Short version:
I’ll sum it up in
one paragraph: I went vegan in the summer of 2011 when I found out about the health benefits of becoming vegan. Because I absolutely love cooking and trying new things,
I figured I had nothing to lose and that going vegan would be a fun adventure. It is probably the best decision that I've ever made.
Longer version of why I decided to go vegan:
I’ve had health problems pretty much since birth. They’ve never been
life-threatening, but they’ve certainly been frustrating and painful. Doctors rarely
can pinpoint the issue and are usually too quick to write a prescription. I was
diagnosed with Endometriosis and PCOS when I was 15. If any of you have either disease
or know someone who does, you know all of the frustration that comes along with
them. Needless to say, after a few years, I found a couple of doctors who knew what they were doing and who provided some relief from the Endometriosis,
but it was still very difficult to mitigate the symptoms of PCOS. I then
struggled with major anxiety issues, crazy hormonal fluctuations, painful
cysts, break outs, hair growth, weight gain, lack of energy, etc., etc. [I
know, gross - I bet you’re thinking you would’ve gone vegan as well].
❤ My siblings. (I make sure to count my blessings every minute of every day). ❤
I know, I’m going on and on about my health problems. But I’m only doing this because I know that there are a lot of others who have gone through and who are still going through what I’ve been through. I want women who have Endometriosis and PCOS to realize that going vegan can help, and I also want to let all of you know that going vegan is not nearly as difficult as it's conveyed to be. I have never been happier, had more energy, or felt better in my life. This blog is about vegan cooking, but I really just want my followers to realize that there are substantial health benefits of going vegan, and that, with a little creativity, the food is still delicious.
Most of my recipes are relatively simple. I’m sure I will add a couple more ambitious ones because they really are good, and they’re most definitely worth the extra time and energy. I love baking bread, and I am completely fascinated with all of the things that can be made from flour and yeast. Although bread recipes take a little extra time, they usually only involve a few ingredients, and they’re just so fun.
Other than that, I'm a lot like most third-year law students: over-worked, a little disenchanted, but with a small flicker of idealism left: I may still have a chance to change the world someday. ❤
[This site is a work in progress].
Thank you for sharing. I also went Vegan 2011 :) Around the hoidays so it was a little crazy learning new things. I'm still learning. Thanks for posting all the great recipes!!
ReplyDeleteLyn
That's awesome! I'm glad you like my recipes. :) Being vegan around the holidays is usually tough for me as well.
DeleteColynn thanks for sharing such an inspiring story! I also have been vegan since last January when I helped start a group (ameatfreemonth.org) encouraging people to drop meat for 30 days, or some combination of eating non factory farmed meat or even going vegan for 30 days. Our thinking was that if done for 30 days that the individual would continue anyway because they would feel so much better. I really wish I had researched this earlier in life as I am now 23, but at the same time I am quite happy that I have made the change. Stories like yours are so important in convincing people that adopting a plant-based diet is easy. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks! That is such a good idea. It's true that a majority of people who do it for a month will love it and not look back. I agree that it would have been nicer to have learned about it at an earlier age as well, but I'm happy that I've made so much progress in my health (and in my life) since going vegan. Good luck to you! I look forward to supporting a meat free month.
DeleteHi Colynn. I too went plant-based in an attempt to help with my PCOS symptoms that medications never seemed to mitigate. It is so frustrating to be prescribed drug after drug that never accomplishes anything. I was vegetarian before I was vegan for financial reasons (grad school! ugh!), but had never gone vegan because I "could never give up cheese." I know now how wrong and cliche that was, and my diet now is so much more varied and exciting than it ever was when I ate meat and dairy. I also have way more energy and am so much more active than I ever was before, which I'm sure helps even more with the PCOS. I don't encounter many others who go plant-based for PCOS-related reasons, so I'm glad I found your blog! Added your RSS feed to my reader.
ReplyDeleteHey Kristina, I'm so glad to hear that going vegan has worked for you as well! It really did change my life. I also have so much more energy now! It's almost unbelievable. I just hope that more women with PCOS and other health issues with give a plant-based diet a try like we did. It may not work for everyone, but I'm sure it could help many of those who give it a try. :)
DeleteColynn!! Deary this blog is absolutely wonderful. Truly. I cannot believe that I am just discovering this tonight! I am so impressed by your cooking and recipes and descriptions and photos... and even better that it is all extremely useful to me... and even BETTER that this is all from my ovely "golly gee maryjane" Colynn of the good old days. HUGE congrats on this blog! I cannot wait to try the Majorcan Paella and the cashew cheese (woa! so cool!) and all the rest. Like I might go to the store now and by the ingredients for your Death by Chocolate PB pie. Hehe. You rock Colynn. Let me know when you're home next. I just moved back to Pgh and would love to catch up over one of your amazing recipes.. or at least over a beer at the Lube ;)
ReplyDelete