Jump to content

Going vegan?


dancing_joker

Recommended Posts

I’ve recently decided to adopt a vegan lifestyle…not only for the welfare of animals, but for my own health benefits as well as the environmental impacts. Has anyone out there converted? If so, what were the challenges you faced?

 

Please do not comment if you’re here to campaign against this choice. I have no desire to debate you on this, nor am I here to preach to you how to live your life. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would imagine a full vegan diet is actually worse for your health, but I'm not really into this sort of thing.

 

Protein is important and you'll need to figure out how to get it into your diet.

 

And keep an eye on your skin.  I know vegans who have a sickly, pale, translucent quality to their facial skin that makes them look like ghouls or zombies!

 

Get some sun FFS.

 

 

  • Agree 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

I would imagine a full vegan diet is actually worse for your health, but I'm not really into this sort of thing.

 

Protein is important and you'll need to figure out how to get it into your diet.

 

And keep an eye on your skin.  I know vegans who have a sickly, pale, translucent quality to their facial skin that makes them look like ghouls or zombies!

 

Get some sun FFS.

 

 

 

You're really good at following instructions.

  • Haha (+1) 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I went vegan for 3 full years a ways back (about 15 years ago).  It was honestly the best I've ever felt in my life. I had a crazy amount of energy, and my head felt more clear.

 

Eventually, I really missed cheeseburgers and chicken wings, so gave it up. But I'm glad I did it. It felt like a mid-life tune up for my system.

 

It's easier to be a vegan today than ever. They have great cheese & meat substitutes (some of which I still use, just to cut down on meat when I can).  And there are some amazing cookbooks out there. If you like to cook or there is a good cook in the family, you can design a weekly menu where you won't even notice the difference.

 

As far as challenges, some restaurants can be limited in terms of options.  And you do have to make sure you get enough protein & things like B vitamins and iron, but there are plenty of recommendations for substitutes and supplements on that front.  

 

Best of luck!

 

Edited by Success
  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

I would imagine a full vegan diet is actually worse for your health, but I'm not really into this sort of thing.

 

Protein is important and you'll need to figure out how to get it into your diet.

 

And keep an eye on your skin.  I know vegans who have a sickly, pale, translucent quality to their facial skin that makes them look like ghouls or zombies!

 

Get some sun FFS.

 

 

 

I'm not a nutritional expert but legumes and nuts can provide a decent amount.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Gugny said:

 

You're really good at following instructions.

Haha it’s okay. Ghost makes a really good vegan protein powder you can grab at gnc or wherever you want. Obviously that won’t be my only source of protein, but it helps if you’re into counting your macros. 

2 hours ago, Success said:

I went vegan for 3 full years a ways back (about 15 years ago).  It was honestly the best I've ever felt in my life. I had a crazy amount of energy, and my head felt more clear.

 

Eventually, I really missed cheeseburgers and chicken wings, so gave it up. But I'm glad I did it. It felt like a mid-life tune up for my system.

 

It's easier to be a vegan today than ever. They have great cheese & meat substitutes (some of which I still use, just to cut down on meat when I can).  And there are some amazing cookbooks out there. If you like to cook or there is a good cook in the family, you can design a weekly menu where you won't even notice the difference.

 

As far as challenges, some restaurants can be limited in terms of options.  And you do have to make sure you get enough protein & things like B vitamins and iron, but there are plenty of recommendations for substitutes and supplements on that front.  

 

Best of luck!

 

Thanks for the reply!! I do agree with you that making the switch today vs even 5 years ago is way easier. Back in 2017, I failed miserably…thinking I could just flip a light switch and “figure it out” haha. 
 

Restaurants will be challenging for sure…but I’m thinking about family and friends. Judgment by them. Let’s face it…when you decide to do something in our society that is against the norm, you get ridiculed. If it succeeds, you’re praised in the end…but the road there is not cupcakes and rainbows. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A vegan diet CAN be healthy if done correctly.  My wife was a vegan for over a year, but has gone back to eating meat and fish occasionally as she found herself to feel “fatigued” and not herself at times.
 

You need to be careful to consume foods that give you protein, calcium, iron, and other essential vitamins such a B12.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, dancing_joker said:

Haha it’s okay. Ghost makes a really good vegan protein powder you can grab at gnc or wherever you want. Obviously that won’t be my only source of protein, but it helps if you’re into counting your macros. 

Thanks for the reply!! I do agree with you that making the switch today vs even 5 years ago is way easier. Back in 2017, I failed miserably…thinking I could just flip a light switch and “figure it out” haha. 
 

Restaurants will be challenging for sure…but I’m thinking about family and friends. Judgment by them. Let’s face it…when you decide to do something in our society that is against the norm, you get ridiculed. If it succeeds, you’re praised in the end…but the road there is not cupcakes and rainbows. 

 

Vegetarian is fairly doable, full vegan is a real challenge! 

 

Our DIL is vegetarian and we manage to have them over for meals with little effort. It’s often a boatload of chopping, or a trip to Whole Foods to see what they have out. My BIL and his wife tried vegan for a while as she’s battling stage 4 cancer. Desperate times can lead to desperate measures. After a year or so I know he’s back to eating meat again. 

 

It’s every individuals choice, but it can make things tough on friends and family who have to accommodate. It’s just one small thing to consider, not to change your plans but it’s just a little different if you have a group who wants to go out for a bite to eat. 

 

Good luck with it! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

25 minutes ago, Augie said:

It’s every individuals choice, but it can make things tough on friends and family who have to accommodate. It’s just one small thing to consider, not to change your plans but it’s just a little different if you have a group who wants to go out for a bite to eat. 

 

Good luck with it! 


In other words, don’t go out to eat at restaurants at which you aren’t completely certain there are vegan options.  Call in advance.  No one wants to sit there for 25 minutes while the waitress goes back and forth to the kitchen trying to figure out if your meal can be made vegan.  I’m trying to help 😉 

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

A vegan diet CAN be healthy if done correctly.  My wife was a vegan for over a year, but has gone back to eating meat and fish occasionally as she found herself to feel “fatigued” and not herself at times.
 

You need to be careful to consume foods that give you protein, calcium, iron, and other essential vitamins such a B12.

Totally agree. I already take multivitamins and fish oil for my own health reasons. So now it’s just a matter of switching to a vegan version of those.

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, dancing_joker said:

I’ve recently decided to adopt a vegan lifestyle…not only for the welfare of animals, but for my own health benefits as well as the environmental impacts. Has anyone out there converted? If so, what were the challenges you faced?

 

Please do not comment if you’re here to campaign against this choice. I have no desire to debate you on this, nor am I here to preach to you how to live your life. 


Have you ever read any of Dr. fuhrman’s stuff? It’s basically vegan, with a heavy emphasis on just eating super clean. We have done his thing for small stretches. One of our friends has eaten clean like that for about a year and has lost like 75 pounds.

 

Good luck! I wish I could stick to something like that. That said, as I get older, I just feel grosser when I eat a lot of meat. I went out with friends for BBQ last night and didn’t even really enjoy it. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

my niece is a Strict "ethical" vegan (checks for rennet in cheese which is  an enzyme from stomachs of some mammals) she wouldn't eat cheese that had it 

 

My DIL was vegan, then vegetarian, then pescatarian but now eats more animal based proteins as advised by her Dr during pregnancy. Their eating style is super healthy, flexible, mostly vegetarian. They are both fabulous cooks and shop locally grown fruits and vegetables in season.

 

I don't judge their choice and respect it. But I eat almost everything and that works for me In Moderation

 

whatever is best for you , your lifestyle and healthy. Best to you.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is OLD. A NEW topic should be started unless there is a very specific reason to revive this one.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...