Earlier this year, I challenged myself to adopt a vegan diet for a month. I joined Veganuary, an annual challenge that promotes and educates about veganism and encourages a vegan lifestyle for the month of January.
It wasn’t hard to start the challenge because my diet has been vegetarian for the last 14 years. However, I was interested in exploring the vegan lifestyle to see if no meat, no dairy, or any animal-derived products would have an impact on my mental and physical health.
During my experience, I kept a journal of what I ate and how I felt to reflect on my journey. Once the challenge ended in January, I continued my newly formed habits for 60 days because I enjoyed how I felt. Now that I have been vegan for 90 days, I want to share some of the details of my journey with you.
Establishing healthier eating habits
I ate more vegetables, carbs, and healthy fats and absolutely no animal products for Veganuary. I wasn’t sure how I would fare with giving up dairy. However, I enjoyed trying different recipes and getting creative in the kitchen. Grocery shopping took me to new aisles, and I enjoyed cooking outside my comfort zone.
I stayed away from processed foods and mock meat. Occasionally, I would have a plant-based burger or grounds, but mostly, I consumed whole foods. I’ve learned some essential things about what made me feel “good,” and dairy and processed food were not one of them.
Many of the tasty recipes are a regular part of my meals. I bumped up the plant-based protein in my diet – beans, lentils, tofu, and nuts to accommodate my exercise routines. I found a green juice, Farmer’s Juice, which helped me get in more vegetables and pulled me away from anything unhealthy. Some days, I felt like I had always eaten this way; others, I had to remind myself to read the labels.
My Social Life
I realized my dietary preference would limit some of my regularly frequented restaurants. During my experience, I visited several local vegan restaurants and learned that several restaurants have vegan menu options available. My family and friends were so accommodating with my diet. They would ask beforehand what I could eat and made specially prepared dishes for me for family gatherings. My carnivorous husband joined me at a pop-up vegan food truck, Southern Fried Vegan, where I enjoyed fried chickun dipped in fire sauce topped with nacho cheeze sauce and bakun ranch over a bed of slaw and pickles.
Clearer Skin
After three weeks on a vegan diet, my skin never looked better.! I’m unsure if it is the cruelty-free, gluten-free, vegan skin products or my dietary changes, but my skin has improved since going vegan. I also have hyperpigmentation that is going away.
Better digestion and no bloating
Through the years, I have explored many options to help alleviate my digestion issues. Even with the cleanest diet, I am usually bloated at the end of the day. So, I was extremely excited when I first noticed that I wasn’t bloated with a vegan diet, even when I ate legumes.
Weight loss and energy
Losing weight wasn’t a goal of mine during the “Veganuary Challenge,” but I was thrilled to jump off the scales eight pounds lighter…without even trying! I didn’t modify my portions or cut back on food in any way. You would expect to lose two to three pounds per week on a usual diet, so I thought this was a healthy weight loss. In addition to weight loss, my energy over the last 90 days has skyrocketed. I don’t feel sluggish during the day anymore.
What’s next?
I am a work in progress. One thing is for sure: I’m determined to take better care of myself after spending the last 90 days putting the right foods into my body. I was thrilled with the positive effects of eating vegan, so I have decided to stick to a predominantly vegan diet. The best part of the experiment has been trying different foods. I don’t know if this will be a permanent or temporary switch but, for now, I feel amazing.
