Positive (side) effects of going vegan

[baby_vicuña]

^ Never actually saw that one but I'd totally believe that.

[Vangrrl79]

Well, I'm a newbie, only a few weeks without meat, coffee and sugar and a week without eggs & dairy, but I already can feel an amazing difference within my heart and soul.

I have crazy amounts of energy & stamina, am sleeping better, my skin is clearing up and am thinking clearer. Plus dropping 5 lbs doesn’t hurt either :)

I feel lighter, empowered and honest.

[baby_vicuña]

^ Aw yeah I remember the first few weeks. Liberating isn't it?

[EvergreenEffect]

My health drastically improved when I became a vegan. My acne cleared up, my chronic bronchitis went away, and my grades went up by a 2 point average. Woo... I never had any inclination to go back to being a non vegan.

[timberly]

^ welcome! that's great!

cleaning out the food collector in the sink isn't disgusting anymore! :rolleyes: it used to make me gag :hmm:

[Vegark]

This is my first post of many I'm sure!

I have been vegan for 7 weeks and there are many unexpected things to mention:

The first one is my bowel activity .. which seems to be a common thread around here .. but I have had problems with irregularity all my life , and since becoming vegan .. I go everyday! I tell everyone if that's the ONLY benefit I ever get from this .. I will never touch animals again!! (Which I doubt I will anyway)

The second thing is definitely my energy levels. I feel so super charged most of the time! I was a bit low on stamina at first, but now I feel so full of energy! I run most days, and now I am back to where I was before becoming vegan and I feel lighter on my feet!

The third thing is my interest in cooking. I have never enjoyed cooking but now I am forced to be aware and conscientious of what I am eating so I have actually begun to enjoy it!

Finally I have lost 20 pounds in 7 weeks! I feel like a whole different person .. inside and out :)

I can't wait to live the rest of my life this way! I'm hooked!! People say to me that is must be so hard to live this way, and I answer that it has been the easiest thing I've ever done! It must be the right choice for me :D

[baby_vicuña]

^ Yay for veganism!

Welcome to the forum btw ;)

[salty]

Hello, I've been vegan for over 20 years now and people are always questioning my health/ strength/ life etc ( even though I look the picture of health!). Anyway, I had my bone density tested at the Vegan festival in Bristol last year and it was excellent - way above average ,even for the average 18 year old - and I'm 36.....hooray! I was delighted to have a printout to show to people and say hah! proof that dairy consumption is not necessary for bone health. (p.s my teeth are in excellent condition too according to my dentist). ok I am sounding smug now! x

[Alison1988]

Hmm...I've been vega for a good while now, about 3 months now, without "cheating", i.e. ice cream with milk etc..but I havent seemed to lose ANY weight!! :(
Do oyu guys have any ideas for how to/what to eat or not eat in order to lose weight??

[Daffodil]

Hello, I've been vegan for over 20 years now and people are always questioning my health/ strength/ life etc ( even though I look the picture of health!). Anyway, I had my bone density tested at the Vegan festival in Bristol last year and it was excellent - way above average ,even for the average 18 year old - and I'm 36.....hooray! I was delighted to have a printout to show to people and say hah! proof that dairy consumption is not necessary for bone health. (p.s my teeth are in excellent condition too according to my dentist). ok I am sounding smug now! x


Do you know the figures that it's supposed to be? my weighing scales tells me my bone measurement (i presume it's density) but i don't know what the figure means?? any help be appreciated :)

[Brokendoll1982]

For me it was weight loss (lost over 50lbs now), discovering a new way of cooking, and inspiring people to have a try and at least consider cutting down on meat, fish, eggs and dairy...

I too find it easier to work out and don't get half as sore the next day... Never thought to put it down to my diet...

[baby_vicuña]

Hmm...I've been vega for a good while now, about 3 months now, without "cheating", i.e. ice cream with milk etc..but I havent seemed to lose ANY weight!! :(
Do oyu guys have any ideas for how to/what to eat or not eat in order to lose weight??

Well that depends on how much you're trying to lose. I would suggest to try to stop consciously trying to lose weight and let your body take care of itself. If you give your body the right fuel, it will lose weight when it needs too. Just eat right and be active. Simple. It does take time, but it does happen. It worked for me :)

And look in the health section of VF. There's a subsection about weight issues and I'm sure there's a lot of great advice there.

[DiaShel]

Hmm...I've been vega for a good while now, about 3 months now, without "cheating", i.e. ice cream with milk etc..but I havent seemed to lose ANY weight!! :(
Do oyu guys have any ideas for how to/what to eat or not eat in order to lose weight??

Just stay away from the processed stuff and you should be fine!

[baby_vicuña]

^ Yeah, what she said.

[Stephanos1611]

i too lost a fair bit of excess weight when first starting out on a vegan diet (having been veggie before). people have commented that i look slimmer and healthier. :)

i didn't expect to be free of cravings for non-vegan (but still veggie) foods so quickly! i don't miss any of those foods i used to like any more, and now they make me feel a bit ill just thinking about them - e.g. milk chocolate, cheese, egg-fried rice, milky coffee. the vegan versions taste much better anyway! i've also developed a taste for healthier foods, as i think has been mentioned in another thread, which i didn't expect.

lol, well when you realize that your favorite chocolate truffle has whey in it you'll crave those non-vegan foods. :P

[Alison1988]

ok...maybe I'm a bit slow: what do you mean by processed foods? Like, fake meats...or prepackaged meals (ew..!)???

[DiaShel]

^ really anything that comes packaged. It's easier to say what's not processed. Fruits, veggies, grains, beans, etc.

[Mr Flibble]

Being able to eat raw cake and cookie mixture.

[Gorilla]

^ i did that when i wasn't vegan :p doesn't appeal to me now.

[Mr Flibble]

oh, so you were just doing it for the thrill of potential salmonella?

[veganpollo]

Finding true compassion within myself and learning how to apply it to more than just animals.

My whole approach to people has changed.

[earthsista]

Feeling at peace within myself and just feeling content. :)

[Stephanos1611]

I've began to notice synchronicities happening more often.

[made of sequins]

I've began to notice synchronicities happening more often.

ooh, would you elaborate? :) (I mean, unless it's personal and you'd rather not. But I'm interested to know what sorts of things have been coming up for you.)

[made of sequins]

I expected to feel better physically after going vegan. (When you think about how much nastiness is in dairy--hormones, preservatives, pus...how could you not expect to physically feel better after getting all that out of your system? :p ) I expected to lose a few kilos, have more energy, healthier skin, etc.

What I didn't expect was the mental and emotional benefits I got ever since giving up dairy and egg products, as well as high-fructose corn syrup, alcohol, hydrogenated fats and other processed crap (meat has already been off the menu since about age 13).

It's much less stressful at school-- since going vegan it's easier to think, comprehend, focus, reason, write... I've always gotten good grades, but my mind is clearer now and it all comes to me faster and more easily.

Speaking of clear, I didn't expect that going vegan would have such a dramatic effect on my voice. I sing opera, and I notice that I haven't got that clogged-up mucus feeling anymore. Breathing is easier, and my tone is clear, pure, resonant and bright. I am so grateful for that. :D I can even get up and sing first thing in the morning. It's fantastic to not have to wonder or worry about whether or not my voice is going to be in good form, and never feeling like there's glop in my throat.

Emotionally I feel steadier, more optimistic, more confident, with a renewed interest in God and desire to engage in prayer, meditation and other spiritual activities.

I didn't expect that going vegan would cure me of a decade-long battle with bulimia either. But it did. I can't even attempt to explain it; I just lost all desire to binge/purge within a few days of going vegan. It's been a month now, and still no urges, no temptation. Before, I would sometimes manage to go a few days without, but it was always a struggle and I never managed to have more than a few 'good days' in a row (and often not even that!) Now, I don't have to struggle to try and stop; the desire is completely gone. Words cannot describe how wonderful it feels to finally be free. :)

so yeah...I expected physical benefits, but had no idea there would be such awesome mental, emotional and vocal benefits as well!