Vegan Acceptance in an Omnivorous Family

A couple of weekends ago, I came down to visit my family for a few events. We drove in a on Saturday morning, and are beginning to like that better instead of driving in late on Friday nights. Once I arrived to my parents' house, mom urged me to eat some vegan brownies she had made for me. A year ago, I would have fallen over and been completely taken by surprise. Now, it's almost a normal thing!

I've now been vegan over a year and half, and while it felt slow and almost torturous in the first few weeks, I wouldn't change it for a thing. My health greatly improved, my husband and I are now feeling better, and I've really been surprised by all of the changes physically, emotionally, and mentally. I now see myself in a new light and have grown more confident in who I am as a person.

When I first went vegan, I didn't tell hardly anyone. I was met with tons of skepticism and negativity. People didn't understand why I was doing this, and I actually lost many friends over this. When people started giving me hell, I just didn't want to put up with it! I recently told this to a newly-converted vegan that I know: when you go vegan, it's like you're holding up a mirror to the other people around you. You are not doing this on purpose, but many people begin to reflect on how their eat and live and sometimes that causes some reactions projected toward you. Don't let this bring you down!

I didn't visit my hometown for nearly three months after deciding to go vegan. After seeing the reactions I was getting, I didn't want to face anyone who would make negative comments about what I was doing. I finally did visit on Mother's Day 2012, and was surrounded by all of the foods I was no longer eating, including fried chicken, pea salad (with mayo, eggs, and cheese), twice-baked potatoes (with bacon, butter, sour cream, and cheese)... you get the picture! I made a vegan tofu and spinach quiche that no one ate.

Since then, I've seen a pretty big change in my family and they are more accommodating than ever before. I received vegan cookbooks for the last Christmas, mom makes vegan treats when there's a party so I can also enjoy them, and instead of dismissing where I can eat in our small town, they now naturally choose places where I have a few options. It's been great to have that support, and now it's a no-brainer when we visit. I actually have omnivore family members request certain vegan dishes and treats, so that always makes me feel like I've made progress.

I'm sure as the years go by, it will be even easier. So to all of those out there who are struggling with people accepting your new lifestyle, fear not. Eventually, whether that be weeks, months, or years, your family and friends will accept this with open arms. It won't be easy in the beginning, but you need to focus on why you are making this change, and that your health is far more important than what anyone else thinks of you or what you're doing!

Rebooting my system with juicing

I have a confession to make. Even though I've been vegan nearly a year and half by now, I still struggle with eating the right kinds of vegan foods. It's so easy to get caught up eating the same thing or defaulting to easy meals that lack some of the great foods that I started my journey with. This past Saturday, I wasn't feeling the best, and I knew I needed a reboot. I immediately watched Hungry for Change as a refresher, and then Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead right after.

My husband soon peered over my shoulder and began watching the juicing documentary, too. He showed an interest, and I knew it would be a good time to try this out with him. The last time I had watched this was probably over two years ago. I had been working in a stressful job, and thought I would give juicing a try. I promptly bought a juicer, tried it for only a few days, then gave up after deciding it was too annoying to hear my old boss joke about it non-stop. I stored the juicer in the cabinet and recently almost sold it on Craigslist, but backed out on the deal at the last minute. I knew there was a reason I still had it!

That was before my big lifestyle change, and I probably should have gone ahead and done it anyway. Who knows what would have happened. I guess it's too late to wonder those things, so instead, I've decided to give it another shot. I'm not doing the 60-day juice-only fast like Joe Cross did in his movie, but I'll be adding it in to my diet as a supplement and sort of "snack" for the times I want to reach for a [vegan] Oreo or some chik'n nuggets. That is all fine in moderation, sure, but I need to get back to my plant-based path.

So here we are! I've done this for a couple of days now, and I have to say, it feels good. The first time I did this, I found that the veggie juices I was making were somewhat tougher to swallow. The fruits are obviously easier to handle since they have a bit of sweetness to them naturally. As I type, I'm sipping on what was a carton of strawberries and two handfuls of honeydew melon. This is seriously the best combination I have found yet.

Check out the trailer for Joe's film, Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead [available for streaming on Netflix] below. It's a must-see for anyone looking to reboot or someone facing some serious health issues. I know it sounds totally weird to juice, and I can confess that I thought the same exact thing, but there are some crazy awesome benefits, so why not give it a try?

One carton of strawberries

One and a half cucumbers

One carton of strawberries and one handful honeydew melon

Honeydew melon & strawberries combo -- the best by far!

Eating Plant-Based to Reverse Obesity Worldwide

It's no secret that we, as in most countries, have a problem with weight. Heck, even I was carrying around some extra pounds, and I didn't even realize it until a doctor's appointment. I used to tell myself that their scale was off by 10 lbs., but after weighing myself at home that night, it was quite a blow to my self-esteem. Call it "letting yourself go" or just not caring anymore, but if you took a look at your plate, you may find the answer to this crisis. It's quite a big problem (no pun intended), but there's a solution.

Eating plant-based is a great way to shed some weight, and I'm proud to be living proof of that. Several of my friends have dropped a few pounds, and you can, too. I know there are people out there who say "everything in moderation" and to just cut portion sizes, but plant-based eating requires no extra work other than cooking up some healthy meals. It's not difficult, although it may be mentally challenging, and it's great for you waistline, cholesterol, blood pressure, and many other chronic illnesses that no doubt are paired with obesity. Check out my Vegan Resources page to start on a path to better health to either prevent or reverse weight gain.

The Eight Stages of Veganism

There are many stages to becoming vegan, and I've personally discovered at least eight of those in my own journey to better health. Whether you're screaming about animal rights at the top of your lungs or disgusted by the state of animal slaughterhouses in the U.S., there are plenty of phases throughout your personal path to veganism. I embraced some of the stages and completely fumbled my way through a few, as well. Learn from your own experiences, and feel free to nod your head in solidarity at some of the things we probably had in common.

Stage One: Denial
After the first time that I watched Forks Over Knives, there was definitely some skepticism in my mind. How could eating animals be bad for your health?! It started to make sense when I realized that many of the people I knew growing up were now sick and dealing with some health issues including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and weight gain. With more research, you begin to realize that the decision to pass up animal products could be a great thing for you, your family, your environment, and for the overall improvement of your mental, emotional, and physical health.

Stage Two: Utter disgust with animal products
Once you make the decision to go plant-based or vegan, you then want to rid your entire life of all forms of animal products, including the strips of bacon in your refrigerator, the tub of butter, the carton of eggs, and every other processed animal products that is lurking in your pantry. In one fell swoop, I cleared out my pantry completely and had to retrain myself for how to shop. Luckily, it's now easier than ever to run into the store since I'm skipping most of the aisles I used to frequent.

Stage Three: Becoming the annoying evangelical vegan
With the new information I then had, it was only natural to inform everyone I came in contact with during those first few months of how horrible their diet was and why everyone should become vegan. While I tried to sit by quietly as people ate their food, many were curious and asked for my opinion on several animal products. I learned that being abrasive and forward about the food choices in front of others wasn't really the best route to try when discussing why I'm vegan. Hint: lead by example!

Stage Four: Researching animal rights and evolving into an ethical vegan
Early on in my journey, I picked up Skinny Bitch and was horrified by the chapter that described interviews with the workers from slaughterhouses. What we can't see can't hurt us, but it's turning the blind eye that really takes the guilt out of the equation. Even I couldn't get more than halfway through Earthlings before I almost cried and was nauseous all at the same time. Waking up to this was truly great for me to bring more peace into my life with my own decisions and beliefs.

Stage Five: Accepting that not everyone will go vegan
While omnivores offer to eat my share of meat for me during dinner, I have come to a conclusion that I can't convert everyone. There are other vegans out there who will say something anytime there is an opportunity to voice their opinion on someone else's dinner choice, but I am not one of those people. I am doing this for me, but know that I can't force change on anyone. Heck, I've even tried to change my mother's eating habits to help her reverse her diabetes, but that is just not going to work unless the other person is open to change and ready to make those decisions for themselves. My energy is better used elsewhere.


Stage Six: Settling in to what veganism means to you
After you've accepted that things will be the way they are, you start to realize that your journey may have had some unexpected twists and turns. In the beginning, people would ask me if I cared about animal rights and I bluntly said, "No!" I would say, "I don't care about the cows or chickens; I'm doing this for my health!" Then, I started to do the research and found that yes, I did care about the animals. And that's okay! You don't have to know where your journey will take you, and some will end up on different paths, but each journey will happen on its own, without being forced upon you by others.

Stage Seven: Sharing only when asked

I've found great success in bringing in some yummy baked goods or treats to co-workers, family, and friends rather than trying to scream about animal rights to anyone who will listen. Many people are genuinely curious, and it's my duty to give honest, full answers and not skirt around the issues. I plainly state why I went vegan (dropped 80 points in my cholesterol, lost 30+ lbs. in six months, and gained back some self-confidence). What I'm doing is personally challenging because it's not the mainstream way of thinking (yet!). 

Stage Eight: Becoming your own person

I'm finally settling in to the final stage of veganism, which is finding myself as a person. This month I turned 26, and with that bump into the late 20's age bracket, I realized that I'm starting to grow up. I'm not who I was ten years ago and I finally feel like I've found myself, no matter how cliché that may sound. There are so many things that I've learned throughout this journey, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Things can't be unlearned, and I won't revert back to my old diet. Being surrounded by people who accept you is key, so be sure to find those people to help you stay strong in this lifestyle!

Which stage are you in? Let me hear about it below, and tell me which stage you've found the most difficult.

New Focus on The Blog & Why It's Changed

A few months ago, I had been taking a couple of extended breaks from The Little Red Journal. I've been quite busy moving, switching jobs, and trying to settle in to these adjustments. That's not my excuse, though. I was getting a little burned out on writing about veganism. I turned to my husband and said, "You know, I feel like I know everything I could possibly want to know about being vegan." I think there was a slight sigh of relief from him, and he probably knew that I wouldn't be asking him to watch yet another vegan documentary.

I wrote a blog post where I expressed this burned out feeling and tossed together all 45 posts up to the point that dealt with my journey into veganism. After writing that, I felt better, and realized that although being vegan is now a huge part of my life, it's definitely led me into another direction that I never really expected it to. After nine months as a vegan, I started to think about about other ways I could improve my life. I watched Adam Baker's TED talk and decided that we should pay off the remaining student loan debt that we have.

Despite having no experience at all with budgeting, I set to work creating one with the help of Mint.com. This was something that I was really staring to care deeply about. Instead of shrugging off a purchase as an "I deserve it" impulse buy, I began to really stop and think, "Do I need this?!" I found a love for minimalism and donated even more than usual to help purge some unnecessary items from our live. Then I really started getting serious about the finances. We've paid $1,000 every month since January on the student loans and are on track to be out of debt in June 2014.

If you're a regular reader (and I thank you for that!), then you're probably thinking, "I knew all of this!" If you're new, welcome, and I'd like to let you know that this has all impacted me, as well as this blog, heavily. The Little Red Journal began as a place where I could write freely and serve as a virtual diary of sorts about my life. I used it whenever I had the time, and in the beginning, I was posting sporadically. Once I went vegan, it was a place for me to seek refuge when many people were not supportive of what I was doing. There were plenty who were behind me since day one, and if you're reading this, you're probably one of them.

My focus has since shifted, and I want to talk about a few topics seriously, and without reservation. Obviously, I will still talk about veganism, as I am passionate about this and know that this is a great place to share all of my info here. I'd also like to talk about my financial goals and minimalism efforts here. An important thing that I've learned over the last year or two is that I don't have to live by anyone else's script, and it's time to create my own. I have no interest in living the life I had always dreamed about and now realize that I'm heading onto another path. I hope you all will continue to take interest in this new direction of The Little Red Journal, and I'm more than excited to share all of these new adventures with you.

The Song That Kept Me Moving During Workouts

Early on in my journey to veganism, I knew that I needed to incorporate exercise into my new lifestyle. For the first month of going vegan, I only focused on the food. Once I felt comfortable with the food that I was eating, then I knew I had to take the next step and start working out. I had seen a commercial with this song playing as a woman climbed to the the top of some rocks she was climbing on. It really resonated with me and I added it to my workout playlist.

My new exercise routine included using the Zombies, Run! app as a way to spice up my workout. Just as the song was approaching the chorus, I had a pack of zombies trailing me and the app told me to RUN. I hadn't worked out in... well, ever. The first month of veganism had been stressful, overwhelming, and I didn't realize how much I was holding in until I ran at that moment. My husband and dog were far behind me as I blazed past them and kept running until the song finished.

I am not trying to be dramatic at all, but tears streamed down my face as I ran. The journey had just begun and if I was able to look back and give myself advice on that day, it would simply be: keep going. Not running per se, but going on the path that I was. I had to encourage myself every day and this song really just stuck with me and played every time I exercised. It's been too long since I exercised and I am lucky that by eating a vegan diet, I have been able to shed 35 lbs., most of which was lost long after I stopped exercising regularly.

This is clearly a testament to the amazing benefits of my diet, but this song truly inspired me to keep doing, just a little further, each time I stepped out onto the hiking trail in the Greenbelt or onto the treadmill in my gym. We'll be moving to another apartment complex in less than a couple months, but I will make more time to visit the gym that will be less than a quarter of a mile away. Enjoy the video below and let me know which songs inspire you during your workout!

Herbie of The Week on Happy Herbivore

Many months ago a coworker told me that she nominated me to be Happy Herbivore's "Herbie of The Week." Lindsay Nixon, the chef behind Happy Herbivore and my absolute favorite resource for all things plant-based, told my coworker that I should email her myself. I typed up my story, emailed her, and months passed until one day I received an email that said I would be the Herbie of The Week on her blog. You can't even begin to imagine my excitement when I found out. There may have been a happy dance involved and loud squealing.

I am honored to be featured on Happy Herbivore. She has been an amazing role model for my transition and has always been super sweet and retweeting any of my tweets that mentioned her and the recipes in her cookbooks. I own all three cookbooks and even reviewed one of them. They were a vital tool for our lifestyle that Kendan and I use frequently to quickly whip up some healthy, plant-based meals. I couldn't say enough nice things about her personally and professionally, but I am super psyched to be on her blog today!

Check out my post here and peruse her site, which is a great source for recipe inspiration or meal plans.

Vegan Diet 101: The First Year as a Vegan

I am celebrating my one year anniversary of being vegan today and I can't help but think about how far I have come. It hasn't been a perfect journey. There have definitely been some crazy moments when I doubted myself and the plant-based lifestyle, but it has been a rewarding and challenging year. I received mixed reactions initially and I didn't deal with those in the best way, either. I was either defensive or trying to convert everyone into vegans right on the spot. I learned that isn't really the way it works. You can't control anyone's life or diet except for your own. I've really learned this the hard way and now I am proudly sharing my story with all of you.

The first few days and weeks were rough, but here's a quick recap to show you what pushed me to change, how I did it, and how people reacted.

Day 1 - February 12th, 2012
I went to a birthday party for the little girl that I babysit every week. She had turned three and I took a photo with her (see my "before" shot in the link to the left). I was surprised by the way that photo turned out ("That can't be me!"), but I shrugged it off. On the way home, it started to sleet a little bit and I called my husband to see what he wanted from Whataburger. I opted for the A-1 Thick and Hearty. Once I got home, I unwrapped it and gazed at the smashed and messy burger on my plate. It was dripping with sauces, had strips of bacon and a melted piece of cheese on a couple of patties. I set it down after eating half of it and literally felt sick to my stomach. This was the first wake up call in the event that changed my life forever.

Day 2 - February 13th, 2012
I had been dreading this day since I knew it was my yearly appointment at my gynecologist. As I weighed in and they moved the bar over a couple of times on the scale, I frowned as she measured me at 155 lbs. I had gained 35 lbs. since high school and in those seven years, the weight slowly added on. I came home that night and watched Forks Over Knives for the second time in a few months. This time it would stick with me and I knew I needed to make the change. I finished the movie, walked into my pantry, and then proceeded to purge it of all the processed and unhealthy foods. We nearly had nothing left in the apartment once I was finished. I left the cow's milk, cheese, butter, bacon, and meats in the freezer since I didn't want to push my husband into this lifestyle. (Luckily he joined me and is a HUGE factor in my success!)

Day 3 - February 14th, 2012
Although this is probably the first official day/meal I had to consume that was vegan, I count the day prior when I had my awakening as my true anniversary date. As I left the apartment that day, I pulled up to the gate and the staff were giving everyone a doughnut and carnation. I grabbed the doughnut and set it on a coworker's desk who I knew would love it. I literally laughed as they gave it to me, since they had no clue what I had decided the night before. That drive to work with the doughnut sitting beside me was probably the toughest ride I have ever had. I kept quiet at work about my decision for fear of how my coworkers would react.

Weeks 2-16 (Mid-February to Mid-June)
After a while, I started to share with close friends and family that I had been avoiding animal products for the last couple of weeks. There were mixed reactions. Here's my favorites (can you smell the sarcasm?):

• You'll be malnourished!
• You won't get all of the nutrients you need by cutting out meat!
• You don't have to cut out animal products. You just need to eat things in moderation!
• Why would you do that?
• Where will you get your protein?
• What can you eat on your diet? 
• Why are you on a diet? (It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change!)
• That sounds really dangerous. You shouldn't do that!
• This is fine for now, but when you get ready to have kids, you have to eat meat!
• When are you through with your diet?
• Are you still on your diet?
• I heard you're on a diet.

Weeks 17-52 (Mid-June to February 2013)

Once I received my bloodwork proving that my health was dramatically better than before, people started to notice I looked different. By this point in my journey, I had gained the support of many family members, friends, and coworkers, all of which were invaluable and vital to my success. I had lost nearly 20 lbs. by June and was finally feeling comfortable with my new lifestyle. The months after were amazing... I continued to improve my levels, dropped another 15 lbs., and started to inspire others with my journey. I also really began to start blogging here on The Little Red Journal about my changes. Although there were naysayers, I knew my life was starting to improve and didn't care to look back. This experience has been life-changing and it's shown me a path to more happiness, fulfillment, and provided me with a sense of direction.

Thanks to all of you who have joined in, stood on the sidelines, or cheered me on from afar. You've all witnessed something that I never thought was possible: I've regained my health, passion for writing, and above all, a sense of accomplishment. 

Are you interested in taking the vegan plunge? I'm here to help and can't wait to discuss it with you. Tweet @LittleRedJrnl, Facebook me at The Little Red Journal's fan page, or email me by clicking the envelope at the top of the right sidebar. 

Maxed Out on Veganism Info

I looked at my husband a few weeks ago and said, "I kind of feel like I know everything there is to know about veganism." He nodded and I could see he also had probably hit his limit of what he cared to know (and not know) about the subject. With that said, I will still be posting about veganism, but I don't know how much more. There are so many amazing resources out there (check my Plant-Based Resources page) and I feel like this blog was documenting my journey more than anything else.

Please check my recipe section often, as I am now coaxing Kendan to document his recipes. I've been crazy busy with life in general and he has graciously been taking the reins with the cooking. This started as my second version of my Little Red Journal and will forever be a place where I document my life. As I helped a new friend (Angel, who is also a blogger!) transition into a plant-based diet, she mentioned that my blog was full of info on veganism. She also praised my work so far and said if I never wrote another post, she would have more than enough info. (Thank you, Angel!)

I am NOT going to stop writing about veganism. This journey has definitely changed my life. However, now that I have "conquered" this challenge, I am focusing on other important aspects of my life. I'm quickly approaching my one-year veganniversary (lame term, I know!) and I am so proud of where I am. To date, I have lost 35 lbs., restored my health and feel fantastic. I never thought I would be able to do this, resist the urge to eat animal products or even stick with it. I'm now focusing on our financial goals and have been heavily immersed in a minimalist lifestyle.

With all of these changes, there has been some realizations that I have come to and found myself taking a hiatus from the vegan topic and blog as a whole. Being a vegan is a huge part of who I am now and I wouldn't change that for anything. I want all of you to know that I deeply appreciate all of your support and encouragement. My readers have been a great source of comfort and the visitors that I receive on a daily basis reminds me that you all care and are interested in learning more! Below is a full list of my vegan-related posts (up to now) in case you are interested to learn more about my journey. I'll continue to post, but am not sure what my topics will be in the near future. Enjoy!

UPDATE: Adding more posts every week!

An Omnivore's Guide to Eating Plant-Based
Rip Esselstyn's My Beef With Meat + Recipes
Virtual Vegan Potluck May 2013: Guacamole Dip
Happy Herbivore Abroad Cookbook Review
The Eight Stages of Veganism
Conquering Veganism One Weak Moment At a Time
Angel's [Plant-Based] Journey to Better Health
Vegan Diet 101: The Overconsumption of Food
Adrienne's Journey to a Plant-Based Lifestyle
ATXFBA City Guide 2013: Austin’s Healthy Vegan Eats
5 Reasons Vegan Diets Fail (& How to Succeed)
Calling All Herbivores: Share Your Story!

Herbie of The Week on Happy Herbivore
Vegan Diet 101: The First Year as a Vegan
Vegan Doc: Hungry For ChangeVegan Diet 101: Naysayers Gonna Naysay

Make Health Your Priority for 2013

Top 4 Vegan Celebs of 2012

2012 in Review: Life Lessons Learned

Anatomy of a Vegan

Transitioning to Veganism: Kitchen Overhaul

Hosting a Vegan for The Holidays

Got Milk? You Don't Need It. Infographic

Top 5 Reasons Why I'm A Plant-Based Vegan

Interview with Chef AJ, author of Unprocessed

Infographic: Get Moving or Die (Sooner)

Vegan Diet 101: Where to Begin

A Visit to the Austin Zoo

Engine 2 August Potluck Dinner

Vegan Book Review: Chef AJ's Unprocessed

Results for Vegan Diet to Improve Bloodwork

Celebrating My Veganniversary With a Tattoo

Top 5 Reactions to "I'm vegan!"

5 Tips for Eating a Plant-Based Diet (Anywhere!)

Plant-Based Physician: Dr. Linda Carney

How a Vegan Celebrates a Birthday

5 Things You Didn't Know About Me

Vegan Docs: Planeat

Vegan Book Review: Kathy Freston's Veganist

Wondering About a Vegan Diet?

Engine 2 Diet: Kitchen Rescue

Cheese and Other Foods that Make Diabetes Worse

Results of Adopting a Vegan Diet: 6 Months Later!

ColinT. Campbell: Resolving the Health Care Crisis

Vegan in the NFL: Arian Foster

Vegan Docs: Forks Over Knives

5 Tips for a Healthy Vegan Diet

Vegan Starter Kit

5 Things I've learned Through Veganism

Protein in a Vegan Diet

Vegan Inspiration & Motivation

Veganism & The Environment

Metabolism Boosting Foods

When "fat free" really means 100% fat

Interview with Kendan

Heart Attack Proof

Bill Clinton on Veganism

Vegan Pizza Party!

Infographic: Veganism Debunked

Veganism in a Nutshell

Ellen Degeneres on Veganism

Animal Rights: Yet Another Reason

Ron Swanson on Vegan Bacon

Pinterest: Plant-Stong! Board

Video Breakdown: Foods That Kill

Spreading Some Knowledge

5 Vegetarian & Vegan Q's

Veg Update: Day 116

Plant Strong: Day 28

I'm not on a Diet; I'm Eating Healthy!

Vegan Doc: Hungry For Change

I'm always searching for a new and educational documentary to share and Hungry For Change really stood out to me. Available via Netflix or streaming at Documentary Lovers, this movie really took an interesting look at the current diet of many Americans and why it's making us sick. I watched this ten months after I decided to go vegan, and even now as I watch the trailer for this post, I have goosebumps just listening to it. Their tagline, "Your health is in your hands" is the absolute truth and we need to stop making excuses for ourselves.

I used to think that being young was an automatic bulletproof vest, but once I kept eating the standard American diet, this clearly wasn't the truth. The movie takes a journey through a young woman's perspective and weaves in the real truth of what the food we normally eat will do to us. Eating clean and taking care of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually really makes a huge difference and can turn your life around more effectively than a fad or crash diet. 

Many people that I know end up saying that they are on a diet, but these simply don't work long term if you return to old habits once you "completed" your diet. For a true long lasting change, you'll have to retrain your thought process and what you think food is. Once you get past the hump (usually 30 days of cravings), you will notice you are feeling amazing and it's seriously not that hard after that! You just decide to make that choice and don't look back. I only wish I had seen all of these movies sooner. But alas, you have to be ready to make this choice and jump in with both feet, because no one will be able to convince you. 

Give this movie a shot if you are tired of feeling blah and are looking for some answers to the way that you feel. There's a reason why you reach for another soda in the afternoon, the junk food after work or the quick breakfast in the morning. After you begin to nourish your body and are making the right choices, you will be surprised to see and FEEL the difference.

Watch part one of the movie below!

Looking to go vegan? Check out these related posts below!

Where to Begin

Kitchen Overhaul

5 Tips for a Healthy Vegan Diet

Pinterest Plant-Strong Board

Top 5 Reactions to "I'm Vegan"

Protein in a Vegan Diet

5 Tips for Eating a Plant-Based Diet (Anywhere)

Veganism in a Nutshell (video)

5 Things I've Learned Through Veganism

Foods That Kill

Make Health Your Priority for 2013

I always avoided New Year's Resolutions. My follow through with lifestyle changes has always been terrible in the past. After watching "Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead", I ran to the store and bought a juicer. That went well for a couple of weeks until I forgot that peaches had a pit. I tossed the whole fruit in there and nearly had a panic attack when the seed started bouncing around with the blade. I also stopped because after bringing juices to work each day, my boss was making fun of me endlessly and singing some "Juicy Juicy" song after each sip.

Then there was the time I wanted to buy a stationary bike. I hadn't been to the gym in months and this was when I started to gain some weight. I was convinced that I could place it smack dab in the middle of our living room while I played some video games or watched a movie. We really didn't have any room to actually put a stationary bike in our tiny apartment and we had a small gym at our apartment complex that I never visited. Not even once. The idea died out after looking up the prices and I steadily gained more weight.

When I decided to make my lifestyle change nearly a year ago, I didn't begin on January 1, 2012. I had laughed the idea off a month or so earlier when I watched Forks Over Knives and thought, "Wow, I get the idea, but that looks really hard." In January, a month after her diagnosis, my mom finally told me that she had Type 2 diabetes. My first thought: "Well, I must be next." Looking back, that is seriously some narrow-minded thinking and a defeatist attitude.

Resolutions are tricky. You have to want to change. There's no easy way around it and you'll need to be dedicated. Over the last year, I went vegan and almost immediately tried to convert everyone that I knew. Why did I do that?! I truly believed in the science and that it could help me restore my health (and it certainly did). Most people didn't like the fact I was trying to change them and I learned one thing: only YOU can make the changes you want to make. No one can do it for you, but you don't have to do it alone.

If you've been telling yourself you need to lose weight, lower your cholesterol, reverse your heart disease or diabetes, then it's time to take a good look at your eating habits and assess what's really going on. I know it's not easy. I wish I could stand by you, help you go to the grocery store, cook some plant-based recipes and cheer you on at the end of each day when you've resisted all the animal products you've encountered. Most people won't get it, but you're making a change for you and your health. I'm here to help, listen and guide you into plant-based success. Seriously, contact me if you need anything, and make 2013 the healthiest year you've ever had!

Looking to go vegan? Check out these related posts below!
Where to Begin
Kitchen Overhaul
5 Tips for a Healthy Vegan Diet
Pinterest Plant-Strong Board
Top 5 Reactions to "I'm Vegan"
Protein in a Vegan Diet
5 Tips for Eating a Plant-Based Diet (Anywhere)
Veganism in a Nutshell (video)
5 Things I've Learned Through Veganism
Foods That Kill

Top 4 Vegan Celebs of 2012

This was a big year of changes for me. As I made my transition into veganism, I found I was in good company! There are many vegan celebs as I soon discovered. Here are some of the celebs who took the vegan plunge this year (even if for just a little while). I know first hand that it's tough to go all out quickly, so I'm cheering on all the following people and applaud their changes! Here's to a healthy 2013.

Rosie O'Donnell | After suffering a heart attack, Rosie came home from the hospital and declared that she was changing her diet. I immediately began following her on Twitter and she soon became a huge fan of plant-based foods. Although she has clarified her diet as pescatarian, there's many benefits to cutting out as many animal products as she did! She was on Dr. Oz to discuss her heart attack and talk about how it impacted her.

Fran Drescher | As Rosie's pal, I think she may have converted after Rosie's heart attack, but nonetheless she's looking fabulous and lost 15 lbs. thanks to a vegan diet. Recently, she revealed that by giving up gluten, animal products and alcohol, her skin has improved. Check out her interview below on The Wendy Williams Show (0:50-2:32)!

Arian Foster | In November he announced he ate chicken, but he stood up for his plant-based diet when many questioned it. I'm happy he tried the lifestyle and that he challenged Texans fans and all of his followers with his new diet. I'll be the first to admit it's not easy being vegan, but we can all appreciate anyone's efforts in trying it out. Way to go Arian for giving it a shot! I have the utmost respect for him and his decisions. I enjoyed the tweets during all of it!

Michelle Pfeiffer | After seeing The Last Heart Attack, a documentary on CNN about Bill Clinton and reading Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn's book, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, Michelle turned to a vegan diet.

Looking to go vegan? Check out these related posts below! 
Where to Begin
Kitchen Overhaul
5 Tips for a Healthy Vegan Diet
Pinterest Plant-Strong Board
Top 5 Reactions to "I'm Vegan"
Protein in a Vegan Diet
5 Tips for Eating a Plant-Based Diet (Anywhere)
Veganism in a Nutshell (video)
5 Things I've Learned Through Veganism
Foods That Kill

2012 in Review: Life Lessons Learned

This past year has been a bit of a whirlwind for me. I discovered a new strength within myself, added another tattoo to celebrate my veganniversary and decluttered my life of unnecessary objects. After gaining a sense of who I really was, I recommitted myself to The Little Red Journal whole-heartedly and found my voice.

This has been my sanctuary where I document all of my little accomplishments, defeats, thoughts and dreams. The year has come to an end, and with it, a great chance to reflect on what happened, why it mattered and what I planned for 2013. The top five lessons I've learned are listed below followed by some of my my highlights for 2012! I'm looking forward to the new challenges and adventures in 2013. Who's with me?

~ Don't underestimate your passion or strength to accomplish a goal.
~ Tune out the negativity and surround yourself with those who support you.
~ Discover your passions and skills to bring more happiness to your life.
~ Simplify your life, home, social networks and relationships.
~ After reaching your goal, move on to another and conquer it.

Cutting the Clutter: The 5 C's to More Happiness

I've been cutting all sorts of things out of my life lately: excessive weight and animal products in the form of veganism, as well as clothing and unnecessary duplicates in my attempt at a more minimalist lifestyle. I've already discussed a few of the benefits that I found and some of the lessons I've learned, but here's a few more things to consider if you're feeling a little crazy lately.

Carefully consider who is part of your life. Early on in my journey to better health, there were some critics of my choices. Some of the people that were the closest in my life supported me while others flat out didn't. I feel like I've conquered all of my goals already, but there's one thing I did learn from this experience: No matter what the challenge is that you are facing, if someone does not support you, too bad. They are out, even if it's just a temporary thing. I hate to be blunt, but the last thing you need while facing a health crisis or making a lifestyle change is negativity.

Committing to every event you're invited to is overrated. Make sure you are spending your time the way you want to. I have a problem saying no to anyone, so that can quickly catch up to me if I'm not careful. Although I would love to do anything and everything that I have been asked to do, sometimes you just have to know when you need down time. Most people will understand because they are probably just as busy as you.

Cleanse your closet and kitchen of any nonessential items. I know this sounds silly, but chores suck! My husband and I despise doing dishes, so I decided to pare down to the essentials. The result? A cleaner kitchen since almost everything that gets dirty can quickly be tossed into the dishwasher. Less clothing in your closet also means you can't allow laundry to sit around. When you're out of jeans, you really have no choice but to toss them into the washer. It's forced me to stay on top of our chores and I don't have to stress as much about keeping the house clean.

Cut out the white noise in your social life. I'm sure there are people on Facebook who really don't care if I make another #vegan dish. (My husband even says OMG#VEGAN all the time just to make fun of all my posts!) I keep in touch with nearly all of our family on social networking sites and I try to keep my friends list trimmed to those who matter most to me. In college, you were the coolest kid in class if you had 400+ friends. Now in simplifying my life, I have reconsidered all of my personal connections. Better yet, permanently delete your Facebook profile and scale back on social media.

Consume less and free up more of your money for goals. No matter if you are ready to save up for a vacation or just trying to get a hold of your credit card debt, one of the best ways to accomplish these goals is to consume less. And by "consume less", I mean buy less stuff, use less stuff and live with what you have. I started to use small washcloths that I toss in with the laundry instead of using a paper towel every time I wiped my kitchen counters. I can't even remember the last time I bought a large package of paper towels!

January 2015 Update: We accomplished two of our goals by paying off $17,000 in student debt in less than 18 months and saved $16,000 in less than 7 months to purchase our first home.

In short, find ways to live simply and happily. These are a few that have worked well for my life, but I'd love to hear how you've simplified yours!

Looking to embrace a minimalist lifestyle? Check out my posts below!
Cutting the Clutter: The 5 C's to More Happiness
5 Lessons I've Learned by Decluttering
Top 5 Reasons for Cutting the Clutter
Cutting the Clutter: Kitchen Revamp
Sell your crap. Pay off your debt. Do what you love.
Embracing a Minimalist Lifestyle

Q&A with CitySprout Co-Founder Jesse Mayhew

I recently wrote a post about CitySprout, an online platform connecting local farmers and communities to bring fresh, healthy, local food to everyone, regardless of their income level. The idea intrigued me personally, because I often find myself wishing I could commit to a CSA box, but am too afraid to sign up. CitySprout sounded like the perfect middle ground for me and I wanted to learn more. I spoke with Jesse Mayhew, the co-founder of the innovative new company that's rebuilding the relationship between the farmers and their customers.

LRJ: What was the vision behind creating CitySprout?

Jesse: As our social marketplace continues to grow, so does our ability to effect positive change on an economic, environmental, and social level. The vision behind CitySprout is to help mitigate the environmental impacts associated with modern food distribution, make proper dietary nutrition available for any and all communities regardless of income level, and provide a platform to help fight the growing proliferation of food deserts.

LRJ: What do you hope to accomplish by establishing more communities?

Jesse: We strive to rebuild the lost relationship between communities and their local food producers. This change begins by empowering communities with access to healthy, locally grown food, and becomes firmly rooted when small farms and food producers have the tools to succeed. 

LRJ: What makes this different from the farmer's markets that are currently in place in Austin?

Jesse: It's our hope that the same Austin area farmers that frequent Austin's Farmer's Markets will find CitySprout to be an exciting new platform. Many farmers find CitySprout more convenient than a Farmer's market in that we take the speculation out of things; through CitySprout, farmers only need to pack up and transport what they have already sold. 

From the CitySprout member's point of view, CitySprout provides greater convenience by bringing local food directly to your community to a convenient time and location. You no longer have to travel across town, or only do your shopping on Saturday mornings (or whenever your nearest farmer's market might take place.)  

LRJ: I like that this is not so much of a commitment like joining a CSA. I love Johnson's Backyard Garden when we visit the farmer's market, but I just can't commit to a weekly CSA box. Did you envision people like me when formatting the ideas for CitySprout?

Jesse: Definitely. One of the early observations we had when creating CitySprout was that there are many people out there who would love to be supporting local agriculture and eating local food for whom CSA memberships and seasonal prepayments are simply not a financial possibility.

LRJ: How many communities are currently active elsewhere in the US?

Jesse: In addition to our communities in the Northeast, we have a number of growing business communities within the Austin Area.

LRJ: How long do you anticipate it will take before the Austin communities are up and running?

Jesse: This depends entirely on the communities. Once you start or join a community on CitySprout, you have access to a host of tools (including auto-generated email invitations, flyers, social media posts, and much more) to invite more members and help your community to grow. Depending on the enthusiasm and density of a community, this could take as little time as a week or as long a month.

If you'd like to search for your local community or create one in your area, check out their site. Have more questions? See their FAQs for more information.

About Jesse
Before coming onboard as CitySprout’s Communications Director, Jesse was Partner and Co-Founder of Brave One, a Digital Marketing and PR Agency specializing in work for sustainable and socially responsible companies. A veteran sustainability writer, thought leader, and consultant, Jesse has worked with a vast range of mission-driven companies, including Energizer, Capital One, Compass Group North America, Freeworld Media, Repair the World Apparel, Public Address System, and many more. Jesse has served as a guest editor for Sustainable Life Media. His writings on sustainability and corporate responsibility have appeared in The Washington Post, 3BL Media, Cause Marketing Forum and Sustainable Brands.

Transitioning to Veganism: Kitchen Overhaul

Once we decided to go plant-based, I knew there was no way that I could handle having any tempting foods in the house. I had just weighed in at my doctor's office at 30 lbs. more than the day I graduated high school. Things had to change and I wanted to succeed in my journey. I watched Forks Over Knives and immediately after, I walked straight into my kitchen and declared to my husband that I was going vegan.

My pantry and refrigerator was pretty much packed with non-vegan items. I had cans of beans with pork fat, junk foods out the wazoo, frozen foods and canned meals like you wouldn't believe. Luckily, our friend moved to Austin recently and didn't mind me handing over any items that I could no longer consume under a plant-based diet. Here are my tips for starting with a clean slate and make your pantry and kitchen plant-based friendly!

Clear a counter and pull out all non-vegan items. I know this sounds daunting, but you have to get into every nook and cranny. If you allow yourself a few of your favorite non-vegan items, you'll be setting yourself up for a relapse. It's best to pull out everything so you can really see what you've been consuming and how you can clear out some space for more whole grains, beans, veggies and fruits!

Junk foods are enemy numero uno. We had all kinds of little snack items that were completely processed and nowhere near healthy for us. I'm talking buttered popcorn, salmon dip, frozen pizzas and frozen dinners that I took to work. No more of that! Clear out anything with ingredients that you can't even pronounce. That's usually a good sign that it's not plant-based! Instead, you'll be eating healthier snacks, like homemade guacamole, spring rolls and spinach artichoke dip.

Donate all non-perishable items you can no longer consume. I wouldn't tell you to toss everything into the trash since that is wasteful, however there were some items that I realized I should never have been consuming, much less anyone else! I bagged up most of what we couldn't eat anymore and passed it along to a friend. You could also donate the items to a church or local food bank.

Rethink your freezer space. I always crammed meat in the freezer but despised cooking it. I guess I always had a vegan heart, but just didn't know it yet. Regardless, you need to clear out all the non-vegan items and make room for your next trip to the grocery store. Toss or give away foods such as meats, frozen dinners, pizzas, corn dogs, waffles, ice creams, etc. You'll be filling your freezer up with frozen fruits and vegetables that can come in handy for last-minute meals, smoothies and homemade vegan fruit ice cream.

Evaluate what's left. Don't worry, you've just made one of the biggest steps in your journey, which is purging the old foods from your life and discovering all of the new ones that will replace them. I know it's tough (I've been there), but now you have the opportunity to fill your kitchen with all of the grains, beans, veggies and fruits your little heart desires! Head on over to my post Vegan Diet 101: Where to Begin for a starter grocery list for some ideas on what to buy for a plant-based diet.

Looking to go vegan? Check out these related posts below!

Where to Begin

5 Tips for a Healthy Vegan Diet

Pinterest Plant-Strong Board

Top 5 Reactions to "I'm Vegan"

Protein in a Vegan Diet

5 Tips for Eating a Plant-Based Diet (Anywhere)

Veganism in a Nutshell (video)

5 Things I've Learned Through Veganism

Foods That Kill