A new beginning...one vegan bite at a time!

I know what most people think when I talk about my lifestyle...it's way to difficult & restrictive, how do I know it works for weight loss, and it sounds boring, lol! The thing is...there is so much joy in this lifestyle :) Many people have such a great experience, and usually stay on it long term! What was that you asked about weight loss?????

Here is my interview with a mainstream foodie gone VEGAN!!!

Meet Liz, mom and wife...check out her amazing transformation and her new vegan GLOW :)

Check out that smile! Glowing and happy!

What encouraged you to go Vegan?
I heard quite a bit about Vegan lifestyles and watched a documentary on Netflix called, Vegucated. I was really at my whits end with my weight and felt uncomfortable in my own skin. I gave myself a week to try it... after that I liked it so much, I gave myself another week... and another...until after 1 month I had lost almost 12lbs, and thought, okay, lets try one more month!
Do you exercise?
I do! I started doing P90X but realized it was alot of strain on my knee and back (historically, I have problems in these two areas and knew I needed to lose weight to help with this!), so my husband and I modified the program to work best for us and our schedule.
If so, Whats your favorite workout?
Cardio! I love to dance!
What non-vegan food do you miss the most?
Chicken Wings!
Did you do alot of research prior to making the transition?
The only research I did was talking with Ewa and watching the documentary Vegucated. After I decided to try it out for a week was when I really started doing more research because I was hungry and wanted to make sure I was eating the right foods.
Whats your favorite vegan meal?
Eggplant Roasted with garlic, mushrooms, onion & kale.
How long have you been on this lifestyle and can you see yourself doing it long term?
I started in March 2013, and have enjoyed every minute since. I could never see myself going back to the way I used to eat or feel before. I have no doubt this is long term for me!
What do you like and dislike about it?
Likes: The way it makes me feel. I used to feel so bloated, depressed, anxious about my weight and the food I was consuming had a huge impact on my health and wellbeing. I no longer feel this way. I feel full, energetic, and happy! I also LOVE to cook now. This was a huge bonus for me in changing to this lifestyle, I never cooked prior to going vegan, and now I love to!
Dislikes: The need to seek out vegan options when going out to eat. I think there should be more vegan and/or healthier options. I have a website that I use called "Happycow.net" that gives you a list of restaurants in the area you choose that are vegan, raw and/or  healthier options. So this is helpful! Another dislike is how much people ask me how I get my protein, essential vitamins, etc and how uneducated people are about this lifestyle. It does, however, urge me to do more research to be able to educate and feel confident in my choice!
What advice can you give to those who think this lifestyle doesn't work or is too difficult to follow?
Try it! If it doesnt work, go back to the old way. But the old way isn't working, so why not try something new? We all fall into the idea that fad diets are the way to go... We want instant results and we get frustrated when they don't stick longer than a month. This lifestyle is a change in how we think about ourselves, animals, and the planet. Its truly a compassionate lifestyle, and being good to ourselves is something we all want to do. And this is an example of doing good to your body that I take pride in. I have never been happier with the way I look, the way I feel, the way I have grown in making a choice to life a healthier, happier life. I'm a huge foodie, and I thought I had tried everything under the sun, and had NEVER tried Kale! People think Vegan eating is so closed off; when in actuality, I have eaten more of a variety of foods then I ever did before. Its worth it, and your body will thank you.