As someone who is Nigerian and ate chicken or meat with every meal, going vegan was one of the scariest yet exciting processes I have ever decided to adopt into my life.
So one day, my sister and I decided to watch the movie ‘What the Health’ since there was so much hype around it in the media and also amongst friends. That movie shed light into my situation and how I’m practically killing myself internally and I believed it was starting to show. The movie was an inspiration, I don’t want to spoil it for those who haven’t watched it, but it had so much education, research and facts about what we eat today and how it’s really what’s causing the illnesses; from all the hormones they inject into the animals, the bacteria and pesticides in what they eat and how it transfers to our systems, how the government and key top companies makes tons of money from this meat industry and have really sabotaged the organizations who are suppose to be finding a cure or prevention. Because of what these companies do to the animal meat that we eat, it is now horrible and bad for us and it can cause cancer, diabetes and many infections and diseases. There is so much more to learn from it but I will leave that to you to watch.
After watching it, and doing tones of research, I decided to go Vegan! I needed to make major changes in my eating habits and diet. Literally the next day, I drove straight to the market to get fresh, non GMO food items.
Animal Meat doesn’t kill; it’s the chemicals released from gmo and all the hormone shots they give the animals that are killing us. Even fruits have been tampered with. Non-organic fruits are very dangerous, thats why you have to do your research and know what fruits are in season and buy organic ones.
The thought of going vegan is really scary; I mean the thought of giving up meat, chicken, dairy and anything that has traces of it. But the moment I read the great things that happen to your body after, in my head there was no going back from wanting to try it.
Educate yourself – I did a ton of research to make sure what I watched was legit information. Then did some research on what to eat, best ways to go vegan, meal plans, meal preps, what supplements to take and how to beat the cravings when it comes.
So I set out! I decided to do a test on myself. I went vegan for 2 weeks, then a month and now doing a check in to see what changes actually happen and what tweaks I would be making. The expectations are, more energy, better appetite, glowing skin, weight loss and a total body change (feeling positive).
My reality going vegan
– It wasn’t hard to start. I didn’t wait two days to eat as much meat and then start a few days later as most people say the would do before they start. I actually started the exact same day I decided to go vegan.
– I got really bad headaches for 2 days, about two weeks after I stopped eating meat. I think it was my bodies withdrawal reaction to not eating meat.
– My breakfast was the hardest to change. No eggs, no cheese, no sausages no turkey bacon. Breakfast wasn’t the same. I tell you, I ended up eating oatmeal, toast and wheat cereal with almond milk most morning.
-Vegetables are actually very filling. I ended up eating more vegetables than I have ever eaten and I tell you, I was full from eating an average size meal, just like normal.
– I didn’t lose as much weight as I thought. Probably lost a pound. This is because I think I doubled up on the carbs out of fear of being hungry. I ate more rice, more pasta, more bread. But all that has too stop, have to make it more veggies.
– I know more about what I eat. After going vegan, I started looking more at the ingredients on the back of everything.
– Finding restaurants that have vegan options are rare to find. I stopped eating out as much. So barely had dinner dates or hang outs.
– Ohh the trips to the bathroom is very frequent. It reminded me of when I did the gallon of water a day challenge. Vegetables has high water content, so if you are constipated, vegetables will be a great option to eat.
– Clearer skin. My skin started getting that nice yellow undertone. My skin looks more radiant and the glow looks like its coming from within. I was really happy about this because some people get the opposite reaction and break out instead.
– Clearer focus and concentration. It feels like my creativity boosted filled with all positive energy. I wake up feeling on top of the world and unstoppable.
– You become very gassy. So be careful where you go cos you might let one slide out.
– I experiment more in the kitchen. I try to make different variations, never before seem recipes, some that will never surface and ended up in the bin and some that were just sooooo delicious.
– Constantly educating myself on healthy habits and foods to eat.
So Far…
I have been pretty solid with my decision that I’m not even missing meat at all. I mean how can I miss something that’s really bad for me?! Its like missing a toxic ex-boyfriend, BOI BYE! I am glad I have been able to commit my mind and body to eating healthier, so far I have had cravings but none I couldn’t overcome. Once you know why you are doing it, you will have more excuses not to give in.
I do want to point out that me going vegan wasn’t because of animal cruelty (I’m sorry if this offends you), or because I am trying to lose weight, it is simply to be healthier. I have been doing a lot of research on eggs and cheese because I don’t understand how they can be so bad, I mean I know they are high in cholesterol but if you eat it not too often, it actually isn’t bad for you. Also, if you get eggs from a local farm, where they are organic, fresh, farm to table, it actually is not bad and a good source of vitamin B12.
Why are you going vegan?
– You’re four times more likely to die of cancer if you eat an animal-protein (GMO) rich diet than if you avoid animal products.
– Lack of fat (animal fat) keeps our heart healthy and significantly decrease the likelihood of getting heart disease. You are 24% less likely to have heart disease if you cut out animal meat. 24% less likely to die of heart disease
What is the best way to start?
Some people found it hard to go cold turkey but for me, after watching and reading more about it, it was so easy. It’s a state of mind and honestly, everyone should try to go cold turkey first, what’s really the worst that can happen…. you’ll slip up. Big deal! you dust it off and try again. When you are doing something for a great cause, trust me, you will be excited and motivated to do it.
How would you get protein, if you can’t eat meat?
Plant based proteins such as beans, nuts, etc. These are significantly cheaper per gram than animal based proteins. FYI
What if you start craving meat?
I think about why I’m going vegan again, and adjust my thoughts and remember health is wealth. Plant is right and meat isn’t a requirement but an unhealthy substitute.
You’ve gone vegan, now what?
I feel much healthier, mentally and physically. And I will continue to spread the importance of it, so that other people can be educated and we can all live longer lives.
What would you say to a newbie?
It’s not as tough as it sounds. Giving up meat is actually the best gift you can give to your body. Even if you can’t stick to being vegan, just try giving up red meat and then gradually drop all the other animal nasties that you eat.
If you ever thought of eating healthy, watch What the Health on Netflix for inspiration and motivation, then commit you’re mind and body to it.
So you know we are all about glowing skin here at Skin First Daily. So to really spice things up, I have created a new page, called Glow Recipes,where I will be giving you the hottest, yummiest recipes for food that aids glowing skin, of cos would be around vegan and vegetarian recipes. This will be recipes that are full of nutrients and will benefit your skin and give you that beautiful glow from within. Here’s the are some Glow Recipe that have good numbers of views already! Check it out, HERE and HERE.
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