My name is Kira and I'm a 27 year old accidental/reborn health nut.
For some history and context...
I was always a very active person. From riding horses to playing soccer and volunteering as an EMT, I kept in shape. But I started having back problems at 16 (probably from the aforementioned activities) and they escalated in my early 20's. I was devastated and it really devastated my life. My back problems cut huge chunks out of my life. And I had to replace "Let's go try this" with "I can't because of my back". That hurt the most.
For some history and context...
I was always a very active person. From riding horses to playing soccer and volunteering as an EMT, I kept in shape. But I started having back problems at 16 (probably from the aforementioned activities) and they escalated in my early 20's. I was devastated and it really devastated my life. My back problems cut huge chunks out of my life. And I had to replace "Let's go try this" with "I can't because of my back". That hurt the most.
Dropping all my athletics and adding medication made me gain about 60-70 lbs. Most of all I just wasn't happy IN my body, not just WITH my body. I am not a very vain person but my weight did affect my normally extroverted personality.
The biggest downside was how helpless I felt. I don't like feeling out of control, and I felt out of control of my body. It just wasn't a good time in my life. I was finishing university and focusing on that, and I had the misconception that losing weight would be hard, so I kind of gave up on keeping my body the way I had always known it.
So here is how my life-change was accidental:
Just over a year ago I was riding a wave of weight loss. I changed one of my medications and was living in Beirut. This city required A LOT of walking - the one exercise I could do but always underestimated. I was also eating (mostly - not including epic street food...) the now-famed "Mediterranean Diet". That was helping.
Because of an aggravation to my back I came back to the US rather unexpectedly. It was then that I decided to really take control of my diet. In an otherwise full-blown health crisis it was the ONLY thing I could control. I wanted to lose weight. I wanted to be healthy again. But I wanted to do it by not DIETING. I'm not the person you can get to just stop eating cake without a fight. Diets had never been my thing, and I never believed in them, anyway. How do you salivate over what you can't have for a few months and then go back to it? Why deprive yourself of things? In all my life experiences I've found if you want something, find a way to get it. Going vegan (with some seafood at least during the transition) was the right decision for me, and I love it, but if you still want to eat meat then find a way for it to work. I wanted to start with "everything in moderation" and then transition to "what is this really doing, and why not this instead?"
Quick Example: Who doesn't love ice cream? Who feels gross after eating ice cream? Who decided to blend up fruit and vegan chocolate and vanilla and nuts and other amazing things in a blender instead of cream-based store cartons? THIS GIRL
That's why I say I changed my LIFESTYLE. Except for small weight loss, I found that a new way to eat is really the key. And I didn't deprive myself of things, I replaced things. No, I actually added things I liked and took out things I really didn't. And I was won over in spades. I have such a better relationship with food now. I love food. I love to eat. Have you ever had vegan cake or brownies? Amazing. Will you think of them as vegan as you drool? No! When I felt stuffed and blah after eating before, I feel full and fulfilled now.
My top weight was about 230 lbs and I'm down to 145 and LOVING IT. That sounds like such a cliche, but I just feel better. And I found out that while weight loss is collective, cutting out some nasty foods will cut bulk out of some awesome areas. It was meat and dairy for me. My inherited chubby neck is almost gone, and my stomach and legs got definition with NO exercise. But my skin, my insides, my energy and my thoughts are even better than my teen years. A huge positive effect of weight loss was taking strain off my back. And happy to report that this chronic back thing is looking more manageable and less fickle. Fingers crossed and knock on wood!
Not only am I happier in my body, I'm happiest with how I got here. I didn't take pills or count calories (except to make sure I was getting all I need) or pour over food lists of what I could or couldn't have on a "diet". I won't lie, it takes a lot. It wasn't overnight and around people who eat meat and will just pick anything up at the supermarket IS HARD. But looking at myself and how I feel makes it worth it.
Something else I've started to do - and will post about - is to know what exactly I'm eating. This is as simple as reading labels. It will increase your shopping time, but I'll help. Eating something with three ingredients as opposed to 30 will make you feel better, promise. Learn the "dirty dozen" of foods that should be consumed organic, read what is actually in your food, and -yes- compare prices! I'll teach you the game.
So after reading a lot of food blogs for good vegan recipes I thought, "I can do that!" and want to share my experiences, shopping tips, and - of course - recipes from me and along the way.
So ask me any questions you'd like for specifics or any other tips or tricks.
Other than that:
ENJOY!
The biggest downside was how helpless I felt. I don't like feeling out of control, and I felt out of control of my body. It just wasn't a good time in my life. I was finishing university and focusing on that, and I had the misconception that losing weight would be hard, so I kind of gave up on keeping my body the way I had always known it.
So here is how my life-change was accidental:
Just over a year ago I was riding a wave of weight loss. I changed one of my medications and was living in Beirut. This city required A LOT of walking - the one exercise I could do but always underestimated. I was also eating (mostly - not including epic street food...) the now-famed "Mediterranean Diet". That was helping.
Because of an aggravation to my back I came back to the US rather unexpectedly. It was then that I decided to really take control of my diet. In an otherwise full-blown health crisis it was the ONLY thing I could control. I wanted to lose weight. I wanted to be healthy again. But I wanted to do it by not DIETING. I'm not the person you can get to just stop eating cake without a fight. Diets had never been my thing, and I never believed in them, anyway. How do you salivate over what you can't have for a few months and then go back to it? Why deprive yourself of things? In all my life experiences I've found if you want something, find a way to get it. Going vegan (with some seafood at least during the transition) was the right decision for me, and I love it, but if you still want to eat meat then find a way for it to work. I wanted to start with "everything in moderation" and then transition to "what is this really doing, and why not this instead?"
Quick Example: Who doesn't love ice cream? Who feels gross after eating ice cream? Who decided to blend up fruit and vegan chocolate and vanilla and nuts and other amazing things in a blender instead of cream-based store cartons? THIS GIRL
That's why I say I changed my LIFESTYLE. Except for small weight loss, I found that a new way to eat is really the key. And I didn't deprive myself of things, I replaced things. No, I actually added things I liked and took out things I really didn't. And I was won over in spades. I have such a better relationship with food now. I love food. I love to eat. Have you ever had vegan cake or brownies? Amazing. Will you think of them as vegan as you drool? No! When I felt stuffed and blah after eating before, I feel full and fulfilled now.
My top weight was about 230 lbs and I'm down to 145 and LOVING IT. That sounds like such a cliche, but I just feel better. And I found out that while weight loss is collective, cutting out some nasty foods will cut bulk out of some awesome areas. It was meat and dairy for me. My inherited chubby neck is almost gone, and my stomach and legs got definition with NO exercise. But my skin, my insides, my energy and my thoughts are even better than my teen years. A huge positive effect of weight loss was taking strain off my back. And happy to report that this chronic back thing is looking more manageable and less fickle. Fingers crossed and knock on wood!
Not only am I happier in my body, I'm happiest with how I got here. I didn't take pills or count calories (except to make sure I was getting all I need) or pour over food lists of what I could or couldn't have on a "diet". I won't lie, it takes a lot. It wasn't overnight and around people who eat meat and will just pick anything up at the supermarket IS HARD. But looking at myself and how I feel makes it worth it.
Something else I've started to do - and will post about - is to know what exactly I'm eating. This is as simple as reading labels. It will increase your shopping time, but I'll help. Eating something with three ingredients as opposed to 30 will make you feel better, promise. Learn the "dirty dozen" of foods that should be consumed organic, read what is actually in your food, and -yes- compare prices! I'll teach you the game.
So after reading a lot of food blogs for good vegan recipes I thought, "I can do that!" and want to share my experiences, shopping tips, and - of course - recipes from me and along the way.
So ask me any questions you'd like for specifics or any other tips or tricks.
Other than that:
ENJOY!