Making the Vegan Transition!

Yesterday I wrote about my very painful experience with gallstones. Well, I have a bit of good news! After doing another ultrasound this morning it has been determined that surgery is not needed. The doctor suggested I make simple changes to my diet to reduce the chance of having to deal with gallstone pain again.

And so for the zillionth time in my life, it was suggested that I pretty much adapt a vegan diet.

Well, in my doctor’s words, “Cut back on high fat foods like cream, cheese, fatty meats, take-out and processed foods.”

Sounds like a plant-based diet to me. 

I know I could simply cut back on these foods, but why not eliminate them altogether?

My boyfriend has been a strict vegetarian (no meat, eggs or dairy) for 5 years now. And while I like many, many vegan foods I have always had a difficult time sticking to just vegan foods.

3 Reasons Why:

For one, I can’t stand beans. The taste, the texture, the smell. While I have forced myself to eat them many times because I understand that they are actually super healthy, I have always had to disguise them as well as I can. But sometimes even knowing they are there turns me off.

Another thing, one I hate to talk about, is my poor relationship with food in general. I am a food addict. Not going to lie, I love food. I love ice cream, and steak and cheese! There are indeed always great alternatives, but they aren’t quite the same as the real thing.

And lastly, the alternatives are a little bit pricier! I mean, tubs of ice cream go on sale for $2.99 all of the time! But a super tiny tub of vegan ice cream rarely dips below the $3.99 mark. Most vegan foods just don’t go on sale, ever! And while I know buying unprocessed, fresh foods, and ingredients, is truly much cheaper than buying anything processed, sometimes I just really want an Oreo (which is vegan! And does go on sale) or a veggie burger!

 

I might as well try it again, though:

 

What it comes down to is the fact that clearly my current diet is not working out for me. I’m overweight, I’m exhausted, I have gallstones and I’m just plain tired of living like this.

Because my boyfriend is vegetarian, because I have been vegan on and off, and because I have done a lot of research, own a lot of books and watched many documentaries, I know in the end that a vegan diet can do wonders for your health. So for the next little while I’m going to start the switch.

I can’t promise anyone, not even myself, that this time it will work out. I can’t guarantee I will stick to this diet for the rest of my life. But I know that for now I can start making the transition to a healthier diet.

I might even keep you guys updated on my progress ;)

How about you? Are you a vegan or vegetarian? How did you make the transition?

Thanks,
Cole

 

PS - At least most beer is vegan! And one reason Nick refuses a vegan title - He loves Guinness!

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