Vegetarian/Vegan?

My advice--if you like meat continue eating it. There's no "perfect diet" and there can be excellent omnivorous diets or vegetarian diets. Just do what works for YOU and what you can do indefinitely.

I'm vegan!

-was it difficult to give up eating meat? Meat was easy for me to give up, cheese was harder. Once I discovered how to cook amazing vegan meals and treats, I grew to LOVE being vegan.


-what kind of a difference has giving up meat made in how you feel/your health? Giving up dairy had the hugest impact on my health. It cleared up my skin, my nose is never stuffed up anymore, and I rarely get a cold. I also feel "lighter" after eating a vegan meal than I ever did after eating something with dairy, especially cheese.


-what are some good resources to learn more about plant based diets? The 30 Day Vegan Challenge by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau. It is such a comprehensive resource on every single aspect of veganism that you can possibly imagine, from health, to animals to practical suggestions for eating out, to weight loss, to dealing with non-veg family, etc. It also has great recipes with gorgeous photos.

Hey all! So I've heard a lot of wonderful things about how good a plant based diet is for people. I'm really curious to learn more about this lifestyle so I had a few questions:

-was it difficult to give up eating meat?
-what kind of a difference has giving up meat made in how you feel/your health?
-what are some good resources to learn more about plant based diets?

Any advice you all have would be great!

I had no issues giving up meat and never once missed it yet (been 15 months) it was hardest to find good non dairy cheese. I prefer almond milk to cows milk and I never loved eggs so that was no big deal. I live in a big city so I am lucky to have access to tons of mock meat products too (like veggie burgers and tofu dogs etc)

I feel great being vegan (11 months now) and in general I feel "lighter" and best of all I tend to maintain my weight easier even when I frequently indulge in junk food. I also seem to recover easier/quicker from cheat days.

I went to the public library and read every book I could on veganism.....I dont have any to recommend though since I cant remember the titles.

I think for me though becoming vegan has been one of the best health decisions I have made.

Hey all! So I've heard a lot of wonderful things about how good a plant based diet is for people. I'm really curious to learn more about this lifestyle so I had a few questions:

-was it difficult to give up eating meat?
-what kind of a difference has giving up meat made in how you feel/your health?
-what are some good resources to learn more about plant based diets?

Any advice you all have would be great!

no it wasn't difficult for me. I know for some people it is, but I think it really has to do with your reasons for giving up meat and animal products in the first place. I did it out of compassion for animals and because I didn't want to eat anything having to do with killing a live creature. This said, I NEVER once have had a craving / been tempted to have meat fish poultry or eggs and dairy after I eliminated them from my diet. The only thing that was mildly difficult to give up was fish because I used to love it and it has a lot of heath benefits, and cheese and eggs were a bit hard to give up, but once I gave all that up I never was tempted to go back or eat it anymore. I know some people that have played with veganism or vegetarianism, and if your heart isn;t in it and you don't have a good reason for living these lifestyles, it's more likely that you won't stick with it (for example, someone doing it just to lose weight).

as for your second question, veganism literally changed the way i feel mentally and physically 100%. Try it for even a week, and you'll notice a huge difference. Oh my god, i can't even tell you how much better I feel. It's the best decision I've ever made. But that being said, you have to do it right and make sure you;re getting all the essential vitamins/minerals b/c when i was just pescatarian and vegetarian, I was deficient in quite a few things and felt BETTER than when i was an omnivore, but just tired and fatigued and anxious all the time because I was lacking iron, calcium, vitamin D, and essential fatty acids. It's important to eat balanced and plan your meals smart to reap all the health benefits of this lifestyle and to get proper nutrition.

last question: just see the documentary forks over knives, read animal liberation by peter singer, and read the books 'becoming vegan' and 'vegan for life' to learn more about nutrition on a vegan diet.

I definitely completely 10000% recommend at least trying vegetarianism, and maybe eventually veganism (it took me more than a year to finally become vegan but like I said, it is so so wonderful and not hard at all and you try so many different healthy foods once you switch)

It wasn't too hard to give up meat. Especially once I watched the documentary called "Earthlings" ...warning: Don't watch that if you have a weak stomach. However, it's a worthwhile look into the meat production industry.

I felt much healthier when I became a vegetarian. I felt lighter and less bogged down and slothy.

Being a vegetarian is also one of the best things you can do for the environment. So if not for health reasons, try doing it for the planet. If you're doing it for just health reasons, then just feel happy that you're contributing a huge part to saving the planet!

I think what you eat is a very personal decision. That said; I am a vegan. I was first a vegetarian for 10 years and now vegan for the last 12 years. Going vegetarian was easier than going vegan. Mostly because I have a huge sweet tooth and hate that I can't eat all the non-vegan treats in bakeries, candy shops, etc. I always bring my own candy wherever I go - but I still have vegetarian dessert envy....

I've been a vegetarian since birth so i don't know another way! I'm still standing strong & healthy . Its all down to personal choice, meat is good for you as long as you take it with moderation, that's with all things! expect peanut butter...mmmm peanut butter !

I've been vegetarian my whole life and was vegan all last year. It isnt hard, but can be inconvenient. Ive recently went back to veg after some health concerns but would still recommend it to anyone. dairy isnt great for you, after all. my advice would be to learn to cook for yourself if you dont already. it makes it much easier. good luck!

I would say that if you are only going to become vegan/vegetarian ONLY for health don't do it. There are plenty of healthy diets that include lean meats and dairy. I started off about two years ago not eating red meat, then only ate fish. Then I went completely meat free. The stopping eating meat gradually wasn't too hard for me, but the not eating dairy was very difficult. I would suggest going vegetarian only if you have lots of willpower or are really concerned about the way animals are treated. Many times I have really craved some meat and the only thing that really helped was me feeling really sad about animals being treated terribly. Don't let anyone tell you you can't be healthy without a plant based diet! I will say though that after I went totally vegan I felt so awesome. I haven't been sick at all in 1.5 years since becoming vegan. I also don't feel really tired after eating a lot of food like I used too after a big meal. I feel really energetic and I am usually always in a great mood. Hope this helps!!!!

I am a vegetarian not really for health reasons but because I just don't like meat - never did. I'm 23 now and have been a vegetarian since I was 10. It was easy to give up because I never liked meat anyway :P sometimes it is hard going to other people's houses for dinner or out to a restaurant or traveling...but if you are not doing it for any moral or religious reason, then you can "cheat" when you need to.

I have a friend who does a vegan diet for weeks at a time - and then he'll eat meat again or if he is out somewhere - he is only vegan because of his MMA training.

I have been a vegetarian for over 2 years. I was not to difficult for me since I hardly ate any meat other than chicken and an occasional burger. The only thing I did have issues with at first was not enough iron or protein. I now take iron supplements. I eat a lot of eggs and soy products now for protein and also protein powder in different recipes. Not eating meat had made a great impact on my skin. I don't break out at all ( maybe one pimple on my tom but that is all) I don't gain weight as fast, and I just feel lighter after I eat. not as dragged down.

The only difficult thing for me now is every now and then I smell bbq or a mcdonalds cheese burger and I just really wish i would eat one but I'd hate myself forever! I guess that is what Bocca was made for :laugh:

I love it when someone is interested in exploring vegetarianism/veganism and someone else tells them to keep eating meat if they like it.

I really don't have anything to add. Just commenting so I can get my friend, VoV to comment here!

I was vegetarian for about 4 years, and then kind of fell off the wagon because I was the only one in my household of 6 that did not eat meat, and it was too 'hard' to continue. But then 5 months ago I stopped eating meat, dairy, and any animal product. It was not hard for me to give up meat AT ALL. I am very fortunate because I have always loved veggies. I thought it would be hard to give up cheese, but I have not missed it at all. There are some things you have to be a little creative when you don't eat cheese,since cheese holds stuff together. I have not eaten cow milk in a long time, preferring either almond or soy milk.

Within about a week of switching to a plant based diet, my energy level went WAY up. I get up every morning, regardles of how long I slept with a ton of energy, and it never wanes during the day. I had problems sleeping a lot before, and now I sleep like a baby. My skin is not dry anymore, and I never break out. Within the first three months I lost about 50 pounds, while still eating a lot. I was not exercising at all for those first few months, it was just the dietary changes. Now i have lost over 70, and am still losing, though I do walk about an hour a day now.

The only hard part is going out to eat, or eating at someone elses house. But is it SOOO worth it

I have always looked at the vegetarian concept of 'more power to you, but nothing I'm interested'

This is the 1st speech that has ever made me think twice.
http://nutritionfacts.org/video/uprooting-the-leading-causes-of-death/

Just listen to the 1st 20 mins.

That said, I don't plan on completely cutting out meat, but will def. be having more meatless meals!

Just educate yourself on how to get proper amounts of real protein & iron that doesn't come in a pill/powder/supplement drink.

For anyone who has always shrugged off a vegetarian diet, I highly suggest you listen when you get a minute. He's very easy to listen to and understand. He speaks for laymen, not medical professionals, intelligent people or even people who know a lot about anatomy or biology.

**The whole speech is an hour long, the first 20 minutes is eye opening and that's as far as I have gotten so far.

p.s., thank you mfp person who posted the link.

Check out the "Forks over Knives" documentary dvd ... there is tons of info on there. I have been vegetarian for five years and vegan/vegetarian for about 6 months. I have lost 60 lbs and feel sooo much more energy, my skin is better and you never get that heavy gross feelingyou get when you eat meat. It was not hard for me to give up meat...I just kept thinking "there is a piece of dead
flesh on my plate." If you make sure you get the right combos of foods you can get all the protein and nutrition you need.