Run, Run, Run

I guess the advantage of not sleeping is that I didn't need to drag myself out of bed this morning to go for a run. I spent the night alternating between staring at the ceiling, crying and sitting on the sofa. None of it mounted to anything close to sleep, so I was out the door before the clock even struck 6am. 

Wedding Bells

It's hard to believe that it's probably been ten years since we were last in a photograph together. These are the girls who I spent all my school years with. I remember the school discos, our high school crushes, and that time we got drunk on Smirnoff Ice before going on school bowling night. It's strange to think how time passes and you just grow apart from people. I just hope another ten years don't go past before i see them again. 

London Times!

On Monday, I headed down to London with Jenn for a few days of musicals, drinks, sun and adventures.

I was looking to try as many new vegan places as possible, so we went to Vitao on Oxford Street to get some dinner. It was really small place with a choice of organic juices, salads and hot dishes. I ended up with a bit of everything includes noodles, broccoli and a tomato and chickpea tagine.

The best of all though was the selection of raw cakes and cookies they had. I opted for a coconut apple tart and Jenn picked some chocolate cake.

After we ate it was time to go see Billy Elliot. It was never a musical that was high up my list of things I wanted to see, but going on a recommendation from someone at the Edinburgh Playhouse, I figured it had to be good. It wasn't just good though, it was one of the best musicals I've ever seen. If you've not seen it yet, then I really recommend it. The dancing was fantastic, and some parts were a lot darker and emotional than I ever really expected it to be. I'm just hoping it goes on tour soon so it come up to Edinburgh. 

We decided to go experience some culture on Tuesday with a trip to the British Museum. Obviously the first stop inside was the gift shop, and then we just spent a couple of hours walking around all the exhibitions. 

We spent Tuesday afternoon watching Jersey Boys. I managed to get us a couple of complimentary tickets through work as the show is coming up to the Edinburgh Playhouse in October. Our seats ended up being just a few rows from the front, so we really couldn't have asked for a better place to watch the show. The story of Frankie Valli isn't one that i really knew, but with songs that are instantly recognisable it was a great show. 

After Jersey Boys it was time to go to the IceBar for the first time. For someone who is cold all the time, i found it freezing even with the giant cape and gloves on. Still, it was one of the best bars I've ever been too, especially since they served you cocktails in giant ice cubes.

We had a few hours on Wednesday before the train ride home. It was just enough time to go to the British Library and have a walk around Camden.

I took Jenn to my favourite Brazilian bar for cocktails, and then we obviously had to make a stop by the best vegan bakery I've come across called Cookies and Scream. I've been there four times this year already, but this was the first time I tried an ice cream sandwich and it was definitely worth the wait.

HAPPY SIX MONTHS VEGAN BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

If you haven't guessed it already, this week marks six months since I decided to change my eating habits and become vegan. I made the decision from the start that I wasn't going to commit myself to it forever. These days forever is something that almost never exists, and the last thing  I want to be known for is quitting the choices I have shouted about for months on end. The thing is, right now I honestly can't see myself going back to how I was before.

My dad was concerned that I was making it socially awkward for myself, but i'm managed to pass the major eating hurdles without any problems at all. If i'm eating out then I take my friends to vegan friendly restaurants like Henderson's in Edinburgh or Stereo in Glasgow. If we go to a normal restaurant then i'll find something to eat. It might not be my first choice, but I can always find something on the menu. I went away for a hen party and the restaurant we went to was able to adapt everything so I could have soup without cream, pasta without cheese and even something sweet to finish it off. I've got two weddings this year and both brides to be have said they can supply a vegan option for the meal. The only downside is i'll miss out on the wedding cake, but at least i can eat myself full at dinner.

My dad wasn't the only one who raised concerns back in January when I started to tell people what I was doing. Some people just simply didn't understand. I should probably point out that these were the people who had a diet that consisted of junk food, takeaways, cigarettes and a lot of alcohol. But of course, it would be rude of me to comment on their diet. Others seemed worried about how I would ever manage to get my daily intake of protein. It just so happens that one cup of pinto or kidney beans gives you 15 grams of protein, so really there's no need for people to be too concerned.

The best thing about it all is how healthy I've felt. I don't get that horrible bloated feeling you get after eating lots of junk food. I still feel a bit tired, but that's due to my over thinking mind keeping me awake than anything else. I've not had a proper cold, a sore throat or any sort of flu related illness in months. I don't feel run down at all, in fact i feel better than I've felt in years.

I know this kind of diet isn't for everyone and i'm sure people will continue to question me whenever I tell them about it. But instead of asking stupid questions (i'm happy to answer serious ones) i wish people would look into it a bit more. It's an incredibly healthy way to live, and i'm pretty sure i'll be feeling even better in another six months time.