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Thread: Becoming Vegan

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    Senior Member no.speak's Avatar
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    Becoming Vegan

    What are the benefits (besides a clean conscience)?

    Did anyone notice any differences in their energy levels or weight after cutting out animal products?

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    God/dess Emily's Avatar
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    Read the China Study. It'll blow you away. It details all the health benefits of cutting animal based proteins out of your diet.

    http://www.thechinastudy.com/about.html

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    God/dess fancygirl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    I was pissed. I went vegan for three weeks and was expecting a ton of weight to fall off. not so-- and I wasn't gorging on junk food either.

    the worst thing I had, which I found out later on is not pure vegan is Rice cheese which has Casein in it-- a milk derived protein.

    argh.

    felt cleaner though-- but I can feel clean like that the less processed crap I eat too.

    if you're ever in dallas ft. worth check out the spiral diner. granted it's the only vegan restaurant I've ever been to but it's SOOO good-- kicks so many other diners asses. and it's not overpriced either.

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    God/dess leilanicandy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    I was thinking about becoming a vegan. I think it will do me some good. But how do you fight the cravings for meat.
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    God/dess Emily's Avatar
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    Quote Originally Posted by leilanicandy View Post
    I was thinking about becoming a vegan. I think it will do me some good. But how do you fight the cravings for meat.
    easy....watch PETA videos. Every time you get the craving, you'll instantly lose it once you see what that chicken endured before it was a chicken nugget. At least, that's wht works for me.

    and I haven't lot weight either. But that's because I eat a lot.

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    Featured Member glitzy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    i am vegan 6 days a week but allow myself a meal with my family that usually includes meat & dairy on sundays.

    even since i got whooping cough in high school my energy levels have been really low...becoming vegan with high levels of fruits & veggies is the only thing that has made me focused and energized during the day.

    personally, the change was very dramatic. colors even look brighter to me now. & i didn't lose any weight (i've been at a consistent 5'6", 118 lbs for a few years now), but i do look leaner & more toned now.

    the only thing i still occasionally cheat with is ranch dressing (& on sundays i always eat some kind of seafood cause i CRAVE it!). i recommend allowing yourself one cheat day or a few cheat items every now & then to not feel deprived & give up.

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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    I was vegan for like six months, and I got terribly anemic. I know that's an atypical result. I'm trying vegetarianism now. I don't know if I could go all the way again.

    I wanted to ask vegans though-- is there a big difference between veggie plus dairy, vs. fully vegan? Health wise and nutrition wise? I know the ethical argument for veganism, which I agree with, but I still like to think like a Kantian, insofar if everyone went at least vegetarian, the big problems would be solved.

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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    To me, dairy is absolutely THE WORST. I would eat a steak a day before I would drink a glass of milk. It's breast milk meant for baby cows and it's completley unnatural. I cut out meat, then eggs, then dairy from my diet and all the positive health changes occurred when I cut out the dairy.

    If you are going for health, I would strongly recommend vegetarian with dairy. It would be better to eat meat and cut out the dairy.

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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    Quote Originally Posted by no.speak View Post
    What are the benefits (besides a clean conscience)?

    Did anyone notice any differences in their energy levels or weight after cutting out animal products?
    Wayyyy more energy. My immune system went up. Nails were stronger. Acne cleared up (I was 15 when I went vegan and I'm 23 now). All this happened when I cut out dairy, not meat or eggs.

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    Senior Member no.speak's Avatar
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    Thanks for the responses y'all. I'm def giving this a try!

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    God/dess Emily's Avatar
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    I really recommend baby steps. It's hard to make all the adjustments and it's so overwhelming all at once, I think it's a lot harder to make it work long term.

    Are you currently vegetarian?

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    Senior Member no.speak's Avatar
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    ^ Yup. Since I was 13-ish? Plus I know I could live without dairy (it fucking grosses me out), and I only use eggs when I bake. The only reason I'm not fully vegan right now is because it's so much easier. I just need to take the time to find substitutes and make sure I get enough calcium/b12.

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    God/dess Emily's Avatar
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    oh, then it should be a walk in the park for you.

    Good luck!

  14. #14
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    Is it really dairy that's the problem? I was a happy vegetarian for 11 or 12 years and I've been thinking of going veg again. I've been considering veganism for the health benefits. I can easily live without meat and I don't like eggs anyway... but oh do I love cheese. I like soy milk and I'm fine with other nondairy things like soy ice cream and tofu smoothies, but I LOVE cheese. Soy cheese tastes like shit. Is cheese really all that bad for you?

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    God/dess Emily's Avatar
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    I never really understood the dairy debate.

    On one hand, it's unnatural. if we didn't have farming, would human beings drink milk? (besides when nursing from your mother as an infant, of course) I don't think it makes sense. No other animal seeks out the milk of another mammal. Eggs though....yeah

    On the other hand, there is a lot of research that suggests that dairy is good for you. Of course, the dairy farmers are putting this out.

    I feel better on a vegan diet.

    When I eat dairy these days, I get nasty gas.

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    Veteran Member retiredangel's Avatar
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    Huge difference,since last November I'm off wheat,meat,sugar, and dairy...dropped a LOT of weight but more importantly,I am healthy again and have energy to spare!
    Once you get past the first few weeks,life gets "better" and you learn how to adjust!

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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    I was doing good eatting just fish and elimating most dairy (I can't turn down ice cream once in a while, I sometimes get sorbet though instead) then I found out I was anemic and started adding in turkey or chicken a couple times a week. I've never been fond of eggs or cheese so that's not a problem for me. Plus I think soy milk is much better for us than cow milk.

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    Featured Member glitzy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    Quote Originally Posted by greenidlady1 View Post
    I was doing good eatting just fish and elimating most dairy (I can't turn down ice cream once in a while, I sometimes get sorbet though instead) then I found out I was anemic and started adding in turkey or chicken a couple times a week. I've never been fond of eggs or cheese so that's not a problem for me. Plus I think soy milk is much better for us than cow milk.
    that's why i eat seafood when i crave it; it's a huge protein boost & has a lot of healthy fats in it.

    re: dairy. i was vegetarian for a few years in high school & i was always still very tired. cutting out dairy is definitely the thing that improved my energy levels & gave me more muscle definition/less fat. at first it was really rough because i <3 cheese, but the feeling i get after i eat dairy just isn't worth it anymore.

    i love ice cream too, but there's a lot of great substitutes out there now! tofutti cutie ice cream sandwiches are great & the purely decadent dairy free brand is good too (comes in a pint).


    i am anemic too, but i take my iron pills & i'm fine.

  19. #19
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    Quote Originally Posted by Emily View Post
    I never really understood the dairy debate.

    On one hand, it's unnatural. if we didn't have farming, would human beings drink milk? (besides when nursing from your mother as an infant, of course) I don't think it makes sense. No other animal seeks out the milk of another mammal.
    Actually some do. Lions in particular love milk and will go for that first if they kill lactacting prey (they'll just tear open that part of the body first and fight over who gets the milk when it spills out).

    I know that some three-fourths of humans are lactose intolerant but it seems that those of North Atlantic origin are healthier with a dairy-heavy diet. So maybe it's good for a few people and not for others. Maybe I'll try the six-day vegan thing and have my cheese on Saturdays or something.

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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    Just a note for anyone trying to go vegan - I took out dairy cold-turkey and I was a HUGE milk-drinker. Seriously, I would have about 5 cups of milk a day. It took 2 weeks for my body to adjust and about 3-4 weeks to see health improvements. This may not be the case for everyone but I wanted to throw it out there!

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    Featured Member Sveta's Avatar
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    Just a hint for anyone who wants to try giving up dairy but loves the taste of milk:

    Almond milk. The nectar of the gods. IMHO it actually tastes a lot better than cow's milk.

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    God/dess Emily's Avatar
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    I love almond milk, but I buy soy because they sell it in bulk at Costco. $10 for 10 boxes.

    I'm cheap.

    The one thing I don't like is rice milk. It tastes like that extra water left over after you cook rice. I'm curious about help milk, but that's a little too earthy hippie for me.

    My boyfriend loves soy milk too and he's like so... not vegan. I converted him on milk. I'm working as best I can to get him to come to the vegan side. He eats real vegetables now and it turns out he likes them and feels better when he eats them!

  23. #23
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    ^^^^ I agree about almond and rice milk! Sometimes we get hazelnut milk, which is delicious. But vanilla soy milk is way cheaper and suits my needs. I do like that better than cow's milk.

    Just wish they could come up with some decent vegan cheese.

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    God/dess leilanicandy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    I had an avocado sandwich and cheese. I know it is not hard core vegan. I am starting at least one meal a day. This way I think if will help me stick to the diet.
    If you want the present to be differant from the past, study the past.
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    God/dess Emily's Avatar
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    Default Re: Becoming Vegan

    Quote Originally Posted by Yekhefah View Post

    Just wish they could come up with some decent vegan cheese.
    The only one that I've ever had that even close to decent is this:


    I tried the cheddar too and it's okay, but this is better. Still not perfect, but I think it's about as good as it's going to get. Even my boyfriend thinks it's okay.

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