I made a MASSIVE decision on Friday night, one that is going to impact me for the rest of my life. I'm telling you because it is directly related to my health, which means it will affect my blog too.
I'm giving up animal flesh. No more beef, chicken, turkey, none of it.
The crazy thing is that if you would have suggested this to me 6 months ago, I would have laughed and eaten a steak. I have always LOVED meat. The bloodier the steak, the better it was to me. And chicken is a staple in my diet, especially since I've gone healthy.
So, you may ask, what changed?
Well, I think the Universe has been conspiring against me. Or for me, depending on how you look at it. For months now, it seems everywhere I turn I see and hear pro-vegan images and statements. I have a few facebook friends who are raw vegan and always posting something thought-provoking. I've been getting the message loud and clear that meat is very difficult for the body to digest and somebody lovingly referred to it as "putrified flesh rotting in your bowels," which is a mental picture that has stuck with me. But the health reasons alone weren't enough for me. I mean, every other year, there is a new diet where they tell you to give up SOMETHING, so I try to take those kinds of messages with a grain of salt.
It was a video that finally did me in. The video below, actually:
I have always loved animals, since I was a kid. In fact, I'm kind of obsessive about my dogs, in case you haven't noticed. But I guess somewhere along the way I became removed from exactly how we get the meat we eat. Intellectually, I'd heard it before. I'd heard people talk about the poor conditions that animals are raised in, the antibiotics they pump into them. It wasn't until I saw it with my own eyes that it meant something to me. It wasn't until I saw animals strung up by their hind legs, their throats slit, entrails hanging out, still alive, as the butcher cut them into pieces. It wasn't until I saw animals squished together, walking on top of each other, sick, hurt, trying to eat each other, clubbed to death, that it really meant something to me. It wasn't until I saw their very real pain first hand that it hit me. I cried my eyes out for an hour.
One of the images that really got to me.
It disgusts me that someone would eat a dog,
but is it really that much different than eating a cow?
In India, cows are sacred, and they probably
look at us the same way as I look at the men in this photo.
Something changed inside of me in that hour. Something clicked over in my brain. I held onto my dog, imagining Lola going through that kind of pain. For the first time in my life, it hit me that these animals that we slaughter and eat are living creatures with feelings, and by eating them for dinner I contributed to all of those images in the movie I had just watched. (Well, only half watched, I couldn't even finish the movie--it was awful.) I realized I was a murderer. Maybe I wasn't the one clubbing them to death, but someone had to do it for me, didn't they? I no longer want to contribute to what I now see as heinous acts against living beings. I will never again consume animal flesh. My decision is strictly moral and ethical.
A few weeks ago, I attempted to give up meat for the health benefits (and there are MANY) but the health benefits alone were not enough for me to stick with my decision. But after seeing those images, I really don't know how I could ever eat a piece of animal flesh again. Someone asked me on Saturday if I wanted to grab a burger and I almost puked in my mouth. I feel like the smoker who suddenly quits and never picks up a cigarette again. I'm done. Just like that.
I don't really know what to label myself now. I don't really plan on labeling myself anything, as I really hate labels. I don't want to eat any animal product that contributes to the mistreatment of animals.
That being said, I live in the country, surrounded by farmers. So I will continue to eat farm fresh eggs, the ones laid by chickens that hang out in the field all day long. And if I can find a good dairy farmer, I will continue to eat cheese too. I've already given up milk because it is extremely hard for adults to digest, so that doesn't affect me. I'm undecided on fish, especially the fish my boyfriend brings home from his weekend fishing trips...
Right now, I'm studying up on the nutrition of the Meatless Way and gathering yummy recipes (even though, to be honest, most vegetarian and vegan recipes look pretty gross), but I have found some that look promising. I'll keep you updated as I go and pass my best recipes along.
For now, I'm eating a TON of fruits and veggies (way more than I'm used to), quinoa, nuts, seeds, and making sure to take my vitamins. I actually feel great, and totally satisfied, with my new way of eating. I would also like to say, I don't plan on being one of those "judgy" vegans/vegetarians/whatever the hell I am now. I won't attack you or look down on you for eating animal products. But I will throw in some education here and there. I understand it is a very personal decision, and it is one that took me months to get to.
I do encourage you to check out the videos above and below. And if I have any vegan/vegetarian readers out there, I would love to hear from you--your stories, advice, recipes, etc.!
Thank you for reading,
Mon
PS This is another eye-opening, and very graphic, video about the meat industry. I could barely look at the screen and didn't get through the first few minutes. I will NEVER eat meat again.
Time to tackle Healthy Habit #6, which is to stretch every single day! You will feel loose, limber, prep your body for your workouts and prevent injury. Between my back going out (I was a bad girl and hadn't stretched in a week, then jumped into a workout without warming up--I should know better!) and my travel planning, it has been a minute since I've posted a video. So I decided to do a quick stretch while waiting for my plane and record it for you. This is a routine I do regularly and it focuses a lot on stretching the back. It includes a lot of stretches you have probably seen before and also incorporates some yoga.
You can use this routine as a starting point, but know that every body is different, with special needs. If you have muscles that cause you aches and pains, then I encourage you to do your homework and find the stretches that will help those muscles. If a certain muscle is causing pain or is very tight, it is also good to know that working the muscles around that muscle will also help to loosen it up. Everything is connected! The same goes for opposite sides of your body. For example, if a muscle in your upper back hurts, then working out your pecs, directly opposite of that point, will help alleviate the pain.
I really want you to tackle this challenge because next week I will be challenging you to start your workouts. Stretching, like exercising, is not usually fun the first couple of weeks. It kind of hurts. But after you get over that hurdle and the discomfort is gone, both stretching and working out will feel so incredibly good to you! And if you start stretching this week, exercising next week will be that much easier.
If you have any specific questions, go ahead and ask me on my facebook or twitter and I will try to help you out! See you next week when I'm back in America!
If you don't already know, I live in beautiful Washington State. I LOVE living here. I've been all around the world and Washington, and the Pacific NW as a whole, is the most beautiful place I have found. It seems no matter where you go, there is a new trail to explore or mountain to climb. The great thing about living in Western Washington, in particular, is that you can drastically change your scenery in only a few hours! I can go to the ocean for some surfing or fishing, I can go snowboarding and skiing, I can go to the desert. And in my own backyard, I am surrounded by water and lush forests.
I didn't take full advantage of Washington until I got in shape. Now it is like I am rediscovering the place I've lived for so long. I'm rediscovering my body and what it can do. Life is what you make of it.
The one drawback to living here is the rain. Especially during the winter when we get about 6 months of gray, rainy Hell. Many of us Washingtonians get S.A.D., an appropriate acronym for Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is basically seasonal depression. My first 2 winters here were awful. By my third winter, my body had adjusted and I had learned a few tricks, but that's another blog post.
Why do we put up with it? Not only for all the reasons I mentioned in the first paragraph, but also because our summers are PERFECT. We get 3 months of the most beautiful weather you can imagine. Washington summers are a time to go to concerts at the Gorge (the best venue in the world for concerts), boating in the Puget Sound, fishing, stand up paddleboarding, camping, kayaking, going to Seattle for our games. Washington summers make up for the Washington winters. And even winter can be manageable if it snows and you spend it on the mountain snowboarding.
We are at the beginning of Spring now, which means even more rain, but now it is punctuated here and there with green grass, flowers and the occasional sunny day. The other day it was raining where I live, but I noticed a break in the clouds over yonder. So, in an attempt to escape the rain and put a smile on my dog's face (yes, pit bulls smile!), Lola and I jumped in the car and drove toward the sunshine. I had no idea where I would end up--I just followed the sun. The great thing about Washington is that no matter where you go, there is always a hidden gem to explore. Hope you enjoy the pictures and they inspire you to go on a spontaneous adventure of your own!
Lots of love, Mon
I was so surprised to find a sweet little pond at the end of the trail!
Even Lola loved my juice! She kept trying to get some! lol
Hi everyone!
I know it has been a minute since I posted. If you follow me on facebook or twitter, you know that my back went out last week and honestly, it was just too painful to sit at the computer for too long. As an added bonus, I have to say that a week without as much technology was kind of nice. :) But I am starting to feel a lot better and I'm back with a yummy juice recipe I made today!
I just bought jars to store my juice in. Jars are great because they keep your juice airtight, which will keep it fresher longer. Remember, real fresh juice is not loaded with preservatives so it will turn brown if exposed to the air for too long! Another trick is to add a lemon to any juice recipe--lemon juice is like Mother Nature's preservative!
I juiced enough to fill four 32-ounce jars. These jars are the perfect size to take with you so you can drink your juice all day long! I challenge you to wake up a little earlier and make some juice for your day. I guarantee you will feel amazing!
Lots of love, Mon
Juice Recipe
(enough for 4 jars)
7 apples
2 oranges
about 3 handfuls of baby carrots
3 pears
5 kiwis
3 stalks of celery
1 lemon
Add all of these ingredients to your juicer and enjoy!
Juicing Tips -If your juice tastes bitter, add more apples for a sweeter taste. -Add a lemon to your juice to keep it fresh longer. -Mix it up and don't be afraid to experiment with different juicing recipes! I usually just use whatever fruit and veggies I have on hand. -Costco makes it very affordable to buy enough fruits and veggies to make all of your juice! (and I did not get paid to say that! lol) -Buy jars to put your day's supply of juice in to prevent oxidation and keep it fresher longer!
Hi everyone! Healthy Habit #5 is the hardest challenge to date, but I believe it is THE MOST IMPORTANT. If you have been trying to lose weight but can't, and think you're doing everything right, this may be the reason. If you are sick, have disease, feel 'off,' or visit the doctor's office way more than you need to, you NEED to watch this video. It is time for you to give up your processed, junk, and fast foods! The high fructose corn syrup, MSG, food additives, preservatives, and hormones are killing you! Ditch the diet soda! Ditch the artificial sweeteners! They are causing your health problems, diseases, illnesses, cancers, skin conditions, allergies and more. Does it seem hard to believe? Do yourself a favor and pick up the books I've recommended below. They will educate you about the state of our food industry. The food industry is drugging you. They are tricking you into thinking cardboard tastes good! If you gave up the McDonald's for a week and then went back to it, a few things would happen: (1) You would go through withdrawals. That's what happens when you're on drugs. (2) When you eat it again, it won't taste near as good and you'll probably get sick. And (3) if you got through all of your withdrawals, and your cravings went away, as soon as you eat it again, you'll start craving it again. Drugs are a terrible thing. At 10 minutes, I know this is my longest video to date, but I wouldn't waste your time. This is important information. I also go through a lot of the GOOD CARBS that I want you to be eating. As always, I welcome you to write me with any questions you might have. I will get back to you and it brings me ridiculous amounts of joy to help. I know this one is hard, but believe that you can do this! I do. Mon
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