Everyone is doing it. Did you know that veganism grew over 900% last year? Can Maxim model Renee Somerfield convince you?
Celebs like Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth, Ariana Grande, Ellen, James Cameron (director of Avatar), Sia, and even Stevie Wonder have adopted a plant-based diet, acting as inspiration to the world and the growing movement as a whole! Source:
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“Becoming vegan has been one of the most positive changes I have ever made in my life. Not only for my passion for animal[s] but for my outlook, mind, body and soul. All the necessary nutrients, proteins, and amino acids for the body’s sustenance can be found in vegetables, grains, nuts and rice milk.” - Sheridyn Fisher (former Maxim model)
You all know me, (and if you don't you soon will <3) I am a huge fan of my vegan lifestyle (I wouldn't change it for the world!). I love how I feel, love how I look, love what I eat, love what I make... did I say love what I eat yet?
Becoming vegan opened up so many doors for me! I learned to love food in a new way. I began making my own and grew so much creatively from that experience. I became so obsessed with food that I started studying nutrition and coaching others soon after finishing my courses. Nothing makes me happier than when I can share and inspire others, helping them change their lives as well! You know, before changing my own diet, I was lethargic, grumpy, bitchy, lifeless and depressed... so sick that I didn't even want to get out of bed.
That being said, knowing how much positive change I was able to receive and wanting to share that, I also never push or attack others who might not feel the same way I do.
I know we are all different and I know this is a process! We all had our own upbringings, cultural programming, familial expectations and rituals... I totally get it. BUT if you're sitting around on the fence thinking "I wonder how I could TRY to go vegan this year" well, my friends, I am here for all of that!
Example:
I met a guy on the beach on NYE. He was a handsome, fit, successful young business man who lives in Canada doing the regular thing men at his age do, work, eat, go out, sleep, repeat, ya? Well, being the playful gal I am, in my red dress, spreading sprinkles of veganism everywhere I go... as we got to talking, he asked me why I was glowing "WELL OF COURSE IT'S BECAUSE I AM VEGAN", I told him! ;)
Haopy Vegan New Year! <3
That guy did not agree for one minute that taking meat off of his plate was a good idea but seeing my excitement and passion, he was intrigued and wanted me to tell him more. Look, I am not the judge of anyone's life, so I simply dared him to give it a try under my direct free coaching. (I will be hosting a contest in the next few weeks where my coaching will be up for grabs as the prize, are you excited? Stay tuned!)
So now, it's a week into January. I have had a few unofficial chats with him and one meal meet up where I chose him something to eat from the menu and on his own he's had more than half of the time without meat. He blames a lot of the other time on his friends for choosing fancy restaurants that enable him to go back to habit so he's committed to being more intentional when he gets back home.
I have him signed up for one of my fitness/nutrition plans to see if he can last a full week on my protein intake watch on a vegan diet! I am really excited about it and will keep you updated!
Now for you all!
So, if you've been with me since before I took my little vacay missing in action act, you'll know that I am usually cooking and creating up a storm of veganised delicacies to share with you! However, this year has been a little bit crazy so I have been taking kind solace in the fact that I live in vegan mecca, Bali where eating a vegan meal is never a problem.
Since I have no recently prepared recipes of my own to give to you just yet (don't worry I promise I will be getting back into it very soon once I settle!) let me share some tips that have helped me immensely on my journey to becoming plant-based.
- #1) Find YOUR cause.
Not a cause, not everyone else's cause. YOUR CAUSE. I mean what makes you want to do this? Seriously it needs to be emotional and honestly, I don't even care if your reason is because you just want to tell people on IG that you're doing it, if you're doing it, you're doing it and you're getting a high five.
However, I caution. If you're doing it for a superficial reason or as some sort of test to yourself it may not stick so if you're serious about trying to make the switch, it's got to come from a deeper level. At this point, I suggest documentaries on the topic. My favorites are "What the Health" and "Cowspiracy" both by an amazing director whom I have gotten the pleasure of hanging out with here in Bali. I strongly suggest those films. I would also try "Forks Over Knives" which was the first doco I watched on the topic! Once you give some of them a go, you might feel a little bit more push in your passions :)
IG is a great source for inspiration as well! My whole feed is just pictures of insanely delicious food and hot vegans showing it off. It helps, trust me! <3
- #2) Find a buddy!
You can get these really cute shirts on Etsy here!
Oh yes, this is just like going to the gym! We as humans LOVE to eat together so if you have someone who will eat what you're eating with you, you are already half way there. Many of my clients give up because their spouse, partner or friends end up luring them back to old eating habits. It's OK, no one is going to punish you or think poorly of you. Making a change is hard but having a strong, supportive network makes it easier and more fun!
- #3) Find the foods you already love and either veganise them yourself or get a veganised version!
(This is a veganised version of Philly Cheese Steak I made for a contest a couple of months ago- which surpassed my expectations by light years by the way! It was incredible! There are endless possibilities!)
This part was crucial to me being a food addict. When I was in my weaning off stage (the part where you're eliminating animal products from your life) I craved things that I normally don't even eat like sausage, lasagna, meatballs, meat sticks... and a whole bunch of other crazy things as my emotions stirred from the change in my lifestyle. It's a control measure. Change is hard but change is good. Power through.
In countries like Europe, Canada, Australia, USA etc finding meat substitutes is getting increasingly easier and easier to find. Leonardo DiCaprio put his foot behind the American company Beyond Meat believing plant-based to be our future.
I have been all over the world and if you look, you can always find something to eat. It's putting in the effort that will save the day. When in doubt, take to the internet!
- #4) Use Apps
Happy Cow's FB Page
I use apps like Happy Cow and Trip Advisor to find restaurants around me when I am traveling. Happy Cow is great because it gives you choices such as vegan, vegetarian and even stores to choose from then lists them in order of how far away they are from you. No excuses like there were no options... It's just not true these days!
I even use the apps (including google maps) to figure out where the restaurants are before I book a place to stay, that way I know I will be able to get the food I need!
If all else fails, I keep tons of snacks on me whenever I am traveling in case of an emergency.
PS: Airlines offer vegan meals now. You're welcome.
- #5) Don't Put Too Much Pressure On Yourself!
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I will tell you something. The first time I tried to go vegan, I only lasted for about 8 months and then I cracked and convinced myself I could eat eggs and cheese... then my naturopath told me I should try some sustainable, organic meat as well sparingly and so for the next 6 months I would dabble in all of those listed.
I was convinced I was missing something. In my mind I looked at giving up meat as a loss. That was what ended up leading to my failure.
It was my second attempt that I took more seriously, was more prepared for and that stuck and has been giving me incredible success. This time my attitude is what I am gaining: glowing skin, long, healthy hair, energy, drive, gusto, passion, happiness, love... and let me tell you, I am kind of more committed and loyal to those things than a slab of meat on my plate.
I wish I could have posted this for the holidays as I know they can be a tough time of the year with meat being the center of every table but, it's here now and I hope you find these tricks helpful! If you ever want any further advice, I am always available, just leave me a comment and if you want some recipe ideas, scroll down on my page for my original creations.
Happy vegan-uary my friends! May 2018 be the biggest year yet!
You can find out more about the world-scale "Veganuary' movement here!
XO,
Hi my dear! The veganism is the good thing for our health but some people which take the habit to eat meat, it’s difficult to change to vegan, me i can take out meat but i can’t take out fish, because it’s my favorite dish.
Have a great day.
Hi @creativewoman! I've missed you and your wonderful husband! Tell him hi for me OK? :)
I know it's hard but you were doing so well on Wednesdays! Should we start the contest again? <3
I am slowly giving up on my love of cheese, so becoming a vegan isn't to far away
I'm proud of you girl! If I was with you I could make you my nut cheese and you'd be good to go <3
Hi @heart-to-heart , my husband and I have been vegan for about 5 years now so I guess the buddy system worked well for us :-) We might not be as pretty as you in red but the glowing part is true. - I enjoyed your post very much, maybe if you are on the look out for some inspiration you can visit my husbands steemit blog - he shares his recipes daily @michelnilles
Hey @sayitloud, @michelnilles and I crossed paths at the very beginning of my signing on here! Love his shares :) Thank you for connecting us though- you certainly are right that we would have some commonalities <3
I love that you two were able to do it together and you seem to be eating wonderful meals together by his photos <3
It's lovely meeting you, I am trying to create a vegan community here and just love how many people are here to support one another =D
Thank you for replying @heart-to-heart - Steemit is very new to me and I am still finding my bearings. But I am looking forward to find out all about the vegan community here. @Michelnilles is truly a gifted chef and I am the lucky lady who reps the benefits of that :-) and it does not hurt that he manages to make them look good too haha.
Anyhow it is nice meeting you here and I am looking forward to reading more of your posts. Have a great day!
Happy to meet you too @sayitloud :) Vegans unite <3 ;)
Just so everyone knows💫being vegan is awesome🌱🌱🌱🥑🍉🍌❤️❤️❤️🙌
Couldn't agree more my friend! Vegan high five! <3 I will let you know when I start my contest back up! you seem like you'd be just the type who would want to get involved :)
Fab little guide for newbie vegans! I am currently helping to organise a series of veganuary events in my home town. These are definitely some tips I will be passing along.
Hey @bucketofsteem! Tell me about this! I just love your initiative! How can I help? :) Thanks for spreading the word! XO
Well for a start your posts are giving me lots of inspiration :-)
Veganuary (Vegan-January) is a nationwide event. Myself and a number of others organise social events for new vegans to meet "experienced" vegans. We have an active Facebook page where people can ask for advice, share recipes, post events. We can also provide a "personal vegan mentor" for people (if they want one).
Oh I LOVE IT! <3 That's amazing to hear! Keep it up! I have to get back in my kitchen and share some inspirational recipes here soon! I'll see what else I can pull out of my sleeve too :)
Totally hear you. I'm slowly making the transition over. I've been a pescatarian for 2 years now, but i'm vegan around 95% of the time. Thanks for the motivation today!
Hi @yasminep! That is awesome to hear! You know, it is all about the process and never being too hard on ourselves. You're making changes at your pace and you're doing great! I love hearing this! <3 Always here to help any way I can! You'll get there one day, in your own time, for now, be happy and feel great with how amazing you're doing! =D I bet you feel pretty good too right?
It feels amazing. Please keep your post coming. Love your content!
Yay!! Go team Vegan!! My partner and I host vegan potlucks at our house. This exposes people to vegan food in a really appealing, social, and fun way. Afterwards, we go Contra Dancing! Talk about an evening of good people, good food, good times, and good food! Health and happiness for all!
Keep up the message! Following you now!
Yay! Team Vegan unite <3 =D I love that idea! I think that if people can see the options available, it's huge for them. As a nutritionist the biggest hurdle is that people think they are going to suffer. I eat way better than I ever did before and by showing them that, it changes the dynamics and preconceived ideas ;)
That is an amazing night for sure, can I come? Where are you guys based? I love it! Thanks for sharing the vegan love- I'm happy to be able to connect, I'll follow as well <3
These are such great tips! I have been vegan for 2 years now and find these extremly helpful. Thanks for sharing, have a beautiful day ⭐️
Cute screen name, love it <3 I am more than happy to share, I love inspiring people to give it a thought. There's a large vegan family here! It's my mission to bring us together to help support and inspire one another <3 I'll follow you and hope we can have you part of our family here <3
I have been contemplating doing this for a couple years now. Going to do a week or month at some point this year to get my toe in the water. I know the benefits and I am super spiritual so it will only further that.
Just tough as a 30 year old that has always been hitting the gym and trying to keep his protein up, lol. But I have cut back dramatically and have seen amazing improvements in how I feel. Slightly worried I will lose another 30 pounds. :|
Great post @heart-to-heart!
Hey @bitdollar, if you have instagram check out some of these guys for inspiration jonvenus, dmzthompson, torre.washington, conscious_muscle and come back to me! ;)
In my experience, my spirituality increased dramatically as another benefit that I didn't even anticipate at the beginning to be honest :)
So, I was at a dinner party with some higher profile vegans at a vegan festival and they were discussing losing weight. Some of them did but it was because they weren't taking in the proper nutrients they needed. I haven't lost weight but I have a hard time gaining weight usually... with a plant based diet, I gain the muscle mass I need as long as I am still putting in the training/gym time ;) I think that's key.
Check those profiles out and let me know what you think because they sure are not lacking muscle <3
This guys are jacked! Thanks so much for recommending them to me, I will do much more research on what they are doing.
My spirituality is really the most important thing so I can't wait to get more connected with that. :)
I am forever grateful to you and will keep you posted when I get the ball rolling!!
They are really good at detailing their meals/workout plans etc. I think the vegan movement is really supportive of one another and trying to help each other reach their weight and overall fitness goals :) Happy to be able to share!
You know, I am forever grateful to you as well for giving me the opportunity to help <3 I wish you the best of luck and will hold you to the updates =D
Awesome! Sounds great! Have a fabulous day and week!
Thanks for the great post. I just began eating vegan right after Thanksgiving. Here's a post about my journey - https://steemit.com/foodphotography/@popsoz/my-journey-into-plant-based-eating
Thanks for your ideas and tips!
Hey @popspoz! Wow! I am really impressed to hear that because most people go back into their regular diets around the holidays, the fact that you changed yours after makes me as a nutritionist and coach really inspired! Thanks for sharing that and I look forward to reading your post here and seeing how you continue on =D
You sure glow! Adorable look. Stunning. I think i will try this. I really love eating healthy. I do more of fruits and sometimes in a week or more, i take meat out because i mostly take fruits and simple meals. I guess it shouldn't be hard to be without meat for long. It is going to be tough but i will get there. Thank you so much. Who wouldn't want to glow like you?
Hey @olawalium :) Thank you! To tell you the truth I had horrible skin before I changed my diet. It was rough and flaky and always had breakouts so to be to see my skin glow like this just makes me so happy every day instead of having to hide from mirrors or under layers of makeup!
It's only hard at first. I am going to be honest with you, emotions come from taking meat away for many reasons but partly because there are hormones in the meat so it can be a little bit of a ride at first feeling like you need it to make you happy. If you have meat subs, it helps SO MUCH! I used to eat veggie burgers every day to help me through.
Let me know if there's any way I can help, I would be beyond happy <3 Good luck! XO
I am glad to hear this and ofcourse i would love to get help from you every way i can. I love the way your skin turned out and the confidence it gives you. You don't only glow, you shine and it shows even in your conversation and how excited you want everyone to experience the indescribable feeling this gives you. I will surely keep a tab on your pages and message you on questions i would love you to shed light on so as to get through. You are one beautiful lady.
Oh shucks, you're making me blush <3 You are welcome to message me here, or on Discord at any time with any question you have! I am pretty bad at responding on Discord because I don't go on very much but I always try to answer my replies here even if I am a little late, I strive to respond =D
Thank you so much for noticing, you have no idea how insecure I used to be about my skin and I still am stunned at how much it has changed. When I get compliments I still have to go running to the mirror because I am telling you, my skin used to be horrid!
Sending you love and looking forward to helping in any way I can <3
"When I get compliments I still have to go running to the mirror..." i can imagine. I guess i will message you on both. Anyone which gets the first response, either here or discord wins. Hahahahaha. Thank you for being so warm and friendly. Glad i made you blush, but know that it is truly deserved. It is not really a compliment, it is reality. I enjoy the way you smile...
Hahaha likely here, I tend to get strange messages over on Discord :P
Of course, no need to thank me, I'm happy to gain a new friend :) Hope you have a wonderful day!=D
I am happy too my friend. You will see me soon again in your new post. Hahaha. 😚😘
Oh my goodness! Happy veganniversary! How incredible! We'll have to make you a vegan bday cake to celebrate <3
So nice 😄 if you want, check my channel and see my food posts 🙏💘
very niceeeeeeeeee
Interesting factoid that apart from "Veganuary" , "World Carnivore Month" is also this month. People on both sides of the spectrum doing great on, well, low processed crap diets AFAICS. So maybe instead of Veganuary and World Carnivore Month, let's just make 2018 World Wholefood Year and see what happens :-)
Hey @pibara that is interesting! I actually didn't know that but now that you mention it, I bet you it is deliberate ;) Most things are!
I totally agree with you, a Wholefood year would be amazing. A leap and bound in the direction of health for all would be a dream =D
Thanks for this! =D
Great post to help grow the vegan community :D looking forward to reading your future posts!
I am always trying to grow it! I used to run a contest before I had a little break from here, I am hoping to run it again. Am I right in assuming you're also vegan by this message? <3
Oh that's a nice idea! Just followed you so I can keep an eye out for any future contests 😁 And yep, I'm also one of those crazy animal rights activists that people tend to avoid 😅
Haha wonderful, I will keep you close then! I love people like me that other people don't understand ;) <3
Awesome post! I have been a vegan for 7 months and love it! I will share these tips to help my friends and family explore the lifestyle!
Hey @veganbunnylover Happy 7 months =D How lovely that you're going to use these to share with your friends! I hope it helps! I know it has for me <3 XO
Hey, glad that you are glowing! I really find the happy cow app useful! Greetings from a fellow vegan, CU!
I love meeting fellow vegans on here! It's one of my biggest driving forces on Steemit :) I am super happy to connect with you and am obviously a huge fan of Happy Cow :) Where are you from?
I'm from Vienna, Austria, Europe. :) We have a great vegan infrastructure here. :)