Welcome to Gaia! ::

Hi there! Since I'm pretty new to vegetarianism and brand new to this guild, I figured I should bore you all to death introduce myself.

At the moment, I am what you might call an aspiring vegetarian. The closest word to describe my diet would be pescetarian: I mostly eat lacto-vegetarian food, but occasionally I have some eggs and seafood too. I am, gradually, trying to wean myself off the eggs and seafood, since I don't want to eat any dead animals.

Actually, if it was that easy, I'd just become a vegan. But it really ain't that easy for me. Let me share my story with you. If you have any tips, they would be very much welcomed!


For pretty much all of my life, I've been a devout meat eater. About a year ago, however, I suddenly began feeling absolutely repulsed at the mere thought of eating any dead animal flesh, eggs included (though they're not fertilized, so you could debate whether they're dead animals... well, potential animals at least).

I had been aware of vegetarianism and veganism for a relatively long time, as well as the cruel treatment of animals, but the urge to actually stop eating meat came very suddenly. It happened as a part of my spiritual development... but that would be another long story.


The problem is, I can't stay on a vegan diet very long, even though I've tried to get enough protein and vegetable fats. Taste isn't a problem: I can cook nice and delicious vegan food. Even my omnivore friends have enjoyed the food very much! Also, even though I enjoy the taste and texture of meat, I don't really crave it that much. Cheese is a little harder to give up, but nope, I could live without it too.

My problem is nutritional. I've done some diet experiments and have noticed the best diet for me is an Atkins-like low-carbish diet, with lots of animal protein and fat, very little sugar, and a moderate amount of carbs. (I'm not very strict with my diet, though - I don't count my carbs or sweat about them, I just listen to my body and its needs.) Since I began eating like that (in 2005), I've been very healthy, I don't even catch the seasonal flu. My body looks fantastic, my skin is glowing, etc.

BUT whenever I've tried eating vegan, I've caught the flu in about 2 or 3 weeks. Also, after a vegan meal (even one with lots of things like nuts, legumes, whole grains, tofu, olive oil, etc.) I just don't feel satiated. I've learned to know my body; it's the feeling I get when I've eaten too much carbs and too little protein. Then, after about 2 hours, I become hungry again, or begin craving for sugar (which I otherwise never do). Also, especially after I've eaten a meal high in legumes, I seem to get a total crash in blood sugars in about 2 hours: get very hungry, may even get the shakies. Which is weird... I've never heard legumes doing something like that to your blood sugars!

On a lacto-vegetarian diet, I've been able to last longer, as I can get my share of animal protein and fat that way.


So, because of all this, I've been a sort of an on/off veg*n for the last year or so. After each "cycle", I feel even more repulsed at the thought of eating meat!

Right now, I've settled for the diet I mentioned before: a mostly lacto-vegetarian diet, with the occasional egg or serving of seafood. As long as I consume a lot of dairy products, I will do okay, health-wise. If I feel the need for some additional animal protein, I'll prefer eggs and seafood, as seafood seems to be the only type of meat I can eat at the moment.

Yes, I have a problem with all of that dairy consumption... and as we're in a veg*n guild, I probably don't have to explain why I find my dairy consumption a problem. wink But it seems, at the moment, the only way to stay on a vegetarian diet.

However, I still feel I've taken the steps toward the right direction. Maybe this gradual approach will actually work for me. Baby steps, baby steps...


Sorry for the long story and thanks for reading my ramblings! If you have any advice or comments or have had similar troubles yourself, please feel free to share your insights or advice! I'd love to hear them!

BTW, I love this guild so far. The discussion here seems civil and intelligent... very nice! 4laugh

Hello and welcome!

I am by no means a nutrition expert, but going off my own experiences, it did take my body a while to adjust to my new diet. For the first few weeks after cutting out animal products, I didn't feel like my meals kept me full. I would fix a vegan meal and find myself peckish or hungry within a short while. A few people I talked to said my body was just adjusting to my new diet, and to give it some time. I stuck it out and after a while, that issue just faded away and I no longer feel that way after meals.

Could it be that you just aren't giving yourself enough time to adjust before you go back to your old foods? Have you tried adding vitamin supplements to your vegan meals if you feel you aren't getting enough protein? Although, as long your meals are well balanced, protein shouldn't be an issue.

Don't fret over your progress. Change can take time, what matters is that you are making an effort and taking steps in a direction that will give you peace of mind as well as being better for the world we live in.