Venture Vegan

Hey folks! Well, I am sitting here eating my last egg & butter influenced chocolate chip cookie writing to you about my new adventure. I have put some thought into this over the past few months and have always gone back and fourth. I've come to a real decision though, I am going to venture vegan! My whole life I have hated the thought of eating animals, so much that my parents let me become a vegetarian at a young age (given I agreed to eat whatever protein replacement they gave me of course). I maintained vegetarian as well as ventured vegan a few times up until the age of 19. My iron levels were a concern and so meat was brought back into my diet, at the time I was in no place to argue. Now that I am in a better space and my blood work is picture perfect, my thoughts have bounced around the idea of going vegetarian/vegan again. My curiosity has gotten the better of me. I wonder, will I have more energy? Feel less bloated? Lose some unnecessary weight? All with just the elimination of dairy, eggs and meats from my diet. Well, no better way to find out then to try it myself! Not only am I curious of the physical benefits of being vegan. I have also found within my research that (according to PETA) just ONE vegan "saves" or keeps from producing 198 animals. Yes, wether I eat meat or not animals will still be produced but without me eating meat even for just one year that is still 8+ animals a month that do not need to be produced on my behalf. That alone is a good enough reason to me. Not only am I going to stop consuming meat while on my vegan venture. I am also going to keep away from any animal made products. This is a decision I feel strongly about and am eager to follow through with.

I am choosing to start my vegan venture on Wednesday August 1st until the last day of August. Within the month of August I will be making weekly blog post just for my vegan venture. Letting you in on all the real feels of going vegan after being a radical carb eater. This is not only going to be a physical challenge, but also a mental one. A challenge I am up for. Today I have dedicated a lot of time & energy into research on how to successfully make the transition into being a vegan. Some of the best advise I have found is, to join a vegan support group. On my twitter & instagram I have already found a handful of active vegans who are full of recipes and information, to keep me going. Another great bit of advice was NOT to stress over getting your protein. If you are following an accurate vegan diet including beans, soy products, and nuts then you are more likely than not already getting your daily protein requirement. If you feel your protein percentage is a tad low or you already have low iron, feel free to add in a vegan protein powder to your day. I am striving not to find the excuses for not being a vegan, and am rather finding each little victory that comes with a vegan lifestyle.

"Veganism is not about giving anything up or losing anything; it is about gaining the peace within yourself that comes from embracing nonviolence and refusing to participate in the exploitation of the vulnerable."