Vegan in 30 Days...

At least, that's the goal. I purchased a book by the very same title to help me on my journey. Actually, my resolution was to be vegan by my birthday - May 9th. If I follow the book exactly - it'll be after my birthday... but I figure, if it's the same month, and I can settle for that. I've already done some of the steps on my own, so I'm thinking I'll do more than one chapter on some days. Maybe I will be vegan by my birthday :)

So... here we go...

Day 1

Why do you want to be vegan?

I became vegetarian a little over 4 years ago after reading "Diet for a New American." When I made that decision, I thought I would be vegan shortly after. I never made the full transition.

Robbin's book enlightened me on the many cruel practices that go on in the meat and dairy industries. I became aware of all the chemicals and hormones that are in the foods most Americans eat daily, and the abuse that the majority of animals sustain in factory farming.

My first and foremost reason I am working to be vegan is to be eating the healthiest and most eco-friendly way I know how. I do not want to be responsible for the pain and suffering of any animal.

The first meat I gave up was beef - I have a strange compassion for cows. I love them. So, it sometimes seems strange to me that I still eat cheese. I vowed to never eat a cow again, yet I still allow them to be milked until raw, and I'm digesting all the chemicals and hormones that are passed through milk. I plan to change this. I want to break free of the addiction to cheese (really people, it's proven that cheese is addictive!). I'll suffer the runny nose and stuffiness that comes with detox. I'll feel better knowing that I'm not supporting the factory farms across the nation.

I've watched the videos - I cry. I wish I self-educated myself on where my food came from when I was younger. I think I would have given up meat a long time ago. Then again, maybe my body was trying to tell me something - I've never liked the taste of milk, ever since I was a kid. I'd drink it only with spaghetti, or in a bowl of cereal (only enough to wet the cereal, I never drank the milk left over). I started drinking soy milk about 3.5 years ago. Seriously - humans are the only animal that drinks milk after weaning, and we're the only ones that drink another animals milk. Does this seem natural? No. I also hate all the lies from the dairy industry. Yes, milk contains calcium. Can we absorb it? Not as much as you've been let to think.

A vegan diet just seems to make more sense everyday... I just have to break the habit. Then I'll be on to a healthier, skinnier, more-energetic me :)