Food, Friends & Family

"So...are you still vegan"? A question friends like to ask, followed by..."Well, we've been eating meat for centuries so I don't see anything wrong with it" Awesome, thanks for sharing :) I just can't imagine asking anyone..."Are you still eating meat & dairy"? Which I might just start doing...totally random too ;)

Is food the new "politics"? Is it meat-eaters vs vegans? I haven't given this much thought...even though every vegan blog, page, and forum recommends surrounding yourself with 'like-minded' people...hmmm I wonder why?? Should friends part ways and families no longer have dinner together because of our food choices? I would hope not!

In your lifetime you will make many changes, whether it's divorce, diet, exercise, religion, and even politics...because we are human and change is good and sometimes needed. I chose to be vegan not to lose friends and family, but because during THIS part of my life it is needed. I am young, healthy, active and want to stay this way for a long time. As I see more and more young people developing Cancer, Diabetes, very overweight, and taking numerous medications, I really questioned the American lifestyle.

Is NOT eating meat and dairy really that weird? I know numerous people who have dairy allergies, or don't eat meat, or only eat fish, organic only, or are gluten free, etc. So why do friends and family find the vegan diet so crazy. Maybe it makes them question their own diet and health? I think so!

What our friends and family don't understand is how we appreciate any support...which is why many of us join groups, follow other vegans, and forums. We want to feel normal, not made fun of or questioned constantly. Is it a defense mechinism? Do people behave this way because their own insecurities? I think so!

It is upsetting to be questioned all the time, or starred at while I eat, or told I am eating unhealthfully (because fruits & veggies will kill me, lol). I have never experienced so many new 'experts' in nutrition and the human diet since I've gone vegan, lol! EVERYONE is now an expert, even those living on soda, frozen dinners, and poptarts are some how more educated on diet than I am! It is crazy...I just want to eat and be happy :)

So, why not embrace your friends and family member's new lifestyle! Watch how good they feel, see how great they look, see how happy they are...these are all good things! Don't discourage them...support them! Do some research and educate yourself, get familiar with what they are doing! Skip all the jokes at dinner, or don't NOT invite them out because they don't eat the same as you (trust me, we are always prepared), don't question their health when they are HEALTHY!

Fitness, Diet, and Women vs Women

I came across a picture online which really upset me. It was everything that is wrong with the diet industry. As long as we are eating for weight, we will never be happy and ALWAYS be on a diet. Dieting leads to guilt when you "fall off", calorie restriction, bingeing, and low self-esteem. We have forgotten what food is and why it is so important. It is what fuels our bodies, keeps us strong, builds our immune system, hydrates us, and is vital to our health. So why is it that we only eat for weight? If more women would get off the "diet" train and learn to be healthy for all the right reasons it would have a huge impact on our society. Instead we pick on one another..."strong is the new skinny" "real women have curves" so on and so on. These pictures flood the internet.

This is the picture:

And more pics like this:

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Something is seriously wrong here!!!! If you are eating to be skinny you are eating for ALL the wrong reasons. Unfortunately most women who are trying to lose weight or get "healthy" have no idea how to do it. They cut calories, they obsess over some "plan" which is designed for quick weight loss, and eat lots of processed food. The sad part here...this "diet" makes you want to eat all the things you are told not to. Low calorie diets mess with your head. Processed food, dairy, and grains really make you want to eat more and more. So as you eat your yogurt for protein, your brain is now going to crave sugar, as you eat a bowl of cereal, you will crave sugar, and as you eat your protein bar...you will be hungry and craving more junk food. The cycle will continue and you will yo-yo as long as you do this. Someday if you are "lucky" you will learn to ignore the horrible noise in your head, or drink your "zero" calorie drink to silence it. Meanwhile your body is malnourished and creating a perfect environment for illness and disease.

This biggest issue here is women against women. We are told all sorts of craziness, and sadly we believe it. We so badly want certain results...which is why the diet industry makes BILLIONS off of us! When the "diet" fails we then lash out against one another. When we get muscular we pick on the "skinny" girl, probably because we still don't feel good about ourselves...

More pics:

And this one:

So this is the norm. Women trying to convince themselves, as well as the world that their "look" is the sexiest, or makes them a "real" women. So if you are naturally slim and healthy unfortunately you are not sexy or a real women. If you aren't in the gym building muscle you are no longer sexy either...and not the "new" skinny. What if you are skinny and sick all the time? Where does that put you? Or if you train so hard, you are actually hurting your body? Or over-eating due to low self-esteem...but you're curvy, so is that sexy or not? Seriously ladies!!! We have created this monster. We call each other names left and right! Anorexic, nasty, fat, gross, etc. We've all done it. Why not support each other to be HEALTHY? Is it because we have no idea what healthy is? Are we looking at magazine covers to tell us what healthy is?

What the heck is healthy? Healthy is enjoying life. Healthy is not worrying every day about your weight. Healthy is eating to nourish the body not to lose a few pounds. Healthy is motivating others and being a good example. Health is not being sick all the time. When you start living a healthy lifestyle weight is no longer an issue. You will not suffer from constant colds or flu. Healthy should be everyone's goal. Exercise is part of being healthy, it is not about gaining muscles or a 6 pack. It is just a part of being human, we need to move.

We are all "real" women, curves or no curves. We are all "sexy" and we are all "strong". What we are not is HEALTHY. So stop the madness and work on your health. Work on how you see yourself, how you fuel yourself, and how often you move!