going strong!

[Professor D]

Tomorrow will be the 2 week mark for me going vegan
Overall I feel much better than I did as an omni, and reading the archives I discovered that the changes I'm experiencing are quite common.
I've lost ~5 lbs most of which is just detoxing, which is to be expected when you go from a diet of almost no fiber to a diet well above the recommended intake but I've definitely lost a bit of trunk fat as well.
strength has taken a bit of a dip, and I've managed to catch a cold as well, I'm chalking up both of those to my body expending large amounts of energy processing the toxins that are being released.
I've noticed my senses of smell and taste have improved, which makes vegan foods even more enjoyable

I am slightly surprised that I don't crave animal products at all, especially considering the large quantities I was consuming right up until the day I went vegan. I mean, not even pizza!

I've met with some resistance, when people ask me why I'm not partaking in the same meal as the others.
I tell them I'm vegan now, I don't offer an explanation for my choice but they still feel like I'm trying to convert them and without me saying anything they'll go on about how they "need" animal products for whatever reasons.
My sincere hope is that the people around me will see such a positive change in me, that they will want to give it a go, and I'll be right there to help.

thanks for providing such a great resource everyone!

[JP]

Good stuff mate!

personally, i dont believe into any of that toxin detoxin stuff. But if that rocks your boat, more power to you

one caveat you should watch out for as a lifter: when you nailed animal abuse products they often were dense in calories, and convenient to get. Sometimes when folk go vegan they dont only go vegan, but also clean up their diet to include more whole foods, less processed foods, more veg and fruit - and those are less calorie dense. So while they thought they were eating the same or even more food in terms of volume, they were actually taking in less calories.

And lack of calories = drop in strength. And thats suboptimal.

What i am trying to say is, embrace the vegan convenience and "junk" foods as a lifter

[flightlessbirds]

Awesome, congrats on the two week mark.
I definitely found it only got easier with time. Especially as you discover all the delicious things you can still eat as a vegan.

I think a dip in strength is pretty normal whenever you make an extreme and sudden diet change. Even if you are switching to a better diet it takes the body time to adjust. I remember reading that in a magazine in my mom's Doctors office lobby at some point... so it's gotta be true! *cough*

Hopefully your friends come around, or at least get tired of making it an issue.
I also found it much easier to be vegan when I was around other vegans. Not just ONLY other vegans, but having some vegan friends to cook with and commiserate with is really nice.

Happy plant eating!

[Professor D]

What i am trying to say is, embrace the vegan convenience and "junk" foods as a lifter

thanks for the encouragement JP

do you have any suggestions for calorie dense/convenience foods?

My daily food cooler is fuller than it's ever been, but I suspect you're right about the reduced calories despite the volume of food being enormous.

[JP]

just try around mate, see what you like.

I like the so called "fake meat" style foods a lot, i eat chicken breasts, nuggets, burgers and stuff like that - also many things made from tofu etc.

I am not afraid of a bit of oil and other fat sources.

I like the protein bars and stuff like that as well.

But really down to you, what kind of dietary habits you will create for youself... Also you being in US cant really say about any particular brands.

[Professor D]

I also found it much easier to be vegan when I was around other vegans. Not just ONLY other vegans, but having some vegan friends to cook with and commiserate with is really nice.

Happy plant eating!

I have one friend that's a veggie, but sadly I don't know any other vegans

I plan on baking some vegan cookies and leaving them out on a table in the break area, and after they're gone telling everyone that they just ate *gasp* VEGAN cookies!
lol.

[KaliBaby]

I have one friend that's a veggie, but sadly I don't know any other vegans

I plan on baking some vegan cookies and leaving them out on a table in the break area, and after they're gone telling everyone that they just ate *gasp* VEGAN cookies!
lol.

I have friends who are vegetarian but not vegan. All my vegan buddies are found here on VF haha

I also like to bake and give treats out to folks. After they devour the cookies, muffins, cupcakes, etc and tell me how good they were, I like to rub it in that they were vegan

Sometimes when folk go vegan they dont only go vegan, but also clean up their diet to include more whole foods, less processed foods, more veg and fruit - and those are less calorie dense. So while they thought they were eating the same or even more food in terms of volume, they were actually taking in less calories.

And lack of calories = drop in strength. And thats suboptimal.

right on. don't be afraid to stuff your face with lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. definitely incorporate some post-workout smoothies and include a few heaping tablespoons of soy, rice, hemp, or pea protein in the mix.

[tonyboloni]

Prof D;

Congrats on the switch!

I'm stateside so here are some brands you can look for:

Yves...make a killer line of fake hot dogs/boloney/salami (salami is a personal fave)

LightLife makes SmartDogs...which are also tasty.

Morningstar Farms and Gardenburger...read the label carefully. Cheese and egg whites can lurk.

Most fake meat protein sources will carry the "v" logo on the front and/or on the back...usually under the ingredients list.

Krogers, in the natural foods section, has a decent range. For some reason they separarte Morningstar Farms Foods over in the frozen section.

Hope this helps!

[tonyboloni]

Prof,

I believe Cliff "Builder Bars" are vegan too.

Here a link a product that shows the "v" vegan logo; each company seems to have their own version:

http://www.lightlife.com/product_detail ... geschorizo

By the way, the chorizo is awesome with red bean and rice.

[Professor D]

thanks for the support
I liked builder bars before I was vegan!

I picked up some smart dogs, they are delicious!
I should really remember more than I do about vegan foods.
I worked in a health food store for five years!

It really does look like the "fake meat" foods are where I can pick up a fair bit of protein, and I've found a hemp protein powder that is vegan and doesn't taste that great but for the $$ is totally worth it. I've used much worse tasting products as an omni.

[tonyboloni]

Dang it,

I didn't read the label carefully enough...those chorizo have eggs whites.

Case in point about label reading.

Tony

[emm7]

well done this is impressive!!! keep up the good work!!!

[Andrewc]

Awesome work! It's always great to see someone not only make the switch to veganism, but to embrace it and be certain that they can still be skull crushing strong. And as JP said, convenience foods are loaded with calories, even the "light" foods usually are too.

[patvirt]

GOOD WORK.

Now you have to get stronger so we can show everyone the vegan world is up there.

[Attila]

That's great! I am glad you became vegan and feel better now!

I tell them I'm vegan now, I don't offer an explanation

Why?

for my choice but they still feel like I'm trying to convert them and without me saying anything they'll go on about how they "need" animal products for whatever reasons.

That's a common problem.