I don't want to speak too soon, but...

svanhoecke · July 2012

I love being a vegan! I shall tell you why. :happy:

I switched to veganism at the beginning of the summer thinking it would just be a summer experiment for my health. After I switched I started doing even more research and realized that I could be helping preent future diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. I guess I won't know how true all that is until later on, but I feel like if all that is true...it's worth it. :glasses:

Now here are the things I have actually noted physically/mentally about the vegan lifestyle (granted, some of these things may only be coincidental, but I am just making observations):

1. More energy. No question about that.
2. I just feel "cleaner" or even "lighter" for lack of a better description. Not that I thought I felt "dirty" or "heavy" before, but I cant explain how much better my body seems to be functioning while I eat this way.
3. I am learning to love foods I used to hate or had never even tried.
4. No headaches.
5. Haven't been sick. *knock on wood*
6. Here is the BIG one to me: my joint pain seems to have decreased significantly. I am able to run longer and harder without experiencing the pain I once felt. I could cry just talking about it. So excited.

Has anyone else tried eating vegan? What were your results?

If you want to know more about what I am eating and why, message or friend me or both!!!

Have a beautiful week.:flowerforyou:

junipuni · July 2012

I know this is not exactly the same but my son (almost 7) and I just went off dairy this week. He has a bunch of allergies and diagnosed with asthma so I'm trying to eliminate dairy in hopes it will help and doing it with him so he doesn't feel bad. I'm finding that it might actually be a really great thing for both of us and have found some of the same things you mentioned. I am definitely finding recipes/foods that I wouldn't have tried before and am liking a lot of it! I think I am still getting over not having dairy but I am feeling really good about this choice.

rmartin72 · July 2012

I would really like to find out more information about what your doing! Thank you very much Robby

darrcn5 · July 2012

Good for you! I feel the same way about lower carb eating. It gives me more energy, makes me feel less bloated, and encourages me to try new dishes that I wouldn't even consider. I am glad you have found something that makes you feel better!

momtokgo · July 2012

Me too! It hasn't been too long for me, going on 2 months, but I really like it. I 100% understand what you mean about feeling "lighter". I went on holidays last month and didn't eat vegan (just vegetarian) and I felt awful, but there was no other choice. I live in one of the most vegan/vegetarian un-friendly places for eating out I think.

My face has cleared up, I am no longer bloated or gassy, I have more energy and the dizziness my doc has been trying ot figure out for years went away.

sofia0586 · July 2012

how do you keep yourself nutritionally balanced?

don't want to attack you but i have many vegan friends and many of them are lacking important nutrients.

veganbaum · July 2012

how do you keep yourself nutritionally balanced?

don't want to attack you but i have many vegan friends and many of them are lacking important nutrients.

How does the average American meet daily nutritional requirements? Most of them likely aren't, given the typical diet. Most of them would have no idea what a macro or micronutrient is. How do you know your vegan friends are lacking important nutrients? How do you know you're not? Point being - you can't assume that just because someone is vegan they aren't getting appropriate nutrition and that just because someone is omnivore they are.

GiGiBeans · July 2012

I admire your discipline. I ate vegetarian and 30% raw for about five years. Unfortunately boredom set in and I slowly started adding more junk food and eventually meat back into my diet. I eat low carb now and while not totally clean, a whole heck of a lot more than I had the last few years.

Vegan is so much more restrictive. Definitely join a support group with a recipe exchange.

nothing1994 · July 2012

bump

svanhoecke · July 2012

I eat tons of fruits and vegetables (obviously lol), whole grains, nuts, and lots of beans. I also drink almond milk on my morning cereal.

You can get enough protein from whole grains, dark leafy greens like spinach, and beans. Easily.

You can get enough calcium from dark leafy greens like spinach, and almond milk.

You can get enough healthy fats from avocados, nuts, and olive oil.

You get enough of every vitamin ever by eating all those fruits and veggies. You also get more fiber than most people.

Yiu get plenty of carbs from fruit and grains.

I take a multi vitamin for B12 because we have ruined our soil with our pesticide use.

I 100% believe my diet is MORE balanced now than it was when I was eating meat and dairy.

If I missed a nutrient yiu were particularly worried about, just ask me and I will tell you how I get it.

Thanks for your concern.

:flowerforyou:

Stacy

momtokgo · July 2012

how do you keep yourself nutritionally balanced?

don't want to attack you but i have many vegan friends and many of them are lacking important nutrients.

How does the average American meet daily nutritional requirements? Most of them likely aren't, given the typical diet. Most of them would have no idea what a macro or micronutrient is. How do you know your vegan friends are lacking important nutrients? How do you know you're not? Point being - you can't assume that just because someone is vegan they aren't getting appropriate nutrition and that just because someone is omnivore they are.

This. Don't assume just because someone is vegan that they are unhealthy or missing nutrients. Some are for sure, but so are tons of meat eaters and vegetarians. It all comes down to how much work someone is willing to put into what they are doing to make sure they get everything they need from their diet.

There is no way that I am any unhealthier then my SIL who lives off of fast food, sugary kids cereal, pop, candy and pizza. No way in the world. But because shes eats meat/dairy, no one worries about how she eats.

Vailara · July 2012

I was near vegan for about a year a long time ago. I didn't lose weight and didn't notice any of the benefits that you have experienced. I didn't feel worse either, though! I did enjoy my food, ate well, and got more inventive with my cooking.

It turned out to be a pretty antisocial way of eating, though. If you like eating with non-vegan friends and family, it doesn't work very well. It's not fair to expect people to cook vegan food for you. I didn't expect them to, but then they feel bad if they make you something you wouldn't normally have. I also found that people (vegetarians, mainly, funnily enough!) could be quite critical about my food choices. I didn't enjoy having my eating scrutinised in that way. Eventually, I went back to being omnivorous, and again, I don't remember noticing any health changes.

It's great that you've found something that works for you!

jdm0804 · July 2012

I went vegetarian for Lent this year, and I loved it way more than I thought I would. It was hard to smell meat without salivating for the whole duration, but it was worth it! I really dove into research mode to make sure i was getting everything I needed. I also toyed around with the idea of going full vegan, but I never got around to it. Aside from the fact that I got a bit gassy from all the beans, I felt great! I lost a bunch of weight, and had a ton of energy! My wife isn't too keen on doing it with me next year, but I'm seriously considering doing it again; maybe I'll even commit to vegan eating!

Although I did feel a bit alienated, because I got a lot of the "is it okay if I...?" questions and even some of that smug "top of the food chain" attitude from my friends and family. I like the idea of getting involved with a group where one can share recipes and lifestyle stuff.

I don't want to speak too soon, but...

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