Veganuary: Are You Up For The Challenge?

The most common New Year's resolutions are to lose weight (35 percent), followed by getting in shape (33 percent), and eating more healthily (31 percent), according to The Telegraph. Founders of Veganuary, Matthew Glover and Jane Land take these resolutions for self-improvement and better health a step further by inviting people all over the world to take the pledge to go vegan for the month of January.

At least 20,000 have made the pledge for this year, according to The Telegraph. Last year, thousands took part in the United States, with Britain coming in second with more than 3,200 participants. Land says, "It's not just about a healthier lifestyle. Going vegan also has benefits for the environment and helps reduce cruelty to for animals. More than 75 percent of people who have tried going vegan for a month report an improvement in their health. They said they slept better and they lost an average of 6lbs as a result of their changed diet."

In Veganuary 2015, people in 115 different countries pledged to go vegan. 71 percent felt an improvement in their health, 65 percent learned something new about animal agriculture, and 51 percent chose to stay vegan after the end of Veganuary, according to The Huffington Post. Land says, "Best of all, Veganuary 2015 saved the lives of 1,596,180 animals."

Glover and Land launched Veganuary in the U.K. in January 2014. "Veganuary is dedicated to changing public attitudes, while providing all the information and practical support required to make the transition to veganism as easy and enjoyable as possible," according to the site. The website offers many resources, including a Vegan Starter Kit, guides to eating out, vegan myths, and features on vegans around the world.