Finding the Middle
So here is my current (vegan) eating plan:
During the week I eat fairly clean, with few convenience foods, minimal sugar and oil, and perhaps one sandwich or wrap, but otherwise all whole grains. I don’t eat anything that I can’t pronounce. I do eat salsa and guacamole, though, and sometimes put a drizzle of maple syrup on my (sprouted whole grain) cereal.
On the weekends, however, I tend to go a little nuts. Amy’s Roasted Vegetable Pizza, cookies, ice cream, french fries, chips… the list goes on. One thing I have noticed is that eating too much sugar at night interferes with my sleep. I used to attribute that to caffeine alone, and since I gave that up a month or so ago, I didn’t really think much of having a cookie after dinner. Last night I couldn’t fall asleep despite being tired, woke up several times during the night, and this morning I do not feel well-rested. Lesson learned, for sure.
Here is the best part: I feel great! I recovered from a minor illness in one day, something that may have knocked me out for three or four days in the past. My skin is not completely clear, but much better. Getting rid of my weekend sugar binges would probably help, but I’m not quite ready to do that yet! I’m losing weight at a healthy rate while still enjoying everything I eat and never feeling deprived. I think I did go through a brief “detox” period marked by headaches and low energy, but now I feel clear-headed and much more “awake” than before.
I read somewhere that one should approach veganism not as a list of things “you can’t eat,” but as seeking out food that meets your values, things you choose to eat. That mindset has helped me in moments of frustration, especially when faced with the menus of formerly-favorite restaurants. After eating a plate of unevenly-steamed vegetables I could still remember that I am making a choice I am proud of. It doesn’t help to play the martyr, complaining about “nothing to eat,” when I feel more in control of my diet than ever. Although I readily admit that I have yet to face my two biggest challenges: lobster and a certain favorite dessert. Luckily, opportunities to eat either of those things are few and far between.
In a nutshell, I’m set. While I definitely move around on the spectrum of healthfulness, I don’t plan to eat animals anymore. Other aspects of veganism, notably leather, wool, and non-vegan personal care products, will take a little more time for me. Not that I plan to run out and buy a leather couch, but I have many “pre-gan” items that are still useful and too expensive to replace. It will be a slow journey, but one that I look forward to taking.
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