Day 25 - so fast

Back from my 3-day blogging eclipse, although I did return home yesterday morning, but... had so much work that I actually left the office at about 6 pm and at 8pm I was already asleep on the couch. At 11pm I so much so as lifted my butt from the couch, washed my teeth and replaced the couch with the bed and slept the whole night until the alarm clock woke me up this morning at 7am.

Not much of a life, is it.

In these days the only thing I cooked was a wok pasta for my dad's birthday, while mom did pretty much everything else (including a delicious vegan chocolate strawberry cake), am ashamed to say. That's what happens when you spend 60% of the time in the office and the rest sleeping or having drinks with friends.

Regarding friends. Not only did I receive a wedding invitation as I have predicted, but 2 wedding invitations! My friend is getting married on July, 30 to her long-term boyfriend, which will lead to a lot of partying this year - a party for their house renovation & moving in together, a bachelorette party of course!, and a party held a few days or a day prior to the wedding, when you gather at the house of the bride or groom to celebrate the upcoming wedding and to decorate the outside of the house, usually by making an arch from greens, flowers or, most recently, balloons - this is a tradition very common to my hometown, but also very local, as it is not known in other regions of my country. And then, of course, the wedding.

And another wedding (and all the parties involved) on September, 3, when no one else but my brother(!) is getting married!

So, lots of partying this summer and great excuses to:

1. buy new dresses
2. focus even more on the vegan diet & lose more weight (this part going really well so far! my jeans have really become loose and by now I would really need a 1-size smaller cut)

Not only, am I steadily losing weight and inches, but I'm generally feeling much, much better than I have felt in years. I seldom need coffee (I now drink it, because I like coffee, not because I would actually need it), I'm really centered and self-aware, feeling awake (well, most of the time anyway). I remember times when I would go out with friends and at 8pm yawn like crazy. That went away now. After lunch I never feel tired anymore, or feel the need to just "rest for 5 minutes" or maybe even go to bed. I have more energy, more will for working (at my job and in the household) and it's all really, really great. Who knew that I could have achieved all that simply by going (almost) vegan!

I would really recommend a simple test like this to anyone who is considering trying. You've got nothing to lose, really, although I do admit veganism is not for everyone, because you really need to have a reason to succeed and stay on track, be it compassion, health or other.

Unfortunately, meat consumption is so centered in our lives (& propaganda) that unless you have great support (and even then), you need to really try to stick to the new lifestyle. Restaurants are only slowly beginning to think of vegetarians, but it's still a long, long way to having vegan options. Every party you attend tends to have buffets centered on animal products, be it meat, cheese or combinations. Even fast foods center on meat. Like a few days back, I ran out of time for either cooking or visit a restaurant, so I voted for the Mac. I only had 3 options: mixed salad (or fruit), fries and a really awful veggie burger, that I chose without thinking and ate on the way. And will choose that again. Like, ever, so help me god.