Descent to Veganism
How an Ordinary Omnivore Was Tempted By the Vegan Lifestyle
I am an unabashed omnivore. That is to say, I’ll eat almost anything that won’t eat me. If it’s properly prepared I may even eat things that will eat me.
I have no particular argument with people that eat vegetables, I do so myself in proper relationship with the food pyramid. They have never seemed to harm me in any particular way and some of them are quite tasty.
I was raised on a farm. Yeah, I’m that kid in your class that knew exactly where babies and pork chops come from. No mystery in the life cycle for me. I’ve been eating meat as long as I’ve been eating.
In my younger days I didn’t have a care about my diet and what I ate, so long as there was plenty of it. For the first half of my life I was an athlete in training and needed a high calorie, high protein diet just to maintain my playing weight. In fact, I didn’t really hit my weight until I was in my early 30s.
For the second half of my life I have been somewhat less active, and actually had to start watching my weight sometime in my late 30s. I made all the right choices: I drank light beer and limited myself to no more than 10 cheeseburgers per week. I fluffed out the food pyramid by eating pizzas with vegetables on them. I ran 30 miles per week.
That all came crashing down on me just after I turned 40. I had a new less active job and promptly puffed up to somewhere north of 300 lbs. I gave up alcohol completely and started eating with more sanity and discretion. By my 42nd birthday I was under 230 lbs. Life was good.
Fast forward to my 62nd birthday. I had suffered a career ending back injury and a major medicine change. I was living a life of enforced sloth and feeding myself well. I got back to 300 lbs. My weight started limiting my life, including my ability to ride a motorcycle for long distances.
I embraced a low carb diet. In 6 months I was back to 230 lbs and feeling good. I started modifying the diet to include more carbs and for protection ate more meat. Lots of red meat. Yes, the cheeseburgers were back in my life. I made them myself, and loved it.
Until I got back over 280 lbs. This time I was bound and determined to eat a more plant based diet. I started on the Mediterranean diet and began losing the weight in a slow and steady fashion.
Vegan is hard.
I don’t mean that the vegetables are necessarily hard, I mean it is hard to be a Vegan in the modern world.
You might guess there is a backstory here. There are a couple of young people I know that are Vegan and militant. Just for being allowed around them I have to try stuff that I really don’t want to try.
One of my friends lives on a remote exotic Island. Heaven on earth for most people. She routinely publishes Vegan recipes that are tasty looking and actually good for me. I tried a couple of the recipes and liked them and told her so. The next thing I know is I am being pressured to test a certain variety of Vegan Burger because it just isn’t available in Paradise where she lives.
How Hard Can It Be?
It’s vegetables. We are surrounded by them. The world is literally awash with vegetables.
It turns out you can’t just chomp on vegetables. You need tools. Now that’s something I can get with, tools.
Image Source: The Author I phone 6S
This photo is not a piece of medieval torture equipment, though I have no doubt that is where it’s genesis is. It’s a hand spiralizer that is available on Amazon and is utterly necessary to one of the recipes that I wanted to try.
The Best Pasta, she said. Turns out it really doesn’t have any relationship to pasta in my lexicon. It’s zucchini. Not noodles, zucchini. Served cold. But you need the spiralizer to make zucchini look like noodles. So I bought the thing and it came without one word of instruction. Except the warning printed on the plastic bag in six languages. Not one word.
It cost me 3 zucchini to get something that looked sorta like noodles. Being the waste not want not sort that I am, I ate the first two mistakes. OK, they weren’t really mistakes, the damn thing works, the first two just didn’t look much like noodles. Looks are apparently important in Veganville.
So. I have the noodles. Sort of. Now it’s time to make the sauce. Food Processor? I don’t need no stinking food processor, I’ll use a blender.
Amazon Next Day. Food Processor.
I’m getting very close to $300 into my plate of healthy spaghetti. And I haven’t gotten it in my mouth yet.
Did I mention spices? Not just any spices, but exotic stuff I’d never heard of. That my local market doesn’t carry. I’m not exactly spice bereft here. I have at least 7 kinds of peppers. Not to mention Salt AND Black Pepper. Who knew?
It’s off to town to the one and only place in the county that might possibly have what I need. 40 miles round trip but I can save some time because that place is the only one in the county for the burgers that I promised to try.
No, I don’t have any pictures. I typically do not take pictures of what I am about to eat. Particularly stuff that I have made. Use your imagination, it was beautiful. OK. Maybe not beautiful in the classic sense of the word. Probably not in any sense of the word.
It was, as a matter of just pure fact very edible. Probably not $300 worth, but just mighty tasty if I do say so myself. I actually liked it to the point that I am really looking forward to testing those burgers today.
The Downside
Of course there is a downside. I may have slightly overstated the cost. I actually do have a food processor and am relatively competent in the kitchen. I didn’t need many spices. But there is a distinct downside.
You see, I am 66 years old. I really have in my mind that I want to be utterly used up when I die. If I don’t impale myself on a Buick Bumper with my motorcycle I might die healthy if I follow this sort of diet. What a tragic waste that would be.
Besides, do you have any idea how many pork chops I could buy for $300? How much BACON?
My thanks to @heart-to-heart for a wonderful recipe. It’s not the only one I’ve tried from her.
Authored by: @bigtom13
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Funny start of your post.lol I’m not a vegetarian, but I do eat vegetables a lot along with meat or some other staff. As a matter of fact, my friend is a vegetarian. Just a few years ago her body weight was about 250 pounds, than all of the sudden she stopped eating any meat. Within one year she lost 130 pounds and she still keeps it the same now. She is happy of course. I do admire her. Even tough I have never been overweight, I do understand how easy it is to gain weight and how hard it is to loose it. As of your life story, in my childhood I was exactly the same. Didn’t pay attention to my diet, ate everything that was put on my plate. Actually one time my dad made this horrible sup, no one could eat it.lol Anyway, I could tell, even though you say you ate no more that 10 cheeseburgers per week, it’s still a lot. I, myself ate probably 10 in my entire life. Believe it or not. On the other hand, you did great with your excersise running 30 miles per week is a lot. When the weather allows me, I run once a week 4 miles. I have to admit, your weight swings kind of scared me. Since my 20th birthday my biggest weight swing was 10 pounds. I’m glad you have your vegan friend looking out for you. However, I wouldn’t believe you would turn into vegetarian for a second. I’m a meat lover, you have to eat meat. We humans are build to eat meat.
Great and at some point funny post!
HI @milano1113, I'm the vegan friend @bigtom13 is mentioning so I thought I'd throw my 2 cents in here ;)
I am not a militant vegan activist by any means, my main will and want for promoting the diet is due to the tremendous health effects I saw in myself before I started studying nutrition and becoming a health coach.
Let it be known that I used to be the most emotionally attached carnivore you would ever meet so if I can change, literally anyone in the world can. It's not about giving up meat, it's about creating better, healthier, more sustainable options that help the body and environment thrive.
Nothing any specialist or doctor diagnosed me with or prescribed me with ever fixed my health problems. No amount of money was enough. Nothing could cure me until I changed my diet. Now I've devoted my entire life to trying to inspire others to give it a try.
I'm always happy to offer nutritional advice and coaching to anyone interested. Otherwise there is a plethora of amazing meals and recipes on my blog to check out and try.
Food is my passion and my life. I spend all of my time trying to ensure that I can make things that will help others heal while having delicious meals at the same time! :)
XO,
Cece
Nice comment @heart-to-heart. Your name says it for itself. All I can say is, “if my health depended on it, I would do anything that’s necessary in a heart beat”. Including becoming a vegetarian with baby steps of course. Just what my friend did. Of course, it would be hard in the beginning, but after while you get used to it. And yes, diet is important in my life as well. Don’t think I’m a crazy meat eater. My diet includes not eating meat few days a week at all. Afterall it’s your most precious health.
I truly believe that taking steps, even little by little is the way to see the change. It can be too much to adjust to if it's too dramatic all at once but you are right, by cutting down bit by bit and even going vegetarian first, it all helps with the adjustment to take it in your own time.
Some people that come to me go vegan right away and are successful and that's wonderful but there is usually a powerful reason that drives them.
Other people take it in tiny steps and ease into their comfort zones. No way is wrong, every body's body is different and it's just figuring out the best way for them :)
If you find your why you'll be able to make the changes you want :)
You're not a vegan. You eat plant based food. Veganism is beyond being just merely a diet.
Hey there @alphashay! Don't you go being so hasty! I don't think we know each other for you to be making such an inaccurate assertion about me just yet!
I could go onto defend my 'vegan' label in a plethora of ways but I don't feel it's necessary since this is clearly a misunderstanding likely steming from the fact that I was choosing to deliberately only speak to the nutritional side of veganism in this comment :) I'm going to drop my friend's recent link here to help others identify the difference between plant based and vegan it's here for anyone if you care to check it out!
In short a vegan is one who does not partake in any exploitation of animals... that is why I have chosen to identify with such a label. I am not a militant vegan and my activism is passive and with loving kindness though I have a lot of mission that goes to the cause behind the scenes of my delicious recipes here ;)
Plant based refers merely to dietary stance. Ie. Someone who does not eat animal products but may utilize animals and their byproducts in other ways such as wearing leather, visiting zoos etc. (Activities I do not condone, btw.)
Thank you for the opportunity for me to be able to share the difference with the community! It's a common misconception and it's something that should be brought up! :)
I don't think I will ever go completely to the other side. But I need to tell you that it really opened my eyes to what is available and actually how tasty Vegan can be.
There is no doubt at my age and stage that it is good for me!
I love that you're such a go-getter @bigtom13, you truly inspire me because you're so willing to try it just melts my heart and am here for you to help in anyway, always :)
You are at least partially at fault here. Or more correctly I blamed you :)
Thank you!
I think you have one little correction necessary... by 'descent' I think you meant Ascent ;) <3
Ahahahaha. I only missed it by a couple of letters??
Seems so :)
What's about meat and vegetables?
Brow raiser from the headline, past the 2nd paragraph, not only I could relate, figured I'd stay awhile. Veganism isn't bad, as much as it is really strict. Healthy would be a completely separate concern. If you have particular dietary needs, such as enriched foods for mineral deficiencies or allergies, or in an environment that has restrictions on certain products, such conservative dietary suggestions could only be reserved for those who choose to afford it.
I don't have to explain the exuberant benefits of lowering personal intake of acidic, even synthetic food products, as the common American diet consists of mainly vegetables and their by-products machine processed into various forms (i.e potatoes chips, potato fries, potato hash browns.) with varying amounts of cooking oil and saturates to preserve either it's color, flavor, or shelf life. However, there's simply far too many going hungry to waste so much food and too many houses to allow the chronically homeless to live on the streets.
By the same logic, my family is from a small Caribbean island, where there's no USDA label organic to put your minds at ease when you bolt through the produce section at your local grocers, or even necessary to reiterate fruits and vegetable products void of any artificialities. It was either building material...or natural food. Obviously, we eat one and the other would make better drywall insulation than neatly folded in sprigs under my wheat toast. Sprinkle anything with a bit of salt and spritz of lemon, it will go down with a smile. Gluten-free? You mean bread and wheat by-products? Sure, it's a bit dubious on your immune system if you're dealing with the effects of Celiacs' Disease...Aside from the horrendous amount of stabilizer agents and additional mineral content for boosting vitamin intake, you can't go wrong raising your own loaves with a bit yeast, flour, and water. Batch them out in the freezer and BOOM bread for weeks.
Living in South Florida, I understand America is of the multitude and many people move here for a better life. We benefit greatly from the cultural exchange, that our diets are among the most diverse and empowered. However, again, aside debilitating medical concerns, alls exploit is the nature of the cultivator. Responsible consumption is the aim. The future is about an accurate one, not about being perfect, so it seems best to appropriate to your own rhythm and what works for you. Harmony is the name of the game and our bodies, like dancing, do all the same.
Thank you for sharing this @adsactly!
I have actually been reading labels and shopping carefully for the last 20 years. When I was a kid, anything I ate was carefully raised and 'processed' meant that it had passed through my mom's kitchen. This really represents a late life desire to have better health. And have some fun.
vege. is one of the most nutritious food on earth and make sure you eat a vege raw, if it is cooked the vitamins will be gone and it's pointless to eat it. And also it is very important to have a protein, carbs and calcium in your plate too.
All I can say that vegetation should be adopted by everybody as it reduces cabon emmision and that is the most challenging part
I seriously tend to agree with your assessment. That is a part of my consideration.
We have to spread this further thank you
Vegan is hard but healthy
Eating non-veg foods have countless health benefits as they are excellent source of the high quality protein, healthy fat, vitamins and minerals including all the essential amino acids which body requires for important functioning.
Both non veg and veg food is important part of life.
On discovery channel they showed that when people stuck in jungle("I shouldn't be alive"), they have to eat everything near them whatever they get.
So, in this way we have to eat everything. Otherwise, it's your choice
Thank you
I am certainly not going to go full Vegan. I am going to change the balance point of my diet. It's all about the balance.
Hi @kouba01 =D I just wanted to point out something to your comment: ALL PROTEIN COMES FROM PLANTS! That's where animals first get it, so it's actually a myth that we need meat to get our protein. It's actually been proven that many plant based sources contain much higher amounts of protein because we're digesting it right from the source instead of having it come from already digested material (through an animal)
I'm going to link this in for your information :)
See a clip explaining what I'm speaking of regarding protein here!
It's only 3 minutes but it may give you some more insight into why people are choosing to go vegan ;)
Its always tough to change your life style.Whatever you are it is really difficult.Having vegetables is always helpful for people.All kinds of junc food creates problem to your health.But vegetables are always safe.Being vegan is a tough task but very helpful.Thanks for the post.
I almost hate to admit this: I bought a bunch of asparagus this week and didn't ever get it cooked. I ate them all raw as snacks during the day. Better than potato chips for sure.
Of course better than potato chips.
From 10 burgers to cooked eggplants!
@princessmewmew should be proud of you @bigtom13 Hahahah
Ahahahaha. My secrets are spreading. I am actually finding stuff that I really like.
Thanks man!
I am super proud of him @folken :) He's a great example of how anyone can make the choice to change their diet and see the success from it :)
I love your outlook on life! Thank you for this funny yet honest ramble x
It might be slightly warped, but I enjoy my life and that includes my outlook :)
Eating burger is harmful for every one.Eating vegetables always gives you what your body wants.@upvoted and resteemed
You certainly can get what you need from Vegetables. I am sure I will eat a higher percentage in my diet for the rest of my life.
It is not hard to be vega. Simply do not eat meat, fish, eggs, milkproducts. Eat beans and peanuts and B12. That is all you need.
That's all it takes. In my case, a long lifetime of habits to overcome.
Great post...Personally for me it is difficult to change my diet fundamentally..so I decided to do it step by step...for 6 months now I only eat fish meat...when I was eating dark meat(ship,cow) my stomach felt so heavy and didn't digest so well...but once I stop eating dark meat I feel better...changing your diet it is long and difficult road...but it worth it :)
Wow. Good for you. That is a great plan.
And a confession: I feel better with no red meat in my diet, too.
todo es un éxito
Feeling the same sentiment with you @adsactly. I even drink milk twice a day to somehow at least compensate the health of my body since im not eating any vegetables. Huhuhu
Feeling great challenge to digest or even chew veges.
I've always had some vegetables in my life. This is simply about allowing me to live more healthy.
This is absolutely the way to build mind, more from you boss..
Thanks a lot @adsactly for letting me know the benefit in being a vegetarian. I hope one day I might be one of those vegetarians.
Please do well to read my post about the danger in alcohol on my blog @andymandy01
Great story and Great accompanying pictures to go with it. Maintaining a healthy body weight is always a challenge for most people. Especially when injuries or illnesses are involved. Thanks for therapeutic share.
Exactly. That is exactly what this post is about. Maintaining a healthy body weight. That is what I am after!
I tried it, once, and I just have to confess to myself that it's not for me, or at least, it wasn't at that point in my life.. It lasted a whole 3 days before I admitted to myself that I missed meat and all the other good stuff that comes with a varied eating habit.
Living of greens here in Denmark is actually a lot more expensive than meat in many situations and while I'm in the Philippines it's almost impossible without an iron will (or direct distaste for meat) since there is meat everywhere at all times.
Congrats to you on your project and best wishes moving forward :)
Uhhhhh. I live in the Valley that produces 85% of the winter vegetables for North America. It's probably going to be hard for me to plead 'lack of opportunity' :) It's about making a decision for my life going forward.
Being a vegan does not necessarily mean being healthy.
I do real food - no fake meat or fake cheese options, but 70% vegan
I agree 100% Even before I started with a healthier diet plan I ate almost no processed food.
Haha I absolutely loved reading this! I was chuckling along to myself the whole way through, I was raised by a butcher, litterally! My dad had his own butcher's shop and I grew up around carcasses lol So I can empathise with the being reared from a baby on meat thing. I would love to be able to at least be a vegetarian, but it is so hard to change the habits of a lfetime! The one thing that made this even more worthwhile reading this was finding out the author is none other than @bigtom13!!! :D Great post Tom, I loved it, you made me giggle as always! ;)
For me, it's about my health. My dog helps. He insists on a 3 or 4 mile walk every single day, so he stays fit and I stay somewhat trim :) I have to admit that I dream of bacon.
Thanks for the kind words!
Nunca comere cochino pero me gusta el puerco.
Los vegetales son horribles pero disfruto de las ensaladas.
Las vacas no se deberían comer pero me encanta un bisteck.
Los pescados tampoco se comen pero me encanta el bacalao.
Lo que si no quiero comer es queso porque viene de la leche y esta mañana la tome.
My Spanish is not very good, so I translated. And laughed. I agree with you completely.
For me it's all about making the right choice more often.
Being on vegan diet is hard,but the rewards are extraordinary.
I didn't even mention that I really do feel good on this diet. I am more active and aware.
It can be hard at first, but once you begin and see how it changes your life and health, it makes you passionate to keep on living that way :)
A strange and funny experience where some people find a different way of life
Thanks. I always insist on having fun, and I hope this post reflected that.
Vegan life is so hard. Ever since I'm a kid I DON'T EAT VEGGIES, sorry but for me they are gross. Many people say that I'm skinny because I don't eat that kind of food so I tried eating them and some of them don't really have a taste. For months I tried eating vegetables but I went back to eating pure meat. Who would not eat meat anyway.
Hi @domdae! There are SO MANY great ways you can prepare veggies to make them taste delicious, you just have to be creative! I was like you, a HUGE meat eater and I would never even eat the veggies on the side of a plate if I were to get a meal at a restaurant but now after seeing the amazing health benefits and getting to make first hand so many incredible dishes and recipes that are better than any food I have ever had, I have completely changed my mind and now am on a mission to help other people receive the same amazing health benefits I got by eliminating meat from my diet :) If you're trying to eat more veg, maybe try to make them into one of the incredible vegan recipes that are posted here. The tag has all kinds of amazing meals to try :) I hope this helps you change your mind about how delicious plants can truly be! XO
Thank you, I'll probably look into the recipes and the benefits it has :)
If you browse #vegan you'll have lots of great ideas to inspire you :) Goodluck <3
Thank you mate :)
I ate meat at every meal for a lot of years. I was raised on a farm and loved eating what my family produced.
Though I don't look it now, I've been an athlete all my life. Current nutritional wisdom puts a much higher value on 'plant based' than ever.
I am happy to see, read and enjoy your post amazingly innovative. Thanks for sharing.M
Congratulations @adsactly!
Your post was mentioned in the Steemit Hit Parade in the following category:
10 Cheeseburgers a week you must of either worked in fast-food or been a student.
Was thinking about how hard it gets as you get older to lose weight, it's easy to pack it on.
I'm also a Omnivore, those Vegan recipes have been very tantalizing popping up in the Steemit feed.
Did try making one of @heart-to-heart recipes last week, it was very nice.
This was a great read, and can relate to it in many places. I'm no vegan but every month I find myself eating less meat and animal products. Thanks for sharing
Veganism is indeed ascent and not a descent.
Hi @benadam :) I agree with you and see the massive amount of movement supporting this! In terms of environment, it's necessary. Same goes for health and even spirituality. I think the world is turning onto this, it's just going to take some time to break the chains that we have to the emotional connection of tradition.
This made me laugh, I had to upvote it. I hate to say better because I don't like to compare my way (vegan) to others (non vegan) but I can say for myself that I do feel better, perform better, think better, I'm faster, stronger, smarter, healthier. So all in all, I know for myself, being vegan makes me better than I ever was before :) <3 ;)
Hi @obeyempresz, I found this comment because this article is written about me ;) I am the vegan lady convincing @bigtom13 to buy vegan burgers ;)
Listen, I am a nutritional coach, I would love and be more than willing to help you in any way I can. I deal with transitions in diet all of the time and really feel that I have a lot of experience and advice at this point that can help. You're welcome to reach out to me if this is something you're interested in. I also have a lot of vegan, delicious recipes on my blog that can start you off if you need inspiration. I believe that by having yummy options to eat, it makes it so much easier to switch and then the benefits all come in :) <3 Let me know! XO
That's no surprise to me that you say that. It's common in my clients for one person to want to lead the change while the others resist. It can be a challenge and cause you to give in and just continue with the traditional way of meals to please them but there are creative ways to get them on board.
Grocery shopping is a hugeeee step. I know it can be difficult but I actually advice people to clear out the stuff they are trying to knock out of their diets and donate it or give it to friends and family. If it's there, chances are you'll eat it.
Learning what to buy and how to prepare it takes time. If there's anything you need help with, feel free to reach out. I can help walk you through it :)
Begin by just making meals and presenting them to the family as usual....when they say "wow, that's delicious" Smile and thank them. Don't tell them they are eating "vegan" and you will be surprised I promise :) If your kidlets don't help you prepare meals yet, encourage them too...they will be proud of "their meal" and will be proud of themselves.
We don't label our diet but eat mostly plant-based with meat on Sundays. My children 5 children aged 15-8 never really noticed the change as they aren't fussy eaters. I have found some of my children opt out of meat on meat Sunday because they say they don't like the taste and texture of meat now.
My grocery bill for a family of 7 more than halved now.
I don't expect to be a complete Vegan. I do expect to live a healthier life style for the rest of my days.
I just love to eat, so it's important to me to find good tasting food that improves my health.