Hey everyone!
Its so nice to have actually found a forum dedicated to vegan fitness. I have been wanting to go vegan for a while. I went vegetarian this past year (out of health, and ethical reasons involving animals that I work with on a daily basis) and attempted a vegan switch but unfortunately something went wrong and I think I took it too fast and didn't do enough research plus i don't think i took my active lifestyle into account. I'm 17, 5'6 and 146 (im actually a bit below my doctor's recommended weight by 4 lbs) and female. Now, I would really like to try again, but i want to do it in a healthy and controlled way. I don't want to lose any more weight, if anything I would love to put on a bit more(muscle), and would love any help anyone could offer and I'm looking forward to posting with you all! I don't want to swap a vegan lifestyle for my active one (i love running, cardioand weights and i do these things 3-4x a week, sometimes 5x), i really want to see them work together. Plus, i saw a nutritionist and she says that i need 125 grams of protein a day...im not sure but sometimes i feel like thats too much). Also my hair has been thinning and I know that it can be a ton of different things but what kind deficiency can cause hair to thin. I used to have really thick hair and I've noticed it started to thin near the hairline and along the sides of my hair so much so i can see patches that never used to be there and Im very worried) If someone could help me or point me in the right direction it would be super helpful. I saw a nutritionist as well but some things she said i just weren't too sure about. Anyway, its so nice to meet you all and I look forward to posting!!!
Thanks and lookin forward to hearing from you!
! , Thankyou so much, the article is interesting to read and i am beginning to add more zinc and more leafy green variety into my diet. Spinach, Kale, and Collards are a staple in my house but i could definitely use more variety. In terms of vitamins, I eat a lot of fruit(watermelon,canteloupe,apples,grapes,kiwi,papaya ect), possibly too much so i doubt a vitamin c deficiency is the issue, iron and zinc on the other hand i doubt im getting enough of and i definitely think i need a vitamin for zinc to supplement my diet along with zinc containing foods. I will be looking into a registered dietitian, I'm pretty sure the one my mom set me up with didn't know what she was talking about. My doctor is also kind of iffy on the idea of me not eating any animal meats or by products which I find a bit shocking and disappointing. I feel like I'm kind of on my own in this situation but I really appreciate the advice and the links for the article. One more thing, what is your take on multivitamins, I know I'm going to need a b12 supplement at least, but should I bother with an iron. I know its possible to OD on certain vitamins/minerals so it would be nice to hear someone elses view on the situation... Thanks again!