WOW. I'm not sure how I missed this earlier, but that's absolutely amazing! What made you turn so fast, if you don't mind me asking? Good for you! Best of luck!!! :rockon:


It's kind-of a funny story. LOL Well....in one word (well two actually)

TONY ROBBINS.

I had seen a clip of one of the KFC videos before, but I was diassociated from it, I guess simply because it was chickens and all I really saw were them having their beaks cut off.

Anyway, whatever the reason was, it wasn't enough to stop me from eating meat, or anything else that was unhealthy.

Well on April 21 I attended a Tony Robbins seminar. After 3 days of a lot of life-chaning experiences (getting rid of fears, learning how to control emotions, goal setting, etc), our 4th and final day was completely dedicated to health. Not only did he show 2 clips of cow and chicken slaughterhouses, but he explained in detail the effects of meat and dairy on your health. Then he challenged us to a 10-day cleanse (no meat, dairy, caffeine, etc... basically just fresh and organic fruits and veggies, organic whole wheat flour products and water)

The very next day I threw out every product in my house that had meat or dairy in it. I was amazed at how much I threw out! I filled up 2 trash bags that I threw out and 4 large grocery bags that I took to my church. (Anything that was un-opened I took to them and they gave it to a needy family.)

After that I started researching nutrition and reading about Vegan diets and causes, watching videos, reading books, etc. I was astounded by the information I found. It saddens me that the majority of the population has no idea how the foods they eat are affecting their bodies. :( So I decided to do something about it. I am opening 2 restaurants, one fast food place with healthy, organic food and an upscale, fine dining, vegetarian restaurant. I am also starting a non-profit organization to go into the high schools and educate teens about nutrition and how their diet affects them. And hopefully educate some parents and school administrators as well!

Anyway so that was the major thing that started my drastic change. That was one month and 4 days ago. Been "clean" ever since, except an egg like 2 weeks into it and the milk in the fritters at my MIL's house. I deeply regret those two slip-ups though. :( The only good thing about the slip-ups though, is both time they happened they actually re-inforced my decision to be vegan. :) It started out as a health thing for me, but the more I learn the more it is turning out to be not only for my health, but for the poor animals who suffer needlessly each and every day because of our society and what we are taught to believe is good for us. :-/ I am proud to say that now that when I see meat, I don't see food, I see bloody, dead animals. I still do it for my health, but those images keep me from even considering eating meat.

Okay - is he - tony - all he's cracked up to be?? I've seen him on Tv an din mags here and there... seems a little spastic to me...

good post!
Yay for you!!

It's so great to hear stories like yours! I've been struggling back and fourth for quite a few years now myself, so it's awesome to hear of people who were able to make such a drastic change so fast. I've been forcing myself to watch some of Peta's videos and read up a lot more on what's really going on, but it's definitely been too long of a process. I think I'm going to look up Tony Robbins and see if there are any seminars going on in my area. Maybe it'll work as well as it did for you! :) By the way, I can't tell you how great I think it is that you're opening TWO restaurants that cater to veggie/vegans! That's been one of the hardest things for me to deal with (makes it hard to have a life when all of your friends routinely gather at McDonalds and Longhorn...). I hope that works out well for you - Maybe one day I'll see one of your restaurants in my area :) Best of luck!!!

Lovejoy--there were definitely parts that I was thinking, ok....you people are cukoo (or however you spell it) But for the most part it was good for me. One thing I will say is it got my head out of my butt regarding my food choices and it also made me stop making excuses and take action on a lot of things in my life. ;)

Moecha--That is exactly my point. I have 2 kids and when we are out and about it is soooo hard to find anywhere for us to eat!! And here in Vegas, it is even worse. There are 2 (count them, 2!!) restaurants here that cater to Vegetarians and Vegans and they are both lunch places. ;)

eekamax, that's not really a funny story, it's a FANTASTIC story.

I knew Tony Robbins was a motivational speaker, but WOW!

You should write him a letter about how he's changed your life!

Yea I thought about it, but I figure he probably gets a lot of those....

Where are you opening up your restaurants? My family seems to just love fastfood, so if we ever travel down to the area, I'll make sure we stop by. And I'd also like to check out that upscale restaurant. It'd be nice to have more than 2 dishes to choose from.

LOL amen to that!

We are opening them in Las Vegas. Our goal for the fine dining restaurant is to eventually open one in New York, LA, Atlanta and Chicago.

As for the fast food restaurant, we plan to open 3 locations in Las Vegas to start, and hopefully franchise out here as well as other cities.

Yesterday we used the guise of a BBQ to get our friends to try out several dishes from the fast food one's menu and give us feedback. I was deeply saddened by the fact that my husband had told everyone that the food would be vegetarian, because everyone had an attitude about it before I even sat the food out and one guy wouldn't eat one bite and went to a buger joint to get a burger and brought it back. :( It really sucks that people ASSume that vegetarian and vegan food is automatically gross.

:( It really sucks that people ASSume that vegetarian and vegan food is automatically gross.


I agree! I mentioned to my brother yesterday that I had made tofu french toast for breakfast and he had such negative comments about it (it was absolutely delicious, and no one would have known it had tofu in it unless I told them).

One day my sweet little nephew (this same brother's son), who was 4 at the time was eating tofu nuggets and really enjoying them (the recipe is in the vegetarian family cookbook.) His father shivered and made negative comments within the little guy's hearing. He hasn't been interested in trying them since. :whack:

Ugh. That is just sad. :(