Why Did You Go Vegan?

Sim

Most people still look at my vegan lifestyle as a disease, especially when I was living in Scandinavia, where a meal is not complete without some form of meats and potatoes; but I always tell them, I have already eaten more meat than I deserve in my lifetime. When I was a child, even though my family was moderately health-conscious and would feed me vegetables, I would only eat meat and starch. Pizza with sausages was always a favorite, and then they were chili con carne cheese fries and other fat-and-cholesterol-filled dishes like pasta carbonara and meatloafs. I gained so much weight over the years, not only from the heavily carnivorous eating habit, but also from a lack of regular exercise, that eventually, when I entered college, I knew I had to reconsider my diet. I hated hearing my own breathing and not being able to run down a few blocks without intense effort and pain.

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With the help of many supportive vegan friends and a vegetarian roommate in college, I finally adopted the vegan lifestyle. The process, however, was not an overnight achievement. I went through many episodes of failure and experienced a ridiculous amount of discouragement from family and friends; but because of the time and painstaking dedication involved, I am now confident that I will never revert to my old habits.

The very first step I took, since my concern was initially health-related, was lowering my fat intake. I cut down on most of the oil in my cooking and tried to avoid eating cheese and fatty meat; but this did not seem to be satisfactory enough to my weight-loss, so I decided to skip red meat. After conducting more research on nutrition and gathering advices from my vegetarian friends, I gave up poultry also. Fish was difficult because many physicians I talked to were supportive of it, but with the abundance of possibilities that my vegan friends introduced me to, I was no longer dependent on meat. Shortly after, I also gave up eggs and dairy products. Products like soybeans and kelps were just as nutritious and fun.

As of the summer of last year, I was able to eliminate all animal products from my diet. Gelatins are now replaced by agar agar. Eggs as a mixture solidifier are no longer necessary with the help of different types of starch. Of course, living in California was a great help, mainly because I could find many substitutes made from tofu and also a larger variety of fresh vegetables and fruits. Living in Scandinavia was the most difficult. Many Europeans still believe that vegetarians eat fish, let alone convincing them that vegans does not like to eat mashed potatoes flavored with bacon fat.

From my original objective of losing weight, I have now come to view my veganism as a highly spiritual lifestyle. I believe that animal fat is a toxin. It has made me unhealthy and unhappy in the past, and now that I am rid of it, I am more content with my life than I have ever been. Vegan cooking elicits my creative energy and directs it to a salutary cause. Instead of limiting my palette of ingredients, it has actually allowed me to discover the vast and interesting realm of vegetables, fruits, and grains out there.

Since I became a vegan, my heart rate has dropped significantly to a level comparable to a track athlete. This success is of course attributed to a combination of regular aerobic exercise and a healthy vegan diet. I am able to maintain my weight in proportion to my height, my cholestrol level at a minimum, and the most visually gratifying of all, a low body fat percentage.

Although my road to veganism has been a strenuous but rewarding one, I hope that my vegan adventure will not end here. I am motivated to help other people find the physical, mental, and spiritual harmony that I have uncovered. I truly believe that everyone can make sense of veganism and gain the maximum benefits from it.

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