Give Peas a Chance

“Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will shortcut you. If you put forth the effort, good things will be bestowed upon you. That’s truly about the game, and in some ways that’s about life too.”  -Michael Jordan

I had to include a quote from iconic Michael Jordan in my blog. He turns 50 this week! I'm about to embark on an interesting "game" or "challenge" of my own for the next 40 days. I'm going to go VEGAN for the next 40 days. Before everyone goes all, "has Amy gone overboard in her post-cancer paranoia?" and before my Dad tells me about my tendencies to give in to the trend-of-the-week, I want to make something perfectly clear. I am not going Vegan because it's trendy, nor am I doing it because I have any beliefs that eating animals are wrong.  God, no. I love meat, I love fish. I don't cry when I see the truckload of cows and I harbor no ill-will toward hunters whatsoever, period.  I am doing this solely for the purpose of seeing if I can actually do it:  buy different food, cook different meals, eating all plant-based food.  I'm curious as to whether it'll make me feel better?  Will I be more tired?  Will I be able to run and work-out like before with as much energy? Can I lose weight doing this? I'm curious.  And my Ju-Ju has been a little off lately, so maybe this will shake things up a bit.

A huge obstacle for me, is the fact I have three work-trips during this 40-day span.  I'm already nervous about missing my green juice I drink every morning.  There is nothing in a bottle that can substitute the green juice I religiously concoct for myself every day.  My body craves it now.

Or maybe the biggest challenge will be that when I look up recipes, I don't even know what half this shit is! Seitan? Chia Seeds? Falafal? Well, I "feel awful" already.  I live in the sticks of Indiana- it's hard to find this stuff and what they have at the health food store is expensive.  The last thing I want to happen is that I become a carbo-tarian or that I eat vegetable soup for 40 days.

This goes in the juicer every morning.

Maybe that isn't the biggest challenge I'll face.  Maybe the biggest challenge will be that I promised my friends, family, and co-workers (co-workers the most), that part of this challenge is that I'm going to try really really hard not to complain about this temporary lifestyle change.  Being the Lenten season, sacrificing should be humble and quiet.  Yeah, right, I know, I get it, I'm publicizing this to all in my blog for all to see. It's my outlet, what can I say?

Me, in 2 weeks at Nashville :)

I'd encourage you all to try a personal sacrifice. Maybe lay-off the soda, or try to give up Facebook for a while.  You never know when giving up something leads to liking something else completely different!

I would love feedback about a Vegan diet.  Email me at amymariesmith93@gmail.com .  If you are on Twitter, please follow me at @amysmith70.  I promise not to disappoint.  I'm candid, obnoxious, TMI, and sometimes offensive on Twitter, but it might be a bigger stress reliever for me than this blog!