Hey, I thought I would explain a little more about ME, as some of you know both myself and my son @thatscooterguy are fully plant-based. However, my journey to this was more gradual. Around the age of 10 years old I decided I did not want to eat meat anymore. This was before vegan was even a known word and the word vegetarian was just starting to make an appearance.
But my choice was my own, I remember trying to explain it to my confused parents and they didn’t really understand me. But they were ok and from what I remember they did respect me enough not to force me to consume it anymore.
I know from young my preference was to eat meat that did not resemble meat, like a burger, a sausage. Anything that sounded or looked like an actual animal I would struggle to eat. Even lamb, as I remember clearly that it sparked images of little lambs playing in the field and triggered my emotions.
This is why so many consume meat, as they have massively desensitised the actual killing of the animals. What appears on your plate or in the fast-food chain feels a million miles away from the actual reality and it is easy for many to have detachment from the real situation.
In addition, I remember my mum making the family a stew and I didn’t want to eat the chewy meat, I actually used to feed it to my twin sister (or the dog) as my sister liked all the meat and not the vegetables, have I already mentioned that she is the complete opposite of me?
Back in the early 80’s when I was making these decisions, there was no peer pressure, no tv marketing campaign, no magazine pushing it as the latest ‘trend’. It was just me and my conscience. I’m a high-level empath, so I feel everything very deeply, including the pain and suffering of others, which is probably a big part of the reason I chose to stop eating meat so young. Coincidently my mum, dad and brother also all chose not to consume it, but much later on in their lives and they still eat other animal products. As you have probably guessed my twin sister still loves her meat.
I brought Anton up as a pescatarian, which is what I was at that time. I felt maybe when he was older, he would decide to eat meat. But actually, he never did and we both naturally progressed to vegetarian, then to fully plant-based. Which is actually much easier than I would have thought. However, I will stress that we consume natural foods, not processed foods. As eating ‘vegan’ does not necessarily mean healthy. There is a huge array of packaged and processed foods on the supermarket shelfs now, it’s about profit, and unfortunately most large manufactures are cutting corners to create more profits at the expense of your health!
So regardless of your beliefs, I would 100% recommend to observe what you are eating and drinking every day. My background is more than 30 years in Health, Fitness & Wellness and I have coached thousands to optimal mental & physical health. If your shopping trolley is mainly full of packaged, processed and artificial products it will lead you to sickness, not health. Every day we have a choice about what we consume and what effect it has on us, others and the earth.
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this, any questions or comments, please write them below. With love Lisa Marie ❤️
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Photos used are my own of me, the cows on the beach in Goa, India and some lovely vegan food taken at the retreats I facilitate.
Awesome post Lisa Marie.
Being born and growing up on the poorer side and being raised in the streets of Brooklyn, New York while being the son of a Puerto Rican mother and Dominican father eating meat was typical.
I mean, I was born in America and back then plant based anything definitely wasn't in anyone I was around's vocabulary.
It is hard to cut out meat altogether for me, but when I began my health and fitness journey less than 9 years ago; I've learned to eat a lot more vegetables and definitely am open to plant based options these days. My fiancé and I are always on the lookout for new Vegan/Vegetarian spots.
I eat less meat than ever in my 56 years of life and I expect as I get older that it will become less if not close to nil.
@lisamariesworld
!CTP
Thank you @jimmy.adames for your personal share! Wow yes I can imagine there would have been a lot of meat. I'm a 73 baby, so it was most definitely a 'normal' thing to include meat in most meals.
Sounds like you are doing a good job now and making some great choices.
I truly resonate with your blog. I've just transition from eating mindlessly to consciously eating more healthier food - salads and fruit shakes! It's been a month now but the changes in my health and body has been tremendous! It has been a process and although I gotten the hang of eating mostly veggies, I still let myself indulge in fishes and other food. They say it's really hard to transition but in my case I didn't rush it and just slowly worked my way to having a healthier lifestyle. Hopefully, i'll be able to transition to a plant-based diet soon! Fingers crossed.
Changes in our habits and lifestyles are progressive and must occur autonomously, consciously and personally; in this sense, impositions do not work, only the understanding and willingness to do positive things for the planet is what allows us to travel this path. I congratulate you on this start.
@indayclara Thank you for reading and for sharing your personal story. Well done on your achievement so far.
I agree and the health benefits of eating cleaner should continue to motivate you. It's all about habits and when we change our daily habits to more positive ones, this is when after time it becomes easier and we reap the rewards.
I totally get that, there is something that naturally repulses me about eggs and raw chicken for example.
The vegan diet can also be very bad though when you consume more wheat or other processed vegan foods. I was surprised how much fat is in a bar of chocolate (vegan and non).
My thoughts are that the stomach organ is the real key to our health and therefore diet and treatments for the stomach should be key.
Yes I agree @mypathtofire gut health is key to our overall health and most health practitioners discuss the importance of the microbiome.
What ever we consume, it must be as close to natural origin as the earth intended.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Awesome post - totally agree. Every day we have a choice to be well or not. Big love xx😍
Thank you @marleyandme YES YES YES.
Good morning @lisamariesworld, this post is excellent, since you explain in a very sincere and personal way your path towards veganism. And it is especially valuable, coming from a person who adopted this lifestyle, free from media pressure, fashion or trends, as you explain, and also did it in a rational, progressive and autonomous way.
It is good to explain, on certain occasions, why to adopt veganism as a lifestyle, since that can inspire other people to follow the same path.
I also see this is your first time posting here, so have a warm welcome to the (vegan) Plant Power community.
However, I will make an observation: I think that because it is the first time that you publish here, you do not know the community rules very well, but if you read them, they indicate that the use of graphic or textual material by third parties is not allowed, and therefore I see, these photographs have been taken from a copyright-free image bank; for this reason, I kindly ask you to remove all photos from your post and replace them with photos of your own. Thanks.
I also invite you to read this post, there you will find useful information about how our community works.
https://peakd.com/hive-180569/@plantpoweronhive/a-gentle-reminder-to-all-of-you
Hi @plantpoweronhive Thank you for your reply, ah yes I didn't realise I still quite new here. Ok thank you I will do that.
I hope so
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Totally inspiring, Lisa Marie. I have not had meat or fish for over 30 years either for a similar reason as yours but the only difference is, I quite enjoy eating processed vegan food from time to time. I know I don't have to, and your post like this encourages me to stop. It's great your son's also vegan, and your photos of food on the table are amazing. Thanks for sharing!
Hey @dd01a Thank you very much for reading my post and you kind comment. Well done on the 30 years also. Proud of both of us!!!
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I've stopped consuming animal products for 7 years now but it's been around 18 years that I haven't had meat. I found ways to justify seafood and actually quit eggs and dairy before seafood.
When I was a kid I remember chewing on steak and realizing that it was meat, but I put it out of my mind. I wish I could go back in time and follow my instincts.
I am inspired by your healthy views and lifestyle. I'm not nearly as disciplined but as far as fried vegan food and sugar goes, I try to keep that to a once in a while thing. There is much room for improvement in my diet. I have never felt better eating a plant based diet but for me it's about leaving the animals alone. I stopped riding horses as well and I used to be a young equestrian obsessed with riding.
I know many that say the vegan diet isn't working for them. I also know that these people ate vegan fried chicken, burgers and pizza refusing to eat fruits, vegetables and drink water. There are a few obese vegans that I know and it bothers me that people think they represent.
Thanks for your wonderful post.
Hey @carolynstahl Yes I agree with your points. And yes those representing vegans whilst eating processed, fried food is definitely not a clear definition of what it truly means to be plant-based and healthy.
I feel so similar to you about justifying still eating 'some' animal products and now feel so much better without and have so much compassion with all fellow species on our beautiful earth.
I will probably never understand carnivores. I never liked meat as a child but was made to eat it. Lucky for me, I also had a sister who loved meat, and/or the dog (who was my best friend hahaha). I hated the texture, and just about everything. I am fully convinced that meat is addictive since the more I ate it, the more I started to like it, later on in life.
On the other hand, I found it easy enough to just stop eating it again too.
However, I am also sure that it's not the actual meat but the condiments, marinades etc. that human beings love the most. I mean, who would eat a steak without salt, pepper or a marinade? I don't know anyone who doesn't 'mask' their meat one way or the other by adding condiments, salt, sauces, etc. There may be exceptions but none that I know of.
We also need to cook it, unless we want to get all kinds of diseases or parasites, so that alone is a sign to me that we're not meant to eat animals...
I've had these discussions very often, where people say that we've evolved, and that now we can cook our meat. But I'm still not convinced haha.
Cooking, boiling, etc. also takes a lot of the good stuff away from food, so for me, if I can't eat it raw, I don't need nor want it.
Yes @misslasvegas absolutely agree with your points above!!!
Love your post!
I grow up in a family of meat eaters. But just like you my parents, even though they thought I was crazy, respected it when I said I didn't want to eat meat anymore at the age of 12. It took me another 20 something years to become the 99% plant based muncher I am today. Sometimes I still eat eggs from the 3 chickens I saved from turning up at somebody's plate. The other exception I sometimes make is Cambodian wild jungle honey. Good stuff.
Eating a healthy mainly vegan diet has saved our lives. My hubby hasn't taken any medication over 10 years to control his autoimmune disease. Food, exercise and no stress are the medicines he relies on.
I agree a 100% with you. It's not because someone is vegan that this means they are healthy. Focus should be on real, organic whole foods.
Have a happy and healthy day 💚
Hi @amy-goodrich thank you for reading and enjoying my post. Well done to you also, interesting isn't it for us to feel that way so young? Are you deeply empathic?
Lovely to be connected here with you.
Since I was a small girl I have always been very connected to all animals, more so than to humans for some reason. I think that's why I decided I didn't want to eat meat anymore. And then later in life, with my husband being diagnosed with MS, we saw what eating a mainly plant-based diet can do for your health too. Powerful stuff! Big hug to you too 💚
Thank you @lisamariesworld for sharing your wonderful experience. I identify with you, I also stopped eating meat about 25 years ago, I'm 50 and my family still eats meat.
How beautiful that your son bases his diet on plants.
Good luck reading you. Surely we will be reading each other frequently.
Thats wonderful. yes I'm 50 next year, so I worked out it's actually nearly 40 years!! lol
Great to meet you here, thanks for reading.