Veganism?
TheSheepFollower
Posts: 64 Member
I was thinking about becoming a vegan? What are your opinions? My first motivator was animal rights, but then I heard it was good for health and weight loss. What do you think? And tips would be appreciated.
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Replies
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Animals are delicious.0
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Why?0
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My friend at work is an aspiring vegan and she highly recommends the book Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. We make for an odd pair because I follow the Atkins lifestyle and was reading The Vegetarian Myth by Lierre Keith at the same time she was reading Eat to Live, lol. Both great books and both authors advocate for less sugar and processed foods.0
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TheSheepFollower wrote: »I was thinking about becoming a vegan? What are your opinions? My first motivator was animal rights, but then I heard it was good for health and weight loss. What do you think? And tips would be appreciated.
Why do you want to become a vegan? If its because of the treatment of animals in the food industry- go for it. If its for weight loss- I'd skip it. Being vegan doesn't equal weight loss. There are plenty of people who are vegans and vegetarians who are overweight.0 -
I gained weight when I transitioned. If your motivation is purely for health, or you buy into the bunk that PETA spews about effortless weight loss as a vegan, I would skip it. You can be a healthy omnivore, and will have a much easier time hitting all your macros.
If you are coming at it from an ethical standpoint, go for it. You can join us in the Happy Herbivore or Team Vegan groups.
And, fair warning, there is no good vegan sub for bacon.
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Some people gain weight when they switch to becoming a vegan. So you still have to look at what you eat, it is not going to be a just throw everything in the cart that is not meat and I will lose weight kind of thing. I will say that most of the people I have read or heard complaining about gaining weight when they make the vegan change tend to blame it on pasta. Another thing I hear is that they are always hungry. So I would say look up vegan meals that help you stay full, but are low in calories if you want to do this for weight.0
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I transitioned into veganism a little while ago. I would say it is still very easy to gain weight if you aren't paying attention. "Junk Food Vegans" very much exist just like "Junk Food Vegetarians". I've lost a few pounds since I started cause I try to make more plant based meals. But if you constantly eat PB sandwiches and pasta it'd be easy to blow up.0
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A good movie to watch is Vegucated. 3 people try veganism for 6 weeks. It's a great movie and shows the animal ethics and the possible health benefits.0
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I'm a vegan and I like it very much. Meat is hard for me to digest and I didn't care for it much anyway.0
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Liftng4Lis wrote: »Why?
This. I need protein, I like protein, I like meat. Sorry for animals and all that, but you know.. food chain and all. Feeling bad about animals I eat isn't on my list of life priorities, despite what a classmate in 8th grade thought when showing me her PETA pamphlet.Animals are delicious.
Unless there are religious and actual moral reasons for your choice, and not just "hm I'm thinking about it because idk, maybe animal rights or something?" then just eat the meat. Your post sure doesn't sound like your convictions are all that strong.
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LowCarbHeart wrote: »My friend at work is an aspiring vegan and she highly recommends the book Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. We make for an odd pair because I follow the Atkins lifestyle and was reading The Vegetarian Myth by Lierre Keith at the same time she was reading Eat to Live, lol. Both great books and both authors advocate for less sugar and processed foods.
How can you be an aspiring vegan? Aren't you like.. either one or not one?0 -
LowCarbHeart wrote: »My friend at work is an aspiring vegan and she highly recommends the book Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. We make for an odd pair because I follow the Atkins lifestyle and was reading The Vegetarian Myth by Lierre Keith at the same time she was reading Eat to Live, lol. Both great books and both authors advocate for less sugar and processed foods.
How can you be an aspiring vegan? Aren't you like.. either one or not one?
Maybe she's in the middle of her transition? I dunno, I jumped in both feet. 'Standard American Diet' one day, vegan the next.0 -
Laurend224 wrote: »I gained weight when I transitioned. If your motivation is purely for health, or you buy into the bunk that PETA spews about effortless weight loss as a vegan, I would skip it. You can be a healthy omnivore, and will have a much easier time hitting all your macros.
If you are coming at it from an ethical standpoint, go for it. You can join us in the Happy Herbivore or Team Vegan groups.
And, fair warning, there is no good vegan sub for bacon.
Can I just say that I really appreciate your posts? Every vegan/vegetarian I have known IRL or on social media has been very evangelical, and I really appreciate that you're not.
As to the OP, if you're motivated by your love of animals, go for it. But if you're not passionate about it, you're not going to last. (I certainly didn't as a lacto-ovo vegetarian.)0 -
If you are truly going vegan that is supposed to be a lifestyle and not just what you eat. It impacts every product you eat, use for personal items and especially what you wear. Consider that and knowing all the terminology for hidden animal product names so you aren't eating animal and not knowing it.
I have a 'vegan' friend who wears animals so I honestly struggle with calling her vegan. She will freak out if cheese is being served but wears leather. Never will wrap my head around that one....something didn't die for the milk for the cheese but sure did for those boots. We're the same height and she weighs twice as much as I do and to be honest I have given up trying to find things she will eat that help lose weight. Cutting back on pasta for me was tough but for her it's a staple in most meals so on goes the cycle of a few days diet crying about starving and right back to where we were.
It's about balance. Besides if you do this just for loss what happens when you eat normally again? Giving up something for a short period like chocolate or ice cream or something unhealthy I understand but cutting out so many foods is harder to understand if it's not out of the whole change in lifestyle.
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When I had decided to eat vegan, for various reasons I lost about 27 pounds (have gained about 8 back over the past 14 months). If you wish to eat vegan, it will help to do some reading about how to eat cleanly. Balancing protein and carb sources is helpful but takes some thinking and planning. It also helps to have a wide plant-food palate (interested in beans of all sorts, quinoa, tempeh, seitan, nuts, etc) and to have good grocery shopping nearby for fresh greens, cruciferous vegetables, etc. When I travel I usually bring protein powders (non-whey), a shaker, and small rice milk containers, along with Vega protein bars and packets of natural cashew and peanut butter. Finally, label reading is a must. Animal by-products go by numerous names and can hide in places you wouldn't otherwise expect.
I don't think moral convictions are required for our eating habits, in my opinion.... A willingness to learn how to best eat for your body's needs (maybe vegan, maybe something else), and a willingness to treat yourself kindly seems most important.0 -
I'd advise you to try it at least. I'm vegan foremost for ethical reasons, but for health and environmental reasons as well. There's a lot of good information on the internet for people who are just starting out
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Laurend224 wrote: »LowCarbHeart wrote: »My friend at work is an aspiring vegan and she highly recommends the book Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. We make for an odd pair because I follow the Atkins lifestyle and was reading The Vegetarian Myth by Lierre Keith at the same time she was reading Eat to Live, lol. Both great books and both authors advocate for less sugar and processed foods.
How can you be an aspiring vegan? Aren't you like.. either one or not one?
Maybe she's in the middle of her transition? I dunno, I jumped in both feet. 'Standard American Diet' one day, vegan the next.
I'm just imagining like, someone who has inspirational vegan posters all over her room and fantasizes about a vegan diet lol.0 -
Lol, yes to the vegan posters! She wants to eat vegan for all the proclaimed health benefits but has difficulty giving up meat. She'll do good for a couple of weeks and then cave and have a burger.0
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All the vegans I know are raging alcoholics.
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I did read parts of the Eat to Live book and its definitely a way of eating that takes some commitment. You have to eat a ton of vegetables of different varieties to ensure you're getting all the vitamins and minerals you need. I don't think I could physically eat so many vegetables in one day (or afford so much organic produce!)
I think like with any way of eating you can do it incorrectly and get some bad side effects like being tired, cranky, etc0 -
My main advice is to get educated about nutrition--here's a useful website for that: http://www.veganhealth.org/ You'll want to track your protein, iron, calcium at least until you get into a routine. A B12 supplement is a good idea, too. I also watch my (healthy) fat intake to make sure I'm getting enough. If I get too low on that, I have trouble feeling full since fat is very satiating.
I did my transition slowly, first to vegetarian and then slowly finding alternatives to various other animal products (eggs, milk, cheese, honey, yogurt, butter, sour cream, etc.). Some people go cold turkey but it can be quite overwhelming a change.0 -
I've very recently been eating strictly vegan (two weeks so far) for health and ethical reasons. Just like some people have said it can be easy just to eat a bunch of pasta and junk food and that is probably not going to get you where you want to be. I have had a fairly easy go of it but it's not the same for everyone. I've struggled most of my life with binge eating, and since I've started, I've not binged at all. The first few days were tough, I was not use to eating all plant based foods. In fact, I used to go days before eating a fruit or veggie. So, while my body was adjusting I was hungry all the time. I made smart choices, an apple or banana, some juice, or a smoothie, and by the end of the week, I didn't feel like I was depriving myself so I stuck with it. I've lost 7 lbs so far and I'm eating healthier than I ever have. Not everyone in your life will be supportive but you're doing this for you, not for them. Good luck, if you decide to go with it!0
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A good movie to watch is Vegucated. 3 people try veganism for 6 weeks. It's a great movie and shows the animal ethics and the possible health benefits.
I agree with J Currie. "Vegucated" is worth watching to understand the motivation to be vegan and how it can improve your health. It did not convince me to totally become vegan, but I am including more non-meat meals as a result of watching this.
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You can lose a ton of weight by dropping dairy & excess animal products.
Watch "Forks Over Knives"!!!!
My husband lost 25 pounds just by going vegetarian - no exercise, no dieting, no counting calories - he just quit meats & soda.
"Needing Protein" is a ridiculous statement. Protein is found in plants. Complete amino acids can easily & simply be eaten with beans, peas, and other foods.
- Having recently been pregnant, I still eat fish a few times a month, and if I'm out & about I've eaten turkey. However, I attribute our diet which prioritizes fruits, vegetables, beans instead of fatty fatty burgers & bacon with our health.
- Veganism is a challenge though, and I would not attempt it along with weight loss. I would attempt not eating pigs, cows, chicken, milk, and cheese. Then you can see if you want to incorporate other facets into your life. I love animals too & feel a lot less guilty when I make other choices.
- Also, almost all Americans get excess protein, which is linked to many health problems. We are deficient in many other things- potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber - many other nutrients which should be attained by eating more fruits & veggies. No one ever went to the emergency room from eating too many vegetables, but they sure land there from eating too much fatty meat!
The very real risks of consuming too much protein: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/09/03/too-much-protein.aspx
Missing nutrients in the standard american diet:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/missing-nutrients-in-your-food0 -
I'm on my second week of transitioning to a whole foods vegan diet. It's not that hard and it's not that expensive. Buy local produce when you can, shop produce that's on sale. Try to use a majority of organic and local but it doesn't all have to be organic. Just wash all produce very well,
A big misconception is it should be a diet filled with loads of fruits and vegetables, but really the majority of your caloric intake, 55% or more, should be complex carbohydrates and most whole grains and beans are cheap.
I avoid most processed vegan foods and I try to cook with very little to no oils. My protein comes from whole grains, legumes and nuts.
As for supplements, it all depends on your dietary needs. I find many of the whole grain products and whole grain cereals are fortified with, iron, some B vitamins including B12 and many of the non-dairy milk replacements are fortified with D, B12 and calcium. Read your labels.
As for eating a multitude of different types vegetables in a day, it's amazing how many veggies you can pack into a soup, season it up, puree or eat it chunky. I'm not a salad person but I can blend my green veggies up in a banana smoothie, add them to a soup or mince them up to flavor other foods or blend them into dips.
Everyone should consider eating a lot less meat and dairy. The more meat and dairy you consume the bigger your carbon footprint.
http://ecowatch.com/2013/01/21/factory-farming-global-warming/
As to the why should you go vegan? Because it's the most conscientious thing you can do both for your body and your planet.0 -
You can lose a ton of weight by dropping dairy & excess animal products.
Watch "Forks Over Knives"!!!!
My husband lost 25 pounds just by going vegetarian - no exercise, no dieting, no counting calories - he just quit meats & soda.
"Needing Protein" is a ridiculous statement. Protein is found in plants. Complete amino acids can easily & simply be eaten with beans, peas, and other foods.
- Having recently been pregnant, I still eat fish a few times a month, and if I'm out & about I've eaten turkey. However, I attribute our diet which prioritizes fruits, vegetables, beans instead of fatty fatty burgers & bacon with our health.
- Veganism is a challenge though, and I would not attempt it along with weight loss. I would attempt not eating pigs, cows, chicken, milk, and cheese. Then you can see if you want to incorporate other facets into your life. I love animals too & feel a lot less guilty when I make other choices.
- Also, almost all Americans get excess protein, which is linked to many health problems. We are deficient in many other things- potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber - many other nutrients which should be attained by eating more fruits & veggies. No one ever went to the emergency room from eating too many vegetables, but they sure land there from eating too much fatty meat!
The very real risks of consuming too much protein: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/09/03/too-much-protein.aspx
Missing nutrients in the standard american diet:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/missing-nutrients-in-your-food
There are literally hundreds of threads on here from SAD-eaters trying to get enough protein.
Also, in.0 -
I think it's great if you want to do it for ethical reasons.
I would have a hard time eating a healthy sustainable diet doing it, but I don't have the ethical commitment to back me up. (I have issues with factory farming, so try to opt out to some extent, but don't think eating animals or using their eggs and milk is wrong.)0 -
You can lose a ton of weight by dropping dairy & excess animal products.
Watch "Forks Over Knives"!!!!
My husband lost 25 pounds just by going vegetarian - no exercise, no dieting, no counting calories - he just quit meats & soda.
"Needing Protein" is a ridiculous statement. Protein is found in plants. Complete amino acids can easily & simply be eaten with beans, peas, and other foods.
- Having recently been pregnant, I still eat fish a few times a month, and if I'm out & about I've eaten turkey. However, I attribute our diet which prioritizes fruits, vegetables, beans instead of fatty fatty burgers & bacon with our health.
- Veganism is a challenge though, and I would not attempt it along with weight loss. I would attempt not eating pigs, cows, chicken, milk, and cheese. Then you can see if you want to incorporate other facets into your life. I love animals too & feel a lot less guilty when I make other choices.
- Also, almost all Americans get excess protein, which is linked to many health problems. We are deficient in many other things- potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber - many other nutrients which should be attained by eating more fruits & veggies. No one ever went to the emergency room from eating too many vegetables, but they sure land there from eating too much fatty meat!
The very real risks of consuming too much protein: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/09/03/too-much-protein.aspx
Missing nutrients in the standard american diet:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/missing-nutrients-in-your-food
Not really.
I'm not going to find 120g of protein from eating plants, at least not if I want to stay within my calories.
So... did they wind up in the ER because of the protein, or because of the fat?
You do realize that protein from animal sources is not exclusive to "fatty fatty burgers" and bacon. I use ground beef that has only 10g of fat and 20g of protein for under 200 calories worth of meat. Which is about the same macro breakdown for salmon, and gosh darn it, those websites sure like to tell us we should be eating fish like salmon a few times a week!
Your husband lost 25lbs because his exclusionary/restrictive dietary intake resulted in an unintentional/unmonitored drop in calories. He could have done the same by cutting out all carb sources (including veggies and fruit). He ain't no special snowflake.
So yeah, bunch of hooey in your post. If one has ethical or religious reasons for going vegan, I'm down. If they think it will make them somehow way healthier than anyone else because "omg woo woo meat is gonna kill everyone" then yeah, no. Remember when fat was demonized to all hell and people thought dietary fat makes people fat? Remember how that ideology eventually fell out of favour and got replaced by carb fear? Apparently now protein fear? Soon it will be excessive vitamin intake fear. Apples will kill us all.
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