Sure, I was skinny. But I became skinny because I abused my body; I sacrificed my health and happiness to lose weight.
I didn't go out to dinner with friends.
Regardless of whatever plans came up, if they interfered with my scheduled gym time, I declined the plans in lieu of getting my workout, lest feeling guilty.
I turned away foods I once loved, because I feared eating them would make me gain weight.
Don't get me wrong - it wasn't all bad. I fell in love with cooking. I started this blog. I created new, healthy recipes that made me feel good because I knew eating them wouldn't make me gain weight.
But I didn't love myself. And I didn't love my lifestyle.
So it unraveled.
One thread.
Then another.
And four more.
Until I became a pile of yarn strewn across the floor.
I convinced myself that my restricted lifestyle would keep me thin. I didn't eat dairy, eggs, or meat, so I didn't have to worry about excess fat, cholesterol, or an of those "bad" things. I just ate my beans and vegetables and feigned a smile.
The ironic part of it all? I gained weight while being vegan. I gained weight without so much as a bite of meat touching my teeth.
Every time my clothes felt tight, I would go on a "cleanse". Or I'd vow to stay strictly vegan because I convinced myself that it would make me thin again. Or I'd decide I'd only eat raw for a few weeks.
I was a mess.
That made me learn a valuable lesson: It isn't what you choose to eat, but how you treat your body. You can abuse your body being a raw foodie, being vegan or vegetarian, or eating red meat every day. Conversely, you can be perfectly healthy eating whatever makes you happy.
I abused my body for months, and I'm still struggling. But I'm learning.
And now I'm at a crossroads.
Part III is on the way.
