Any Vegans on talkbass?

I'm not a vegan, but I try to only consume vegetarian animals.

 

It's worth a go. I go back and forth between vegetarian and vegan while occasionally eating fish. You really can feel a lot better if you put some thought into it. You just have to make sure you find iron, b12 and other vitamins and minerals in other places (supplements etc)

 

Here's my story.

I ate meat. A TON. All my life, during my workout periods, growing up, meat was a source of protein and a healthy (in moderation) way of living.
And, once I stopped eating meat, I realized the pain I was in. I'm talking about the most uncomfortable dumps (For a lack of better words), always itchy, always sleepy, always in the most uncomfortable thing you can think.

Then I stopped eating meat this past February. All together. Not Vegan, but I became more aware of what I was eating, and realized meat, was 100% of the issue.
I still eat meat if it's served to me, because I don't want to be THAT kind of vegetarian, but what I put into my own body, i'm completely aware of.

An update: I no longer have those painful dumps, and I NEVER wake up tired. I wake up tired if I don't sleep long enough, but it's a "tired" that comes with eating meat (seriously. try it). I'm not as itchy (i have a skin disorder, but it subsided) and I feel lighter as a whole.

I am ALL for the vegan/vegetarian thing. Sure, the animals are being horribly mistreated, but for me, it's the health. I guarantee if anyone on this website has an "issue" and stops eating meat for a week, or a month, it will go away, or subside. I will absolutely guarantee it.

So, I suggest going vegetarian, because the transition can be hard.
Feel free to shoot me a PM and I'll point you to some amazing recipes, and videos to watch.

 

Also, protip: i'm on the can right now. 100% satisfying.

 

I'm a Vegan! I'm from Vega! Are we getting our own club? YAY!

Wait....what?

 

I tried eating vegetarian for 2 weeks quite recently because of digestive issues. I put a lot of research into it. never felt satisfied in those two weeks and the digestive issues only got mildly better.

mixed berries with home-made granola is pretty darn good breakfast tho.

 

I'm no vegan but I like to control my meat intake. You should share those amazing recipes with everyone.

 

+1

 

I just hit 1 year of being a Vegetarian. I started this for pure health reasons I have a raging Cholesterol problem that had me on not one but two diff meds.

Here is my 2cents.

First off watch Fork over knives. It got me started and I even attended one of the Doc's seminars..good stuff here. Although it is focused at heart patients it works for all but is very strick IMO.... to strick for me.

Try going Vegetarian for 1 month note I did not say VEGAN..here is why.

I started VEGAN and stuck with it for 6 months. The problem is not only is it hard IMO to be, VEGAN is not based on the diet it is all about the lifestyle of those who are only focused with the treatment of animals first not the diet.

I had people look at me like I had two heads when my wife said I was VEGAN...I did not use the word since you can/will sometimes be judged. I said I ate like one...that was it.

I spoke with VEGANS one is a friend who admitted it is a lifestyle that you can draw allot of negitive attention.

So say Vegetarian even if you eat like a VEGAN

I got off all my meds both Chol drugs in two months from high counts over 300 to less than 100 on a blood panel. My joint pain went away. My BM were so much better no more green apple quick step after eating a big fatty steak.
I am not as tired and have more energy and dropped about 50 lbs. I have eaten zero pork , beef or chicken in 1 year and I used to eat it daily..even had to sell my smoker

Learn to read labels less if you are a Vegetarian. A VEGAN must read everything since there is meat and dairy in items you would never think about.

Today 1 year later I started eating some fish since going out to eat was getting boring. I do eat a small amount of dairy in chesse but it is very small and in truth rare.

I never use cow's milk (almond) and learn to use spreads like Earth balance. I do not eat ice cream but eat ice fruit bars etc.

My diet is allot of veggies, pasta (whole whaet) breads, Bocca products, TVP, fake eggs and allot of peanut butter and humus

Read up there are allot of great websites and recipies out there.
One thing being a vegetarian stopped was me was going to fast food places ..I was addicted. Today my fav is Taco bells Bean burritos done fresco style. (no dairy ) cheap and filling. I plan on getting more strick on my diet here soon and will see how it goes.

In all it has been a good experience and well worth the loss of a simple pleasure such as a steak, burger etc. I will continue and hope to stay this way for the rest of my life but ..who knows? I do know it will give me a better chance at life I I stay the course.

Like a vegetarian friend said to me do not eat for pleasure.... eat to survive.

Good luck and get going.

 

Actually i figured, eating healthy is not just about turning vegan or vegetarian! here's how it went down for me -
Turned purely vegetarian a while back

but the real tipping point was when i switched to a fruit only (then raw food diet including greens and veggies but all raw!) diet for a week! that was incredible! i felt amazingly fresh all the time and fell in love with fruits all over again!

Since then i primarily only eat raw food, or food cooked at home but the real key imo is-
NO Processed food! NONE! Nothing pre-packaged, or processed in anyway that means no chips, burgers!, spaghetti, sauces, sodas, alcohol, dressings, whatever! none of it! and yeah of course no eggs and meats etc and no milk too (thats another story now)

I carry fruits whenever i can to sound checks, have to eat out at the venue pre or post gig so meh i order a curry or something
And yes it feels awesome minimising the toxins as much as i can. I would love to find a more organic source for my fruits and veggies as when i can!

 

I'm vegetarian for almost 17 years. I have many vegan days, and did a vegan week a couple of months ago. I'm in agreement with those advising you to give a go at vegetarian first.

Being vegan is tough in our society. It's a pretty radical change, and most people I know who go straight from meat eater, to vegan, fail. And for a lot of different reasons. Many of them get sick too, and have their doctors wind up telling them they NEED to eat meat. Which is of course totally not true, but feeds the false notion that humans need meat to be healthy. What we really need is to learn to eat differently, and that's not always easy to do.

If you go vegetarian first you can spend a lot of time learning about your options. You can get comfortable with foods you're not used to eating, aquire a taste for things you might not initially enjoy, and, well... the transition won't be all that dramatic. You'll still be able to eat at just about any restaurant (including taco bell ), and you'll be getting all the protiens and other nutrients you need to stay healthy. It's really important to educate yourself (not saying you haven't already, but I don't know) on nutrition, and open yourself to all the amazing food options that are out there, that the meat eating population isn't all that familiar with.

Again, not making any assumptions here but feel the need to put out that being vegetarian or vegan doesn't mean simply cutting the meat out of one's diet. Many believe it does. It means learning to eat differently. And the best way IMO to make that work for a lifetime is to learn to do it over time.

 

For 8 months now I've been eating a mostly plant-based diet. We concede to eat vegetarian if needed when dining out, but at home just about everything is from scratch and/or is organic/or has very few ingredients and is veggie-based. It's a lot of work at first, but it gets easier.

It's actually been so much fun discovering new foods and learning to cook with them. I've learned that there's a vegan replacement for just about everything and it's always delicious!! From Cashew Cheeze to Italian Sausage Seitan and Pulled BBQ Squash...I really don't miss anything I used to eat.

We take vitamins, but there's also B12 and other nutrients in things like Almond Milk, Nutritional Yeast (this is must-have) and Spirulina (which is not bad in a smoothie).

My skin is amazing and I no longer have any pain in my joints. Also, I've noticed improved energy. It works for me and I really enjoy the shopping/research about ingredients and cooking. There's really been no downside at all.

My new favorite discovery this week was this idea (link below) ...I had been looking for a way to make "Benedict..something" and this was perfect with some farm stand tomatoes!!

http://www.thesweetlifeonline.com/2013/07/18/tofu-avocado-benedict/

My advice for ideas is to follow
bloggers on Facebook:
Post Punk Kitchen
Thug Kitchen (Hilarious if you don't mind the language)
Olives for Dinner
My Whole Food Life
Finding Vegan
Vegan in Heels
There's a ton of them

Record shows like Christina Cooks and The Jazzy Vegetarian (she's actually vegan)...they're great for inspiration and how-to tips!!

As for tools in the kitchen...
I purchased a Nutribullet blender-type machine and a vegetable spiraler...it makes spaghetti out of squash/zucchini etc and shaves onions/peppers very thinly...makes for amazing salads!! A cast iron pan has been a great addition too. I'm a minimalist with gadgets - so just a few and a good knife is all you really need.

Have fun

 

But hyenas are so tasty!

 

What you say about the vegan label is pretty accurate. Even mentioning that Im vegetarian has its own problems with people wanting to "discuss" the matter.

Its been about 4 years and 3 months since I stopped eating meat. Within the last year Ive also cut down on a lot of processed vegetarian foods.

 

Not vegan, but I have been a vegetarian for about fifteen years, with two exceptions: A few years ago, I ate a plate of venison tenderloins, and last winter, I ate about six walleye cheeks, (a real delicacy, only available from a good size walleye), (and in spite of being allergic to most fresh water fish).

My cholesterol levels are extremely good, (HDL, and LDL), my blood pressure is always very good.

In the last fifteen years, I have not had any colds or other similar maladies, and my weight falls within the normal range for a 57 year old man.

I attribute this good health to my diet.

There are probably many very healthy individuals, who have eaten meat all their lives, and engaged in other "unhealthy" habits who are also in good health at an advanced age.

Genetics, and other life circumstances all contribute to good health.

I do think there are many benefits to a vegetarian diet that go beyond the individual who engages in it.

The diesel fuel, and concomitant environmental effects associated with raising cattle, and other food animals are much greater that they would be if people concentrated on raising non-meat food.

Factory produced chickens, and veal are nasty on many levels in my opinion.

In the past, I have eaten many a New York Strip steak by "wiping it's ass, and walking it through a fire", and I don't judge others for what they choose.

Now, a good bowl of spinach salad tastes as good as a dish of ice cream to me.

I do think that vegetarianism is good for the person doing it, and the environment, as well.

Cows may also agree.

 

I'm a vegan. 3 days ago marked a year, and I was vegetarian for about 7 months before that. Yeah, people do think it's kind of weird. I am only 15 and most of my peers are pretty judgmental in general, but my friends are cool with it.

 

I've been vegan for 5 years now, I lost 100lbs and have never felt better in my life. DO IT!!

 

If you're having digestive issues, there are a LOT of steps you can take before going to the extreme end of the spectrum that going vegan represents. From simple portion control, to "clean eating" and the like, many of those can have positive effects without the lifestyle issues that come along with veganism.