Current Events > I've started going Vegan today.

(+) Yeah! (+)

This isn't about saving animals or any of that. It's simply because of my health. I'm obese so I'm trying something new.

This will be hard. I just cooked 1+lb of Veggies for breakfast. I know I need to overeat to have a chance of getting close to the amount of calories and nutrition I need. All them Veggies was less than 300 Calories and I couldn't finish them all even while forcing it. It was just too much food. I see how people die from malnutrition. Now I'm wondering how I will get enough calories and nutrition.

Any Vegan secrets to get a lot of nutrition out of something smaller where I don't have to eat a ton? I'm trying to find a way to slash the weakness of eating Vegan without well... Not being Vegan.

Good on you for making the effort, tc. Remember, you'll probably fail or feel like whatever you're doing isn't working at some point, but it's all about consistency.
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Being vegan is a waste of time. Just bake some chicken
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Before you continue...do you drink soda at all? Sugary beverages in general?
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I won't try to talk you out of it, but a lot of vegetarians and vegans take nutritional supplements such as protein and different types of fat they're not getting. Do some research on what you need to be taking and what you can eat to optimize your nutrition
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It may work better if you go vegetarian rather than full-on vegan.

Possibly even pescatarian. (Eating fish)
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Do you have an exercise plan to go along with your diet?
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weapon_d00d816 posted...

Before you continue...do you drink soda at all? Sugary beverages in general?

Rarely. I tend to either drink straight water or add flavor packets to it.

dolomedes posted...

DrizztLink posted...

It may work better if you go vegetarian rather than full-on vegan.

also this

even if only for the fact that soul will cry out for cheese after like a week without. lol

So there is a difference. I guess it's better to say I'm doing a "plant based diet." I was wondering if the term "Vegan" was interchangeable and I see know it's not.

Kazi1212 posted...

Do you have an exercise plan to go along with your diet?

No not yet. I've been giving this some thought. I love to swim so joining the YMCA has been on my mind for a while. It's just that I don't want to be seen swimming because well... I'm fat. I don't want people looking at my body obviously. I used to swim laps all the time when I was a kid.

Unknown6721 posted...

It was just too much food. I see how people die from malnutrition. Now I'm wondering how I will get enough calories and nutrition.

It just comes down to being strategic about exactly what you eat. Rather than just eating veggies you should also incorporate things like legumes and cereals in every meal, an example of which would be chickpeas and rice, respectively.

That gives you a broader range of coverage. I used to bulk on a vegan diet no problem, just ate a lot of the above combination and stuff like peanut butter sandwiches.

Another pointer I would give you is to be aware of your b12 levels - you'll definitely want to supplement that. As well you may want to watch your iron levels too, and consciously incorporate things like spinach.
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Unknown6721 posted...

dolomedes posted...

DrizztLink posted...

It may work better if you go vegetarian rather than full-on vegan.

also this

even if only for the fact that soul will cry out for cheese after like a week without. lol

So there is a difference. I guess it's better to say I'm doing a "plant based diet." I was wondering if the term "Vegan" was interchangeable and I see know it's not.

Vegan means no animal products whatsoever. So no milk, cheese, butter, etc.
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InYourWalls1 posted...

Unknown6721 posted...

It was just too much food. I see how people die from malnutrition. Now I'm wondering how I will get enough calories and nutrition.

It just comes down to being strategic about exactly what you eat. Rather than just eating veggies you should also incorporate things like legumes and cereals in every meal, an example of which would be chickpeas and rice, respectively.

That gives you a broader range of coverage. I used to bulk on a vegan diet no problem, just ate a lot of the above combination and stuff like peanut butter sandwiches.

Another pointer I would give you is to be aware of your b12 levels - you'll definitely want to supplement that. As well you may want to watch your iron levels too, and consciously incorporate things like spinach.

Thanks for the tips. Also, does V8 Fusion have B12 in it? If so what do you think about something like that?

DrizztLink posted...

Unknown6721 posted...

dolomedes posted...

DrizztLink posted...

It may work better if you go vegetarian rather than full-on vegan.

also this

even if only for the fact that soul will cry out for cheese after like a week without. lol

So there is a difference. I guess it's better to say I'm doing a "plant based diet." I was wondering if the term "Vegan" was interchangeable and I see know it's not.

Vegan means no animal products whatsoever. So no milk, cheese, butter, etc.

That's what I thought it meant. That's what I'm trying for. Maybe just avoiding meat instead of going full vegan is a better way to go.

By eating a ton of plants you're getting plenty of micronutrients and phytonutrients though, which is where your main source of concern regarding malnutrition lies. Don't worry about calories so much, especially as you're overweight. Do eat something like avocado or walnuts so you get some dietary fats, 5-10% of your daily caloric intake as fats should be sufficient. Quinoa, brown or wild rice, lentils, beans and nuts are all good for protein, just don't go crazy with them as theyre high in starch and/or fat. Be really critical of labels if you eat anything processed, you'd be surprised what has hidden dairy or egg (or excessive salt or sugars or dyes or preservatives).
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Don't only eat vegetables. Things like tofu, beans, lentils, nuts,etc are all good. Just make sure you're careful and get the nutrients you need.

Why vegan and not vegetarian anyway?
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Unknown6721 posted...

Also, does V8 Fusion have B12 in it? If so what do you think about something like that?

I'm not really sure, but probably not in the amount you'll need anyways, it's definitely something you need to buy a specific vitamin for.

If you're only cutting out meat though and keeping in dairy products you should be fine
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Unknown6721 posted...

InYourWalls1 posted...

Unknown6721 posted...

It was just too much food. I see how people die from malnutrition. Now I'm wondering how I will get enough calories and nutrition.

It just comes down to being strategic about exactly what you eat. Rather than just eating veggies you should also incorporate things like legumes and cereals in every meal, an example of which would be chickpeas and rice, respectively.

That gives you a broader range of coverage. I used to bulk on a vegan diet no problem, just ate a lot of the above combination and stuff like peanut butter sandwiches.

Another pointer I would give you is to be aware of your b12 levels - you'll definitely want to supplement that. As well you may want to watch your iron levels too, and consciously incorporate things like spinach.

Thanks for the tips. Also, does V8 Fusion have B12 in it? If so what do you think about something like that?

That has a ton of sugar in it so I'd avoid it. You don't need to go all plant based. Just portion control will help you a ton more because it'll be more sustainable than going vegan the rest of your life.
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yet another person fooled into thinking that a vegan diet is going to be 'healthier' for them. smh
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emblem boy posted...

Don't only eat vegetables. Things like tofu, beans, lentils, nuts,etc are all good. Just make sure you're careful and get the nutrients you need.

Why vegan and not vegetarian anyway?

I might change over to vegetarian. I just hear some bad things about not being full Vegan I picked that first but I'm not opposed to going just vegetarian. It will make things easier for me.

Steve Nick posted...

yet another person fooled into thinking that a vegan diet is going to be 'healthier' for them. smh

It's a better option than my current path. Just trying something new.

why don't you just eat a healthy normal diet?
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This is joe40001 all over again. Taking extremes for the sake of losing weight.
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Steve Nick posted...

why don't you just eat a healthy normal diet?

I've tried it. My concept with this diet is I can eat until I'm full without any worries. Other diets ended up with me cooking more meat than I needed and not eating all my veggies. It was 100% my fault. Can't keep trying the same thing ms I failed at before. So why not try something new?