Going Vegan

Corelli

Rummer wrote: »

Today is the day

Yay!!! This time next year you can be looking back and celebrating your first veganniversary. Good for you :beer: (Vegan beer of course, you know about http://www.barnivore.com/ )

It was so much a gradual thing for me that I haven't got a date. I was a veggie for about 18 years, becoming more and more vegan as I found out about the cruelties in the dairy and egg industry. I refused to buy anything with eggs as an ingredient unless they were free range (ignorant me) always had one of the few dairy milk alternatives and found it a lot easier to describe myself as vegan when out. Personal things happened that furthered my commitment but I couldn't say no cheese until my daughter started on solids and I rethought my eating yet again. Around this time Jill Phipps was killed when protesting live exports and I saw shamed and shocked. Shocked by the lorry driver and shamed that I wasn't even able to commit 100% to being vegan. So I've been fully vegan except for two serious lapses in judgement since early 1995.

maddiemay

I have been reading along since you started this thread, having recognised your name from the FAB one:D

I haven't commented, as lots of people have made really positive suggestions, but would just like to mention the B12 thing again, I am sure that you will have this covered, but it may be a pointer for others who drop in and read.

I belong to a couple of support groups for Pernicious Anaemia (caused by body's inability to "make" B12), and B12 deficiency (can often be caused by diet), it is treatable and thought to be OK once injections are started, but people can become very ill, with a whole host of symptoms from poor balance, absolute weariness no matter how much sleep, IBS, pins and needles and loss of feeling in limbs, brain fog, poor memory etc, etc before they get to diagnosis and it is hard to get the correct treatment from GP's. Nitrous Oxide from anaesthetic and pregnancy are major causes of B12 depletion and if diet is not adequate it can easily drop drastically.

As I understand it, Vegan websites and books make people very aware of this, but those who sort of gradually slide from vegetarian to vegan often miss out on this information.

I hope that it all goes really well for you:D
MM

Faith177

My brother has been vegan for a few years now and there are lots of groups out there especially on things like facebook. If you use facebook check out the "what fat vegans eat" page they share new products and recipies on there a lot and some of it looks lovely.

I was surprised how much he can eat to be fair and he always seems happy and healthy.

Orginal source tend to be mostly vegan friendly also not sure if you are a girl OP but Body Shop are about to launch a whole range of vegan friendly nail varnishes in the coming weeks

Good luck!

Rummer

Thank you Maddie for raising awareness of B12 deficiency, I have started to take a vegan supplement to ensure that I have an intake of the essential vitamins

Yesterday went well and I am excited about this life change instead of thinking about what I am giving up. I did however come close to a slip up when I automatically picked up a toffee in the car to eat but luckily I realised what I was doing before it was too late! The last thing I needed was to mess up on day one :rotfl:

Hubby is being really supportive and happily tucked into my experimental dinner last night Both he and the children will be eating meat, eggs and dairy as this is my life decision not theirs however they will be having a fair few veggie and vegan meals each week too.

I have decided not to tell most people IRL until I have got a good handle on things. What I need to focus on now is a mobile snack pack so that I have vegan things to nibble on and herbal teas in my bag at all times

Murrell

Hi,

I have been vegan over 20 years and help people everyday through my blog, my facebook page and my facebook group. Good luck and i hope my blog might be able to help you. There is posts for all the supermarkets on what you can buy as a sweet treat and also savoury articles and lots more. Any questions, feel free to ask. http://theveganwomble.blogspot.co.uk/

lavandergirl_2

Have you seen Forks over Knives? I recommend the Engine 2 recipes video. You might be able to find it on net or netflix.

We are not vegan or vegetarian but have less meat consumption than we were accustomed to.

We do a bit of juicing (mean green juice- kale, broccolli, cucumber, apple, lemon) and it is yum! Frozen banana can be made as a banana ice cream.

http://www.vegfest.co.uk I went to a Veg Fest few years back and got a free vegan cookbook.

Bill Clinton is now a vegan.

Corelli

Hello VeganWomble, Love your blog, thanks for doing it, it is extremely useful.