Monthly Archives: August 2012

Anne has a secret.

I’ve known Anne for a long time. We go to the same church, but we never really KNEW each other. It wasn’t until I started this blog that we began having longer and longer conversations. Anne has always supported the blog. Whenever a post hits Facebook, she’s one of the first to “like” it or leave a comment. At church, she’s always giving me magazine clippings related to food or coupons to a restaurant I mentioned on the blog. We exchange emails at least three times a week on a food, blog, or church-related topic.

Anne is simply a lovely person. She thinks of others, cares for her family, and excels at her very important job.

But like I said, Anne has a secret.

Slowly over time and several emails, she insinuated what this deep and hidden secret entailed. I was intrigued. We set a lunch date to discuss the details.

When I arrived at our local lunch spot, Anne was sitting at a table with a menu, looking fresh and summer-y in her white pants and blue-green top. She was the picture of transparency. One would never guess that she held a secret close to her heart.

After ordering, we chatted. I can’t say this is our word for word conversation, but you get the idea…

Anne: I haven’t told anyone this, except my husband.

Me: Why not?

Anne: Everyone will think I’m crazy. My husband thinks I’ve gone insane.

Me: {Eyebrow raises} Oh really?

Anne: Well…because…I…I…

Me: {Drumroll plays in my head and I take a breath of anticipation}

Anne: …I mean, I’ve gone vegan. Well, mostly vegan. I eat a vegan diet 95% of the time.

Me: Wow, Anne! You look different. Your skin is glowing.

Anne: I feel better. I have more energy. AND I’ve lost 22 pounds.

Me: {Beaming}

Anne began to tell me about her journey to vegan. I’m happy to report that my blog helped her along the way. She said in an email later that week, “Your blog led me down a path of education. I remember seeing your post about your consideration [to go] vegan…I remember thinking you were crazy; I could never do that. But the documentaries you mentioned watching peaked my interest. I also did like the idea of supporting local farmers from a community perspective and started to be aware of signs that said grass-fed or free range.”

The documentary she watched was Forks Over Knives, and it changed everything.

Anne knew she wanted to be around to see her son graduate from high school and to hold her grandchildren. In order to do that, her food lifestyle had to change. Anne remembers standing at her kitchen sink and breaking down. I can’t do this; I just can’t; it’s too overwhelming, she cried. Anne says that’s when God stepped in and assured her everything was going to be okay. An unexplainable peace spread over her. In hindsight, Anne says this process has been a gradual “God-thing.” She gave up cheese a while back and doesn’t even have cheese cravings (gasp!). And sugar? She doesn’t even put it in her coffee (double gasp!).

The hardest part of the change is grocery shopping. She has to read every label, which took too much time at first. To add to the stress, her first trips to the grocery store were frustrating because she couldn’t find anything. “All the healthy options are not placed at eye level,” Anne noted. “They are either on the bottom shelf or way up high.” (Interesting, and just another reason I don’t like the grocery store.)

Anne admits she has to cook one meal for her family and one meal for herself. But right now that’s easy, because she’s more than happy with a big salad full of summer produce and topped with Delaware’s own “Freakin’ Fresh Salsa”. She also eats lots of beans, whole grains and can’t get enough of steel-cut oats and almond milk for breakfast.

Anne consumes no dairy, no oil and no alcohol. I was shocked by this (no wine? eek!). But Anne’s also realistic. If she’s out, she may indulge in salad with chicken, or if it’s a special occasion, she’ll have a glass of wine. That’s why right now, she’s 95% vegan. Anne’s smart to give herself the 5% leeway. An all-or-nothing attitude is difficult to maintain. Even so, Anne’s realizing her tastes have changed–she doesn’t even want to eat red meat anymore.

But what’s the best part of Anne’s big vegan secret? Healthy changes making a physical difference! I mentioned earlier that Anne has dropped over 22 pounds. She feels better; she sleeps better; and she has more energy. Not only that, but only two weeks after starting her vegan lifestyle, Anne’s bad cholesterol dropped from 168 to 59! All I can say is, what the WHAT? And GOOD JOB, Anne!

I am beyond thrilled that the thoughts I randomly place on Rachel’s Table helped Anne make this decision, even in a small way. But I can’t take any of the credit. Anne has tenacity! I’ve never seen anyone more committed or disciplined in her pursuit of healthy.

Thanks for sharing your “secret” with me, Anne! You are an inspiration, and like I always say, I’m your biggest cheerleader!

{This post part of Fight Back Fridays on Food Renegade}