Tag Archives: women

Vegan: Day Five

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I had to stop watching the video with Gary Yousefsky midway through. It began with a writhing mass of baby pigs who had been beaten on the ground. The descriptive image is nothing compared to what I saw. So, why did I watch it?

I took the Vegan Woman Challenge and this was part of it. I stopped because I was sick to my stomach. I don’t eat pork, but I eat beef and chicken. There were swinging cows being dumped on the ground at a kosher slaughterhouse. I understand very well why people don’t want to see this. If you have any conscience whatsoever, after having watched this video, is it possible to eat meat again without compunction?

I also understand why people don’t want to see it, but to be honest, I’m not sure I can eat meat again. I really didn’t think I’d be convinced to change my ways, but Gary Yousefsky made a good point: if you can’t watch this video because it bothers you, how can you eat meat when it’s slaughtered this way?

I don’t think I can. I’ve made the argument before that I like meat and I’m not giving it up. I just don’t know of I can get those images out off head. My heart was just sick.

 

As for eating, Nothing is much different. I don’t feel like I’m making real sacrifices and I like what I’m eating. Although I decided to try some vegan pad Thai and it was terrible, overall I’ve enjoyed eating everything I ate this week. It’s not a difficult lifestyle change for me. I don’t miss meat, although I do miss animal products like eggs and cheese. I’m truly considering a vegetarian lifestyle. I know it’s a step in a direction and maybe, on a personal note, I need some direction. I do believe that life is constructed in such a manner that we are handed opportunities at very specific points in our lives. Right now, my heart and mind is very malleable and I kind of need something to cling to. I really don’t want that something to be someone. So, with that in mind, I feel like this is the type of commitment I can feel good about and it will make me feel good, without putting a lot of myself at jeopardy.

I have a lot of thinking to do and to be honest, I’m not sure I can finish that video, even though I promised to do the challenge. It’s day five and I feel good.

 

Vegan for a Week

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After interviewing Sivan Pardo from The Vegan Woman, I decided to accept her challenge of “Going Vegan”.

I started Sunday by reviewing the challenge and making a food list. I happened to meet a girl Saturday night who had to become vegan due to health reasons. She suggested going to Whole Foods. So, I had to hunt down the closest Whole Foods to Burbank, and then decide if I should buy vegetables and fruits from somewhere else to save money.

I knew I was already going to fail on the first part of the challenge: Get rid of all animal products in your house. I live with three other people and I can’t afford to get rid of some things in the freezer. But I solemnly swear to not even look at them!

Whole Foods isn’t too far from me, but I discovered that the vegetables are very expensive. I bought some vegan treats and other vegan products like Tofurkey and Vegan cream cheese. I also bought coconut oil(I’ve seen a lot of uses on Pinterest and was intrigued) and tahini sauce. Then, I went to Albertson’s for fruits and vegetables.

Processed Food for Vegans

Stuff I would buy anyway

I woke up a little late today and didn’t feel like drinking my Herbalife protein shake, which is fantastic! It’s 200 calories and Vegan! I get all my nutrients for a meal and lose weight at the same time. But, I wanted to try out some new food. I pulled out some Lavash bread (Middle Eastern style bread, no animal products) and spread Vegan cream cheese on it with some Tofurkey slices.

Looks gross…but it actually tastes really good.

As for the rest of my meals, I’ll have a shake and cut some tomatoes with salt. I don’t anticipate that eating Vegan for a week will be terribly difficult simply because I’ve regulated my diets in very strict ways before: keeping kosher, the 17-day-diet, kosher for Passover. But, I imagine it will be difficult for me to eat out and so I will have to be prepared before I go out. Luckily, I live in Southern California and vegan options are never far away.

Task #1: Watch Forks Over Knives

The website uses this description: The feature film Forks Over Knives examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting animal-based and processed foods.

What struck me most about the synopsis, other than I definitely want to see the film because it’s about turning back life’s clock by changing what we put in our bodies, is that half of the American population could need to have their chests split open and have their heart operated upon if we continue to eat a Western diet.

I don’t eat a Western diet, which is not to say that I eat a completely plant-based diet, but chili dogs, onion rings, pulled pork and fried chicken don’t make it past the face threshold. But, I am curious to see how I will feel come next Sunday.

Day One: So far, so good.

On a side note, I won a coconut yesterday. How do I eat it?

I didn’t get very far

Naysayers

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I just got my first email from a naysayer. “Don’t create your own site – single hit sites are not the future. Tough to make money, VERY tough.”

Now I might be a little new to this particular game of blogging and podcasting, but I’m not new to the game of life. I know that there are successes and there are failures. I’ve evaluated this and thought long and hard about it. I’m committed to the path I’ve started on, but willing to change the course along the way.

I am not willing to go back.

I also can recognize the negative experience of someone else spilling over into his or her advice. I asked for advice and I appreciated the response, but I hadn’t expected someone to tell me not to do it. I guess I got used to everyone I know supporting me and saying, YES! You can do this! YES! You will succeed! YES! It’s a great idea!

This got me thinking about all the naysayers I’ve met in my past. I’ve overcome a few hurdles and there was always someone poking at me, whispering that I couldn’t do it. It wasn’t my subconscious; it was an actual living, breathing person. When I wanted to become a little league umpire, most people said I couldn’t do it. I persisted to spite them.

What was so hard about putting on some gear and watching a ball game?

I learned later that it takes a lot of skill and dedication to be good. But, it gave me skills and experience I wouldn’t trade for anything. I saw a lot of good ball games, and I learned a lot about myself. I learned to be resilient because some nine-year-olds can throw a ball so hard and fast that the catcher can’t catch it. Luckily, some part of my leg was always there to deflect the ball.

I learned to listen to my gut. Some kids can’t find the strike zone; some kids never leave it. I had about one second to decide if the pitch was a strike or a ball; sometimes it’s too close to call. So you go with your gut. Trust your instinct. In one second, I had to decide: Would I have swung?

I learned that I didn’t have to be boxed into a traditional job. I was the only female umpire in the entire county, but I owned it. I knew I was representing all women. I brushed my hair, I painted my nails and I wore make-up. I wasn’t going to be some grubby, greasy blue. I was a lady. Some people didn’t like that.

I learned not to care. Some people told me I should go back to slow-pitch softball. They had the pleasure of being tossed out of the ballpark by the only female umpire in the county.

We all have people who tell us no. They tell us we’ll fail. They tell us we’ll never be able to succeed at whatever new thing we wish to pursue.

We have to eject them. It’s our duty. They don’t belong on our playing field.

So, in the spirit of politeness, I will send this woman an email in response, thanking her for her time and that will be the end of it.

Maybe it’s tough. That’s ok, I’ve done tough things before.