Is there any VEGANS out there? I need to connect.

katznketo
katznketo Posts: 323 Member
edited September 20 in Motivation and Support
I just went vegan 8 days ago. I think I'm in it for life. I thought I'd see what I thought. And I think I'm in heaven. There are so many great recipes out there and products to buy. I don't really know how to do this new life style and make sure I'm gonna lose weight. kc:flowerforyou:

Replies

  • stylistchik
    stylistchik Posts: 1,436 Member
    I'm not a vegan but I do frequently use buy organic vegan processed foods because I'm more comfortable with their preparation and use many vegan/vegetarian recipes because I don't drink milk, and rarely eat meat or dairy. I'm all up for recipe swaps or new food ideas if you have any!!
  • mattle
    mattle Posts: 14
    Hello KCWriter,

    I have been vegan now for 18 years and my girlfriend (jdayl on here) is vegetarian, and an amazing vegan/vegetarian cook. Let us know if you have any questions.
  • katznketo
    katznketo Posts: 323 Member
    Wonderful!

    You know I am concentration so hard on not eating meat, fish, chicken, dairy, AND wheat.

    Ohmigosh, just trying to not screw up is taxing. but i found this website about Dr. Barnard. He was on a PBS show and he seemed so wonderful. not all crazy but just put it out there like this was the most natural way to eat. I decided to try it. Right now i'm eating lots of beans,/ meatless products mixed with rice/beans/and veggies.

    But last night I found amazing wonderful recipes on allrecipes.com.

    You know, I'm kinda a okie cook. Fried everything and never learned how to use spices. When I do, I overuse.
    Anyhow, i am gonna stick this out. But I think for a while I am going to work at 'keeping it simple'.

    I would love to connect. I would love to just hear what you guys are eating. But most of all, I can't figure out how to count the calories. thanks so much, kc
  • roylawrence87
    roylawrence87 Posts: 970 Member
    I am!
  • katznketo
    katznketo Posts: 323 Member
    Then that makes 3 of us. So would you care to share what you eat daily and how you count up your calories. If not, I understand. Just trying to makes sense of this and still lose weight. I just took my blood sugar after eating a bowl of beans and rice and it was 215. For non diabetices, normal is 120 after eating at the most.

    So I just discovered that I need to be more careful. kc
  • roylawrence87
    roylawrence87 Posts: 970 Member
    Tend to eat a ton of veggies! And diversify yourself on this. If you need something "meat" try Morning star or Boca. I tend to eat mostly salads. I also have lost a ton of weight with this.
  • mattle
    mattle Posts: 14
    Many times I end up entering the ingredients to what I or my girlfriend cooks.

    One of my very favorite packaged vegan foods is the gimme lean sausage (and the other stuff from lightlife) :
    http://www.lightlife.com/product_detail.jsp?p=gimmeleansausage

    I also love the various vegan boca products:
    http://www.bocaburger.com/

    The Tofurky stuff is amazing and they offer many different vegan foods:
    http://www.tofurky.com/

    I also make sure to eat enough dark leafy greens, a simple salad of that and some balsamic vinaigrette is quick, easy, and delicious.

    Of the soy milks, the Silk brand is my favorite:
    http://www.silksoymilk.com/

    I really like tofu, and we are lucky to have some amazing tofu made here in washington:
    http://www.smallplanettofu.com/new/

    I found this page on the Diabetic Gourmet Magazine website that lists vegan recipes (be sure to click 'more recipes' at the bottom):
    http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/Vegetarian/Vegan/

    Cheers!
  • catseyes33
    catseyes33 Posts: 1
    Hey!

    I'm vegan because of a medical condition i have. I can't process phenylalanine, which is a protein that is in everything. If someone has any good recipes, let me know! I'm always looking for new recipes.

    Thanks

    kat
  • drinkwater
    drinkwater Posts: 2
    Just joined! I don't eat a lot of meat - just the occasional fish and I'm looking to swing my diet more towards a vegan one.
    I'm also trying to avoid process and pre-packaged foods, buying local as often as I can.

    If you stumble across any awesome recipes throw them my way, and I'll do the same

    just made this into a casserole for lunch (using a nutritional yeast cheese sauce for the top, and added salsa for some more flavor)
    http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Best-Black-Beans/Detail.aspx
  • katznketo
    katznketo Posts: 323 Member
    Hi Vegan Friends!

    I just got online for today. Had to go pick up the 'guy' at the airport. He is a carnivore to the MAX.

    Stopped at the store on the way home to pick up a steak andpasta.

    I already blew it. I cooked his steak, then in the same pan cooked aspargus and mushrooms and then threw in the pasta. I couldn't resist and ate the veggies and pasta from the meat juices. So I guess this makes me not particularly vegan?

    I feel kinda ashamed.
    Well, here's a good note. I weighed 8 days ago when I started and I am down 4 pds. I prayed to God this morning that He would give me some kind of support on the hellasous scale. So I am pretty happy about that.

    Back on the wagon again. kc
    I want to start a daily vegan thread where we can post. If It agrees with you all please come and talk and tell what you're eating. It will help with ideas. kc
  • mattle
    mattle Posts: 14
    Being vegan doesn't mean that you are perfect and no action you take ever impacts another being from that point forward. It means that you are making a conscious decision to move toward having as little impact as possible. Eventually this could mean that you haven't eaten any animal products for months or years and that would be great. But doing something is better than nothing and don't let yourself get discouraged. I have on a couple occasions in 18 years of eating a vegan diet accidentally consumed something with a non-vegan ingredient, but I didn't ever consider it as having failed being a vegan or that it meant I wasn't a vegan. I was just more careful and educated next time.

    Of course this is just my take on it, and there are vegans of all sorts and beliefs.
  • katznketo
    katznketo Posts: 323 Member
    Hi Drinkwater,

    Here's a recipe for you from vegweb.com. The Best Breakfast Scramble Ever

    Try that site. If you haven't already. I have been busy lately and barely getting on board. One thing I know is that I am spending a lot more time in the kitchen trying to create good meals that are vegan and healthy but delicious. So new to all the ways and products. Bought nutrional yeast yesterday and am going to make 'cheesy sauce for my kids 'smart dogs'. We'll see how they do.

    I made the tofu blended smooth with agave and bitter cocoa. Delicious! It's sure beats packaged puddings with who knows what's in it. Any vegans out there with good ideas for meals. kc
  • simona1972
    simona1972 Posts: 355 Member
    I'm considering going vegan. Did vegetarian for a while. My doc is really pressing me to go vegan for health reasons. I've been putting it off because it seems so hard. I think after Easter I'll give it a try. I know if I really want to do it, I can and it'll seem effortless after a while.
  • perrim
    perrim Posts: 117
    I'm not vegan, but close. I stay away from dairy (except for goat cheese) and I rarely eat meat, but I don't ever say "never"! The only thing I would suggest (from many years in the health food business and at one time being only a class away from becoming a nutritionist), I would just warn you to not overdo it with soy products. And if you do eat soy products, try to make sure they're organic and/or fermented.

    I have known many vegans/vegetarians in the past who have ended up doing more harm than good to their bodies from overloading on soy.

    Also - curious as to why you're avoiding wheat as well. Because I am a BIG fan of sprouted grain products as an alternative to traditional wheat products.
  • katznketo
    katznketo Posts: 323 Member
    Perrim, I don't know much about any of this. I am trying to follow McDougall because of diabetes. Other than that, I have a real problem when I eat wheat. Swelling and really spiking blood sugars. But then I have that problem when I eat carbs, but wose with wheat. It's just trial.

    So what is wrong with soy and why shouldn't I eat it? I thought it was healthy. mrcdougall doesn't push it either, I don't think. But that is because of the fat. So I get the very low fat. All I know is I've got to get this weight off. And control my sugars.

    When I was eating FA Anny 1 oz oatmeal, egg, / 4oz meat, 6 oz veggie, 6 oz salad, (same for dinner) I did great. So why am I doing this vegan thing? I'm not sure. The Vegans out there are touting that you can rid diabetes. All I know is my sugars are running a bit high from the beans. They didn't do this with meat. Any ideas? thanks, kc
  • simona1972
    simona1972 Posts: 355 Member
    Who or what is McDougall? Can you give me some insight on that since you mentioned following McDougall because of diabetes.

    My doc wants me to go vegan because of diabetes too. I don't have it but it runs in my family and several members have died from complications of it.
  • katznketo
    katznketo Posts: 323 Member
    Hi Simona,

    Easter had me kinda busy. Just getting online. I started with something I saw on PBS by a Dr Neal Barnard on a web site PCRM.com. He says that a vegan diet rids diabetes. So I went on his site and found all his videos very helpful. i needed more help so he mention Dr. McDougall. He has been around for a very long time.

    They both tout a extremely low fat vegan diet. The fat seems to be almost if not more important than anyting because it causes our cells to be insulin resistant. (Thus sugar floats around in our systems causing havoc.)

    Anyway, then I went from McDougall.com to vegweb.com. The best recipes on Earth! I have been vegan now 23 days and don't think I will go back. For the first time in my life, my head is truly out of compulsive overeating. Strange, but I almost feel like I can focus on what I should be and that's my faith in God.

    Maybe after listening to these two drs. you might like it. I do. be blessed, kc
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