The list

As I mentioned before, I pledged to eat a vegetarian diet.  My goal is to keep it for at least a year.  I want to experience the cons and pros of becoming a vegan.  To walk in their shoes.  What do I expect to gain? ... help out, even a bit, with the environment, better health, not support the mega companies that are involved in animal abuse, change someone's mentality about vegetables, learn and utilize more vegetables in my diet.  They all sound like good reasons to me.

I started receiving emails related to my 21-Day Vegan Kickstart Program.  A complete list of pantry must to have, shopping list for ingredients, and yes, online support.  This program sounds good.  The only downfall to it, my decision to be lacto-ovo vegetarian.  In this program, I need to give up eggs and dairy items, for only 21 days.  Not bad, right?  ...oh help me!

So I started stocking up!  I have made homemade pita bread, falafel and some green banana onion stew.  Is is in my freezer.  Plans to make some potato garlic raviolis in the next couple days.  The 21-Day Vegan Kickstart does provide a week by week meal plan.  Including recipes for the items and even nutritional guide per serving.  This is awesome!  I have decided to start with my own recipes, and only to take it 2-3 days at a time.  I become very overwhelmed, when I look at the big picture instead of section by section.  This is how I plan to achieve this goal.  Otherwise, I will not last!!!

I am also keeping a binder of all the recipes I try and my rating or changes I make.  I am planning to post all recipes and everything I eat during the time.  Preparing some meals ahead of time and freezing them sound like a good idea.  The times that I do not have energy, nor time, I won't be tempted to dial my favorite take-out place.  I love to cook and enjoy making my own meals, nutritious and enjoyable.

I have been googling everything I eat...is "this" vegan?  To my suprise, all those sugary treats that I love are for the most part vegan...what?  yes... then it comes to the oils - a contraversy due to the way plant oils are produced.  This will be my personal judgement...I love my olive oil!

I did have a step back yesterday "technically my new diet has not started yet - 2 more days"....but since I was cutting down on meats I feel kinda guilty... my boyfriend bought a steak strambolli.  I ate it, mindfully thinking of my current stand.  To my bad luck...I ended up with an upset stomach and time in the bathroom.  Was it coincidence or the power of the mind?!

I also restarted my yoga sessions.  I am not as healthy as I thought.  I remember years back when I was able to do all the inversions and pretzel like asanas.  Oh where have the years gone!  But I know, it is not my body holding me back, is my mind putting limits.  My body feels good pain, is in good spirit and is retraning a mindful mind.  For now, happy because I am!

Maddy