“I’m going to punch you in the face over CHEESE!!!”
I think you broke it down well with the “What’s the worst that could happen”!

RE: “Can’t” was an excellent point too, if you (or I!) tell me I can’t, then I WANT to do it. I don’t say “I can’t drink alcohol” I say “I don’t want to” and it’s not a big deal, but the moment I “can’t” have something, boy do I want it!!

RE: Letting go of the obsession (breaking up w/ food)
Part of my 12th step program is relying on a “higher power”. Also, the point of the 12 steps is to have a “spiritual experience/awakening”, which I find best defined as a “transformation of spirit” the spirit within.
It is said that reliance on a higher power is more freeing than most imagine. Makes sense, how can putting my trust into something I (typically) don’t understand free me!?
But I get it now because it’s happened. I’ve let go of some of my twisted definitions and assumptions on how the world should be, and it has removed loads of negativity and made me free to enjoy this life.
If we let go of all of the bullshit about diet that we grew up with, it frees us to make our own decisions based on the experience of others and ourselves

Leslie – That is a great thought to have! I run into the same thing – people saying “oh but you can’t do such and such” saying to myself “I’m choosing” is so powerful.

Crymzen – I think for many it is gradual, and that really helps. For me, it was overnight, mainly because I didn’t have time with my health. I think that advice to go gradually until you are comfortable is really good.

Sweeter: Be sure to pick up some good books on plant based diets and being vegan. This will help you a lot in making choices, and understanding the wide range of what being vegan is all about. Let me know if I can help!

Leigh Anne – Thanks That is kind of what my husband did – slowly, and consciously think about changing. I would encourage you in this time to research as much as you can – pick up china study, vegan freak, read vegan blogs That way when you come to a decision about what you are eating you know exactly what you are deciding to consume.

NakedJen – Thanks that is so nice!

Thank you for writing it.

I’m going to be sending a lot of my friends over here to read it. And to hopefully gain some very important insights.

Blessings.

I call my current critical thinking process “slouching toward vegan.” I find that if I think of it as an experiment, in which I try things and record the results, it’s more motivating to me to keep going and make another small change. Example: eggs. Over the last few months, I’ve been eating fewer and fewer of them, and you know what? I don’t really miss them, and I’m having so much fun trying out eggless recipes, and reformatting my own baking with egg substitutes, that eggs are almost the last thing on my mind!

Thanks again for all you do…

LAV

I have been feeling depressed and lousy for years, but try to push through it. I really do want to be healthy, and I do not want to go through what you went through, and I’m glad that I don’t have to do all of the trials that you did with the way you eat. I don’t see anything to even argue with in what you’ve written about going plant based, and I’ve looked up trying to find good counter arguments, and there just aren’t any good ones. I hope you don’t mind that I did that, I just didn’t want to think cheese and milk were that bad for me.

You’ve given me a lot of hope, earlier this week I just didn’t want to get out of bed thinking about all of it. I am going through all of my kitchen to get rid of all the bad stuff. I want to live a long and good life, I do not want my joy to be taken away over some food that doesn’t stay in me anyway. I needed this post so badly today, and I’m starting a journal to keep track of every thing. I also ordered skinny bitch, china study and vegan with a vengeance. I just don’t want to be who I have been for so long. Thanks again.