I wish I’d known earlier how easily I’d lose weight on a plant-based diet
As the saying goes, Life is a journey, not the destination.
I grew up in the Midwest, and having farm animals everywhere was normal. We didn’t own a farm, but most of my friends had pig farms, dairy farms, cattle farms, and even a retired zoo animal refuge. So I knew the patterns of life and death for the animals and, surprisingly, never really thought much of it.
Until my neighbors started raising rabbits.
I would visit the bunnies every day after grade school, and one day one of my favorites was gone. I ran to my neighbor to find out what happened, and I learned it had been killed for the meat.
Suddenly, the whole farming life became a bit cruel to me.
I started asking other friends questions about their animals and why they were killed. It seemed like the kindest farm must be a dairy farm.
But then I realized that milk is available only if a cow is pregnant. I didn’t realize that there were very few calves but numerous cows to be milked.
Another friend had a pig farm. I asked him why they grew pigs, and his reply was “Bacon and pork chops.” I remember being so sad that day after talking to him.
You would think the exposure to farming would impact my eating habits. But at that young age, I thought it was normal to eat animals. I hated milk, and I wouldn’t eat meat if I “knew” the animal. That was the extent of my aversion to meat eating when I was young.
When I was older, we had beef roast one night for dinner, and about 2 hours after eating, my hands began to swell. My mom was at the store, so I found my dad in the garage and asked him if he knew why my hands were swelling. My dad explained his thoughts about it. Cattle are fed many different types of grains and chemicals to make them weigh more so that the farmer will make more money when the cow is weighed for sale. So he assumed those same things that made the cow heavier made their way into my body when I ate it and that I was experiencing a personal reaction to those additives. That was disturbing to me, and decided that I would not eat beef.
As I aged, I slowly cut down my consumption of meat but still ate it. But I noticed that I would get an upset stomach if I ate too much. Especially when eating processed meats. I enjoyed cooking, and we always had meat, potatoes, and vegetables at meals, like I was taught. Breakfast would be toast and coffee or tea. I still had an aversion to milk and eggs. And after getting married, I continued on the standard American diet.
But when my son was married, he brought his wife over one night. He had brought a video for us to watch, “Forks Over Knives.” We all watched it, and I remember being shocked at what I was seeing. Why had I not known what I was seeing? It suddenly occurred to me that the animals I had been around all my life had miserable lives just to give us food. A lot of what I learned had been kept from the public and still is. And that knowledge is what led me to my journey to try eating a healthier vegan way of eating.
I had developed diabetes on my journey and was always puzzled why I had developed it. And none of the doctors I visited had a satisfactory reason. But they continued to tell me that I had to stay away from many of the fruits and veggies I loved and to eat more protein — which they equated to meat. So who was I to disagree with my doctor?
One morning, I was looking at the news on my Facebook page, and a friend mentioned how she had cured herself of rheumatoid arthritis, which she’d had most of her life. She encouraged me to contact a nutrionist who had helped her. She believed that he could help me with my diabetes. And so another leg of my journey began.
What he had to tell me really made sense but was against everything I had been taught growing up. But he also was able to explain my body’s reaction to meat, dairy, and even processed oils. He explained the way of life called plant-based eating. I was skeptical, but then I realized that I would no longer be a part of something that really bothered me: the abuse of farm animals for meat and dairy.
I agreed to try it for a month and immediately felt the changes taking place in my body. I felt great! I had more energy and started losing weight without effort. I have embraced my plant-based way of eating, and there will be no turning back. And amazingly, my husband joined me and is reaping the same rewards.
For a moment, think about the number of animals killed to be used as meat for humans in one year. And then think about why we grew up drinking cow’s milk. No other animal drinks another animal’s milk. We don’t drink any other animal’s milk, except maybe goat’s milk. Why is that? Why do these animals have to be hurt and die for meat?
And think about eggs. Have you ever seen a commercial telling you eggs are really good for you? In your journey, think about our interactions with farm animals. And take a few minutes to do research on how unhealthy the standard American diet really is. Join me on my journey.
I believe there is a reason why every person crosses your path. I hope I have enlightened you and you will want to do more research to understand how we can live and care for all animals. Farm animals matter.
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