quite possibly my most favorite word, activity and obsession (other than my dog, cooper). i like to fancy myself a "foodie". and one of my most favorite things to do is prepare a meal. i love being in my kitchen. i love shopping for food. i think about food probably more than most people i know. when going out with friends, i like to know where we are going to eat way beforehand so i can drool over the menu ALL DAY. i love food. i love the smell, the sound, the taste and the visual aspect. food is my obsession, yet also my dilemma.
a few years ago i stumbled across a book, "Skinny Bitch" by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin.
i didn't realize when i bought "Skinny Bitch" that it was a book about being vegan. vegan? no more cheese? NO WAY! but, the book was an easy read, very entertaining and...........very eye-opening. up until that point, i hadn't really given much thought about where my food came from and much less what was in it. and the chapter on animal slaughter had me sobbing like a damned fool. (i.love.animals.) after reading that book, i made a change in my life. i became a vegetarian with the hopes of someday reaching "vegan-hood".
the hardest part for me, believe it or not, was NOT giving up meat. it was changing the way i cook. having to "re-learn" how to cook in a way that was healthy. constantly researching new recipes for my new lifestyle. trying new things like tofu and kale.
i was successful for a short period of time. thanksgiving and christmas was a bitch! all that intoxicating aroma of cholesterol washing over me. but, i made it through. however, it was difficult diving into this new lifestyle while living with someone who didn't want to jump on the train with you. eventually, i caved. i went back to being a shameful carnivore.
after my divorce, i jumped back on that train. this time with much more vigor. i also watched several documentaries and read a few other books on veganism, our sad, sad food industry and the powers of juicing. let me tell you, juicing makes you feel like a god. ok, maybe not that awesome, but it does make you feel amazing. i felt better than i ever had in my life. i gave up the cheese (my biggest weakness), i gave up coffee (ouch). i lost about 15 lbs and i had more energy than ever. i.was.a.vegan. for a minute. well, actually about 6 months. but, thanksgiving and christmas were just around the corner. i remembered the utter disappointment of my belly from the previous year's holidays. i didn't know if i could endure that sort of torture again. so, i came to the decision that i would allow myself a bit o' turkey on thanksgiving and one bratwurst on christmas. (ok, so ya know......i'm half german. my family eats brats for christmas because we're cool like that).
for months i dreamed of thanksgiving. i couldn't wait for the day. but before then, my birthday rolled around. i thought, if i can have turkey on thanksgiving, surely i can have a cheeseburger on my birthday??? (huge cheeseburger FREAK) i allowed myself this juicy, fatty birthday present and it awarded me a huge tummy ache and maybe a little vomit. tmi?? but after i recovered, it felt worth it. i savored that memory until thanksgiving when i was much more careful with my meat intake. i only had a sample of turkey. but it was deeeee-lish. back on the wagon.
christmas 2011 would be the demise of my "vegan" run. (i put vegan in quotations because well, i DID cheat a couple of days). i went a little further than just one bratwurst. i went crazy from christmas until new years. i gluttonly devoured everything in sight, with the thought "this is my reward for being good". i'll go back after new years. well, i didn't and i haven't since then. add the return of my bad eating habits to my retirement from roller derby in October 2011 and you have one girl who is back to commencing WWIII with her denim.
but recently, i feel like i'm finally ready to jump back on that wagon and my plan is to kick it off with a bang and a pow. one week juice fast. oh my. maybe i'll still allow myself a little "present" on the holidays, but i think i learned my lesson.
i know i have a lot of friends who like to poke fun at my choices, but let me encourage you to do the research. "Skinny Bitch" has a lot of good information to start with. "The China Study" by T. Colin Campbell will blow you away.
Forks Over Knives
Food Matters
Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead
The Gerson Miracle
that should be enough to get you started. do your research. know the facts before you criticize, and that goes for any subject for that matter. just because you don't understand something, doesn't make it wrong.
i don't claim to be an expert on proper nutrition, i don't claim to be a vegan either. but......do know that i am trying to do what's best for me. i'm reading, i'm learning. i'll get there.
but before i start on my quest again.......do know that i WILL be stuffing my face with everything that i will miss. just one more sweet love affair with a cheeseburger from claud's, ok....maybe two.
