My only regret about becoming vegan? Not doing so sooner

“Veganism” used to be something of a dirty word in my house growing up. As a family of hearty carnivores, the idea of not having a portion of meat on my plate once – and in some cases three times – a day was unheard of. It wasn’t just meat and fish. I’d happily demolish a cheeseboard by myself and, as a child, I can’t remember drinking anything other than cow’s milk.

So when I dropped the bombshell on my wife, family and friends that I was adopting a plant-based diet, the decision was met with ridicule and scepticism.

To look at me then, you would think I was the sort of bloke who would eat roadkill; big, burly, all hair and tattoos. But turning vegan was something that I had wanted to do for years – if only I could get past the I’ll-die-if-I-don’t-eat-meat myth.

Then one day, my wife and I saw a documentary about the environmental impact of livestock breeding on the planet and the studies that showed red meat increases the risk of certain cancers. Our oceans are on the verge of collapse because of overfishing. The food used to feed livestock could wipe out world hunger in a day. It gave me the kick up the backside I needed.

I chose to become a vegan on January 27. I had done no prep work, no meal planning, and had no idea where I might find meat-and-dairyfree items. I weighed 129 kilograms and struggled to play and chase after my three young children. I looked terrible and felt worse.

Within the first few weeks I could see and feel the benefits. I no longer felt bloated after meals, I was sleeping better and had more energy.

Instead of going to bed at 1am, I went to bed at 10pm.

Nearly 10 months on I feel better than I ever have. I’ve lost 30kg and started playing football again. I get compliments from people who can’t believe the transformation.

When people ask me why I turned to a vegan diet I tell them, truthfully, that it was done for my health rather than ethical reasons. But the two are linked: if I’m not eating meat, somewhere down the chain (hopefully) an animal isn’t being slaughtered for human consumption.

Vegans make up 1 per cent of the world’s population. My only regret is that I didn’t do it years ago.