Should I become a vegan? I've been a vegetarian all my life.?

Question

Here are the basics.

1. I want to be a vegan for ethical reasons.

2. I am meant to be gaining weight during recovery from anorexia nervosa, can I do this healthily as a vegan?

Any points of view I will take into account.

x

Answer 1

Liz, as long as your diet is nutritionally balanced and you are eating enough (and maybe a little more than enough) to recover from your illness then I don't see a problem with you turning vegan, but I would advise you to take it very slowly and gradually as you have enough to deal with at the moment.

See whoever is treating you for your illness and discuss the matter with them. I'm sure you must be seeing a nutritionist aswell so have a chat there too. As long as you have enough protien, fats, carbs, vitamins, minerals and water, then you're on the right track.

Good luck with your recovery.

Answer 2

For one, anyone who tries to tell you that vegans die sooner than meat eaters is extremely misguided.  Vegans live on average 10 or more years longer than meat eaters.  Our bodies are meant to digest meat, hence the reason it sits in our colons and rots.  If you're dedicated, you'll have no problem gaining weight on a vegan diet.  Especially with cookbooks like "The Joy of Vegan Baking" and  "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World."  Delicious, fattening recipes.

Answer 3

Ask yourself, 'what feels right for me?'. If you feel strongly enough about veganism, then go vegan. I will support your choice. If you are happy being a vegetarian, if it feels right for you, I will support your decision also.

Keep your calorie levels up by enjoying nuts and seeds in your diet, but don't get wrapped up with counting calories. Food is for the enjoyment factor too.

May I add that anorexia nervosa is a terrible disease, and I think that you have a lot of inner strength to come through it all. So eat a healthy balanced diet, take care of yourself, and know that it takes a very strong person to recover from anorexia. I beleive in you, you can do it.

Should you go vegan? Ultimately, it is your decision. Listen to your instincts. Follow your heart, and stay strong.

Best of luck to you. =)

Answer 4

Do wat u think is right. Try it for a week see how it goes if it goes well then become one if that is wat you want and if it goes bad then stay a vegetarian watever you do make sure your healthy

Answer 5

To be totally honest i can understand the reasons why people may  want to be vegan/vegetarian but in my opinion it goes against natural instincts and the idea that we are built to eat meat produce

and yes you can gain weight from being a vegan, its just about managing how many times you eat and making a timetable of meals to suit you. i suggest experimenting with different mixtures of food aswell and trying to get the optimum out of what you are eating.

Answer 6

i think that it can go 2 ways: if you are dedicated in becoming vegan and having a good diet then it will be fine, and there will be no problems. But if you are not motivated enough and you find it hard to keep to a healthy vagan diet- it more likely to do you harm. what i suggest is that you question how much dedication you can give to planning and keeping a healthy diet. then it is up to you

Answer 7

No you shouldn't, vegans generally die younger then both vegetarians and meat eaters, they simply dont get all the nutrients their body needs, if I were you I would stick to vegeterianism. The ethical reasons for vegies are clear, but those for vegans are less so, if you buy free range eggs etc theirs no problem.

Im not a vegetarian btw

Answer 8

Hi.  I'm surprised more people haven't mentioned your eating disorder.

Please don't try to tackle too many things at once.  Anorexia is a beyotch to reocover from, and this needs to be at the top of your list.

Ethics shouldn't be more important than your life and health.  I would stick with being a vegetarian and take advantage (for now) of the many additional things you can eat.

Answer 9

We are omnivores, the dominant species of this earth... we have k9 teeth to tear meat & molar's for grinding veg/fruit, we were born to eat meat just as we were born to grow old and die.

By being a vegan or vegiterian i see it as a sign of mental weaknes & caring emotionaly for a weaker species.

Answer 10

I would advise you take a long hard look at whether you are really doing it for only ethical reasons, or if it is an undercover way of "restricting" your diet. Take the advice of your counselors/therapists...they might not think such a limited diet would be good for you at this point in your recovery: i.e. a gateway to slip back into old habits.

This is nothing against others who choose the vegan lifestyle, I am speaking about YOUR particular situation, and the restricitve aspects of the vegan diet.

Answer 11

Well I don't think it's up to us to decide if you should become a vegan, it's really down to you.  However, there are a lot of good reasons to become a vegan and the ethical reasons are a great place to start.

You can gain weight healthily as a vegan and actually, it might be worth speaking to the Vegan Bodybuilders, as they obviously bulk up pretty well.  I think if you feel it's right for you, you should try it but only in consultation with the health professionals who are helping you recover from anorexia nervosa.

The thing is, you are recovering from having an issue with food so to focus heavily on what you eat may not be helpful.  That being said, I believe that being a vegan is a great reason to eat without any guilt whatsoever.  If you're a vegetarian now, it's not a big step to take.  I took it two years ago and am healthier, happier and fitter than before and I don't miss anything at all.

As for the guy who said Vegans die younger, where did he get that from?  The inventor of the word Vegan and founder of the Vegan Society died at the ripe old age of 95!

Anyway, as I said, it's your decision and one you should make carefully in consultation with the people who care for you.  Go to the links for useful info, good recipes and some fantastic food for sale!  Also email me at [e-mail] as I'm always keen to help new vegans.

Take care and have fun,

H.

Answer 12

Yes! I've found that it's the quantity of food that affects my wait. Becoming a vegan has not changed my weight at all except that the food is so good I sometimes end up eating more than I would otherwise. :)