Anna and I are Greek and this year we thought, let’s go all out and fast for Easter! We wanted to sacrifice in the name of love and faith and use our will power. It was going to be a test, because food is our EVERYTHING. So, we both made it through the month and a half living on a strict vegan diet. I started off great, lost some weight, felt energised and then I just started surviving on chips and any snacks I could find in the health food aisle in Woolies. So, yeah, I gained it all back and became quite run down. Anna on the other hand, lost so much weight, cleared her acne and gained back her confidence. So, she thought she’d share her journey below!

Life prior

I had reached my heaviest and I did not connect to, or recognise my body anymore. I was suddenly battling cystic acne in my mid 20’s, I had ridiculously low energy, low self esteem and signs of depression for the first time in my life.

How did I get like this?

Since late high school I was tiny. I suffered from anorexia and was consumed with my weight and getting as bony as possible. Up until my twenties, I was fortunate enough to have gotten out of this and formed a more healthier outlook towards diet and exercising at the gym with friends.

I turned 24 , the year my mother was diagnosed with cancer. As someone who had anxiety all of her life, this event led me to seek medical help, which in doctor’s eyes meant putting me on anti depressants. (Don’t even get me started on doctors and how useless they are.)

Only after 6 months on these tablets my weight sky rocketed without me even realising and I swear after stopping them, my hormones were never the same. CUE the weight gain and acne I never had before!

My doctors would laugh at me when I said my hormones must be out or that the anti depressants made me gain weight. Always trust your instincts!

Life Now

It has been 3 months later and I have never been happier. My skin has cleared up drastically and is continuing to improve weekly and I have the energy levels of that Duracell bunny! (This was especially noticeable when I forgot I had an assignment and it was due in a day…..I aced that all-nighter!) My mind is now clear and I was able to make big life changes that were consuming me for so long. (I said goodbye to modelling, remembered my passion for teaching and have returned to university to further my studies!) I have dropped so much weight EFFORTLESSLY, whilst still eating so much and my old confidence is back, which is leading me to actually go out and date again, after years! (Which is how I came up with Types of Tinder Guys)

Now, here is the reality check and the reminder that life is not rainbows and butterflies, and NO journey is perfect or the same as anyone elses. My sister for example felt that she did not gain the benefits that I found, which is completely fine!

Whilst I have had so many amazing changes in my life because of a plant- based diet, I have to let you know of the obstacles I came across.

Challenges

*Your friends will be shocked or sad that they have lost their go-to binge friend. They will feel sympathetic towards you as if you are struggling and going through something horrible and yes they will eat burgers in front of you or maybe try to persuade you to, “just have a burger now and then go back to it tomorrow.” Because it, “Won’t kill you.” Or those cheese platters you would normally dive into with your wine catchups-they’re gone, but yay for hummus though!

* Those nights that you are completely exhausted you realise:
a) There is no fast food drive through open that offers anything vegan other than fries,
b) You can’t just “whip” up a quick dinner. Boiling rice/pasta and sauteing three thousand vegetables is not simple. (MEAL PREP IS A MUST for these moments.)

* Not everywhere has vegan options and half the time you need to get a “normal’ meal and remove 80 percent of its contents to make it vegan.BORING! I can’t stress enough how amazing vegan cafes are, even for your friends!

Reminder to Myself

Today I am proud, especially looking at photos of how far I have come. The times that my brain tells me I need to lose more weight, particularly when my doctor “accidentally” reveals how much I weigh…(This happened the other day and it honestly brought me down for a second.) The times that I have a naughty treat and I get a normal breakout of a pimple or two….. or if I have an event and I choose to eat some fish or meat…That is ok and it is the overall change I have made to my body that will win in the end. I can’t be 100% vegan all the time and I can’t be too hard on myself if I want to maintain this long term.

THANK YOU, 40 days of Lent for unexpectedly making me realise what went wrong all this time and honestly changing my life forever.

Lots of love,

Anna

xxx