FitfamMinimalism: Why I am NO LONGER Vegan ? ?

Hey FitFam,

Welcome to our Monday dose of Jesus and Fitness served hot.

I pray we are all living our BEST lives, and submitting that WHOLE thang to Jesus!!!

As I pondered what to serve today, my friend, Ope, sent me a screenshot of a book she is reading, which follows an ongoing conversation between both of us.

So, like some of you know, the ‘no animal protein’ life is something I had dabbled in and out of through 2019 to 2020. I had done prolonged seasons of the Daniel fast, embraced the ‘flexitarian diet’, swapped conventional milk for plant-based milk, and more.

This 2021, I decided to really let go of animal protein especially meats, but however, I found myself craving it more than normal, and a few times, I actually gave in.

I like to run my diet how God wants me to, and at first, using Genesis 1:29-30

Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened.

Genesis 1:29‭-‬30 NLT

I truly thought God wanted us away from EVERY ANIMAL.

Then I read a faith-based book whose name I would withhold so I don’t spoil it, and all they kept saying was how every form of animal protein is bad and dangerous, even in the smallest portion.

BUT, I still had questions.

Like, why does Genesis 9:2-3 exist in the Bible?

All the animals of the earth, all the birds of the sky, all the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the fish in the sea will look on you with fear and terror. I have placed them in your power. I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables.

Genesis 9:2-3 NLT

Why did Jesus, on resurrection, serve His disciples FISH and even fed the 5000 with fish?

“Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish.

John 21:12‭-‬13 NLT

I mean, I was not looking for any body’s words in the scriptures but Jesus!!! And these verses confused me, and truly made me feel like I could incorporate animal protein every now and then, but even then, I felt confused lol.

That book had MAJOR testimonies, especially on health, from those who had completely eliminated all forms of animal protein, and I knew they were not fibs.

The whole thing was confusing. I didn’t eliminate eggs though, I had animal protein very minimally, but I let go of conventional dairy (except my ice cream treat once a month)

Did I mention that I was STILL CONFUSED?

I wanted to desperately know what God wanted from me AND I also wanted answers from the Word to all my questions!

It was not until January 2021, I started to do this course on MessengerX app, called HEALTHY LIVING, by John Bevere, Dr. Josh Axe and Jordan Rubin that all the wisdom came together for me.

Oh boy, PLEASE download the App, search for and start to digest the Healthy Living course. It is FREE.99 so nothing is stopping you. Find it on Apple or Play store.

So in the series, Dr. Josh Axe and Jordan Rubin tells us the absolute problem with most animal protein we find in the stores and markets, and that comes from the UNHEALTHY WAY they are raised commercially. Animals are PUMPED with chemicals and all sorts of dangerous ‘food’, herbicides, pesticides, GMOs and the likes, so they can grow faster, bigger, and yield more money for them. Some of us have seen videos of what they do to chickens for example to fatten them and all. Phew!

So it is more pecuniary than love-driven, which is the same thing we see in manufacturing, where ‘food’ is genetically modified, produced in a factory, and made to last longer than real food should last.

So whether in the farm or factory, commercialization has compromised what really is a gift from God.

So the guys did a fine job educating us to instead find wild, GRASS FED, organic, naturally raised animals (and animal produce) instead, as those ones are healthier and safer, even if pricier.

Wow!!!

It finally all came together for me. I could have meat, if somehow I managed to find wild ones. I can have chicken, if I find someone rearing it and not feeding them crap. That’s really what organic is… let fruits, vegetables, foods and animals, birds, and fish grow NATURALLY. Do not alter anything.

I have started my research on wild meats in Nigeria and I am well on my way to purchasing those instead. I mean, did we KNOW we could buy bushmeat and others from hunters and all? There is even a market in Lagos (Oluwo) where they can be bought?

Like I said, I am still doing my research, so don’t quote or follow me on anything. The essence of this post is mainly to share my journey to and now away from being (kinda) vegetarian.

Now, here are a few things I am doing in the meantime

1. Reducing DRASTICALLY the amount of animal protein consumed in this home, especially for my kids. Many times, their meals don’t feature animal protein. I do more eggs which pose less wahala for the kidney.

2. Reduced almost completely conventional milk for the kids. Hubby still has here and there but I have replaced the kids’ milk with this lovely thick mix I made of tigernut milk, dates and banana. I made it thick and sweet so I can add it to the pap without getting it super watery while tasting delicious.

3. I re-introduced WITHOUT GUILT and MODERATION some meats into my diet WHILE I am researching wild organic meats from local hunters instead and I am also searching locally for poultry where chickens are not pumped with all kinds of deadly danger.

4. In the meantime, I am letting go of frozen chicken and all and buying live chicken instead. The deal is that while both are not the best, the frozen ones have been messed up in the FARM and FACTORY, so that’s double whammy.

I recognize that this is a PROCESS and will take TIME so I am willing to pace myself and make small changes along the way, which I will keep building on. The beautiful thing is that doors only start to open as we move, so I am excitedly looking for more doors that will open up to me, and knowledge sources too, as I get on the road.

I have the whole of 2021 to get it right, and even then, I know I won’t get it 100% right, but I want to sleep easy, knowing that every day, as the mom and steward of the kitchen and stomachs in my home, I am making the BEST decisions for us all.

I also KNOW that organic, by which I mean bush meats and all, are more expensive and less available, my remedy for that is PORTIONS

To keep it real, we consume WAY TOO MUCH of almost everything we should be consuming in moderation.

Truly, no God-given food is bad in itself, but our PORTIONS and FREQUENCY are a HUGE problem, and frankly what now affects our health.

My personal word for the year is TEMPERANCE which is about showing MODERATION in ALL THINGS, which is why I am embracing MINIMALISM

EMBRACING MINIMALISM: HOW IT ALL STARTED!

FitFam & Minimalist Part 1: My initial Baby Steps

I want to USE THINGS to glorify God and not let them STOP ME from being fully committed to my life assignments, while spending time, energy and resources worshipping STUFF, and this includes food, clothing, and the other necessary but vain things of life.

Some foods are just crap and I have chosen to eliminate and swap immediately (because I can with some effort), but for things I cannot eliminate/swap immediately, I want to MODERATE.

I want to have meat, BUT in moderation

I want to have eggs but in MODERATION

I want to have ice cream but in MODERATION

And this is really my prayer for us all. Because EXCESS is the devil’s playground

Let all things be done decently and in order.

1 Cor 14 v 40 NKJV

Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Philippians 4 v 5 NIV

So goodbye vegan, hello WISDOM and MODERATION!!!

This is MY STORY and journey; please hold fast the PRINCIPLES and don’t BLINDLY COPY me or anybody. For example, two people I really love are vegan- Heather Lindsey and The Stanczyks

Both are an inspiration to me in their diet and lifestyle, and I learn a lot from them, but I am no longer cutting out animals from my diet because of what I now consider my personal convictions.

So let’s walk with, follow and be LED by the Lord, and not DUST, including Eziaha

Love&Prayers
CoachE’

2021 CSL’s coaching kicked off on Sunday 31st, January and we started with HYGIANO: healthy in body, strong in spirit and HADACCAH: an AMAZING Nutrition plan program ONLY for QUEENS aka EVERY WOMAN looking to upgrade her health and diet. Next batch resumes Sunday 21st of February 2021, hurry and sign up today. Get the full gist with the link below

PS

Our 2021 Coaching: Hygiano & Hadaccah