Adam and I have decided to go vegan for the month of January.
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Why? We got married 3 months ago. Beginning on our honeymoon and pretty much every day since, we haven't paid attention to what we've eaten, and I for one have rarely worked out. Now that the holidays are over, we've decided we want to do something about the extra pounds that have found their home on our midsections. We need to work out, but we also need to make healthy meal choices. There's nothing healthier than eating lots of whole fruits and veggies! Plus, we know of two people who recently went vegan and say that they have never felt better. A vegan diet completely eliminated my uncle's arthritis symptoms, and Adam's coworker lost 15 pounds in a month by cutting out animal products.
I don't think that veganism will be a permanent lifestyle for us (love you forever, cheese!), but I hope that this animal-free month will expand our culinary horizons. I'm looking forward to experimenting in the kitchen with new-to-me veggies and animal product substitutes like tofu, seitan, and vegan cheese.
Come February, we'll probably go back to our beloved meat and cheese, but I hope that we'll be a few pounds lighter and a little more educated about food choices when we do.
Have you ever gone vegan? Do you have any good vegan recipes? Any advice for a new vegan?
I went vegan for a month in October of 2011. I managed to do it successfully except for some whipped cream I ate and cheese. (Both consumed on my birthday. Poor timing on my part!) I found it both easier and more difficult than I expected. I found myself reading food labels more often, which I think was a good thing. Eating out was really tough. (But I lived in Dallas at the time; location definitely played a part.) Good luck and happy eating!*
ReplyDeleteWe have a friend's birthday dinner next weekend, so we'll be having one cheat meal during the month. Oh well.
DeleteMy roommate freshman year and I decided to try to go vegan for a month, after spring break. She lasted about a week (She lost a bet with her mom, too). I'm going on 6 years at this point. I'm mostly vegan, though sometimes I cheat for sweets. I feel a lot better this way, and I very rarely get sick. At the beginning, I lost 30 pounds in about 6 months, though it was sort of unhealthy because I didn't have that much to lose. I had a hard time figuring out what I needed to eat. So, my advice is, do research and try new things! Since I first started, I have been forced to try so many new foods, it really opened my eyes especially to all the different kinds of ethnic foods. I guess if you have any questions as you go through it, feel free to ask me! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWow! I didn't know you were a vegan! It's good to know that you love it. Thanks for offering up your knowledge!
DeleteI went vegan for a week last year, but I don't know that I could have done it for a whole month. I'm a sucker for ice cream! I wrote a few posts about it, which are all linked here, and included a few recipes and snack ideas: http://allieseverydayadventures.blogspot.com/2012/09/vegan-week-complete.html
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips!
DeleteWhat a great goal! Honestly I don't think I could ever go vegan for a full month. It sounds like such a challenge, but I'm sure you'll tackle it. Good luck! :)
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