Thinking of going vegan

WilmaDennis91

I want to know your experience of being a vegan. I'm thinking of being one, but I love meat too much. But it's a lifestyle commitment.

What are your experiences? Do you have to take protein pills? My friend is one but she eats seafood, not sure if that counts as being a vegan.

drmerc

Why?

DontStopB_Leakin

Why?

^This.

You love meat, but you're thinking about giving it up?


Does not compute.

pastryari

Why?

Dub_D

Why?

Cliffslosinit

This belongs in chit chat cause it's funny!

jackpotclown

This belongs in chit chat cause it's funny!

agreed \m/

sjohnny

I want to know your experience of being a vegan. I'm thinking of being one, but I love meat too much. But it's a lifestyle commitment.

What are your experiences? Do you have to take protein pills? My friend is one but she eats seafood, not sure if that counts as being a vegan.

Eating seafood makes her NOT a vegan. Vegan's don't use anything that comes from any animal. No meat, seafood, chicken, eggs, honey, milk, jell-o. They also don't wear leather, fur, wool, silk, or any other product that comes from an animal. People usually do not become vegans for dietary reasons it is because they think it is wrong to exploit other animals.

drmerc's question is a valid one. Why do you wish to become a vegan?

I believe vegan's are simply confused as to their location on the food chain. I did not claw my way to the top of the food chain to eat kale.

deb3129

No, eating seafood means she is not vegetarian or vegan. I have been vegan since March, and it has worked fantastically for me. I have always loved fruits and veggies, though and was vegetarian for about 3 years for ethical reasons. The decision to switch to vegan was for health. For me it was the best decision I have ever made. But it sounds like it might be a little more difficult for you to give up meat.

Sarauk2sf

First of all, I would educate yourself more on what a vegan can and cannot eat.

If you are thinking of going vegan for health or weight loss reasons - I have never seen a compelling reason why it is beneficial over an omnivorous diet.

If you are thinking of doing it for ethical reasons, do your research first.

AngryDiet

I want to know your experience of being a vegan. I'm thinking of being one, but I love meat too much.

Don't do it.

Pixi_Rex

I'm thinking of being one, but I love meat too much.

This right here means you are not commited to the lifestyle change you are thinking of making.

ask yourself WHY you want to become one first is it because or a moral/ethical reason? Food allergies? or just because?

Mochila09

Hi. You may want to go under the Groups setting and enter "vegan". You'll find several groups with folks that are happy to answer any questions you may have. I was a vegetarian for several years; been vegan for almost 3 now. I'm happy with my decision. I only recently started drinking a protein supplement, but only because I want to build muscle. Otherwise, getting enough protein is pretty easy. You just have to be mindful of what you're eating. Good luck!

MoreBean13

It's a really bad idea unless you have strong convictions to do so.

Protein, being a macronutrient, (meaning, big, defined by grams) would be very difficult to get enough of in pill form. Pills are better suited to getting nutrients on a MICROnutrient scale. But there are vegan protein shakes, made from soy, hemp, pea protein, and spiruliuna that will really help you get enough protein on a vegan diet. They're a really good idea if you decide to pursue veganism.


Also, vegans who eat seafood are liars.

sarahisme18

First of all, I would educate yourself more on what a vegan can and cannot eat.

If you are thinking of going vegan for health or weight loss reasons - I have never seen a compelling reason why it is beneficial over an omnivorous diet.

If you are thinking of doing it for ethical reasons, do your research first.

^ This.

I went vegetarian to lose weight a year ago.... now one year later, I've found that cutting out meat doesn't help you lose weight, and in fact, means you have to work harder to get the right nutrition that will assist you in weight loss.

If you love meat, you won't be able to sustain that lifestyle. I never liked steak or chicken or turkey, so it was easy for me to give that up. Fish, though, was very hard, and I still eat that (especially for the protein). There's nothing wrong with eating everything in moderation. It's not as glamourous, but truthfully... there are NO evil foods and no miracle foods. Slow and steady moderation is key.

_Bob_

IronPlayground

First of all, I would educate yourself more on what a vegan can and cannot eat.

If you are thinking of going vegan for health or weight loss reasons - I have never seen a compelling reason why it is beneficial over an omnivorous diet.

If you are thinking of doing it for ethical reasons, do your research first.

^Exactly!

katejkelley

I recently went vegan (except for some smoked turkey on Thanksgiving :blushing: ) and don't miss meat at all. I do miss eggs, but have found a lot of great recipes, so I'm having fun trying new things. I had been going vegetarian for a bit, but then saw "Forks Over Knives", and that convinced me to go full-vegan. I actually have a lot more energy now and feel much better. Give yourself about 6 weeks at it and see how you feel.

new2canada

your mindset doesn't seem right because you say 'i want to go vegan...but i love meat too much!'...it doesn't make sense. I would say if you're serious about making the change than start slowly, maybe being a vegetarian first. I've been a vegetarian for almost 5 years and couldn't imagine going back to meat. The meat industry is completely disgusting and cruel and there's no way I could support it. I do intend on becoming a vegan, I guess financial and convenience reasons are holding me back right now but I do plan on being a vegan in the future.

Mguilmot

Just do it, but make sure you get all your nutrients in a healthy diet. Taking pills and supplements is not the way to go.
Except for B12, you can get any nutrient out of plant based nutrition.
And vegan means no meat, no fish, no seafood, no eggs, no dairy, ... Nothing that had a face and a mother, or any product that comes from such a living being :-)
I'm not completely vegan, I still have some dairy and little processed things that have non-vegan 'things'. But I am mostly, and I am glad that I did it.

RobynLB

I was a vegan from 12 to 25, and I got pretty ill from it. I was sick all the time! Make sure you supplement your b vitamins and iron from the start because it's not a question of will you get a deficiency... it's a question of when. Tell your dr. about your diet and insist on getting blood work once a year. Also, be careful to get enough protein and fat or you will probably get low blood sugar problems. That being said, my Dr. loves my lipid panel, and my optometrist loves my blood vessles... and it's got to be from all those meat free years.

Captain_Tightpants

My experience of being vegan was that I started eating meat again.

wholelottarosa

your mindset doesn't seem right because you say 'i want to go vegan...but i love meat too much!'...it doesn't make sense. I would say if you're serious about making the change than start slowly, maybe being a vegetarian first. I've been a vegetarian for almost 5 years and couldn't imagine going back to meat. The meat industry is completely disgusting and cruel and there's no way I could support it. I do intend on becoming a vegan, I guess financial and convenience reasons are holding me back right now but I do plan on being a vegan in the future.

^^This. Being a vegetarian can be hard enough. I still love seafood and some types of meat, so giving up on that was hard enough. (To all you skeptic carnivores: you don't have to dislike meat not to eat it. Plenty of other reasons.)

I could never go vegan though. You have to draw a line somewhere and no way I'm giving up eggs and cheese.

RobynLB

I was a vegan from 12 to 25, and I got pretty ill from it. I was sick all the time! Make sure you supplement your b vitamins and iron from the start because it's not a question of will you get a deficiency... it's a question of when. Tell your dr. about your diet and insist on getting blood work once a year. Also, be careful to get enough protein and fat or you will probably get low blood sugar problems. That being said, my Dr. loves my lipid panel, and my optometrist loves my blood vessles... and it's got to be from all those meat free years.

If you are considering seafood only, that's a much more practical and healthy diet, look up pescatarian. The only issue there is watching your mercury, but you get a lot of the heart benefits of vegetarianism without the health risks of veganism.

jofjltncb6

In...

...because this will likely get good before it gets nuked.

mamatafari

I don't know why people who aren't even veg are responding?

I have been vegan for over 10 years now. I have had 3 children since then (who are also vegan), nursed etc. through it all..

So what if you love the taste of dead animals? Do you love other beings equally? Do you have a dog? Cat? Could you see yourself eating them?

Also, for the person who said that there are no health benefits more than eating dead animals, that's BS. There are a LOT of health benefits to cutting out animals out of your diet: diabetes, high blood pressure etc.

You don't need to take any vitamins if you are eating right.
p.s. Did you know that the north american population actually eats TOO much protein?

MisFitMom219

Have you considered making the transition to vegetarian first? I'm fully supportive of a vegan lifestyle, however you say you like meat too much...this makes me think the jump straight into vegan might end up being a fail as it's far more restrictive.

I've been a vegetarian for 8 years & can't imagine living any other way. The only reason I can't commit to being a vegan is my love for things like whey protein/egg whites --as my desire to gain muscle mass requires the extra protein...& I'm too lazy/cheap to purchase the vegan alternatives...& my love for goldfish crackers lol Other than that I have eliminated nearly all dairy products (almond/soy milk instead).

When it comes to getting the proper nutrients, NEVER let anyone tell you these things cannot be obtained through a plant based diet! It i quite possible (:

mamatafari

Also, it's not hard being vegan? How hard can it be to eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans? A lot of the world's population eats like this on a daily basis.. It's called real food

drmerc

So what if you love the taste of dead animals? Do you love other beings equally? Do you have a dog? Cat? Could you see yourself eating them?

Because I enjoy my dogs companionship and can afford other meat sources
But if it came down to it, I would eat them

PhilyPhresh

I still haven't heard... why?

DoomCakes

I think you might want to learn a bit more about veganism because by the statement of your friend eating no meat but still eating seafood being vegan, that shows you may not know ALL the different types of food people out there.

Your friend eating seafood only but no other meat products is considered a pescetarian.
Giving up just meat/seafood is vegetarian.
Giving up meat, seafood, cheese, dairy, eggs, milk, ice cream etc. is vegan (and 90% of the time they also will not use any hair/body products that came from an animal- lotions with milk, or clothes made from animal stuff.)

You answered your own question though when you said "I love meat too much to give it up". Don't then. Vegan is an ok lifestyle for some, but not right for all. High amounts of soy are about as bad for you as eating a steak every day. You don't HAVE to go vegan for a better life.

There is no right "diet" or crash fix to getting healthy. You can eat meat, dairy, soy, whatever and still lose weight, you just have to be smart about it. If you love meat, eat meat. If you are an animal activist that doesn't want to see them have any harm done to them, go vegan.

Also, from personal experience. I attempted Vegan for a month... it is not cheap. Another side note, there are fat Vegans. So going it isn't gurantee weight loss. You will only lose weight and get healthy from exercise and from proper nutrition and education on food.