The Vegan Torture is Almost Over!

This is my second to last day of eating Vegan! I can't believe I've made it this far with only that one slip up at the Indian restaurant.

It's time for a little reflection here. Today I'm going to focus on the physical side of my Vegan adventure. Tomorrow, I'll contemplate the emotional and spiritual .

When I started this four weeks ago, I thought it would be a lot easier. I love veggies! But though I like beans and peas every now and again, I'm not a big fan of starchy vegetables or even grains for that matter. I have never done well with a lot of carbohydrates. It's been near a month eating nothing but carbs. I feel like crap!

I'm sure there are hidden benefits to a Vegan diet, like lower cholesterol and a squeaky clean colon, but as for things that I can see or feel - there's nothing. I am a little more focused and clearheaded than I was at the start but there is even a downside to that. I'm not focusing on the things that need my attention and I think that's directly related to ...

Downside #1

I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO ENERGY! None. All I want to do is lay down and sleep. I am particularly lethargic after a meal. I've just had lunch and right now and it is taking every ounce of effort I have to not lay my head down on my desk. I've done virtually nothing this past month.

Downside #2

I FEEL LIKE CRAP! It's like my body's chemistry is completely off. I feel lightheaded, dizzy at times, and my heart goes all a flutter for no reason. It's very disconcerting.

Downside #3

BLOATED, GASSY & AN EVER PRESENT URGENT NEED TO CRAP!

This is pretty self-explanitory so I won't go into any detail. It will just be an absolute pleasure to return to a life where my lower quadrant isn't consuming my life!

Downside #4

I LOOK AWFUL! My complexion is pale and pasty and in these four weeks, my skin has gotten markedly wrinkled. Plus, I'm so lethargic that half the time, I just put my hair back in a pony tail and don't even bother with makeup. I'm wearing stuff that's loose and comfortable to accomodate the bloat. So I look even worse!

Downside #5

I'VE GAINED WEIGHT! So much for the skinny Vegan I had hoped to become at the start of all this. I'm eating way too many carbs and it's really packing on the weight. Despite all I'm eating, I still feel hungry all the time. I am looking forward to starting my diet on Thursday - a high protein, low carb diet!

So physically, this Vegan adventure has actually been detrimental to my health and well being. Again, there may be hidden benefits but really, what are they worth if the quality of my life is so low right now?

Tomorrow, I'll reflect on the bigger meaning of it all.

Got some happy news via e-mail last night. Lancelot, one of the shelter dogs we had at Petsmart on Sunday, got adopted! He's an older guy, about the same age as Shortcake and the two of them have been at the shelter for about the same length of time. As happy as I am for Lance, as we called him, I so wish it was Shortcake.

I got a great idea from Matt and Emily, the young couple who brought Lance and Twoee to Petsmart. They made up cute little cards with photos of the dogs and a little note about them. Signed - Love, Lance ... Love, Twoee. So I thought, I can take that even a step further for Shortcake! I made up a flyer with lots of photos of her with people, especially kids, with a little message from her that reads ...

"Hi, I’m Shortcake and would love for you to give me a forever home! I have many good friends at the Camden County Animal Shelter but every night before I go to sleep, I make a wish - that one day soon, I will have a real family to call my own! Please make my wish come true. I so want to go home with you!
With Love, Shortcake"

I then added a little blurb that reads ...

"Shortcake is an American Staffordshire Terrier (Pit Bull). She is about 3-4 years old and the sweetest little girl you could ever want to meet! Shortcake is very calm and affectionate - to know her is to love her!"

At the bottom, I put the shelter name and address, phone, fax and e-mail address as well as the website. To it, I attached a copy of her Temperment Rating (all great) as well as an adoption application. This way, if someone at an adoption event shows interest, I can just hand them the entire packet. If they want to go home to think about it or go to other shelters to see other dogs, at least they have the photos to remind them how sweet little Shortcake really is! It may have done the job for Lance. Let's hope it does the same for Shortcake!!!

Only 1-1/2 Days of this Vegan torture to go!