Going from vegan to omnivore again?

machine gewehr · #1 02-07-2010, 05:21 PM

I've been vegan for 2+ years now.I haven't eaten/wore anything that was killed.Last year I was wearing my Chuck Taylors when it was snowing.I bought a synthetic leather Adidas pair for cold days as tears were dropping from my eyes.

But last week,I realized I was going to have serious problems as my feet were always cold,going to toilet=thunderstorms,I already have stomach problems requiring surgery and cold feet weren't helping much.So,I bought a pair of leather CATs with disgust...

Man,I got angry with myself why I put myself in such misery for the last 2 years.I haven't slipped and fell in the snow since last week.Tears are gone,my feet are not cold anymore...

I've been thinking,my being vegan has effected many lives,especially my mother whom has to cook different food for me all the time.

My friends DO hate me being a vegan,meat is a very fundamental part of our culture and me being away from it pisses them off.When we're out,most of the time they can't eat stuff they want to because I'm a rebel,and I feel bad about it,I feel worse as of late...

Our biggest connection was eating outside or cooking meat with my father.He feels really bad about it,last week he said something that almost made me cry remembering the old times...As of late,there are lunch counter/buffets on my way to home and I've been smelling this fish that's taking me way back,good times,want to call my dad and eat there...
And the man's health is getting a worse to enjoy all the food he enjoys now,he may be cut off from his biggest joy any time and I'm feeling like I'm missing these times...

I don't know if I can do it again,whenever I ate meat,I was seeing slaughtered animals...it was in my nightmares.I can't kill even a mosquito,as I can't breathe when I see an animal being abused/killed.

Any thoughts,ideas are much appreciated...

Happynoj · #2 02-07-2010, 05:23 PM

I don't think that this will help, but I saw it today and it made me laugh, and it's topical.

A-Step-Towards · #3 02-07-2010, 05:27 PM

Honestly I think eating meat is natural it helped us get to the point were at today (whether you see that as good os bad is your opnion).I could never not eat meat , its vital to me. But i am not try to judge vegans , if it makes them happy then they should go for it. In your case it seems like a painful situation and i really dont think your enjoying it anymore, do what feels right.

UnsungZeros · #4 02-07-2010, 05:45 PM

Have someone cook up some bacon, but don't watch. Just be in range of the smell. The smell will drag you in, you will eat the bacon and you will cease caring about eating meat.

Nikoubis · #5 02-07-2010, 05:55 PM

Kebab is awesome, my friend. You know you want to...

stevetx19 · #6 02-07-2010, 05:56 PM

Meat that is produced humanely does exist. acknowledging and respecting the sacrifice the animal made for your health goes a long way. I think it just comes down to being more conscious of where our food comes from. Spend more on meat that is produced cleanly and killed humanely and you will naturally eat less meat. Who decided that eating meat everyday was necessary to maintain health or some sort cultural status?

flipper_gv · #7 02-07-2010, 05:59 PM

your digestive system is made to eat meat and not vegetation (we cannot digest cellulose). I think it's a good argument.

Bett · #8 02-07-2010, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipper_gv

your digestive system is made to eat meat and not vegetation (we cannot digest cellulose). I think it's a good argument.

Actually, no mammal can directly digest cellulose, so that's not a very valid argument for eating meat...

stevetx19 · #9 02-07-2010, 06:31 PM

yeah, wow..what nutritionist are you seeing?

Vic Winters · #10 02-07-2010, 06:33 PM

Animals kill and eat other animals to survive. It's the natural progression of life.

KingOvHell · #11 02-07-2010, 07:07 PM

If you dont want to eat meat then dont eat it. Who cares if it bugs people.

Taylor Livingston · #12 02-07-2010, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic Winters

Animals kill and eat other animals to survive. It's the natural progression of life.

Animals also rape each other, kill each other after sex, eat their own children... Is that the natural progression of life?

Joey3313 · #13 02-07-2010, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conical johnson

Animals also rape each other, kill each other after sex, eat their own children... Is that the natural progression of life?

Yes.

crockpot2001 · #14 02-07-2010, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipper_gv

your digestive system is made to eat meat and not vegetation (we cannot digest cellulose). I think it's a good argument.

Is there a punch line to this? When does the Rabbi, Priest, and taxi cab driver walk into the bar?

BurningSkies · #15 02-07-2010, 08:23 PM

I was vegan for over 7 years. My mom cried when she found out. And yes, it was a big imposition on family friends, etc.

After about 5 years, I was in the habit and didn't really have to think about it, but it did make me start thinking about if I was doing it for the same reasons that I started with or if it was just habit by that time. At 7 years, I went to a doctor. The first time I'd been in about 15 years. They ran banks of tests on me...as I am 6'2" and was right around 135 pounds...and it came back that I was also deficient in several nutritional areas. And that was the end of Vegan. I ratcheted down to vegetarian for a year then went full omni.

When you examine the world we live in, we can make decisions that impact the world in different ways to different amounts. There are lots of things you can do to make the world a better place, beyond not eating animal products. Sometimes moderation is the best road to travel to help the greater cause.

Taylor Livingston · #16 02-07-2010, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joey3313

Yes.

Hey, if that justification is impressive to you, have at it. I suspect the prosecutor won't be as wowed by it.

ubone · #17 02-07-2010, 08:34 PM

Being a vegan is simply being in denial of truth. We humans are meat eaters, as are most primates, and in some instances even the great apes. We do not need to consume meat to the excess that we've grown accustom to, but we are carnivores none the less. Denying that doesn't make you better than anyone.

BurningSkies · #18 02-07-2010, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubone

Being a vegan is simply being in denial of truth. We humans are meat eaters, as are most primates, and in some instances even the great apes. We do not need to consume meat to the excess that we've grown accustom to, but we are carnivores none the less. Denying that doesn't make you better than anyone.

Better? That doesn't have any context in this conversation. At no time has anyone said vegan is better.

jasonbraatz · #19 02-07-2010, 09:28 PM

Check out this article talking about a vegan who was forced into taking a job as a butcher, and the resulting transformation.

IotaNet · #20 02-07-2010, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

... There are lots of things you can do to make the world a better place, beyond not eating animal products. Sometimes moderation is the best road to travel to help the greater cause.

I would never presume to pass judgment on anyone lifestyle choices but I've always found these to be good words to live by.