Just One More Day

I decided that I can't wait any longer. So Monday morning I will wake up and begin following a vegan lifestyle. I say this, knowing full well that I will continue to wear leather shoes and Lord knows I can't give up my mink coats (I'm kidding on that one!).

Reading about all the vegan stuff has me up in arms though. I'm torn. Does one little person make a difference? This is what I think...at least on the cruelty to animals part. How is this movement really going to stop the cattlefarms, for example? It's not. The Government pays farmers to slaughter their animals if they aren't sold to keep the prices up, so it's not like a group not buying the stuff is really going to stop the initial production, breeding, slaughtering etc. What really needs to happen is that everyone needs to be aware of this cruelty. I'm not saying that animals that we breed for food should be put up at the Hilton Garden Inn & Suites...but they shouldn't be tortured, branded, diseased and mistreated. I talked to Mircea about this and he said "it's not like they aren't going to die anyway," but I said, "ok, we have to put an animal to sleep because it's old. Do we drag it around the yard first?" He hunts deer and what do you do-you put it out of it's misery (from that first shot) by usually shooting it again to kill it. You don't sling it over your shoulder and drag it, miserably bleeting, back to your truck. It's just the right thing to do. And all the diseases those animals have-you think those aren't getting into our food source?
I'm really not on a high horse here. I am at a loss more than anything. I don't know how to make it better because it is regulated by the Government and despite my Government affiliation, they aren't very good at regulating themselves.
On Monday I will begin my 30 day journey into healthier eating. I'm looking forward to it, and we'll see what happens after that 30 days-maybe I'll become a cattle rancher, but maybe I'll realize the benefits of eating fresh, natural foods, and cutting out the hydrogenated middle men.

I'm Working on a Plan

I’m not quite ready to begin my journey into veganism. I’ve been reading some different books and articles lately and I feel that it will be a healthy lifestyle, but I’m just not ready to give up my sushi. In fact, I’m pretty sure that after the 30 days, I will once again eat sushi, but I will probably attempt to avoid all other animal products.

Although I wish to lose weight, I am not looking at this as the way to lose weight. I really would like to maintain a healthier lifestyle. I don’t want anymore trans fats, processed foods, or refined carbohydrates. I’m sick and tired of feeling like a pig eating sweets, when the happiness from those items is only temporary.

There will be a lot of obstacles on this journey. I have a Romanian boyfriend who is in LOVE with meat, all kinds of meat. Seriously, we eat cows stomachs (tripe), and he eats pig’s ears and the like. So whether or not I eat meat, I’ll still be around it all the time, and that will be tempting (other than the pig ears). I am also going to be traveling to San Diego in a few weeks and I want to dine at my favorite sushi restaurant, so I’m considering easing into the veganism, but still partaking in sushi for that trip. I just couldn’t give up my sushi…I can switch to brown rice, but I can’t say no to my raw fish!

There will also be a lot of help on this journey. I have a friend who is trying to cut out processed foods and we will help each other with some tips and tricks for finding the good stuff. I also have a friend who read the same book as I did and propelled herself into a healthier lifestyle, so I will use her for support as well. Finally, I started an organic vegetable garden. I’m not sure how it will turn out, but if it goes well, I will have a wonderful, fresh bounty to enjoy in my new lifestyle.

When I do begin, I will post how I’m feeling, how the food is affecting me, etc. I’m sure I’ll have a bad attitude the first few days, but in the end, I will be a lot happier and healthier.