Welcome!
Replies
-
Hi! I'm so excited to see a vegan section here!
I'm not new to MFP, but I've never ventured much into the community section. I started my account a few years ago, but only used it intermittently. I've been vegetarian for two years, and went vegan for New Year's this year.
I was doing really well as a vegetarian, lost some weight, felt great, then was diagnosed with breast cancer last spring. I'm done with treatment now, but struggling with my weight and fitness again, along with depression that's making it difficult to motivate myself.
Dealing with serious illness reaffirmed and strengthened my belief that no one should have to die or suffer for me to have a meal.0 -
Hi there - I am not new to veganism, I have been here before and have lapsed back into vegetarianism and further back to flesh foods. Just lately I have become increasingly aware that while I cannot cure all the problems of the world, I can do my little part and be able to hold myself accountable for my actions.
I practise Yoga and consider myself Hindu. As such, I feel better within myself when I walk a path which aims to be more humane toward all living things - a practice known as "ahimsa". Difficult to do as you may do away with all animals in captivity we know today as "livestock" but in doing so we create more arable land and, during harvest, we possibly kill as many living beings by destroying wild animal habitiats and run wild animals under farming machinery as we do presently in farming meat and dairy. Its an impossible dilemma that I have struggled with over the years. Nothing is perfect.
Fish I can easily leave behind as the knowledge of how saturated fish are these days with heavy metals and pollutants just turns my stomach these days.
So here I am. I welcome debate so long as it is amicable and I like to support people around me however I can.
Namaste
Carl0 -
Hello! I'm Bridget and am in the process of easing into veganism. 2 years ago for Lent I went vegan but fell away from it after Easter. Lately I have been reading more and focusing more on my diet and have decided to open the vegan door again. Since December-ish I have been phasing out one meat at a time. I found it's much easier to ease into it rather than just jumping into the deep end, at least for me. The next thing to cross off my list is eggs. I have been doing my "phasing out" in 2 week chunks. After 2/2/13 I plan on spending two weeks still consuming dairy, then make the leap.
My generic answer when people ask why is that I am just doing it for moral and health reasons. Honestly, for me, losing weight while eating vegan is much, much easier. More than that though, I have just been feeling pangs of guilt eating animal products since I've seen Food, Inc. and read things like The Kind Diet, Veganist, The Food Revolution, etc. I have Forks Over Knives in my Netflix instant queue and I'm sure that will be another eye-opener.
I'm really happy to see this group out here. In the main forums it seems like any time someone brings up being vegan they're bombarded with criticism. It's discouraging.
I am also looking to add some new friends to MFP. Vegans with open diaries who log often would be great so I can get an idea of what yummy things are out there that I haven't gotten into yet. I'm good about logging on weekdays, not so great on weekends. So please do feel free to add me or send a message. Thanks!0 -
Hello, I am a VERY new vegan. Still in transition and looking for support and ideas. I like long walks on the beach and reading others' food diaries for inspiration...0
-
Hi! My name is Stefany & I have been vegan for almost 2 years. I probably would have become vegan in my teens, but I made different choices & put my blinders on to the way animals are treated in the farming industry. A couple of years ago, I went out of town over the weekend & while I was gone my husband discovered all of the factory farming videos on the Internet. When I returned, we watched some & discussed it, and decided to go vegan for life.
I wouldn't say that I am the healthiest vegan. I love a good veggie burger & my favorite restaurant is Doomie's in LA (they even catered our wedding last year), but I do like healthy meals as well. I go about half & half.
Today starts a two week juice fast... we'll see where it takes me.0 -
Greetings! I've just joined MFP and immediately searched for the vegan/vegetarian groups. I've been vegan for 3+ years and I love to cook, so let's swap some good recipes.
0 -
Hi everyone!
Been away from My fitness pal for a looong time. Since then decided to omit animals from my diet.. I delayed coming back here as I could NOT be bothered with the misconceptions "oh where will you get your protein from?" etc. But so glad to see theres some Vegan groups here, hopefully this will keep me motivated
Feel free to add me but be forewarned I probably wont log in every day. Apparently people delete friends who dont do this. Thats cool but youve been warned x 0 -
Hi everyone, I'm Melissa and I went from being a meat eater to vegan on 1/30/13. I mainly became vegan to prevent health problems that I'm at risk for (a-fib, heart disease). My mom had been vegitarian for about a year and a half and became vegan a couple of months ago, and she really inspired me to change my ways. Since switching, I've been doing a lot more research and I'm even more happy with my choice after seeing what eating animals and animal products do to your body, your health AND the environment.
Please feel free to add me as a friend, as I would really like to have more friends on here to motivate me and to share recipes with!0 -
Veggie from birth thanks to my parents - however, my family were very open about me trying all kinds of foods, including meat. I remember eating a chicken nugget at a kids party, and wolfing down chorizo at a barbeque.. But when I hit 10 - I decided that even the occasional bit of meat was not for me.
Turned vegan at 19, after moving out and being unable to afford good quality dairy products. Then, I got more involved in animal rights, learned more about alternative protein sources, and became very happy (and healthy!) in my vegan identity.
However, I lapsed a few months ago while living with other people who would regularly use dairy products in communal meals. I am a strong believer in WASTE BEING WORST.. However, I actually reacted quite badly to the dairy, so moved on out and have become strictly vegan AGAIN for 2 months.
Feel more motivated and more energised than ever!0 -
I had no idea this group was here, or that there were so many other Vegans on here.
I've been Vegan since September 2013.0 -
Hi everyone! I am new to myfitnesspal and would love some friends to help encourage me along the way, and then I found this group, which seems a perfect place to meet likeminded MFPers! I decided to go vegetarian at 19, when I started university, because I finally had the freedom to not eat whatever my mother wanted to cook, and had never liked meat, EVER. When I started to learn more about animal farming and the animal rights movement early last year, it didn't take much for me to make the leap to a wholly dedicated vegan lifestyle just before easter 2012. I am now committed to fighting for animal rights and never using any animal products in any part of my life, and I hope that resolve never changes.
Pleased to join this group, thanks a lot!0 -
Greetings. I spend most of my time here with the horse women group but have recently become vegan.
I have been all varieties of vegetarian since my 20's and raised my kids that way. I am now 61. I joined MFP in January and have been dealing with cravings, cleaning up my food, week by week.
I started to watch pro vegan, pro organic documentaries on Netflix! Oh boy! So much I didn't know or realize Vegan, well isn't that the next logical step?
To loose weight I don't use oil or margarine or anything processed. I am eating healthy starch, as recommend by Dr. McDougall. and I am trying to eat raw about 50 %... So much easier in the summer.
Week by week I am just trying to do more healthy things. I love the idea of reversing disease! I want to be riding my horse when I am 90!
Next non leather boots for the farm! HELP!
No more wool or silk! That should do it. Oh I dream of my own farm and I will welcome rescued farm animals!0 -
Hi everyone. I am MacKenzie, Wife, student, mother and business owner. I have been vegan for 3 years now and have a beautiful 5 1/2 month old that I am raising vegan. Add me! I can use more vegan friends!0
-
Hi! I'm Lisa & have been vegan for 7 years. I was vegetarian beforehand- since I was 16 (I'm 41 now- so it's been awhile!).
I made the plunge to go vegan because I really wasn't sure why I wasn't.... a few video clips shown by my daughter nudged me along too. It just seemed like the right thing to do!
I'm always looking for vegan or veggie friends, so feel free to add me! 0 -
I'm new to Mfp and to actually losing weight. When I started my weight loss journey I just wanted to eat clean and healthy I'm not a vegan but I think my body wants me to be. All I crave is vegetables and fruits I seem really run down to if I eat fish or chicken it seems disgusting to me lately and I don't know why. Is being a vegan a health choice or a moral choice? As a vegan what other foods can you have? Can vegans eat bread if so what kind and what are good seeds to buy and eat, should I start juicing? I really need help.0
-
Hello all! My name is Kimberly I'm happily married for almost 11 years and have 2 kiddos. I'm excited to see a Vegan group here- I feel all lost and alone as a vegan in the midwest!
I became a vegan at the age of 34 on September 1st 2012- not that long ago at all! I originally went vegan for health reasons- I suffered from debilitating daily migraines for years and was a medical guinea pig- up to 17 pills a day at on point just trying to prevent them. It wasn't working for me- just giving me fun side effects like hallucinations and randomly fainting- and who knows what else so I decided to try something different. After some research this is what I landed on.
I woke up Sept 1st and told my husband my plan- told him I'd happily keep cooking for him but I was tired of not being able to live life and enjoy my family. He said "Okay- well then we're all doing it." And from that evening on we've been doing it together. I was scared as a full blown carnivore who use to give a pitiful look and say "oh I"m so sorry" anytime someone told me they were even vegetarian- I was raised knowing that vegetables consisted of potato and corn. I had no idea how I would ever live without cheese. Yes- I was that person. So I guess I deserve all of the comments and looks I get now. All I know is- I was so wrong. This has been the best thing I have ever done for myself in my entire life. (not the best thing I ever did- i have 2 great kids and a fantastic hubby afterall). It was a struggle going cold turkey- I cleared out my fridge, freezer and pantry that night and was cooking pure vegan by lunch.
It was a surprise for my family to do it with me- the kids being 9 and 5 really had no idea until we told them a month later, and explained everything. Through more and more research and recipe testing I feel I've become very firm in my resolve to continue on this path for good. My migraines stopped after the first week- I think I forgot to mention that. And with that I also opened my eyes to the truth of the food industry and refused to shut them again. Ew. I"m happy to be now living a cruelty free life- ignorance may have been bliss for me at the time but it wasn't for the animals and it wasn't for my health. My list of items I thought I"d never live without has gone from 1000000 things to maybe 2-5. I would love to know how to make a fake french dip, where the hell we can get a good cheese substitute, and if mai wah crab/shrimp is any good- really. I need to know before I pay 80 dollars in shipping
.
Originally I tried to not use many fake meat products- but my hubby has been traveling a lot the past 2 months and I"ve fallen into that fast and easy rut and feeling guilty about it. I'd like to use them no more then once a week so my current push is to get back on track with that even if the hubby isn't home. I'm thinking my solution might be to double the meals I make when he's here and freeze them for when he's gone so I can just reheat that when he is gone for the kids and I, but I've not yet put that into practice. I"m happy to have suggestions.
Thanks to the instant "but where do you get your protein" question I'm also back to a panic about if I"m feeding the kids 100 percent right so hopefully the food track here will help me calm those worries- I do know it's ridiculous but still as a mom I worry. I've had a hard time with friends- sometimes still do. I feel like I'm always defending my choice and that there is always an eye-roll thrown my way. I swear I don't even bring it up, unless asked. Though I swear I'm about to get a t-shirt made that would respond to all of the remarks I typically get: "yes you can live without cheese. yes there is protein in vegan food. yes it has flavor- probably more then yours. No, I don't care that the bible says animals were made to be eaten (does it really say that??). Yes, I know I'm fat- yes I'm seriously vegan. No, I don't think I'll become a pasty colored waif. No, I don't think my food is better then yours- I think it's healthier then yours and soooo much less cruel. Yes- there are issues with the manufacturing of soy and rain forests have been destroyed- but 80 percent of the current soy production is for livestock. No I don't eat grass and twigs . I didn't bring it up - YOU DID! " That might be much for 1 t shirt, maybe and I"m sure I missed a few.
I'm still figuring it out and this isn't the best location to do it- we don't have any vegan restaurants or groups here that I know of so I'm happy to have found this group and hope to get to know ya'll a bit !
-Kimberly0 -
Hi there! I was vegan from January 2012 until Sandy hit, then we all had to leave with my aunt and she made dinner for all 9 of us and it was just too rude/difficult to eat my 'special' food. Now that things have settled after the storm, I am trying to get back on the wagon! My biggest challenge is eating out at restaurants. I don't want to only eat salad and I hate having to ask the server about ingredients. I do say 'no cheese' if its a dish, say pasta, that usually comes with it but I don't ask if all the individual ingredients are vegan.
But other than that, when I prepare my food, it's vegan. I drink almond milk. Eat lots of veggies. Lots of PB&J sandwiches for an easy lunch at work. Shredded Wheat or Cheerios for breakfast. I have a cabinet full of beans. I love soft flour tortillas so I just wrap stuff up in them, add some daiya cheese or not, salsa and throw it in the oven. Works well with refried beans.
I'd like to know more quick, easy, vegan, and nutritionally complete recipes.
I was inspired to become vegan after attending a presentation on "Why We Wear Cows, Eat Pigs, and Love Dogs". I have all of Kris Carr's books. I love the documentaries on Veganism and healthy living (Forks Over Knives, Fat, SIck and Nearly Dead etc). I watch Mercy for Animals footage if I need hard-core inspiration to stick to veganism.
I truly believe a plant-based diet is the healthiest, even if its not followed perfectly.0 -
Hello I'm Sarah
I have been vegan pretty much my whole life, I have severe food allergies and I'm allergic to all animal products. I also have gone gluten free since I was diagnosed with Endo. I'm new to MFP and looking for friend with the same interests. 0 -
Hi, I'm Shell from North Wales.
I became vegetarian in 1991 purely for ethical reasons. Before that I was a big meat eater and couldn't think what to eat, so I picked up some copies of the Vegan magazine. What I read there horrified me as I had never considered that the dairy and egg industry might be cruel. After one year I became vegan in 1992 and have never thought twice about it. I love food, and I quite like healthy food, but if vegan chips, beer and cake are presented as an alternative, I'd have a hard job to turn them down. I'm pretty good at one pot meals like curries, casseroles and soups and have made a great friend of the slow cooker. But I'd like to learn the art of vegan baking, which is always a disaster for me. I have 50 lbs to lose and hope that this site will be the answer. I was so pleased to see many other vegans here and hope I can make some friends to help motivate me as I think this is going to be very hard indeed.0 -
Hello Everyone!
I'm Kay and I've been a Vegan off and on for almost the last year. I started last summer just to challenge myself and help me lose some weight for a month. I had read the Vegan lifestyle was good for people with similar health histories as I have so I gave it a try. After that one month, I was pretty hooked, but I have recently have had a hard time staying on board. My family doesn't like me being vegan all that much and dinners or other meals with them is hard. I'm lucky enough to be single and have whatever foods in my home, but eating at family functions have been difficult and sometimes a beggar can't be a chooser. So I am here to find support, try some new food/meal options and look for ways to stay strong as a Vegan. I really do love and prefer this lifestyle. It has changed my body for the better. I have lost 22lbs so far and the adult ache I once had is now gone for good. Any words of advice and support would be wonderful.
Thank you! 0 -
I've been a vegetarian for 35 years (I was 16 when my parents finally relented and let me "try" vegetarianism). I've been "mostly vegan" (I still prefer half-n-half in my coffee) for about a year, now. Lots of great options out there; lots of great recipes. I'm looking forward to seeing some of the favorites in here!
Lynne0 -
I am Renee and I recently decided to stop eating unhealthy for a lot of reasons, two being a bad gallbladder and weight loss. I have been basically eating vegan for the past 2 weeks and have dropped weight when I have tried everything else to no avail. This is now a part of my lifestyle whether or not I lose my gallbladder. Since this is a new thing for me, I will need a lot of support.0
-
Hi first time I've seen this group. I'm a Vegan (for ethical reasons) and live with my disabled and ill wife who I care for full time I live with my Dogs and Cats in Scotland and have around 150lb in total to lose. I used to be pretty fit then j think my portions got a bit out of control. It would be nice no longer to have the comments like 'How can you be fat you're a vegan!'0
-
Hello, my name is Cassandra and I am a 32 year old on again/off again vegan, though this time around i plan to stick to it permanently. I have a 16 month old daughter who is my world and I am vegan mostly because I want to be around to see her children and the other part is because I am against factory farming. I am pretty over weight and again, my drive for losing is to be here for my daughter. I am always looking for other vegans to network with since i don't have many around me.0
-
Hi
Nice to know there are more vegans here!
My name is Jolanda, I am 37 and vegan since January 2012. (Vegetarian before that)
The reason I joined MFP is to get back in shape and try to fight my disease without any more medications and surgery.
And after the last surgery I got a little belly flap because of all the cutting I think. I am not overweight, but I did like to lose a few pounds which I already did the last few weeks since I started here. Now I am trying to tone things up a bit and gain more muscle.
Feel free to add me.0 -
Hi there!
My name is Veronica, I am 39 and vegan for 18 years for ethical (respect for animals) reasons. I live in Manchester, UK and I am Spanish.
I have been gaining weight again gradually so I have come back to MFP after a 2 year gap to have the same success I had last time.
Please feel free to add me if you are also vegan.
Cheers!
Veronica0 -
Hi everyone
I've been phobic of meat ever since I was a kid so I have been a vegetarian my entire life.
I just recently made the switch to vegan hoping it will help with my stubborn high cholesterol and help me drop those last stubborn 10 pounds. Eating vegan has kept me away from a lot of the processed food I would normally eat and has also kept me from wasting my money on eating out. Loving it so far!0 -
I an new to the vegan world Jan. 2012. So far I am liking it. I became vegan for health reasons. I wasn't digesting meat and had issues with dairy. I don't think I am a true vegan, I still eat honey and other things made by animals I guess. Just no meat/dairy. I have always been a veggie lover so it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I was forced to learn to cook however. Learning to like things I didn't think I'd like i.e. quinoa, beans etc. Love them and learning different ways to eat is kind of exciting. I look forward to sharing with this group! Maybe more learning I would guess! :happy: :ohwell:0
-
Hello! My name is Brittney and I have been fully vegetarian since January this year. After my first month of vegetarianism, I decided to try and spend the next few months transitioning to vegan. It began for me as a journey to better health but after being introduced to the animal cruelty aspect, I decided that the "no animal product" path was a much better choice. I still have a long way to go with replacing all of my food/products but I'm learning, growing and changing every day! Always looking for new alternatives to animal products and I love advice and information so please feel free to share! I only have one friend on my fitness pal, it would be nice to have some more, especially vegans! :flowerforyou:0
-
Hi! My name is Patricia. I have been a vegetarian for 9 years. But I was eating too much crap- processed foods, carb heavy foods, oreos, chips, sweets, etc., so Oct of last year switched to a plant based diet.
I went total vegan 4 weeks ago when I started the Eat to Live plan. Cheese and yogurt addiction has been the hardest so far. To date I have been able to walk away from it with no issues.
My weight is falling off quickly since I changed to plant based. I just want to make sure I can make this change permanently, and not revert back and gain the weight back, which is what I had done in the past.0
