16 year old Vegan feeling weak??

Question

recently, (as in the past week...lol) i became a full vegan and cut out eggs and dairy. i feel really great about it besides having a hard time finding things to eat while out to eat... especially now that i can't eat my favorite dishes! well anyways, lol,

ive been feeling really week lately and i feel like my muscles have just vanished! i know i need to take some vitamins but i have no clue on what to take and the vitamins my moms been trying to feed me our like an inch long!! help please!

Answer 1

I would say by your statements that you need meat~ I am not anti-vegan/vegetarian but you need meat

Answer 2

With a vegan diet you are likely to be short on protein, iron and alot of vitamins. The vegetable proteins do not normally contain all the amino acids that meat ones do so this is the reason why it is harder to get the proteins from veg. If you are limiting yourself to a vegan diet you need to have plenty of lentils and pulses, as well as a very well balanced mixture of fruit and veg. You also need to find a soya milk substitute. Please be aware that many shop brought veggie foods are extremely high in salt and should be eaten rarely. think that humans are designed to be hunter/gatherers and need both meat and vegetables in their diet. If you have gone vegan because of the way animals are treated you could try eating freedom range meats where the animals are kept in carefully regulated conditions.

Answer 3

eat some eggs for protein and other important Amino acids

BUT - not just ANY EGGS

eat FREE RANGE EGGS.. I personally have 4 hens for egg production myself.. wonderful things...

infact free range  eggs are less cruel than SOY - millions of animals are killed or displaced so they can grow soy...

Answer 4

Eat lots of peanuts ASAP!!!  You need some protein of some sort.  Eat peanuts and beans and anything that has veggie protein!

Answer 5

Mix vegan Soy Protien Powder into a milk shake. That will help out your muscle loss. You can find it at most health food stores. Find your daily protein requirement online and make sure your getting all the protein you need.

Make sure you're drinking at least 8 cups of water a day.

Also, make sure you're getting the propper amout of calories your body needs.

The best advice I can give you is to take your vitamins. No matter how big. I you want to be a vegan you need to take some vitamins. You're probably not getting all of the vitamins they need from food. So you really need to suck it up and take them. Ecspeacialy vitamin B-12. That's the only vitamin that can only be found in meat.

I hope I helped and you feel better soon. I'm working on becomeing vegan myself.

Answer 6

You need protein, and fast.

Answer 7

Your muscles would not vanish after a week.  Google vegan nutrition and learn what to eat.  That should have been done prior to becoming vegan.

Answer 8

For goodness sakes go eat have a ham breakfast,with eggs and a large glass of milk and o.j.!...You poor thing!...

Answer 9

I am a 16 year old vegan as well.

And I went through this weak phase recently.

First off, DON'T BLOW IT! Don't go back so fast. You can do this. Just listen:

protein, protein, protein:

-beans (include beans in a lot of your meals. Hummus is also very good.)

-soy products. (I personally think that vegetarians rely too much on soy, but if you really need protein, come to this. Drink soymilk or get some other soy stuff like burgers or tofu)

-nuts! (dont go overboard though!!!)

When I first turned vegan I was snacking on things all day. (i ate probably 6 small meals) and I was feeling weak so I started eating the normal 3 big meals... it really helped. You get to jam in so many calories!!! then you get full and wait till the next meal. It made me feel stronger.

Alright, Don't give up!

and if you need a pill, I would say get a B-12 vitamin and an IRON pill, as you might be feeling anemic.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 10

If you are eating a properly balanced diet than there is no need to take any supplements. While supplements are fine for any diet, they are not a substitute for proper eating. The nutrients in pill form are not absorbed like the one's from food, so even if your pill bottle states you are receiving 100% of some type of vitamin, you are not.

I would stop worrying about vitamin pills, and instead put the effort toward balancing your diet properly.

You do not mention what you are eating throughout the day, so your problem could lie there. If you are filling up on caffeine, refined sugars, and carbs you are setting your body up to crash a few hours later. Sugars, caffeine, etc give us a quick boost of energy, but leave the body feeling drained afterward. Be sure you are eating properly and not filling up on junk.

There are great recipe books that can help you, as well as websites.

Answer 11

I was a vegetarian for 3 years, then went back to meat eating.  I have recently become vegetarian again and feel great about my decision.  Make smoothies in the a.m. with silken tofu, banana, blueberries, strawberries, white grape or apple juice, and ice.  What a great way to start off.  Try to eat the meatless burgers or hot dogs, eat beans.  Black beans are great to add to stir frys, salads, salsas.  If you own a quesadilla maker, you can use black beans, corn, salsa, and cheese (if you eat it).  Don't give up! Also, use Soy milk in recipes that call for milk.

Answer 12

You know there is a reason that you have those pointy teeth in your mouth. They help you to bite into meat which is a great source of what you most likely need which is iron, protein and essential amino acids. If you must for go eating animal of wearing products made from animals you are going to have to buck it up and take those long pills and eat plenty of lentils and beans. You should also see your Doctor and have you blood tested then see a qualified dietitian who will help you insure you are getting all that you need. No body said it would be easy.

Answer 13

You need protein before things get worse.

Answer 14

You should not be feeling weak if you have a proper diet. I'm vegan and I'm also 16 and I feel stronger than I ever have before. What are you eating? Do you make sure you eat plenty of legumes and raw foods? I would study nutrition on the internet so you can get a good idea of what you should be eating.

Answer 15

Life IS protein.  You must eat protein.  If you don't, your body will get it from your own muscles.  These muscles will be weakened.

Milk and eggs = best source of protein.

Answer 16

Sweetie, if your feeling weak, your not following a balanced vegan diet. Most people who come on this forum saying they are feeling weak are trolls, just trying to get peoples goat. If your not one of these, please get yourself some books and study up on how to follow a proper vegan diet.

Answer 17

I think you should have eased yourself into this strict of a lifestyle at your age as you need more calcium and iron than an older person....Eat every 2.5 hours to keep your blood sugar leveled...a handful of almonds....a chunk of vegan cheese....and a few crackers....vegan chili....with a w.w roll....pasta salad...go to a health food store they will help you with supplements....