Tag Archives | Go vegan

If I Knew Then, What I Know Now

February 6, 2013

It's Easy Being VeganGo Vegan Step-By-Step, Part 1

Being vegan is more than a diet. It’s a lifestyle. It involves changing more than dietary habits and can be overwhelming when you consider how much change it involves. Unfortunately, animal products permeate every area of our lives—from food to clothes to shoes to household cleaners to make-up and more. Just writing this makes me question how I ever made the switch, but I did and you can too.

There are many ways you could approach removing animal products from your life. For example, you could quit using all animal products “cold tofu” or choose to eliminate them step-by-step.

When I went vegan, I set a date to go vegan and gave myself two months to mentally prepare. This was in late 2004. My “go vegan” date was January 1, 2005. I had actually been preparing for 19 years. Let me explain.

Back in 1985, I learned about animal testing and factory farming from a PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) newsletter. I decided to go vegetarian, but I was a terrible vegetarian. I ate fish all the time. Yep, I’m one of those people. But, I’m also a good example of why vegans should not judge others because I did come around—eventually.

Change is hard, but when you understand how change works, it may be easier to make the changes in your life that you want to make—and stick with them. Using the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change, I will illustrate how I went vegan and then I will show you how I would do it today. I’m going to break it down for you in a step-by-step format, but first, let’s talk about change.

There are six stages in the Transtheoretical Model include:

  1. Pre-Contemplation
  2. Contemplation
  3. Preparation
  4. Action
  5. Maintenance
  6. Termination

Now let’s walk through each stage in detail.

Pre-Contemplation: The person is not ready to change and may be unaware that a change is even needed.

Example: From birth to age 17, I was unaware that using animals for food and other products was an issue. I ate meat, eggs and dairy; wore leather shoes and belts; used leather purses and wallets; and used hair products, make-up and household cleaners tested on animals. I didn’t see any problems with using these products nor was I aware that anyone else took issue with my behavior.

You may find yourself here. That’s okay. I suspect most people visiting this blog will have moved beyond pre-contemplation to at least the next stage, contemplation.

Stay tuned. Part 2 coming soon.

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Mercy For Animals’ New Commercial

October 25, 2011

Donate to Mercy For Animals today, so they can continue doing great work.
Animals are cool. Help them.

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One Year later: The Truth, Part 2

July 20, 2008

The path of change

When I look back on my path to veganism, this is how I see it.

Stage 1: Unaware, unconscious.
I was a meat eater who didn’t know why people were vegetarians. I probably just thought they didn’t like meat, and it never occurred to me that there was an alternative to eating animals.

  • Suggestion: Experiment with meat substitutes like seitan, tofu, and tempeh; dairy replacements such as soy cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream; egg-free products like veganaise; and applesauce in place of eggs for baking.

Stage 2: Awake, aware.
PETA sent a newsletter to my house when I was 17 years old. I woke up the minute I saw pictures of monkeys in cages with electrodes stuck to their heads. My heart broke for these animals. I started buying beauty products that were cruelty-free and not tested on animals.  A good first step.

 Are you aware of the horrible fate of…

Food for thought: Why are farm animals treated so poorly compared to companion animals in our culture? Why eat some animals and not others? What are you going to do about it?

Stage 3: Contemplation.
I was awake now, but not willing to make any drastic changes. I became vegetarian within a week (but not really because I continued to eat fish) and then I even went back to eating meat for a couple of years. I contemplated veganism for 19 years before I moved to the next stage.

       Going back to eating meat didn’t sit well with me (and for good reason). I became a vegetarian again and even ordered the book, Becoming Vegan by Brenda Davis. But I didn’t read the book, in fact, I sold it when I moved and kept eating vegetarian. (One step forward, two steps back.)

       One day downtown, I walked by a woman handing out, Why Vegan?, pamphlets. I took one. (Another step forward.)

       Why isn’t vegetarianism the answer?

  • Hard truth #1: In a word, dairy.  I find it hard to believe humans were the only species created to consume another species milk. Weird, huh? Dairy cows are pregnant continuously until they are no longer useful, then off to slaughter they go. Guess what happens to their male offspring – shipped off to live in a crate for their very short life before slaughtered for veal.
  • Hard truth #2: Eggs come from chickens living in tiny cages, smashed up against each other without access to sunlight and room to spread their wings — for their whole lives.
  • If you believe cage-free eggs are cruelty-free, think again. Read Behind the Myth.

       Facing the truth about dairy and eggs pushed me over the edge. I know longer wanted to be a part of animal-cruelty.

Stage 4: Planning to change, gathering up the energy/courage.
While volunteering with homeless cats and dogs, I met two other volunteers who decided to go vegan. I decided to observe and ask questions — find out what it was like, because before meeting these wonderful friends I didn’t really know any vegans. After observing them for a few months, I knew I wanted to make the change too. I re-ordered Becoming Vegan. Funny how change works!

       No longer able to live with the guilt of eating dairy and eggs, around November of 2004 I decided I would go vegan on January 1, 2005. This gave me a couple of months to figure out what I needed to do in order to be a healthy vegan. It was 19 years in the making and I finally yielded to change. I then read Becoming Vegan and Veganism in a Nutshell.

Step 5: Action, moving into the unknown.
On New Year’s Day 2005 I gave up dairy and eggs for good. I also gave up buying leather, wool, down, silk, and fur — although I never bought fur before. Check out these web sites:

Step 6: Maintenance, commitment.
The next step after making the change is maintaining the new behavior. Three-and-a-half years later, I’m still vegan. No regrets. I found my tribe, started a veggie dinner club, volunteer, created this blog, and met my boyfriend on veggiedate.com. I’m healthier than ever and happier too.

Step 7: Relapse, backsliding.
I haven’t experienced this as a vegan but I did as a vegetarian and also when I quit smoking. Talk about change! I use to smoke which is a ridiculously, unhealthy habit and eat fast food for lunch everyday. Now I’m a healthy, vegan yoga instructor who craves fruits and vegetables. I sometimes wonder who the heck I am. But I digress. 

       When you experience a relapse like I did, accept it. You slipped up. No one is perfect. Figure out what happened and get back on track as soon as you are ready and make the change again. Be determined to succeed. This goes for any change you want to make in your life. Fear not, all things are possible when willing. I’m living proof, and I don’t have any super human powers that make change easier for me then anyone else.

What you resist, persists

It really is easy being vegan, but change can be hard. I admire the vegans I know that made the change almost immediately after discovering the truth of how animals are treated in our society. They are amazing, strong and brave souls. I always keep this in mind when I am facing a difficult change because what you resist, persists. I have learned that whatever it is will hang over my head until I do something about it.

       So all of you “on-the-verge” vegans, how are you resisting this change? My only suggestion would be to consider that making the change may open doors to opportunities that would never be revealed to you otherwise. Consider the possibilities. Who knows where this journey will take you.

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One Year later: The Truth, Part 1

July 12, 2008

Wow! Time flies when you’re having fun. So I’ve been saying for over a year now (on this blog) that “It’s easy being vegan!” What I haven’t been saying is change is hard. I figure after one year it’s time to come clean.

Changing from an omnivore diet to a vegetarian diet is pretty simple. Most people are accepting of vegetarians and food is readily available almost everywhere. But going all the way — that is, vegan — can be a difficult change and most people like change as much as throwing up. I am one of those people. I am expert on resisting change. Case in point, it took me 19 years to commit to the vegan way.

There are so many reasons why people don’t go vegan as soon as they learn the horrors of animal cruelty. Some are social. Some are food-related. Some are health-related. Some are fashion-related. All are fear-based. Here is what I have learned over the years.

Change
A lot of people are afraid of what others will say. Who cares what other people say! The reason they make derogatory comments is because they are afraid that if you change, they will also have to change. See, it’s a vicious cycle… the more I become me, the more you must become you, and the more “they” must become themselves. But, isn’t this a good thing? If we all stayed the same, life would be so boring. We would all be overgrown, adult babies still sucking our thumbs. Part of being human is changing and growing — that just can’t be denied. Shouldn’t we all be living the lives we believe in anyway? Why not come out of the vegan closet and embrace who you really are?

Others don’t want to give up cheese. All vegans have heard this a million times, if not more. Instead of saying, “I could never give up cheese,” why not give up cheese and see what it’s like before you decide. Try some vegan cheese substitutes. Try soy ice cream. Try soy cream cheese and sour cream. There are excellent products on the market. You may actually feel better eating the soy products. You may enjoy improved digestion and fewer colds as well as other health benefits. Who knows what can happen. If you can’t stand it, then you can say, “I gave up cheese but was miserable. I must eat dairy cheese.” At least give it a go before you decide your fate.

There are those who don’t want to wear ugly shoes. Not all vegans buy their shoes second-hand or at Payless. Not all vegan shoes are made for hippies. Great vegan shoes come in all price ranges. The same goes for bags, purses, clothes, outerwear and so on. Check out the shopping links on the right side of this blog for terrific vegan shopping options. You will not be disappointed.

For others, health is a concern. How will I get enough protein? Will I wither away to nothing while eating just lettuce leaves? No and no. There are many medical doctors who promote a vegan diet. Go to Dr. Fuhrman’s site and you will find a wealth of information. It’s easy to be a healthy vegan if your diet consists of a wide variety of foods, and, of course, whole foods are the healthiest. Even professional athletes are discovering the health benefits of a plant-based diet. Check out this recent article on ESPN.com. Inform yourself. Read health-related web sites and books, and talk to a nutritionist. No matter what your diet preference, you are in charge of your health.

So if you are one of those people who are inspired by vegans and haven’t made the switch, perhaps you could consider what change means to you and why you are resisting this change.

to be continued…

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