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

[Jay_Bunny]

If done incorrectly, yes, vegans can develop deficiencies but of course so can omnivores if they eat a crappy diet. If you eat properly a vegan will not develop deficiencies. I really wish people did not have this view of vegans as being twiggy, nutrient deficient crazies. A vegan diet is actually one of the most natural diets a human can have (but I really really do not want to sit here and defend myself)

To those of you wishing me luck, thank you. That is what I needed. (not people coming on here telling me to eat meat) Today is Day 1. I am going to go to the store to grab lunch and enough fruit and veggies to last a day or two. One mistake I made the last time I tried going raw vegan was I bought way too much food and it went bad before I could use it so since the store is literally a short bike ride away, I'm going to do my shopping every 2-3 days instead of a weekly trip.

[Jay_Bunny]

Thanks andre6313! My sister went vegan a few weeks ago and we are both seeing major changes in her. She used to have horrible face acne and within the first week it began clearing up. She has lost 10lbs and I can tell you she looks amazing. She just looks so much healthier. And she can cook some yummy food! (We made a chocolate vegan cheesecake the other day Yum!)

I won't be 100% raw. Maybe 75% or something like that. I will indulge in some cooked food maybe a few times a week (cooked vegan food).

[andre6313]

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.

I highly disagree that "Vegans invariably develop nutritional deficiencies and fall ill" The only one who fall ill are the uninformed "bad" eaters... The mind set that that vegans are unhealthy is just that...a mind set, a stereotype. Yes, I do agree that depriving one's self of certain thing can turn to a binge session, but vegans aren't depriving themselves, they are making an informed lifestyle change... More power to them! Also, eating like a "red neck hog" as you say is also know as a binge... NOT a good idea!!!

[andre6313]

Thanks andre6313! My sister went vegan a few weeks ago and we are both seeing major changes in her. She used to have horrible face acne and within the first week it began clearing up. She has lost 10lbs and I can tell you she looks amazing. She just looks so much healthier. And she can cook some yummy food! (We made a chocolate vegan cheesecake the other day Yum!)

I won't be 100% raw. Maybe 75% or something like that. I will indulge in some cooked food maybe a few times a week (cooked vegan food).

WELCOME JB!!
Oh RIGHT ON!!! That's rad that you are already seein changes in her!! MMM...vegan cheesecake...*drool*

I'm not 100% raw either...some things just need to be cooked,lol.
I also go to the store daily, it is the only way to get and eat the freshest veggies possible... ;D If you need any thing girl let me know!

[Jay_Bunny]

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

Other than the tater tots and soda (which can be vegan) that just sounds disgusting. Just thinking of that makes my stomach feel like a brick. Whenever I eat meat and dairy (or processed foods) I always feel so heavy and sluggish. That is even when I eat "healthy" omni. Why make myself feel like that when I don't have to. Your body may have adapted to eating an omnivorous diet, but mine hates it and I want to give my body what it needs.

[Jay_Bunny]

WELCOME JB!!
Oh RIGHT ON!!! That's rad that you are already seein changes in her!! MMM...vegan cheesecake...*drool*

I'm not 100% raw either...some things just need to be cooked,lol.
I also go to the store daily, it is the only way to get and eat the freshest veggies possible... ;D If you need any thing girl let me know!

Thank you so much for your support. And you have no idea how good that cheesecake was! Maybe I should go pay her a visit today and hope she hasn't eaten it all. I don't eat a lot of tofu (maybe once a week) but they now make a tofu that is chocolate just for this kind of recipe. Of course we didn't find it until after we had gotten all the ingredients for the recipe and we made it all from scratch (actually mixed sugar and cacao in with silken tofu to make our own chocolate tofu). And she even managed to make this vegan mac n cheese that actually might help me stay away from regular mac n cheese. (that was my downfall before. I craved cheese even though I'm lactose intolerant.)

[andre6313]

Thank you so much for your support. And you have no idea how good that cheesecake was! Maybe I should go pay her a visit today and hope she hasn't eaten it all. I don't eat a lot of tofu (maybe once a week) but they now make a tofu that is chocolate just for this kind of recipe. Of course we didn't find it until after we had gotten all the ingredients for the recipe and we made it all from scratch (actually mixed sugar and cacao in with silken tofu to make our own chocolate tofu). And she even managed to make this vegan mac n cheese that actually might help me stay away from regular mac n cheese. (that was my downfall before. I craved cheese even though I'm lactose intolerant.)

LMAO!! Well, now you know how to make it..hahaha! Try some things like temphe, quinoa, and beans...they will help keep your protein intake up. Best of luck girl!

[j_h_smith]

Beans...the food everyone can enjoy, whether you eat them or not.

Jim Smith

[RockyTop]

I'm a vegan too.

http://icanhascook.files.wordpress.c...zing-steak.jpg

See, I put some green stuff on my steak

Hehe seriously, good job I'm sure it takes a lot of willpower and self control to constrict yourself to that type of lifestyle. I know I couldn't do it.



Where's the A1?

[Jay_Bunny]

I'm not going to think of it as restricting myself. I'm going to think of it as an excuse to go all out and try new kinds of fruits and veggies and not to mention, I totally have an excuse to eat my weight in mangos! Okay, so not really but they are definitely going to be on my menu a few times a week. They are by far my favorite fruit. Mmm, and coconuts! And yummy green smoothies. Though I'm going to cheat. My green smoothies will not be made fresh. I'm going to use the Naked brand of green smoothie since I know I will drink it (I practically chug that stuff its so good).