Hey there fellow-flirters!  I've had Alicia's book for a while but recently decided to really give it a shot.  April is my month!  I'm just flirting, to start with, but I'm trying to reduce my dairy down to just the milk I have in my tea (everything else will be vegan "fakemilk") and limiting my meat intake to just being meals I eat at other people's houses/out.  The meat shouldn't be an epic change, as I already only eat chicken/fish sometimes, and red meat very rarely.  The dairy...more of a challenge!  I miss cheese already and it's only been 24 hours!  HA!

Anyway, just wanted to check in on day 1 and say I look forward to getting ot know some of you...the website/messageboard looks like an absolute treasure trove of information/encouragement.  Awesome! :)

Over and out xx

Rachel,

I am so happy to hear that you have decided to join all of us on our vegan journey. I was a vegetarian for over 3 years before I finally decided to make the change over to veganism. Now I could never imagine eating dairy or eggs ever again! As for the cheese, don't worry, just give it time. The cravings will leave you within a few days. Just DON'T give into them! The thing about cheese, as Alicia says in her book, is that it is literally addicting. I mean, it makes sense. Cow's milk is meant to create a bond between calf and mother, and we are eating the "comfort" from that (kind of like how oxytocin is released when human mothers breastfeed!). This addictive element is especially concentrated in cheese. So just give it time. And I promise, you will love this new way of life =)

Alright, so I did great for about a week and a half (and felt *amazing* even with my not-fully-committed veggie-vegan flirting!) but then Easter came and family get togethers and I fell off the wagon a little...*cough*

But today I'm starting afresh.  I know that after just a couple of days of porridge for breakfast and brown rice with my dinner I'll be back on track.  Going to try and commit a bit more - it's just tricky when you're staying with other people or out and about...though most places have vegetarian/vegan options at least.  Trial and error I guess.  And flirting=relaxed=no guilt, either way.  At least that's what I'm telling myself ;) xx

Don't beat yourself up.  You're trying.  This is a journey, and a big lifestyle shift, so it will definately take some trial and error to figure out where you are comfortable.  Good luck.