Introduction !

March 19, 2009

Hi -

Thanks for letting me join your group! I'm a new Vegan - as of Feb. 1st - so I hope to learn from you all. I've been mostly vegetarian (i.e.Turkey at Thxgiving and Xmas and fish once in a blue moon) for years and years.

My chol. has been slightly high and I am following the McDougall plan. All I really have given up is those rare holiday meals, non-fat milk, and maybe 2 to 3 oz of cheese per week. OH - and my olive oil (all oils,at least for now).

I've been trying lots of new recipes and enjoying them all - haven't met a vegetable I don't like! I'm reading "Vegan The New Ethics of Eating" by Erik Marcus and am feeling that this way of life/eating fits my values and will be with me for life.

My chol. has gone down from 230 to 189 in 6 weeks. Go figure. I haven't really changed much - but did add some recommended supplements (McDougall recommended).

I will say that I am missing cheese. I crave a slice of cheese pizza! I tried some vegetarian cheese, some soy cheese and BLECH. won't be eating those again! I also am struggling a bit when invited to someone's house for dinner - but have handled it creatively so far. :-) Those really feel like my only 2 "challenges" thus far.

Let's see - I'm a volunteer for a Golden Retriever rescue group, our local humane society, our Wildlife care (we had 7 bear cubs this past year!), and my dog Henry (a Beagle/Border Collie mix) and I visit our local nursing home. So it's about time I shifted my way of living to fit with my values and love of animals.

I live between S. Lake Tahoe and Santa Cruz, CA - right now mostly in Tahoe - but soon to shift to Santa Cruz - an area abundant with Vegans!

Hope this wasn't too long ! Look forward to "meeting" you.

sandy