Any Vegans on here?

glennhaggard

Wondering if there were others relatively new to veganism who were workign on health goals. on here. Sometimes I feel like the world's fattest vegan, which I can call myself tongue in cheek, but this site stresses in a few places sharing a diet makes it easier to complete, so...if anyone else is a vegan, juices regularly - fruit and vegetable, not Barry Bonds cream and clear - let me know and maybe we can motivate each other.

brevislux

Yup! I've been vegetarian for a long time, but just now decided to give veganism a second try after I failed in it in high-school... I'd love to have many vegan friends, I think one of the things that help me most is that my diary's open and people would see I cheated if I did.

glennhaggard

Yeah, accountability is huge. Veganims is something a year ago I'd have laughed if someone suggested I'd be doing it now, but...it's kind easy for me. Vegan cake and ice cream are awesome, and the more I do it the better I feel, it's those cheat days when my stomach hurts and I feel bloated and like I want to sleep all day that are rough. Only thing I need to find is some vegan nacho cheese lol

MsWellington

Hey guys!

I'm a new vegan too; just started about two weeks ago, so I'm still getting used to all the changes in my life. I'm still looking to lose between 30 and 40 pounds! It would be nice to have people to talk to, whether it be for motivation or just sharing some vegan tips/recipes

Best of success in your health goals!

brevislux

Hahaha, what I'm lacking most is omelettes. Found a recipe for tofu scramble, maybe that will do... But it's not that bad, really.

Were you vegetarian before?

glennhaggard

Welcome, MsWellington! I'm happy to help if I can. Do you have a nearby organic store? I love my trips to Whole Foods. I prefer trail mixes from a different store, but experimenting has given me increidble surprises (coconut milk-made ice cream is superb!) and some of the vegan tacitos taste worse than cardboard, but all in all everything is good. My wife makes a vegan lasanga, we use rice or soy cheese, and it's terrific. Eggplant, broccoli, etc. I find this to be a killer salad - I get the 2 1/2 (I think) organic spring mix plastic bin, and just use a handful in a large bowl, slice some cherry tomoatoes, an avocado, top with one can (15 oucnes) of organi spicy black beans and some organic vegan ranch or southwestern salad dressing and I am stuffed for lunch. Plus it's like 30 grams of protein and I feel light and free, even though being totally full and having no cravings whatsoever.

Brevislux, omlettes are great, I used to enjoy them. Particularly with mushrooms, green peppers, tomoatoes and salsa in them. Egg substitute can be used, I forget which one my wife bought (I can't make an omlette to save the world) but she put all the above in it and it was very good. I've had a boxed tofu scramble, I liked it, my wife raved about it. It was from Amy's brand.

I was vegetarian for a few weeks, but I wanted to end the dairy, as a lot of "vegan" things such as Oreos or "vegetarian" things like a ton of cookies, breads, yogurts and so on are sabotaging for someone like me. Plus, I can't say how much my cheating with cheese (almost always nacho cheese, which leads to sour cream, and possibly ground beef) leads me feeling terrible afterwards. It also seems to slam the brakes on motivation to move more. If I go 4-5 days of no cheating, I'm good to go and energetic, everyone notices. My goal for my dietary changes are to last until end of November, when the American holiday of Thanksgiving is. I discovered last year I'm a superb turkey maker (I make a BBQ one) and I'm making it with my family. That day, I'm going full-on binge without thinking about anything, but then again, having lamb for my birthday was a disaster, so I probaly won't feel up to it, to be honest.

brevislux

Baby steps. I slip sometimes too, but the fact other people have a way of knowing that really makes that happen less often.

I'll drop by the organic store to have a look, that egg replacement thing sounds pretty interesting!

By the way, how do managed you're getting enough protein and calcium? I found it to be quite a big problem. Even food that generally has lots of protein like soy beans or lentils still has more carbs.

vegg_head

Just became a dietary vegan recently- add me if you like !

maro_p

My bf is vegan so we are a more than vegan friendly household eating loads of fruits, veg, beans and tofu.

Add me if you like

bokodasu

Just mostly vegan. (I eat some dairy and occasionally stuff with egg in it.) Anyway, if you're just starting out I highly recommend all of the Isa Moskowitz and Terry Romero books - start with Veganomicon, which will give you all the basics and a lot of solid everyday recipes, and then add the specialty books as they catch your fancy. I have two copies of Vegan Cupcakes and I think I'm going to have to get a second of Vegan Brunch because I can't find mine, but it has a really great tofu omelet recipe in it if you're looking for one. The website is a good resource too - http://www.theppk.com/.

Carmen10017

I am. Most days I stick with Brendan Brazers Thrive Diet. Working towards Ironman in November.

darkling_glory

There are a couple of veg friendly groups here on MFP

"Team Vegan" and "Happy Herbivores"

Come join us!

mamaclose

I've been a vegetarian at different points in my life, recently turning to veganism in May of this year.

Excellent omelette recipe: http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2007/09/vegan-omelette-for-one.html

Nacho "cheese" recipe: http://www.theppk.com/2011/11/cashew-queso/

Feel free to add me!

msphyl46

I'm a beginner vegetarian I guess you could say. I'm in transition trying to learn what has protein, calcium etc. My goal is to become vegan. I don't eat diary except sour cream on my potatoe and will be giving that up soon. I don't want to overwhelm myself with this new way of eating. I pretty much juice every day. I feel so much better. If you could offer me some advise I will be happy to receive it. Be Healthy!!!!

alanlmarshall

I've been a vegan for 20 years and have struggled with my weight most of that time.

glennhaggard

Baby steps. I slip sometimes too, but the fact other people have a way of knowing that really makes that happen less often.

I'll drop by the organic store to have a look, that egg replacement thing sounds pretty interesting!

By the way, how do managed you're getting enough protein and calcium? I found it to be quite a big problem. Even food that generally has lots of protein like soy beans or lentils still has more carbs.

Protein is easy - beans have plenty. There are also leafy greens with lots of calcium. More info @ http://www.vegkitchen.com/nutrition/calcium/

For vegans I see B12 as being semi-difficult and needing its own supplement.

Just mostly vegan. (I eat some dairy and occasionally stuff with egg in it.) Anyway, if you're just starting out I highly recommend all of the Isa Moskowitz and Terry Romero books - start with Veganomicon, which will give you all the basics and a lot of solid everyday recipes, and then add the specialty books as they catch your fancy. I have two copies of Vegan Cupcakes and I think I'm going to have to get a second of Vegan Brunch because I can't find mine, but it has a really great tofu omelet recipe in it if you're looking for one. The website is a good resource too - http://www.theppk.com/.

I'll pick those books up, thank you so much for the recommendations!

I am. Most days I stick with Brendan Brazers Thrive Diet. Working towards Ironman in November.

That is so awesome. Scott Jurek was one of my inspirations for this. I wish you luck!!!

There are a couple of veg friendly groups here on MFP

"Team Vegan" and "Happy Herbivores"

Come join us!

Deal!

I've been a vegetarian at different points in my life, recently turning to veganism in May of this year.

Excellent omelette recipe: http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2007/09/vegan-omelette-for-one.html

Nacho "cheese" recipe: http://www.theppk.com/2011/11/cashew-queso/

Feel free to add me!

Vegan nacho cheese? I'm gonna cry lol

glennhaggard

Mysphyl46, I liked doing juicings, I felt it REALLY helped me reduce how much I was eating of bad food. I combined that with big bowls of oatmeal for breakfast, my oatmeal was Coach's Oats, (two servings) 1/4 bacg of Legendary Fruit and Nut mix from Trader Joe's, some almond milk and 2 sliced bananas. I never, ever got a craving throughout the day, even if lunch was delayed by work.

Alan, were there things that helped during the periods of times you weren't struggling? Do certain things make it worse?

aldousmom

Yeah, accountability is huge. Veganims is something a year ago I'd have laughed if someone suggested I'd be doing it now, but...it's kind easy for me. Vegan cake and ice cream are awesome, and the more I do it the better I feel, it's those cheat days when my stomach hurts and I feel bloated and like I want to sleep all day that are rough. Only thing I need to find is some vegan nacho cheese lol

Vegan here, too, and endurance athlete. Welcome!

I came up with a good queso-style soup or dip you might like, for quelling your nacho cheese craving. it's got less than 200 calories per serving, too

http://mac-aroni-n-cheese.blogspot.com/2012/03/monday-recipe-spicy-queso-soup.html

good luck on your weight loss!

Dayquasar

Hi! I've been eating mostly plant based (still eat honey) for almost a year now, add me if you like!

v70t5m

I've tried every nacho cheez recipe I've found, and my favorite so far:

http://happyherbivore.com/recipe/low-fat-vegan-nachos/


For me, my cheese cravings stopped almost immediately upon quitting dairy. But I still miss gooey nachos, so this fills in that texture hole.

Check out blogs and cookbooks by: Dreena Burton, Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Nava Atlas, Lindsey Nixon, and Robin Robertson.

My favorite dessert book is "The Joy of Vegan Baking" by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau - scones, biscuits, cookies, breads, cakes, tarts, waffles, pancakes, etc. I also really like Burton's dessert recipes - her cookies are awesome.

glennhaggard

I've tried every nacho cheez recipe I've found, and my favorite so far:

http://happyherbivore.com/recipe/low-fat-vegan-nachos/


For me, my cheese cravings stopped almost immediately upon quitting dairy. But I still miss gooey nachos, so this fills in that texture hole.

Check out blogs and cookbooks by: Dreena Burton, Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Nava Atlas, Lindsey Nixon, and Robin Robertson.

My favorite dessert book is "The Joy of Vegan Baking" by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau - scones, biscuits, cookies, breads, cakes, tarts, waffles, pancakes, etc. I also really like Burton's dessert recipes - her cookies are awesome.

Yeah, accountability is huge. Veganims is something a year ago I'd have laughed if someone suggested I'd be doing it now, but...it's kind easy for me. Vegan cake and ice cream are awesome, and the more I do it the better I feel, it's those cheat days when my stomach hurts and I feel bloated and like I want to sleep all day that are rough. Only thing I need to find is some vegan nacho cheese lol

Vegan here, too, and endurance athlete. Welcome!

I came up with a good queso-style soup or dip you might like, for quelling your nacho cheese craving. it's got less than 200 calories per serving, too

http://mac-aroni-n-cheese.blogspot.com/2012/03/monday-recipe-spicy-queso-soup.html

good luck on your weight loss!

Wowzas, thanks! Nacho cheese is something I just...man gotta find a fix for it lol thank you so much!

I will check out the reading too, learning more will be a big boost I think.

BTW, this site continues to impress me with how friendly and supportive everyone is!

VeganHippieChick

Decade long vegan here

mamaclose

Wowzas, thanks! Nacho cheese is something I just...man gotta find a fix for it lol thank you so much!

I will check out the reading too, learning more will be a big boost I think.

BTW, this site continues to impress me with how friendly and supportive everyone is!

I've found that any vegan/plant based "cheese" isn't quite what I remember real cheese to taste like! That being said, I live in a very rural area and don't have access to things like Daiya or vegan cream cheese. I haven't tried the cashew cheese yet either, only nooch based cheese.

janyben

Hi everyone!
I'm brand new to this site.. well, joined a couple months ago but did nothing with it. After exercising 5 days a week for 2 months and not loosing a pound, I decided it was time to start tracking what I'm eating. I'm a new vegan! I did a 30-day juice fast in March and it was awesome. Then I slowly went back to eating junk food and gained back 20 lbs. I lost 5 when I started to go back to vegetarian eating, but I still cheated a lot with junk food, even though I wasn't eating meat. Then, I think I wasn't eating enough calories so my body was storing fat instead of burning it. I need to find that happy medium where I am eating the right amount of food, and exercising, and loosing weight! My goal is to eat a 50% raw vegan diet, with juicing for breakfast. What I find is the hardest for me is that I'm the only one in my family that is vegan and my husband isn't very supportive. So, I told him I'd eat chicken once in a while if he cooked it in a healthy way.

I'd love to have some vegan/vegetarian friends and I welcome any and all help with meal plannings. I think I'll go take a look at some of the things you all are eating so I can get a better idea of things that I can eat. I need simple stuff.. like salads, that I can just through together. I'm not a cook at all, and I don't have access to any specialty stores. I can order things online, and I can get to Whole Foods, like once a month. Otherwise, I shop for food at Stop & Shop!

jazee11

Hi,

Welcome to the boards, post often. I may not chime in as often as the others but I am around. Feel free to add me if you like.

glennhaggard

I've found that any vegan/plant based "cheese" isn't quite what I remember real cheese to taste like! That being said, I live in a very rural area and don't have access to things like Daiya or vegan cream cheese. I haven't tried the cashew cheese yet either, only nooch based cheese.

My wife makes vegan lasagna with rice or soy cheese and people prefer it to the "regular" lasagna. I've had a few really nice cheeses. Do you live near enough to make a drive every weekend (or now and then) to a Whole Foods? Internet companies deliver, also

@Janyben Well, I'm very much hoping you reach your goals, however much dairy and meat you consume along the way. I think that a lot of people find it so easy to say soemthing like "Oreos are vegan" in a means to discount the healthiness of the lifestyle. For me, it's just about the nutritonal value of veganism, it's more my world-view these days. Support would be awesome to have, but if you don't have it (at this time) from home and your closer circle of friends, I'ms ure many of us would be very happy to help encourage you. I'm amazed at how nice it is posting I did ok on my food, or exercise or something and people say something back. I see someone had a nice run, or lost weight today, I post for them some few, but heartfelt words of encouragement.

Together we can help each other. Our goals don't have to always line up perfectly, or the means we use to attain them. Since you are going light early (breakfast juicing, etc) I IMPLORE you to eat something with it, or a big hearty lunch. Before I took out eggs, I was having a breakfast of 3-4 organic eggs, spinach, 1/2 lemon squeezed in, and topped with a big tblespoon of salsa. After that I'd have some juiced vegetables or sometimes something a little funner, but for me it was just important to have something in my stomach so I had a reasonable lunch which in turn made a reasonable dinner. If you see my posts, you might see that I'm having a HARD time eating ENOUGH (according to this site) but let me have a puny breakfast that has me hungry and my lunch hour will be a drive to Taco Bell for 7-layers add Nacho cheese and 2-3 other things. Then an evening of self-loathing. Knowing this is where I mess up, I'm trying to walk early in the day, gettign my exercise in, walk during the day (in circles around my desk while doign tech support) and getting a nice breakfast after my walk/run, a nice lunch in and then often, I eat just a few bites, if anything for dinner. I used to binge every night at the end of my shift though...so that alone made a big difference and helped me lose 22 pounds from Jan 1 until I joined here.

V3ggieL0vinGinger

Been vegan for about 8 months now and loving it! Add me!

Cristofori44

No.

inkandsheep

I'm a new vegan too. I've been vegetarian for years and started cutting out eggs and dairy from my diet this summer. I'm pretty much fully vegan in terms of my diet now (except for occasional silly mistakes like buying bread that had milk in it, oops) although I still wear leather shoes and wool, so I don't really like to use the term vegan since that really means not using any animal products.

I definitely feel I'm eating healthier meals now that I'm eating plant based, and I feel great about it!

v70t5m

I'm pretty much fully vegan in terms of my diet now (except for occasional silly mistakes like buying bread that had milk in it, oops) although I still wear leather shoes and wool, so I don't really like to use the term vegan since that really means not using any animal products.

I definitely feel I'm eating healthier meals now that I'm eating plant based, and I feel great about it!

This is why I am following a vegan diet, but do not claim the "Vegan" title. I like just "plant based" too. :glasses:

glennhaggard

I post "powered by plants" as a semi-frequent FB status update Vegan clothing shouldn't be so expensive, and hard to find, ah well, someone will fill that niche one day