I’m just going to come right out and say it… I didn’t cook anything this weekend, that’s why I posted that beautiful papaya. I’m like actually so, so upset about it because I love sharing recipes and writing about them, but time got ahead of me last weekend and I never ended up making anything (besides homemade protein bars, but I never took pictures of them so I wasn’t going to write about them… maybe later this week). So, rather than writing a normal recipe post, I wanted to share what improvements I’ve seen in my physical and mental health since I started the vegan thing.

Also, I’m going to list them out just because I feel like it’s easier to read that way. You’re welcome, lazy people.

• I can run. Yes, I can actually run, and I can run over three miles straight. This might sound ridiculous to you, but I have asthma so I’ve never been able to run even a mile. Now, I can run THREE WHOLE MILES without feeling like I’m going to die right then and there. In fact, I’m doing the tough mudder in New Hampshire this August! Am I excited? No, I might die doing the ice plunge thing, but I know I’ll be able to run the whole way, so that’s a nice feeling.
• This one may be most obvious to people, but I have lost weight. My body weight fluctuates like crazy (and it still does), but I’ve lost around 3-5 pounds, without changing my normal routine or eating less. And many of you meat-eaters are probably thinking, “Well, duh, it’s muscle weight that you’ve lost.” Actually, you carnivorous imbecile, it’s not, in fact, I see more muscle definition than I’ve ever seen, so the joke is on you :)
•  My hair is so shiny and soft – not even lying. My hair has become more manageable, stronger and a LOT less frizzy. I have a ridiculous amount of hair and it’s always been the biggest hassle; I would always put it up in a bun or a clip just because I didn’t care to deal with it. Now, I actually blow-dry my hair and watch hair tutorials (yes, I’m that girl) to see what else I can do with this gorgeous mane of mine – seriously just look at it…

• I’m not sure how to explain this one, but I’m going to try my best. I guess I’ve found I’m better at motivating myself to do certain things. For example, back to my new found love for running, I can motivate myself to keep going. If I get tired after a few minutes or something, I have a more positive outlook on telling myself to keep going, rather than just saying “Okay, make it like 5 more minutes.” Now I’m like, “No way, girlfriend, you keep going, you can do it, you could probably go further even.”
• For a long time now, I have dealt with having anxiety in almost every situation of life; money, friends, social issues, work, relationships, family, etc. I have a history of overthinking a situation so hard in my head, that I end up having mental breakdowns about it when the situation hasn’t even happened, yet. If you don’t understand what I mean, here’s an example; say I have a presentation to do, in front of 10 people, on like caterpillars or something. As I prepare for it, days in advance, I will literally think about myself stumbling on words during my presentation and become so embarrassed about it (like it had already happened) and end up crying about it – that’s how my anxiety works. But since I went vegan, I am so much better at talking myself out of it – telling myself “who the hell cares if you fumble on words? everyone does!” or “who cares if someone sees you sweat at the gym? That’s what you’re there for, dummy.” I wouldn’t go to the gym for the longest time because I was anxious about someone seeing the sweat on my shirt or judging how I ran, now I go almost every single morning. So, that’s been a huge help.
• Not sure if this one should be categorized in mental health, but I’m a LOT more conscious of what I eat. It’s a habit for me now to look at the ingredients on almost every food I buy. GMOs? No thanks! Whey Protein? Nope, not for me. Gelatin, or better known as a protein obtained by boiling skin, tendons, ligaments, and/or bones with water? Yeah, I think I’ll pass, thanks… I try my best to buy organically, too, without just tossing my whole wallet into the cash register. I enjoy being conscious about food, and I do this for all of my products, too. My make up is all cruelty-free and does not contain animal derived ingredients, along with my hair products, lotions, perfumes, etc. (Holla @ NYX, Kat Von D and Pacifica).

• I absolutely love to cook – I love it. I never liked it before because I always just enjoyed baking. Now, my boyfriend will watch me cook, or as he calls it “cheffing it up,” in the kitchen for like 3+ hours making breakfast, lunch and dinner foods.

• This one may sound weird, but I feel like I’m closer to my pets. Not that I ever thought less of them before, but I feel as though they’re on the same level as I am, as a person. They’re growing, breathing, living things who need just as much love and care as a person does. I have a cat and four dogs in my life (my parents have a dog and my boyfriend has the rest), and I love them more and more each day and feel a certain bond with them that I’ve never felt before. I think all animals deserve that same love. I may sound completely sappy and ridiculous, but those little guys make me so happy.