Hey fellow Vegan "Freaks!" Hehe (Reference to the podcast of the same name.)

I just wanted to pop in and say hello! I've been vegan going on 4 years now and love it! I know about REAL nutrition, but would like some support losing weight. My downfalls are carbs, sweets, and portion control. I'm a baking demon and can pretty much "veganize" any recipe.

Anyhow, I hope to make some new veggie friends. Much love for you fellow animal loving softies.

Peace!

Hey, another VEGAN! Yay! There aren't many here. Welcome! What plan are you following?

Hey Jewelieta!

I am so with you on the baking - I've got that notorious cookbook Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World and I can tell you, it's freaking incredible. I always feel a little weird telling people I'm a vegan because obviously I do not look like Fiona Apple or whichever other scrawny vegan people have heard of. But of course good bread, good chocolate, and good wine, among other things, can be totally vegan.

Good luck with your weight loss, and welcome!

Welcome

I'm not an official vegan although I don't eat animal products anymore.

I hate baking myself but I certainly can buy baked vegan treats

Thank you very much for the warm welcome!
Soulbliss (like the SN!) I'm following the WW plan. Let me tell ya - it's sometimes not easy eating all those points on a vegan diet! lol It's a double edged sword. Though, last night I could have easily drank all my points in wine. Hehe

ECG - I don't have that cookbook though I heard it's great! I just got "The Joy of Vegan Baking" for Christmas. It's awesome! I highly recommend it. I know what you mean about telling ppl you're vegan. A lot of the times, I just tell ppl I can't have dairy or eggs or whatever it is in the item that I won't eat. I'm proud of my lifestyle though! Being vegan goes far deeper than just not eating animal products. It's the most earth friendly lifestyle one could lead. Have you seen Diet for a New America? That movie says it all. You can find the video on Google.

Nelie - Congrats to you! I LOVE your signature!

So, what made everyone go veggie/vegan? I love hearing the stories!

Welcome Jewelieta!

Are you on the Vegan Freak forums too? We may have virtually "met" already.

I know all about the baking. I love to bake and I love to eat what I bake, so yeah, slippery slope!

Good luck with the WW, whatever happens we're here to help you find the plan that works for you!

I haven't seen Diet for a New America, but I've read the John Robbins book by that title - it definitely hit home with me, though by that point I had just about cut out all meat/dairy from my life. I am proud of my lifestyle too, and I know I'm doing good stuff for myself and for any future kids I may ever give birth to.

Nelie - I don't ever whip out my official vegan card either, mainly because I have a slightly flexible policy when it comes to 1)Christmas and 2)other people making me a fancy dinner, but I'm about 98-99% so I just tell people "I don't eat meat or dairy," and when they say "you're a vegan" I say yeah, pretty much.

Thanks shenanigans! I don't frequent the Vegan Freak forum, but I do listen to it when I've got the time...and the bf's iPod. I haven't broken down and purchased one yet. (Heard they're made with toxic chemicals.)

I agree with you on this I have been Vegan for one month now and prior to that Vegetarian for about 7 months. I have lost a bit of weight but still do not have the sterotypical look. Im feeling amazing on the inside and that means so much to me.
I decided to go Vegetarian after a chance stay at a hotel with a group of Tibetan Monks. I learned much more about their culture and values of life. Shortly after meeting them It wasnt overnight but everything I learned about them really stuck in my mind over the next few weeks every animal I ate did not taste the same and by about 3 weeks later I had my last flesh meal.
Going Vegan was a bit longer coming, I was worried about what I would eat, worried about not eating ice cream etc.....selfish I know! However someone mentioned the Joy of Vegan Baking Cookbook above the author of that book has a wondeful podcast on her website and on itunes. It was Coleen Patrick-Gourdreau that opened my eyes to the level they need to be at and I could never thank her enough. I wrote a previous post about her postcast here in this forum I urge you all to check it out she really has a way with words very easy to enjoy listening too.

I am wondering about something do those of you who are vegan still wear leather shoes/wool coats etc.... that you owned prior to being Vegan? What is your thoughts on this?

Hi Jasmine! Thanks for hopping in on the thread.

I find your experience amazing. Those Buddhist monks sure know their stuff, don't they? It makes sense one sits down and thinks about it.

As for the leather/wool. I personally was turned off by it knowing the horror that occurred in order for me to wear those things. :/ So, I donated everything that I had. I do know a few people who decided to keep wearing what they had until it was wore out and then bought new vegan things to replace them. It's all about what you feel comfortable with, sweetie.

I don't think there's any "right or wrong" consensus on that issue. I personally can't afford to chuck everything and get new stuff all at once, so unfortunately I'm stuck for the time being with some leather shoes and a wool winter coat and a few other non-vegan items. I plan to buy things that aren't made from animals when I replace them, but I see no reason to not wear out what you already have, unless you are grossed-out/disturbed by those items after viewing them in a new light or you are worries about sending "mixed messages" to people about what veganism entails. I have been vegan for only a short time, but I think I am much more than self-conscious about my "pregan" belongings than anyone. I've yet to be called out on my leather shoes. However, I admit when I go to veggie gatherings I don't wear any leather or wool.

Gifts are something I'm a little more worried about in the future. I have a freshwater pearl jewelry set and there's a big silk comforter on our bed that my fiancé (who is omni) bought when he went to China. I've told him how I feel about these things, and have decided to keep those items but requested that he not buy any more non-vegan things for the house or for me. Other people it might be a little harder to communicate your thoughts to before they buy you something, what do you do with well intentioned gifts that happen to not be vegan?

I'm often faced with the non-vegan gifts thing. I would feel bad by turning down their gift as they took time to put thought into it. I've just given the non-vegan gifts to my omni friends.