A whole new, delicious, world.

It's been almost a month since I've knowingly eaten anything containing any kind of dairy product. A moth of a vegan diet. In the last month I've dropped 10 lbs without really trying very hard. Of course I did yoga a few times a week and rode my bike a bit but I think it really says something about leaving that "stuff" out of your diet. I'm getting very, very close to reaching my first big weight loss goal and I really don't think I could have done it without removing meat from my diet and embracing fruits and veggies like I never have before. I no longer have the kind of relationship with food that I had, I don't use food as my only source of comfort anymore, I don't use it as a punishment of sorts. I thoroughly enjoy eating! That's the beauty of this process and the shocking part, in my opinion. In order to lose weight and be healthy you have to embrace the pure awesomeness that is amazing, healthy, and super delicious food. I'm not going to lie, my health was definitely a part of deciding to leave out the fatty meats from my daily meals. The fact that I am personally refusing to buy from and support the meat industry is a huge bonus for me. Many people probably would look at this and shake their heads and judge me for it. But that's how it happened. I'm very glad it did, too. Now nearly a month without dairy products or eggs has made it that much more incredible. Instead of craving a gross and disgustingly greasy quesadilla I find myself really wanting a handful of grapes or an apple. Being vegan or vegetarian or just a non-meat, dairy, or egg (leaving off labels is my style) person doesn't actually limit your diet in any shape or form, not even a little bit. In fact, I'm discovering things I had no idea existed (Quinoa?! What???) and venturing out from the usual meat and potatoes kind of life. My diet is far less constricted than it ever has been! I'm not missing out in any way, I feel like a whole new, delicious, world has been opened for me and I'm just beginning to explore it. I'd like to challenge any of my meat eating friends to start with a day, just one whole day of leaving out the meat from your meal plans... Then a week. Soon enough you might find yourself not even wanting to go back.