And then I went full-blown hippie.

I don't have a particularly solid reason for why veganism is happening in my life. People keep asking and I find myself a little stumped.

Then I start talking about it and realize I have a lot to say.

I've flirted with the issue for awhile. About 4 years ago I really took an interest in the quality of food that I was putting in my body. Documentaries, books and websites about clean eating suddenly became really interesting to me. Now that I think about it, it was around the time that I really started studying natural birth, my genetic disorder and started feeling a strong resistance to the accepted ideas of health, medicine and food.

But I still ate plenty of meat and animal products. Well, not PLENTY. I've never been a huge meat eater.

Anyway, about two years ago when my life exploded and stress was making my weight plummet to the low 100's (which at 5'8" did not look good) I lost my grip on all of it and started eating anything that sounded good that I could keep in. At that point I needed it. I needed anything in my belly. And then busy and life and lazy and all the rest happened and where I had been making green smoothies for breakfast, cooking whole grains and veggies for lunch and eating fish and lean beef at dinner, I was now right back to eating fried chicken and burgers and only once a day or every other day and feeling like crap. I was still a size 0 or 2 so it didn't seem so bad, yanno?

Then I discovered I was pregnant, had to get off all the pain medications I was taking for my EDS, was really sick, really unhappy and eating a truly disgusting amount of awful, awful foods. I reached a my limit for nonsense and started planning a change. Or at least whining a lot about needing to change. I had skimmed through Alicia Silverstone's "The Kind Diet" before and been intrigued and with a bun in the oven it seemed natural to pick up "The Kind Mama" and see what IT had to say. And something clicked. Four years of flirting and reading and listening and trying finally started to form a whole picture.

So now I'm a vegan.

I guess.

(That still sounds weird)

I find it hilarious that the first thing people say to me is that it is risky while in my current condition and that pregnancy is not the time to start a restrictive diet.

Yeah..... Not the time to restrict your diet except say so long to lunch meats, hot dogs, too much fish, sushi, alcohol, medications, caffeine, etc.

Pregnancy is all about restricting your diet. And if all of those things are too risky to eat while you're knocked up, why are they okay when you're not?

So here I am. I'm just starting and learning and taking my vitamins and packing in nutrients all day every day. Meat was easy to give up since at some point in all of my pregnancies it has suddenly seemed like the grossest thing ever. Eggs and stocks and the like were also a breeze. Dairy? That has been tougher. But not all that tough. Its been 3 full weeks since I ate and meat, fish or eggs and about 5 days since any animal products at all have gone in my mouth. Honestly? I feel great. I have less of a sweet tooth already, more energy, ZERO digestion complaints and my skin is looking better than it has in years. I went crazy last night and indulged in homemade vegan nachos and while they were far from healthy, they weren't hurtful either and it was amazing to not feel bloated and ishy after a junk food feast.

The kids aren't vegan, the love isn't vegan, YOU don't have to be vegan. I'm not sure why but this just makes sense for me. The more I learn the more I find it off putting how much animal byproduct we use. It's in your toothpaste and lipstick and body wash and everywhere else. For me, that seems unnecessary. I'm trying to be a more responsible consumer and make sure that the new products I buy are vegan and organic. I'm trying to feed myself with natural, unprocessed ingredients. I am really enjoying taking stock of the way I treat my body. With a degenerative, debilitating disorder to confront and not a lot of answers from the popular medical culture, I am trying to take control, love my body and explore natural ways to find relief, extend my mobility and health and to see, just see, if maybe I can be vital and radiant and strong. So far? This is awesome.