Veganism Observations.

I guess I'm about halfway through my *mostly* vegan experiment. I definitely haven't been a gung ho vegan, especially with family visiting, but I've noticed some pretty drastic differences.

Immediately after Aoife was born, I got a gym membership. Ross and I got to talking and I told him my big goal (the one I thought would be unattainable) is to weigh 125. My more reasonable goal was 130. I am now just 2 pounds away from my BIG goal. (While I'm not posting my actual weight, I'm pretty sure y'all can do the math.)

My main purpose for doing this experiment wasn't for the scale numbers, but let me tell you, it's a big perk. There are visible differences in my body, and I'm starting to see the potential of what my body can do. And I like it. NOTE: I am training for a half marathon, and I'm sure the running and strength training are contributing factors.

I was on sleep aid, anxiety, and depression prescriptions. (Oh, the unspoken joys of motherhood.) I still take the one for depression, but I rarely take the other two. I've been falling asleep faster, sleeping better, and all around feeling a lot better. Frustrated kids don't stress me out nearly as much as before and I'm really enjoying being a mom. I'm loving singing songs over and over again to Claire and playing with these two. We've been exploring and having a blast together. My house is cleaner than usual, and with new recipes to try, I'm ENJOYING cooking for my family. It's no longer something I view as "my job", but a new found hobby.

Yesterday, I ventured off to Good Earth Natural Foods. It's a small store, but I was like a kid in a candy shop. They had vegan, whole wheat, whole grain, gluten free, super healthy cake mixes, cereals, amazingly fresh produce, and even a bulk section! As small as the store is, I could have spent all day in there. I'm excited to shop there more and find new things to try. They even had a beauty section. (It looked like fun, but I was on a mission to get coconut oil to bake cookies.)

I'm about halfway through, and I'm finding a mostly plant based diet helps me feel better. I'm not eating nearly as often as I was before, but I still pig out! I feel fuller longer, and have more energy than before. I honestly think this is a lifestyle I want to adopt beyond the 30 days. Again, not completely vegan, but mostly plant based. I'd be ok with incorporating meat into my diet, but sparingly. It's been fun discovering new recipes that don't leave me wanting. I don't feel like I'm depriving myself in any way. (Though I did have a delicious ice cream sandwich last night.) WE'll see if I still feel this way in a couple weeks!