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Blue_Tires Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-07-07 03:32 AM
Original message
need some advice from vegans as well
i made a new year's resolution to slowly cut meat out of my diet and eat only fruits and veggies in the hope that i can dump some of my weight....only now have i realized how difficult giving up meat can be, and my weak willpower is having trouble letting it go...any advice or techniques, books, etc to help me go vegan for good??
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Miss_Strawberry Donating Member (282 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-07-07 09:02 AM
Response to Original message
1. I did...
a year on turkey alone...and not every day. Went from every other day to once a week. Then I just phased it out. It eased me into it to where I didn't even feel like I was giving anything up. I took it really slow, but because of that I think I was really comfortable. I don't think I would have been successful just dropping it cold turkey at that age. So I guess I would say just slowly phase it out and bring new proteins. You will be amazed at how healthy you feel. I can eat pounds of food from vegan restaurants and not feel disgusted with myself...Disclaimer...I'm not vegan, I still eat organic dairy.
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ThomCat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-07-07 09:09 AM
Response to Original message
2. Most people (meat eaters) eat the same dozen meals
over and over and over again. You might want to try making a list of a dozen or so vegan meals that you would enjoy eating repeatedly and try sticking to that list. Make it a habit that those are your standard meals. Then, slowly spread out from there.

Part of the challenge so many people have is just figuring out what to eat for every meal. Having a list makes that part easier.
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Blue_Tires Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-07-07 12:17 PM
Response to Original message
3. TTT n/t
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jobycom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-07-07 12:51 PM
Response to Original message
4. Make sure you are getting enough protein and nutrients.
Many cravings aren't for taste, they are for nutrients your body needs. If you just want a burger now and then, that may be taste memory trying to tempt you. If so, just resist, or better, drink a bottle of water. That will retrain your craving to something healthier, and it will fill you up at that moment so you don't want anything.

But consider that your body may be missing something it wants. This can fall into two categories. First, you may not be getting enough protein to keep functioning. This is not as big a problem as it sounds--all veggies contain protein, too, just not in complete form, so eating a variety of veggies, grains (whole grains, not flours or white grains), and legumes should be enough to fuel your body. But you do need to be sure you are getting it. The second category is just body memory. Your body is used to converting fats and animal proteins into energy and fuel, so you are craving meat when you get low on energy stores. You will get low more quickly than a meat eater, too, because complex carbs burn faster than protein, and don't store as well. So, snacking more, with smaller portioned meals if you feel you are eating too little, may help. It takes about two weeks (this from experience, not medical advice) before you stop craving meat for energy reasons. Even after, you will get some cravings, but those are easy to fill with faux meats--Gardenburger, Boca, seitan, tofu, tempeh, etc. Just don't build your diet around faux meats--they aren't that healthy, in general, as a main source of food.

So basically, make sure you are getting proteins (grains and beans help), drink water or eat snacks when you crave meat, and wait a couple of weeks, and you should be fine. You say you are trying to wean yourself from meat--that may create its own problems, because your body is still going to want it, since it will still consider it a fuel source. You will still have the cravings. I'd say go cold tofurkey (get it? Not cold torkey... Oh nevermind), or else cut out types of meat rather than cutting down on the amount you eat. In other words, eat only chicken, or turkey. Your body will lose the taste for other meats, so it may be easier to give up the turkey when you're ready. Then, substitute tofu or seitan or some such thing for the turkey half the time, then wean off it altogether. I wouldn't recommend this, I'd recommend cold tofurky, but I've heard of some people having success this way.

Just my thoughts. I'm not a doctor, so don't listen to anything I say unless it suits your needs.
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LeftyMom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-07-07 01:56 PM
Response to Original message
5. A friend of mine says it takes three weeks to retrain your tastes
My advice would be to get a cookbook or two full of reasonably easy to prepare vegan food you want to eat and just go for it. If you have any questions or are dealing with persistent cravings, which could be a psychological dependence or a nutritional need that's not being met, I'd be more than happy to help you through it. If you haven't checked out the veg/vegan/AR DU group yet, we have a pretty long recipe thread and quite a few discussions about getting started, cravings, etc.
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unpossibles Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-07-07 02:23 PM
Response to Original message
6. good for you! Some good advice on here already
What made me give it up originally was a combination of poverty and working in a restaurant where I had to clean chickens and make stock and other things that you generally don't want to hear about. In other words, I kind of grossed into it.

Now when I feel like I am in a food rut, I try something different. Remember you may not like it, and don't have to eat it, but when I think of some of the amazing foods I have eaten that were a little 'weird' sounding at first, it makes me happy.

One thing you can do is to treat yourself to a food that is from a culture where vegetarianism is pretty normal, like Indian or other Asian foods. If you are not familiar with Indian food, I suggest going to a buffet and BE BRAVE! Sure, some of it looks like baby food at first, but the flavors are amazing! I also suggest finding a good Chinese/Thai/Japanese restaurant if possible. Not one of the fast food ones that have 2 or 3 meatless dishes and one of them is string beans, but somewhere that has mock duck or faux ribs. Sure, they are not always that healthy (like if they are fried), but so yummy, and a great way to treat yourself.

Also check out some vegan boards for recipes and ideas, or things to buy. You'd be amazed at some of the "comfort food" that is out there now. I know I was, especially compared to 1990 when I first gave up meat.

Good luck and don't stress about it. Most people I know go through a period where they will crave some chicken and have it, and there's nothing wrong with that.
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flvegan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-07-07 02:27 PM
Response to Original message
7. Funny you should ask...I just found this article today, and it might help you out
It's called, "One Bite at a Time: A Beginner's Guide to Vegetarianism"

http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/48633/

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Phillycat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-07-07 02:28 PM
Response to Original message
8. There's a difference between vegetarian and vegan...
You might try going to vegetarian first, and still be able to have dairy, and then making the switch to vegan later. Giving up meat, PLUS milk, cheese, and eggs all at once seems a little harsh.
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Phillycat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-07-07 02:28 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. PS. I really like the Boca burgers, "flame grilled" flavor.
And I'm not even vegetarian.
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Blue_Tires Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-08-07 03:15 AM
Response to Reply #8
10. thanks, i forgot the difference
what i meant to say was i've been trying to go vegetarian...
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hellbound-liberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-08-07 06:55 AM
Response to Reply #10
11. I've been a vegetarian for a year and a half. I plan to become a vegan at some point
but I didn't want to give up everything at once. There is a lot of good advice on this topic already, I'll just add a link that might be useful for you. I believe it's from PETA: www.goveg.com
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Blue_Tires Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-09-07 11:58 AM
Response to Original message
12. final Friday kick
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