Newbie to the group

[Guest guest]

Hi, all;

 

I am a recent convert to veganism for health and weightloss reasons, after

graduating from the CHIP (Coronary Health Improvemt Project) program in

Arizona.  I started in mid-January, immediately after a move to Arizona from

Oregon, and after the 4 week program, I lost 9 pounds (have lost total of 16

pounds now since I started, but have many more to go) and dropped cholesterol

from over 200 to 133, as well as totally stopping some medications and

decreasing others.   In the year before the move, I lost and kept off 40 pounds,

so that makes it a total of 56 to date.  I am in my 50's, have multiple health

problem, and know that losing weight will dramatically immprove many of them.  I

want to stay with this lifestyle and believe that regular exposure to others who

are living it, and sharing recipes and tips will help keep me on track over the

long term.  In exchange, I will try to be of help and encouragement to you.

 

My husband is willing to decrease meat and animal products in his diet, as long

as we (he) still has at leat 3 " normal " dinners a week of his favorites -

luckily for me, a few of those are vegetarian, though most are not vegan.  My

son, however, (adult, living at home, and going back to school) says he is proud

of me for the changes I've made, and is willing to try my new recipes, but wants

to eat the same meals as before.   The nights I cook vegan only, he makes his

own dinners and samples mine.  I am trying to have plenty of vegan meals in the

freezer, and make lots of side dishes, so that the nights I cook the old way for

my family I can still eat vegan for myself without actually cooking two

different meals for one night.  Since some of the vegan dishes take longer to

prepare than what I am used to, I am also trying to become more organized and

pre-plan and pre-pare as much as possible. I don't want to risk sliding back

into my old eating

habits because they were quicker and easier, though less healthy and more

expensive, as I used to use a lot of convenience foods.

 

Linda