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!

Backpacks, Gallstones and Gratitude

 

I took my daughter back to school shopping today! We got her a backpack plus many other little items such as markers, pencil crayons, scissors, glue, etc. Very exciting stuff for a five year old (and even for a twenty three old! Who doesn’t love markers?!).

When Nick is at work we always take the bus for several reasons. One, because he has the car. Two, because I need to renew my license. And three, because Sidney think it’s just SO much fun! Luckily for us our apartment is a short walk to the bus terminal downtown.

But today that walk was just too long.

 

Right after Sidney and I crossed the street, I threw my coffee cup into a garbage can and immediately keeled over as a sharp pain shot through my upper abdomen area. It came out of nowhere, as if someone stabbed me for no apparent reason. I tried to finish our walk home, but after a mere few steps I couldn’t even stand.

Squatting down, leaned up against a brick wall just a short ways down an alley (so I wasn’t RIGHT downtown), I called my mom on my cell phone bawling my eyes out. This pain was worse than child labour pains without meds, and I know this for a fact because I gave birth - naturally! And unlike child labour pains, it wasn’t going away!

After my dad picked us up we went back to their house, dropped Sid off and my mom took me to the hospital. She couldn’t stay with me because my dad needed the car, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to know what was wrong with me, and I wanted the pain to go away.

And of course, just like always, as soon as I get to the emergency room, the pain does subside a little and I started to wonder if I should just call my mom to take me home right away. But I didn’t, because I knew the pain could and most likely would come back.

The nurses did a urine test and some blood tests, and after waiting around for 5 hours, they did an ultrasound. And guess what? I have gallstones! Yippee!

Well, maybe a “yippee” isn’t a good reaction, but I’m glad it isn’t something super serious. As painful as gallstones can be at times, they’re really not that threatening.

Still, another ultrasound is needed, and it’s possible that I might need surgery. I wouldn’t want to experience that pain ever again, especially during class or while I’m out with Sidney again! That would be awful, especially if I couldn’t get a hold of anyone to pick us up.

The doctor told me that females, in their fertile years, with fair skin, have the highest risk of developing gallstones. And I’m all three, baby! Sign me up!

I guess I'm just lucky!

And really I am! Because even though I have these dang gallstones that might require surgery, I’m fortunate enough to have family to help me when I need them, to live in a country with free health care and a city with a great hospital and hospital staff! So much to be grateful for. :)

Have you ever had to deal with gallstones? Or something similar?

Thanks,
Cole

Orientation Day

 

The day before orientation, as I packed my bag with everything I would need, I realized I didn’t receive an actual Orientation Package. Apparently it would be needed on orientation day!

So of course I felt a little bit panicky and completely unprepared. Nick calmed me down by telling me to arrive early and stop in the Registrar Office to ask about it.

Already feeling anxious, I made sure to set my clothes out the night before and to get a good night’s sleep. Everything would be okay.

Well, Nick and I slept through our alarm and woke up 40 minutes late! It was raining lightly, and much too hot and muggy to wear the clothes I picked out. I ran around my room, trying to get dressed quickly. I gave up on the idea of fixing my hair and skipped the make-up routine entirely.

As we drove there I just kept thinking, “Why is it raining today? This can’t be a good sign." (Still trying to fix my pessimist ways.)

I made it just as the Registrar Office was opening. The lady was super nice and gave me everything I needed. With the help of some orientation leaders, I found my way to the Recreation Center. (Why are school campuses so confusing?) I have a feeling I will spend a fair amount of time getting lost this semester.

While standing around in the Recreation center, surrounded by my new classmates, I couldn’t help but feel weird. I was excited, but at the same time I kept thinking, “What the heck am I doing here? I don't belong!”

When talking to a couple of girls in my class, they seemed so confident, so sure of themselves and I couldn’t help but to wonder again, “What the heck am I doing here?!” Because I have no idea what I’m doing most of the time, and I rarely ever feel confident. Sad, I know, but I'm working on it. :)

The Journalism Coordinator started off by writing a number on the blackboard. He wrote 324. He told us that was how many people applied for the program and only 70 were accepted, including me. I have to admit that hearing that kind of made me feel a little bit better.

After talking to us a bit more about the program in general he had two 2013 graduates and three 2nd year students tell us a bit about their experiences at the college. All five of them already had jobs, part time or full time, within the journalism field. The graduates told us about their jobs, how they landed them and what it was like. Hearing their stories helped me feel better. Most of them didn’t consider journalism at first. The one girl even said she only took journalism because she didn’t know what else to do, but knew she liked writing.

In short, her story sounded like my own. Yet here she was, starting 2nd year and already working. Maybe I’ll do alright after all.

Afterwards, I went and got my student card as well as my library PIN. Holding that card in my hand makes me feel like a real student! It sounds kind of lame writing it down, but that’s how I feel.

As I waited for the bus to take me home, dark clouds rolled in over the campus grounds. Thunder began to rumble in the distance and lightning flashed not so far away. Eventually I had to wait under the bus stop shelter as rain pelted down in big, heavy drops. As all of this happened, I looked around at my new school and instead of taking this random thunder storm as a sign for gloomy days ahead, it just made me more excited.

Now that the day is over, I wonder why I ever felt nervous in the first place.

Thanks,
Cole

Weekly Wishes #6 – RELAX + SHOP

Last week I wanted to make an effort to write more. I write every day in my personal journal as it is, but I wanted to do more than that. I wanted to make an effort to write all kinds of things this past week.

Well, I think I did pretty well on this goal! I actually wrote a short story, which was only 5 pages but it was fun. I also wrote a few rough blog posts, too. And since I forced myself to write more, I have been just a crazy idea machine! I have so many ideas written down right now! And I really want to thank everyone for all of their amazing comments last week, their encouragement, advice and support! It meant a lot to me, and I believe it played a huge role in me being successful at last week’s goal!

This week I have a completely different kind of goal in mind.

This is mine and my daughter’s last week of summer before school starts! After this week I will be a full time college student, and with that comes homework and a schedule to keep. My daughter is also entering a new phase in her life; grade one! Which will be completely new and different for her compared to Kindergarten. 

So I want to spend our last week of summer relaxing, playing at the park, watching movies, and enjoying the outdoors. To really just slow down and enjoy each moment. It’s been a pretty dull summer for us, we didn’t get a chance to do much because the weather’s been lame, or we didn’t have the money. Excuses, excuses – you don’t need a sunny day or money to have fun, I know. Summer just flew by too quickly. Time to enjoy what’s left of it!

Now, as a second goal, one that can get thrown in with my relax goal, is to go shopping!

I’m really hoping I get my money this week because Sidney and I still have back to school shopping to do! I haven’t gone back to school shopping for myself in years and I am really excited! I might even get my hair cut on the weekend, for the first time in over a year.

Now, what are your goals for the week?

Thanks,
Cole

I Volunteer! 8 Reasons You Should, Too

  

When I was in high school you had to do 40 hours of volunteer work in order to graduate. 

 

At the time it seemed to me like having to work without a paycheck. And who wants to work for nothing? I managed to get away with claiming volunteer hours by babysitting my nieces for free, even though in return my sisters would babysit my daughter for free (I was a teen mom). 

 

For the first time in my life, I actually volunteered yesterday! 

 

For two hours I stood under a tent, handed out brochures and encouraged children to stop in and colour. Earlier this summer I decided to volunteer at my local library since I wasn’t able to find a job. I figured I might as well get out of house once in a while and interact with people. Plus, I’ve been forcing myself out of my comfort zone and since I’m super shy and introverted what better way to do that than to volunteer at special events?

  

At first I wasn’t sure what it would be like. Would the other volunteers be nice? Would the day drag on, boring and miserable? Would I enjoy myself at all? Obviously I’m quite the pessimist. 

 

I arrived ten minutes early and was signed in. Afterwards I was led outside to where the library’s tent was set up at the A Day & A Night event. Immediately the other volunteers introduced themselves and they explained what to do; hand out brochures, help kids colour and basically just hang out. Simple, right? 

 

There was also a graphic artist at our booth hanging out, drawing and explaining graphic art while promoting the different programs at the library. He was super talented and super friendly. I’m glad I got to meet him and discuss movies and books, along with our brilliant volunteer leader.

 

Even though we didn’t get many kids stopping in, I enjoyed helping out the ones who did. Two hours flew by and before I knew it we were already taking down our tables and putting the tent away. 

 

I survived my first day as a volunteer, and I actually really enjoyed it!

  

Now I look at volunteering as a free education, a great way to meet new people, network and so much more. 

 

Why you should volunteer:

  

1. While volunteering you will be trained for new things. You will get to build new skills and work on existing ones. 
2. Volunteering can get you the experience you need in order to get a job you really want. 
3. Not to mention, you will build a network of employment contacts and work references. 
4. Volunteering can be a lot of fun. You get to meet new people, make new friends and gain new experiences. It's also a lot more laid back than an actual job.
5. Volunteering also sends out a positive message to any children that are in your life.
6. You also get a sense of community by getting out there and interacting with people who live in your city.
7. And you’re introduced to all sorts of amazing events and programs you may have never heard about before and can now enjoy.
8. Plus, it gives you a really great feeling inside. Offering your time to help other people without expecting anything in return can make you feel super good about yourself and help build your self-esteem. 

 

I can’t wait to volunteer again with Cambridge Libraries! 

 

What sort of volunteer work have you done? What inspired you to volunteer? 

 

Thanks,

Cole