So I'm going to try this....

[Jay_Bunny]

I've tried vegetarianism. I was a vegetarian for around 2 years and loved it but I still ate crap. Then I went vegan for 3 months. Still ate some junk food but for the most part, I felt great. So much more energy, my face started to clear up, I lost 10lbs without even trying, and I didn't feel so sluggish. Then I was dumb and went back to eating vegetarian, and eventually back to eating an omni diet. I've tried vegetarian and vegan off and on during the past year but I really want to get healthy again. I'm 75lbs overweight. Now, during the times I was eating vegetarian or vegan, I tried getting my husband to try it since it was healthier than what he was eating. He sometimes went along with it and sometimes not.

Just today though I told him we needed to go grocery shopping and what he wanted to get. He told me he wants to try a raw diet (raw vegan) and I told him I'd switch too. So I guess wish me luck.

[Bleepr]

In my opinion, there are very few redeeming qualities to veganism (or vegitarianism for that matter). The reason its healthier is because you are adhearing to a strict code of eating. Apply the same code to an omni-diet and you'll see the same results.

"You are what you eat" applies here. You eat healthy and balanced, vegan or no, and you'll be healthy. It truth, it takes more for vegans to balance thier diets then it does for someone who doesn't have those constraints.

Outlook is whats important to change, and if veganism provides that outlook, then great. It qute obviously isn't for me, but I still wish you the best.

[dc4teg]

I couldnt live one day knowing that there will not be a big chunk of meat calling my name on my plate each night.

[Jay_Bunny]

Actually there are many redeeming qualities to a vegan and vegetarian diet but I'm not going to try and persuade you to change your diet. To each their own. I personally loved a vegetarian diet and felt AMAZING on a vegan diet. And on the days I went raw vegan (usually only a few days at a time) I felt great! I have even noticed changes recently. My sister has gone vegan for health reasons and I've been eating more vegan foods since we have more time to spend together (I go over to her house 1-2x a week and eat nothing but vegan food and I've been eating more vegan food at home.)

I plan on keeping a blog/journal for this, recording what I eat and how I feel. I am also going to use a food tracker to track what nutrients/how much of each nutrient I'm getting to make sure I don't become deficient in something.

[Jay_Bunny]

I couldnt live one day knowing that there will not be a big chunk of meat calling my name on my plate each night.

I remember saying that oh so long ago(I was a steak and potatoes girl. Loved me some ribs!), and went vegetarian for 2 years. NEVER missed meat. I went back to eating meat because it was easier at family meals not to get hounded about my diet. Now I'm really ready to go back to vegetarianism, even vegan.

[WingedWolfPsion]

I agree--Vegans invariably develop nutritional deficiencies and fall ill. It simply isn't natural. Humans are very adaptable animals, but over a long period of time, limits will be reached.

Eat HEALTHY, and you'll be healthy. That means eating lots of fresh vegetables, a bit of fruit, a bit of properly raised meat (grass-fed beef, fish, pastured chicken, etc), and maybe a bit of whole grain. Don't believe the government food pyramid (but you knew that already). Avoid JUNK FOOD. The problem isn't adding meat, eggs or milk to your diet--the problem is the JUNK FOOD--the grain fed meats, the processed garbage, white bread, excessive sugar, etc etc.

If you aren't able to control your craving for junk food, no raw vegetable diet in the world will save you.
You want to know what the key is?
Don't deprive yourself of the stuff. Actually permit yourself to have something junky that you crave at least once a day--in SMALL quantity. A little square of dark chocolate (healthy), a half scoop of ice cream, whatever. Psychologists will be quick to tell you that deprivation leads to even more intense cravings for those things. You can't just cut yourself off cold turkey and expect it to work. If you do, eventually you're going to snap and be back where you started.

So, set aside a day once a month where you eat like a redneck hog. Big bucket of fried chicken, tater tots, hot wings, soda, Ho Hos, whatever. You won't be able to eat much of it, because your stomach will have shrunk, but it'll taste great, and you'll be able to avoid it the rest of the time, because you know you've got another splurge day coming up. The one day of splurging on garbage food won't hurt your health or affect your weight much (if at all). It'll keep you sane and on track (which a diet of raw vegetables won't do...are you aware that even Homo erectus had fire? There is nothing in human evolution that supports large amounts of raw food as being natural for our species--we have been cooking throughout our evolution).

As for me personally--I find large amounts of vegetables to be difficult to digest, and I continue to feel hungry unless I have at least some meat in my diet each day. I don't feel at all well without it. Everyone's metabolism is a bit different, and no single diet is appropriate for every individual.

[j_h_smith]

Vegans can be and are healthy individuals. I'm not one, nor would I ever want to be, but I have family that have been vegan for years now and they live a productive life with very few ills. Possibly less than omnis. It is a strict lifestyle, and like others have said, if anyone followed their diet as strickly as Vegans, they would be just as happy.

I'm fine with it as long as they don't try to feed me soyburgers!
Jim Smith

[zeke]

My Fiance is Lacto Ovo (sp) which means she will eat egg product and cheese products. Many forms of vegatarianisim put there and I cant keep track. She has been one for over 16 years since she was 9.. I'm not a vegatarian, I LOVE BACON!!!!!! lol

I'm sure she would love to see that there are more vegatarians on here.. her S/N is Andre6313 drop her a line maybe she can help you out if ya need it.. she is also a gym rat and loves to work out and makes it hurt so good lol..and has the tummy to prove it


Thought I'd drop my 2 cents in on this since I am around it 24/7 and not all vegatarian food is bad.. Tofu is pretty good if made right. Enjoy your veggies


Cheers

[Herp_Herp_hooray]

Good luck!!! We only eat meat a few times a week

[andre6313]

I've tried vegetarianism. I was a vegetarian for around 2 years and loved it but I still ate crap. Then I went vegan for 3 months. Still ate some junk food but for the most part, I felt great. So much more energy, my face started to clear up, I lost 10lbs without even trying, and I didn't feel so sluggish. Then I was dumb and went back to eating vegetarian, and eventually back to eating an omni diet. I've tried vegetarian and vegan off and on during the past year but I really want to get healthy again. I'm 75lbs overweight. Now, during the times I was eating vegetarian or vegan, I tried getting my husband to try it since it was healthier than what he was eating. He sometimes went along with it and sometimes not.

Just today though I told him we needed to go grocery shopping and what he wanted to get. He told me he wants to try a raw diet (raw vegan) and I told him I'd switch too. So I guess wish me luck.

JB, There are some amazing attributes to being a vegetarian! Esp a raw veggie! I say go for it, don't let ANYONE try an persuade you differently. Vegans wont inevitably fall ill... I have been a lacto-ovo for 16 years now,(but I don't eat much dairy or eggs, just some so I can't call myself a vegan) essentially a rawist for the past 2 years now, and LOVE IT!!! I haven't been sick in years, not even a cold. I do take in some whey isolate protein so I can not call myself a vegan, but I'm dang near it. My fience "Zeke" can vouch that I DON'T get sick, and that I am VERY healthy and HAPPY! Also, I am a gym rat... soooo, there are ways to live a healthy veggie lifestyle, and get all of your essential nutrients, if that is what you want. Hope this helped! Feel free to pm me me if you would like to chat.