I didn't hate it. But I also didn't love it.
Was it hard? Yes!
Will I still continue to make choices that I feel good about? Yes!
I don't plan on dismissing all vegan foods. I have actually enjoyed all of the vegan meals I have had. I even tried more vegetables that I'd never tried before, and I can certainly live with this stuff about 80% of the time.
I will continue to strive to be vegan, but if I occasionally stray from the course, I am going to be OK with it. Going full speed ahead is a really hard way to go. I'll find what works for me, and until then, I'll keep doing what I'm doing.
The past week after my 6 weeks was up I have been eating mainly vegetarian. (back to having dairy, and not watching for "whey proteins" in all my foods) Which, I can live with.
I put on about 10 lbs on this trial, and not for lack of workouts....but for lack of finding the right proteins that fill me up, and are cost effective. Most people lose weight when they go vegan. Not me. I'm the exception! I ate way more of the beans/legumes/vegan proteins than I should have...I tried to compare it to eating a chicken breast and the fact is they just have way more calories than chicken.
I can say with full gusto, that being a "clean eater" made me feel physically and mentally way better than being a vegan. And I think I'm headed back down that road.
I like my chicken, and I like my veggies. I have at the very least, found a local Amish chicken farm, and it costs a bit more to buy from them but the tiny bit of piece of mind I'll get from it will be enough for me.
In closing....Yes!! Vegan foods taste pretty great...amazing even...Everyone should try something vegan before dismissing it! But most of the delicious convenient proteins are "processed" and I'm just not a fan of it.
It's my personal preference.
I'm really happy that I took the challenge, because my new most favorite thing to eat is a lentil burger! And, I learned that spinach is a great filler for any meal! I am also in love with tofutti cream cheese, which I also got a few coworkers to admit was delicious, and I plan to use this in place of cream cheese from here on out!
I will consider every non-animal product I consume as a success as I move forward.
And that is good enough for me.
5 comments:
While I'm sad that vegan wasn't right for you, I'm happy that you will at least consider your options when you eat. I know that the label reading can be a pain, but I hope you won't forget that the less meat, dairy, and eggs that you eat, the less pain suffered by the cows, chickens, and pigs.
You did so well to stick at it. Being Vegan is so difficult and we live in a world full of stodgy convenience food which isn't geared at the healthy eater at all - even things you THINK are healthy aren't when you look at the packaging (you have to have a full breakdown of calories, carbs, fat content here)like salads and wraps.
I tried to cut back on carbs a while back,not because they're bad for you just because we eat such a huge amount of them. And I was shocked at how hard it was to get something to eat when you go out. Breakfast choices alone were full of carbs so it had to be plain bacon & eggs, fruit or yoghurt or nothing - even then some yoghurt has carbs in and so does tomato ketchup for the fry up.
You did well and it's nice that you can take some changes with you. Not everyone (myself included) would even think about the choices they make and even do the experiment.
PS - 10lbs is shocking!
Thank you for your comments. I agree with you that processed foods whether they contain meat or not should be avoided for a healthy lifestyle.
debbie: I for sure took a lot from this, more than I thought I would, and I think I can still manage to eat "vegan" a majority of the time, and that is what I'll strive for. Even vegetarian eating is saving lives. I will think of every less meal with meat is a success. And with more time, I may find more "natural" ways to eat meatless that work for me.
urban:
it wasn't easy, but I'm glad I did it because I did find a lot of things to eat that I never would have tried otherwise. And every meal doesn't have to have an animal protein as it did in the past.
Chris:
yea, i felt so much better just eating chicken and veggies. I will still have the lentil burgers for SURE i love them!
I'd never survive without meat.
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