journey to veganism

Guest Post: Christina’s Journey To Veganism

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I went vegan when I was 16. It was August 2003, the month of my 17th birthday, the summer after graduating from high school, and a month after getting my wisdom teeth out and subsisting on Jell-O, pudding, and ice cream–all of which were of the non-vegan variety, of course. Vegetarianism, let alone veganism, was not even on the radar. And if it had been, I’d’ve scofffed at it vehemently. I lived off convenience foods and Italian foods, the latter of which was not necessarily bad: coming from an Italian-Canadian household, I ate food that was fresh and flavourful, with Nonna’s stamp of approval by way of my mother and father. However, I certainly wasn’t indulging in Italian veggies: pasta and loads of any kind of cheese you could place in front of me, along with Italian meatballs, sausages, and sliced meats, were huge parts of my diet. I ate fast food several times a week, and if it weren’t for my teenage metabolism and my not being old enough to have a driver’s license, and thus having to take the bus and walk everywhere, I probably would not have been as small as I was.

In August of 2003, I attended the Vans Warped Tour, the touring punk rock show that visits outdoor venues across North America every summer. Some friends and I were visiting the merchandise booths at the venue when, all of a sudden, this gentleman from none other than the PETA merchandise booth pointed at me–me, not any of my friends, but me in particular, it seemed–from several metres away. Curious sixteen-year-olds that we were, seeing that a guy was beckoning to us, we trotted over without a second thought. He invited us to sign up for PETA2’s newsletter, offered us stickers and pamphlets, and informed us on what PETA does. No sooner than we’d trotted over, we were skipping away, armed with leaflets that we shoved into our bags without a second glance at them. I remember getting mildly heated about how I believed it inappropriate to impose one’s own views on those of others. I thought the PETA2 guy had a lot of nerve, and I went off to eat my prosciutto sandwich I had packed for the day.

A few days later, I emptied my bag of my Warped paraphernalia and discovered the PETA pamphlets. I disregarded them but didn’t dispose of them. More days later, while cleaning my room, I sat down and actually read the pamphlets–less out of interest than of a desire to delay the room-cleaning process by dilly-dallying. I was instantly horrified. I read simply of the treatment and living conditions of farmed animals in factory farms. Those pamphlets did it: I didn’t even go vegetarian first–I went vegan, then and there. There was no way around it. The girl who would easily shun steak but who would have cheese in every meal of the day decided to give up all animal products. I was alone; I wasn’t believed; I was lost. None of my friends who’d also received the pamphlets were fazed. But I knew what I had to do. My stomach wouldn’t stomach another piece of consumed flesh.

It’s seven years later and people can’t even remember me as a non-vegan. Since high school, I’ve lost about twenty pounds. I was never a big girl, but going vegan slimmed me down, cleared my skin, increased my energy, and strengthened my immune system. If I do catch a cold, it is mild and disappears within days. Though I now have my license and sometimes miss a day of working out, I don’t have a hard time managing my weight. I eat a whole-foods diet and few processed foods since, let’s face it, vegan processed foods are expensive (though, I admit, delicious). I do have a mean sweet tooth and confess to having at least one sweet a day, but I can’t say I feel guilty for doing so, since my diet is virtually cholesterol and trans-fat free. Everything in moderation, though, right?

In short: Veganism has changed my life. It’s made me healthier, happier, and more conscious of every thing I put into and onto my body. I read labels like it’s coming out of style and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Diabetes; high blood pressure and cholesterol; cardiovascular issues; and weight issues run in my family. I’m confident, and hoping, that in choosing this lifestyle, I am not only saving myself from suffering these chronic health problems, but I am sparing animals horrific, unnecessary cruelty and lending a hand to curb environmental havoc caused by factory farming. The bonus in all of this, too, is that, though I thought I appreciated food before, going vegan has made me a veritable foodie: by going vegan, I didn’t feel deprived of food but, instead, the veil was lifted from my eyes, and I was exposed to foods I didn’t know existed, tastes that went beyond my comprehension. Thai, Indian, Ethiopian, Japanese, Lebanese–these were ethnicities whose foods had never crossed my plate. I was in love. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Check out Christina’s Blog Vegan in Suburbia.

If you enjoyed this check out these other guest posts:

  • I Missed Eggs the Most by Bianca Phillips
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  • Lauren of Ginger is The New Pink
  • Ich bin Veganerin: An American Vegan in Germany
  • Noelle’s Journey to Veganism

    • Guest Post: Noelle’s Journey to Veganism

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    Please enjoy this guest post from Noelle aka An Opera Singer in the Kitchen regarding her journey to veganism.

    November marks my FIRST complete year of following a vegan diet. I am an opera singer married to an aspiring conductor and even though these two lifestyles come together very nicely our eating lifestyles are so different. When I approached my husband about changing my eating lifestyle he did not know what was coming. I had been a vegetarian for two years back in 2005 but incorporated meat back in my life after I started dating my husband. After a year of marriage, my diet was in hysterics. I was suffering from migraines, digestive issues, and moodiness. When I switched to a vegan diet I slowly started seeing changes, especially after adding vitamins, minerals and more. As of last night, my husband told me that he can tell how quick I am on the racquetball court because I am not out of breath and I am living healthy. Even though my husband chooses not to be vegan, he enjoys all the dishes I prepare that are vegan, even requesting them again.

    I know it sounds so cliche’ but I really was moved by Alicia Silverstone’s book The Kind Diet and nearly read the entire book on a flight back from Houston last year November 2009. Before dating my husband I had been focusing on a vegetarian diet but was easily swayed by stress to eating lots of dairy and unhealthy foods. After I started dating my husband I decided to give up my healthy eating. What did that do for me? I went up 2 dress sizes before the wedding and it got worse after the wedding. I added diet colas, meat, dairy, and too much sugar to my daily diet.  As a result I suffered horrible migraines, worse than my normal heat and exercise -induced headaches, and decided it had to be diet-related.

    After a year and a half of being married I sat with my husband and told him I needed to make drastic changes in my life. I was not a happy person around him at times because my food choices were making me a moody person. I think the fact that I cried showed him how serious I was being wanting to change my eating habits, he just wanted to make sure it was not going to affect what he was going to be eating. It was hard at first trying tomake 2 meals an evening, cooking meat for my husband and making an all-vegan meal for myself.

    I am an experimenter when it comes to cooking so I knew that I was going to have fun making new meals. The more I tried the recipes in the The Kind Diet the more I knew what type of recipes I needed to make. I started substituting cheese for vegan cheeses, even though Daiya was not out yet. I purchased tofu, Match vegan meats, and Field Roast sausages and added more fruits and vegetables to my diet. As soon as I eliminated the diet colas and the increased amounts of sugar I lost my first 20 pounds.

    I know it is hard for people to realize that I did not become vegan because of the pain caused to animals, but I know that in my becoming vegan I am not supporting the pain caused to animals. My becoming vegan was a personal conviction to become a healthier eater focusing on whole and natural foods. Every day is one step towards supporting the love of all God’s creation and if it means eating from the fruits of the earth, I will do that.

    After visiting a naturopath in July 2010 I found out I was B12, Vitamin D, iron deficient. I added a whole vitamin and minerals regimen and started enjoying protein shakes and a more focused meal plan. I have been working out consistently at a gym daily and feel better than ever! I continue to strive towards my goal of not being deficient in an area and being at my goal weight. Being vegan is the best thing that has happened to me!

    Being vegan has tremendously improved my migraines, increased breathing support for singing and changed my whole emotional well-being too!

    If you enjoyed this check out these other guest posts:

  • I Missed Eggs the Most by Bianca Phillips
  • JL Goes Vegan
  • Lauren of Ginger is The New Pink
  • Ich bin Veganerin: An American Vegan in Germany

    • Guest Post: Britta’s Journey to Veganism

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    Please enjoy this guest post from Britta Conner regarding her journey to veganism.

    My journey into plant based eating began in October 2009.  My birthday was in the month before and I make it a habit to get a check up around that time every year as a gift to myself.

    I had long known that high cholesterol ran in my family, on both sides, so I knew it was likely that it would hit me at some point.  In 2005 I was tested and found that my cholesterol was 224.  Until that point I had eaten the Standard American Diet, mostly white and brown foods.  I decided to do a diet overhaul and reduced white sugars, stopped buying white flour and I opted for all whole wheat products to include all breads and pastas.  I started cooking more foods and relying far less on convenience foods.  I started portion control and exercising and I dropped 15 pounds in a month.  I reduced meat intake, and only ate red meat once a month or less.

    I didn’t think about my cholesterol at all, I just assumed it was going down as I was eating healthier and exercising regularly as well as losing weight.  I didn’t get it checked again until September 2009.  It was 251.  Somehow it had raised!

    I have a friend who goes in and out of being vegan, she loaned me some reading material and I decided to commit to it for 6 months, when my insurance would pay for another cholesterol test.  It was an interesting time becoming vegan, right around the holidays, but it was a wonderful time to try out new recipes and really dig in to the new way of eating.

    I didn’t experience weight loss right away.  It’s never been easy for me and though I had read many accounts of weight falling off of people who began a plant based diet, I was not one of them.  By January I had only lost 2 pounds.  I found that to lose weight, I still had to count calories, despite all the promises I had read that a change to vegan eating would be an end to weight problems.

    Six months from beginning to eat vegan I went back to the doctor and found out that my cholesterol was 188.  No longer the danger zone.  I hope it continues to drop, but if it doesn’t, my heart is safe at this level.  I got checked again this October, after a full year as a vegan and I am waiting on results.

    In that time I have had more weight loss success.  I went from 174 pounds on a 5’1″ frame (after my second child was born) to 152.  I am about half way to my goal weight.  In the beginning as a vegan I made a lot of the less healthy vegan foods to prove to myself that I wouldn’t have to lack the things I grew up loving.  I made candies, baked goods, and rich savory things.  I also did this for my husband, he wasn’t thrilled with the idea of vegan eating.  I eventually moved away from this and now use those foods for parties and special occasions.  I get the bulk of my nutrition from whole grains (like bulgar wheat, cous cous, millet and brown and wild rice), vegetables, beans and some nuts and fruits.  I am also adding a lot of raw foods into my diet.  I still have a long way to go with my dietary reform, I make mistakes and hinder my own progress frequently, but I am getting there one step at a time.

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