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Glais

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  1. Though my family chose to live and affiliate themselves in White society in the early 1900's due to social pressures and fears, there was always a privately shared, familial pride in our NA family history. While hunting fell by the wayside until my brothers and I became adults, fishing was an integral part of our lives. We hunted and fished for food and not for sport. A deep respect for nature was imbued into use as my parents believe strongly in the beauty and sanctity of all living things. They now live in AZ (my parents and brothers) and are actively involved with NA youth which has solidified their personal beliefs. It was difficult for me to broach the subject of becoming vegan with my parents only to find my father was eschewing all meats excepts for occasional fish and eating some dairy and eggs. He had become vegetarian for health reasons and was fully supportive of my decision for the same reasons. Though I cannot sully understand the pressures and conflicts of Native Americans raised within tribal settings and with long-held beliefs, I do understand family traditions and those shared ideologies and beliefs. My dad explained it is the respect he holds for life that made it easier for him.
  2. I tried the coconut milks/creamers and I am going to try one of the non-dairy creamers. I like soy-yogurt but it is difficult to find here without paying and exorbitant price in comparison. However, hope springs eternal, lol, and I am going to be asking one of my local stores to carry it. Well, my fitness is limping along as I try to do 30 minutes a day. However, it takes about 3 weeks to make or break a habit. Since I have the food pretty well moving along I am now going to concentrate on the fitness by joining a local gym by the month. I feel so good knowing I have the support of this forum. You guys really buoy me up when I am feeling like giving in. Thank-you, Kareno. I may take you up on your offer.
  3. I received my PETA 'starter kit' and it was really helpful regarding substitutions for dairy and meat products. i also saw some Youtube vids on 'yogurt'making I want to try. One was using soaked almonds and making almond 'yogurt'. I am coming along pretty well and my husband is liking what I prepare, too. I am going to keep posting, experimenting, and working toward better health. my goal is lowers sugar, cholesterol, BP, & etc... Thank-you for your support and encouragement, Doug!
  4. Well, guys, I am heading into 4 weeks at this. I cannot seem to shake yogurt and half-half for coffee. i am considering saying good-bye to coffee and permanently switching to tea. I am also going to join a local gym beginning in Feb and go at it FT, lol, or at least daily for 30-60 minutes. I initially lost some weight but then began putting it back on, however adjusting to this new way of eating will take a bit as I try and balance my food groups. I am not worried. Thanks to everyone who has shown support the past couple of weeks.
  5. Welcome! Congratulations on your tenacity. I am also new and much newer than you to the vegetarian/vegan lifestyle. I am just a few weeks at this (going on 4) after flirting with it for about 20 years or so. The only thing I cannot seem to part with is yogurt and half&half. I have a couple of recipes for yogurt alternatives i am going to try and also something for my coffee, but I have a feeling that will also be going bye-bye as I transition to teas more often. My change is for health reasons, though the animals-abuse aspect is certainly a reason.
  6. Hi, VeganDougie! It is nice to met you. love to read and will check it out on Amazon.com. Your 'twopence' worth is very welcome here, lol. I am the new kid on the block here so I just accept all info, factor it in, and use what I am able to apply as I can.
  7. woohoo! I looked this morning and it shows 5 pounds instead of the three earlier this week! Patience will be my friend, lol. I stair-stepped for 25 minutes after supper last night and snacked on a plain yogurt (I am slowly transitioning to soy yogurt because it is hard to find here in this area) with local honey (1t) and oat-granola (1T). I am still drinking my green smoothies in the am and sometimes later for a snack along with fruit, sunflower seeds, veggies, etc when feeling the need to nosh. I am not journaling diet and exercise consistently so I placed my notebook beside my computer so I am more consistent. Thank-you so much for you encouragement and support!
  8. I still feel soooooo fluffy, lol. And ooooold. I guess it piles on before we realize it has taken so long and then when we want it off yesterday the out-of-shape fluffiness appears to stay like a late winter snow, lol. I keep telling myselg one day at a time, heehee. Thnx!
  9. Thanks! Have great Weekend, Kareno! And I apologize about the name typo. My husband had a visitor and hos name was... Robert, lol...Sometimes it happens, heehee!!!
  10. Lol! Thank-you, Robert! I am trying to get in 30 minutes of aerobic exercise or vigorous walking daily. My diet has been delicious. I am beginning vegetarian with some milk and eggs and going slowly, but have introduced Rice and Soy cheese into our diets and my husband loves them (he was recently diagnosed with lactose intolerant IBS). I am eating Smart Dogs and veggie burgers, a bit of fish, but not much, green foods, a variety of fruits and vegetables, laying off simple carbs and experimenting with grains other than wheat!!! Wow! I think I am doing okay. I have already lost about 3 pounds and even attended a company retreat over the weekend where I was served vegan meals!!! I AM off to a healthy 2012! And I feel great. I do not miss too much about eating meat, but do confess I REALLY miss bacon! However, I have been told I will get over it, lol. Thank-you, again. I really looked forward to opening your post!
  11. Thank-you, Lola. I love Earth Balance but have never baked with it. Thank-you for the sites and the tips. My husband sometimes gets a sweet tooth on the weekends or late at night (He is recovering from two shoulder surgeries and sleeps when he can.) so I try to have healthy but yummy snacks for him. I love to bake but try to keep my goodie-output at a minimum, lol. I will check out those sites when I get home this evening. Well, day three and doing ok so far. I made a yummy green drink fro breakfast, am getting ready to meditate, and will take my coffee & silk to work. I am also keeping a journal of food, exercise, meditation, and backsliding (what I did and for what reasons to track myself and make corrections).
  12. Thank-you for your encouragement. I spoke to my dad about it today. He told me he has gone partially vegetarian - only fish and eggs and some chicken. It is for health reasons. He said no red meat except for chicken and that may eventually change, too. Dad is 79 and tapering slowly. He is physically very active and also active in his community so it is important his diet be beneficial. Needless to say, he was supportive of my decision and encouraging. I walked about 4 miles today, which was a start. I would have done more but it began to rain so I ran some errands and came home and played with my hounds before making supper. Tonight I made vegetarian red beans and rice I modified from a Paul Prudhome recipe that used meat. I decided not to use soy crumbles or any meat substitute. It was pretty good. I substituted red tomatoes with chilies for any meat flavoring and added poultry seasoning to my spice mixture to give my husband the feel of having some sort of meat in the beans and it worked. I did give in and make the coleslaw with mayo per my husband's request. He cannot wrap his head around grape seed vegenaise. To a half head of cabbage I added ground walnuts, ground flax seed, a chopped onion and apple, chopped olives, and chopped celery in addition to shredded carrots. I used Annie's Natural Organic French Dressing and cider vinegar with sea salt and ground pepper to taste. Sort of a meal in itself and not much needed to accompany the beans and rice. The Annie's can be used alone in place of mayo, actually. if I had thought of it I would have. I did not check to see if it was vegan only that it was organic and gluten-free, which is not the same. So, for my first meatless (almost), how did I do? I found my portions were smaller and I filled up faster. I was satisfied and did not want more than necessary to fill me. David, how do you make your choc chip cookies, if I can ask. I am not a big sweets fan but my husband is and it sound like something he might like. Also, how do you prepare your green drink and what is one serving amount and calorie-wise? Have a good evening!
  13. Thank-you, David. I just sent a link to my husband so he can check it out. My first husband was practically vegan when he died so it would not be hard for me, but I am unsure about my current husband. However, my husband likes to think out of the box and try new things. He is also very vocal about animal abuse and abandonment, as am I. I think he will try the move. I am excited and not sure where to begin. Any suggestions? I want to begin with the basics and build upon them. What is considered 'basic' or beginning?
  14. I turned 55 in November. I am an out of shape version of my once athletic self. Recently I have been dabbling with becoming vegan or vegetarian because of having to refashion my year-old Bloodhounds' diet after the male was diagnosed with genetic hip dysplasia. My husband often jokes we are eating the dogs' food, but why should they (brother and sister) eat healthier than we do? My first husband was a former body-builder who died of cancer in 2003. This is my second marriage. I had 30 fantastic years with hubbie number one. While I do not expect to have 30 with this wonderful guy I want to go the distance for as long as possible. I also work with individuals who have dementia in all its various forms. Diet is one area I see where there is not a lot of attention given beyond basic food pyramid guidelines though moderate exercise is stressed. The standard meat, carbs, dairy, veg, fruit diet has been losing its appeal for me. Eating correctly and maintaining a fit body will go a long way to strengthening my mind. I am in my senior year of college. That was step number one to completing a very old goal. The second is not to become old before I am ready, which I hope I never am THAT ready. So... this old dog has to learn some new tricks. This is a bit of a scary step, but I am hoping this regimen and blog will be my new beginning.
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