Any Veg*ns out there?

**Ursa** · 03-14-2011 05:58 AM

Note: Veg*n is an abbreviation for the words "vegetarian" and "vegan."

Just wondering if anyone out there wasn't into meat and/or meat products. If so...

Why did you change your diet and when?
How has it impacted your life (positive and negative)?
Do you ever get your temptations?

Now, if you're not a veg*n you can join the discussion, if you want.

**Beautiful Disaster** · 03-14-2011 07:04 AM

I have never been someone who enjoyed meat immensely when eating it. Don't get me wrong, now and then I might crave some bacon with my eggs, or something like that, but I rarely (once or twice per year) eat beef and normally in those instances it's because that's the only option. I do eat chicken, though I do not buy it and keep it in my home. I stick with veggies, beans, grains, lentils, etc. Though I do buy Lean Cuisines (most of which have chicken) and eat them some, meat is not a part of my daily diet.

So, it isn't a moral choice for me. It's more a matter of what I enjoy and what makes me feel the best. Raw veggies and fruits make me feel my best.

**Hopeless Dork** · 03-14-2011 07:55 AM

Actually there is a difference between vegans and vegetarians ... vegans not only don't eat meat, they don't eat dairy (including bread or cakes that use eggs to be made), they also do not wear clothing made with leather, use leather purses or belts... etc. Veganism is more than diet.

Vegetarians simply do not eat meat, no beef, no chicken, no fish, no pork... no meat period. People that eat no meat except fish are not vegetarians, they are pescatarians.

I was a pescatarian for 2 years and then became vegetarian (which I still currently am) 3 years ago. For me, I was severely overweight and looking for a diet that could become a lifestyle and decided that I could focus more on fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lentils, soy, etc...if decided to remove meat from my diet.

Cutting out meat, fried food, junk foods etc... and keeping control of my portions (along with exercise) lead to me reaching my goal weight. I became a vegetarian for dietary reasons though I have always been an avid animal lover... over the last couple years and joining several vegetarian groups I have learned so much about the way so many animals used for human consumption are treated and it has reinforced my decision to obstain from meat.

I have suffered from periodic bouts of iron-deficiancy anemia when I am not keeping a very good eye on making sure to give my body the right foods to assure iron absorbtion... but aside from that I feel very good in health and am constantly striving to make sure that I am eating a well-balanced diet.

While I listed the difference between vegetarians and vegans , pescatarians, etc... I dont think that all people striving to eat less meat need to fit tightly into one box or another... some people want to become vegetarian but decide not to because there is no way they could give up their once a month trip to red lobster or eating meat when they dine out with friends etc... and there is no veg police that will come to their house and tell them they are bad or wrong... the thing is living a mostly vegetarian lifestyle is probably way more healthy than having steaks and meatloafs every single day. So I don't think people should feel like if they can't go completely without meat that they shouldn't feel increddibly good about their reduction in consumption!

**WildChild** · 03-14-2011 10:33 AM

I was a vegetarian for many years and no longer am, it wasn't entirely my choice, after we split my kids father refused to feed them if they wouldn't eat meat. To get them to eat it, I had to. They are both vegans now but their own choice. I'm not but don't eat much animal product.

Vegans don't eat or use animal products, period. But they may have some different idea about that. I have one child who will not utilise any kind of animal product, no honey, no leather - none. The other does eat honey on the premise that the bees are endangered and supporting the bee keepers may help to perserve them. This one will also use some products that were purchased before going vegan on the premise that it is better to use what you have rather than waste it and purchase new products using additional resources. To me this makes sense. I do believe in, use it up, wear it out, make do, do without.

It is entirely possible to be vegetarian or vegan and have an awful diet. To just quit eating meat or using animal products does not make you healthy or automatically ensure good food choices. If you want to be healthy on any kind of diet, you have to educate yourself to make sure it isn't a junk food diet. Everyone needs to take refined food products out of their lives - no bleached flour, no highly refined sugar of any kind, no (partially) hydrogenated whatever kind of fats, no fried foods, no dyed foods, no creamed anything (don't go there, we are talking dietary choices here). Get your foods as close to source and whole as possible. When you can buy local and organic.

Anemia can be dealt with by taking chlorophyll and eating a lot of spinach -fresh, steamed or lightly sauted. I've had anemia all my life and since starting the liquid (I get the organic 100mg) over 17 years ago I haven't had a problem with it.

Being healthy requires being food conscious.

**Beautiful Disaster** · 03-14-2011 10:37 AM

no creamed anything (don't go there, we are talking dietary choices here

Darn it. Lol!

**WildChild** · 03-14-2011 10:43 AM

Well there are some, ummm, animal sources you might consider food that I would think would be acceptable.

**Seeker_Advice** · 03-14-2011 11:39 AM

The "challenges" of the vegan lifestyle can be many (IMO) and is not for the undisciplined or light at heart, also IMO.

I say challenges, not to be derogatory or even negative but rather to make those considering it to be aware. There are so many products that contain animal products and extracts of animal products that most people have no idea. Lots of these products have "chemical" sounding names too, like something that is artificial or synthetic, when in fact they came directly from an animal.

**Hopeless Dork** · 03-14-2011 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by Seeker_Advice

The "challenges" of the vegan lifestyle can be many (IMO) and is not for the undisciplined or light at heart, also IMO.

I say challenges, not to be derogatory or even negative but rather to make those considering it to be aware. There are so many products that contain animal products and extracts of animal products that most people have no idea. Lots of these products have "chemical" sounding names too, like something that is artificial or synthetic, when in fact they came directly from an animal.

Very true, you have to read labels carefully... fruity candies can contain animal sourced products like gelatin, rezinous glaze, etc...

And WC thanks for the chlorophyll tip...I am going to look into getting some ASAP

**DrDebra** · 03-30-2011 04:03 PM

Hi,

I eat vegan style and almost all raw. I still wear leather shoes.

Why did you change your diet and when?

I changed it for health reasons. I kept being told I had a stagnant liver and thought what could I change about my diet to ease the load on my liver. Meat seemed the easiest thing to cut out. Then I quickly went from vegetarian to vegan as dairy does not make me feel well and soy is mostly not healthy. Somehow I stumbled onto eating a raw vegan diet and I have flourished on it. This was 2 years ago. I just had blood work done and my health care practitioner just kept commenting that I am a healthy woman. I had to see a podiatrist recently for a foot injury and he kept commenting on my great bone. So calcium levels are good and my organs are the healthiest they have been. The blood work was day 1 day prior to my 51st birthday.

How has it impacted your life (positive and negative)?

The positive impact is the improvement in health and the increase in energy. I feel good and have none of the health complaints that a lot of my contemporaries do have.

The negative impact is only on social issues as people think it is difficult to feed me, but really all I need is a big salad and maybe some fruit.

Do you ever get your temptations?

My current living situation is less than ideal and there are foods in the house that are tempting plus I enjoy baking for others and this has been an issue. I do not know how to cook or bake without tasting as I go! But I feel so much better when eating properly and when I eat something that is not good for my system I know it. The longer I eat well the less good the old temptations taste and the more immediate the effect on my body. It is like my alarm system works much better now than when it was constantly bombarded by wrong foods.

In the US it is much easier to eat an unhealthy diet but it is well worth the effort to eat well and feel great!

Dr. Debra

**Seeker_Advice** · 03-30-2011 08:43 PM

To me, Vegan, in particular, is not a diet like vegetarian is, but rather a life style in which no "animal products" are used in any area of one's life.

So along with obvious and not so obvious food items, are leather products of any kind, some soaps, shampoos, conditioners, skin care products, cosmetics, etc., etc., etc.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong as this has been my belief for many years.

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