy pescetarian...

On our way to Whistler for a long weekend, I realized I had forgotten my library books at home. Because I have a reputation for staying in bookstores for hours at a time, I had to beg Mark to stop at Barnes & Noble on the way. He did, on the caveat that I went straight in, bought my book, and came straight out. I ran in as fast as I could, ran to the diet book section, and grabbed a book by John Robbins titled Diet for a New America. It sounded like it might help me drop those extra pounds that were starting to pile on, and I prayed that this book would be the one that would finally help me lose the weight. Ironically, while I don't believe weight loss is ever mentioned in the book, after reading about the health effects of eating meat and dairy, how the animals are treated in factory farms, and the implications of a meat and dairy diet on our environment, I not only went vegan overnight, but I also lost the 10 pounds in about 6 weeks!

I find it fascinating that, in a vain effort to lose weight and look better, Diet for a New America helped me to find my spirituality instead - compassion and kindness to others. It's almost hard for me to recognize the person that I used to be - caught up in so many things that seem so unimportant now.

So, that's my story. What about you? How did you go vegetarian or vegan? If you're not eating a veggie diet yet, what's holding you back?

Hugs,
Sarah

7 comments:

  1. I'm so thrilled that you have started a blog! I'm a nutritarian, in technical terms, it's someone who chooses nutrient dense, plant-based foods. When I was 48, I was obese, and had all kinds of looming health issues, but in July 2008, I made the committment to get healthy. Within a year I lost 100 lbs and literally got my health and life back. It's changed me ~ there's no turning back!

    Emily Boller

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  2. I'm still an omnivore, but recognize the benefits of a veggie diet. I guess I should check out the book!

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  3. I'm contemplating the vegan lifestyle but have not yet committed to it. Everyone's story is inspirational. I'm just a little overwhelmed and not sure how to get started. Hopefully soon!

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  4. I am officially a "Mea-gan"...meaning I am following a MOSTLY plant based diet, but still not going "whole hog" (pun intended). I just made a really yummy Lentil soup last night w/ quinoa.
    I wanna be I wanna be like Sarah Taylor!

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  5. Hi All,

    I was a determined 7 year old that told my very generous Mother that I wasn't eating animals anymore. She thought I'd grow out of it ... not so. I have been vegetarian for 26 years and slowly drifting to a vegan lifestyle for the last 10 of these. I don't knit with wool, no leather, no eggs ... I guess I'm hanging on to the milk in my morning coffee and the cheese on my pasta... that's it really. I need to move on.

    I just had a baby girl and now EVERYTHING is different, we are just embarking on our completely VEGAN lifestyle. It's gonna be fun and difficult too. My partner still eats meat, but supports me whole heartedly feeding her a vegan diet. Wish us luck!

    Renée

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  6. I'm a vegetarian (the only one in the house) I'm thinking of trying to make the switch to vegan.

    your new follower

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  7. I read Skinny Bitch and switched from vegetarian tio vegan.

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