Happy World Vegan Day--So You Want To Go Vegan, Now What?

World Vegan Day is an annual event celebrated by vegans around the world every 1 November. The benefits of veganism for humans, non-human animals, and the natural environment are celebrated through activities such as setting up stalls, hosting potlucks, and planting memorial trees. The event was established in 1994 by Louise Wallis, then Chair of The Vegan Society in the United Kingdom, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the organization and the coining of the terms "vegan" and "veganism." Speaking in 2011, Louise Wallis said: "We knew the Society had been founded in November 1944, but didn’t know the exact date, so I decided to go for 1 November, partly because I liked the idea of this date coinciding with Samhain/Halloween and the Day of the Dead – traditional times for feasting and celebration, both apt and auspicious."[1]  

So, what does that mean for you?

Well, if you're vegan then I may not need to share so much, but if you're a new vegan or thinking of moving in that direction, then today may be a great day to make the commitment to a vegan lifestyle!

But where do you start, right?

I remember thinking about becoming vegan and thinking, how do I eat? where do I find information? What does this all mean? Etc, etc, etc...So, I decided today's blog would be a great segway into helpful resources in your journey if you're new and have no clue where to start!

I'll share my own journey briefly. I was a fitness competitor weighing every gram I put into my body and yes, it was animal-based products, so I wasn't born vegan.  Then in 2012, after winning my ProCard as a fitness competitor, my body and mind questioned all these decisions I made through the years.

2012--Fitness Competition & Fitness Modeling

I had achieved my goal, but my body didn't feel great eating that way and once I was off the stage and done with most modeling gigs I realized it just wasn't sustainable!  The weight packed on as I tried to eat a "normal eat-clean" diet.  I was so used to low carb and calorie restrictions, that my body was seriously confused and it just didn't feel right either. I was tired of eating the competitor diet of just chicken, tilapia, and ground turkey and broccoli all the time, so I started to look for ways to eat less meat and change my overall diet and how I looked at food.  Plus, I had three family members, including my Dad who died of cancer and thought there has to be a connection between what you eat and your risk of getting cancer.  I did a lot of research before I settled on a plant-based diet. 

By 2013, I was on my way to start to cut out meat from my diet.  I did a slow, gradual approach, which basically took me a year.  I started my journey by cutting out one animal-based product at a time--for example, I started to cut out all beef, then pork, then chicken/turkey, then fish, then dairy, and lastly, eggs.  I had some lapses over the year, but I found my slow and gradual approach worked best for me because it gave me time to adjust because eating in many ways is based on habits we have long established.  I wasn't perfect and there are still times I "mess up," because sometimes it just happened without knowing it!!  So, I share this because unfortunately many people have an "all or nothing" mentality to food, exercise, and change in general.  My tip--DON'T DO THAT! 

In 2014, I was proud to say, "I'm vegan!"   See how long it took me to get there?

Me today--Happy and Healthy!

Ok, so enough about me--let me share some resources to get you started!  I will follow up with other blog posts about documentaries, cookbooks, Youtube Channels and other resources, but this should be a good start.

Resource Websites:
Veganuary: Starter-kit
How to go Vegan: Vegan Society
How to Go Vegan: Vegan.com
10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Went Vegan/
Plant-Based Primer: The Beginner’s Guide to a Plant-Based Diet
7 Day Vegan: Transitioning to a Vegan Diet
HOW TO BE VEGAN WHEN YOU HATE VEGETABLES, ACCORDING TO KEVIN SMITH

I hope you find this information helpful and let me know if you have any other questions!  I'm always here to help you on your journey, no matter where you are!


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